Have a Great Weekend!

It's been a while and I'm still working on redesigning the website, not to mention that I've been sick all month long (not an exaggeration). In the meantime, here are some links for your weekend...

Meet Piper, the dog who works at the Traverse City airport, on YouTube and Instagram. Total hero in our Border Collie household.

The newest American Girl doll, Melody, will be from Detroit during the Civil Rights era! (I love American Girl and have to say that this is long overdue and very welcome.)

Have you seen the blue ice stacking up near Mackinac Bridge?

How to give your kids allowance the right way. Great information on teaching your kids financial literacy.

A very Michigan marriage proposal...

...and why women proposing is still so rare.

A throwback to a time when breastfeeding was actually accepted and discussed on children's television.

Moving is linked to losing friendships - especially hits home for military families.

What it's really like to work in Hollywood, if you're not a straight, white man. (Reminded me of this piece from the fall about how women have to talk in meetings.)

Love this girls' dress from Tea.

(Photo via airportk9)


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Have a Great Long Weekend!

What are your plans this Valentine's Day/Presidents' Day weekend? Today is Buster's (our dog's) fifth birthday and he's in for a peanut butter surprise tonight. My in-laws are coming tomorrow, so Juan and I are going on a Valentine's Day date downtown this weekend (free babysitting!). We're also going to a baby shower and the present I bought is giving me baby fever. Luisa and I are still recovering from a bad cold (and her first ear infection) and I'm hoping to go on another run by Monday.

Plus, I finally got a new laptop, so I have some behind-the-scenes blog work and general file transferring to catch up on. Here are a few interesting links in the meantime...

Ideas for what to cook when you don't feel like cooking. (I don't feel like cooking lately.)

Why you shouldn't break long pasta before cooking it.

A fun newsreel from the 1930's about winter in Michigan.

This could make grocery shopping more enjoyable.

Did you know that a giant crack appeared in the U.P. five years ago? Fun article to show your kids.

Start planning your warm weather trips now: 7 Michigan travel destinations for 2016.

The important of play-based learning (and the drama around culturally-insensitive Halloween costumes at Yale last fall).

Where U of M furniture goes to find a new life.

Have you spotted a black squirrel yet?

Don't forget to stock up on new arrivals from Tea Collection this weekend! Code AMORE gets you 15% off three items, 20% off four, or 25% off five or more. Psst, this is the most amazingly thick, soft dress and I can't rave about it enough. (Promotion ends Monday, 2/15.)

Get 40% off your first month at Kiwi Crate with code KIWILOVE. (Promotion ends Monday, 2/15.)

(Photo of baby Luisa at a lantern festival in Seoul.)

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This post contains affiliate links. I will be compensated a small percentage if you make a purchase through my links. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Good Idea Mom possible!

Toddler's Day Out: My Urban Toddler

Luisa and I spent yesterday morning at My Urban Toddler's indoor playground in Saline and had such a blast. The play area is designed as a miniature city for your little one to explore. There are two different cafe seating areas for parents to relax and talk. Toddlers can play in the fire station, schoolhouse, play kitchen, dress-up area, and grocery market, or sit for a while in the library with tons of puzzles. There's also a special "park" in the middle for pre-walking babies with soft toys and mats to crawl on.

Luisa especially loved the play kitchen and grocery store. She probably spent an hour loading groceries in to her shopping cart and proudly pushing it around the entire city. :) She was also thrilled by the fish in the aquarium near the front. When it was finally time to leave, it took quite a lot of convincing for Luisa to come with me. She could have stayed forever!

I was glad for the chance to hang out with my friends and get to know other parents in the area. It can be difficult to meet people at other venues, but the infant park and cafe seating made it easier to strike up a conversation. If you are a breastfeeding mama with an extremely distractible baby (as Luisa was from 3-14 months), there is a dark privacy room with a comfy armchair, lamp, and changing table so that you can nurse your child in peace.

Play area admission is just $5 per child on Fridays, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. On other days, admission is $10 for your first child and $7.50 for each additional sibling. Infants up to 6 months old are always free. Be sure to bring your socks! I forgot mine and had to purchase a pair for $2.65.

I highly recommend My Urban Toddler on rainy days, extra cold days, and any Friday. Have fun!

How to Help: Flint Water Crisis

The Flint water crisis weighs heavy on my heart, as it does on all of yours. As Michigan readers are certainly aware by now, children under the age of six will be the most horribly affected by lead exposure; babies fed formula mixed with tap water will suffer the most. It is so painful even to think about, and everyone wants to help out in some way.

I've seen a lot of information about bottled water drives being shared on Facebook, but monetary donations will make long-lasting change possible. Early intervention for developmental issues, access to healthy food, and early childhood education are all crucial to minimize the impact of lead exposure. Please consider a contribution to the Child Health and Development fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.

Here are a few links on the topic:

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician who brought the lead poisoning to public attention, regularly updates her Twitter.

My friend Nonie wrote a great reflection on a talk by Dr. Hanna-Attisha at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

A fantastic Q&A with Dr. Hanna-Attisha about how parents can help their kids exposed to lead.

Dr. Paula Schreck and the Michigan Breastfeeding Network recommend for breastfeeding mothers to keep breastfeeding.

Like Michael Moore or not, he's from Flint and in a unique position to advocate for the community.

How the mother of three children with lead poisoning became an advocate for lead-awareness.

Hug your babies tight. Xoxo, Sarah

(Photo of Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha via Detroit Free Press)

Guide to Cold Weather Running Gear

Juan, our friend Oakley, and I (and Buster and Ziggy) went for a frigid run along the Huron River on Sunday morning. It was 17º, snowing just a little, and it was beautiful. I've always enjoyed running in the cold, but this was the first time I'd run in sub-20º temperatures. Aside from having to carefully walk over patches of black ice, I loved it! We had the trail practically to ourselves, the ground was still covered in a thin layer of snow, and everything was perfectly peaceful.

Juan has always told me to dress for the temperature plus 20º when running. When I checked the weather Sunday morning, it was 17º, so I dressed for 37º: wool trail socks, wool long johns, running tights, an extra shirt on top of my wool undershirt, a fleece jacket, running gloves, an ear-warming headband, and a scarf (mainly to warm the air before breathing it into my lungs). Some of this gear I accumulated randomly over the years (like the cheap scarf I got from a discount department store in Germany when I was 19!), and others I have bought since moving to pure, frigid Michigan.

My best source for wool trail socks and long johns on a budget is Costco. You can't beat $12.99 for four pairs of merino wool socks. Unfortunately, they're not available on the website and are a seasonal fall item, but the Kirkland Signature merino wool trail socks are still available in stores; look for Paradox merino wool underlayers in stores next fall. SmartWool is another great, but pricier, option for wool socks and long johns. You can find SmartWool on Amazon and occasionally in a flash sale on Zulily. Luisa has SmartWool socks and I'd highly recommend them.

This Under Armour ColdGear half-zip is an excellent mid-layer between your wool undershirt and your jacket. It's so comfortable and cozy, you won't want to take it off. You'll mostly wear it as a top layer while running in slightly balmier temperatures (ha) in the 30s. Or to wear around the house, until you realize that your toddler is dressed better than you are. :) Really, any thin mid-layer will do; even a long-sleeved t-shirt will work in a pinch, as long as you have wool underneath and a jacket on top.

You can wear any fleece jacket that you don't mind getting dirty as your top layer. I have a Columbia Sportswear half-zip fleece jacket with thumbholes that I love. Amazon has similar jackets here and here, and is also a good source for running gloves and thermal headbands at all price points.

Do you have any favorite, budget-friendly items for cold running gear? Share in the comments!

(Image via MLive)

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Free Admission to Henry Ford Museum on January 18

Mark your calendar: Admission and activities at the Henry Ford Museum are free on Monday, January 18, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.!  There will be live music, hands-on displays, crafts to take home, and more. Hear the story of Rosa Parks in the Rosa Parks Bus and participate in "Minds of Freedom," an interactive show celebrating civil rights champions, including Dr. King, Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, Gloria Rackley, the Freedom Riders, and more. Even parking is free! You can read more here.

This is a great opportunity to talk to young children about racism and oppression, and to visit the Henry Ford Museum for the cost of gas to drive there. Have fun!

(Photo from The Henry Ford)

2016 Plymouth Ice Festival

Heads up: This weekend is the 2016 Plymouth Ice Festival! Every year, Plymouth hosts the largest free ice festival in Michigan. The festivities begin at 3 p.m. on Friday, January 8, and end at 6 p.m. on Sunday, January 10. You can view the ice sculptures 24/7 and there are plenty of scheduled events, including interactive ice sculptures, an ice playground for kids, and an ice carving demonstration. You can read more and see the entire schedule here.

Have you ever been to the Plymouth Ice Festival? Which events would you recommend with kids? Share your experiences in the comments!

(Photo via Plymouth Ice Festival)

Hike it Baby 30 Challenge

Have you hiked with Hike it Baby Ann Arbor? It's a great way to get outside with your kids (and dogs!) and make friends, which is so important as a parent. Don't be intimidated; the Hike it Baby philosophy is "No Hiker Left Behind," whether you need to feed a little one, change a diaper, or stop for any other reason. There are fast-paced caregiver-led hikes, slower toddler-led hikes, and even group runs. Plus, all hikes are free. I run and hike with Hike it Baby several times a week and have made some of my very best friends in Ann Arbor this way.

Registration is still open until January 10 for the January Hike it Baby 30 Challenge. The goal is to hike 30 miles in 30 days, or spend 30 minutes outside three days a week. Hike it Baby challenges are so motivating to go outside every day, even on cold, gray winter days when you're tempted to stay inside. I've never regretted going hiking or running; I feel so much better afterwards. Being outside and moving makes all of us so much happier, kids and dogs included. Registration for this challenge starts at $2, as much or as little as you can afford.

I started my challenge this morning: Juan, my friend Alex, and I ran three cold, beautiful miles along the Huron River with the dogs and jogging strollers in tow. This is my second challenge and I'm so excited to push myself to spend time outside this winter.

There are also Hike it Baby branches in metro Detroit, Jackson, and throughout the country. You can register for the challenge even if you live in a city without a Hike it Baby branch, if you'd like.

Happy hiking, and a happy, healthy new year!

What to Do with Your Kids During Winter Break

If you have school-aged children in your house or are a student at the university, winter break means lots of free time for many Ann Arbor families. Here's a round-up of activities that won't break the bank this month:

The popular Classical Bells Holiday Concert will be tomorrow, December 19, at 1:00 pm at the downtown branch of the Ann Arbor District Library. Arrive early!

Visit Santa and have your own ornament painted at Bronner's in Frankenmuth.

Head south to Toledo Zoo's Lights Before Christmas. Pay attention to the special hours and admissions rates (but save $1.00 per ticket by purchasing online!).

Take a day trip to the festive Olde World Canterbury Village and peek in Aldridge's Always Christmas.

Michigan Science Center will have free admission all day on December 26 in celebration of their third birthday.

Now is a great time to purchase a family membership to the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. It's a great indoor place to play and learn, especially in the winter, and the family membership is actually inexpensive if you go frequently enough.

Visit the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. Check out the hands-on demo of mammoth and mastadon hunting (for kids age 5+).

Don't forget to go ice skating at one of our local arenas.

The Civic Center Library in Livonia has a dollhouse exhibit through the end of December. The library will be closed December 24-27 and December 31-January 3.

Be sure to join my Facebook group for all the best deals.

And, finally, it looks like it might be a brown Christmas (ha), but in case we have a white Christmas, find a great sledding hill.

Happy Holidays! Xoxo, Sarah

(Photo by me of the Freiburg Christmas Market, my happy place)