Mid-Michigan Moms

Holiday traditions are one of my MOST favorite aspects of the season, but as a “millennial” mom I’ll be the first to admit we are stuck between obliging that of our parents who still are adamant about hosting and trying to make our own.  So in my search to make my own annual traditions for my little family I came across this idea, the best parts are that it’s just a little something we get to do EVERY night from December 1st through December 24th as a family, it takes minimal effort, and affects no holiday plans because your kids go to be EVERY night.

With that, I give you our version of an advent calendar ‘The 24 Books of Christmas’!

Every year around the end of November I unpack my box of holiday-themed books and individually wrap each one {or if its a super short one I double that up with another}, making twenty-four individually wrapped books.  One, in particular, I label ‘DO NOT OPEN UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE”, as you can guess I save ‘The Night Before Christmas‘ for this one.  Cue my favorite tradition we rotate nights of my kids picking one of the wrapped books and unwrapping to read as a family before bedtime.

A few of our family favorites are:
–Little Blue Truck’s Christmas
–C is for Christmas
–The Broken Ornament
-Sneezy the Snowman
–The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving
-How to Catch an Elf
–The Nutcracker
-The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish
–Bear Stays Up for Christmas
–Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree
-I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
-The Magic of Friendship Snow
–Pete the Cat Snow Daze
–How to Catch Santa Claus
–Sounding Joy
-Zetta the Poinsetta
–The Polar Express
-The Night Before Christmas
-How the Grinch stole Christmas
–Construction Site on Christmas Night

I love it, my kids love it, we giggle over which books pop up and I love how their little minds remember certain stories from the year before or the excitement when they draw one of their favorites.  It’s easy, cheap, and most of all one of my favorite memory-making events each year.

Now I am not recommending you hop on Amazon this minute and Prime 24 books to your doorstep. This is the perfect opportunity to dig through those bookshelves, inquire with family if they have any holiday books they wouldn’t mind passing along, or checking out those local thrift bookstores.  Guarantee for less than $50 you can have a new family tradition that is the gift that keeps on giving all month long… and for years to come!

What are your favorite children’s Christmas themed books? 

This post contains affiliate links.

As summer fades, the annual shift into spooky season takes hold. You can’t escape it. Most of us are willing victims ready to welcome moody colors, cool air, and fall traditions.

Suddenly, we’re asking for pumpkin spice everything, visiting cider mills, craving hearty soups, slipping into cozy sweaters, and hunting for 12-foot skeletons. (Is it just me or do they always feel like friendly souls waiting for a much-needed hug with their outstretched arms?)

I started noticing another trend creeping into my social media feed: #ghostpaintings.

Have you come across any yet? I had to try it myself and I’m here to tell you that YOU should too! You won’t regret it. I promise! It was a delightful experience. Keep scrolling and I’ll share some great tips and tricks you can use to create your own.

What is the Ghost Painting trend anyway?
Basically, you transform an old piece of framed art from a thrift store or consignment shop into something new by painting over the original scene to add Halloween-inspired images. Think: ghosts, pumpkins, bats, etc. It’s such a fun idea. The possibilities are endless. See…

4 reasons you should try it:

1. It’s cheap and easy. Your salvaged art will likely be a faded print from decades ago that’s been overlooked and forgotten. I got mine for $8. (If you can plan ahead, they often do 50% or 75% off certain price tags on certain days.) I used basic acrylic paint I already had and my daughter’s well-loved paintbrushes.
2. No skills are needed. Ghosts are just white blobs with eyes. You can do this! Pumpkins are orange blobs (with simple faces if you choose to “carve” them). Bats are just black lines in the sky. Spiders have eight legs…
   
3. You can fly solo or be social. You decide! No one even has to know. I did this on my own as a carefree experiment. It would also be fun to do with friends. Shop together, paint together, and laugh together. Whether you do it in your pjs after the kids go to bed or make a festive cocktail/mocktail to entice your besties, there’s no wrong way.
4. You’ll be delighted. The expectations are low. All you need is a little time and a basic vision. Look for ideas online to get some cool ideas. Search #ghostpaintings on IG, Tiktok, or Pinterest and then do you own thing. It’s going to be great!

Okay, I’m in!! Now what?

• Go to the thrift store and choose a picture. I found mine at the Volunteers of America. You could also try The Salvation Army, Goodwill, or your favorite locally-owned shop. Look for potential. Landscapes are popular, city scenes are fun, a house or forest both hold lots of opportunity for spooky details.

My original, circa 1983. There was even a bug smashed inside.

• Take the frame apart. If it’s covered in finishing paper, peel it off. This can be saved for collage ephemera. Use a putty knife (or butter/utility knife) to fold back the metal staples. Remove the cardboard backing to lift the picture out. The frame will need dusting. The glass will need to be cleaned on both sides.

• Prep your space. Cover your table with an old towel or butcher paper. Fill a jar with water for rinsing your paintbrushes. Set out your paints (acrylic recommended). Use a paper plate as your mixing palette. Grab paper towel for drying your brush in between colors. Find a pencil to use for outlining basic shapes.
  • NOTE: I do not recommend using water colors. The original print is just a copy and will degrade if it gets too wet. Same with erasing pencil markings. It will erase the photo if you mark and erase too much in the same spot.

• Make a plan and begin. Decide what you’d like to do or how you’d like to start and go for it. Remember, there are no consequences. You only paid a few bucks for your painting. Sketch some rough outlines and start painting over them! Once you make you first mark you’ll feel more brave. Wine helps. Starting is the hardest part.

I knew I wanted to paint over the faded, pastel florals with fall colors. That was an easy place for me to begin. One thing led to another from there. I knew I wanted ghosts and to put something cool in the big set of windows. I loved it more and more as I went.

• Enjoy the process. Watch the magic unfold as you gain creative confidence. Your thrifted ghost painting can be as simple or as complex as your time, skills, or supplies allow. It might not look like the perfectly refined one with 100k views online, but it will make you smile and it’ll be fabulously festive and FUN!

My finished ghost painting! I used acrylic paint pens too. They were really helpful in outlining shapes and straight lines like the witch, tables, and awning. I also had reflective gold acrylic paint which added a cool finishing touch. I painted the inner portion of the mat with this too.

• Reassemble and display. Reverse the process of taking your photo apart to put it back together again. Don’t forget to sign the new one first! You worked hard. Be proud! Now, find the perfect spot to hang your new ghost painting and admire the heck out of it.

Happy Painting, Witches!!

Share your ghost painting with our followers to inspire others to go for it. Tag us with #MMMghostpainting to show off your masterpiece!

Few things are more “Michigan” than classic cars which is why Back to the Bricks should be on everyone’s summer bucket list! From the various tune-up parties across the state and the rolling cruises to the holy grail of Michigan Car Shows Saturday on Saginaw Street there is a little something for everyone!

As someone who has watched this event grow from around 600 cars in 2005 to over 30,000 cars and almost 500,000 people I can say it truly is an event for all ages to enjoy!

As I’ve gone from a daughter cruising along with her dad and friends, to a planner of an official stop the Back to the Bricks Mitten Promo Tour, participating at AutoRama under the Back to the Bricks umbrella, to now a parent myself, here are my 5 best tips to make the most of Back to the Bricks with your family!

1. Look but DO NOT Touch. 

   These car people spend weeks if not months prepping to have their ride dialed in for display on the bricks.  Waxing, polishing, buffing, greasing – you name it.  They’re proud of their car and want to show it off. Please ensure that you and your children do not touch these rides.  Especially be careful of button, zippers, and belts when gazing into vehicles.  One scratch can cause thousands in repair.  These are precious pieces of history they took the time to bring out for the publics enjoyment, please treat them as so.

   

2. Bring a Wagon or a Stroller. 

   The bricks of Saginaw Street are deceiving, let alone in August heat. Not only will a wagon or stroller allow you to explore all the vehicles on Saginaw Street but you can check out the side streets and vendors as well.  Plus you can store snacks, drinks, and any purchases within it.  Please do keep in mind #1 and do not try and push these between or close to cars!

3. Ask Questions!

   Don’t be afraid to inquire what is under the hood! This is a great opportunity to teach your children and learn yourself about Michigan’s historic role in the automotive industry especially that of Flint.  A lot of times you will be surprised with the stories the owners have of how they acquired the car or a certain memory of why it is so special to them.  We always like to play pick your favorite car where everyone has their ride that they would like to drive home in!

   

4. Check out the Vendors + Restaurants + Sponsors

   This is another opportunity to check out what is happening in + around Flint, Michigan.  Pop in shops, enjoy an infamous Torch Burger, and explore the Flint Farmers Market! There are really cool statues right by the flat lot and a ton of personalized bricks with a lot of history behind them plus all the sponsors who so generously make this FREE event happen. It gives a nice break up of the day for everyone as opposed to just walking and looking at cars plus the local economy appreciates it more than you know! 

5. Enjoy the Day! 

   My dad loved cars and some of my best memories are hanging out with him and his buddies on the bricks. My friends would come and we’d each hop in a hot-rod and learn so much about why these cars were important to them as well as all the labor and love that went into each one.  I especially loved when my dad would walk by one on display and share that was what my grandparents drove and a little memory attached to it. Classic cars are a great generational bonding topic and I encourage you to use this FREE event to make your own memories or share little bits of information about a car story from your family that means a lot to you!

   

   Tell us what is your dream car? Classic or New?