Looking for inspiration + ideas for things to do with kids in Metro Detroit? Tried and true suggestions that real moms actually do? Here they are! Every week LittleGuide Detroit spotlights a local Mom in our #MomLife series.
Are you following @motorcityminis on Instagram? Local mom Heather Dito scours the area to bring you the best vintage kids clothing + accessories at her online boutique and by appointment in person at the shop she runs out of her Royal Oak basement! She’s looking to interact with the local mom community more and bring more physical presence to her online venture.
Meet Heather
I’m Heather and I’m the founder and everything-er at this one-stop mom run vintage shop Motor City Minis.
I have a passion for sustainable, interesting, well-made, unique, artistic clothing for kiddos, and I have found all of that in the world of vintage kid’s clothes! I run my online shop out of my basement and at any given time have thousands of fabulous pieces. I love that hunting down and reusing these timeless pieces of clothing, shoes, accessories, etc is a completely sustainable, earth-friendly approach to clothing our kids—and it all comes with a side of history, nostalgia, creative design, and quality. I offer everything from vintage swimsuits to vintage snowsuits, vintage Levi’s denim, OshKosh overalls, Disney pieces with that extra nostalgia punch, and everything in between.
Always happy to help new-to-vintage people get started with some great new pieces. Once you get that first personal connection with pieces like you had in your own childhood you will lament that you didn’t know about these treasures sooner!
Favorite Parks/Playgrounds:
Favorite Places To Go:
- Thrift Stores – Value World (multiple locations)
- Detroit Institute of Arts
- Michigan Science Center (Detroit)
Favorite Bedtime Stories
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
- Oh, The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Family-Friendly Restaurants
Best Family-Friendly Annual Event: Arts, Beats & Eats
It’s Labor Day weekend in Royal Oak and we can walk down there which makes it so nice and my son loves the carnival rides and there’s also lots of easy ways to grab food and do other stuff. If you go early the first couple days you get in free too!
Your Mom Must-Have: Overalls
Overalls, preferably vintage OshKosh adult pairs to retain some personal identity and style as a mom! Tons of pockets for keys, wallet, phone, snacks, you name it! Also with all the fast bending and up down action it’s so comfy not feeling like your pants are falling off or worrying if you’re unintentionally treating everyone to a view they don’t really want.
Best Summer Destination or Event: Front Porch
Destination front porch! I’m the only person in the world who doesn’t like summer and being hot. We live on a busy little street with lots of pedestrian traffic but no parking allowed, so our front porch is absolutely perfect for people watching and enjoying a good breeze, summer storm, etc with a cool drink and some music. The added living space of the porch in the warmer months is one of the only things I truly enjoy about summer. And storm watching! Find us on our front porch for a deluge every time.
“Pat Yourself on the Back” Accomplishment:
Leaving California with my husband to move across the country at 6 months pregnant to Michigan where we had no family or friends, having my son, and then building a business that was not even on my radar — and loving it so much! I worked as a photographer for the previous decade which is what I went to school for, but being a mom and running this business that pairs sustainability with the artistry and design of these old clothes, the history of these pieces mixed with the tangibility of providing unique high quality pieces for our kiddos—it’s really been a total gift that I would never would have imagined doing but that has been a total blessing!
