Do you need ideas for activities to do with kids? Tried and true suggestions that real moms actually do? Here they are! We’re asking families to share their favorites, to help you find yours.

 

Are you following @lifestyleofabasicmillennial on Instagram? Ferndale mom Alyssa is the creator of Lifestyle of a Basic Millennial; a travel, wellness, and mom lifestyle blog that features cozy, everyday mom fashion and must-have baby gear. This working momma offers up amazing fashion tips and the most adorable pics of her little cutie, Penelope. 

 

Meet Alyssa

My name is Alyssa and I’m a first-time mom to my 8-month old daughter Penelope. We live in Ferndale with my husband Andrew and our Canadian cat, Lana. I am a Marketing Manager by day for a global food supply chain company, and a wannabe blogger over @Lifestylesofabasicmillennial by night – or whenever I have ten minutes of free time!

 

Favorite Ways To Spend Family Time:

  • Cooking
  • Listening to music
  • Boat Days on Lake Charlevoix

 

Favorite Places To Go:

 

Favorite Bedtime Stories:

 

Favorite Recipes:

 

Best Park/Playground: Belle Isle (Detroit)

My husband and I both used to live in Downtown Detroit and we spent a lot of summer weekends on Belle Isle. We love it because it offers pretty much everything you could want in a park – biking and running trails, play structures, the beach, the aquarium and so much more. We love to visit the Belle Isle Conservatory in the winter to get a little bit of green if we’re feeling the winter blues.

 

Best Family-Friendly Annual Event: Zoo Boo at the Detroit Zoo (Royal Oak)

This one is tough to answer since so many of the fun family events we were looking forward to were canceled thanks to COVID-19. We were most looking forward to the ‘Zoo Boo’ this year at the Detroit Zoo and are super bummed that it’s not happening! We’re big fans of the zoo and looking forward to becoming members next year!

 

Your Mom Must Have: Baby Food Subscriptions

There are so many baby items out there that are useful for a little while depending on what phase of babyhood you’re currently in, but the one thing that’s helped me a lot is utilizing the fresh baby food subscriptions like Little Spoon and Yumi. In a perfect world, I would make my own healthy baby food for Penelope, but life is crazy right now, and I prefer to spend my free time enjoying her vs. meal prepping in the kitchen – Serious props and respect to all of the mamas that make everything from scratch! I like these two subscriptions because they’re flexible, and as your baby grows they also offer baby-led weaning meals and finger foods for toddlers. I can rest easy knowing that Penelope is getting the best quality, organic food in her early years and it takes the pressure and prep off of me!

 

Best Fall Destination: Boyne City

We love the Boyne City area. My family has been going there since I was a kid and it’s so nostalgic for me. One of our favorite fall activities is hiking the Avalanche trail to get some good views of Lake Charlevoix and all of the changing colors. Pop by the Boyne City Bakery afterward for a coffee and the most authentic and delicious French pastries, and you have the perfect fall morning.

 

“Pat Yourself on the Back” Accomplishment: Advancing My Career, My Way

I’m really proud of the advancements I’ve made in my career over the last year or so. I found out I was pregnant with Penelope the same day I also quit my job I’d been at for nearly 6-years – talk about terrifying and really bad timing. I was at a crossroads, and I almost decided to not take the new job (that I really wanted) knowing it would be a lot of change in a short amount of time. I took a leap of faith and it all worked out in the end. In the short time I’ve been there, I’ve been able to make some contributions to the team and company that I am really proud of –  all while transitioning to motherhood during a global pandemic! It hasn’t been easy, to say the least, but it’s been rewarding and refreshing for me to be able to keep that part of my identity as I became a mom for the first time.

 

Photo credit: @lifestyleofabasicmillennial

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About Ashley Hubbbard-Porter

Ashley Porter is a Chicago native who now calls Birmingham home. Ashley and her husband Mike and son Jake love attending local festivals, exploring Detroit’s diverse food scene, and venturing outside of Metro Detroit to enjoy the natural beauty of Michigan. With a background in Early Childhood Education, Ashley loves connecting with and supporting families in her community, which is why she is so excited to be a part of LittleGuide Detroit.