Dana Burland

Big news for your Tuesday afternoon: I've just launched a new section of my blog called " Local Favorites ". It's a list of places we like to explore as a family. I have a feeling my blog traffic is going to go up like wildfire from my own reference on a Friday night when B and I look at each other and say "what do you want to do this weekend?" I'll keep this list updated as we venture to new places!

Me again coming in hot with advice no one asked for. Do you have a new-mom friend in your life? Here are my tips for supporting this special lady: Ask--and make “yes” easy Can I bring Panera over this week? Would you like me to take Older Sibling out for donuts sometime to free you up? I’m headed to Target before our visit tomorrow--what can I pick up for you guys? Do you want your Tim Horton’s bread bowl filled with potato soup, Wendy’s chocolate milkshake and Chick-fil-A sandwich at 9am or 9:30am? Come as you are Company. Is. A. Huge. Gift. Do not undervalue sitting and talking. Talk over the crying baby if mom’s calm and talking over the crying baby. If you’re willing to hear about her birth experience, let her know you’re cool if she wants to share it. Starbucks & Amazon gift cards She needs and deserves fancy coffee. Baby needs a slew of last-minute things which will arrive next day. On food So many people bring over food. See if they need it, or when might be a go...

I love when people have babies--especially when those people are not me. The newborn days are hard, and more and more of my friends are experiencing that. While no one particularly asked for this, I feel compelled to jot down my tips for surviving the first few weeks. Here’s what I’d tell any new mom: All babies are born with a thing or things A crooked second toe, lumpy head, jaundice, goopy eye, weird belly button. All babies are born with a something that we now have the medicine/science we didn’t have when we were kids to scrutinize. Do not be alarmed. There will be a something, and it will be no big deal. You come out of childbirth with a thing or things You owe it to yourself to get some pelvic floor PT. Things will downshift into easier gears At first it’s all a lot, but at some point you’ll notice things get just a little easier, then easier again. Reprieve exists and you’ll get there in time. You don’t have to love it. Nor does your partner The exhausting newborn day...

This year’s strawberry season is my very favorite season. My little boys, like the berries, are just so ripe. Bursting with sweetness, power, personality. The boys match the berries in ruby redness from wild after-work outdoor play sessions. Fresh, not store bought, berries are not too big, just right to pop in your mouth one after another. And these boys right now, they fit perfectly in my embrace as I squeeze them until they pop over and over again. A’s cheeks are round and perfect like a prized strawberry. He’s 1.5 now, an age that’s so bold and so fleeting like berry season. We’re big into the sweet “bye-bye”s as he crinkles his chubby hand open and closed. There’s a lot of head, shoulder, knee and toe mimicking and plenty of exploring brother’s toys as he inches closer to them being able to actually play together. Cam is a complete little man. “Hey, these peas aren’t too bad, Mama!”, he’ll tell me. The other day when I told him I had to eat something before I could play with...

We’re back from a weekend away celebrating my little brother’s 30th birthday! I rented an AirBnB in East Tawas, a sweet little up north town none of us had wild familiarity with. It was great! Fun mini-golf, good shopping, beautiful beach weather and a nice big place to stay. There were so many really good parts to the weekend, but my favorite 4 were: Playing the Jeopardy game I made for my brother with trivia about him and surprise video clues from family and friends Family walks down the marina and pier and enjoying Lake Huron A chill beach afternoon chatting with my mom while the boys played beach games An all-in, all-weekend family debate over if my dad has ever used an electric toothbrush or not It’s the silly little things that are the best after all, aren’t they?