5 Tips to Eating Out with Kids

Last night we decided to ditch the meal we had planned and grab some patio beers and dinner to enjoy what is left of this fabulous Michigan summer.

I hear it all the time, how do you eat out with kids? The answer is simple.

We go out to eat with kids.

Etsy Shop Story + Giveaway

In December of 2012 I was newly pregnant with Skylor and I jumped on Etsy to sell jewelry I was already making for myself.  It was something I did before starting my blog that I enjoyed. Shortly after I started blogging and recording our lives here and on YouTube and I scaled back on Etsy and threw myself into learning everything about video editing, shooting and writing.

In 2015 I didn't enjoy making jewelry anymore and I made a growth chart to track the boys heights. I started selling these to local moms and families all over the US. I quickly realized how much I hated USPS as they ruined 5 of my orders, upset my customers and myself, so I stopped making them all together.

One day I was on Instagram and came across the cliche #boymom t-shirts. I had been looking for boymom shirts for a while but HATED the design and price of these ones. It was basic Hanes T-shirt with an ugly font. I think she was charging like $52 or something ridiculous.

Hell to the no!

In true Chelsea form I said I can totally make something better.

So I did.

Clothing is something I've loved since I was little so creating my own shirts wasn't that strange of an idea for me. I originally went to school in Chicago for Fashion Merchandising when I was 18 before I transferring to GVSU. This wasn't a new passion of mine, maybe just one that was pushed aside when I had kids.

So just like that the first 'house of boys' shirt was created, followed by 'house of girls' and 'house of twins' which are sold out currently. The house of boys shirts started flying off the shelf, I literally couldn't keep up with the demand sometimes. Apparently boy moms want everyone to know they are a boy mom. I get it though, because living in a houseful of boys is like living in a frat house!

Speaking of frat houses...

As the months went by I started keeping a list in my phone of funny or clever things I wanted to print on shirts, not just for adults, but for kids too. The next boy mom shirt I created was "I run a frat house shirt." Just like the house of boys shirts the orders were coming in left and right, sometimes people were buying both at the same time, it was awesome to see those notifications on my phone! A cash register noise would ding and sometimes Jerek would yell from the other room" you got another sale!" It's very exciting feeling.

Today these are my two best selling shirts, it makes me even more proud to be a boy mom.

I started to make a couple more shirts that were geared toward motherhood and not just for families that had kids of the same gender like the house of boys were designed for. In came the "Eat Sleep Mom Repeat" and the "Embrace the chaos-mommyhood" shirts.

Next up was the wedding related shirts, after all, I was planning my own wedding! I kept seeing the normal "Mrs." or "married!" tee's and I just didn't like them, I wanted something different.  So I had created the 'girlfriend fiancée' shirts and then a week later the Wifed Up shirt was then born.

The funny thing is, I get more orders of women ordering the wifed up shirts for their soon to be husbands to wear on their honeymoon! I love it! A design that most people buy to wear the day after they get married they tell me.

On June 5, 2015 I sold my first shirt. It's been a little over a year and I'm 3 sales away from 500 sales! It's exciting and hard work, all while I work in corporate full time, run my videography business and blog/vlog! I'm starting to look into trade marking, expanding in both kids and adult items and possibly selling in local shops!

One of the frustrating things I've stumbled across is a big Instagram account that started making house of boy shirts way after I did. While the designs aren't the same, I can't help but get a little butt hurt that I created them long before they did. Such is life though ya know! I realize that these things happen all the time and I'm starting to see how I can trade mark certain ones, be better about marketing and also open my own website so I'm not just tied to Etsy.

This has been my goal for a while now; a online store that is more than just Etsy. I've been working insanely hard on new logo, a new website and working with wholesalers to bring in other clothing then just my t-shirts! You guys, this is the stuff I learned in college and dreamed about doing, working for a company, buying clothes that you would see in shops. The reality is, I don't have to work for someone else to do this, I just had to do the research on how I could work for myself!

You guys know that I've been rocking the capsule wardrobe life for over 6 months now. So the pieces that will be added into the shop will be perfect additions to any wardrobe! They will be based around neutrals, simple patterns, and great for moms that want to spice up their yoga pant wardrobe! I'm so excited about whats to come, it's going to be a real online store and maybe one day I'll have a little shop, a brick and mortar store! A girl can dream, err wait, no no, a girl can WORK TOWARDS IT! I don't dream here, I just do!

With that being said, keep your eyes open for more announcement's regarding the shop! You can also follow along on the new/separate Instagram for the shop; East + Willow. There will be sneak peaks of new shirts, new clothing, accessories, coupon codes and big announcements so make sure to follow along!

To celebrate almost being at my 500th sale I'm doing a giveaway of 2 Eat Sleep Mom Repeat in the exclusive muscle tanks! It's crazy to think there are hundreds of people all over the world wearing something I created. As a thank you to all past and future customers, I'm also offering 10% off all orders for till August 19th with the code THANKYOUSALE.

Love you guys and cheers to East + Willow!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Huge Black Friday Sale

Hello and Happy Monday! Yes, HAPPY MONDAY! I'm here to tell you about the black Friday deals I'm having at my shop and lucky you, they start TODAY!

Black Friday sales are getting earlier and earlier every year and while I'm always down for a good deal I can't stand sitting in line at 4am for a freaking blender, or better yet a TV that is only $50 less then normal price but everyone is popping boners over that 60 inch they just can't liiiiiveeee without! Barf.

So shop away in with no bra and yesterday's makeup on because I'm giving you coupon codes to use from YOUR COMPUTER! No waiting in line, missing work and hell I'm giving these codes to you 4 days before black Friday even begins! The codes are good from today, the 23rd and they are valid through December 1 so shop away!

All orders will be shipped out by December 11th (if not sooner) and arrive 2-4 days later depending on the post and where you live.

In case you missed my big announcement post I'll recap it now. Any shop orders that have come in from 11/2-12/1 will have 10% of the profits donated for gifts for the NICU babies at The Children's Hospital of Michigan, which my family will then contribute on top of that.

These meaning behind the shirts mean a lot to me. Being in the hospital with kids is never fun and over holidays is a million times worse. I want these babies to have a little something special from a fellow NICU mom who spent Christmas there almost 5 years ago. Hopefully the parents may shed a smile when they read the cards and see the gifts that all 43 beds at the NICU will be getting from us!

>> ADULT SHIRTS <<

one. two. three. four.

Buy 1 Adult shirt, get 1 Children shirt 50% off: Code BLACKFRIDAYADULT

Buy 1 Children shirt, get 1 Children shirt 50% off: Code BLACKFRIDAYKID

Buy 4 Adult shirts get $20 off: Code BLACKFRIDAY4SHIRTS

Spend $100, get $20 off: Code 20OFF

>> KIDS SHIRTS <<

one. two. three. four.

There are also still a few of the 'House of Twins' and 'House of Girls' shirts on sale right now that also are available to get in on the Black Friday deals!

All shirts can be gift wrapped and sent to whomever you choose (in the US) and a holiday card can be added at no additional cost. Please make sure you just leave a message in the notes and I will ship accordingly!

Please email me if you have any questions on sizing, colors, etc at eastwillowgrove@gmail.com

Secret Project Reveal : House of Boys

After months of planning around work and family schedules I finally got everything situated and it's finally here! A goal of mine in May was to go all in on a project I had been working on. So here we go folks!

{Yes, those are knee pads, Tracen REFUSES to take them off}

I've mentioned recently that I love a great tee paired with jeans. Sometimes I can look more put together wearing this type of outfit than I can in a dress. As a mom I have to make a conscious effort to make time for myself because life can get hectic and I know I feel much better when I do. I also need to realize that I usually end up with boogers, milk and food all over me by the end of the day due to the boys so I try to find a mix of comfort and cute. That's why jeans and a tee are a go to for me, but I'm not looking for just any tee, fruit of the loom will just not do.

A while back I was telling Jer how I had all these ideas for T-Shirts, that I wished the cute graphic tee's you see in stores weren't so expensive, so we started talking. He's always been my biggest cheerleader, so when I started talking designs, types of shirts, style and printing he was there right with me telling me I should do it. After months of getting quotes for screen printing myself or with another company,  I went with working with a company but designed everything myself. I'm also the shipping, receiving, marketing, packaging and admin person, you get the drift.

{SIDE NOTE: look at the photographer in my glasses, he's SUCH a babe!}

For months you've probably seen me hashtag #houseofboys and this was why! I'm sorry in advance that but I'm not trying to dismiss the families that have boys and girls, I just haven't come up with a creative shirt for them yet! To me there's something unique about having a house full of boys or girls and it takes a strong man/women to raise twins so I started with these, I hope you mama's with both understand. Don't worry though, I have a plan to incorporate you too, I have a notebook full of different ideas, sayings, and styles that will be making it into the store in the future so stay tuned!

To see the other shirts you can shop here at East + Willow and take a look around! If you have any questions, comments or if there is a shirt but you want a different size feel free to email me and we will get a custom order going. Lastly, like I've done in the past, if you live in the Detroit area and would like to save on shipping use coupon code 'METRODETROIT' and we can arrange pick up. Or fly me out to where ever you live I'll personally hand deliver your shirt and we can have a glass of wine together!

I'm excited for these shirts and the other items that will be popping up in the shop!

XO

my favorite stage is now

Michigan summer is finally within view and I'm starting to day dream of that packed calendar. One that I don't mind having in all honesty. Working full-time I don't get to see everything that the boys do, in fact I probably get to see about 60% of their lives if I'm being honest with myself. Some days that stresses me out more than others. We are very lucky to have a great daycare and family that watch the boys while we are off working. With the long summer months ahead of us I find myself always saying that I'm looking forward to this or I can't wait till that but how is it I'm never really just content with the now.

When Sky was just a wee blob Jer and I use to talk about how we couldn't wait till he was able to sit up and interact on the floor with Tracen. Then it became we couldn't wait till he could run around and play pretend and lately we've even joked about how nice it's been that Tracen's "job" is to let the dog out when asked. Flash forward from those conversations and we are here, those things are happening and my little baby is no where to be found.

Taking a step back though and realizing all that's happen in the last 5 years is crazy. Time really does fly when you're having fun as cliche as that sounds. Our weekends may be a little boring from time to time as they are filled with grocery shopping, laundry {or lack there of doing} but they are always filled with smiles and laughter and a few smart ass comments from myself to Jerek {how does he even put up with me?!}

Live for today {in German}

When Tracen was a little over a year old I went and got my second tattoo {notice the crazy dark hair!} one I had been wanting for a while. Living in the moment or the day is something I have to constantly remind myself to do, to live for the everyday, and not just the big and exciting things that we tend to always look forward to. At times we can get so caught up on the large goals, the trips we're headed on or the money we're making that we tend to forget about the small things, the everyday things that make us happy or maybe just the things that get us by.

Both boys are growing at such a rapid rate I swear some days I just can't keep up. I find myself wishing Skylor would just be done teething or instantly be potty trained. At these same moments I then realize that he's almost two and where the hell has my baby gone. There are days when they play together so well that I can cook dinner without a peep and I think, this, this is my favorite stage. Every night when I put Tracen to bed and tell him good night I hope that maybe that night will be the night he actually sleeps in his own bed. There have been a handful of mornings I wake up and he's not next to me and I start thinking maybe I should take back everything I said the night before!

No matter what stage you are in make it your favorite. The sleepless nights will pass and maybe they won't but they won't be the end of the world in the greater scheme of things. The neediness of constantly longing to be attached at your hip will subside and they will soon enough be teenagers that you will beg to have dinner with you. Regardless,

BE. HERE. NOW.