Introducing the DMB’s of Danielle Andresen

(Down with Detroit)

Hello I’m Danielle Andresen and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to write for Detroit Moms Blog!  I will start by telling you a little about who I am.  I grew up in a smaller city called Port Huron.  It borders Sarnia, Ontario and is what I call a big small town.  I enjoyed the lakes, rivers, trails and serene nature that Port Huron has to offer but there was this gravitational pull that brought me to the city.   My first big move was when I decided I yearned for the urban lifestyle and enrolled in an Elementary Education program at Wayne State University.  To avoid the hour long commute, I found a charming little flat in Ferndale to call home. Oh it was perfect! I was within walking distance to downtown Ferndale and close to Detroit.  I was young and free!  

This is when I discovered how much Oakland County has to offer and I began exploring my many options.  I found a love for the mat and attended The Yoga Shelter in Royal Oak on a regular basis.  I developed a palate for the various ethnic foods available to us and cherished the simple joy of heading to Eastern Market on Saturday mornings to pick up some fresh flowers and seasonal fruits and veggies. Oh and I can’t forget Vivio’s for one of their famous Bloody Mary’s!   The vibe of city life is what keeps me energized and once you get to know me you will find…I have tons of it!

Love found me and I met my soulmate shortly after moving to the area.  We both shared the love for exploring the city and colored it red!  At the time, my husband (then boyfriend) was working at the Ren Cen.  On any given day, I would head to the towers to have lunch with him at Pot Belly’s (one of my favorites)  and enjoy some fresh air along the River Walk.  Weekend date nights consisted of Friday night sushi at Little Tree in Royal Oak, Tiger Games, and socializing with friends at the various bars and restaurants that Detroit, Ferndale and Royal Oak has to offer. We were truly enjoying life.

After dating for almost 6 years, my husband proposed to me and we found ourselves married three months later on Mackinac Island.  Our wedding was nothing less than magical!  We gathered with our closest friends and family at the “Somewhere in Time” Gazebo and our wedding reception was on the terrace of Fort Mackinac.  It is now our family tradition to spend our anniversary on the island. Each year we find that magical feeling all over again!  

(My Life)

Did I mention how much I love to keep busy!?!   On any given day you will find my family at any one of the many local events that the Detroit area has to offer.  Some of my yearly favorites are Ferndales DIY Street Festival and Arts Beats and Eats in Royal Oak. My calendar is always crowded with a list of options we have.  But of course sometimes we just like to take it easy and simply BBQ outside and head to the Paint Creek Trail in Rochester Hills for some fresh air.  

I am blessed with the opportunity to do what I love most (be a mom) and continue my career as a part time English Language Development Specialist for Troy Public Schools.  Troy School District is a very diverse district with roughly 82 different spoken languages. I love working with families and their children from different cultures and backgrounds.  Every day is rewarding.  Check out my professional Twitter page.

(Baby & Beyond)

Shortly after marriage my husband I and found out we were expecting a baby.  Being in my mid thirties, I was more than ready to explore this new chapter in life.  We dug right in and took every baby class you can imagine from cloth diapering, breastfeeding to hypnobirthing classes at Peaceful Birthing in Rochester.  I was slowly learning more about myself than ever before as I embraced  this new community of mothers.  Mom to Mom sales became my weekend adventures and I even attended la leche meetings.  Modern Natural Baby in Ferndale quickly became one of my favorite stores and cloth diapering became an interesting topic.  Breastfeeding is now a daily routine!  It’s crazy how much a baby can change your lifestyle.  

In July 2012 we welcomed our son Beckett to our family.  He has forever changed our lives and is such a blessing. A  few weeks ago we welcomed Little Miss Charlotte to the world and it’s the best feeling ever to have a sweet baby girl to cuddle with while I watch Beckett do “big boy” things.  

I look forward to creating posts for DMB. It’s perfect, I love to write and “motherhood” is definitely the highlight of my day!