Meet a Mom: Brooke Cummings, My Casual Mom-lifestyle blogger | Greater Lansing Area Moms

This weeks Meet a Mom feature is the lovely, Brooke Cummings. Brooke is a wife, mom to Hadley and lifestyle blogger located right here in mid-Michigan! My Casual Mom was launched just over 3 years ago. Brooke has followers from all over the country that look forward to her finds on fashion, beauty and home. We spoke to Brooke just last week – – she had us laughing until we cried! She is just as casual and fun as she appears in her posts!

Basically, we want to be her best friend 🙂  Welcome, Brooke!

How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
What is your favorite thing about being a mom? I have 1 girl, her name is Hadley. She is 8 years old! My favorite thing is how she looks up to me and being a role model for her. Doing new things together and encouraging her at all that she does.

What do you love about living in the East Lansing area?
What’s your favorite restaurant and/or place to shop in the East Lansing area? We love Stillwater Grill! My hubby & I had our first date at Mitchell’s Fish Market so they have a special place in our hearts. 🙂 October Moon in Old Town is one of my favorites for home items, and unique gifts too. It is a very dangerous store lately for me. 🙂

Tell us a little about My Casual Mom? And how did it evolve?
My Casual Mom started just over 3 years ago now. I was in HR and sales for most of my professional working years. I stayed home to be with Hadley when she was born. While home, and going thru the changes of newborn to toddler I realized that many moms go thru the phases of WHO AM I NOW? What I liked before isn’t necessarily who I am now. I realized there could be a community of us. Mainly regarding how my clothing and fashion style had changed after Hadley, but also just interests as well. A girl that I worked with kept telling me, YOU SHOULD START A BLOG!! I kept putting her off for like a year. Laughing saying, I am boring, I don’t have much interesting about myself to share. hehe

What’s the best thing about your job? Most challenging part?
Best thing is I can do My Casual Mom from almost anywhere. The most challenging thing is that I can do it from almost anywhere. It is hard to turn if off sometimes. Although Now that I am in year 3, I am doing much better with it!

How do you juggle work with being a mom?
It is NOT easy. I try to get much of my work finished before she is out of school. Anything I don’t finish goes to the next day OR after she goes to bed at about 8:30pm.

What’s your advice to moms in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis to make life a little easier? How has your job changed during COVID-19?
My advice is take it day by day and take things off your plate if possible. Even if it’s one thing you can give to someone else or move to the next day. ASK FOR HELP when you need. I think that is a BIG thing for me. I just think, it would be done the way I want if I don’t do it. But during this time, it is IMPOSSIBLE to do it all and it’s ok to say that. I have found when I have asked for help people come rushing to do so. Friends, Family, Neighbors etc. Thankfully my blog/job hasn’t changed a ton. My mom job shifted because Hadley was home for 9 months straight. That was tough. Since she is an only child the lack of socialization was hard for her. We worked hard to think out of the box for activities and how to stay safe.

What is something you wish was in the East Lansing area? Trader Joe’s is a given 🙂
Nordstrom, I can dream can’t I?? hehe

Now some fun ones!

Can’t live without skincare or makeup products-IT cosmetics has a foundation that is full coverage and helps my skin look flawless. I couldn’t live without it. I have acne scaring and a little rosacea so it’s my best friend!

Last book you read- GIRL CODE

Current binge shows- NONE, I am boring in the TV department.

Best piece of advice to someone starting out as an influencer/blogger-Talk with someone that you admire already in this space. Learn from them. Squeeze all the info out of them you can. Come with questions. Right down answers. Offer to pay them for their time.

Last question, who is your mentor in this business?
I had a girl that mentored me my first year or two for sure. Her name is Andrea. Her blog name is  Blonde Bedhead,  I think it’s important to acknowledge the people that helped you get where you are. She is one of them.

If you don’t want to miss out any of Brooke’s great finds, follow along on Facebook, Instagram or check out her website My Casual Mom.

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