LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago Annual Passes Sale (Giveaway)

This is a sponsored post but all thoughts are my own.

Attention all parents of LEGO® loving kids! If you have not been to LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Chicago yet you are missing out! LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Chicago is an indoor family entertainment destination with over two million LEGO® bricks and nine attractions, including rides and a 4D movie theater, located in Schaumburg by Woodfield Mall. Our family has had such a fun time there in the past. Take a look inside here:

Right now through March 6, 2020, Annual Passes are on sale at their lowest price – just $35! At this great discounted price the pass pays for itself in less than two visits. Families will get unlimited access all year to attractions, including the 3 new events, plus the popular Brick or Treat and Bricktacular holiday events. Annual pass holders receive the following:

  • Unlimited admission for one year after your first visit – no restrictions!
  • 40% off admission for friends and family that visit with you (up to 6 additional guests)
  • Invitations to special preview events
  • 20% off in our Coffee Shop & Café
  • 10% off select items in our LEGO Shop
  • 10% off on Birthday Parties

You’ll want an annual pass because 2020 is the year of awesome and they have a lot of exciting new things coming. I’m looking forward to the Trolls World Tour but see below for all the events that annual passholders will have unlimited acccess to:

2020 LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago Events:

  • LEGO® Trolls World Tour (March 21st-May 3rd): Join us in a celebration of the new Trolls World Tour movie!
  • Pirates Ahoy! (May 9th-June 28th): Join Captain Brickbeard’s crew to search for buried treasure throughout and tackle fun challenges along your journey.
  • DC Super Heroes vs Super Villains (July 11th-August 30th): Build your super-skills and choose to fight for good or evil.
  • Brick or Treat (October 3rd-31st): Enjoy spooky fun, monstrous builds, and Halloween characters in this spooktacular experience.
  • Holiday Bricktacular (November 21st – January 3rd): Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with festive builds and activities.

Want a chance to win free annual passes? I’m giving away a family four pack of passes. This giveaway will end the 28th of February so if you don’t win you’ll have plenty of time to still grab your passes at a discount. You do not have to complete all entries to be entered to win but the more you do the more chances to win you have. Good luck!

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Urban Air Naperville Is Fun For All Ages (Birthday Party Package Giveaway)

Thanks to Urban Air Naperville for sponsoring this post.

It’s the first day of fall so I’m doing what every mom does when the weather starts to cool down…I’m making a mental list of indoor activities to keep us busy through autumn and the long winter season that I know is just around the corner. Those in the Chicago area can add Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park to their list of cold weather boredom busters. I was pleasantly surprised to find more than just trampolines at Urban Air Naperville. They had Go Karts, Spinning Bumper Cars, Sky Rider Coaster, Climping Walls, Rope Course, Tubes/Indoor Playground, Warrior Course, Dodgeball, Slam Dunk Zone, and more.

This family-friendly entertainment center in Naperville has attractions to interest every family member. Those with tweens and teens will even be amazed to find their tech-obsessed kiddos putting down their phones to connect and interact with them through adventurous, unique, and engaging activities! What I loved most was how many activities that everyone- from the younger Kindergartner in our group to the adults- could do together. Typically when we go places either the younger or the older kids are standing around bored but that was not the case at Urban Air because they could play together.

Looking to get the most bang for your buck? On Thursday nights, the Ultimate Pass, 4-guest ‘family pack’ is just $79.99 for access to the whole park except the go-karts. (If anyone in the group wanted to upgrade it would be $10/per person for the upgrade to include the Go-Karts.) The $79.99 price also inludes 4 water bottles, 4 pairs of socks, and a large 1 topping pizza. Valued at $143 for just $79.99!

Urban Air Naperville is also a fun place to host a birthday party and there are a variety of ways to customize the party. There are four attraction packages from the basic party that includes the trampolines, dodgeball, runway tumble track, and slam dunk zone to the platinum package that lets party guests play throughout the whole park. You can choose to have a private party room with a dediated party host staff member or just a table in the cafe area with a shared party host. There’s even a glow party option where lighting gets replaced with black lights, strobes and lasers while the kids play glow-in-the-dark dodgeball and jump to their favorite songs. Sounds like a tween’s dream party!

GIVEAWAY!! Want to win a party package of your own? I’m giving away one gift certificate for a free basic party package at the Naperville, IL location which includes:

  • 4 Attractions- Apex (freestyle trampoline), runway, dodgeball and slam dunk- for 10 people
  • 10 birthday plates, napkins, forks, and 10 water bottles.
  • Shared party host and a table in the cafe area
  • Balloons
  • Birthday shirt for the birthday kiddo
  • 10 pairs of Urban Air socks

The winner can upgrade the basic party package if they’d like to. Here are the different party upgrades and the cost if you win this giveaway and would like to upgrade from the package above:

  • $50- Upgrade from a shared party host and table to a room which includes a private party host and 2 large 1 topping pizzas
  • $75- Upgrade to the Ultimate birthday party package which includes the whole park minus go karts and spin bumper cars
  • $100- Upgrade to the Platinum birthday party package whih inludes access to the whole park.
Enter the giveaway below….good luck!

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Fall Fun At Santa’s Village

Thanks to Santa’s Village for hosting my family for a day of fun at their amusement park.

School may be back in session but the summer fun doesn’t need to end because Santa’s Village Amusement Park, an outdoor family theme and fun park in the Chicago area, is open on the weekends through October. All throughout the fall, families can enjoy the roller coasters, thrill rides, kid rides, animal attractions & more. My family visited a couple weekends ago and it was the perfect way to spend a Saturday after a long week of school and work.

We had been to Santa’s Village before but this was Emma’s first time being able to go on the rides. She absolutely loved going on all the rides with her Nana!

Santa’s Village is ideal for younger children because the majority of rides are child friendly.

Don’t worry though…if you have older kids they will find plenty to do! My tween boys loved how short all the lines were on the Saturday afternoon that we went because they could go on their favorite rides over and over again. They also enjoyed mining for gems and I was impressed at the size of the rocks they found hidden in their bags of sand.

A perk of spending the day at Santa’s Village? Getting to see the jolly man himself of course! There’s a cute little building and we stopped by for a visit.

Emma was all smiles while waiting to meet Santa for the very first time.

When we got in there, it was a different story. She’s at that age where she is starting to recognize faces and realize when she doesn’t recognize a face. Santa told my mom to hand her to him backwards but it was too late because Emma had already realized what was going on. It was a good trial run for our annual holiday photo though and we were still able to get a picture of the boys with Santa.

Overall we had a fantastic day at Santa’s Village and look forward to going back again. If you want to visit this fall make sure to check their park hours here. They also just opened a fun water attraction as well so bring your suits next time you visit on a warm day. It was a bit chilly the day we went so the kids didn’t go in but I’ve promised them that we will return next summer, too! I

Fun Summer Day Camp In Chicago

This is a sponsored post but all thoughts are my own.

My children’s favorite summers have been the ones when they attended day camp while I worked. They loved making new friends, playing all day, and spending hours outside. If you are still thinking about what to do with your kids this summer I’d encourage you to look into local day camps near you and, if you are located in Chicago, you’ll want to check out Apollo After School Summer Camps. Apollo After School, in partnership with Daystar School in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood, is offering a 7-week summer day camp in 2019!

Apollo After School offers summer day camps that are both fun and educational in a safe and welcoming environment. Their activities enhance children’s self-esteem and creative expression while keeping their brains sharp over the long break from school. Students at the Apollo summer day camp can expect to make new friends, learn new skills, and have a lot of fun.

What I really love most about the camps are the variety of activities that Apollo offers. Every week, campers will have experiences in science, math, arts and crafts, and cooking. They will also have opportunities to stretch their legs and get moving with different sports and group games. Students will participate in interactive enrichment activities along with classic camp games, crafts, and good old-fashioned playground time. I think that this camp encourages children to be well-rounded which I love and is how I raise my own kids to be.

The summer camp provides 7 weekly themes and children can participate in them all or just choose weeks that interest them (though I think enrolling your child in all the weeks is ideal because then they can try things they might not have before and they may discover new passions!) The weekly themes are as follows:

How fun do those all sound?! Each of these weeks are split into daily themes like ‘Farm to Table Food Fun’, ‘Comic Strip Creations’, ‘DIY Obstacle Course Challenge’, ‘Let’s Go To The Future’, ‘Water Science’, ‘Fossils and Dinosaurs’, and ‘Aliens’. There are so many cool things planned for the kids that they will be so excited to go each morning! Here’s a breakdown of a typical camp day so you can see how your children would be spending their day:

As you can see by the schedule, the camp offers before care and extended daycare which is convenient for working parents. Here are some more important details:

– Age: 4-10
– Address: Daystar School – 1550 S State St, Chicago, IL 60605
– Dates: June 24 – August 9. Registration is available for specific weeks or the whole seven-week period
– Schedule: Camp starts daily at 8:30am and ends at 3:30pm
– Before and after care is available at an extra cost (7:30am – 8:30am, and 3:30pm – 6:00pm)
– Morning and afternoon snacks are provided
– Catered lunch is available for an additional fee, otherwise students should bring a packed lunch

Want to learn more and enroll your child in the Apollo After School Summer Day Camps? Register here but hurry because registration ends June 3rd!

Autism & Sensory-Friendly Family Events In The Chicago Area April 2019

Today is World Autism Awareness Day (or Autism Acceptance Day to some though you can read why I’m sticking with “awareness” for now). As a mom of a child on the Autism Spectrum, every day is Autism Awareness Day in our home but I appreciate those that spend this month trying to learn a bit more about Autism. For those who have Autism and those who love someone who has Autism, April means more special events than normal that are created with our families in mind. I thought I’d share some fun events going on in the Chicago area this month. Some are specifically celebrating Autism Awareness Month, some happen frequently throughout the year, some are special Easter events, and some are just sensory-friendly events I thought I’d add to the list. If you know of more Autism Awareness/Acceptance or sensory-friendly events going on in Chicagoland this month please let me know!

April 6th- Zoos Go Blue at Brookfield Zoo

Throughout the day, special Zoos Go Blue activities will be taking place for families with children on the autism spectrum. The zoo has also designated a quiet break area in the Discovery Center’s Founders Room for those who might be in need of some downtime during the day.

From 11:00 a.m. to noon, the Carousel will have a “quiet hour” with its music turned off. At 1:00 p.m., families can attend a sensory-friendly Dolphins in Action presentation with welcoming remarks from Colleen Shinn, director of community outreach-Midwest and South Central Regions for Autism Speaks. In addition, guests can attend special Zoo Chats to learn about some of the animal ambassadors. These informal talks take place at 11:00 a.m. in the Bramsen Animal Ambassador Pavilion and at 2:00 p.m. at Hamill Family Play Zoo.

The zoo also has several “care kits” that can be checked out on a first-come, first-served basis by families that include noise-reducing headphones, hard copies of visual schedules, autism stickers, and ID bracelets in case a child gets separated from his or her family. In addition, to help families prepare for their visit, several adaptive tools may be downloaded from the zoo’s website at BrookfieldZoo.org/Accessibility. These tools include a visual schedule and a story about the zoo’s Living Coast exhibit that, through illustrations and written descriptions, can help prepare a child for what he or she will see and may feel during their visit.

April 6th- Play Well Day at LegoLand in Schaumburg

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago is teaming up with AUTISM SPEAKTM to provide a brand new sensory friendly LEGO experience! Events occur the first Saturday of every month from 8:30am – 10:00am!

Special accommodations will be made during Play Well Days including:

 

  • Reduction of sound and light levels
  • Quiet spaces
  • A reduced center capacity
  • Staff trained by Autism Speaks
  • Discounted admission pricing

Reserve your tickets here.

April 6th- Special Needs Screening of Dumbo at Studio Movie Grill in Chicago & Wheaton

Special Needs Screenings are shown with the lights up and the volume lowered and children are free to move around, talk, or even dance in the aisles during the movie. The sensory friendly screenings are free for children with special needs and their siblings (parental guidance is always suggested). Adult tickets are available at before-noon price. Special Needs Screenings are shown at 11:00am at all SMG locations except EpiCentre.

Get more details here.

April 7th & 14th- Sensory-Friendly Bunny at Various Locations 

All families with children with autism and other special needs can enjoy the time-honored tradition of a visit with The Bunny, in a more subdued and calm environment. While visits with The Bunny are free, cherished photo memories will be available for purchase at each sensory-friendly event.

Reservations are limited. Please RSVP to reserve your spot today! Find a list of locations and learn how to register here.

April 13th- PossAbilities Easter Egg Hunt at Calvary Church in Orland Park

At the Easter Celebration egg hunt Calvary leaders want all children to have an enjoyable time. They will have a reserved area for children with special needs, such as sensory or mobility. This space will be away from the crowds and wheelchair accessible. Please register your child by emailing [email protected].

April 13th- Play For All Autism Awareness Celebration at the Chicago Children’s Museum

Join Chicago Children’s Museum and Autism Speaks as they celebrate World Autism Month! This autism-friendly event is a celebration for families affected by autism and will include sensory activities, quiet spaces, and a resource fair.

Free admission will be given to the first 250 children and families with disabilities who register!
For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/2u2PTzZ

April 14th- Special Needs Easter Eggstravaganza in Geneva

Special Needs Easter Eggstravaganza: Experience Easter together!

-For families with children with special needs and their siblings
-Families will travel together on a sensory friendly scavenger hunt to find candy and toy-filled eggs!
-Participate in an interactive experience showing the miracle of Easter.
-The event is FREE and there is NO REGISTRATION required.
-There will be drawings for lots of great prizes!

Get more details here.

April 19th- Bunny Bash in Oswego

Join us for this years Bunny Bash 2019!! This year it will be held at our new Oswego Location! There will be a bounce house, balloon artist, crafts, games and more! Maybe even the Easter bunny will make an apperance! (While this does not state that it’s an Autism/Sensory event it’s hosted by a company that provides ABA therapists.)

April 27th- WE CAN Carnival – Autism Awareness Month in Chicago

Come and join us for the carnival that celebrates the amazing abilities of children in this wonderous event filled with fun and activities! There will be numerous carnival games and prizes, face painting, popcorn, bouncy houses, and the city of Chicago firetrucks and police cars!

This is a FREE event to the autism community! Registration is required, RSVP by 4/24/19: http://bit.ly/2TBDmBQ

April 28th- Sky Zone Cares Sensory Event in Joliet

Enjoy the freedom of jumping. Sensory hours provide a quieter and relaxed jumping experience. Just a chance to jump and smile and know that SKY ZONE CARES!

  • Modified safety Measures
  • Less crowded environment
  • Added staff to support all needs of all jumpers
  • Light and sound reduction

Get more details here.

April 28th- Friendship Playdate at Kidville Lincoln Park in Chicago

Children of all ages and abilities can enjoy arts & crafts, sensory gym, and snacks!

This event is free! Please register through the link: bit.ly/TNPnKidville

 

Looking ahead to events in May that you can register for now (things sell out quickly!)

May 4th & May 11th- Variety at Play Fantasy Amusement Carnival in Aurora

Your child with a disability and family are cordially invited to join Variety the Children’s Charity of Illinois, the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association and the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association for a private carnival event. The carnival will be closed to the general public during these times allowing families with children with any disability extra time to safely enter and exit rides which will be run at slower speeds when possible and for shorter duration if requested. Complimentary ride wristbands, popcorn and cotton candy will be provided along with one game prize per child.

Thank you to Fantasy Amusements for providing this event FREE for families of children with disabilities, their parents/caretakers and siblings. Limit 6 free tickets and 1 date reserved per family. Register here.

May 5th- Low-Sensory Mornings at MSI in Chicago

Low-Sensory Mornings are a series of events dedicated to providing sensory-friendly time with Museum exhibits.

On select dates throughout the year from 9:30 a.m. – noon, MSI’s exhibits will be altered, including lower exhibit volume, dimmer lights and limited crowding. On these days we’ll offer additional accommodations including a designated quiet room offering sensory toys, water and a space to relax. You can also check out noise-reducing headphones and weighted vests for free from Guests Services in the Entry Hall.

Get more details here.

May 6th- Calm Waters at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago

Calm Waters is an exclusive event for guests with disabilities to explore Shedd Aquarium’s exhibits and experiences in a comfortable and accepting environment. Modifications for this event will include limited capacity and streamlined entry with advance registration.

Family members and companions are welcome. This event is $24.95 (free for members).

You can learn more about Calm Waters here: https://www.sheddaquarium.org/plan-a-visit/visitor-guide/Experiences/calm-waters/

May 18th- Sensory Saturday at the Field Museum in Chicago

This event welcomes families and children with disabilities as well as with sensory processing needs. Siblings, family members, and caregivers are also welcome.

Sensory Saturday is free with museum admission and advance registration, but space is limited to 40 guests so that families can enjoy a crowd-free space. To register, please email [email protected].

The Crown Family PlayLab is geared toward young children, but you’ll find many opportunities for children of all ages and abilities to learn and create through hands-on exploration with tactile opportunities and sensory tools.

Get more details here.

Get my free sensory-friendly Chicago guide for more sensory-friendly fun in Chicago! (This is a work in progress as I’m still adding places!)

To add an event to this list you can email me at: [email protected]All events MUST be family-friendly and must be for families who have loved ones with Autism or other sensory needs :)

Asleep With The Fishes Overnight At The Shedd Aquarium (Giveaway)

Have you ever walked through the aquarium and wondered what life is like for the fishes when they don’t have hundreds of eyes on them? The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago is giving families an opportunity to answer this question by observing the animal behavior that takes place after hours during their Asleep with the Fishes overnight. It sounds like fun but, since I’m homebound with a newborn, I can’t attend so I’m doing the next best thing…offering you all a chance to attend one of the overnights with your family. I’ve partnered with the Shedd Aquarium to give away a family pack of tickets for an upcoming Asleep with The Fishes overnight so read on to learn more and find out how to enter!

Asleep with the Fishes is an unforgettable experience for families that includes access to explore any of the open exhibit spaces to observe the nocturnal animal behaviors. They also have scheduled activities like aquatic presentations and hands-on science & animal activities. As the night continues families can enjoy late night movies, games, and snacks before it’s time to roll out your sleeping bag and drift to sleep amongst the fishes.

Here’s a sample itinerary for the overnight events:

  • 6-7 p.m. Check-in and time to explore the Abbott Oceanarium
  • 6-8 p.m. Dinner available for purchase in the Bubblenet Cafe
  • 7 p.m. Event orientation and aquatic presentation
  • 7:30-9:15 p.m. Planned activities in the aquarium galleries, time to explore Wild Reef
  • 8:15-9:15 p.m. Movies in Phelps Auditorium
  • 9:30 p.m. Caribbean Reef dive presentation
  • 10 p.m. Sleeping space setup, late-night snack, movie and game room activities
  • 11 p.m. Lights out!
  • 6:30 a.m. Wake-up, time to explore aquarium galleries
  • 7-8:30 a.m. Breakfast
  • 7:30 a.m. Time to explore the Abbott Oceanarium
  • 8 a.m. Time to explore Wild Reef
  • 8:30 a.m. Departure

It sounds like an event the whole family will enjoy! I’ve shared a few important details below but many more can be found on the Shedd Aquarium’s site so please make sure to read the FAQ page for Asleep with the Fishes fully before entering this giveaway and/or purchasing tickets.

Future dates: Fridays- 2/15, 3/1, 3/15, 4/5, 4/19, 5/10, 5/24

Times: Doors open at 6pm on those Fridays and the event is over at 8:30am, Saturday.

Who can attend: Families and groups with children ages 12 and under are invited to attend Shedd overnights. Children must be 5 or older to spend the night. One adult must attend for every five children, and one child must attend with every three adults. Families with younger children may purchase special evening tickets that let them explore open exhibits and enjoy activities and presentations until 11 p.m.

Ticket costs: Regular- $85/person ($70/member), VIP (Caribbean Reef)- $100/person ($85/member), VIP (Wild Reef)- $110/person ($95/member), VIP (Oceanarium)- $125/person ($110/member), Evening only- $50/person ($30/member)

All overnight tickets include breakfast and a late- night snack. Admission to the aquarium on Saturday is also included in the overnight packages! The VIP tickets let guests sleep in premium locations and also permits them to bring one twin-sized air mattress per one or more people and one queen-sized air mattress per two or more people.

Disabilities: Shedd Aquarium’s Accessibility Guide can be found here. Be sure to check out their sensory friendly app if you are attending the event with someone who has Autism or sensory concerns.

Learn more about Sleeping with the Fishes overnights and purchase tickets here: https://www.sheddaquarium.org/plan-a-visit/visitor-guide/Experiences/Asleep-with-the-fishes/

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win regular admission tickets for you and your family (up to 5 tickets) for an upcoming Asleep with the Fishes date of your choice (as long as the date is not sold out)

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5 Things To Look For When Choosing Swim Lessons

Thanks to Big Blue Swim School for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts are my own.

Having tried out swim lessons at about a dozen places, I’m amazed at how different swim lesson programs can be. Considering all the options that are available to families I thought it would be helpful to put together a guide of what things to look for when choosing swim lessons. Things to look for include experienced teachers, ease of scheduling & rescheduling, flexiblity, cleanliness of the facility, and little details that make the lessons more enjoyable for all. I believe these five things will determine the success of the lessons and your family’s experience with the program overall.

I’d recommend taking a free trial lesson before signing your children up for a program if possible so you can check things out for yourself and see if the program is a good fit for your family. I’m also sharing details about Big Blue Swim School which has been our family’s favorite swim lesson school we’ve tried out.

Experienced Instructors

The most important thing, in my opinion, that will determine the success of the swim lessons is having experienced instructors. As someone who taught lessons to kids while I was a high school student, and someone who has taken my own kids to several different places where high school and college students were the main “teachers”, I can attest to the fact that these swim teachers often don’t have much experience. Typically they are just youth who love kids and love swimming and think ‘swim instructor’ sounds like a fun summer job. While my kids enjoyed these weekly “lessons”, they often didn’t learn a whole lot other than the basics. And that’s okay if you are just looking for something to occupy your child’s time but if you want your children to be proficient swimmers, you need instructors who are not only passionate about the job, but have the training and experience to do it.

This is one of the reasons that I love Big Blue Swim School. They employ full-time staff and those teachers go through 100 hours of training to start and then two hours of additional training every week so that they progress as professionals. The training and experience helps the teachers figure out what each child needs to learn. They demonstrate skills and if necessary, adjust how they explain skills, to ensure each kid understands.

Each teacher is truly engaged in finding each kid’s motivation to achieve progress. I saw this first-hand this past weekend when Lucas (my youngest who is on the Autism Spectrum) was having a hard day and was not being the most teachable child. I think many instructors would get frustrated or see a child who was being difficult but his swim instructor at Big Blue Swim School continued to maintain his positive demeanor and took a different approach to his teaching. He found something my child loves (Fortnite) and made a game of the swim lesson to draw in my son. See that smile in the photo above? That was the result of a teacher who entered Luke’s world. I couldn’t tell you what exactly they were talking about because they used all these game terms that I didn’t understand (moms of Fornite obsessed kiddos know what I’m talking about…) but they connected and my boys knew what he was talking about and that’s all that mattered in the moment.

Easy Scheduling & Rescheduling Plus Flexibility

Another factor that is really important in deciding upon a swim lesson program, at least for me as a parent, is a system that makes scheduling (and rescheduling) lessons easy-peasy. As a busy parent I want to be able to do everything online, at a time that is convenient for me. Flexibility is also something that parents will want to consider when looking at swim lesson programs. With my boys in different sports and activities throughout the year, I hate being stuck with swim lessons on a specific day that isn’t easy to change when our simple winter basketball schedule turns into a spring schedule full of baseball and soccer games at different times.

Big Blue Swim School gets how important it is to parents that their scheduling system be easy to use so they make booking swim lessons convenient. They have built their own proprietary software platform that allows families to go online to choose a lesson time that works for all their kids with one click so parents don’t have to come at different times for lessons. The software also allows families flexibility because it lets them log into their account from any device and move lesson times, schedule free make-up lessons, and add additional lessons in just a few easy clicks. They also allow parents the flexibility to start and stop weekly lessons whenever they choose which is perfect for families who go out of town often during the summer or just want to take some time off from lessons. As someone who just had baby #3, and didn’t want to go anywhere for the first couple weeks after we came home from the hospital, I truly appreciate that Big Blue Swim School offers this flexibility!

Clean, Thoughtfully Designed Facility

You’ll want to look for a swimming pool that is, above all, clean. And you don’t want it to just be clean to the visible eye, but you’ll want to know how the facility is cleaned to protect against germs and other bacteria. It’s also important to look at how the facility is laid out, including where parents will be sitting. Will you be able to see your child during the lesson? What kind of experience will you have sitting there each week? (I can tell you from experience that a half hour lesson can seem like eternity if you have to sit in the sauna-like pool atmosphere or have to sit outside in the elements during a lesson.)

Big Blue Swim School prides itself on offering nice, clean facilities for families. Their pools have saline systems and ultra-violet filtration which provide a state-of-the-art defense against waterborne illnesses and harsh chemicals. The floors are carpeted with a special fall-proof, anti-microbial carpet to keep kids from slipping on wet floors and keeps germs at bay. As for the parent viewing area, Big Blue Swim School has a spacious viewing area right next to the pool but separated by a wall of windows so it’s a comfortable temperature for those watching the lessons.

The Little Details Are Considered

While little details probably won’t be the make-or-break deciding factor on which swim lesson program you choose, it definetely will be something you want to consider since you will be making weekly visits. Places that pay attention to the little details show parents that they care about every minute of their visit.

Those that bring young children along to the lesson at Big Blue Swim School will appreciate the train table and coloring area to keep little ones occupied while their siblings are having their swim lesson. They even offer free wifi so parents can work while kids are at their lesson.

I love that Big Blue Swim School thought through all the details of what happens after the swim lessons, too. Changing rooms are plentiful and spacious, there are disposable bags available for wet suits, and they even installed a number of hairdryers so parents could dry their child’s hair before going out into the cold during the winter.

After reading this I’m sure you can see what sets Big Blue Swim School apart from other swim lesson programs. If you are interested in checking out the school, head on over to their website to sign your child up for a free trial lesson here. Big Blue Swim School operates four year-round swim schools in the Chicago suburbs: Niles, Hoffman Estates, Wilmette, and Buffalo Grove. They also have a fifth location opening soon in Chicago’s Northcenter neighborhood.

Slime Bash Chicago (Giveaway)

This is a sponsored post.

Calling all parents of children and tweens who LOVE slime….

Maddie Rae’s Slime Bash Chicago! The World’s Largest Slime Convention is Chicago bound. Created by Maddie Rae, a 13-year-old entrepreneur who launched Maddie Rae’s Slime Glue, this is one slime-tastic event that is not to be missed. This two day event will be held on Saturday, March 30th (10am-4pm) and Sunday, March 31st (9am-3pm) at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL (a suburb of Chicago).

What can families expect at Slime Bash Chicago? So much fun including…

    • VIP Section: Meet, take pictures with and purchase slime & merch from 30 of the hottest slime influencers on Instagram and YouTube all in one place
    • Slimer Alley: Meet, purchase and trade slime with nearly 50 of the best up and coming slimers
    • Make Your Own Slime Pits: Purchase tokens to make professional slime on-site
    • Trading Arena: Ticket holders can trade slime and other goodies with other attendees and participants
    • Live Slime Demo’s, Q&A sessions, Trivia, and Slime Giveaways on stage from VIPs throughout the day on Saturday & Sunday
    • Slime Making Competition: Enter your slime to win big prizes and trophies.
    • Slime Acrobatics Contest: Show off your slime flipping and other tricks to win trophies and prizes.
    • Slime Speed Making Pits:  Continuous speed slime making speed rounds for prizes
    • Enjoy our three Selfie Booths with fun slime props
    • Free Maddie Rae Tattoo and Nail Stations
    • Make your mark on our Great Wall of Slime! Add your own slime to a giant wall of slime- the outcome is a beautiful “slime painting!”
    • Maddie Rae’s “Pop Up Shop:” purchase newly released slime products and a Limited Edition, VIP Commemorative Poster!

Plus, those that purchase the special Mega Bash tickets receive the following: 

  • 1 hour early admission on Saturday morning
  • Exclusive entry into the Mega Bash VIP After Hour Party to meet Maddie Rae and other VIPs up close & personal
  • Mega Bash includes: DJ dance party, super fun games, giveaways and variety of lite bites & beverages

Want to get in on all the fun? Making Time For Mommy readers can get a 50% discount when you purchase the general admission (2 day) ticket. Just head on over to https://slimebash.com/ticket-info/ and select the general admission 2 day ticket then click on the “enter promo code” button in the top right corner before you click “checkout,” and enter “FAMILYDISCOUNT” in the box that appears. Just a heads up…there are not going to be tickets sold at the door so make sure to order your’s ahead of time!

I’m also offering a ticket giveaway! Enter below for a chance to win 2 general admission tickets (Saturday & Sunday admission).

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Fall Fun In McHenry County

Thanks to McHenry County, Illinois for hosting my family for a few days of fall fun!

My family was invited to visit McHenry County and we discovered so much fall fun just a short drive away from the city of Chicago. Between back to school and the busy fall sports season we hadn’t done many of our typical fall activities so it was great to cross almost everything off my fall bucket list when we were there a little over a week ago! From apple orchards to pumpkin patches to fall festivals, McHenry County has it all so you’ll want to make visiting during the Autumn season a must-do. I wanted to share about all the farms we went to and a few other things you’ll want to do while you are there!

All Seasons Orchard (Woodstock, IL)

If you are looking to pick apples, All Seasons Orchard is the place to go! A hayride takes you out to pick your own apples throughout September and October. They have over 15,000 apple trees and two orchards, along with being one of the largest Honeycrisp apple orchards in the area. Honeycrisp apples are delicious, juicy, and crisp so they are great for snacking on and I used them to make some amazing cinnamon applesauce a few days ago as well!

All Seasons Orchard has more fun things to do as well including pumpkin picking, a petting zoo, corn maze, and more. My boys like their apple cannon that shoots apples at targets and riding on their mini ziplines. Before you leave make sure to visit their market store to get all the apple goodies you need! Their apple cider is a favorite of mine and I love their apple salsa as well.

Stade’s Farm & Market (McHenry, IL)

I had to pick up a baby pumpkin for the baby growing in my belly while we were pumpkin picking at Stade’s Farm & Market! Isn’t it so cute!? Their pumpkin patch was huge so we also picked up two large orange pumpkins and a pretty pink pumpkin. I had never seen pink pumpkins before so this was a really exciting find for me and Lucas picked out the perfect one for his mommy. During the summer and earlier fall months there are even more vegetables and fruits available for picking so I can’t wait to go back and pick some strawberries and raspberries!

I wish we would have had longer to spend at the farm after our hayride and time spent pumpkin picking because there was much more to do there than I had originally thought. WIth over 30 attractions in their “Farmtractions Theme Park” kids will enjoy hours of fun. I liked that each activity was thoughtfully created to bring agricultural awareness so the kids were learning while they played. Stade’s also has a pumpkin cannon which I think is a really unique feature (I’d only seen apple cannons before) and the boys favorite thing to do was to go through the cattle truck maze.

Richardson Adventure Farm (Spring Grove, IL)

If “go through a corn maze” is on your fall bucket list you will find the ultimate one at Richardson Adventure Farm because they have the world’s largest corn maze! Each year they have a theme so this year it was celebrating the Bicentennial and I thought the design was pretty cool and it’s really all so intricate! Whether you go during the day or opt for a flashlight trip through the maze, you will enjoy finding your way out of this maze. The maze has nine to ten miles of trail winding through 28 acres of live corn with four smaller paths so you can choose how long you stay in the maze.

Richardson Adventure Farm might be known for it’s corn maze but they have so much more to offer. The boys spent hours on the jumpy pillows (they have two) which seems to be their favorite activity to do anywhere they can find one. Jacob dropped a pumpkin from the observation tower that allowed “pumpkin chucking” into a safe space below which he thought was so cool. There are over 30 activities to keep the whole family busy from a kiddie play area and train ride for the littlest ones to paintball that tweens and teens would love. Weekend pig races are also a hit I’ve heard!

A unique feature they also offered was their private campsite and picnic area. I thought this was great for groups who want to have a home base for everyone (and who can say no to s’mores over the campfire?!) And one other sweet treat to try while you are at Richardson Adventure Farm is their doughnuts. Sinisa, Mr. Sweet Tooth himself, taste tested a number of doughnuts on our trip and said these were his favorite!

Von Bergen’s Country Market (Hebron, IL)

I loved seeing all the colorful produce that is grown at this farm- like purple peppers! It was interesting learning all about what they grow (sweet corn is their specialty) while we were on a hayride.

And of course we ended our trip at VonBergen’s Country Market in their kid activity area. Though it was smaller than the rest activity-wise, the boys still had fun. They loved playing in the hay maze the most! There was also a giant sandbox, basketball hoops, farm animals, and more!

Royal Oak Farm Orchard (Harvard, IL)

Royal Oak Farm Orchard has 17,000 apple trees with over 30 varieties of apples to pick. They are also home to the world’s first apple tree maze, Amaze ‘N Apples, where you can wander through 1.5 miles of trails with nine varieties of apples. The boys loved going through the apple tree maze with their dad while I enjoyed sitting in front of this cozy fireplace located in their barn.

The entertainment area has a fun play area for children including a petting zoo, train, playground, and carousel. Make sure you come hungry to Royal Oak Farm Orchard, too, because their restaurant serves delicious food. I had their pot pie with a side of homemade applesauce for lunch and ended the meal with their award-winning apple caramel pie.

Tom’s Farm & Market (Huntley, IL)

Tom’s Farm Market features a wide selection of farm-grown produce and they also have a cafe with a number of bakery items available. Seasonally they have a fall festival with lots of cheap fun for kids. Other than the jumpy pillow, my boys enjoyed going through their small corn maze, bouncing in the pumpkin bouncy house, going through the train inflatable, and riding the pedal tractors. They also have a larger corn maze to go through and it’s the perfect place to grab a pumpkin to carve if you are in a hurry and don’t have time to pick your own at a patch.

Other fun things to do in McHenry County during the fall season

Eat pizza (and salad) at Lou Malnati’s!

Enjoy chocolate at Morkes Chocolates (you can even make your own at a party or camp!)

Go on a walking tour and see all the sights from the Groundhog Day movie.

Check out all the stops on the Autumn Drive for all your fall produce, crafts, antiques, and more!

There is so much fall fun that can be found in McHenry County, Illinois! Where would you go first?

Chicago Toy & Game Fair 2018 (Giveaway)

Thanks to ChiTAG for sponsoring this post and hosting my family for the past several years.

It’s hard to believe that the Chicago Toy & Game Fair (lovingly referred to as ChiTAG) is only about a month and a half away! The 2-day toy and game extravaganza will be held at Navy Pier, Festival Hall A, on November 17th-18th. This is one of my family’s favorite events to go to and it really starts our holidays off right. My kids love checking out all the new games and toys that are on the market before they make their Christmas wish lists. (See our favorites from last year here.) Plus, the Saturday of the fair is the same day as the Festival of Lights Parade on Michigan Avenue so you can make a day of it in the city!

The 16th annual Fair is the largest non-hobby toy and game fair open to the public in North America and we love that it happens in one of the best cities in the U.S.- Chicago! There is something for everyone at the fair but here are some special events that will be happening during the 2018 fair:

  • NERF Laser Ops Course
  • Enter the Young Inventor Challenge
  • Beer Garden with Popular Adult and Party Games
  • Baby and Toddler PlaySpace
  • Meet Santa and Meet Princess-Etch-A-Sketch
  • Stratego National Trounament
  • Interactive Exhibits, Test out Products Before They Hit Retail Shelves
  • Photo Ops: Snap a photo with some of your favorite characters from Star Wars!
  • Meet Toy & Game Inventors from Around the World
  • Shop for the Hottest New and Classic Toys for the Holidays
  • Yo-Yo Championship – Contestants from Coast to Coast
  • Be entertained by Ben’s Giant Bubble Show
  • Giveaways, Stage Events, Magic Shows, Contests
  • Sensory Power Hour for special needs families (Details coming soon!!)

You can purchase your tickets to the fair here. Also, educators, librarians, and scouts in uniform get in free.

This year I’m also giving away a free weekend family pass to the fair (2 adults + 4 kids max – value $128). Enter below.

Good luck!

 

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15 Family Friendly Things To Do In Chicago And The Suburbs This Summer

Disclosure: While this is not a sponsored post, I have partnered with most of these attractions over the years or have ongoing relationships with them. Thanks to all of the Chicago and suburban attractions that support this blog and provide my family with amazing experiences! Regardless of relationship though, all thoughts are my own honest opinions.

Visiting Chicago soon? I’ve put together a list of family-friendly things to do in the city and the nearby suburbs during the warm summer months. Many of these are even fun to do during the other seasons as well if you are visiting Chicago at another time of the year.

1. Enjoy a White Sox baseball game on one of their Family Sundays.

I’ll admit that I’m not a huge baseball fan (football is my true love) but there is just something special about sitting at a baseball game with my family and a crowd of people cheering for the same team that makes for a fun afternoon. We enjoy going to Chicago White Sox baseball games, especially on their kid-friendly Family Sundays where they have many special kid-focused activities and the opportunity to run the bases after games. Some games they even have special autograph sessions the kids can go to if they arrive early enough! Learn more about Chicago White Sox Family Sundays here.

2. Spend a day of hands-on learning fun at the Museum of Science & Industry.

Chicago is home to many amazing museums but the Museum of Science and Industry is one of our family’s favorites. I really like that it provides so many hands-on learning activities and I feel like it’s one of those places you can go every few months and there are always new things to discover. This summer there is a new exhibit we are looking forward to checking out called The Science Behind Pixar (at MSI until 1/6/19).  This 13,000-square foot, interactive exhibit showcases how Pixar artists and computer scientists use science, technology, engineering, and math to bring Pixar’s award-winning films to life.

3. Enjoy a sunny day at the beach.

Chicago might not be near the ocean but it’s off of Lake Michigan which means there are plenty of sandy beaches along the lakefront…26 free beaches to be exact! If you are headed to Adler Planetarium or the Shedd Aquarium you might want to add 12th Street Beach onto your agenda as well since it’s right there. It’s not a huge beach but we enjoyed going and dipping our toes in the water a bit.

4. Check out one of the many fairs and festivals going on.

There is no shortage of fairs and festivals in the city. From music to art to literature there are typically at least a couple fairs or festivals going on each weekend. Here’s a guide to some of the best festivals and fairs happening in Chicago this summer.

5. See Chicago from all different viewpoints. 

Chicago is typically explored by foot but there are so many other ways to see the city and I share 7 unique ways to see Chicago here. You can view Chicago from above by taking an elevator up to the top of the Sears (Willis) Tower, you can go on a carriage ride or take a trolley around the city, and you can take a boat ride along the river or out on the lake.

6. Go bowling at King’s Dining and Entertainment Center.

Spend a rainy afternoon at King’s Dining and Entertainment Center (or go on a nice day and take advantage of their “sunny day” special passes). They have bowling of course but there are other fun games to do as well like billiards, shuffleboards, foosball, and air hockey. And make sure to eat while you are there. I was extremely impressed with all the food offerings they have. All their food is made in-house and whenever possible they source hormone-free, GMO-free, fresh, local ingredients. They also offer a number of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-friendly items. My favorite appetizers were the Southwestern Spring Rolls and Buffalo Chicken Wontons but they offer dinner options along with dessert (trust me, you don’t want to skip dessert).

7. Enjoy all the fun that Millenium Park has to offer.

You can’t visit the city of Chicago without a visit to Millennium Park (and Maggie Daley Park which is connected to it). During the summer you’ll find kids splashing around Crown Fountain or playing at the 3-acre play garden at Maggie Daley Park. There is plenty of architecture to check out (including “the bean” which is a tourist photo spot) and a garden full of beauty to admire. On summer evenings you’ll even find live music and movies at Jay Pritzker Pavillion’s open-air venue.

8. Visit Navy Pier, Chicago’s #1 tourist destination.

Many know this 3,300-foot-long pier on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan as home to the Chicago Children’s Museum and the iconic giant ferris wheel but there is so much more to do there. Visitors can catch a show at the AMC Navy Pier IMAX Theatre, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater or just outside Navy Pier on the Polk Bros Performance Lawns. Those who love art would be interested in the art exhibits that Navy Pier hosts and those who prefer water to land will want to experience one of the cruises that departs Navy Pier. Cap off the day with dinner at one of the restaurants at Navy Pier and an evening display of fireworks on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

9. Eat your way through the city.

Chicago is known for their deep dish pizza but did you know about all the other Chicago staples? Make sure to also taste all of my Chicago’s favorites like Portillo’s hot dogs, Garrett’s popcorn, Fannie May’s chocolates, and Shake Shack’s burgers. Choose Chicago offers 20 iconic eats here if you want even more ideas of restaurants to eat at.

10. Explore life underwater at the Shedd Aquarium or check out one of their new outdoor aquatic experiences.

Two of my favorite activities to do at the Shedd Aquarium are to pet the stingrays and watch the dolphin show. There is a new exhibit called Underwater Beauty that explores the unique beauty that can be found underwater and features over a thousand animals representing 100 species from across the globe, including eels that ribbon, shrimp that can break glass, sea jellies that pulse and fish that swim backwards. In addition to everything at the Shedd, this summer they are offering new outdoor aquatic experiences. designed to spark curiosity for local waters and wildlife by bringing people closer to them. From a traveling aquarium exhibiting animals in some of Chicago’s neighborhood streets and parks, to a new floating island conservation program for Chicago River kayakers, to hands-on science experiences in a boat on Lake Michigan I saw a special about this on our local news and I hope to be able to experience Chicago’s waters in this unique way this summer! Find all the details about these new outdoor aquatic experiences here.

Living just outside of the city I know how much fun can be found in some of Chicago’s nearby suburbs so, if you are up for a visit to the suburbs, check out these fun activities….

11. Take your LEGO loving children for a trip to LEGOLAND.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center is the ultimate indoor LEGO playground with 2 rides, 10 LEGO build & play zones, a 4D cinema & much more! Kids will love seeing everything that the master builders built, including a mini Chicago (built from over 1.5 million bricks!) and some of their favorite characters and scenes from Star Wars. There is also a Pirates Adventure Island playground inside which seems to draw my boys in each time! There are always fun events going on at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago, too. Last time we went there was a “kids vs. grownups” challenge (which the kids pretty much won…surprise. surprise…) and coming soon they will have lots of additional fun for their 10th Anniversary Celebration. I also love that they host sensory-friendly “Play Well Days”the first Saturday of each month for those with Autism, SPD, and other special needs, so if you are looking for something sensory-friendly put that on your calendar :)

12. Take the train to Naperville, a local suburb that has a great downtown area that is accessible right off the Metra tracks.

Naperville is by far my favorite Chicago suburb. There is so much to do there and it’s all easy to get to from the train station. I love just walking around the Downtown area and along the riverwalk while my boys play Pokemon Go and try to catch the many Pokemon available. There’s DuPage Children’s Museum, a popular place for children to play and explore, which my boys loved to play at when they were little. On hot days you’ll want to spend time at Centennial Beach, the “swimming hole” created in an old abandoned quarry. There’s also a Paddleboat Quarry where you can rent paddleboats and kayaks. We loved spending time on the water in our little paddleboat! Make sure to check to see if there are any special events going on as well. Ribfest is early in July so it’s over for this summer but I recommend it if you are out in the area during that time!

13. Have a splashtastic time at Raging Waves in Yorkville.

Raging Waves, the largest waterpark in Illinois, is full of summer fun for all ages. Adults and kids will both love the wave pool, body slides, and tube slides. There’s also a 1/4 mile long lazy river for relaxing as you float along. Young kids will have a blast playing at Kangaroo Falls which has slides, water cannons, rope bridges, water hoses and a dumping bucket. There’s also Koala Kove, a zero depth entry pool with four slides for the littlest of waterpark visitors. Learn more and get tickets here.

14. Spend the afternoon at Brookfield Zoo.

Brookfield Zoo has been the zoo I’ve visited since I was a young girl and I love taking my kids there now. This 216 acre zoo is home to around 450 species of animals so there are lots of animals to see. Kids will especially love the Hamill Family Play Zoo and Hamill Family Wild Encounters where they can get up close and interact with the animals. If your kids love playing in water make sure to bring a change of clothes because there is a splash pad they will want to play at along with two playgrounds. My favorite thing to do at the zoo in the summer though is enjoy live music at their Summer Nights on Fridays and Saturdays (through August 18th this summer).

15. Have a thrilling time at Great America.

If you have thrill-seekers in your family you’ll want to add Six Flags Great America, located in Gurnee, to your summer bucket list. With over 100 attractions and rides along with an attached waterpark, Great America is a place your whole family will enjoy. My boys love the roller coasters, including American Eagle, the world’s tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster, which Jacob braved as soon as he was tall enough to ride. My favorite on a hot day is Logger’s Run because it’s a great way to cool off when it’s hot out. Young kids will love that there are 3 areas in the park that are just for them!

For even more ideas check out my Chicago Bucket List and this list of free things to do in Chicago! Also, if you are heading to Chicago with someone who has sensory sensitivities, this Sensory-Friendly Chicago list (that I’m in the process of compiling) may help your family have a successful visit to Chicago.

What do you love to do in Chicago with your family? I’d love to hear about it! Comments on the blog are closed because I’d rather chat with you on social media! :) 

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Things To Do In Chicago On A Rainy Day

This is a sponsored post but all thoughts are my own.

There are so many outdoor things to do in Chicago during the warm spring and summer months (that are coming eventually…I promise!) but I wanted to share some things you can do on a rainy day in Chicago. Whether you live in the city or are traveling to Chicago when rainy weather is expected, keep this list handy in case of bad weather in Chicago.

Challenge yourself in an escape room.

For a fun activity off the beaten path, grab some friends and try an escape room at Chicago’s Escape Reality (located at 158 W Erie St. 60654). Choose from six games, with different themes and levels of difficulty. Teams of 2-6 only have 60 minutes to solve the puzzles and escape the room! Time’s ticking! (Cost: $32/player – fun for all ages but over reading age recommended.)

Visit a museum.

Chicago has a number of amazing museums, from well-known ones like the Museum of Science & Industry and the Field Museum to lesser known ones like the Money Museum and the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago. Whatever your family is interested in you can probably find a museum that will capture their attention!

Try out a new pizza place.

One can’t visit Chicago without trying the pizza that our city is famous for! A rainy afternoon is the perfect time to taste test the many deep-dish pizzas that Chicago offers in order to pick your favorite.

Go shopping at Water Tower Place.

Chicago has plenty of stores on Michigan Avenue but our favorite place to shop in downtown Chicago is Water Tower Place. This eight-story mall has plenty to explore including kid favorites, the LEGO store and the American Girl doll store.

Go to a bookstore or coffee shop and read.

There’s nothing like curling up with a good book on a dreary day. Check out the assortment of books and magazines at a bookstore, buy one and then take it to a nearby coffee shop and read while you enjoy a cup of coffee.

Explore the underwater world.

The Shedd Aquarium is one of our favorite places to go downtown. Make sure to catch a dolphin show and pet the stingrays while you are there. Here are some of my other favorite things to do at the aquarium.

See a play at the theater.

Chicago may not have as many shows as Broadway in New York does but don’t count us out! Chicago has a hopping theater scene and a little culture might just be the cure to rainy day blues. And speaking of blue….try to catch a Blue Man Group performance while you are here, too!

Take a tour of the city.

Take a bus, trolley or boat tour of the city- just make sure you sit in the indoor section or wear a poncho to keep you dry. It’s always interesting to hear about the city from the tour guide and you learn a lot of history you never knew before.

Knock down some pins at the bowling alley.

A game or two of bowling is a fun way to spend a rainy afternoon and it’s something a whole family can do together. You may even be able to find a bowling alley with glow-in-the-dark bowling!

Enjoy your hotel’s indoor amenities.

If you are visiting, make sure to stay at a hotel with plenty of fun indoor amenities. We love this one that has an indoor basketball court!

What do you like. to do on rainy days in Chicago?

Developmental Differences Resource Fair In Chicago

Thanks to the Neighborhood Parents Network for sponsoring this post.

As a special needs parent I feel like resources that are available for my child, or our family, are generally not promoted that well. I typically find out about things from other parents or after a lot of research. I always wished there was an easier way to learn about resources so I didn’t have to spend hours searching for them and, luckily for Chicago parents, there is! The Developmental Differences Resource Fair on March 11 will provide Chicago families with one-stop access to school programs, service providers and other resources that serve children with developmental differences.

The fair, hosted by the Neighborhood Parents Network (NPN), takes place Sunday, March 11, 2018, from 9am–1pm. Parents of children with a range of developmental differences—including, but not limited to, developmental delays, Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, ADHD, PDD-NOS, Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder, Down Syndrome, physical disabilities, and more—are welcome to attend this free event. They will have the opportunity to connect with other special needs parents as well as with more than 80 exhibitors located in the Chicago-area, from the neighborhoods in the city to the Chicago suburbs. The fair also offers free, expert-led workshops on subjects such as bullying, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and how developmental pediatricians and neuropsychologists can help your child.

This Developmental Differences Resource Fair, geared towards families with children up through 8th grade, is held at DePaul College Prep, 3633 N. California Ave., Chicago. The resource fair is free and open to the public, however NPN does request that those interested in coming RSVP for the event. Also, while children are welcome in the exhibit hall, workshops are for adults only.

You can view a list of exhibitors and workshops, along with RSVP for the resource fair here.

Teaching Teens To Make Smart Money Choices

This article was sponsored by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), Springfield, MA 01111-0001. www.MassMutual.com. All opinions are those of the author.

Earlier this week I had the privilege of attending Chicago’s FutureSmart event. This event, part of a series of events in cities across the country, was hosted by MassMutual in partnership with local NBA teams and actor/author Hill Harper to help bring financial education to middle school and high school students. Chicago’s event was held at the iconic United Center and, as I stood in the middle of the court waiting for students to fill the seats, I thought about my own money journey.

I had been raised in an upper middle class family in the Chicago suburbs and, for the most part, had a great childhood. But, while I had a good childhood, there was one thing that wasn’t really discussed as I was growing up and that was money.Yes, I was taught basic concepts like saving money, but it didn’t go beyond that. We could afford to attend sporting events, take vacations, and had all our needs and most of our wants taken care of. I saw my dad making the money and my mom spending it and it often seemed like money was unlimited. There was never a time when I heard “we can’t afford that” and, though as a kid that seemed great, I’d learn years later that things weren’t always as financially easy on my parents as it looked.

But before that giant money secret was learned I continued the patterns of spending I had seen modeled growing up and ruined my credit before I even turned 25. I was left with an empty bank account and nothing to show for it but a wardrobe filled with the latest fashions that would soon be out of date. My mindset about money had to change and I had to learn how to handle the little I had in a more mature way. It has taken almost a decade to shift my mindset and become a better steward of the money I make and I feel like talking about money growing up may have saved me from making some of these mistakes and given me the skills to handle money as a young adult. (Not to say my parents were to blame because they aren’t- I was an adult. However I think having more knowledge about financial issues may have been beneficial.)

Because of my history with money, I am an advocate of financial education for kids so when MassMutual asked me to partner with them it was an enthusiastic “yes!”. Though I believe financial education has to start in the home, just 43 percent of parents describe themselves as ‘well prepared’ for money conversations (and some might be struggling to make smart money choices themselves). That is why it is vital that schools and the community take a role in this teaching as well. By the time adolescents reach middle school, they have already developed the capacity to understand complex economic concepts, make financial judgments, and assign value to purchases and brands. Yet the majority of today’s schoolchildren are not receiving the personal finance education they need to navigate the modern financial world. According to MassMutual, only 1 in 4 millennials in the US can correctly answer basic financial wellness questions. This is a problem.

I love the FutureSmart program because it gets kids excited to learn financial concepts. Hill Harper (most well-known for his roles in CSI: NY and The Good Doctor) spent about an hour talking with students from Chicago Public Schools. I could immediately tell that he was passionate about teaching financial literacy to these kids. Along with sharing his story, teens were also given five money smart challenges which were: to learn about financial concepts, create a blueprint and plan their life, talk with their family about money, think before they spend, and to open a student savings account.

In addition to Harper, kids heard from Bill Wennington, a retired Bulls basketball player. The two talked about saving money and the importance of education. They also spoke about the many dreams of teens wanting to be ball players when they grow up and the realities of professional sports. To encourage continued education, they pointed out that most basketball players are bankrupt within five years of retiring and that the top CEOs in our country make a lot more than basketball players do.

Teens also enjoyed the antics of Benny the Bull, a DJ playing the hottest tracks, and performances from the IncrediBulls and the Bulls Flippers Trampoline Team. Learning about money was never this fun when I was younger!

What I love most of all about this FutureSmart program though, is that this wasn’t just a one time thing for these students. The FutureSmart program is continued in the classrooms for the rest of the year so the teens that attended the event can continue to learn money smart skills.

The program is bigger than just these live events, too. MassMutual has a goal to reach 2 million students and their families by 2020. Along with these live events they host, they offer FutureSmart classroom and digital curriculums along with the FutureSmart app for today’s busy student.The digital course is available for FREE to teachers and school staff and makes learning about money fun for youth.

You can learn more about the FutureSmart program here. If you have a middle school student I encourage you to talk to your child’s school about this program. Financial literacy is so important and this program makes it easy to teach kids money smart concepts!

Do you discuss money topics in your home?

 

Why You Should Visit Medieval Times This Winter (Even If You’ve Been There Before)

Thanks to Medieval Times for hosting my family for an evening of fun.

Whether you’ve been to Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament before or not, you are definitely going to want to visit this winter. For the folks that have visited the castle previously, you’ll discover some fun new changes in regards to the storyline. And, for those that have never visited, it’s just as magical and exciting an experience for a newbie as it’s always been! I took my family to the Medieval dinner tournament and we all had a great time so I wanted to share some reasons why I think you should visit soon (other than to escape the cold, of course).

First, let’s start with the most exciting news…the Queen is now in charge and sole ruler of the land. Medieval Times made a major break from its 34-year tradition of casting a king in the show’s lead role when they put the Queen in charge. Girl power!

Since a Queen is now in charge it only makes sense that the storyline changed as well, making it the first time the storyline has changed since 2012. Guests of the castle will enjoy a 2 hour medieval jousting tournament where six knights compete using real weapons. This is the most exciting part of the show and it’s fun to cheer on the knight for the section you are sitting in.

While watching the show unfold in the arena before you, you get to enjoy a meal fit for a King (or Queen!). A 4 course meal is served consisting of soup, bread, chicken, potato, corn on the cob, and a pastry. The meal is served with a bevarage and enjoyed without utensils to keep with the authentic feel of life in medieval Spain. The food is amazing and we always end up bringing leftovers home.

Like I said, whether you’ve visited half a dozen times like I have or are going for the first time (like Sinisa was) it’s a great experience for everyone. So if you want to escape the cold, and enjoy an evening of fun, you can purchase tickets for Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament here.

Our Experience At Big Blue Swim School

This post is sponsored by Big Blue Swim School and The Motherhood.

One thing that is really important to me is that my boys learn how to swim, so they’ve taken years of swim lessons. I’ve tried out at least a dozen different places, from park districts to swim schools to gym pools to highschools that hire student teachers, so I feel we have kind of tried it all and have discovered what works, and what doesn’t work, when it comes to swim lessons for my family. Recently we tried swim lessons at Big Blue Swim School and I was really happy with our experience there so I wanted to share about it because it checks so many of my boxes when it comes to what I want a swim school to have.

Big Blue Swim School operates four year-round swim schools in the Chicago suburbs: Niles, Hoffman Estates, Wilmette, and Buffalo Grove. We visited the Hoffman Estates location for our swim lesson and a tour of the facility. There are three main things that set Big Blue apart from other swim schools- their teachers, the flexibility they offer, and the quality of their facilities.

Big Blue Swim School is the only swim-lesson provider that exclusively hires and trains full-time teachers. They also have weekly training which I thought was a great idea because a more consistent and better-trained teacher will always give a better experience. What I liked most about their staff was how they all interacted with the students. It wasn’t just the swim teacher in the water with the child but I felt like the staff worked as a team to teach the children. Throughout the lesson the pool supervisor would come and offer tips to the child based on what he was seeing from the pool deck because it’s a different angle than their swim instructor sees. They also all seemed to encourage the kids and they would call out with words of encouragement when a child was doing a great job which I loved. Overall, the whole team seemed to enjoy their job and it showed through their interactions with each other and with the children.

As a mom, I think my favorite thing about Big Blue is how convenient scheduling is for busy families. They offer more lesson times than any other swim school and they have built their own proprietary software platform that allows families to choose a lesson time that works for all their kids with one click. This means families don’t have to make multiple trips to the pool just because siblings were unable to find a time where they could both swim. The software also allows families to log into their account from any device and track their kid’s progress, move their lesson times, schedule FREE make-up lessons, add additional lessons, and update personal information in just a few easy clicks.

Best of all, you aren’t locked in to a certain day and time which is great when children’s sports and activity schedules change with the seasons. This has been the biggest problem I’ve had with other swim lessons because it was so hard to move to a different schedule when baseball season turned to basketball season and what worked for the previous schedule did not for our new one. Big Blue Swim School really goes above and beyond to make things as convenient as possible for parents!

In addition to a great staff and convenient scheduling, Big Blue Swim School has nice facilities that are clean and family-friendly. They have spacious individual changing rooms which parents of multiple little children will appreciate. The floors are carpeted with a special fall-proof, anti-microbial carpet to keep kids from slipping on wet floors. They also have a viewing area where parents can sit in a comortable atmosphere and watch the lesson. Big Blue provides free WIFI for parents, plus toys and activities for siblings waiting with their parents.

The swimming pool area is nice as well. The pools are shallow and have an open design, allowing swimmers to get in and out with ease. Kids will enjoy the warm, 90-degree water that is gentle on their skin. Big Blue pools also have saline systems and ultra-violet filtration which provide a state-of-the-art defense against waterborne illnesses and harsh chemicals.

Overall, my kids and I loved our experience at Big Blue Swim School. If you are near one of their locations I encourage you to go in for a free trial lesson and check it out. There is no registration fee for swim lessons and, if you sign up now, Big Blue is offering six swim lessons for $60 when you sign up for weekly lessons – a discount of more than 50% on standard prices. You can learn more and sign up for your free trial lesson here.

Do your children take swim lessons?

The Best Place To See Santa This Season

This is a sponsored post but all thoughts are my own.

Seeing Santa is a yearly holiday tradition that many families partake in. The first couple years of my boys’ lives I enjoyed taking them to see the jolly man in the red suit but then, as the years went on, it was one holiday task I started to dread. Seeing Santa meant standing in a long line, especially if you went on a weekend, and by the time you got to the front of the line the kids were always cranky. The folks at HGTV and Macerich saw this problem and came up with a better experience for families. This year I took my boys to Santa HQ and I can honestly say that I enjoyed the experience and now will actually look forward to this little ritual every holiday season.

Located inside Macerich Shopping Centers in California, Arizona, Chicago, Metro New York, and the Washington, D.C. corridor, Santa HQ is different than other places where you can see Santa. The biggest difference was that there was no line to wait in even though we went mid-day on a Saturday. They offer reservation times but also accept walkups (which is what we did). Guests can register online and select and pre-pay for their photo package which gives them the opportunity to upgrade their package by making their family photo session days or even weeks in advance. The online reservation systems even has an opt-in text functionality to provide reminders about their Santa photo session reservation.

The other big difference is that HGTV’s Santa HQ adds a whole new dimension to the traditional family Santa Claus visit by guiding visitors through an immersive, interactive holiday extravaganza that uses state-of-the-art digital technology. Each Santa HQ location is set with a dazzling array of holiday experiences, including:

  • The traditional photo-op with Santa Claus
  • Elfie Selfie: Where visitors take a selfie and star in their own holiday video
  • Elf-Ray Vision: Guests can explore Santa’s Observatory through the use of special goggles that trigger a series of augmented reality experiences at multiple locations throughout Santa HQ
  • Naughty or Nice Meters: Where visitors can stand next to an interactive board to find out which list of Santa’s they made
  • Light Show: With more than 10,000 individual holiday lights synchronized to the tune of “Carol of the Bells” to create an illuminated orchestra

My boys loved the Naughty or Nice O’Meter the most I think. It was funny to watch their faces as they waited to see if they were on the “naughty” or “nice” list. Luckily both of them made the nice list this year ;)

Once we enjoyed all of the interactive experiences we got to see Santa. The boys took a picture with him and then told him what they wanted for Christmas. Jacob asked for a video game and Lucas asked for LOL surprise balls.

At the end of their visit, Santa let them each pick out a coloring book and crayons. Overall we had an awesome experience at HGTV’s Santa HQ. It really is the best place to see Santa this holiday season!

Have your kids visited Santa yet this year?

3 Benefits Of Some Spa Time

Thanks to Groupon for sponsoring this post.

As moms I think many of us tend to put others before ourselves. Whether it’s our kids, our spouses or other commitments, it’s hard to prioritize time for ourselves and our needs- especially during this busy holiday season. I recently got out of the house for a couple hours and enjoyed a mani/pedi and that two hours completely changed my week and revitalized me. I want to encourage you all to get out and enjoy a bit of pampering, even if it’s just for an hour or two! Whether it’s a manicure, a massage or even just getting a haircut, I wanted to share three benefits a spa day (or hour) can do for you. (I’m sharing a giveaway below for a $600 Groupon gift card that should be enough to pay for spa services for a year so no excuses ladies! Plus use promo code MTFM10 to receive $10 off your first booked appointment.)

3 benefits of a little me time at the spa or salon:

Time to relax

Finding time to relax in a houseful of people is tough. Many times as moms we can’t even get some time alone in the bathroom without little fingers poking under the door or knocking. Each morning, without fail, when I’m going to the bathroom one of my boys always has a question they need answered (and of course it’s nothing ever important or time-sensitive that can’t wait a minute). Spa or salon time gives you time to relax.

Increased confidence

Whether it’s a new do or a fresh coat of nail polish on my finger nails, I’ve found that my confidence goes up. Though it’s just a small change in my look I always feel much better with freshly painted nails!

Leave in a good mood

I’ve found that whenever I leave the nail salon I’m always in a good mood. No matter what happened previously in the day or how stressed I am, I always feel refreshed and in a good mood when I leave.

Do you get spa or salon time often? Admittedly, I don’t go as often as I’d like to. When I went to get my nails done the other day I realized it had been almost five months since my last pedicure. (Yikes!) I found this new salon on Groupon called Elite Nail Care and easily was able to book my appointment and had a great experience there, too.

I wrote in depth about how Groupon’s beauty salon and spa booking works here but basically I used the app to find a salon I wanted to try, picked a time convenient for me, and then Groupon scheduled it and sent me a text letting me know I was all set. It was so easy. What I found most convenient of all though was that at my appointment I didn’t have to dig through my purse with my freshly painted nails looking for my wallet to pay. Payments are done through the app and set up ahead of time (even the tip) so I could just leave when my nails were done and then Groupon sent my payment for me and emailed me my receipt.

If you want to try out Groupon’s new service, and live in the Chicago area, you can use the code “MTFM10″ to receive $10 off your first booked service. Just download the Groupon app or, if you already have it on your phone, go here to book your appointment! And, as mentioned before, I’m sharing an awesome giveaway below for a $600 Groupon gift card so make sure to enter! Good luck :)

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Kinzie Hotel Brings The Holidays To Their Guests With The Holiday North Pole Express Package

Disclosure: My family enjoyed a complimentary stay at the Kinzie Hotel but all thoughts are my own.

The holidays are here! It’s a magical time of year and Kinzie Hotel, located in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, wants to help their guests celebrate the holidays when they are away from home. To embrace the spirit of the season, the boutique hotel is offering the new Holiday North Pole Express Package featuring the North Pole Sweet Express delivering treats to guest rooms, passes to ice skating at Millennium Park, festive activities and more.

Guests who order the Holiday North Pole Express Package will enjoy the North Pole Sweet Express, a festively decorated vintage bar cart with treats galore! The cart includes a hot cocoa station featuring marshmallows, peppermint, and other toppings, boozy hot apple cider and hot cocoa, holiday-themed cookies, and Christmas candies. (For those traveling with fur-family members, dog-friendly holiday cookies are also available upon request.)

After a long day, including an auto accident on our way to the city, the North Pole Sweet Express was just what we needed to get our weekend back on track! Though there are so many things to do in the city during the holidays, I was content to just curl up in the comfy bed and spend an evening relaxing with my mug of hot apple cider while I watched my favorite college football team play on tv….

Along with treats and drinks, the North Pole Sweet Express also had ornaments we could take and decorate in our room. Once done we could hang them on the community Christmas tree in the lobby of the hotel or take them home to hang on our own tree.

For guests who want to get out and explore Chicago’s festive atmosphere, Kinzie Hotel offers guests maps of the city’s top holiday activities and attractions along with skating passes to Millennium Park. (Hopefully you all would have a less comical experience on the ice than we did this past weekend, with my boys trying out ice skates for the first time lol).

Kinzie Hotel’s Holiday North Pole Express Package is truly a holiday experience guests will not forget and such a great option for those who are away from home over the holidays. In addition to all the great offerings of this special package, Kinzie Hotel guests enjoy the many other perks that guests do year-round including deluxe continental breakfast served on every floor, a nightly manager’s reception with complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and a staff that is there to make sure their guests enjoy nothing but the best their entire stay.

Best of all, prices for this fabulous boutique hotel are really affordable which makes it the perfect holiday getaway your family will talk about for years to come! Ready to book your stay? Make reservations here.

How To Easily Book Spa & Salon Services In The Chicago Area With The Groupon App

Thanks to Groupon for sponsoring this post.

In the past when I’ve wanted to get my nails done I’ve had two options. I could call during business hours and try to book the appointment or I could walk in and hope the wait wasn’t too long. Neither of these options is very convenient for me because when I’m thinking about doing something for myself it’s either early in the morning or late at night (when salons or spas are closed) or when I have a bit of downtime and want to head out right away (which generally results in waiting around for an open chair).

Luckily I’ve discovered that I can book salon and spa appointments right in the Groupon app which means I can request my appointment any time that’s convenient for me and Groupon will do all the work of scheduling it. (Available only in Chicago and the Chicago suburbs at the moment.)

It was super easy to set up my appointment. I went into the Groupon app (available for both Android and iPhone) and clicked “salon and spa booking”.

Then I chose the service I wanted and searched all locations near me using my current location.

I found a nail place that looked nice and had reasonable prices and chose my service and picked the appointment time that worked for me.

All the terms of service are clear in the Groupon app before you book the service, like the cancellation policy if you need to cancel ahead of time if you can’t make it.

When you book your service you provide your credit card number but payment is not collected until after your service is complete. It’s nice to arrange everything, including the tip, ahead of time! My favorite part of using Groupon to book my spa and salon services though, other than the convenience factor, is that I know exactly how much I’m going to spend before I get there. In the past I’ve been surprised at the upcharges for nail services after my nails are done, so I really like that.

Once you click “request appointment” Groupon goes to work scheduling your appointment for you. The other day I requested an appointment for myself before the salon opened at 11am and half an hour later I had a text confirmation that my appointment was set.

Do you like to get your nails or hair done? Or maybe you need to relax with a massage or a facial. Whatever salon or spa service you need, if you are located in the Chicago area, book it on Groupon to save time! If you have the Groupon app on your phone, click here to go straight to the experience. Use code “MTFM10” and receive $10 off your first booked service.

Enter to win a $600 Groupon gift card below!
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Chicago Staycation With The Family At Radisson Blu Aqua

Thanks to Radisson Blu Aqua for hosting my family for a complimentary stay at their hotel.

I’m always on the lookout for getaways close to where we live in the Chicago suburbs and our recent stay at the Radisson Blu Aqua did not dissapoint. I was happy to find so much to do inside the hotel which makes it perfect for winter staycations. Best of all, it’s located right in the heart of Chicago, close to Michigan Avenue, Millennium Park and other popular tourist attractions.

When we first arrived at the Radisson Blu Aqua I was thrilled to be able to see bits of the lake from my room. A water view is always top of my list anytime I travel! I also had a nice view of the hotel’s rooftop courtyard along with Millennium Park’s concert shelter.

While a water view is at the top of my list, so is a nice room. When we travel we often have to take breaks in our room in between activities to give Lucas downtime, so we spend a lot more time in our room than the typical family might. The rooms at the hotel were nicely furnished with comfortable beds and a fabulous rain shower in the bathroom.

Once we relax a bit in the room the boys typically want to go to the pool. We discovered the Radisson Blu Aqua has two pools, a large outdoor pool and a smaller indoor lap pool. Since it was too cold for an outoor swim, the boys played in the indoor one. There is also a hot tub which is nice for relaxing after a long day.

After swimming we went to explore the other ammeneties the hotel offered. My sports playing boy immediately fell in love with the indoor basketball court and probably could have spent all evening practicing for the upcoming basketball season. The hotel also had a large workout room and a game room. We didn’t use the workout room but the boys did enjoy playing a game of pool in the game room.

After a busy weekend of enjoying the hotel amenities and exploring all that Chicago has to offer we ended the weekend with brunch at Filini, the hotel’s restaurant. There was such a great variety and all of our favorite foods, from made-to-order omelets to delicious pastries, all beautifully displayed.

If you are looking for a winter getaway, look no further than the “wavy hotel” as my kids like to call it. The Radisson Blu Aqua is a wonderful place to stay no matter the season! You can learn more and make reservations online here.

Does your family enjoy staycations?

Bach To Rock Makes Learning Music Fun

Thanks to Bach to Rock for sponsoring this post.

Make learning fun and kids will want to learn. That’s what led my teaching decisions when it came to academics and that’s the philosophy of music school, Bach to Rock.

Located in Northbrook, IL, Bach to Rock (B2R) provides Music Lessons, Birthday Parties, Toddler and Preschool Music Classes and Summer Camps for all ages and skill levels. They base their method of instruction on the fact that students learn best when they play the music they enjoy most. Students develop their skills by working alongside a highly qualified instructor through B2R’s finely developed curriculum which includes special arrangements of today’s popular music. (As a parent, I’ve seen that this method of learning popular music works better than learning one note at a time because Jacob has tried both in his efforts to learn guitar. He has learned more playing songs he enjoys than he ever did going through a music book and mastering one chord or note at a time while he tried to play pieces of songs he’d never heard of.)

Bach to Rock offers private and group lessons and classes for all ages and ability levels for those interested in learning guitar, piano, drums, voice, and more. Using B2R’s unique teaching method, kids and adults learn to play their favorite songs in no time! What I think is really unique about B2R though, is all of the extra things they offer in addition to music lessons.

At B2R, kids who love music can immerse themselves in it. There are Early Childhood programs that give young kids a head-start in music. Kids can keep busy over the summer by enrolling in B2R’s Summer Camp. They can even join Glee Club, become part of a band and perform at cool venues or learn how to become a DJ in the Beat Refinery DJ school!

Bach to Rock also offers multiple birthday party options for young musicians. Kids can play & learn music with their friends while celebrating their birthday! They can rock it out on instruments, spin jams like a DJ, or sing karaoke together. I love these unique birthday party ideas!

To learn more and sign your child up for any of the amazing things Bach to Rock offers, you can call 224-904-3190 or visit Northbrook.BachtoRock.com

Chicago Toy & Game Fair (Giveaway)

Thanks to the Chicago Toy & Game Fair for sponsoring this post.

The Chicago Toy & Game Fair (ChiTAG) is coming back to Chicago next month! This is, by far, one of my boys’ favorite events of the year. Imagine an expo hall full of fun games and toys to check out. As a parent, I love it because I can get some ideas for Christmas presents and buy them at wholesale prices while we are at the fair.

The 15th annual ChiTAG is being held November 18th – 19th, 2017. It’s the same weekend as the Festival of Lights Parade downtown so my family loves to make a day of it on Saturday! Here are some of the exciting things this year’s fair features:

  • Giant Soggy Doggy will be at the fair Saturday and Sunday! Come join and see if you get soaked!
  • U.S. National Rummikub Championship Tournament {Register here | must be 18 or older} Winner gets all expense paid for 2 to Israel for World Rummikub Tournament.
  • Young Inventor Challenge (deadline October 28th)! Amazing Prizes & Meet Toy and Game Executives and Inventors + Meet the Last Year’s Winners of Ship of Treasures!
  • Meet Inventors! Come say “hello”, take your photo and get inside knowledge on what it takes to invent a game or toy! You’ll be able to say you knew them before they were hot!
  • National Yo-Yo Championship: Over 50+ Professional YoYo Competitors from Coast to Coast Saturday, November 18th!
  • Play for Peace Art Sculpture by Chicago toy inventor turned sculptor Jeffrey Beslow
  • Photo Ops: Snap a photo with some of your favorite characters from Star Wars!
  • Demo Areas: Play and test the hottest toys and games with your family, friends, and other attendees like Legos playsets, Build or Boom, Shark Bite, Catch the Fox, Rummikub Twist, Fish Food, all new Doggie Doo, Greedy Granny, Ultra Dash, Marbleocity, Automoblox, Magformers, Tileblox, Clicformers, Ice Cool, King Frog, Reef Route, Woo-Hoo, Flower Fairies, Peter Rabbit Secret Garden, 8-Bit Art Mario and many more!
  • LIVE Unboxing: Check out live unboxings from our Play Influencer team!
  • Holiday Shopping: Shop for the Hottest New and Classic Toys for the Holidays and take advantage of the many “ChiTAG exclusive” discounts.
  • Local Entertainment: Interact with Chicago’s local play celebs – Ben’s Bubble Show, Mercy Magic, meet Princess Etch, and many more!
  • Stage Performances: Kids LIVE Brush-A-Thon, The Good Time Kids, Young Inventor Challenge, Élan Dance Company, Improv by Kevin Reader and Chicago Kids Media are live on stage Saturday and Sunday!
  • Interactive Exhibits: Experience a fun filled day with hands-on displays encouraging and promoting the world of play! There are fun crafts like Make your Own Fairy Garden, Ultra Dash Challenge, Marbleocity Marble Coaster and Automoblox Build and Race!
  • Giveaways! Many exhibitors will be giving away toys and games throughout the day.

I love how family-friendly this event is and that includes being inclusive of those who have special needs. Super Power Sensory Hour is a free event that allows families of children with special needs to navigate, acclimate and easily access the fun of the fair with less crowds and less wait time. (More details on Super Power Sensory Hour and tickets for special needs families can be found here.)

General admission tickets for children and adults can be purchased here. Use the code ChiTAGPLAY for 50% off the ticket price. (Teachers and Scouts in uniform get in free!)

TICKET GIVEAWAY!! I’m giving away 4 family weekend passes for ChiTAG. Each free family pass is good for 2 adults + 4 kids (max). Enter to win below!
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Minecraft City Champs Tournament Coming To Chicago And Other Cities

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

Does your child love Minecraft as much as my boys do? If so, you’ll want to read on to learn more about Super League Gaming and their Minecraft City Champs tournament! Starting this weekend on Saturday morning, instead of just playing at home, they can enjoy the game while meeting new friends by being part of a local team representing Chicago in the Minecraft City Champs tournament. Run in partnership with Nickelodeon, City League Gaming is like little league for Minecraft players! Fun, positive and a special opportunity to get out and play with other kids their age.

And one skilled player will win a HUGE prize for their family – 4 tickets to Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards 2018, inclusive of round trip airfare to LA, 2 nights in a hotel and a $500 spending allowance. (I know my kids love watching the Kids Choice Awards so can you imagine their excitement if they actually got to go and be  there live to see all the slime-tastic fun?!) There will be other giveaways for all players, including an official Chicago Force team jersey.

While you may find it challenging to pull your little ones away from their iPad or Xbox, the truth is that playing Minecraft (and video games in general) can be beneficial for your kids on many levels, including problem solving, building self-confidence, enhancing creativity, understanding teamwork and improving academic performance.

Super League’s Minecraft City Champs tournament is in its 3rd season, so the company knows how to provide a well-organized experience for your Minecrafter. It’s ideal for kids 6-14, who will play alongside their peers and have the chance to compete against teams in cities across the country. The tournament takes place in a movie theater, which means they also get to see their favorite game on the big screen! Parents attend for free, although Super League provides full coverage if you need to drop off. Of course if you’re there, you can cheer on your Minecrafter to victory!

The Tournament comes to 12 different cities and, for those of us here in the Chicago area, the event is in the suburb of Woodridge. Day one is this Saturday, October 14th! On the first day players will meet their teammates and get a chance to practice the custom game modes designed by Super League. The tournament then begins on Sat. the 21st and continues on the following three Saturdays.

To learn more, and get tickets while spots are available, visit Super League’s Minecraft City Champs Chicago Event Details Page. (I’m pretty sure your Minecraft obsessed kids will think you are the best mom ever if you surprised them with tickets to this!)

Mom Groups Provide A Lifeline For New Mothers

Thanks to Neighborhood Parents Network for sponsoring this post.

The best thing that I did when my boys were younger was join a mom’s group. Though my oldest was just a few months old at the time, I still made it a point to go to every playdate that I could. The reason wasn’t so that he could play with other babies but because I, as a mom, needed that connection with other moms. I discovered that motherhood, especially in the early years, can be an extremely lonely time if you try to go on the journey alone!

Over the years since starting this blog I’ve heard from dozens of other moms who have felt the same way. Motherhood is isolating and developing mom friendships is so important! One mom, Sarah Dyer (founder of Shine On) shares how the mom’s group she joined was a lifeline when she needed it most.

(Pictured above: Sarah and her children)

Here is Sarah’s story:

 

I found out about Neighborhood Parents Network’s New Moms Groups from a girlfriend just before the birth of my first son in 2007, and it became my lifeline in the early days of parenting. I underestimated the value of having friends who have babies who are at the same age and stage as your own. Even though everyone has unique experiences and babies who go through different things, you relate on a level that no one else around you is experiencing. My New Moms Group met once a week, sometimes more. Sometimes it was the whole group, sometimes not. It was always whoever could make it and we all understood that.

Being a new mom can feel overwhelming, and it was nice to know that this was a group that wouldn’t care if I had showered that day or if my baby was still wearing his pajamas. Just showing up was a huge accomplishment! We shared the fun stuff, we shared the hard stuff, we shared our frustrations and the things we loved, and we supported each other. We talked about what worked and what didn’t work with our babies and which pediatricians we recommended, what classes people were taking, who had read what, who was trying what. Everyone had different ideas and you could take or leave whatever information you wanted to without judgment. 

Soon we had first birthdays, we were going out at night as mom friends, our husbands met each other, people had second babies and third babies, and we all still kept on with our friendships. It has been 10 years since those early days, and in the last month alone I have gone to a dinner party with two of my NPN friends and our spouses, I have gone for lunch with third mom from the New Moms Group, and have run into another while out running errands and we’ve made plans to get the group together for drinks. These are people I truly enjoy seeing and with whom I am thrilled to be sharing life experiences.

Early parenting can be a rough go, or it can be super-easy—sometimes it just depends on the day. Having people along for the ride can help get you through your day, and sometimes you’ll be the one helping someone get through theirs.

(Pictured above: An NPN New Moms Group)

If you aren’t in a mom’s group yet I encourage you to join one. This parenting thing is hard but mom friends who can lend a listening ear, offer advice, and just be there during the hard times, are priceless. If you live in the Chicago area you should look into the new moms groups that Neighborhood Parents Network offers. Join NPN today to take advantage of all they offer new moms, including free playdates, childcare resources, online and in-person parenting workshops, and, of course, New Moms Groups. Now through Sept. 23, use promo code NPN15 to save $15 on a year-long NPN membership! Click here to learn more.

The Best Meal Delivery Service In The Chicago Area

Thanks to Chef Inside the Box for sponsoring this post.

As a busy mom, dinner is one of my least favorite tasks. I am lucky because Sinisa enjoys cooking and is really good at it so he often used to make dinner when he’d come home from work. It was perfect because it was one last thing I had to do but, nowadays, that arrival home time has become later and later and I just can’t justify having the boys eat at 9pm every day so it’s back on my to-do list.

When I think about it, I really dislike having to make dinner mainly because it comes right during one of the craziest times of day for us. I often find myself trying to finish up my work day and trying to help the kids get ready to leave for sports while trying to get dinner on the table. Sure I can make meals in the slow cooker but that requires that I think about dinner in the morning and that doesn’t really happen. I don’t usually think about what’s for dinner until it’s actually time to eat and by then using the slow cooker is no longer an option.

Another thing I need? Something easy. As much as I love the thought of making a fancy meal for my family, complicated meals with a lot of steps to follow just aren’t for me. This is sadly why I’m not a huge fan of traditional meal delivery services. Yes, the ingredients are portioned out and ready to go but I still have to spend thirty minutes or so in the kitchen following a recipe.

Then I discovered Chef Inside the Box, a Chicagoland meal delivery service that not only takes the hassle out of planning and grocery shopping, but also handles the tough prep and cook so you can just heat and enjoy! Most Chef Inside meals contain a few extra servings you can eat for lunch the next day so you are saving time there as well. Even better though? All this extra prep they do doesn’t mean it costs extra. In fact, from what I’ve seen, their cost per serving ($6.95) is less than the other services and shipping is free!

Let’s talk meal options. They currently have a small selection but they just started less than a month ago so I’m sure more will be available soon. Right now they only have seven meal options but they don’t require a subscription or commitment so you could just use them during your busiest weeks until the menu grows. They have 10-minute express meals which you only have to heat up in the microwave and then combine (no fresh meal could be simpler!) or regular meals which are ready in about 20 minutes.

Each time you order you are required to pick four meals so I chose two regular meals (Braised Beef Fettuccini & Slow Cooked Turkey Risotto) and two express meals (Seared Bourbon and Sweet Onion Chicken & Seared Prime Rib Stroganoff). All of the meals were delicious! The risotto dish was my favorite and the boys loved the stroganoff the best. I felt the portions were large and each meal fed two adults and two kids along with providing at least three or four more servings for lunches or leftover night.

Overall, I love this service because it’s cheap and makes meal time so easy. With Chef Inside the Box, I no longer dread making dinner! You can learn more about this Chicagoland meal delivery service here.

Best meal delivery service

 

Why You Need To Visit The Shedd Aquarium This Fall

Thanks to the Shedd Aquarium for sponsoring this post.

I know it’s not officially fall yet but Labor Day has just passed, the kids are back in school, and the weather is getting cooler so I consider this time the unofficial fall season :) If you are looking for something to do indoors and are in the Chicago area you’ll want to visit the Shedd Aquarium before life gets too busy with school events, sports and the holidays.

The Shedd is encouraging families to clear their “Sheddule” and find some time to unwind with family and friends at the aquarium. To make this even easier for cash strapped families they are offering 24 consecutive FREE days for Illinois residents starting tomorrow September 6th and going through September 30th. Illinoisans can enjoy free general admission with full access to the aquarium’s permanent and special exhibits, including Waters of the WorldCaribbean ReefAmazon RisingWild ReefAbbott OceanariumAmphibians special exhibit, the aquatic show and Stingray Touch experience. Admission can be upgraded to include 4-D Experience for $4.95 per guest- which is well worth it in my opinion.

In addition to free days for all Illinois residents, the Shedd will honor all senior guests with free admission Tuesdays and Wednesdays (from 9am to 2pm) in September. (Seniors will receive complementary admission for themselves plus one accompanying adult partner.)

When you visit the Shedd Aquarium this fall make sure these things are on your to-do list:

1) Touch the Stingrays. This outdoor exhibit, open until October, was the highlight of my trip to the Shedd. It was fascinating watching them glide through the water and I loved being able to touch them to see what they felt like.

2) View the whales, dolphins and sea otters underwater. Get a unique view of them in the underwater viewing galleries.

3) Enjoy a 4-D experience. The Shedd’s new experience- Splash and Bubbles is filled with music, fun, and everyone’s favorite citizens of the sea! The 4-D Experience combines the visual drama of a 3-D film with a variety of sensory effects built into the seats and the theater environment. Families with children will love this! (Note to sensory families: If your child is a sensory avoider or easily overwhelmed you may want to skip this experience. Mine are seekers so they loved it! Make sure to check out the Shedd’s Sensory Friendly App, too!)

4) Visit the Polar Play Zone. Let kids play in the polar playscape and explore a child sized submarine.

5) Find Nemo. Have your children look for a percula clownfish. Children will love seeing a real life version of one of their favorite Disney characters.

6) Touch a sea star. They may be called starfish but did you know that sea stars are not fish? In the sea star touch exhibit you can dip your hand into the water and touch their strong skin and examine the hundreds of tiny tube feet that help these extraordinary animals feel, feed and move around their environment.

7) Check out an aquatic presentation. The Shedd Aquarium’s show is unlike others you may find. Not only do you see animals like beluga whales, sea lions and dolphins performing but you’ll learn how they are cared for every day by their trainers and how the Shedd way of training highlights their incredible natural behaviors. It was interesting to watch!

8) Go to a shark animal chat. Learn about sharks during a daily shark animal chat in the Wild Reef exhibit. One question they’ll answer is why sharks don’t eat the fish they swim with.

Also, the Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea exhibit is opening September 23rd. This traveling exhibit will feature massive, colorful sculptures of familiar ocean animals including reef fishes, sharks, octopus, penguins, sea lions and more made entirely of plastic marine debris removed from West Coast beaches. It sounds really interesting and looks like a beautiful exhibit from the photos I’ve seen!

What will you discover when you #ClearYourSheddule and visit the Shedd Aquarium this fall? 

 

Beyond The Backpack Event In Chicago This Weekend {Gift Card Giveaway}

Thanks to Kmart for sponsoring this post.

Hey Chicago parents! Looking for a fun back to school event to get your kids excited for the first day of school? If so, you’ll want to head to the Nick Jr. Beyond the Backpack event at the Addison Kmart location this Saturday!

This free, kid-friendly back-to-school event will be filled with awesome activities, games, crafts and even a dance party for everyone to enjoy. Plus, big news for the littlest shoppers, there will be surprise appearances from Shimmer and Shine as well as Dora the Explorer. There will also be kindergarten readiness resources from Nick Jr. Beyond the Backpack, a nationwide initiative to promote overall kindergarten readiness for preschoolers.

  • Event Date: Saturday, August 19 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Event Location: Kmart Addison – 3443 W. Addison Street, Chicago, IL 60618

While you are at the event, make sure to check out Kmart’s great selection of back to school necessities and get everything else you need to make the first day of school a success. From a cute outfit for picture day to stylish shoes to a cool backpack, they have everything your family needs for the school year.

To make shopping for back to school gear a little easier, Making Time For Mommy is partnering with Kmart to offer a $50 Kmart gift card to one lucky winner. Just enter via the form below and the winner will be chosen Saturday and receive their gift card via email.

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7 Unique Ways To See Chicago

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post but all thoughts are my own.

Whether you are visiting Chicago for the first time, rediscovering “the windy city” you fell in love with years ago, or call Chicago home, you’ll discover new and exciting things every time you explore it. Since I live in the suburbs I’ve been to Chicago dozens of times and each time I visit I have a different experience. There are some ways to get unique views of the city that will help you see it in a new way that both Chicago tourists and locals would enjoy.

Take a trolley ride.

While you could drive around the city on your own, taking a trolley is such a better way to explore the city because the tour guide shares interesting facts along the way. Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Co. offers four distinct tours this summer that highlight the best sites Chicago has to offer: Chicago Trolley’s iconic Downtown Tour, the Wrigley Field/Lincoln Park Zoo Route, the Museum of Science & Industry/Chinatown Route and the Night Tour. For those wanting to experience Chicago by water, Chicago Trolley also offers the Land, Lake and River Package combining the best of the Downtown Tour together with Mercury Skyline Cruises boat tour. 

The Downtown Tour stops at 13 distinct locations around the city. Beginning at the Sheraton Hotel, tours will venture south over the Michigan Avenue Bridge to Skydeck at the Willis Tower, then over to Millennium Park, stopping by the Art Institute, Hilton Chicago, Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Maggie Daley Park. Looping north, the tour continues to Navy Pier, Magnificent Mile, Water Tower Place, the Hancock Tower featuring 360 Chicago and ending at the Hard Rock Café. The full Downtown Tour departs from downtown Chicago Trolley kiosks with all day access to hop-on and hop-off. Tours operate daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and are approximately two hours in duration.

The Wrigley Field/Lincoln Park Zoo Route (approx. 90 minutes) departs from the Sheraton Hotel and heads to the Chicago History Museum, Chicago’s oldest cultural institution. Passengers then visit Lincoln Park Zoo before the tour ends with a trip to Wrigley Field.

The Museum of Science & Industry/Chinatown Route (approx. 90 minutes) departs from Sheraton Hotel and travels south directly to the Museum of Science & Industry. The tour then explores one of the richest cultural communities in the Midwest, Chicago’s Chinatown.

The Night Tour showcases Chicago’s dazzling skyline and illuminated landmarks after the sun goes down. Beginning at Sheraton Hotel the Night Tour makes stops at the Skydeck, Hilton Chicago, Navy Pier and the Hancock Tower featuring 360 Chicago, allowing passengers to hop-on or hop-off throughout the evening. The Night Tour operates daily from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., and is approximately 90 minutes in duration.

Take a tour by boat. 

There are a number of companies that offer architecture river cruises because Chicago’s rich history can be told through the beautiful buildings in our city. The breeze as you travel down the river feels nice on a hot, sticky day, too!

Get a birds eye view of the city from Skydeck Chicago’s Ledge. 

The Ledge is located at the top of the Sears Tower (yes, I called it the Sears tower because Chicagoans don’t call it by it’s new name of “Willis Tower”….) Skydeck Chicago’s Ledge offers spectacular views of up to 50 miles and four states from the 103rd floor. Their glass boxes with glass floors extend out the side of the building and let you stand 1,353 feet up in the air looking down.

Go on a carriage ride.

There’s no more relaxing way to explore the city than from the comforts of a horse-drawn carriage. The carriage ride is a memorable way to explore the city at a slower pace.

Get a beautiful view of the skyline from the lake.

Whether you go out on a friend’s boat or a chartered ride, there’s nothing like seeing Chicago’s skyline from the lake. I’d recommend going later in the day on a Wednesday or Saturday so you can watch the sunset and then stay for the firework show over Navy Pier.

Go out in a kayak on the river.

Want to explore Chicago at your own pace on the water? Rent a kayak and travel down the river for a unique view of the city while you get some exercise.

Take a ride on the new ferris wheel at Navy Pier. 

Navy Pier’s Centennial Wheel is an iconic part of the Chicago skyline. At nearly 200 feet tall, the wheel offers visitors unparalleled, 360-degree views of Chicago and Lake Michigan. The Centennial Wheel’s enclosed gondolas provide a comfortable experience year-round.

Have you ever been to Chicago? If so, I’d love to hear about your visit, and if not, what are you waiting for!?

unique ways to see Chicago

KIDZ BOP “Best Time Ever” Tour Coming To Chicago {Giveaway}

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

I am happy to be working with Live Nation again this year to share about their KIDZ BOP “Best Time Ever” tour coming to Chicago. KIDZ BOP records kid-friendly versions of today’s biggest pop music hits sung by kids, for kids. They have created the #1 music brand for kids, selling more than 17 million albums.

Both my boys love KIDZ BOP and look forward to each new album that comes out. My youngest, Lucas, constantly plays their music while dancing and singing along and he can tell you every song on each of their most recent albums. We didn’t make last year’s concert but when I told Lucas that we were going to the concert this year he literally ran around screaming with excitement for about 10 minutes.

The fun happens next Sunday, July 30th, at 3pm! The concert is at Huntington Bank Pavilion (located at Northerly Island which is by the museum campuses in Chicago). It will be a great music-filled afternoon for the whole family.

Want to surprise your child with tickets to this year’s KIDZ BOP Chicago concert? Buy tickets here. I’m also giving away a 4-pack of tickets! It’s easy to enter to win, just complete one or more of the entry options in the form below. Good luck!

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Live Music And More At Brookfield Zoo’s Summer Nights

Thanks to Brookfield Zoo for sponsoring this post.

Brookfield Zoo has always been a place I’ve enjoyed taking my family to but now there are even more reasons to visit with the return of their Summer Nights outdoor concert series. From 4:00 to 9:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays through August 12, guests of all ages can enjoy a variety of live music acts. From popular local acts to national bands, all genres are represented throughout the summer so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Zoogoers can bring lawn chairs or blankets and relax on the East Mall while taking in the sounds. After a fun day walking around looking at all of the animals it’s nice to sit and relax while enjoying the music.

Future acts include:

  • Friday, July 21 – American English (Beatles tribute band)
  • Saturday, July 22 – The Main Squeeze (Rock n Roll Funky Soul)
  • Friday, July 28 – Brass Buckle Band is (Country-rock band)
  • Saturday, July 29 – One Moment From Glory (Top 40 cover band)
  • Friday, August 4 – Hello Weekend (Pop cover band)
  • Saturday, August 5 – House Party (DJs)
  • Friday, August 11 – Hi Infidelity (Hits from ’80s and today)
  • Saturday, August 12 – Dishwalla (Alternative Rock)

Along with live music on the main stage, there is also a kid’s stage with family-friendly acts including music, juggling and acrobatics, magic shows, and puppet and clown performances. There are roaming kids’ entertainers like jugglers and costumed animal characters, too. Best of all (according to my kids at least), is the fact that the playground is right next to the concert area. This is great because parents can let kids play and still be able to enjoy the music while they watch them.

Those who didn’t get a chance to see all the animals during the day can enjoy extended hours at some of their favorite exhibits. Several animal exhibits and other in-park attractions (some require separate admission) are open until 8:30 pm during Summer Nights. These include Butterflies!, The Carousel, Clouded Leopard Rain Forest, Dolphin Underwater Viewing, The Fragile Desert, Hamill Family Wild Encounters, Pinniped Point, The Swamp, and the zoo’s summer exhibit, Dinos & Dragons.

During Summer Nights, there are enhanced dining experiences along with a beer and wine garden. I enjoyed a Mai Tai and some fried pickles- both of which were delicious! Those who want to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks can do that as well.

A post shared by Alicia (@aliciamarie112cb) on


If you go to Brookfield Zoo’s Summer Nights make sure to stay until the very end because you will not want to miss the spectacular laser light show closing out each evening. Hands-down this is the best light show that I’ve ever seen!

Summer Nights is free with zoo admission. Get more details about Brookfield Zoo’s Summer Nights here.

 

White Sox Family Sundays

Thanks to the Chicago White Sox for hosting my family at a game.

Looking for something family-friendly to do in the Chicago area? White Sox fans can spend a Sunday afternoon at the Sox field enjoying the baseball game and many fun kid-friendly activities.

Family Sundays, presented by Coca-Cola, cover all Sunday home games in 2017 and feature tickets as low as $5 in the upper level and $15 in the lower level. Plus, parking is available for only $10. The White Sox ballpark experience for kids on Sundays in 2017 also features special kid-focused activities throughout the concourse and the opportunity to run the bases after games (weather permitting).

If your child knows every Sox player’s name then an autograph session is a must-attend! Prior to select games listed here, the first 100 kids (age 13 and under) to enter the ballpark through the Chicago Sports Depot entrance (located near Parking Lot B and Gate 5) at 11:15 a.m. will be given a wristband and directed to the special area where four Chicago White Sox players will sign one item per child. (A regular game ticket is required for entrance but the autograph session is free with purchase of a ticket.) 

Don’t forget to sign your child up for the kid’s club, if they aren’t already a member, for special perks like ball park tours, tickets and more! (There is a paid membership with extra perks but the basic Slugger membership is FREE!)

We had such a fun time at the game last Sunday! It was hot and sunny but the boys enjoyed eating snacks from the concession stand while watching the game and hoping for a foul ball to come their way. They also loved getting some of the players to sign their autograph ball. At the end of the game they even got their own Sox ball and bat which was a special giveaway for the game. (Other theme nights are coming up which you can find on the schedule here.)

Have you ever been to a Chicago White Sox game? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

 

Sensory-Friendly Fun For Families At LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago

As a parent of a child on the Autism Spectrum, I am so excited to share about the newest sensory-friendly event in the Chicago area for families affected by autism and other sensory sensitive disorders! LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago is teaming up with Autism Speaks, a non-profit dedicated to autism advocacy, to host Play Well Days – a series of sensory-friendly mornings of fun for all children.

Beginning this June, Chicagoland’s ultimate indoor LEGO playground will open early at 8:30 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month with activities and attractions specially-designed for children, families and groups with disabilities. Staff specially trained by Autism Speaks, as well as LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago’s Master Model Builder, will help facilitate fun throughout the Center’s 12 attractions until the center opens to the greater public at 10 a.m.

Special accommodations will be made during Play Well Days including:

  • Reduction of sound and light levels
  • Designated quiet areas
  • A reduced center capacity
  • Staff training by Autism Speaks
  • Special $5 Ticket price
  • Earplugs will be provided at request
Here’s a great video you can watch with your child to help prepare them for the event:

Admission for Play Well Days is $5 per person, and tickets are available online or at the door. You can register online for the sensory-friendly mornings here.

Afterschoolz: An Activity Finder For Chicago Area Families

Thanks to Afterschoolz for sponsoring this post.

At the beginning of this year I shared about a helpful resource called Afterschoolz, a website that helped caregivers find activities for their kids in the Chicago area. The site was pretty new at the time but had such a great variety of activities listed and new ones being added frequently. I really liked the variety of activities provided, from sports to STEM classes to unique things like anime club. There seemed to be something for everyone.

Since the site was fairly new, they were looking for feedback and asked Making Time For Mommy readers what else you’d love to see available on the site. I know many of you asked for better search functions and I’m happy to say that the folks at Afterschoolz heard your request and made updates to make the search options even better.

This is great news for those of us still looking for summer activities! Personally, I have been wanting to find a gymnastics class for Lucas because the one he goes to at our local park district was cancelled this session and he was really disappointed. When I searched Afterschoolz I was excited to see many options, including gymnastics studios nearby that I never knew existed.

Searching the site to find local activities your children would enjoy is so easy using their new search feature with adjustable filters. You can pick the kind of activities you’d like by main category (academics, arts, athletics, camps or preschool) or search by specific activity keyword like “crafts” or “hockey”. You can look at all activities in your area or narrow the activities to only show ones within 5 miles of you. You can narrow the search even more by adding in more specifics about your child like age and gender and price limits if you are on a budget.

My favorite feature though, is the date and time filter. With a busy schedule I like being able to put in the hours that we have open and be able to see classes and lessons that are during those time periods. It’s great not having to search through dozens of activities looking for ones that work for our family’s schedule because this filter does all that work for us.

So whether you are looking for a summer camp for your tween, an art class for your preschooler or a dance class for your budding ballerina, Afterschoolz is the website Chicago area parents will want to check out. In addition to the great search function, the site shows detailed descriptions along with ratings and parent feedback on activities. There is even the option to sign up for the activities right on the site making this an easy to use resource parents will refer to for years to come!

What summer activities will you be searching the site for?

Make A Wish In The BMO200 Fountain

I am proud to be partnering with BMO Harris Bank again and happy to share about their new #BMO200 fountain in this sponsored post.

BMO Harris Bank is celebrating their 200th year by granting some wishes made in their interactive wishing fountain, continuing the bank’s legacy of giving back to the communities in which it does business. People across North America are invited to join BMO in marking its bicentennial by making a wish at the BMO200 fountain, located in Chicago. Those who are unable to visit in person can still make a wish by visiting www.bmo200.com.

The BMO200 fountain is a modern twist on a wishing fountain, but instead of making a wish by tossing a coin into a fountain, the wishes are virtual. The fountain stands 17 feet high and has no water, but instead uses thousands of flip dots – the traditional technology used in destination boards at train stations – to create a unique ripple effect every time a wish is made. BMO will be fulfilling a number of the wishes, both big and small, across a number of categories, including Green, Togetherness, Legacy and Community.

My BMO200 fountain wish is for community and togetherness for our Autism community and a place in the Chicago suburbs where families who have children with special needs can go to relax. I imagine a place where the parents can drink coffee and let their children be themselves and play without having to worry about anything.

The sweet video above shares someone else’s wish. What would you wish for? Make a wish for a better tomorrow, today in the BMO200 fountain, and it just might come true!

If you are in Chicago make sure to visit the BMO200 fountain that’s being unveiled tomorrow, April 12th, outside The Shops at North Bridge (520 N. Michigan Avenue, on level 1 nearest the Nordstrom mall entrance). If you aren’t in the Chicago area, make your wish online at bmo200.com!

Chicago Bulls Basketball Game Ticket Giveaway

Thanks to the Chicago Bulls for sponsoring this post and giveaway.

Calling all basketball fans! You’ll want to check out this kid-friendly event.

Chicagoland families are invited to “Kids Day” at the Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks game (April 1st at 4 pm) at the United Center. There will be a pre-game Kids Zone in the United Center atrium featuring a face painter and games. During the game there will be kid entertainment and other fun surprises.

Want to attend? Purchase tickets here or enter to win 2 tickets, courtesy of the Chicago Bulls, following the directions below!

GIVEAWAY PRIZE

2 tickets to the Chicago Bulls game on April 1st

HOW TO ENTER

Leave a comment on this blog post telling me why you want to win

FOR AN EXTRA ENTRY

Share this giveaway on social media and leave the link in a separate comment below

Giveaway ends March 29, 2017 at 11:59pm CST.

Rules: Must be 21 or older and a US resident to enter. Giveaway consists of two (2) tickets valid for the Chicago Bulls game on April 1, 2017. Winner is responsible for all other costs associated with attending the game, including travel and parking. Winner will be chosen at random, notified via email, and will have 24 hours to respond to claim tickets. The Chicago Bulls are responsible for ticket fulfillment.

A Magical Evening To Start The Holiday Season

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by BMO Harris Bank but all thoughts are my own. I got to attend the event to see what it’s like to be at Lights Fest as a BMO customer.

I shared a couple weeks ago about one of our favorite winter Chicago events, the BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Lights Festival. My family had a chance to attend this year’s parade, as guests of BMO Harris Bank, and had some of the best seats in the house!

We sat in the Grandstand which was right behind the performances. My favorite performances were Drew Lachey and Blue Man Group. The boys enjoyed the groups that came out and performed songs.

They also loved all of the balloons that were in the parade. We had never been that close to them all but they are huge! I never realized how many people it took to hold on to them. Most of the people walking along the parade route were handing out goodies which the boys enjoyed receiving. Thankfully BMO Harris Bank gave use some things as well like hand warmers and blankets because it was cold out there!

The parade featured floats with performers, some of our favorite Chicago sports mascots, Luke’s favorite Toy Story characters and Mickey & Minnie Mouse.

Of course, Santa was there, too!

It was such a magical way to start the Christmas season! Thanks again to BMO Harris Bank for inviting my family to this fun event.

Chicago Toy & Game Fair 2016

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

The Chicago Toy & Game Fair (ChiTAG) is coming back to Navy Pier for another weekend of fun, November 19th and 20th. This is the only toy and game fair that gives the public a chance to learn about (and play!) with the hottest new toys and games. Last year my boys were excited to see Shopkins and Skylanders there and can’t wait to see what fun new things will be at the fair this year! Many of the game and toy inventors will be there as well and I always enjoy meeting them and finding out how they came up with their ideas.

Here are some of the fun things you’ll find at the fair this year:

  • Walk inside the World’s Largest PomPomWow!
  • Inventor Meet and Greet throughout both days!! Want to meet the inventor of BopIt? Operation? Jenga? Nerf? Twister? You can say “hello” and get inside knowledge from all – they’ll at the Fair. Also meet upcoming inventors and try their products out. You’ll be able to say you knew them before they were hot!
  • Yo-Yo Championship – Contestants from Coast to Coast
  • Attend the Star Wars Lunch
  • Enter the Young Inventor Challenge & Young Tech Challenge (free!) Amazing Prizes & Meet Toy and Game Executives and Inventors
  • Test drive vehicles from RazorPeg Perego and RadioFlyer Mini Tesla!!
  • Mommy & Gracie Show Unboxing! Did you catch last year’s unboxing?? https://youtu.be/wslvGlPjDQs
  • IllumiCraft STEM-based Craft Party with Gift
  • Upon A Craft Line Holiday Project
  • Be entertained by Ben’s Giant Bubble Show
  • Test out New Products Before They Hit Retail Shelves
  • Shop for the Hottest New and Classic Toys for the Holidays
  • Interactive Exhibits
  • Giveaways, Stage Events, Magic Shows, Contests, Laser Tag, Crafts, Characters, GameTruck, Knockerball and much more!

For those families who have children with special needs you’ll want to check out the Super Power Sensory Hour hosted by The National Lekotek Center! ChiTAG will open its doors one hour early for these children and their families, providing them with free admission and an exclusive experience from 9-10am, before the fair opens up to the general public, allowing kids with special needs to navigate, acclimate and easily access the fun of the fair. As a mother of a child on the Autism Spectrum I love that they are doing this!

For $3 off of admission to the fair you can register here and use the promo code CHITAG3.

Hope to see you there :)

 

Chicago’s BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Lights Festival Returns

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by BMO Harris Bank but all thoughts are my own.

One of the most magical times here in Chicago is the Christmas season. The kickoff to the holidays starts with a fun event called the BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Lights Festival which includes a parade downtown Chicago along the Magnificent Mile, a tree lighting of a giant Christmas tree and a fireworks display along with other family-friendly activities. It’s an event we’ve had the pleasure of attending a few times and always enjoy. It’s nice to spend the day shopping downtown and then getting hot cocoa before we find a spot along the parade route.

Over a million lights are lit during the festival and the parade, led by Disney’s Mickey & Minnie, features spectacular floats, helium-filled balloons, marching bands, top musical performers and well-known Chicago mascots. Santa and his reindeer can be found in the parade, too!

This year’s event is on Saturday, November 19th. For the fifth consecutive year, BMO Harris Bank is the title sponsor of the festival and they are working with a few local businesses in Chicago to make the parade day even more special for their customers. BMO Harris Bank customers will enjoy discounts, perks and offers including:

  • 15% off at Dylan’s Candy Bar
  • Discounted holiday beverages at Dylan’s Candy Bar
  • Discounted parking with Spot Hero
  • 20% off a single item at the BlackHawks store on Michigan Ave

Some customers will also get to enjoy one of the best views of the parade from a special seating area! BMO will select 100 customers on parade day to enjoy the parade from grandstand viewing in the broadcast zone. Find out more details here.

Have you ever attended this festival in Chicago? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below :)

 

 

 

20 Gifts For Chicago Cubs Fans

As a Chicagoan I am so excited that the Chicago Cubs won the World Series last night! Jacob, my 8 year old, is a big fan of the Cubs so I thought I’d put together some great gift ideas for all those who love the Chicago Cubs. Click on the images for details/pricing. (This post contains affiliate links.)

Chicago Cubs White Sweatshirt

Warm Chicago Cubs Blanket

Chicago Cubs Earrings

Chicago Cubs Garden Flag

Chicago Cubs Subway Art

Chicago Cubs Winter Hat

Chicago Cubs Jacket

Chicago Cubs Pajamas For Kids

Chicago Cubs Santa Ornament

Chicago Cubbies T-Shirt

Chicago Cubs Alex & Ani Bracelet

Chicago Cubs/Skyline Blanket

Chicago Cubs Girl’s Bow

Chicago Cubs Socks

Chicago Cubs Baseball Tee For Girls

Chicago Cubs Sweatpants 

Blue Chicago Cubs Hoodie

Chicago Cubs Hat

Chicago Cubs Thermos

Chicago Cubs Baby Bib

What other gift ideas do you have for Chicago Cubs fans?

Making Memories At Brookfield Zoo

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post but all thoughts are my own.

One of the great things about the Chicago area is that there are so many fun family-friendly things to do. One of the places we enjoy going as a family is the Brookfield Zoo. Some of my favorite zoo memories are pictured below, from the hot summer days to the cooler days at their ‘Boo at the Zoo’.

This summer, Brookfield Zoo is encouraging families to make even more memories inside their gates. On Friday and Saturday evenings, through August 13th, they are hosting Summer Nights.

The zoo stays open until 9pm these nights so people can enjoy Brookfield Zoo in a new light with cooler evening weather, enhanced dining, a beer and wine garden, live music, roaming performers, kid’s entertainment, and a new laser light show, all surrounded by wildlife and nature.

The summer fun isn’t limited to night time though. During the days families can find all the great exhibits they’ve grown to love, along with other exciting attractions like Dolphins in Action, Festival of Flight, Hamill Family Wild Encounters and Hamill Family Play Zoo. This summer the boys went to their first dolphin show and to Hamill Family Wild Encounters for the first time.

In the “Wild Encounters” area, visitors get a number of hands-on experiences including opportunities to touch and feed animals, including parakeets and goats. Lucas enjoyed brushing the goats and sitting with them in the goat area. We also got to see reindeer up close which is any Santa loving child’s dream!

Visiting the zoo with young children? Then you’ll want to visit the Hamill Family Play Zoo. Children will have fun touching, exploring, building, and playing while connecting with nature. They can pretend to be a zoo keeper, dress up like a lemur, or make some crafts.

Imaginative fun isn’t limited to the Hamill Family Play Zoo. My boys found it all over the park!

We loved checking out all the animals, too. The dolphins and penguins were my favorite. Lions and tigers and bears were a must-see on Luke’s list and Jake wanted to checkout the reptiles. I loved this guy (pictured below) who slowly came over and stood as still as could be just looking at me, letting me snap his photo.

Love birds? Now through Labor Day the zoo has ‘Festival of Flight’ which is a 20-minute presentation offered a few times through the day, that features more than 20 species of birds.

Have you visited Brookfield Zoo yet this summer? It’s not too late to make some more wonderful family memories!

Summer Festival Must-Haves {Giveaway}

Festival season is in full gear and here in Chicago we are gearing up for one of the biggest music festivals of the summer season- Lollapalooza (more affectionately known as Lolla). I’m not going to be able to make it this year but I thought I’d put together a list of some festival must-haves so those of you that are going to Lolla (or any other festival) have the best experience possible.

Sun protection

There is nothing more unfashionable (and painful!) than a sunburn so make sure to pack some sunscreen, a floppy hat and your favorite sunglasses to protect you from the hot summer sun.

Oil blotting sheets

One of my favorite products for the summer months, oil blotting sheets will keep your face looking fresh.

Refillable water bottles

It’s essential to drink plenty of water while you are outside all day, especially with this heat wave we’ve been having here in Chicago!

Gum

Keep your breath minty fresh with some gum.

Portable phone charger

You’ll want to send snaps and share ‘grams of your favorite moments but won’t be able to do so when your phone dies.

Toilet paper or flushable wipes

Let’s face it… you are going to have to use the bathroom while you are at the festival and port-a-potties are not the cleanest places in the world. And am I the only one that always picks the one that’s out of toilet paper? If you bring your own flushable wipes, like Cottonelle® Flushable Cleansing Cloths with CleanRipple® Texture, or toilet paper you don’t have to worry because you are all set. Cottonelle® with CleanRipple® Texture is a proprietary innovation on all Cottonelle® toilet paper and flushable cleansing cloths that is designed to clean better (than the leading national value brand) so you’re clean & confident enough to go commando if you want to!

Pain reliever

It’s always good to have a pain killer on hand in case you have a headache or are in pain from walking so much.

Hair tie

Whether it’s to tie your hair back to get some air on your neck or for another use, I always make sure to have a hair tie with me.

Light sweater

When the sun goes down it can get a little chilly, even during the summer months, so having a light sweater in your bag will come in handy during those times.

Makeup setting spray

To make sure you look just as good after hours in the heat as you did when you first started the day make sure to spray some makeup setting spray on your face. ‘Melted’ is not a good look for anyone ;)

Lip balm

Just like you want to keep your body hydrated you will want to keep your lips hydrated so they don’t crack as you are singing along to your favorite song.

Now that I’ve shared my must-have list I’m wondering, what items are on your list? Guiliana Rancic shares her top must haves (pictured below) and we are giving them away to a lucky winner!

Enter via the form (or link) below. Good luck! :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Entry Details:

The Cottonelle® “Festival Must Haves” Reader Giveaway (“Sweepstakes”) starts at 12:01 a.m. EST on July 25, 2016 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on August 8, 2016 (the “Entry Period”)

Prizes:

Cottonelle® Festival Must Haves Kit ($50 ARV). Each kit will include a selection of fabulous festival “must haves” — Cottonelle® Flushable Cleansing Cloths with CleanRipple® Texture (for your bum!), a floppy hat, makeup setting spray, tinted moisturizer and moleskin.

Also, click here to learn how to enter the Cottonelle® sweepstakes for a chance to win an all-inclusive trip to Wanderlust 108 Festival in Miami (October 22)

 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Brunch At Grand Lux Cafe In Downtown Chicago

When we aren’t at an early morning game there is nothing I love more than enjoying a good breakfast (well, okay, maybe sleeping in is more enjoyable but that doesn’t happen anymore with kids so a delicious breakfast- that I don’t have to clean up- is the next best thing). A couple weekends ago we spent a Sunday in the city and started it all with brunch at the Grand Lux Cafe. Thanks to the restaurant for hosting my family and I.

Perfectly situated on Michigan Avenue, this restaurant is lined with windows so diners can enjoy the views of the city while they eat. Inside, the views are just as nice, with high ceilings and ornate decor.

The perfect brunch in my mind starts with a morning cocktail. I remember my mom and dad always getting Mimosas at Sunday brunch. I was debating between a Mimosa, a Strawberry Bellini and a Bloody Mary but finally decided to try their Strawberry Bellini made with fresh strawberries. It was a wonderfully refreshing bubbly drink and perfect for the start of our day outside in the sunshine.

As a family we decided to try the breakfast beignets while we waited for our breakfasts. They came out warm and covered with powdered sugar along with four dipping sauces.

Sinisa ordered the Eggs Benedict with ham and hollandaise. He loved their take on this classic breakfast staple.

I waivered between the french toast and an omelet, my typical breakfast fare. I loved the variety of omelets they had and chose to order the Crab and Asparagus Omelette. Full of Lump Crab, Fresh Asparagus, Oven-Roasted Tomato and Fontina Cheese and topped with Hollandaise Sauce it was as delicious as it sounded.

The kids split an order of “Churro” French Toast. This Grand Lux Original is made with thick, crispy pieces of custardy french toast and smothered with cinnamon-sugar, chocolate and Dulce de Leche caramel sauce. My boys have huge sweet tooths!

Overall, we had a really great experience at the Grand Lux Cafe and look forward to brunching there again next time we are downtown! If you’d like to try their brunch, they offer it on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 2pm.

 

 

The KIDZ BOP Concert Is Coming To Chicago {Giveaway}

Thanks to Live Nation Chicago for sponsoring this post and giveaway for my readers.

The boys are both huge fans of KIDZ BOP and are really excited that their ‘The Life Of The Party Tour’ concert is coming to the Chicago area this Summer. They have never been to a concert other than when they were younger and went to one for a preschool show. Now that my oldest is almost a tween (seriously, how did that happen!?) I think they are going to be wanting to go to concerts more often and I think this one would be the perfect one to start with because it’s aimed towards their demographic and I know they won’t be hearing any bad words.

KIDZ BOP, the number one music brand for kids, is bringing The Life Of The Party Tour to FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island on August 7, 2016. The KIDZ BOP Kids – Ashlynn Chong, Sela Hack, Matt Martinez and Grant Knoche – are headlining the tour. The ALL-NEW live show features the biggest pop songs of the year, awesome choreography, and more fun surprises from The KIDZ BOP Kids. The Life Of The Party Tour is the ultimate pop star experience, and the perfect concert event for the entire family!

If your child loves Kidz Bop you are in luck because I’m giving away 20 tickets to the Chicago concert! FIVE winners will each win FOUR tickets. I thought four packs were a good idea because then you can go as a family or you can take your child and a couple of their friends. Enter below. Good luck!

(Please note: You do NOT have to do all of the entry options below to be elgible to win. You just need to do at least ONE of them. The more options you do, the better your chances of winning.) 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Party For The Planet At Brookfield Zoo

Every day is Earth Day at Brookfield Zoo, but on April 24th they will be showcasing some of the steps you can commit to that will truly make a difference for animals across the globe at their Party for the Planet! Visit the Eco Expo featuring over 40 Earth friendly vendors, drop off recycling, enjoy live entertainment, plant a tree, and enjoy green activities and crafts. Party for the Planet will be filled with educational, engaging, and fun activities for the entire family and I’m excited to be attending with my family courtesy of Brookfield Zoo.

During the event, Nature Cat will be in the Discovery Center to greet all of his fans and Chicago’s own WTTW will be engaging kids in an eco-friendly activity. NATURE CAT is the hit new PBS KIDS series that was recently nominated for a Daytime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program.  NATURE CAT follows Fred, a house cat who dreams of exploring the great outdoors. In each episode, once his family leaves for the day, Fred transforms into Nature Cat, “backyard explorer extraordinaire.” Nature Cat can’t wait to get outside for a day of backyard nature excursions and bravery, but there’s one problem: He’s still a house cat with no instincts for nature. With the help of his animal friends, Nature Cat embarks on action-packed adventures that include exciting missions full of nature investigation, “aha” discovery moments and humor, all while inspiring children to go outside and “play the show.”

List of special events during Party For The Planet:

9:30am – 3:30pm – FREE PARKING in the North Parking Lot if you donate recyclables (see website for items they accept)
10am – 4pm – Eco Expo – Pavilions
10am – 3pm – Meet Nature Cat from WTTW’s new public television series.
11am – Tree Planting – Butterflies!
11:30am, 3pm – Giraffe Zoo Chat
12:00pm, 1:30pm – Green Thirteen Performance – Bison Pavilion
1:15pm – Bilingual Zoo Chat – Bison Pavilion

*Update 4/25: It was such a fun event! The boys liked meeting Nature Cat and our family enjoyed the beautiful day at the zoo!

***

The Birthday Party Debacle Avoided

This is a sponsored post but all thoughts are my own.

My kid’s birthdays are in June but that doesn’t stop them from starting the birthday party planning as soon as Christmas is over. They have been in almost daily debates about where their party should be and still haven’t come to a decision. Having already been to a few parties this Spring they are sick of the typical party places and want to try somewhere new.

Thankfully I’ve recently discovered BirthdayMasters, a new website designed to help parents find birthday party venues, talented entertainers and great party rentals. The site currently focuses on San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas and the Chicago area. BirthdayMasters makes choosing a party venue or party entertainment for your child’s party a lot easier. Each party place or entertainer has their own profile listing with party package descriptions, pricing, photos, and additional party information including party add-ons, and other customizable options which makes it easy to search, compare, and book parties.

I’ve started researching Chicago birthday party places and was amazed at how much variety I found on the BirthdayMasters site. This easy to use site features locations for all interests. There were some locations I had never heard of before and others that our family had been to that I didn’t realize were open for birthday parties. Party goers in the Chicago area can get a thrill racing go karts, splash around at an indoor pool party or learn how to ride a horse.

The BirthdayMasters site provides all the contact information I need along with details about the location and the party packages they offer. They even tell you everything you need to know about any guidelines they have for outside food, party deposits and things like that. This is really helpful for busy moms who are trying to plan a birthday party in between conference calls and baseball games.

Right now I’m considering hosting a party for the boys at one of the places I found on the site called Adventure Realm. This place has laser tag, live action role playing and an arcade. It’s completely different from any of the other places they’ve been lately and offers a unique experience for all.

BirthdayMasters also offers birthday party ideas for those planning home parties as well which I thought was nice. Check them out and let me know what you think!

Get Paid To Participate In Focus Groups Or Test Products

The following is a sponsored post from Focus Pointe Global that I’m sharing in hopes that it can help someone :)

For moms, it can be tough to make extra money and, as expenses pile up, opportunities can be really hard to come by. One way to earn extra money is by registering to participate in focus groups. One of the top companies conducting opinion research is Focus Pointe Global, a national company with 2 locations in the Chicago area – Downtown, and in Oak Brook, IL. They have an interactive website for their panel members at www.focusgroup.com, where you can quickly register and fill out your profile. Participating in a focus group or product test is a fun and easy way to earn some extra spending money – from $75 to $250 for only a couple of hours of your time talking about topics such as children, pets, food products, and more!

See below for upcoming studies and check out focusgroup.com or add them on Facebook at Focus Pointe Chicago for more upcoming studies!

Week of September 21st:

* Topic: Skin Care. Respondents: Nurses and others working in the Medical Field. Incentive: $250. Duration: 2 Hours. Link: http://bit.ly/87026CG

* Topic: Education. Respondents: Parents of Students in 11th/12th grade, Students in 11th/12th grade. Incentive: $100. Duration: 2 Hours. Link: http://bit.ly/87062CG

 

Week of September 28th:

* Topic: Beverages. Respondents: Men and Women ages 25-55. Incentive: $100. Duration: 90 Minutes. Link: http://bit.ly/87059CG

* Topic: Pet Food. Respondents: Pet owners Ages 21-65. Incentive: $70. Duration: 1 Hour. Link: http://bit.ly/87085CG

Finding Relaxation In The Chicago Suburbs

(Disclosure: I received a free stay and spa service but all thoughts are my own.)

Now that school is back in full swing I find myself wishing I had a break from the craziness to relax and take time for myself. While I don’t have time for a vacation right now I definitely think that it’s important to find other ways to take a mental break and get away. Le Méridien Chicago, located in Oakbrook, provides just what a mom needs.

I recently stayed over night there and enjoyed a spa service. Unfortunately, Sinisa was out of town so I had to bring the boys with on my little getaway but I left feeling relaxed so I can only imagine how much more tranquil it would have been sans kids.

When we first got to the hotel we checked out the room which was beautiful and then headed to Oakbrook mall which is right next door. It’s the perfect location for those who enjoy shopping and the hotel even offers complimentary rides between the mall and hotel. After I got coffee we went to a few stores I wanted to visit and then a couple the boys insisted we go to. Once it started raining we were ready to head back to the hotel. One thing I will note here is that it’s best to give the car service notice of when you will need to be picked up so you don’t have to wait. If you have your own vehicle it’s probably just easiest to drive yourself over there.

Once we got back to the hotel we enjoyed their VIP lounge which had a delicious selection of snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. They had some prepackaged choices and some freshly made options from their kitchen. We enjoyed our view of town as we ate.

When it was time for my spa treatment someone came to my room to get me and the boys. I wasn’t sure how it would go with them in the room while I was getting a facial but I was pleasantly surprised to walk into a hotel room that was set up to entertain my boys while I enjoyed some relaxation. There were snacks and water for the boys, a small building set for each and a television they could watch. They were excited to see all of that and I loved the thought that went into making sure everyone was taken care of.

My massage therapist was friendly and explained everything that she was doing. She gave me tips on taking care of my combination skin and what I should be looking for in products which I really appreciated. After a nice facial I planned to head back to the room with my boys but she told me that everyone who has a spa service gets to stay in the room for an hour after their facial or massage. Half the room was a serene bathroom so I was more than happy to soak in a big tub while my boys built their LEGO sets outside of the bathroom.

Afterwards we headed back to the room where the boys quickly claimed their bed. We ordered room service for dinner and watched television before we fell asleep in the comfort of our hotel beds. It was such a great day and the perfect way to relax when you only have a day to escape reality.

Exploring Glenview, Illinois With Kids

Thanks to Go Roma for sponsoring this post.

I love taking road trips and one of the best things about living in the Chicago area is the amount of fun things there are for families to do within just an hour or two of where we live. A few weeks ago we headed to a town I’d never been to before called Glenview which is about 14 miles North of the city.

The boys and I spent a whole day exploring the town and didn’t even get to do everything on my list. Here are the things I’d recommend doing on your next trip to Glenview.

Play: Little Bear Garden Park

My boys spent hours playing at Little Bear Garden Park. It was a wonderful area with something for everyone. There was a playground, splash pad, huge sand pit, and plenty of grassy area and seating. There was also a path that went around the park with storybook pages every so often which would be perfect for families with preschoolers to walk around and read a book as they went along the path. The park was busy but large enough that it did not feel overcrowded.

Eat: Go Roma

I enjoyed eating at Go Roma when I was pregnant with Jacob so I was excited to see that a new location opened in Glenview. Go Roma features quick and delicious Italian foods. Their pizza is my favorite. Go Roma was affordable which I appreciated when I was working retail and on a very tight budget and I still appreciate.

When we tried out their new location for lunch I got the BBQ Chicken Pizza which I really enjoyed. I loved that the chicken was very prevalent on the pizza instead of diced up really tiny and barely there like at some other places.

Jacob got the kid’s cheese pizza and Lucas got the kid’s macaroni and cheese. They were so excited to see that their kid’s meal came with a cookie and they happily gobbled up their entree to get to their dessert.

Shop: The Glen Town Center

If you love shopping you will enjoy spending time at The Glen Town Center. It’s a beautiful, outdoor shopping area with stores, restaurants, and even a movie theater. I found Fourth of July shirts for the boys at Carter’s and looked around a few other clothing stores. We stopped by The Book Market and then stepped out of the sun for a bit and spent time reading our books while I enjoyed a coffee. We checked out the local candy store, Rocket Fizz, and ended with a trip to GameStop so the boys could look at Skylanders.

Some other places located in Glenview that we didn’t get to visit are Wagner Farm, the Grove and Kohl Children’s Museum. There really is enough to keep families busy for a day or two and it’s so close to the city for those who want to visit Chicago but then escape the hustle and bustle (and parking fees) of the city!

Have you been to Glenview? What other fun places should we check out next time we visit?

 

List Of Free Things To Do In Chicago This Summer

Traveling to Chicago this summer? It’s possible to make the trip on a budget! Here is a list of FREE things to do in the city and the suburbs.

1) Walk around Navy Pier. Don’t miss the stained glass display!

2) Take a picture in front of “The Bean”

3) Enjoy the weekly fireworks display (every Wednesday and Saturday evening in summer)

4) Head to the Lincoln Park Zoo to see animals

5) Spend a day at one of the beaches and swim in the lake

6) Enjoy a free movie or concert in the park

7) Walk along the lakefront

8) Window shop on Michigan Avenue

9) Walk around the city and look at the amazing architecture

10) Take the kids to Bear Garden Park in Glenview to play on the playground, build sandcastles and splash around

11) Go to a museum on a free day.

12) Go to a playground (try Maggie Daley in Millennium Park)

13) Walk around a Farmer’s Market

14) Splash around in Crown Fountain

15) Check out the Skokie North Shore Sculpture Park

16) Watch the water display at Buckingham Fountain

17) Go to story time at a library in the city or suburbs

18) Enjoy the beauty at the Chicago Botanic Garden

19) Check out the Children’s Garden at Garfield Park Conservatory

20) Attend a Vacation Bible School

21) Learn to dance at the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park

22) Explore nature at Emily Oaks Nature Center

23) Visit a farm (like Wagner Farm in Glenview)

24) Phillip’s Park Zoo and Playground (Aurora)

25) Build with legos at the Lego Store in Water Tower Plaza

26) Visit Chinatown

27) Go to a parade

28) Enjoy the sights and sounds at Taste of Chicago

29) Go bowling (check out the Kid’s Bowl Free program)

30) Walk around Downtown Naperville