Tiramisù Mom

2013-06-19T09:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had a meeting downtown and I brought the kids with me. Afterwards, we wandered through the Chicago Cultural Center, spending some time at the Spontaneous Interventions: Design Actions for the Common Good exhibit (definitely worth a visit).

Then we headed to Millennium Park where Chiara splashed around in the Crown Fountain and both kids peered at themselves in the glistening bean. We stopped for some late-night churros at Rick Bayless' XOCO to end our fun evening in the Loop.

Are you on Vine? Follow me! Here is my daughter, joyfully splashing around the Crown Fountain.

Review: Trimming my Son's Sideburns with the Philips Norelco Multigroom Plus

2013-06-18T13:46:00.000-05:00

My son is all about his hair.

Before age 12, he could have cared less about his hair.

Suddenly age 12 hit, and he became very particular about his hairdo. He values "height" in his hair (lol), and is apparently going for the 1950's rock icon look. He's lucky because he's got great dark blonde, wavy hair: no need for styling products and he doesn't even really brush it - he runs his fingers through it and is ready to go.

His 'do was even featured as a model for his favorite retro barbershop.

From a mom's perspective, the good thing about my son's longer-on-the-top hairdo is that he doesn't need to go to the barbershop very often. When I tried keeping it shorter, we needed to visit the barbershop every few weeks. Now we can go even two months between barbershop visits, so long as he gets a sideburn trim or two in between.

Enter the Philips Norelco Multigroom Plus, the perfect tool for trimming my son's sideburns. With 7 attachments for face and head trimming, including a hair clipper, full trimmer, detail trimmer, nose trimmer, full metal guard, detail foil shaver, beard and mustache comb and stubble comb - this tools covers it all in little and big boy's grooming department. It's 100% water resistant for easy cleaning and can be used cordless and plugged in. (After a on-hour charge, it can run for up to 50 minutes.) This tool makes sideburn trimming easy, making his haircuts last longer.

Disclosure: Special thanks to Phillips Norelco for providing us with product for review. All opinions are my own.

A #Coppertone summer in Chicago

2013-06-18T11:01:00.001-05:00

I'm happy to announce that once again, I'm an official Coppertone Mom!

Our family happily spends so many days under the sun during the summertime - and sunscreen is a constant companion - so this a very fitting partnership for me!

I was a teen that coated her fair skin in SPF-free suntan oil and sprayed Sun-In in her hair and baked in the sun for hours, until I was sprinkled with freckles. I love the sun! But now I know better and you'll always find me with my hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Even in the winter, I apply sunscreen every day to my face.

My daughter is my mini-me - same blue eyes and fair, delicate skin. She adores spending summer days outdoors, and more specifically, on the beach. She is just tickled pink every time she looks at the Coppertone logo because she thinks that she is the Coppertone girl! (And indeed she does look like the Coppertone girl, with her blonde hair and just barely sun-kissed skin - the Coppertone dog even looks like her beloved dog!) Protecting my daughter's skin in the summertime is a necessity, and I'm thankful that Coppertone offers such a wide range of lasting sun protection products for kids.

My son is the lucky one in the family. He inherited smooth, wonderful Brazilian skin that never burns . He does need to wear sunscreen, but I don't have to worry about him turning into a lobster as I do with my daughter and myself.

Visit Coppertone.com for your own Summertime Suncare Toolkit and here's a link to a $1 off coupon for any Coppertone summer sun protection product!

Disclosure: Special thanks to Coppertone for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.

Review: Stuffed Animals with a Purpose - SeatPets Seat Belt Buddies and Tummy Stuffers

2013-06-18T09:12:00.001-05:00

Here are two new stuffed animals with a purpose: Jay@Play, creators of the award-winning Happy Nappers and CuddleUppets, presents the latest and greatest in their line of fun and useful stuffed animals: Tummy Stuffers and SeatPets.

Tummy Stuffers are the perfect way for children to stuff, store and organize their own belonging such as socks, belts, underwear, sweaters, hats and toys - you can even squeeze in all the necessities for an overnight at Grandma and Grandpa's. My 3-year-old daughter adores her Ape Tummy Stuffer: she stuffs him with her blanket and all the toys that she wants to take on the go.

SeatPets are plush pillows with a seat belt attachment that provide comfort and support to your child’s neck and head. They have compartments to stow snacks, drinks and toys, too. This stuffy is ideal for summer road trips: It's a great rest for a sleepy toddler head and a cuddly companion, too.

To order, visit the Tummy Stuffers and SeatPets websites. These make cute and useful gifts for the under age 7 kid in your life.

Disclosure: I received product for review from Jay@Play. All opinions are my own.

Recipe: Butternut Squash and Spinach Salad with Roasted Garlic Yogurt Dressing

2013-06-17T10:58:00.000-05:00

In honor of June, National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month, I took on a challenge and created a salad recipe using Stonyfield Greek plain yogurt and fresh baby spinach from Earthbound Farm - two products that you'll always find in my fridge.

My goal was to create a recipe chock full of power foods, and this Butternut Squash and Spinach Salad with Roasted Garlic Dressing is indeed chock full of vitamins, antioxidants, fiber and protein. It's also super easy to prepare.

Here are just some of the benefits of the ingredients contained in this salad:

Walnuts are the only nut that contain a significant amount of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Did you know that there are 23 grams of yogurt in one cup of Stonyfield Greek Yogurt?

Butternut squash provides significant amounts of potassium, vitamin B6, and folate. A 1-cup serving contains half the recommended daily dose of antioxidant-rich vitamin C.

Dried Cranberries are a rich source of Vitamin E. I purchased Trader Joes Dried Cranberries fortified with Cranberry Oil, giving an extra boost of antioxidants.

Spinach is truly a nutritional powerhouse, rich in vitamins A and K, fiber and flavonoids (phytonutrients with anti-cancer properties)

And last but not least, Garlic, nature's natural antibiotic, which some say works well as a natural mosquito repellent.

On to the recipe!

Butternut Squash and Spinach Salad with Roasted Garlic Yogurt Dressing

Ingredients:

1 bulb of garlic
1 1/2 cup Stonyfield plain Greek yogurt
7 cups of Earthbound Farm's organic baby spinach
1 medium-sized butternut squash
3/4 cup whole walnuts
3/4 cup dried cranberries
salt, pepper and white wine vinegar to taste

1. First I roasted the garlic and the butternut squash: Preheat the oven to 400. For the butternut squash, cut into small cubes, place on a baking tray, and drizzle with oil olive then toss. For the garlic, chop off the top of the bulb, and place on the same baking tray as the butternut squash. Bake for 25 minutes.

When the garlic is done roasting, you'll be able
to squeeze the caramelized cloves right out of the bulb

2. While the garlic and butternut squash are roasting, prep the salad. In a large bowl, add the Earthbound Farm organic baby spinach. Add the walnuts and the cranberries and toss gently.

3. Prep the salad dressing: Add the yogurt, a dash of white wine vinegar, and a dash of sea salt and black pepper to the food processor. Squeeze the caramelized cloves of garlic out of the bulb and add to the dressing. Process until smooth.

4. Add the room temperature butternut squash to the salad mixture and pour the dressing on top. Enjoy as you also reap the benefits of this superfood salad!

Disclosure: Special thanks to Stonyfield Yogurt for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.

#makesmesmilemondays Our Dog, Gizmo

2013-06-17T08:57:00.002-05:00

I asked him to smile for the camera...and he smiled.

He really is the sweetest dog ever.

Giveaway! Jack the Giant Slayer on DVD & Blu-ray

2013-06-15T09:59:00.000-05:00

Warner Bros. is proud to announce the arrival of Jack the Giant Slayer released on DVD & Blu-ray on June 18!

Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing Jack (Nicholas Hoult), into the battle of this life to stop them and rescue the princess!

The question is... are you courageous enough to rescue the princess? Are you brave like Jack? Take the quiz in the Blog App to find out!I have a Jack the Giant Slayer Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) to giveaway: Post your quiz results in the comments below, and I'll choose one lucky winner!

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#BikeToWorkWeek Chicago - Recap

2013-06-14T10:34:00.005-05:00

I biked to work this entire week! Not even El Derecho stopped me!
Bike to Work Week Chicago was a success!

For the first half of the month of June, I traveled 71.7 miles (!!!), I saved 3.4 gallons of gas, about $16.88, and I burned 3,812 calories (!!!)

Start biking and tracking your miles today at Drive Less Live More!

Learning to Ride a Bike With a Balance Bike - Review of the Chicco Red Bullet Balance Bike

2013-06-14T10:33:00.004-05:00

How did you learn how to ride a bike?

I remember my father running with me down our sidewalk, holding my bike balanced until I finally was able to balance on my own. I can still remember the thrill when my father let go and I was pedaling away all by myself on my Green Schwinn bicycle. I was about 5 years old when the training wheels came off for good.

My son had a bicycle with training wheels, and I did the same thing my father did with me: I ran beside him, trying to teach him balance, until I knew I could let go. He was about 5 years old, too.

This time around, I bought my daughter a balance bicycle a.k.a. "run bike". Allegedly a balance bicycle helps a child better learn how to balance and steer a bike - the most important skills to know when it comes to riding a bike. (Pedaling is a no-brainer if you have these two skills down pat). A balance bike has no pedals and no training wheels. My daughter was never really interested in riding her tricycle but she loves her balance bike. She puts on her bike helmet and scoots down the sidewalk. She has indeed developed great balancing skills, and I believe that in a few months, when she gains a bit more practice, bike coordination, (and perhaps and inch in size!), she'll be ready for the a small, standard children's bike.

A balance bike needs to be small enough so the child can walk the bike while sitting comfortably in the seat. I bought my daughter the Chicco Red Bullet Balance Bike, a smaller, lighter balance bike, and it's worked out wonderfully. Some of the wooden and European balance bike models are incredibly expensive, while the Chicco Red Bullet cost me less than $50 on amazon.com. Her 12-year-old brother was able to put it together in less than a half hour. The handlebars and seat are adjustable. It's also very lightweight, so I can easily pick it up and pop it in the trunk to bring to the park or wherever.

We've had a couple of skinned knees, but I chalk that up to being part of the learning to ride a bike and childhood summer experience.

There goes my daughter, age three, down the street, faster than a speeding bullet on her red bullet balance bike!

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I purchased the balance bike. All opinions are my own!

Give a Child a Shot @ Playdates!

2013-06-11T14:56:00.000-05:00

One child dies every 20 seconds from a disease that could be prevented from a vaccine. Why? Because one in five children lack access to the life-saving immunizations that keep children healthy.

Shot@Life is a movement to protect children worldwide by providing life-saving vaccines where they are needed most.

Join @OnlyLaila at Peekaboo Playroom to learn more about Shot@Life and give children around the world at a Shot @Playdates!

For a $20* donation your child (up to 2 children per $20 donation) can enjoy a morning of fun, a fun photo session with Byrdhouse Photography and a special treat fromBuilding Blocks Toy Store.

For more information about Shot@Life visit www.shotatlife.org
Register for the Playdate at http://shotatplaydates.eventbrite.com/

*$20 will give a child a lifetime of immunity to protect them from pneumonia, diarrhea, polio and measles.

The Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights

2013-06-11T12:19:00.000-05:00

Check out these adorable little passports for little ones to use on their adventures this summer!

I believe that kids should spend as much time as they can in the summer exploring the great outdoors. The Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights, the key component to the Chicago Park District's Passport to Nature, lists activities that every kid should have the opportunity to pursue this summer:

Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights

Every child should have the opportunity to:

Discover wilderness – prairies, dunes, forests, savannas, and wetland
Camp under the stars
Follow a trail
Catch and release fish, frogs, and insects
Climb a tree
Explore nature in neighborhoods and cities
Celebrate their natural heritage
Plant a flower
Play in the mud or a stream
Learn to swim

Each passport page gives ideas on where to complete each activity right here in Chicago. Kids are also asked to reflect on what they learned while trying out each activity.

You can pick up your passport at your local park. If you complete all 12 activities,
you can turn in your passport for a prize at one of the Chicago Park Districts 6 "turn in" events throughout the year. For more info, visit the Parkways Foundation, sponsor of the Passport to Nature Program.

#makesmesmilemondays A weekend of all things Chicago!

2013-06-10T12:51:00.002-05:00

This weekend took our family all around the city - to some of our favorite Chicago places.

We spent Saturday morning at the Adler Planetarium, where Daniel presented his research on a potential moon base, all part of a Planet Explorers program. I was super impressed - here I thought the moon was made of cheese all this time.

Daniel (on the iPad) and his team present their data.

We also had the chance to peek into the largest telescope in the Chicago area in the Douane Observatory. We climbed the ladder to reach the eyepiece and were able to catch the sun and all its spots.

The Douane Observatory

We had a great lunch at the Adler's revamped cafe (the food was actually good! and the outdoor seating looks out upon one of the most spectacular views of the city) and then played for awhile on the terrace.

Then we rode our bikes over to Lincoln Park, for my son's school's summer fundraising picnic. (I am fast accumulating bike miles and meeting my June Live More Drive Less goals!)

On Sunday, my daughter and I attended a lovely birthday party at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, one of Chiara's favorite places in the city.

On the rooftop of the Notebaert Nature Museum

We had a lovely little walk through Lincoln Park on our way there and back, where we spotted turtles in the lagoon and saw three geese families, with little geese in tow. The party was just perfect for the preschooler set: Instead of birthday cake, the hostess served pineapple, which had been cut from a whole pineapple with a butterfly shaped cookie-cutter, placed on a stick and tied with cellophane and a bow. The kids seemed to love that dessert more than cake! The party space was fantastic, too. Chiara wore a butterfly dress, and as always, adored exploring the butterfly haven.

In the evening, we all set sail on an Odyssey sunset dinner cruise.

The Odyssey sets off from Navy Pier. Photo courtesy of the Odyssey

As a Chicagoan, this wasn't necessarily something that was on my to-do list - I thought of it as more of a touristy thing to do. Instead we had an absolute blast!

Over an elegant meal we watched the sailboats and our city pass us slowly by, while the sun hid behind the skyline.

Dinner with a view

But perhaps the most fun was had when we put on our dancing feet! We stepped, we busted out our disco movies, we did the electric slide, we waltzed. I could not get my daughter especially off the dance floor - this is one trait we most definitely share: we love to dance!

You can always count on your big brother, Chiara!

Chiara asked her brother to dance several times. I could not help but to tear up a bit as I watched them waltz and glide on the dance floor. I'm so happy that these two have each other!

The boat ride did end on an interesting note: as we stood on the outdoor deck, enjoying the view on the as the boat slowly inched towards Navy Pier, a man approached me and said, "That water looks great!"

"Yes, it looks beautiful," I agreed, meaning that it LOOKS beautiful. I did not think to add "But not beautiful enough to jump into!"

Suddenly, the man, likely feeling superhuman after a few drinks, JUMPED INTO THE WATER from the top deck. We all just sort of stood there for an instant, all of us wondering if that really did just happen, and then I ran to look over the boat's railing, and saw that thankfully the guy was okay and afloat, if only in shock. (People from afar never realized that it can be warm outside and Lake Michigan will still be arctic). He managed to make it to a ladder attached to Navy Pier, was thrown a life vest and hauled up the ladder, where he was promptly arrested. My poor son, already forced to listen to 1,000s of lectures on the harmful side affects of alcohol, was forced to listen to lecture #1,001 = Alcohol and boats do not mix well.

Have a wonderful week!

Drive Less and Live More! Don't forget to sign up for next week's Bike to Work Challenge!

2013-06-07T12:41:00.001-05:00

I biked to work three out of five days this past week, and took a long bike ride on Sunday with my son. On my Drive Less Live More trip tracker, I can see that I've not only traveled 31 miles by bike this week alone but I've also saved 1.5 gallons of gas (saving me about $7.58), and burned almost 1,700 calories. I've never really monitored this data, and I love seeing what I've saved, both calorie and penny-wise, by riding my bike to work. I really like the Drive Less Live More trip tracker.

Join me next week -June 8-14 - for the Bike to Work week challenge! At DriveLessLiveMore.com, you can create your own bike commuting challenges, or see if your employer already has a team in place. Every time you log in a commute, you have a chance to win prizes, too.Check it out!

Twitter Chat Alert: How to Be a Dad on the First Year of Fatherhood

2013-06-06T09:12:00.000-05:00

Disclosure: Special thanks to Norelco and Avent for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.

Just in time for Father's Day, join in on a special Twitter chat happening next Tuesday, June 11 at 8PM ET!

How to Be a Dad (@HowToBeaDad) will be hosting a chat on the “First Year of Fatherhood” – focusing on the unexpected things to expect for expectant parents – with Philips AVENT (@AVENT_US), the leader in childcare, and Philips Norelco (@ShaveExperts), the number-one electric shaving brand on the planet.

Charlie N’ Andy with How to Be a Dad from will provide tips and advice on parenthood they’ve gleaned along the way while answering all of those new parent questions.

Giveaway

Philips Norelco will be giving away three of their state-of-the-art electric shavers – SensoTouch 3D – and AVENT will be giving away a gift basket tailored to the winners’ little ones, perfect gifts for new dads this Father’s Day!

To follow and join the conversation use the hashtag #NorelcoDad starting at 8 PM ET on June 11 – and be sure to follow Philips AVENT www.twitter.com/AVENT_US and Philips Norelco https://twitter.com/shaveexperts on Twitter.

Girl Rising!

2013-06-05T11:12:00.001-05:00

This past week, I pulled together a film screening at the school where I teach. I was so excited to share Girl Rising with my students!

Girl Rising highlights the power of education to change a girl – and the world - by sharing the stories of nine girls from around the world. Each of the featured girls faces tremendous obstacles while striving to obtain an education.

Here are some of the hard facts about girls’ education via The Girl Effect :

There are 170 million children across the world that do not attend school.. and of those children, 70 % are girls.

It is estimated that, of those girls who are enrolled at school, 100 million will drop out of school before they even complete their primary school education

In developing countries, 1 girl out of 7 will marry before they turn 15 and 38% will marry before they are 18.

Almost 50% of girls become mothers before the age of 18.

Pregnancy is the leading cause of death of girls between the ages of 15 – 19 worldwide.

Of the youth infected with HIV/Aids in Africa, 75% are girls.

Research has shown a consistent relationship between better infant and child care and a higher level of schooling among mothers.

When women and girls receive an income, they re-invest 90% of their income into their families, as opposed to 30-40% for men.

Educated girls grow into educated women, who – research shows – have healthier babies and are more likely to educate their children.

When a girl in the developing world receives an education, she marries four years later and has 2.2 fewer children.

Over the course of our film screening, 100 students each donated $2 towards 10x10, a global action campaign for girls' education, producers of the Girl Rising documentary. The 10×10 Fund for Girls’ Education gets the money where it matters: Donations to the Fund are shared evenly among impact partners, who provide girl-focused resources like scholarships, health care services and critical life-skills training. Our donation of $200 is enough to provide a year's education for four elementary schooled girls!

Our school is very thankful to Honest Tea and Kind Snacks for supporting our Girl Rising film screening by donating juices and snacks. Honest Tea offers delicious, truly healthy, organic beverages, free of harmful pesticides or hormones; Kind Snacks specializes in fruit and nut bars and granola that are 100% natural, healthy and tasty. (I personally love the Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Pecan Bars!) Best of all, both of these companies make a point of giving back to the local and world community. Thanks Honest Tea and Kind Snacks for making our Girl Rising film screening extra special!

I hope that through watching this movie, my students can see better the gift they have been given - a free education - and perhaps think twice before throwing it away. Even more, I hope that perhaps one day they will use their education and inherent gifts to initiate change in their own communities.

Here's your chance to host a film screening festival of your own! On June 16th and June 22nd, CNN will broadcast Girl Rising internationally on primetime television. Watch it with your friends, watch it with your kids, pop a bowl of popcorn and watch it by yourself. 10x10 is encouraging hosting a viewing party and is providing some tools to support you: Click here to find out more.

#wordlesswednesday #ShotAtLife #UNFoundation

2013-06-05T08:32:00.000-05:00

So proud to have been a part of this year's campaign! Want to learn more? Visit www.ShotAtLife.org

Giveaway! Win a Copperhead Movie Pack to celebrate the premier of Copperhead, a family-friendly Civil War movie

2013-06-04T10:31:00.000-05:00

Disclosure: Special thanks to PartnersHub for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.

Did you know that this year marks the 150 year anniversary of the Civil War and The Battle of Gettysburg?

Our children will learn about the Civil War in school through their textbooks and teachers, but here's a new movie that shares the challenging stories that families faced during the Civil War era, when mothers, fathers, and children all experienced intense hardship as family members left home to fight in combat. 150 years later the timeless stories of families affected by war still remain especially pertinent.

From director Ron Maxwell, (Gettysburg, Gods and Generals) Copperhead is unlike any other Civil War movie. Far from the Virginia battlefield, it’s the exciting story of Abner Beech (Billy Campbell), a peace-loving but stubborn dairy farmer in upstate New York. He detests slavery, but opposes the war for the sake of the “union.” Abner is neither a Yankee nor a Rebel. He is a Copperhead. This is an extraordinary story of family and community. Learn more: http://www.copperheadthemovie.com

I am excited to giveaway an Official Copperhead Movie Pack to one lucky reader. The winner will receive:

- Official Copperhead Movie Poster hand signed by Director/Producer Ron Maxwell (Gettysburg, Gods and Generals) (27 X 40)
- The Copperhead Official Companion Book [Author: Harold Frederic]
- Movie Theater Cash [Valid for 1 Movie Admission]

...to win, enter via Rafflecopter below!

Check out the Copperhead Blog App below where you can...
• Test Your Civil War Knowledge TRIVIA! - Are you a history buff? Love historical speeches, figures, and places? Transport yourself back to the time of the Copperheads and take the trivia to test your Civil War knowledge. Choose your answer before time runs out!
• Behind-the-Scenes - Discover how director/producer Ron Maxwell and his team recreated the exact look of the Civil War era.
• Copperhead Cooking: Recipes PDF - The family dinner table was an important central focus for every household during the Civil War. Celebrate and appreciate the era by re-creating these easy-to-follow recipes with the whole family before watching Copperhead in theaters.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#makesmesmilemondays Biking the Lakefront with my Son and Bike to Work Week 2013 Chicago

2013-06-03T10:40:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, my 12-year-old son and I unloaded our bikes by the Theater on the Lake - near Fullerton and Lake Shore Drive and set off to bike the lakefront. It was a bit chilly and misty, but Lake Michigan, as always, was beautiful, with rolling and turbulent waves. We pedaled along for 11 miles, to Promontory Point, near 55th Street, one of the loveliest parks on the lake.

My son loves a long bike ride. He also begs me, at least every other day, to let him ride his bike to school. I believe in letting kids live a free range childhood, but I know I'd spend my entire morning and afternoon worrying if I said yes - the ride from our Logan Square to his Lincoln Park school can be treacherous. "High school." I remind him, "You can ride your bike to high school."

My son is always up for a long bike ride! Here he is last summer, when we hit the
Fox River Trail.

Now that summer is just around the corner, I've been back on my bike, commuting once again to work. I log in about 8 miles every day I ride my bike to work. I've said it 1,000 times: I love riding my bike to work. It energizes me, keeps me fit, saves gas, and I feel more relaxed at the end of the day (despite having burned more calories than I would had I drove my car into work). Biking to work really is a win-win situation for me.

If you've thought about biking to work, too, next week is the perfect week to get off on the right pedal!June 8-14 is Bike to Work week, and at DriveLessLiveMore.com, you can create your own bike commuting challenges, or see if your employer already has a team in place. Every time you log in a commute, you have a chance to win prizes, too. I like keeping a log of the miles I've pedaled, and it's interesting, too, to see how much gas I've saved. Check it out!

Thought for the Day: En la vida, hay 2 cosas che te muevan: tus suneos y el agua.

2013-05-31T09:52:00.000-05:00

When I was in Mexico this past spring, I snapped a picture of this quote on my water bottle:

Translation: In life, there are two things that get you moving: your dreams and water.

I've always been a dreamer, so I've got the dreams part down but...I drink A LOT of tea and very little water.

Do you know that water makes up 60% of your body weight???

Starting today, I'm going for the recommended 8 glasses of water per day.

How much water do you drink every day?

News-O-Matic: A resource to help your kids process world events

2013-05-30T10:12:00.001-05:00

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by News-o-Matic and ChildsPlayPR.

From the Boston marathon bombings, to the Oklahoma City tornadoes, if your kids are listening to the radio, or watching tv, no doubt they have some questions and fears. How can we, as parents, best address their concerns? Press4Kids News-O-Matic app is a great resource: it covers breaking news, sports, science and much more in an accessible and kid-friendly way.

News-O-Matic is a weekday newspaper application which includes five daily news stories, detailed images, videos, illustrations, maps, timelines and games. Kids can express their views by rating stories, drawing pictures, asking questions or expressing opinions about current topics in the “News Room” section of the app.

Download the News-O-Matic app today (available for the iPad or iPad Mini in the Apple App Store) for a free, three-issue trial).

Finally, here are some tips from Dr. Phyllis Ohr, Child Psychologist for Press4Kids, on how parents can address news issues with children and what children can do to feel better:

1.      When the event does not personally affect the child, reassure them that everything is okay with the people they love and that nothing has changed for them.

2.     Be sure to stress to children that if they do have questions to ask parents, teachers as well as friends. Other children having the same feelings may be comforting.

3.    Begin by giving the child a brief synopsis of what happened by using age appropriate language. Ask if there is something they want to know more about or if they need something explained further. If so, stick to pointedly answering their question or clarifying. Do not add on or digress.

4.    Do not assume the news will make children feel a certain way. Ask if they know how they feel, but stress that kids feel all different ways when they hear important news and sometimes do not know how they feel or do not feel anything which is okay. However, if children are affected by it, it is their own feeling. Reassure children that no matter what they are feeling, their feelings are okay.

5.    If they are upset but don't want to talk, suggest a fun activity for distraction or help them use calming skills like playing, drawing a picture or writing a story. These activities help release any upset feelings and make children feel better.

Kids LiveWell: Healthier Menu Options Brought to You by the National Restaurant Association

2013-05-29T09:56:00.000-05:00

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the National Restaurant Association. I received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

As a parent, I am certainly tired of restaurants that offer kids menus containing the usual kid menu suspects: chicken nuggets, hot dogs, burgers - all served with a side of greasy fries. Usually I don't even bother to request the kids menu, and instead order a full size adult entree for my children to share.

Thankfully, the National Restaurant Association has landed on the same page of parents hoping to teach their children to make healthy choices via the award-winning Kids LiveWell program.

Restaurants that participate in this voluntary program promise to offer healthful meal items for children, with a focus on fruit and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and low-fat dairy while limiting unhealthy fats, sugars and sodium. Nearly 30,000 restaurant locations are part of Kids LiveWell; check out the restaurants in your area here or download the free Kids LiveWell app to to find a location near you offering Kids LiveWell choices.

One of my favorite features of the Kids LiveWell website is the Restaurant Recipes page, which features the (healthy!) recipes of some of our favorite menu items. Check out this Vegetarian Bowl recipe from Blue Pacific Grill and this Vine Ripened Tomato Salad from Bahama Breeze - both perfect for summertime. The Ask the Dietitians page is also very useful: you can ask a question directly to the team of certified dietitians, or see if it has already been covered in a blog post. Here's a useful post on how to focus on a healthy diet while dining out.

To learn more about the Kids LiveWell initiative, visit the Kids LiveWell Home Page or check out the links below:

Participating restaurants: HealthyDiningFinder.com
Kids LiveWell App: in the Android Market and iTunes app store.
Kids LiveWell on Twitter and Facebook

Welcome Summer with Tree Hut

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This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tree Hut for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Welcome summer!

Time to dust off my sandals, don my sunhat and hit the pool and the beach!

One of my summer must-dos is a weekly manicure and pedicure. Sometimes I treat myself to one at my favorite salon, other times I do it myself at home.

Have you heard of Tree Hut products?

Available at Walmart, Tree Hut offers hand cream, foot cream and foot scrub, all perfect for getting your skin in tip-top shape for the summer. Tree Hut foot cream is esepcially summer must-have if you too plan on wearing sandals!

Here are some of the many benefits of Tree Hut products:

Tree Hut foot cream

Certified Organic Shea Butter: skin repairing & moisturizing, anti-aging, promotes elasticity
Argan Oil: natural anti-aging properties
Rose Hip Oil: natural anti-aging properties
Non-greasy formula
Paraben Free and No DMDM
Made in the USA
Do not test on animals

Tree Hut hand cream

Certified Organic Shea Butter: skin repairing & moisturizing, anti-aging, promotes elasticity
Aloe Vera: Nature’s soothing moisturizer
Peppermint Oil: Moisturizes skin
Paraben Free and No DMDM
Made in the USA
Do not test on animals

Tree Hut foot scrub

Certified Organic Shea Butter: skin repairing & moisturizing, anti-aging, promotes elasticity
Real Sugar: Natural sugar exfoliates skin smooth
Peppermint Oil: Moisturizes skin
Paraben Free and No DMDM
Made in the USA
Do not test on animals

Here's my Polyvore Summer Inspiration board: Check out the cute sandals!

For more information on Tree Hut, like Tree Hut on Facebook or follow

Tree Hut on Twitter.

Review: Make Your Summer Vacation Home Rental Plans with the Dwellable App

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Every summer, our extended family spends a few days together, by the beach. This uninterrupted family time, with Grandpa and Grandma and my sister and her kids is precious. We always make a point of renting a vacation home, as opposed to a hotel, so we can prep some meals together, gather round for a late night movie and popcorn, and just plain enjoy one another's company in a homier atmosphere.

My son rides his bike in front of our previous vacation home rental in southwest Michigan

Here's a free app for both iPad/iPhone and Android that will make finding your dream vacation rental all the more easier: Dwellable is a vacation rental app that gathers rentals from many different different sources, increasing the available inventory and expanding your vacation rental options, making it 100x easier to find that just-right home for your family.

From the comfort of your phone or tablet, you choose your destination, then filter by price, # of bedrooms, property type (condo, villa, house, cottage) and amenities (on the beach, pet-friendly, pool, etc.). The number of photos, descriptions, and visitor reviews give you a good idea as to whether or not the property will be a good fit, and the offerings range from affordable to extravagant.

Check out this vacation rental home in Kauai, available on Dwellable

You'll find lots of options within 2.5 hours from Chicago - from the New Buffalo, MI area (our family favorite) to just over the border in Wisconsin. There are also rentals featured from across the U.S. - from the Orlando area to Hawaii. You're bound to find a home that fits your family.

This little cottage on Baldy Lake in Michigan, featured on Dwellable,
looks like paradise to me.

Find your summer vacation rental now on Dwellable, online or on iTunes or Android.

#makesmesmilemondays Kicking Off Summer in the Woods

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We spent the entire Memorial Day weekend in a little piece of paradise: camping on the shores of a beautiful, spring-fed but chilly lake. That's my son out there in the inner tube out in the middle of the lake in the photo below, his friend Jaleel about to dive off the floaty pier, his other pals Mila and Zoe in the water with him. I would guess that the water was about 50 degrees but the kids incredibly seemed amazingly oblivious to that fact. (At what age do we humans develop intolerance for freezing water temperatures?). My daughter was beside me when I took this photo, dipping her toes into the lake, too, and madly building sandcastles galore with other little friends.

Nothing says summer to me like sleeping under the stars in the great outdoors, cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner by a roaring campfire, hiking through the woods, watching my daughter build her sandcastles on the beach, and best of all, gathering with friends at night, beside a campfire, while the children sleep snuggled in their sleeping bags.

The weather was chilly at night but beautiful and sunny during the day for our first three days. On the day we were set to leave, yesterday, we woke up to the pitter patter of rain on our tent. My daughter woke up and was amazed by the fact that it was raining on our tent. The first thing she said when she woke up was: "I lurrrrrrveee camping". Indeed the kids loved camping so much that they were begging to please stay for a few more days. I am proud to see that my kids appreciate the un-pampered, media-free, muddy, messy but delightful outdoor life. Camping isn't easy work for me, but I think that it's essential to unplug my kids from everyday life and teach them skills such as pitching a tent, building a fire, using a pocketknife, and best of all, find the joy in in connecting with others in nature. To know that they appreciate a rugged, rainy tent as much as a five-star hotel is priceless to me.

I am also thankful for my friends who joined us - five families in all! To see all of our children - 11 kids in all, ranging in ages 4 months to 12 - running around in the woods, leaping into the lake, and roasting marshmallows over the campfire was a joy. And to have some uninterrupted time with my friends, late at night, round a campfire, just filled me up with happiness.

This post is brimming with superlatives but I just can't help it: I'm just thankful for the many fun memories we made this past Memorial Day weekend.

Three cheers for summer!