Chocolate Expo at the Morton Arboretum--Feb 4-5

It is almost time for one of my favorite events of the year.  No----not the Super Bowl.  This weekend, the Morton Arboretum hosts its third annual Chocolate Expo.  For the past two years, the Chocolate Expo has provided a bright spot for us during a normally dreary and cold winter.  (Of course, this year has been much different weather wise, but I am loving it!) 

The Chocolate Expo features chocolatiers from all around Chicagoland.  There will be chocolate wonderments and samples galore.  Some of the chocolatiers include Le Chocolat du Bouchard (see my review), Katherine Anne Confections (who specializes in organic, cornsyrup-free delights), and Defloured Bakery (featuring gluten free chocolate pastries).  All diets are off at the Expo, since temptation will abound.  In fact, my daughter can never make it out of the Expo without a chocolate mustache and beard to match!

In addition to the vendors, the Expo will have demonstrations throughout the day including a tempering demonstration and a discussion of the health benefits of chocolate.  The Arboretum Shop will also be selling special chocolate themed products.  In the past I have been able to find all sorts of chocolate confections, candles, lip balms, and novelties at the shop. 

Morton Arboretum's love affair with chocolate doesn't end with the Chocolate Expo.  The Arboretum will be hosting a "Chocolate Celebration" throughout the month of February.  Events include Chocolate Sushi, Kid's Chocolate Pizza Party, Kid's Chocolate Crepe Workshop, and a Chocolate and Beer Pairing.  Please check the schedule for events, times, registration information, and costs.

After experiencing the Chocolate Expo, don't forget to take a walk through the Arboretum.  The main building of the Arboretum is situated near a picturesque pond which makes for a beautiful walk.  The Children's Garden is also only a short walk away.

The Chocolate Expo runs from 10AM-4PM on Feb.4 and Feb. 5.  Admission to the Expo is free with admission to the Arboretum.  The Chocolate Expo is the perfect way to begin the month of February!

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Meatless Monday: Yummy Pinto Bean Falafel

We try to eat a couple of meatless dinners every week.  I am always searching for new recipes to spice up these entrees and make something other than the obvious options.  I found a recipe for a vegetarian falafel from Cooking Light that we totally love.  Here is my version of this delicious recipe:

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The Nectar of Oden: the Noi Sirius 70% Cacao Chocolate Bar

My husband and I have been discussing visiting Iceland for some time now.  So, when I stumbled upon a chocolate bar from Iceland, I had to try it out.  At the time, I was trying it as a novelty.  What I didn't realize was that this chocolate bar was actually going to become my favorite chocolate bar.

The chocolate actually comes in the form of two bars wrapped in an unassuming piece of wax paper.   Upon opening the bars, you immediately smell the rich aroma of the chocolate.  Whenever I take a moment to smell the chocolate, I pick up the aroma of berries along with that of the chocolate.  The chocolate is surprisingly smooth and creamy for such a high cacao count.  Since it is so rich, you are satisfied after eating a small piece--perfect for someone wanting to indulge without the guilt.  Each bar is full of small little pieces, making it even easier to break off just a little bit to indulge one's chocolate habit.

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The Power of the Written Word

My daughter recently received a friendly letter, written as a school assignment, from her BFF: Mel's daughter. She was thrilled to open the envelope and read the letter's carefully-printed content. (note to Mel: she is pushing for a sleepover. She hasn't had one in FOREVER!).

We all remember those school letter-writing lessons (the opening, the body, the closing and signature). Now in this age of digital media, an actual letter printed on paper and put in a mailbox seems as antiquated as hoop skirts and 8-tracks...right?

No. I'm happy to report that a well-written letter is a valid (and to me, who's old-school, a preferable) form of business communication. I recently wrote a letter relating a consumer complaint to the president of L.L. Bean. Guess what? I got a prompt response - and a satisfying resolution.

In the letter, I detailed a problem experienced after I placed an online order for an L.L. Bean dog bed. Several subsequent weeks passed with no bed delivery, nor any communication from the company. My husband and I wondered: what in the world had happened to the bed? Even a call to a very polite L.L. Bean customer service rep could shed no light.

Long story short, the bed was eventually delivered. But, as I wrote in my letter, the experience made us wary of ordering any item that is not expressly fulfilled by L.L. Bean (the dog bed order was handled by an outside vendor). I decided to write this polite complaint letter because it is out of character for L.L. Bean, whose products (and, usually, its service) are typified by quality.

I did not ask for anything (which most complaint letters do, but I'm kind of wimpy that way). But I was pleasantly surprised by the voicemail I got a day ago. In it, the assistant to the president apologized for the shipment delay. She had determined that the hold-up was due to an address formatting issue. Oh, and she was sending us a $25 L.L. Bean gift certificate for our trouble.

Letters can bring results. E-mails work, too, but there is just something about the physicality of a letter that can't be as easily dismissed. My faith in L.L. Bean as a quality company is re-affirmed by their response. And it's now my (unofficial) New Year's resolution to write to corporations that provide a disappointing experience. Who knows - I may even write letters praising companies/employees that provide a great experience.

Postscript: One minute ago, my daughter came in and showed me a letter she had just now written, to Mel's daughter. :)

graphic courtesy of www.easyvectors.com

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How to Reuse a Popped Balloon

My daughter brought home a balloon yesterday.   By this morning, it began its descent, limping to the floor.  Throughout the day, I kept thinking that there must be some way to use the deflated balloon.  I found a few neat ideas online.

On the "How Can I Recycle This?" website, I discovered that you can use the end of the balloon as a small rubber band or a ponytail holder.  Additionally, one commenter on the post also came up with the idea of adorning flips by tying the popped balloons on them.  Festive!

From Michelle Paige's blog, I learned that they can be made into colorful bracelets.  Take a look at her creation: 

From www.michellepaige.blogspot.com

Michelle gives a step-by-step description on how to create one of these bracelets.  The craft looks like it may take a little bit of work but it isn't anything that isn't manageable.  I foresee this as a craft for my daughter in the future!

I hate using balloons because of the waste involved.  However, now I know of some creative ways to use the balloon remnants!



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Quincrafts Learn To Sew Kit (Review)

Whenever we go to Joann's, my daughter is always on the prowl for new crafts.  She inevitably picks out something to do with paint almost every time.  While I do not mind her painting, I am not always in the mood to deal with the mishaps that may happen.  So, lately, I have been trying to steer her towards sewing.  On a recent trip, we picked up a Learn to Sew Kit by Quincrafts for her to start out with. 

We completed our first sewing endeavor this weekend.  I was pretty happy with the sewing kit for our first experience.  Even though I lost the instructions somehow (they miraculously showed up after we were pretty much finished with the project),  I was able to easily show my daughter how to sew using the materials provided.  After about an hour of work, my daughter emerged with two completed projects---a stuffed flower and a stuffed bunny. 

The needle  included with kit is the perfect size for a beginner.

This sewing kit really was a great way to begin sewing.  My daughter did have to work out some minor sewing issues to complete the project.  However, she did not have so many problems that she got frustrated.  Having to work at it a little bit is part of the learning process.  I think that this project required the right amount of my daughter's critical thinking skills without turning her off to sewing.  I most likely will choose a similar kit for my daughter's second project.

**Disclaimer: All opinions in this review are mine. I received not compensation for this review.

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Snowshoeing at Spring Valley Nature Center

I was pretty excited when the snow started falling on Friday.  I have been wanting to try snowshoeing for awhile and made it a resolution to try it this year.  Since we have not had much snow this year (which has made me a happy driver), we have not really had the opportunity to venture out on a snowshoe hike.  But, the weather has finally cooperated so we made our first snowy trek this afternoon!

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We Won the Versatile Blogger Award!

I happy to announce that Two Moms, a Little Time, and Keyboard has been awarded the Versatile Blogger Award by April at My Bizarre Family.  April has a great site and I encourage everyone to go over and take a look!  Thanks so much April for the award!

Recipients of this award are asked to:

• Thank the person that nominated their blog for the award with a backlink to them.
• List 7 things about themselves.
• Award 15 newly discovered blogs with the award and notify them of the award.

For our 7 interesting facts about ourselves, Kat and I opted to split them up and each share three along with one about both of us to round out the seven.

A fact about Kat and I:  We met each other at a mom-baby group when our daughters were only a  couple of weeks old.  That was almost seven years ago and our families are still close friends!

Facts about Mel:  "I am a Civil War buff."
"I had an unhealthy scrunchy addiction in the '90's.  (Yes, I had boxes of them.)"
"I am a huge Bon Jovi fan and am stoked to be going to Jon's restaurant when I go to New Jersey in a few months."

Facts about Kat:   "I have excellent recall of the lyrics (and videos) of many '80s pop songs, due to my misspent youth watching MTV."
 "Always has had pets growing up; I would feel lost without them in the house."
 "I love most any word-related games."

15 awesome blogs that we are awarding with the Versatile Blogger Award are:

Made In A Day
Chicago Foodie Sisters
Polish Mama on the Prairie
Two Tiny Tyrants
Sarah: Simply Me
Retroflirt
Mondays with Mac
Annabelle's Chickens
Dree's Things
A Little Crunchy
Bargain Gab
Adventure Mom Blog
The Crazy Nuts Mom
All Couponed Out
Just Another Blogger Mom

Hope everyone takes a little time to check out all of these awesome blogs!

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Cuisinart Perfectemp Cordless Kettle

What am I doing on this cold winter morning---warming up with a cup of tea made using my Cuisinart Perfectemp Cordless Kettle, of course!  I received the kettle as a Christmas gift and have been using it pretty much every day since.

I love this kettle because you can set the temperature for different types of tea using preset buttons on the handle.  The kettle heats the water pretty quickly--which is really nice when you think about making a cup of tea to take with you with one foot already out the door.  Once the kettle is up to temperature, you can set it to hold the temperature for 30 minutes.  Additionally, the kettle has an auto shut-off mechanism.  Even though I am very particular about making sure that my electronics are shut off, it is comforting to know that the kettle has this back up.  I love this kettle and am really glad that I received it for a gift!

For more information, you can check out Crate Barrel.


**Disclaimer: All opinions in this review are mine. I received not compensation for this review.

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Quaker Steak and Lube is Atomically Satisfying

My family first learned about Quaker Steak and Lube while watching one of our favorite shows---"Man vs. Food."  While in Pittsburgh, everyone's hero, Adam Richman, stopped at the Lube to partake in their Atomic Wing Challenge---which required him to eat six of their Atomic Hot Wings.  As the name implies, the Atomic Hot Wings are super hot---coming in at 150,000 scoville heat units or hotter than roughly 40 jalapenos.  Ouch!  Adam reigned victorious by eating all six wings despite scorching his face.  After watching this challenge, my husband and I had to try these wings---of course!

The original Quaker Steak and Lube began in Pennsylvania in a converted gas station.  Now, the Lube is serving wings in 15 states and Ontario.  We ventured to the Lube's location in Madison, Wisconsin.  The decor of Quaker Steak and Lube definitely harkens back to the restaurants origins with cars and motorcycles hanging from the ceiling and gas station signs throughout.

The Lube is known for its wings.  The wings are great and choosing the right wings can prove to be a dilemma---the Lube has 22 signature sauces.  On our first visit to the Lube, my husband and I tried their Triple Atomic Wings (hotter than the ones Adam ate), which come in at 500,000 scoville heat units.  Ouch!  My husband was somehow able to eat three, while I only stomached about one.  We went through our share of carrots and then some to cool down after consuming the balls of fire.  I think that my lips were numb for quite some time afterwards!

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Burr Oak Winery--a Big Find in Small Town Wisconsin

I have passed Burr Oak Winery about 100 times on the way to my grandparents home in Wisconsin.  Almost every time I visit, my grandfather asks me, "Have you been to that barn winery, yet?"  (Of course, he probably doesn't remember that he has asked me before, but that is another story.)  Finally, my husband and I decided to give it a try.

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Find Some Green Solutions at SWANCC.ORG

courtesy of www.clkr.com

I attended an Ecology Club meeting at my daughter's school and was introduced to a website that provides an impressive number of resources for greening our lifestyles.  The website is run by SWANCC, the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County.  SWANCC is a nonprofit government agency charged with solid waste management in Northern Cook County.  The agency strives to reduce the environmental impact of solid waste.  It provides many programs and resource materials to help villages in its jurisdiction meet this goal.  While SWANCC's programs are exclusively for villages in Northern Cook County, many of the resources on the website can be useful for everyone.

There are three resources under the website's "Resources" section that are of particular note.  First, SWANCC has put together an Eco-Cleaning Guide.  The downloadable guide provides environmentally-friendly options for household cleaners (including glass cleaners, shoe cleaners, jewelry cleaners and stain removers), pest management and weed control.  I was pleased to find that most of these solutions can be created using components I already have around my house.  I can't wait to give a few a try!

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Beer Sampling at Bauer's Brauhaus in Palatine

Ever the Groupon junkies, my husband and I purchased a Groupon for two beer flights and two appetizers at Bauer's Brauhaus in Palatine. We had been holding on to this deal for months as we never seemed to have an evening free to head over for a beer tasting. Last week, we finally decided to take advantage of our deal.

After purchasing my Groupon, but before cashing it in, I decided to do some poking around on the internet looking for some reviews of the Brauhaus. The reviews were mixed, so I did not know quite what to expect. Additionally, I could not find a website for Bauer's itself, thus adding to my nervousness. When I first entered the Brauhaus, I had a little trepidation. It seemed to be a little dark inside and lacked a bit in decor---but it is bar, after all.

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Climb Aboard Meal Train

Food is sustenance, but there are times in life when it's just too daunting a task to prepare a good meal. These times can include periods of illness, a recent surgery or - much more happily - the arrival of a newborn baby.

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Wordless Wednesday

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New Year's Resolution: Family Read Time

courtesy of www.dailyclipart.net

Our New Year's Resolution this year is called "Family Read Time."  This is my spin on "Family Game Night" where we have designated 15 minutes each day for each of us to read a book of our choice.  I purposefully decided that we would set aside time each day--knowing that we would most likely end up forgetting a day or two a week.  If I had set it up for just one day a week, we would inevitably forget to do it at all.  This way, it is always on our minds and someone remembers almost every day.  So far, I am pretty satisfied with our progress and ability to set aside the time.  Now, we all do read more the 15 minutes most days, but I wanted to set up a designated time to make sure that we were all reading something for enjoyment almost every day.  Between school, work, activities, and household chores, reading for fun is often forgotten.  I am glad that we have decided to do this because it is something positive that allows us to be together while expanding our own individual horizons.

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The Raupp Museum: a Quick Trip to Old Buffalo Grove

Our mini-adventure this weekend was to the Raupp Museum in Buffalo Grove.  I get very cagey during the winter, so I am honestly surprised that I did not discover the museum years ago!  It is free, close-by, and a reason to get out of the house.  All things that I love, especially in the winter!

The Raupp Museum is dedicated to acquainting visitors with  the history of Buffalo Grove.   While small, the Raupp Museum is definitely engaging and does an impressive job of depicting history with a child-friendly approach.  Honestly, I find that smaller museums that give hands on experiences and little peeks into life often are the most interesting and memorable for younger children. 

The museum is divided into three galleries.  The main gallery portrays Buffalo Grove history beginning with the Potawatomi settlers circa 1830.  Scenes throughout history are depicted using artifacts and replicas presented in a manner that is very approachable for children.  Children are even invited to open a few drawers to discover hidden treasures including a rotary phone and an old typewriter.  What child doesn't love to open drawers!  One of the highlights of this room--children can milk a cow replica.  Even though my daughter has done this at another museum, she just had to participate in some cow milking for a few minutes!

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A Rose By Any Other Name

My husband finds trouble wherever he goes, it seems. More likely, trouble finds him. All I know is that when he embarks upon a simple errand, it is never simple. Complications ensue. And today's events did not disappoint.

He decided to take our daughter's large area rug to a laundromat to be cleaned. He headed off to a place a few minutes away. Of course, it was out of business. He called me to report this, and I jumped online and quickly located another laundromat nearby for him to check out.

This one was open and my husband settled in for the duration. After depositing $2.75 for the wash cycle, his attention was soon drawn to another patron. This man was doing a lot of laundry and, well, not to put too fine a point on it...he smelled bad. Real bad. "He'd crapped himself," my husband explained to me.

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Trick with Honey

I mentioned this trick in a previous post but I thought that I would highlight it again, since I used it this morning while making pancakes.  In the past, I have always had a problem with measuring honey and then adding it to my concoction without ending up with some sort of sticky mess.  I learned that if you coat your measuring spoon or cup with olive oil before using it for the honey, the honey will slip right out.  It is real neat trick and worked like a charm this morning!

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My New Couponing Find: Celestial Seasonings Green Tea (Review)

My couponing husband snagged a great deal on Celestial Seasonings Tea, so I decided to try their Gen Mai Cha Green Tea with Toasted Rice and Matcha.  A few months ago, I tried a Rishi Green Tea at a restaurant that had a toasted sesame flavor to it.  It was very smooth and addicting.  Since then, I have been on the hunt for an affordable version.  I have discovered a decent substitute with the Gen Mai Cha.

The tea's roasted nut aroma begins to relax me before I even begin sipping my tea.  It actually reminds me of the roasted walnut oil that I love so much at the olive oil stores.  Upon sipping, I immediately taste the nuttiness coming from the toasted rice.  I do not get a heavy green tea taste.  While I love green tea, those who are not so enamored with it may actually enjoy this tea and find it as a stepping stone to other green teas.  For me, it is all about that roasted nut flavor.  Although this is not the best green tea that I have enjoyed, I am loving the nuttiness and I like that it comes in packets for the days when I do not want to mess with my loose leaves. 

You cannot beat the antioxidant punch of green tea.  Plus, tea really helps with some of my allergy symptoms.  Of course, I would be remiss if I did not also mention the caffeine pick-me-up that I sometimes derive from tea (and this tea does deliver!).  I do drink a lot of tea for these reasons and am glad to have found an easy, affordable tea to use alongside my other favorites.

**Disclaimer: Opinions in this post are purely my own. I did not receive any compensation for this review.

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Le Chocolat du Bouchard Makes Me Go Mexicocoa

Downtown Naperville is a wonderful, walkable area.  There many shops--some very unique curiosities alongside tried and true staples like Barnes and Noble.  You can also amble along the beautiful Riverwalk and stop in one of the area's many restaurants for a bite to eat.

On our last trip to Naperville, we visited Le Chocolat du Bouchard.  As a big chocolate aficionado, I revel in visiting chocolate shops all over the country.  So, stopping at Le Chocolat du Bouchard was definitely a must! 

Upon walking into Le Chocolat, I knew that I had found a gem of a chocolatier.  Immediately, I saw a case filled with all sorts of chocolate delights.  In the bar area, there was another case full of baked goodies, most appealing to children and their chocolate loving moms alike.  Yes, I am talking brownies, cookies, and cupcakes!  The back of the cafe greeted me with decadent chocolate desserts--the kind that I would need to ride my bike for three days straight to wear off.  Also,  the cafe housed an impressive selection of premium chocolate bars from around the world to choose from (even Ecuador--my personal fav!).  As if these treats are not enough, Le Chocolat sports an impressive drink menu including alcohol-free martinis and hot chocolates.

Since it was cold out, I decided to nestle up with one of Le Chocolat's hot chocolates--their Mexicocoa.  The cocoa was con leche, so it was very creamy.   It was chocolatey with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.  I would have preferred it with a little bit more spice, but that is me!  My daughter was unable to resist indulging in one of the cupcakes.   The cupcake was chocolatey and moist.

The service at Le Chocolat was great!  The staff was friendly, quick, and attentive.  The atmosphere was relaxing, yet intimate.  The hours are perfect for someone looking for a morning or afternoon pick-me-up or an after dinner treat (M 9-5, T-Th 10-10, F-Sat 10-11, Sun 12-8).  Check out Le Chocolat next time you are in Naperville!

**Disclaimer:  Opinions in this post are purely my own.  I did not receive any compensation for this review.

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Stock Your Car for Winter Travel

A few years ago, I totally got spanked by winter weather when a drive that normally takes 35-40 minutes turned into a 2-2.5 hour drive.  Of course, I was making the drive at night with a young child in the car.  Ever since then, I have made sure to carry some extra items in my car because you never know.......

Items that I always bring with me:

Ice Scraper
Car Emergency Kit (with jumper cables, working flashlight, first aid kit, etc.)
Extra Blankets
Extra Change of Warm Clothing
Snacks--usually granola bars
Water---(I pretty much bring water everywhere I go.  Unfortunately, you can't just leave it in the car!)
Cat Litter (or sand)

When travelling in the winter, I pay careful attention to how much gas I have and the charge on my cell phone.  If I know bad weather is coming and I am travelling, I try to keep my tank full (just in case I get stuck).

I know that this post is a little different that we usually post here, but winter weather is on my mind so I thought that I would share.  Please share any other tips you have for preparing for car travel in the winter.

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Trader Joe's Frozen Organic Strawberries (Review)

This time of year it is difficult to find organic strawberries (or sometimes any strawberries at all).  After a couple of weeks of not being able to find any, I decided to try Trader Joe's Frozen Organic Strawberries.  Since I needed strawberries for my Red Velvet Cake (see previous post), it was the perfect time.

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Not-So-Red, Red Velvet Cake

I have wanted to try my hand at a Red Velvet Cake for some time now.  However, when I found out how much food coloring one needs, I began to rethink my plans.  I did some research and found a Red Velvet Cake recipe on Helene Dujardin's Tartelette blog, swapping out food coloring for strawberry juice.  I decided to give it a try.  I was not entirely expecting the cake to turn out red, but I was hopeful.  Of course, the result was not red, but more of a pinkish brown. 

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Looking for Deals on Pet Products--Check My Pet Savings

I am a bona fide deal seeker.  My daily ritual includes checking several websites everyday for the best deals.  However, sometimes I have a hard time weeding through all of the deals to find deals specifically on pet products.  Recently, I have found the website  www.mypetsavings.com.  I like this site because it is dedicated to both coupons and reviews for pet products.  

The site is well organized and you can quickly find what you are looking for by using the tabs.  The coupons are divided into sections for pet care, food, etc. and even subdivided in sections between dogs, cats, and other pets.  There is a section solely dedicated to giveways (yay!).  You can also search for deals at both brick and mortar stores as well as online stores.   There are many sections to explore to help you find deals for your pet!

It is nice to see a site dedicated to getting deals for our furry friends.  I thought I would share My Pet Savings with all of you other deal seekers out there! 

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Skating at Mt. Prospect's Inline Skating Rink

Winter is here and you know what that means--grasping at straws to find indoor activities for the little ones!  This year, roller skating has really been striking a chord in my household.  And, I am pleased to say that my daughter can finally skate on her own without falling.....too much!  

While my daughter was off for break, we decided to try another skating venue---the inline skating rink at the Mt. Prospect Central Community Center.   I really like this skating rink for beginner skaters.  The area outside the rink is carpeted--a big plus for me!  Since the carpeting slowed down my daughter and made it easier for her to skate, it made the transition onto the rink much safer! Also, whenever she got frustrated with skating, I would take her back to the carpet to skate there.  Skating on the carpet helped my daughter build up confidence before tackling skating in the rink.

The rink itself is made up of a flexible material.  Therefore, the floor is a bit of a shock absorber and makes falls easier on the little ones (and the big ones that they take down with them).  Since beginners fall quite a bit, this is another advantage at Mt. Prospect's rink.  Plus, the rink is not huge, so it was easy to scuttle my daughter back to the rinkside area quickly when I needed to. 

One important thing I noticed about this rink--there does not seem to be as many fast skaters that whiz by.  Beginner skaters have a much easier time without people whizzing by and cutting closely in front of them.  In the past, my daughter has been knocked down by skaters skating recklessly near the kids along the wall.  While I am sure this does happen from time to time at this rink, it does not seem to be an overall problem.

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