Walking Through Historic Smithville, New Jersey

On a spring trip to New Jersey last year, we stopped by Historic Smithville. The village is a cluster of quaint shops and restaurants in historic buildings. Just strolling through, you are quickly swept up in the charm of the village. Surprisingly, the village not only appeals to adults but kids as well. There are a few activities for kids such as a marina with remote controlled boats, a carousel, an arcade, and more. However, I do suggest contacting Smithville first to see if these activities are open as many were not open when we visited. (We were visiting off season.) Visiting the stores was enough to keep us busy. Of course, the kids loved stopping at the candy shop and ice cream shop. There also was a butterfly shop that really caught the wee ones' attention.

Take look at the cute village:

Isn't it  charming? The kids really loved the vintage carousel. It is beautiful!

The buildings and landscaping created a pleasant scene:

The kids had a great time at the marina. There was a lot to look at and some ducks and geese to watch.

Smithville is one of those places that you can amble around for quite some time. The scenery does give you a little escape. The stores are also unique, so there is plenty to experience. The village also has two bed and breakfasts. So, if you are looking for somewhere unique yet relaxing to stay, this may be your place!

**Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

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Enjoying Small Plates at La Roca Tapas

We have a number of restaurants in the Arlington Heights area that are our staples. When we find ourselves too tired or busy to cook, we gravitate towards the same list of about 10 restaurants. La Roca Tapas is one of those restaurants. After a crazy week, we opted to eat there on a Friday evening.

La Roca is a Spanish restaurant, so you will find your traditional Spanish favorites there. We go to La Roca especially to enjoy their tapas. I love tapas because you can try several different small plates instead of settling on one meal. Plus, tapas are very appealing to my daughter. I think that the small plates add a little novelty to the meal, so kids get excited to see them.  Plus, since we share the tapas, she likes to try new things without the worry that she will have to eat the whole thing. I love when she tries new things!

On our last visit to La Roca, we were seated quickly. I was impressed that we were given a few more ingredients than the norm for mixing with olive oil for our bread. As you can see, we were given cheese, crushed red pepper, garlic and scallions:

  

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Greek Inspired Barley Salad

My husband recently stumbled on an Easy Greek Barley Salad recipe from the National Barley Foods Council. We are always looking for ways to sneak new grains into our diets. We also love recipes that we can put some extra vegetation into.  This recipe accomplishes both, so we gave it a try this weekend. We did make some changes to the recipe, so here is what we came up with: (Kuddos to my husband for making this yesterday so I didn't have to put dinner together!)

Ingredients:

1 cup pearl barley or whole grain barley
3 cups water
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 1/2 tsp fresh oregano
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1/4-1/2 cup red cabbage, finely chopped
5 oz fat free feta
Salt
**possible addition: black olives

Directions:

In a medium saucepan, bring water with a little salt to a boil. Next, add your barley and return to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for approximately 45 minutes (50-55 minutes for whole grain barley). Barley should be tender and liquid absorbed. If there is a little fluid left once the barley is tender, you can pour it off.

In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, oregano, and 1/4 tsp of salt. Then, mix the dressing with the warm barley. Allow the mixture to cool. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Note: I tried the salad with red cabbage and I loved the addition. It added more color and crispness. My husband suggested adding black olives, which we will do next time.

This recipe makes 6 healthy servings. It is a great option for upcoming Super Bowl parties as well as luncheons and BBQs. By cutting the amount of olive oil in the original recipe as well as choosing fat free feta, we significantly lowered the fat content of this dish without losing the flavor!
 

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St Joseph Magical Ice Fest--A Beautiful Celebration of Winter

A couple of years ago, we stumbled upon the Magical Ice Fest in St. Joseph, MI. During the festival, the quaint town is decorated with amazingly intricate ice sculptures. There are plenty of sculptors creating their ice artwork live for all to see. There are ice sculpting competitions throughout the weekend, so there is plenty to watch while strolling through town.

Look at one of the creations:

We like to walk through the town to take in the cool artwork. Along the way, we stop in at the many unique shops. There is an old school dime store that is a must stop. There is also a great bookstore, a dog bakery and two chocolate shops among others.

There are additional events in association with the Magical Ice Fest. You can pick up a scavenger hunt in the Welcome Center. (Kids really love scavenger hunts!) There will be a magician downtown on the Saturday of the festival. Waikiki Weekend will be swinging along at the Silver Beach Carousel from February 7th-10th. You can check the carousel's website for more details. (You can ride the carousel for 1 token for $2 or purchase different token packages.) The Silver Beach Hotel will be having a Wine, Chocolate, and Art Festival from 4PM-9PM on Saturday, February 9th. Adult tickets will be $10 and kid tickets will be $5. Tickets for those not drinking will also be $5. There will be artists, music, wine tastings, and non-alcoholic tastings. Be sure to check St. Joseph's website for a listing of more events during this special weekend. There really will be a number of fun activities for the family. Honestly, just taking a look at the ice creations makes for an enjoyable day for us.

The ice creations are sure to spark some wonderment.  The stroll is free, adding to a nice outing. Plus, there are a lot of nice restaurants in downtown St. Joseph as well as some cute stores. The celebration makes for a pleasant weekend trip!

**Disclosure: There was no compensation for this post. All opinions are 100%  my own.

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Husky Heroes!

We went to the Husky Heroes event at the Morton Arboretum this afternoon. It was fun to see the magnificent dogs in action and to learn about dog sledding. I wanted to share a couple of pictures with you:

The dog in the photo below had two of his legs broken. Talk about an amazing recovery--look at him go!

  

You can still catch the Husky Heroes Event tomorrow from 11AM-4PM at the Morton Arboretum. The event is free with admission. Check here for admission info. You can also find out about adopting a husky at the event and their are plenty of picture opportunities!

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Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Kohl Children's Museum

We recently visited the Kohl Children's Museum in Glenview, Illinois. The Museum is such an awesome resource for those with young children. Any child's imagination and creativity will be sparked by the Museum's range of hands-on learning experiences. Plus, the Museum is not too large and can be easily navigated with the little ones. The entire set up is very inviting for little ones. A large portion looks like a little village with a grocery store, veterinarian's office, Potbelly's, library, and nursery.

The grocery store has always been one of our favorites for exploration and you can see why:

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Here Comes Monster Jam!!!! Coming to Allstate Arena Feb 8-10, 2013!!!

We are very excited that Monster Jam is coming to Chicago's Allstate Arena February 8-10, 2013! If you are gearing up to take your kids to this fun event or if your kids love Monster Trucks, check out the Monster Jam website for some fun activities!

The Monster Jam website has a cool section that your kids are sure to love. There is a Kids Zone section where you can download some fun Monster Jam themed activities for your kids. There are crossword puzzles, word searches, word scrambles and more. What a fun way to get excited about Monster Jam!

Also, you can find some videos here. I am sure that the kids would love to see some of the trucks in action! What an awesome way to get pumped up for the show! There is even a cool Hot Wheels list. If your kid is a collector, he or she can download a list and keep track of the Hot Wheels' Monster Trucks that they have and are looking for.

For all of those interested in seeing Monster Jam at the Allstate Arena, here is some info:

Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam is the most exciting form of family motorsports entertainment on the planet.  The stars of the show are the biggest performers on four wheels: the Monster Jam trucks! The twelve-feet-tall, ten-thousand-pound machines will bring you to your feet, racing and ripping up a custom-designed track full of obstacles to soar over - OR smash through. The 2013 touring season brings more Monster Jam excitement with the celebration of Maximum Destruction's 10th Anniversary providing entertainment tailored perfectly for your family's budget, and these colorful, larger-than-life beasts are sure to capture the hearts of both young and old. We sold out all 5 shows last year, so get your tickets EARLY!  Playing Allstate Arena Feb. 8-10.

If you are getting tickets, don't forget to save with this deal for our readers:

CLICK HERE to save 33% off tickets with promo code MOM3.

These shows do sell out--so hurry if you want to go!

**Disclosure: This message is being posted due to our affiliation with US Family Guide on behalf of Feld Entertainment. We will receive tickets for the event for this post and in order to make an accurate review. 

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Mod Podging Travel Memories

Ok, I am a total klepto when I travel, scarfing up all brochures within reach. Once we return home, I have difficulty giving them up. I always think that I will pull them out again as points of reference in order to remember what we did or to help plan another trip. As you can imagine, this does not happen with most of them. (Yes, I do have a cabinet that you do not dare open for fear of being buried alive by bright and shiny travel mementoes!)

A few weeks ago, I purchased a box at Joann's to craft into a little catch-all for our desk. I remembered that I had grabbed a whole bunch of French brochures and newspapers while in Montreal. You know, the types of things that you will most likely not do anything with again. Inspiration grabbed me and I decided to use these treasures to make a mod podge creation with the box. Since our study has a bit of a Montreal theme to its decor, this was the perfect idea!

I perfected my mod podge skills while working on my Christmas box. You can read about my method here. The project went very smoothly and was easy to complete

As you can see, the box came out pretty cute and made use out of all of those random scraps that I had from our trip. (Yes, that is a parking receipt on the box.)

What I love about these mod podges is that they do not have to be perfect. The imperfection is part of the charm. Also, these are projects that kids can easily work on. Always a plus in my book!

Next time you find yourself with a stash of random travel brochures, here is a project that can put them to use!

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Special Limited Edition Valentine's Sessions With {Just Peachy Photography}

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Chicagoland friends, why not get into the spirit with a special Valentine's Day session with Just Peachy Photography? Just Peachy will be have a special Valentine's Day Mini Session Event at Monart Drawing Studio in Arlington Heights on Sunday, January 27th from 1:00PM-3:00PM. Each session is 10 minutes long. (Just Peachy will extend for another hour if need be.) Here are the details about this event:

Details: Each session will last 10 minutes and includes 5 digital images on a keepsake cd.  If you would like more images, you are welcome to book two of the slots in a row (these will all be on one cd).  The digital images will be  edited and include a print release to print images up to a 11×14 size print.  You will also get a web ready watermarked set of images to use for social media sharing.  Only one child will be photographed at a time (due to the small prop set up) but you can share the images with more than one child.  For example if you have two children, you can get 3 images of one and 2 of the other.  Children must be between 2 months and 10 years old to participate.
Investment:  5 image session  $65, 10 image session $120 (this price does not include IL 9% Sales Tax or shipping costs).

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Feeling the Island Vibe with New Drinks at Bahama Breeze

This past week, I attended a special preview event at the Bahama Breeze here in Schaumburg. I had not been to Bahama Breeze for quite some time, so it was a great opportunity to try some new things!

We had our little soiree around the fire at Bahama Breeze. (I bet that you may not have known about the fire pit at Bahama Breeze. It is a true treat!) The fire really makes the place inviting and immediately gives you the feeling of relaxation. This fire is open to restaurant patrons on most nights (if it is not rented out). However, I am sure that it is popular, so you may want to call ahead if your heart is set on it. Just take a look and you will see why people love to relax here:

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Nielsen Home Scan Consumer Panel

It is a new year, so why not start the year by joining the Nielsen Home Scan Consumer Panel? I know that this panel is pretty popular, so I just thought that I would let you know that they are welcoming more families to apply. It is quite a rewarding program if you are accepted. You know that I live with a couponer, so I had to share this!

I am sure that many of you know what the panel is. If not, here is some info from Nielsen:

Join Nielsen Home Scan Consumer Panel - Earn valuable points, which are redeemable for electronics, household items, jewelry, toy, gift cards, and more.(no landline required with this homescan signup)

Once you become a NCP panel member all you have to do is scan and send them your household purchase information every week with a handheld scanner that they provide. For each week of the month NCP receives your purchase information, you will earn one entry into the Monthly Sweepstakes where you can win a $500 American Express Rewards Card. That’s up to FOUR entries every month! Every month, 25 panel members win!

That’s not all… Every quarter an additional 40 panel members win a $500 American Express Rewards card just by sending purchase information in every week of a month. 

You can click on the banner below to apply.

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Cranberry Granola Bars

I love, love, love, granola bars. They are quite a handy snack and quickly fill me up during those in between meal times. After reading the labels, I thought, I really should try to make these at home without the random ingredients with names that I cannot pronounce. So, I scoured some recipes and here is what I came up with:

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups quick cook oats
1/3 cup wheat germ
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsps honey
1/4 cup water
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp flaxseed (optional addition)
1/2 cup fresh cranberries, chopped***
1/4 cup apple, minced***

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Spray 9x7 pyrex with nonstick spray.

Mix oats, wheat germ, whole wheat flour, flaxseeds and cinnamon in a bowl. Next, add honey and water. Mix until moistened. Fold in cranberries and apple pieces or other fruit.

Press mixture into your pyrex dish. Bake for 20 minutes.

Cool. Then, cut your granola bars!

***You can substitute other fruits here. You can also use dried cranberries. I opted to use fresh because we happened to have some that needed to be used up.

These granola bars are really easy and super delicious! I wasn't sure how I would like the wheat germ. I have never added it to a recipe before! However, it worked really well with the flour and honey to bind the oats and the cranberries. These granola bars are yummy without the junk!

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Monster Jam is Coming to Chicago's Allstate Arena!

Monster Jam will be coming to the Allstate Arena February 8-10, 2013. If you are interested in this action packed show, we have some info for you:

Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam is the most exciting form of family motorsports entertainment on the planet.  The stars of the show are the biggest performers on four wheels: the Monster Jam trucks! The twelve-feet-tall, ten-thousand-pound machines will bring you to your feet, racing and ripping up a custom-designed track full of obstacles to soar over - OR smash through. The 2013 touring season brings more Monster Jam excitement with the celebration of Maximum Destruction's 10th Anniversary providing entertainment tailored perfectly for your family's budget, and these colorful, larger-than-life beasts are sure to capture the hearts of both young and old. We sold out all 5 shows last year, so get your tickets EARLY!  Playing Allstate Arena Feb. 8-10.

If you are getting tickets, don't forget to save with this deal for our readers:

CLICK HERE to save 33% off tickets with promo code MOM3.

Also, for a little fun, here is a link to some cool Monster Jam coloring sheets to get ready for the big show!

http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/32958/807285

**Disclosure: This message is being posted due to our affiliation with US Family Guide on behalf of Feld Entertainment. We will receive tickets for the event for this post and in order to make an accurate review.

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Scenes from Boston

I was looking through photos the other day and realized that I did not show any pictures from our trip to Boston. When we traveled to Iceland, we flew out of Boston and spent one day touring the city. One day is definitely not enough to tour the city. However, we were able to see a lot in a little amount of time.

When we decided to spend a day in Boston, we knew that we needed to hit the Freedom Trail. The Freedom Trail is great for tourists and is a way for you to experience the history of Boston and the US. We were amazed by how close so many of the historic sites are to each other.

Our first mission in Boston was to see the Paul Revere House. Honestly, I was not very impressed. Admittedly, it was cool to be able to stand in such a historic place. However, the tour was more of a quick walk-through tour. This was great for the kids because they can get bored during more comprehensive tours. However, I would have preferred having a tour guide take us around. While there were guides available in each room, it still was not the same as having one tour guide for a small tour group. It was more of a free-for-all with some tourists monopolizing time with the guides.

We also spent a lot of time at Fanueil Hall and the Fanueil Hall Marketplace. There is a ton going on there. Shopping, street performers, and history are all mixed into one. Fanueil Hall also has plenty of tourist information about the Freedom Trail and Boston, so it is a must stop.

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Musical Glasses--a Fun, Musical Experiment

In the winter, you really cannot have too many tricks in your bag in order to break up those bouts of boredom. A real easy project that everyone can do is the classic "Musical Glasses Experiment."

I opted to jazz our experiment up a little bit. Instead of lining up a bunch of the same glasses and filling them up, I chose a bunch of different shapes and sizes. I think that the different glasses made the experiment a little more exciting. I filled each glass with a random amount of water.

Doesn't this look like a fun set up?

Then, to make our "music," we wet our index fingers. We slowly dragged our fingers around the rim of each glass. It may take a couple of tries to get the hang of it.

Really easy!

 

We also tapped the glasses with our fingers to see the difference in the sounds. You can also tap each lightly with a teaspoon.

Another try:

The different sizes and shapes of the glasses as well as the different amounts of water affected how the speed of the sound vibrations, thus making a different sounds.

It will be fun to try this experiment again with a bunch of the same glasses and different amounts of water. However, on the day we did it, I know that my daughter needed something a little more attractive to catch her attention. I also think that it might be fun to do this with the water colored with a little food coloring. This is a really simple boredom buster that anyone can do!

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Introducing Language Stars: Visit and Learn about Programs during Open House Weeks

My daughter has been part of the Language Stars family for 3 years. When she was born, I knew that one of my dreams for her was to give her the chance to learn a language at a young age. Young language learners are at an extreme advantage and can learn languages easily as their brains are developing. To me, learning a second language was one of the best gifts that I could give her.

Fun while learning at Language Stars.

My daughter has grown tremendously during her time at Language Stars. The program is play-based. So, the children are totally immersed in the language while engaging in activities that they love! Additionally, there are opportunities for parents to participate in the learning. We are sent information about the lessons as well as songs and activities to work on with the children if we choose. Also, there are parent weeks that allow you to see your child in action and participate yourself! 

You can see the action yourself the next couple of weeks. Language Stars will be having an Open House from January 14th-27th. During the Open House, you can tour tour local Language Star facility, check out the fun classrooms, and meet the friendly and enthusiastic staff. Also, if you are a new family and enroll during the Open House period, you will receive $100 off of your tuition. Before we started at Language Stars, my daughter did attend for a sample class. We were immediately hooked!

Here is some information from Language Stars on what they have to offer during the Open House Weeks:

A foreign language puts the world in your child's backyard, bringing other cultures to life. Introducing Language Stars: play-based, full-immersion foreign language classes that open children's minds to new worlds. Toddlers, pre-schoolers and K-5th graders benefit from an early start, during a unique window of opportunity when their young brains absorb the magic of another language and culture easily and rapidly. Centers are located in the Chicago metro area and DC metro area.

From January 14th- 27th we will be hosting Open House Weeks so you can experience Language Stars firsthand and save!

• Tour your local Language Stars center
• Meet our international teaching team
• Learn about the Window of Opportunity and why NOW is the best time for your child to learn a foreign language
• Receive a special Open House gift to take home for you and your child
• Enter our Open House Weeks Giveaway for a chance to win a brand new iPad mini

Enroll during our Open House Weeks and receive $100 OFF you tuition (new families only).

Reserve your spot for Open House Weeks today! Fill out the form at  http://www.languagestars.com/openhouse2013 or call 866-55-STARS.

***Already enrolled? Receive $100 OFF your tuition for every family you refer who enrolls through January 27, 2013.***

Language Stars also has an exciting Open House Weeks Sweepstakes! They will be giving away an ipad mini (valued at $329). You can enter in the rafflecopter below! (This giveaway is through Language Stars.) Be sure to also check out the Language Stars Facebook page.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Disclosure: This is a compensated post via M to M Consulting. However, all opinions are 100% my own.

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ColorTime Crafts and Markers Winner!

Thank you to everyone that entered our ColorTime Crafts and Markers Giveaway! The winner of our prize, a "Recycle" tote and 3 craft markers is Danielle P.! Congratulations, Danielle! We be emailing Danielle about her prize. She will have 48-hours to respond to claim her awesome prize.

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A Look Inside the Chicago Jewelry and Lapidary Art School

When Kat and I visited PrimaTea and Gems of Nature Boutique in December, we also learned about another treasure in the same adorable building--the Chicago Jewelry and Lapidary Art School. In addition to giving us a relaxing and educational tea tasting, Nina gave us a tour of the school. We could not believe that such a creative space was tucked away in Wheeling, IL.

Creating jewelry can be a way to get away from it all, exercise your creative muscle, and learn a new skill. In fact, Nina herself began working on jewelry in order to relax and develop a new skill. Look at some of the cool tools and equipment that you will get to work with:

The school has a very open design to let creativity flow freely about. The space was well lit and everything was neat and clean. I personally was surprised by the presentation of the school. I thought it would by covered with dust from working with stones. However, as you can see, everything was tidy and inviting:

There are all sorts of classes that you can sign up for---metalsmithing, gemstone carving, wire weaving, beading, chainmaille and more. The class sizes are small, so you get a lot of one-on-one help from instructors. Additionally, there are many, many options for classes--from one day workshops to 10-week classes. This school can provide you with a great escape while learning new schools. Or, maybe a class would be a great gift for someone in your life that loves working with tools. Just look at this wall of tools:

The Chicago Jewelry and Lapidary Art School has so much to offer. Check their website to see their offerings. There is also a special section with current promotions.

The Chicago Jewelry and Lapidary Art School is located at 231 N. Milwaukee Ave in Wheeling, IL.

**Disclosure: We did receive a complimentary tea tasting in order to conduct an accurate review. We did not receive any other compensation. All opinions are 100% our own.

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Colortime Crafts Giveaway Ends Today {1/06/13}

Don't forget to enter our awesome Colortime Crafts & Markers Giveaway! The giveaway ends today! Why not start off the new year with a prize?

To enter, please head over to our previous post. Good Luck!

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Parson's Indian Trading Post & Museum: A Wisconsin Dell's Family Favorite

I have been visiting the Wisconsin Dells almost yearly since being a child. I have been having fun introducing my daughter to all of the places that my family and I treasured while growing up. When I was little, no visit to the Wisconsin Dells was complete without a visit to Parson's Indian Trading Post & Museum.

Native American history and culture are very much a part of Wisconsin Dells, so Parson's is a great stop when visiting. One side of the Trading Post is a small museum housing many Native American artifacts. When I say small--I do mean small. However, the museum is free and there is a lot to look at in a small space. The displays include clothing, weapons, crafts, pictures, and more. There also are Native American handicrafts and jewelry for sale in the museum portion.

Across from the museum is the store, which houses an amazing amount of Native American crafts as well as general Wisconsin Dells souvenirs. As children, my sister and I loved to pick up some beaded jewelry or even something with turquoise at Parson's. My mother purchased a new pair of moccasins almost every year. There are items in every price range, so the kids can find an affordable souvenir to take back with them. (In fact, during our latest visit, my daughter scored a bracelet for $1.50.)

Here are some of our treasures from Parson's. The bracelet on the top is actually one that I purchased as a child.



Here is a closer look at my bracelet:



Parson's is located near many of the Dell's attractions at 370 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965. They are open 7 days a week, 9AM-5PM during the winter, 9AM-9PM during the summer. However, on a recent visit I noticed that the store portion is closed Tues-Thurs during the winter. The museum is open all week.

**Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

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Family Baking Session with Coggies Cookies {Review}

Winter is the perfect time for baking. With the girls off for the break, Kat and I decided to get them together for a baking session. Recently, we received some Coggies Sugar Cookie mix to review. Coggies provided us with the perfect activity to whip out on a dreary winter day! (The smell of fresh baked cookies truly does wonders for the soul!)

Coggies is a small business based in Minnesota. (We love our American businesses!) Catherine, the owner of Coggies, has always loved to bake. Her cookies have always been favorites. She entered her cookies into a state fair, eager to review the judge's comments. To her delight, she actually won a ribbon! She has won State Fair ribbons for both her sugar and molasses cookies. (In fact, the sugar cookies won 1st place and the molasses won 2nd.) With a recipe for prize winning cookies,  Catherine had to share her cookies with the world! First, she shipped them in boxes. However, some of the cookies would arrive broken. To avoid breakage, she came up with the idea of sending mixes that require few ingredients. And, voila! Now, we all have the ability to bake Coggies in our own kitchens!

From the start, we could tell that Coggies provided us with an easy and delicious activity! We made Coggies Sugar Cookies and were surprised (pleasantly) that we only needed to add butter and eggs to the mix. Since fewer steps were involved to create the dough, it was much easier to navigate with the girls. The directions on the box were clear and simple--no guesswork.

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