Spring Break Fun with Exploring Arlington Heights! A Kids Adventure Hunt and Arlington in Pictures A Kids Photo Hunt {Giveaway 3/6/14}

Looking for some fun with the kids for Spring Break? Yapa Events has TWO fun hunts in Arlington Heights on March 28 and March 29. One of the hunts is Exploring Arlington Heights! A Kids Adventure--returning from this fall with some changes. If the kiddos like snapping pictures, there also is the Arlington in Pictures--A Kids Photo Hunt. We ran the Exploring Arlington Heights! A Kids Adventure Hunt last summer and loved it! Running one of these hunts would be a good way to break up the day, have some family bonding time and learn about Arlington Heights all while having fun! We highly recommend these activities--they are sure to provide your family with a blast! Be sure to check the bottom of this post for how you can win tickets!

Here are the details from Yapa Events:

Learn more about Arlington Heights and its history! "Exploring Arlington Heights! A Kids Adventure Hunt" - is offered during Spring Break. Or look at Arlington Heights through the lens of a camera and discover some fun and photogenic spots with Yapa Events "Arlington in Pictures" A Kids Photo Hunt and get some Yapas along the way!

Description:  On these adventures, kids solve clues to find each stop.  They complete challenge questions or photo challenges at the stops and find a “reward” at the end.  The Exploring Arlington Heights Adventure hunt is a great way to visualize Arlington Heights history, while enjoying the village’s current charm.  The Arlington in Pictures Photo Hunt is a fun way to discover some interesting spots in Arlington Heights!

Dates: 

                Friday, March 28, 2014, start anytime between 10 am and 3 pm

                Saturday, March 29, 2014, start anytime between 10 am and 3 pm

Duration: 

The adventure hunt takes approximately 2 hours to complete.  Adult supervision is required.

Fees:  $10 per child.  Adults are free. 
            Fees include:

                The clues and a map

                Beverage about half way through the hunt

                "Reward" at the end (a frozen yogurt - but don't tell the kids!)

More information is available at www.YapaEvents.com.  

**Sponsored by Berry Yo!

Win tickets here!

Guess what? We have tickets to GIVEAWAY! 2 lucky readers will win 2 children's tickets each to the hunt of their choice. The giveaway ends March 6, 2014--so hurry up and enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Chillin' at Kona Grill

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I found ourselves with a night out. Do to crazy schedules, we procrastinated on planning. When we finally made reservations, we looked at our options and ended up choosing Kona Grill. Kona has been on our list for awhile, so we thought that it would give it a try. When opportunity arises--seize it, right?

Admittedly, I did not research before going to Kona. I thought that it was going to be a steak house (á la Kona beef). I was definitely surprised when I opened the menu. For starters, there was an entire page dedicated to sushi--I was set! But, the choices did not end there. The menu was unexpectedly large and included many Hawaiian-inspired dishes as well as a healthy smattering of more general American fare. So, there really was something for everyone.

For my dinner, I opted to start with the seaweed salad. To my delight, the salad was not as sweet as others that I have had. Now, I do like a sweet treat here and there. However, I am not a total sweet fan. So, it was nice that Kona Grill held off on the sweet. Plus, I received a healthy portion---nice!

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Addie B. Strong - I Am So Strong: An Empowering Children's Book

We cannot protect our children from everything. However, we can provide them with the tools to make sound decisions. As my daughter rapidly approaches the preteen years, I am a little nervous about what those years hold in terms of her self confidence. I navigated those years pretty easily without too much worry about what others thought about me. Of course, I did give in to preteen and teen impetuous shopping trips. But, over all--those were great years. However, my daughter is not me and I hope that I have given her the tools she needs to soar during those years.

I think that we can really lay down the foundation for our daughters to enjoy their uniqueness as well as that of others at a young age. Recently, I learned about Addie B. Strong, a new children's series started by another concerned mother, Alyson Flippo. Frankly, I have seen even the youngest children at my daughter's elementary school face criticism and peer pressure. It is crucial for children at any age to realize that they each are strong in their uniqueness. Addie B. Strong - I Am So Strong speaks to these young children and inspires them in words that they understand.

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G & M Variety Store in St. Joseph, Michigan: A Place to Reminisce

One of my favorite things about travel is finding that unexpected treasure whether it be a new novelty or a relic of years gone by. As a child, I remember my grandparents walking me along their downtown streets in a rural Wisconsin town to every child's favorite treasure trove--the dime store! In St. Joseph, Michigan, we have found G & M Variety Store, a lovely store that hearkens back to these dime stores that we adored as children. With so much change in the world, it is a comfort to find one of these fun elements of childhood still alive and to be able to show our daughter the simple joys of a dime store adventure. Situated on St. Joseph's main street, the setting itself is enough to give you warm fuzzies.

When you enter the store, you will notice that the store might quite literally have everything. From cards and a pleasant gift section to a puzzle and game collection to sundries to sweatshirts and socks {rows of socks}, there is a lot to explore. Where else are you going to find these games that you really won't find, well--anywhere! {As a Civil War buff, I love that they have these!}

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Five for President's Day {Trivia}

I am total President geek. I love learning pretty much anything about our history. Every year, I look forward to learning some new tidbits on President's Day. Here some interesting facts about our Commanders-in-Chief:

• Benjamin Harrison was the first President to attend a baseball game. He attended a Cincinnati Reds and Washington Senators game on June 6, 1892. The Reds beat the Senators, 7-4.
• When John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were in England, they visited William Shakespeare's home and chipped off a piece of Shakespeare's chair to bring back as a souvenir.
• While he was president, John Quincy Adams enjoyed skinny dipping in the Potomac River early in the morning. 
• James Garfield was ambidextrous. He also could write Latin with one hand and Greek with the other---both at the same time.
• Jimmy Carter is the first president to go on record about seeing a UFO.

Check our previous post for some more interesting Presidential facts

Sources: National Geographic
               Mashable
               Buzzfeed

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Landfill Dogs: Shannon Johnstone Uses Her Passion to Save Those Most in Need

Dressed in Red is currently looking for a home. Find adoption info at http://landfilldogs.info/.
Photo credit Shannon Johsntone.

This post is part of our series for February highlighting charities to provide inspiration for spreading our love to those in need.

Last year, I learned about Landfill Dogs, a completely heartwarming and selfless project run by photographer Shannon Johnstone. Shannon uses her artistry to take photographs of dogs facing euthanasia in a county animal shelter in North Carolina to show them in a different light and to help them find loving homes. I am just totally amazed on how she has channeled her passion to focus on saving the dogs most in need. I wanted to share her cause with you to show how we can all use our gifts to help those in need. Shannon agreed to do a special interview just for our readers. Too often, the plight of these dogs is forgotten. I think it is just amazing that Shannon has found a way to use her passion to help these dogs find homes. I hope that you can find some inspiration from Shannon:

How did you first come up with the concept for Landfill Dogs?

About four years ago, the former Director of Environmental Services contacted me about the landfill site being turned into a public park and suggested that it would be an excellent backdrop to photograph the animals. We went there together and he showed me around, and it was perfect! However, our meeting left me wondering why Environmental Services encompassed both the animal shelter and waste services. After learning that animals are considered property under the law, and the government provides somewhere for us to bring our unwanted property, it occurred to me that this government structure reflected a societal value that not many people were aware of. I wanted to shed light on that.

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Pleasant House Three Oaks: British Comfort Food in Southwest Michigan

Last weekend, we went on our annual February jaunt to Michigan. A few years ago, we stumbled on the Magical Ice Fest in St. Joseph and loved it so much that we have returned every February since. *Weather willing, of course!* Each time we return, we try to explore a little more and uncover new gems that we did not know about. We first learned about the village of Three Oaks after reading about it on the Chicago Foodie Sisters blog. After reading about Carrie's culinary experiences in Three Oaks, we knew we had to visit.  Over the summer, we visited Froelich's and picked up some goodies for the beach. Froelich's is definitely a foodie wonderland! This time, we visited Pleasant House for their meat pies. When my husband eyed these treats this past summer, I knew we would be back!

From the outside, Pleasant House looks like a venue worthy of any gourmand. When we walked in, we noted the refined pub-like atmosphere. Pleasant House is one of those places where you can sit back and relax for awhile. The restaurant definitely has a comfortable setting.

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

May your day be SWEET!

 

Image credit: Peggy2012CREATIVELENZ via flickr                         

 

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Stress Free Kids by Lori Lite Provides Simple Guidance in Managing Stress for You and Your Kids

**Disclosure: We received a complimentary copy of this book in order to perform an accurate review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Prior to 3rd Grade, my daughter did not receive letter grades on her assignments. This fall, she received her first graded assignment ever. She was given a detailed description of the assignment along with a detailed description of expectations for each letter grade. My daughter normally loves school and often is thrilled to work on projects. So, imagine my dismay when I found her bawling while clutching her assignment paper in her hand. Faced with this situation, it is easy to feel a wave of fear when thinking about the future school challenges.

We can't protect our children from everything and anything that can happen. However, we can arm ourselves with tools that can help us as we help them on their journeys. We also can give them basic building blocks that can help them manage stress no matter the cause.

Help for the Stressed Out Family

Recently, I received the opportunity to read Stress Free Kids: A Parent's Guide to Helping Build Self-Esteem, Manage Stress, and Reduce Anxiety in Children by Lori Lite. Lori Lite's journey as a recognized Stress Expert was born out of her own experiences with her own children. Often, Lite needed 2 hours to help her son settle down to sleep. On top of that, her daughter suffered from stress related night terrors. Lite herself suffered from anxiety. From her experiences, Lite developed a series of books and CDs that help children de-stress, control anxiety and manage anger. Lite has been featured in various media outlets including CBS News, Prevention, Family Circle and The New York Times.

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Passport Series: Celebrating Italy! {Experiencing the World with Yapa Events}

**Disclosure: We did receive complimentary admission to Celebrating Italy! in order to conduct an accurate review. All opinions are 100% our own.

I am always amazed by how many rich experiences we have within reach. Honestly, we do not really have to look hard in the Chicagoland area to escape our little worlds and stretch ourselves. However, life has a way of keeping us busy and we tend to forget what we have right here. Yapa Events launched a Passport Series concept that allows families to travel around the world without leaving the country. At the same time, Yapa highlights the wonderful businesses of Arlington Heights while incorporating fun family activities helping build family bonds.

Yapa's inaugural Passport Series Event was Celebrating Italy! hosted at Francesca's Tavola. Francesca's proved to be a fitting location for unveiling this wonderful country to us. Our class was held in a room separate from the main dining area of the restaurant. The room was light and airy with space for kids to move about yet had a bit of intimacy to it. Since family togetherness figures prominently in Italy, this location was perfect.

When we entered we were warmly greeted and the kids were thrilled to see chef hats! Hmmmm......wonder what we are going to do! Families eagerly jumped right in and each person crafted their own pizzas. We were able to bring our tasty creations back to the kitchen ourselves, which was pretty neat!

While we waited for our culinary creations, we were swept away to Italy and learned about the country. Of course, there also were coloring and activity sheets on the table for kids. Growing up, I remember always looking forward to a coloring sheet at my favorite Italian restaurant! Childhood magic at work!

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Sisters Giving Hope: Children Spreading Love To Those With Serious Illness

As part of sharing your love during the month of February, we would like to introduce you to ways in which you can help the world around you. We also would like to show you some of the inspiring and innovative ways others are changing the world.

Sometimes to find motivation in ourselves, all we need to do is look at the wonderful, warm-hearted children around us. This past winter, I learned about a local charity created by three young girls called Sisters Giving Hope. Kayli, Georgia and Cassidy have used different fundraising ideas in order to earn money to help families facing life altering illnesses. The girls began their journey with making jewelry to sell to raise funds for these families and have branched out into other fundraising concepts to make a positive impact. 

Recently, I contacted Kayli, Georgia and Cassidy's mother, Dana. Dana was so gracious to answer some questions about the charity so that I could introduce Sisters Giving Hope to you along with their newest initiative.

How did you come up with the idea for your charity?

My daughter Georgie received a simple jewelry making kit from me (mom) for Christmas 2013 and my oldest daughter, Kayli, said "mom, we should make jewelry, sell them, and give the money to people in need."

What have you found to be the most rewarding?

To speak in behalf of my kids, "Sisters Giving Hope," I would have to say that the most rewarding part of this whole journey since their organization has set sail is the long lasting memories we have made together. The girls have witnessed and met all sorts of people while changing the lives of others through their fundraising. So many people have told them "thank you" for what they do. I as their mom, believe that this is going to put a permanent stamp in their minds that they have made a difference in this world.

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8 Ways to Include your Children in Valentine's Day Preparations

My daughter always wants to help make a holiday perfect--which I admire. However, there are some elements of preparation that she just is not ready for. So, it is helpful to have ideas for ways that she can help and contribute to the day. Here are some easy ideas for letting your little ones help and add something special to Valentine's Day:

• Flowers: You can allow your kids to choose flowers for you or your spouse. Let them choose a vase and even arrange the selection.
• Make chocolate dipped strawberries: Chocolate dipped strawberries are pretty simple to make and you can add more fun by adding Valentine's Day sprinkles. Check Food Network for a simple recipe.
• Heart shaped confetti: There are a couple of ways to do this. You can purchase one of the scrapping punches from a craft store and use that to punch out hearts. Or, if your children are more adept at cutting out hearts {i.e. not apt to have a meltdown}, they can cut out the hearts themselves. They do not need to be tiny. Have the kids choose their own paper. When they are finished, they can sprinkle the confetti on the dinner table and then set the rest of the table.
• Placemats: Put the kids to work making festive paper placements for Valentine's Day dinner. Once they are dry and ready, the kids can set the table! 
• Bingo: Instead of making a Bingo game yourself, show the kids how to make a Bingo card and put them to work. Let them cut out hearts for their markers and make little pieces of paper with numbers to be drawn. Play Bingo by candlelight for something special and have some little rewards.
• Surprise Valentine's: Don't forget older neighbors that may not have many visitors. Let the kids make some Valentine's cards for neighbors and then deliver them.
• Appreciation Valentine's: Often, we forget to tell each other what we like about each other. Have the kids make Valentine's for each family member and either list or draw pictures about what they appreciate it about that person.
• Spreading the Love: Over Valentine's Day dinner, discuss with the kids how you can spread your love to others during the year. Maybe you would like to donate to an animal shelter or volunteer at a soup kitchen. Come up with an idea that is feasible for your family and think of a plan to put it in action!

Do you have any fun ways to let the kids in on the fun?

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St. Joseph Annual Magical Ice Fest: Frosty Fun This Weekend in Michigan

One of my favorite festivals in the Magical Ice Fest in St. Joseph, Michigan. The artistry of the ice carvers at the festival is just breathtaking. I cannot believe what they can carve out of a block of ice! For me, winter is pretty bleak and this one has certainly been particularly harsh. Fun festivals like this one make it easier to get through winter! I thought I would share some photos from last year's festival.

Take a look at the wonders:

 

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Balsamic Chicken and Wild Rice {Recipe}

I think that I have mentioned before how much I love Cooking Light. We have found some great recipes from Cooking Light and find them to be well balanced yet not to difficult to execute. One of our standbys from Cooking Light happens to be Sauteed Chicken Breast with Balsamic Vinegar Pan Sauce. Last night, I made it with a few tweaks. I wanted to share the recipe because it is a good one!

Ingredients:

2 large chicken breasts
1/3 cup vegetable broth
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tsp honey
1/2 Tbsp butter
1/2 Tbsp avocado oil
1 Tbsp chopped scallions
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
3 Tbsp buckwheat
1/2 cup wild rice (dry)

Directions:

First, start preparing the wild rice according to the package directions. Wild rice does take a little longer to cook, so starting it a little before you prepare the chicken may be a good idea.

Then, mix the balsamic, broth and honey. I whisked the mixture lightly. Heat the butter and oil in a skillet. {I used my Le Creuset.} Mix the flour and the pepper in a shallow dish for dredging. You may want to cut the chicken breasts in half {we left ours big however bigger pieces take longer}. Dredge your chicken and pan fry. Fry for about 4-5 minutes on each side until golden brown. Since I left our breasts large, they did take about 7 minutes on each side. Once your chicken is cooked, remove it from the skillet. Add the scallions and sautee for 30 seconds. Next, add the liquid mixture. Scrape the pan to add the browned bits. Boil the liquid about 3 minutes--until the liquid has been reduced by 1/2. To plate, put some wild rice on your plate. Then, place the chicken atop the wild rice and drizzle with the sauce and scallions. For dinner last night, we also made some brussel sprouts.

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