Wednesday Weekend Windup {Cocoa Crawl, Groundhog Day, Nature Discovery and More}

Hope everyone has been staying warm! We have a weekend coming up and it WILL be warmer! Here are my picks for family fun in the Chicago suburbs this weekend:

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Chicago's North Shore Restaurant Month February 2019

Chicago's North Shore Restaurant Month February 2019

**Disclosure: I will receive a complimentary dining experience during this event. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Chicago's North Shore Restaurant Month returns this February and I cannot think of a better reason to get out and explore! For the entire month of February, more than 90 of the North Shore's favorite restaurants will be providing fabulous discounts, special prix fixe menus, free desserts and other specials. Chicago's North Shore Restaurant Month is in its 11th year and bigger than ever!

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Interview with Local Artist Cheryl Rausch

Interview with Local Illustrator and Photographer Cheryl Rausch

Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Chicago suburban artist Cheryl Rausch. Cheryl works with a variety of visual arts including illustration and photography. When I met Cheryl, she was giving children hands-on experience with illustration. Her joy for art and creation truly came through. Over the past year, I have been following her on her Cheryl Rausch.Art Facebook Page and watching her experiment with different methods and seeing her creations come to life has been amazing! I find that seeing this process inspires shows that special heart and magic that goes into the Cheryl Rausch art in your home. To me, local art is so special because you often do know more about the heart that went into that piece. I have been fortunate enough to put together this interview with Cheryl Rausch so you can also learn about her and her art:

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Chagall for Children at Arlington Heights Memorial Library

Chagall for Children at Arlington Heights Memorial Library

Chagall for Children opened this weekend at Arlington Heights Memorial Library. The engaging exhibit introduces children to the world of Chagall beyond his iconic works by incorporating a range of tactile, audio, scent and visual experiences. The 14 interactive components are set up like an art museum. Children are welcomed to the world of Chagall with beautiful displays:

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Exploring Natural History and Culture at the Milwaukee Public Museum

Exploring Natural History and Culture at the Milwaukee Public Museum 

Milwaukee Public Museum fascinates visitors with quite a cache of natural history exhibits, a theater and a planetarium. Our first visit to the museum was punctuated with with incredible discovery after incredible discovery. Before we knew it, we had spent 3 hours at the museum and there were still more exhibits to see. So, a visit is quite a thorough experience that easily invites future explorations!

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Wednesday Weekend Windup {Chagall, Ski Jump, Huskies, Bald Eagles and More}

Chicago Suburbs Weekend Fun January 25-27, 2019

Just because it is winter, it doesn't mean we aren't having fun here in the Chicago suburbs! There are plenty of events this weekend. There are some outdoors ones, so I caution you to make sure they are still happening this weekend due to cold temperatures. As of this writing, they are. If you are thinking about a road trip, this week is Milwaukee Museum Week.

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Quick Stop at Limestone Coffee and Tea in Batavia, Illinois

Quick Stop at Limestone Coffee and Tea in Batavia, Illinois

This past summer, we spent some time exploring spots along the Fox River. Of course, that familiar craving for coffee called. We happened upon Limestone Coffee and Tea, an adorable coffeehouse in Batavia's historic district. We were immediately smitten!

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VAI's Italian Inspired Kitchen + Bar in Naperville: Sharing Life Over Plates

VAI's Naperville: Sharing Life Over Plates 

**Disclosure: Thank you to VAI's Italian Inspired Kitchen + Bar in Naperville for accommodating my visit. We did receive complimentary meals in order to bring you this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own

Last weekend, we enjoyed a relaxing and leisurely lunch at VAI's Italian Inspired Kitchen + Bar in Naperville, IL. VAI's opened about 6 months ago, so we were pretty excited to explore this new foodie destination. Upon entering, we were charmed by the ambiance and felt a visit to VAI's would be a special treat.

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The Orchid Show Returns to Chicago Botanic Garden February 9, 2019-March 24, 2019

The Orchid Show at Chicago Botanic Garden Uplifts the Spirit

The Orchid Show at Chicago Botanic Garden is the perfect winter uplift to help us bridge the end of winter into spring. This year's show will run February 9 - March 24, 2019. Opening weekend is just in time for a Valentine's Day visit! A perfect opportunity to bask in nature's eye candy!

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Iceland's Golden Circle

Iceland's Golden Circle

We are planning a return trip to Iceland this summer, so I am doing a little Iceland reminiscing from previous trips. On our first visit to Iceland, we explored Iceland's famed Golden Circle. The Golden Circle highlights a selection of stunning natural attractions. You can easily drive the Golden Circle or enjoy one of many tours.

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Donut Drop in Schaumburg, Illinois: Fresh Baked Donuts With Intriguing Flavors

Donut Drop: Fresh Baked Donuts With Intriguing Flavors 

Fresh and fun donuts with a mix of familiar, intriguing and curious flavors are baked locally every day at Donut Drop in Schaumburg. We first learned about Donut Drop after devouring a delicious donut we picked up at Brewpoint in Elmhurst. The barista at Brewpoint informed us that the donuts were baked locally. Fluffy and fresh donuts from a local small business are the perfect accompaniment for a locally roasted coffee. Since we live closer to Schaumburg than Elmhurst, we were thrilled to have the source of these magnificent baked creations so near to our home! 

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Museum of Science and Industry: Perfect Winter Day Exploring Science

Museum of Science and Industry: Perfect Winter Day Exploring Science

**Disclosure: My family was provided with complimentary admission to bring you this review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are 100% my own.

The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago provides an engaging opportunity for science exploration which is perfect for a cold winter day! With so many hands-on exhibits and unique experiences, it can certainly take several days to thoroughly explore the museum. So, I can say that it definitely will keep your family intrigued and occupied while learning during a cold winter day. While the Museum of Science of Industry is a cornucopia of science learning year round, the museum serves as a welcome adventure during Chicago winters!

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Wednesday Weekend Windup {Winter Fests, Puppets, Railroads and More}

The weekend is within site! Here are my picks in the Chicago suburbs this weekend for families:

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Sprecher Brewing Co. Brewery Tour {Milwaukee}

Sprecher Brewing Co. Brewery Tour

Sprecher Brewing Co. definitely has a fantastic idea for a winter day -- visiting for a brewery tour! One particular chilly day last month, we ventured to Milwaukee for a little adventure including a brewery tour in nearby Glendale.

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Degusta Box's December Goodies!

I am a little behind this month on my Degusta Box reveal. The good news is I think more of you will see this because you are not busy on holiday adventures! December's Degusta Box once again was a great mix including plenty of holiday treats. Degusta Boxes are actually one of my favorite treats for winter when it seems I am getting out a little less often. There is nothing like a box of surprises to put a smile on your face on a gray, wintery day! Here is a peek at last month's box:

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Lunch at Chicago French Market: A Food Adventure

Lunch at Chicago French Market: A Food Adventure

Chicago French Market's fun and flavorful culinary exploration is in a slightly hidden spot below busy Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago. So, the collection of tempting food booths can easily be missed during a visit to Chicago. However, Chicago French Market is definitely one of my favorite places to eat and makes accommodating a variety of tastes pretty easy.

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Wednesday Weekend Windup {Ice Carving, Wizards, Fitness and More}

Hooray! We have a short week! Here are few ideas to keep you and the kiddos busy this weekend. My picks:

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