Wanderlust - St. Louis

Every couple of months I start to feel the need to travel. It doesn’t matter where I go. I just have to go somewhere. A couple of things you should know about the way I travel 1) I am always on a budget. 2) I never make plans too far in advance. 3) I always take my two boys (now 7 & 9). 4) I love to see and do new things. 5) My husband usually doesn’t travel with my kids and I. With that said one of my favorite types of trips is the car trip. I totally enjoy driving for hours to somewhere I have never been before, singing songs from the 70‘s, and smoking….if I hadn’t given it up 15 years ago. That to me is freedom! Now that I have a mini van with a built in DVD player and my kids are a little older, I am totally in heaven. So the kids will never know what a real pig looks like :)

With that said let me get to the interesting stuff. One of my favorite driving trips was the one to St. Louis. Who knew??? But I am here to tell you that St. Louis is such a great city for kids. It is also very budget friendly. I think it took about 5 hours to drive there. On this particular trip my husband did join us. I booked a hotel through either hotwire or priceline. We got a great deal $64 per night (3 years ago) in the St. Louis Union Station Marriott. Our room overlooked the mall area, which was cool. The hotel has an outdoor pool that we couldn’t use because it was still too cold out. We stayed for 3 nights but we could have easily spent another 4 nights.

My all time favorite museum geared for kids of all ages is the City Museum. It is a bit pricey if you add in the aquarium. So unless they have changed the aquarium section within the City Museum I would suggest skipping it. Check the internet and some of the travel magazines, you might find a coupon for a couple of $$ off admission, this is true for all of the places in St. Louis. The City Museum is soooo amazing! We got there when it opened and we were the last ones to leave. Go on a day when you can spend some time in the outdoor area. Check out their website because I don’t know how to describe it properly.

We went to the Arch and rode to the top. That was neat and I would do it again. The Saint Louis Zoo was nice but it took a while to find parking. It was the first nice weekend so everyone had the same zoo idea. The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum is the best I have ever been to and I have been to a lot of Children’s Museums. The Butterfly House is huge and definitely worth a visit. 

One night we ate at Fitz's American Grill and Bottling Works. They brew both beer and root beer. You can see the brewing area from the restaurant. I had found 2 coupons for free ice cream floats. They let us use both coupons and brought us two floats that were as big as my head. Another night we went to Crown Candy Kitchen for ice cream sundaes. It is an old candy shop that opened in 1913 and still looks that same. I love that kind of stuff.

There are a ton of things to do that we skipped because we didn’t have enough time or our kids were a bit too young.

Here are some of the other sites and activities that we didn’t have time for Six Flags St. Louis, Steinberg Rink in Forest Park, Riverfront and KATY trails, Miniature Museum of Greater St. Louis, Grant’s Farm, Purina Farms, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, and the Missouri Botanical Garden.

St. Louis has a lot of free kid friendly places such as the Saint Louis Science Center, Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, Grant’s Farm, Saint Louis Zoo, Purina Farms, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, and the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour.

If you have taken your kids to St. Louis, please share.
Do you know of a great driving trip from Chicago?
Want to hear about more great driving trips from Chicago?

February Kidwinks Prize

The February Kidwinks Prize, a new child’s bedroom design, was awarded to Sarah in Des Plaines. Her 4-year-old son, Matthew, needed a bedroom makeover and their wishes had come true – they won, but what would it be like? Would Matthew think his new room looked cool, or would he want his old one back?

Before

Affordable Interiors owner Deborah Oberschelp arrived at the home and told Matthew he was in for a big treat, but he would have to stay busy in another room for most of the day until his big surprise. He was a willing participant and played happily with his mom all the long hours of waiting.

Finally Deborah was ready to reveal the finished room. All eyes were on Matthew as Deborah led him down the hallway to his new digs, his hands over his eyes. At the count of 3, Deborah asked him to look, and Matthew began to jump up and down, and around in circles, shouting “I love it, I love it!” What a great day for the family.

Deborah chose a racecar theme. She transformed the room by

¨ Moving furniture to the right spot

¨ Removing clutter

¨ Replacing old strawberry curtains with a custom car & checkered-flag valance

¨ Adding a custom checkered-flag pillow to the bed

¨ Painting a racetrack around the perimeter of the room

¨ Painting a red rectangle frame on the wall to showcase 3 hubcabs hung as wall art

¨ Arranging Matthew’s car-&-truck collection on shelves to complete the theme

What a difference a great design makes! These photos show Matthew’s room before and after the makeover, and Matthew and mom’s happy faces. Congratulations Matthew, and to Deborah on a job well done!

For children’s rooms and more designs that reflect your style and respect your budget, see www.selectredesign.com and contact Deborah for information.

After

Exercise and Your Immune System by Missy Vacala

Did you know that regular exercise can help keep your immune system in good shape? Fitness enthusiasts have frequently reported that they experience less sickness than their sedentary peers. An American Council on Exercise study revealed that 61% of 700 recreational runners reported fewer colds since they began running, while only 4% felt they had experienced more. Many other studies have shown that regular moderate exercise on a “near-daily” basis aids in keeping the immune system strong.

More technically speaking, while exercising, your body increases the speed at which it removes waste products. Since your breathing rate increases, more bacteria and foreign particles are flushed from the lungs. The same is true when your body perspires during exercise. Bacteria is released from your body via sweat. Extra waste removal decreases your risk of illness simply because fewer infectious agents are present in your body.

Also there is a cumulative effect of exercise and the immune system. The more regularly you exercise the more often your body is flushing bacteria, the more efficient your body becomes at fighting infections.

Therefore, every time you hop on that treadmill, participate in a cycle class, or pop-in an exercise DVD, your immune system is getting a boost! That increases your chances of fighting off cold viruses over the long term. And that’s good news!!

Missy Vacala - Vital Fitness

CHICAGOLAND PARENTS FIND WHERE KIDS EAT FREE USING KIDWINKS.com

Kidwinks.com, a website developed by Nina Taluc and Jean Lemke, two Park Ridge, IL moms, offers a unique way for parents in the Chicago area to save money when dining out with their children. Kidwinks’ Kids Eat Free Calendar allows parents to click on any day of the calendar to get a list of restaurants offering “kids eat free” or other kids’ dining deals on that day.

Taluc says “With over 200 kids’ dining deals for the Chicago area, we have compiled what is easily the most comprehensive database of its kind, and in these troubled economic times, parents really appreciate this resource.” Lemke adds “The Kids Eat Free Calendar is one of the most popular features on our site, and when I include a link to “kids eat free” specials in our e-newsletter, it is always the most popular click-through.”

Some examples of what can be found using the Kids Eat Free Calendar on kidwinks.com are:

Incredible Deals:

• Bogart's in Rosemont, IL – Family Night – On Tuesdays, up to 3 FREE kids meals for each adult entree purchase. Bogart's is located on the Premier Level of the Muvico Theatre in Rosemont.
• McKenna's Restaurant in Rolling Meadows, IL – On any day, up to 4 kids eat free when ordered from the kid's menu per full paying adult.
• Pinstripes in Northbrook, IL – Mom &Tots Playdate every Tuesday & Thursday, 10am - noon; Kids can enjoy a complimentary yogurt & fresh food buffet and parents enjoy a free coffee station while bowling. Kids bowl for $5 and Moms bowl free. On Sundays, kids 12 & under eat FREE at the Pintastic Brunch.

Local Favorites:

• Al Primo Canto, 5414 W. Devon, Chicago, IL - Kids 6 and under eat free at Al Primo Canto when you order the all you can eat family feast, served family style. They also eat free for Sunday brunch..
• Frasca Pizzeria and Wine Bar – 3358 N. Paulina, Chicago, IL - Kids under age 11 eat free Monday – Friday at this modern-day bistro in Lakeview. Parents can enjoy upscale Italian food while the kids munch on pizza, pasta and ice cream.
• Sage Grille, 260 Greenbay Road, Highwood, IL - Kids under 12 eat free from the Kid’s Menu Sunday through Thursday. One child eats for free with every purchase of an adult entree.

Chain Restaurants:

• Denny's - Many Chicago area locations - Kids eat free Tuesday nights and in some locations Saturday nights too, 4 pm to 10 pm at participating restaurants.
• Steak 'n' Shake - Kids eat free at all Steak n Shake restaurants throughout the Chicago area on Saturday and Sunday. For each adult who spends at least $9.00, one child gets a free kids meal. This offer is for dine-in customers only.
• Colonial Cafe – Many Chicago area locations - Every Monday night after 4:00 pm, Kids Eat Free. The first Monday of each month is CLOWN NIGHT!

Kidwinks member Sue Biagi says “With four kids under the age of nine, eating out can get quite expensive for our family. The Kids Eat Free Calendar on kidwinks.com is a lifesaver for me.”

Kidwinks.com is free for all to use, and restaurants may list their kids meal specials on the Kids Eat Free Calendar for free.

Kidwinks.com makes Chicagoland parent’s lives easier by providing an all-encompassing resource to find kid-friendly activities, events, restaurants, shops and services. For more information, please visit www.kidwinks.com.

Marley & Me – Don’t Take the Kids! by Jean L.

Don’t get me wrong – Marley & Me was a wonderful and heartwarming story, beautifully done. But it has a very sad ending (Marley has to be put to sleep – sorry to ruin it, but if you’re considering taking your kids, you need to know that) that can be traumatic for certain children.
I have two girls – “Punkin” age 7, and “Mousie” age 5. They have been clamoring to see Marley & Me since we saw the trailers many months ago. We eagerly checked out the book on cd from the library, and the girls LOVED listening to it in the car. BUT, I saw how the book was going to end so I prescreened that part by myself. I cried and sobbed through the ending, and knew it wasn’t appropriate for my daughters. So I refused to let them listen to it, and just summarized the ending for them. In the book, the sadness was relieved by the Grogan’s getting a new, just as mischievous, puppy. In the movie, there’s no such relief.

Why I didn’t leave the theater with the girls before the sad, sad ending, I’ll never know. I should have, but for some reason, that thought never occurred to me. I think I figured they already knew the ending, so it wouldn’t be so bad. Oh boy, was I wrong!!! Really, really bad parenting decision (or non decision) on my part. I had tears streaming down my face and was choking back sobs as I watched Marley’s family say their final goodbyes, and then the vet inject the drugs into Marley’s i.v. that would end his life. My daughters didn’t start crying until the movie ended. We sat as the credits rolled, Mousie in my arms, and Punkin in my husband’s arms, as the girls cried and cried and cried. They briefly stopped the tears in the car as they got involved in their new Nintendo ds’s, but started up again as soon as they entered the house. My husband and I once again each took a child as they sobbed some more. It lasted almost an hour, despite our best efforts to distract them. Snuggling and playing with our two black labs finally calmed the girls down.

Now, I should say that our family has more reason than most to respond so emotionally to this movie. First of all, we are all dog lovers, and Punkin especially is very sensitive and caring toward animals. Not quite 3 years ago, we too had to put our very beloved golden retriever, Rufus, to sleep. It was extremely difficult for all of us, particularly Punkin. In fact, Punkin was so upset and inconsolable, I invited her to help me look online at www.petfinder.org (this is a truly great resource for anyone looking for a dog to adopt – you can search for animals in shelters throughout the area by type of animal, breed, age, gender, etc.) for a new dog. Little did I know we would find a litter of golden retriever / black lab mix puppies being adopted that very afternoon, but that’s another story. Mousie wasn’t even 3 yet, but she still remembers Rufus. Both girls still cry occasionally for Rufus, and regularly include him in their nightly prayers as well as pictures and stories they create. About a year after Rufus died, my mother passed away, and she was very close to my girls and they loved her deeply. So emotions are still raw from two difficult family deaths.

I really don’t recommend this movie for children who have lost a beloved pet, or anyone they were close to. It will bring those emotions back to the surface. The beginning of the movie is actually very comical, and my girls enjoyed it immensely, laughing heartily at Marley’s antics. If you do take the kids to see the movie, you could always leave before the end (the second time Marley goes to the vet).

Another objection I have to the movie is the sex references. My daughters don’t know what the word means, and it’s mentioned several times in the movie. There’s no graphic sex or nudity, but it’s implied, and my daughter at one point asked what the parents were doing (they were kissing and rolling around in bed, fully clothed, but on their way to making their first child). I should have paid attention to the PG rating on the movie. I think my parenting hat was just missing tonight, because I didn’t even look to see what the movie was rated. I just assumed that this was a nice, family film and I had nothing to worry about. My bad. Anyway, I just don’t want anyone else to make the same mistakes I made.

Disney World by Dream Weaver

Yes, it's been a while since I've posted. I think the holidays
keep us busy. We kicked off the season with a Thanksgiving
trip to Disney with the kids. The first time we went, my girls
were 6 and 3, and we spent the entire 2 day trip at Magic
Kingdom waiting in line to meet princesses or chasing after them in the park.

On our second trip, my 3 year old son, who
was going to Disney for the first time, was most looking forward to
meeting Mickey Mouse. After a few hours in the Magic Kingdom,
he couldn't wait any longer
and wanted to go to his house and meet him in his tent. The
whole family walked over together, and we passed one of the
tents where some princesses and fairies were. I turned to my
daughters and asked if they wanted to see the princesses.
They looked at me like I was crazy. "We want to go on the
rollercoasters!", they cried. Space Mountain, Big Thunder Railroad,
the Haunted House, etc. I was shocked that even my 6 year old was beyond the
princess obsession. And I was instantly so very grateful that we had
made that decision 3 years ago to spend a couple days at the
Magic Kingdom. I will never forget my two girls in their dresses
chasing after princesses and other characters to get an autograph and take a picture.

At the time, I didn't realize that the princess obsession is so short lived.
I also didn't realize how quickly time passes. The shock of my daughters'
response on this trip was a harsh but good reminder to enjoy these exciting moments
because they only happen once.

Happy holidays!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday for many people for many different reasons. For me, it is the annual ritual of decorating that house with homemade turkeys that my children have brought home over the years. It seems that every school does the same craft with the kids: dip the hand in paint and press on a sheet of construction paper. Add eyes, nose, and feathers, and you have a turkey worth saving. Of course, the first time my oldest brought one home, I thought it was so precious. I had it laminated. More kids and more turkeys started coming home every fall. I kept them all in a box in my attic, and a few years ago, I started opening the box with my kids every November and letting them hang their turkey handprint artwork around the house. This has become our family Thanksgiving ritual that I just love.

Most of them are labeled with my kids’ names and the date. Some are not labeled, and I remember thinking when each one was brought home, how could I forget whose hand this is? Well, I have. I have learned to always label their artwork, no matter how seemingly unique. Even if I think it’s not a keeper.

In addition to the turkey artwork, I have an essay that one of my daughters wrote in kindergarten when she was 5. She wrote that the first Thanksgiving took place 100 years ago and her grandparents were there to celebrate. My barely 70 year old mother and I found this hilarious, and this treasure is kept with all our other Thanksgiving artwork. When I pulled it out this year and showed my daughter, who is now 9 years old, she laughed out loud.

Happy Thanksgiving!