June 2012
1 post
2 tags
Ice Cream for Dairy and Non-Dairy Lovers!
For me, summer is synonymous with ice cream. Once the mercury begins to climb, I’m in search of a fix- and not just the ice cream but the experience of eating outside with friends and family.
When I became vegan, I thought this was over. Sure we could buy some non-dairy ice cream at the store and eat it outside or make our own but it just didn’t have the same feel of chasing the...
May 2012
1 post
3 tags
Looking for fun toys without batteries?
As the mercury climbs, sometimes we find ourselves spending more time indoors for the safety of little ones. With that, we want them to have fun but that shouldn’t mean getting a headache from loud toys that seem to go nonstop!
There are many fun toys that are great for imaginative and interactive play without batteries at romp- in fact, it’s all you will find there!
Some great...
April 2012
2 posts
Quick Meal = More Time Outside
Our friend the sun is back and with it comes long afternoons spent outside, soaking up every minute we possibly can. Unfortunately, meals still need to be made and the more time spent outside means less time to prep and create.
A quick favorite at my house is the pita pocket. There are many ways to stuff a pita but our go to is spinach, cucumber, avocado, hummus and Organic Ville’s...
Natural Dye Solutions for Easter Eggs
It’s hard to believe that it’s already April and egg dyeing is right around the corner. For those eco-conscious parents, I have found recipes to make your own natural colors at home, as well as an already done for you Eco-Kids kit.
All Natural Recipes
Eco-Kids Kit
March 2012
2 posts
Sun Safety Chicago!
This week has been an amazing preview of the summer to come. The warmth and sun are welcome friends- even after a mild winter. As great as March sun feels though, it still has consequences. It’s time to think about sun protection for the whole family!
To find a great sunscreen or check what is in your favorite brand, check out the Environmental Working Group’s website.
Adorable,...
Building Cars Made Easy
If you haven’t heard of Tegu blocks by now, get ready to be excited! These magnetic wooden blocks make it easy and safe for toddlers (and older children) to imagine and create.
The current line I’m loving is Mobility. You can choose from several different cars- some with a profile and wheels and some with multiple configurations and wheels.
February 2012
4 posts
6 tags
Think Spring!
The forecast may call for several inches of snow today but it is time to think spring! Children’s rain gear can be cute and fun but it also needs to be safe. L.L. Bean provides a great selection of coats and boots that are PVC free.
One of my favorite boot choices for children is their Puddle Stompers. Waterproof boots in bright colors that have the added bonus of handles to make it...
Mini Crib Offers Big Solutions
More friends and family are having baby number two while still in a two bedroom home. Some have decided to let the kids share a room and others have put up a new wall to create a small nursery. Either way, they are dealing with a small space and the Bloom Alma Mini crib could be a solution.
The Alma Mini:
-Comes in five colors
-Is made of solid wood and stainless steel
-Has wheels to allow...
Chic Crib That Converts
Many of my friends and family are either currently searching for a crib or the milestone that is the toddler bed. There are many things to consider when shopping for either and I think it’d be great to shop once and be done.
The Tuscany 4 in 1 crib by Stork Craft may be the golden ticket:
- It is made of solid wood
-Converts from crib to toddler bed to day bed to full-size bed (parts...
Decorating Responsibly
I love photos and I love displaying them all over the house. Paper Culture has created a way to let me display photos without feeling guilty about the materials used.
They have a line of bamboo wall art. It comes in various sizes, hangs in minutes, is made of eco friendly materials and a tree is planted with every order.
Best of all, you can use the code TRUELOVE for 20% off!
Free in February!
As great as today was, let’s face it, chances are February will still be cold in Chicago. Here are some ways to beat boredom and warm up- for free!
Adler Planetarium: 1, 6-9, 14, 15, 21
Art Institute: Every weekday until the 10th
Chicago Children’s Museum: 5 and Thursdays 5pm-8pm
Chicago Cultural Center: Always free
Chicago History Museum: 5, 29
DuSable Museum: Every Sunday
...
Free in February!
As great as today was, let’s face it, chances are February will still be cold in Chicago. Here are some ways to beat boredom and warm up- for free!
Adler Planetarium: 1, 6-9, 14, 15, 21
Art Institute: Every weekday until the 10th
Chicago Children’s Museum: 5 and Thursdays 5pm-8pm
Chicago Cultural Center: Always free
Chicago History Museum: 5, 29
DuSable Museum: Every Sunday
...
Free in February!
As great as today was, let’s face it, chances are February will still be cold in Chicago. Here are some ways to beat boredom and warm up- for free!
Adler Planetarium: 1, 6-9, 14, 15, 21
Art Institute: Every weekday until the 10th
Chicago Children’s Museum: 5 and Thursdays 5pm-8pm
Chicago Cultural Center: Always free
Chicago History Museum: 5, 29
DuSable Museum: Every Sunday
...
January 2012
7 posts
Polar Adventure Days Are Back!
If you are looking for a way to immerse your family in a fun winter activity, look no further than Polar Adventure days at Northerly Island! Saturday January 21st from noon-4pm your family can pretend to be out on the tundra:
- Ice sculptures
-Siberian huskies that have raced the Iditarod
-Old School of Folk Music entertains
-Arts and crafts tables
-Free snowshoe rental if there is 3+ inches...
Indoor Playtime!
While it may not have felt like winter lately, it will soon enough! Here is a list of the best indoor play places in Chicago by Chicago Parent :
Family Grounds Cafe
Bubbles Academy
Fantasy Kingdom
Hobbitland
Jump Ahead
Kid City
My Corner Playroom
Pump It Up
Gymboree
Is your child big on art but your home is small on...
Kids are creative and parents continually look for outlets to let them express, grow and learn. However, that quickly turns into having too many supplies and not enough space.
This wooden tabletop easel can help! It has a dry erase board on one side and a chalkboard on the other. Both sides come with compartments to store the writing utensils and erasers - that means no open markers set on...
A calendar for the kids
A new year means a new calendar and why not get the kids in on the action? Melissa and Doug’s calendar helps to teach the months of the year, days of the week, holidays and scheduling.
December 2011
1 post
Looking for a carrier?
Carriers are a personal choice and preferences vary greatly. This ERGO combines some of my favorite things: organic, machine washable, a gorgeous print and has been tested to hold up to 90lbs! (If you can comfortably carry a child at that weight- wow!)
November 2011
3 posts
3 tags
Fire Safety Time!
The time change is a great time to talk about and review fire safety.
-Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
-Make sure your kids know what the alarm sounds like. An article in Parents magazine had a startling fact: almost 90% of young children slept through a smoke alarm going off for 30 seconds.
-Create an exit plan from each bedroom. Help your children practice at...
3 tags
Stylish headbands- that stay!-for kids and adults
Having previously worked for many families with little girls, I can tell you just how hard it is to find cute hair accessories that can actually keep up with running, jumping and playing! I have found the perfect answer and best of all, it’s perfect for adults too!
Today I wore the silver skinny sparkle band and it survived my walk to and from work (yes,...
5 tags
November Holiday Events
It’s November! Holiday events abound this month and here are just a few that are on my can’t miss list:
November 5th- The 104th annual lighting of the Great Tree in the Walnut Room
November 18th- McCormick Tribune ice rink at Millennium Park opens
November 19th- Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
November 23rd- The 98th annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in Daley Plaza
...
5 tags
Halloween Candy!!
Sadly, I don’t know what it’s like to have leftover candy- trick or treaters don’t make the rounds in my building. However, I have seen it the next day in many homes. No matter what your take on candy is as far as the kids go, you will still have candy so here are a few ideas of what to do with it:
-Bake with it: Add pieces to favorite cookie recipes- use it in place of...
October 2011
11 posts
2 tags
Looking for a non fall activity this weekend?
The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival wraps up this weekend. It is the largest festival of films for children in the world with 250 films from 40 countries.
There are films for the whole family- age appropriateness is listed on the schedule next to each film (starting at age 2). Films range from animated to live action, TV series, documentaries and children produced work-...
5 tags
Art Without Mess
Do you have a little artist that is great at making a big mess? If so, get ready to rejoice in the mess free art that is possible with the Buddha Board.
The Buddha Board is an environmentally friendly art outlet. It looks like a laptop and opens to create an easel-esque surface. The child dips the paintbrush (provided) in water and creates away- the color that appears is the same as the...
7 tags
Do you joke and laugh with your toddler?
If you do, yay for you! A study from Stirling University shows that toddlers learn to distinguish facial and verbal cues from joking and pretending and that these skills help them succeed well into adulthood. Amazingly, even those as young as 14 months have been able to tell the difference between joking and pretending.
So make faces, do fake-outs, give your best knock knock a try and pretend...
5 tags
Play and Storage All-In-One!
How many times have you asked a child to clean up only to be told that they are not done with something yet? Exactly! In many cases, this play mat can solve that!
The play mat is made of heavy cotton canvas and has nylon cords (it is machine washable!). Kids can play and when it comes time to clean up, can grab the cords and move their mat to their room or any designated space- whether it be...
6 tags
Wondering what to do with Halloween candy?
I’ll admit it, I’m a nerd. When I got home with my Halloween haul as a kid, I would immediately dump my bucket on the floor of the living room-find the chocolate chip cookies the sweet grandma down the street made and eat them (the fact that that would never happen for kids today is another story all together!)-then sort my candy and begin graphing. Yes, that’s right, I graphed...
6 tags
Family Thought Of The Day
When it comes to making choices, some children have a hard time. If possible, give them a choice between three things- not two. When a child hears two choices, they worry about what they are not getting or able to do. When a child hears three choices, they often switch their thinking to figuring out which one they like most and not dwelling on what they can not do or have.
7 tags
A fun take on a classic
Do your kids hear the word meatloaf and immediately leave the kitchen? Do those same kids hear the word cupcake and hug you like crazy? If so, The MeatLoaf Bakery is just the spot for you!
At first, I was a bit skeptical (you see, I love all things sugar and am vegetarian) but this place has won me over. You can choose from eight different flavors daily, plus specials, and they...
3 tags
Make meals more exciting!
It’s no secret that toddlers are not always the best eaters. There is just too much to see and do in their life now! This plate helps them sit still and focus on the meal while giving you the ability to separate and see just what it is that they are eating. Bonus- it is made from the highest quality of food grade steel which means no BPA, Phthalate, PVC or Lead to worry about!...
3 tags
Fall Events
Two more weeks until Halloween!
By now you have probably visited an apple orchard, a pumpkin farm and are wondering what else there is to do before it’s costume time. Here is a list of events leading up to Halloween in Chicago:
Navy Pier’s Really Big Halloween Party
Dates: Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays and Halloween
Times: Fridays/Saturdays 12pm-9pm
Sundays/Halloween...
Welcome!
I love living in Chicago and I love being a nanny in Chicago!
If you are looking for child/family friendly events, books, restaurants, meal ideas, products, music, movies and tips on anything and everything family- you are in the right place.
I look forward to sharing and interacting.
All the best,
Cheryl
