White Bean, Broccoli, and Cheddar Soup Thanks to Eating Well

Alright, alright, I admit that it has been a little too hot for soups. But, we really love our soups, so I made one of our favorites the other day. A couple of years ago, I found a real easy recipe from Eating Well for Broccoli, Cannellini Bean, and Cheddar Soup. This soup has been a staple for us ever since we discovered it.

First, the soup only has 7 ingredients: vegetable or chicken broth, water, broccoli, cannellini beans, cheddar cheese, salt, and ground white pepper. Many of the soups I make have a ton more ingredients. Also, I usually have most of these on hand--awesome!

The recipe itself is simple to execute. I do use the vegetable broth instead of the chicken broth. (The recipe calls for either, so no sweat.) This soup is very tasty and perfect for those rainy days! Also, I love that it gives the illusion of a creamy broccoli soup without the cream.

I feel that this recipe is pretty near perfect as it is. Definitely, head over to Eating Well  if you are in need of a soothing cup of soup!

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Mamaphobia Ticket Winners!

First of all, we want to thank everyone who participated in our Mamaphobia Trio ticket giveaway. The show is great and we were very excited to share it with you!

Congratulations to our winners MaryBeth Aycock and Zymogen! We will be contacting them in regards to their awesome prize!

The Mamaphobia Trio show is one of the best that we have seen, so we definitely recommend it for a great night out!

Please keep posted for more reviews and giveaways!

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Website Wednesday

I wanted to share a great Internet resource for pet owners: www.BringFido.com, which is a compilation of pet-friendly accommodations, worldwide.  In addition to hotels, B&B's and campgrounds, the website also offers directories of pet services - pet sitting, vets, dog walking, dog training, dog grooming and dog boarding kennels - as well as dog-friendly beaches, parks and hiking trails.  I came across this site which a friend had linked to on Facebook, and I checked it out for another the website's features: dog-friendly restaurants.  You narrow your search by clicking on the country, the state and the city you want to search in. 

My husband and I found a number of choices for pet-friendly outdoor dining/patio options around us.  But here I must offer a caveat for this site: CALL AHEAD FIRST to confirm the information is correct.  We wound up at Tapas Gitana in Northfield (we did call to reserve a table at 8 p.m.), but upon arrival, we were told dogs can only sit in the patio on Tuesday nights. Thankfully, the hostess accommodated us and our easygoing greyhound, Rowdy - we sat at a table on the patio's edge, while Rowdy lounged on his mat just outside the fence.  So while I recommend checking out www.BringFido.com, do not take the site information at face value.  Save yourself trouble and call first.  Hopefully, it will lead you toward great adventures with your canine companions!

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Some Coupon Shares: Minute Maid Drink Boxes, Feta Cheese & Salad, & More

In honor of Back-to-School, I thought that I would share some of the coupons for items that keep us going throughout the year. I am always looking for coupons for juice and Morning Star Farms! You can just click on the coupons below to get the coupons for printing!

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Mamaphobia Giveaway--Ends Today 08/28/12!

Anybody ready for a great night out! I know that I am! I know, we are just a few days into the new school year, but I am sure that everyone already needs some R and R.

Mary Poole, Peggy Ward, and Jeff Hackl in the Mamaphobia Trio will definitely provide you with the opportunity to let your hair down! Writer Peggy Ward and producer Jeff Hackl have created a production that will have you laughing while wiping away a little sentimental tear from your eye as you watch young mother Mary Poole navigate early motherhood.

Mamaphobia Trio is currently playing at the Laughing Chameleon in the Glen Town Center in Glenview, Illinois. The cast members are all from the North suburbs, so catching the show is a great way to see and support local talent! You can order tickets on the Mamaphobia website for the upcoming shows (September 6, 7, and 8, 2012).  You can also see some great teasers on the website.

We are running a giveaway for a pair of tickets to the September 6th show and a pair for the September 7th show. The giveaway ends tonight (08/28/12), so be sure to enter at this link. This is an awesome giveaway!

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Wandering Around Peck Farm in Geneva

Awhile back I heard about the Butterfly House at Peck Farm in Geneva. Since my daughter loved her encounter with the butterflies at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, I thought that this would be the perfect adventure for us. We found a nice day that wasn't too hot and wasn't cold and headed out.

Immediately, we found the grounds of Peck Farm to be beautiful. We arrived slightly before the Butterfly House opened, so we opted to take a hike along one of the trails. The trail led us through vibrant prairie flowers and around a lake. We had fun identifying wildlife.

After finishing the trail, we investigated the silo. You can enter the silo and climb the stairs to the top. From the top, you have a nice view of the landscape. As you climb up the silo, their are murals painted to give you a little peek into part of Geneva's history. I thought that this was a really neat concept.

Inside the silo.

Next, we headed into the Interpretative Center which is housed in the Peck House. The Peck House was built in 1869. Inside, there are exhibits explaining the story of the Peck family as well as discussing some important events in American history. There are also nature exhibits detailing the nature in the area. The learning is very hands-on, so my daughter had a blast!

Finally, we headed to the Butterfly House. When we entered, the guide explained to us conduct within the house (not to touch the butterflies, watch out for them on the ground, etc.). Also, when we left, he was careful to make sure that we did not have any hitchhikers. I really appreciated the care that was taken for the butterflies!

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Disney on Ice Presents Treasure Trove is Coming Soon to Chicago!

We are very excited that Disney on Ice presents Treasure Trove is coming to Chicago's Allstate Arena September 13-16, 2012. What a fun little back-to-school treat for the kids!

In spirit of the upcoming spectacular, I have found some interesting trivia that your kids may want to try their hand at!

1.) What does Mufasa's name mean? A.) Chief  B.) Boss C.) King D.) Prince
2.) Name the witch whose alter-ego goes by the name of Vanessa: A.) Maleficent B.) The Queen (from Snow White) C.) Ursula D.) Madam Mim
3.) What are the names of Lady's owners? A.) Dick and Jane B.) Jim Dear and Darling C.) Mother and Father D.) Jack and Ruth
4.) What color is the beaded necklace torn by Cinderella's stepsisters? A.) Pink B.) White C.) Green D.) Blue
5.) In Pinocchio, who sings "When You Wish Upon a Star?" A.) Gepetto B.) Jiminy Crickett C.) Blue Fairy D.) Stromboli

You can find a ton of trivia on the Disney.Go website. I tried to pick a few easier ones for the kids, but there definitely some really challenging questions! I will give you the "trivia" answers in a future post!

If you are interested in going to the show, remember to check this link for tickets. Using the coupon code "MOM3", you can save 40% on weekday tickets (Monday-Thursday, Friday matinee) or 20% off of weekend tickets.

***Disclaimer: I have been offered a chance to receive tickets for posting this information. All opinions are 100% my own.

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Dijon Potato Salad

Since I am not really a fan of mayonnaise, I set out to find a recipe for potato salad sans mayonnaise. I found one that used a dijon-vinaigrette from CD Kitchen that I used as a base. One thing that I found out about potato salad recipes and certainly is the case with this one--they don't tell you how to cook the potatoes. Of course, that is an important part in making a good potato salad that isn't mush!

Here is what I did:

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Pearl Mountain Picture Collage Maker and Back-to-School Giveaway

Pearl Mountain Technology's Picture Collage Maker. It was nice to be able to make some collages on my own--and with a mound of vacation pics, I had fun!

Overall, I found the software easy to use. I liked that there were a variety of collage templates to choose from--making it easy to feel inspired. However, I did find it hard to manipulate the photos to fit into the templates at times. Once I learned about all of the tools, this became easier but there were a few things I could not manage to get the software to do.

I was satisfied with my end results. The pictures came out clear--which is sometimes a concern with using this type of software.

Some of the key points with this software are:

• The 100+ various templates provided to make for tons of digital collages, scrapbook, greeting cards, posters, photo album options
• All you need to do is drag and drop your photos into the collage. From there, you can use the tools to size and orient them properly.
• You can further personalize your creation by adding clip art and backgrounds.
• You can share your work by printing it, emailing it, or setting it as a background.

Currently, Pearl Mountain is running a Back-to-School Giveaway which will allow you to download the software and give it a whirl. This promotion is available until August 27, 2012.

I am sure that some of you are looking for a way to put together your vacation pics or scrapbook photos from the first days of school!

**Disclaimer: I was given access to the software and ability to print a product to make a fair review. All opinions are 100% my own. I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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Winners for the Farm Rich Giveaway

Thank you to everyone that participated in our Farm Rich Cheesy Snacks Giveaway! We are happy to announce the winners: Tami P and Claire (eclairre). We will be emailing each of them with the details of their prizes!

Make sure to keep tuned--we have a couple of cool giveaways coming up.

For those in our area, we are currently giving away Mamaphobia tickets so be sure to enter the giveaway!

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Website Wednesday: PBS and Whole Foods Market Fantastic Organic

Sorry that this post is late. It has been crazy with back-to-school!

I recently received an email about PBS and Whole Foods Market partnering up to educate parents and children about organics, so I went over to look at the website. Fantastic Organic has some videos about healthy eating and sustainability. Additionally, the website has a whole bunch of cool information about understanding organics, reading labels, standards, and more. Of course, there are also games, which the kids will love! There is a farming game where kids get to learn how to grow their own crops. My daughter loves these types of games, so I am sure she will like to give it a try! There is also a grocery store bingo game that kids can use to find items in the grocery store. I think that is actually a neat concept to keep kids more focused at the store. There also may be some in-store events in conjunction with this in the future. I always seem to have questions about organics so this site may help!

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Wednesday Weekend Wind Up

image via stock.xchng

I am sure that many of you will have your wee ones back in school by the end of the week. The summer has flown by! I don't know about you, but I certainly did not finish my summer bucket list!

This weekend, Palatine will be having its Street Fest, so there is still some summer fest fun to be had! The festival will be August 24-26 (5PM-12AM Fri, 11AM-12AM Sat, 11AM-8PM Sun). There is a Kid Zone on Saturday and Sunday from 11AM-8PM with kids' entertainment including the Jessie White Tumblers, Trinity Dancers, magicians, bubble blower, etc. For unlimited access, you need to buy a $5 wristband from Mariano's in Palatine. The wristbands will be on sale through Friday, August 24th while supplies last. There will be a lot of musical acts and food, so check out the website.

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Mamaphobia---a Comedic yet Sentimental Take on Parenthood (and a Giveaway!)

Parents really know how to make other parents laugh, and that is certainly what Peggy Ward, parent and writer of Mamaphobia Trio did for Kat and I on a recent, much needed night out. Peggy and her cast members, Jeff Hackl and Mary Poole, totally made us laugh, let our hair down, and forget the craziness in our lives.


Peggy Ward really nails the crazy and comical moments of early parenthood on the head. However, while she definitely had us laughing, she was also able to touch our sentimental side. Mamaphobia is rich and layered--multi-dimensional like parenthood itself. Besides being a comedy, Mamaphobia is about a young mother beginning parenthood very unsure and tentative yet somehow emerging as a confident parent learning to enjoy the little moments because they pass.

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Chicken Breast Stuffed with Goat Cheese, Swiss Cheese, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Last week, I made a stuffed chicken breast that was stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese, and Swiss cheese. I used a recipe for Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Sun-dried Tomatoes from Cooking Light. For the most part, I followed the recipe. However, I substituted half of the goat cheese with shredded Swiss cheese. I also used red onion instead of shallot. I put a little paprika on the chicken. Also, I paired our chicken with quinoa instead of orzo.

The recipe was easy and straightforward. This was not one of those recipes where you thought that there was no way that you would get all of the steps done at the right time. I think that my addition of the Swiss cheese was good--it cut through the sweetness of the goat cheese. Without it, our goat cheese would have been way too sweet!

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Royal Oak Farm Orchard for an Apple Good Time

Last year, we discovered Royal Oak Farm Orchard in Harvard, Illinois. This farm is more than just picking--it is an experience! It really makes for a nice day trip with lots for the kids to do. (And, happy kids make for happy parents!)

First of all, depending on when you go to pick, you can also pick raspberries, blackberries and/or pumpkins. When we visited last year, we could pick raspberries along with the apples. Nice surprise! We took a pleasant ride into the orchards. The driver explained all of the apples to us, so it was easy to choose the ones best for us. Picking was fun and, while we could have had a ride back to the main area, we chose to walk to further enjoy the day.

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Pretty Water Lily Experiment

We are still working with our Giant Book of Science Experiments that we bought for $1. An amazing deal! This is the same book that we used for the Easy Static Electricity Experiment.

This experiment does not need many materials. The items we used include: a pencil, scissors, a couple of pieces of construction paper, and a large measuring cup filled with water.

A folded flower.

Opening due to capillary action.

First, we filled our measuring cup with water. We did not fill it all the way, just put in a healthy amount. Then, we drew the outline of our flowers on the construction paper. Basically, you draw flowers with triangle petals that will fold in. You can use an octagon shape as your base. We free handed our flowers, so they weren't perfect. However, they worked just fine!

Once you have cut out your flower, you will need to fold in your petals. Since our petals did not stay down after the folding, we put our flowers under a book for a few minutes.

Next, we placed our flowers into the water. The petals opened slowly as the paper's capillary tubes filled with water. Pretty!

After, we dried out our flowers to reuse them in another project. We also used the water to water plants in an effort to not waste.

Our flower has opened!

This experiment was a neat little project involving capillary action. You can find a nice explanation of capillary action and evidence of it around us on the US Geological Survey website.

This is really something that is easy to pull out of your hat of tricks when you need to entertain little ones on a rainy day!

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Quick, Cheesy Snacks from Farm Rich! (and a Giveaway!)

School has already started for some kids! Can you believe it? Where has summer gone? By next week, many of the schools in our area will be back in session. So, that will mean running around from school to activities and back home to make dinner and work on homework. Why do I already feel like going on vacation?

Recently, we were given the opportunity to try some of Farm Rich's cheese snacks. With craziness about to start in my house, I am glad to have had the chance to try some quick, meal add-on options!

It has been awhile since I have had Farm Rich products. My husband and I used to buy their frozen mozzarella sticks while we were in college. While looking at Farm Rich's website, I have noticed that they have expanded their offerings quite a bit! They have mozzarella bites, queso bites, stuffed pretzel bites, meatballs, marinara stuffed mozzarella bits, and more!

After checking the website for product locations, we honed in on the traditional mozzarella sticks. We tend to be pretty traditional in our house, so this seemed to be the ideal choice.

We made our mozzarella sticks as a treat the other night. When I opened the bag, I was happy to note that there was an adhesive to close the bag again. Convenient!

We baked the sticks in the oven. (We opt not to fry very often.) I followed the directions and kept watch on the sticks the last couple of minutes. They were baked perfectly after 10 minutes.

Once we pulled the sticks out of the oven, we let them cool for about a minute or so. They were perfect--the right amount of gooeyness without exploding out of the breading!

We liked the flavor of the mozzarella sticks. They were not too salty--which is sometimes the case. They also were not overly greasy. However, my husband and I did feel like oil was leaking from our pores after eating the sticks.

Overall, we loved the mozzarella sticks. They are a nice, easy indulgence that, while being a treat, give you the benefit of calcium. I like that you can bake as many or few as you like. When you order mozzarella sticks at a restaurant you tend to get too many (or more than you should eat) and they are deep fried. 

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Visiting Red Oak Nature Center

This past weekend, we ventured to the Red Oak Nature Center, part of the Fox Valley Park District. The Nature Center is poised scenically along the Fox River. There are a few hiking trails to choose from--all short in length, so easy to navigate. If you are up for a longer hike, you can combine them!

When we arrived, we made a stop at the Nature Center itself. The Nature Center is free and has a bunch of interactive exhibits. We learned about trees and some of the wildlife that can be found at the preserve. There were some live wildlife exhibits--which my daughter loved! The staff was very friendly and helpful.

After leaving the Nature Center, we went to an observation deck. From there, we could view a picturesque portion of the Fox River. The deck was the perfect point for watching a number of waterfowl (and some humans fishing across the way). My husband and I could have stood there for awhile, scouting for some birds. However, my daughter was anxious to be on the way.

Next, we embarked on a trail. We tried to encourage our daughter to walk softly--however, we failed miserably. Even though I am sure that she unintentionally scared quite a bit of wildlife off, we were able to see some as well. Additionally, there were signs along the way explaining the wildlife that can be seen in the area as well as things that we can observe to recognize their presence.

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Iceland's Golden Circle Tour---Breathtaking

Lake Þingvallavatn

The Golden Circle Tour in Iceland is one of the most popular tours on the island. The tour includes a visit to Þingvellir (where the Icelandic Parliament was established in 930), Gullfoss, and Geysir. Each of these sites are impressive and worthy of the "gold" status.

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Disney on Ice Treasure Trove--Coming to Chicago and a Coupon Code

I remember when I was child, every school year we had a class trip to watch an ice show. I remember being totally in awe while watching the theatrics. It was definitely an event that I waited for each and every year!

Soon, Disney will be bringing these theatrics to our hometown. Disney On Ice Treasure Trove will be bringing fan favorites including Rapunzel, Simba, Nala, Snow White, Jasmine, Alice, The Mad Hatter and many more to the ice at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL from September 13-16, 2012.

There is nothing like a Disney Ice Show. I love to see all of the children delighted at seeing all of their favorite characters on the ice. All of the kids are oohing and aahing while holding little flashing lights or wearing glow necklaces. Disney On Ice Treasure Trove is bound create some great memories for many kids!

For moms and dads debating whether to go, there is a coupon code for a discount on tickets. You can save 40% on weekday tickets (Monday-Thursday, Friday matinee) or 20% off of weekend tickets using the coupon code: MOM3. You can use this link to get the code and tickets. A great event with a great discount!

***Disclaimer: I have been offered a chance to receive tickets for posting this information. All opinions are 100% my own.

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Famous Footwear for New Shoes for Fall--for School for the Kids or a Treat for You!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Famous Footwear. All opinions are 100% mine.

My feet are a size 5. Pretty small, I know! So, that means that I have a hard time finding shoes. However, I usually can find a variety of shoes at Famous Footwear. I customarily begin my shoe shopping online in order to have the widest selection. Famous Footwear has a ton of options online and they have a function that will allow you to see which stores have your shoe of choice in your size. I love this because I hate going to a store only to find that they do not have any shoes in my size.

Another thing that I love about Famous Footwear--they have phenomenal deals. Currently, Famous Footwear has a Buy One, Get One Half Off promotion. Additionally, they have a 15% off back-to-school coupon. You can stack the two deals to get an awesome deal on new school shoes or something special to enhance your fall wardrobe (check BOGO + 15% off Famous Footwear Coupon). Additionally, you can join a rewards program to earn points towards rewards certificates. I am a member and usually earn a couple certificates a year. Also, I get emails for special deals. I love my deals! To even make joining the free rewards program sweeter--your 15% coupon will actually become a 20% coupon. Nice!

This deal is really a great one. I usually wait to buy shoes until this deal comes along if I can. In fact, I get frustrated when I have to purchase shoes without this deal.So, definitely be sure to take advantage of this deal and print your  BOGO + 15% off Famous Footwear Coupon before going to the store. The deal will be available until August 18, 2012.

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Sun's Out at Gillson Beach, Wilmette

One of our summer rituals has become a visit to Gillson Beach in Wilmette. This summer, it has been pretty hot, so I was worried that we wouldn't make it (I am so not a fan of 100 degree weather!). Fortunately, this past Monday was the perfect beach day!

Our days at Gillson are fun! Kat and I set up a picnic lunch for the girls. We bring sand toys and the girls spend hours building--sometimes castles, sometimes seagull burial grounds (check out the pic). This year, they dug their own well. They were like little engineers--very precise and methodical about it. Too cute!

Need our girls to dig a well?

What we love about Gillson--it isn't far, it is beautiful, and it is clean. Plus, there are lifeguards on duty. An added plus---the lifeguards also seemed to be very on guard and were constantly trying to reel people in who were swimming outside the designated area. (The last time I went to the pool, a couple of the lifeguards were actually looking straight at the ground.)

What the girls love--digging in the sand, catching waves, chasing seagulls, and playing at the beach park. They had a blast!

The beach is a little pricey, but I think that it is well worth it. Parking costs $10 and admission costs $8.50 per person for non-residents ($4.25 for residents).  The beach is open from 9 AM - 8 PM (or as daylight permits). Admission is reduced from 6 PM - 8 PM ($4 non-residents, $2 residents).

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Perseid Meteor Shower Night of August 11th -- Morning of August 12th

During my morning reading, I found out that we should have a pretty good view of the Perseid Meteor Shower the night of August 11th - early morning on August 12th. I have assembled a couple of sources that I have found in case any of you are interested.

For more information, check the following resources:

Adler Planetarium Sky Watch
Astronomy.com
EarthSky Meteor Guide
EarthSky Perseids Guide

One of the best things about this celestial opportunity---you will not need a telescope nor binoculars to view this show. Also, note that while August 11-12 is the peak, you probably can view some meteors a couple of days before and a couple of days after. Additionally, note that during different times of the night/morning, Saturn, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury will be visible.

Please check the resources listed for more information on the best viewing options. These resources are handy to keep around for future star gazing!

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Website Wednesday: Wondermind -- a Fascinating Adventure for Kids

Today, I ran across a really fascinating website for kids called Wondermind. And, when I mean fascinating, I mean I actually was having  fun exploring the site myself.

Too many of the websites and games on the internet are total mind sucks. Wondermind, however, is full of fun games with tons of learning.

Wondermind uses Alice in Wonderland in order to create learning opportunities for games. While engaging in activities on the site, children learn about how the brain, or "wondermind," works and how it develops as they grow. In one game, Alice chases the hare through a maze of holes while eating cake to grow. As she grows, it is easier for her to catch the hare. After the game, there is an educational video on brain synapses. The video further engages little learners by asking questions. My daughter was mesmerized during the video.

I really like how Wondermind uses art and science, games and explanations to teach children. 

image via stock.xchng

Wondermind is part of an exhibit at Tate Liverpool,an art gallery and museum in England. It is really one of the better and more innovative children's websites that I have seen. My words cannot really explain it, so go take a look!

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Wednesday Weekend Wind Up

I can't believe that it is already time to start thinking about the weekend. Where does all of the time go? Before I know it, my daughter will be back in school and all of her activities will start up in full force, so time will really go fast then!

This weekend is a pretty big one in Arlington Heights. We have our Mane Event on Friday from 5PM-10:30PM and the Taste of Arlington Heights on Saturday from 3PM-10:30PM. Both events are in the downtown area of Arlington Heights. We have been going to the Mane Event for years. There will be free activities for kids. In the past, there have been balloon artists, pony rides, inflatables, and more! Many of the village's downtown restaurants will have booths, so there will be plenty of food to choose from. You can also head to Arlington Heights the next night for the Taste of Arlington Heights for more food choices and some great music.

If you are out shopping at Deer Park on Saturday, there will be a Jazz Patio from 12PM-5PM. Besides live jazz performances, there will also be a face painter and balloon artist. The event is free!

Aug 11&12 the Chicago Botanic Garden will be hosting a Kite Festival from 11AM-4PM. There will be kite performances and workshops. Parking at the Garden is $20 (free for members). The event is free!

Also, Aug 11&12, the Glen Town Center will be hosting their Art at the Glen art festival from 10AM-6PM.

Veggie Fest will be held in Naperville Aug 11&12 from 11AM-8PM. There will be demonstrations, vendors, live music, and kids' activities. Admission is free. The festival will be at 4S 175 Naperville-Wheaton Rd in Naperville (60563). The Fest is on the grounds of the Science of Spirituality Meditation Center.

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National Night Out Tonight

Tonight is National Night Out. National Night Out is a way to foster community relationships and crime prevention sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch. Communities throughout the US will be having National Night Out activities tonight. According to the NNO website, National Night Out activities were also sponsored in communities in Canada as well as on military bases last year.

This evening of free activities may include block parties, games, exhibits, flashlight walks, music, balloon artists, and crime prevention demonstrations and information. You can check the NNO website to see if your town has been registered and is participating. There is a pdf file below the map of registered places that lists some of the military bases and Canadian towns participating. I would also check with your town's website as well as your park district's website for information.

This sounds like a great event that is not only full of fun but is also educational. It looks like it will be a great community event for the family!

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Summer Flair Baked Ziti

We are always finding ways to sneak more veggies into our meals. Last week, I stumbled on a recipe for Baked Ziti and Summer Veggies from Cooking Light. The recipe seemed like it would be easy yet incorporate several veggies in the meal. I molded it more to our tastes and came up with the following combination:

Ingredients:

4 ounces uncooked ziti (we used whole grain)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 zucchini (chopped)
1 medium white onion, chopped
2 cups grape tomatoes
4 baby bella mushrooms (I am the only one that eats them, so I don't put many in)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped
1 Tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
3/4 tsp salt, divided
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 cup part-skim ricotta
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1 egg white from large egg

Directions:

Prepare pasta according to the box. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Prepare all of your veggies and herbs. Heat large skillet over medium-high heat and then add the oil. Saute the zucchini and onion in the pan for about 5 minutes. Then, add tomato, garlic, and mushrooms. Saute for 3 minutes. Next, remove skillet from heat and add 1/2 of the mozzarella, herbs, pepper, and 1/2 of the salt. Lightly beat the egg white in a separate bowl. Mix ricotta and remaining 1/2 of salt with the egg white. Then, stir the ricotta mixture into the pasta mixture. Spoon into an 8-inch pyrex baking dish (the recipe says to spray with cooking spray first but I didn't need to). Sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top and bake for about 15 minutes or until the dish is bubbling and the cheese is lightly brown.

The dish was a simple way to add more veggies to your meal. Also, the meal wasn't too heavy, making it perfect for summer. After making it once, I can also envision the dish with broccoli. Also, the flavor is pretty mild, so a stronger cheese may add another layer to it.

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Winner of Just Peachy Giveaway

We are excited to name the winner of the awesome Just Peachy Giveaway. And the winner is........Amy!
Amy has won the awesome free mini session and mini portrait package (1 8x10, 1 5x7, and 2 4x6's) from Just Peachy Photography! I will be emailing Amy so that she can coordinate for her prize! Congratulations, Amy!

Thank you to everyone who participated in this giveaway. We have a couple of more giveaways coming up soon, so please stay tuned.........

For those of you still interested in a portrait session with Just Peachy, please head on over to Facebook and give Just Peachy a like to keep updated!

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Trader Joe's California Sun-dried Tomatoes--a Convenient Alternative

I love sun-dried tomatoes! I love the flavor and that they are easy to add to a ton of my recipes. The one thing that I did not like, however, was that many of the ones that I found were packed in oil. This left them feeling slimy and I honestly don't like someone dictating how much oil I have in my food if I can help it.

Sometime last year, I discovered Trader's Joe's California Sun-dried Tomatoes and we haven't parted ways since. They are not packed in oil, which is great. They also come in a resealable bag, so I can use a little here and a little there. They have a great flavor. The sun-dried tomatoes are Julienne cut, so if you are looking for bigger pieces, you will not find them here.

Since these sun-dried tomatoes are not already packed in oil, I just add a little when necessary. These sun-dried tomatoes have worked really well in all of the recipes that I have used them in so far.





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

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Brighten Up Projects With Astrobrights Paper

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Astrobrights Papers by Neenah Paper for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am always looking for something to "jazz" up our projects. Honestly, I sometimes lack inspiration without something new to work with.

Recently, I was introduced to Astrobrights Paper. I am sure that all of you help your kids with tons of projects using construction paper each year. Astrobrights Paper is different than standard construction paper because it provides 23 amazingly bright colors. So, if you need something to make your project "pop," you may want to check Astrobrights Paper out.

Astrobrights also currently has several contests running. Their "Give a Brighter Year" sweepstakes is a way that you can help support your local elementary school. If you win the sweepstakes, you can win a cash prize and school supplies up to $30,000 in value for the school that you chose. To enter the "Give a Brighter Year" sweepstakes, hit the link for entry information.

Additionally, you can participate in "Make Something Astrobright" design challenges on Facebook. By sharing your projects, you can win Astrobrights Paper and other prizes. Head over to Astrobrights on Facebook for more information and to add your cool creations to the Facebook community. Since I am sure that a bunch of you have cool projects, this should be an easy one to enter!

Besides Facebook, you can share in the Astrobrights community on Pinterest and Twitter. To share, be sure to use #goastrobrights.

With school around the corner and projects, PTA flyers, and invitations to make, I am sure that Astrobrights Paper will come in handy! (I wonder if my daughter will actually complete all of her chores if I list them on this bright paper!)

 

 

 

 

 

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Barnes & Noble Free Kids Klutz Event!

Barnes & Noble is going to have a hands-on Klutz event for the kiddies this month. The theme of this event is the galaxy. During the event, kids will be designing and coloring stickers that they can use to create a night sky or make a space-themed creation. These events seem to be occurring throughout the next few weeks in our area, so definitely make sure that you check the events page for your local Barnes and Noble to make sure that you don't miss out. Also, some of the stores required an RSVP, others did not.

My daughter and I attended the Lego event earlier in the summer and had a lot of fun. The event is free so it is an easy, cheap way to entertain the little ones.

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Tie-dyed Bracelets, Necklaces, and Anklets

Our set up en plein air.

My frugal husband has been cutting up his old t-shirts to use as rags. He recently cut some up and I got to thinking--we could use some of the scraps to make bracelets. Since my daughter has a number of tie-dye kits that she has received as gifts, I thought that it would be really cute if we made some tie-dyed bracelets for summer. I love to keep my daughter busy during the summer and doing crafts is always a plus, so we embarked on our project.

To start our project, I cut some rags into small strips. My goal was to tie three strips together to create a bracelet at the end. I used my daughter as a model to measure the correct lengths. I also cut some strips a little longer to make a necklace or some anklets.

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Website Wednesday: Pollen.com

Pollen.com---it is one of those sites that I use way too much and wish that I didn't have to. I have had massive allergy problems for my whole life. While my symptoms are constantly morphing into new incarnations, one thing doesn't change--that I have allergies. So, after years of suffering, I have gotten a little wiser and try to stay ahead of my allergies by checking the allergy forecast on Pollen.com.

Pollen.com is really easy to navigate. You can get a 4 day forecast for your area, so you can prepare yourself. Also, it provides information about the predominant pollen. This sometimes is helpful if you already know what you are allergic to. It may also help you identify possible allergens irritating you.

The website is not the most exciting in the world. However, I have been checking it almost daily lately, so it is definitely on my mind!  :)

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Hurry! Just Peachy Photography Giveaway Ends August 5th!

Kat and I had a great experience with Just Peachy Photography. Erika Williams captured our girls in beautiful portraits. One of our local readers can also win an phenomenal package from Just Peachy Photography. Erika will be providing a free mini session with a free small portrait package for one lucky winner. Awesome! The small portrait package will include 4 portraits (one 8x10, one 5x7, and 2 4x6’s). Just Peachy is centered in Palatine, Illinois. The mini session is available in a location agreed upon between Erika and the winner within 20 miles of Palatine. Erika specializes in newborn, infant, child, maternity, and family photography. The possibilities are endless and one of our readers will win this fabulous prize! Hurry--the giveaway ends August 5, 2012!

Definitely, make sure to get in on this giveaway! Additionally, Erika has a summer promotion going on.  Currently, Erika is including a 16×20 Canvas Gallery Wrap with every “Take the Whole Orchard Digital Collection” or “Fill Up the Wagon Print Collection” purchased by August 31. (This is a $260 value.) If you are interested in a smaller package, Erika is offering a free 11x14 wall mount with her other print and digital packages. These offers are available until August 31, 2012 and neither can be combined with any other offers, promotions or discounts. Please like Just Peachy on Facebook for this wonderful deal!

To enter our awesome giveaway, please checkout our review for details!

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