Rainforest Cafe

Do you feel like you are on vacation when you go to Rainforest Cafe? Whether it is local or out of town, whenever I go to a Rainforest Cafe, it always feels so many miles away from reality that is like we are on vacation. Your kids love the shop, the animals, the action and the kids menu. You love the fact that they are entertained and will eat because they are distracted! We have visited Rainforest Cafes in Chicago, Schaumburg, Las Vegas, Fort Lauderdale area and Dallas and each one offers a distinct, yet entertaining, tropical experience. By all means, JOIN THE SAFARI CLUB! Safari Club isn't just another dining club membership you will probably never use. The $20 sign up fee you get back almost instantly in the form of an email gift certificate. Then, quarterly, you get coupons for $5 off any purchase in the restaurant OR gift shop! In addition, you always get a discount on retail or food (10% off or free appetizer) when you use the Safari Club card.There is usually no purchase limit so there are times you can get toys for free or a kids meal free! On Wednesdays they offer $1.99 kids meals. Their regular portions are so large two adults can split one so it makes for a very reasonably priced night out. Cha Cha always shows up on Wednesdays as does a balloon twister so there is even more bang for your buck. Seasonally they offer Easter Bunny buffet breakfasts and Breakfast with Santa buffets that your kids will love. They will completely entertain and feed your children and send them home with a nice goodie bag, all for a reasonable price. Rainforest is also a great place to have your kids next birthday party. The Safari Club card is good at all Landry's restaurants nationwide.

A Day Out With Thomas

Does your little one love Thomas - ALL things Thomas? Thomas is one character that reaches beyond age and gender and enraptures the heart of all who watch him. Each August, the REAL Thomas comes to Union, Illinois for two action packed weekends. The REAL Thomas engine comes to the Illinois Railway Museum in Union (off of 90 between Schaumburg & Rockford). Entry to the Museum is free but rides on Thomas cost approx. $16 per person for a 20 minute journey. You and your children will ride in authentic antique railcars being pulled by a HUGE blue Thomas engine that whistles and bats his eyes. Thomas isn't the only attraction - there are tons of restored and well preserved railcars from bygone eras that you can tour. Sir TopemHat is there for photo opportunities. There are bouncy inflatables for all ages, push carts, magicians, musicians, arts and crafts tents and very reasonably priced food. This is an event you could turn into an annual vacation almost. Your children will be entertained all day and love every moment of the Thomas experience. There is also an 'all things Thomas' toy tent with the biggest selection of Thomas related toys you have ever seen. The weather usually cooperates and parking is free. About 1.5 hours from Chicago in moderate traffic but absolutely worth the drive. I also highly recommend stopping by Donley's Wild West Town on your way home for a little more excitement and fantastic food. If you are looking for area hotels there are a few inexpensive ones in Union, Woodstock and neighboring East Dundee.

The latest Consumer Scoop

Do you love to stay current as a consumer with trends, scams, rip offs and really staying in the know about what's going on in the world around you? Consumerist.com is a regularly updated site that is loaded with the latest, nitty gritty, honest info about various offers, companies, hot deals, scams, etc. It reads more like a news post but has some incredibly interesting information, even if it doesn't apply to something involving you.

FreeCycle.org

It may be past the time for spring cleaning but it's never too late to get rid of unwanted items, especially with Christmas coming. Freecycle.org offers a consolidated site to assist you with finding someone to pick up your donations. What a great way to help someone else, keep items out of landfills and clean out our closets at the same time!

CouponClippers.com

Love coupons? I sure do and I use them for almost everything! TheCouponClippers.com offers a vast array of coupons for well known products and things you use every day. For a tiny, and I do mean tiny processing fee (sometimes as little as a few pennies) you can order coupons for Buy One/Get One Free offers, $1, $2, and more savings. Some of their coupons you will never see in your Sunday papers so it is worth your while to peruse their offerings on a regular basis. The savings can be huge!

Bargainist.com

'Tis the time of year for holiday shopping and the time of year to save big. Check out Bargainist.com for up to the minute sales and offers from leading retailers. Offers are for both in-store visits as well as online purchases. It's a great idea to check here before doing any online shopping so that you maximize your savings!

Fun & Rewarding Parents Site KidWinks.com

Are you always on the hunt for more for your family? KidWinks.com is a great family site that gives you more on local freebies, fun activities for kids and parent critiques. It serves the great Chicagoland area and logging on is easy and free. Try it today!

CouponCabin.com

Love deals and coupons - log on to CouponCabin.com for savings from over 2,000 of your favorite retailers. Most offers are good in-store and online. It's updated almost daily with the best offers from all the names you love and trust.

Ed Debevic's Lombard & River North

As an adult it is easy to love the sarcastic humor of Ed Debevic's (especially the River North location) but sometimes kids don't quite get the jist of it. However, the kids do love the lively atmosphere, the super friendly service and the extensive kids menu. There are also grab games up front to keep them occupied until the food arrives. Lombard is way more kid friendly and more tame humor wise. Monday-Thursday 12-3 they offer $4.99 Meals in the Yorktown location and on Tuesday's and Sunday's after 5pm they offer Family Night featuring a $5 menu! Don't worry if your kids don't have the best table manners in Ed's - it's kind of an anything goes restaurant with delicious diner style food. Located at Ontario and Wells in River North and by the Von Maur entrance in Yorktown Center Mall in Lombard.

The Choo Choo in Des Plaines

You don't have to go very far to give your kids a taste of nostalgia. The Choo Choo Hamburgers on Wheels has been around since 1951 and is located at 600 Lee Street in Des Plaines (thechoochoo.com). Open from 10:30 to 3 most days (Thursday and Friday until 8pm) you and your kids will delight in the food brought out on a circular track that runs around the dining bar. There are also booths which give you more comfort and a view, but there is nothing like sitting right in front of the train as it passes. There is a free kiddie ride in the restaurant as well. The place is VERY small and always crowded so don't be offended if there is a little bit of a wait. They ONLY take CASH! But not to worry, the prices are extremely reasonable and the menu, of course, caters to kids with hot dogs, hamburgers, shakes and fries.

Mary Sears Academy

I am hearing RAVE reviews from parents about the new Mary Sears Childrens Academy located at 1255 S. State in the South Loop of Chicago. They also have two other locations in Lemont and Orland Park (the original location). Mary Sears Chicago is new in 2009 to the South Loop child-care-starved region. Their prices are reasonable and more importantly, they have very flexible part-time and full-time schedules. Your child also does NOT have to be potty trained! WoooHooo, that sure takes the pressure off of us parents. They accept infants through 5 years old into the program. Big bonus for you South Loop parents in need of quality, convenient day care!

Orange Julius

Growing up in the late 1970's I was so fortunate enough to become acquainted with the ever luscious treat known as Orange Julius. For many of you, however, you might say "Orange What"???? The best way to describe Orange Julius is creamy, like an icy shake, with the flavor of malted (like a vanilla malt) orange juice. There are other flavors like Raspberry, Strawberry and seasonal offerings such as Peach and Lemonade, that are equally delicious. Be warned, they can be very addictive. I would recommend never buying a small because you and your kids will always want more. They stores are often coupled with a Dairy Queen so you can grab a hot dog or ice cream treat while you are there. They also offer calorie conscious Light Smoothies loaded with fresh fruit but they aren't as tasty as the original. Make sure to ask for a 'Frequent Guest Punch Card' to get your maximum return on purchases, plus sign up on their website for LOTS of FREE and Buy One/Get One Free coupons. There are stores throughout Chicagoland (Hawthorn Mall Food Court Vernon Hills, Chicago Ridge Mall, etc.). Below is the list of downtown locations.

• DAIRY QUEEN/ORANGE JULIUS TREAT CTR

  JAMES R THOMPSON CTR

  CHICAGO

  IL 60601-3220
  312-345-0045
  
• DAIRY QUEEN / ORANGE JULIUS

  1649 N DAMEN AVE

  CHICAGO

  IL 60647-5507
  773-235-3800
  
• DAIRY QUEEN / ORANGE JULIUS

  2200 N LINCOLN AVE

  CHICAGO

  IL 60614-3718
  773-871-2200
  

Pump It Up!

On rainy and cold days (or hot days) there is place to go for indoor fun. With multiple Chicagoland locations Pump It Up offers just what mommy needs - a place to read and relax while your kids run, scream and have fun. Each Pump It Up is independently operated so hours and rates can vary. Each of the locations have drop in times (I would highly recommend a reservation if at all possible) where kids can bounce and play for about an hour and a half for $10. Some are morning slots, family evenings and occassional weekends. Don't forget to bring your socks! If you are feeling adventurous you can even go for a slide yourself! PS - The Eastman location in Chicago is off of Halsted just south of North Avenue.

Crystal Lake, IL	1095 Pingree Rd, #114	Crystal Lake	IL	60014	(847) 854-3737	map
Glenview, IL	1857 Elmdale Ave.	Glenview	IL	60026	(847) 904-7867	map
Vernon Hills, IL	500 N Fairway Drive , Suite B	Vernon Hills	IL	60061	(847) 680-7867	map
Elmhurst, IL	684 W. Lake St.	Elmhurst	IL	60126	(630) 941-7867	map
Schaumburg, IL	1230 N. Roselle Road	Schaumburg	IL	60195	(847) 885-7867	map
Orland Park, IL	11411 West 183rd Street	Orland Park	IL	60467	(708) 479-2220	map
Lisle, IL	4995 Varsity Dr.	Lisle	IL	60532	(630) 435-5867	map
Chicago, IL	821 W. Eastman	Chicago	IL	60622	(312) 664-7867	map
Chicago, IL Junior	821 W. Eastman	Chicago	IL	60622	(312) 664-7867	map

Santa's HERE!

It's not even Thanksgiving yet but Santa has arrived!

The Shops at 900 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago - 3rd Level
Monday through Friday 12-6
Saturday 11-6
Sunday 12-5

Hawthorne Mall in Vernon Hills - Lower Level outside Macy's
Daily from 11am (Sundays 12)

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Did you know that the Chicago Symphony Orchestra caters to children? It's not just stuffy classical music but a fantastic world of sights, sounds and imagination for your little ones. They have a Kraft Family Series just for your children that offers 4 concerts during the year. Check CSO.ORG for their exact schedule. Prices are very reasonable and one-hour prior to the concert they offer face painting, arts and crafts and instrument demonstrations in the Rotunda. This is a wonderful way to introduce your child to classical music in a way that is engaging and fun, not boring. You would be amazed at what you could learn too! At Halloween and Christmas they offer NOT-TO-BE-MISSED concerts. I swear these will become a tradition in your family. There are dancers and puppetry and readings at all of the concerts. No matter the age your children will adore the shows and the music. Even if you didn't think you liked symphony music you will change your tone as well. This is symphony like you have never seen.

Donley's Wild West Town

Are you ready for something SOOOO different and willing to drive about an hour to get there? Tired of all the same old same old for your kids and wish there was something more 'traditional and wholesome' for them to try? Take a drive to Union, IL (off of 90 @20, almost to Rockford) for a LOT of old fashioned fun. When was the last time you panned for gold? When was the last time your kid rode ponies? Shot a cork gun? Rode in a kayak? Watched a Wild West saloon fight? Rode a gas powered mini-train? Sat in a Stage Coach? Cranked a Hand Pulley Cart? Even tried their hand at a lasso? Yes, this is only a little over an hour away from Chicago. Since the activities at Donley's Wild West are outdoors it is a seasonal venue for the activity area, but their fantastic, rustic restaurant is open year round. The restaurant offers terrific food at reasonable prices and is served in an authentic western style lodge with memorabilia like wagon wheels, bison heads, etc. all over the place. Your kids will be delighted with the wild west theme and will welcome a delicious meal after a long day in the activity park. It is the best family fun you will have and the drive is well worth it. The admission is $15 per person with children under 2 free. You can make an overnight of it and visit the Illinois Railway Museum just up the road a fer piece (about 10 minutes). In August the life size Thomas the Train visits there. I would recommend staying in Woodstock or Dundee (10 minute drive) where plenty of reasonably priced hotels are located. Very nostalgic, truly memorable.

Kids Table for Tikes Cooking Classes

Located at 2337 West North Avenue is a surprising fun little place called Kids Table (kids-table.com). For $25 (or less for a series), you can sign your boys and girls up for a one-on-one kid friendly cooking class that lasts a little over an hour. Classes are several days a week, including Saturdays. Your child will prepare from scratch a healthy two-course meal and then eat it. Kids table even sends you home with a laminated recipe card to recreate the dishes at home. The kids cut their own produce, measure their own spices, do the mixing AND the clean up too! They really have a fun time creating their own meals and relish in the sense of accomplishment that comes from eating it. The staff makes gourmet coffee for mom and dad to enjoy while they are waiting. There is a good selection of reasonably priced kitchen items for adults and children in their small shop located up front. What a great idea for a kids party and an even better idea to help your child understand healthful food preparation. Plenty of street parking in the area!

Fantasy Kingdom

Fantasy Kingdom is a fun venue for your little ones to dress up and live in a make believe world whether it be a fire station, grocery store, kitchen, park slide, doll house or jail. Loaded with colorful vingettes for kids to enter and be creative in Fantasy Kingdom is a world of fun for them while you relax and watch. They are located at 1422 N. Kingsbury in an industrial building. You CANNOT see their business from the street, you have to go up a few steps inside and through a parking garage (not far) to get in. They do have $5 all day indoor parking in the garage or you can park on Kingsbury IF you can find a spot. There is a kitchen area with a refrigerator so you are welcome to bring your lunch to enjoy during your play break. The seating could be far more comfortable for parents, but again, it's all about the kids having fun! The entry price is $12 for a day of unlimited fun, infants are free and siblings enter at a reduced rate. Punch cards with 10 visits are available for $100. They also sell a reasonable priced selection of drinks and snacks as well as pretty bows and costumes. Hours are typically 9-5 Monday through Friday with weekends and evenings reserved for parties, although I have seen some parties during the week as well. Friendly staff with VERY good memories, so don't be surprised if they remember your face or name after just a visit or two!

Family Grounds Cafe

All of us have heard of Family Grounds Cafe located at 3652 North Lincoln in Chicago, but many of us are just stepping out for our first visit. Literally located just below the Addison/Lincoln El Stop it is not only convenient to public transportation but also has a FREE parking lot if you drive! The great news is that Family Grounds has fabulous coffees, teas, drinks for mom and dad and plenty for kids and they also have a good selection of pastries and healthy sandwiches and 'alternative' chips. The play area is delightful with a Victorian Cottage, a Pet Hospital, a work table and a Little School Room. There is a separate area for the tiniest of visitors. The space is well lit, SUPER clean and carpeted so only sock feet are allowed (socks are mandatory!). The price is right at $7.95 for the first child-almost half of the other local play areas plus you can relax with a warm cup of coffee and read a book or work on your laptop. If they are busy they enforce a 1.5 hour time limit, if not, it is flexible. After 2 hours your tike will be worn out anyway. The only bummer is they are open from 9-5 Monday through Friday and 9-1 on Saturdays. Don't they realize we would love to hang out at night (maybe an 8pm closing) and later in the day on Saturdays too! They are really missing out on some big business closing so early. Working parents barely have a chance to visit on those hours. The other suggestion is a Community Board. As a parent I LOVE to look at other opportunities for my child whether it be dance, language, babysitters, etc. A community board is the ideal place for them to share that and Family Grounds has plenty of room.

Pixo's

Have you ever seen these crazy little dots for art called Pixo's? They come in a variety of colors, several different methods to use to apply them to a template and several storage options. They are actually an art project that will keep your children (age 4 and up I recommend) occupied for hours as they drop dot after colorful dot in place until they complete the picture. It is similar to a paint-by-number concept except it drops these plastic dots on the colored template. Once your design is complete you spray it with 'magic chemicals' AKA H2O and in a few hours your dots emerge tightly connected to one another forming the exact picture on the template. It is an investment well worth the hours it will happily occupy your child during the cold winter. Once you buy the initial starter pack (the basic set with the manual pen is best. There are some that are mechanical but I don't like the idea of 'shooting' plastic beads)for about $15 you can add additional templates and 'dots' for $4.99 to $9.99. It appears to be as cathartic for boys as it is for girls. You can purchase Pixo's at Target, ToysRUs, online, Wal-Mart.

New School by Japonaise for 2010!

Just in time for the 2010 school year comes Christian Heritage Academy, located at 1001 N. Crosby in a BRAND NEW, state-of-the-art building used by Park Community Church on Sundays. This is the same Christian Heritage that originated in Northfield and now has a branch in Arlington Heights. Say good-bye to huge wait lists, excessive tuition costs and hello to Christian based learning with a parent governed school. For the school year 2010 they will offer preschool for children age 3 by September 1, 2010, as well as kindergarten through grade 2. The beautifully designed spacious building will create a stimulating learning environment and their Christian based cirriculum with build a child with strong character, capable of facing today's challenges. Plan to be a 'participating parent' since this is a parent governed school. If you don't want to input ideas and a little effort this is not the place for you. If you want community and a place to grow along with your child then this might be exactly what you are looking for. Preschool and kindergarten schedules are extremely flexible. You can apply on line at christianheritage.org

3oclockclub.com

More savings to sign up for at 3oClockClub.com! Like some of the other savings sites, they have daily deals posted for Chicago (and Las Vegas). Sign up is free and you never know what great offers you'll miss out on if you don't sign up.

Give me more!

Don't think I am independently brilliant enough to come up with all these great ideas by myself (wish I was!). I need you guys to give me input and tips on what you love and what's a steal so that I can pass it on. Thanks Jennifer for the TwoBuckDuck!

Oakleesguide.com

Oakleesguide.com is a great source of information for family activities year round. It covers all of the greater Chicagoland area and is loaded with activity schedules and coupons. You can pick up a hard copy of their seasonal booklet at many child friendly venues. This is a great go-to source and something you should keep handy and refer to often if you like to keep your children active.

Smores in a Restaurant (Yes, over a fire even!)

Do you love Cosi for their luscious bread? Did you know they also had SMORES? Yes, the actual smores that you roast/melt over a fire loaded with gooey marshmallows, rich chocolate and graham crackers. You just ask any cashier at Cosi for their SMORES and they will deliver a Sterno pot to your table on a large wooden tray loaded with an ENORMOUS amount of smores gear. It is literally enough for 4 people. Over the open flame (yes it is very kid friendly unless you have a totally wild beast) you roast your large marshmallows, melt your chocolate between the graham crackers then prepare to have a warm, delicious snack. It is priced under $10 so it is a bonafide value and an experience your kids won't soon forget. Cosi has location throughout Chicagoland.

KidSnips

Kids LOVE to have their hair cut at KidSnips! They have almost a dozen locations to make it easy for a quick trim (see the list below). Kids cuts are $16, teens are $20, mom can even get a cut for $25. They also offer a 'no appointment necessary' bang trim for only $5. I suggest an appointment for full service cuts. They have a grand selection of bows, ribbons, and...TOYS! They actually have a good selection of moderately priced toys that are a treat for your child or make an inexpensive birthday gift when you are in a rush. They also carry quality hair care products for you or your child (including an effective lice treatment regimine). The real draw for kids is their 'car' style seats that feature Volkswagen Beetles, Jeep's, Roadsters, Race Cars, etc. They get to choose from a huge selection of DVD's and your stylist pops in the video of their choice while they sit incredibly still for the duration of the cut. If you never thought your child would sit still for a haircut, give it a try. It is an amazing phenomenon, regardless of age. They don't even budge once they are in the car with the DVD on. Do they sell these things for home use? You can find coupons for $3 worth of free products or toys in most Chicago Parents Magazines and other area family guides.
1953 N. Clybourn, Chicago
Edens Plaza, Wilmette
655 Deerfield Rd., Deerfield
Northpoint Center, Arlington Heights
Hawthorn Mall, Vernon Hills
Aboretum, South Barrington
Oakbrook Center, OakBrook
Town Square, Wheaton
Naperville Crossings, Naperville

Have a Gold Party

Want to get a group of friends together, have some wine, good food & MAKE MONEY? Have you ever heard of a Gold Party? I hadn't until my girlfriend in the suburbs invited me to one. I had a great time with a bunch of friends AND made about $80 off a ring and a couple of random gold earrings I had lost the other one to. Midwest Gold Buyers (630)233-0330 MidwestGoldBuyers.com held the party. The hostess got 10% commission, $25 for food, a massage gift certificate and we all had a great time. You will too, plus the extra money is a bonus!

Art Institute of Chicago-Free Kids Classes

It's hard to imagine that your little one could love the art museum but at the Art Institute, they do everything in their power to make art interactive, understandable and approachable for the young mind. Brace yourself for an interesting collection of bohemian liberal sorts (think Earth Mother) and decidedly urban dwellers. There is a narrative, then a tour of a gallery exhibit with explanation and then back to the studios to create an art project. The Mini-Masters and Family Workshops are on Saturdays from 10:30am to 11:30am and are FREE with your admission to the Institute (admission can be free with the pass from your local library!). The studios are located just to the left of admissions in the new Modern Wing. They have multiple brochures for children that help you take your budding minds on a tour of the museum that is not only kid friendly, but informative. You will find yourself being educated and possibly enjoying the art more than you ever knew you could. Programs run year-round. I suggest logging on to their website or picking up a brochure at any of the 'tourist' brochure stands throughout Chicago. This is an activity you will feel good about once you have done it because it broadens your horizons and enriches your childrens lives.

TwoBuckDuck.com

Even if you don't want the daily specials offered on TwoBuckDuck.com you will still want to go to their site to sign up for the great deals they offer. You never know what will come through your e-mail box. Just a few days ago they offered a Manicure/Pedicure combo at Spa Nordstrom in NorthBridge for only $40! Wow, now that is a great deal. The offer was good through the end of January. Go to their site for quick sign up and wait for the deals to start arriving. Stay "In The Neaux". Thanks to follower Jennifer G. for this FABULOUS savings tip!

WeGiveToGet.com

Not to be overlooked is a new site called WeGiveToGet.com . Founded by the owner of Berry Chill it aims to do what groupon.com and twobuckduck.com does, with a positive twist. A portion of your purchase goes to a charity you choose from their drop down menu on their website. This is a great way to save lots of money and benefit a worthy cause. It is a discount offering of a consumer service or product at a highly reduced rate (usually 50% or more off). Signing up is easy and fast on their website. Hey, maybe they will offer some yummies from Berry Chill ON SALE!

Groupon.com

Want to get access to 'daily deals'? May or may not be what you are in the market for but you will never know if you don't sign up for their daily e-mails notifying you of the 'deal of the day'. You can't go wrong when it comes to a great deal. Some of their latest offerings were one dozen cupcakes from Swirlz for only $20 instead of the usual $40! Now that's a deal we all love! Deals vary daily in a multitude of consumer categories. Go to GROUPON.COM to enroll. It's fast and easy!

Free Museum Days!!

Yes, there are a multitude of FREE days at all of the museums (outside of your local library passes)! Admissions are getting outrageous and most of us don't want to spend $200 a year for family memberships to all of the museums. How smart someone would be to come up with a co-op pass for ALL the museums and let a family join for one fee and use all the museums, all year. I would pay $350 for that privilege for a family of four. One stop shopping. But, until someone comes up with a brilliant idea like that, here are some of the free days at area museums. Just a reminder - FREE days sometimes are limited to General Admission only and do NOT include all the upgraded special exhibits. Many times these are offered at a discount on free days.

Chicago Childrens Museum - Navy Pier
Thursdays 5-8pm; First Sunday (for children 15 and under, not parents)

Adler Planetarium - 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive
Nov. 3,4,10,11,17,18,24,25 - Check website for FREE days in other months

Art Institute - 111 S. Michigan Ave.
Thursdays 5-8pm

Chicago History Museum - 1601 N. Clark
Mondays (children 12 and under FREE every day!)

DuSable Museum of African American History - 740 E. 56th Place
Sundays

Field Museum - 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive
Second Mondays each month; Check website for other FREE days

Shedd Aquarium - 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive
Check Website for FREE days - they offer lots of them

Museum of Contemporary Art - 220 E. Chicago Avenue
Tuesdays; 2nd Saturdays October-May (fantastic family activities and FREE snacks!)

Museum of Science & Industry - 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive
Check Website for FREE days

Notebaert Nature Museum - 2430 N. Cannon Drive (by the Lincoln Park Zoo)
Thursdays

Build A Bear

It's hard to believe that there is actually a great value in shopping for toys for kids. Build-A-Bear Workshop offers one of the best programs around to make you feel better about the money you are spending. Their animals are adorable and their clothes irresistible, but you can actually get 10% back for every dime you spend plus tons of heavily discounted offers and coupons for joining their "Stuff For Stuff" membership. Once you purchase $100 you receive a $10 gift certificate via the U.S. mail or email, whichever you designate. Plus, about 2 times a month you will get email offers for discounted animals, clothes or even $5 off coupons. You can always find $5 off a $25 purchase coupons at Navy Pier, Children's Museum and hotel lobby brochure stands. When you add that with a special offer and a $10 gift certificate you can save a bundle! These animals are ageless, everyone loves them, young and old. I recommend no younger than 3 years old, however, as they don't seem to appreciate the process of making the animal and dressing it. This is also one of the few stores that allow you to combine coupons for maximum savings. They get bonus points with me for allowing that!

Lego Store Northbridge

Your local Lego Store has wonderful FREE building events the 2nd Tuesday of every month. At 5pm your child can build the item of the month and take it home FREE. Their knowledgeable builders will walk you through the assembly and give you a description card to take home. While you are there you can peruse their sale area in the back far corner of the store and ogle the massive creations Master Lego Builders have created. There is a Lego Store in Northbridge on the 3rd level by the escalators and one in Woodfield on the upper level down the way from Macy's.

Woodfield Mall

Woodfield Mall has a phenomenal play area located outside of the lower level of Macy's. It opened in the Fall of 2008 and features a huge display of spongey soft Looney Tune characters that kids can jump over, slide over, climb on and run around. It is clean, colorful and loads of fun. There is a Rainforest on the same level for fun food after playing or you can opt for the FREE kids meal with adult meal purchase at Stir Crazy also on the lower level by Sears. Upstairs you can let your kids watch TV in Gymboree while you do a little browsing. The Lego Store across from Gymboree offers a small activity bin for your little ones. Down the hall from Lego is the Build A Bear store with the cutest of cute animals and outfits. There is also a create your own car store and a Disney store. A great day of fun at no cost to mom and dad(as long as you don't shop!).

A cheap and fun suburban outing

Guess what is cheap and fun and located in Bolingbrook and Schaumburg? It's open early, late and 7 days a week - Ikea! Yes, Ikea can be more than just shopping for household items. First, they have a wonderful FREE day care area. You can drop your kids off for one hour free of charge, sit and have coffee, read a magazine, shop, whatever you want. You get a break for free and your kids get to have a blast. Ikea has SUPER cheap, good quality kids meals at 99cents, yes less than $1, including a drink! You can eat for about $4 with a drink. So, for around $5 you can have lunch, entertain your kids, take a break and shop. Great value and a fun adventure during the cold winter days.

Your local Library

The local library is for far more than borrowing books. Did you know that with a free Library membership you can get FREE passes to most of the museums/zoos around Chicago? Each Library has free passes for BASIC admission to Brookfield Zoo, MCA, Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Art Institute, and so on. They are limited as to how many they have and are on an 'as available' basis. The best times to find a pass are Monday through Wednesday when people turn them in after weekend usage.