Toliet Bowl Cleaning - Yes there is a better way!

Do you have the weekly horror I do of cleaning out the toliet every week? Do you just hate the mess, dripping and who knows what else! Bzz Agent was so great to tip me off to the latest in toliet cleaning technology with the Scrubbing Bubbles One Step Toliet Bowl Cleaner. After completely scouring my husbands bathroom I hooked this little foot levered device up to his toliet and waited. I knew within a matter of 48 hours it would be a grimey yukky mess. I showed him and my child how to use the foot levered sprayer that spritzes a generous dose of lovely smelling toliet bowl cleaner in a 360 degree pattern inside the toliet bowl. One 2 second push and the whole toliet gets cleaned. Wouldn't it be nice if it really worked AND if they really remembered to do it I thought to myself. So, day 3 I crept in to see what was going on in the bathroom. I was really shocked to see that the toliet was completely sparkling clean. Not just pretty clean, but there was a lovely, non-chemical smell and the bowl looked like it had been freshly scrubbed. Unbelievable. I asked my husband how many times he used it and he said 2 times since it was first put in, so about every other day. Thank you Scrubbing Bubbles for delivering something to make our housework easier and our homes cleaner and fresher! For about a $10 initial investment you can have the foot levered device and a couple of cans of the insertable cleaner. Cheaper than maid service!

Try New CoverGirl NatureLuxe Foundation & Lip Gloss Balm!

When I received my NatureLuxe samples of Foundation and Lip Balm Gloss it came at the perfect time to really put it to the test...Easter weekend! On Saturday, we were out of the house by 6:30 for the 1st of 3 Easter egg hunts, later it was a stage show, followed by an evening event. As I put on the NatureLuxe foundation I was a bit apprehensive not knowing what the texture or durability would be, being a first time user. It was all or nothing at 5:30am so this stuff had better have staying power. Immediately I was impressed by the soft, silky finish as the foundation glided over my skin covering all the unevenness, yet feeling soft and light at the same time. Yes, you can have full coverage that is light and radiant. It made me want to touch my skin it felt so soft. So far so good. Once I was outside I checked the finish in natural lighting and the color was beautiful, not too orangey or pink, just a beautiful tan that blended perfectly. Every couple of hours I was checking for lasting durability and it was there. At 4pm it still looked remarkably good after being on almost 12 hours. Although it is an oil free product it never left me feeling dried out or powdery, creeping into fine lines or wrinkles. It was very, very impressive and the price is fantastic at less than $15 with tax! I have used every kind of foundation from $5 to $50 and this is truly one of the most impressive products I have found for the money. Now, on to the Lip Gloss Balm. At first, the intense red was a little off putting as I thought wow, I am not really brave enough on most days to use something 'that bright'. However, the 'balm' portion made it go on in a sheer, naturally blushed red lip color, not intense or bright at all! Best of all, it has a sugar cookie, buttery scent (making me want to reapply often!) and the texture is moist and soft. Honestly, one of the best textures I have ever experienced and the color and moisture last. I seriously wanted to rush right out and buy it in every color. That is not something I usually want to do so I can truly say that CoverGirl has totally impressed me with these new products and I have absolutely NOTHING negative to say about them, only praises!

Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip

For you and for your kids! I love, love, love the new Otria dips. Your kids will too. It is a great way to get them to eat anything they normally turn their nose up at.
Creamy, rich, that is the first thing that comes to mind when your taste buds burst with excitement from the Spinach & Artichoke Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip from Otria. It's a little hard to track down in the produce coolers but once you do it is not a disappointment. It is far better than french onion or ranch dip and creamier and more flavorful than any other Spinach Dip or Spinach/Artichoke dip I have ever tried, seriously. I love the fact it is loaded with extra protein from the Greek Yogurt and is super low in calories. Bet your guests will ask what your recipe is!

Japan Tsunami Video Clip Well Worth Watching

Sometimes we take a lot for granted, our lovely homes, possessions, even the health and lives we enjoy. This actual aerial video footage of the tsunami moving in on Japan is incredible. I recommend watching it with your children and reminding them how precious life and everything they have is and how it can all be wiped out in a moments time.


http://freevideocoding.com/flvplayer.swf?file=http://flash.vx.roo.com/streamingVX/63056/1458/20110311_japan_wave_successions_sky_1000k.mp4&autostart=true

If you want to get involved, the Peninsula Hotel is accepting cash donations of $5 and more and will donate 100% to the victims of the Japanese tsunami. In return you get a lovely little piece of orgami specially made for you.

Popcorn Heaven & I am not talking about Garrett's!

Watching the food channel a few weeks ago I saw a great clip on Popcorn Girl in Las Vegas. This is not your 'touristy' Las Vegas Strip kind of place. It is located northwest of all the lights in Summerlin, a residential neighborhood. If you love popcorn then you will be out of your mind in this store! Popcorn girl has tons of flavors! You can get them by themselves or blended together 2 or 3 at a time. If you just can't decide then go for the Cornfetti which includes all the fruity flavors. Their flavors are so realistic and the corn texture is perfect. You can go in person next time you are in Vegas or they do mail order. Skip Garrett's and the Popcorn Factory and go for the good stuff. It makes a very unusual, welcomed gift!
PopcornGirlVegas.com

A B C D
Buttery Cheese Caramel Crazy Cornfetti
Low Salt Lite Cheese Lite Caramel Red Hot Cinnamon
Spicy & Hot Cheese Chicago
(Cheese & Caramel) Old Fashioned Vanilla
White Cheddar Denver
(White Cheddar & Caramel) Banana Cream
Ranch Vegas
(Butter, Cheese & Caramel) Wild Blueberry
Sour Cream & Chives Green Applicious
Salt & Vinegar Blue Coconut
Dill Pickle Gonzo Grape
Southwest Jalapeno Strawberry Patch
Loaded Baked Potato Very Cherry
Parmesan & Garlic Pink Cotton Candy
Jalapeno Ranch Orange Crush
Pizza Wacky Watermelon
Mac & Cheese Rockin' Raspberry
Movie Theater Butter Creamy Cheesecake
Southwest Hot Wings Blazin' Blackberry
Kettle Corn Bubblicious
Cinnamon Toast


E
Popcorn Girl's Specials
Specialty Chocolate*
Caramel with Nuts
(Cashews, Pecans & Peanuts) Popcorn Girl's Crunch
(Mix of Chocolate & Caramel with Nuts) Chocolate
Toffee Almond White Chocolate
Heath Toffee Almond
Peanut Butter Chocolate
Butterfinger
Dark Chocolate
S'mores
White Chocolate Pretzel
Puppy Chow
White Chocolate Peppermint
Strawberry Cheesecake
Oreo
Lemon Meringue Pie

Does your child love all things PINK as in PINKALICIOUS?

If your child loves all things pink, PINKALICIOUS, the live musical is coming to Chicago! This is a very limited engagement and the tickets are super affordable and start at $7. Various dates also offer free additional activities for your children so check the link below for those offers!

PINKALICIOUS, The Musical

book by Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann
music by John Gregor
lyrics by John Gregor, Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann
directed by Lisa Portes
musical direction by Mark Elliott

March 29 – May 21, 2011
TUE & THU at 10 am
SAT at 2 pm

at DePaul's Merle Reskin Theatre
Box Office: (312) 922-1999


theatreschool.depaul.edu/theare_school_playworks_1011_pinkalicious.php




SUMMARY
Join us for this musical tale of a little girl named Pinkalicious, whose passion for her favorite color turns her pink from head to toe. As Pinkalicious finds a way out of her hue predicament, she and her family learn the inherent value of being unique and the true power of pink. Recommended for all ages.

Want a Quick, Fun and Affordable Get Away - Toronto!

Dying to get out for a weekend with the kids but don't know where to go. Toronto (yes it is a cold there as it is here but it's a lot more fun than staying home!) is a quick one hour flight from Chicago and most published fares are under $200 per person! Yes, Canada! It's just like America, it's close, and for the next couple of months they have two fabulous musicals you won't find anywhere else (except for Angelina in NYC!). Getting around Toronto is much like Chicago. If you stay downtown by the Theatres there is plenty of public transportation and lots of taxi's available. There is even a shopping mall and plenty of food and other activities downtown. Get creative this winter and spring and surprise your kids with a trip they will never forget!

Pinkalicious, The Musical
Lower Ossington Theatre
100A Ossington Avenue between Argyle and Humbert Streets
Toronto
Sat. Oct 9th, 2010 - Sun. May 29th, 2011

Now at the Lower Ossington Theatre Toronto, Canada

Premium Seats - $39.00 - First two rows. Your seats will be assigned in the order in which they were purchased and reserved by name when you arrive at the theater.

General Admission - First-come, First-serve seating row 3 and back. Box office opens at 12 noon. Theatre opens at 12:30. Lower Ossington Theatre is an intimate 150 seats. All seats are full view.

Pinkalicious can't stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor's office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe - a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this predicament.

Angelina Ballerina The Musical
Al Green Theatre
750 Spadina Avenue SW corner of Bloor & Spadina
Toronto
Sat. Jan 22nd, 2011 - Sat. Mar 19th, 2011

In ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MUSICAL, Angelina and her friends, Alice, Gracie, AZ, Viki, and even their teacher, Ms. Mimi, are all aflutter because a special guest is coming to visit Camembert Academy! Angelina and her friends will perform all types of dance, including hip-hop, modern dance, the Irish jig and of course, ballet, and they are excited to show off their skills to their famous visitor. Angelina is the most excited of all, but will she get the starring moment she hopes for? Based on the CG-animated series, Angelina Ballerina The Next Steps on PBS KIDS®, ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MUSICAL is a family-friendly venue

Free Days (and nights) At Chicago Children's Museum

Grab the kids and head to Navy Pier for a rewarding and FREE outing! Here are several opportunities to enjoy the Children's Museum:


Kraft Free Family Night
Thursday evenings, 5-8pm
Free admission for everyone. (Groups of 15 or more must register by calling 312.464.8249.)

Target Free First Sundays
First Sunday of every month
Free admission all day for ages 15 and under. (Groups of 15 or more must register by calling 312.464.8249.)

Museum of Science & Industry 2011 FREE Days!

This is a personal favorite and can get very expensive without the free admission for a family of 4. Plan on spending the day. The Museum of Science & Industry has a fantastic kids area, even for the littlest of guests.

2011 Free Day Schedule

General admission is free on the following dates:
January 3 4 5 6 7 10 11 12 13 14 17 18 19 20 21 24 25 26 27 28 31
February 1 8 14 15 22
June 1 2 6 7 8 9
September 6 7 8 9 12 13 14 15 16 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 28 29 30
October 31

Field Museum Free Days 2011

The Field Museum is offering 52 days a year when basic admission is FREE!

Target Free Second Mondays
The Field Museum is pleased to announce Target Free Second Mondays.

Target’s sponsorship is making it possible for The Field Museum to offer FREE basic admission on the second Monday of each month.

2011 Target Free Second Monday dates are:

January 10th
February 14th
March 14th

Target Free Second Monday hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Other regularly scheduled FREE Basic Admission Days in 2011:

January: 3rd, 11th, 13th, 18th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, 26th, 31st
February: 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 9th, 15th, 17th
April: 11th
May: 9th
June: 7th, 13th
July: 11th
August: 8th, 29th, 31st
September: 1st, 6th, 7th, 12th, 13th, 20th, 21st, 27th, 29th
October: 3rd, 5th, 6th, 10th, 24th, 25th
November: 2nd, 7th, 14th, 21st
December: 1st, 5th, 6th, 8th, 12th, 13th, 20th, 22nd

Shedd Aquarium Free Days

Shedd Aquarium Free Days 2011


Shedd Aquarium Free

While we are on the notion of FREE, here are more fun and free things to do in Chicago!


Shedd Aquarium Free Days 2011
Jan. 10, 11, 16-21, 24, 25, 31
Feb. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 20-24, 28

The Shedd Aquarium’s Free Days have many days that overlap with Adler Planetarium Free Days, and since both museums are located conveniently in Grant Park’s Museum Campus, it is easy to get a full day (or two) of free learning and exploration. (Download our Museum Free Days Calendar to see it all in an easy to read format)

Shedd Aquarium Free Days provide free General Admission to Waters of the World galleries. Entry to the Oceanarium and Wild Reef is available for an additional fee.

The Shedd Aquarium is open daily 9am–6pm during summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day); Weekdays 9am–5pm and Weekends 9am–6pm off-season (Labor Day to Memorial Day); The Shedd Aquarium is closed on Christmas Day.

Time for Great Savings!

We all love a great deal but there are a ton of sites to navigate. Here are a few of our readers favorites:

YouSwoop.com
Groupon.com
LivingSocial.com
DealADayOnline.com
PlumDistrict.com/Chicago (or any major city after the .com)
Deals.MamaPedia.com/Chicago (or any major city after the .com)
FamilyFinds.com (formerly mamaloot)

As with any 'steal' read the fine print and make sure it is an offer that works for you and pay attention to the expiration date!

Kids Ballroom Dance Lessons!

Have your kids watched Dancing With the Stars and wanted to dance like the pro's? Does your child love dance but hate the slow structure of ballet? You might want to try Chicago Dance, with two convenient locations in River North and on Irving Park. They offer kids ballroom & salsa which is a heck of a lot of fun and exercise. It is great for boys and girls and they really have a good time with moving and grooving. There are very, very few ballroom classes for kids around Chicago so sign up while there is still space!

CHICAGO DANCE

Phone: (773) 267-3411 or (312) 337-9503

E-mail: info@chicagodance.com

Chicago Dance at Irving Park
3660 W. Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60618
Phone: (773) 267-3411
Fax: (773) 267-1084

Chicago Dance River North
415 W. Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: (312) 337-9503
Fax: (312) 337-1039

2010-2011 School Year

Sunday
River North Irving Park
11:45 AM Baby & Me/Bop Hop Combo
6mo-5 yr with parent

Monday
River North Irving Park
4:45 PM Kids Salsa
6-10 yr

Tuesday
River North Irving Park
10:30 AM Baby & Me/Bop Hop
6 mo - 2 yr with parent/2 1/2 - 5 yr

4:15 PM Kids Latin & Ballroom
6-10 yr

Wednesday
River North Irving Park
5:30 PM Teen Ballet Basics
11 yr +

Saturday
River North Irving Park
10:00 AM Kids Latin & Ballroom
6 - 10 yr

10:45 AM Teen Latin & Ballroom
11 yr +

12:00 Noon Teen & KidsHip Hop
6-10 & 11 yr +


2010-2011 Dance Class Fee Schedule
Kids Classes
1st Class $69/month
2nd Class or 2nd Child $59/month
3rd Class or 3rd Child $54/month

A FREE & Civilized Night out!

Chicago Art Dealers Association has a FIRST THURSDAYS gallery walk from 4-7pm. Peruse some of Chicago's hottest galleries and enjoy complimentary cocktails, wine and snacks. The galleries are located in River North and the West Loop. Grab a friend or your husband and get some culture while having fun. You might just find the perfect treasure for your home!