Friday, October 7, 2011
Choose your family’s holiday card while sipping wine with friends.
When Kristine Knutson first opened downtown Libertyville’s How Impressive, an invitation, stationary, and gift shop, she would run an annual Christmas Card Party in Mickey Finn’s upper level. She’d donate 20 percent of each card sale to charity. Now How Impressive is celebrating its fifth year, and Knutson still holds her annual Christmas card events, where customers can browse through the store’s card selection in a friendly and fun atmosphere. The event now is held at Café Pyrenees and customers can now choose between receiving the 20 percent discount, or donating it to charity. Knutson says she started offering the option when the recession hit. This year’s event will be held this Saturday, Oct. 8 from 12-4 p.m. at Café Pyrenees. All …
Friday, September 9, 2011
With child care and many options, joining a gym can be a great mom escape.
Throughout our marriage, my husband and I have had to discuss where we can cut back to maximize our finances. It’s always hard, but in the end, it benefits the whole family. Each time we talk, our gym membership comes up for discussion. My husband is rightfully stubborn against canceling our gym membership, even when things are tight. His reasoning is simple: I am a better person when I regularly go to the gym. When he says this, he’s not talking about my jeans size. He’s talking about my ability to smile while the boys make a mess with PLAY-DOH, make jokes with him after the kids go to bed, and somehow feed the kids, take my son to football practice, and still cover a Parks and Recreation meeting all in one evening. He’s right. I’m more …
Friday, August 12, 2011
Wisma offers healthier options for those over-scheduled evenings.
A few weeks ago, our mom escape idea was to retreat to your kitchen and enliven your inner chef. As moms, though, we know that over-scheduled evenings don’t always allow us this luxury. Instead of burgers and fries at the drive-thru, head to downtown Libertyville for some easy and healthy takeout at Wisma. Wisma, owned and operated by chef John des Rosiers, opened its Libertyville location in March this year. The idea is to offer customers a healthy, delicious takeout option. The restaurant’s vast menu options include pastas, salads, grilled meats, and artisan breads, just to name a few. My favorite, the orechiette, pleases my kids as well. For the kids who only like kid food, there are several options for children, including macaroni and …
Friday, July 29, 2011
Instead of escaping from the kitchen, retreat to it.
Ok, don’t think I’m crazy for this week’s mom escape. Most mom hints offer ways to minimize cooking time, or not cook at all. When I first became a mom, out of a need to awaken my creativity, an amazing thing happened. I learned how to cook. Not just cook, but cook well. And even more amazing, I enjoyed it. Now, each night, the kitchen is where I find solace. First thing’s first, get the kids involved in something they enjoy so they’re not asking for milk, kicking balls under your feet, or chasing the dog through the kitchen. Save up their TV time, get out the whole box of Lego’s, or set them up with an art project. Just make sure they’ll be preoccupied. Next, make yourself comfortable. Turn on a Ray LaMontagne album and pour a glass of …
Friday, July 1, 2011
Summer is a great time to use fresh produce in cocktails.
This time of year, many varieties of our favorite fruits are at their peak and also at their least expensive. Take advantage of the season with these summery cocktail recipes using fresh fruit. Make a large batch and share with your fellow moms for a wonderful summer escape. Fruit-Infused Vodka The fun part about flavoring vodka with fruit is you can pick your favorite flavors and experiment with new ones. Choose berries, citrus fruits like lemons or oranges, or a melon mixture. Wash your fruit well and remove any stems and seeds. Remove the peels on oranges. For larger fruit, cut into small pieces or chunks. Berries can remain whole, but bruise delicate ones, and slice small cuts into harder ones like blueberries. Add the fruit to a glass…
Friday, June 3, 2011
Turn your home into a spa.
Since having children, you probably have had the house alone to yourself only a handful of times. Even when you are home alone, you are probably folding clothes, organizing the kitchen cabinets, or accomplishing what you can while undistracted. Recently, my husband took my two boys out for a “guys’ night” after dinner, and left me home alone. Despite looming deadlines and full hampers, I used the time to create an at-home spa. With a little time and dedication to yourself, you can create a blissful experience right at home. Facial Facials are actually very easy to do at home, and help to open up clogged pores. You always want to start by cleansing the face and exfoliating with a facial scrub. Open your pores by placing your face over hot …
Friday, May 13, 2011
Try something new at Lake County Forest Preserve facilities.
While every mom needs a night out to unwind with friends, with temperatures rising, why not embark on these guided adventures offered by Lake County Forest Preserves. You’ll feel refreshed through the next morning as well. Check for registration dates and costs, as they vary by program. Quickstart Kayak Located at convenient and beautiful Independence Grove, the Quickstart Kayak program provides a basic introduction to kayaking. You’ll learn beginner skills as well as safety tips. The physical difficulty is rated easy to moderate, geared toward beginners. Free Bird Walks Our winged friends are returning or stopping on their way north. Try these free guided walks learning bird identification. Location varies, so check the forest preserve’s …
Friday, May 6, 2011
Only 30-minutes away, the Chicago Botanic Garden is a great mom escape.
This time of year, the Chicago Botanic Gardens’ thousands of tulips are in bloom. Nothing can rejuvenate a tired mom like a walk through the gardens in spring. The crescent garden and bulb garden are great places to take in the spring’s beauty right now. Soon, the model railroad will be open, A Bloomin’ Festival will begin, and the bonsais will reappear in the Regenstein Center’s courtyards. On my visits, I never miss the Japanese Garden. Walking through it is like drinking a cup of chamomile tea. The pines throughout the garden, situated on three islands, are so well pruned and maintained that they create the most fantastical looking shapes and canopies as you walk the paths. As we prepare to tackle our own gardens, the Enabling Garden is…
Friday, April 22, 2011
We’re bringing you professional advice on relieving parenting stress through natural health techniques.
This week’s Great Escape features tips from Libertyville’s Enlightened Living Center. Suzanne Norman, director of the center, says parenting stresses are unavoidable, but we can learn a new way to react to them. “A few easy techniques I teach my students are surprisingly simple, yet very powerful,” Norman says. “Breathing, meditation, and physical stress release.” A Simple Breathing Technique Norman says that deliberately lengthening the exhalation of your breath can help calm your mind. She says to take a gentle, deep inhalation into the belly. “It’s like slowly inflating a balloon in the lower belly,” Norman explains. Keep your body relaxed and count to four or five, and then slowly breathe out, making the exhale twice as long as the …
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Friday, April 15, 2011
Start a monthly night out for you and your friends.
Even if we’re already in a book club and regularly get invited to our friends’ boutique parties, sometimes moms need more ideas for regular nights out with the girls. Here are some ideas for you to bounce around with your friends or neighbors. Bunco In my neighborhood, a group of women take turns to host a monthly fun and strategy-free game of bunco. Women enjoy catching up with one another just as much, if not more, than playing the game. Set up and equipment is easy and minimal, so it’s a fairly stress-free game idea. Feel free to use games you already have at home, too! The hostess provides the appetizers and each guest brings wine, beer, soda, or her choice of drink. Meal Assembly Parties When I lived in another Chicago suburb, I, …
Chi-an Chang
4:45 pm on Friday, April 15, 2011
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