In Defense of Boredom

By now, I imagine that you and your little people are fully into the swing of summer. I know that we are (ice cream cones two nights in a row, kids up until 9:30 every night because it is so bright out, swimming every single day).

I can't believe that the 4th of July is nearly here. Sometimes summer seems to move so darn fast. With that in mind, I wanted to tell you about a story that I wrote in the June issue of Chicago Parent Magazine. It is called In Defense of Boredom: The Case for Underscheduling Your Kids This Summer.

I wrote this as mostly as a reminder to myself to take advantage of all of the opportunities that summer presents to take things a little bit slower. I hope you'll have a look.

Use Your Noodle!

We eat a fair amount of pasta at our house. I like to serve it with a homemade pesto or a veal ragu or even just a simple tomato sauce (last night's dinner). However, sometimes I give in to the request for plain buttered noodles. I'm not thrilled about it, but I do it in the name of keeping the peace.

When I an whipping up some buttered noodles for someone's lunch, I often don't cook the whole box of pasta -- and then my cabinets ends up being cluttered with quarter-full boxes of pasta of various shapes and cooking times. So that's no good.

Those nearly empty boxes of pasta were the inspiration for my craft column in Chicago Parent this month. With the help of my handy glue gun, we built this "noodle choo choo train" with pasta shapes that we already had at home. Who knows what you can make with what you have in your cabinet?

The Beauty of Bartering

Have you ever bartered? I know that term sounds like a really old-fashioned practice, but its actually not.

I've started bartering in my own work from time to time. And I actually really like it. I've found that there is something more enduring and substantial about these sorts of exchanges. In my own experience, bartering has been the foundation of some really valued relationships.

Anyway, I became so interested in this type of exchange that I wrote a story about it. In my research, I came across all sorts of compelling stories about how individuals and small businesses are working together to get things done -- especially in this tough economy.

You can read more about this new-again practice and its collateral benefits in my piece, The Beauty of Bartering in the December issue of Mindful Metropolis. I hope you'll have a look.

Aaaacchoo! Local moms share their natural cold and flu remedies

Have your kids had their fair share of sickness this cold and flu season? Mine too.

When it comes to treating common cold and flu symptoms, more and more parents are looking to natural remedies instead of the traditional over-the-counter concoctions. I recently wrote a story for Chicago Parent Magazine about some of the more popular natural remedies that local moms are using to keep their kiddos comfortable as they battle fevers, coughs and runny noses. Plus, I checked in with an experienced pediatrician to get her take on these natural remedies.

Interested? You can read more here.

Cross--posted at Wee Windy City.

My Chicago Kid Holiday Gift Guide

Over the past few weeks, I've been hard at work on my Chicago Kid Holiday Gift Guide.

I reached out to some of my favorite local vendors (like Psycho Baby, Bullfrogs & Butterflies, Building Blocks, and Green Genes) in search of gift ideas with Chicago ties.

Together, we came up with a pretty darn good gift guide (if I do say so myself). All of these gift ideas celebrate our great city in some way. Your Chicago kid would be thrilled to receive any of them.

I hope you'll take a minute to check out the list -- and support these fabulous local businesses (all of whom agreed to donate their featured items to the deserving kiddos at Association House).

Happy Holidays to you and your Chicago kids!

This One is Important: Making Holiday Military Care Packages

I don't mean to by pushy or anything, but I wanted to suggest an idea for a family project that is perfect for the upcoming holiday season: you should make a care package to send to someone in the military who won't be home with their own families for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year.

We made a package for my cousin Brian who is in the Army. My kids loved participating in this easy project (and hopefully Brian liked the notes and goodies we sent along).

I wrote a story about the basics of assembling packages (with lots of helpful links) and a suggestion for a homemade craft that your kids can include in the box for the November issue of Chicago Parent. If you are looking for ideas on how to get started assembling your own care packages, you can have a look here and here.

Our Bats

I am not into Halloween decorations. Although Brendan would like to have a giant inflatable pumpkin and fake cobwebs all over the front yard (he has asked no less than 10 times), I like to keep the seasonal decor simple and natural -- a few pumpkins and gourds and maybe a nice scented candle. That's it.

But for my October craft story for Chicago Parent Magazine, we decided to do a Halloween-themed project. We made bat sock puppets out of David's stray work socks. (At least I thought they were strays. Turns out one of them was a part of a perfectly good set of $45 tuxedo socks. Ooops.)

This project was fun and easy and now we have something to hang in the trees in front of our house for Halloween so Brendan is happy. You can find the instructions for this project here -- and my bat origami project here.

Happy Halloween crafting!

Best of Family on CBSChicago.com

CBS Chicago just relaunched their website to include more local content. I was pleased to contribute some posts for their "Best of Family" section. My blogging buddies Emily and Hyacinth are also featured.

If you have a minute, click on over and check it out.

I tackled must-do Halloween activities, best indoor play spots, cool parks and playgrounds, my favorite family activities at Millennium Park, and good spots to experience nature right here in the city.

Me! On WGN Radio on Monday Morning!

If you are up and at em' bright and early on Monday morning (and really, what parent of a young child isn't awake before 7:00 a.m every single day of the week), tune in to WGN Radio to hear my thoughts on packing great back-to-school lunches. I'll be on around 6:39 a.m.

I'll be sharing my suggestions for the very best reusable school lunch supplies you should have on hand in order to get the year off to a great start. Plus, I will be offering some tips on how to "cheat" and not have to make lunches at all. Intrigued? Listen in on Monday!

The Nature Boardwalk is coming! The Nature Boardwalk is coming!

On June 24th, the Lincoln Park Zoo is going to unveil it's long-awaited Nature Boardwalk. I am so excited about this new space that I wrote a story about it in Mindful Metropolis Magazine. Want to know more? You can read the article here.

Me on WGN Radio

On Saturday, June 19th at 9:00 a.m., I am going to be a guest on ChicagoNow Radio on WGN Radio 720. I'll be chatting about family-friendly activities in and around Chicago (I mean, what else would I talk about?).

If you are interested, you can stream the broadcast live here.

Edited to add: You can listen to the recorded broadcast here.

An End-of-the-Year Gift for the Kiddos

If your kids aren't already out of school, they will be soon. It's official -- summer has arrived.

If you are looking for a way to celebrate the end of the school year and welcome the warm weather months, I have a fun idea for you-- make summer journal satchels.

Assemble all of the items your kids will need to record their summer adventures in a journal (this is also sort of sneaky way to make sure that your little ones keep practicing all of the reading and writing skills they acquired during the school year).

Want to know more? Have a look at my kid's crafts and activity story in the June issue of Chicago Parent Magazine.

Lip Smackin' Good

Honey Tangerine on the left and Pink Peppermint on the right.

For my May craft column in Chicago Parent Magazine, I wrote about how to make your own lip balm.

Ellie and I worked on this project together and we are pretty pleased with the results. I have been holding off on posting about the lip balm because I gifted little tins of it to many of the mommies in my life yesterday.

Any way, this makes a good little homemade gift. And it is also nice to keep for yourself too.

Why You Shouldn't Care That Your House is a Mess: My Mother's Day Message

In honor of Mother's Day, I wrote a post for the site Sprout for Parents about how most moms (myself included) spend too much time feeling bad about all of the things on their to-do lists that don't get done and not enough time feeling proud about all of the good stuff that is getting done (like raising healthy, happy kids).

I hope you will take a minute to check out my post and then give yourself a big pat on the back for the great job that you do every day, mama.

Let's (re)do Lunch in the April issue of Mindful Metropolis

I wrote a story for the April issue of Mindful Metropolis about the efforts of local non-profit groups to make some serious (and seriously needed) change to the food choices available to Chicago kids. If you are interested in these kinds of things, you can have a read here.

Me in the April issue of Chicago Parent (x3)

I wrote 3 stories for this month's Chicago Parent.

First, I wrote about practical tips for raising a lefty. My Dad was a lefty. I am a lefty. Brendan is also left-handed. My Dad always made me feel like being left-handed was special. I am working hard to send my Brendan that same lefty propagandist messages. I thought I would start by writing this story in his (and my Dad's) honor.

I also wrote a piece about the online interactive resources offered by many Chicago-area museums. Can't make it to the Art Institute with the kiddos this month? Check out the site Curious Corner where kids can still have a hands-on learning experience.

And for my craft column, we made spring greeting cards that you can plant. We embedded wildflower seeds into paper note cards. The recipient can plant the card and watch the seeds grow. Perfect for Mother's Day gifts, don't you think?

Guest Blogging at Sprout for Parents

I am excited to be blogging over at Sprout for Parents this month.

Their theme for March is "Angry Lions and Snuggly Lambs." Keeping with that theme, I shared some of my tips for diffusing even the most ridiculous temper tantrums. Have a look at my article here -- and take a minute to check out this fun and informative site.

On Kids, Commercials and "Diego" Carrot Sticks

I was interviewed for a story on the Medill News Service about the link between childhood obesity and advertising.

You can read me ranting about fruit snacks and all of the other garbage that companies try to sell your kid here.

Just Make your own Shamrock Shakes

I recently read a post on ChicagoNow about the collective outrage over the new Shamrock Shake from McDonalds. Apparently, this conconction lacks flavor, has a weird consistency -- and also comes with whipped cream and an unwanted cherry.

New recipe or old, I am not particularly interested in McDonald's Shamrock Shake when I could make my own at home -- without all of the mystery ingredients that come with the fast food version.

Folks, we are just talking about ice cream, milk, peppermint extract, a few drops of green food coloring and a blender. You can do this at home. Your children will be delighted. Here is my take on a green peppermint shake in my March column for Chicago Parent.

I'm giving away the new Ralph's World CD on Wee Windy City

I wanted to let you know that I am giving away THREE copies of the new Ralph's World CD "All Around Ralph's World" over on Wee Windy City.

When it comes to kid's music, Ralph's World is one of our favorites. We listen to Ralph's World in the car, during playtime and especially during our after-dinner, pre-bath dance parties.

I also posted information about an upcoming free performance by Ralph's World at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

There aren't too many entries so you have great odds of actually winning a copy. Go on over and enter (it just takes a minute or two to register on ChicagoNow). Good luck!