Archive for 2011

Skip the New Year's resolutions and think new family rituals instead

Skip the New Year's resolutions and think new family rituals instead
Right now, many of you are contemplating aspirational “resolutions” for the new year. Maybe you are going to lose that extra 15 pounds of baby weight. Perhaps you are going to tackle your closets and put the perfect organizing system in place. I don’t mean to sound like a jerk, but you probably aren’t going... Read more »
By Caitlin Giles,
December 30, 2011 at 9:27 pm • 

Get crafty with your cranberries

Get crafty with your cranberries
A few weeks ago, I invested in a gigantic bag of cranberries from Costco. At the time, it seemed like a sensible idea. However, after making cranberry sauce, cranberry-orange scones, and cranberry bread, we are kind of done with the cranberries. However, I still have about four cups of them frozen in my freezer.What to... Read more »
By Caitlin Giles,
December 23, 2011 at 8:03 pm • 

William and the Christmas Moon: A Review

William and the Christmas Moon: A Review
I never repost here on Wee Windy City — mostly out of laziness and the desire to not look back. But I dug out our collection of Christmas books over the weekend and I was reminded how totally spectacular one of them is. I really wanted to mention this book to you because I know... Read more »
By Caitlin Giles,
December 12, 2011 at 10:04 pm • 
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Celebrate the Winter Solstice

Celebrate the Winter Solstice
While we are all busy celebrating the “traditional” holidays, the winter solstice usually passes without most people taking any notice at all.  This is a totally missed opportunity. The winter solstice (occurring on December 22 this year) is a wonderful opportunity for families to take notice of what’s going on around them in the natural... Read more »
By Caitlin Giles,
December 11, 2011 at 10:31 pm • 

'Tis the season for giving: A great opportunity for your family

'Tis the season for giving: A great opportunity for your family
Around this time of year, many families are looking for a way to incorporate some more "giving" into this season that seems to be more focused on "getting.' I wanted to tell you about a great upcoming opportunity for your family to get into the spirit of the season...
By Caitlin Giles,
December 7, 2011 at 10:48 pm • 

Free Holiday Family Fun Kicks Off with the Dance-Along Nutcracker this Weekend

Free Holiday Family Fun Kicks Off with the Dance-Along Nutcracker this Weekend
As money seems to literally be flying out of my bank account as I tackle my very long holiday gift list, I find myself looking for ways to take advantage of free or low-cost holiday activities. You too? The great news is that there is certainly no shortage of free or inexpensive things to fill our holiday calendar. Riding the CTA with Santa? Check. A magical evening at Zoo Lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo? Wouldn't miss it. Christmas caroling at "The Bean" in Millennium Park? Can't wait...
By Caitlin Giles,
December 1, 2011 at 10:16 pm • 
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You are invited to the December 4th Illinois Farm Families Meet Up

You are invited to the December 4th Illinois Farm Families Meet Up
Got questions about how our food is grown? Do you spend a lot of time thinking about the food you feed your family? Maybe you just generally feel uninformed about modern agriculture and how it affects you? If you're a Chicago mom with any of these sorts of questions about food, you can expect answers at an upcoming Sunday afternoon meet up with Illinois family farmers. ...
By Caitlin Giles,
November 27, 2011 at 8:41 pm • 

Guest Post: Chicago Toy and Game Fair a Great Experience for the Whole Family

Guest Post: Chicago Toy and Game Fair a Great Experience for the Whole Family
I’ve escaped to a sunny destination to enjoy my turkey and stuffing so I did not attend the Chicago Toy and Game Fair over the weekend. By all accounts (from fair attendees both big and small), the event was pretty awesome. Luckily, fellow ChicagoNow blogger Peter Skiadopoulos of Rambler Hoops volunteered to head over to... Read more »
By Caitlin Giles,
November 20, 2011 at 8:42 pm • 

Polar Adventure Days: Cold, but worth it

Polar Adventure Days: Cold, but worth it
The Chicago Park District hosts awesome, free family events -- even in the absolute dead of winter. Luckily, we Chicagoans are tough. We know how to bundle up and get out there for some cold weather fun. This year, the Chicago Park District presents the seventh annual Polar Adventure Days from 12 - 4 p.m. on three Saturdays: Dec. 10, Jan. 21 and Feb. 18. Each event takes place at Northerly Island (1400 S. Lynn White Dr., on the Museum Campus).  Admission is free for everyone. You should totally plan to attend at least one of the scheduled Polar Adventure Days...
By Caitlin Giles,
November 16, 2011 at 9:23 pm • 
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My review of Goodnight Moon: the Musical! (plus a special discount code for you!)

My review of Goodnight Moon: the Musical! (plus a special discount code for you!)
If you have children, you are no doubt familiar with the classic bedtime tale Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (and if you aren’t, I have no idea what is going on with bedtime at your house). This is the classic bedtime story — you have to at least read it a couple of times!... Read more »
By Caitlin Giles,
November 13, 2011 at 8:55 pm •