WIN 4 Tickets (Up to $188 Value) to the WORLD PREMIERE OF AMERICAN GIRL LIVE First National Tour Launch at The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie 12/21/18

ChiIL Mama’s Chi, IL Picks List

WORLD PREMIERE 
OF 
AMERICAN GIRL LIVE 

ENTER BELOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN 4 OPENING NIGHT TICKETS!

First National Tour to Launch at The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie

December 21-23, 2018

One of ChiIL Mama's lucky readers will 

WIN 4 Tickets to Opening Night of 

American Girl LIVE on 12/21/18 

(Up to $188 Value)

Enter through midnight 12/15/18. Tickets good for opening night on 12/21/18.

American Girl Live, an all-new musical inspired by the popular characters from American Girl® owned by Mattel, Inc., will celebrate its world premiere at The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd.), Dec. 21-23, 2018. The cast of American Girl Live includes Jenna Bruce as Rebecca, Ashley Diane as Luciana, Laila E. Drew as Melody, Shelby Lysette Miguel as Nanea, Monica Potson as Julie and Kelsey Elaine Pressnall as Maryellen. The cast also features Orisa Gutierrez and Mari Skoultchi. For tickets and more information, please visit, NorthShoreCenter.org or call 847-673-6300.

American Girl Live will feature all-original songs and an unforgettable experience for fans of American Girl as they witness some of their favorite characters come to life. Audiences will join a group of girls at sleepover camp for an exciting summer away from home. When each camper is faced with a new challenge or experience, she comes to better understand the timeless lessons of her favorite American Girl character. The messages shared provide positive examples of friendship, courage and hope that will extend beyond the performance and into the hearts of the audience.

American Girl Live will perform at The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (9501 Skokie Blvd.) on Friday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 22 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 23 at 1 p.m. Tickets range in price from $37 - $47 and are available now. Special VIP packages featuring a pre-show party and post-show photo opportunity with the cast are also available. Please visit, NorthShoreCenter.org or call 847-673-6300 for tickets or more information.

 

About American Girl
American Girl is a premium brand for girls and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT), a leading global children's entertainment company that specializes in design and production of quality toys and consumer products.  Headquartered in Middleton, WI, American Girl offers an inspiring world of dolls, content, and experiences that nourish a girl’s spirit and help develop her strength of character. Best-selling lines include Truly Me™, Girl of the Year™, Bitty Baby™, WellieWishers™, and American Girl’s classic historical characters. The company sells products through its award-winning catalogue, on americangirl.com, in its proprietary U.S. experiential retail stores, as well as at specialty retailers nationwide. By inspiring girls to be their best, American Girl has earned the loyalty of millions and the praise and trust of parents and educators.

About Mills Entertainment
Mills Entertainment, a live entertainment content studio, and division of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), collaborates with top talent and property holders to create unforgettable live experiences.  With full global distribution and partnerships worldwide, our specialty is taking shows from concept to stage, serving as the complete solution in realizing the vision.  Current projects include Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live!, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Carnival of Curi-oddities, Mel Brooks Live! Back in the Saddle Again, and Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience. www.millsentertainment.com

About The North Shore Center
The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie is a dynamic two-theater complex designed by Boston architect Graham Gund and opened in November 1996. The North Shore Center is managed by Professional Facilities Management, Inc. and operates as part of the Village of Skokie’s plan to provide cultural, literary and educational programs to benefit the citizens of Skokie and Chicago’s North Shore. The facility features an 867-seat main theater, and a convertible 318-seat theater, which serves as the home to Northlight Theatre. In addition, there is a 6,000-square-foot grand lobby, rehearsal hall and conference rooms. The North Shore Center presents a Feature Series and the curriculum-based Youtheatre program, which has provided supplemental arts education to over a million Chicago area students since its launch in 1980. Located 30 minutes from Chicago’s Loop and conveniently across from Westfield Old Orchard Mall, the Center is in close proximity to many excellent dining, shopping and hotel options. Free parking is also abundantly available. For more information or tickets to its diverse programming, please visit NorthShoreCenter.org.

Enter HERE for your chance to WIN 4 Tickets to Opening Night of American Girl LIVE on 12/21/18 (Up to $188 Value)

Age range: All
Giveaway Details: Enter through midnight 12/15/18. Tickets good for opening night on 12/21/18.

Disclosure: It's our great pleasure at ChiIL Mama to partner up with lots of local theaters, restaurants, live concert venues and more, to offer great giveaways for our readers. Thanks to all the theaters mentioned here for offering us complimentary tickets for review purposes and for our giveaways. As always, all opinions are my own.

Congrats to Supersonic Sage and The Chicago Comets on The USAG Winter Classic #gymnastics #TBT

After this blog post, I promise I'll lay off on the proud mama posts, at least till the meet next month. Thanks for bearing with me. I know we've been all over social media with the gymnastics pixs since Friday. These kids work SO hard and practice long hours to push their limits, and it's so exciting to see them fly!

FIRST FIRST PLACE #ThrowBackThusday 
Check out the full slide show and feature here. October 11, 2010

ChiIL Mama, Oct 2010

Sagezilla had her first gymnastics meet of the season Sunday. She was worried, anxious and said her stomach was chasing it's tail.We've always told the kids it doesn't matter to us if they win or come in last. It's more important to have fun, make friends, and build up an encouraging team. We tried to reassure Zilla that there's no pressure to score x number of points or outdo anyone. We said as long as she remembered her routine and got out there and did her best, we'd be proud of her, no matter what. The kids have done park gymnastics since they were both 1 year olds, not to win at all costs, but to strengthen their bodies and brains, and increase their flexibility.

She was freaking out too much to eat, but we finally got her to settle down by encouraging big yoga breaths. But it was a stressful morning. In the end, all the fear was for nothing. Sagezilla came home with 5 blue ribbons--first place in vault, bars, beam, floor and all around! Last year, she only did one full blown gymnastics meet where she placed 8th all around and her highest place was 5th in vault. By the end of the day, she was beaming and ecstatic. The same kid who was a ball of nerves in the morning, ended the day saying she loves gymnastics so much she wished she had meets every day!

LAST FIRST PLACE
January 2015, Winter Classic USAG




Check out our full set in the slide show here and favorites embedded below.

We were a bit worried when they put Sage in the senior age group, while her team mates, including a girl who is a mere 5 days younger, were all in the juniors. Sage will still be just 11 till mid May. At the Winter Classic, they split the kids into a field of 12 competitors, so the cut offs weren't by a set age or birth date but by number. Still, she held her own and did a fantastic job against the older, bigger kids in the seniors group taking 1st on bars, 2nd on beam and vault and 3rd all around! The Chicago Comets also took Team 1st!

For weeks, my 11 year old, Sage, has been obsessed with the idea of winning a snow globe trophy, only given to the top 3 athletes in each level. She competed in the Winter Classic two years ago and didn't even place, so she's spent the past two years honing her skills and all the hours of practice and fierce determination paid off!

Go for the Globe Indeed!

We're not hugely competitive as parents and were always the type to encourage our kids to do their best, but not push winning. We always made a point of telling them we're proud of them win or lose, and that learning to lose without tears and win without gloating are as important as the actual sport. 



Sage began gymnastics as a tiny 18 month old in a Moms and Tots class and loved it. By age 7 she was good enough to make the developmental team and begin competing. The past 4 years she's made it to state, and 3 years ago she took first in state in All Around. She's made some great friend on team and lives for gymnastics.


#TBT Meeting Olympic Gymnasts:

At the ripe old age of 9, Sage said her goal was to "get an autograph from at least 1 Olympic Gold Medalist before she reached double digits"! Her words, not mine. Cracked me up, but she did it. We also got to meet Gabby Douglas at a charity breakfast, later the same year! We got to see Cathy Rigby play an awesome Peter Pan via Broadway in Chicago, when the tour came through town in January 2013. And we got autographs from Chicago speed skater Nancy Swider-Peltz jr whose coach/mom was an Olympic speed skater and whose younger brother is also in training, spring 2014. 

Aly Raisman-Olympic Gold Medalist signs photos at American Girl Place, Chicago. Shown with 9 year old Chicago competitive gymnast, Sage. 

Aly says her favorite event is floor (her best event as well--as she took the Olympic Gold for her floor routine!). When she asked Sage what her favorite is Sage replied "I like floor, too, but my very favorite is bars."   Sage will be competing in her first USAG (Jr. Olympics) Meets this January.   She's competed the past two years in the IPDGC meets, going to state both years and taking first in state in 2010!  Like Aly, Sage started gymnastics as a toddler in Moms, Pops and Tots classes and never looked back. At age 9, Sage practices 10 hours a week with her team and does an additional 3 hours a week of circus arts like lyra, Spanish Web, Chinese Pole, acro, unicycle, juggling, trapeze and silks!

Oct 2012 Iglow Mentoring Brunch With Gabby Douglas 

From the very start, back in 1st grade, we told Sage, to just do her best, we were proud of her no matter what, and medals and trophies didn't really matter. Her response, "If I'm gonna to do this thing. I'm gonna win it!"

First meet ever, 2009

Mayor Daley's Winter Sports Fest at Navy Pier, 2009 

2nd in Citywide, 2009 

Miss tiny but mighty goes to state at age 7--1st grade.

2010 Beach Meet, back when big bro competed too. Dugan-2nd place medal, Sage-4th place ribbon (1st meet back after broken ankle cast for 4 weeks).

State 2011

Sage is first in bars, beam & all around, Fox Valley 2013 

Sage is first in beam & brought home 4 medals from The Pineapple Classic, Dec 2014

More Winter Classic 2015 Favorites:

LAST CALL: WIN 4 Tickets to Monster Jam at Allstate Arena, American Girl Doll, Concert Tickets & Discount Codes #ChiMonsterJam #OriginalVideo #Giveaway

**MONSTER JAM Entries accepted through midnight February 4th.**

1.  Click here for your chance to WIN 4 Tickets to Monster Jam at Allstate Arena for opening night, February 7th at 7:30pm.  

**Click here for your chance to win a family 4 pack of tickets from ChiIL Mama 

**All our readers are winners.  We've got a rockin' 30% discount on Monster Jam adult tickets for you with the code MOM1!  Click here to purchase yours.**

Discount does not apply to Front Row VIP or Gold Circle seats.  No double discounts.  Service charges, handling, and facility fees may apply.   All tickets $2 more day of show.

Check out our original video footage from Monster Jam 2013-opening night at Allstate Arena right here too!

*Check out more of our Monster Jam video & photo footage here.*

Chicago Fans Revved Up for Annual 

Monster Jam^® Event!

FIVE World Champions to Appear at Allstate Arena, Feb. 7- 9!!

ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows at Monster Jam.   We've got our tickets... do YOU?!  The world’s premier monster truck series, Monster Jam^®, is weighing in with more than 100,000 pounds of super-charged star power for its annual hometown appearance, Feb. 7 - 9, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL.  Be there.

2.  Disney Discount Codes:  Let's Celebrate! is playing The United Center through February 9th ONLY.

Two Great Savings offers (because all of ChiIL Mama's readers are winners): 

• Save 40% on all weekday shows and Save 20% on all weekend shows using code MOM
• Weekday shows include Thursday evening and Friday matinee shows and weekend includes all shows Friday evening through Sunday evening.  Savings offer not valid on Front Row or VIP Seating. No Double Discounts. Service Charges and Handling Fees may apply.
• MOM: www.ticketmaster.com/promo/2q2yrx

·         Plan for snacks! Take advantage of this special family offer - you can get FREE* concessions meals for four (4), with purchase of four (4) Lower Level tickets. Get a great family 4 pack of tickets along with 4 hot & 4 sodas!

• Savings offer not valid on Front Row, VIP or upper bowl Seating. No Double Discounts. Service Charges and Handling Fees may apply.
• TIP: use the interactive seating map to ensure you’ve selected lower bowl seats, then enter the code: family. The ‘Got a code?’ Tab is where you redeem offers.

o    FAMILY: www.ticketmaster.com/promo/kplzul

**Click here for loads of ChiIL Mama's past Disney on Ice coverage including years of original photo filled features.**

52 CHARACTERS! 10 JAMPACKED SCENES!

Parking for all performances of Disney On Ice presents Let’s Celebrate! is FREE in all official United Center parking lots. Service charges, facility and handling fees may apply.

3.  Enter To WIN 4 Tickets to any/all remaining 7 Winter Shows in BEAT KITCHEN'S CONCERTS FOR KIDS SERIES & WINTER FEST    Enter through midnight each Thursday.  New winners announced every Friday all winter long.

4.  WIN An American Girl Bitty Baby Doll & Book Set ($80 Value) 

ChiIL Mama's Holidaze Giveaways continue with an awesome American Girl Bitty Baby Doll & book set ($80 value).  Click HERE to Enter through midnight February 13th.  Winner announced on Valentine's Day.

PHOTO RECAP: Welcome American Girl Isabelle Celebration at American Girl Water Tower Place #OriginalPhotos

ChiIL Mama and Sage went down to American Girl Place Chicago on Friday for Isabelle's welcome event.   

Isabelle Palmer, ballet dancer, is the new American Girl of the year for 2014.   It was awesome to see scenes from The Nutcracker performed in the store by kids from Ballet Chicago for Isabelle's launch party.   They also demonstrated common ballet steps for the crowd.  

ChiIL Mama caught it all in HD.  Videos of the Nutcracker dancers are coming soon, so check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL ...early and often. 

Sage welcomes Isabelle 

Here's a slideshow with our full photo recap from the launch.




We're excited for the new girl of the year, since my daughter Sage currently takes ballet with her whole gymnastics team, to add grace, strength and flow to their competitive gymnastics routines.   She even has an Isabelle in her ballet class.   We're still hopeful that an AG Isabelle doll is headed our way so we can take her to ballet class with the Chicago Comets and do a photo filled review.

In the mean time, enjoy our photos from American Girl Place Chicago and we'll keep you posted about upcoming events and giveaways.

**ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Tip For Skipping Long AG Lines:   

The waits to check out were ginormous during Isabelle's launch party.   We spent a very reasonable $10 for a custom doll tee (I love gymnastics) and they rung up all of our purchases right in the tee shirt shop--no line/no wait!!   It saved us a TON of time.

We also dig the stylin' American Girl Doll Salon.   They work some serious magic.



We're also jazzed the new girl of the year is a ballet dancer because ChiIL Mama has been covering the Joffrey Ballet for years, and every holiday season they present the #1 Nutcracker production in the nation!   Several years ago, we were invited to shoot final dress rehearsal of The Joffrey Nutcracker, and interview the young, Chicago girls lucky enough to be in the production.   Those videos are still some of our most popular of all time, on our ChiIL Mama YouTube Channel.   Check them out below.







Click here to enter ChiIL Mama's current Bitty Baby giveaway.