Over $420 Ginormous Holidaze Gift Give Away Winners Are Here!

  

Big Congrats to all of ChiIL Mama's Ginormous Holidaze Give Away Winners!

1.  Music DVDs:  New York Dolls "Lookin' Fine on Television" ($14.95)--Sherry C.   *check out our DVD coverage here
2.  Music DVDs:  X "The Unheard Music" ($16.96)--Lori M.   *check out our DVD coverage here
3.  4 Award Winning PopCaps Downloads Mac or PC:  Plants Vs. Zombies, Bookworm Adventures, Bejewled 3, & Peggle($60)--Najib H.   *check out our Plants Vs. Zombies coverage here.   The other 3 game reviews will be up this week. 

4.  Activision DS Game:  Squinkies w/ ultra rare 3 piece toy set & 9 piece squinkies tiny toys ($46)--Alicia S.

 
5.  Activision DS Game:   Wappie Dog - physical dog toy and virtual game ($50)--Melissa S.
 
6.  Activision DS Game:   Lalaloopsy game w/ figure & Mini Lalaloopsy "Pillow Featherbed" ($48)--Lisa V.

7.  Activision DS Game:   Zoobles! ($30)--Teresa O.
 
8.  Activision DS Game:   ZhuZhu Babies  ($30)--Melissa S.
 
9.  Activision DS Game:   Moshi Monsters Moshling Zoo ($30)--Rachel G.
 
10.  Recipe Book:   Strawberry Recipies for Every Day (California Strawberry Commission)--Amanda J.
 
11.  6 CDs:    Soul-R&B-Blues-Rock including,  Fitz and The Tantrums,  How Far To Austin,  The Shams Band, Zach Heckendorf, Pinto & The Bean & The Future Laureates (over $70)--Aimee O.   

*We have loads of live videos, pit photos, band video interviews and CD reviews.   Check out the archives at the bottom of the page or use the search bar to the right.   We post upcoming shows, introduce new music, and give you breaking music news for alt-rock-metal-punk-funk-blues/bluegrass-and more, including bands for adults & kids.   All are posted at ChiIL Mama.com and archived at our sister site, ChiIL Live Shows.com.

• Fitz and The Tantrums--2 video interviews/live footage)
• How Far to Austin-video interview & live show stills from HOB & Mayne Stage
• The Shams Band-live show stills from Lincoln Hall, The Whistler & Do Division Fest

12.  Toy:   Vapor Atlas 250 Blaster with evaporating gel ammo by Razor-ages 14+ ($20)--Meg M.
 
13.  Game:   Hike 7+ by Moosetache Games ($10.95)--Nicole F.   *Check out our feature on Hike and Rowboat right here.

We'll have full reviews, links and purchasing information for all the rest of our great, Ginormous Holidaze sponsors up this week.   Thanks for playing and happy holidays all.  Winners--we'll get those prizes in the mail to you in plenty of time for Christmas.   Enjoy!

Hike & Rowboat Review And Give Away (Ginormous Holidaze Gift Guide)

If you're in the Midwest, heading into the deep freeze of winter, hiking and rowboats may be a distant dream.   But ChiIL Mama's here to introduce you to a fun NEW way to relate to these summer staples indoors or out.   This is one of our favorite GREEN GAMES this year.   Hike discourages littering and rewards planting trees and capturing worms.  

Moosetache Games is a funky, creative little start up from Berkeley, CA. that we met at ChiTAG this year.   They pitched their tent and were a popular R & R spot all weekend.   

 

We're so on board with their mission statement:

Our mission 
is to 
encourage 
creativity
 and
 spread joy.

We are driven by the idea that anyone any age
 can keep the spirit of play alive.
By developing games that are interactive and spark social connections, we hope to bring people together and infuse fun into each and every day!





They have 2 award winning card games, perfect for holiday gifting

7 and up:

Hike is the fun, new card game where nature springs surprises and players battle for survival! Get ready to go for a trek, get Lost on a Trail, ride out Avalanches, and always remember to watch out for…Poop.  No Littering Allowed!

Objective:
  Get rid of your cards, outlast your opponents, and score points!
Ages 7 & Up 

$10.95/ free shipping 

 

We were given a review copy of Hike and have been having a blast with it.    Game play is quick and easy to pick up, and the illustrations by Kiril Tchangov are colorful and fun.   I've been living with 2 young kids and multiple dogs for years, so I love that poop is counted in with specialty cards like avalanche, drought, and earthquake.    This game is creative, silly, fun with a great underlying message.

3-8 players can participate, making this an excellent option for family game nights, camp outs, and travel.   The cards won't get thrashed or lost in their durable, divided cardboard box.   Average game play is 30 minutes.   So go take a Hike....on your next outing.   You'll be glad you did.
 

 

Since our sister site ChiILTravelKids.com features great travel destinations and products, we were especially jazzed to see Hike won Dr. Toy's best vacation products award!

13 and up:
Mind bending strategy! Mind boggling suspense!
 

Rowboat is the bidding, trick-taking card game where trump changes throughout the hand. It’s a beautifully designed ocean-themed game that offers constant excitement. The number of cards in play is always changing, making gameplay possibilities virtually endless. If you like Spades, you will love Rowboat!

Ages 13 & Up
$14.95/ free shipping



We were also given a review copy of Rowboat.   This one includes a timer and deck of cards and also comes in a thick cardboard box, to make it easier to keep it together.   2-4 players can be in on this one, and it's recommended for teens, although smart under 13's who are up to the challenge will be fine with it, too.   

We love the excellent art work by Sophie Kittridge.   Her mermaids, belugas, dolphins and aquatic themed cards are gorgeous.   You even get to use "Rowboat Lingo" during game play like capsized, walk the plank and knotted knobs.   We're also fans of the unique game play and the social element.   It's hard to get teens off the video games sometimes and Rowboat will have the players competing and conversing old school style.   

This one does have more of a learning curve and may be too frustrating for young players.   And you'll want to peruse the "Instruction Dock".   Still, it's a pretty easy game to pick up and explain to newbies and a fresh variation on the old standard card games.

 

We're big on strategy games that grow your brain and keep adults young and keep kids pushing the boundaries of their analytical skills.    Rowboat's so much fast paced fun, you won't realize it's good for you, too.

2011 Family Card Game of the Year Runner-Up
Games Magazine

ChiIL Mama recommends both Rowboat and Hike.  We also have 1 Hike Game to give away as part of ChiIL Mama's Ginormous Holidaze Gift Guide & Give Aways (nationwide/enter through midnight 12/17)

*Follow both Moosetache Games on Facebook & ChiIL Mama on Facebook and Moosetache Games Twitter & ChiIL Mama Twitter for 1 xtra entry for each!  

**Now we don't like to play favorites, especially during the holidays.   All of our readers are winners.   So, enter the secret code HOLIDAY in the promo area when you visit Moosetache Games to place an order, and you magically save 20%.   Woo hoo.**

Ginormous Holidaze Gift Give Away Extended 3 Days!

Check your list...

Christmas has come early this year.   We're going to extend our Ginormous Holidaze Gift Give Away 3 more days.  You can now check off your wish list a little longer and increase your chances of winning one or more of our awesome gifts.  Enter through midnight 12/17 and we'll announce all our winners the 18th.   We'll still mail 'em out in plenty of time for the big day.   This way we'll have more time to tell you about our favs on the wish list you might not be familiar with.

So enter like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.   We'll still have full reviews on our favorite games, toys, books, and CDs right up till Christmas eve!

Enter below for your chance to win one or more of our LUCKY 13 gifts: 

   

Shams Band-Tonight at 8:30pm Streaming at AudioTree & Free CD & Tickets

What we're playing at ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows...

Tonight, The Shams Band will be performing live across the world at 8:30pm (central)! You can stream the show from AudioTree - http://www.audiotreemusic.com/audiotree_music_archive.html  
Audio Tree is similar to Daytrotter.   They will be performing all brand new material for you to hear :)

Another great announcement - The Shams Band will be opening for Drive-By Truckers at the 2012 Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival!  They will perform on January 28th, 2012 from the balcony stage at Congress Theater. Their set is in between Dawes and Drive-By Truckers!

**ChiIL Mama's giving away a pair of tickets to the 2012 Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival Congress Shows in the very near future, so check back like we vote in Chicago...early & often for details on how to win!**   You can also get your tickets for a discount through The Shams Band for $35.   

The Shams Band say:   Happy Holidays to everyone from across the world! We love you and thank you for your support! 

http://www.theshamsband.com
http://www.facebook.com/theshamsband
http://www.facebook.com/theshamsband
 
The Shams Band is one of our favorite Chi-Town bands here at ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows.    We still have loads more unreleased, live, concert footage from their show at The Whistler, Logan Square's intimate venue, from earlier in the year.   Check out their version of Maggie's Farm right here.

We also have a bunch of pit photos we shot at their summer fest appearance at Do Division. 

and our pit photos from their January show at Lincoln Hall.

Remember to enter here for your chance to win their CD, Champagne (with 5 other rockin' CDs too!  Soul-R&B-Blues-Rock including, Fitz and The Tantrums, How Far To Austin, The Shams Band, Zach Heckendorf, Pinto & The Bean & The Future Laureates)   

This give away is just one of many you can enter to win through 12/14!   Check out ChiIL Mama's Ginormous Holidaze Gift Give Away below.

 

Winners Announced For Gustafer Yellowgold and Mary Macaroni

Big congrats to this week's ticket winners.   For all show info & winner details click here and check out our prior post.

Rita P.--4 tickets to Gustafer Yellowgold at Schubas & brunch for 4  


Melissa S.--4 tickets to Mary Macaroni at Beat Kitchen

Apologies for the delay in announcing winners.   This was our first run with Rafflecopter which comes out of beta and will be available to everyone this week, in a new and improved form.   We were merging google docs entrants and Rafflecopter and wanted to take the extra time to be sure we included everyone fairly and equitably.

This week we have 3 more amazing family 4 packs of tixs to give away.   Please be sure you have left a comment in the comments section saying which tickets you want to win.   All is a valid option.  This is the only MANDATORY step to enter and you can not win without completing it!

We've just added 4 free tickets to CircEsteem's Winter Circus (Sat. 12/17 5pm show)!   

Join CircEsteem for a show with villains, damsels in distress, tourists in Hawaiian shirts and...
Super Heroes.

Over 70  kids (including ChiIL Mama's own Sagezilla & Du-Jay) from the Chicago Youth Circus, CircusTeam, HomeWork & CircusWork and our outreach programs will take the stage and dazzle audiences with amazing circus acts including: trapeze, tight wire, gym wheel, unicycle and for the first time in CircEsteem history: Chinese Pole!
 
Tickets are $13 for adults and $8 for kids under 13.

Reserved seats are $35 and reserved parking is $20.  Buy your spots now!!!

Performance tickets and reserved parking can all be purchased through CircEsteem's website.

Can't make it to the show but still want to support CircEsteem? Make a tax-deductible gift online.   

We'll have some super CircEsteem video footage and stills this week, to peak your interest.   There are some amazingly talented kids here!

We also have 4 tickets to Shayna sings, a special holiday show, at Beat Kitchen Sunday at noon.    We're also so excited to offer our readers 4 tickets to opening night of A Christmas Story The Musical at Chicago Theatre a week from today on Wednesday, 12/14!   

This week we have a huge Christmas Story The Musical Series.   ChiIL Mama was invited to shoot a video sneak peek behind the scenes at rehearsal, including 3 songs from the production!   We also shot some awesome, exclusive video interviews with the Tony Award winning director,  John Rando, and a number of adults and kids in the cast, including Chicago natives, and Clarke Hallum, who plays the child lead, Ralphie!

This production is an absolute must see!   We'll be there opening night and have a full review up for you next week, but it's a limited 2 week run, so we highly recommend reserving your tickets soon.

*Enter here for your chance to win.*

 

Remember, in addition to weekly ticket give aways, we also have a Ginormous Holidaze Gift Guide and Give Away going on through 12/15.   There's already loads of great give aways on ChiIL Mama's wish list worth hundreds of dollars.   You can check off as many as you like and loads of great new toys, games, books, CDs, DVDs, video games, recommendations and reviews will be added often through 12/14.   All our winners will be pulled the 15th so your gifts will arrive before Christmas.   Check off your wish list below for your chance to win, then spread the word for additional daily entries.   Then, check back like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often to see what's new on the wish list!

ChiIL Out with ChiIL Mama this holiday season.    Good luck!

3 Holidaze Give Aways In One Place-Enter Here To Win!

HOLIDAZE GIFT GUIDE & GIVE AWAYS 
Holidays can be hectic, so ChiIL Mama wants to make it easy for you to ChiIL Out and relax.   Here are our THREE give aways running right now, in one easy place to enter.   We have a GINORMOUS HOLIDAZE GIFT GUIDE & GIVE AWAYS that will be growing frequently between now and December 15th, and will include DVDs for adult/older kid music lovers, loads of kindie (kids' indie CDs), 6 adult CDs, DS games, An $80 PopCaps Games Download Bonanza, Books, Toys and Games!   Entries are accepted nationwide.   

*Remember, to check in with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often!   We'll be adding more great give aways to the list frequently. You can share by social media for additional daily entries on any items on the list.   So make your wish list and check it twice.




We also have 2 Rafflecopter Giveaways for Chicago area 4 packs of tickets to some sweet shows!!   2 winners are picked weekly.  Check it out below.   Mandatory entry-let me know which tickets you are interested in.   Both is a valid choice.   Then tell me what music you like to rock out to as a family, and you're in.   Follows by RSS, Twitter, posts to FB, following ChiIL Mama's YouTube are optional but result in xtra chances.   You can share on Social Media for xtra entries daily.   Good luck!

This week we have 4 tickets AND brunch for 4 at Schubas for Gustafer Yellowgold and 4 tickets to Mary Macaroni at Beat Kitchen!  Winners will be announced on Free Ticket Tuesday 12/6.  

These next two winners will be announced the following week on 12/13.   Click the link here for that Rafflecopter form, and your chance at a family 4 pack to A Christmas Story The Musical at Chicago Theatre and Shayna Sings at Beat Kitchen.   Good luck!

Coffee & Dessert With Illinois Farm Families at Palmer House This Sunday

  Circle Pines Camp in Michigan-- resident goats

If you're like most urban parents I know, you try to feed your kids fresh, healthy food as much as possible.   You read up on potential toxic chemicals, agricultural practices and food additive health risks.   And you also read about the health benefits of eating well, so your kids can grow strong minds and bodies.

Earlier this year, I had the chance to meet with California Strawberry Producers and Illinois Farm Families, and we'll be featuring lots of great info on health benefits, farming practices, recipes and more in the coming year.   We'll even be giving away a strawberry recipe book as part of our huge Holidaze Gift Guide and Give Aways running from now through Dec. 15th.   Every few days we'll be running reviews and adding loads of great new give aways, so check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often!   Enter at the bottom of this post for your chance to win.

We have also tried to make sure our city kids have a good sense of where food comes from.    We've picked strawberries in Wisconsin, harvested eggs and fed chickens in Michigan, gone to summer camp with goats, and milked cows.  
 


Illinois Farm Families Says:  Beginning this fall, Illinois Farm Families will bring a group of city moms out to meet our families and tour our farms.  

We’re opening our doors to give these Field Moms a behind-the-scenes look at how we:

• Grow your food
• Care for our animals
• Protect the land

Field Moms will see firsthand how we raise food that is safe and healthy for your family – and ours.  And they'll report what they see, hear and learn right here, on Watch Us Grow.     
  
If you're a Chicago Mom with questions about food you'll want to join us for a Sunday afternoon Meetup with Illinois family farmers.  You'll have the chance to meet the farmers, ask questions about food and learn what they do on their farms everyday. There will be coffee and dessert and time to have all your questions answered. 

Sunday, Dec. 4
3:15PM 
Palmer House Hilton
17 E. Monroe
Grand Parlor Rm. 6th Floor


If you're interested in farm related events in the area, join their meet up group and/or talk to them in person this weekend.   Event is free and open to the public.   RSVP on their meet up group here.



ChiIL Mama's 2011 Holidaze Gift Guide & Give Aways
Remember, every few days we'll be running reviews and adding loads of great new give aways, so check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often!   You can enter every day between now and midnight 12/14 with documented social media shares, and check off as many gifts as you'd like.    It is a wish list after all...     So happy holidaze all, and good luck!