Hot Deal on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 at GameStop Via Retail Me Not Through 1/31 While Supplies Last #coupon

GameStop is currently running an EXCLUSIVE promotion through the popular online coupon site RETAILMENOT.com - to be redeemed ONLY in stores. These great offers allow customers to purchase the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 at the lowest price possible. With a massive catalog of games, these consoles are a great way to introduce gaming to your or someone else’s life.

Disclosure: We have not been compensated for sharing this deal with our readers, although we have partnered up with GameStop on past sponsored posts, giveaways and promotions. As always, all opinions are our own.

Offers include:

- Pre Owned Xbox 360 Original (Wired Models) for $54.99…this is $40 off regular price!

- Pre Owned Xbox 360 Original (Wireless Models) for $74.99…this is up to $55 off regular price!

- Pre Owned Xbox 360 4GB Slim (any Pre Owned 4GB Slim Models) for $99.99…this is $40 off regular price!

- ANY Pre Owned PS3 80GB for $134.99…this is $85 off regular price!

Offers are valid from 1-12 until 01-31 (or while supplies last).

Click here for the coupon.

Disclosure: We have not been compensated for sharing this deal with our readers, although we have partnered up with GameStop on past sponsored posts, giveaways and promotions. As always, all opinions are our own.

TRAVEL DISCOUNT: Steamboat Springs Colorado #ChiILTravelKids

ChiIL Mama is a member of the US Family Bloggers. We frequently partner up with them to bring our readers discounts, giveaways, and great travel leads. If you're planning ahead for winter, check out this deal! Then ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama in some of the coolest places on the planet.

Disclosure: We have been offered the opportunity for free or discounted lodgings in exchange for sharing this deal with our readers.

Book your winter vacation to Steamboat CO before 08/29 and save up to 35% on lodging and 25% on lift tickets. http://tinyurl.com/maesxp7

Mountain Resorts offers a wide variety of attractive, well-maintained accommodations at prime locations in Steamboat Springs, Colorado surrounding the Steamboat Ski Area, with rates ranging from affordable to indulgent. If you're planning a winter vacation to Steamboat Springs there is no better time to book your trip. When you book early you have access to the best properties at the greatest discounts. 

Check out these early booking deals. Up to 35% off lodging and 25% off lift tickets!

For more information and reservations call 800-995-6049 or visit us online at http://www.mtn-resorts.com/bookearly?camp=CRN

WIN a Free 1/2 day Browns Canyon trip on the Arkansas River for 2 people ($134 value) #WhiteWaterRafting #Travel #Coupon

ChiIL Travel Kids and ChiIL Mama are giving away rafting trips!

If you're considering a Buena Vista, Colorado getaway before August 31, 2015, enter here to win a FREE 1/2 day Browns Canyon trip on the Arkansas River for 2 people.  Our family went White Water Rafting last summer in Vail, CO and it was a high point of our trip for our then 10 & 12 year olds. My husband and I had both been rafting multiple times but it was the kids' first foray into the fabulous fun of Colorado White Water rafting. Get out and make some memories of your own. We'll even help some of our readers do it for FREE!

Disclosure: ChiIL Mama is happy to partner with US Family Bloggers for this giveaway. Thanks to The Adventure Company for providing the trip.  All opinions are our own.

ChiIL Mama's daughter, Sage, and husband, Dug, enjoy some river fun in and OUT of the raft during the still waters between rapids. Photo Credit: M. Hripko (a fellow rafter brave enough to bring his camera!)

WIN a Free 1/2 day Browns Canyon trip on the Arkansas River for 2 people ($134 value). Enter HERE. Entries accepted through midnight August 4, 2014. 

This popular trip is 9.5 miles of exciting class III whitewater, spectacular canyon scenery, and amazing mountain views! Meet in the morning or the afternoon at our Adventure Base Camp in beautiful Buena Vista, CO. Minimum age of 6. Offer expires 8/31/2015. 

NOTE: Winner must agree to Post a Trip Review on Trip Advisor.

Special Offer For All Our Readers:
FREE WETSUIT PACKAGE (a $16 value - see coupon for details).

The rivers in Colorado are certainly flowing this summer! As a result of the above average snowpack we received this past winter and the cooler spring temperatures that prevented rapid early season snowmelt, river flows have been very sustainable this season.

Photo Credit: The Adventure Company

Since 1987, The Adventure Company has been setting the standard for top quality white water rafting! In order to ensure our guests have a safe and fun trip, we only hire guides that have at least four years of commercial white water guiding experience. As the only company in Colorado with this strict guide experience policy, our guests will have an expert guide even on a beginner trip.

The Adventure Company guides are able to share their knowledge of the river, canyon geology, point out wildlife, and tell stories to their guests because their high level of experience and confidence means they are not just focusing on getting through the rapids. Our guides know the river like the back of their hand and they give their guests an education and fun experience.

To ensure the safety of our guests The Adventure Company takes extra measures by doing the following:
-ONLY hiring guides that have a minimum of four years of commercial white water rafting experience

-Adhering to state regulations regarding river flow cutoff levels for commercially guided trips

-Employing an expert "safety kayaker" on trips to direct and assist any guest if they become a "swimmer" and are no longer a "rafter." This helps ease the guest and ensures that their time in the water is greatly minimized.

-We add a 2nd guide to the boat for added safety and security during high water if our guests are challenged in any way, of a young age or elderly.

-Keeping our boats on the river close together and establishing an organized sequence so that should a rescue arise, our boats have the ability to help each other very quickly.

-Training for safety and rescue protocol and requiring our guides to be CPR/First Aid certified. Most of our guides also have advanced certifications and Wilderness Medicine training

-Ensuring our equipment and rental gear is always updated, maintained and operable.

Photo Credit: The Adventure Company

Disclosure: Once again, ChiIL Mama is happy to partner with US Family Bloggers for this giveaway. Thanks to The Adventure Company for providing the trip.  All opinions are our own.

Celebrate Spring With Mrs. Green's Natural Market #GreenIsGood #Coupon #EcoFriendly #ad

Disclosure:  ChiIL Mama is elated to be partnering up again with Mrs. Green's Market, one of our eco-friendly favs. We have been compensated for sharing this promotion with our readers and thank Mrs. Greens for providing the coupons for our readers and gift card for our winner.

Spring has sprung and there's no better way to celebrate the green of spring in Chicago than by saving a bit of green with these ChiIL coupons and a shot at winning a $25 Mrs. Green's Natural Market gift card. Check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often. We'll be giving one away later this week!  Click here for some of our past Mrs. Green's coverage.

What's Mrs. Green's you ask? Come in and see for yourself!

• Mrs. Green's Natural Market is a neighborhood store, passionately committed to clean, natural foods.
• We source the best local products whenever available — from  your favorite groceries to produce and baked goods, we support local.
• Dedicated to health and sustainability. Devoted to customers who care deeply about the foods they eat.
• We are dedicated to offering you healthy, good food at an honest price.  We will always provide quality food and supplement and encourage you to be healthy
• Our goal is to educate and inspire our customers to eat well and live a good, healthy lifestyle.

Disclosure:  Once again, ChiIL Mama is elated to be partnering up again with Mrs. Green's Market, one of our eco-friendly favs. We have been compensated for sharing this promotion with our readers and thank Mrs. Greens for providing the coupons for our readers and gift card for our winner.

A Jewel of a Deal & Another Slice of History #NotGoingAnywhere #Ad

Disclosure:  We are happy to be working with Jewel-Osco on a sponsored campaign through January 31st and have been compensated for sharing this information with our readers.   As always, all opinions are our own.

Jewel has launched it's $5 off $50 purchase coupon. Shoppers need to register here, then you will be able to print a coupon.

Jewel-Osco is on your block and in your corner!   

We frequent Jewel and rely on them for the basics and for special desserts.   Our favorite sweet treats from Jewel are Diana's Banana Babies and Graeter's Chip Ice Creams.   Graeter's originates from Cincinnati (my childhood home) and is my favorite ice cream of all time.   Their chocolate chips are HUGE slabs of dark chocolate and their ice cream flavors are made in small batches and are incredible!

My Dad's first high school job ever was at a Chicago area Jewel, back in the 50's!!

We're visiting the grandparents for the holidays as usual this year, and I was surprised to learn that before he got his accounting degree at Northwestern, my Dad's first high school job ever was at a Chicago area Jewel, back in the 50's!!   Back then he said they had to price everything by hand with a stamper and purple dye.   When canned goods would go on sale, they'd scrape off the code with steel wool and stamp on the weekly discount, then reverse the process at the end of the week!

It's a fun glimpse into the past to time travel back 60 years, Dr Who style. Kids these days don't know how easy they have it, with computerized inventory, registers and all.   Back then, minimum wage pay was .75 cents an hour!

Funniest Jewel Story from The 50's:
The Caffeine Fiend

My dad told me his funniest memory of those early Jewel days, a story I'd never heard before.   A thief came in once, with a huge, floor length overcoat, with interior pockets sewn in.   He proceeded to load up the pockets with glass bottles full of coffee, while the manager covertly watched him.   

When the guy tried to make a run for it, the store manager headed him off at the pass with a cart, and when the thief hit the cart, the stolen bottles broke all over the inside of his coat, covering him with coffee & glass.   The manager didn't call the police, but told him never to return, and threw the soggy coffee bandit out of the store!

Disclosure:  Once again, we are happy to be working with Jewel-Osco on a sponsored campaign through January 31st and have been compensated for sharing this information with our readers.   As always, all opinions are our own.

ROCKIN' HOLIDAZE: ChiIL Mama's Readers Save $30 on Funky Colorful Hair Chalk from Ellore Femme! #ad #coupon

Disclosure:   We'll be sent product samples to review in exchange for sharing this information with our readers.   All opinions are our own.

Want to brighten your holidaze with playful, colorful fun without a permanent commitment?   Check out Hair Chalk!   Let your kids go wild with a riot of color and still wash out for school.  Or get funky yourself.   Why should kids have all the fun!

My 10 year old daughter loves to get creatively colorful & rock out, but needs a tamer look for gymnastics competitions where the judges take points off for earrings and nail polish, and funky colored hair isn't an asset!

If you don't know what Hair Chalk is, then prepare yourself for amazingness! It's a super fun, temporary method to add some serious flair to your hair. These vibrantly colored hair-chalk sticks from Ellore Femme help you to easily paint rainbow hues onto strands. The easy-to-blend dyes are formulated with natural plant pigments, rendering the chalk non-toxic. All 24 colors easily wash out in the shower.

Spontaneous hair color
Set with heat
Blendable colors
Nontoxic, natural plant pigments
Washes out after one shower
Use on wet hair
24 vibrant shades
May transfer onto clothing during application
*just don't inhale! (May cause respiratory irritation)

**ChiIL Mama's  Readers can click here to save $30 Off Ellore Femme 24 piece Hair Chalk set with promo code BL15**


Regular Price: US $44.99
Blog Price: $14.99 (with Promo Code: BL15)

Disclosure:   We'll be sent product samples to review in exchange for sharing this information with our readers.   All opinions are our own.

Who is Pinstripes? #coupon #AD #foodiefun

We haven't had a chance to check them out yet, but Pinstripes has invited us to come out soon for dinner and give our readers a full review.   For the time being, here's what they have to say.

Our distinctive 40,000 square foot dining and entertainment venues feature a bistro with exceptional Italian/American cuisine and wine; bowling and bocce; a year-round outdoor patio and fire pit; and event space/party rooms accommodating 20-600 people.  Enjoy lunch or dinner, private parties, weekend live blues and jazz, wine dinners, mom & tot play dates, clubs and leagues and other exciting promotions.

Pinstripes has three locations in the Chicago area- Oakbrook, Northbrook & South Barrington. You can check out their website for more info.

Click here to access some sweet discounts from US Family Coupons & The Windy City Kids Guide.

$10 ALL YOU CAN EAT SALAD AND SPAGHETTI & MEATBALL MONDAYS!
Enjoy our bottomless chopped salad and spaghetti & meatballs every Monday. Served family style.

KIDS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS!
When booking a kids birthday party, the birthday guest of honor is complimentary and will also receive Pinstripes Logo Cap. For children 12 and under, groups from 10-25.

MOM AND TOTS BOWLING! KIDS $5 WHILE MOMS BOWL FOR FREE!
Enjoy $5 bowling for kids while moms bowl free. Mom & Tots bowling is from 10am - noon Monday thru Friday. Shoes are included. limit 4 kids per adult. First come first serve. There is a breakfast menu available.

Three Lollies Natural Nausea Relief Pop Drops #coupon #AD

My "baby" has now reached double digits, but it's not been so long that I don't still remember how brutal morning sickness can be, and now my youngest gets miserably carsick.   So I was happy to hear relief may be on the horizon.  Three Lollies makes all natural products for nausea associated with morning sickness, travel sickness, cancer treatment all other types of nausea and offered to send us some samples for spreading the word.   We haven't tried them yet, but it's road trip season and we'll have more than plenty of opportunities to put these drops to the test.

Back during my 2 pregnancies, my so called morning sickness wasn't just morning, it was 24/7 sickness like an evil joke flu bug that lasted 4 miserable months.   The first time, I had a 50 hour a week, driving intensive job training employees of Best Buy, Staples, and other tech retailers on Kodak camera, some of the first smart phones, and Siemans routers.   I had to travel a 3 state region by car and just resigned myself to carrying a toothbrush, paste and a passenger seat full of plastic bags.   

I tried slices of fresh ginger,umeboshi salt plums, pressure point motion sickness wrist bands, ginger ale, ginger candy... you get the picture.   Nothing helped.   I'm happy to say I'm all done doing that.  No more "tummy babies".  However, now my poor youngest gets carsick any time we travel more than an hour or so.   We've tried the same regime, since I'm committed to trying natural, drug free approaches whenever possible.   But she would literally rather puke than eat ginger and the bands were useless.

Three Lollies makes all natural products for nausea associated with morning sickness, travel sickness, cancer treatment all other types of nausea. Their products are drug-free and doctor recommended. 

Click here to save 20% Off Any Order at Three Lollies, Natural Nausea Products through US Family Coupons.    Ends 5/30/2014.

Mooove Over Milk LACTAID Is In The House #LACTAID #giveaway #Ad

Big Bro, Du-Jay, who is fine with dairy, said he would happily switch to LACTAID® if it meant Dad & little sister could enjoy dairy too!

Half of my family is lactose intolerant.   My son and I not only tolerate dairy but adore it!   My husband deals with his dodgy digestion by avoiding most dairy, but that wasn't the best option when my daughter inherited his fussy stomach.   

It's been tough to see a bowl of cereal double my daughter over with stomach cramps, and organic chocolate milk make her queasy. We've tried soy and almond milk, but she hated the taste and texture.   Her current solution is to eat things like chicken nuggets for breakfast, because they don't make her empty stomach feel ill, like dairy does.

When we were offered the chance to partner up with LACTAID® in a promotion over the next few months, we were elated!   We ran out and got a gallon ASAP, and were pleasantly surprised.   Sage likes it because it tastes like milk.   That's because it IS real milk, with a handy extra enzyme to counteract lactose intolerance.   It's slightly sweeter, but very similar, and our whole family thought it was pretty tasty.   



 LACTAID® is great for baking with, and a pretty delicious chaser for that baking, as well! 

I just took part in an informative LACTAID® briefing session with celebrity chef Melissa d'Arabian and registered dietitian Michelle Harrington.   Before the session, I had no idea that lactose intolerance is the worst on an empty stomach, which explains why dairy breakfasts can be brutal for my husband and daughter, but they can both sometimes handle some dairy later in the day, with little ill effect.   It also never made sense to me that they can both chow down on sharp cheddar and yogurt just fine for lunch, till I learned aged cheese and Greek yogurt are low in lactose.   The session was truly an AH-HA moment for me!   If you want to learn even more, we've included further details at the bottom of this post.

If you have dairy sensitivities among your family and friends check out our giveaway below and some sweet recipes, too.

You can even check out a link to Melissa's TODAY Show appearance making lactose-free blueberry muffins (on April 15) by clicking here. 

Melissa will be back on the TODAY Show again on June 25

Try LACTAID® out for yourself and your family.  Then check back with ChiIL Mama over the next few months for more cool updates on LACTAID® including recipes, and more info on celeb chef and LACTAID® proponent, Melissa d'Arabian.

Mooove Over Milk... LACTAID® Is In The House

ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama and a cool coupon so you can check out LACTAID® FREE 

Just click on the Rafflecopter link below and enter like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We'll send one of our readers a coupon for free LACTAID® Product (your choice) to try.   Enter through midnight 5/28 and we'll announce a name on Winning Wednesday 5/29.   You could even choose from 5 flavors of LACTAID® ice cream.   How ChiIL is that?!

More LACTAID® briefing session Info:

Presenters:

Melissa d’ Arabian, LACTAID Brand Spokesperson

Mom of four girls

Author of NY Times best selling cookbook, Ten Dollar Dinners

Celebrity Chef & Television Host

Was on live segments on the TODAY Show with Kathie Lee & Hoda

April 15 – Breakfast recipes

June 25 – Entrée recipe

8 online videos available on food.today.com and youtube.com/LACTAID 

Michelle Harrington , R.D. and LACTAID® Regulatory and Nutritional Affairs Manager 

• Pediatric Dietitian at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia 
• Passionate about helping families find nutrition solutions in today’s complex world 

What is Lactose? 

• Lactose is the major carbohydrate in milk and other dairy foods
• Lactose (milk sugar) consists of two simple sugars – glucose and galactose
• Lactose must be broken down into glucose and galactose by the intestinal enzyme lactase before it can be absorbed by the body

What does it mean to be Lactose Intolerant? 

• Most people produce that natural enzyme, lactase, which breaks down lactose (sugar in milk). The amount of lactase your body produces will determine how much lactose your body can break down 
• Everyone has different levels of lactose intolerance 
• It is common for lactose intolerance to be progressive; many people develop a lactose intolerance later in life

What is LACTAID? 

• LACTAID® Products can help people who have a lactose sensitivity to digest dairy products without stomach discomfort so they can enjoy the creamy, delicious taste of dairy that they love
• LACTAID provides the lactase that the body can’t produce enough of, which helps you break down lactose
• LACTAID® Dairy Products are 100% real dairy, just with a natural yeast-derived enzyme added called lactase
• LACTAID® Lactose-Free Products include Milks, Cottage Cheese, Ice Cream and Eggnog
• LACTAID® is the nation’s #1 lactose-free dairy brand.

About LACTAID Milk

• LACTAID is real milk – 100% lactose free – with the same nutrient profile
• The lactase enzyme is added to the milk to break down the lactose, resulting in a slightly sweeter taste
• LACTAID is ultra pasteurized and lasts longer under proper refrigeration – once open it should be consumed within 1 week
• LACTAID products are calcium enriched 
• We need about 1000 mg of calcium each day
• o LACTAID provides 500 mg of calcium in each 8 oz glass― you only need two glasses of LACTAID to get your day’s worth of calcium requirements 
• o A regular 8 oz glass of milk has 300 mg of calcium

LACTAID® Ice Cream

• Available in 5 flavors:

Chocolate, Vanilla, Cookies & Cream, Strawberries & Cream, Butter Pecan

• All flavors of ice cream except for Cookies & Cream are gluten free
• Half-cup of chocolate ice cream is 160 calories and 8 grams of fat
• LACTAID suggests to eat half a cup with fruit

All products have nutrition facts listed on the website: http://www.LACTAID.com/products 

Tips for eating with Lactose Intolerance: 

• Important note: if someone who is lactose intolerant consumes products containing lactose on an empty stomach, they will be more prone not to tolerate it. Eating lactose with other food will help you digest it more easily
• Many lactose-intolerant people find that yogurt doesn’t bother them 
• o Yogurt has live and active cultures in it that help digest the lactose
• o Greek yogurt has double the protein and fewer carbs, which means less lactose and easier to digest
• o If tolerated, yogurt is a great way to get nutrients and calcium needed in an everyday diet!  
• Rule of thumb for eating cheese: the harder the cheese, the less moisture or whey in it―as a result, the less lactose in it
• o Always choose the aged cheeses, as they are lower in lactose  
• o Aged Cheddar, Gruyère, Pecorino and Swiss cheeses will have less lactose in them 
• o Melissa suggests introducing these aged cheeses back into your family’s diets in small amounts to see how much they and/or you are able to tolerate 

• LACTAID cottage cheese is a flexible dairy product; since it’s a neutral cheese, you can go savory or sweet:
• o Savory: add veggies or pesto to it; use in enchiladas or lasagna
• o Sweet: add applesauce, peaches or other fruit to it 
• o Melissa likes to blend it up in the food processor with an egg to taste just like ricotta 
•  People often don’t know that butter is low in lactose - no need to cut it out of your diet (unless you are doing it for health reasons!) 

Cooking with LACTAID:  

• LACTAID does have a slightly sweeter taste, but typically no one notices when adding it in a recipe 

o Melissa likes to put in in her coffee instead of flavored creamer or sugar

o Melissa finds that her kids prefer smoothies with LACTAID compared other milks, probably due to the slight sweetness 

• Melissa says she simply swaps LACTAID for regular milk in recipes, cup for cup
• When substituting LACTAID for cream in recipes, work in a teaspoon of corn starch (this would be the same for any milk) 
• Substitute lactose-free milk for buttermilk by adding vinegar 

Disclosure:   Thanks to LACTAID® for sponsoring this post.

DAVIDsTEA FREE $19.50 Perfect Mug Coupon With $20 Loose Tea Purchase #greatgifts #giftguide

ChiIL Mama adores DAVIDsTEA.   Welcome to Chi-town!   We got in on a rockin' press preview party at their premier Chicago location in Bucktown and were super impressed with the plethora of tea samples we tasted, and the airy, aromatic store.  They'll soon be adding two more shops on Southport and in Lincoln Park.   Check back with us like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.   We'll have a photo filled DAVIDsTEA review up soon as part of our seasonal, holiday ChiIL Mama's Great Gifts List 2012.

If you haven't checked them out yet, print out this sweet offer and go already.

How to Redeem:

Redeem in Store with attached advertisement

Get a Free Perfect Mug when you spend $20 on loose leaf tea! How perfect is that!? Bring in the attached promotional flyer into retail location to redeem this offer. 12 oz size only - a $19.50 value.

Expires December 1, 2012. Limit 1 use per customer. Cannot be combined with any offer. Valid in U.S. stores only. While supplies last.