Chicago Auto Show TOMORROW Women Driving Excellence #CAS #chicagonista #getfit #IHHS

Check out ChiIL Mama's original photos from Anupy Singla's savory Indian breakfast event at Williams Sonoma above.  They carry her gorgeous Spice Tiffin & cook books.   She created the unique spice tin and brought it to the attention of Williams Sonoma at the International Home and Housewares show.  They loved it...and the rest is history.

Anupy Singla will be one of the Trailblazing Women honored tomorrow at Women Driving Excellence at the Chicago Auto Show.   

Chicagonista's own MJ Tam with author, cook, inventor & media maven, Anupy Singla

She made us THE most amazing hot, Chai tea from scratch, that I have EVER tasted!

Anupy is a patient teacher and writes recipes easy enough that even reluctant cooks like Miss Lori of Miss Lori's Campus can find sweet success!

We adore Anupy and are working on reviewing her latest cookbook and getting a giveaway copy for our readers as well.  

If you're working to get fit or stay fit, or love to cook healthy, multicultural meals, Anupy Singla's a name you should know.   Keep an eye out for ChiIL Mama's #getfit and/or #foodiefun features, then check out Anupy's fabulous Vegan Indian cook books!   They're also available at Costco or on her web site, Indian As Apple Pie, here.

Not just boys' fun....tomorrow is Women's Day at The Chicago Auto Show!

Just a few quick reminders about tomorrow's Women Driving Excellence program at the Chicago Auto Show: Please bring your printed ticket with you. Check-in opens at 9:30am Seating and passes to the Chicago Auto Show are available on a first serve basis  The Networking Event begins at 10:00am and the Presentation is at 11:30am Come for the event and stay for the Main Stage entertainment which is scheduled for the entire day. Check out Womendrivingexcellence.com to see the schedule To learn more about the Auto Show click here for their official site  Bring at least 100 business cards with you. Here's a link for your free tickets ChiIL Mama's been part of the fabulous Chicagonista blogger community, Chicago Moms, for several years now.   I highly recommend checking out their web site and their live show, in person or on line.

Women Driving Excellence at the Chicago Auto Show 2013

The Women Driving Excellence at the Chicago Auto Show celebrates women who start, accelerate, fuel, and steer others to excellence. Join the Chicago Tribune, Cars.com, RedEye, and Monica Dixon PR in their excitement as they announce 6 special Chicago woman who will be honored for excellence in their field. Everyone is anticipating this inaugural event being launch on Women’s Day at the Chicago Auto Show on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 from 10AM-6PM. Register for Women Driving Excellence. It’s FREE!

The 6 women being honored include:

Anupy Singla     Candace Jordan     Corri McFadden

Genevieve Thiers     Karen Weigert     Luvvie Ajayi

The all-day affair will begin at 10am as Debi Lilly, Elisa All, Jill Salzman, and Saya Hillman host the networking nosh to kick-off the event. At 11:30AM, the 6 women being honored as trailblazers in their careers will be presented. A special stage performance of I Love Lucy will wow guests at 1PM. Join the Chicago-centric #ChicagonistaLive Talk Show at 2PM focusing on hot city topics. From 12PM-6PM feel free to tour the show, mix and mingle, check out the different events, and just enjoy yourself. Click Here for full details and to register for free now.

10 Reasons Why I'm Gonna Lose A Chunk of Weight This Year #getfit

#1   I LOVE this video by Chi-town's own BONEdanse.   We ran it last year when it first came out, but this scared and inspired me to lose weight more than anything else I've seen or heard, and in a cool, entertaining way nonetheless. Watch it through to the end.

#2   My "baby" is turning 10 in May and strangers STILL occasionally ask me when I'm due.

#3   It's inevitable that I'm over twice as old as I was in high school, but there is no reason I need to weigh twice as much as I did back then!!   That is within my control.   I was a size THREE throughout high school without ever dieting.   Now my clothes are 6 times that size.

#4  I studied fencing and stage combat back in college and loved it and did it often...along with weight training, biking, roller blading and a whole lot of other physical fun that would probably kill me if I dragged my blogging butt to the gym at this juncture in my life...without starting back up slowly.

#5   You've gotta start somewhere, and as long as I work at home, the fridge is always going to be closer than the gym!

#6   We'll be running lots of "Get Fit" tips, events, food, and exercise features this year, and it's kinda hypocritical to write about something I'm not doing myself.   And I'm no hypocrite!

#7    February 1 is a GREAT time to start a New Years resolution.   Once all the January 1st fair weather exercisers have given up and gone home, it's go time.

#8   I've tried to lose the extra preggy weight since my first baby was born-nearly 13 years ago...without much success.   Back in the day I got paid as an actress and model, and now I don't even like to look at myself in family photos! 

#9   I've set huge # goals in the past, called it PSM..."Project Skinny Mommy" (like PMS and about as much fun), and lost and regained the same 25 pounds for more years than I care to admit.   This time I'm not going to put a # goal out there...to aim for, miss, and give up on.   I'm just going to go for it.

#10   Finally,  I'm gonna lose a chunk of weight this year because, my 9 year old daughter's a competitive gymnast and a serious athlete who works out 13+ hours a week.  My son plays soccer and ultimate frisbee, and both kids do circus arts.  If they can be strong, lean & fit, so can I.  I feed my kids healthy food, and expect them both to exercise...so I need to set a great example for them and do the same.  I want to be healthy and be here for my kids for a good long time. 

Gotta go finish my Christmas chocolates before Feb first!   

And so it begins....