PHOTO RECAP: Beat Kitchen's Winter Fest 2013

It was great to see sooooo many of our readers rockin' out with us last Sunday at Beat Kitchen's Winter Fest.  We had an excellent turn out and saw lots of familiar faces and met new friends, too.  

 We had everyone from the king of rock n roll to moooooving instrumentalists, and a dragon tearin' it up on washboard!

 

ChiIL Mama's Instrument Petting Zoo and Rockin' Costume Bin were hands on fun for everyone--even the big kids (AKA: adults).   They got into the rock spirit to begin with, arriving in t's ranging from Husker Du and Beastie Boys to Motley Crue and more....   It was great to see them getting into costume and having as much fun rockin' the instruments as the rock tots and punk kin were!

And it was a joy to see our friends from Psycho Baby getting colorful with the hair spray and mohawks. 

Face painting and balloon animals with Mary Macaroni (who also played a set) were back.

Even Deep Fried Pickle Project pitched in with a DIY instrument table and then closed out the day with a rockin' set on the main stage.   

If you missed our video interview with Deep Fried Pickle Project/live show footage, click here and check it out.   We'll have lots of their show clips up in the coming weeks.

Keep checking back in with ChiIL Mama for loads of original content including our live show footage, photo filled recaps, and video band interviews.   We have some seriously sweet multi CD kindie giveaways and reviews coming up this month too.

And as always, we have 4 free tickets to EVERY Beat Kitchen Concert for Kids.   

Click here to enter to win any/all FEBRUARY Beat Kitchen family friendly shows.

   

We never spam, sell or share info.   Enter through Thurs. midnight each week and check back Friday for our winner announcements.   Click the quick links for each giveaway in the right side bar to enter.

This Friday 2/1 we're announcing our American Girl Saige Doll Winner, Beat Kitchen Concert Winner, AND Rock N Pop Circus Winner.

LAST CALL: Pretty Muddy $20 Off Code Ends 1/31 #getfit

Team Pretty Muddy Alumni Jenny and Denise had a great time in Tampa!

Do you want to get Pretty Muddy? If you register before January 31 for any of these events use the code GIRLTIME to get a $20 discount! This is going to be the absolute lowest price of the season!   

ChiIL Mama will be there...will YOU?!    I'm always encouraging my kids to try something new.   But why should they have all the fun?   Let's get muddy!

Dallas, TX – June 1

Sacramento, CA – June 29

Chicago, IL – September 7

Columbus, OH- September 14

Richmond, VA – September 28

Atlanta, GA – October 12

Tampa, FL – November 30

Miami, FL – December 7

Here is how to register using the code:

First click on the event you want to register for using the links above. You should see this:

Click on the pink link that says “Enter promotional code” – It brings up a box you can type in.

Type GIRLTIME and hit apply.

A different price point will pop up. See it? Enter the quantity you want and hit register! On the next page you can fill out your info including wave time and team name if you are going to be on a team. Next step? GET MUDDY!

Check out Pretty Muddy's main site here, for more details and to sign up.

HELP OUT: Girl Scout Cookie Time #onemorebox

It's my daughter, Sagezilla's 3rd year selling Girl Scout cookies.   She loved being a Brownie and now she's learning, creating and growing even more as a Jr.   We're huge advocates of the Girl Scouts and encourage everyone to help out a scout.   Through Girl Scouts, Sagezilla's gone camping and spent two overnighters with the scouts at The Museum of Science and Industry and Dozing With The Dinos at The Field Museum.   She's done community service to educate about the evils of puppy mills, learned to cook & ice skate, honed her archery skills, and so much more.   She's also formed close friendships with a great variety of girls.

Unlike the beleaguered boy scouts, the Girl Scouts are a separate organization and already embrace diversity.   They don't ban members based on their orientation, race or beliefs and they're all about encouraging girls to grow into their own unique talents and leadership skills.

February 8 is National Girl Scout Cookie Day #onemorebox 

Presale orders are in, but the scouts are just about to hit stores and set up on site sales all over the country.   If you adore GS cookies, buy some for yourself.   If you don't do sugar, are allergic to wheat or on a diet...buy some for your friends or donate them to our service men & women.   Girl Scout cookies are the tasty little primary fundraiser that makes so many great opportunities affordable and possible for our girls.    Please pitch in.

Here's what the Girl Scouts have to say:

Have you seen our new Girl Scout Cookie boxes? We've given them an overhaul to highlight the real purpose of our $790 million cookie program: teaching girls the 5 Skills essential to leadership, to success, and to life. "Everyone knows how tasty Girl Scout Cookies are," says Girl Scouts of the USA CEO, Anna Maria Chávez, "but many customers don't realize that they're also helping girls build money management and people skills. The girl who sells you Thin Mints today might be conducting the symphony, trying to make an Olympic team, or managing a successful local business in a matter of years."

Helping your local Girl Scout Cookie Professional build a lifetime of skills and confidence isn't the only way you're improving your community. Because all the revenue earned from cookie activities—every penny after paying the baker—stays with the local Girl Scout council that sponsors the sale. Councils then use that cookie revenue to supply essential services to troops, groups, and individual girls, providing program resources and communication support, training adult volunteers, and sponsoring events.

To celebrate this important program and the role it fills in the lives of millions of Girl Scouts, we've created a single day to galvanize cookie lovers across the nation. On February 8, National Girl Scout Cookie Day, the whole country will talk about the skills girls learn, participate in local events, compete in our #onemorebox photo contest, follow live-tweets throughout a day of events and talk shows (and an honest-to-gosh cookie food truck rolling through the streets of New York City), visit our relaunched Girl Scout Cookies website, download our apps (iPhone and Android), and buy or order cookies from local Girl Scout Cookie Professionals.

"When you go to your local grocery store or mall and see our troops, remember you can help a girl develop a skill that will serve her the rest of her life," says Chávez. "I cannot think of a more delicious way to support our next generation of leaders than by buying Girl Scout Cookies."
Don't you agree? Join the country on February 8 to purchase #onemorebox from a girl who will change the world.

ACT OUT OPENING/FREE TICKETS: Short Shakespeare! Romeo & Juliet #Giveaway

ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama and one of the most romantic of Shakespeare's classics, Romeo and Juliet.   We'll be there to review opening day and we have a free 4 pack of tickets for one of our lucky readers too!   Tickets are good for your choice of any of the Saturday 11am shows from February 23-March 23.   Enter through midnight February 19th.   Click the Rafflecopter link below for your chance to win.

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We're always impressed with the award winning Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and their world class productions.  We particularly dig their Short Shakespeare Series.   These productions are action packed, move fast, and keep the attention of kids and adults without sacrificing the original language or plot.   They also have amazingly creative, kid friendly play bills, that spark the interest of young theatre goers.   

Want to ignite a love of live theatre in your family?   The Short Shakespeare series is a great place to start.   Click here to check out ChiIL Mama's past Short Shakespeare coverage, including some great, kid friendly books based on Shakespeare's works, to prep for the play.    Suggested for ages 10+.

Short Shakespeare!
Romeo and Juliet

by William Shakespeare
directed and adapted by Rachel Rockwell

  at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier 

(Courtyard Theater)

 800 E. Grand Avenue

            Saturday mornings at 11:00 a.m. • February 23–March 23, 2013

Verona burns under summer's heat—and the hatred of two families. The Prince decrees: if Montague or Capulet again disrupts the peace, lives will answer to the law. Violence stains Verona's streets. Against this horror, Shakespeare sets Romeo and Juliet, a tale of true love found—and tragically lost—within an endless cycle of hate. This 75-minute adaptation, told in Shakespeare's own words, speaks to today's youth about their own lives. 

After the performance, audiences are welcome to join the cast for a post-show discussion.

Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Approximate Running Time: 75 minutes (no intermission)

Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet is presented in the Jentes Family Auditorium.

KINDIE LAND FREE TICKETS: Baby Loves Disco Chicago #Giveaway

ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama and Baby Loves Disco!   Our last 2 BLD giveaways were such a hit, we're giving away 4 free tickets to EVERY Chicago date.   So dress up your disco divas and tiny Travoltas and get ready to dance the day away.   February 23rd is hosted by MISS MIA PARK (Chic-a-Go-Go!) **one of ChiIL Mama's favs!!

Starting with a Valentine's themed dance, BLD will be in their hot, new digs at one of ChiIL Mama's favorite Chi-town venues, Lincoln Hall.   For those of you with new mom brain fog...even you can't forget this one.   It's at Lincoln Hall on Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln Park.   So come and link up with your besties and their babes.   We know who holds your heart.

Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter.   Spread the word and check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.    Remember it's 2 ii's...one L...all fun, in Chi, IL and beyond.

Win 4 free tickets from ChiIL Mama below:

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BABY LOVES DISCO 

BLD is the original family dance party and we're celebrating FAMILY LOVE this Valentines Day and featuring chocolate treats, make-your-own valentines cards, mommy-daddy slow-dances, arts& crafts,  dance lessons, contests, unlimited juice boxes, snacks, cash bar for non-driving parents and surprises galore @ the BEST FAMILY DANCE PARTY IN THE WORLD!!!!  Real (good) music played by real (great) DJs, Mcs and Dancers. 

WHEN: Saturday February 23rd from 12-2:30pm. 

WHERE:     Lincoln Hall - 2424 Lincoln Ave, Chicago [http://www.lincolnhallchicago.com/]

COST: $15 (per walking human) or 4 for $55. 

GUESTS: Hosted by MISS MIA PARK (Chic-a-Go-Go!) **one of ChiIL Mama's favs!!  and DJ Bald Eagle (Club Metro)

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

ALL Walking Humans MUST buy a ticket. It's the Crawlers who get in free!

This event is for kids AGES 6 MONTHS TO 7 YEARS and their friends and family.

No kid? No entry! No exceptions!

FOR MORE INFO check: http://babylovesdisco.com/

NEXT EVENTS - Same times, Same Place: 

Lincoln Hall

2424 N Lincoln

Click the Rafflecopter form for your shot at 4 free tickets from ChiIL Mama for Baby Loves Disco April and May.

4/13 (Fun in the Sun)

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5/11 ( May is for Moms)

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12-2:30 pm

Tickets are $15 each or 4 for $50

www.babylovesdisco.com/events

At each party you will find a DJ, emcee, lots of healthy snacks, juiceboxes, musical instruments, dance contests, overall silliness and a chill out room with quiet time toys and activities including books.  Crafts, face painting, tattoos and more depending on the month. 

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....

KINDIE LAND FREE TICKETS: Justin Roberts at Old Town School & Lullaby Review #Giveaway #albumreview

Old Town School of Folk Music will be rockin' February 9th at 11am & 2pm when Grammy nominee, Justin Roberts & The Not Ready for Nap Time Players come to town!

JR is actually a Chicago boy, but as a kindie super star, he's on tour most of the time.   Welcome him home Windy Kindie style and come rock out at his 2 local February shows.

One of the coolest kids' musicians, Justin Roberts pens pop hooks that parents dig as much as their kids!

"There are a slew of musicians with alt-rock credibility making records for kids… Justin Roberts may be the best of the bunch." -Washington Post

ChiIL Out with ChiIL Mama.   Click below for your chance to win a 4 pack of tickets to either show.   Enter through midnight 2/5.

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*For more info, check out Justin Roberts main site here.

*To order tickets, click the Old Town School site here.




*Note-Another of ChiIL Mama's kindie favorite, Dreamtree Shakers, is playing Old Town on 3/23 at 11am.   Click here for our past coverage including our original video interview with the band.

Justin's latest-just out since November 19th:



Have you discovered Lullaby yet? 

Justin Roberts has managed to weave a magical masterpiece of sonic soul soothing and evocative images, without the annoying, saccharine sweetness that passes for many commercial lullaby albums.   Here at ChiIL Mama, Lullaby makes our ChiILpicks list for some of the best mellow, family friendly music out there, for your littlest insomniacs.   The whimsical Polar Bear track is our fav, but there's not a weak tune in the bunch.   Highly recommended.

“This album is a wonderful gift for anyone who needs some peaceful down time.
You’ll still love this lullaby album when the baby goes off to college.”   ~ Kathy O’Connell, WXPN radio

“This will put children to sleep and wake the hearts of weary parents – a beautiful gift to families everywhere.”
~ playwright Craig Wright

Lullaby

Justin Roberts’ collection of soothing songs features guest artists from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, a ‘70s-style analog soundscape, and vocalists from Hairspray; 

GRAMMY Nominee Justin Roberts releases his first collection of original nighttime songs for families on November 19th. Lullaby is for those wee small hours just before bedtime. These 10 new songs present an unusual mix of genres, including elegant moments of chamber music, snatches of ‘70s soft rock, and sleepy bossa nova and R&B grooves. The entrancing cover art of  Lullaby was created by acclaimed illustrator Alison Jay (Welcome to the Zoo, ABC, Picture This).

In a departure from his usual power-pop, upbeat style, the artist who’s been called “the Paul McCartney of children’s music” (USA Today) and “a natural poet” (New York Times) has created a host of songs with dreamy, atmospheric lyrics and instrumentation. Amid the soothing sweetness is a hint of melancholy, very much in the tradition of “Rockabye Baby.”

Justin Roberts composed and arranged all of the songs on Lullaby. Liam Davis, the multi-instrumentalist member of Roberts’ Not Ready for Naptime Players, produced and performed on the recording, which also features several members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra playing strings, harp, English horn, oboe, and French horn.  Additional guest artists are vocalists from the Chicago production of the musical Hairspray, and other members of the Not Ready for Naptime Players.

From the heartbeat-soft harp and keyboard phrasing of “Count Them As They Go,” to the delicate pizzicato strings of “Heart of Gold“ and “Lullaby,” these new songs will help set the tone for the quiet moments of each day. Parental and sibling love shines through in songs like “What the Stork Sent,” “All for You,” “Polar Bear” and “Easier To Do.”  Van Morrison’s influence is strong in “A Wild One,” sung from the perspective of a child who’s about to be tucked in for the night. This song is just one more example of why Entertainment Weekly lauds Roberts as “a master of conjuring up images that resonate with the young ones.”

Justin Roberts is a star of the indie family music scene. This Chicago based artist logs thousands of miles on the road each year while performing hundreds of concerts around North America. With numerous national  awards (including six Parents’ Choice Gold awards), critical recognition from the likes of the New  York Times, People  and Time magazines, plus a devoted fan base, Justin and The Not Ready for Naptime Players dish out intelligent and  whimsically rocking music for kids and their parents. Roberts won a GRAMMY nomination for his 2010 release Jungle Gym, and he’s recently authored a new picture book for children, to be published in 2013. Currently, he’s writing and recording songs for his next release, Recess, also due out in 2013.

Lullaby was released nationally on November 19, 2012 (Carpet Square Records, distributed by MRI/Sony Music, $14.98 SRP).

KINDIE LAND FREE TICKETS: Rock N Pop Circus 2pm on 2/2 #Giveaway

 ***COME JOIN THE ROCK-N-POP CIRCUS!!!!!***

IMW Presents Family-Friendly Concert of Chicago's Best Kid Bands,

With Special Guests JOHN STIRATT of WILCO and Hip-Hop Legend PSALM ONE

ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama.   We're giving away a free 4 pack of tickets.   Enter below for your chance to win.   Open through midnight January 31. 

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On Saturday, February 2^nd, The Intonation Music Workshop will present its annual Rock-N-Pop Circus, an afternoon showcase featuring student bands THE POP TOTS, WHITE DIAMOND and THE SCORPS at Chicago's famed Lincoln Hall. This all-ages concert is by kids, for kids, and features lots of activities to keep the whole family entertained – the perfect way to spend a winter afternoon!

Joining White Diamond will be Wilco’s John Stirratt, who has been mentoring the up-and-coming rock band at IMW's Fosco Park location. Also appearing will be legendary Chicago MC Psalm One and her students in RHYMESCHOOL (a joint program with IMW focused on hip-hop) and kid-friendly indie pop from Future Hits!

The family-friendly musical extravaganza will also offer Rock Star Face Painting, a Celebrity Photo Booth, a "Musical Petting Zoo"and more!

Rock-N-Pop Circus

Saturday, February 2, 2:00 PM

Lincoln Hall

2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago IL

Tickets for adults are $5 in advance, $7 at the door.  Kids are $3 in advance, $5 at the door.  Children under 5 are free! 

The students in the after-school Intonation Music Workshop program -- all between the ages of 6 and 17 -- learn the rudiments of the instruments in rock music, form bands, and begin to play shows for their communities and beyond.  Past Intonation bands have performed on stages at Lollapalooza, Millennium Park, and the Bud Biliken Parade, to name a few. Currently serving around 400 students a year at 12 sites around the city, IMW provides a safe and positive environment for kids who have few other options. “There's a movement underway to restore arts and music to the schools", says Simons, “and organizations like ours are helping lead the way. Our workshop exists not only to teach kids music, but also all the other things that playing music instills in us - confidence, teamwork, the satisfaction of setting a goal and achieving it.”

For more information, please visit www.intonationmusicworkshop.org.