Summer camp with Galileo.

With three little boys getting anxious for school to end, the pressure was on to find the perfect summer camp to meet all of their needs. Their personalities are complex, but a camp that combines  both indoor learning and outdoor play was my main focus in narrowing down our options.

Camp Galileo has 67 camp Galileo locations, 11 across Chicagoland, and there happens to be one smack in the middle of my town. The location prompted me to do more research. The variety of activities is what made me choose this camp over more just a sports camp. Or just an art camp, etc. Again, every kid is different, but mine thrive when variety plays a role in their learning experience.

Also a huge factor in my decision process? It consistently is rated "best camp" in the communities they serve, and was rated one of the best small companies in America by Forbes in 2017. I was pretty much sold at this point. 

Here are the 5 main focuses for their K-5th grade camps: 
*Visit their website to sample a day in the life for older kids.

Outdoors: Includes team challenges, exploration, and also a weekly water day to get kids outdoors and breathing the fresh summer air.

Engineering: Here the kids build structures and learn how things work. Galileo teaches that learning comes best when you make mistakes and work together to find answers.

Play: Campers collaborate and work together by competing in relay races, solving puzzles, and celebrate being innovative.

Science: "Happy brains are problem-solving brains" is their motto. Campers investigate, inspect and gather evidence to solve problems.

Art: If you can think it, you can create it. Theme related projects will have them working with different colors, texts, and shapes to inspire the perfect creations.

We found the perfect camp for our needs, and if you thing your kids would love it to sign them up, go to my instagram page to get a mystery discount for Summer Camp 2019!

Link here to preview sample day on their site:

Have you ever heard of CoolSculpting?

I had heard about CoolSculpting but I was never interested. Magical machines didn't fool me, and everything that claims to be, I felt, was a gimmick. It takes hard work, nutrition discipline, and overall good habits to lose inches... am I right?

And let's face it, I'm pretty thin. I played soccer in college, and I became a vegan 10 years ago. In the past few years, mostly after children, it became more difficult for me to maintain a healthy vegan lifestyle (cue French fries and a refined sugar addiction). After our third and final child was born, I've gone to "all things in moderation" as a dietary motto. While no longer a strict vegan, moderation has served me pretty well (aside from that lingering sweet tooth. It sometimes takes three scoops of ice cream for me to decide I should come up for air.)

However, three large babies later, I'm left with a single area that collects it all. I unevenly distribute weight gain to my lower stomach. Not my arms. Or legs. Or butt. Nope, just the lower stomach where the boys kicked, stretched, and slept for *years* of my life.

So I took a second look at CoolSculpting. Why? There are NO needles. NO incisions. You can target the *exact* spot that your eyes go to when you step in front of the mirror. You can walk out the door in an hour or two, and go about your day as if you took a lunch break. Plus, I've sat in ice baths after trainings in college, so the cold never bothered me anyway. You too can channel your inner Elsa for a worthy cause, am I right?

But you want to know honestly if it works? Is it painful? What's the cost, and is it worth it?

Here's a look at my CoolSculpting process with Your Medicos, and some notes I took along the way.

There were two kinds of applicators. The one used on me (pictured) was the "petite" version. The "original" version looks similar, but is slightly larger. The doctor made his markings where the applicators were going to go (I needed two applications at 30 minutes each). Pictured above is them doing my right side.

He then put a sticky thin protective layer of fabric on my skin and applied the suction. This should be embarrassing to show, but I thought it was pretty cool... and well... real. 

I checked emails and drank my Yeti full of coffee for 30 minutes on each side, while my lower stomach froze. FYI One applicator reaches up to 4.5 inches of fat, so I froze about 8 inches of my stomach in an hour. 

About the Pain: It was slightly uncomfortable for a few minutes and then I went numb. Afterward, it was tender to the touch, but nothing too significant (everyone is different!) The next day or two there was some cramping, and I took an Advil. Absolutely no discomfort after a couple days. 

When would I see results? You start to see results in 6 weeks, but get maximum results at 3 months. Oh, RESULTS ARE PERMANENT. Once the fat cells freeze, they are gone. Bye Felicia. 

Is it expensive? I've seen it offered in the city at $800 per applicator. I needed 2 applicators or my stomach would have shrunk only on one side, lol. Your Medicos has some great deals going on (and even more discount information below), but their retail value is $600.

Did it work? I posted a before and after below. 25% of fat on my lower abdomen froze off. And I could see the difference in my jeans. The fat cells froze and will never come back.  

This is me before (2 lower abdomen applicators): 

Me after only 6 weeks (I actually gained 1.5 pounds, but my midsection shrunk- hallelujah!) : 

While I am not a believer in any "quick fix" treatments, I would recommend CoolSculpting for anyone who HAS put in the work. For those who live in moderation and still have areas that not even diet and regular exercise will put a dent in. Men and women use it on their underarms, back fat, muffin tops, inner thighs, arm pits- you name it.

*Get a Your Medicos deal by mentioning "Michelle." When you mention my name, get TWO applicators for under $1000! Summer body here we come!

**Disclaimer: This treatment works, and I am not being paid to say this. I was asked for an honest review, good or bad in exchange for a treatment trial... and I make nothing if you purchase.

Tips to Making Sure You Don't Pick the WRONG Suburb

We were city people. City people who agreed the suburbs were for people who‘ve decided to trade a social life for t-ball meetings, Friday night bingo, and worst of all... subpar restaurants.

We toted a toddler around the city for almost 3 years before learning we were expecting our second little boy. Almost instantaneously, the walls felt like they were closing in. Our condo shrunk as my belly grew, and we started dreaming about our very own yard.

But where would we go? What would life look like? Would anyone like us? And for goodness sake, will we be able to get a decent meal?

These questions were all very real to us. As we started our search, it became very real what the wrong suburb would look like.

I’d encourage you to make a “wrong suburb” list for yourselves. An example of ours would have been:

We said NO to any suburb that:

-was far from the city.
15 or more miles from downtown Chicago was too far for us. We still enjoy hitting up the city to meet friends and to visit our favorite parks restaurants.

-doesn’t have many NON-chain restaurants.
There had to be *plenty* of restaurants nearby that we could enjoy. We actually had breakfast, lunch, and dinner at 3 different local places before agreeing that the dining experience was impressive in Oak Park.

-doesn’t have like-minded people.
Do your research.
What’s the social climate like? For example, what do people do for fun? Is there a bowling alley nearby? A movie theatre? Is anyone out past 9pm on Saturday night? And if politics are important to you, find out what the political climate is like. A simple drive through the neighborhood can tell you what (and who) people support. If it’s overwhelmingly different to your thoughts, it might not be the best place to plant your roots.

-isn’t walkable.
An active lifestyle is very important to us. Walking the kids to school was a mandatory requirement, but so was walking to get a cup of coffee, or a bite to eat, and even walking to catch a movie.

If you’re searching for the best place to plant your roots, make sure you don’t settle on a suburb that lacks the things you crave. If the suburb isn’t a good fit for your lifestyle, chances are you’re not going to have the best possible experience living there. Make a list. Check that thing often. And whatever you do, never settle for a place you don’t fall in love with- if you can control it.

Suburban Jungle is an award-winning firm that specializes in moving families from urban to suburban. The company’s innovative “town first” approach helps buyers find the right suburb for their family based on personality and lifestyle, not just the house. Services are FREE and fully customized to each family and their unique journey. To learn more and to connect with a Suburbs Strategist, and find the place your family truly fits in visit http://bit.ly/ChicagoMomGoesSuburban and click GET STARTED

5 GPS devices that will keep kids connected

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There are increasingly more days where I throw on my cutest sweater and an extra coat of concealer and make my way up to the school doors just to hear, “mom, I want to go to my buddies house.” It has started to feel like the walk of shame heading back to the car alone. I could save myself so much time if I had a safe way to communicate before that final school bell.

Our oldest turns 10 this year. He's independent enough to make a decent case for a phone, but certainly not mature enough to be given one with all the bells and whistles.

These devices aren’t just an issue for older kids. Whether your child is in daycare, preschool, elementary school, has special needs or is simply in need of more independence, at some point every parent is faced with determining when their child is ready for a GPS-enabled device or a kid-safe phone.

Here are some of the coolest kid-friendly GPS devices on the market for toddlers through tweens on up.

Relay

This device isn’t a watch or a traditional phone, meaning no screen or cyber capabilities. The design is simple and easy. It’s a small square with a button used for two-way calling, and it comes in all sorts of colors. You throw it in their backpack or hook it on a belt loop for kids who won’t keep a watch on. It’s GPS enabled through an app on your phone and has a simple push-to-talk concept.

$49.99 for the device, $9.99 per month, no contracts.

Angel Sense

This goes a step further and lets you plug in the kids’ schedules so you can receive notifications such as your son/daughter got off at the wrong bus stop, they arrived at school at 8:05 a.m. or they are at soccer practice.

$99 for the device (and some extras), $39.99 per month service plan, but there are different levels to choose from depending on if you go monthly or get into a contract.

Watchki

This is an actual kids watch and it comes in blue and pink. It’s the smallest and lightest design, which makes it perfect for little wrists. The GPS-enabled smartwatch lets you text, call or just listen in to make sure your child is safe.

$39.99 for the watch, $15.99-$29.99/month depending on the data you need.

DokiWatch

Doki is a slightly bigger watch design, making it perfect for kids over 5. The watch comes in black, blue and pink, and adds a video calling feature so you can see your child when you call them -- and they can see you. Another fun feature is they can add their siblings to the contact list on their watches to send messages to each other as well.

iGPSwatch

This GPS watch phone allows you to not only call and track your children, but takes a few more precautions. This watch allows you to select a safe zone radius. If your child steps outside the given perimeter, you will be notified. It will also set a notification if your child falls or removes the device. This watch, along with the others also serves special-needs and elderly needs as well.

$119.95 for the watch, $14.95 per month for service.

* Your phone carrier might have devices specific to your network.

10 local mamas share their healthy back-to-school lunch ideas

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Many schools have already begun, some schools start next week, and all of our summer breaks will end with that first walk up to a smiling teacher and their classroom door. It will feel like both an eternity and a blink, then like that, they’re off to learn, play, grow and trade their almond butter sandwich for a bag of Fritos and half a fruit roll-up. 

Here are 10 Chicagoland mamas sharing their healthy lunch ideas you’ll want to follow for back-to-school inspiration and beyond.

Michelle Elfvin of @ChicagoMomGoesSuburban

Yes, I’m starting this off with my very own lunch inspiration straight from the lunchboxes of our three little boys. Our 4-year-old is pretty picky and the two older ones aren’t at all. But we’ve managed to find products they all love that are tasty, healthy and fun to eat! What makes lunch more exciting for them is their bento box style lunch boxes from Planet Box which means less plastic containers to clean for me and easier maneuvering for them. 

What's Inside:

• Organic bread by Dave’s Killer Bread
• Lekkco Belgian Dark Chocolate Spread, gluten-free, nut-free, dairy-free spread (they like it better than Nutella!)
• Skinny Pop
• Mickey-shaped veggie chips (2.5 servings of veggies per serving)
• Assortment of dried fruits
• Organic yogurt with organic granola (chia, flax & quinoa granola from Organics brand.)
• Glutino brand gluten-free yogurt covered pretzels.
• Lara Bar kids bars in Chocolate Brownie and Mint brownie (made with ingredients like buckwheat flour, coconut oil, and chia seeds)
• Organic turkey roll-ups by Plainville Farms

Dana Ivy of @danaivy

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Given that I have to make my 3-year-old son's lunch five days a week now, it could definitely be challenging to come up with healthy lunch ideas on the daily! I try to stay away from giving my son, Brody, bread as I find it makes him tired and moody, and instead, I aim to include nourishing and filling foods in his lunch box that are both healthy and delicious. Our bento box of choice is Cool Bites. It's leakproof, comes with an ice pack and the compartments are stackable. 

What's inside:

• 3 circular slices of fresh mozarella
• Veggie straws
• Raspberries
• Small box of chocolate-covered raisins 

Alyssa Goldwater of @aglassofgoldwater

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As a mom of two toddlers (1.5 and 2.5), I'm the president of the Picky-Eaters Club. So when it comes to feeding my crew, I have to be strategic. From colors and textures to the way it's presented, everything matters. When I can, I try to sneak healthy fats and veggies into the rotation, but on a regular, fast-paced day when I need to throw together something quickly, it's usually a carb, fat and a fruit (if I'm lucky), and hope for the best. 

What's inside:

• 1/2 sliced banana — smiley face shape encouraged
• 1 Tbsp peanut butter — organic if you're a good mom, generic Jewel brand if you're me
• 4 whole wheat crackers — see, very healthy
• 5 blueberries — because they will not eat one more beyond that
• 5 carrots

Kristen Love of @thelovenotes

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Oh, my stars! I create lunches that are easy to put together, and that my little ones love. Boom. Easy lunch! Serve them up in fun silicone cups/sandwich shapes and everything automatically tastes better!

What's inside:

• Sun butter & jelly sandwiches
• Rolled up turkey + cheese with olives
• Strawberry + blueberry salad
• Mixed veggies (Pro tip: Try frozen bags of veggies and steam them up in advance.)

Teresa of @tiarastantrums

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At my daughters' school, there are not any tables for lunch, so everyone has to sit on the gym floor during lunch period. Having their lunch in one container just makes lunch time so much easier for them. This is a great way to get rid of leftovers too! 

What's inside:

• Variety of veggies
• Quinoa
• Grilled chicken

Ziba Lennox of @dancingmamastyle

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As a lifelong dancer and co-founder of MaZi Dance Fitness, healthy food for my 2 and 4-year-old is always on my mind! It's not easy, they are both so different. My younger one will eat anything: salmon, prosciutto, fish, fruits and veggies and even salsa but I must say that Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood "Daniel Tries a New Food" book was key in influencing my 4-year-old (the picky one) to try new food!

What's inside:

• Earth's Best Chicken Nuggets (no antibiotics)
• Amy's Organic Yogurt
• Homemade egg
• Ham 
• Hearty bread
• Slice of Provolone
• Pretzel Chips
• A banana

Megan Jedlinski of @meganjedlinski

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We’ve kept our toddler daughter’s meals low in sugar and primarily plant-based, so a typical lunch is not only colorful to her eyes but her palette too! 

What's inside:

• Mini veggie wraps made with Angelic Bakehouse’s Sprouted 7 Whole Grain wraps, hummus and a variety of vegetables
• Pees
• Vegan broccoli "cheese" sticks
• Antioxidant-loaded berry mix

Julia Flowers of @julia_and_child

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This is Nova’s first year at school and she is super excited! She was also pretty pumped to pick out her school lunch. We found this great bento box from Bentology with five containers in one box so she can have lots of variety. 

What's inside:

• Applegate Organic Uncured Beef Hot Dogs
• Plantain chips
• Seasonal fruits and veggies
• Whole Foods 365 Organic Mozzarella Sticks
• Pitted green olives 
• Annie’s Organic Fruit Snacks 

Magda Lasota of @Magdalasota_

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My 4-year old is a picky eater. He’s not a big fan of fruit or veggies, but loves hot dogs. When I prepare his lunch box, I try to offer a variety of finger foods in different shapes and colors for him to choose from. Combining his favorite and least favorite snacks side by side in a lunch box often convinces him to be more adventurous and try a food item he would typically refuse. 

What's inside:

• Uncured chicken or turkey hot dog from Applegate Organics (shaped in an octopus)
•  Cheese or PB&J mini sandwich
• Seasonal fruit and veggies

Christine Corrigan from @mommahasyou

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My son is not quite school aged, but we are constantly out and about. This means I pack our lunches and like to have foods that are easy for my son to pick up and eat. Despite not having a school aged child, I was an elementary school teacher for nine years. I understand that lunch time can be busy and a very social time for kiddos, often eating lunch becomes an afterthought. By providing your child with a healthy but easy to eat lunch, it allows kids to eat and still enjoy their lunch break. I love to serve my son hot food when possible, which makes the OmieLife bento box the perfect way to serve lunch. It has a removable compartment that can store hot food. 

What's inside:

• Green Tortellini, Eggs and Ham: 
• Buitoni’s spinach and cheese tortellini
• Chopped-up hard boiled eggs
• Sprinkle of bacon
• Smashed Black Beans and Sweet Potato Wraps: 
• Sweet potatoes
• Black beans
• Whole wheat wrap
• Other sides:
• Carrot sticks
• Ranch
• Fresh fruit