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5 Family Friendly Activities Near MommyCon Chicago

February 25, 2019 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Are you looking for extra family friendly activities in the Rosemont area during MommyCon weekend? If so then you have come to the right place. As a local I have enjoyed many different activities in the area and these are my top 5 activities I recommend for families when they are coming in for a quick visit.

1. Kohl Children’s Museum in Glenview, IL

If you are looking for a fun and educational place to go then Kohl Children’s Museum would be a great option for you.  It is approximately 20 minutes from the convention center and hotel in Rosemont and is easily driven to.  They have a wide variety of activities for everyone in the family and offer great hours.  They currently are offering a great travelling science exhibit that young children will have fun participating in as well as a large selection of permanent exhibits.

All infants 12 months and younger are free.  It only costs $12 per person and they offer Military & Veterans a Buy One, Get One Free option for the entire party.  If you are looking for more information check out the Kohl Children’s Museum website.

2. Fashion Outlets of Chicago

If you aren’t from the area or just want to get out of the hotel and convention center for a little while you might want to check out the Fashion Outlets of Chicago that are just minutes away.  I will admit that if I am near an outlet mall I HAVE to go.  It is a serious problem, but having a child is expensive and if you can find a great deal I don’t want to miss it.  They have a few of my favorite stores in their outlet mall like: Gymboree, Carter’s, OshKosh B’Gosh, and Janie and Jack.

3. Visit the Lincoln Zoo

Take a 30 minute drive into the city for a free zoo trip to the Lincoln Zoo; just make sure you bundle up!  It might be the beginning of March, but in Chicago that does mean chilly weather and some super chilly winds!  The weather doesn’t stop us from visiting the zoo.  We love seeing all of the animals and who can say no to a free visit to the zoo when you are that close to one?  Lincoln Zoo is open all year round from 10am – 4:30pm.

4. Drury Lane Theater

If you love musicals and you don’t mind a 30 minute drive then you will want to check out Drury Lane Theater that is currently running Mamma Mia.  I am a lover of musicals and would be willing to bring my young son to a production like this one.  They are offering two shows on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday as well as one show of Friday so you would have options to chose from as well.

5. iFly Indoor Skydiving

You might think I am crazy for including indoor skydiving, but seriously it is a family friendly activity.  They offer indoor skydiving for people ages 3 and up (as their website says 3-103) and they even offer the ability for those with disabilities to have the opportunity to skydive.  I believe that this would be a great little activity for the family because it is exciting and something new and different to do while on a mini vacation.  The iFly Indoor Skydiving facilities is only minutes from the convention center and hotel which also makes it an ideal activity for the family to partake in.

Don’t forget to check out all the extra special activities at MommyCon!

Of course there is always plenty of activities at MommyCon to keep you busy as well, but I know sometimes it’s nice to do something as a vacation activity!


Filed Under: Chicago Area, Events, Featured Tagged With: Chicago, Chicago Activities, MommyCon, MommyCon Chicago

MommyCon Chicago 2019! Only 8 More Days and Counting!

February 23, 2019 by Ashley Leave a Comment

I don’t know about you, but I am pretty damn excited for MommyCon Chicago to hit us here. I am especially excited this year because it will be my first year being able to attend a day with no child in tow. I am excited to experience it with my son as well as just with a friend. I feel like I will be able to experience MommyCon on two different levels this year.

MommyCon Chicago 2019

MommyCon Chicago Sessions I am dying to see!

Every year I am excited for different speakers because I am prepping for different aspects of parenting each year. This year with my son being a toddler the topics have again changed. You can find the detailed list of sessions on MommyCon’s website.

Friday’s Sessions

To start Friday off I am excited for the 2:00 session “How Onbuhimos Inspired Naked Panda Designs.” I am excited to learn about Onbuhimos because while I don’t use babycarriers any longer I still help many of my friends find one that works well for them. I like to know as much as possible about a variety of different carriers. I have never gotten my hands on this style carrier and that makes me all the more interested to learn about it.

At 3:00 I am excited for the “Building Healthy Brains Are a Matter of Heart, presented by KinderCare” session. This session covers how important the developing brain is during a child’s first 3 years of life and while my son will be 3 by the time MommyCon hits I still want to learn. He is delayed and I would like to help him out as much as possible. I am hoping that this session will help me to understand his brain a little more.

At 4:00 I wish I could be joining Xza in the VIP session, but I did not score a VIP ticket this year so instead I will be attending the “Delivery, Decisions, & Doulas: How to Prepare the Team for Birth Without Freaking Out” session. Going to this session will be beneficial for me because I would love to learn how to be more of an advocate for myself when I have my next child. Things can be overwhelming and because I have scheduled c-sections I often feel like I have no control over the situation. I am hoping to learn how to regain that control the next time around. (Third times the charm, right?)

MommyCon Chicago 2019

Saturday’s Sessions

My Saturday plans are a lot more lax than Friday’s plans. I do not have a session I am looking to attend every hour of MommyCon (which is good because I will have my toddler on Saturday and he will need time to get some energy out of his system).

My first session of the day will be at 11:15 where I am looking to attend the “City Babywearing: Expectations vs Reality. Smoothing the Way for Easy Days, presented by Cybex” session. Again I am looking to learn more about baby wearing even though I don’t currently baby wear. This session I am interested in because as someone with a physical disability I struggle with muscle strains and finding ways to do things comfortably. I am hoping to be able to baby wear even more often when the next little joins our family.

My 1:00 block is a tough one because I would like to attend the “Babywearing 101: From SSC’s to Wrapping, presented by Ergobaby” session, but I know that I need to attend the “Got a Picky Eater? (Babies 12 months – 8 Years), presented by ezpz” session for my son. While I do not classify him as a picky eater I do know that he has a rough time with new foods due to his Sensory Processing Disorder. He needs help learning to try and accept new foods and that is what I am hoping to learn in this session.

The next session I will be sitting in on will be for the 3:00 session where I have two different sessions of interest, but will ultimately sit in on the “Managing the Motherload” session because I am hoping that it will give me a little bit more insight on managing my time with a special needs son and with my blog. I want to learn and become better at what I do.

Sunday’s Sessions

Sunday has a lot of amazing sessions, but I will not be attending on Sunday. I wish I could, but I am the scatter-brained mom that planned her son’s birthday party for MommyCon weekend. Haha. I have to get back from the city and get the house ready for his birthday party by 4pm. We will see if the house looks as spectacular as I am hoping it does. (I doubt it will.)

Photographed by Samie | © 2017 TK Photography | www.tkphotographychicago.com

MommyCon isn’t just about the sessions!

This is true. Sessions are amazing and you learn butt loads of new things, but the Exhibitor’s Hall is also a huge hit! Everyone loves a little shopping, especially when you can talk with the people who have a passion about their products. Of course many of the booths also have special deals and/or exclusive MommyCon prints or items.

My Must-Hit Exhibitors List

  • Crane
  • Green Lil Bums
  • Peepeepants
  • Replay
  • Safari Ltd

There are many other amazing brands/stores that will be attending, but these are my must-have stops this year. I personally want to get my son a special new toy for his birthday at MommyCon this year. I am also looking to stock up on some Mommy Cloth, possibly more toddler dishes, and a new humidifier.

Get Your Tickets for MommyCon Chicago!

If you haven’t scored your tickets to MommyCon Chicago yet then I recommend you grab them now! Tickets must be purchased ahead of time and cannot be purchased at the door. This means you need to think ahead and be prepared for some fun! If you are looking to attend on Friday you will need to purchase either the Premium Toddler ticket or the Premium Baby Toddler ticket. If you aren’t attending on Friday then you can grab a General Admission ticket. The General Admission ticket does not come with a gift bag, but MommyCon isn’t just about a gift bag. It is about the sessions, the community, and the fun that you will have.

Purchase your tickets on Eventbrite and use the code: MTAP19 to save 10% at checkout. Last year I wrote some tips for traveling to MommyCon with kids in tow. Check it out if this is your first time going to MommyCon Chicago.

Filed Under: Chicago Area, Family, Featured Tagged With: Chicago, MommyCon, MommyCon Chicago, Parenting, Parenting Events

It’s Almost Time Again. The Chicago Toy and Game Week Returns!

October 9, 2018 by Ashley Leave a Comment

The past few years we have had a blast going to the Chicago Toy and Game Week and I am so glad that I will be able to attend again this year! Things will be a little different for me this year because my hubby, sister, and her fiance will be unable to attend the event with me this year. So disappointing! Instead I will be bringing one or two friends with me to experience something that they have never experienced before!

Many of my family members will be unable to attend because the event is happening exactly one week before my sister and her fiance are to be wed. (Congratulations, Sarah & Tyler!) Due to this my hubby will be unable to get off of work to come with me since we are asking off 4 days the following week for Holiday and wedding prep!

Chicago Toy and Game Week (Fair) Returns.

General Information:

What: 16th Annual Chicago Toy & Game Week

Where: Navy Pier, 840 East Grand Avenue, Festival Hall A & B, Chicago

Dates & Times:

  • Saturday, November 17th 10am-6pm
  • Sunday, November 18th 10am-5pm

Ticket Prices:

  • Adults: $14 ($15 at the Door)
  • Children: $7 ($8 at the Door)

*Get Tickets HERE use discount code: PERSERVERINGMOMMA for $3 off your ticket price!

This year I have been hearing about some really cool features that were not available at past Chicago Toy & Game Week events. One of those is the Beer Garden that will be featuring popular adult and party games! They also will be featuring a Baby and Toddler Play space. Both of these features will definitely be checked out by me while I am attending the event.

Will you be at The Chicago Toy and Game Week (Fair) this year?

I'm Going to Chicago Toy and Game Week this November! (ChiTAG)

Filed Under: Chicago Area, Events, Family Tagged With: Chicago, Chicago Area Events, Chicago Events, Chicago Toy & Game Fair, Games, toys

Top 3 Picks From The Chicago Toy and Game Fair 2017

November 28, 2017 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Chicago Toy & Game Fair 2017

This is one of my favorite events in the Chicago area of the year. I just love going to the Chicago Toy and Game Fair because I come from a family full of “gamers”. I call all of us gamers in my family even if some are just card gamers or board gamers. I grew up loving games and educational toys and that is why I love checking out the Chicago Toy and Game Fair every year.

This year I have been especially excited because my son Raiden is finally old enough to have fun and try out some of the fun games and toys.  The fair was a huge hit and even though we didn’t stay the entire day we were there for many hours testing out a wide variety of different toys and games.  Many were for little kids though we did check out some toys and games for us as well as for our son.

Top 3 Chicago Toy & Game Fair Picks

#1. Magformers

Magformers is our number one pick from the Toy & Game Fair because it was the most well liked by everyone in my family. It was a fun toy to build with for the whole family. My hubby loved building giant balls and buildings with the Magformers while the toddler loved to destroy them! I do believe that as my toddler gets older he will figure them out more and will fall even more in love with them. This is definitely on our list of presents to get him for his birthday early next year.

We loved that it really is an any age type of toy. Older toddlers will love building with these magnetic blocks just as much as a teenager would love them. I think they will also make a great party toy for all the kids to play and build with.

#2. Green Toys

Our second pick is Green Toys because it was Raiden’s favorite stop. I think we played at the Green Toys booth three times respectively while we were at the fair. Raiden loved all of the toys that they had out to play with and I loved that the toys were all made out of recycled milk jugs. It made me happy to know that we were using recycled plastic. We walked out with one of their Firetrucks and my hubby also just bought my son their Tug Boat off of Amazon. I wish we had bought it at the show, but we didn’t think of it.

Another reason why we love this product is because it comes from a small local company. We love shopping small and love when small shops make amazing products and these toys are definitely are high quality, durable toys.

#3. Science Ninjas

Our third pick is not one for my toddler, but a winner because it is a great homeschooling game as well as just a great educational game made by Science Ninjas, Valence Plus. My sister is a high school Chemistry teacher and because of that we spent plenty of time at the Science Ninjas booth. The original game is something that I could actually learn Chemistry from and I have always been pretty Chemistry illiterate. The new game that will be sold within the upcoming weeks is great for advanced Chemistry students and looks like it will also be a blast to play.

My sister walked out with four copies of the game for her students and is excited to play it with them in the upcoming weeks. Her students love games and when they are this interactive and educational you can’t pass them up. In addition just like with number two we love that this product comes from a small business and we love that it also comes from a new inventor!  It is so exciting to find new products that are fun.

Do any of these toys sound like ones you would buy?

Filed Under: Family, Featured Tagged With: Chicago, Chicago Toy & Game Fair, ChiTAG, Games, toys

The Chicago Baby Show 2017 Information & a Giveaway

July 23, 2017 by Ashley Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post thanks to Mom Tends and The Chicago Baby Show.

I love baby and parenting conventions and for the past few years I have been jealous of some of the amazing baby and parenting conventions that are offered in New York and California so when I learned that there was going to be a Chicago Baby Show 2017 I lost my shit! I have read amazing things about the New York Baby Show and LA Baby Show; of course part of my reason for loving them is because The Baby Guy, Jamie Grayson, speaks at these events and I love him.

The 2017 Chicago Baby Show 2017, on August 26 & 27 at Navy Pier will be part of the largest show series for new and expectant parents in the country. Built off the 7 years of success with our New York Baby Show and our inaugural LA Baby Show last year , no other event provides a better experience for thousands of expectant and new families from Chicagoland, seeking a family-friendly jamboree of top brands, great speakers and seminars, big giveaways, and lots of learning, support, bonding, and fun as you make your way into parenthood. See below for details… etc. Normal ticket price is $30 per family (for 2 adults and up to 4 children), and $20 per individual. 

Save 50% at Chicago Baby Show 2017 Today!

If you use my referral link to purchase your ticket off of eventbrite today you will be able to save 50% on your ticket(s)!  This means a family ticket would cost $15 and an individual ticket will only cost you $10 today!  This is a great deal for a new baby event in the Chicago area!

It’s Giveaway time!

I will be attending the Chicago Baby Show and want to invite a few local parents to the event as well.  I do love meeting other parents out there and this will be a great way to meet some other parents and possibly make some friends while having a great time.  Check out the giveaway below for 6 tickets to the Chicago Baby Show 2017!  These tickets are for either Family or Individual tickets (your choice)!

This giveaway is open to US residents, 18 and older.  Travel and all other expenses are not covered in this giveaway.  You will only be getting a ticket to the event.

Chicago Baby Show Giveaway

Filed Under: Family, Featured, Parenting Tagged With: Chicago, Cloth Diaper, Giveaway, Parenting, Parenting Event

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