Things to Do in Sweet Home Chicago

Here's an ongoing list of things to do in the Chicagoland area.  If you know of something I can add, please let me know!  I'm slowly but surely linking the various activities. *Call ahead of visiting anything listed here to check for hours and/or if they're still in business.*

Aurora
Sky Zone

Barrington
Goebbert's Farm & Pumpkin Patch

Bloomingdale
Stratford Square Mall Train, Carousel, Indoor playground

Brookfield
Brookfield Zoo

Buffalo Grove
Rockin' Jump

Carol Stream
Rockin' Jump

Chicago
The 606 (elevated running path/artwork)
Adler Planetarium
Art Institute
Buckingham Fountain
Chicago Cultural Center (Free, great photo ops, free tours at certain times)
Chicago Design Museum
Chicago Riverwalk
Field Museum
Lincoln Park Zoo
Maggie Daley Park
Museum of Science & Industry
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Promontory Point
Shedd Aquarium

Crystal Lake
Chuck E. Cheese's
Monkey Joe's
Pump It Up

Des Plaines
The Choo-Choo (restaurant)

Dundee Township

Jelke Creek Bird Sanctuary

East Dundee
AZoosement Park (Old Santa's Village)

Elgin
Adventure Island indoor water park @The Centre
Hawthorne Hill Nature Center

Elk Grove Village
Fountain Square Park
Jumps N Jiggles
Pirate's Cove Children's Theme Park
Rainbow Falls Water Park

Elmhurst
Sky Zone

Glencoe
Chicago Botanic Garden
Little House of Glencoe

Glenview
Kohl Children's Museum

Gurnee
Gurnee Mills Outlet Mall
Key Lime Cove
Six Flags Great America

Hanover Park
Chuck E. Cheese's

Highland Park
Ravinia Festival

Lake Zurich
Treehouse

Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire Marriott Theater & Children's Playhouse

Lisle
The Morton Arboretum

Maple Park
Kuipers Family Farm

Naperville
The Ball Factory

Niles
Sky High Sports

Northbrook
River Trail Nature Center

Rockford
Carlson Acrtic Ice Arena
Discovery Center Children's Museum
Magic Waters Water Park
Monkey Joe's
Sapora Playworld  More info here
Sinnissippi Park
Skateland
Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum & Gardens

Rockford Things to Do

Roscoe (near Rockford)
Board & Brush (this is for adults only)

Rosemont
MB Financial Park
Rosemont Website
Chicago Wolves hockey

Schaumburg
Bison's Bluff-outdoor playground, discovery area
Jump Zone-inflatable "playground".  Our 4 year old loved this.
Kids Club-it's been said that they often have Groupons available
Legoland Discovery Center - went here with our 5 year old and 2 1/2 year old. They really enjoyed it and we were there longer than I had anticipated.  If your child loves Legos, I think they'll enjoy it.  My kids loved the little ride, the Lego water table area, and the 4D movie theater. I also recommend checking out Groupon before buying tickets, since I probably wouldn't pay more than the Groupon $14 price we paid.  I'd also skip the photo packages; it's not worth it. Ages 2 and under are free.
Pilot Pete's (restaurant) This is a fun, airport/plane-themed restaurant.  We go there with the kids and they love it.  It overlooks the Schaumburg airport.  It's a noisy place (great for kids) and a huge menu.
Pump It Up
Rainforest Cafe (restaurant)
Schaumburg Park District Website
Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary
The Tot Lot-Sch. Park District
The Water Works-indoor waterpark Sch. Park District
Woodfield Mall
Top Golf-It's on the the land by Motorola.  It's great!  Our whole family loved it. 12/2019
Yu Kids Island- indoor playground/play place It's inside Woodfield Mall. Must wear socks.

Skokie
Chuck E. Cheese's
Skokie Exploratorium

South Elgin
Epic Air-it's recommended that small kids go during the designated toddler time

St. Charles
Hickory Knolls Discovery Center

Union
Donley's Wild west Town
Illinois Railway Museum

West Dundee
Randall Oaks Zoo

Wheaton
Cosley Zoo
Mokey Joe's 
Monkey Business
Kids Town


Misc. Northwest Suburban Parks blog

It's Consignment Sale Season!

Consignment Sale Season!

Fall Consignment Sales are here!  Here is a list (with some of my opinions) of the local consignment sales that will be coming up in August and September 2016.  I get most of the upcoming season's clothes at these sales on 50% off day.  Of course the selection is less than on day 1 of the sale, but if you don't look at the clothes at all until half-off day, you don't know what you've missed.  Plus, there has never been a time when I didn't get any good clothing on half-off day.  I highly recommend it for everyday, play clothes.  Most of these websites also have Facebook pages, so "like" them to get new information as the sales approach.

If you know of any sales that would be worth it to add to the list, let me know!  I love checking out sales I haven't been to before.


Click on the Sale name for their main website.  Click on the word Facebook in my description to get to their Facebook page.

Cannon UMC Consignment Sale
August 13-15, Snellville

Toads & Teacups Children's Consignment
August 10-13, Buford
I have not been to this sale.  I found out about it via Facebook.

Kidsignments, Inc.
August 16-20, Lawrenceville
This is the HUGE sale at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds.  They're also on Facebook.  If you're looking for bigger toys, strollers, exersaucers, train tables, bikes, kitchen sets, things of that nature, it's in a separate building the first few days.  I did not know this the first year I attended.  They do move it all to the main building once the "stock" is much less.  If you can't find what you're looking for, ASK!  Also know that no children/infants OR strollers are allowed until after 2 pm the first day.  If you go at a crowded time, be prepared to wait in a hot line for over an hour.

Kids Closet at Winters Chapel
September 22-24, Atlanta
No children the first day unless they're infants that can be worn.
Facebook page.

St. Matthews Preschool Consignment Sale
September 23-24, Snellville

Rhea Lana's DUNWOODY Children's Consignment Sale
July 24-30, Dunwoody
I have not been to this sale.  This is their Facebook page.

Snellville UMC Consignment Sale
September 14-17, Snellville
This sale is run by and supports the Early Learning Program at the church.  In my opinion, this is by-far the best smaller consignment sale in the area.  I have purchased awesome ride-on toys, Little Tikes toys, instruments, toy box, etc. at this sale.  I have also had good luck on 50% off day for clothes.  I recommend this sale, but do know that it's not as big as Kidsignments or TTT.  Sometimes this sale can have a long line, but not as long as the fairgrounds sale  I have also sold at this sale and it's a pretty easy process.  They are also on Facebook.

Mountain Park UMC MOPS Consignment Sale
September 23-24, Stone Mountain/Lilburn
This is a nice, smaller sale.

Bright Beginnings Kids Consignment Sale
September 8-10, Loganville (located in gym of First Baptist Loganville)

Tykes, Tots & Teens Consignement, (TTT)
September 10-17, Conyers Horse Park
I discovered this one after a couple of years of checking out consignment sales.  I held off from checking it out due the distance it is from my house, but I LOVE this sale due to the fact that the entire check-out process is computerized/scanned.  It goes by so much quicker than Kidsignemtns.  I waited in line no more than 10 minutes.  Super quick!  They also have re-stock days so items are continually coming in to the sale.  Check them out on Facebook.

Rhea Lana's Children's Consignment Event
dates not announced, Lawrenceville
Here's their Facebook page.

Rhea Lana's CUMMING Children's Consignment Event
October 23-27, Cumming
I have not been to this sale.

Jack & Jill Kids Sale
August 24-27, Lawrenceville, GA
I have sold at this sale and it was well done for a smaller sale.

Gwinnett Mothers of Multiples Sale
dates TBA, Lawrenceville
You don't have to be a mom of multiples to attend this sale.  If you're looking for matching clothes twins, for friends, your child's cousin, etc. this would be a great place to look. Here is their Facebook page.  Read their website for rules for shopping the sale, for example no diaper bags, no food, etc.

Lil' Hands Kids Consignment Sale
August 3-6, Winder
I have not been to this sale before, again finding out about it on Facebook.   

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Half-Pint Consignment
Unfortunately, this sale no longer exists. (super sad face)
I have liked this sale and have even sold in it, but they won't be having a sale this time around.  They do have a Facebook page, but they will not be having their spring sale due to their needs for a new location.

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Looking for more?  Check out Atlanta Parent Magazine's Consignment Sales List.

This is another search site where you can find seasonal consignment sales near you.  Consignment Mommies

Local sales are often listed on your local Macaroni Kid Facebook Pages, too!

VBS & Summer Camps 2016

This is basically a running list of area VBS programs and summer camps/activities.  If I happen to know information about specific things, I'll include it.  Otherwise, it might just be a link or something you can Google for more information.  
If you know of something not listed, let me know and I'll add it to the list!


VBS
Anchor Church (Grayson/Loganville)
Grayson UMC (Grayson)
Cannon UMC (Snellville)  June 13-17
Mountain Park UMC (Stone Mountain)
Mountain Park First Baptist (Stone Mountain) June 6-10
First Baptist Snellville (Snellville) June 6-9
First Baptist Church of Lilburn (Lilburn) June 13-17
Gwinnett Community Church (Lawrenceville) Five Forks & Arnold
Snellville UMC (Snellville)
Lilburn Community Church (Lilburn)
Mt. Carmel (Stone Mountain)
Cornerstone Bible Church (Lilburn across from Parkview HS)
Lilburn Alliance Church (Lilburn)
Calvary Baptist Church (Lilburn)
Mt. Zion Baptist Church (Snellville)




Misc. Summer Camps & Summer Programs
Good Shepherd Presbyterian Summer Camps (Lilburn)
Cannon UMC (Snellville)  Summer Camp
Camp Invention @Mt. Carmel (Stone Mountain) I know several teachers at this location.  Great for kids who like figuring things out, science, logic,etc.
Camp Invention @Craig ES (Snellville)

Slow Cooker Chicken Rice Soup (non-cream)

Here I am, yet again, posting a soup that I love!  This is a soup I made sort of off-the-cuff, but it was delicious and the entire family gobbled it up.  I make a tasty cream of chicken rice soup and used that as the base for this non-cream soup.  You can play with it a little, adding or deleting veggies and/or seasonings that you prefer in your soup, but this is a great, basic soup for a chilly day.  (I tend to go a little overboard with veggies when I make soup; I always add more than it calls for.)  I also doubled this (other than the chicken; I just used 3 breasts) to maximize the use of my big crock pot.

Chicken Rice Soup

Ingredients:

2-3 chicken breasts (I used 3 frozen.)

4 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1 package of Rice-a-Roni long grain and wild rice 
1/2 tsp salt (plus more to taste)
1/2 tsp pepper

1 Sazon Goya seasoning packet (see pic below, can be found in ethnic/Hispanic food section)
1 cup carrots, grated, diced, or chopped
1 cup celery, grated, chopped, or thinly sliced

Dump all ingredients into Crockpot. 

Cook on Low for 6 hours or High for 4 hours. 

Remove chicken from Crockpot and shred. 

Add chicken back to Crockpot. 

Let everything cook about 30 more minutes in Crockpot.

Serve.

(I’m Italian so I always sprinkle a little grated Parmesan cheese on my bowl of soup. Plus, everything is better with a little cheese, ya know. J )

Hamburger Stew

Ok, so I haven't made this yet but I can't figure out a way to pin it to Pinterest.  I'm just copy and pasting this from the Taste of Home Facebook page so I can keep it for later. :)

HAMBURGER STEW

From - www.tasteofhome.com



Note: Serve with buttered cornbread.
Ingredients:
2 pounds ground beef
2 medium yellow onions, chopped
4 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) stewed tomatoes
8 medium carrots, thinly sliced
4 celery ribs, thinly sliced
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 cups water
1/2 cup uncooked long grain rice
1 to 2 tablespoons salt
1 to 2 teaspoons pepper

Directions
Cook beef and onions over medium heat; drain. Add tomatoes, carrots, celery, potatoes, water, rice, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30 minutes until vegetables and rice are tender. Uncover; simmer 20-30 minutes longer or until thickened!