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By funsherpa, April 30, 2010 6:48 pm

Forget transient flowers and stale chocolates. Chicago moms have other things in mind when they open up their presents this Mother’s Day. We have curated a Mothers Day Gift Guide for the Chicagoan with the most wanted list of gift ideas from our experience store. No matter what your mommy’s style is, we have got you covered, from sub-$100 experiences to an extravagant dinner at top ranked Alinea, but all sure to make mom smile. So, this May 9th, show Mom you didn’t forget about her and give her something she’ll never forget…or simply brag about during her next bridge game.

The hungry food critic mama – your mom a big foodie? Did she raise you with the best organic meals and do you need to thank her for saving you from fast food health problems? Browse unique gourmet experiences in Chicago, from French cooking classes to a dining treat at Alinea.
For the glamorous mama – mom’s want to be glamorous. They were probably a lot more glamorous until they had you. Find spa experiences perfect for skin restoration or facial rejuvenation. Restore that youthful vibrance that mom once had and treat her to our special organic facial or makeup lesson.
The stressed out mom – if mom is still burning the midnight oil and working hard, give her a spa day to eject the stress. From the Blueberry Moon to the Peninsula Spa, we’ve got you covered and know that she’ll come out on cloud nine.
The P90X workout crazy mom – is your mom more fit than you? Does she wake up before the crack of dawn to run down the lakeshore and end the day with yoga? Our active experiences have only the best instructors in Chicago to take your mom’s physical stamina and strength to the next level. Who knows, mom might start her own yoga school and outrun you in this year’s Chicago marathon.
For the don’t break the bank experience – there’s no need to splurge to shower mom with a gift she won’t forget. We have dozens of memorable experiences that mom can check out from tennis lessons to a lazy escape down the Chicago river that will leave you with enough dough to buy dad his perfect father’s day gift too!

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By funsherpa,

Supermom Sara Surrounded by Family and Technology

Sara Fisher, the creative talent behind the Self-Made Mom, demonstrates to Funsherpa how mothers juggle their personal and professional lives to provide their families with the best of everything.  A self-professed ‘former corporate hack’, Sara gives us a glimpse into her transition from the professional scene to motherhood.

F: What do you enjoy the most about Mommy blogging? What does your husband think about your blog?
S: I like creative/ humor writing and I think my blog is the best way for me to get out my creative energy. I wouldn’t say that what I do is “mommy blogging” but rather trying to provide a funny lens for people to see my life with two kids through. My husband is a fan of my writing, but not when it gets too personal. Let’s just say we have creative differences on that front!
F: You mentioned that you’ve transformed from a ‘corporate hack’ to a professional butt wiper. Do you find yourself using any of your corporate skills as a Mom? Any good examples?
S: I think I wrote a post about that a ways back. Yes, I feel that there are many times I’m using my organizational skills, my energy, my “get it done” attitude with my kids. Both for good and bad. For instance, I always would write emails or notes to contacts I met through business, and now, I make sure my older son and I write thank you notes for birthday presents. On the negative side, I probably am a little too demanding of my four-year-old. He’s not a 23 year-old account exec.
F: Can you talk about your experience when you first became a mom?
S: Lack of sleep and doing what you want, when you want were really hard for me to adjust to. I like to do things on my own terms, and now I have the little men who tell me what to do on their terms!
F: How do you manage living in a home full of boys/men?
S: Lots of wine. No, just kidding. I love my house of boys. I’m the queen and I don’t have to worry about how anyone is dressed or hair is brushed. Boys can get away with a little less personal hygiene I think.
F: Upon reading your blog, you seem to be quite a net savvy Mom, using Peapod, Ebay Classifieds, Craigslist, etc. Any other web services you’d like to share that are effective in managing home issues?
S: I use Google all the time, but so does everyone. Twitter is key for me to follow news, local happenings and keeping up with friends.
F: How is social media affecting the way parents raise their kids? Is there anything in the way that social media works that you’d like to change?
S: I think Twitter and Facebook have radically changed how we get and use information. For instance, sometimes if I have a medical or baby question, I’ll post it online before I call the doctor (not in an emergency, of course). On the flip side, I think there are some people that way over-share what they put online about their families and kids, and I’m totally not into that. Those babies are going to grow up to be teenagers and I don’t think they’ll be all that pleased to see a photo of their dirty diaper online.
F: Do you have any ‘Mommy’ role models (real or fictional)? If so, who are they and why do you look up to them?
S: Other than my mom who was a much more patient mother than I am, I think I’d have to say it’s other contemporaries of mine who’ve seemed to make it work having a career and being hands-on with their kids. I have not perfected that yet. Not even close.
F: What have some of your best experiences on Mother’s Day? What would make your perfect Mother’s Day holiday?
S: As I wrote last year, the perfect Mother’s Day for me is being alone! I would like to sleep in, have a leisurely breakfast, read the Sunday New York Times and shower for an hour. I love my kids, but I think having one day a year by myself is good for all of us.

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By funsherpa, April 28, 2010 8:00 am

Decoding mommy blogs with Bethany Hiitola

Discover the world of mommy blogging, free things to do in Chicago with your kids, and motherhood with Bethany Hiitola.  Funsherpa sits down with the writer behind Mommy Writer Blog to understand what it is like to be a mom, blog with kids in the house, and find inspiration in creative writing projects.

F: What do you enjoy the most about Mommy blogging? What do your kids think about your blog?
B: I never really looked at it as mommy blogging or anything but an outlet for me to write what I know. I’ve always been a writer and had a few blogs that I sorta maintained off and on for a few years prior to ever being a mom. But, when I had a kid, found myself at home most of the time with no babysitter (and surrounded by mothers who appeared to know what they were doing), I decided to turn to the outlet I always turn to–writing. And thus my blog and website were born (concurrently I also decided to pursue my dreams of writing fiction and getting it published – so they both were jointly born along with the first child).

My kids are still very young– son is 7 and daughter 2 1/2. So their opinion of my online space is yet to be determined. Although my son now can read at a pretty high level, and has his own computer and unfettered access to the Internet–he’ll find me soon. Though, I am not worried. I always try to write from my point of view (not theirs) so I hope they find it fun and entertaining.

F: Can you talk about your experience when you first became a mom? What were some of the things you had to learn/unlearn from just being an adult with no kids?
B: Frazzled. When I had my son, labor was about 20 hours, I was up all night, and well, birth was an experience that once you go through it, you are changed (in more ways than you care to share). But I survived. And had this pink wiggly crinkled thing handed to me and then everyone left the room. There was no instructions, no one to sorta sit down and tell you what you might expect from the first few nights, how to really change a newborn’s diaper, how you are going to survive on so little sleep you won’t know how to hold a conversation. And it just stays that way. No instructions. And really, no schedules and constant change.

The biggest difference from life with no kids to having kids is just learning to be unselfish. Suddenly your life will revolve around this new little being. And you have to let it for a while until you and the baby adjust. Sure, this changes as the child grows older and becomes more independent, but overall, you give us things for your kid. Whether that is sleep, time, schedules. Pretty much everything changes. And you need to find ways to make yourself a priority too (babysitters, help from family and partners, time away, etc).

And really just BE FLEXIBLE. The flexible and laid back you are about the kid, and naps, and feedings, and all that stuff–the easier your life will be. And more relaxed you will be. And the easier time you will need/have to adjust to motherhood (or parenthood. Dad’s have to do all this too). It’s all good. And children bring a new outlook on life for anyone. But as a parent they change the way you look at the world. So take deep breaths and just enjoy the ride–no matter how it takes you on little side tracks.

F: You seem to write a lot. Can you share with us some of your creative writing projects? What serves as your inspiration?
B: Is it that obvious? Yes I do write a lot. I always have written but never dedicated so much time with it until after I had children. But, then again, my children are part of the reason why I have dedicated more time to writing. After my son was born I found myself working over 40 hours a week at all hours of the day (to adjust for working from home with a young baby) and I wasn’t happy. I needed an outlet just for me and one that might get me out of the rat race.

I haven’t quite gotten out of the (corporate) rat race yet, but I knew there was no chance I could do that without giving a real, true, honest-to-God effort at writing books for publication. So here I am.

I’m working on a bunch of projects right now. The first is the 2nd technical non-fiction book about open source software. My first book was about creating podcasts with Audacity (you can find it here) and it was fun to write. So I signed up for another that I am working on now! This one is about using Inkscape as a web designer. It is due out by the end of the year.

I write for a variety of places online that you can find from my website and they keep me sane during the week when my work schedule is driving me crazy. For fiction, I have a book that I’m shopping around now, another one in the works, and some small pieces that are being published in quarterly magazines. Just enough to keep me from not going to bed too early in the evenings. And to keep me writing, no matter what my day throws at me.

F: What are some of the things you’ve learned from other Mom bloggers? What have you taught other Mom bloggers?
B: To relax. Have fun. Vent if you need to. And ALWAYS respect your children–as they are a wealth of blogging fodder (both good and bad) and are the cutest things ever. With them at your side, they sorta define that mom blogger part of your life. But you are also you. And Mom bloggers stick together. We have that common bond of parenting and we often share stories, agree with one another, disagree with one another and then always want the best for our families.

I am not sure what I have taught others. Maybe just that you can blog, have a life, be a mom, a blogger and other dreams too. Funnily enough, I have always associated myself as a writer. Before a blogger, before a mom, before a mommy blogger. So, I just hope that maybe that is what people have taken away from reading my blog.

F: If you could change one thing about being a mother, what would it be?
B: The extra 15-20 lbs I still have of baby fat. A magic potion to get rid of the constant large dark circles under my eyes. And maybe an “obey your mom” card that I can pull out and use for nap times, cleaning rooms, brushing teeth and more…

Other than that, I just want to enjoy the ride as much as I can. My son is 7. And honestly, there are times I still think he might be about 3 years old and playing super heroes with capes in my living room.

F: Any advice to new parents in Chicago to ensure their kids get to appreciate the city they live in?
B: Go to museums, shows, concerts, outdoor events. EVERYTHING you want to drag yourself too. This city offers anything from free to very expensive activities. Don’t be afraid to drag your kids deep into the city or to the ‘burbs. They both offer unique experiences that can enrich your child’s lives. And expose them to just about everything from sports games, to concerts, to small events (like free comic drawing classes), culture, and more. Just pick a few items a year and make it happen!

F: If you could take your kids anywhere, where would you take them? Why?
B: Finland. We will take a trip there at some point, we just haven’t done it yet. But we have a strong Finnish Heritage and I’ve would love to see the country itself. And the small village by the same name as my surname.

But really–I would love to take them all over the world: England, India, Africa. I’d also love to go see the Grand Canyon, the Pacific Ocean. And well just as many new places as we can afford.

F: What have some of your best experiences on Mother’s Day been? What would make your perfect Mother’s Day holiday?
B: I don’t get caught up on the holiday too much. All I really like are hugs, kisses, and some special homemade things from the kids. If I get a few hours of “free time” after a family brunch that makes it all a bit better. Gives me kid-free time to just re-coup and then come home to more snuggles.

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By funsherpa, April 26, 2010 9:22 am

Shari enjoying some tall company

With Mother’s Day a couple of weeks away, Funsherpa is continuing its countdown through featuring local mothers in Chicago.  Aside from being the family champions and all around multi-taskers, these mothers are building the next generation of the city’s inhabitants and caretakers.  Today, we talk to Shari Schmidt, a mom raising twins who writes a blog called Two Times the Fun, and celebrates life in the city by taking her kids to the Green City Market and Notebaert Nature Museum.

F: What do you enjoy the most about Mommy blogging? What do your daughters think about your blog?
S: I blog to create a record of our girls’ adventures. I like being able to record what is happening on a moment’s notice. It allows for very real time observations and emotions. Some day I will take the blog and turn it into a book for the girls.

The girls don’t really understand blogging for the most part. Although, the other day one of them said, “Please don’t tell your computer friends.”

F: Can you describe your typical audience? What do they enjoy the most about your blog?
S: My typical audience member has children. They either understand what we are going through at a certain stage, or have already been there and offer great advice. We’re all just trying to do the best we can for our children, and it is great to be able to share ideas. They are not shy. If they think I’ve screwed up something, they let me know. Sometimes it’s just helpful to be able to let everyone know we’re all in this together.

F: I understand you have twin daughters. What is the coolest thing about having twins? How easy/challenging is it to raise twins?
S: The best thing about having twins is watching the twin bond in action. Many people doubt it exists, but having twins makes you a believer. The girls are so similar in many ways, yet really different. They find great strength being part of a pair. The most challenging thing about raising twins is dealing with everyone’s comments. So many people tell us what to do with the girls. “If I had twins, I’d…,” is a phrase I hear often. Some days I just think, “Call me when you have twins and we’ll talk.”

F: Do you find yourself raising your kids in a similar way to the way your parents raised you or are you doing things the polar opposite way?
S: I think parents always raise their children based upon the prevailing wisdom of the time. When we were children, parenting beliefs were very different from what they are now. Each generation goes with their own beliefs. For example, my grandmother was horrified that my parents allowed us to eat cold cereal. She was certain that we’d suffer if we didn’t eat bacon, eggs and toast every morning. If I fed our girls bacon, eggs and toast every morning, it would be considered very bad parenting by today’s standards. We mix the way our parents raised us with our beliefs about parenting. It’s quite a comfortable mix.

F: What do Mom bloggers talk about when they get together?
S: Our children and motherhood, of course. I spent an afternoon with some of the Chicago Moms Blog writers recently. It was so fun to be able to brainstorm with everyone. I found a couple of other twins moms that I’ll keep in touch with as our girls get older. Another mom blogger gave me a good resource to help me turn the blog into a book for the girls. It’s such a great, supportive network.

F: Any advice to new parents in Chicago to ensure their kids get to appreciate the city they live in?
S: I always tell people to start small. A big problem I see is that new parents expect too much from their children. Little ones have short attention spans. When we are in Chicago , we like to walk around and talk about what we see. Our girls like to see the different buildings, public artwork and different people. We spend time walking different neighborhoods, going to parks and visiting destinations like the Chicago Green City Market near the Notebaert Museum . It’s a big city, but it’s easy to break it down into manageable pieces.

F: Is there anything in Chicago that makes it particularly a kid/mommy friendly city? Is there anything you’d like to change about Chicago?
S: This city is very handicap accessible, which is important when you travel with a double-stroller. I never thought about this until we spent time walking with the double-stroller in front of us. Also, there are lots of bathrooms in buildings and stores. I think our girls have visited all of them.

There are so many free activities that you can stay really busy without spending a lot of money. We try to do as many as possible each year, especially the children-friendly activities. Anything at Millennium Park is great because it is a good central location for all our friends to get together. Everyone brings a picnic basket and some treats to share. We can spend a day there playing in the Crown Fountain, walking over to the lakefront to see the boats and listening to music.

I don’t know what I’d change to be honest. I tend to take advantage of what is available, rather than stress about what could be different. There is so much to enjoy, and we try to do just that.

F: What have some of your best experiences on Mother’s Day been? What would make your perfect Mother’s Day holiday?
S: Mother’s Day in our house is very low-key. I like to clear the calendar and see what the day brings. Sometimes we just go bike riding or roller skating and then grill out. If the weather is bad we might see a movie or visit a museum. We spend our days rushing to catch the school bus or trying to make it to dance lessons on time. The rule on Mother’s Day is we cannot do anything productive like running errands or doing laundry. It’s nice to have a day when we just wake up and see what happens.

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By funsherpa, April 23, 2010 8:00 am

Sharing a happier and healthier lifestyle

In celebration of Mother’s Day, funsherpa will be featuring a series of Chicago mother ‘experts’ from budding parents to veteran mothers who know every trick of the trade. We start our series of conversations with Dwana, mom and blogger behind the Healthy Happier You. Through our chat with Dwana, we discover the secrets of living a healthy and happy lifestyle, as well as how mom bloggers are getting their voices heard.

F: What do you enjoy the most about Mommy blogging?
D: I LOVE writing. I love writing about anything that is stirring or writing about someone else’s passion. I rarely write about my son because he is at that age where he is anonymous – even with me! So, I really do not characterize myself as a “Mommy Blogger” in that respect. My child is the very reason I wake up in the morning, but mainly I discuss being a woman, which I feel, is my essence. Nurturing the world is who I really am. A woman who happens to be a mom and a nurturer!

The other component to Mommy Blogging is interacting with social media gurus and brands who mentor and encourage the craft. To me, it doesn’t get any better than that.

F: What inspires your articles/topics?
D: People inspire me. Average, everyday hardworking people inspire me to tell their stories or support their passions. Sites such as yours are inspiring – bringing so many wonderful people and products to our attention that we might otherwise miss!

F: How do you define a “healthy happier you”?
D: A “healthier happier you” is a you that is utilizing what you have in the now and using it to be your best. Eating healthier, thinking healthier thoughts and embracing your true self are vital. I think each soul must choose individually in their pursuits – but act today as we really are all dying in a sense. Time waits for no one.

F: Is it challenging to be a healthy mom and parent? How do you ensure your son lives a healthy lifestyle? Any tips and tricks you can share with other parents?
D: Oh my gosh, yes!! It is challenging for us all, that I am sure! With time constraints on everyone, how do we find time to eat right, exercise and keep a positive outlook? It just takes practice. Fine tuning your grocery shopping, for one, is a big key to a healthy family. Supporting your local farmers might give you sustainability. Having healthy, preservative-free snacks and entrees and making time for activity require so little planning once we make it a priority. Stay active, if your children are in sports, work out with them, or work out while they’re at practice. If you have a dog, a friend, walk with them. It is a good example for the entire community to see – move and be moved.

F: What are some of the things you’ve learned from other Mom bloggers? What have you taught other Mom bloggers?
D: I can not believe what a supportive and close-knit unit “Mom Bloggers” are. I have learned to lean on them for guidance and information. It seems many of them have a plethora of support, energy and love. I may have taught them that some moms simply have no clue!

F: What are some of the go-to spots in Chicago for both you and your son?
D: We adore the Lakefront – from 67th Street to Evanston . We adore it all times of the year. I am an Argo Tea NUT personally, so that is a great place to find me.

F: How is social media affecting the way parents raise their kids? Is there anything in the way that social media works that you’d like to change?
D: Social media is so new, it is really hard to say. I can only hope it leaves a positive impression. Most of the moms I interact with are attempting to better the planet, their communities, own personal situations, and have their voices heard. That can hardly be a bad thing. Additionally, social media exposes new moms to new ideas, concepts and tools that are not known in mainstream, off-line parenting. I am so happy to be experiencing this ride, there is no room for me to complain.

F: Any special message you’d like to share with other Moms this upcoming Mother’s Day?
D: Take care of YOU this Mother’s Day ~ and every day ~ because you are AWESOME and doing a GREAT job!

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By funsherpa, April 12, 2010 8:54 am

Glenn Blogging Chicago

Funsherpa sits down with Glenn McBride, the blogger behind And Then What, to learn his experience of moving into Chicago, the eccentricities of the locals, and his travels on the treacherous Megabus.

F: What cities have you lived in?  How do they compare to Chicago?

G: Chicago is the first “major” city I’ve lived in. I was born outside of San Francisco, moved while I was very young to Pennsylvania and moved again to Northwest Ohio before I started first grade. Really, I have no memories of anything pre-Ohio. As for how Ohio cities compare to Chicago, I guess the biggest difference is Chicago has “things” while Ohio does not. Seriously, Ohio has nothing.

F: What eccentricities have you noticed in local Chicagoans?

G: The thing that strikes me more often than anything is just how much Chicagoans know about Chicago. I know that might sound strange, but I lived in the same city in Ohio for over 13 years and I still didn’t know much about it. Maybe it’s the storied history of this town that breeds a certain civic pride or maybe it’s just more interesting. Chicagoans know their stuff.

F: You seem to have taken the Megabus a few times, do you have any ‘dream’ Megabus trips?

G: To be fair, my ‘dream’ Megabus trip would be not taking the Megabus. It’s a way to travel when your options and resources are low, but it’s no luxury. If I could plan a trip with the Megabus to my own specifications I would do a few things to make it more enjoyable: 1.) Only my friends would be on board, I’m tired of sitting next to odd strangers. 2.) I would knock out six rows of seating to increase the leg room. 3.) I would set the course for Milwaukee. Why Milwaukee? Well, it’s close enough to drive in under two hours and it’s Milwaukee. Who could argue with Milwaukee?

F: If you were to project yourself 5 years in the future, what blog articles will you be writing about Chicago?

G: Hopefully one’s that pay well. But really there are three things I would love to be able to write about on a consistent basis with a decent audience: travel, sports and culture. I love going to new places and recounting the voyage. I love following almost any sports action and giving my two cents. And I love discussing culture and adding my inane views into the mix. If in five years I was focused on any of these three I would be happy. More importantly, I hope I am not writing about the CTA. There is nothing interesting or entertaining about the CTA. Nothing.

F: Are you indifferent between The Cubs and The Sox?

G: My sports allegiance will remain with Detroit for as long as I live, or until Detroit gives up on being a city, whichever comes first. With that said, the Tigers and White Sox are bitter enemies. I hate the White Sox. Add this to being able to see Wrigley outside my apartment window and the choice is even clearer. Maybe I’m the final piece the Cubs need to make their championship run. Or I just jinxed them for another hundred years. Who knows?

F: What are your favorite bars and restaurants in Wrigleyville?

G: Wrigleyville will never run out of restaurants to try or bars to lose yourself in, that’s for sure. People complain about the bar scene down on Clark and the surrounding areas, they say the clientele are all the same and it’s like a frat party. Well, as a relatively recent college grad, I don’t mind this…yet. I will admit that most of the bars blend together and seem pretty similar.    Restaurants, on the other hand, are as distinct as they are tasty. My personal favorite is Vines on Clark. On Mondays, when the Cubs aren’t playing, all food is half off! Do yourself a favor and check that place out.

F: Are there any other neighborhoods in Chicago that you particularly like?  Why?

G: Every neighborhood has its charm. It all depends on your mood. Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, wherever, you can find good and bad things about all of them. I love the fact that Chicago is so diverse and has distinct, separate areas. Sometimes, thought, I think the whole neighborhood thing gets blown out of proportion. People will argue about which is the next up-and-coming place to live or where the artists are grouping or where the best food is. It’s all Chicago, you know, it’s not as if these places are like foreign countries. The similarities are much closer than the differences.

F: What crazy things do you plan to do in Chicago this summer?

G: This will be my first full summer in Chicago and I hope it’s filled with plenty of excitement. Crazy things? I would like the do some kayaking, maybe in the river. I’ll be spending a good portion of my time training for the Chicago Marathon throughout the summer. I guess that’s pretty crazy, right? Maybe I’ll skydive. Who knows? Chicago has limitless opportunities. No need to plan it all out now. The truly crazy comes out of spontaneity.