Category: Deal Alert

Splurge vs. Save: Easter and Spring Décor, Kids Easter

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For Easter 2023, we’ll go splurge vs. save on some Easter and spring decor, gifts, and home items. I have some great Pottery Barn dupes and Amazon finds from the Pottery Barn Spring and Pottery Barn Easter collection. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite Easter and Spring decor and kids’ Easter items with both inexpensive Amazon finds and Pottery Barn picks.

While each item on the splurge side is something I love and think is of great quality, it isn’t always in my budget to splurge on. I’m always on the hunt for lookalike items that are a little more budget-friendly. I’ll give you links and prices for both. Check back for more of the Splurge vs. Save series for Easter, Spring Break, and more!

Pottery Barn Bunny Ear Easter Basket

Pottery Barn Peter Rabbit Dinnerware

Potter Barn Tule Tutu Easter Basket

Chunky Throw Blanket

Bunny Statues

Easter Bunny Napkin Holder

Easter Sign

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Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Kids

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While you may spend Valentine’s Day night celebrating Valentine’s Day with your spouse, partner, or friends, there’s something sweet about having a little party with your kids. Whether it’s a Valentine’s Day breakfast before school or a family dinner, we’ve rounded up a few ideas to make it extra special.

Valentine’s Day Breakfast Ideas

Heart Shaped Pancakes or Waffles

You can our pancake batter right into a heart cookie cutter on your griddle or fry pan. This super easy hack makes heart shape pancakes without the pouring skills of a pastry chef. You can also make a few extra to throw in their lunch boxes. Breakfast for dinner is also a fun twist on a kid-friendly Valentine’s Day dinner.

Amazon also sells this cute little heart waffle maker that could make a cute gift idea.

Pink Smoothie

This super easy pink smoothie recipe features strawberries, raspberries, bananas, and bananas for a pink smoothie that’s jammed with nutrition.

Pink Smoothie Recipe

  • 1 cup of Strawberries
  • 1 cup of Raspberries
  • 2 Bananas
  • ½ cup of milk of your choice
  • ½ cup of water
  • ¼ cup of yogurt of your choice (I use strawberry to keep it extra pink)
  • 2 tsps of honey
  • Garnish with a fresh strawberry!

Kids Valentine’s Day Board

  • Pink yogurt-covered pretzels
  • Chocolate covered strawberries
  • Heart-shaped strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Valentine’s M&Ms
  • Cheese
  • Salami
  • Pepperoni
  • Crackers

Heart-Shaped Pizza!

Make your own Valentine’s pizza. Using store-bought pizza dough, I cut out a heart shape for each kiddo. Add cheese, sauce, and toppings of your choice. I used pepperoni and cut them into hearts. Let kids top their own heart-shaped pizza for a fun Valentine’s Day dinner idea.

  • Store-bought pizza dough cut into hearts
  • Pizza or pasta sauce
  • Cheese of choice
  • Toppings of choice

Valentine’s Desserts for Kids

Valentine’s Day is really all about the sweets after all. Here are some of our favorite Valentine’s Day dessert ideas.

Valentine’s Day Drink Ideas for Kids – Valentine’s Punch Recipe

Pink Strawberry Milk

  • Use Hershey’s Strawberry syrup in milk
  • If you don’t have it, a drop of natural pink food coloring works in your milk of choice

Valentine’s Day Hot Chocolate

  • Make hot chocolate of choice
  • Top with
  • Marshmallows
  • Whip cream
  • Pink and red sprinkles
  • Strawberries

Cranberry Lemonade Punch – Pink Valentine’s Punch

  • 1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen cranberry juice concentrate
  • 1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen pink lemonade concentrate
  • 1 (6 ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate
  • 1 liter carbonated water/club soda chilled
  • 1 lemon – sliced, for garnish
  • cranberries for garnish
  • 1/2 cup fresh mint, garnish (optional)

In large punch bowl, combine the cranberry juice concentrate, pink lemonade concentrate, limeade concentrate, and club soda. Garnish with lemon slices and fresh mint leaves.

Raspberry Sherbet Punch – Raspberry Valentine’s day Punch

  • 1/2 gallon raspberry sherbet
  • 1 (2 liter) bottle ginger ale
  • 2 cups of orange juice
  • Garnish with raspberries, rosemary, and lemon (optional)

Place frozen sherbet in the center of a large punch bowl. Add ginger ale and orange juice. Stir gently. Add raspberries and serve.

Valentine’s Decorations and Valentine’s Day Printables

Valentine’s Day Gifts for Kids

Valentine’s Day Songs for Kids

Green City Market Fulton Opens Saturday, 6.6

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Green City Market Fulton, sister to the Green City Market in Lincoln Park, opens its second season this Saturday, June 6 at the southeast corner of Fulton and Halsted streets. Hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday through October. Green City Market is Chicago’s premier sustainable outdoor farmer’s market.

Green City Market Fulton shoppers 300Having a market so central to Chicago’s burgeoning Fulton Market Innovation District is exciting,” says Melissa Flynn, Green City Market’s executive director.  “Green City Market is a perfect market partner for the district,” said Sarah Stegner and Vi Daley, co-chairs of the Green City Market board. “We have a 17-year proven history in Lincoln Park. We are excited for the farmers to have an opportunity to increase the flow of local food to the community and thrilled that we’ve been asked back for our second season here.”

Vendors will be selling organic and sustainable produce, vegetables and other goods 14104905445_9d3ca1f880_o at the market. The growing Fulton Market District/West Loop is one of Chicago’s most popular and fastest growing neighborhoods.

 

Confirmed Vendors include:

Bushel and Peck’s

Co-op Sauce

Crumb Chicago

Green Acres Farm

Hillside Orchard

Hoosier Mama
Leaning Shed Farm

Mint Creek Farm

Nichols Farm and Orchard

Phoenix Bean

Seedling

The Flower Garden

Tomato Mountain  

 

Simon Majumdaar Book Signing June 6Fed White and Blue 300
Simon Majumdar, a mainstay on The Food Network and known as one of its toughest  critics, will be signing his new book, Fed, White and Blue: Finding America with My Fork, beginning at 10 a.m. June 6 at the Green City Market Fulton. Simon has appeared on numerous episodes of Iron Chef America, Beat Bobby Flay, The Next Iron Chef, Best Thing I Ever Ate, and Extreme Chef. He is a recurring judge on Cutthroat Kitchen.

 

About Green City Market
The mission of Green City Market is to improve the availability of a diverse range of high quality foods, connecting local producers and farmers to chefs, restaurateurs, food organizations and the public, and supporting small family farms while promoting a healthier society through education and appreciation for local, fresh, sustainably raised produce and products.

 

Green City Market has been a destination for locals and visitors to Chicago since its inception in 1998. It has consistently been named in the top 10 of the nation’s best farmers markets by national publications such as USA Today, Bon Appetit, Travel & Leisure, Forbes, Shape, CNN, Huffington Post and US News, among others. 

 

For more information, visit Green City Market’s website at http://www.greencitymarket.org or call 773-880-1266.

Chicago Restaurant Week Participants and Menus 1.30-2.12

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RIVA #crw

RIVA #crw

CHICAGO RESTAURANT WEEK 2015 PARTICIPANTS AND MENUS

(listed in alphabetical order; photos upon request or click to download)

This January and February, diners are invited to enjoy the eighth annual Chicago Restaurant Week, with over 250 participating restaurants throughout the city. Restaurants will offer special prix-fixe meals including lunch, dinner or both, depending on the restaurant’s preference.  For details, visit http://www.choosechicago.com/things-to-do/dining/chicago-restaurant-week/. 

During Restaurant Week, some of the city’s most notable chefs will offer their menus at a discount, and guests will have an opportunity to taste dishes created by Executive Chef Brian Jupiter of Frontier, Executive Chef Christian Fantoni of Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush, Chef Luigi Garcia of Riva Crab House and Chef Victorio Padilla of Tuscany Restaurant on Taylor Street, among others.

 

WHEN:  Friday, January 30 – Thursday, February 12

 

COST:Prix-Fixe Meals

$22 Lunch

$33/$44 Dinner
PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS:

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Complimentary “BOOklava” at Falafill on Halloween 10.31

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Falafill

Falafill

Halloween-goers this year can add Falafill to their trick or treat route and open their candy bags for complimentary ‘BOOklava’*! Also known as baklava, Falafill’s famously delicious pastry made with layers of filo dough and sweetened nuts and honey will be offered all day to Chicagoans of all ages looking for a freshly baked Halloween treat.

Falafill’s full menu and mezza bar will also be available on Halloween for ghosts and goblins looking for a healthy Mediterranean lunch or dinner on-the-go or dine-in.

*‘BOOklava’ is complimentary with any Falafill purchase for adults, and complimentary for children 12-years-old and under and will be available on Friday, October 31, 2014 from 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.

Falafill
Eatfalafill.com
3202 N Broadway
Chicago, IL 60657
773-525-0052
(Open daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m.)