It’s an understatement when I say I LOVE summer. I absolutely love it. The sunshine simply fuels my spirit and the summer fun fuels my soul. So, I was thrilled when Magic Waters water park in Cherry Valley, Illinois, invited my family out for a day of FUN!

My neighbor took her son their last summer and she said it was the best family-friendly water park in the Chicagoland area.

My kids were jumping for joy when I showed them these videos…

Tropical Twisters

Splash Blaster

Magic Waters, which is near Rockford, is one of the largest water parks in Illinois! This year, Magic Waters is offering $12 Buck Bargain Days every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. And if you’re kids are Disney IM5 fans, they will be at the park for a Meet & Green on July 14. For more information about Magic Waters, visit magicwaterswaterpark.com.

Disclosure: This is an exclusive offer brought to you by WindyCityKidsGuide. I will receive a complimentary family 4 pack to the park in exchange for this post. Opinions are 100% my own.

The post We’re Heading to Magic Waters This Summer appeared first on Evolving Stacey.

It’s finally spring and here in Chicago that means we finally have beautiful weather. And that means we are starting to eat most of our meals outside…and it also means more glasses of wine are poured in the garden with friends.

So, I was excited when I learned about Wine to Water and Montesquieu Winery this week.  Montesquieu Winery has partnered with CNN Hero Doc Hendley of Wine to Water and some of the top winemakers on earth to make wines that make a difference. These wines raise money to dig wells in Southern Ethiopia where communities lack access to clean water. Each bottle purchased will give clean water to families in Ethiopia.

They are currently on a mission to raise $235,000 to dig more clean water wells in Africa. Winemaker, Michel Rolland, donated Bonne Nouvelle wine from his personal vineyard in South Africa to help with this goal and every $20 from each $39 bottle goes to Wine to Water.

In the video below, you can hear the passion in Doc Hendley voice and see the love in heart.

Learn more about the wine and this amazing charity at  WineToChangeTheWorld.com.

Disclosure: I was compensated for writing this post. Opinions are 100% my own.

The post You Can Turn Wine Into Water appeared first on Evolving Stacey.

This post was originally published on futurefortified.org.

My Mom. Wow, do I love her.

She is who I need during those crazy hectic moments of life when I just want to shout “I Want My Mommy”.

She’s my mom, my inner child’s mommy, my soul sister, and my best friend.

She is my rock. My safe place to fall.

She doesn’t always understand my choices or my way of thinking, but she is always there – with every cell of her being – to support my decisions and nourish my life.

She’s my mom and, wow, do I love her.

Even though my mom lives 300 miles from me, she nourishes my soul everyday over the phone (or over Skype) with her words, her spirit, and her positive outlook on life.

Since I became a mom almost 10 years ago, my mom has become a daily lifeline. It all started the day my first son was born. She drove 300 miles to take care of me – to nourish me. While I was trying to figure out motherhood, she was there shopping for me, cooking for me, washing for me, and cleaning for me. She let me BE with my baby. She let me sleep. She took care of me, so I could take care of my son.

I can still remember her driving away from my house that cold January morning to drive 300 miles back to Michigan. I wasn’t so sure I was going to do this mommy gig without her near by.

It was in that moment that I realized there’s no such thing as far away. Although I longed to have my mom close by, the physical distance between us brought us closer. Once I became a mom, my mom and I started talking every single day. She was there to listen and to remind me at every turn that “this too shall pass”. She was there to nourish my soul at all the amusing yet stressful moments I was experiencing as a mom.

My mom’s nourishing support has only grown stronger of the past ten years. Our daily calls somehow evolved into multiple phone conversations a day. A sense of peace rushes over me when my mobile phone belts out her special ring tone. It’s in those moments when I know I’m never alone. It’s in those moments I know my mom – my mommy – always has my back. It’s in those moments, I feel so grateful to have a mom that nourishes my life, my happiness, and my own personal journey through motherhood.

The post My Mom is My Lifeline appeared first on Evolving Stacey.

Tomorrow is my youngest child’s 7^th birthday. So when I was invited to share a birth story to highlight Save the Children’s annual report – State of the World’s Mothers…I thought it was only appropriate that I share my words with the world but to write this post as a letter to him.

The State of the World’s Mothers (SOWM) report is Save the Children’s signature annual publication, which compiles global statistics on the health of mothers and children, and uses them to produce rankings of nations within three groupings corresponding to varying levels of economic development. They have produced the reports annually since the year 2000. Though the core report indices are the same every year, each year there is a new feature or story angle added to it. In 2013, the new feature is the Birth Day Risk Index — the index compares first-day death rates for babies in 186 countries to identify the safest and most dangerous places to be born.

Birth Story

Dear Jonah,

Today is the last day of your sixth year. Tomorrow we will celebrate your birthday and your beautiful life. I know all you are thinking about is your party, the presents, the ice cream, and your favorite taco birthday dinner…but I’m thinking about that amazing day, seven years ago, when I met one of the ultimate loves of my life (you).

Yes, I know you are probably rolling your eyes at me right now. And yes, I’m probably embarrassing you. And yes, I promise you can open your presents soon. But for a moment, my love, humor me. Let me tell you your birth story the way I remember it.

May 7, 2006

Everything was set. Bubbie and Gramps arrived to take care of your brother. My hospital bag was packed. Your car seat was properly in the car.

I had my birth plan prepared (although I knew no one would really pay too much attention to it). I was counting down the hours to meet you.

I knew I’d meet you in a few short hours.

May 8, 2006

Because of 48 hours of challenging labor with your brother, the doctors and I decided to have you induced on May 8, 2006. Based on my doctor’s math, you’d be in my arms 9 hours after arriving at the hospital.

But it didn’t all go according to plan.

After sitting in the waiting room (for what felt like forever) I finally got my own room around 11am. I knew you’d be here soon, so the first thing I did was ask for a large cold Coke. I remember enjoying that Coke and thinking I’d only be pregnant for a few more hours. To be honest, I was just as excited to NOT be pregnant as I was to meet you.

Don’t get me wrong…I loved being pregnant. I loved feeling you kick and squirm. But your little 9.5 pound body was doing a lot of damage to my pelvic floor and sacrum. I was ready to relieve some of that pain.

Where was I….

Oh yeah, the Coke.

Because of all of the complications I had during your brother’s birth, this time I had an entire different plan. It was supposed to go something like this…

1. 11am Settle into my hospital room.
2. 12pm Epidural.
3. 1pm Start to induce me.
4. 2pm Break my water.
5. 3pm – 7:30pm Wait.
6. 7:30pm Push
7. 8pm Hold you in my arms.

That was the plan. This is what really happened.

The Epidural

I was really nervous about getting an epidural, but the anesthesiologist was amazing. He listened to my fears. He was gentle and kind (unlike the anesthesiologist I had with your brother).

The effects of the epidural were so different from the last time. Last time (with your brother) I could feel and wiggle my legs and feet. This time I felt nothing. It was a little unsettling not being able to move.

Getting Induced

I don’t remember the details, but I think it had to do with my IV and Pitocin.

Breaking My Water

Oy Vey. My doctor was involved with an emergency delivery of triplets that day, so someone sent in an amateur to break my water. I don’t know if he/she (can’t remember) was a student or resident but after many failed attempts of making a hole in my amniotic sac (using a small plastic hook) he/she declared defeat. Over the next few hours, many more amateurs took a stab at my amniotic sac. My amniotic sac won every time.

It was getting ridiculous.

My doctor finally arrived around 9pm to officially (and easily) break my water.

Then I waited.

Unlike the 48 hours of excruciating pain I had with your brother, this time I waited for you to arrive pain-free. I actually slept from 9pm – 5:30am.

May 9, 2006

At 5:30am it was time to push.

YEAH!

Based on the feedback I got while delivering your brother, I knew I was one amazing baby pusher outer.

Other than the unforeseeable, unstoppable, and horrifying shakes I had around 6:30am (that made me think for a moment that I was possibly dying) I was ready to do this.

I loved pushing you out into the world. It was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. With every push I knew I was one moment closer to meeting you, seeing you, holding you.

I’m now realizing this letter really should not be read to you on your 7^th birthday (or ever)…but this is how it all went down.

Where was I…

Oh yeah, the pushing.

After many awesome I-could-go-pro pushes later, you were born a little past 7am.

Your delivery into this world was awe-inspiring. Dad announced “It’s a Boy” and then cut the umbilical cord.

Within seconds, you were in my arms.

I cried of joy. I was beaming. You, my love, were finally here. Finally in my arms, exactly where you were supposed to be.

You were perfect.
Ten fingers.
Ten toes.
And your classic hair that was sticking up on the top of your head.

I didn’t want to let you go…but the nurses had to do their jobs and take care of you.

They swept you off to a corner of the room to take all of your specs (weight, height, etc). They dipped your tiny feet in ink and made endless prints of your feet.

I was stuck in bed. Daddy was taking videos. I was in love and just wanted you back in my arms.

They somehow moved me from my delivery room to my hospital room. And I waited for you to arrive.

They put you into my arms when you finally arrived and I never let you go. We were finally together. I couldn’t believe you were finally here. Our mother/son journey was finally starting.

And that, my love, is your birth story.

Happy Birthday Little Love.

Love,
Mom

Did You Know..

A baby’s birth day is the most dangerous day of life—in the United States and almost every country in the world—according Save the Children’s State of the World’s Mothers report, released today.

More than 1 million babies die the day they are born yearly, according to the first global analysis of newborn day-of-death data.

In addition to new findings on newborn survival, the report also features Save the Children’s Mothers’ Index, released annually in the run-up to Mother’s Day.  This year it ranks Finland as the best place in the world to be a mother, and Democratic Republic of the Congo as the toughest.

The United States ranks as the 30th best place to be a mother, just above Japan and South Korea—but below all of Western Europe,  Australia, Slovenia, Singapore, New Zealand, Estonia, Canada, Czech Republic, Israel, Belarus, Lithuania and Poland. The Mothers’ Index rankings are determined by five indicators on education, income, women’s political representation and the chances a mother and her baby will survive.

 
I wrote this post as part of The Global Team of 200, a highly specialized group of members of Mom Bloggers for Social Good that concentrates on issues involving women and girls, children, world hunger and maternal health. Our Motto: Individually we are all powerful. Together we can change the world. We believe in the power of collective action to help others and believe in ourselves to make this world a better place for our children and the world’s children.

Follow the Global Team of 200 on Tumblr, on Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.

The post Birth Story. Save the Children. #FirstMoments appeared first on Evolving Stacey.

This is Episode Three of The Best Products for Moms From Chicago’s 2013 International Home and Housewares Show. I’ve decided to cover best products for moms all year long instead of packing them all into one month. You can see my other favorite products from the Home and Housewares Show here.

I wasn’t around before sliced bread was available in stores…so I can’t truly appreciate the moment in time when moms suddenly didn’t have to cut bread everyday. But I truly believe this is MORE EXCITING than sliced bread!

Preserve the Earth and Save Money

I am thrilled to be introducing you to Bambooee Reusable Bamboo Towel! One roll of the reusable, washable Bambooee is equivalent to 60 regular paper towel rolls and can be washed and reused again and again and again.

Did you know there’s 3,000 tons of regular paper towel waste produced each day! That is a lot of waste! I loved my regular paper towels, I used them every day…and my contribution to that unbelievable waste had been weighing heavy on my mind.

I was so excited to try Bambooee bamboo towels…but wasn’t sure if they were going to meet my high expectations.

I Heart Bambooee Reusable Bamboo Towels

Bambooee reusable bamboo towels FAR EXCEEDED my expectations! I love them as much as a girl can love bamboo towels. I use them JUST LIKE I used regular paper towels, but now I wash them with the laundry and reuse them instead of throwing them away!

If you are trying to be greener and/or more frugal AND you currently use paper towels on a daily basis…then you have try a roll of Bambooee reusable bamboo towel. I’ll be shocked if you don’t love them as much as I love them.

Even as I write this, it seems so silly that I’m doing back flips over reusable paper towel…but Bambooee has truly transformed how I operate in my kitchen. And as silly as it feels to write this, I am proud that after all these years, we are officially a paper towel free household.

This Bambooee commercial makes me laugh, but it does a great job explaining why I love Bambooee so much!

Bambooee reusable bamboo towels are truly one of my favorite products that I discovered at the 2013 International Home and Housewares Show.

Disclosure: I received this product free of charge to review. Opinions are 100% my own.

The post Bambooee Reusable Bamboo Towel is the Best Thing Since Sliced Bread appeared first on Evolving Stacey.

Has one year really passed since I walked up on stage, stood behind this podium, and shared these words…

Have I become more carefree over the last 12 months? More anxious? Have I let go of some of my Motherhood Induced Anxiety?

I’ll have to save the answers to these questions for another post.

This post is to invite you to listen to a brand new Listen To Your Mother Chicago cast on Sunday, May 5. See all the details below!

I’ll be there to cheer them on. Will you?

The post Chicago’s 2nd Annual Listen To Your Mother Show appeared first on Evolving Stacey.

Love is the Answer!

Wise words from by my 6 year old,
inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr.

The post Love is the Answer appeared first on Evolving Stacey.

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I’m in my house, 1,000 miles away from Boston.

I can feel the cracks in my heart.

The doors are locked and I need to remind myself to breathe.

The wind is blowing. My mind is spinning.

The Boston area is on lock down because of the marathon bomber manhunt.

And I’m trying to figure out how to balance the Boston terror, my spiritual practice, and my day-to-day routines.

Do I watch CNN? Keep checking twitter updates from @CNNbrk?

Do I meditate? Try Kundalini yoga? Clear my mind?

Do I wash the dishes? Fold the laundry? Straighten up the kids’ rooms?

Land of the Free

On one hand, I want to be an ostrich with my head in the sand. I want to be 1,000 miles away from the chaos and the terror. I want to freely open my windows and freely walk down the streets in my neighborhood…because I can. Because that’s what it means to be free. Because I live in the land of free.

But I can’t. I can’t be free when I know many of my fellow Americans are on lock down. Not when cities are being shut down and fellow Americans are being asked to remain at home and lock their doors. Not when there is a terrorist on the loose somewhere in my country.

I feel compelled to check in with the news, to know what’s going on, to FEEL a glimpse of what others are truly experiencing. I want to open my heart and feel it ache with sadness. I want to be inspired by the 1,000s of law enforcers working diligently to bring freedom back to Boston.

Home of the Brave

Along with the sadness I feel in my heart, I want to fill the cracks of my heart with hope and love.

So here I sit, filling in the cracks of my heart with hope, love, and gratitude.

Hope for a brighter tomorrow.

Love for those feeling the terror.

Gratitude for life.

The post Boston is on Lock Down appeared first on Evolving Stacey.

A Night at the Chicago Children’s Theatre

I’ve been trying to find the perfect words to describe how I’m feeling right now. When I close my eyes and ask my inner wisdom for the words I’m looking for, the word that comes to me is….JOY!

Joy of being a mom.

Joy of living in Chicago.

Joy for the Chicago Children’s Theatre.

Joy of going into the city with my 6 year old last night and seeing The Elephant and The Whale.

Going into the city for one-on-one Mother/Son Date Nights is simply priceless.

Going to the Theater…

On Saturday, our adventure started with a train ride into the city, followed by a taxi ride to the theater. For my six year old, that alone is exciting. Then we watched a precious performance of The Elephant and The Whale. We watched. We laughed. We listened. And thanks to the whale, we even got a little wet.

The Elephant and The Whale, presented by Chicago Children’s Theatre in association with Redmoon, is a new family fable featuring sea voyages, wild mechanical objects, circus songs, panoramic paintings, exquisite shadow puppets and an innovative sound design. If you are considering having a Mother/Son (or daughter) Date Night, I highly recommend taking your child to see a live performance. There is something timeless about going to the theater with your children.

If you’re in Chicago, go check out the Elephant and Whale. You won’t be disappointed. Performances run through May 26, 2013 at Chicago Children’s Theatre’s new home, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn, Chicago. To purchase tickets, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (872) 222-9555. The Elephant and The Whale is recommended for all ages.

After the Show…

After the show we went on an adventure to find dinner. We walked in and out of restaurants until we find the perfect spot – Five Faces Ice Cream Shop. We grabbed some grub, eat too many cheesy fries, and laughed until we were full.

After a long day, we jumped back into a taxi, then onto a train, then into my car and headed home.

When I was putting my son to bed last night, we looked deep into my eyes, gave me a huge hug, and said “Thank you Mommy for one of the best days of my life”.

Do you see why the only word I can use to describe this experience is…JOY!

As I went to bed, I was thinking how cool it would be if in 30+ years from now my children told their children about the times I took them into the city…about our big city adventures. I hope they’ll cherish these experiences as much as I do.

Thank You!

I’m sending big big love and gratitude to the Chicago Children’s Theatre. Thank you for enriching my family’s lives. Thank you for giving us a reason to head into the city for Mother/Son date nights. And thank you for inspiring my children to live within their imaginations.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary tickets to this performance. Opinions are 100% my own. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Children’s Theatre.

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