Holiday Tea at the Peninsula Hotel

You know Holiday Traditions don’t always have to be about family. One of my favorite traditions is a Mom’s Night Out. For a few years now, three of us girl friends have been getting together in December to have Holiday Tea. So civilized! Chicago has some amazing places for tea – the Drake Hotel, the Peninsula Hotel, the Russian Tea Room. We meet, drink, eat and exchange some gifts. I dig the champagne, exotic teas, and the cute little sweet tray. I look forward to it every year. (While the food is better at the Peninsula, I like the Drake best for it’s traditional decor.)

Here are some other ideas for outings with your bestest Mom friends. Take some time for yourself during the Holiday Season to unwind and recharge. After all, if Mommy ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.

1. Shopping Spree – Kill two birds with one stone and organize an outing to get your Holiday shopping done. Head on over to that new Mall you’ve been dying to visit. Or take the train and go to the big stores downtown. It’s always more fun when you have someone helping you shop for those impossible people on your list.

2. Cookie Swaps – Do you and your friends like to bake? Get a cookie swap going this year. CreativeMama.com has all the tips on How to Host a Cookie Swap. Stand around the kitchen with some cookie dough martinis and bake up a storm. Put on some music and dance while you’re at it. (Make sure your husband takes the kids to the movies. You don’t want them to die of shame while you boogie and sing.)

3. Holiday Wine Tasting – Do you have a local winery or gourmet wine shop in your area? Call and see if they will give you a tour or a mini wine tasting class. You can tell your hubby that you are going to find the perfect wine for Holiday dinner but we all know you are going for the fun. They may even have little snacks. Bonus!

4. Nutcracker Ballet – I love the Nutcracker Ballet. We are lucky in Chicago to have the Joffrey Ballet perform the Nutcracker every year. I’ve seen numerous versions and noboby does it better than Joffrey. I fortunately have a husband who doesn’t mind going to the ballet with me. However, many of my friends don’t. So, this is the perfect excuse to get together with the girls and get your sugar plum fairy fix.

5. Cooking Class – Another option for a fun evening out with the gals is a cooking class. If you don’t already have a favorite place for cooking classes, ask your friends what they recommend or look online. Some Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table stores have Holiday themed cooking classes. You can even have a private chef come to your house and teach the class in a more comfortable setting. Learn how to make killer Holiday desserts or New Years Eve party appetizers.

What do you like to do on your Mom’s Night Out?

[Read more →]

Tags: Friday Night Fun · Holiday Traditions · Mom's Night Out

Alison at SassyMomintheCity.com told me about a great Moms Night Out Event coming up on June 3rd in Chicago. Cosmos, hors d’eovres, swag bags, and a private showing of the new Sex in the City 2 Movie! And, it benefits the Neighborhood Parents Network. What more could you ask for? There are only a few seats left but grab your Momfriends and plan for a fun night out in the City.

Here are the details:
Join the Sassy Moms Give Back NPN Fundraising Reception hosted at Old Town Social on June 3rd.

Mingle with fellow Sassy Moms and raise awareness for Neighborhood Parents Network while enjoying Absolut Cosmos and gourmet hors d’ oeuvres provided by Old Town Social prior to a private showing of the new Sex and the City 2 movie!

Who will be there? Sassy Moms in Chicago – NPN Members and Non-Members (expectant moms, moms of babies, toddlers and school aged children are welcome!)

Where? Old Town Social and AMC River East 21

When? June 3rd. Reception at Old Town Social – (5:00 – 7:00 PM)
Sex and the City 2 at AMC River East 21 (7:30 pm*) *Movie time is subject to change.

What will it cost? Reception & Movie: $60 per person (roundtrip private transportation will be provided from Old Town Social to AMC River East on 322 East Illinois Street, Chicago IL 60611.)

What will I get? A night out with the girls, cosmos, passed hors d’ oeuvres, swag bag, (1) ticket and entrance to a private theater just for Sassy Moms, private roundtrip transportation to theater and access to fabulous prizes!

Why should I go? Neighborhood Parents Network needs our help raising awareness and funds for their new website launching this fall. The website will be totally revamped, user-friendly and have fabulous new features members have been requesting for years!

Space is limited, reserve your spot today! Click here to register If the event is sold out when you register, please contact Alison Ray at sassymominthecity@gmail.com to be added to the waitlist.

[Read more →]

Tags: Cool Finds · Mom's Night Out

I just had a blast at a recent Girls Night Out event in Chicago that I think Moms need to walk…, no, run to sign up for. A good friend of mine organizes a Girls Night Out event every quarter for an ecclectic and fascinating group of professional women. (Everyone needs a friend who actually plans and organizes some fun. If you don’t have one, go out and get yourself one.) We have tried some very fun activities in town like the Chicago Chocolate Tours, Pops for Champagne Happy Hour, and the Sex in the City movie. But, last week’s outing was spectacular.

We went to Nacional 27 in Chicago for one of their mixology workshops. Adam Seger, the restaurant’s Chief Mixologist, conducts a workshop on how to mix some very spectacular, exotic cocktails. He uses all kinds of fresh herbs and fruits in the cocktails, so I think I learned more about organic produce that I did about alcohol, which is not a bad thing.

Last Thursday, the workshop theme was peaches. We made the most fabulous Peach Bellini with Ginger syrup and fresh lemon thyme that they grow in little pots on the bar.

He used Red Indian Peaches, which I had never heard of, and the smell was outstanding. As one guest said “They should make a candle that smells like this.” (I’m sure they do, I’m just not on THAT mailing list, yet.”)

The second drink was a Peach Caipirinha, which is a knock off from the infamous Brazilian drink. When I lived in Argentina, we visited Brazil several times and I’ve had my share of caipirinhas. This my friend, is no caipirinha. (If you have never had one, they are stronger than Everclear,but with a lovely hint of lime. Don’t have more than one!!!!! Seriously, it’s not pretty.)

This Peach Caipirinha was outstanding. Way better than the “real” thing. They didn’t even use cachaca, the Brazilian sugar cane alcohol, so the kick wasn’t all that strong either. We had fun muddling limes, two kinds of peaches and some fresh herbs in the glass. Adam then added some sweetner and rum. He toppped it off with fresh lavender which smelled heavenly.

During this educational workshop, servers bring around some wonderful appetizers to keep you from getting too smashed and to entice you to stay for dinner. It worked on us!

Afterwards, they had salsa dancing lessons so a few of us tried to shake our Anglo thangs on the dance floor. Our dance instructor was lovely and very, very patient. We had a blast.

Here’s the best part. The mixology class with 2 fabouslously exotic drinks, appetizers and salsa dancing lessons was only $20 a person! We stayed for dinner and had even more fun. Moms, get this on your calendars. Grab your girlfriends, get a sitter, and plan a fun night out in Chicago. Although there was no chocolate involved, this was definitely a Chocolate Cake Moment for me.

[Read more →]

Tags: Mom's Night Out · Moms Living Out Loud