As you know, I love to be out and about with my kiddos.  Even during Fall and Winter, we try to get outdoors as much as possible.  To be honest, it never occurred to me to put sunscreen on me or my kiddos in the winter. My litpmus test was whether or not we got burned.  Even in the summer, I figured as long as my little fair skinned girls weren’t getting burned, I was doing a good job protecting them from harmful sun damage.

On a recent visit to my new fabulous dermatologist, Dr. Neha Robinson, I learned that could not be further from the truth.  Not only was I not using the right sunscreen, but I wasn’t applying it correctly either.  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but kiss your spray sunscreens goodbye unless you want to spray and pat, spray and pat several times to get proper coverage.

I asked Dr. Robinson from Dermatology & Aesthetics of Wicker Park to share with my readers some tips for properly protecting ourselves and our little ones.

Take it away Dr. Robinson…

Sunscreen isn’t just for sunny days!   We all need to remember the importance of wearing sunscreen daily, all year round, even during the fall and winter months. Though some days we begin to wonder if the sun will ever appear again, it’s important to remember the harmful effects that UVA and UVB rays can have on our skin.  Even on the cloudiest day up to 80 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays can still pass through the clouds!   When indoors or driving in a car, UVA rays can penetrate window glass, leaving you prone to their damaging effects if you are unprotected.

What to look for in a suncreen:

A broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 (SPF of 30 during summer months or greater sun exposure) should be applied daily to exposed skin 30 minutes prior to sun exposure.  Sunscreens that offer broad-spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays contain physical blockers, such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, or chemical sunscreens, such as avobenzone or Mexoryl (ecamsule).  A sunscreen with avobenzone must also contain a stabilizing agent to prevent its degradation in sunlight.  Mexoryl is a stable chemical sunscreen, but with only partial UVA protection. Check out the graph with sunscreen ingredients below.

Application:

Re-apply your sunscreen to all exposed areas every 2 hours.    Water- and sweat-resistant sunscreens offer only 40 minutes of optimal protection so re-apply more frequently while swimming or sweating.  Don’t wait to see the sunburn!  Damaging effects to the skin from ultraviolet rays can take place well before you develop a sunburn.

Spray sunscreens may not provide adequate coverage or protection so look for a lotion, cream or stick instead and apply liberally.  Sun-protective clothing (such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a 4” wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses) provides an additional means of protection.  There are now many options of clothing and swimwear made of UPF 30+ fabric available online (www.sunprecautions.com,www.coolibar.com, www.wallaroohats.com) and in stores.

If you are starting to feel a little pale this winter, don’t be tempted to visit a tanning booth which also exposes you to harmful ultraviolet rays.  Consider using a self-tanning product instead!   If you are planning a vacation this winter, use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect UV rays, increasing your chance of a sunburn.

Sun protection is the principal means of preventing premature aging and skin cancer.  It’s never too late to protect yourself from the sun and minimize your future risk of skin cancer!

Graph_Sunscreen_ingredients07

Dr. Neha Robinson is a board-certified Dermatologists at Dermatology & Aesthetics of Wicker Park.  Dermatology & Aesthetics of Wicker Park offers general, cosmetic, pediatric and procedural dermatology.

As you may know, I have been on a 2,500 mile family road trip to Yellowstone these past two weeks. My family loves road trips, but I know a journey of that distance can be a bit daunting when you have little ones. If you are looking for some fun, family road trip ideas closer to home, I recommend the book Day Trips From Chicago: Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler by Elisa Drake.  Elisa and I are on the Neighborhood Parents Network board together, and I asked her to provide us with a few highlights from her book.  I picked it up two weeks ago, and have already planned a couple new trips.  I especially like the list of festivals in the back.  We visited Holland, MI for their Tulip Festival two years ago and loved it.

Elisa has generously donated a copy of the book for me to give away to one lucky reader.  Plus, to motivate you to hit the open road, Discovery World in Milwaukee has provided on the go Chicago with a family four pack of tickets. To be entered into the drawing for a copy of Day Trips from Chicago and four passes to Discovery World, simply email me at cindymccarthy@onthegochicago.com by 5pm Friday, July 8th.

Take it away Elisa…

5 family adventures, all just a quick drive from Chicago

Keep fuel costs low and stress even lower with road trips within a few hours of the city. Rev up that travel bug with some highlights of the 25 trips covered in “Day Trips from Chicago: Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler”: By Elisa Drake

1. Kenosha, Wisconsin

• Compare canines with the largest exhibit of carnivorous dinosaurs in North America at the Dinosaur Discovery Museum (5608 10th Ave., 262-653-4450, www.dinosaurdiscoverymuseum.org).
• Grab a juicy burger at Frank’s Diner (508 58th St., 262-657-1017, www.franksdinerkenosha.com), featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”
• Find bargains from Coach, Calvin Klein, and Restoration Hardware at Prime Outlets (11211 120th Ave., at I-94 and WI-165, 877-466-8853, www.primeoutlets.com)

2. Joliet, Wilmington, and Pontiac, Illinois

• Make like you’re at a drive-in in the cut-out back of a replica 1950s-era Corvette at the Joliet Area Historical Museum/Route 66 Visitors Center (204 N. Ottawa St., Joliet, 815-723-5201, www.jolietmuseum.org), where Route 66 comes alive.
• Pay homage to the Blues Brothers and TV series “Prison Break” at the eerie castle-like Old Joliet Prison Park (1125 Collins St., Joliet, www.visitjoliet.com/prison).
• Down a frosty mug of root beer at the seasonal Ace Drive-In (1207 Plainfield Rd., Joliet, 815-726-7741, www.acedrivein.com).
• Pose with the 30-foot-tall “muffler man” known as Gemini Giant (Launching Pad restaurant, 810 E. Baltimore St., Wilmington, 815-476-6535).
• Stroll Pontiac’s 19 “walldog” Murals on Main Street (pick up a map from the Visitor Center, 120 W. Howard St., 815-844-5847, www.visitpontiac.org).

3. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• Pet a sea urchin, jam with a virtual version of rock and roll legend Les Paul, and climb aboard a replica 19th-century schooner at Discovery World (500 N. Harbor Dr., 414-765-9966, www.discoveryworld.org).
• Cruise the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan shoreline on an Edelweiss Boat (205 W. Highland Ave., 414-276-7447, www.edelweissboats.com).
• Imagine life on a hog at the Harley-Davidson Museum (400 Canal St., 877-436-8738, www.h-dmuseum.com).
• Indulge in the area’s famous frozen custard at Kopp’s (18880 W. Bluemound Rd., Brookfield, 262-789-9490, www.kopps.com).

4. Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

• Feel the ghosts who haunt the Historic 1856 Octagon House (276 Linden St., 920-923-5656, www.octagonhousefdl.com), once a stop on the Underground Railroad.
• Try the Pop Rock-infused ice cream from the Kelley Country Creamery (W5215 County Road B, 920-923-1715, www.kelleycountrycreamery.com).
• Toss a line in Lake Winnebago (call the CVB for info: 920-923-3010), the second-largest freshwater lake in the country.

5. South Bend, Indiana

• Kick it at the College Football Hall of Fame (111 S. St. Joseph St., 800-440-FAME, www.collegefootball.org), before the museum moves to Atlanta next year.
• Walk about with the wallaby and kangaroos at the Potawatomi Zoo (500 S. Greenlawn Ave., 574-288-4639, www.potawatomizoo.org).
• Cheer on the Fighting Irish of the University of Notre Dame or just gaze up at the school’s “Touchdown Jesus” (574-631-5726, www.nd.edu).
• Take along mints for after devouring a garlic pizza at Rocco’s Restaurant (537 N. Saint Louis Blvd., 574-233-2464).

Elisa Drake is a freelance writer in Chicago and author of “Day Trips from Chicago” and the upcoming “Insiders’ Guide to Chicago.” She lives in Albany Park with her husband and two daughters who are always up for a new adventure.

I am always looking for ways to save a few bucks.  We are planning our summer vacation, and it got me thinking about free activities and ways to save money while on vacation.

Here are 5 ways I’ve found to save money on vacation.

1. Pack your lunch – Food at airports and on planes is crazy expensive.  Although you can’t bring liquids with you, you can bring sandwiches and snacks.  Pack your travel food in your carry-on baggage, and spend the money you’ll save doing something fun on your trip!
2. Bring your breakfast – I always cringe when we get the bill for breakfast.  Its hard to believe that it cost me $50+ to feed two toddlers and two adults breakfast at a hotel restaurant. When staying at a hotel that does not offer free breakfast, I like to bring instant oatmeal.  All you need is hot water (courtesy of your room’s coffee maker), and you have breakfast.  Plus, they don’t take up much space in your suitcase.  Don’t forget to bring spoons.  Hotel room coffee mugs make great bowls, but oatmeal is hard to eat with your fingers!
3. Turn your hotel room into a two room suite – If your traveling with wee ones (pack-n-play age), reserve handicap accessible rooms.  The bathrooms are huge.  Even when we had two kids in pack-n-plays, we could usually fit both in the bathroom (one in the shower and one near the toilet).  Make sure that your toddler cannot reach the shower curtain (I usually wrap it around the rod) or anything else from their crib (towels, blow-dryer, etc.). Your kids can be sleeping in the bathroom for naps or at night, and you can be watching TV or chatting in the main room.  This effectively makes your room a two-room suite without the extra charge!
4. Plan a trip to one of our National Parks on a free day – Every year the National Park Service offers several FREE days where more than 100 National Parks that normally charge fees are FREE.  Click here for a complete list of 2011 dates.
5. Visit a museum in another city for free – Like Chicago, many of the museums around the country have designated free days.  Check there websites for dates and details before you plan your next trip.  Also, if you have a family membership to one of our local Chicago museums or attractions, check to see which museums around the country offer reciprocal free access.  For example, the Chicago Children’s Museum is part of the Association of Children’s Museums, and members get free access to 165 museums in over 40 states.  Plus, September 24th is Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day.  Museums, planetariums and historical sites around the country will be free.  All you need to do is print out a ticket courtesy of Smithsonian Magazine.

I would love to hear how you save money on vacation.

I am thrilled to introduce a new guest blogger today, Sue Kirchner.  I met Sue a couple months ago, and loved her positive attitude and her dedication to inspiring and helping busy families have more fun, so they can have more “Chocolate Cake Moments” – when they are smiling, relaxed, and enjoying their family time.  Not only is she the founder of ChocolateCakeClub.com, an e-boutique and the ChocolateCakeMoments.com blog, but she is also the CFO (Chief Fun Officer) for her family.  Sue and her family fun ideas have been featured on ABC Chicago, WGN, and NBC Chicago.

With the summer travel season upon us, I ask Sue from some tips on how we can keep the kids and parents smiling while on the road.  Take it away Sue…

Kids Travel Boredom Bag Ideas!

You’ve been in the car for five minutes and already the kids are bored. You cringe. Or, you are sitting in the airport when they announce another 30 minute delay. You almost sob at the prospect of having to amuse the kids so they don’t declare mutiny and take over the news stand. Never fear! Just have your kids grab their Boredom Bags and your travel adventures won’t go south on you.

What is a Boredom Bag, you ask? Each child (and even adults) should have a bag that they bring in the car or plane filled with fun activities to keep them amused while traveling. It is a lifesaver for all of the delays and unpredictable events that are bound to occur when you are on the go.

Here are some ideas for your kids’ boredom bags. Shameless plug: I sell many of these items at our e-boutique http://www.chocolatecakeclub.com/trwiki.html. We sell them because we have used them and love them.

Babies:

Babies don’t need much in terms of toys in their bags. Pacifiers, snacks, and bottles seem to do the trick for most babies while traveling. However, you can certainly bring some teething toys or crinkly sensory toys like these miYim Organic Stroller Toys or a soft book.

Toddlers:

• Art-to-Go Folios – crayon and paper sets that are easy for little hands to carry
• Board books
• Lovey or stuffed animal, like a Zoobie Pet - these 3 in 1 Travel Companions are a pillow, blanket and toy all in one.

Little Kids:

• DVDs to play on your laptop or DVD player
• Chalk ‘n Doodle Art Set
• Small toys like Animals, Elves, Knights, Army Men, Playmobil guys, or Sports Action Figures
• Sticker Play Scenes – Remember the old Colorforms we used to play with? Well, they are back with some fabulous scenes that will keep kids amused
• Fun Kids Music
• Travel Bingo – a classic!
• Pipe Cleaners or Wiki Sticks – no mess and kids can spend hours making shapes and objects

Big Kids/ Tweens:

• Magnetic Tin Dress Up Sets -Dress up Robots, Fairies, World Travelers, Monsters, and Princesses. Perfect for travel since the pieces stick to the magnetic box.
• Activity Backpacks
• Write Me a Story Notepads -Practice their writing skills while having fun creating stories to share
• Comic Books
• Adventure books like 39 Clues, The Sisters Grimm, Harry Potter, Lightening Thief, or Skulduggery Pleasant (books or audio books)
• DVDs or computer games (Leapster, Gameboy, etc.)
• Pipe Cleaners or Wiki Sticks – no mess and kids can spend hours making shapes and objects
• Travel Journals
• Camera (small digital or disposable)
• Family Road Trip Box of Question
• Box of Family Games
• Craft kits like sewing kits, knitting, or counted cross stitch

What’s in your Kids’ Boredom Bag?

After having two kids in 13 months (and now two toddlers), our marriage’s fun meter has dipped to a new low.  Its not just making time to go out without our kids, but also having fun while we are away.  I hate when we get a sitter, and then spend the entire night talking about the kids or our jobs.

Bottom line, my hubby and I need to leave our work and our kids at home, and focus on having a little fun together!  Given my pension for finding fun family outings, I thought it was about time for me to put some of my well honed researching skills to work on upping the fun quotient in my marriage!

Finding a Trustworthy Sitter

Its hard to have fun when you are worrying about your kids the entire time you are away.  If you don’t have a roster of sitters you trust, I can’t say enough good things about K Grace Childcare.  I met Kayme Pumphrey, owner of K Grace, a few months ago at a Neighborhood Parents Network event, and became fast friends.  She offered to let me try out her services, and I snatched up the opportunity for a night out with my hubby!  K Grace offers everything from one time placements to weekend request.  The babysitters go through an extensive background check, all have tons of experience, and are CPR certified.  I loved being able to simply let K Grace know what day and time I needed a sitter, and letting them do all the work.  The sitter we had was amazing.  Generally there is a bit of crying before we leave, but the K Grace sitter had my girls in a chair reading with her before I was even out the door. I barely got a bye mom.  Which, I have to say, is a lot better than peeling a crying two-year-old off my leg. K Grace is hosting a free family playdate at Bubbles Academy on April 14th from 2-4pm.  They will have crafts, activities, yummy snacks and live entertainment while you meet and mingle with some of K. Grace’s amazing sitters!

5 FUN Chicago Date Night Ideas

1. Throw a strike at Southport Lanes & Billiards.  Southport Lanes is a bowling and billiard establishment that boasts one of only ten hand-set bowling alleys in the country. Its small, nostalgic and the food is surprisingly tasty for a bar.  No disco balls or electronic scoring systems here. Just good old fashion FUN!
2. Get your groove on at the Green Mill. Visiting the Green Mill is like stepping back in time.  The bar has been around almost a century, and has a 40′s charm about it.  The Green Mill use to be a favorite hangout of gangsters and celebs.  They still get a huge crowd for their touring and local jazz and big band acts.  They have live music every night of the week.  Get there early if you want to get a seat.
3. Take a one-night trip abroad by exploring one of Chicago’s amazing ethnic neighborhoods.  I don’t know about your kids, but mine stick there nose up at most new foods, so I love to try something exotic when it is just the two of us.  Chicago Magazine and TimeOut Chicago tend to be my guides to finding new restaurants, so I found a few articles that highlight some of Chicago’s amazing ethnic food – Best Mexican Restaurants in Chicago, Cheap Ethnic Food Chicago and Chicago’s Best Ethnic Restaurants
4. Laugh a little or maybe a lot at Second City.  Chicago is home to one of the world’s premier improv comedy clubs.  Many of Saturday Night Lives starts got there start at Second City.  Plus, you can try your hand at improv.  They offer free improv sessions after their shows during the week.  Click here to view there full schedule.
5. Adler After Dark - Kick-off your weekend early every third Thursday, 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. Enjoy cocktails and appetizers against the award-winning view of the Chicago skyline seen only from the Adler. Amble around the Adler’s exhibitions or take in a sky or space show. Adler After Dark is the only time you can peek through the Doane Observatory telescope, the largest telescope in the Midwest accessible to the public.  Next After Dark is on March 17th.

More Tips – While doing research for this blog, I found a couple great articles on date nights worth sharing too:

• Date-night tips for new parents on babycenter.com - I love the last two tips about managing expectations and forgetting the fighting!
• 100 Great Date-Night Ideas on redbook.com – Some of there tips are stay at home date nights.  I like the idea of putting the kids to bed, but making a special date to spend time together instead of doing laundry!
• Romance Reinvented: 4 Date-Night Tips Every Couple Should Know on ivillage.com – I like there idea of not inviting anyone else.  I tend to be a bit TOO social, and we almost never go out alone.

My husband and I love road trips, and having two toddlers has not slowed us down yet…well, maybe a little, but the important thing is we still do it!  We recently embarked on our third family road trip in the last two years of over 2,000 miles (not to mention the many, shorter weekend getaways).

We left Chicago Thursday, stopped in Springfield for the day and then pushed on to St. Louis for dinner on the Hill (historic Italian neighborhood) and frozen custard at Ted Drewes, a famous Route 66 roadside stop .  Day two we checked out the Arch and some other St. Louis sites and then headed to Memphis.  Today we visited Graceland.  Tomorrow we are off to Mobile and the beach.  Woo hoo!

Traveling with children requires more planning, patience and a lot more gear.  We are currently piled into our Jeep Grand Cherokee with two pack-n-plays, lots of luggage, a portable high chair, two bikes and a bike trailer.  Lets just say, this baby is loaded like a giant Jenga puzzle!

I thought I would blog from the road and share what we’ve learned on past adventures and what we learn on this one.

Past Adventures:

• Be patient with each other and be willing to adjust your plans.  Don’t try to see as much as you used to before kids.
• Joie De Vivre, find the joy in the journey.  We research fun roadside stops between destinations.  I can proudly say we’ve seen the Rocket Man on Route 66 in Illinois, the Paul Bunyan statue in Northern California, Boonesborough (Daniele Boone’s fort) in Kentucky and countless other pieces of Americana on our road trips. 
• Bring lots of snacks and drinks for you and your kids. We’ve found that a soft side cooler fits behind the center console perfectly.
• Kids get carsick, so be prepared with wipes, towels/rags and water for the quick roadside cleanup. Unfortunately, we’ve suffered this fate twice, and it is messy and SMELLY.  A machine washing is essential if you hope to get rid of the smell.  Many hotels have washers and dryers, but if they don’t, they will likely launder the car seat cover for a fee. Another piece of advice on this one….make sure you thoroughly clean the straps/buckle of the car seat too! 
• We have a basket of toys, books and coloring pads between their two car seats, which they can both reach.  This tends to keep them busy, but we also play a lot of “eye spy.”
• We keep the DVD player as a last resort.  If things start going south in the car, Cailou to the rescue.  Make sure you have one with a car cigarette lighter adapter if your car does not have one installed.
• Get gas before they fall asleep.  Numerous times we have woken our kids up from a peaceful slumber because we were running out a gas.
• If your not staying in an all suite hotel like Embassy Suites, reserve handicap accessible rooms.  The bathrooms are huge.  We have two kids in pack-n-plays, and can usually fit both in the bathroom (one in the shower and one near the toilet).  Make sure that your toddler cannot reach the shower curtain (I usually wrap it around the rod) or anything else from their crib (towels, blow-dryer, etc.). This effectively makes your room a two-room suite without the extra charge!

This trip

• One of you should check-in prior to getting the kids and luggage out of the car.  We had a little issue with our room not being ready, and wrangling two TIRED toddlers and lots of luggage in the lobby was not FUN last night.
• Bring a night-light.  Since we usually have our kids sleep in the bathroom, it can be quite dark in there with the door closed.  A night-light provides the perfect amount of light to keep them happy.
• More to come…I am sure!