How to Tour Your City Without Looking Like a Tourist

When I was a kid I remember walking in Manhattan with my parents and brother and looking at how beautiful the buildings were. It was that same night that my mom said something I'll never forget: "Stop looking around like that or people are going to think you're a tourist!". Didn't even make sense to me. First off I was a kid and second I was born and raised in NY, why would people think I'm a tourist just because I'm enjoying the buildings? Ever since I have had a hard time participating in touristy things (thanks a lot mom!) as there is the underlined fear of crossing the thin line of city fun to full blown tourist.

I do have my regrets for letting this affect me. Had I have seen more sites when I still lived in New York I would've been able to enjoy the rooftops of the World Trade before September 11 occurred. Well you live and you learn, right? Now that I live in Chicago I want to appreciate and take advantage of the city it's landmarks, but how can I do so without looking like a damn tourist? Over the years I have devised some very helpful ways to work this out so whether you are visiting a new city or if you want to explore the one you live in, you can do so like a pro.

Do your homework. 

Visit the city website or resource websites like Metromix, Yelp(or the Moms in the City calendar) and see what events will be taking place for you to take advantage of.

Travel in small groups. 

There is no point in taking up the whole sidewalk, train car or bus with a huge group of people.. If you happen to be traveling with a lot of people it would be best if you travel in smaller groups so that you can have a more intimate experience. Try to travel in increments of 4 or 5 and for fun give each group a separate location to explore then share photos at the end of the night.

Don't carry maps!

Not only are they bulky but they are outdated! Depending on your cell phone you can easily access Google Maps and figure out anywhere you need to go at the push of a few buttons. Leave the maps at the gas station.

Visit tourist attractions on weekdays. 

By visiting attractions during the weekday you won't not be overrun by mobs of people and there are usually great deals such as half price off fares during the week.

Visit local staples.

Everyone knows of and has visited famous skyscrapers and restaurants but there are many local venues that are unique and that would be worth checking out. Try visiting local coffee shops, hole in the wall restaurants and independent clothing stores. You are almost guaranteed not to find a duplicate any where else!

Go to bars and hot spots on non-busy days. 

City bars and clubs are always busy on the weekends but generally are a low-key hangout spot on days like Tuesdays or Wednesdays. By visiting a bar on a slow day you can not only almost guarantee that you will get a place to sit but you won't have to scream or yell to have conversations.

Take advantage of free city events. 

One of the best concerts I've ever seen was at the Taste of Chicago and I got to watch Stevie Wonder play for three hours...for free! There are many events that cities host for free such as music concerts,  movies in the park, free days at the museum to street fests. Of course this works well with the first trick of doing your homework to see what events will be taking place on the days that you want to hit the town.

Join Meetup Groups.

Not only can you join groups on Meetup for free but you can get to know moms from any different areas and they all just want to get out of the house and have a good time too. If there is a place that you've always wanted to check out but can't get one of your friends to go with you can list it as an "Idea" on the groups site. There is bound to be a mom or two in the group who will tag along. And if you can't find someone from one group, join another! The best part about it is that you have options and what girl doesn't love variety??

Have fun!

Top Natural Ways to Keep Mosquitos at Bay

A few days ago me and the Mr. went for what we thought was a nice romantic walk in the park and instead were the unfortunate victims of skin rape by about one million bugs. Last night we had a nice dinner with a couple of friend on their porch and while they had some tiki lanterns meant to keep away bugs, the crafty suckers (no pun intended) crept their way through and went for my taste chocolaty skin!

While I want to save my skin from gross bumps and lumps from stupid mosquito bites, I don't want to layer thick and gooey sprays on my arms and legs to do so. Instead I did some research on how we can natually keep those blood sucking bastards off of us and our babies.

• Keep away still water
• Don't wear tons of perfume or sweet smelling lotions
• Apparently Avon's Skin So Soft helps keeps away bugs, but only for a short period of time
• Eating a lot of garlic, taking garlic capsules or rubbing garlic on your skin works in the same way as Vitamin B-1. Of course, you might also repel friends and family
• Consume the vitamin B-1 is supposed to help
• There are a number of herbs that help keep away mosquito such as Aloe Vera, lavender, peppermint, and cloves.
• Citronella oil is a great natural way to repel bugs by either burning it or putting it directly on your skin.
• You should considering wearing light colors as mosquitoes seem to be attracted to the color black.

First MITC Giveaway- Mani/Pedi Spa Treatment!

With us moms working so hard at our jobs, school and with the kids don't we deserve a little break? I think so! In honor of our hard work I have been going to many neighborhood stores to see if they will donate treats to the site such as complimentary dinners, gift certificates, spa treatments and more for us moms. And wouldn't you know it, they have agreed!

Our first Moms in the City Giveaway was given by local nail boutique Paint in Chicago. Paint is a super chic nail salon located in the heart of Lincoln Park and is owned by Micki Lee. Micki has been the proud owner of Paint for the last three years and has a number of loyal customers, many of them being cool city moms. 

As soon as you enter you notice that this is more than your average nail salon. Not only are you greeted at the door by the friendly Paint staff, but the boutique is very funky and fun consisting of brightly painted walls and chic decor.

Paint specializes in top notch services by offering all spa treatment such as manicures, pedicures, chair massages and all your waxing needs! Not only has Micki offered Chicago moms this awesome spa package but she has opened her doors for the upcoming Moms and Manicure party night in which us girls the chance to have a nice moms night out and enjoy getting pampered with a little martini and cocktail all while meeting other city moms. 

So how to you enter for such a great treat? You just have to be a member of the Moms in the City website! If you live in Chicago feel free to drop by Paint and leave your name and email! The lucky mom will not only win the mani/pedi but will also have a free babysitter (me!) while you get your treatment!

Paint is open Monday - Friday from 10-8pm, Saturday from 9-7pm and closed on Sunday.  Make sure to stay tuned to the MITC calendar for upcoming dates regarding the Moms and Manicure party and feel free to visit Paint for any spa services you might need!

Good luck!

Foods That Naturally Whiten Your Teeth

Red wine, dark colored sodas, coffee and tea, and many other foods and drinks that can stain clothing can stain teeth as well. But there are some foods that are natural home remedies for whitening teeth. Of course, nothing works as quickly or effectively as professional-strength teeth whitening but the foods below offer a cheap, natural way to lighten your smile.

Strawberries - Rub strawberries on your teeth to make them shine. Or, create a paste of crushed strawberries and baking soda and brush on your teeth once or twice a week, leaving the mixture on for five minutes each time. Just make sure to thoroughly clean your teeth afterwards because the sugar and acid in the strawberries can lead to tooth decay and enamel erosion if left on too long.

Orange Peel - Buff your teeth with the inside to create a brilliant shine. You can also combine ground bay leaves and dried orange peel to form a paste that you can brush onto your teeth.

Lemon Juice - Lemon juice isn't just for bleaching your hair; it can also have a whitening effect on your teeth. Just be careful not too use this method too often because the acidic nature of lemon juice can eat away at your tooth enamel. Adding a little lemon juice to salt or baking soda is another alternative that in addition to whitening also helps clean the teeth.

Apple Cider Vinegar - Like lemon juice, apple cider vinegar can also be used to bleach the teeth. You can mix it with baking soda to make a paste to brush onto the teeth, or gargle with it daily before brushing your teeth to help remove surface stains.

Crunchy Fruits and Veggies - Apples, carrots, cauliflower, celery, pears, and other crunchy fruits and vegetables help clean the teeth and prevent stains. When the natural fibers of the fruits and vegetables combine with saliva in the mouth, they help wash away food particles and stain-causing bacteria.

But don't expect these natural teeth whitening foods to lighten your teeth right away. Patience is the key. If you want to see dramatic results quickly, a professional teeth whitening treatment available from a dentist is a better choice. And don't forget that brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day and visiting the dentist for professional cleanings twice a year can go a long way in your teeth whitening efforts.

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How to Dress Up Your Dinners

Although summer is coming to an end there is still plenty of time to host some great dinner parties with the girls. One of the tricks to a successful dinner get together is not only the delicious food, but how it is presented. You don't have to be a top notch chef to make a dish look like it's from a four star restaurant. Here are some plating tips from Startcooking.com

Set the table properly. Your day-to-day meals might be free-for-alls, but if you’ve got guests coming over, it’s nice to have the knives and forks in the right places.

Choose your plates wisely. Make sure your serving plates are big enough to let each food item stand out, but small enough that the portions don’t look tiny.

Read the clock! A foolproof way to arrange food on a plate is to place the carbohydrate (rice, pasta, bread, etc.) at “11 o’clock,” the protein at “2 o’clock,” and the vegetables at “6 o’clock” from the diner’s point of view. 

Be odd. Don’t be strange, but things generally look more interesting when they’re in sets of odd numbers, rather than even numbers.

Play with Height. This Chicken Stirfry with Broccoli looks more interesting because of the high mound of rice sitting next to it.  

Play with color and texture. Even if you’re serving something like fish sticks a rainbow of mixed vegetables on the side can make the dish look like a million bucks.

Garnish appropriately. Don’t lose sight of the recipe you made in the first place! Any garnishes on the plate should be edible and should enhance the flavor of the main dishes.

Read the entire article here!