Monster Jam is coming to Chicago!

Monster Jam is coming to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont THIS weekend!  I have always wanted to go to a Monster Jam event!  It seems like every time they come to Atlanta, I have at least 5 friends who are posting from there about what a good time that they are having (and most of these friends are the ones without kids)!  I think this will be such a fun event for not only Ian (who loooves his Monster Trucks), but for Dave & I as well!

(read this in your Monster Jam announcer voice for the best effect)

Monster Jam is the most exciting form of family motorsports entertainment on the planet.  The stars of the show are the biggest performers on four wheels: the Monster Jam trucks! The12 ft. tall, 10,000-pound machines will bring you to your feet, racing and ripping up a custom-designed track full of obstacles to soar over - OR smash through. The 2014 touring season brings more Monster Jam excitement providing entertainment tailored perfectly for your family's budget, and these colorful, larger-than-life beasts are sure to capture the hearts of both young and old.

The Chicago shows are coming to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont February 7-9th!  You can purchase tickets online now at www.ticketmaster.com!  Ticket prices vary according to show so visit Ticket Master for details!


Showtimes:  Friday, February 7 - 7:30 PM.  Saturday, February 8 - 2 PM & 7:30 PM.  Sunday, February 9 - 2 PM & 7:30 PM.

Kids tickets are just $12!

Monster Jam Pit Party-  Pit Party prior to each 2 PM performance from 11 AM - 1 PM.  Walk the track, meet the drivers & grab autographs.  Pit passes available for $10 online and through the Allstate Arena box office! 

Here's your chance to save!  Adults can save 30% off on all performances using code MOM - click here!  Discount does not apply to Front Row VIP or Gold Circle seats.  No double discounts.  Service charges, handling, and facility fees may apply!  All tickets $2 more on day of show!

*Disclaimer:  I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided  me and my family with complimentary tickets to Feld shows as well as opportunities to attend private Feld pre-show events.  All opinions expressed in this blog are mine and mine alone.

wish list friday, er, monday: winter boots/shoes

i skipped last week b\c we were at the movies late...  and i took this past friday off for thanksgiving... this is off to a poor start, but no worries, i'm back

what girl doesn't love shoes?  a crazy girl that is.  i'm always looking for new shoes- unfortunately you don't really get to wear pretty shoes in the midwest.  i spent most of last winter wearing my sweater boots- which are comfy and warm, but not necessarily the cutest.  most heels are basically out- so i need cute, flat shoes that are warm.  oh, and they most likely can't be suede or anything like that b\c the snow will ruin them.  it's a shame.  a real shame.

 here are the boots on my love list. i'll be back later this week with heels & flats!!  ;)  maybe...

1.  undercover studs boot- modcloth.  cute, flat and under $50.  yes, yes, yes.  

2.  jersy boots- blowfish.  the partially hidden zipper is a cool look.

3.  sueded desert wedges- old navy.  my old navy shoes have lasted for years.

4.  write now bootie- modcloth.  out of mama's range, but cute.

5.  riley tall slouch boot- payless.  extended calf.  sometimes i think i need this.

6.  xhilaration kainda boot- target.  i bet i can't navigate ice & a toddler in these...

7.  coconuts dylan boot- piper lime.  flat boots, yes.  ended up getting boots similar to this at target for $10!!

8.  merona kasia boot- target.  most wanted: tall, flat, black boots, but sorry target- $50?!  ha.
9.  xhilaration sadella heeled booties- target.  cute, except that i am scared of heels b\c of all the ice & snow!
10.  naughty monkey misfit- piper lime.  not a wedge, not a heel.  manageable!
11.  elzinga boots- aldo.  my fave on the list- love the hidden wedge!
12.  b.o.c by born martina boot- dsw.  these look like they have a super safe sole + look super comfortable!
13.  naughty monkey detective boots- endless.com.  again with the not-heel, not wedge thing.
14.  clooney by coconuts- piper lime.  these look identical to another pair listed... but with a wedge
15.  faux leather riding boots- old navy.  i've been happy with all my inexpensive old navy shoes- they always hold up well.

i ended up going with a pair of flat motorcycle boots from target that didn't even make my most loved list, yet were only $10- and that always makes my list! 

spring fever

 dear mother nature-

you seriously need to get your act together.  while the vast majority of this fine nation in which we live is experiencing spring-like temperatures (you know, the season that started last week) it is currently 18 degrees here.

that is not acceptable.  

neither is the 2 days of forecasted (not a word, i know) snow this week.  TWO DAYS.  

get it together.

mother nature obviously never had to bundle up in regular winter clothes, add a coat on top of that, then carry a full diaper bag and a baby who was also bundled in winter clothes and a coat.  i am ready for skin-to-skin carrying and my diaper bag actually fitting past my elbow.  

(we had a) blizzzzzzzzard...

so, i'm a little late, but we had a blizzard on the night of february 1st.  it started innocently enough with talks of snow- but i got to work that monday night and you would've thought we were in georgia.  bread, milk and eggs were flying off the shelves- and this is in an area that has a gazillion plows.  people were straight actin' a fool.  tuesday was the day that we were expected to get the snow.  dave called around noon and said they would be getting out of work early.  he came home, we prepared dinner, put the little guy to bed and waited...

around 7 pm is when it really started snowing- the wind was blowing like crazy and definitely unlike anything i had seen before.  a couple friends from home had called to see what the weather was like.  we watched the news and things were getting bad out- people were without power, lake shore drive had been shut down, starbucks was closed.  around 10, dave & i decided to have a couple drinks, bundle up and head outside to see what was going on.

this is all you could see.  also, this picture might be turned the wrong direction.  i really can't tell.

this is what you wear when you drink margaritas before going out into the snow.  rain galoshes, socks, fuzzy socks, tights, athletic pants, a tank top, a tshirt, a long sleeve t-shirt, a hoodie, your husband's most hideous old hockey sweater, a scarf, a ridiculous hat, gloves and mittens..

me, standing by a snow drift.  notice the snow is almost up to my hip

pretty crazy stuff!  by the next morning, the snow had stopped, but a state of emergency was declared in many counties and towns.  roads were closed.  we probably got around 20" total.  yikes!  the damage...

these pictures were taken while standing in my front doorway.  i literally couldn't take one step out of the house.  the snow had drifted into the walkway.  it stayed this way until they came and cleared it out around 7pm.  

views of our backyard. the first is between the screen and sliding glass doors.  the second is the backyard.  just solid white.

the driveway.  snowdrifts surround my car.

looking out to the right of our house

they came to plow around 12:30- and when they plow, they just pile it as high as it'll go!

the front view of our house

deadly icicles that were hanging off the shared roof

family fun.

so, we all managed to make it.  this was fun for about 15 minutes and then i was ready for it to go away.  i  really couldn't care less about blizzards or snow for that matter.  i have the "i've seen it once" mentality now, and would take the mild georgia winters (that i always thought were so cold) any day of the week...  

what about you?  are you a fan of snow?

fall wish list- coats/outerwear

because as my husband says, "you only have 7 coats, do you really need another?"  what do you think?

i could only fit into 3 of those coats while pregnant, and i'm guessing the same outcome for this winter.  so it may be time to part ways with some of those coats, and make way for some new ones... and it's now really appropriate for me to have so many coats seeing that illinois is like the arctic.  i may have made it through my pregnancy last winter with only wearing gloves and a hat most days- but i had body heat for 2.  not so much this time around.  i'm going to be cold.

here's what made my wish list!

clifton coat - bbdakota

romaine coat - jack bbdakota

tuileries garden coat - modcloth

first brass coat - modcloth

big city blues coat - modcloth

wear the heart is jacket - modcloth

women's wool-blend peacoat in golden gate - old navy

cute as a button coat - ruche

evelyn military dress coat - delias

i have to say i have really been looking for coats in gray or navy because i pretty much have them in all the other colors that i've spotted online, but didn't find a gray or navy that i just have to have.  the delias coat is closest to gray, but i'm not sure i love it.  the clifton coat is close to navy, but maybe not as deep of a blue as i desire.  i also just realized that the clifton coat and the big city blues coat are the same coat...  the orange old navy coat- i just love the color- it just makes me dream of pumpkin bars and pumpkin spice lattes and changing leaves- and i got my first peacoat from old navy over 10 years ago- and it is still going strong!  the wear the heart is jacket is more cute than warmth.  (btw, modcloth has a coat warmth scale- how awesome is that)?!  the white coats are probably my favorite- i just see them with a peek of skirt and colorful tights sticking out.

dreaming of coats... but not the weather that would necessitate one...

6 more weeks

of winter. And just to make sure we knew that he wasn't lying-- it's been snowing since midnight.

::sigh:: oh, to be back in Atlanta with an early spring