ChambanaMoms.com

Chambanamom To Know: Rayne Devivo

Amy L. Hatch — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:00:23 +0000

Photo by Bob Devivo

Rayne Devivo is a Hoosier who moved to central Illinois 15 years ago. She lived in Decatur for 10 years and Le Roy for five. She came to Illinois to attend Millikin, where she met her husband, Bob.

Rayne formerly worked for the Illinois Senate Democrat Caucus in Springfield. She spent three years there there as press secretary for three senators, including Lisa Madigan.

While attending the University of Illinois College of Law she had first son, Henry. Devivo later got a clerkship with the Fourth Appellate Court, and then servered as an Assistant Attorney General in Champaign. She worked there for 16 months until the birth of her second son, Quinino and has been a stay-at-home mom for the past seven months.

This past week, she decided to put herself up for the Illinois Lt. Governor nomination. You can support her bid by becoming a fan of her Facebook Fan Page.

Q: Why did you throw your hat into the ring for the Lt. Governor nomination?

A: When I heard people were sending their resumes to Governor Quinn I immediately wanted to follow suit. This is an incredible opportunity to get on the ballot in a statewide race without the grueling work of petitions or primary fund-raising. After I checked the applications available online early last week, I realized I’m far more qualified than many of the people who had applied at that point.

I’ve worked in every branch of Illinois government, I’ve worked and lived in a wide swath of central Illinois, and as a stay-at-home parent, I have the time. I think the statewide ballot could definitely use another woman and someone from downstate. Women are generally reluctant to step forward as candidates unless asked repeatedly, and knowing that, I’m not going to wait to be asked.

Q: If you get nominated for the ticket, what is your platform?

A: The Lieutenant Governor job is an odd bird in state government. The only constitutional role the LG has is to do the tasks the Governor delegates. My platform would therefore be the governor’s platform, because the Lieutenant Governor is a supporting role. I can tell you that personally I think the state being bankrupt is the biggest issue we face and I’m very good at listening to many points of view and coming up with new ideas or compromises. I have a few thoughts on raising revenue without raising taxes.

Q: How can we get behind your candidacy?

A: On Monday, the state central committee will decide who will be the nominee. Each congressional district has both a committee man and a committee woman. You can find your committee members and send them a postcard this week to express your support. My congressional district committee members are former state senators. I worked with both of them as a press secretary or a legislative staffer, so I sent them each a letter to remind them of our work connection and ask for their support.

Q: You stopped out of the workforce after your son was born last fall. What have you learned about yourself in those months you’ve been at home?

A: I have learned I am a much better parent when I have a project or a job, especially for my 5-year-old son, Henry. He and I are so similar that we butt heads when we spend all day every day together. When we have an outing or a project our days go much smoother. It’s difficult to balance the need to go out and do things with Henry and baby Quinino’s need to have two regular naps and an early bed time. I think that’s part of why I’m such an avid vegetable gardener. Gardening gets us out of the house, gives us a project, and yet the baby can be snugly tucked in bed sleeping.

Q: You have a twin sister, Leah. How has your relationship shaped the person you are?

A: It’s hard to answer that because I don’t know what it’s like NOT to have a twin. I do know that I spent a lot of years distancing myself and trying to be cooler than her because I found it grating to be known as a unit and not an individual. It’s the same with using my distinctive middle name instead of my first name, Jennifer.

I have a strong desire to stand out. But now that we are in our thirties, Leah is infinitely cooler than I am and I want to be by her side as much as possible. She’s an Internet rock star and a deeply thoughtful person, and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to bask in her glow.

Q: You love to go out and find fun things to do with the kids. What is one of your favorite outings these days?

A: This winter we went to a lot of children’s museums. Our favorites are Normal and Decatur. We are also members of the new Le Roy replex and we are there several times a week to swim, play basketball, take fitness classes, and workout on the equipment. Now that it’s spring, I hear the siren song of Allerton Park, a gorgeous 20-minute drive from Le Roy if you know the right farm roads.

Take Another Step Toward Lowering Your Grocery Bill

Laura Weisskopf Bleill — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:58:04 +0000

Are you looking to save money on your grocery bill? Who isn't? (Photo by qmnonic on flickr)

by Laura Weisskopf Bleill

Confession: I am — and always will be — a grocery store snob. When I first moved here, I lamented the fact that to get everything I wanted — and let’s face it, I never can get everything I want because some products I was used to are just not sold in this area — I had to go to at least three stores.

Flash forward to today. As a busy working mom, I simply don’t have the time to run around to every store to find the exact brand of hummus I want. And I’m much more price conscious than I used to be, going from my swingin’ single days to the DINK days to now the family of four days. So now I’m more apt to balance my desire to get every item I want – at the store that offers the best value.

Enter the new Web site, SavingEveryWeek.com. Built by Jeff Roloff, a self-described techie and cheapskate who lives in Urbana, savingeveryweek.com is devoted to helping consumers find their favorite products at the lowest price on a weekly basis. Roloff has launched the site locally as a pilot, but hopes to eventually expand it to other markets.

“I either go shopping at Schnuck’s or Walmart. It surprised me that often times Schnuck’s is cheaper than Walmart,” said Roloff, whose wife does most of the cooking while he does most of the shopping. “It is almost always a product that is on sale, and it’s often not advertised (in the weekly circular). Usually it’s some kind of a promotional period sale.”

So he thought, it would be nice if someone could aggregate the information in one place of how much a product costs at each store. So he quit his job and is devoting his full-time attention to making savingeveryweek.com more user-friendly and effective.

To get the most out of the site, it does require some manipulation on the part of the consumer. It asks you to enter the products you typically or occasionally buy. I tried it out, entering deli turkey, eggs, our favorite cracker brand, milk, bananas and avocados. You have to include information such as size or amount.

After entering the information, the site will show you if it knows the price of the items at various local stores, or if an item is on sale. The idea behind savingeveryweek.com isn’t to send people to five different stores to do their shopping, but to help consumers be more price-savvy when deciding where to shop.

You can also compare prices of the items you entered between certain stores, such as Schnuck’s against Walmart. It also sends out a weekly email with known sale prices of your desired items and, if there is an electronic coupon available for an item, it will be sent as a link.

“An important thing to remember is if you don’t have anything in the shopping list, you won’t get an email,” Roloff said.

How do you organize your grocery shopping? Do you shop at a favorite store or wherever has the best prices?

From There to Here: On The Hamster Wheel

Amy L. Hatch — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00:44 +0000

By Amy L. Hatch

When I washed up on the cornfields of Chambana, I was a stay-at-home mom.

Photo by uberculture, Flickr

When I got pregnant with Emmie in 2004, I worked for a Huge Multinational Corporation. When it came time to discuss my maternity leave and after-baby plans with my then-manager, I worked out an agreement with her that included working from home two days a week. My mom would watch the baby the other three days, and that was A-OK with me.

I didn’t love the job; I loved the paycheck. So I figured why not keep at it, since the terms were in my favor?

Then my father died suddenly and I was out of work for almost a month on bereavement leave. Finally, I made my way back to my cubicle and there I found a new manager with a new plan: No work-at-home days for me.

I thought I was OK with that, until I had to leave my girl for the very first time. Even though she was left in the loving hands of her grandmother, I wept all the way to work that day.

It wasn’t worth it, that paycheck. So I quit.

For more than two years I was a housewife and full-time mom. Sure, I did some writer’s piecework here and there, but it wasn’t until 2007 that I landed a gig writing a family-travel column for a fledgling Web site.

I spent two mornings a week writing in a cafe. I earned very little for my efforts, but slowly I came to realize just how much I missed writing for a living. Over time, my work increased, almost without my noticing: More columns, some features — and then a long-term freelancing contract for a popular parenting Web site.

And, of course, in May 2009, chambanamoms.com was born.

Now I find myself working almost 20 hours a week on paper, and many more if I count the hours when my baby sitter is off duty. And please, don’t get me wrong: I ain’t complaining. Writers are out of work more often than not these days, with the real heavy hitters finding themselves not in a newsroom but out pounding the pavement looking for the kind of work I fell into.

It feels good to write, it is great to be paid to do it. What’s hard is the nomadic life of a WAHM. I wander from free wifi spot to free wifi spot, in search of a place that won’t kick me offline at the lunch hour. I get parking tickets. I take phone calls and interview sources with my son shrieking in the background, grabbing my pants and begging me to “play cars! play cars!” I live in fear of my baby sitter quitting to move to the West Coast with her boyfriend.

The house is never clean, my work is never done fully to my satisfaction. I feel guilty when I turn the TV on for the baby, urging him to sit and watch so I can finish just one last story.

Nothing gets my full attention and there is no way to shut down the day. When you work in an office you can leave it behind at 6 o’ clock.

When you work at home, you’re a hamster on a wheel. You’re running all the time, and still the horizon never gets closer.

Today was a bad day: Too crowded with appointments and obligations, heavy with impending deadlines and a feeling of panic about meeting them. I know I’ll check everything off my list when all is said and done, but some days, I can’t help wondering what it would be like to have both feet fully in one world rather than straddling two, always in danger of falling.

Shop Without Guilt At Divine Consign

Laura Weisskopf Bleill — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:30:15 +0000

Don't like the clothes in your closet? Buy more at Divine Consign -- or sell the ones you're not wearing. (Photo by Sophie Schirmer Photography on flickr)

by Laura Weisskopf Bleill

Sunny McMurry often hears raves about a lightweight knee-length jacket in her wardrobe. And she’s not shy to boast that she snagged it for less than $10.

“I get compliments on it all the time, and I use it as a way to talk up Divine Consign,” said the Mahomet mom of two.

Divine Consign, a women’s consignment sale event, is coming back to Champaign-Urbana this weekend. Owned by St. Joseph native Jessi Wrench and her business partner Jessica Purtell, Divine Consign showcases gently-used designer and high-quality clothing and accessories. The sale will take place March 12-14 at the Holiday Inn in Urbana.

The first Divine Consign sale, held in Spring 2009, attracted more than 200 consignors. McMurry not only shopped the first sale, but she also volunteered and consigned. In preparation for the upcoming sale, she devoted a section of her closet to items she designated to be sold.

“What I love about this sale is that it has something for everyone—every age group, every size and shape, every sense of style — whether someone is shopping for something more casual, or something more professional, they will more than likely find it there, at a much lower cost!” McMurry said.

At the last sale, Jennifer Smith — another shopper, consignor and volunteer — said she was most impressed with the sale’s organization. Her favorite find was a pair of brand-new sandals originally purchased from a local boutique.

“I got a GREAT deal on them (paid 80% less than retail!) and can’t wait to break them out this spring,” said Smith, a Champaign mom of a 3-year-old son.

Brands featured at Divine Consign include (but aren’t limited to) upscale labels such as Coach, Kate Spade, True Religion, Seven for All Mankind, J. Crew, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic; there are also more moderate brands.

“As moms we sometimes neglect our wardrobes,” said Wrench, a mom of a 7-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter who lives in Milwaukee. “This is a way to shop without feeling guilty.”

There is no fee to shop at Divine Consign, and for the first time, the first 300 shoppers will receive a complimentary gift bag with coupons and offers at local businesses. There is still time to become a consignor; visit the Divine Consign Web site for more information.

What: Divine Consign
When: March 12-14; times vary
Where: Holiday Inn of Urbana

Mom to Mom: Hidden Cameras

Laura Weisskopf Bleill — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:00:18 +0000

Photo by Pink Sherbet Photography on flickr

by Jennifer Newell

Most days I’m glad that there aren’t cameras in my house. It’s not because my kids are loud or the bathrooms need cleaning — it’s because I have many moments as a mom where I’m just not that pretty.

I’m not talking about showering and putting on clean clothes – I’m talking about the moments as a mom where every little thing is about to push you over the edge. It usually starts after lunchtime when I’m just plain tired. This is the scene at my house: Maggie starts whining, I remind her that I don’t listen to any type of whining and then we get into an argument over absolutely nothing, but I have to “win” so it’s a shuffle between time-outs for disrespect and a screaming almost 3-year-old. All while, Sebastian continues to either try to climb the stairs or eat the cat food. I seem to have exhausted every possible way of saying, “No! Don’t eat the cat food.”

My patience runs out — I keep pacing the house trying to come up with quiet activities to enjoy before naptime, but also keep staring at the clock hoping 2 o’clock comes faster. Oh how I love naptime! Then, the bedtime routine starts and I just try to push through it so I can go sit down for five minutes without someone needing or touching me.

What usually happens next is not what I would have expected in my pre-mom life. I feel guilty. I know that the frustration I feel with my kid’s behavior is mostly because of some selfish desire to get “more important” things done or relax. I don’t really care if Maggie takes her nap in a tutu or if Sebastian needs to be rocked for 1 more minute. So why do I make a big deal about it? These are the moments that I’m going to miss someday and I should try and enjoy every part of the day — even the ugly ones.

This sense of guilt and balance of running a household (being wife, mom & me) can be overwhelming. However, at the end of the day the thing that keeps me going are the moments where I wish the cameras were rolling — the desire for “one more kiss mommy” or hearing “mommy, I love you SO much” or even a sweet little baby boy kissing/eating my face. All of these moments outweigh the not-so-pretty moments of being a mom and really make this experience an adventure that I wouldn’t want to miss.

Jennifer Newell

Jennifer Newell is an occasional contributor to chambanamoms. com, and also runs Bella Bambini, a children’s boutique in Champaign. If you are interested in submitting an essay for our “Mom to Mom” series, please contact us.

Summer Camp 101: What Are We Going To Do?

Laura Weisskopf Bleill — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:00:28 +0000

Soccer camp is just one of the many options for our kids this summer. We're opening a discussion on summer camp today at chambanamoms.com (Photo by stevendepolo on flickr)

by Rachael McMillan

We have been in the preschool routine for almost exactly two months. That’s it.

Am I sad that I get to spend less time with my kiddos? Am I nervous about handing over some portion of authority to other people? Am I afraid for the challenges they’re sure to face?

Heck, no. I am only wondering how to get them out of the house this summer.

OK, some slight exaggeration there. But still, it’s been so nice to discover something as mutually beneficial as a good preschool. I know my children are learning much more than I can teach them, I get to go grocery shopping solo (my new definition of heaven), I can work out from time to time or just tool around Goodwill for an hour, and we all get to TAKE A BREAK from each other.

So what are we going to do when summer comes and this great system comes to a crashing halt?

No, seriously, what are we going to do?

Over the next few weeks, I’m going to be exploring the question of how to fill the impending glorious summer days with something other than television. And I’m going to need your help.

The following questions are going to guide my research. So, I’m asking them of myself, but truly I am also asking all of you. If you have advice to offer on any of these topics, please feel free to add your input. After all, we parents are our own best resource.

Question one: What are some of the best local summer camp options? I know the Champaign Park District runs some. Does anyone know when the new Funformation guide comes out? How about the Urbana Park District—do they run any camps? How abou private organizations?

Question two: What about camps for kids with special needs? I know, for example, that the American Diabetes Association runs Camp Granada in Monticello for children with diabetes. What other special needs camps are out there? Are there any great summer programs for kids who need educational enrichment or help meeting other challenges?

Question three: What about something other than camp—more like classes my kids can take once or twice a week all summer long? Something to allow them some fun, instructional time and to give me a bit of a break? Again, I think the Champaign Park District may be a good resource here. Can I get a personal testimony about any of these programs?

Question four: What about summer childcare? I’m going to need to replace my regular sitters once finals are over and they return home. How do I go about finding a responsible person to watch my kids for a few hours each week? Has anyone had any success with SitterCity.com? What about options for part-time or full-time childcare?

I don’t know about you, but I have to psych myself up for summer. I’m a lazy gal at heart—grabbing something to read and cozying up on the couch with a cup of tea is way more my speed than are repeated trips to the park.

Still, with a little planning, I think I can actually get excited for summer this year. After the winter we had (heck, after the last summer we had), we could all use a little fun in the sun. The key is going to be securing good kids-out-of-the-house options. So, stay tuned as we tackle the topic of building a summer that is enjoyable and relaxing for ALL family members…

Rachael McMillan is an occasional contributor to chambanamoms.com. A former high school teacher who now is spending time at home with her two children, Jack and Kate, she is a freelance writer and reading tutor.

Showing Their Spirit

Amy L. Hatch — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:00:24 +0000

Photo by Annalea Hart

Annalea Hart snapped this awesome pic of her family — a self-portrait no less — and entered it in our contest to win tickets to Sunday’s Illini basketball game. And hey, she won!

Thanks for playing, Annalea, and for joining our Flickr pool! Stay tuned for the winner of our Storytime Live ticket giveaway — we’ll be announcing that at noon today.

Congrats, Annalea! We hope you enjoyed the game.

It’s (Almost) March Madness! And We Have Tickets!

Laura Weisskopf Bleill — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:01:54 +0000

Want to get out and cheer on the Illini on Sunday? Enter to win ASAP! (Photo by dkaz on flickr)

by chambanamoms.com

Does your little boy or girl know Bruce Weber’s middle name? Does your wardrobe come in two colors – orange and blue? Does your household schedule revolve around Illini sporting events?

Well, do we have a giveaway for you. Thanks to the generosity of a chambanamoms.com reader who could not go, we are giving away four tickets to this Sunday’s *HUGE* Illini basketball tilt with Wisconsin that has significant implications for the team’s NCAA tournament resume. Did we mention that it is Senior Day? And, in addition, local Olympic medalists Katherine Reutter and Jonathan Kuck will be honored? Game time is 1 p.m.

So here’s how to enter: Email us a photo (editor AT chambanamoms.com) – of a human or animal family member decked out in all their Illini glory – or upload one to our Flickr pool (remember to mark your permissions so that anyone can see it). Be outrageous! Be creative! The best photo wins! And hurry — the contest closes Saturday, March 6 at 10 a.m. That’s Central time, folks. Photos uploaded to our Flickr pool may be used on our Web site.

The winning photo will be featured on chambanamoms.com — so remember, keep it clean, kids.

Winner must be available to pick the tickets up on Saturday afternoon. One entry per person, please. Chambanamoms.com was in no way compensated for this post, and the FTC wants to know, we did it out of the goodness of our hearts. Nor did we get tickets of our own.

Say cheese! And go Illini!

Weekend Planner: Feast Edition

Laura Weisskopf Bleill — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:32:12 +0000

Read Across America 2007. Photo by Tony Bleill.

by Laura Weisskopf Bleill

It’s clear to me that there is some sort of conspiracy in this town regarding family-friendly weekend activities. Some weekends are feasts; others are famines. If I could prove the collusion, I would. If you can’t find something to do this weekend – if there ever was a feast indeed — check your forehead; there might be something wrong. In this edition: Read Across America in Urbana; Alice (and me) in Wonderland at the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum; and Hearts for Haiti at Class Act.

What: Read Across America
When: Saturday, March 6, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Lincoln Square Village, Urbana
How much: Free
Appropriate for: All ages
Why you should go: This great annual community event is a celebration of reading. The first 1,000 children get a free bag; enjoy celebrity greeters, storytellers, hands-on educational activities, and an appearance by Curious George.

What: Alice (and me) in Wonderland
When: Friday-Sunday, various times
Where: Orpheum Children’s Science Museum, downtown Champaign
How much: $10/ticket
Appropriate for: Three and up
Why you should go: We told you all about this wonderful event last week. Chambanamoms.com is proud to be a sponsor!

What: Hearts For Haiti
When: Saturday, March 6, 3 to 6 p.m.
Where: Class Act Interactive
How much: Free
Appropriate for: All ages
Why you should go: This grass-roots family-friendly event is an opportunity to have a good time while raising money for the continuing recovery effort following the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Live music, improv, appearances by Illini football players, food, raffle, and more. Entrance is free, all donations and proceeds from sales go straight to the American Red Cross.

There are plenty of other great opportunities for family-friendly fun this weekend; please visit our Events Calendar for more.

Win A Family Four-Pack of Tickets to Storytime Live!

Amy L. Hatch — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:45:50 +0000

Your favorite characters from some of Nickelodeon’s best-loved and most popular shows will make a stop at Assembly Hall next week, and one lucky chambanamoms.com reader can win a family four-pack of tickets to see Ming-Ming, Dora and Kai lan at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 9.

But that’s not all! The winners will also be invited to a special meet-and-greet before the show, where kids can get up close and personal with some of their favorite pals from Nick Jr. — and don’t forget your camera, because you can get a souvenir shot of your child with the characters, in full costume.

What do you have to do to win? Leave us a comment here and tell us what children’s TV show you enjoy watching as much as your kids do. Want more chances to win? Tweet your answer and mention @chambanamoms in your tweet, or share our link on your Facebook page along with your answer, and tag us in your post. Be sure to leave another comment to let us know when you tweet us or tagged our Fan Page in a post on Facebook; one tweet/Facebook per person.

The contest ends at 8 p.m., Sunday, March 7. Ready, set … GO!