Category: events

Expand Your Network: Networking & Professional Development Events in Chicago

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Networking & Professional Development Events

Chicago AMA Gives Back Holiday Celebration
Dec 15, 6:30pm -8:30pm, The State Street Gallery at Robert Morris University, 401 S. State Street
BMA Breakfast Seminar: Stacy Neier, Senior Lecturer, Quinlan School of Business
Jan 20, 7:00am-9:00am, Loyola University Chicago, Schreiber Center, 16 E. Pearson, 8th Floor
Source: Paladin Staffing
Email us your current events mommymakinmoves@gmail.com

Help Your Kids Save Some Commas 💰

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Saving money in a world that encourages you to spend spend spend is so hard. I mean how many pairs of shoes do they really need to design. Just stop it already! 

Despite my want to buy every shoe that pops up on my Instagram timeline, I save cash monthly for my son. Financial independence is something we all dream about, but it’s much easier when the parents lead the way.  
This Saturday The Monroe Foundation is hosting Bank Day. Take your kids in to open an account and learn about good money habits. If they want to have “that bag” as my husband calls it – they need to start working, saving and investing now. 

With Only $5.00, You Can Open a $25.00 Bank Account for Your Child at First Midwest Bank!


Doors Open 9:00 am/Seminar 10:00 am
AKArama Community Serive Center
Please call 773.914.1534 for more information

Learn more about The Monroe Foundation 

In These Streets: Lakefront Kicking It with the Kiddies

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Excited about Spring is an understatement. We’re charged like batteries fresh out the pack! Spring and Summer in Chicago is epic. We’ve waited 7-9 months for 2 – 3 glorious months of sunshine. So you know when the weather breaks – we break. Chicagoans are looking for any and every reason to get out

an play.

The first warm day, me and the kids took a stroll along the lake. It was refreshing just to go out to feel the breeze. We’re looking forward to many more of these  beautiful Chicago days. My only worry is the violence that comes with Chicago weather. In July 2014, 258 people were wounded. I’m praying that’s not the situation this year. 

In the meantime, I’ll be scheduling fun outings with my kids to keep them occupied. Summer is all about the fun. No kid should have to worry about being shot and no parent should have to worry about treating a wounded child. Let’s do all we can to keep our kiddies safe this summer and everyday.

Here are my 5 go to activites for this summer:

  1. Maggie Daley Park
    337 E Randolph St, Chicago
    Maggie Daley Park is a new addition where Chicago kids can play. Kids can enjoy the Climbing Park with features on the wall for experts and beginners, the Play Garden, an Enchanted Forest with a mirrored maze and kaleidoscope, The Lagoon, The Sea and The Harbor play apparatus for toddlers, a Wave Lawn for recreation for all ages, and a Slide Crater with a spiral slide.
  2. Lincoln Park Zoo
    2200 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago
    Stroll the scenic zoo and visit the local animals, and take in a story hour on Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:15 and 10 a.m. at the Main Barn in the Farm-in-the-Zoo.
  3. Navy Pier Fireworks
    600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago
    Wednesdays and Saturdays May 23 – September 5
    Enjoy a spectacular Fireworks display at Navy Pier every Wednesday at 9:30pm and Saturday at 10:15pm through September 5, with a Fourth of July show t 9:30pm.
  4. Montrose Beach
    4400 N Lake Shore Dr., Chicago
    Pack your blankets, picnic and frisbees – and bring your dog, too! This is a great family friendly beach where you can enjoy free parking, restroom, grills – and even a natural area that attracts migratory birds.
  5. Free Family Night at Chicago Children’s Museum
    Thursday Evenings 5pm – 8pm
    Navy Pier – 700 E. Grand Ave., Chicago
    Target Free Family Nights are Thursday evenings from 5-8pm. Check out exhibits like Boats, WaterWays and the Tinkering Lab.

In These Streets: NFL Draft Chicago Festivities with the Kids

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Well Well Well – They decided to throw good ole Chicago a bone by hosting the NFL Draft here after 51 years.

Now that I got my snide remark out the way – I’m so excited that the NFL Draft was held in Chicago this year. I’m charged because:

  1. My son is a huge sports fan and he’s old enough to actually remember attending the event. 
  2. It was 70 degrees in Chicago. In other parts of the country that wouldn’t be a surprise. Believe me Chicagoans were excited.

I’m always looking for ways to confirm I’m a good parent. You know good parenting is all about creating memories that stick with our kids long after they hopefully move out our house.

My son noticed the Draft Town posters during a recent trip to Maggie Daley park in downtown Chicago. We had no clue what the heck Draft Town was, so me being the investigator that I am – I Googled it. (Yeah, all great investigators use Google.) On the great wizard of information, also known as Google – I discovered the NFL Draft website listing all the festivities for NFL Draft weekend. #Jackpot

I was a little worried that there would be a hefty cost to participate. Not the case. The fan festival was FREE. The real FREE. Not that it’s free to get in, but you have to pay to participate free. FREE makes mommy very happy 😉

I called up my Woes to see if they were down for some action. Translation: I called my mommy friends to ask if they’d like to participate in the festivities. I switch between professional speech and slang regularly – keep up!

My fabulous friend Chae and her dynamic son Donnie decided to roll with us. The rest is history. The boys kicked field goals, recorded touch down dances, conquered football training courses and threw balls at random people. Everyone that attended the event was in good spirits, which was awesome. It’s always a crap shoot when you’re taking your kids to a massive event with drinking adults.

Fortunately for us – Chicago was on it’s best behavior. I’m sure this will be one of those memories the boys will keep until long after they move out of our houses.

Sincerely,

Good Parent

Locked in a Room with a Zombie Review

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When my best friend said “I want to do something different for my birthday”, I knew we were all in for a treat. This woman never disappoints when it comes to events. And a night out with the girls is always filled with adventure. No boring chicks over here.
 In a group text we got the message “I want us ALL to do this activity called “Locked in a room with zombie.” 
Zombie! Room! Locked! Isn’t Halloween over, I thought, but in my group of girlfriends the birthday girl always wins. 
She sent out the details to purchase tickets online. Bucket List Productions, the brains behind the zombie room, was nice enough to add a 10:30pm show just for us. Bucket List Productions has been putting on this performance for over a year, Travelling to more than 20 cities. 
That made me feel a little better. Someone would’ve shut them down by now if the zombie had actually bitten someone like the disclaimer warns. 

We all made it safe and sound to 400 s. Michigan Chicago, IL. The location wasn’t exactly covered in flashing lights. You could easily miss the kindergarten construction paper slapped on the door that read, “Enter here for Locked in a Room with a Zombie.”
The girls night out was in action. The host, a charming performer that entertained us with what sounded like a creative British accent, set the tone for the night. 
He gave us the deets on the crazed zombie we paid $30 to be attacked by and ran down the rules. No punching, slapping or spitting on the zombie, no phones, no pictures of the zombie. Nothing too ridiculous.
It was time to get locked in for an hour with a zombie. One of the girls quickly began to second guess her decision to be apart of the theatrics. “YOLO, you’ve seen much worse than a zombie,” I told her. 
Any who we headed into the room, huddled up like a group of Rugrats scared but ready for an adventure. 
And that’s when it happened…
Haha did you think I was going to tell you what happened in the room. Nope you’ve got to go yourself 
Enter at your own risk 💀💀💀

Six Brown Chick’s Presents

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MommyMakinMoves is gearing up for the flood of Spring events. Expect to see us everywhere. Don’t be afraid to speak!

Hope to see you at the “50 Most Wanted Women of Distinction” event Hosted by Six Brown Chicks at Red Kiva this Thursday.

Balancing Business and Ambition: What’s a Mother to do?

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What a day!!

Mommy making moves is all moved out. Today is my 2nd day volunteering for the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference in Chicago. I’ve seen this event advertised for years but it wasn’t until this year that my light bulb went on. “I NEED to be there” I thought to myself. Well I did the research tweeted Alfred Edmond Jr. the Editor at Large at Black Enterprise for more information regarding volunteering. He gave me the link and the rest is history.

Life is about making moves not watching life move without you. I write about my small steps because I want you to know that Big things come from small actions. We must go into every situation with an open mind to ensure we get the most from each opportunity.

I’ve heard some amazing business stories from single mothers and stay at home moms doing 4 million in sales a year. It’s possible!! I’ll share more of my volunteer experience after Memorial Day.

Back to me being all moved out.

Days like this force me to put myself in the shoes of mothers that have abandoned their dreams because it was just too stressful to juggle family and ambition. Late nights planning business moves and early morning preparing kids for school can leave us exhausted.

I honestly haven’t seen anyone that sacrifices more than a mother. Motivated mommies make tough calls every day! No, we don’t yell to the world the opportunities we’ve passed on to keep our kids smiling but know that it happens often. There are no easy decisions when building a business and maintaining a HAPPY family. Key word being happy.

I’m determined to live a fulfilled abundant life so I’ll continue to push to balance my unruly Libra scales.

Well I’d like to hear tips from my Mommies Making Moves on how you keep your family happy and your professional life flourishing?

Help a sister out.

-Chanel