Creatively Caring has rocked this past year and we owe it all to local businesses and organizations that care and share with us! We would like to return the favor of their support, by sharing what ROCKS about each of them. They all have so much to give, whether you are looking for advice, cute kid clothes, places to play or places to hang!
By Britta Woods
Nibbles’ Play Café . Located in Wheeling, Nibbles’ Play Cafe is a fantastic place for families, where children and their caregivers can enjoy good food and great play areas. Kathleen Weinberg, the owner, has set up individually themed play stations, including a construction zone, a train table, a kitchen and a baby doll area. Children are kept safe by always being in sight due to half walls that divide the play areas. There is also a gate that prevents children from leaving the café without their caregivers. Nibbles’ specializes in birthdays, especially first birthdays, and celebrations during their off hours. Kathleen is very creative and is always looking for ways to help create unique and positive experiences for families. This year, Nibbles’ has been Creatively Caring’s biggest supporter. Nibbles’ has been very generous in providing a fun place to hold Creatively Caring craft classes, Make Two programs and many other events that have helped Creatively Caring become what it is today. Nibbles’ offers many discounts for Creatively Caring events and members throughout the year. Because of all the support, Creatively Caring named Nibbles’ as Sponsor of the Year for 2012. Stop in to find out what fun things are happening today!
www.nibblesplaycafe.com
By Colleen Klus-Salisbury
Photography with Heart. Jennifer Frankfurter, the woman behind Photography with Heart is a professional photographer who really captures the essence of her subjects. Whether the subject is a child or a pet, the setting a park or an event, Jennifer’s ability to put those around her at ease allows her to capture photographs that truly come from the heart. Understanding that location is important in helping clients feel relaxed, she will work with clients to determine the best location for photographs. With a belief that finances should not deter anyone from having high quality photographs, Photography with Heart offers a sliding scale for payments. Jennifer obviously loves what she does and cares about those she works with, so it seems only natural that she would be the volunteer photographer for Creatively Caring. In 2012, not only did Photography with Heart continue to capture wonderful memories for Creatively Caring, but also offered a professional shoot to members while donating most of the proceeds to Creatively Caring.
www.photographywithheart.com
By Anne Hoffman
The Book Market. Located in Glenview, the Book Market is one of a handful of Barbara’s Bookstores, a local chain of independent book stores in the Chicago area. The Book Market is a unique store that offers a wide variety of books and magazines, as well as a large discounted area. For families with children, the store also offers a fun kids’ section with not only books but other specialty items such as wood toys and creative art kits. The Book Market brings the community together by offering its large space to host many events for adults and families every month. Book Market events include open mic night, story time and book clubs to name a few. The staff at the Book Market is also made up of wonderful people who love to encourage reading for all ages. The Book Market sponsors Creatively Caring by donating its large event space. With this space donation, Creatively Caring has been able to host some really great events with very special guests such as Baby Signs, the Tree House Humane Society, the Volunteer Center, and private programs with Creatively Caring Families.
www.thebookmarket.webs.com
By Anne Hoffman
Grow With Love Boutique Grow With Love Boutique is an online boutique that offers wonderful kids’ clothing and accessories at great prices. Along with clothing and accessories, unique items like colorful bookmarks with timers on them, magical detangling brushes and monster sprays are also available! Grow With Love Boutique is a wonderful local business to support because it is run by a local mom. Gail Heraty, the owner, has a deep connection to her clientele, as well as a sincere commitment to the community. Grow With Love Boutique stays connected to the community by featuring an array of mom-invented products and by donating to local organizations that help kids. Grow With Love Boutique is the place to go when looking for cool and unique gifts for kids. Remember to use code CC2012 when shopping and Grow With Love Boutique will donate 20% of that sale to Creatively Caring! www.stores.growwithloveboutique.com
By Leigh Shaver
Gigi Hill Shop from your seat, not from your feet! Gigi Hill Carry-Alls and Handbags are all about fabric, function and style, and are made of the highest quality workmanship. They are designed to keep you organized… to simplify your life! With Gigi Hill’s Signature Pocket Design, you always have a place to put your cell phone, sunglasses, keys, lipsticks, water bottles and more, making things so easy to find! Not just for women either! They have great men’s and teen products to boot!
As an Independent Stylist for Gigi Hill I am in business for myself, but not by myself. I make my own hours and run my own business including being able to give back to my favorite organization, which I am proud to be a part of, Creatively Caring! They do so much to help others and I love being able to help them! I give 10% to Creatively Caring for each member purchase or party. Please support Creatively Caring and get your holiday shopping done at the same time. What a great way to feel good giving back! leigh@goinstyle.biz www.gigihillbags.com
By Britta Woods
North Shore Baby Signs with Cathy Silvern North Shore Baby Signs with Cathy Silvern offers workshops and classes to parents regarding the use of the Baby Signs Program at home. Research has proven that using signs can actually enhance language, cognitive development as well as social-emotional development. Sign language is not just for the hearing impaired, using signs helps babies to communicate well before they are able to use words. This early form of communication helps to reduce frustration by the child and the caregiver. Signing also increases a child’s confidence. Cathy Silvern co-hosted a Creatively Caring event to help raise awareness of the Tree House Humane Society, that was featured on ABC news. Cathy shows us that you do not have to speak to be heard, actions do so much more!
www.babysignsprogram.com
By Melissa Duncan
GoodSearch Search Engine. This search engine’s mission is to help empower people to change the world with simple everyday actions. Most people have causes they care about, but do not always have the time or money to support them. GoodSearch allows users to raise money for their favorite charities and schools by doing something most people do several times a day – searching the internet. GoodSeach donates 50 percent of its sponsored search revenue to the charities and schools designated by the users. GoodSearch is just like any other search engine as far as the way that it function, but part of the revenue from advertisers is donated. This past year, $150 was raised for Creatively Caring through GoodSearch. Please help us have another great year in 2013 and start using Good Search as your search engine to make a difference.
www.goodsearch.com/nonprofit/creatively-caring
Websites That Rock
By Amy Duffy
Have a minute to yourself to surf the web? Give yourself a gift by checking out these amazing family-oriented websites.
Way 2 Good Life Blog
If you are a parent looking for a site that covers healthy and active living in the area, look no further than the Way 2 Good Life website and blog (http://www.way2goodlife.com/). Here you can find information on health, nutrition, biking, active life, and family activities. Also a bonus – fun product giveaways along with product and event reviews! Subscribe to the Way 2 Good Life blog to help brighten your day with fun and easy-to-read posts related to healthy and active living in our community. You can also find Way 2 Good Life on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Way2GoodLife?fref=ts)
Arlington Heights Moms
Looking for a place to find any and all resources for moms in the area? Check out Arlington Heights Moms (http://arlingtonheightsmoms). Here you can not only connect with other moms to develop new friendships or learn and share advice, but you can also find an amazing event calendar, a forum filled with information of every sort, links to local resources, and a blog that you can follow. If you’re struggling to find indoor activities in the area to cope with the cold winter weather or looking to connect with other moms, this is the site for you! AH Moms has promoted Creatively Caring from the beginning, helping to host fun play dates and the 1st annual Swapping Social, an adult evening out and a way to exchange unwanted items for wanted ones. All leftovers from the swap were donated to local charity, almost a truck full!
A Creatively Caring Family has been bold enough to accept the:
