One of the suggestions I hear all of the time about how to keep a marriage going is to make sure you get a regular date night.

That can get pretty pricey, pretty quick. Just the babysitter alone is bad enough. Then there is the meal and the movie and the gas. But recently the husband and I discovered that some of our favorite restaurants offer a deal for two people having a meal together.

One of our older friends tells me that the deals I am about to talk about are too pricey, that I am not being frugal enough. I guess that might be true but I also know what a meal in a restaurant  that is not a diner or a chain can cost. These deals, well, are real deals.

Because I like seafood, we went to Red Lobster for my birthday. As we opened the menu we found a deal that allowed us to have an appetizer or dessert and two entrees for the price of $30. This was great! It allowed us to have entrees we like as well as each of us to order a drink and share a dessert. We were full but not so stuffed or burdened with food to take home.

Imagine our surprise when we went to LoneStar for Valentine’s Day and discovered another deal like this. The page included in the menu showed a number of choices of entrees for $25. We could order an appetizer or dessert as well as two entrees. My husband loved his meal and I had smothered medallions that were quite tasty.

I know Applebee’s has done this in the past and I am sure other restaurants do it as well. Please drop a note below to let the rest of us know where else have you gotten a great deal for two.  

Karyn Bowman lives in Kankakee County with her outdoor writer husband and four children. Become friends with Karyn on Facebook or send an e-mail to momgoestothemovies@sbcglobal.net.

Some things just get my goat.

Last week, the Daily Journal ran a poll about taxing soda pop. Some people in our government thing that they can tackle the obesity rate in our country by making things like soda more expensive.

I was reassured that 79% of the people who responded to the poll said “No, pop should not be taxed to fight obesity.”

Do we have to legislate for stupidity? As one responder said “why does everyone have to be punished for the actions of a few?” It makes me wonder if we are still in high school.

Here is what I know about the matter. Every list of quick fixes for weight loss talks about cutting soda from your diet. One writer stated that you should make it a special drink but not a daily thing. As a person who did just that, I know that giving up soda not only allowed me to lose weight, my rosacea improved as well.

There are a ton of good reasons why we, as people, should not drink as much soda as our country does. The lack of nutritional content, the caffeine content, the road to obesity and diabetes that it leads to are facts we have all heard. And yet the scary thing is that a 1997 USDS study shows we drink 1.6 cans of soda. That was 14 years ago. I wonder what the rate is now.  

The truth of the matter is we have tried this ‘taxing’ tactic for years. With liquor, with cigarettes. And it does not work. But if we want to continue on this same route, we should put higher taxes on games systems such as Wii and Xbox.  Do the same for DS systems, gameboys and all of their games. After all, these things lead to physical inactivity. Shouldn’t that be high on the list of  things to be taxed in the fight against obesity.

Have we not figured out that we can not regulate for stupid? That the way to work on obesity is getting gym and recess back into schools. That eating right might include soda as a special thing like punch. That it might mean parents have to be parents to their kids as well as themselves.

And that is the hardest trick of all.

Karyn Bowman lives in Kankakee County with her outdoor writer husband and four children. Become friends with Karyn on Facebook or send an e-mail to momgoestothemovies@sbcglobal.net.

New Year’s is a time of celebration, for wearing funny hats and eating tasty snacks.

New Year’s is when we celebrate the end of one year and the start of another.

Maybe you do it at home alone, maybe your house is the partycentral.

This year, New Year’s falls on our weekly pizza night. If we were going somewhere we would just switch things around and have pizza and movie night on Saturday instead.

However, we are planning to go ahead and have our pizza night. Then we will pack everyone up and go over to Perry Farm by Exploration Station to watch New Year Fireworks at 9 P.M. They last for a short time but it is a great way for younger kids to bring in the new year.

Our family has done this in the past and enjoy watching bursts of colors in the sky despite the freezing cold weather. We normally pack up hot drinks, extra blankets and make sure the kids are dressed warmly.

This year, the predicted temperatures will be much warmer. Day time temperatures could be in the 50’s. Lows are expected to be in the 30’s. I think I will pack rainwear before we head out to see the fireworks.

Then we will go home and watch more fireworks on TV.

How do you celebrate New Year’s Eve with the family?

Friends told me about the second-to-last column by Colleen Loggins in which she addressed women who are highly educated who choose to become stay-at-home mothers. Colleen stated that she thought it is a waste to go through all that education and then not use by staying at home with your kids.

 When I looked it up on the Journal’s website, man-o-man, was there a slew of comments. Many of which were not flattering to the writers.

 People noted that Colleen has no right to make such statements as she is NOT a mother. Some of them questioned her future mothering abilities. (Not cool, people.  That is one thing I hate about these internet comments on news stories. You can hide behind some fake name and spew hatred.)

 The gist of what Colleen wrote was that it is wrong for those of us women who are highly educated to waste our education and talents by staying at home. Because none of us can predict the future, she stated it is good for women to be working parents in case anything should happen to our husbands – be it divorce or death.

 What is irksome is that Colleen is half right.

 It is my opinion that Colleen cannot fathom why anyone who has worked hard through college and any graduate studies would give up that to be a stay at home parent. Four to eight years of studying suddenly goes down the drain because you have decided to become a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM).

 I am twenty years older than Colleen and I have four children. I have worked outside of the home, worked out of the home, had part-time jobs to survive and been a stay-at-home-mom. I have been on all sides of the coin and there is no escape from parenting guilt. No matter if you are working outside the home or staying with the kids, there is always guilt of some sort for what you are not doing.

Granted, motherhood should put us women up for sainthood. There is so much cleaning and cooking and playing and lack of sleep. You are trying to keep toddlers out of trouble and fed. Trying to get them toilet trained and learn their letters. I spent years being able to sleep anywhere at the drop of a hat because I was exhausted. That should not be a badge of honor.

 One of the things you lose immediately as a SAHM is credibility except with other mothers. They know what you are doing everyday but strangers you meet at your husband’s work parties blow you off because you are only a stay-at-home-mom. People didn’t want to talk to me as a stay-at-home-mom but they could talk to me when they learned I reviewed movies for a living. Suddenly, I was ‘interesting.’  

 And don’t let others try to tell you the SAHM world is not competitive, it is. Who volunteers the most, who makes the best treats, who is staying sane without prozac, who still looks like they did before they had kids. The competitive zeal you had as a student and a worker does not go away and it will be directed in another venue. Look at every helicopter parent you have ever known and say that is not a part of the mix.

 Don’t jump on Colleen because she dared to speak some truth. She did it without the experience as a parent to back it up. However, we don’t know what else she might have seen in her life to lead to that opinion. Perhaps she was raised by a mother or had friends who were raised by mothers with no choice in getting to stay home. My mother made it clear to me that I should always be prepared to work to support myself in case my spouse turned out to be a lay-a-bout.

 What Colleen does not yet understand is a mother’s love that drives her home, if possible. That your talents can be re-directed to help your school or church. That those years are precious and it is possible to be trained in new skills when you are ready to go back to work. She hasn’t done it yet and should not be yelled at for her lacks. Would that encourage you to be better after being yelled at in the manner some people yelled at Colleen?

There are books, such as Comback Moms by Monica Samuels and J.C. Conklin, that show it can be done, that you can have both worlds. How you do it might differ from other people but you can learn a lot by finding out how other make the transition from work to being a SAHM to working again.

Maybe you can not do it all at the same time but it is possible. Have you been able to do it?

Karyn Bowman lives in Kankakee County with her outdoor writer husband and four children. Send an e-mail to momgoestothemovies@sbcglobal.net.

I enjoy the Christmas season. There are a lot of activities to keep us busy and gatherings to attend. But the one I enjoy the most is when our family goes for the Christmas tree.

Our favorite place is the Cupola House Tree farm in Bourbonnais. It is off of Rt. 102 and we have always found wonderful trees. I prefer white pines but they have the very full firs as well. Plus there is hot cider in the barn which you can drink while your husband is making sure the tree goes trough the shaker machine and gets baled. Trust me, you want that service.

 In my last job, I usually wrote the Christmas tree farm article. I have the tips down on how to make it an enjoyable outing but like anything else it takes preparation.

 1. Before going to the farm of your choice, always, always call the farm ahead of time to verify hours, directions, prices and method of payment. Also ask about variety of trees, if they provide saws, shaking, and bundling of the tree.

 2. Make sure everyone is dressed warmly with plenty of layers, a warm coat, hats, scarves, and gloves/mittens. One child always tries to get away with minimal dress but this is when you have to be a mean mom. The open areas of tree farms have wicked cold winds that will go through that thin windbreaker.

 3. Bring along a thermos or two of your favorite hot drink. We do hot chocolate and mint tea. You might want hot cider and coffee. Pack along mugs and cookies in a cute bag or basket. The extra effort is worth it.

 4. Photograph the moment before you cut down the tree. You want that memory.

 Finally, someone may want to tell you that cutting down a tree is bad for the environment. But I have been told that for each tree cut down, three will be planted in the spring. Those trees will take time to grow and will add to the environment.

 Where do you go for a Christmas tree?

 Karyn Bowman lives in Kankakee County with her outdoor writer husband and four children. Send an e-mail to momgoestothemovies@sbcglobal.net.

This Friday is the Christmas Fantasy Parade in Bradley. Floats will come by, lit up like Christmas trees. It is a fun parade to watch and we do every year.

We do so because we have one child in the school band and they are marching this year. Years past when the weather gets too cold, our band director will call it.

So far this year, it looks like a go. So I will make sure this child has several layers to wear under his band jacket, plus a stocking hat to wear under the Santa hat, plus gloves to wear under the bigger gloves. If there are thermal long johns, he is getting them to wear.

He will get to eat along the way and have fun with his friends.

But let me share what the rest of us will do that has become a family tradition.

We  are planning to stop over at Bradley Evangelical United Methodist Church for the chili supper that happens before the parade. It is a great way to get ready for the parade, especially if you do not live in town. You get to eat great chili, choose from a bevy of desserts made by the church ladies and sit around in the warmth before the parade starts.

In full disclosure, my church is a sister church to Bradley and I know many people here. But just because you might not know anyone is not a reason to skip it. You are helping to support a local area church while getting a great meal.  The chili will help keep you warm during the parade. The sweets are simply wonderful. and the folks are pretty friendly.

Now, one more tip on how to keep warm to during the parade. Before leaving home, we make one thermos of hot chocolate and one thermos of hot tea to drink once we get back into the car. You could do coffee or hot cider or whatever you like.

As Friday gets closer, our family is looking forward to seeing the parade, especially when Santa makes an apearance.

How do you get ready for the Bradley Christmas Fantasy Parade?

For more information about the chili supper at Bradley Evangelical United Methodist Church  on 600 W. Broadway in Bradley, call 815-939-1141.

Today on my way into work, I saw something that made me cheer. A woman was in her big SUV, parked at the side of the road and texting.

 Finally, someone is doing what they should be doing with those devices.

 I smiled at her and felt very appreciative of her effort to not cause an accident. Earlier in the week a different big dark colored SUV almost crashed into my car as I was on my way to work.

 When I looked over the woman who was driving was smoking and texting. If you are smoking and texting while driving, do you have any hands left for the steering wheel? Maybe she saw me looking at her as if she was an idiot. She tried to avoid looking at me the rest of the time but was still texting.

That is when the woman in the dark colored SUV almost hit some guy walking along the side of the road while texting again. I was beginning to think she was an idiot and then I wondered why there was not a police officer to see all of this.

 Thanks goodness then it was my turn to head to work. I left the woman in the dark colored SUV hoping she was not going to hit anyone else as she made her way to wherever she was going.

 Could this be the part where I beg you not to do the same thing? That is you must text, pull over to the side of the road? It absolutely is. Laws have been passed to make sure we do just that in school zones and construction zones. Just make sure there is no one walking on the side of the road before you do. 

Karyn Bowman lives in Kankakee County with her outdoor writer husband and four children. Become friends with Karyn on Facebook or send an e-mail to momgoestothemovies@sbcglobal.net.

Do you remember about a month ago when an economic expert suggested the 3/50 project as a way of saving the local economy?

Cinda Baxter’s idea is to have consumers – me and you – pick three locally-owned businesses in the area and spend $50 there every month. By consistently spending money at three favorite vendors who are locally based and not a nationally-owned chain, it is possible to have real returns to the local economy.

Baxter states on her website that out of $100, $68 will come back to the local economy when spent at a locally-owned business. A nationally-owned business only returns $43 to the local economy. And that online purchase you just made gives nothing.

I brought the idea up recently at our family dinner, asking my husband and kids what three places we should spend our money at every month.

We all agreed on the first place. St. Anne Country Market right here in town. We love the meat we get from this small store. Plus, if you tell the owner what you like, the product will find its way on the shelf. I love being able to buy my Yoplait yogurt and Barilla pasta right there.

We started thinking about a second place and decided on Rondinella’s Italian Import Market that is located on Route 50. They have a great Italian Beef sandwich. We have tried the ready-made raviola, Mozzerella balls and various breads. I have not gotten the biscotti yet but that is next on my list. They also sell Nutella at Rondinella’s. If you do not know what Nutella is, let me just say it is a chocolate/hazelnut spread that might be described as heaven in a jar.

We have not selected a third place yet. The problem is in the choosing. Should it be a fun place like Hidden Cove or a bowling alley? Maybe it could be a restaurant such as Bull’s in Kankakee or Dixie Delight in St. Anne. Maybe it could be my favorite quilt shop, B&J Sewing in Bourbonnais or a locally-owned coffee shop.

We are still working on that final selection. But we know that we want to keep businesses going and have to spend money there to make it happen.

Now it is your turn. What are your three businesses that you plan to spend $50 dollars at each month?

Karyn Bowman lives in Kankakee County with her outdoor writer husband and four children. Become friends with Karyn on Facebook or send an e-mail to momgoestothemovies@sbcglobal.net.

Do you know how I know it is hunting season?

 All of my neighbors are practicing with their duck calls.

 And it is driving my four-year-old black lab, Storm, crazy!

 This is a dog who tried to eat my dining room table and my coffee table when he was teething. This is a dog who has been known to drag me across the street. This is a very strong dog who loves to chase squirrels and cats.

 But when he hears a call being used, the dog goes nuts. My husband was given a four-part call that can work on four different species of fowl. The other day, he took his call outside in the gangway between our house and the neighbor’s to try it out.

 Of course Storm heard it. And my lovely dog began to howl. He wanted to be where that thing was and he howled in the most forlorn manner that a dog can howl. There were tones of longing and sadness that he wasn’t where that call was hiding. Roy Orbison could have gotten a song out of that howl.

 Plus, he was running about the house trying to find the source of the sound. He ran up the stairs and down again. Through the dining room and into the kitchen. Only the possibility of dropped food made him stop for a moment. It was the shortest ‘food’ moment I ever saw the dog have. My husband came back in the house with a sheepish look on his face. As he should have.

 If that was not bad enough, a week later I was walking the dog when someone a block over tried out their goose call. There was some calling out to me and perhaps some laughing. Not that I was really paying attention because I was HOLDING BACK EIGHTY POUNDS OF DOG. It took all of the strength I had and some that was stored up for a few years coming up.

 But Storm was pulling and standing on two legs because he was trying to get a better look for the call. About a half a block later he finally got back on all fours and walked with me. But it was a quick walk, a look-around-and-see-what-you-can-see walk. A go-after-anything-you-see walk. I think I lost a whole pound during that walk so it was a little worthwhile.

 Now that waterfowl season has started, I am wondering who else is going to try out their call to see how my dog responds to it. I want to write something mean about what I would do to that call but then if anything happened to some one’s call, the police would only look in one direction. Perhaps if I demonstrated what a call does to my dog, they would let me off the hook.

 Maybe.

 Karyn Bowman lives in Kankakee County with her outdoor writer husband and four children. Become friends with Karyn on Facebook or send an e-mail to momgoestothemovies@sbcglobal.net.

Cooking is one of the avid hobbies of my family. We like making recipes, looking up recipes and having the big family meal.

 Every Sunday, one member of the family chooses the menu -even our six-year-old. Granted he gets out of cooking duty but the rest have to take part in the making of the food.

 This past week, I tried something new on Saturday. None of us want something big and we were going to be home for the night. That is when I remembered the Potato Cheese Soup recipe in Relish, the insert that appears monthly in the Daily Journal.

 After going through the stack of newspapers to find it, I started looking for ingredients. Potatoes, broth, cheddar cheese, carrots and beer I had. What I needed was ham, onion and gruyère cheese. The big problem was the cheese. My store in my little town does not have that kind of cheese.

 So I sent my daughter to google and we found out that depending on your list of ingredients, cheddar or swiss cheese can be substituted. I sent my son for an onion and worked on putting together the ingredients for an herb bread to make in the bread machine. Then we went for a bike ride to the graveyard (another story for another day).

 One the way home, I got the rest of the ingredients. The kids helped with sautéing the onions, ham and carrots. We added the eight cups of diced potatoes and broth. Let that cook for about 20 minutes. I put about 1/3 to 1/2 of the soup in the food processor and pureed. After returning the mixture to the pot, I added the 8 oz. of beer and grated 3/4 cups of cheeses.

 Talk about smelling good. We were all getting pretty hungry between the herb bread (fantastic when dipped in the soup) and the soup aromas. The kids ate this soup, requesting seconds and thirds. Our picky eater had four bowls of the stuff.

 Needless to say, this soup will be added to our repertoire on a semi-regular basis. It was a perfect ending to a wonderful fall day.