New and Exciting Chicago-Made TV show for kids: Moochie Kalala Detectives Club

Do beluga whales really sing? Do dinosaurs and people live together? According to the grandpa (played by Tim Kazurinsky) on Chicagoland’s new show, “Moochie Kalala Detectives Club,” they sure do. The new TV show, which first airs 11 a.m. on Jan. 18, on WTTW Kids, Channel 11, sends kids on a fact-finding mission at Chicago’s top museums and cultural attractions to uncover the truth from real scientists.

With every story comes a new adventure. The first episode will follow the “science detective” kids as they head off to the Adler Planetarium to investigate the truth behind grandpa’s story about a water-guarding dragon on Mars. The kids learn grandpa was off his rocker on some facts – but right about others - with help from the Adler’s Astrophysicist & Planetary Scientist Mark Hammergren. Each of the six episodes stars one of Chicago’s most famous museums and attractions, and its scientist, zoologist or architect.

Not only does “Moochie Kalala Detectives Club” encourage kids to discover science with help from Chicago’s top museums and scientists, it also inspires exploration through partnerships with local schools. The show’s producer, Chicago’s own Dreaming Tree Films, selected six local teachers and their students to appear during the last few minutes of the show leading kids through fun, hands-on experiments! Dreaming Tree Films will also host “Moochie Kalala Detectives Club”-themed, in-school science events at numerous schools across Chicagoland this spring, and is delivering 1,000 complimentary DVDs to local public schools.

In each episode, the kids meet Chicagoland’s real celebrities, the brilliant scientists of the city’s nationally applauded cultural institutions.

• Episode 1 features the Adler Planetarium with Astrophysicist Mark Hammergren, PhD
• Episode 2 features Museum of Science and Industry with Physicist Dr. Olivia Castellini, PhD 
• Episode 3 features Lincoln Park Zoo with Primatologist Dr. Steve Ross, PhD
• Episode 4 features The Field Museum with Paleontologist Bill Simpson 
• Episode 5 features Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House with Historical Architect Royce Yeater
• Episode 6 features Shedd Aquarium with Marine Mammals Trainer Elizabeth Davis

Chicagoland families can also continue the adventure and scientific discoveries following each show by visiting MoochieKalala.com for easy, at-home science experiments and downloadable content, detective badges and resources for parents, teachers and schools.  

Teachers can request to receive complimentary “Moochie Kalala Detectives Club” DVDs and science activities for use in their classrooms.  To request a copy, go to MoochieKalala.com/educators.  

 

Calling Lego Fans ages 5 to 10 in Chicago Area!

Every LEGO® Master Model Builder needs a space to create, and LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Chicago is asking LEGO fans to design an extra special workshop for Chicago’s Master Model Builder. The Center has launched the Creative Crew contest, inviting children ages 5 to 10 to show or tell what their ideal LEGO workshop would look like and have a chance to serve on the Creative Crew for one year. The crew will be comprised of 15 lucky winners and offers perks such as invitations to meetings with Master Model Builder, David Howard, VIP access to LEGOLAND Discover Center Chicago events and a family pass to the Center.

15 lucky winners will be selected to serve on the Creative Crew for one year. Each winner will receive:

Invitations to exclusive quarterly meetings with Master Model Builder, David Howard

VIP access to special LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago events

A family Annual Pass to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago

Creative Crew T-shirt and prize pack


The contest is open to children ages 5 to 10. To enter, show or tell us what your ideal LEGO® workshop would look like. Entries will be accepted in the form of drawings or creative writing (200 words or less). Winners will be judged on creativity and will be chosen by LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago’s Master Model Builder, David Howard.


Entries can be emailed to contest@diaryofasahm.com or mailed to Creative Crew, LEGOLAND Discovery Center, 601 N Martingale Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60173. Entries must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 8, 2015.


The winning entries will be displayed at the Grand Opening of the new Master Model Builder Workshop at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago this spring.




For more details or to enter the contest, visit www.LEGOLANDDiscoveryCenter.com/Chicago

Recycled Candles

After Christmas I always feel like I have to purge my home.  I start cleaning out closets and cabinets so frantically that I usually just make a bigger mess then when I started.  I cleaned some closets out that we don't use often and I found tons of almost used up candles...you know the ones in jars that are too far gone to use but you just can't bring yourself to throw them away. 

I decided to turn those old candles into brand new candles.  It's a super easy project, all you need is old candles, empty jars, a can from canned veggies or fruit and wicks.  You can either purchase wicks at a craft store for super cheap or you can do what I did, melt down one of those tall tapered candles and use the wick from that.

To melt the candles you have two options.  If the candles are in a jar, set the jar into a medium sauce pan with some water.  Bring the water to a boil and within minutes the wax will be melting.  If the candles are small or not in a glass jar, place them inside a clean can (veggie or fruit can) and set in a pot of boiling water.  This is called the double boiler method.  

Like I mentioned earlier, I used the wick from an old tapered candle.  You can wrap the end around a popsicle stick or pencil and suspend it into a clean glass jar.

Pour the melted wax into the jar.  If you are layering colors, let each layer cool completely before pouring the next one. 

And that's it.  Super easy project that allows you to recycle those candle left overs into brand new, beautiful candles.

#Candle #DIY #Crafts #Recycle

My Trip to Poland {Part 1}

I can't believe it is already January and I am just now posting about my amazing trip back in October. I will blame it on the fact that I work two jobs (no longer stay at home) an with the Holiday season it just got too crazy.  So, wow, where to begin...it was a whirlwind, two week trip back to the country I moved from exactly 25 years to the day.  Yes, the day we landed in Poland was the 25th anniversary of our departure back in 1989.  Most of my family still lives in Poland and I have seen a few uncles and my grandparents a couple of times over the years when they came to visit us here, but this was the first time back for any of us (and first time period for my 11 year old daughter).  Aside from a birthday flight in a little private plane a few years back, my daughter has never flown anywhere so this was an adventure for her in itself.  It is a 9 hour flight which did not seem too bad on the way there since we were flying through the night,

She was pretty nervous, and I have to admit I was a bit too, but the flight went smoothly and we landed in Warsaw (Warszawa) early afternoon the next day.  My mom's brother and his wife greeted us at the airport and our adventure began.  It had been so long since we had been there, none of us really knew what to expect.  We had a lot of family to visit in the two weeks that we were there so we were on a pretty tight schedule but we did include some time to sight see.  

We stayed with my uncle just until the next afternoon (we were coming back to his house at the end of the trip) and we really enjoyed his house with his own private woods where we went mushroom picking.

After the mushroom hunt, we went in to town to do some walking around.  Mlawa is my mother's hometown but honestly I didn't remember it well.  My grandmother lived in a little village near Mlawa, and I have many memories of that area, but not much of the bigger town.

My memories were that of an 8 year old, silly things like buying children's magazines and notebooks in these little kiosks.  I was really excited that they still exist.  

It was also really fun to see an old Fiat like the ones that were around when I was little.  Most of the cars there are pretty modern but once in a while you would run across one of these little (and I mean LITTLE) gems!  We had to exchange our money while there because at the airport you don't get as much for your dollars.  In Poland they use Zloty.  It was a bit confusing trying to figure out how much I was spending on things but how the money worked was that it was almost three Zloty for one dollar.

We walked around the town for quite a while, attempted to get our cell phones to work (to no avail) and got some ice cream.  We then visited my grandmother's grave.  She passed about two years after we moved to the U.S. 

I also got to see the church where my parents got married.  The town of Mlawa was small but charming and my daughter really hit it off with her cousin who, even though 11 years older than her, was about the same size and looked quite a bit like her.

I think they both favor my mom a little, maybe its the chin?  I don't know but I can totally see the resemblance.  It was really nice to see my aunt and uncle, and my cousin...it had been 13 years since I saw them last.  When you grow up so far from your entire extended family you think that when you see them it will be like seeing strangers but this was quite the opposite, everywhere we went we were greeted warmly and it felt like the years just melted away.  

We left that afternoon and drove north to my hometown Pieniezno.  I really could not wait to see it, I dreamed of the day when I could go back and it was finally happening.....  {to be continued }

#Poland #Travel #Europe