A Go West Mom You Should Know: Maria Dripps-Paulson of the Kaneland Community Fine Arts Festival

When Maria Dripps-Paulson was in junior high, she decided she wanted to be a band teacher when she grew up. Guess what? She became a band teacher.

Maria Dripps-Paulson with her husband Tim, son Philip and daughters Zoe, Clara and Naomi (left to right). Photo provided.Dripps-Paulson taught band for 15 years in cities including Edwardsville, Plano and then at Kaneland High School. After having triplet daughters four years ago (she also has an older son who has autism), she decided to take a break from teaching.

She is now the executive director of the Kaneland Community Fine Arts Festival, which offers affordable ways to experience the arts throughout the year.

The centerpiece of the festival is a full day of free performance and demonstrations by musicians and artists held in the spring and open to the general public. The 12^th annual version of the event (also called the Kaneland Community Fine Arts Festival) is scheduled for Sunday, April 10, at Kaneland High School in Maple Park.

You can find a full schedule of the day’s events by clicking here. We’ll be telling you more about the event next week, but highlights include performances by School House Rock Live, the State Street Dance Studio, the Fox Valley Children’s Chorus and AMEBA Acrobatic & Aerial Dance, in which the ensemble uses suspended equipment such as scarves and swings.  There will also be demonstrations in painting and caricatures as well as a special section reserved for infants through children age 4. Did I mention it’s all free?

But today the focus is on Dripps-Paulson, 38, who lives with her husband Tim,  8-year-old son Philip and 4-year-old daughters Clara, Zoe and Naomi in Sugar Grove. Read on to find out why this Oswego High School graduate – who has two master’s degrees – is a Go West Mom You Should Know.

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Simple Breakfast: Honey Nut Granola

We’re changing it up today, featuring a breakfast recipe from one of our regular contributors, Edith Tarter, instead of one of our “Weeknight Dinners.” 

Here's an easy, inexpensive and relatively low-fat granola that is very tasty!  I found the base recipe on AllRecipes.com and modified it, based on reviewers' comments.  I used chopped walnuts in my batch today. Once the granola is cooled, I add in dried cranberries, raisins and even chopped dates and store it in an airtight container.  I hope it lasts a few days before being gobbled up a bowl at a time.  This is a great breakfast cereal, with milk poured over, and works as a crunchy nutty topping to yogurt and ice cream.  Enjoy!

Honey Nut Granola

Ingredients:

•          3 cups old-fashioned cooking oats (not instant!)

•          1/2 cup chopped nuts (your choice)

•          1/4 cup wheat germ

•          1/3 cup honey

•          1/3 cup brown sugar

•          1/4 cup vegetable oil

•          2 tablespoons warm water

•          1/2  teaspoon salt

•          1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

•          1 teaspoon vanilla extract

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She'sWrite: My 30 Days With Jillian Michaels

Today our regular guest columnist She'sWrite updates us on what she's calling her "Blubber Battle."

Not too long ago, Jillian Michaels asked me to hang out with her. She said if I gave her quality time for a month, she’d make a difference. Well, maybe it wasn't like that really, but I did spend about 25 minutes with her each day for 30 days straight and she was right, I noticed a difference.

I just completed Jillian’s 30 Day Shred. It’s an exercise DVD that I’d do every day and it’s the same work out for ten days, and then you move up a level. Though I’m not “shredded,” I’m better than I was before. I lost about 5 pounds and 4 inches.

Unfortunately those aren’t “Biggest Loser” type numbers, but I’m telling myself: slow and steady wins the race. I’m breastfeeding and watching that my calories don’t dip too low so Ethan can still have enough to eat. For some nursing women it seems the pounds simply melt away at lightening speed, while for others of us, not so much, at least not without affecting our supply.

The big thing I gained from the workout was confidence from my commitment to not miss a single day for 30 days, regardless of my kids’ or my hubby’s needs. I prioritized Me. There were some workouts that took place right before bed, others I had to hit pause while I got Ethan back to sleep. And his big brother, Logan, even joined me in a handful of workouts.

There also were days where my whine gave my 3-year-old a good run for his money: “I don’t wanna wooooorrrrkkkk ouuuutttt. I’m tttiiiirrreeeedd.”  But then I’d do it. Very grudgingly.

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Easter Egg Hunts, Brunches with the Bunny and More Spring Events

Easter is egg-ceptionally (ha, ha) late this year, so let’s hope the weather is nice and warm for the egg hunts, brunches and other events listed below. I’ve included some other special spring events (kite flying in Wheaton!) that you’ll likely want to consider putting on your calendar, too.

Photo by vanherdehaage on Flickr.The events you need to register in advance for are listed first – if you are indeed interested in these, register soon, because the popular ones fill up fast. Some events (like Cantigny’s brunch with the Easter bunny) are already sold out. I’ll keep updating this list over coming weeks, but of course suggestions are always welcome!

Don't forget your cameras -- or your baskets!

REGISTER IN ADVANCE FOR:

The St. Charles Park District has a Breakfast With the Easter Bunny scheduled for Wednesday, April 13, at 9 a.m. at the Pottawatomie Community Center. Children ages 1 through 6 will decorate their own bunny-face pancake, color bunny picures, have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny and end with a Bunny Hop. You must register in advance. Resident children and adults are $9; non-residents are $13.50.

The Geneva Park District will hold its Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 16, outside the Stephen Persinger Recreation Center. The hunt begins promptly at 10 a.m. for all ages, but the children will be divided into two groups: Ages 4 and under and 5 and up. Before the hunt, you can enjoy pancakes and a visit with the Easter Bunny. The cost is $3 per person or $5 per person for non-residents. You must register for the breakfast beforehand; children 1 and under are free.

The Midwest Museum of Natural History in Sycamore is offering your children a chance to visit with “Spring Babies” on Saturday, April 16, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  The museum will be hosting baby chicks, bunnies, ducklings, goats, and lambs. Tickets to visit with the animals are $2 each, plus museum admission and are sold in 15-minute increments. Space is limited and registration is required; call 815-895-9777 to sign up. Don’t forget your cameras!

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Go West Giveaway: Four tickets to see ‘Godspell’ at Geneva Underground Playhouse

Updated on Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 10:16PM by Tara Burghart

We have a giveaway today that is tied to the upcoming Easter holiday, and the prize is very generous.

The fine folks at Geneva Underground Playhouse would like to award one lucky Go West Young Mom reader four tickets to see their production of “Godspell.”

The musical was a big hit off-Broadway in the 1970s, and its score was written by Stephen Schwartz, most famous for his work on "Wicked."

"Godspell" will be performed in GUP’s space at 524 W. State in downtown Geneva on Friday nights, Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons through April 10.

“Godspell” follows the life of Jesus and is based on the Gospel of Matthew, although it includes some parables from the Book of Luke as well. This production is set in the modern day, and the show is family-friendly, but it is probably best for children ages 8 and up. You can read more about it here in this informative article from the Daily Herald.

The Geneva Underground Playhouse, by the way, is a nont-for-profit community theater.

One Go West reader will win four tickets and can choose what show she wants to see, as long as there are remaining tickets available for that performance. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children, so this is quite a wonderful prize package!

To enter all you have to do is answer the following question in the comment section below:  What play, musical or performance did you enjoy so much the first time you saw it that you would love to see again? It doesn't matter if it was on Broadway, in downtown Chicago or at your local community theater, tell us about it!

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