Welcome to a New Sponsor: Peerless Fence

Please join me in welcoming a new sponsor to Go West Young Mom: Peerless Fence, a family-owned and operated business that offers one of the largest selection of fence types and styles in Illinois.

An example of Peerless Fence's work. Don't you wish this was your yard? Photo provided.Peerless Fence is marking a big milestone this year – celebrating 50 years in business. It was founded by brothers Robert and Art White, and Robert’s sons Dean and Marty are now two of the owners. Some members of the third generation are working at Peerless Fence, too.

Dean White says he started helping out at Peerless when he was just 12 years old.

“I was proud then of how positively people spoke about our company, and I'm proud now that we've upheld that,” he says. “We're probably 10 times as big now as we were then, so I'm proud of our growth, too."

Peerless Fence, which is based in West Chicago, serves commercial, industrial and residential customers and backs all of its fences with a written warranty. It’s become one of the largest fence companies in the Midwest and stresses its quick, efficient service.

“We have follow-up postcards that we send out after a job is completed, and it's great to see when someone is really pleased and writes to us about it,” Dean White says. “It's because of good work and putting the customer first."

If you visit the company’s showroom – located on Route 38, just east of Kirk Road – you can take a look the outdoor display area for inspiration. There, you’ll get a great idea of all the heights, styles and types of fences Peerless can install for you – from classic wood to new innovations in aluminum and vinyl to elegant wrought iron and utilitarian chain link.

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Weekend Spotlight: 'Seussical Jr." at Fox Valley Repertory

Well, we’re in for another wintery weekend. Sounds like a great time to enjoy some children’s theater, and “Seussical Jr.” is opening this weekend at the Fox Valley Repertory in St. Charles.

Graphic courtesy of Fox Valley Repertory.Sure, the “Weekend Spotlight” last week was about children’s theater, too, but when we have so many good options in the area – and the weather is so terrible – taking your children to enjoy a live theatrical production is a great way to spend a couple memorable hours. And you can always turn to your trusty Go West calendar for other suggestions on keeping busy.

Fox Valley Repertory was formerly known as Noble Fool Theatricals. It performs at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles.

“Seussical Jr.” is being performed by the Fox Valley Repertory Youth Ensemble. It’s a musical featuring some classic Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and Gertrude McFuzz. The show is rated “G” and is less than 90 minutes long.

It is being performed on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. through March 12. This weekend, there is also a show on Sunday (Feb. 27) at 7 p.m., and there is also a show on a Friday, March 4, at 10:30 a.m.

Tickets are $15 for adults, children 12 and under pay $12. Lunch packages are available from $19.  You can buy tickets online by clicking here or call the box office at 630-584-6342.

By the way, one of Go West Young Mom’s sponsors, Delnor Express Care, is also sponsoring “Seussical Jr.” Delnor Express Care obviously has good taste!

Great Libraries! The Batavia Public Library

Some evening, I will likely tell my husband I’m going to meet a girlfriend for a movie and instead head to the Batavia Public Library and curl up on one of its window seats with a classic novel.

The "Reading Cottage" in the Batavia Public Library. Photos by Tara Burghart.Actually, my husband wouldn’t care in the least if I told him I was heading to a library to read for a solo "girl's night out." But you get the idea.

The Batavia Public Library is located in downtown in a beautiful, huge building (54,000 square feet) opened in 2002. But it has all sorts of benches, window seats and comfy chairs where you can get cozy and enjoy a good book. And you can get absolutely toasty in the gorgeous Library Leaders Reading Room, which has a fireplace.

But perhaps the absolutely best place to read is reserved for the small fry. “The Reading Cottage” is a wooden playhouse located in the Youth Services department, and it has a tiny couch and two chairs inside. I would have loved to have a place like that in my library as a kid, and my daughter loves it now. She’s one of those children who hardly ever stop moving, but when we visit the Batavia library, she is quite content hanging out in the Reading Cottage, paging through books by herself or with a new friend she’s just made. Sometimes I even get to relax on the nearby catch and read a book of my own!

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Making Your Family Movie Nights Worthy of a Red Carpet!

Crystal Rutherford follows Go West Young Mom, and when I read on her personal blog a mention of their “Family Movie Nights” – along with amazingly fun photos – I just had to know more! So I asked Crystal if she could write a bit about how the idea for the movie nights came together and how she plans for them. With the Academy Awards on Sunday night, I thought it would be a perfect time for all of us to get inspired on how to make watching movies together at home a truly special occasion. Thanks so much to Crystal for this great reader contribution.

The table set for "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" movie night. Photo provided by the Rutherford family.We started movie nights about a year ago after my son had his adenoids removed.  Per doctor's orders, Hayden had to take it easy for 7 to 10 days. But as expected with any 3 year old, after a few days he was sick of taking it easy, as well as watching movies, so I had to try to make things more interesting for him.  When I was teaching, as a class reward we would have a “Movie Celebration.” I remembered how excited my students were when I gave them printed tickets as they entered my classroom, so I figured I would try it with Hayden.  

So I planned our first themed-family movie night!  I chose “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” which was really easy to plan a dinner for: Spaghetti & meatballs, giant broccoli spears, and puffy rolls. Of course we had to have gummy bears, and for dessert we enjoyed yummy “hamburger cupcakes.” Hayden was so excited when my husband gave him the printed movie ticket, as well as when he saw the fun food on the dining room table, that we have now made it a tradition.

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Weeknight Dinners: Chicken Shawarma Two Ways

Chicken Shawarma Two Ways

This Middle Eastern dish is great in pita bread or over rice. If you are serving over rice, double the sauce but reserve half to pour over the chicken and rice at the end.  If serving on bread, be sure to add lettuce, onion, and tomato to the pitas.

Freshly made pita bread. Photo by jeffreyw on Flickr.Ingredients:

2 boneless chicken breasts

1 /2 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp mustard

2 tsp vinegar

3 garlic cloves minced

Directions:

1. Mix all the spices and marinate chicken for 10 minutes

2. Grill or pan fry chicken

3. Serve on pitas or over rice