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Queen of the Land of Twigs 'N Berries

Motherhood, Chicago Style

April 22, 2020

Earth Day Books & Giveaway

April 22, 2020

Books can change the world. They can teach, inspire, and inform in ways that nothing else can. Movies may try—podcasts, too—but there is nothing more impactful than when a reader COMPLETELY invests in a book and is changed by its story. Even the littlest readers can be inspired by them, too. So I have compiled […]

Posted by Amanda Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Books Tagged: #bookgiveaway, #booklist, #earthday, #earthdaybooks, #giveaway

Hi, my name is Amanda. Welcome to my boy filled and caffeine fueled, Chicago loving world.

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The gang’s back together. Bunny ears and all. The gang’s back together.

Bunny ears and all.

#GirlSquad #SoThankful #MyGirls #ThreeGenerations #SoHoppy #Easter2021 #ThankYouScience #ThePastYearWasTotallyWorthIt #ChicagoMom #CancerWarrior #EarlyDetectionSavesLives #ChicagoMomBlogger
Hey, Chicago, what do ya say??? Happy @cubs Openi Hey, Chicago, what do ya say???

Happy @cubs Opening Day. 🙌⚾️🍿🐻💙🍻

Here’s to a season filled with face masks and W flags—and fans in the stands.

I’m curious—would YOU be comfortable going to Wrigley this season? Leave your thoughts below!

#GoCubsGo #OpeningDay #HomeOpener #SeasonOpener #ChicagoBaseball #ShareChicagoParent #ShareTheEverymom #TakeMeOutToTheBallgame #ChicagoMom #ChicagoMomBlogger #FlyTheW #EverybodyIn #CubbieBlue #watchmarquee
Today my mom finishes the last round of her twenty Today my mom finishes the last round of her twenty weeks of chemo treatment.

Next week she gets her second vaccine.

Two weeks later all of us will be fighting over who gets to hug her first. 

Thank you to the scientists, doctors and nurses who are helping us see the light at the end of the tunnel during this awful, awful year. You have supported my mom and been with her when I couldn’t and I appreciate you so incredibly much. We still have a long journey in front of us but we are going to focus on the good. Because it’s so close we can taste it. 

Photo from what feels like a lifetime ago—when my mom had a full head of hair and my rambunctious niece was a teeny little baby.

#coviddiaries #breastcancerstories #mymomismyhero #fridayfeels
“The best things in life are the people we love, “The best things in life are the people we love, the places we have been & the memories we have made along the way.”

2021, the year when Irish Proverbs hit a little different.

📍@kribicoffee 🎈@99hausballoons
You: Obsessed with all things football, prefer you You: Obsessed with all things football, prefer your dog to most people, live for Friday Family Movie Nights, adore your cousins big and small, love curling up on the couch with a book, call your friends “bros,” and never met a cheese board you didn’t like.

Me: Shocked that you are already eight-years-old yet love that you have a rare old soul. Nothing makes me happier than battling you in Scrabble or working in the garden together. So lucky to be your mama and really hoping you don’t ask me for help with your Math homework. 

#thisiseight #birthdayboy #raisingboys #raisingmen #boymom #momofboys #pandemicbirthday #birthdaycelebration #eightyearsyoung #birthdayballoons #instaballoons #balloonsofinstagram #fieldgoal #fieldgoalballoons #footballballoons #balloonart #balloonstructure #kcchiefs #kansascity #kansascitychiefs #footballer #footballobsessed #nfl #footballparty #chicagomom #chicagomomblogger #chicagoblogger
Life is short. Order the taco platter... especial Life is short. Order the taco platter...

especially when it is only $20. 

#tacotuesday #senorpollo #tacoplatter #everyonelovestacos #tacosofinstagram #getinmybelly #eatlocal #supportlocal #taqueria #rslove #favoritedayoftheweek #allthetacos #tacosmakemehappy #chicagomom #chicagomomblogger #eattheburbs #eaterchicagosuburbs #arlingtonheights #actionheights
Me: “Honey, do you have the entire windmill in t Me: “Honey, do you have the entire windmill in the frame?”

Him: “Totally.”

Eleven years of marriage, ladies and gents. 🤣 

Interested in learning more about the STUNNING Fabyan Preserve? Head to my stories or Highlights (Look for “Socially Distanced Adventures”) for more. Psst—it’s right up your alley @tutugenevieve...

#instagramhusband #loveandmarriage #marriagelookslikethis #fabyanforestpreserve #fabyanwindmill #chicagomom #sharechicagoparent #sharetheeverymom #weekending #windmills #windmillsofinstagram #parkerthatch #sundayfunday #alwaysexploring #forestlovers #takeahike #chicagomom #chicagomomblogger
GIVEAWAY CLOSED. While we may not have explored ma GIVEAWAY CLOSED. While we may not have explored many places in the past year physically, we have gone on TONS of learning adventures thanks to the diverse books that adorn our bookshelves.

Reading has been the perfect escape for us during the pandemic and has even inspired me to embark on a new business venture (more on that later) to help get great, diverse books into kids’ hands.

But for now, to celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth and highlight one of my favorite Black and family-owned businesses let’s do a giveaway to diversify your bookshelves!

$50 Gift Card to my favorite place to shop for books—@kidochicago! 🥳📚💰

TO ENTER:
1. Follow me (@queenofthelandoftwigsnberries)
2. Follow @kidochicago
3. Follow @littlereadersbigthinkers
4. Like this post
5. BONUS—Comment with your family’s FAVORITE book that celebrates diversity (especially so I can expand my family’s library with books we haven’t discovered before).

The contest closes & a winner will be announced next Wednesday on my Instagram stories. Winner has 48 hours to claim his/her prize. 

This gift away is not endorsed, sponsored, or administered by or associated with Instagram. By participating, entrants confirm that they are over 18 years old and live in the United States.

#smallbusinessgiveaway #diversebookshelfchallenge #diversifyyourbookshelves #supportblackownedbusinesses #chicagosmallbusiness #booklovers #forbooklovers #readtheworld #representationmatters #littlereadersbigthinkers #bookstagram #raisingreaders #chicagoreads #chicagomom #chicagomomblogger #momblogger
Signs are hard. 🤷‍♀️ We love you so much Signs are hard. 🤷‍♀️

We love you so much @carolromaniukcollins. There’s no one else we would visit in zero degree weather.

Friends, I hope you spent the day doing something that makes your heart happy...and didn’t freeze your toes too much. 

#ourheartbelongstonana #welovenana #nanalove #stillsocialdistancing #loveyoumore #livewhatyoulove #nanasboys #nanasgirl #funnyvalentines #brrrrrr #chiberia #babyitscoldoutside #thisiscancer #breastcancersucks #chicagokids #chicagomom #chicagomomblogger #ourpandemicreality #thepandemicisntovercuzyoureoverit
Let’s make #FloralFriday a thing...especially wh Let’s make #FloralFriday a thing...especially when there is a Winter Weather Advisory in place.

And while you are at it, make plans for brunch at @eatwakenbacon. Whether you prefer to dine in their GORGEOUS space (make your reservation in advance since it is the darling of Chicago Instagram accounts right now) or carry out, I guarantee you will SWOON over their delicious dishes and wonderful customer service.

I recommend the Spiced Maple Chicken & Waffles while my hubby loved the Big Bird. Would you want to try the Purple Haze? Swipe to see what it’s all about!

#chicagohome #chicagocuisine #chicagorestaurants #312food #eaterchicago #yelpchicago #choosechicago #thisischicago #howibrunch #chicagobrunchspots #RSlove #RSblooms #flowerinstallation #instablooms #flowergram #floraldecor #freshcutfriday #petitejoys #thatslovely #thatsdarling #brunchspots #sharechicagoparent #igerschicago #enjoyillinois #chicagomom #chicagomomblogger #howiweekend #supportlocal #supportsmallbusinesses
You know how you have been focusing on a goal for You know how you have been focusing on a goal for when life gets back to normal, like hugging your mom or dancing the night away to 90s music at a crowded bar (clearly you know where my head is at)? 

For my boys, it has been returning to the @shedd_aquarium. It is truly their happy place, from sleeping next to their favorite sea turtle to staring at the jellyfish for HOURS. So when I found out that the team at the Shedd implemented strict social distancing and safety measures in order to welcome marine-loving families like mine, it was a dream come true.

Head to the blog (link in bio) to learn all about how our Covid-conscious family felt safe & comfortable at our favorite aquarium. 

Have questions about our experience? Leave them below and I will answer them as honestly as I can! 🐠⬇️😷

#sheddaquarium #mycoviddiaries #chicagohome #allinillinois #maskup #socialdistancing #museumcampus #sharechicagoparent #rockedtheweekend #chicagomom #igerschicago #mychicagolife #chicagomom #chicagomomblogger
When your brothers don’t get a snow day but you When your brothers don’t get a snow day but you do.

Anyone else bummed that today wasn’t an unplug & head to the sled hill kind of day? I’ll be making up for it with a hot cocoa bar  at home for my boys...but still. 

#RIPSnowDays #WinterWonderland #DogsOfInstagram #SnowDay
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