Being a Girl Scout Leader the last 4 years has taught me a lot.  So, in return I am trying to give back by teaching my girls about things that I have learned over the years.  I am a firm believer in giving back and not always with money.  Some times it is better to give back with action instead of just talking about or donating to a cause.

This summer my daughter surprised me by wanting to do her Summer Funshine project by herself.  I wanted to assist her in picking a local charity and finding out what they needed help with, then my Girl Scout prepared the rest.  Since The Ark of Chicago has given back to the community for so many years it was an easy selection for us.  Their site was helpful to us by clearly stating their needs and offering documents you could download to print and use.  The Ark has a food pantry so we thought what better way to help than by collecting and donating items to fill the pantry.

Since we live in a building, we had to make sure we had permission to make and place a box in the lobby.  Our amazing door man helped us by making sure all residents knew about it and where to find the box to place the donations.  It may not seem like a lot but we were able to fill a big box (about 4 full shopping bags) of items on the list.  I am very proud of my Girl Scout and all of the residents who live in our building.  At the end of the day it is about teaching the young ones to give back and to be a part of their community.  This drive helped us get to know more of our neighbors and make everyone feel good about helping their community.  It’s all starts at home.  If we are good as a community we can be good to other communities. 

This activity can also help Girl Scouts fulfill requirements for larger awards (like Bronze, Silver and Gold).  Since the goal is to improve life for everyone the Girl Scouts can use this in their life going forward and become pillars in their communities for the work they do 🙂

*JAJ TIP* Give back by setting up your own drive…you can make back to school backpacks, holidays gifts for families less fortunate, food drives, shoe drives, the list is really endless when you start to think of all the ways you can help others.  Trust me as a Personal Concierge I have learned that the list of how to help people has become quite lengthy.

*PLANNING TIP*  Think about what you want to help/improve in your community then think of how you can accomplish that.  Contact charities and companies in your community to find out what they need.  From there you can plan better.

*TECH TIP* Go to the site of your favorite charity to see if they talk about their needs and if they have any marketing pieces you can use for your project.  For example: Items needed List, Boxes for item collection or maybe signs you can put out.

I have always felt it was important to learn languages at a young age.  So when our daughter was just about to turn 3 years old we started the program at the Instituto Cervantes Chicago which 6 years later has far exceeded our expectations.   

The elementary school we are at begins teaching Mandarin at age 3.  We thought learning two languages would be confusing and therefore should pick one.   However, doing Spanish in the Summer at the Instituto and Mandarin at school during the rest of the year we have found no issues.  In fact her Spanish may be better than her Mandarin because of the program at the Instituto.  Learning while creating beautiful art projects, being able to apply the learning to your daily life and making wonderful friends while being in a fully immersive Spanish speaking program is bound to teach the language in no time. 

Let me take a moment to speak about the teachers…they certainly know how to hire the perfect teachers for the different age groups.  Over the 6 years we have been there we started with one teacher, had the second level teacher and now we are onto the older kid teacher.  Each instructor has been perfect for the age group they are teaching.  They have all become our friends over the years, we walk in to happy smiling faces every day, all of us greet one another in the hall with compliments (in Spanish of course), hugs and kisses.  It is the best way to start the day!

I cannot say enough about this program!  Keep reading for more helpful tips.

*JAJ TIP* This year the Instituto started offering an after camp enrichment. The normal day ends at 2pm, this enrichment extends the day until 4pm.  Giving the kids an option of Theater or Poetry, this after camp class is sure to engage your child in another way that will promote their learning even further.  Plus it is 2 more hours a day they are learning and speaking Spanish.

*PLANNING TIP* Start Young, the younger the better.  And look for a fully immersive program.  It may be intimidating at first, but in no time you will see that it is a faster way of mastering the language. You can go week by week at the Kids Summer Camp, but I highly recommend doing a few weeks in a row in order to gain the most as far as learning.

*TECH TIP* Go to https://chicago.cervantes.es/en/Cervanteskids_spanish/children_courses_spanish.htm to sign up for classes or camp today.

I am always on the hunt for unique experiences to give as gifts, especially for my parents who have everything.  This year I searched and searched until I came up with the perfect idea for their anniversary.

I like to look for shows, plays, concerts and the like at hotels, arenas, gaming facilities, comedy clubs or anywhere else offering a fun day/night out.  I like to be original when booking these events not duplicating what we have done in the past.  It seems that as the years go on everyone’s needs change.  The age of parents goes up making walking and big crowds not the ideal place.  On the opposite end of the age spectrum you have kids that may not be good audience members at all shows/outings.  So when I came across Guy Bavli’s show at the Riverside Hotel on Las Olas I was excited because it would accommodate all of the above as we have young and old in our group. 

Guy did not disappoint.  His quick wit and pure skill excited and entertained everyone for the entire hour and a half long show, leaving us as either “skeptics or believers”.  Audience members could participate, but were also given the option to bow out if they did not want to.   Performing in front of others at the age of five the Israeli born illusionist wanted to amuse and awe others so he learned and perfected his act over the years citing Uri Geller as one of his biggest influences.  He has been on countless television shows displaying his many talents for years and now has decided to stay local and take up residency at The Riverside Hotel while offering appearances at corporate and private events as well.

I highly recommend making the trip to Las Olas to see this marvelous mentalist!

*JAJ TIP*  I suggest spending a little more per ticket for VIP, which will secure you a table and optimal viewing for the show.  It also includes a drink ticket which can be used at the hotel bars as you wait to be let in for the show.

*PLANNING TIP*  Go early and have dinner before the show, as a guest of the show you receive 20% off at the Golden Lyon Pub or Wild Sea Restaurants on property or you can travel out the hotel’s front door and dine at one of the many delicious restaurants on Las Olas Blvd.

*TECH TIP*  Go to https://www.masterofthemind.com/fll22/ to purchase your tickets today.

This summer I am vowing to stop stressing about projects that need to be completed at home and am going to start simplifying the daunting task by breaking it down and then getting started one step at a time.  If you have something you have been wanting to complete but keep putting it off you should continue reading.

Start by writing down something you really wanted to get done around the house.  For example, I sell our new/lightly used clothes.  I have a closet full of clothes that need to be added to the selling site.  I have had to do this for a couple of years now but I just keep adding items to the closet without posting.  When I am not sure how to do something or how I would like to proceed I tend to put those things off, sound familiar?

Since I have trouble getting rid of things like clothing, purses, shoes, etc I use a third party consignment app to sell my items.  It leaves me with a satisfied feeling knowing the buyer is happy and enjoying what they purchased and that I got the price I wanted for the item(s) sold.  The added bonus is that I then have money to go buy something new that I can one day resell for money.

Last month I started making a list of what I wanted to get done:

1. Sell as much as possible by creating unique listings
2. Continue reposting items weekly
3. Organize the clothing closet
4. Redo photos for older listings
5. Sort clothing and pull old clothing that hasn’t sold
6. Donate pulled clothing

This helped by giving me a place to start.  I started with #1.  I have been listing 2-4 items a few days a week for the last two weeks and have even sold a few pieces.  As I list items I am organizing the closet when I put those items away, helping me to naturally move onto another task on the list I wanted to complete #3.  Now that I have begun I am finding it less daunting to tackle a few things a week instead of looking at everything and trying to do it all at once. 

If you are stuck, maybe try following my lead and take a dreaded task and break it down into “TO DO STEPS” and then get to work.  As I type this I am going to list more new items, it leaves me with such an accomplished  feeling.

*JAJ TIP* There are a few sell your own items sites/apps.  I have used Poshmark for many years and have been very happy.  Download it today and give it a try.

*ORGANIZATION TIP* Go about it the old fashioned way and grab a piece of paper or a notebook if you prefer, divide it into steps and leave space in between the steps. This way you can make notes about ideas you come up with on how to do/make it better/easier in the future.

*TECH TIP* If you are putting a task off because you do not know how to accomplish it, you can always use Google, Grok or whatever form of AI you would like to help assist you in your research.  Be specific with what you need so you can get more tailored advice.  For example: I can search “Poshmark listing creation ideas” see what I find and add to my notes to implement when ready. 

Have fun and happy summer!

Kids and adults alike could benefit from a good exercise and discipline program. Might I suggest looking into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu lessons/classes.  Gracie Barra has classes all over the country and is a phenomenal program.  Starting at 7 years old, I have watched my child grow from a tiny little thing to a lean fighting machine.  King of the mat one called her.

Now, almost 10 years old and on her 4th belt, she looks forward to seeing her friends, getting stronger and perfecting her techniques.  I always pictured Jiu JItsu as a boys sport, but it is becoming more of a girls/women’s sport as well.

Gracie Barra offers a variety of packages/plans to choose from.  One option they have is a an afterschool program which I cannot say enough about this program.  I have watched kids start the year with serious behavioral issues change into kind and polite children by the end of the school year.  Any parent would be blessed to have this as an option for their child’s afterschool activity.

*JAJ TIP*  Go to https://graciebarrawear.com/ to purchase all your gear.  Be sure to keep an eye out for Limited Edition gear, it never disappoints.

*PLANNING TIP*  Plan on going at least twice a week, and eventually possibly three days a week as you get stronger and better at it.  Adults, consider it part of your weekly workout routine.  For kids, I do this as an after school enrichment 2-3 days a week. The best part about Gracie Barra is that you buy as a package and you can go any day of the week you want and in some cases to as many classes as you want.

*TECH TIP*  Go to https://graciebarra.com/find-a-school/ to locate a training facility near you.

As we approach playoff and Festival season I figured I would share some tips and tricks to help you better prepare for a successful outing.

From what to wear to what to bring, whether you’re inside a freezing hockey arena or taking in a concert out in the summer heat, you can never be too prepared.  If it is hot consider things like cooling towels, fans and loose clothing.  Cooler inside events be sure to pack a sweatshirt.  And don’t forget to dress for the event.  Make it more special by purchasing something new to wear so that you have a memory of the event in the future.

Timing is also very important, especially if you are like me and do not like waiting around.  Some times it is a good thing to arrive early to find good parking and to allow for time to walk around familiarizing yourself with everything being offered.  At times, like when I have older people with me who are less mobile, I like to know where the handicap parking is, when the doors open and when we can go to our seats.  Usually you can find all of the answers to this on their website or by even calling and speaking to someone directly at the venue.

Keep reading below for more helpful ideas and suggestions from Just Ask Jen.  Happy planning!

*COMPANIES I PROMOTE*  For any event you will probably need tickets. The venue and their website is the first place to look for tickets.  After that Ticketmaster sells tickets but I love to look at Stub Hub, Seat Geek and Fever as well.  Some times they may have better seats and even better pricing for certain events and/or packages.  Live Nation and Vivid Seats are two other sites I have heard about but have had no experience with.

*PLANNING TIP*  Before you venture out to your event, you should look at the website for the venue to see what tips/tricks/advice/info they have that will help you plan.  Specifically be sure to look at arrival times, directions for parking and/or transit options, food and restroom information, and if needed bag allowances.

*SHOPPING TIP*  Once you find the bag allowance dimensions you can go to amazon and search “arena festival bags”, they have great inexpensive options.  I have also heard good things about https://www.clutchwomen.com/ which sells stadium compliant bags.  Think of all the things you want to bring with and then get a bag that size with compartments for all you need.

Grocery cost seems to be a hot topic these days. Items have skyrocketed in price leaving buyers to choose between needs vs wants.  I never used to know the cost of items as readily as I do now. I bought what I needed and items cost what they cost.  Recently my grocery store placed a screen at the checkout line making it easier to see the cost of everything.  It has been a game changer and prompted me to start shopping smarter.  I thought I would share my ideas with you in hopes that it will help you spend less and save more.

Growing up I was always a coupon clipper.  Grocery store, home store, restaurants, there were so many I had an organizer to keep track of them.  Nowadays there are digital ways to save that also cut the time of clipping, sorting and storing.  Grocery and other stores have apps that allow you to clip and store digital coupons right there. 

Another idea I recently implemented is a “Buy on Sale” section on my lists (this idea can be applied to any category, I started with groceries).  These are items I buy more than one of or not that often and that I do not need immediately but would like to have on hand if I can get it at a discount.  I suggest you start small, take a month and make an effort every time you go to buy something, stop and think “will I use this item in the next week?”  If you answer no, you may want to consider buying it at another time. I did this last November, I called it “No-Spend-November”, and I was amazed at how much wasteful spending I was able to cut.

*JAJ TIP* A few years back I started this process with clothing.  Any time I was in a store about to buy something I would rethink the purchase and say to myself, “learn to shop in your closet”.  I started pairing things differently giving me new outfits at no cost.  I am impressed with how little I buy these days and how happy I am.

*PLANNING TIP* I suggest before going shopping, you review which stores/venues you will be visiting and see if you have an app with coupons and promotions to see what savings you can benefit from.

*TECH TIP* When buying on-line, google coupon codes for the site you are purchasing from.  There you will find sites with codes you can try.  I do this with pretty much all of my on-line shopping.  I cannot even tell you how much I have saved for myself and my clients over the years. 

I highly recommend starting with these simple steps to start saving money and time in turn giving you more money and time to use doing things you love.

Planning your spring break activities?  Going to Disney World in Orlando?  If so, I’ve got you covered.  If you want to spend a day away from the Theme Parks might I suggest taking in a fabulous show and making a day of it. Cirque Du Soleil has their Drawn to Life show at Disney Springs, and it is such a great way to introduce the kids to these types of experiences.

From the moment you arrive at this permanent tent you are transported, feeling like you are in a theater.  You are seated with a giant book as the main focus on the stage.  The excitement builds for what you are about to witness.

Before the performance begins there is interaction with the audience so come prepared to possibly be a part of the show.  Our child is shy and did not want to be involved, but regrets that decision to this day.  So if your child is asked and says no, you may want to give them a nudge and let them know it will be the experience of a lifetime.

The story, the acrobatics, and the characters were all so engaging that they transported us to a place of feeling like we were part of the story.  This 90-minute show has no intermission but you never even notice as you are engaged the entire time.  They serve very unique theater/circus snacks if you like to snack during shows – WE DO. I highly recommend trying the green popcorn and/or the pretzel shaped like Mickey Mouse, my family still talks about them to this day.  Enjoy this unique experience and planning for it!

*COMPANIES I PROMOTE* If you decide to eat before or after the show might I suggest The Boathouse at Disney Springs. Go to  https://theboathouseorlando.com/ for menus and reservations.  There was something for everyone to eat there and the atmosphere was perfect for the day.

*PLANNING TIP* If you want to make a day of it, you can shop, have lunch or dinner, and then see the show; or vice versa.  Go to https://www.disneysprings.com/ to start planning now.

*TECH TIP* Go to https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/usa/orlando/drawn-to-life/buy-tickets to learn more about the show, parking and how to get tickets.  While at this site it would be a good idea to sign up for their Club Cirque Newsletters to stay in the loop about new and upcoming shows.

Continuing with the theme of bettering yourself, since February is Valentines Day I figured why not write about loving one another by doing what my daughter was taught in PreK4, to treat others how you want to be treated.

Find yourself being impatient in a check out line or on the road in your car?  Try to stop and put yourself into that persons shoes and then think, would you want the time taken with you and not to be rushed?  Then stand/sit and enjoy a moment thinking about things you have to do or about something that happened during the day that made you smile and you will instantly be transformed to a calmer you.  Use the time to do something else that needs tending to.  Mark things down that you need to do or research something you wanted to know while waiting.  Before you know it you will be next and the task you were waiting to complete is then done and you accomplished something else while waiting patiently.

My advice, take or leave it, is to go into all situations calmly and with patience for all around you.  Sure there are times this is entirely impossible, I know as I had one of those moments as well recently.  But 95% of our life should be spent in the mindset that we live within a community where it is our responsibility to create the environment around us that we want by being/behaving that way in our every day life.

*JAJ TIP* I use my Notes app on my phone for everything.  It is such a useful tool to help remember things needing to be done and how to do them.  I even prep these blogs using the notes app on my phone and iPad.

*SHOPPING TIP* Assess what you need to go out to do vs what can be done on-line.  Now a days it can be more efficient to buy and do on-line, saving time and money in the long run, so always look into if it is better to do something on-line before going out.

*TECH TIP* Using Google to search for things you want to know has always been my go to for everything I need to know.  I can look at other sites for more in depth information once I get to different websites.  I highly recommend it.

This month start your new mantra of treating others how you want to be treated.

A topic I do not think is discussed nearly enough is how important it is to always be bettering yourself as the years pass by.   I do not believe January is the only time you can reflect and better yourself, but I figured why not begin the new year by reminding ourselves that having goals gives us purpose in turn creating inner happiness.

I began to notice recently that the people around me are aging and I wanted to learn the mourners Kaddish (a Jewish prayer recited in memory of the deceased) so I could say it with confidence if the need arose.  I had wanted to do this for many years but had never made the time for it.  My goal was to be able to read and understand the Hebrew letters, vowels and how they sound when placed together.  I accomplished this goal in a very fast period of time.  I expected I would need a few months to do this, but I found that when I dedicated about 15-20 minutes per day to sounding out letters and then words, it eventually all came to me, I am hoping to eventually be able to recite it from memory.  I committed to saying it every day since one of my dearest friends and a treasured family member who happened to be a Rabbi passed away.  It has been 2 months and I can recite it with great confidence, ease and speed.

Take whatever it is you want to learn and break it down into parts and then print out or look at a calendar and plan out what you will do day by day to accomplish learning this new thing.

*JAJ TIP* When deciding how it is you want to better yourself make sure it is something that interests you and/or is something you have wanted to learn for a while.  When the desire is great, you will find yourself more willing to follow through with the learning process.

*ORGANIZATION TIP* Get a note pad or print out what you are wanting to learn.  Lay it out as if you are taking a class and place assignments in a list with dates to accomplish them next to that.  Start with small increments of time daily and build up if needed.  Having this structure will set you up for success.

*TECH TIP* The internet has changed the game as far as learning new things.  You can research using www.google.com to your hearts content, and if you are more of a visual learner www.youtube.com has one, many or even hundreds of videos that will teach you what you are wanting to learn.

Enjoy a better you!