My Sleeping Shopper

 

my sleeping shopper

He was so tired after a day of play but we had to run out to the market to grab a few last minute items. He fell asleep in the car on the way there and I forgot my stroller so I laid him down in the cart thinking he would wake right up and the little guy just conked out. My amazing little boy makes me smile again and again.

A Trip Just for Mommy : Finally Home

I recently took a small vacation for just Mommy. I went to Florida to visit friends and get a day of relaxation and I definitely recommend it. Daddy watched the baby so I could go and catch up and relax. I was extremely worried about leaving my son because it was the first weekend overnight trip without Mommy but I knew he was in safe hands.
When you get caught up in the everyday craziness of raising a toddler you can get pushed over the edge so it is good to hit the pause button, relax and reflect. I have realized over this trip that my life has changed greatly over the past few years. I have a toddler, I am married, I've grown up. Thinking about this made me smile because I could not wait to start my own family when I was younger and have that unconditional love of my family unit. Growing up adopted I always had my doubts about how much my family loved me. I know they had love but there is always that insecurity and families being disfunctional as they are (especially mine) didn't make me have any extra comfort in those feelings. Having a family of my own has filled this sort of hole in my heart and it is really the most amazing feeling. It is a feeling of being safe, warm and happy.
With this new found feeling of solidarity and family comes a lot of changes in my self. I find that things I used to like to do I no longer feel are important. I don't need to see the latest movies or eat at the coolest new restaurants. It isn't imperative that I purchase the latest style trends (well not for me anyway). I do like to hang out with my friends but going out partying is not a priority any longer. Perhaps this is temporary but for now spending that time sleeping is more enticing! I do know that making time for girlfriends and talking is important to keep relationships and friendships alive and I still have to work on finding that balance.
The trip I took was very relaxing and it felt great having time to myself and not have to worry about someone else the whole time. Not worrying if my son was cold, hungry or tired. Not having to deal with stinky poop diapers, temper tantrums, or getting hit in the head with toys. That time away to take a breath was great. On the plane ride home however I realized how much I really missed my family and could not wait to get back. I was so overwhelmed with emotion that actually started to tear up because I missed them so much (and my plane anxiety kicked in a little bit). I am so glad to have a family of my own, I finally feel that I am HOME.

Apartment Living: Toys for Toddlers

It's the holiday season. The turkey has been eaten and the Black Friday holiday shoppers were trampled but some are still searching for the perfect toys for our little boys and girls. I have found that the following toys get a lot of playtime action these days.

 

Ipad 2

LeapPad or Ipad - He uses mine whenever I am not looking so I finally gave up and downloaded some great learning apps for him. I mostly get the free ones but I did buy two educational apps for his birthday and he loves it! Ipad 2

Make Believe toys - My son loves to play in the kitchen, push shopping cart or stroller and pretend to vacuum. At the play dates the vacuum is the toy all the boys fight over. I hope he can learn to use the real one and keep the vacuuming passion going which is why this one is definitely on our wishlist!

A fold-able play tent and tunnel is perfect to get those jitters out when it is too cold for outdoor activities and it folds easily and stores right under the couch. 

Playgroups - Finding the Right One

As my son grows he is need of social interaction with other children and I need some interaction with other moms and the outside world. I have searched playgroups and got plenty of suggestions from my sister in law, friends and research online. As a Stay At Home Mom funds are tight because we are living off of one income. We made the choice to have me stay home to care for our son but that doesn't mean we have a large disposable income, we live on a budget and can't afford to pay exorbitant prices for Mommy and Me, music classes and playgroups.
When looking for a affordable place to play in the colder months and even a regular hang out for your child there has to be some criteria. For us it needed to be safe, clean, close by and affordable.
When beginning to look for a playgroup consider churches and other places of worship. They usually  have a basement or spare room and sometimes offer free or low cost playgroups to the neighborhood. Sometimes they are hard to find because their websites aren't up to date or even online but ask around the neighborhood or go to your local church and ask about the programs offered for children. Elementary or pre-schools may also have a playgroup or Mommy and Me program available.
Some play gyms have open play but you have to be a member in order to take advantage of the free play time. The problem with scheduled groups is that things come up and there are instances where your child is sick or you are sick or you have relatives in town and won't want to go. I like the playgroups that let you pay as you go, this way we can go when we want and aren't committed to any program. Some are worth it and some are not. Take a look at prices and see what fits your budget.
We have been frequenting a playgroup now that I was introduced to by my sister-in-law. It is closer to her but it is well worth the drive. This playgroup is at a religious school and they have plenty of toys, mats, games, jumpers and chairs for moms to socialize and children from infants to toddlers to play and have fun. The cost is five dollars and is pay as you go. They have a small coffee and bagels tray for adults and juice snacks for the children. After free play the head of the group asks everyone to clean up and then we sit on a mat and are read a story, sing songs, march and play instruments and other group activities. It is well worth the money and is lots of fun for my son. I only wish it I wasn't always late from getting a slow start in the morning and getting lost on the way there. Hopefully in the future we can get our act together in the morning to get us there on time.
Another option we like is the church right around the corner on 37th Street. It is in the afternoon and they only ask for donations to offset the cost of the snacks provided and there is plenty of room for my son to run around. The only complaint is that the play area can be very warm and dusty but I guess it is to be expected in a basement of an old church and there is no real structure and I don't see why they can't read a book or sing a couple songs but I guess you get what you pay for.

If you know of a great place to play please comment on this post and share with other moms

Here are a few sites in Queens that helped me in my search
- nymetroparents.com
- mommypoppins.com
- nyparenting.com

Cameron Remmer: Cameron Come Home

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Back To Reality:

So I took a small summer break from writing the blog. I was hoping to be posting from Sao Paulo, Brazil and make it a Bom Dia! Urban Living Abroad post but in a any event the market took a downturn and my husbands company decided he is needed here in NY. So all the planning and packing to move to another country was quickly shifted to making plans for the fall here in the city that never sleeps. No siesta's or soccer or Portuguese lessons, Fugghedaboudit! Here we stay - home sweet home.
Yes - I said Husband. We finally got married and made it official! In part because we were going to be relocating but it was time to do it anyway. Because of the uncertainty with the time frame we had to do a very low key wedding and just went down to city hall. It was a lot of fun and not really stress free but I'm sure less stress than planning a whole wedding. Hopefully we can have an anniversary ceremony in five or ten years.
Anyway I have again changed gears and am devoting myself to NYC urban living and will hopefully post some more blogs about our "adventures" as a family and  some other stuff along the way. I'm discovering that home is where my family is and it's the only place I need to be.
My son has been growing so much it is crazy to see. He is such an energetic, smart, sweet little boy and he makes me laugh every day. I was having difficulty coming to terms with the fact that we were not embarking on a life changing adventure but when I looked at his face I realized that each day is adventure and I can't help but smile. It takes away from the disappointment of not being able to live abroad and of having to tackle the issues that I face at home but I've found a new focus on family, myself, education and motherhood.

I'm looking forward to sharing new experiences and tips I'm learning on the way.

Here we go!

Jackie
NYC Mommy

New Grade System for NYC Restaurants

As a mom and a somewhat foodie the new grades posted on my favorite local restaurants had me wondering. What exactly does a grade of an A or B mean? Can I still go to eat there and is the food safe? I can't help but cringe at the thought of a B restaurant because my thoughts wander to pests and nose pickers and I can't help but wonder why the owners wouldn't work harder to get their sanitary inspection grade up to an A.
Is a B grade ever good enough?

I know many others who have been wondering the same and I'd like to share some information I have found.

What are the grades, and what do they mean? 

Grades reflect how well a restaurant complies with the food safety requirements of the New York
City Health Code and the State Sanitary Code. When inspectors examine a restaurant’s sanitary
conditions and practices, they assign numerical points for different violations of the Health Code.
Different violations carry different numbers of points, depending on their nature and severity. The
total number of violation points provides a measure of the restaurant’s general condition. Under the
new system, the Health Department will use the scores from certain inspections to generate letter
grades that are easier to interpret. Here are the grades:

• Grade A. 0 to 13 points for sanitary violations. 
• Grade B. 14 to 27 points for sanitary violations. 
• Grade C. 28 or more points for sanitary violations. 
• Grade Pending. A restaurant’s B or C grade is not final until the restaurant has had the
opportunity to go before the Health Department’s Administrative Tribunal to contest the
violations cited against it. Until then, the restaurant has the option to post either the
preliminary grade or a card that says “Grade Pending.” Once the grade is final, the restaurant
must immediately post the letter grade card and take down the Grade Pending card.

How should consumers interpret grades of B or C?

In the first year or so of grading, we expect that most restaurants will earn a B grade. Restaurants
with B or C grades should improve their overall food safety practices, but the Health Department
immediately closes restaurants with conditions that may be hazardous to public health.

Where can I search for restaurants or learn more about a restaurant’s inspection history?

Visit nyc.gov/health/restaurants to see inspection details and to search for restaurants by grade,
neighborhood, cuisine and more.

Click here for more information - www.nyc.gov

Happy and Safe Eating!!!