tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65664310177436031932024-03-21T21:30:53.403-04:00The Misadventures of a Mom in the CityUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-32767815393324921282013-05-29T01:31:00.001-04:002013-05-29T01:31:07.884-04:00Girl Fight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Are you one of those people who cringe when you surf the channel and see a knock down drag out fight on an episode of Basketball Wives or The Bad Girls Club? Not me. Don't judge me, I grew up watching Alexis Colby Carrington, Dominique Deveraux and Krystle Jennings duke it out week after week on Dynasty. I can still remember back then it was money and power that they were fighting over. I must admit that some of the fights that happen on the reality shows completely baffle me. The reasons are so silly that....well let's not even talk about it. <br>
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I recently found out about a group of girls who actually have something worth fighting about. My daughter's high school wrestling team. I have to admit that when she first told me last year that <br>
she was wrestling I just kinda giggled to myself. Although she is what I would consider a tomboy I just didn't see her wrestling. It's true what they say some things you just have to see to believe. <br>
<a href="http://www.themisadventuresofamominthecity.com/2013/05/girl-fight.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-57415887060691837882013-05-22T01:50:00.000-04:002013-05-22T01:55:49.955-04:00Do Your Kids Stink?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was reading one of my friend's status on Facebook today and she was talking about her five year old daughter's body odor. I'll admit what she wrote made me chuckle a little. Mainly because I can remember when I went through this with my oldest daughters who are now ten and seventeen. It actually made me think back to when my own girls first started wearing deodorant. I know for sure that it wasn't at five or six. My ten year old just started wearing deodorant last year and we were in shock to even think about her going through puberty. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a> <br />
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Obviously it does happen. According to <a href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/sexual/precocious.html">kidshealth.org</a> very few boys and some girls go through what is called precocious puberty. It happens when children under the age of seven begin to show signs of puberty. Some signs my include breasts, and getting a period in girls. Boys voices will get deeper. Both may begin to grow pubic and underarm hair as well as develop body odor. <br />
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For most children there is no real reason, puberty just started too soon for no real reason. For some it my be hereditary. For a very few it may be a sign of an underlying issue. As with anything out of the ordinary, it's always a good idea to check with your pediatrician just to be safe. <br />
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When you become aware of these changes in your children talking to them about it is probably also a good idea. They may become embarrassed around their friends if they are the only ones going through puberty. You may want to shave unwanted underarm hair. Kids can also be a little cruel so you may want to watch for any signs that your child is being teased because of the changes in their bodies. And definitely a talk about hygiene is a must. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-40143063958002813862013-04-29T16:18:00.000-04:002013-04-29T16:18:21.609-04:00Pop Gormet Popcorn (Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On a recent trip to Marshalls with my 16 year old I found the most amazing treat. There it was among the cell phone and mp3 accessories I found POP Gourmet Popcorn. There as I waited on the line to check out along with the specialty chocolates and coffees I found a snack that makes my mouth water just thinking about it right now. I had heard of this brand before but was never able to find it in any of the stores where I usually shop.<br />
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I had seen the company a few years back featured on Oprah a few years back. She absolutely loved the white truffle bliss popcorn.<br />
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We picked up a few bags of Chicago Style and White Truffle Bliss. For anyone who doesn't know what Chicago style popcorn is, it's a mixture of caramel corn and cheddar corn. It is absolutely amazing. The popcorn simply melts in your mouth. The flavors are true to what the taste is supposed be. There is about four cups of popcorn in every bag so if you want to portion it out for a delightful snack this is perfect. Now white truffle bliss, if you've never tasted truffle oil before this could be a hit or miss for some people. Both the smell and taste will surprise you. It's an acquired taste to say the least, but like Oprah I love it. It is the most delicious savory popcorn I have ever tasted. It's tossed in both white truffle oil and white truffle sea salt. The smell was so aromatic that I could never sneak and eat it as I usually do with my snacks(because my children are always lurking). The taste is just divine. My two year old would literally sniff and look all over the kitchen for the bags of white truffle bliss. Now like her I'm always looking for POP Gourmet Popcorn white truffle bliss whenever I' m out.<br />
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POP Gourmet Popcorn is a Washington State based company. The popcorn is all natural and is made from quality ingredients. It's also gluten free, although it is made in a facility that processes nuts, soy, gluten and dairy. So there is a slight allergen factor.<br />
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POP Gourmet Popcorn comes in a variety of flavors. There are the classic flavors Gourmet Cheddar, Chicago Style, and Premium Caramel. There are the savory flavors the Cascade Mix, Rogue Blue, and White Truffle Bliss. And of course the sweet flavors Chocolate Salted Caramel, Ultra Premium Caramel and Maui Waui. <br />
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The popcorn comes in resealable bags and retails for about 3 bucks. You can find POP popcorn at Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Hudson News, Alaska Airlines, Safeco Field, Value Drugs and Lazy Acres Markets. Or you can purchase it online <a href="http://popgourmetpopcorn.com/">here </a>.<br />
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Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me for use by my family and myself. All opinions are my own. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-28836202413705738932013-04-29T15:26:00.000-04:002013-04-29T15:26:37.618-04:00It's Been a While <br>
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I've been away from my blog for a while but now I'm back. So much has been going on in my life at such a rapid pace. We've survived Sandy, and voted Barack Obama back in office for a second term. We mourned for Sandy Hook and found Nemo right outside our front door. <br>
<a href="http://www.themisadventuresofamominthecity.com/2013/04/its-been-while.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-14675074849010839272013-04-04T15:05:00.000-04:002013-04-04T15:05:40.503-04:00Chicken and Sausage SkilletThere never seems to be enough time in the day for everything that needs to be done. Cooking is something I love doing, but sometimes I just need something that tastes good, that my whole family will like, and that is good for them. But most importantly something that I can make on the fly. This is something that I came up with to try and satisfy my family especially my harshest critics (my picky eaters). It was a hit with them so now I'm sharing it with you.<br />
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1lb boneless skinless chicken thighs<br />
1lb smoked sausage (sliced)<br />
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes<br />
1 12oz bag of frozen green peas <br />
1 12oz bag of frozen corn<br />
5 cups of chicken stock<br />
1 1/2 cups of uncooked brown rice<br />
2 Tbl olive oil<br />
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Brown chicken in skillet for five minutes on each side. Set aside a plate. Combine chicken stock and rice, bring to a boil. Add tomatoes, peas, corn, and sausage. Season with salt and pepper. Let simmer for twenty minutes, add chicken. Continue to cook until almost all of liquid is gone and rice is fluffy. About thirty minutes. Serve hot. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-67240474407771079672013-03-14T00:03:00.001-04:002013-04-04T15:25:04.779-04:00Five Guys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For months I've been seeing Five Guys pop up everywhere. I looooove a good burger and fries so in my mind I was already there when I found one near my daughter's school in downtown Brooklyn. I kept telling her I was gonna come and pick her up from school and we would go to Five Guys. Well I actually didn't get a chance to try Five Guys until her last parent/teacher conference a few weeks ago. </div>
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When we went it was somewhere around eight or nine at night because the parent/teacher conferences lasted so long. There was a line even at that hour so I figured this must be a pretty good spot. We both ordered the regular burger and regular fries, which we didn't know came in a "little" size until after we had ordered. I guess our excitement got the best of us and we didn't completely read the menu.</div>
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Both the burger and fries were huge but oh so delicious. I did notice however that there were peanuts and peanut shells everywhere as they sell them in bulk . So the chances of me ever returning to Five Guys with my entire family because of this since my son has a tree nut allergies. But the meal was great and the price was right, it was a good time for us. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-62868576737336426542013-03-13T23:44:00.000-04:002013-03-13T23:44:32.741-04:00Johnny Rockets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I don't know who loves an all day shopping trip more, me or my kids. For them not only do they get to shop for something new, but they get breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on what time of day it is. For weeks I had been telling them about a Johnny Rockets opening in the East River Shopping Plaza, so I finally decided to let them check it out. <br>
<a href="http://www.themisadventuresofamominthecity.com/2013/03/johnny-rockets.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-35060581093522492752012-11-30T22:07:00.000-05:002013-02-13T00:05:39.703-05:00Thanksgiving in the City<br>
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I love the holidays. Living in the city has made me love the holidays even more though. There is just something magical about holiday time in New York City. Something that we started a few years ago was going to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. As you know I have 4 kids who range in age from 16 to 2 so anything that involves large crowds is an adventure in itself. A few weeks before Thanksgiving I start to strategize, watching the weather, planning my menu and deciding which items I will prep the day before, what the children will wear, how early we should leave home and where we will watch the parade. All this is really wishful thinking because with us nothing ever goes as planned. For the last year and a half we having been dealing with an issue with a close family member that has taken a serious toll on our family. Because the situation is ongoing it often sneaks right in <br>
<a href="http://www.themisadventuresofamominthecity.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-in-city.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-15395973989300733292012-11-13T19:11:00.000-05:002012-12-13T23:46:32.702-05:00Activision Family Summt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few weeks ago I was invited to attend Activision's Family Game Summit. Being a game loving mama you can imagine how excited I was to get the invitation. Since it was taking place on a weekday I couldn't have all the kids tag along. I decided that I would take my 2 yr old since free <br />
childcare was being provided. I also took my 10 yr old because not only is she a huge gamer but she is great at <span style="background-color: white;">helping</span> to wrangle her little sister. <br />
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The day of the event came and it was raining so I wasn't quite sure if I was even going to go. At the very last minute I decided to go. So I dressed baby and myself and we headed downtown to pick up my 10 yr old. Picking up her up from school is never as simple going to the office and signing her out and getting her from class. Nope, never that simple. There is the scavenger hunt to find her because they're not in class they're at recess. So back down the 4 flights of stairs with the baby in my arms. And of course when I do find her she has to go back up to get her books. Then she comes back down and gives a person goodbye to all 20 of her classmates as if this is her farewell tour. Finally we are in a cab and are headed to Chelsea. The ride from the Lower East Side took forever. When we did finally make it we were late and my 2 yr old decided that she wanted to keep her hat and coat on. So I checked them into Lucky Lil Darlings grabbed a bottle of water and took a seat. <br />
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The panel included Soleil Moon Frye who I remember as Punky Brewster. She spoke about the role that video gaming plays in her household. Nicole Armstrong Activision's Marketing Director who gave us all the info on the new games that Activision has for this holiday season. Patricia Vance who is the President of the ESRB told us about the new rating systems for games and what we can do to keep our kids safe when they are gaming. I gained some very useful knowledge about the benefits of gaming. Overall it actually made me want to play more games with my children as a family. We got a great swag bag filled with some of activision's newest games, a target gift card, Soleil Moon Frye's book Happy Chaos, and lots of other goodies that my kids relished over. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-62003095111201412782012-11-10T18:19:00.000-05:002012-12-13T23:44:59.547-05:00Halloween Too<br />
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Superstorm Sandy unleashed a brutal attack on New York City and the surrounding areas on October 29th, leaving parts of the city flooded and in darkness. By Halloween with no bus and train service and most of the places that had lost power still in the dark it was pretty much a given that Halloween was cancelled for most of New York. <br />
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The Lower East Side of Manhattan was one of those places under water and in the dark on Halloween after Sandy passed through. There was no trick or treating for the kids, no annual Village Parade. My 10 year old happens to go to school on the Lower East Side, and her school has an annual Halloween parade around the neighborhood, it was also cancelled. <br />
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So a week or so later the kids got a do over. More than 40 merchants on the Lower East Side were on board to offer treats to eager trick or treaters. Participating merchants had signs in the windows although that didn't matter much to my six year old son. If your shop looked interesting he was going in. And it seemed to work for him. We went from Houston to 9th St and back up to Delancey. The kids had a great time. Of course because there is never a shortage of drama and laughs with my kids it was quite a night. <br />
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The kids found some of the shops so interesting that it was hard to tear them away. My son was fascinated by Downtown Yarns and J Antonio on Avenue A. My daughters were enchanted by Enchantments on E. 9th St. They were treated to delicious vegan ice cream, croissants, and smoothies. They came away with lots of candy and it was really great to see all of the shops and restaurants open again after the storm. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYA7p2cJ4Ol9K9aIMKmw8Ush3csO77bHF8EuQvozRPXxLjqyLNb2Y77cwGX7TJpsV12ECm-42keCPwh7mdpvzeE5cx7XZWnyPuS39qX4iuB3odwWJsOav2Z5RNsRWWpdvstYHzUjhlkM/s1600/Halloween+Too6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYA7p2cJ4Ol9K9aIMKmw8Ush3csO77bHF8EuQvozRPXxLjqyLNb2Y77cwGX7TJpsV12ECm-42keCPwh7mdpvzeE5cx7XZWnyPuS39qX4iuB3odwWJsOav2Z5RNsRWWpdvstYHzUjhlkM/s320/Halloween+Too6.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-27011144737561467582012-11-08T21:08:00.000-05:002012-11-08T21:08:33.639-05:00My Favorite Fall Sneakers<div style="text-align: left;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhburffhp4Yb8aiDNBwxWdVKeRtSnuGjBGNf1ct1YgATPBrauh5GO42rNSZpyR1uEZAwgqSfvuCoiHpNrJbwAeIavPH4vSkCw-HQTUhpyWHLBDxz8ahw3S73-IDfXuqnrFE99w1VYq_HjA/s640/blogger-image--1914602442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhburffhp4Yb8aiDNBwxWdVKeRtSnuGjBGNf1ct1YgATPBrauh5GO42rNSZpyR1uEZAwgqSfvuCoiHpNrJbwAeIavPH4vSkCw-HQTUhpyWHLBDxz8ahw3S73-IDfXuqnrFE99w1VYq_HjA/s640/blogger-image--1914602442.jpg" /></a></div>
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I have been dying for a pair of wedge sneakers for quite some time now. The coveted wedge sneakers that all the celebrities were wearing happened to be sold out right around my birthday so I had to find something else that would be just as cute and trendy. I came across the Marc by Marc Jacobs International Wedge Sneakers and I loved them. So I began to drop hints about them and pin pictures of them on Pinterest. So out went the Mr with the girls right before my birthday to look for them. This particular shoe happened to be sold out almost everywhere in the city except the one pair they had at the Marc Jacobs store on Prince St in the village. What luck for them because they were my size and the color (emerald green) approved (I'm very picky). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWpBmENIGQZTTInb9_Bqj7M7zDgIMVSWiflrHciZfxMnCv_2MBj2JJJ9a0PZaNPPlc8dLygvYxR2IdcjN2C9gNp-1K-sd4sin3rDGg3PPNyz2E6kDw7rb8ROp64ziCMod2lHIumv00U8/s640/blogger-image--204222671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWpBmENIGQZTTInb9_Bqj7M7zDgIMVSWiflrHciZfxMnCv_2MBj2JJJ9a0PZaNPPlc8dLygvYxR2IdcjN2C9gNp-1K-sd4sin3rDGg3PPNyz2E6kDw7rb8ROp64ziCMod2lHIumv00U8/s640/blogger-image--204222671.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-NeXAV7wS1WdiY8ZfZ0SxGOJwfDR323Yi-cQgZ_mDh7OuBcuC3qNBLy_seYaVRxr4N4IwdWO5n8dzzELzU0qB-dGac1Niq8C-FxiYvuHWt-pOdUgcYoa9uC4MF_DRGFzgdHvY_9j-04/s640/blogger-image-1846528317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-NeXAV7wS1WdiY8ZfZ0SxGOJwfDR323Yi-cQgZ_mDh7OuBcuC3qNBLy_seYaVRxr4N4IwdWO5n8dzzELzU0qB-dGac1Niq8C-FxiYvuHWt-pOdUgcYoa9uC4MF_DRGFzgdHvY_9j-04/s640/blogger-image-1846528317.jpg" /></a></div>
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Although in the back of my mind I was thinking, <em>these are really cute shoes. </em>I was really thinking about how comfortable these shoes would be. I love shoes and there was a time when I didn't mind the pain of wearing a shoe that I thought I loved. Being a mom running around the city with my children, I look for a shoe I can love with comfort. Well after finally wearing them on several different occasions and most of those times with my kids in tow they are very comfortable shoes. They are great paired with leggings, skinny jeans, and jeggings. They also look great paired with a high-low maxi dress or skirt. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oDpeUWJrvGRBMoPF7iefcVna9jOAHeS2-_X2MgL3TiNp8kEKDkKyPski_inj9XSDpidM95okILwhls9STYjNnjkQezZhEAsd03NiGaLZoMPdCP4pPFyygye8RYPzT0T22OCWfZw_dy0/s640/blogger-image-829035923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oDpeUWJrvGRBMoPF7iefcVna9jOAHeS2-_X2MgL3TiNp8kEKDkKyPski_inj9XSDpidM95okILwhls9STYjNnjkQezZhEAsd03NiGaLZoMPdCP4pPFyygye8RYPzT0T22OCWfZw_dy0/s640/blogger-image-829035923.jpg" /></a></div>
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Now the reason why this particular sneaker is what I consider a "fall" sneaker is because this particular color as well as black and tan come in a suede that has the warm earthy feel of fall. The heel of the shoe is three inches but you don't even feel the height of the shoe because it's just that comfortable. This is a really great shoe.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-24788542655596209932012-10-25T16:49:00.001-04:002012-10-25T16:49:46.688-04:00In Search of a Good Donut<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA0AJvoKZiJw4Aa_0C-5gKANqJfq1BEI9vz_pkTOJ5RGTONZr5FAcgheGi5bBYct4PaVRgr0bIcP8MNA_ML9C9ntgYl57HIaYRysRvRGLfBM_GvBZ1pb_YxO9VgNjvXHTFcnGqNSaKIA/s640/blogger-image--187081180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkA0AJvoKZiJw4Aa_0C-5gKANqJfq1BEI9vz_pkTOJ5RGTONZr5FAcgheGi5bBYct4PaVRgr0bIcP8MNA_ML9C9ntgYl57HIaYRysRvRGLfBM_GvBZ1pb_YxO9VgNjvXHTFcnGqNSaKIA/s640/blogger-image--187081180.jpg" /></a>On Saturday my kids and I went to a screening of the movie Funsize. If you haven't heard of it, it's a teen comedy that stars Victoria Justice of Nickelodeon's Victorious and Suburgatory's Jane Levy. The screening took place on 34th St where there happens to be a Krispy Kreme donut. Now donuts weren't initially a part of the days' activities. I happened to see a guy headed to the train with a box of Krispy Kremes and suddenly I had an epiphany. I have to admit that thought of Krispy Kreme donuts made my mouth water right there on the street. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstP8VZ_-fN9Xl1Wut1K20Qykbi3B-ZTYT8pHylBXjAEHpjua09SUz2mq2S0YPt1pO2lyPKTAI-wblzGUaz9ImY5YT6AT-i-vBMVnOHfhWhiyzR6QCaAGFIFfRyn2CYl9L_I_Qn56k5MA/s640/blogger-image--1818814267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstP8VZ_-fN9Xl1Wut1K20Qykbi3B-ZTYT8pHylBXjAEHpjua09SUz2mq2S0YPt1pO2lyPKTAI-wblzGUaz9ImY5YT6AT-i-vBMVnOHfhWhiyzR6QCaAGFIFfRyn2CYl9L_I_Qn56k5MA/s640/blogger-image--1818814267.jpg" /></a></div>
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So I told the kids about the donuts and of course they were excited thinking this was a treat for them when it was actually a treat for me. I called home to see if the Mr knew exactly where the ONLY Krispy Kreme in New York City was. He had no clue. It wasn't very far from where we were and yet somehow we had the hardest time finding it. I googled it and it seemed that since we were on the corner of 34th St and 8th Ave it was right there. Up 33rd Street we went and then back down 33rd we went. We dipped into the alley where the Kmart was and it wasn't there. Then we dipped into another alley behind Garretts Popcorn and it wasn't there either. We asked a couple of workmen if they knew where 2 Penn Plaza was and they didn't know either. How can you be doing construction and not know anything about the area was my thought. I guess that's not a requirement to get work done. So after a several 2yr old tantrums and several arguments with my 10yr old I was just about to give up on the donuts all together. I decided to google it again and this time I used the phone number for that location to call and ask exactly where they were. A nice young lady named Ursala informed me that they were inside Penn Station on the Amtrak level. <em>You mean the level we were just on and left because my 2 yr old was biting her 16 yr old sister in the chest and face as she was carrying her, </em>I thought to myself. So we decided to give it one more shot and we all agreed if we didn't find it right away we were headed home. I knew they had to be tired if they were giving up on donuts. Well we found it! My kids were literally laying on the glass. 1 dozen glazed Krispy Kreme donuts. Of course I had to give the 2 yr old one before we even got on the train. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6X6i8J38TNvQdKutF4nzS9NbrJ1hhs9CqCCTjsgfzy1FkUG3LC1drwL8pC7R3sJFwQLpBvLM4LVssGCZXhzGRpbm9po19T0ky3S8RhV51k4_Fusg1_jm1u984YNVi0d7djRJH9TQE0M/s640/blogger-image--955482964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6X6i8J38TNvQdKutF4nzS9NbrJ1hhs9CqCCTjsgfzy1FkUG3LC1drwL8pC7R3sJFwQLpBvLM4LVssGCZXhzGRpbm9po19T0ky3S8RhV51k4_Fusg1_jm1u984YNVi0d7djRJH9TQE0M/s640/blogger-image--955482964.jpg" /></a></div>
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Now I know what you're thinking,<em> really all that for some donuts. </em>Yep. If you've never had Krispy Kreme, seen that hot donut sign on and tasted the warm deliciousness before, well you just wouldn't understand. I grew up on Krispy Kreme donuts. It was the stuff good church fundraisers was made of. That was in the south though. New York City has plenty of Dunkin Donuts and they are definitely not bad at all. In outer boroughs there are Twin Donuts that I would pretty much pass on all together. And if you are in the mood for a fancy donut the Chelsea has Donut Planet they are great but expensive. To me nothing beats a Krispy Kreme Donut and that is just my opinion. They are light and fluffy with a thin layer of sweet glaze. Yum. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-52125270859499330612012-10-16T16:00:00.000-04:002012-10-23T19:00:24.980-04:00Jambalaya<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivR44anB1tl-qQJKmDR340FFss5kpfS8H_hyphenhyphenZRGMDee2OmumtedTRGVix8QuIIaJW3nEEjOWRfCRHT2KiljDsLd2Z5wKcx3LUTZoQ7YihqyrDOca4tdFtJOoXby5yQJDQilZ_5fRK_nTs/s1600/blogger-image-1956278870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivR44anB1tl-qQJKmDR340FFss5kpfS8H_hyphenhyphenZRGMDee2OmumtedTRGVix8QuIIaJW3nEEjOWRfCRHT2KiljDsLd2Z5wKcx3LUTZoQ7YihqyrDOca4tdFtJOoXby5yQJDQilZ_5fRK_nTs/s400/blogger-image-1956278870.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am always reminiscing about different dishes that remind me of growing up in Louisiana, and trying to make them into my own . Seafood is a major staple in the gulf but the Mr. is allergic to shellfish so I can't always make dishes just as I remember them, so I usually put my own spin on them. </div>
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Jambalaya is a creole dish. It has a mix of both French and Spanish origins. It's a dish that originated in the French Quarter, and was actually an attempt to make the Spanish dish paella. Since they didn't have saffron they used tomatoes instead. </div>
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Jambalaya is usually made in three parts which are the vegetables, the famous holy trinity, the meats, the stock and rice. There are many different variations, there is a Cajun version which doesn't not have and tomatoes. It's more of a brown Jambalaya. </div>
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What I chose to make for my family was a simple chicken jambalaya. It was very easy to make and it didn't include anything my picky eaters would object to. </div>
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<strong>Jambalaya</strong></div>
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serves: 8</div>
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prep time: 20mins</div>
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cook: 55mins</div>
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12 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast cubed</div>
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<li>green bell pepper diced</li>
<li>2 celery stalks diced</li>
<li>onion diced</li>
<li>2 tbl minced garlic</li>
<li>1/2 tbl oregano</li>
<li>1/2 tbl salt</li>
<li>1 tbl basil</li>
<li>1 can chicken stock </li>
<li>1 can whole tomatoes</li>
<li>1/2 can of tomato paste</li>
<li>2 tbl olive oil</li>
<li>4 cups of cooked brown rice</li>
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Preheat over to 350.</div>
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Heat oil in a large dutch oven . Brown chicken on both sides. Set aside in a plate. Add onion, celery, bell peppers, garlic, oregano, salt and tomatoes paste to the pot. Cook for about five minutes until onions are tender. </div>
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Add tomatoes and chicken stock, bring mixture to a boil. Remove from heat. Add chicken to mixture cover and bake for 40 minutes at 350. Remove from oven and serve over rice. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-37610072579875305582012-10-13T20:38:00.005-04:002012-10-13T21:16:05.420-04:00Chicken Parmesan Mac and Cheese<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AmhD9XQAhJjNYTS5RmLmxhHxUTK51n7odNLp2vp1zeHtWGgTDKnWCK7AKa1XKrwe8E_ZM7ySfA7274XcZoabVnMvhxTM6YfH6EwE2PU1BJb27iuhjl2eR4PHfgl3NUbudPI1n2ruzSo/s640/blogger-image--1486955986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AmhD9XQAhJjNYTS5RmLmxhHxUTK51n7odNLp2vp1zeHtWGgTDKnWCK7AKa1XKrwe8E_ZM7ySfA7274XcZoabVnMvhxTM6YfH6EwE2PU1BJb27iuhjl2eR4PHfgl3NUbudPI1n2ruzSo/s640/blogger-image--1486955986.jpg" /></a></div>
I don't think that I've ever met anyone who didn't love macaroni and cheese. In my house it is definately a hit. I wanted to see if there was a way that I could take a classic and make it even better. I ran across this recipe from <a href="http://www.familycircle.com/recipe/chicken-parm-mac/">family circle</a> for Chicken Parm Mac that I couldn't wait to try.<br />
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<strong>Chicken Parmesan Mac and Cheese</strong><br />
makes 8 servings <br />
prep: 25 mins<br />
cook time 17 mins <br />
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Rotini noodles<br />
3 T butter<br />
1 t minced garlic<br />
3 T all purpose flour<br />
2 C 2% milk <br />
1 pkg italian cheese blend<br />
1/2 C shredded parmesan <br />
1 can diced tomatoes<br />
1 C marinara <br />
3/4 C seasoned breadcrumbs<br />
4 chicken breast<br />
1 egg<br />
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Preheat oven to 425<br />
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Cut chicken breasts into bite sizw peices. Whisk together 1/2 cup of milk and the egg. Dip chicken into mixture then into breadcrumbs. Place coated breadcrumbs on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 12 minutes. Turn them once. Remove and set aside.<br />
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While chicken is in the oven boil pasta as per directions on the box. Drain.<br />
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Set oven to boil. Melt butter, add garlic and let cook for a minute. Add milk, whisk well. Bring mixture to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes. Remove and whisk in 1 1/4 cups of the italian blend cheese and 1/4 cup of the parmeasan cheese. <br />
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Mix cheese sauce and tomatoes with pasta. Add chicken. Put in a boiler safe dish. Put marinara and the rest of cheese on top. Put in broiler for 3 mins. Cheese will be lightly browned. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-43327057162695467522012-10-03T16:18:00.000-04:002012-10-08T10:50:38.365-04:00Meatless Monday: Bean and Cheese Burrito Casserole<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0pn-obWOqz3i0JHzOZgp1afP5oNY-j_1hVpLGEf0M9QpqEF70CpivAOH37vhWM8zjjdGsCAghaIoNN9v9LKIdi78W_Q62lOieqihbAXShWz9Zua01rZ-5As24s14AXvcpSwxNqLXxfI/s1600/blogger-image--1088212300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0pn-obWOqz3i0JHzOZgp1afP5oNY-j_1hVpLGEf0M9QpqEF70CpivAOH37vhWM8zjjdGsCAghaIoNN9v9LKIdi78W_Q62lOieqihbAXShWz9Zua01rZ-5As24s14AXvcpSwxNqLXxfI/s400/blogger-image--1088212300.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Meatless Mondays are always a challenge for me. Being a southern girl I'm all about meat and potatoes. Being a New Yorker means that there is always a new food trend everyone is trying. Meatless Mondays aren't a new thing but it's something that my kids actually like to do. Some of their friends and classmates are vegans or vegetarians so they try it. Other than chicken and turkey bacon my two year old doesn't meat. So Meatless Mondays is something that I do for them and it's a great way to take a break from meat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Beef & Cheese Burrito Casserole</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">makes 6 servings</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4 c brown rice (cooked)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 16 oz jar salsa</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1/2 tsp dried oregano</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 16oz can refried beans </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 10 oz package frozen corn</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1/2 teaspoon of chili powder</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1/2 teaspoon of cumin</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 1/2 c taco cheese</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 1/4 c frozen spinach</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Combine rice, oregano, and salsa in a large bowl. In another bowl mix refried beans, corn, cumin, and chili powder.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Spray casserole dish with non stick spray. Cover the bottom of the dish with half of the rice. Follow with a layer of refried beans. Cover with half of the cheese. Sprinkle with half of the spinach. Repeat steps. Top with cheese. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Serve.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-4311179228354581842012-09-24T17:58:00.001-04:002012-09-24T17:58:20.943-04:00Sausage and Chicken Gumbo<br />
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I often get nostalgic and miss the very essence of the things I grew up with. Living in New York City so far away from where I grew up I need to have a little bit of home from time to time. I also like to give my kids some sense of what my childhood was like. One of the ways that I'm able to do this is to have a taste of home right in my own kitchen is to make some of the recipes that I grew up enjoying. <br />
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Louisiana is where I was born and spent most of my childhood. It's where both my parents were born and raised. It's where their parents were born and raised. So I have a very rich family history there. I grew up attending huge family gatherings and eating an array of different types of food.<br />
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Because of it's menagerie of cultures Louisiana in my opinion has some of the best food in the country. Fall is a time for one of my favorite dishes that grew up on, Gumbo. Gumbo is a stew that's made with a vegetable trio of celery, onions, and bell pepper that is often referred to as the holy trinity. <br />
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Some gumbo may also have okra. This is used to give the dish a rich thick texture. I have picky eaters that don't eat okra, and to be honest I don't know how much I like it myself. So I used a roux to get the same texture. I also added file powder because I think it gives the gumbo a little something tasty. A traditional Creole gumbo can have ham or sausage, shellfish such as crab, and shrimp. Since the Mr is allergic to shellfish I decided to go with a Cajun version with chicken and sausage. <br />
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<strong>Chicken and Sausage Gumbo</strong><br />
makes 12 servings<br />
<ul>
<li>2/3 c vegatable oil</li>
<li>3/4 c all purpose flour</li>
<li>1/4 c whole wheat flour</li>
<li>1 diced onion</li>
<li>1 diced bell pepper</li>
<li>3 diced celery ribs</li>
<li>2 lbs chicken boneless breasts and thighs cubed</li>
<li>1 lb sausage sliced</li>
<li>1/2 tsp red pepper flakes</li>
<li>1 tsp paprika</li>
<li>1 tsp black pepper</li>
<li>1 tsp thyme</li>
<li>2 tbl minced garlic</li>
<li>2 tsp file powder</li>
<li>4 cups rice cooked</li>
</ul>
Put chicken in a pot and cover with water. Boil for about 15 minutes. Remove chicken and reserve liquid.<br />
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Heat oil in a cast iron skillet for 5 minutes. Whisk in flours and cook, stirring constantly until it is <br />
medium brown. Lower the heat to avoid burning. <br />
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Add onions, celery, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook on low for 10 minutes.<br />
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Add 2 cups of the chicken stock that was reserved. Add sausage, chicken, all of the seasonings except the file powder and the rest of the stock.<br />
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Bring to a boil then let it simmer uncovered for one hour. <br />
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Removed and add file. Let it sit for about 5 minutes.<br />
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Serve over rice.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-61463038250193297772012-09-10T18:32:00.000-04:002012-09-10T18:32:30.960-04:00Back to School: First DaysI remember before my kids actually started school seeing a video on Good Morning America of a mom doing a very happy dance on her kids' first day of school. I said to myself this is so funny I am going to have a party right in front of the building on the first day of school. I was gonna let balloons go and throw confetti, dad was even going to cut the confetti. Well we didn't go that extreme after all. <br />
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Although I had pretty much prepared all summer for my kids to go back to school. When you have more than one kid nothing really ever goes as planned. This has been the story of my life for years now. Even if I do everything the night before and get up extra early you always have to be prepared for the unexpected. With my kids the unexpected can be literally anything. <br />
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So I got up early on the first day of school because I promised my kids fresh baked cinnamon rolls. I found this shortcut recipe and with my dry ingredients already prepped the night before I mixed them up and popped them in the oven. I began the task of waking everyone up one by one so that they could all have their personal time in the bathroom. Getting up and getting ready went well. They ate, I took pictures and soon everyone was ready to head out. <br />
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So my oldest daughter headed out to take the train. I was headed downstairs with my ten year old and six year old to wait for their school bus and walk the dog. Well as luck would have it my two year old woke up just as I was walking out the door. So down the hall she comes with only her slip on diaper, t-shirt and a pair of socks. Dilemma..... I really hadn't planned on having to deal with her until they left. They only had five minutes until a bus was due to be in front of our building. So since the dog was already ready for his walk I sent him downstairs with my ten year old. I told her to just give him a quick walk and I would come and get him. </div>
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As soon as she walked the dog her bus was came, my son ran up to bring the dog and well I hoped that his bus would be right behind hers. Nope. So since the bus route notice that I had received just a few days prior to the first day of school didn't have an exact time for pick up, I tried calling the bus company with no luck the number stayed busy for quite a while. So for a while I stood in the hallway on our floor waiting for his bus to come. Then after about five minutes I packed up the baby and the dog and we went downstairs to wait for his bus with him. </div>
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My son paced while asking where his bus was the entire time. My S/O had run out for a quick moment, but since it looked like his bus either wasn't gonna come or they were gonna come so late that they were hoping he wouldn't still be waiting anyway. Someone had to take him to school.</div>
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So we went back upstairs and I continued to call the bus company because by now I wanted to give someone a talking to. I ended up calling the school to let them know that the bus never came, which didn't surprise them because the were getting lots of calls that sounded a lot like mine. I let them know that he would of course be late and that dad was bringing him to school. </div>
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When my son's bus dropped him off that day Dad asked the bus driver what time she would be there to pick him up the next day. She told him seven am or shortly after. She said that if they were late to just wait they would be there. Well wouldn't you know they weren't there at seven or even shortly after. After I sat with my son for about forty five minutes I left him downstairs for a few minutes to run upstairs and get the number for the bus company. He must have been really nervous because shortly after I walked in the house my doorbell was ringing. It was a neighbor bringing him up, saying that he was pacing and wondering where his bus was. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAwvR7DItt431qomW0ZAl7ydYBI5odM1iKmYMYuTrTKjGHahE6xkYUlI3COgbIspOrVf1g8vEbvOO2HNKb5Y9UYQyJYRfrJ7oYuCkN8kFASX7A-RNAYQQ9zTS8yOhxz5MkjAVItFqFfM/s640/blogger-image-1694921629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAwvR7DItt431qomW0ZAl7ydYBI5odM1iKmYMYuTrTKjGHahE6xkYUlI3COgbIspOrVf1g8vEbvOO2HNKb5Y9UYQyJYRfrJ7oYuCkN8kFASX7A-RNAYQQ9zTS8yOhxz5MkjAVItFqFfM/s640/blogger-image-1694921629.jpg" /></a></div>
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As soon as I finally got the bus company on the line dad calls to say that the bus driver called him to say she would be there in a few minutes. So my son ran out of the house and down to the bus, only to have her sit in front of the building and say that I have to come down. Which I did not, I was right there in the stairwell window watching from my floor. I mean the bus did come only an hour and fifteen minutes after it was supposed to come. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFAsa1hJZefGboKZsXVaL1TBC-GwX2-3gttdsDJCmV7uxLl0-9tygj6p-ubHYYM1yQR-VLe99o-kYYMG3dBIz_Sy2x6UeIeMp7RXRCn0RT2TlZ1wPnUQB_boewbfwETDAsdMk2eNh__c/s640/blogger-image-929725329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFAsa1hJZefGboKZsXVaL1TBC-GwX2-3gttdsDJCmV7uxLl0-9tygj6p-ubHYYM1yQR-VLe99o-kYYMG3dBIz_Sy2x6UeIeMp7RXRCn0RT2TlZ1wPnUQB_boewbfwETDAsdMk2eNh__c/s640/blogger-image-929725329.jpg" /></a></div>
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The first two days of school were fine otherwise, although I did get a text from my ten year old saying that she hated her teacher because she punished her for something she didn't do. But by the beginning of the first full week back I think that we've gotten it all together. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-43569930204672259212012-09-10T15:53:00.000-04:002012-09-10T16:00:42.452-04:00Back to School: The Snacks They LoveWhat kid doesn't love snacks? With fall on the way we're back to school and it's time for fall sports. From time to time when I am in the mood I will make delicious snacks for my kids. But right now is a pretty hectic time it's still hot outside and there is not always time to make really elaborate snacks. So here are some of the snacks we love and reason's why we love them. <br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iz0uH5lEjcur9-_1L4kuHb8u1_-fy9nKyxdrty3t9GUDUP9be3HtvQS7nKMEYKVD7ZZnitI_f8Qk67kROTNmu7C-3WmuvBKNW4Arg-v06CmwbZnSN2dB41VMF7PwAvk-bZGMsvBIha0/s640/blogger-image-2122053000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iz0uH5lEjcur9-_1L4kuHb8u1_-fy9nKyxdrty3t9GUDUP9be3HtvQS7nKMEYKVD7ZZnitI_f8Qk67kROTNmu7C-3WmuvBKNW4Arg-v06CmwbZnSN2dB41VMF7PwAvk-bZGMsvBIha0/s640/blogger-image-2122053000.jpg"></a></div>
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My son is allergic to tree nuts so this is a wonderful treat for him. He can feel like he is having a pb&j sandwich too. He likes to dip his apples, pretzels, and pretty much anything that you can dip.</div>
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I discovered Happy Baby products when my toddler was still a baby and we have been loving them ever since. The yogurt apple bites are just the right size for little fingers and they keep her busy while she watching her favorite show or while we are taking a stroll. </div>
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My kids are big cheese heads. Although not all of them can have dairy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGk38rBjm7arJNK_NQq_7c2c46PbPAPirrI2oSkG5DDpApR9hMnrQp-rWP8P4veXLGTcJKp-pd4zmRH6-Hs_1N1Qh93Ee-08dEpml9uSp4Eoa4m_wg0bilHmnYrW05ZDl03SMZ4XUHkg/s640/blogger-image--157321421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGk38rBjm7arJNK_NQq_7c2c46PbPAPirrI2oSkG5DDpApR9hMnrQp-rWP8P4veXLGTcJKp-pd4zmRH6-Hs_1N1Qh93Ee-08dEpml9uSp4Eoa4m_wg0bilHmnYrW05ZDl03SMZ4XUHkg/s640/blogger-image--157321421.jpg"></a></div><a href="http://www.themisadventuresofamominthecity.com/2012/09/back-to-school-snacks-they-love.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-20278270971485560232012-09-04T21:17:00.001-04:002012-09-04T21:17:18.678-04:00Back to School : Shopping<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since I have four kids and three of them go to school I try to get an early start on my school shopping every year. I start looking for deals as soon as school gets out for the summer. I watch the Sunday ads every week and I buy all of the staple items that I am sure they will need before I even get the supply lists in the mail. If only I could get those supply lists on the last day of school. This year the list I usually have the most issues with didn't come. My ten year old Luv Bug goes to an amazing progressive school. As amazing as they are some how this year they used an address that we haven't lived at since she was six. I was so caught up with my other two kids' list back in July that I realized only a few days ago that I didn't have my fifth grader's list. Her school being as amazing as they are I was able to email the principle and within the hour her new teachers were emailing me letters and the coveted three page list. <br />
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So since we had to go out to get and pick up some last minute things I decided to make a day out of it and get in a little quality time with the family. We started out with a late breakfast at Ihop. I guess people are shocked to see such a big family out because two ladies who were in the booth next to us entertained us with their lovely conversation the entire time that we were there. <br />
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After breakfast we headed to my favorite shopping plaza. We went to Old Navy where I tried to keep it all together. My two and six year olds were more interested in playing with the mannequins. My ten year old decided that she needed a break that from her meds so she was just kinda all over the place. I did end up picking up a few great finds despite all the chaos that was going on around me. </div>
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The next stop was my favorite shopping place Target. I put the little ones in a cart which they hated and they proceeded to bitch and moan to dad, while begging to be let out. My sixteen year old was completely focused on picking up the nick knacks she needed. My ten year old, well we lost her somewhere in the school supply section even though she was the one who needed them the most. The next time we saw her was about twenty minutes later. I was just about to give her the business when I noticed that she had found a cute little potty doll for her baby sister to help with our potty training efforts. That was a good save for her. Dad was done and expressed his unhappiness with the kids behavior several times during the shopping trip. I guess I'm just the type of person that loves to see a train wreck because on the way home I promised them that we would do it all again the next day. </div>
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The next shopping day ended up with more tears, more arguments, and more fights. I don't think that I will be doing that again for a while. Maybe I should just go it alone from now on and only take the kids along when I need one or two items. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-4750747051012840602012-09-02T22:39:00.002-04:002012-09-02T22:39:36.461-04:00 Doc McStuffins Will Make You Feel BetterI woke up around 6am with my two year old today. Since it was too early to get anyone else up or to start breakfast so we just cuddled in bed and checked out what was on the DVR. I came across a show that I'd seen her watching on the Ipad a lot, so I figured I would check it out. It was a cute little Disney Junior show called Doc McStuffins.<br />
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Dottie "Doc" McStuffins is a six year old who wants to be a doctor when she grows up like her mother. She puts on her little stethoscope and toys come to life. So Doc, her little helpers Stuffy the Dragon, Hallie the Hippo, Lambie, and Chilly the Snowman help "sick" toys get better. It's a new show that has only been on a few months, but I think its great and I am sure it will be around for a while. The theme song is catchy and the content of the show definitely keeps young audiences entertained. I've actually seen my older kids watching and enjoying it. <br />
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In episode that I watched with my daughter Doc went to the arcade with her father and brother and met Gabby the giraffe who was stuck in the claw machine with a rip in her leg and no one wanted to try and win her. After trying to grab her using her tokens Doc had no luck, so Stuffy the Dragon climbs in to get her out and then he gets stuck. So Doc uses her last token to get both Stuffy and Gabby out. Then comes the "I feel better" song. And Doc ends up taking her home. After all she did win her. There are two episodes per show and there is always a healthy tip as the credits roll. <br />
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I think this is a great show and my two year old absolutely loves it. She has her own dolls and stuffed animals that I watch her nurture when she plays with them. I'm not a huge fan of my younger kids watching lots of tv, but if they are gonna watch tv this is a show I don't mind them watching. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-74117237386654630692012-08-29T17:48:00.001-04:002012-08-29T17:48:33.239-04:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Birthday MJ</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-21700574219660565232012-08-28T18:45:00.003-04:002012-08-28T18:45:57.599-04:00If You Need to Know How To Get Around the City You Can Ask My SonMy kids shock me almost every single day. They are always sharing interesting insight on something, giving cute and candid kid advice, or just being themselves. I almost expect the things that come out of my girls' mouths, and maybe I'm a little biased because I'm a girl. My son is the one who definitely shocks me the most. He's autistic. I can still remember when her was almost two and he didn't walk or talk. I still remember those first home visits from the therapists. There were honestly moments where I was sure that he would never be able to learn. Not only because of his disabilities but because of his behavior. It was so difficult during those days where I couldn't leave him alone even for a minute because he might just do the unimaginable. Preschool was like a cruel joke. I still have a letter from the school counselor saying that she thought he was schizophrenic. Pre-k was mostly the same except no letter. It wasn't until he started kindergarten that things really started to turn around. I attribute a lot of the change in him to his teacher (who retired last year) and the school support staff. And they in turn gave us a lot of credit for making him into a model student.<br />
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Kindergarten definitely went better than I ever thought it would. By the time the last parent teacher conferences of the year rolled around Dad was so surprised. He was writing reports, doing addition and subtraction, and learning about science. He still had a lot of the same behavior issues but there was weekly therapy for that and breaks during the school day as well. He would come home and tell us the most interesting stories about the class turtle, Martin Luther King, or the library.<br />
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Now he has always loved cars and trains. What little boy doesn't? I would assume that most little boys love Thomas. But my son's obsession with trains goes way beyond the norm. There are days when we are just going for a walk and he wants to take the train to get to the next block. He gets upset when we take the bus instead of the train. A car ride instead of the train is asking for trouble. Any train will do the 2 train, the A train, the Metro North, or the Long Island Railroad.<br />
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Since we have a teenager who goes to school in another borough we keep a few transit maps around the house in case we need them. There have been a few times that I've caught my son studying the train map. I never really gave it much thought though. Didn't really think that he even knew what he was looking at. It kept him calm and quiet and that was good enough for me. <br />
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One day my son missed his bus or they left him (that has happened) and he was distraught. Luckily my sixteen year old was still home so I bribed her into taking him to school. They had enough time to take the train and he learned that day that there was a train station right behind his school. The next time he missed the bus there wasn't enough time to take the train and her still get to school on time so they took a cab. As soon as she got to school my daughter called me to tell me that he asked if they could get out and take the train the entire time. Well thank goodness we don't live that far from his school.<br />
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Then came summer camp when he got to go on at least two trips a week. We would come home and tell me that he went to the bowling alley on 42 street. Yep 42 and not 42nd because that's how he talks he's only 6. But the bowling alley on 42 street wasn't open so they ended up going to the one on 126th street. He starting giving the 16 year old directions to pick up their 10 year old sister who was in camp all the way downtown. Now when I say he gave directions, he could tell her which train to get on, which stop to get off at the bus to take and what street to get off on. On the weekends he was giving us directions to places he had never even been before it was puzzling but funny. I sometimes hear him wonder out loud when he sees a bus number that he doesn't recognize if it's a bus from another borough. All of the places that we go even if we've only been once he knows where they're located and what routes you can take to get there. Pretty amazing all things considered, I have a 16 year old who sometimes has no clue where she is going even if she been there before.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-77252025646907429412012-08-18T21:20:00.000-04:002012-08-18T21:30:24.986-04:00Taking Care of My Ticker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So a few days ago I went for my annual check up. I've been delaying and somewhat avoiding it since early spring. In my mind I felt like I could use the time to get it together because I pretty much knew how it would go. <br>
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The last time I saw a doctor my blood pressure was really high. It was maybe a few months after I had brought the baby home, I was still breastfeeding and I wasn't willing to take any medication at that point. I figure I would just reduce my stress level and work on myself to get it down. Prior to that pregnancy I had a miscarriage at 23 weeks. <a href="http://www.themisadventuresofamominthecity.com/2012/08/taking-care-of-my-ticker.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-75235809807513665732012-08-14T09:46:00.001-04:002012-08-18T11:27:43.231-04:00Fruity French Toast Skewers<div>
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I saw this somewhere and I wish I could remember where. This is my take on it. We cubed some Texas toast, put it in the oven for a few and tossed it in a french toast batter. A little buttermilk, eggs, and sugar. Then into the skillet it went. I chopped up some green and red apples, some strawberries and bananas while I was waiting for the cubes to brown. I tossed some of the french toast in cinnamon sugar and the others in powdered sugar. Then I threaded it all on skewers and served it up with some eggs and bacon. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566431017743603193.post-70963562212156520482012-07-25T22:25:00.001-04:002012-08-18T15:04:45.921-04:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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