Sunday, March 27, 2011
Helpful Information
I know that you ladies would be more than willing to offer up this information to any newcomer who asked you, but I was really wishing someone would just hand me a list when I moved here. It's been slow for me to find friends, women I truly think of as friends, whom I can trust. And so, I've done a lot of my own research in the form of "trial and error." I've had a pediatrician speak to me in condescending baby talk, I've picked up my dog from a groomer who was SMOKING INSIDE WITH MY DOG, been to very strange grocery stores, had a massage by someone with super long scratchy fingernails, and so this list goes on. Obviously, in this day in age, the internet could provide me with all of this information, but without someone's personal experience, you may as well not even look.
And so, not in any particular order...these are some things every mom needs to know when she moves to a new place:
1. Grocery stores: best meats and produce, is there an organic or more natural/local place, a store that has the best coupons, etc...I've found that there are typically 3 types of stores. I want to know them.
2. Pediatrician: Someone respectful who will take the time to know your child and care about his/her history and your concerns, in an office withOUT an hour wait.
3. ObGyn: Female please. Or at least a female in the office, clean, kind, warm, understanding
4. Where to get a good haircut
5. Where to get a good massage
6. Best authentic Mexican food
7. Pediatric Dentist (who doesn't scare the crap out of kids)
8. Preschools: Which are the best but not the most expensive - and I want to know this from someone who has BEEN THERE.
9. Babysitters
10. Kids Haircuts
11. Primary care doctor for mom and dad
12. Emergency Room locations
13. Library
14. Mechanic (oil change/fender bender/routine check ups)
15. Optometrist and Pediatric Optometrist
16. Veterinarian
17. Groomer (if not by vet)
18. Boarder (if not done by vet)
19. Parks with trails and playground equipment
20. Chinese Food (no dog, please)
21. Chiropractor
22. MOPS (a friendly one, please!)
23. A good women's Bible study group (because it may take quite a while to find a church)
24. Gym with childcare (and not teenagers watching MTV)
25. Once Upon A Child
26. McDonald's with a play place (if there is not a chic fil a nearby)
27. Where to get your driver's license renewed and your license plates changed (because here you have to go to 3 different places to do this. I have not done it yet!)
28. Mall (ok, ok. this one's for Luke and Mayah. I HATE the mall)
Can you think of any others?
Monday, March 14, 2011
Paging Dr. Ferber...
Anyone have any advice? What worked for your family? I am dying to hear from someone...anyone!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Map Chest
Great salmon recipe. And I don't even like salmon
I never really liked salmon until Jason made this meal for me. It is so good. My take is that it's all about the salmon fillets we buy at Sam's Club, and the fact that the hubs sprinkles them with brown sugar and a yummy salty seasoning. As well as cooking them just to the point where they are barely cooked on the inside. Over cooking salmon makes it taste pretty nasty.
Brown rice medley from Trader Joe's
Frozen salmon fillets in bag from Sam's Club
1 can of pineapple rings
Magic Salmon seasoning
Sauce: pineapple juice left from can, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar thickened with corn starch
Cook brown rice in rice maker.
Lay down 4 pineapple rings and sprinkle a little bit of brown sugar on top of the rings. Then lay each thawed salmon filet over 2 rings. Sprinkle salmon filets with Magic Salmon seasoning. Broil for 8-10 mins. (we do this in our toaster oven.)
Take reserve pineapple juice and put in sauce pan, then add soy sauce, brown sugar and rice wine vinegar. simmer. After cooked a bit, dissolve some corn starch in water and use to thicken the sauce. Serve it poured over salmon and brown rice.
Serve with a side of steamed broccoli and voila! (pictured with mixed veggies in butter herb sauce from Trader Joe's)
It's a great date night dinner that costs about $4-$5 per person.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
My Obsession Right THIS Moment (at least until I get interrupted and/or sucked back into reality…)
Seriously. Seriously? Seriously!
Wouldn’t you LOVE to have a reason to wear these shoes today?
I guess I should be happy with the Anne Klein flats I’m wearing…it was a MOPS day today, ya know.
All right people, I'm losing it!
So for today, I say screw the studies about stay at home moms using the TV as a babysitter. Mommy needs to let out some steam on this here blog. Here you are, now go watch some Cat In The Hat.
PS: Thanks for the Dove bar, Sarah. It was a nice change from my mini cups.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Where I Belong
I have had the wonderful gift of being a mom for 1,721 days (yes, I did the math). In those 1,721 days can you guess how many nights my husband and I have had to ourselves? 3. Yep, three. I, like any mom, covet those times when I can have some alone time with my husband. Living in a city where neither my husband or I have family around, makes it especially hard to find those precious times - just the two of us. I am SO thankful for selfless friends that have offered to keep my daughter so that my husband and I can have the time that we desperately need to stay connected. Because, let's face it, romance often gets put on the back burner when you become a parent.
This past Friday night, my hubby and I enjoyed our third night alone. We spent our time in Indianapolis eating at an elegant, romantic restaurant and going to a concert to see my all-time most favorite musician. I felt free! I felt like it was where I belonged - next to my handsome husband without a care in the world! It took me back to our days pre-child. It felt exciting! I was already trying to plan in my mind the next time he and I could get away and how it couldn't be soon enough!
After sleeping until 10:00 and stuffing ourselves with a delicious brunch, it was time for us to return to the "real world." Even though I didn't want our couple time to end, I was really excited to see my sweet girl. When we picked her up, placed her in her car seat and heard her utter the words, "Ahhh....back where I belong", I knew right at that moment that I was truly where I belonged.
Keep the faith,
JoAnna