tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190792632024-03-23T14:21:55.427-04:00The Ex-Nanny Chronicles in ManhattanNYC is a concrete jungle on the edge of childcare madness, where the mothers always appear to be on the brink of Hysteria. The nannies who crowd the sidewalks with giant strollers and grocery bags, their loud voices screaming into their cell phones while their charges cry are no better. I am on the outside looking in and let me tell you, as an ex au pair, I do not always like what I see!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-70913900249362012842008-09-02T20:20:00.003-04:002008-09-02T20:22:44.136-04:0090210It should be called 9021NO<br /><br />I turned on the telly and aged a decade in the opening credits.<br />It is like watching a bad version of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">OC</span> coupled with the hills. I hunger for the lives of the old characters. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">uuuggghhhh</span> I am ancient and 90210 might just suck.<br />I is 22 minutes into the show and I hate it already!<br />Bring back the old cast...save us all from this skinny girl crap!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-14159293276626914532008-05-31T14:48:00.003-04:002008-05-31T14:52:42.772-04:00CHARITYTo the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world.<br />---Anonymous<br /><br /><br />I seriously have to do something for all the children in the world without anyone to help them, no water to drink and no place to sleep.<br />I am thinking of starting a charity.<br />A foundation.<br />Or something.<br /><br />Maybe I just have to take some of the money I would normally donate to people on the subway, street <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">beggars</span> etc and take it with me on my trip to South <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Africa</span> and literally buy babies food and deliver it on the doorstep of a township day care centre.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">uuuggghhhhhh</span>. What</span> to do, What to do!<br /><br />This rant is due to me volunteering at the foster home today. I have been doing this for almost a year and it still messes with my mind to see these children!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-16874063902739994742008-04-17T00:07:00.004-04:002010-03-02T15:00:24.264-05:00Spring is hereOh, the weather in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">NYC</span> is fantastic this week.<br />The cherry blossoms are in full bloom and the sun is out and the sky is a lovely clear blue.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Coming</span> up....<br /><ul><li>Spring cleaning is number 1 on my list and then maybe a little decorating.</li><li>Shawn and I are planning a trip away--I have booked my ticket to South Africa and I cant wait!</li></ul><p>I am going to be gone for 6 weeks.... 6 glorious weeks of fun and family!</p><p></p><p>HAPPY SPRING!</p><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-74364789580593647852008-04-14T23:08:00.005-04:002008-04-14T23:14:39.464-04:00Love thy Nanny....<span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>But not too much!</strong><br /><br /><strong>Click the </strong></span><a href="http://www.ok-magazine.com/posts/view/5914/"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">here</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> to read about <em>Nannies and the Famous Men who Love them</em>.....more than they should!</span></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-66622314530039813342008-04-08T09:20:00.003-04:002008-04-08T09:26:03.507-04:00Nanny DramaCelebrities and their Nannies......<br />Always a story, well here is another one!<br />Click the icon below for the story on Rob Lowe suing his Nanny<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://tv.yahoo.com/rob-lowe/contributor/28750/news/urn:newsml:tv.eonline.com:20080407:8ae73730_a668464d_9928_e7054fa6a3e4__ER:84865">Click</a> Here<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />-Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-4193253218672133832008-03-20T21:25:00.003-04:002010-03-02T15:08:15.008-05:00Are nannies worth it?A friend of mine called me talk about her boss who is now after one year, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">complaining</span> about her nanny rates!<br />After one year of top-notch care!<br />My friend tells me that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">every time</span> pay-day rolls around the corner, her boss starts to complain about not being able to afford to pay such high rates!<br />This from a woman who <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">doesnt</span> work..oh wait--she lunches and calls it work...Her husband is extremely successful, they have an Upper East Side 4 floor home, a holiday house in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hamptons</span> and a country get away somewhere down south!<br /><br />My friend has a teaching degree, 10 years of nannying experience, can speak 3 languages and play 2 musical instruments. How is she not worth $20 an hour?<br /><br />You get what you pay for. Some families can only afford $10 an hour! I understand that and quite frankly, they will get what they pay for, sometimes even more than they pay for. But<br />for those families that can afford a nanny, and say that they deem their children to be their most prized <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">possession</span>, but want to pay $10 or less, and snuff at anything more expensive, I say "shame on you".<br />$20-35 an hour is what nannies in NYC charge and should be considered getting a reasonable deal! Like everyone else, Nannies have to pay NYC rents people. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Thats</span> upward of $1200 for a one bedroom!<br /><br />I think that if a person really cant afford it, then I would understand not going the way of the nanny. But if one can afford it, why not hire the best and pay her what she is worth!<br /><br />You can have your child in the best hands ever for a fair wage or you can buy a hardcover book. I must admit that I am observant, I see that many NYC mothers are walking around with bags that range from the many hundreds to the many thousands of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">dollars</span> and then they <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">guffaw</span> at an expensive nanny.<br /><br />In the grand scheme of things, the mother who says $35 an hour is a lot, might be right! It just depends what you get for that hour.<br /><br />For a 4 hour day, what would your itinerary on a winter day looks like?<br />One of my nanny-friends, (foreigners stick together) shared her schedule. She jazzes it up every once in a while by adding a language here and there as well as a musical instrument!<br /><br />A Theme day of Gingerbread.<br />1. Bake Ginger bread cookies...learn about measuring, math and have fun getting messy.<br />2. While oven is baking, wash up and clear activities and then read the gingerbread man story book.<br />3.Take out the cookies to cool. Do an art project about <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">gingerbread</span> men...puppet or make a gingerbread house out of a shoe box.<br />4. Decorate cookies...wrap some up for friends<br />5. Create our own story, make a book about it or a poem.<br /><br />Worth more than $10 an hour! I think so!<br /><br />You get ample years of experience, fun educational activities and quite frankly, peace of mind. So to my friend, the overqualified nanny Monika who contacted me to complain about parents complaining at her rate, I say move on to someone else. In fact use that number I gave you and leave this family in the dust. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Dont</span> dare let them make you feel bad about charging your worth! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Dont</span> let them make you question your value.<br /><br />For those parents who complain to me about the rates your nannies charge you...I understand that you <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">dont</span> want to feel taken advantage of, but when your nanny is paying their cleaning person more than you pay yours....WE HAVE A PROBLEM!<br /><br />So, take your expensive handbag and tell someone who cares. Prioritize people. Prioritize!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-82257762840180826072007-12-08T23:58:00.001-05:002010-03-02T15:16:35.329-05:00Nanny in action....OR NOTPicture this:<br /><br />Me, all flustered from running to volunteer at a clothing drive in a fancy Montessori school on the UWS. I arrive on time, early actually, school is out, but the the sorting wont start for another hour. So, I head into the parents room for a cup of coffee and a few moments to catch my breathe. A little girl stumbles past me, almost trips over her shoelaces, so I lean down to help her tie her shoes and glance up to see a nanny asleep, snoring, loudly on the window seat and a little girl sucking on some sugar packets.<br /><br /><strong>Me: (to little girl sitting at sleeping <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Nanny's</span> feet): What have you got there?<br /></strong><br />Girl: A cup of sugar<br /><br /><strong>Me: <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">You're</span> eating it?<br /></strong><br />Girl: Yeah<br /><br /><strong>Me: Its very bad for your teeth, I am sure your grown-up <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">wouldn't</span> like you eating that.</strong> (nursing school rearing its ugly head)<br /><br />Girl: (she points to her nanny)-- She said I could. Now she is asleep. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ssshhh</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">don't</span> wake her.<br /><br /><strong>Me: Is that your mommy?<br /></strong><br />Girl: No, my nanny<br /><br /><strong>Me: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Oohh</span>, I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">don't</span> know if she should be sleeping, her job is to take care of you and sleeping while out in public isn't safe for you</strong>.<br /><br />Girl: But she is tired<br /><br /><em>-----Nanny is literally snoring!--------</em><br /><br /><strong>Me: I think I am going to wake her<br /></strong><br />Girl: But she will still be tired.<br /><br />----girl empties the entire 1/2 cup of sugar into her mouth.<strong><br /><br />Another little girl buts in to the conversation:<br /><br />Girl 2: Nannies <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">dont</span> sleep<br /></strong><br />Girl: Why not?<br /><br /><strong>Girl 2: ( in a very serious tone) Its illegal!<br /></strong><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Ok</span>, so I laughed, but I was still shocked.<br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">couldnt</span> believe that a nanny literally slept on the job, at a private <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">pre</span>-school, in the common area.<br />What is going on?<br />She slept and the girl chugged sugar.......<br /><br />This world of nanny-life in New York, just gets crazier and crazier!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-4071185179268790312007-10-19T12:59:00.000-04:002007-10-19T13:35:40.612-04:00Leaving NYCMy husband and I are about to head on a little trip..just the two of us.<br />I feel so lucky, because my husband booked us a weekend away in the hamptons, at a wonderful resort, with an ocean view...aaahhhhhhh<br /><br />Click on the highlighted links to see our rooms and hotel.<br /><br />We are staying <a href="http://www.duneresorts.com/default.asp?">here</a><br /><br />This is our <a href="http://www.duneresortsvirtualtours.com/new/oceanbeach/vtd.html">room</a> ...wait for the java to load and watch as it spins a 360 to an ocean view.<br /><br />Oh and by the way... my husband is a fantastically talented writer.<br /><br />To read his latest piece, click <a href="http://johnniefootball.com/archive/guest/2007/10/18/johnnie-gameday-in-manhattan/">here</a><br /><br />Gotta go!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-28499640820262578722007-10-05T19:48:00.001-04:002010-03-02T15:02:21.946-05:00LETS PLAY CATCH UP !I have taken on a lot since my last post, so here is an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">update</span>:<br /><br />I have started working with Good Shepherd Services in their foster care facility, I only work a few hours a week, but I am loving it.<br />On Saturdays I am monitoring parental and child visits -- much like the ones Brittany Spears will have to attend-- and on Mondays I am working in the home-finding department re-certifying foster parents and their homes.<br /><br />And...I am still in school, working toward that nursing degree<br /><br />I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">didnt</span> realize how much time all of this would take up, so I applied for (and was offered) a position reviewing books for a romance website. I have agreed to review 6 books a month and I swear of all the things I have taken on, this one takes up most of my time.<br />The best thing about the review position is the website - which I love- and the other reviewers, not to mention all the free books. Now if only I had 4 more hours in the day, well then I could really get everything done.<br />The website is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">nightowlromance</span>.com<br /><br />Having all of this on my plate has practically eliminated television for me, so thank god for ABC.<br /><br />I swear <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">abc</span>.com is the best site on the planet.<br />You <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">dont</span> even have to watch television anymore. All I do is set aside a night ( usually Friday) and then log on and catch up on all my shows.<br />It is like having <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Tivo</span> without having to pay for it. There are hardly any commercials, so an hour show takes 45 minutes and you can check you email during commercials. I love it!<br /><br />Today I have already watched the 2 episodes of Private Practice (my new favorite) I am in the middle of Ugly Betty and planning on watching Desperate housewives next. I plan on making dinner, writing part of a Nutrition paper and all this before my husband gets home at 9pm.<br /><br />Oh, how I love modern technology...now if I could just add 4 more hours to the day, it would all be perfect.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-665157765465078922007-09-03T15:33:00.001-04:002010-03-02T15:22:35.077-05:00Fabulous Q&A with a nanny that speaks about American Parenting.<br />I agree with her 100%<br /><br /><a href="http://local.babble.com/content/articles/columns/5minutetimeout/Claire-Verity/">http://local.babble.com/content/articles/columns/5minutetimeout/Claire-Verity/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-79918551784906107082007-09-03T14:14:00.000-04:002007-09-03T14:43:10.940-04:00Spending to impressMy almost-13-year-old charge is about to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">celebrate</span> his Bar M<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">itzvah</span></span>.<br /><br />In order to escape the outrageous expense and over-the-top celebration that is usually required by Manhattan standards, they decided to celebrate it outside of the city.<br /><br />What started as an escape from abundance has turned into an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">extravagant</span> beach party at an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">exclusive</span> club in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hamptons</span></span>.<br /><br />The expense alone is more than the average person can afford and I am sure it is going to be even more over the top than it would have been in the city. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Fortunately</span> for my charge, his parents have really made it all about him and his friends and the people who care about him, but I see his mom battling to keep herself from <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">becoming</span> entwined <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">in</span> the other mothers money games in a race to impress the peerage.<br /><br />Why do parents spend, literally tens of thousands on this?<br /><br />Is it mostly to impress their friends?<br /><br />These Manhattan Bar <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mitzvah's</span> are like weddings, when really it should be about the experience. I have on more than one occasion heard many mothers talking about the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">upcoming</span> celebrations, all of them mentioning the money and the fabulous cost and expense of creating the best they can afford. And nobody wants to be the one not to be able to afford the best of everything!<br /><br />Its like they are bragging or something. It is quite nauseating to watch and be part of any of their discussions..<br /><br />At least 10 of my charges friends are celebrating their Bar M<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">itzvah</span></span> this year.<br />Here are some of the comments I have been witness to and part of.<br /><br /><p></p><p><strong><em>"I am afraid our invitations were too tacky, yes they cost a few thousand, but one still worries about such things"<br /></em></strong></p><strong><em><p><br />"I said that I refuse to pay $5000 for flowers, but I can't live without the custom made brown <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">suede</span> sofas"<br /></p><p><br />"This is going to cost more than most weddings"<br /></p><p><br />" .....forget the expense, I want ours to be the best"<br /></p><p><br />"I cant spend enough money on this..."<br /><br /></em></strong>Oh and it goes on.<br />And on!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-88819472436895659062007-08-29T21:53:00.001-04:002007-09-03T15:30:10.215-04:00I will be your nanny Charlie Sheen!Finally, Charlie Sheen says something that makes sense.<br />Basically, that an Assistant and a Nanny are not the same thing!<br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>“Until I’m granted the ability to hire my own nanny, she is required to provide one and I was terribly insulted that she felt her ‘assistant’ was a suitable replacement. If it’s unfortunate that I’m speaking, it’s ‘unfortunate’ that an incredibly loving and responsible father and his terrifically capable fiancée are being subjected to these transparent and unnecessary sanctions, that have nothing to do with responsible co-parenting and everything to do with punishment and control. As long as I am forced to live under these conditions with my children, people are going to hear about it.”<br /></strong><br />- Charlie Sheen, in a statement released on Tuesday<br /><br />found on perezhilton.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-16425973520431101822007-05-26T20:15:00.001-04:002010-03-02T15:25:36.927-05:00Belated Easter Antics<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069040619030348946" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 200px; height: 176px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZenwTkEcPqRYmwbWw5pBKbmkg7xu3htpLXvVl2ET6Z5U8PYcNDXi2GQ4KWi9_uagcKXHEYsZ5eUDm2JsqdvlndCzMeRy5jDEPBVZufPgyro9nGnhW6e-LZUt3AXeFsCvUzhy8FQ/s200/S7001128.JPG" width="200" border="0" height="210" /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">My husband and I spent Easter in Minnesota. I had such a great time with our niece and nephews: Brock, Brady, Brandt, Bronson and Brandi. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">It reminded me of my aupair year in 1999--aaahhh I was a nanny for a week. How I have missed it.<br />We decorated egg, bunny and chick shaped cookies and made bunny and chick nest cupcakes. </span><br /><br /><div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Here are some photographs that exhibit our fabulously fun, activity filled weekend.</span></div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOz-XT7nMY2u3onYuRkKe4MYPTyVvtfZRHFtD4Z41vIOBFMX1ZOYIJ5TWgO61QfP_C8jIyHhx71dz9BFBB_MK6gNFtWsoKEb7NWFTHj5TVuExKi7MbaKzbh2VCizKIbyBsVgZ4A/s1600-h/S7001105.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069028820755186706" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOz-XT7nMY2u3onYuRkKe4MYPTyVvtfZRHFtD4Z41vIOBFMX1ZOYIJ5TWgO61QfP_C8jIyHhx71dz9BFBB_MK6gNFtWsoKEb7NWFTHj5TVuExKi7MbaKzbh2VCizKIbyBsVgZ4A/s320/S7001105.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaM3PJ63VYdecSZTM1LOJydXIKH0LYLJc_KxksIYvHExj5KqweQhbZ0wIj3w6rMBL0oUxoFzQTPpAztD5-KsqvwbIQV2fJvRDnmdReyEu4PFGxY0T5JasQoej7bPKmWTmVa8sug/s1600-h/S7001136.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069038273978205298" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaM3PJ63VYdecSZTM1LOJydXIKH0LYLJc_KxksIYvHExj5KqweQhbZ0wIj3w6rMBL0oUxoFzQTPpAztD5-KsqvwbIQV2fJvRDnmdReyEu4PFGxY0T5JasQoej7bPKmWTmVa8sug/s320/S7001136.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_tb7j_AGek2jsKcGTkyZ7zvoz9SkQ-ANQFdgwRdo88WBlpO_ucDhOjVWjvwDNPrRBNintbei9douxXPjQtgp7pqq56Arzdl93SUYGCv4JOWzAR71o_X8dYmE8kRi1cd5KAO2jw/s1600-h/S7001106.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069037084272264226" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_tb7j_AGek2jsKcGTkyZ7zvoz9SkQ-ANQFdgwRdo88WBlpO_ucDhOjVWjvwDNPrRBNintbei9douxXPjQtgp7pqq56Arzdl93SUYGCv4JOWzAR71o_X8dYmE8kRi1cd5KAO2jw/s320/S7001106.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_tb7j_AGek2jsKcGTkyZ7zvoz9SkQ-ANQFdgwRdo88WBlpO_ucDhOjVWjvwDNPrRBNintbei9douxXPjQtgp7pqq56Arzdl93SUYGCv4JOWzAR71o_X8dYmE8kRi1cd5KAO2jw/s1600-h/S7001106.JPG"></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_tb7j_AGek2jsKcGTkyZ7zvoz9SkQ-ANQFdgwRdo88WBlpO_ucDhOjVWjvwDNPrRBNintbei9douxXPjQtgp7pqq56Arzdl93SUYGCv4JOWzAR71o_X8dYmE8kRi1cd5KAO2jw/s1600-h/S7001106.JPG"></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-25916618979504343012007-05-06T14:31:00.001-04:002010-03-02T15:26:22.883-05:00Summer Fun<div>It is coming to the end of the school semester. I have 3 weeks left and then I am on Summer vacation. I cant wait, I already have the sunglasses out, the summer sandals are making a few rare appearances and I am ready for the warm wind to blow out my hair.</div><br /><div>I have just signed up for summer classes, I am sure we will still make a few trips out to the beach. I know I will have to work my butt off in school, but the warm weather will make it all worth it.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-33443413578600329342007-05-02T21:00:00.000-04:002007-05-14T17:08:56.257-04:00Ham Steak?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYO2RhlFz5zvJP_YyP-ETDk6TKWLcC7_Q6kV8dZj0pvK5WC4smRfEY9n1i1bJxiXdRJzM4cQwRBpinH5jLFy3jiLB-YMjp-hssWqUzKf4BO_nKR8L30G8lpjuX2Nv2sae_Q55ptw/s1600-h/S7001244.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5064525911035011730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYO2RhlFz5zvJP_YyP-ETDk6TKWLcC7_Q6kV8dZj0pvK5WC4smRfEY9n1i1bJxiXdRJzM4cQwRBpinH5jLFy3jiLB-YMjp-hssWqUzKf4BO_nKR8L30G8lpjuX2Nv2sae_Q55ptw/s400/S7001244.JPG" border="0" /></a> HAM STEAK........<br />Ever heard of it?<br /><br />My husband is baffled by me having a name for a large thick slice of ham. I call it and believe it to be, a <em>Ham Steak</em>. He refuses to call it a ham steak. He just wants to call it Ham.<br />He even called his mother, so that she could verify his claim.<br />So, yes, I do admit, it is ham, but what about differentiating it from its lunch cousin the <em>sandwich ham, </em>or its holiday sibling the R<em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">oast</span>/Hot Ham?</em> How are we to know which ham we are buying, if we <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">don't</span> have different names for different cuts and styles of meat.<br />Am I wrong here people?<br /><br />Well, call it what you like my dear, either way, its what you're going to be eating for dinner.<br /><br />Hot Ham Steak, Tater Tots and Buttered Corn......a dinner fit for a 5 year old.<br /><br />Enjoy your <strong><em>HAM STEAK </em></strong>my love!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-40944779924809186652007-03-27T17:16:00.001-04:002010-03-02T15:28:18.462-05:00Another day of Spring<div align="center"><br />Us in Cape Town 2007<br /></div><p><br /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046723960775198834" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCoiGraxqPUUo_sfqAU5t8xZxa6ceyiAvCEHbWj2OtWp6MW4x9ZmoOu1UnSzgWknqwlSghNcpeWCku9LkIpkChWzpC8l53V1FFw7LjEw854F42n7ssqVdoGnsA7cPC_qAHwk0Sg/s320/S7000349.JPG" border="0" /></p><p><br /><br />It is almost spring vacation and I cant wait.<br />I started packing for our trip weeks ago..I do that.<br />I get ahead of myself and now I realize that I can't remember what I packed and I have to repack the entire suitcase as well as consulting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">weatherbug</span>.com for the Spring the forecast.<br /><br />Life is good right now.<br />Exams are over, vacation is on its way and my husband is, as always: delicious.<br />He is such a good man that sometimes I have to pinch myself, just to make sure that I am not dreaming.<br />A few things are going on right now.<br />Because Spring is here and I am feeling bright, I made a colorful list.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p><ul><br /><li><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><strong>We are getting ready for our trip to Minnesota.</strong></span></li><br /><li><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><strong>I bought two fabulous floor lamps at Target...and I have my eye on a brand new sofa..<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">sshhh</span> don't tell my husband, because he really wants a lazy boy. Can you believe that?</strong></span></li><br /><li><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><strong>Our accountant is done with our taxes, so we get to sign the papers tomorrow. Money back is always good.</strong></span></li><br /><li><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 255);"><strong>Shawn, my hubby accepted a full-time job at a magazine, not his dream job, but he appears to be taking one for the team. I guess I should really get him some sort of lazy-boy-style chair after all.</strong></span></li><br /><li><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">My father-in-laws birthday is coming up and Shawn and I have gotten him the best present ever. He is going to love it.</span> </strong></li><br /><li><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);"><strong>I am trying to make healthy food choices, but often fail....hence my anticipation for our trip to Minnesota and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">carb</span>-loading zone of <em>Macaroni Grill.</em></strong></span></li><br /><li><strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">It has been 94 days since we left for south Africa and I miss my family. But the good part is that we will go back, just not right now.</span></strong></li><br /><li><strong><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">I am tired of blogging now. GOODNIGHT!</span></strong></li></ul><br /><p><strong><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"></span></strong></p><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-71607618866662298482007-03-21T10:57:00.001-04:002010-03-02T15:29:03.809-05:00SPRINGToday is the first day of Spring.......Yippeeeeeeeeeeee.<br /><br />I know we were in Africa for most of the dreaded Winter, but since we have been back I felt like Winter would never end.<br />Finally, the cold will start to subside.<br /><br />another good part about Spring for me, is all the cleaning. spring cleaning is my favorite activity. Like an early Christmas.<br /><br />Oh I love it.<br /><br />I dont have school today, so I am spending this afternoon with my friends 4 year old. I am picking her up from school and we are going out to lunch and then to <em>Diller Quaille</em> school of music.<br /><br />I cant wait to see her little face.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-24372075907367921782007-03-10T18:38:00.001-05:002007-03-10T18:38:13.255-05:00Nursing Back<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/5kVv2aqnEjs' name='movie'></param><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/5kVv2aqnEjs'></embed></object></p><p>I am a terrible blogger because I am working hard at school. Maybe this will help you forgive me for my tardy posts.</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-16077912335877674152007-02-17T19:44:00.000-05:002007-02-17T19:48:50.495-05:00YESTERDAYI met my husband 5 years and 1 day ago.<br /><br />It was that specific and amazing day, that a hunky, tall, kind, Midwestern boy walked off <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Amsterdam</span> Avenue in Manhattan and into the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Alligator</span> Alley Bar and changed my life.<br /><br />It was the best and most important day of my life.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-18227209184411818332006-12-21T21:39:00.000-05:002006-12-21T21:41:07.251-05:00HiatusThats right.<br />I hope to be able to post something here and there, but if not, I will only be back to blogging in February.<br /><br />And I will have lots to say.<br /><br />Happy holidays and Happy New Year everyone.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-24425686346700403352006-12-02T18:25:00.001-05:002010-03-02T15:30:57.053-05:00Taking in SLOW....I got a crock Pot.<br />A slow cooker.<br />It's Red, and sassy, just like my microwave.<br />It seriously makes me all warm and fuzzy inside!<br /><br />I am so domesticated now, that I made a Pot Roast on Wednesday.<br /><br />It literally took me 15 minutes before school to put it all in the pot.<br />I went to school and by the time I got home, all I had to do was slice it up and eat it.<br /><br />My husband loved it and took the leftovers to work the next day.<br /><br />I can't believe how easy it was.<br /><br />Tonight Shawn is taking me out for dinner. Then tomorrow I am going to roast a chicken, but Monday, I am going to try to make Pulled Pork sandwiches.<br />I feel so Midwestern.<br /><br />Three years ago - when I loved the night life, when I was staying out all night with my friends, arriving home at 4 am and writing in my spare time, who would have thought that down the line I would be celebrating my crock Pot?<br />Not me, thats for sure!<br /><br />P.S. I just heard that my father-in-law is wondering why I would use a crock pot when I'm such a great cook (which is true, so true! lol). It's so fast and easy, but most of all I like the idea it's like magic! You don't do a thing. You put a slab of meat in a pot, go away for the day, come home and it's all done and delicious. Magical!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-70412226534236543982006-11-25T17:57:00.000-05:002006-11-26T21:14:47.482-05:00MOLD FREE AT LASTOur closet is finally mold free.<br /><br />Thank goodness, because I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">don't</span></span> know how much longer I could have slept in the living room.<br /><br />A few days ago, sleeping on the sofa bed was like participating in the discovery of a new Japanese <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">torture</span></span> device.<br /><br />Shawn and I thought we would eventually be able to train ourselves to sleep standing up, because nothing could have been worse than sleeping on that futon.<br />So, after 2 torturous <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">nights</span></span>, we moved our bed into the living room and have been sleeping <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">OK</span></span>, but it feels like we are living in a studio again.<br /><br />Our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">apartment</span> looks like a bomb hit it, there is no order at all, we have piles of laundry that need to be sent out, tons of clothes we have to throw away because of the mold and an entire room full of junk that has accumulated from the chaos.<br />This has been one hectic week, but thankfully tonight...it comes to an end!<br /><br />We are going to move our bed back into the bedroom tonight. I am supposed to be mopping the bedroom floor right now so we can move the bed back into the room and Shawn has run out to pick up some <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Caesar</span> Salad and Buffalo Chicken tenders.<br /><br />We are going to celebrate having our bedroom back, by having an indoor pic-nic on our wonderful bed, in our fabulous bedroom and by watching a sweaty, hunky, somewhat creepy Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 3. - Thank you N<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">etflix</span></span>!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-85603557953650910832006-11-20T13:00:00.000-05:002006-11-20T13:15:01.883-05:00Smelly Mold!For two months our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">neighbors</span>/friends who live in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">apartment</span> below us have been having breathing problems, chest pains and wheezing. A few weeks ago, their puppy developed asthma.<br />Now last week, I have gotten a cold and headaches etc.<br />Today after our downstairs neighbor told us to look in our closet, I was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">appalled</span> to find that the back of our closet was wet and yucky.<br /><br />Its a huge built in closet, and behind all the clothes and shoe racks, it is filled with mold. Apparently there is a leak in the wall and it has dripped down to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">apartment</span> below us.<br />Their closet is an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Amazon</span> jungle of mold. We are all sick and panicked, so we called 311 to see if we need the health department to check it out.<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Thankfully</span>, our super is sending <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">someone</span>, but who knows how long this has been going on.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Of course</span> it has to happen around Thanksgiving, when we are already in chaos trying to organise a fabulous dinner.<br /><br />Anyway, I sprayed the mold with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">bleach</span>, yes, the bleech spray from the post below - I still love it<br />I think it kills everything, so why not mold too. And now all I can d<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">o</span> is wait, and wheeze and cough and hope the mold spores aren't toxic.<br /><br />Any advice from anyone who has dealt with this before?<br /><br />Now I have to go empty our closets and throw out all the damaged goods.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Uuggghhh</span>, the life of a New Yorker, if these old buildings could talk, who knows what they would tell us.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-50057560351983207222006-11-17T18:48:00.001-05:002010-03-02T15:33:17.735-05:00Oh, so many excusesFrom the sporatic blogging I have done over the past few months, one might assume my blogging quest has fallen by the wayside. But I gaurantee you that it has not. In fact I "<em>think"</em> at many times throughout the day. Juat today as I was walking home from school, I was thinking about so many reasons I have not kept my blog up to date.<br />here are just a few.<br /><br /><ol><li>College is hectic, tests, classes and chaos</li><li>Thanksgiving is coming and I am prepping the apartment for our fabulous soiree</li><li>Our trip to South Arica is just around the corner and I spend every waking moment planning it and deciding what to wear in make-believe situations that just might occur when we get there lol</li><li>volunteering after college, with the kids for two afternoons, steals a whole two days of my week</li><li> I am trying to get into a fitness regimen. I am still in the sitting on the sofa and thinking about it, rather than doing it phase, but I working on it.</li><li>I am lazy. right now anyway. there, I finally said it. I just cant seem to sit in front of this computer and blog a thing.</li><li>I read too many blogs, that by the time I finish reading them I am suffering from eye strain and in need of my icy mask.</li><li>Too many people I know personally read it..yes I am talking about you guys..the parents... so I limit the juicy sex gossip....which leads to posts about cleaning and lists about why I dont blog.</li><li>When I am online I am playing scrabble. I have become a word junkie. Actually, I am trying to prep myself for what I am sure is going to be a scrabble war between us and my parents in south Africa. they are scrabble nuts and know something like 100 2 letter words that dont make sense.</li><li><br /></li></ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19079263.post-41572749403461095402006-10-16T19:16:00.000-04:002006-10-16T19:23:51.468-04:00Cape Town Here we come!Shawn and I are planning our t<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">rip</span> to the mother city of Cape Town, South Africa.<br />We are about to buy our tickets and I am so excited, I could puke.<br /><br />We are planning to leave Saturday the 23rd of December and stay <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">until</span> the last week of January. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">That's</span> 5 or more weeks!<br /><br />Thankfully I get the entire January off from College, which means we get to spend <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Christmas</span>, New Years Eve and a whole lot of weeks on the beach, sunning ourselves.<br />But best of all, we get to see my family and relax a bit.<br /><br />I am trying to put up a time zone counter for Cape <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Town</span> and a Countdown clock in my link section. Its all I know how to do, but if anyone knows how to add a graphic <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">counter</span>, please email me.<br /><br />I cant wait.<br />I am going to start packing tonight.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">OK</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">don't</span> tell anyone, but I have already started packing...<br />I know we have 2 months to wait, but you can never be too prepared.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2