Starbucks

Seems like I have been running around non stop the past few days. Finally things are going to slow down a bit to catch my breath!

Sunday Richard Simmons offered me a free month to his club house. I accepted it. And in the past when I have had a membership there I have kept all the monthly recipes on a file. Well, when I went to get caught up on the recipes, I noticed I had like 3 years worth missing from my files! That shouldn't be, cause I've had a membership there for a long time. So I guess yahoogroups must of ate them up. Cause I had them filed in their database. Oh well, that took most of Sunday night and Monday morning to get all back in place. But, at least I got them all again now!

Monday we went to the Palisade's Mall, in upstate New York. My favorite stores are gone from there-Super JoAnn's, and Le Gourmet Chef. But, there's a few shops left that I like there.

Camille's being one. However, it's getting less and less stuff I need there. It's going more and more formal-like wedding dresses. And less and less clothes that I can actually wear on a daily basis. They are over the top for meetings. It's mainly wedding dresses and evening gowns. When I first started there was a ton of meeting clothes as well. And just a small room in the back for weddings, and another small room to the side for evening gowns. Now it's almost the whole store, with only one tiny spot for regular clothes. I LOVED a skirt they had but it was marked too high for me. They used to have GREAT clearance. I used to be able to get meeting clothes for 3 to 6 dollars there. The skirt I liked was 60! Oh well. Maybe some day I will get it.

The big score was Steve & Barry's! Even cheaper then here. All their stuff was marked down to 4.00! So we got a bunch of overalls and pajamas for Lela. And when it was all done they gave me a coupon for 5 dollars off my next visit there. I can't wait. I love their jeans so I will probably buy myself some jeans with the coupon.

We took Lela to the Lego store there and she really liked it. That was her first experience with legos. We may have to buy some.

We went to Target and I got another cracker jar, and went ahead and just bought a pack of 3 year old training pants they are way too big, I think, but we'll give them a try. They don't seem to ever have anything smaller.

Then my mother in law was tired so it was time to go.

So I didn't get to see much of the mall. It's HUGE though. 4 stories, has a Ferris wheel, a ice skating rink, a BJ's! All kinds of things. I didn't see much of it though on Monday. haha

However, one striking thing, all the Starbucks (and there was many!) had free samples. That's the first time I have seen that. I really liked the coffee sample I got. Much much better then the time I paid for one on a vacation. What I got on vacation was horrible at Starbucks, and I've always wondered why people would pay for that when mine at home is like 500 times better. BUT, that particular one I had this time would be worth it once in a while! So, I should of asked what that was called, but Lela being sick wasn't having any of me staying there long so I moved on.

I had to use the sling a lot yesterday and carry Lela cause she is so sick and clingy. Good thing we bought those. I seen another mommy there with a ergo though, and she really liked hers a lot. So I want to try one of them out too. She said Buy Buy Baby lets you try them on. So that's another thing on the list of things to do.

After the mall I wanted to go to Super Walmart. Even though others was against it, I won this time. haha I usually don't win. haha So we went to Fishkill, even further upstate New York, and went to Super Walmart, they didn't have Lela's puffed brown rice that I went for. BUT, they did have the NEW Fiber One Pancake Mix, I can't wait to try it! I bought two boxes! I think I'll really like it.

After that we went to Cracker Barrel, and there was a little girl that looked just like Lela there! We should of taken a picture but I was too chicken to ask! When her father seen Lela, he did a double take, and then said Holy Cow, I thought you were walking off with my daughter! She looks just like my daughter. I said I know. My husband seen your daughter while we were in Wal-mart, and thought she was ours! haha Funny we had been to Wal-mart at the same time, and then both went to Cracker Barrel. Even the waitress did a double take, and said, wow I thought they were the same child till just now! I sure wish I would of been brave enough to ask to get a picture with the girls together. Awe well.

My mother in law bought Lela a rocking chair from Cracker Barrel. And I know Lela is going to love it. She never wants to get out of them when we are at Cracker Barrel. And I remember mine from when I was little. I spent a lot of time in mine. I think Lela will too.

She also got Lela a Jack in the Box. Lela has been loving the ones there for about a year. And I always have to pry them out of her hands, with her crying when we leave. But, this time they had them with sock monkeys instead of the clown. I really didn't like the clown/jack that was in jack in the box, cause they were creepy looking. Even though I happen to LIKE clowns! But, the sock monkey was much cuter! So my mother in law bought Lela that too. And she's been playing with it ever since. All the way home, and all of today. She loves it. And I think it's so cute!

Then today, poor Lela had to have blood drawn. Monkey in the box to the rescue! haha She's still sick, but hopefully will start feeling better soon.

Shots

I haven't posted in forever! I've been terribly busy. It's also been a wet, windy week!

First Lela has had to go twice to get shots. The doctor was a little upset cause I want delayed shots for some of them. I accept most of them but a few I wanted delayed. Which I did, and signed all the papers. But, they really want to make you feel like you are a bad parent by not getting them. I think they should be a little more open since I am only delaying them. Oh well!

She told me Lela could go deaf from the mumps since I am delaying that shot till she is 4 or 5. Well, I almost laughed about that. What was funny when I got home and told my mom, she laughed and said the EXACT same thing that came to my mind but I didn't say out loud to the doctor. Which that was just hilarious!

So you're wondering what I was thinking, that my mom said? "Go deaf? Oh that was a given. We never thought there would be any other possibility." It's a given if you are born in my family you will go deaf at some point! Some earlier then others! hahaha I've had hearing problems my whole life. So has my dad. Dad was raised by his deaf grandparents! Both his grandmother and grandfather were deaf. My step father is deaf. My mom is hard of hearing. I have deaf uncles, aunts, etc. My dad has been wearing two hearing aids since he was 19! My sister is 20, and been going deaf the last few years, already fitted for hearing aids. So deaf? Oh we figured that. Mumps or no mumps! hahaha

Now is deafness something to kid about, of course not. But, personally I know how to deal with deaf. I also know people can live a full active life, having almost any job they want with deafness. My dad is a RN, a therapist, a IV specialist, and a psychiatrist now! Married to a doctor. Great Grandma and Great Grandma never let their deafness stop them from doing anything! I have a uncle who is deaf and did the computer programming for the SR750! (for those of you who don't know that's a very famous air plane). Another uncle who is deaf has worked for NASA for many years, he's a bio-engineer. And my sister is going to law school to be a lawyer.

Most people don't even know most of my family is deaf. They have learned to deal with it like it's just another part of life. They are not upset about it. And they get on with life. They can read lips well, and like I said people who even know them, do not know or even forget if they do know that they are deaf! They use it for their own advantage. When others are having to concentrate to study something or do something, and can't cause of noise around them. They just turn off their hearing aids, put their head down and study!

Any way...that's just one thing. haha But, if only the doctor knew! I also have autism in my family and as much as I love those kids. I feel very bad for them, cause getting a job, communicating with others, etc. Will forever be a challenge for them. I am much more worried about that any day then deafness. Deafness I know how to work with!

Any way, on to a happy note. After her shots we went back to the Broadway Mall. And she played there the rest of the afternoon, and I got more of my embroidery work done.

We took Lela to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time this week. We were supposed to go to Chuck E. Cheese on Saturday with Vince's cousins but they forgot and were doing something with the grandparents. So we decided to go to Mc Donald's on Friday, but it was one we had never been to before but decided to try cause it was close to the house. It was disgusting, and smelled of cat urine. It also has a lot of scary looking men there. So we decided to just go by ourselves on to Chuck E Cheese, and we had a great time there. I had coupons that I printed from online where you get 100 tokens for 10.00! That made the tokens 10 cents each. And all the rides/games at our Chuck E. Cheese only take one token! So she had a ball for around 3.00! We didn't eat there. We just went right after breakfast, then left and went some where else for lunch.

She rode the Chuck E. Cheese car that takes your picture (they've had that ride for a long time now) several times. The angle is so wide Vince and I got in some of the pictures with her! hahaha

We also had her picture sketched for 1 token.

They had a horse ride that was really cool, it's a big horse, and you have to use the reigns to steer it on the game in front of you! It's a race horse game. That was really neat. She also liked trying to catch bees game.

Her favorite game was Skee Ball, she about never wanted to stop! haha She will be playing it a lot I can tell. For 10 cents a token I think we will start taking her once a week. I like Mc Donald's still, but there is not a lot she can do there yet cause she is so short. There's a lot at Chuck E. Cheese she can do on her own. And since it is less then 3 dollars for her to have hours of fun. I think we can swing that once a week.

We took her back again on Saturday but there was just way too many people. Friday hardly any one was there and it was lovely. The manager was even cleaning all the games, inside and out! He would open each game and really clean it! I was very impressed by that. The one we went to on Saturday was also quite filthy. So the one on Friday was much much nicer. But, still it was such a mad house at the one we went to on Saturday I just said let's go and we went to Burger King next door, which was also quite dirty.

At Burger King we had their Apple Fries for the first time. They are over priced. But, good! The caramel sauce is GREAT! It's half the calories as Mc Donald's caramel sauce. But, also 1 1/2 times the price. Shame, shame Burger King for charging much more for the apples then fries. In fact to get them in the Kid's Meal at Burger King you have to pay 40 cents extra! Both Mc Donald's and Wendy's lets you have their fruit for free in the kids meals. So... Burger King really don't care if our kids are fat and sick! Oh well, at least they tasted good. haha

I've almost got my pillow cases done for the swap I'm part of.

Then I want to get some done for my sister, and step grandma. And a friend or two. Then I would love to do another swap!

I can't wait to move back to Kansas, so I can get together with some other sisters who stitch and we can maybe take the kids to the park and just sit and stitch and gab a bit!

My inlaws anniversary is upon us. But, we really don't have much money to get them anything this year. Last year I made them pillow cases, which they like but don't use. I wish they would use them. That's why I make them. We also got them silverware which they again never have taken out of the box. They are out of town this weekend, so Vince and I took it upon ourselves to stay at their house, found the silverware washed it, dried it and put it away! haha So now they will have to use it! Their old flatware is really in bad shape.

I think this year, what I have figured out we will do, is go buy some wood glue, I have felt at home. And put felt on each of their dining room chair legs. They don't slide well at all, and they have wood floors. So this will protect their floors and help the chairs slide better! So I think that's going to be our gift to them.

I also got some more bad news this week. Richard Simmons Sirius Radio show has been canceled. They can't afford his show any more. That was really really sad. He was helping a lot of people especially truckers, who desperately need his help. Considering so many are morbidly and even super obese. That was really sad. I listen to his show every week. He says he is considering going to internet radio stations, I sure hope he does! Truckers won't be able to listen like they could with Sirius but at least people can have his help again.

There's of course been much more this week. But, that's the basics of the week.

Pictures

We had quite the last few days!

We had Lela's two year old pictures taken at Babies R Us. It took us two days!

It started early on Saturday. So we would get to Babies R Us extra early we decided to eat breakfast out, and we went to Dunkin Donuts. I had the new Turkey Sausage Spinach Eggwhite flat bread sandwich. I LOVED it! I will definitely get it again.

We went to Babies R Us to get photos taken but then they were over crowded and couldn't fit us in till Sunday. So we went to Red Lobster and had lunch. After lunch I took Lela to look at the lobsters. She kept trying to jump high enough to get into the tank with them but couldn't. haha So finally she put her hand on her chin, and said, hmmmm........I know just what to do, Luluuuuuuuu?

I laughed so hard. She watches a cartoon that is Chinese, and when ever the main character needs to get something high up, she always says let's call Lulu! Cause Lulu is a pink rhino that has balloons tied on her that helps her float up high! lol haha

Vince laughed so hard he was doubled over crying! haha

Then yesterday we finally got her pictures taken. *sigh* I got stuck with the two people I dislike most that work there. They are not patient and want to push you through like cattle, even though we are spending like 400.00 there! And it makes me upset. The lady wouldn't wait for Lela to smile, and made me just go on. So out of about 20 picture only 2 are of her smiling. I begged the lady to just wait a minute and let me get Lela together. The poor baby is sick, and usually does better at picture taking time. But, she's been stuffy nosed and not feeling her usual self. Grrr. And Lela doesn't like this lady either. We've had her a few times and she really doesn't know how to relate to children at all. There's another lady that used to take her time and Lela loved her, but they fired her cause she wasn't fast enough! No she didn't rush people through like cattle, she waited for the children to get warmed up to her, and then she got WONDERFUL shots! UHG. I was there the day she was fired, they were yelling at her about how much time she was spending with us. And it makes me very upset, I think I will write the company!

Any way, then to pick out the pictures they put us with the guy who doesn't like his job (I've also had him in the past) He is just there to flirt with the teen girls. He doesn't really like to do all the photo editing, so he was lost in space, while I was trying to get what I wanted. And I had to repeat myself many times, cause of course I'm not cute and beautiful like the girls he kept leering at and always does when I am there.

So it was another all day experience. But, I do like a few of the pictures. :)

Then we went to Barnes and Nobles! I have known for a long time that Australia had more embroidery magazines then we do here in the USA. But, I never thought I would find one on a shelf here in the USA. But, yesterday surprise, surprise I found a GREAT one! I am so happy. I am going to go back to that Barnes and Nobles over the next few months and see if it's a magazine that I will continue to like, and if so I'm going to look into getting a subscription. The one issue I bought is GREAT!

So all in all it was a good weekend! And I'm glad we finally got some more photographs of Lela! :)

Mall Fun

More shopping today. Lela had a great time. She needed new pajamas as her current ones we bought last year, and are getting too small. I find that Steve and Barry's has the best baby and toddler pajamas. Very cute. Very very very extra soft. And very roomy. Also nice and long. I've never had to pay more then 8 dollars a pair. And today they were on sale for 6 dollars a pair! So we bought 4 pair. We also got her two overalls as they were also 6 dollars. One brown-tan pair, and one navy blue. I was so excited cause they had cuffed legs. Which meant, I could get the 2T size, which she will probably be able to wear for a year. They fit her just right now, when I put the shoulder straps on the tightest they would go and the cuffs rolled up the shortest they would go. Which was about 4 inches! So that means I am sure she will be able to wear them at least a year. Cause if she grows more then 6 inches this year, I will be in shock. (4 inches on the legs, and at least 2 inches on the shoulder straps). She hasn't really grown that much this past year. Maybe 2 to 4 inches. We will see soon as her doctors appointment is coming up.

Any way, I chose to go to the Steve and Barry's at the Broadway Mall, in Hicksville, Long Island. I chose it, because it has a GREAT toddler play land. It has a bunch of squishy toys all Lela's size. And a slide she could go down all day long if we let her. She went down it at least 50 times today.

Her favorite used to be the sail boat, cause it had a tiny incline and when she was tiny tiny it was enough for her to slide down herself with out any help. But of course now she's a "big" girl, so loves the big girl light house slide.

As always it was packed with lots and lots of children. Sometimes there is up to 40 children in there. Children of all ages, sizes, and color. Which is really nice.

It also has a nice little bench all the way around the perimeter for parents to sit and watch the children.

We let her play in the play area for about a hour and a half. Then it was time for lunch. She and Vincent had pizza, and garlic knots. Which she was very happy to have. Of course being a "big girl", she had to eat her pizza with a fork. haha She ate a lot of onions, her favorite!

After lunch, I let her play by the rides. It's great that at two she doesn't HAVE to have them move to have fun. So it was a lot of fun for absolutely free! hahaha She played at least thirty minutes on rides with out spending a dime.

I am so glad she doesn't mind, or even know better. Because the rides sure are getting expensive. One dollar per a ride. And they don't even last but a few seconds, literally. Another mom put in money for her child to ride, and I don't think it lasted 30 seconds. It was over before Lela was even able to get up on the rocket, and she had just gotten off the ride the other mother paid to have her child ride.

When I was little my mom would try to get the rides that had room for more then one child. And of course they only cost twenty five cents then. But at least that was split by at least three children also! Now a days they seem to on purpose make the rides one passenger only. At least here in NYC.

Any way, she sure did have fun riding them. Mainly pushing the buttons and using her own imagination. Which is just great I think.

She had great fun flying both the rocket and the space ship. She even knew what they were with out me telling her. And she told me, I'm flying mommy, I'm flying! I thought that was so cute. And I was shocked she knew what they were.

She formed a pretty close bond to ole Arthur here. She even had to give him a hug and a kiss good-bye before exiting off the school bus. haha Have a good day at school Arthur!

Next we headed over to another Steve and Barry's, as the first one didn't have all the clothes we needed. This time we headed to the one in Westbury, another town in Long Island. On the way I stopped in to the only Joann's, here in NYC to check if they had the newest Aunt Martha primitive pillow case hot iron transfers. But, they did not. And in fact their stock of all the patterns was really really low. I hope they don't stop selling them. They are the only place left in NYC that sells them now!

And then last but not least, we went to Babies R Us. We went to get some more of those soft fuzzy bibs that I like so well. While Vince was checking out, I noticed the newest Kiwi magazine, and it was so interesting I had to buy it. Which meant I had to get back in line. While I was in line, Lela designated herself the cashier at another cash register! Batteries any one?

Then when we got home, she said the funniest thing. My husband and I always watch Dr. Phil. However, we don't watch the re-runs, and he's only been having new shows the past 2 weeks. When we got home, we turned on Dr. Phil, and she said, Hi, Uncle Phil! And then just kept telling us, that was Uncle Phil! hahaha She must think Doctor means Uncle! hahaha

It's amazing how much they listen and watch our every move. It's a good thing we don't watch anything bad. I was a little shocked she picked up so quickly who he was. Especially since we don't even watch it every day. We've missed several in the past two weeks! She's only seen him a hand full of times, since last season! We better stay on our toes!

Best Mc Donald's Ever!

  

We took Lela to McDonald's today. We found a GREAT one. It was the best one I have ever went to. It was all decorated up, so very nicely. It was almost like going to Panera Bread, or Chipotle's or other upper scale fast food restaurant rather then McDonald's. It was quite surprising.

It had very nice comfy chairs, and booths. The chairs just perfect for sitting and embroidering, or any craft for that matter. I think there will be many winter days spent in one of these chairs while Lela is playing, and I am getting more embroidery work done. A good time can be had by both of us. The booths were also nice and rounded. I seen a lot of women in there, just reading and drinking coffee. I will have to try their coffee at least once this winter, as I hear it is really good. And they now offer sugar free flavored syrups for them. So I'll have to see what all the buzz is about.

There was even a fire place! I was quite surprised by the fire place. I hope they decide to turn it on this winter. I think it looks mighty cozy, cute, and neat. By the amount of women, I seen gathered in that area today, I can tell once winter comes and it's turned on, there will be women gathered there to read and drink their coffee next to the cozy fire. How unique for a Mc Donald's. That's one of the reasons I like Panera Bread, is the fire places. So that is really nice to have one there as well.

It also had three flat screen TV's. Lela liked watching the Cartoons on one of the TV's, while Vince and I enjoyed watching CNN on the other. Pretty unusual for a Mc Donald's that's for sure.

And this was the first Mc Donald's I have ever been to with dispensers for the sweet and sour sauce, and barbecue sauce for the Mc Chicken Nuggets. Sure for Ketchup and Mustard, but never for Sweet and Sour sauce, and Barbecue sauce. I rather liked being able to get my own. Rather then what ever the cashier deems we were allowed to have rationed to us for the day. Especially considering the fact many Mc Donald's here in New York are now charging 10 cents per a package for Mc Chicken Nugget sauces, ketchup and mustard!

The murals in the play land were beautiful! Wild animals and flying creatures of all kinds. Pandas, Panthers, Tigers, Parrots, Toucans. And just all kinds of creatures.

Trees, and waterfalls, beautiful landscape. I had never seen such beautiful paintings in any restaurant let alone Mc Donald's! It was like visiting the rain forest.

They also had beautiful paintings all through out the Mc Donald's. Above almost every table. They were on real canvas, and looked like oil paintings. Mainly of roses, and various flowers. Very vibrant oranges, and reds. They were just gorgeous. And it was VERY clean. The playland was spotless. I could tell they hose or pressure spray it down often. There was a lot of drains in there for just such a cleaning. And it was so spotless, I could tell they do this often. And most importantly there was not any spray painting from gang members in there, like at the Mc Donald's from last week. Which was so sad, that people are so insane today that they would even defame even little children's play grounds, for no good reason.

It is a little far from our home, but well worth going to, at least in my opinion. And I'm sure in Lela's too.

Lela had the same food as she did last week at the other Mc Donald's we went to in Brooklyn. She had the Chicken Mc nuggets, the apple dippers, that come with caramel sauce, even though she didn't eat the caramel sauce, which is a good thing, since it's probably not much better then the french fries, instead of french fries, and whole milk instead of the regular soda pop that used to come with happy meals. Again I am so glad they have made it a tad bit easier to select healthier choices for our children, and ourselves for that matter.

And she also received another cute toy, for children three years old and younger. It was not as cute as the other one that she got last week at the other Mc Donald's we went to. But I decided not to open it, and leave it in it's plastic, in case they get in a cuter one, that I can trade it in for, later.

A funny moment was when Lela went up to the Ronald Mc Donald statue that was sitting on a bench in the playground area and wanted to play with him. Meanwhile, when we took her to Sesame Place, and she wanted nothing to do with those big Sesame Street characters there! And started crying. The poor baby girl. And then we had to pay money to get pictures of her crying with the Big Sesame Place Characters. At least I was able to take this photo of her, happy, and didn't have to pay a dime for it!

There was also another little girl there that was 16 months old that had a lot of interest in Lela. But, Lela was too busy running to stop too much for her. But, the little girl was so very cute. She was also interested in me, once Lela began to go off on her own. She crawled up in a chair beside me and wanted to drink Lela's milk that Lela had lost interest in.

I think we will be going back to this one often, as the chairs are wonderful for me to sit in and embroider while Lela is playing her heart out. Of course I'll have to go in and play with her some too! But, the climbing in those things does a number on adult knees. At least there was plenty of other children there for her to play with, so she wouldn't mind at all if we just sat back and watched!

Lela had a ton of fun though, so I can tell we will go back again and again. Probably next week! I can't wait till next time, next Tuesday. The older she gets, the more fun life seems to be.

Woosh

Today it was windier then it has been in a very long time. So much so, I thought it was a rain storm, but it was just the wind hitting the windows. It's finally calmed down. At least we didn't get Ike! Those poor people in Texas are in devastation.

Lela has been extra cute lately. We finally got batteries put in her baby. It was calling Lela, mama last night, and Lela kept telling her, No, I Lela! Lela, was trying to teach her to say Lela, every time the doll would say Mama, Lela would say, Leeeeeeeelaaaaa, a little slower! When her doll wood cry, Lela would start crying too, and say mama helpa, mama helpa, she crying. And would run and get her bottle! However, she thought it was cute,when the doll would coo, and babble. She was all happy about that, and said, she's talking!

We're taking Lela to a Mc Donald's playland tomorrow. I hope we can find a better one then last weeks. I'll take my embroidery project and work on it a bit. And she will run her little heart out.

Recipes are done!

I'm finally done transferring over my recipe site! I can hardly believe it. I think last year I had it built up in my head as harder then it actually was. I just wish I would of dove in last year and did it! Oh well, at least it's done now. In the process I found my menu plans page again, and revived it. It's been fun adding new menu plans to it. I think I will put in a new menu plan every week now. That should be fun. I want to start to take pictures of my meals to post on there as well.

I was reading the archives on my blog, which a few days ago I thought I lost, and am so glad I didn't, now that I got to read them again.

I did not remember how depressed I was before losing weight. Boy was those some hard years. I can see such a difference in my happiness in my posts after I lost weight. Strictly from a health-physical and mental stand point, and nothing to do with looks, I am SOOOOOO happy I lost the weight and have kept it off. I can see how much mental health is effected from being over weight. It effects your physical health so much, how could it not effect your mental health? Boy am I glad those dark dark days are over. I have a lot more happy then sad days now. I noticed back then it seemed that I had more sad days then happy. And that is just sad to me now. But, also gives me insight on how others may be feeling. When I just want them to get happy! And they don't. I had forgotten what it was like. All I have to say is thank goodness for this blog and those archives. I wish I wouldn't have stopped blogging those two years that I did. Who knows what I have forgotten that would be useful. haha Oh well, I'm going to try to not give up on it this time!

Lela is visiting her grandparents today, and is spending the night. I miss her so much, she hasn't spent the night with them in months, and I just miss her terribly. I am sure she is having a ball though. She just loves them. Anytime we are even driving near their house, she recognizes their neighborhood now, and starts saying, Grandmaaaaaaaa, where are yoooooou? It's so cute. haha