Celebrating Independence Day

There's nothing like family summer fun on the 4th of July!  Even though mother nature threatened to rain on our parade, it turned out to be a picture perfect day.  Temperatures soared into the 90s across portions of New York, but we lucked out with highs in the 80s in our hood.  A nice cool breeze and warm sunshine meant we didn't have extreme conditions to have to contend with like most folks did in the city.  To celebrate Independence Day, we took Princess to her first parade!

She smiled with glee when we got there, but took a more serious approach when the parade got underway.  She really didn't know what the heck was going on.  So I had to give her a little lesson, as did grandma.  "It's America's birthday," I said.

One of the things she learned was the progression of fire fighting.  She found out from grandma that before there were fire trucks, there were horses and wagons used to assist in putting out fires back in the day.

She later had fun hangin' with grandma and blowing bubbles with cousin Katherine.

And what would July 4th be without a BBQ? Fun!!!  As it turned out, our grill was out of service.  But, I managed to whip up a tasty meal which our picky eater Princess tore up!

How did you celebrate the holiday?

Weather Anchor Mama

What's Princess Saying?

Princess loves this book. It's based on Bob Marley's song, One Love.

Father's Day at the Bronx Zoo

With summer just around the corner, I've been thinking of ways to enjoy some family fun.  Then I  thought, "Wouldn't it be great to do a Summer Family Fun series?"

Throughout the summer I'll be highlighting some exciting places.  My blog is about balancing career and motherhood (and a ton of other things).  It's always a challenge to squeeze in some quality time with my hubby and Princess.  For Father's Day weekend I wanted to do something that we've never done before.  So, we visited The Bronx Zoo!

I can't remember the last time I visited the zoo.  It might have been in elementary school.  Now that we have  Princess, I wanna to do things that combine learning with lots of fun.  Kicking off our Summer Family Fun series at the Bronx Zoo was perfect! (even though summer officially arrives on Wednesday)

Princess is a huge fan of shows like Dora the Explorer and Diego.  She loves learning about different animals.  When we got there, she kept saying "tiger."  We made a b-line for the tiger exhibit.

We also stopped by to check out the bear, deer, and giraffe exhibits to name a few.  But, our favorite was the Dora and Diego 4-DAdventure.  It combined a high-definition 3-D film with wind, mist, scents and dramatic lighting effects to make you feel like you're apart of the journey.

What a long day!  Not only did we have a blast, we also got in a pretty good workout.  I think we walked a few miles around the zoo.  Princess was so pooped-she didn't even make it through dinner.

Stay tuned for part two of our Summer Family Fun series!

How did you spend Father's Day?

Weather Anchor Mama

Vegas Without Princess

I thought this day would never come!  After months of preparation, my hubby and I were able to head to Vegas without Princess.  I knew it would be tough.  I went through so many emotions leading up to our departure.  I was super happy to be finally getting away.  There was a lot going on with work, and I felt like it was time for a break.  But, I was also feeling guilt, anxiety, and sadness.  All these emotions running through me made leaving so difficult.

As I mentioned in my Getaway Dilemma post, I had to put a plan into motion before our trip to make transitioning easier.  It included:


1.  Rather than spend half the night in her bed, I'll work my way back into mine full time. 
Working my way back into my own bed full time didn't quite work out the way I thought it would. Every time I'd get up to leave, Princess would wrap her arms around my neck. She'd do this in her sleep!

2.  She'll be spending more time at Grandma's house on the weekends.

Grandma usually picks her up from daycare everyday.  Spending more time with her on the weekends made things a lot easier.  

3.  Princess has never spent the night anywhere else, but it's time to give that a try too.  I'll also have her spend a few nights at Grandma's.

The hubs and I got some baby free time.  I'd pack her overnight bag and send her off to grandmas for the night.  She cried nonstop the first time, but eventually got over it.

4.  We'll have all of her favorite snacks, toys, and other essentials handy.  It's not exactly the same as our home, but it'll be close enough.

Princess had all her toys handy at Grandma's.  But, being able to watch her shows was a saving grace.  Thanks goodness for Nick Jr.

5.  She's been doing ok with regular milk.  Even though it won't be the same as laying next to mommy, I'll pump a few bottles in case of an emergency. 

Princess has always been a bit fickled when it comes to drinking regular milk.  I went back to pumping temporarily.  Having an emergency stash of breast milk would be key in getting Princess to sleep through the night.

6.  Face time!  Since we won't be there in the flesh, at least we can't see and chat via phone!

We took advantage of facetime during her overnight trips at grandma.  Princess had a tough time being away from mommy and daddy in the beginning.  But, we got through it with the help of our iphones.

As you can tell, I had all my ducks in a row.  I was super organized and prepared.  But, I wasn't prepared for how I'd feel.  I took an extra day off to pack and spend a little more time with Princess.  I explained to her that she'll be spending some time with grandma and auntie, as I'd always done for her weekend visits.  That's when I started feeling sad.  It was Mothers Day weekend and I'd be spending it without my baby.  I thought I was about to lose it, but I kept my composure.  My hubby kept saying she'll be fine.  I knew she'll be fine.  I was just having a little separation anxiety.  Spending the night away from her was a breeze.  It was just hard to imagine being away from her for four days and three nights.  


My mom also kept assuring me that Princess would be in good hands.  "I know she'll be be in good hands," I'd say.  For the record, it's not that I was worried about her safety.  I knew that my baby girl would be ok.  You have to understand that I haven't never been away from her for so long.  

We got everything packed, loaded, and we were off to our adventure.  Princess was safely at Grandma's and we were on our way to Sin City.  It was a pretty long flight and the time change made it feel even longer.  But, it was worth it.  This place more than exceed our expectations.  

By the time we'd gotten there, I'd gotten over my anxiety about leaving Princess behind.  The feeling briefly came back once I saw kids of all ages there.  My hubby quickly put things into perspective when he asked, 
"Would we have been able to see this show with her?"


He was right.  There was  no way we would have been able to hit up the casinos, and see the shows.  The time change alone would have been crazy.  We knew we made the right decision.  I saw so many tots around her age, and wondered how in the world the parents were able to fully enjoy Vegas with littles one around.  Being the inquisitive person I am, I asked.  


As I was getting ready to leave the spa, I saw a young lady scheduling an appointment.  She had her one year old son in tow.  I didn't want to just blurt out the question, so I started out by complimenting how adorable he was to break the ice.  Then I asked,


"How has your stay been so far?" I asked.
"Fine," she said.
"How are you able to enjoy Vegas with a baby?" I asked
When she didn't respond right away I added, "We have a one year old too, and thought of taking her.  But, we weren't sure if Vegas was kid friendly place."
The then she replied, "My mom is here with us.  So, she stays with him while we go out."


Talking to this lady confirmed once again that we made the right decision.  I would feel bad having my mom stay in the hotel with Princess.  I think it is possible to bring kids along.  But, you'd have to taylor your trip to make it a bit more kid friendly.  Even though there were some things I know Princess would enjoy, I still felt she was way too young to bring on this trip.  In the end, my hubby and I were able to enjoy some much needed alone time.  Princess has always been a ball of fun, and full of energy.  But, this wasn't the place for her.


We checked in with my mom every day to make sure every thing was ok.  Princess got a chance to hang out with Grandma, Aunt Tiff, Auntie Sophia, Uncle Steve, and her cousins.  I could tell she had a blast.  


This turned out to be the best Mothers Day ever, even though I spent it without her.  We made up for it, when we got back.


Have you ever went on vacation without your kids?


Weather Anchor Mama

Nas Delivers a Strong Message to Dads

The other day my husband sends me an email with a link to Nas’ new single, Daughter’s.  He later follows up with this text:  “I can’t stop thinking about this song.  You gotta listen to it.”

As parents, we like to think that our kids can do no wrong.  If and when they do, we often ask ourselves “where did I go wrong?”  In Nas’ new single, Daughter’s, he admits to being a bad parent.

In the track Nas talks about poor choices his 17 year-old daughter, Destiny, makes.  He also mentions her promiscuity in his lyrics,

“she planted a box of condoms on her dresser then she instagrammed it

  at this point I realized I ain’t the strictest parent.  I’m too loose, I’m too

  cool with her.”

Nas and a young Destiny, courtesy of sohh.com

After hearing this song, I am left thinking of my own style of parenting.  I am told by some that I am a strict.  But, I don't care.  I wouldn't want Princess to go down the wrong path when she gets older.   My hubby and I will do our best to prevent that from happening.  But, the reality is that parenting isn’t easy.  I'm sure there will be tough times.  We all know that kids don’t come with manuals.    But, we do the best we can.  In Nas' case, he became a father at a young age.  While he admits to making wrong choices in life, he doesn't want other men to make the same mistakes.

A girl’s father is the first male figure in her life, which sets the tone for the other men who come into her life.  Women often end up with guys who are like their dads.  If there’s no positive male influence in her life, she could end up looking for love in all the wrong places.  I wouldn’t want the same for my daughter.  Some people say you can’t plan to have kids, but I beg to differ.  A situation like Nas and Destiny is one that I’ve always tried so hard to avoid.  I’m grateful that I have a wonderful husband, who’s also a great father.  Unfortunately, some females are so lucky. 

Some may feel that Nas’ is putting is entire family on blast.  But, I don’t see it that way at all.  I give props to him for admitting fault.  He’s speaking out to all men to be positive role models in the daughter’s lives.  It’s obviously made an impact on my husband.  

Having a great father-daughter relationship will likely lead to girls making better decisions in life.  I’ve seen too many go down the wrong path because of the lack of a positive male figure in their lives.  I almost became one of those girls.  But, I’ll tell that story at a later time.  The message I wish to deliver right now in this post is one to my daughter.

To my baby girl:

You have a great daddy, who loves you and will always be there for you.

I also hope that men listen to this song, and feel inspired to make better decision for the sake of their daughters.

Check out Nas' single Daughters here.  Would love to know your thoughts.

Weather Anchor Mama

Surprise Visit

All the parents were invited for snack time at daycare.  I was feeling bummed that I couldn't visit Princess for milk and cookies.  Her daddy had the day off from work, and surprised her.  As you can tell by the photo, she was super excited to see her daddy.  He made both our days!

Weather Anchor Mama

Hot Date With the Knicks

My hubby is great at getting me romantic gifts.  From spa retreats to broadway plays, he knows exactly what I'm into.  But when it comes to returning the favor, I'm usually at a loss.  He never asks for anything.  He doesn't even drop hints!  Since his eyes are always glued to sports, I figured why not get him something he loves for his birthday--Knicks tickets!

After having my master plan almost falling through, I was finally able to pull this night off.  It was mad work.  I arranged for Princess to spend the night with Grandma and Auntie Sophia.

We cut it close, but we were able to make it in time for tip off.

Not your usual snack for a game.  But, we had no time for dinner and I was starving.  He had burger and fries and I had sushi with edamame.

Despite some key players being placed on the injured list, the Knicks did pretty well.  They weren't the only ones who scored big that night.

It's not easy to get my hubby excited.  But, he was over the moon at his birthday present.  He said I did good.  Who knew you can romance a guy by taking him to a sporting event?

What does your significant other consider romantic?


Weather Anchor Mama

Quality Time

Lately I've been feeling torn between being a mom and career woman.  I even asked my hubby the other day. "What if I become a stay at home mom?"  He shot me the 'you must be crazy look.'  It would be kinda nice to spend everyday with Princess.  But, staying home would mean putting the idea of buying our second home on the back burner.  Much props to SAHMs!

Sometimes I wish I could quit my weather gig.  But let's face it, I enjoy what I do too much.  I love my job and I love being a mom.  I guess you can say I like to have my cake and eat it too.  There would other factors to consider if we were to even entertain the idea of me staying home.  How would it affect our finances?  Plus, how would pulling Princess out of the daycare she loves so much affect her?  It's like pulling her our of school.  Rather than make drastic changes to our schedule, I'd rather take time off from work whenever possible.  So, I did just that!

Even though I stayed home, I still took Princess to daycare so that I could get some studying done.  My hubby ditched work early and we were able hit up one of our favorite spots for lunch--something we rarely get to do alone.  The day went by so quickly. Before we knew it, it was time to pick Princess up.

We enjoyed some family time, and I got to put my baby to bed.  Before she hit the sack, Princess insisted on reading her new story time books she got from Auntie Sophia.

Fun times!  As you can see, she had a hard to putting the books away.

I love spending quality time with my baby girl.

Weather Anchor Mama

Indoor Family Fun

I've been known to hibernate during the winter months.  There's nothing like spending time with family.  My hubby and I had the day off from work, and we decided to make it an indoor family fun day!

I finally had the chance to put together the learning home that Princess's grandma brought her for Christmas.  She had a lot of fun getting the mail, unlocking the door, and crawling though the doorway with daddy's help.

I haven't been able to take some fun outdoor pics in a while, but these indoor shots are pretty cool.

Happy New Year!

For me, 2012 is about moving forward.  These past few years brought a lot of sadness and joy.  We've had to deal with the loss of family members.  My hubby and I welcomed a new addition to our family.  After spending almost a year being unemployed, he and I are finally in the process of getting our financial plans back on track.  In 2012 I plan to give myself a kick in the butt (figuratively speaking of course).  

I'll be back to my penny pinching days because we're saving for a new home!  I know it'll be awhile before we move.  In the meantime, we'll be scaling back on dining out and other frivolous spending.  Don't get me wrong, we deserve a treat on special occasions.  But for the most part, I'll be putting my culinary skills to good use.

My hubby was granted a transfer, and now works closer to home.  I'm also quite satisfied with my job situation, and look forward to making some career strides in the new year.  I look forward to many more milestones with Princess as well.  Jeez, it's so hard to imagine her being a two year old!   Her birthday will be here before ya know it!

I plan to continue blogging.  It's become a hobby of mine and from what I hear and read, you guys enjoy it too.  Photography is another thing I've picked up a long the way.  I want to take some classes to make my photos pop.  I'm not that crafty, but I am a great cook!  So, I'll be posting more recipes in 2012.

There's a lot more things I plan to accomplish this year.  I've got a lot more things up my sleeve.  I'll be sure to reveal a bit more when the time comes.

I hope you have a prosperous and healthy new year!  What are your plans for 2012?

Weather Anchor Mama

Debating What to Do About Santa

It seems like the holidays came so fast this year.  Every where I turn I see Christmas lights!  I think that retailers skipped over Thanksgiving decorations and went right to the Christmas displays.  Technically, this will be Princess's second Christmas.  Last year she was only a few months old and didn't really get to enjoy it.  All she wanted to do was eat through the gifts.  She was also sick with bronchiolitis during the holidays.  So, I wasn't thinking about going all out with decorations and pictures.  I'm not a Scrooge!  I was just more concerned with nursing my baby girl back to health.

Now that she's doing much better this year (fingers crossed), I have no excuse.  I came across this pic of my hubby's first Christmas.  His mom dressed him in this cute outfit for his photo with Santa.  

It got me thinking of whether or not I should do the same for Princess.  I was never taught to believe in Santa.  In fact, my siblings and I were told there was no such thing.  I was the kid who went around school saying Santa was fake.  I should also mention that by the time my family and I migrated to this country, I think most kids had already realized the truth.  Therefore, I probably didn't ruined Christmas for a lot of kids.  I hope.  

Now that I'm a mom, I'm not quite sure what to do.  I've always moved to the beat of my own drum.  I've never been the kind of person to do things just because everyone else is doing them.  But, I grapple with depriving my baby girl of this American tradition.  Some may say I'm over thinking this, but I say I don't want my daughter feeling left out.  I also wouldn't want her running around saying Santa is fake, and ruin Christmas for her schoolmates.  

I was at the mall with some relatives over the Thanksgiving break and someone mentioned, "Why don't you have her take a picture with Santa?"  I can't remember if I gave a response.  But, I did feel that it was a waste of time.  Why should I have her take a photo with this make believe person?  Why should I tell my child that this white old fat guy with a beard visits all the kids who are nice, and gives them presents?  I remember having a discussion with my brother and sister back in the day.  We questioned the idea of this guy, and his reindeer being able to deliver gifts all over the world in one night.  It just didn't make sense!  I still see some parents go all out to feed this nonsense to their little ones.  These poor kids actually believe it.  They wait on this long line at the mall just to take a pic with him.  When they finally get old enough to understand the truth, they're heart broken.  Do I put my child through that same heartache, or do I keep it real with her?  It's bad enough that I feel like a hypocrite doing a Santa tracking forecast every year at work.

The way I see it, her daddy and I work hard to support our family.  We're responsible for all the gifts, along with all the people who love her.  Why should I give this man, who doesn't exist, all the credit?

If I have her take a pic with this guy, I feel like I'd be perpetuating this fakery.  I'm kinda torn.  I knew that I'd have a tough time making these kinds of decisions, when it came to the holidays.  I certainly don't mind compromising like I did for Halloween.  But, I'm just not sure about this one.

My hubby and I celebrated Christmas differently as kids.  He believed in Santa until he was about seven or eight.  I never did.  I'm leaning more toward teaching Princess about the real meaning of Christmas and how it came about.  Instead of making a list, I want her to have an appreciation for all the gifts she's given.  My hubby and I have a lot to discuss.  Let's just hope we can arrive at a nice balance.  I'll let you know what we come up with.

Do (did) your kids believe in Santa?  Do (did) they take pics on his lap?

Weather Anchor Mama

Ode to Hubby; Just Because

It ain't Christmas, it ain't Valentines Day, and this ain't a birthday or any other holiday poem.  I'm writing this just because.

My hubby and I have been together for over ten years.  I don't usually write about him because he's a VERY private person.  He doesn't like when I mention him in my blog or post his pic.  His reaction is usually something like, "don't post that!" "Don't tell me this is for another one of your blog post!"  He'll give me a hard time when I stop to take pics of Princess, but will later turn around and say, "can you email me that pic without the watermark?"  I laugh hysterically and joke around with him saying something like, "I thought you didn't want me taking pics for the blog.  Now you're begging me to send them to you? hehe"  I make fun of him because  I know deep down he loves that I have this blog.  He just likes to put up a front.  He's the first to say, "Hey, that was a nice post."  He's also a great copy editor.  Sometimes he'll even point out my typos.

With all that said, I'm so lucky to have him in my life.  He's supportive.  He's a great hubby, and the best dad Princess could ever have.  I definitely lucked out big time because he was the one that almost got away.

Ladies, you know what I mean.  Most women don't go for the nice guys.  We want the ones who are a little rough around the edges.  I was one of those girls growing up.

My hubby came into my life unexpectedly.  Even though he was the complete opposite from my usual type, I knew he was perfect for me right off the bat.  But, it was difficult for me to pursue a relationship with this very handsome, nice young man.  Being the bold person I was (and still am) I asked him out to dinner anyway.  We had a great time and when the bill came, he insisted on paying.  We fought over it, but he ultimately won.  It took a while, but he eventually won my heart too.

People always ask what keeps our relationship going so strong.  "It's not easy," I always say.  We met when we were kids.  We were full time college students and part time telemarketers at a bank.  We were young and inexperienced.  We became the best of friends before we were lovers.  I can't lie, I can be a handful and he can be too.  But we make sure we talk things through.  From time to time we also do nice things for each other.  It could be something as simple as me making his favorite meal or him running out to the store just to get me some eggo waffles.  Diamonds are cool.  But it's the simple things like coming home to a clean house, and seeing how great he is with our daughter that I find romantic.

I often say he's the one that almost got away because I felt that I didn't deserve him.  It took a while, but I finally realized he was the one for me.  I'm glad that I never let him go.  We've been married for seven years and we have a beautiful daughter.  I couldn't be happier.  I have a man who supports me in all my endeavors.  He has my back no matter what, and I'll forever be his ride or die chick.

This ain't another Christmas, Valentine's Day, anniversary, or any other kind of sappy special occasion love letter.  I just wanted to write this post just because I love my hubby.

How often do you tell your significant other you love him or her?  Do you only exchange gifts on holidays or do you randomly give something "just because?"

Weather Anchor Mama

First Trip Grocery Shopping

Have you ever taken your little one grocery shopping?  I thought I never would.  But, I finally gave in.  The plan was to spend no more than a half hour because you know how kids can be.  They go nuts if they're in the same place for too long.  I made sure Princess was changed and fed before we left.  I didn't want any surprises.  I packed her diaper bag with all the baby essentials, just in case.  You may be thinking I'm being a bit over the top, but with Princess you can never be.  I made sure to keep a stash of goodies along with her pacifier, baby wipes, and water just to name a few.

My hubby was totally against making this a family affair.  So I wanted to show him it can be done, if planned properly.  When I told him to pack the stroller, he gave me the "woman you're crazy look."  Most people don't put their toddlers in a stroller at the supermarket.  They have them sit in the shopping cart.

For those of you who don't know, I am a germafobe.  I'm the nut-job who likes to disinfect her work space everyday.  I have to thoroughly wash my hands at least fifty million times a day, and the same goes for my daughter.  The minute she gets home I hose her down!  Ok not literally, but I do like to make sure she's clean.  I'm not that obsessed all the time though.  You've seen some of her messy eating pics.  I believe in letting kids be kids, and that means getting a little dirty now and then.

But when it comes to those shopping carts, I can't get salmonella out of my head.  Think of all the germs on those things!  So, I decided to bring her stroller.

Once we got there, it didn't take long for her to grab for everything in sight.  It wasn't so bad at first.  We'd just give her something from one of the aisles to keep her busy.  But, that didn't last.  She completely lost it after a while.  I don't know if having one of those shopping cart covers would have helped because she wanted all the items in the shopping cart too.  I even tried the emergency stash in her diaper bag no avail.

It turns out our trip lasted a little over an hour, which was well past the thirty minute goal.

Her screams got so loud that I had to take her out of the stroller.  When that didn't work, I told my hubby to meet us in the car. I guess he was right after all.  This may be the last trip to the grocery store for a while.

When did you begin taking your little one grocery shopping?  How was it?

Weather Anchor Mama

Unveiling Your Roots

I always knew that I wanted to have a child someday.  I am so grateful that God has given me that gift.  But with this gift comes great responsibilities.  As a mom, it's my job to teach Princess about so many things like morals and values.  Most importantly, it's my duty to teach her about her heritage.  The passing of her paternal grandfather this year triggered something within me to want to learn as much as I can, not just about my family, but my husband's as well.  I know that my baby girl will appreciate it one day.

He was a healthy man in his early seventies and no one saw it coming.  The death of my father-in-law happen so suddenly that it threw everyone for loop.  All I kept thinking about was that he'd only met his youngest grandaughter once.  I had wish there was more time.  Unfortunately, tragedy can strike at any point.  My daughter was (and still is) way too young to understand.  So her father and I made a decision to keep her in daycare, while we attended the services.

When it comes to funerals, I'm never quite comfortable.  But for some reason, this one was different.  After meeting some of my husbands relatives for the first time, I felt motivated to learn about the family's heritage.  I always knew of his Irish and German background, but who would have thought there was so much more to discover?  It will take me forever to write everything down.  So I won't bore you with every nook and cranny.

My cousin-in-laws have been documenting their relatives through ancetry.com.  I learned that my great great father-in-law moved to the U.S. from Germany and changed his last time, after becoming estranged from his family.  He later started his own clan in New York, and a few generations later my hubby came into the world.

One day Princess will learn all about her many greats including her grandfather who was an avid bowler and managed a local bowling alley.

With the help of my mother-in-law, I've been able to collect pictures of Princess's ancestors.

It's one of the best presents I can ever give her.  The gift of knowing her heritage.  It's not to - in any way - discount my side of the family.  It's a lot more difficult to trace that far back into my roots.  But I make it a point to involve my immediate family as much as possible.  Most of  my relatives still reside out of state, and abroad.  So having a blog helps them stay in touch with what's going on in our lives.  I also collect pictures and other documents that she will later be able to have.  Princess will one day learn about her mama's migration to the U.S. from Jamaica as well as her daddy's life in America.

 She'll also learn all about her grandparents' wedding day, as well as the home grandma and daddy grew up.  Some day she may even get to visit my mom's childhood home in Jamaica.

Right now Princess has a close relationship with both of her grandmothers.

I hope that by learning about her forefathers, my baby girl will appreciate her diverse culture.  She's also develop an understanding of the many different ethnicities that exist in the world we live in.  I think having a global perspective is key to knowing her personal identity.  We still have so much more to uncover in our journey to unveil our roots.  I hope your encouraged to unveil your own.  Your kids will thank you for it.

You can also view this post at De Su Mama!

Weather Anchor Mama