As we get closer

As we get closer to the 10 year anniversary of September 11, 2001 more people are talking about that day and the feelings we had of the attack are brought back to everyone's mind.

On that morning, many said goodbye to their loved ones thinking they would see them later that day, or perhaps did not even have a chance to see them, only to lose them unexpectedly.

I know on face book many have posted about the first responders not being invited to the ceremony for the 10th anniversary.

While it's easy to get upset that the Public Relations person did not handle the situation well with stating that there not being enough room for the first responders to attend the 10th anniversary memorial. We have to keep in mind, close to 3000 people lost their lives that day in 2001, and their family members are asked to represent those individuals on the 10th anniversary to honor them and their memories.

It is not a jab at those first responders, who helped so many people in need then and on a daily basis, it is simply a fact that 3000 individual's family members account for quite a bit of people. Some of which were first responders, men and women who died helping others. Their families need this just as much as the others, a gesture that America has not forgotten these awful attacks or the people who died that day.


Coping with a loved one's death is one of the hardest things to endure, but for such a brutal attack it's even harder for our minds to comprehend.

There has been a gaping hole in lower Manhattan as well in many people's hearts.

The memorial fountains are helping to fill it, to show that we have not forgotten but we are continuing on with our lives united together as a nation.

Being new to the area, and seeing the progress of both the fountains and the One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower) it is a daily reminder of what happened to these families, and to us as a nation.

On the 10th anniversary, the Trade Center Memorial Fountains are meant to represent respect, honor, and our freedom as a country.



(From Madeline and I's walk)

Just appreciate each day you have with your loved ones, it is a blessing in itself.

One week to go

Since Courtney's trip got postponed, thanks to Irene... My countdown increased for her visit BUT my parents are coming in about a week!!!!

I hope they are ready for the Big Apple again!

We are also heading to Six Flags, which will hold us over on our Disney withdrawals.

I need to make a list of places to take them.

Mason also starts school in one week. We visited the school yesterday to register him.
I have a first grader! I am so excited for what this school year will bring for him.
He is getting so big, I swear he has shot up again.
Aside from being my toothless wonder, he is smart and hardworking.
My prediction (as of now) when he grows up he is going to be lawyer.

Hurricane Irene

Who would of thought after to moving to New Jersey we would experience an earthquake and hurricane in the same week?

Being from Florida, we at least knew how to prepare for a hurricane and to do it before everyone ransacked the shelves.

We were going back and forth on whether to evacuate or not.

We never were given an mandatory evacuation but Battery Park (which is directly across from us) was given one.

Since we are in a brick row house, on the second floor apartment (which is really 1 1/2 stories up), we thought really we'd only be effected by power outage and if worst came to worst some breaking windows.

We decided to stay and moved the cars into a high garage that was mostly enclosed.

We never lost power and thank our lucky stars it didn't flood in our immediate area.

We had a lot of time for family board games, which also included roulette because that's how our family rolls.

We also watched quite a bit of the weather channel, which we saw all of the devastation from North Carolina and up, so while we lucked out I hope all those affected by the storm get back on their feet quickly.

It was surreal to watch Belmar Beach get ransacked because that is one of the first NJ beach's we experienced when we moved up.

Stay safe everyone!

Great things are happening

This weekend we had back to back BBQ's. The kids loved all the pool and play time with other kids. I can tell up here, the last few weekends of summer are CHERISHED. We headed down to Pennsylvania for our BBQ on Sunday, so of course we had to swing by Matt's old stomping grounds.One stop was Tyler State Park in Newtown, Pa.

6 day countdown until my absolute best friend Courtney arrives here for a visit!

16 days until Mason starts first grade.

18 days until my parents arrive.

We also booked our flight to Florida for Thanksgiving.

89 days until we leave for Florida.

So yes, get ready for a visit from the NJ Linders!


With all that excitement aside, we are prepping for back to school.
Most of our Florida friends are going back this week, but we are still getting our ducks in a row.

We have to buy supplies, and uniforms but we got the most important necessities already..... Phineas and Ferb lunch box and undies.
Watch out, we have Perry the platypus going to school with Mason!

Another Weekend

It's almost the weekend!
What are your plans for the weekend?

I hope we are doing something outside, it's just so beautiful lately.
I must confess the weather the past few days has been messing with my mind.
Don't get me wrong I LOVE it but it being 68 degrees, while the sun is out, in August is unheard of for this Florida girl.

It is supposed to be 100+ and 100% humidity.
After 26 years, it becomes ingrained that August is one of the hottest months.
I guess I should cherish it because come winter all my Florida friends and family are going to be laughing at me.

Library Magic

I know I know, when in college you think of the library as a place for quiet, a place for research, and a place that has no parties.

As I get older, I realize that the library is pretty awesome.

Why is it so awesome? I mean the use of free books, how can you go wrong? Well as a mom of two, I rarely get to look at the books I want to but that's ok I found out a way to work around that.

When living in Orange county (Orlando area) I discovered that the library there will actually mail you the books you select. Yes books in the mail! I just made a list, and to my house they came.

Just wait, it got even better. When I bought my nook, I found that you could check out e-books from their website and upload them to the nook. Yes they have e-books to check out!

You don't have to have a nook, kindle or i-Pad to read these e-books, you can download them to your computer and use certain programs to read.

Even better, you can download them to your i-Phone to read.

Along with my own reading pleasure, my children love outings to the library.
They get to look through all the books, pick out their favorites to take home and on certain days there is a special story time (at each branch so if you want to hop around throughout the week.)

The library is great free fun, who knew?! Only kidding but I am glad that I finally came round to use all the perks it has to offer.

We haven't borrowed DVDS or Cds from the library but that is also another bonus of visiting your library.

So look at your local library's website, visit your local branch, and the most important thing... make sure you get your very own library card!

I know this post will make my mom very happy, as it would most mothers, but especially mine since she went to school and got her degree in Master of Science Library and Information Science.

Museums on Us

Are you a Bank of America card holder?
Either Debit or Credit Card?
Well then you are in luck! Every first whole weekend (meaning having both a Saturday and Sunday) you can go to select museums for free just by showing your Bank of America card and license.
Museums on Us is a great way to explore new places but being able to stay on budget.

So far we have visited the Bronx Zoo and Liberty Science Center and both have been spectacular!

We still hope to get to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Aquarium, Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum, and the list goes on.

This weekend is one of those "special" weekends, so which museum will we go to?!

Check out which museums are in your area that are on the list!

Maine on my mind

We went to Maine two weekends ago. Boy was that a car ride! I must say after visiting, even for the short amount we were there, I want to go back! It was absolutely beautiful. Seeing that much of New England was a treat, we went from NJ, NY, Conn, RI, Mass, NH, and ME.

I hope that while we are living here, we get to go back to all of these states and enjoy some time in each.

My brother in law Scott, showed us all around Providence, RI and then Portland, Me.
He also took us to this awesome restaurant, The Lobster Shack at Two Lights
It was an absolutely surreal place, with perfect timing. We got there as the sun was setting, and it just had an amazingly peaceful atmosphere (even with my kids running around like loons!)

Seamless( Web) Ordering

Ok so I gave into ordering delivery for lunch yesterday. We were all so tired that I thought why not? I used Seamless and I must say that could easily become a crutch on nights where cooking just might not happen. So what is Seamless (formerly SeamlessWeb ?) A site where you put in your address and it shows you all the restaurants who will deliver to you, along with their menus, prices, delivery minimums and easy as that you can see what kind of food you are in the mood for and order! I also had a promotion code for $5 off.

There is also a app for your phone, so you can order on the go!

The High Line

So our original destination last Sunday was The High Line but due to some path (train from NJ to NYC) closures we took a different train. It altered our route but I am grateful it did because we got to discover all those other great areas on the water.


The High Line blew any expectation I had out the window. It went above and beyond of what I imagined.


What is The High Line? It is a park, raised up in the air. It used to be a train track that was raised off the streets of Manhattan to get dangerous freight trains out of the way. Now it has been converted to a great public park.

What makes it cool?
For starters you have to take stairs or an elevator to get there! Why is that cool you say? Because once you are up there you feel like you are in between the buildings. You don't have to wait for crosswalks, watch out for cars and because of that you can relax and have a good time!

It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues.

What I assumed was we'd get up there, check it out, play around a bit and be ready to go.
What we found was, that since all the areas are all different you wanted to keep walking to see what was next.


I think my absolute favorite area was where there is a little wading area/water feature with chaise lounge chairs (on the train tracks.)


They made viewing areas, where you can sit and watch the cars and people below.
All the plants are gorgeous, but also have a natural feel not overly orderly.


There is a green lawn to layout or run around on. If you work up an appetite there are food carts which include popsicles and gelato of course.

To make this experience even more incredible, when we finished at 30th street we came across The Lot (on Tap). It was a lot, just like the obvious states but it had tables and food trucks along with a outdoor bar.

So to finish off my amazing day, we ate from the Taco Truck and the kids had ice cream.


How can we go wrong with all these awesome parks?! Now just to figure out indoor stuff for the winter.... LOL

Hudson River Park

So last Sunday, yes the same Sunday we went to the Irish Hunger Memorial, Rockefeller Playground and the sculpture garden.... we also found Hudson River Park. It's not very hard to find, since it goes from Battery Park all the way to 59th all along the Hudson River. There are different portions and we did get to look at quite a few.

Some that stand out in my mind.
At Pier 25 there is a playground, splash area, minature golf, beach volleyball and an astro turf field.Before we had reached Pier 25 we had passed basketball courts, a skate park, a cute little outdoor cafe, and of course food carts and trucks!

After pier 25 we came across more path ways with cool plants and pretty flowers, before pier 34 another basketball court, tennis court, dog runs, kayaking(pier 40), and the list goes on.

Needless to say we found even more things to add to our to do list!
Explore Hudson River Park!

Fun Sculptures

On our adventure last Sunday we ended up at a sculpture park, called The Real World by Tom Otterness.

It was a place that the kids loved looking at all the different sculptures and figure out what they were doing.

Oversized pennies, miniature people carrying bigger people, dogs leashed to the water fountain, a crooked house full of pennies and the list goes on.

From my family point of view, it was definitely a fun place to have a picnic or just enjoy an ice cream!
Check this out
It's located in the Nelson A. Rockefeller Park.

Another Site to see

Sunday we found so many cool places that I wanted to mention them individually all this week.

After the Irish Hunger Memorial we came across this huge playground and come to find out even bigger park!


Nelson A. Rockefeller Jr. Park Playground is located in Battery Park


The playground met many of mom requirements...
It was fenced in all the way around
It was shaded
It had age appropriate play items for a variety of kids
It felt fairly safe, some playgrounds I feel I have to hover to make sure they don't fall.
Added bonus was they had a water area
and a lawn to go out and play in as well.
Maddie is always a fan of the sand.
Mason enjoying the climbing structures.

This website shows some great photos of the park.

We are definitely planning to go back soon, it is really easy for us to get to Battery Park from where we live in Jersey City.

Sites to see

Yesterday we went on quite an adventure!

Our first stop was to the Irish Hunger Memorial.

I had heard of the Irish Hunger Memorial but once we stumbled upon it I could not believe my eyes.

I guess in my head I had pictured a statue, some sort of memorial explaining the famine and about the Irish who came to America because of it.

Instead we saw an amazing park/structure that was fascinating, serene, and somewhere I'd want to come back to visit.

We first saw a park like structure, then when we went around to find the entrance we saw that the park was elevated into the air.
(Borrowed the first image since I forgot to take any of the outside)

We found the entrance through a tunnel with phrases and sayings about the Irish Famine and other famines.

After the tunnel we entered into what looked like to be a cottage without a roof, then a path led us up through beautiful native Irish plants and stones with the counties on them. Once at the top, you have a beautiful view of the river and Jersey City or you can look down into Battery Park.

Check out this video, and if in NYC check out the Irish Hunger Memorial


Irish Hunger Memorial is located at Vesey St /N End Ave New York, NY 10282 (in Battery Park)

You can take the girl out of Florida....

You can take the girl out of Florida but you can't take the beach away from the girl!
Sand? Check!
Water? Check!
The waves crashing? Check!

So the New Jersey beach (we went to Bradley Beach today, but have checked out Belmar Beach close by as well) passed the necessary standards of a fun time at the beach.

We ate at a cute place called the Hula Grill and then hit the sand and surf!

I find water very soothing and the beach is one of my favorite places. I think Madeline is the same way as me, the moment I mentioned the beach she was packing her bag!

Being from Florida, some might assume we are beach snobs but believe it or not we are just happy to still live close (enough) to the beach!

Mason enjoyed the waves crashing and of course the sand was up to par for Maddie to build castles.


So even though we moved away some of the most famous beaches, I am appreciative we still have beaches here to visit!


Please remind my husband never to get a job in a landlocked state.... j/k!

Meeting people

When talking to friends and family one of the first questions out of their mouth is "Have you meet any people in the area?"

Moving is hard, leaving your friends and family is trying but one thing that I learned early on in motherhood is finding a playgroup helps you meet people. Kids will play with any kid, so they sometimes help the moms talking.

I have joined a playgroup here called Jersey City Moms, and believe it or not they were shocked I found the group so fast from moving up.

Well I have a secret to share... many already know because I met you through it!

http://www.meetup.com/

I found my very first playgroup in Tampa through meetup.com. It was the right thing at the right time in my life. I met so many amazing moms and even my very best friend (many think we've known each other for years and years.)

So when I moved to Orlando, I knew what to do. I was in a few groups, met many wonderful girls, the hardest part was we were so spread out in the Orlando area.

And now with the move to Jersey City, like an ole pro I joined a group. This group is MASSIVE but so organized that not only has it given us things to do, people to meet, it also has provided invaluable information such as doctor recommendations, scoops on the schools, even festival and events in the area.


ALSO those without kids meetup.com literally has a group for anyone and any interest so check out your area's groups. The best part of all, if you don't find what you are looking for you can create your own group and I am sure there are others out there with the same interests!

We live here?!

So this weekend I had one of those moments where I ask myself, we really live here?!

I have these moments because it seems all so surreal.


We went to the American Museum of Natural History and Central Park and then I realized we could do that every weekend if we wanted too.


Of course there are so many things to discover and explore that we won't but I am so glad we are blessed with this opportunity.


I guess if we had to leave our friends and family, at least its a city people want to come visit so we will still get to see them!


Haha just kidding but we are blessed to be living in an area that is pretty rockin!

Trade offs

Three things I dislike to do...

Laundry

Cook

Pump Gas

Living in Jersey City now if I wanted, someone would wash and fold our clothes (if only they could put them away.) Although they have that in Florida, we have 3 cleaners in a 3 block span.

We can walk to many restaurants and markets so those cooking dilemmas are over (semi pre-made food is my friend!)

The best thing of all is that in NJ you can't pump gas, they have attendants. In my mind that's totally worth a $2 tip!

Truthfully since we have markets, restaurants , parks, and public transportation all in reach we don't have to fill up our tanks nearly as often.

Of course driving to the beach is a bit further (about an hour) and that whole big house deal is now in the past.

So far Jersey City is treating us pretty good!

New Blog

I know I know, everyone and their mom has a blog these days.

I am not sure if I have much to blog about since it's not a business based blog, or craft based blog, or even fashion/makeup blog.

I thought I'd give it a go and perhaps I'd find my niche.

Being a native Floridian, yes 25 years and 10 months in Florida is a rarity, moving to New Jersey has been an adjustment. I thought I'd post some things I discover along the way of getting settled here.

First thing that is COMPLETELY different in New Jersey is left turns and u-turns.

If I hadn't had my wonderful husband show me on the first day of arriving in NJ how to do it I think I'd still be confused!

So to my FL friends... to make a left turn you have to look for a sign similar to this..

Then take a right, which then takes you around to either a light or road which then turns you left.

I see how it makes sense, there aren't people waiting to turn left, or even backing traffic up.

BUT IF YOU EVER MISS YOUR LEFT TURN you might be driving a mile or so to get to the next left turn, so try not to do that. Not that I have ever made that mistake....ok yes I have numerous times!

Just remember if you are coming to visit me...