Week 5

Monday April 21 - Sunday April 27, 2014
Places visited:

• San Pedro Park
• Taste of Northside
• CHUMC Family Fiesta
• Pasha
• NIOSA/Hotel Valencia
• The Pearl/La Gloria

Here is the breakdown...

(I will try to keep this short because a. we went so many places and b. I am watching the Spurs game and it's halftime!)

On a beautiful, sunny day JC and I went to San Pedro park. The pool is WOW. That is absolutely something to which we'll return. I can't wait for it to open. According to the City's Parks and Recreation department website, that opening day is June 14! WOOP! Definitely check it out. 

Wednesday, we attended a Fiesta event called the Taste of Northside. 8 food tickets and 5 drink tickets for $55 and all for a good cause? I'm down! The winner of the night: the CORN. Delicious, grilled corn covered in healthy toppings like mayo, cheese and pepper flakes. YUM! (there is a pic on our instagram page @sathreesixtyfive.) We also enjoyed people watching and came up with a fabulous new game called "jumpsuit slugbug". The rule? When you see a woman wearing a jumpsuit, yell "jumpsuit slugbug!" and punch someone in your group. There were plenty of bruised arms, as this is quite a trendy look right now... 

Thursday, we swung by Colonial Hills United Methodist Church for their (official) annual family fiesta event. We didn't stay long since it was SO hot, and the cart food wasn't quite suitable for a 14 month old, but we do like that church since that's where JC will attend school, so we figured we'd swing by for a minute. We stayed long enough to hear the Navy Rock Band which was pretty fun. But dinner time awaited us, so off to Pasha we went! So delish.... pita bread the size of one's torso... BYOB (which we discovered too late - darn!)... and perfectly tasty, authentic Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine. I had the salmon *kisses fingers a la Italian chefs* So. Good. 

Finally, we closed out our fiesta flings with my favorite: a Night in Old San Antonio. In case you're wondering, yes, we did play 'jumpsuit slugbug' again, though the pickings were slim. And yes, I wore a floral headband, and yes we ate food mostly off of sticks. Pretty much my favorite night. We stayed late but didn't want the night to end so off to Hotel Valencia we went. The V Bar was still quiet when we arrived but not for long! Soon, we were all dancing and carrying on - don't ask where we had the energy after 4 hours of NIOSA-ing, but we had it and we used it and we DANCED! Great night.

Saturday we went to lunch with my parents (who watched JC for us so we could eat and drink and dance all night) at La Gloria down at the Pearl. I had never been to either so this was exciting for me. Other than getting *almost trapped* in the Flambeau parade closures (4 hours before the actual parade, crazy!), we had a marvelous time. The food was amazing, and I liked the atmosphere. I wish we had sat outside, but we didn't want to wait, so indoor seating was A-OK with us. I think my parents liked it too, so win win! 

Another busy week! Filled with one-time events - whew! I am very much looking forward to going back to the Pearl and San Pedro park, though! Hope you all check it out, too. 

"Adventure is out there, explorers!" - Ellie, from the movie UP

~ S

Weekly TOTAL:

6 places this week, out of 3 - passed my goal!

5 NEW places this week, out of 65/year 

I mentioned Instagram above, but we're also on twitter - @SA365. See you around town! ;)

Week 4

Monday April 14 - Sunday April 20, 2014

Places visited:

• H-E-B (at the Alon)
• Local School Playground 
• St. Brigid Catholic Church

Here's the breakdown...

Y'all, we needed a recovery week. JC and I were WIPED OUT after the busy week last week, and thus I was very un-motivated to try all sorts of fun new things. So, we just lived a normal life for a week. It got sort of boring and trying (because let's be real, the house is wreck too, laundry needs to be done, I had lost my voice, and baby is teething...), but it didn't matter. Mama and baby had to REST.  Maybe it is fitting that my adventures for the week revolved around "home."

So, last week, I did visit a new H-E-B at the Alon shopping center (Wurzbach and NW Military). I liked this layout a lot, and their selection of healthy foods was great! I also appreciated their easy to find pharmacy layout, in addition to the clearly marked Kosher and gluten-free sections (of which I am neither, but still!). I ran into one of J's cousins here, so it already felt like my new "home" grocery store. On the way in/out, I noticed the Central Market-esque "Cafe on the Go" which is awesome. Gotta love a quick stop for a rotisserie chicken and some yummy sides! 

On Friday, when we'd had enough of each other, enough of the pollen, and enough of the "mehh" weather, JC and I went down the road to a local elementary school playground, which was empty earlier in the day due to school being out :) He loved to climb up the stairs and dive into the spider web fort thing-y. Meanwhile, I walked up and down a hill to try to get some "exercise" while being interviewed for the San Antonio Express News regarding stay-at-home moms! I'm excited to see what the reporter comes up with and of course I say 'um' and 'like' a billion times when I never, ever use verbal fillers otherwise.. Doh! Oh well, a fun time was had, and I would recommend that when you move to SA, you find out where your closest park is. Always a good day for kids and parents when you go to the park!

Finally, we closed out the week on Easter Sunday with Mass at St. Brigid's. This is the church J grew up in, so we're quite familiar with it. We may still search around to try other churches, but this one is always a good "home" base to fall back on. I would say the service was lovely, but I won't lie. I was so focused on keeping JC quiet and still and happy and fed and in my lap that I don't remember a word. I always love church, though, and I love Easter. Celebrate the Risen Lord! (this is the time of year where I ask myself: am I living a life worth Jesus' sacrifice on the cross? The answer is usually no. So, this is like a new year! A fresh start. Let's all live worthy of the sacrifice, yes?!)

Hope everyone had a happy Easter! I will have more exciting things this week, I promise (fiesta, finally!). But first, let me recover from this Easter weekend. ;) 

Loving the viva fiesta vibe,

~ S 

Weekly TOTAL:

3 places this week, out of 3 - hit my goal! 

0 NEW places this week out of 65 (for the year)

MONTHLY TOTAL (will post every 4 weeks!): 

Total places visited: 19 (goal: 12)

New places visited: 11 (goal: 65 in a year)

Week 3

Monday April 7 - Sunday April 13, 2014

Places visited:

• MacArthur Park
• Marriott Rivercenter 
• Oro Restaurant
• Riverwalk: Maria Mia 
• Lee Nails
• Two Bros BBQ (rehearsal dinner)
• The 1850 Settlement (wedding venue)

Here's the breakdown...

Last week was crazy! Between a work conference (Marriott) and a family wedding (events & family galore!), we were definitely on. the. go. 

Before the chaos, JC and I visited MacArthur park. I had a little trouble getting there, but once we arrived, we played for a long time on the wheelchair accessible ramps. Perfect for kids on wheels and just starting to walk, in my opinion. So neat to see that at a public park! I got the idea to go there from the Alamo City Moms Blog. Thanks for the suggestion!  

Wednesday afternoon through Friday morning, I spent my daylight hours at the Marriott Rivercenter downtown. I worked the booth for my company, and we had a good time. A successful conference! Unfortunately, it all aligned at the same time as these nasty allergies! So my voice was a little scratchy when this was all said and done. 

While downtown, my coworkers and I visited Oro for lunch (and they went back for drinks) and Maria Mia for lunch. Oro was ok - I liked my dish, but the service was a little slow for being one of two tables at lunch. The coworkers raved about the bartender, though. Maria Mia was good - had the small plate of chicken fajita nachos and I was full after eating half! Plus perfect patio weather. 

But then the real fun began - wedding weekend!! J's sister got married and the festivities didn't stop! We had a bbq at our house on Thursday night. Then Friday, the girls got their nails done at Lee Nails (which was a nice place, but my guy spent maybe 12 minutes on me for $18?! I didn't even get an arm/hand massage!*), etc. Then came the rehearsal and dinner which brings me to say - I have heard a LOT of good things about Two Bros, but we had an extremely disappointing experience. THEY DID NOT HAVE US SCHEDULED FOR THE RIGHT DAY. Ergo, no food, drink, tables or service were set aside for the 50+ person group. YIKES.... Needless to say, it was a little stressful for the bride, but once the beer starting flowing and the food arriving, all was well. It was a beautiful night, and I still am looking forward to my leftover banana pudding in the fridge. :) - which J JUST noticed and I'm like NO! That is MINE, husband!

Saturday was a typical wedding day - busy busy! I ended up learning my way around San Antonio pretty quickly with all the errands I was running. Picked up a bridesmaids dress, grabbed some last minute items at Hobby Lobby. Once we were finally clean, dressed, and out the door, it was a surreal, perfect, beautiful day for C and B! It seemed that the Settlement is a perfect venue for a San Antonio wedding of a wonderful couple! Love you both! 

Cheers to the happy couple, and cheers to another fun week in San Antonio!

~ S

Weekly TOTAL:

7 places this week, out of 3 - DEF hit my goal! (not even including all the OTHER family gatherings hehe)

7 NEW places this week out of 65 (for the year) * A GOOD WEEK * :)


*Just noticed the poor reviews for Lee Nails online as I linked to it here... glad to know I'm not the only one dissatisfied with my nails! Also, the bride had some issues with the Settlement, as pretty as it was. However, this is just my blog stating where I went and how I got to know the city. I will rarely actually place value on something unless they completely screwed up, like Two Bros did. It doesn't mean we won't give them a second chance. :) So, if anyone ends up going somewhere and has a different experience (positive or negative), great! You're exploring, too. I'm not trying to drive or remove business for any of these locations. Just a disclaimer ;) Onward!

Week 2

Monday March 31 - Sunday April 6, 2014

Places visited:

• San Antonio Green Laundry 
• Chick-Fil-A 
• County Line - dinner & concert  
• Day Trip to Austin

Here's the breakdown:

One thing we didn't have in our move from Austin to San Antonio was a dryer. We were offered one from a family member, but unfortunately, we did not have the right hookups. One visit to a local laundromat, and I was on Craig's List the next day. Not because it was a terrible place, on the contrary I had a surprisingly pleasant experience, but because of the sheer convenience of having a dryer at home! 

Moms and dads who are doing laundry outside the home, I SALUTE YOU. 

I found a nice clean place, but I had SO MANY things to clean, it was a little stressful. I probably looked like newbie, too. Amateur hour. But in all seriousness... when you find yourself new to town or out of commission on a personal laundry facility, I recommend San Antonio Green Laundry. They've got some good Yelp reviews, too! 

The next day, I needed a "break". I'd like to think that every parent needing such a moment of peace knows the best place to grab a quick, relatively healthy bite to eat at a restaurant where kids can then wear themselves out on the indoor, air-conditioned playscape. For us, this is Chick-Fil-A. While not a NEW experience, it is one I can count on... and I needed it that Tuesday! It was a nice, clean location with a fun playground. And of course, I love a place that helps moms get their food to their table, locate high chairs and the like. We'll always be returning to Chick-Fil-A! Great service. 

Wednesday night, my husband was hosting some work colleagues out for a happy hour type event, and I got to join him. We had dinner and drinks at the County Line on I-10 where they were kicking off their summer concert series, so we got to see the Dirty River Boys play - always a fun show. I didn't expect to see a cool little outside stage area, so it was a nice smaller show venue. Definitely check it out! 

Lastly, yesterday we made a day trip up to Austin. I had a hair appointment and we had tickets to the Round Rock Express game which included a Bob Schneider show at the end. Always fun. Visited our old haunts, the Black Sheep Lodge as well as Doc's on Congress. We saw the game result in a WIN then danced to Bob in the outfield. A fun night. Just a longer drive home than usual.... :) 

Weekly TOTAL:

4 places this week, out of 3 - hit my goal!

2 new places this week out of 65 (for the year) 

Adventures are out there, explorers! (from the movie UP)

~ S

Check out some pics from this week on IG... on twitter at @SA_365. xo

Week 1

Monday March 24 - Sunday March 30, 2014

Places visited:

• La Fogata
• La Cantera (Nordstrom Bistro and Barnes & Noble)
• Fujiya Japanese Garden Sushi
• Barbaro
• St. George's Catholic Church

Here's the breakdown:

So when we moved here on Sunday, I knew I had to have my parents (living in an RV near Lake Travis) come down to see their grandson (TOP priority) and our new place. They came down and my dad recommended La Fogata for lunch. I say "wonderful! I've never been there!" Well. It turns out I'm just a ding-dong and forgot I was there just a couple of months ago celebrating with family after a memorial service for great Aunt M. Ridiculous memory I have. So we go there anyway and enjoy a lunch - thanks again for lunch Mom & Dad.

La Fogata is well-known, from what I can tell. I enjoyed the green enchiladas, though next time I will likely ask for sauce on the side. I'm SURE that's unheard of... but I am just not a saucy-enchilada gal. Unfortunately, my baby didn't enjoy it as much because he must have accidentally gotten something spicy in his bits of rice because he started clawing at his face/mouth. Sorry JC!!! Overall, I feel like it's a cool place to come back to grab a margarita on their adorable patio. It's larger than it seems but still has a family feel. 

Later in the week, my friend and I met up at La Cantera for lunch at Nordstrom Bistro and a walk with the kiddos. I've been to La Cantera before, and I have eaten at the Bistro in Austin. It was a lovely day to enjoy a visit. I had a tasty salad and JC ate some grilled cheese. Super kid-friendly staff. Then we walked to the Barnes and Noble to "play" at the Lego table and pick up toys off the floor and put them back on the shelves. My apologies to staff if I missed an aisle or two. This kid of mine is FAST. 

Friday night was date night. Only 5 days into living in San Antonio and we had to STOP UNPACKING and get OUT. :) J and I went to a local sushi restaurant called Fujiya Japanese Garden. I loved it. I was starving so anything was good, but the ambience here was so charming and close-knit. I people-watched like it was my day job (kind of is, right?! little kids are people!), and I decided I'd like to be friends with these people who work here and eat here. Good stuff. Of course, my Mai Tai helped me to feel a bit more relaxed than I was actually feeling with the stressful few days we'd had. Husband and I enjoyed several delicious rolls, miso soups, and a yummy cheesecake egg roll dessert. Definitely will be returning and recommending. 

Now the next night, I went out with some girlfriends to Barbaro... two nights in a row?! Unheard of since before I was pregnant. HIGHLY unusual! My first real challenge was getting there - newbie driving a ways at night, watch out! But once we arrived, I felt like I walked into a place that reminded me of somewhere else. European cafe, a Richmond bar carved into an old building, a lounge from Austin. It just had a certain vibe. TASTY pizza was shared, and I tried one of their local craft beers. A good Saturday night spot!

Lastly, after church on Sunday, we went down the road to St. George's Maronite Catholic Church for their monthly Lebanese luncheon. J is part Lebanese, and we all LOVE the food, even baby JC who happily scarfed down hummus, kibbe, and parts of the falafel wrap. The menu changes monthly, so make sure to check their website before venturing over. $10 gets you an adult plate + drink and $5 gets you a kid's plate. I say worth it and worthy cause. 

Weekly TOTAL:

5 places this week out of 3 - hit my goal!

2 new places this week out of 65 (for the year)

Onward!

~ S

*Don't forget to follow us pictorially on Instagram @sathreesixtyfive*

We're HERE!

J, JC, and I moved down to Old San Antone just 10-11 days ago! We have a lovely rental house in the Northwest side of town. I like it and it's a good area to start exploring with easy access to many smaller and larger attractions. The house is a treat in and of itself as it hails from say 1967, with ALL original fixtures, features, carpet, etc. (Well maybe not EVERYTHING, but it's definitely like living in a 'Mad Men' style house). I'll share some pics once we're fully unpacked, cleaned up and settled. (does this ever happen with a one year old, though?!)

Even in our first week here, I already started going out and trying to hit up my three weekly places! So, in just a little while, I will post on our first week here and what we did and what we enjoyed. I hope this will be as fun for those visiting/living in this city as it will be for us (and I do hope it's fun for us!).    :)

Again, if you have any suggestions, please send them my way!

FYI for the sake of some privacy, ha, here is my "code"
J = husband
JC = son
S = me
D = dog

With an adventurous spirit,

~ S

PS, my original start date was May 1, but we moved here sooner than expected, so the official start date of my challenge was March 24. Onward!!

Twitter: @SA_365
Instagram: @sathreesixtyfive
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