Week 9

Monday May 19 - Sunday May 25 

Places visited: 

• Petsmart
• European Wax Center
• Whole Earth Provisions
• Canyon Cafe
• Errands: Target, Lowe's, REI

Here's the breakdown...

AHH another late/blurry/semi-"boring" week. I work from home, so my focus last week was catching up with work from the aforementioned sick baby. Plus, RAIN! Alas, we didn't do much, again. But you know what?! I'm not discouraged. I am trying to be a tourist in my own town, but I am here for potentially the next say 20-30 years or more so I can't be too hard on myself for not going to the hottest new place every. single. week. I will try to write more frequently/on-time though. My b.

Petsmart - FREE ENTERTAINMENT ALERT. We went to drop off D to have a bath, but I did not expect this! My 15-month-old toddler could have looked at the fish tanks, hamsters, cats, birds, and dog toys for another hour. So, while it was officially an "errand," it ended up being so much more. And I encourage other moms at wit's end to enjoy some free AC/aquarium time. 

Related to my last post regarding hair appointments, another big step for me was to find a wax place to get my regular rip. That sounds bad. But you know what I mean. I needed a new go-to gal and so I tried the European Wax Center. I have to say, this blog is not to overly praise or bash... but this was not my style. Hard wax that dried on me was not as pleasant (to me, my opinion) as hot wax with the cloth strips. That said, I am glad I gave it a try since now I know it likely won't be my "go to" place and they also did my first visit half off. So only out $23 instead of $47. Win/win?  

Since my appointment was in the Quarry we also stopped by the Whole Earth store and the Canyon Cafe for lunch. I had the crab cake and it was surprisingly good! Came with a fruity salsa and little side salad, but it was a sizable cake in and of itself. Bravo, CC!

Errands, blah. Returned shoes, bought diapers, got some outdoor cushions and bug spray, yada yada yada. You get it. 

Hope everyone has had an awesome week. I will post week 10 by Mon/Tues and no later, I promise!

Now get out and enjoy.

~ S

Weeks 7-8

Monday May 5 - Sunday May 18 

Places visited: 

• Pediatrician 
• Children's Methodist Hospital 

• Urban Taco
• El Mercado
• Mi Tierra
• Blanco BBQ
• Pei Wei  

• Umai Mi
• Strut Hair Salon
• Castroville Event Center, for a friend's wedding

Y'all the irony is not lost on me that last week, I almost skipped a post and combined weeks. Well, here we are. 

The three categories of places above are broken down based on:

a) my sick baby (7-8 days of doctor's visits, a 2am hospital visit, and trips to Walgreen's for more Tylenol). 

b) my bff from VA visited and wanted to go to her favorite spots (Mexican restaurants, BBQ, and Pei Wei, which we don't have in Virginia).

c) We went out once more for Gigi's birthday (J's grandma, JC's great grandma) and then I got my hair did for the wedding we attended - so more celebrations.

So, yeah.

UGH. 

When my kid was sick (he had roseola - no way to protect against it, no way to treat it, only have to pray his fever breaks and his rash doesn't get worse and he doesn't give it to anyone else, etc), I was so tired. I have never been more worried, except when maybe he was a week old and projectile vomiting. THAT was a little scary. But this - no explanation (at first) from doctor as to the problem... no way to know what to give him to "treat" it... just nerve wracking. I can't imagine what parents of perpetually sick children feel. I pray for them daily. My heart is with y'all.

Once he was on the mend (the rash appeared, signaling it was indeed roseola and that it was over), my best friend happened to make her way into town. So, we went out and ate almost every meal at her favorite spots and new places she wanted to try. All of them were great, though my bank account needs to be replenished!

Then, late last week, I got my hair cut here for the first time. All you ladies know how big of a deal it is to leave your stylist behind when you move... I almost drove to Austin to get a trim. But I am glad I gave Strut a chance. Sophia was meticulous and precise, and once I got home and let it do it's thing, I loved it (I liked it there, too, but I only blow dry and straighten my hair once every two months IN the salon... so I needed to see it in my "natural" state). I look forward to seeing her again to see how she can help me continue to grow it out, as my ultimate goal is to get it long enough to chop it back off and donate it. 

Fun wedding - Congrats, Mr. and Mrs. Campsey! Just exhausted.

So, sorry for the lame post - I knew I had to catch up. 

And this week, per my typical cycle, is all recovery and errands since we have no more spending money in the budget. We've been playing in the backyard pool and walking/jogging so I can prep for the Wounded Warrior Project 8k in September. 

So I apologize in advance for the current week's post, too. ;)

Hope everyone has a blessed and safe Memorial Day weekend. Thank a veteran or active duty service member. I know I appreciate their service and sacrifice! 

~ S

Weekly TOTAL:

10 places this week, out of 6 (two week total/goal)

6 NEW places this week, out of 65/year 

Week 6

Monday April 28 - Sunday May 4, 2014

Places visited:

• Rosario's
• Mommy Play Date
• Ali Baba's 
• Port Aransas (Surf Shop*)

Here is the breakdown....

Y'all, I almost didn't post this week. I almost did a combo post for six and seven (last week and this week). I don't know how people blog more than once a week. Power to you daily posters! It just ain't happening here. And that's ok. Because my goal wasn't to post daily, it was to get out and explore. So, in lieu of my laziness, let's catch up!

Last week, JC and I met his great-grandmother for lunch at Rosario's new location on San Pedro. It was a very cool restaurant with good food, but the only downside was the lack of organized parking and the noise level! They need to hang some sound boards in the ceiling to absorb some of the lunchtime loudness. His Gigi (as we call her) is hard enough to hear with her soft voice - we practically had no conversation! That said, I definitely want to go back for date night and maybe a cocktail at Happy Hour. Seems like a fun place to be when not with an 80 year old and 1 year old. No offense, Gigi. ;)

The next day, I met up with a girlfriend, her two boys, and her friends who all have boys around JC's age! Chaos. It was fun, though. While I can't divulge these private mommy groups without their permission, I would advise that anyone new to town check out blogs and meetup.com to see what groups might be out there for you. And shameless plug, I used to work for the Y in Austin - it's a great place for parents to meet. You could always join the Y or other gym - 2 birds, 1 stone. 

FINALLY! My husband has been to Ali Baba's for their fresh pita bread on a weekly basis, but I had not managed to step foot in the store, even in the many years I have visited San Antonio. So, on Friday morning, JC and I went in to stock up on bread for the beach trip. Four loaves and $5 later (YES, IT IS SO CHEAP AND DELICIOUS), we were packing up the coolers and loading up the car. 

JC has not been on a 3 hour plus trip since December, so I wasn't sure how this would go as a toddler. Not only is he more aware of being "trapped" in his car seat, but he also is now facing forward and that meant he was more likely to whine and want one of us constantly. Alas, he always surprises me. Not only did he do well in his seat considering the extra time spent in the car (Friday pm traffic = BLECK), but the only time he did get weird was right as we were pulling off for gas anyway. Fresh diaper and snack and bam, baby back in car mode. I wonder if babies' short term memories are like "Hmmm this seems familiar. Oh well, looks like fun! Let's go!" Haha!

Regardless, our little mini weekend vacation in Port Aransas was exactly what I needed to get a fresh breath of air/life/Jesus. Now, my husband doesn't always like this because for me that means more philosophical questions, periods of laziness and daydreaming (Late blog post much?) and retirement planning (I mean, I want to live near the beach, is that a crime?!). But in all seriousness, I think it was much needed for all of us. I even collected angel wing shells and hope to make some jewelry out of them. Inspired. 

Please, fellow San Antonians... take the 3 hour drive to the beach when you need it. Sand, water, wind and sun cure most of your personal problems very quickly. 

*Oh yeah... and I have been to Port A several times but never the Coastal Surf shop or whatever it was... I bought a new sundress. Hope to wear on Mother's day! So count that as a "new" place, mmkay? 

God Bless.

~ S

Weekly TOTAL:

3 places this week, out of 3

3 NEW places this week, out of 65/year