Monthly Archives: January 2010

Ari is Sorry

Posted on January 31, 2010 | Leave a comment

Today my son learned the word “sorry.”After he decided that he was repentant, for knocking some items off the bookshelf, he couldn’t stop saying the word “sorry!”

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Posted in Videos

Mama Daddy Mama Daddy…

Posted on January 31, 2010 | Leave a comment

The most fun activity to do, when you are stuck in a car, is to list the important people in your life:

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Posted in Videos

Sarah Fader Interviews Sarah Fader!

Posted on January 31, 2010 | Leave a comment

My name is Sarah Fader. I live in Brooklyn, NY and have an almost two year old son. I also have a facebook account where I’ve reconnected with people from my past, current friends and other people named “Sarah Fader.”

One of the Sarah Fader’s I’ve met lives in Canada and has a child named (get this) “Brooklyn”! What are the chances?


Sarah Fader and I have become fast friends and she has agreed to be interviewed on being a mommy in Canada for my blog. Here’s what she had to say:

1. How did you react when you found out you were pregnant?

I was shocked when I found out I was pregnant, I took the test and walked out of the bathroom and made David go and look at the test, I saw the lines changing color before I left, and nearly threw up!!

2. How does it feel to raise a child in Canada?

It feels great to raise a child in Canada. We have good health and dental care, and our government gives us money to help raise our kids. Right now I get $100 for universal child care which I will get until she is 6, and I get the child tax benefit which we get until they are 18 or we make too much money. I live in Nova Scotia, it is beautiful here, calm and quiet, most times. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!!!!

3. Brooklyn is a great name! How did you choose it?

I choose Brooklyn one day while I was driving in the car listening to Jay Z and Little Wayne, their song called Brooklyn!

4. How do Canadians feel about the name Brooklyn?
Older people think it is a unique name even though it is very popular all over Canada now. I know 5 people that I went to school with that have children named Brooklyn!!!!

5. Have you ever been to the States or taken Brooklyn to the States?

I have been to the states a few times, not with Brooklyn though. I visited Florida, Maine, New Hampshire and drove through New York on our way somewhere. I don’t remember being in New york though.

6. Has Brooklyn ever been to Brooklyn? If not would you take her there?

Brooklyn hasn’t been to Brooklyn yet. I do plan on taking her because I think it would be fun for her to be in the place her name comes from.

7. Supposedly Canadians are really nice. Have you met any mean Canadian moms?

Most Canadians are nice, I have met mean Canadian moms, and dads. People from Quebec are normally not the nicest of people and they tend to be mean. Most people from Canada would agree on this!!!!!!

Thank you Sarah Fader! I am so proud that we share the same name! Love, Sarah Fader and Ari from Brooklyn.

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Posted in Interviews

Resentment of The Night Shift

Posted on January 30, 2010 | Leave a comment

My boyfriend, Wilhelm, works the night shift at an airline. The means that he sleeps during the daytime. He has Fridays and Saturdays off, but Friday daytime is reserved for catching up on sleep and come Saturday his circadian rhythms are so thrown off that he is sleeping half the day on Saturday as well. We end up hanging out as a family at night time. But during the day I feel like this:

I know he’s tired. I get that. But I’m tired too! When he is sleeping through the day (like he is right now) I am up at 7am or earlier and taking care of my son.
‘

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love spending time with my kid. But sometimes, I need a break! I resent Wil’s night shift and what it does to my exhaustion level and my day! He’s sleeping and I am busting my ass all day! Meanwhile, most every other couple with children are out having a “family day.”
Has anyone had a boyfriend/husband/wife/partner that worked nights? How did you deal with this situation?

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Posted in Night Shift, Sleep, Wilhelm

Coca Cola Frights!

Posted on January 30, 2010 | Leave a comment

Somebody once told me that kids who drink chocolate milk are less likely to want soda. I’m not so sure about this theory anymore.

Last night we ordered Mexican food. Wilhelm and I had enchiladas and my son had a quesadilla which he ate none of so we ended up giving him spaghetti instead.

In general, I am not a big soda drinker, but last night I was really craving a Coke. So I went for it. We were done eating and my son was running around like the “almost two year old” that he is. I must have spaced out for a moment because the next thing I realized, he was holding my Coke and taking a giant gulp of it.


So much for the “drinking chocolate milk prevents soda consumption” theory.

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Posted in Anecdotes

Francesco’s: A Child Friendly Pizzeria in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

Posted on January 29, 2010 | Leave a comment

Sometimes, I just want a slice of pizza. I want to keep lunch simple. I don’t need an elaborate sandwich or wrap (nor can I afford these things) just a good old slice. However, I have yet to find a child-friendly pizzeria. Most pizzerias in New York City that I have come across are not equipped with high chairs or booster seats.

When I entered Francesco’s Pizzeria, one of the first things I saw was a stack of high chairs.

Francesco’s Pizzeria, located in the Carroll Gardens section of Brooklyn, is the child-friendly pizzeria I have been waiting for. Unfortunately, I did not have my son with me at lunch time today, I was working, so he didn’t come with me to Francesco’s this time. Too bad, because he loves pizza! But I had a hankering for a slice, so I went to Francesco’s to satisfy my craving.

The slice was magnificent. It was white pizza, no tomato sauce, just mozzarella and ricotta cheeses combined on pizza dough. It was divine.
But wait, it gets better. I went to use the restroom. I wasn’t sure what I was in for (you never know with New York City public bathrooms) but it was one of the cleanest public restrooms I had ever seen. I didn’t have a chance to take a picture of the bathroom, but here are some shots from the restaurant:



I had an opportunity to speak with one of the owners, Anthony. I told him how impressed I was by his restaurant, the bathroom, the high chairs and most importantly the food. He thanked me and told me to contact wife (co-owner of Francesco’s ) via email to let her know as well. I asked him if he considered his restaurant child friendly? He said:
“Well, there are always a bunch of strollers and carriages lined up at the door, so yes!”


They even have organic juices for kids!


If you’re in the Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn area, check out Francesco’s for a classic New York slice! For more information on Francesco’s click here.

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Posted in Food, Reviews

Sleep As a Teleportation Device

Posted on January 28, 2010 | Leave a comment

One of my ingenious 4th grade students admitted that he had trouble falling asleep. I asked him what he did to combat his insomnia.

He replied:
“Sometimes I like to pretend that I am not really sleeping, but teleporting to the next day.”

He went on to say that he closes his eyes and tells himself when he opens them again, it will magically be tomorrow.

Brilliant!

I decided to design my own personal teleportation device to visualize when I have insomnia. Here it is:

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Posted in Deep Thoughts

You Can’t Give Something and Then Take it Back Part II

Posted on January 28, 2010 | Leave a comment

Those of you who have been following my blog know that I wrote to FreshDirect.com when they rudely rescinded an offer for $20 worth of free food and a free rotisserie chicken. See previous post here.

Well, it looks like I may get my free chicken after all! However, their justification for the email error still strikes me as bizarre. Take a look at their response:

Dear Sarah Fader,

<p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"  ><span style=";font-family:Arial;" >I definitely understand your frustration.  You are a valued customer, so I am going to specifically add your account to this deal, and if you’<span>ve</span> spent $300 in January, you will receive an e-mail from us with the $20 discount code during the first week of February.  </span></span></p>    <p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"  ><span style=";font-family:Arial;" > I’d also like to address the concern of why this offer was sent to some customers and not all.  The e-mail was intended to be a test offer for a very small audience of less frequent shoppers, but the email was sent to a large group by accident.  Though we are truly grateful for the loyalty of customers like you, we simply can’t afford to extend this offer to all our customers.  </span></span></p>    <p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"  ><span style=";font-family:Arial;" >In addition, I want to confirm that the promotion code you received for waiving the delivery fee on your next order (or adding an extra week to your Delivery Pass) will also work for you. Simply enter code <b><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span>FREEDEL</span>74</span></b> when you checkout before February 15.</span></span></p>    <p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"  ><span style=";font-family:Arial;" >Again, I am sorry for the confusion and frustration this error caused.  Thank you for your understanding.</span></span></p>    <p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"  ><span style=";font-family:Arial;" >Best wishes,</span></span></p>    <p style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"  ><span style=";font-family:Arial;" >Karen C.<br />Director, Customer Service Group<br /><a href="http://freshdirect.chtah.com/a/hBLV5vkB7S$bRB7q598AAAAAA9E/home" title="http://freshdirect.chtah.com/a/hBLV5vkB7S$bRB7q598AAAAAA9E/home" target="_blank"><span>FreshDirect</span></a></span></span></p><div>

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Posted in Contacting Companies, Freshdirect