Announcements

MY CHILDREN'S BOOKS, "HI, GOD" AND "FOUR LUCKY LEAVES" ARE AVAILABLE NOW! CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!

When did childhood become so controversial? Check out my latest post, "Hello, Connectivity; Goodbye, Childhood" on the Tampa Bay Moms Blog!

Monday, March 25, 2013

Datz the Good Stuff

Moms may wolf down cold leftovers at the sink out of necessity, but they still need and deserve to enjoy an actual meal from time to time. It's important to break away from the role of "Mom" now and then in order to keep tabs on who you are. For that, what better way than to start an actual tab at a local eatery?

For those moms in the Tampa Bay area, one suggestion would be to grab brunch with the girls at Datz. With dishes as tantalizing as red velvet pancakes and a tasty sandwich dubbed "You Had Me at Nutella", it's easy to see why this popular South Tampa restaurant stays busy. So busy, in fact, the limited parking spaces usually overflow into the street and into an additional lot.

You Had Me at Nutella
While Girls Nights Out are always fun, there are definite benefits to enjoying cocktails before noon. The sooner you leave the house, the less likely you are to be assailed by grubby (albeit adorable) hands needing just "one more" thing before you go. Likewise, an early start ensures your girlfriends will get the peppy, energetic version of you that tends to be more elusive in the wee hours.

Datz is a great spot for just such a day. The prickly pear mimosas go perfectly with great conversation and don't worry  - no one will hold it against you if you spend most of it talking about your kids.

For more information, or to stay up-to-date on its sweetest venture, Datz Dough, check out the links below.

Datz
2616 S. MacDill Ave.
Tampa, FL 33629
(813) 831-7000
www.datztampa.com
www.facebook.com/Datz4Foodies
www.facebook.com/DatzDough
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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Pregnancy Acronyms Decoded

Congratulations! You're pregnant! You've either graduated from the class of Trying to Conceive or you skipped a grade and got your "Oops" diploma. Either way, you're about to be a mom. 

Before you dive headfirst into the pool of learning-everything-you-should-know-about-pregnancy-and-parenting (and those are deep waters), you may want to hold onto that diving board a minute longer. What you may not have expected is the Pregnancy as a Second Language prerequisite.

Early onset excitement is a common side effect of those solid pink lines, but perusing a few mom-to-be message boards will leave you scratching your head if you're not familiar with the lingo. Here is a breakdown of the most common pregnancy acronyms swarming popular pregnancy sites. Read them. Learn them. But, please, don't speak them aloud. This one is a language best left in cyberspace.

Acronym
Meaning
AF
Aunt Flo
BC
Birth Control
BF
Breastfeeding
BFN
Big Fat Negative [pregnancy test]
BFP
Big Fat Positive [pregnancy test]
BIL
Brother-in-Law
BM
Breast Milk
CD
Cycle Day
CIO
Cry it Out
CS
Cesarean Section
DD
Dear Daughter
DH
Dear Husband
DPO
Days Past Ovulation
DS
Dear Son
DSD
Dear Stepdaughter
DSS
Dear Stepson
DTD
Do the Deed
EBF
Exclusively Breastfeeding
EBM
Expressed Breast Milk
EDD
Estimated Due Date
FF
Formula Feeding
FIL
Father-in-Law
FTM
First Time Mom
HPT
Home Pregnancy Test
HTH
Hope This Helps
IMHO
In My Humble Opinion
IRL
In Real Life
LO
Little One
MC
Miscarriage
MIL
Mother-in-Law
OPK
Ovulation Predictor Kit
POAS
Pee on a Stick
SAHD
Stay-at-Home Dad
SAHM
Stay-at-Home-Mom
SIL
Sister-in-Law
SO
Significant Other
TIA
Thanks in Advance
TTC
Trying to Conceive

For a complete list, check out this great chart at BabyCenter.com.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Family Outing Destination: Hyde Park Village


We've all found ourselves at home on a Saturday afternoon trying to figure out how to spend the day. As new parents, however, a once curious question becomes a frantic quest for answers: "What are some things to do with a baby?" Moreover, are any of these things free or cheap?

My search for answers is ongoing and I'll post new ideas and places as I find them. Be sure to check back often as I update my "Things to Do" page with those results!

Hyde Park Village
1602 Snow Ave.
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 251-3500
www.hydeparkvillage.net
www.hydeparkvillage.net/eventscalendar
www.facebook.com/HydeParkVillage

Hyde Park Village is not only a great spot for shops and dining, but it's also an oasis for young families. If you're looking for a way to spend the day outside with the little ones, here's your answer.

Stay-at-home moms relish the exercise inducing atmosphere while their tots get a thrill ride in their mom-fueled jogging strollers. While the quaint streets can host a nice mid-week outing, a short drive on a Saturday afternoon will quickly answer many a new parent's dilemma: "What are some things to do in Tampa with babies/small children?"


The streets are adorned with strollers and the playground at nearby Kate Jackson Community Center is wonderful. From swings and slides to fountains spouting from the ground, this park has everything your toddlers need for a fun day outdoors.




From fresh markets to various festivals, weekends at Hyde Park Village are always entertaining. Plus, with three different complimentary parking garages, you'll have more cash to spend at City Street Sweets.

Leaving the kids with a sitter? Great; celebrate date night with a pint at Irish 31 before catching a movie at CineBistro. Day or night, this is the perfect place to pass the time. Besides, 100 stroller-lunging moms can't be wrong.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Infants and Parolees: Not So Different, After All

During their first year of life, babies are a lot like newly released prison inmates. After spending nine months in isolation, they need some time to adjust to life on the outside. And like their criminal counterparts, they've used their time getting fit.

Amniotic aerobics must really work those core muscles, because all babies are blessed with superhuman strength. Sure, it tapers off as they get older, but once the shock of birth has worn off, for a short time, they remember their training on the inside.

Some infants are boxers. Those tiny jabs to the kidneys during the third trimester suddenly make sense. With no room for an actual punching bag, your kid is nothing if not resourceful. Now free to roam the carpeted and baby-proofed world, you can't figure out why he insists on punching you in the gut when you go in for a hug.

Others prefer kickboxing. Your bladder knew which type of parolee you'd have long before she was born. Your boobs had an inkling as they withstood blow after blow of roundhouse kicks during nursing. Even your husband couldn't help but notice the bruises developing during "play time".

Luckily, your bruised and battered body has enough wear left to survive. The really interesting part is watching your sweetie harness and embrace his developing powers. Witnessing a rubber ducky as it's hurled through space and time warrants more than a "What an arm" remark.

Likewise, when your little angel realizes she can single-footedly prevent you from attaching the tray to her high chair, it's a proud day. With so much leg strength, your measly arms just don't measure up to the one-two combination of kicks knocking that tray off the tracks.

So the question is, how do you suffer injury and delay of meals with a straight face? How do you find that medium between keeping your sense of humor while showing your baby who's boss? After all, you don't want to risk becoming the "bad parent" so many people have warned you about. The answer? Here it is. Wait for it. Oh, it's coming.

All new parents are asking that same question. Seasoned parents will be happy to tell you as soon as they get the kids to bed, wash the dishes, fold the laundry... what was the question again?

The truth is, there is no magical medium. Sometimes all you can do is close your eyes and count to ten. It's just a perk that trying to stifle your laughter looks remarkably like controlling your temper. (The kids don't need to know that secret until they have children of their own.) Besides, you have his entire childhood to raise him properly, while her super strength will only last a little while.