Florida

So, for those who know me and/or follow on Insta, you know I have been traveling to Florida with my 5 year old.

I had been there in 2013, well only in Miami Beach, so I kind of didn’t know anything about Florida.

This was on my bucket list, and last year I got a $250 voucher with Spirit after volunteering for an overbooked flight. So, I said “why not use it to pay a visit to the Sunshine state and also to Disney?” And just like that I booked my flights back in May. I was lucky enough to have one of my good friends who moved to Fort Lauderdale during the summer.

 

So, here we are. We took our flight a few days ago and spent 3 amazing days in Southern Florida. We had one day in Fort Lauderdale, cruising on the river where we could see a lot of very fancy and veeeery expensive homes the guy who invented the A/C for example lives in one of these). I loved the mediterranean style. We also got to get wet at my friend’s jacuzzi on the 44th floor which is unforgettable.

The following day, here we are the three of us heading to Miami for a tour. I loved Little Havana and Wynwood with all its wall paintings. I only knew South Beach and although the beach is great, it’s not the authentic Miami that I saw in other neighborhoods.

The last day, we got to see an alligator on an airboat in the Everglades. The dude was easygoing, he was just swimming quietly and didn’t look agressive. Hemm, I expected him to open his mouth and show his power but he really behaved! We ended the day at Fort Lauderdale beach, which is way less crowded than Miami. Sun, heat, warm water, what more to ask for at the end of October? At night, we went to a bar on Las Olas boulevard. Incredible to think you are on a terrace wearing a summer dress while “a few” miles away, the weather sucks (100% rain in New York that day, yep I couldn’t not look at the weather).

I have to say I was really surprised with the weather. I know, my friend told me it was hot, I checked the weather, BUT when you live in New York and it’s 60 degrees, you can’t imagine and besides your summer clothes, you also pack a few cardigans, sweaters and also a jacket, “just in case”. Well, my bagage would have been much lighter without these “just in case’. Anyway, better more than less, right?

Well, all of this made me think “I really am lucky”. And then, “is it luck only?” And I would say “partially yes, partially no.” Let me explain: “yes” because this is obvious, I get to do what I love and enjoy more in life: travel. And “no” because all what I have comes from my hard work. I had zero connection in Spain (where I have been living for a few years) and in the US where I am currently.

Which makes my travels really enjoyable is that I am easygoing, with myself and the others. I am not looking to spend a night at the most expensive hotels or eat at the fanciest restaurants, or even visit each monument. What I love to do, is to walk on the streets, see the places, observe the people, and like that have a better idea of how they live.

This trip was great because I got to spend it with my five year old daughter who loves everything I do with her and for her. OK “everything” may be a lie, but she has such a great spirit for a young kid. She has the ability to enjoy the moments, I mean different moments, different situations, different places, different food. And I have to say she is my dream kid. Although, she almost broke my nose and throw a tantrum because she felt ugly with the life jacket on the airboat. Besides that, she is just perfect!

We had the best time with my friend who happens to be just like me: mature and so immature at the same time haha! Organized and disorganized, present and independent. This is so important to share a trip with someone who is like you in that sense. I once spent a few days with a friend, and it was unbearable. So I’m so glad this worked out so well.

So thank you Florence for the adventure and the laughters. We couldn’t have had a better time!

Here’s Florence living her best life:

We are now heading to the second part of the trip: Disney World!

Can’t wait to hug Mickey!

 

 

 

I’m not a girl, not yet a woman

Okay, not talking about me, I am definitely a woman.

I was just reflecting about my daughter’s back to school in… kindergarten. Okay so she’s still a girl and a little one, don’t get me wrong ! The thing is, she’s growing up so (too) fast.

Summer is over (well not officially): temperatures are in their seventies, the mood is also not so much relaxed, although in New York is there really a season when you can relax? 😂

So, my LITTLE girl ended preK two months ago, and the experience was amazing (I wrote about it in a previous post). The teachers were so nurturing, the community between parents and the school was great. And I could add a lot of etcetera.

This morning was the BIG DAY, she officially started Kindergarten in a bilingual class. We have to take a 20 min ride plus a 7 min walk, but the program is just great. This is a public school, whereas her preK was a nursery school, so the change is huge.

Oh yeah and last year she wanted to become a fireman, and now a makeup artist 👩‍🎨

The preK had maybe 60/80 students? The new school has more than 500. The building is not exactly the same 😳: it looks like a factory, okay like a regular PS. So, we walked in looking for her teacher, had to go to the office because the teacher didn’t find her on the list (I got a few minutes of “omg did I actually registered her properly?”). Then we got oriented to her class number and had to meet the teacher in the cafeteria where all the kindergarten kids were.

She will have 2 teachers: the English teacher one day, and the day after the French teacher. Both seemed nice.

🇺🇸 🇫🇷

We got to follow our little ones IN FRONT of the classroom. Yep, the principal assistant with his big voice reminded us “NO PARENTS IN THE CLASSROOM”.

Everything went fast, they went in, sat on the rug and bye bye from there and that’s it. My husband and I were like “ok what do we do now?”.

He headed to his work and I headed to Starbucks. I did an online training that was pending. I could have done something cool and relaxing, but no I always keep myself (too) busy.

Anyway, then I went to pick her up. I heard some French people and was approached by a lady who seemed as lost as me 😆.

Pickup is in the classroom, and I didn’t have to sign anything, so during all our way to the train, I told little me “only mommy picks you up, nobody else, you hear me?” Lol am I becoming too paranoid? Maybe, but hey it’s New York, and we need to stay alert at all times.

Oh, last but not least THE question:

Me “what did you do today?”

Her “I don’t remember.”

Hahha I’m pretty sure many of you can relate.

Piece of me

Here is a little summary of what 6 weeks with a 4 year old daughter looks like when you take the train with her and bring her to your work.

Oh yes, I can still call her my 4 year old, for actually 17 more days until she turns 5 😭.

So, DD (dear daughter) ended school 7 weeks ago, and I had the really nice opportunity to bring her with me during 6.5 weeks at my works summer camp.

And here are 6 things I was looking forward to…

Ok let’s go!

Me before?

1. It’s gonna be so much fun to go together

👩‍❤️‍👩

2. I don’t feel so guilty having to work, at least I spend morning and afternoon time with her

⏰

3. I’ll be able to hug and kiss her whenever I want to

💋

4. I’ll even be able to spy on her

🕵️‍♀️

5. We will go every day or almost to the pool after camp

🏊

6. I will enjoy preparing her lunch box every day

🥗

Ughhh ok, so maybe I was (a little) optimistic?

So here is the reality:

Me after?

1. Ok the train rides were 35 minutes of “mommy let’s play Barbie” . She took 2 barbies, she was the mommy who was sleeping 💤 and I got to be the daughter being silly and wild, and the daddy getting mad. So, while I talked in French when I was the daughter, I had to speak in Spanish with a big voice when I was daddy. And I had to follow HER instructions the whole time, if not I was reprimanded 😂. But I think I did quite good, at least she said I was better than her dad who doesn’t follow her instructions.

Needless to say, when the train was packed and I couldn’t seat with her, it was traumatic for her and she was looking angrily at the people next to her for not giving me their seats, and I was in my glory 😁.

She was also allowed to send some emojis to daddy, and here is below an example of the delicate emojis she would send 🙈.

Ok the other parts won’t be that long, it’s just the Barbie stuff was a big part of the day.

2. Ok I didn’t feel guilty because I DID spend time with her, but I actually felt guilty for wanting more than once do my commute alone. I also learned that the moms always feel guilty about something, so ok here it is 🤭.

3. I actually loved being able to give her a hug and a kiss whenever I wanted to, which means at least twice a day 💋. I also took advantage of the fact that I knew the teacher wouldn’t be bothered for me to go in the classroom as she knows me (although she sometimes had this look like “her again…WHY??”). And I also totally took advantage of the fact that DD is 4 years old and that she didn’t feel embarrassed her mom spied on her at the window (sometimes making clown faces) and gave her hugs like she hadn’t seen her for days.

Ok this was also my number

4.

5. Ok. The pool thing. I am literally obsessed with pools. Which means when our neighborhood pool opens on June 27 each year, I’m more than ready. The weekend comes and I’m like “hurry up” we have to be at 10.55 in front of the pool for the opening 😂. Nothing fancy, it’s free and quite clean. The ladies at the entrance asking to see your locker and your bathing suit (yep just in case you’re planning to get wet naked) and the NYPD can freak you out at the beginning but you get used to it.

So, after the camp during the first 3 weeks, I was checking the weather to put my evening private lessons the days it was colder and supposed to rain 😂 lol I hope my students are not reading that, to make time for the other days to go to the pool. I have some mean friends who don’t work during the summer and don’t understand why/how I go more to the pool than they do. Also they don’t get why I’m still so white (that’s why I say they are mean). Of course they are Latina and don’t need sun to have a tan. 🤦🏽‍♀️

The last 2/3 weeks, I got more tired of the pool though and was like”ok let’s go home” .

6. Last but not least 😁: lunch box prep

For those who know me, they know I love good and healthy food.

But when you have to prepare a lunch plus 2 snacks every single day, you have to add 20 min to your morning routine. So, basically the time to wear my collagen mask. At the beginning I tried to be creative and ended doing a big portion to be able to give her 2 days in a row the same lunch. I hear ya, no mommy shaming pleaaaase!

If you recently saw my Instagram, you noticed I tried to prepare an “arroz con habichuelas” and ended up cooking rice with quinoa (yep, quinoa makes me feel good 😆), and in the same pot the black beans. Then I added broccoli and shredded cheddar to make DD not hate me 🙊. She ate everything, I suspect not because she liked it but because she eats a lot (she’s the one that finishes her friends’ snacks when they don’t want more 🙈). Seriously this lunch box prep is a lot of work, plus it’s heavy. Just saying …

It’s getting late mammas, see you soon !

I know I may be young…

… but I have feelings too 🎶

Love is beautiful and love sometimes hurts. Everybody knows it.

But let’s talk about friendship:

– is friendship necessary? Yes.

– is friendship beautiful? Yes.

– is friendship magical? Yes.

They say you can count your friends on the fingers of one hand. Mmm this means 5 only? Very little especially if you’re an expat like me. Of course, you have THE friend, the one you can tell absolutely everything because she perfectly knows you and you know you won’t be judged. And this feeling is so good. She is like the sister you never had. Well in my case.

And then, you have:

– one best friend to hang out with

– one best friend to be silly with

– one best friend to work with

– one best friend to study with (thank god im done with studying)

– one best friend in your in law family

– one best friend in your neighborhood

– one best to be crazy with

– one best friend to dance with (not sure I found her yet 🤭 but life is long, I will !)

And the list could go on and on…

To me, friendship is really important . I love having friends, I love being able to count on someone, I love being needed by my friends.

I love this feeling to be part on someone’s life. I love this feeling of being surrounded by different people.

I am a very loyal friend. Of course, I’m a Sagittarius 😉. l think I’m the same in love: you are my world and you are important to me, but I also need to see I am valuable for you. And unfortunately, friendship doesn’t mean the same for all of us. I am not perfect, nobody is, and we all have our own definition of friendship.

To me, honesty is the most important thing. As in love I can’t stand to be betrayed. And second, I need to feel needed. Like in love 🤷🏼‍♀️. I am complicated and I am easy. Both of them at the same time.

I love to be able to contribute to a moment of happiness. But when you don’t let me, it breaks me down. And that’s when friendship hurts 💔

But this doesn’t mean the other one doesn’t want to let you in, maybe her priorities changed, maybe she doesn’t feel the same about you (ok lol this seems like love too much), maybe she moved on and doesn’t need you anymore (ok this is becoming way too creepy 👻)

Don’t get me wrong, I’m no perfect friend, I can actually be a real b*** but only if you hurt me (lol)

As love, friendship makes you love, hate, laugh, cry, and more and more. It sure impacts your whole life.

To all my friends, 💗

Last day of precake

So, for those who know me, I am completely obsessed with sweets: chocolate, cakes etc. I consider myself quite lucky though not to like hard candies like lollipops 🍭. But still, I wish I wasn’t so into sugar.

So, when my sweet daughter started pre-K last September, she kept saying she was in PRECAKE 😂. Of course like mother, like daughter.

Poor thing, she mainly spoke French and Spanish and only knew a few words in English. And obviously “cake” was in her vocabulary. That’s my girl 👧🏻!!

I already posted a few days ago about my feelings about her growing up and leaving this wonderful cocoon at RNSFC 😭.

So, when I am sad, I bake. I know, I’m weird. But, not so long ago I found an article saying that baking for others was beneficial for your mind. So, anyway I woke up today earlier to bake again, not for the kids but for the teachers. I hope they’ll enjoy these crepes 😋!

It’s time to get dressed: “mom I’m so ugly with this blue dress. Blue is for boys.” Of course this last day couldn’t be different than any other day. I was said “stop it” like a hundred times, mmm still don’t understand what I had to stop though…

Time to go. Mood has changed:

Ok here I am, I promised myself not to cry but damn it’s hard. I hate goodbyes. Many teachers and parents that I was used to see everyday as part of my morning routine will be part of our past. For some of us, we promise to stay in touch, thanks Facebook and Instagram for making it easier.

These 2 being silly as usual: the morning word is “booty butt” 😆 and this is obviously too funny 😁

I was planning to take a photo with all of the teachers, but as any other day they are busy greeting parents and welcoming the kids. I can feel they are being emotional, too. Her main teacher Paola has been teaching here for 12 years and this was her last year, so this makes it more special for the team.

I didn’t ask for permission 🤭 but I like improvised photos.

So, this chapter is definitely closed. Melissa and her 19 cutest classmates are right now on their last day of precake,

…and no I’m not crying at all!

Oh and I almost kissed the teacher on the lips 💋 . I’ll never get used to give only one kiss, and always do it the French way 😝

It’s not me it’s you

Today in the 21st century, everything is supposed to be easier. I mean, of course especially for the people living in the west world.

You don’t have time to go to the grocery stores, you just click on the last trendy app and voila . I got Instacart, and it literally changed my life. In exchange of a hundred bucks a year, I have someone shopping and delivering for me. By the way, if you want a $10 discount, I’d be happy to share my code 😂.

If you want a cab, let’s call an Uber, Lyft, via or whatever.

🚕

If you want to buy clothes, let’s shop online!

If you are hungry, let’s order food on seamless.

If you are an expecting mom and have no clue on how to change a diaper, let’s go on YouTube. (Well, it’s what just did my dear friend.)

And if you don’t know what you want and just want to browse, let’s have a look on Amazon!

All these things are supposed to make our life easier. I mean, I live in NYC, this has been my home for almost seven years now, and during these last 7 years, the amount of services that save you time has tremendously increased.

Everything is easier today, information is accesible to almost anyone (in our society). But are things easier in our life?

I feel truly blessed to be able to see so many things, experience different cultures, speak different languages, know so many people, and without being rich, I can basically do whatever I want too. However it doesn’t stop me to bite my nails, get anxious and want more. I wish I had those great fancy nails though 🙋🏼‍♀️💅

My dream nails:

Everything is going too fast, especially in big cities. And then when you go to smaller towns, I’m like “come on, everything’s too slow, too paralyzed.”

Big cities make you creative, and productive, and curious, and fun, and tolerant.

They give you a lot but they also take you a lot . A lot of energy, a lot of time, a lot of everything.

Could I trade it now with something else? I mean a smaller town. If I did, I think I’d feel old, like “ok let’s settle now”. Eventually I’ll do it, but no clue where and when.

People look more and more to be closer to the nature, and at the same time we are all so dependent of the technology.

This is all the contradiction I find in myself and in the modern world. However, is it really possible to live in total peace with yourself? God no, it would be so boring.

Fao Schwarz

Hello !!

Voici quelques photos du célèbre magasin de jouets FAO, anciennement sur la cinquième avenue et remplacé par le magasin Apple.

Le nouveau se trouve à côté du Rockefeller Center, juste devant le sapin.

Plus que de beaux joujoux, une belle expérience et un beau retour dans l’enfance.

Ripley believe it or not

Hiii!!!

Me voilà très longtemps absente du blog, plus de 6 mois 😱.

Nous venons de visiter le musée “ripley believe it or not”, pas mal, je dirais pas fantastique mais plutôt fun si vous voulez passer une après-midi sympa à Times square avec ou sans enfants.

Il présente toutes sortes de bizarreries du monde: des vaches 🐮 à 2 têtes, des châtiments fais aux femmes pour avoir fait trop de commérage, etc.

Prenez les tickets online, 20% moins cher.

💋💋💋 xoxo