My Favorite Smoothie Shop and Juice Bar in Bayside, NY

When you're a Mom, you're always in a rush to go somewhere, because for some reason you don't get out of the front door when you're supposed to. There's always something that you have to find like your child's sunglasses that got misplaced, her favorite toy or she just want to go change her clothes or shoes again. Having some cold drink cools you down.

Our favorite place to get a smoothie is  Sweet Adele in 73-10 Bell Boulevard. Whenever we go to the Windsor Park library either for the library programs like Arts and Crafts or Story time or just to borrow books, we buy our favorite smoothie in Sweet Adele's. The owners are very friendly and Cindy remember our favorite, one day when my husband went with my daughter and I, he was so surprised when he ordered and the owner give him the smoothie that she was making. She started making it as soon as she heard the word smoothie when we entered the store I think. I told my husband it was no brainer, my daughter and I ordered the same smoothie every time and that's twice a week even in winter time. Yes, we order smoothie even in Winter time. At first I did not know I can order smoothie in winter time but my daughter order it and apparently they have it even in winter time. I let her order it because she likes ordering and Hawaiian Vacation is such a mouthful I'm amazed that she can say it even when she was just three years old. Sweet Adele is also near at least 4 playgrounds that it is very convenient to grab a smoothie there and sip it while the kids are playing.

One of our favorite juice bar in Bayside is mmm...That's a Wrap in 45-52 Bell Blvd, Bayside, NY. Just love the freshly made Green Machine! Before my daughter was born we usually go there after going to Bell Plaza Sports Club, now we go there every time we bring our daughter for her regular check-up with her pediatrician. For some reason, she has this idea that we have to treat her out every time she see her pediatrician, Dr Theodora Panteloglou, so what better way to treat her out than buying some freshly made juice for each of us.

Another favorite is the Health Nuts in 21135 26th Ave, Bayside, NY. If you like fresh organic fruits or vegetable juices, then this is the place! We go here when we go to Barnes and Noble Storytime, or when we want to eat veggie barbecue. They have a section in the back of the store where you can order and eat food made with organic ingredients.

My Daughter's First Dance Recital

Forever Dancing LLC celebrated its annual dance recital today and my daughter had her first dance recital ever! She did great! I'm a little bias of course. Her class has two numbers. On the first one she was a little too shy and was looking at the floor some of the time. A little understandable I guess since it's her first time to perform on stage. But she got used to the crowd I guessed because on her second dance number she was a little more animated and more into the dance already.

 The dance recital proceeds was donated to Dancing Dreams, a dance program for physically challenged children.

Dance Classes in the Castle at Fort Totten in Bayside, NY

I can't believe today is the last day of Spring classes for my daughter's Tap/Ballet Combo class in Bayside Historical Society's Officer Club also known as the Castle which is part of Fort Totten in Bayside, NY. How time flies! It seems just yesterday when she first started her very first dance class lesson. Ms. Marianne Marian of Forever Dancing let my daughter have a free trial class and she liked it. We learned about the program because a friend of hers in school attended the Tap/Ballet Combo  class on Wednesdays and since they like each other we enrolled her in the same class.

The buildings inside the Fort are just amazing with their old world charm.

 The view inside the Fort is just breathtakingly relaxing. We will definitely miss it! Although we will return to check out the ruins again when her classes are over.

Celebrating Mother's Day dinner in Bayside

We rarely eat out because sometimes my daughter fell asleep but on Mother's day we decided to go out for dinner. We went to Asian Terrace in Bay Terrace just to try it out. We went to the Chinese restaurant that was in there before so we decided why not try the new one? Although we have to wait for 10 minutes, the food turns out good. I've ordered Malaysian Curry, my husband ordered Broccoli or mixed vegetables in brown sauce, while my daughter ordered udon noodles. We will definitely go back again or at least order because they also deliver food.

The ambience is nice. I like the fountain in the middle of the restaurant.

Visiting Children's Museum of Manhattan

We visited the Children's Museum of Manhattan during Mother's day and it is worth the traffic. The first floor is like a museum about the body.

The second floor and the third floor are like play center. There is a Dora and Diego exhibit on the 2nd floor with living room, sleeping area, the rainbow bridge, etc.

On the 3rd floor there is an interactive dragon that kids can feed with letters. There are also different transportation vehicles like the MTA bus, yellow can and even a fire truck that children can go in and out of.

There is a 15% discount on Central Parking garage located at West 83rd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues. We validated our parking ticket in the reception desk before we stepped out and we only paid $20 for a little more than three hours.

Visiting the American Museum of Natural History

My daughter won a raffle ticket good for 4 people to American Museum of Natural History from Windsor Park Library's Read to Me program by submitting her reading log so off we went to American Museum of natural History.

Passing My Road Test

I'm both happy and relieved that I finally passed my road test. I'll admit taking a bus with a toddler is a bit tricky. Especially those times when she fell asleep and I had to carry her on one hand and the stroller on the other hand while getting off the bus. Not so fun at all! Then taking three buses to get to her art class or to Gymboree while it is raining or snowing is just too much sometimes, but if you don't drive what can you do when your child really likes these activities.

A friend of my husband ask him why do I wanted to drive so much. Sometimes people who always drive don't realize how convenient it is for them to drive anywhere they want to. Passing my road test means no more awkward moments when I have to hold the umbrella in one hand and push the stroller with the other hand, when it is raining and my daughter and I have to go somewhere. Passing my road test means that what takes an hour and a half commute one way just to go to an art class will be less than 30 minutes of driving there instead. It means easily going to other library programs we usually go to by bus and getting there early. It means going on an outing with other Moms and their kids not just around the neighborhood but outside of our neighborhood too. I had to give up Mommy and Me Meetup when my child was barely two because most of the meeting took place where a car is needed.

Taking a road test is nerve racking but the nice lady who was my examiner just give directions no critical comments during the road test and she has an even tone not annoyed or anything. Her demeanor  really help! At the end of my road test when she was suggesting that I had to work on my parking and K-turn I automatically thank her thinking that I failed again. When I looked at the things that she handed to me, she was out of the car already and I just realized that she only give back my learner's permit, and that score receipt or something and it said passed. And she only took 5 points off for excessive maneuvers during parking and K-turn and another 5 points for a wide left turn. For that parking, the road was sloping down at the back of the car so I had to move forward or the wheels will hit the curve then obviously I had to go backwards again to bring the car parallel to the curve, so I really did more than the usual three maneuvers. As for the K-turn, when she said do K-turn I automatically did like a robot because my driving instructors told me that to pass when the examiner told me something do it plus the fact that I was nervous, then I realized I might be too close to the car in the opposite side of the street so I had to reverse before I completed maneuver that will make the car perpendicular to the opposite side of the street because I was afraid I might hit the other parked car.

To the road test lady examiner that passed me, thank you, you made a Mom's life easier. May you be blessed the way you empower me and other people out there like me.

Attending Commencement Ceremony

Going back to school when you're already have family is a little tricky. It means less sleep, sometimes skipping to do unending but much needed to do chores. You also have to spend less time with family because instead of going out together, you have to do presentation, a paper or study for quizzes and exams.

Lucky for me my husband is supportive. He usually take my daughter to Gymboree Open Gym and I can do school assignments or study for quizzes and exams. He didn't complain when his clothes are not folded sooner or when our home is messy.

I was a September 2012 graduate hence I had to attend my graduation ceremony this June. Although I already received my diploma, attending the ceremony is still awesome. Listening to the speakers, remind me of my goals, and inspires me again. I was always sad that I choose not to attend my graduation ceremony four years ago but attending my graduation ceremony this time  made me realized that I made a good decision not to attend then. I had a C-section two weeks before the ceremony at that time, and I don't think I could have managed standing in line waiting for the graduates procession for hours.