MomVoters--Check Out These Links Before You Head to the Polls

I got up a little early so I could look up the ballot before I "early vote" today. I've seen the lines a the Coral Gables Library, and I've heard that some of the causes of the long waits to vote were that the ballot is extra long this year, and that people are waiting until they are in the voting booth to read and try to understand the constitutional amendments that are up for vote. I can't imagine trying to decipher the ballot while simultaneously entertaining my two-year-old! So I went the list here to view a PDF of the November 4 General Election ballot (the only one that applied to me.) Maybe it was the early rise time, or maybe it's because I read way too many board books, but I needed some help. Those state constitutional amendments? They are provided in English/Spanish/Creole on the ballot but are truly written in "government-ese" regardless of what language you speak.

So, I went here to read a story that the Miami Herald had written on the amendments. It was really helpful--the article is actually a list of their recommendations for how you should vote for these amendments, and they talk about what each amendment really means. Not that you have to vote the way that they recommend--I recommend that you also read the "comments" after the article for additional views from readers, and do as much additional research as you feel necessary, but as a quick primer, it helped me a lot. To the right of the article, there is a list of other recommendation articles on the website.

I also did a search for a more unbiased source of information, and found the recommendation for the League of Women Voters website for Florida offices and ballot measures. Along the right side of the page, you can choose to research candidates for different offices, or ballot measures.

Happy Voting!

My Two-Year-Old a Victim of the Economy

I decided that instead of getting a brand new Halloween costume for Elle this year, she will be wearing her pumpkin costume from when she was 4 months old, but as a dress. She's totally psyched--she's been all excited about Halloween "punkins" for a month now, and obviously doesn't remember wearing it at four months.

On the other hand, we spent probably around $50+ getting all the pieces together for a spiffy cowgirl costume for Skyler (9 years old) to wear to her class skating party and for trick or treating. Sure, I justified a lot of it--the toy horse can be a toy for the kids, the leggings and long sleeve shirt can be worn as regular clothes this winter--but still. For a nine-year-old, wearing last year's costume is DRAMA, for a two-year-old, it is completely insignificant.

So in general, Elle does get the short end of the stick when it comes to extra spending in our family a lot of the time, because she's too young to care. And quite honestly, as I write this I'm thinking that we should be following her lead!

While I try to make sure my nine-year-old is keeping up with the other nine-year-old Joneses (though we by no means are extravagant with her), my answer quite often when it comes to Elle is that she is so young, certain things don't matter to her.

Here are some other recent examples:

* No extravagant two-year-old birthday party. Oh, we had a small celebration with a cake, a couple of close family friends, and gift opening at the house, but it seems like in this town, "formal" parties are the norm. Not for Elle.

* Toys. Elle's sister is nine, and we have a lot of her old toys, which Elle is totally into. So while I personally yearn to buy the new Pottery Barn Kids play kitchen, or any number of shiny new toys that she takes a liking to, I just don't. She's perfectly happy with the recycled toys from sis that I pull out from time to time, and new toy purchases are saved for birthday and Christmas.

* Clothes. Elle has some adorable clothes and shoes, but I do try to hold back on impulse buys. I tell myself that she has perfectly good clothes in the closet, and that when she's a teenager, that won't be enough, but for now, it is.

So I guess you could say that my two-year-old is the biggest victim of the economy in our household, in terms of "going without." Because if times weren't a bit tighter for my family (and I'm sure yours), she'd have that new Halloween costume, and I'd probably make those impulse buys now and then.

Restaurant Hereby Approved By Mom of a Two-Year-Old: Sammy C's in Coconut Grove

I live in Coconut Grove, and have lived here since before Elle was born. Greenstreet used to be one of my fave restaurants, because I love the loungy, outdoor, couchy atmosphere. Now? I view that place as a potential deathtrap, because it's on a very busy street. (Plus, their calamari tastes different, but that's another issue.)

Is it pathetic that when I'm mentally scrolling through the "where to grab a bite with the kids and Erik, that's close to the house, and serves alcohol" list of restaurants when I've had an long day, I readily choose the restaurant that has gated outdoor seating over the restaurant with better food? Because I often totally do. My Grove short list is Scotty's, Monty's, Chili's, Berries, and now Sammy C's. Mr. Moe's too, because of their rocking table contraptions...Elle is a pretty gawky toddler, so in the time that it takes her to get actually get down from one of those tables, we can easily grab her.
Here's the thing. Elle is a good girl. If she's done with her meal, or hasn't started her meal, and wants to stand rather than sit, or wander and explore near the table, I don't have a problem with it. But when we're eating outdoors, and the table is within a few steps of a busy road, of course I won't allow her down from her chair without holding someone's hand. And that someone is often me. And like I said, I go to the Gated Restaurant Mental List when I've had "one of those days." I don't want to hold her hand and walk up and down Main Highway twenty times on those days, I want to sit, drink a glass of wine, and watch my adorable baby carry on a conversation with the lizard on the rock right next to the table. Get it?
So. Sammy C's. GORGEOUS outdoor patio with lovely fountain (kid bonus), lovely landscaping, very good Italian food, reasonable prices, really nice people who were extremely nice to my daughter, and of course, fully gated. I highly recommend it. This place could offer my favorite pairing of food and safety in the Grove yet!