A Greener Publix--the SECRET Publix

So, like an idiot, I waited until the day before Thanksgiving to do ALL my shopping. Didn't even sort recipes until that morning. Yeah. My brilliant plan was to hit the semi-secret Publix, which is kind of off of Sunset, Red Road, and US1, check out the situation, then if necessary, head to the SECRET Publix--the new Dadeland Publix. The problem with the semi-secret Publix, is that it's been around for a while at this point, and has been found by many, so is often as crowded for it's size (and parking lot size) as if I had gone to one of the bigger, more well-known Publixes. And sure enough, once I got inside and to the turkey section, I found that only huge, frozen solid turkeys remained. I really needed a smaller, fresh turkey...I realized I'd have to travel further south to the newer, still secret, Dadeland Publix. I had never been to this Publix, had just come across it when trying to find a reallyreallyreally secret doctor's office a couple months ago, and the receptionist kept telling me "we're right behind the new Publix at Dadeland." And I kept telling her "WHAT new Publix at Dadeland?! Can you give me a different landmark pleeeease????" So when I finally found the doctor's office, I also "found" this new Publix.

While the Dadeland Publix is no longer "secret"--the place was packed--it's a great store. I was most excited to see that this store has an entire GreenWise aisle, and it was well-stocked. Are the days of having to go to three or four different grocery stores a week to get everything that I want possibly over? I can't tell you just yet--I was there the day before Thanksgiving, so I wasn't really browsing, more like trying to get out alive--but will report more after my next visit. As for those of you who do the grocery store mambo every week like I do (dance over to Publix, then dance over to Whole Foods. Now Milam's, now Winn Dixie...) just to get specific items, maybe those days could be (kind of) over....

THE Event of the Year: Miami Book Fair International

I just want to give props AGAIN to Miami Book Fair International. We went on Sunday as a family, and had a great time as always.

For the little ones, the Children's Alley is so well done, the activities are great, the helpers are friendly and interested, and there are a ton of costumed "characters" walking around interacting with the kids.

For the older kids (Skyler is nine) there are booths with children's books, the authors, readings throughout the day, and signings. Skyler loves talking to the authors, who are very friendly and open, and I think the kids really appreciate that there are booths set up just for kids their age. Plus, aside from the booths and books specifically for kids, there are so many interesting books and booths at the Fair to catch a kid's eye. The International Village was great, and the Comix tent too. So--best event of the year for kids in Miami, once again.

It comes down to two things. First--I LOVE books. I have loved books and reading since I was a kid, and I want both Skyler and Elle to have that same love, because I truly believe it makes you a better person. Your imagination is top notch. You can self-entertain for hours. Better readers make better writers. Readers have more impressive vocabularies. I want these kids to be proud to be "readers," and to feel smarter and better for it.

Second, Miami Book Fair International is consistently an extremely well-organized event compared to other events that welcome kids here in Miami. I'm just impressed.

Can't wait until next year!

Knauss Berry Farm is OPEN!

At least once or twice a year, we head south on a Saturday morning to Redlands and Homestead area. Knauss Berry Farm and Robert is Here! are our true destinations, and we throw in some great Mexican food and sometimes a visit to Shark Valley too. Didn't know Homestead was a family fun destination in South Florida? Read on...

Knauss Berry Farm is owned and operated by Dunkers, and is NOT open on Sundays. I'm not too familiar with the Dunker church, but based on my visits to Knauss Berry Farm, it involves some sort of Cinnamon Roll worship. OK, kidding, but this place is FAMOUS for its cinnamon rolls. I mean, long lines through the parking lot kind of famous. They are very, very good, and part of the fun is making it a destination for the kids--the rolls taste even better after you've been obsessing about them in the car for 30 minutes, and then waiting in a line for 20 more minutes! They sell other fresh baked breads, and also vegetables, fruits, and milk shakes.

Knauss Berry Farm also has u-pick strawberry and tomato fields out back, which are not open yet. I think the u-pick opens in December--your kids will love looking for fresh berries, especially. (The fields are not organic, FYI.)

Now on to Robert Is Here! I discovered Robert Is Here! when I first moved to South Florida, and worked for a specialty fruit and nut company. They were on my existing customer list, so I headed off to pay a visit. After driving through farmland for a few minutes after turning off of US1, there it was--a crazy looking open-air fruit stand with the words "ROBERT IS HERE" plastered on the metal roof. (For the fantastic story of the name, and the sign, click here.) I was intrigued, and then charmed--I do NOT make a trip to the Keys without stopping, and when we have houseguests that are staying a while and want to see more of Miami than SoBe and Calle Ocho, I take them straight to Robert Is Here! OK, enough gushing. Here's why the place is so great.

* The milkshakes. They have milkshakes at Knauss Berry too, but I think these are waaaaaay better. So much better, in fact, that I FREAK if anyone even tries to sneak into the milkshake line at Knauss Berry...they must wait until Robert Is Here!

* The local jellies/jams/sauces/etc. From Hot Guava Butter to Key Lime Mango Hot Sauce, the place is filled with hundreds of jars of South Florida-themed treats. Great inexpensive gifts for non-Florida residents, FYI.

* The fresh fruit and produce. Great selection and great prices. Need I say more?

This tripadvisor page provides a good list of other fun things to do in Homestead, and this article lists some of the great Mexican restaurants in the area. Gotta run feed the kid;-)

Special Showing of Madagascar 2 This Saturday for Families With Autistic Kids

I have to say, I was VERY pleasantly surprised to read this press release . What a great idea, and how wonderful of this theater chain to offer this "Sensory Friendly Films" program.
As a parent to two girls with no special needs, I do consider myself very lucky, and I DO think about how much more challenging it would be to parent a child with special needs--at least for me it would be, and I'll readily admit that.
Regarding this Films program offered by AMC, it is offered at only certain theaters around the country, and one of them is right here in Miami--the AMC at Sunset Place. There is a link at the bottom of the press release that lists all the participating theaters. This is a once-monthly event, too!

Ashamed of Floridians' Votes

I'm talking about the constitutional amendments that were on the ballot. This subhead, from the miamiherald.com's article by Jack Dolan today, sums up why I'm ashamed:
Voters largely approved a constitutional ban on same-sex and domestic partnerships, but amendments to help local schools raise money and to strike racist language from state law failed. Click here to read the full article.

Personally, I think the Gay Marriage Ban is utterly ridiculous, not only because I am opposed to the beliefs at its core, but because it is, well...ridiculous! I have no patience for weak arguments, and if you aren't familiar with the reasoning that those in favor of Prop 2 have come up with, or if you don't think the reasoning is weak, please I like this sharp-tongued breakdown by a fellow blogger. But ultimately, I am more disturbed by the big picture the amendment votes paint of our state residents.
Sadly, I think that most people didn't research the propositions in advance, and when they were in the voting booth, they voted quickly, with gut reactions to what they could understand on the fly: "Alien Rights"? "Gay Marriage"? No way--'those people' are different from me, and I don't like to make the effort to get to know people who are different from me, much less allow them their rights! Now, marina owners? Well, I have a boat/aspire to have a boat so I'll help them out. And tax breaks for having hurricane shutters? I'll vote for that too, because I installed hurricane shutters after Katrina to protect all MY STUFF--those people in New Orleans probably lost their flat screen televisions, and all their other STUFF that they worked so hard to buy, and I didn't want that happening to me. Finally, it looks like they might want me to pay more in taxes to help community colleges...hmmm, well, I've already graduated from college/I make enough that my kids will go straight to a four-year college, so why on earth would I want to help the community colleges?"

The fact that Prop 8 (community college assistance) did not pass disturbs me just as much as the fact that Prop 2 did. Conservatives are fond of preaching the "give a man a fish/teach a man to fish" philosophy, but by denying the community colleges the opportunity to ask their localities for help through taxes, we are essentially denying much needed help to the institutions that are helping our most needy students "to fish."
Even worse--while many will hide behind religion to defend their vote in favor of Prop 2, the only thing I can come up with for a vote against Prop 8 is classic, shallow, sadly typical SELFISHNESS.

Hallo-Grinch Inspires Super-Angry Responses

This Halloween in Miami was GREAT. Because it was on a Friday, we didn't have to worry as much about homework, or early bedtimes, because the Big Night was followed by a sleep in Saturday. And, the weather was flawless for the first Halloween in years down here. The past few years have been spent dodging raindrops, but this year? Close to perfect. So yeah, we had a great time trick-or-treating, and it seemed like there were more families than usual out and about in the neighborhood, which we liked. Even the neighbors answering doors commented on the increased numbers compared to previous years, and how great it was.
Not sure if it was the weather, or if there was a huge demographic shift in the area within the year, but is was so nice to have some company walking the neighborhood streets, and everyone was in a great mood!
Then, on Nov 1, I came across this on babble's Strollerderby blog. Wow, what a Halloween grinch! And double-wow at some of the ultra-hostile comments the post inspired! I mean, we all have pet peeves, and apparently Halloween Neighborhood Hoppers is one of this lady's peeves, but she does come off as snobby and exclusionary. Still, it's an entertaining read, and some of the stories the commenters tell ($75 worth of Halloween candy? Are you kidding me? Go to Big Lots already!) are fascinating to me. This Halloween article from the same website also inspired a lot of comments. I really like reading the babble.com, particularly the "Bad Parent" column, in part to read the crazy responses. Like so many parenting issues, people are just SO convinced that their way is the right way, and are often surprisingly willing to be downright mean, rude, and insulting from behind the anonymity of a computer keyboard.