Grapfruit For Breakfast

I was in the break room at my office the other morning cutting my daily grapefruit in half when a colleague asked, “You’re going to put sugar on that, right?” I shook my head no and received a sour face.

As I sat down in my office, I began the process of cutting the non- cooperative segments of the fruit. I was confronted by another passerby, “Grapefruit is so bitter. How can you eat that! They really are a pain to prepare.”

After two grapefruit comments I stopped for a second and thought… They are right. Why do I eat grapefruit everyday? I put forth the effort each morning to transport my grapefruit from home, carefully slice the grapefruit, store the remaining half and then cut each individual segment for consumption. To top it off, I’m not even really a fan of the taste and am usually hungry afterwards. Sure it’s good for you, but so is broccoli and I don’t eat that for breakfast everyday.

As far back as I can remember, my dad was always up and at em’ packing lunches and preparing breakfast each morning with a smile on his face and a bounce in his step. (No, literally, the man was singing zippity do da and meaning it.) Stumbling from my bed, usually laden with some end of the world high school drama, I was presented with a freshly prepared grapefruit along with cereal. Each morning, I ate the grapefruit. I was never overwhelmed by the taste, but enjoyed what my dad had taken the time to prepare for me.

I think I realized back then what a great dad I had been blessed with, but now as a parent myself I realize it even more. He made it his mission to be up at the crack of dawn to spend quality time with his family before he left for work. He prepared breakfast, and gave a valiant attempt at learning more about his brood… albeit the worst time to converse with teenagers, but all the same…

So why do I eat my grapefruit every morning? Because it’s a part of what made me who I am today. Because it reminds me of an amazing person I call my father. I’ll continue to eat my bitter, hard to cut grapefruit everyday with sheer pride and happiness. Thank you to my colleagues who felt compelled to reveal my true grapefruit subconscious.

Why will your kids eat “grapefruit”? That’s deep, right?

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Amanda in Parenting Leave a comment

And the lucky winner is…

And the winner of the Target Orlando Family Festival four-pack is… Retse Saylor! Congratulations Retse! We hope to see Restse and family on Saturday for some music and fun.

Special thanks to the Orlando Repertory Theatre for partnering with Mamma Mia for this awesome ticket giveaway. Stay tuned for regular Orlando Repertory Theatre updates here at Mamma Mia.

It’s a busy weekend in Orlando! In addition to the festival this weekend, join PLAYGROUND Magazine on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19 for their annual “Park Avenue Summer Sidewalk Sale” in Winter Park.

Happy Friday Everyone!

Posted on July 17, 2009 by Amanda in Giveaways Leave a comment

Orlando Target Family Festival… Read on to Win Tix

I’m in New York this week, missing my Mia of course, but lacking time to write. I figured, why not do something fun, fun, fun that requires little thought on my part…

So… Who wants a family four pack to the week-long Target Family Festival at Loch Haven Park? The festival features national kiddie recording artists and fun activities for the entire family. No better way to spend a summer day in Central Florida with the family. For more details click on the flier posted in this entry.

All you have to do is email marketingasst@orlandorep.com with Mamma Mia Promo in the subject line. Be sure to include your name and contact information. I’ll announce the lucky winner on Thursday.

Please pass this promo on to friends and family! And even if you don’t win, you should still come and hang out with Mia and I this Saturday on opening day!

On another note, it’s the last week to vote for your favorite local blog on Nickelodeon’s Parents Picks web site. We are in the home stretch! Vote Mamma Mia!

(The family four pack includes all Target Family Festival festivities excluding Thoroughly Modern Millie.)

Posted on July 13, 2009 by Amanda in Giveaways, Local Love Leave a comment

Hey Orlando Babies! Wanna Be A Star?

babytalk magazine has relocated to Orlando and needs your super cute baby to strike a pose. Don’t be shy!

Email three recent photos of your 6-18 month bundle of joy to sabrina.james@bonniercorp.com for consideration. Don’t forget to include date of birth.

If they receive your photos by July 3, your little one could be making their fashion debut in the magazine’s fall fashion shoot on July 7.

Send photos ASAP! You know your baby is a SUPERSTAR!!!

Posted on July 1, 2009 by Amanda in Local Love Leave a comment

Amazing Tybee

About five hours north of Orlando and 11 hours south of Pittsburgh lies a small island known as Tybee Island, Georgia. This is a place where families reunite, vows are spoken, unique works of art are created and time somehow stands still. This is where I was lucky enough to spend five days mid-June.

Lately, my life consists of a lot of rushing. Rushing to get out the door in the morning, rushing to beat traffic, rushing for this event and that, rushing to make deadline and sadly enough…even
rushing for bedtime.

I’m not sure how all this rushing came about, but I knew it needed to stop.

I’m not sure if it was Tybee or the people who converged there for my cousin’s wedding. None-the-less, it was refreshing to reconnect and get back to the real me who doesn’t rush through life. (Right: Mia enjoying ice-cream with Nana and Pap)

If you are looking for crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches, don’t go to Tybee. If you are looking for posh modern hotels, don’t go to Tybee. New age cuisine? Don’t go to Tybee.

This locale offers a expansive sandy beach, disappearing quickly and reappearing again as the tide washes in and out. You’ll find horseshoe crabs and magnificent shells. The historic lighthouse can be seen from all locations on the island. Restaurants have been there for years and feel more like a cookout than dining out.

Near the pier there are ice-cream shops and pizzerias that could have just opened, or could have opened in 1975. You’d never know. Shops lining the main street have eclectic local art mixed in with touristy toe rings and shell necklaces. This mismatched atmosphere only adds to the character that is Tybee.

Look across the Savannah River and you’ll spot Hilton Head, look out to the ocean and you’ll always see dolphins, look around you… and you should see family and friends leaving the “rush” behind and reconnecting with what’s really important.

Posted on June 30, 2009 by Amanda in Travel Leave a comment

Watch Out Now!

The moment you’ve all been waiting for… The new and improved Mamma Mia! Whoop! Whoop!

I didn’t write this past week because I’ve been hard at work trying to nail down the “feel” of Mamma Mia. I thought it would be easy, but many hours and one very patient web designer later, here it is. (Thanks Davin!)

What you can expect from the new Mamma Mia… A little bit of this and a little bit of that.

The plan is to hone in on five categories: general mom babble; travels with and without child; Mia’s must haves, clothes, products, music etc.; and about-town news, highlighting events and things to do in Central Florida.

The fifth category will be something kind of different. I realize that I am the mother of one pretty crazy and unique toddler. I also realize the diversity of the moms I know and the insight they provide to me. Therefore, once a month, I will have a guest blogger write on my blog to mix things up. Hey… Mia loves all moms, not just Mamma.

So there you have it. All I can say is that the new format inspires me, and I am super excited! It’s all about inspiration, and that’s why I’m including of photo of my lovely family today… because they inspire me. My sidekick Madison, my “life partner” Marcus and my muse… Mia.

Photos courtesy of Life Focus Photography

Posted on June 23, 2009 by Amanda in Random Leave a comment

Tiny Travelers

Over the past week, I’ve mentioned to several people that I will be shipping my youngin off to Pennsylvania for one week this summer to stay with my parents. (Of course I’m not shipping her off on her own. She’ll be traveling with Nana, and quite safe I’m sure.)

I’ve received some mixed reviews…

“Is this the first time you are leaving her for that long?”

“Wow, you must really trust your parents.”

I left my daughter for one week when she was 9 months old. I jetted off to Hawaii with my lovey for the Pro-Bowl and a week of island exploration. My father flew to Florida, picked up little Mia and flew her back to Pennsylvania for that week.

The day I dropped Mia and my dad off at the airport, I had a panicked moment when I wanted to run after my dad and all together cancel my trip. But, the logical side of my brain stepped in and said, “This isn’t the first time you are going to be away from her, and the longer you wait to create some separation, the harder it is going to be.” Off she went, my tiny baby… on a huge plane to Pittsburgh without me.

While in Hawaii we gushed over quite a few babies and missed little Mia a lot. However, we did manage to get along without her that week. Tropical drinks, catamaran boat trips, snorkeling and just relaxing.

So… yes, I have left Mia before. (Although, for a three-year-old she has traveled quite a bit with us as well.) And yes, I do trust my parents. I mean, I turned out okay… sort of.

I grew up in an amazing little town in Pennsylvania that has managed to maintain a “small town USA” atmosphere to the 100th degree. I want my daughter to experience some of the things I was able to experience growing up. I want her to know my parents and the people who made me who I am, and most of all to learn to love that small town in Pennsylvania the way I do.

Perfect timing Dr. Gupta! Just saw a new post from Dr. Gupta about a mom’s separation anxiety. Check it out.

Posted on June 9, 2009 by Amanda in Parenting, Travel Leave a comment

You Are Where You Eat

I like to eat. Actually, I like to eat a lot. Pending budget, our little clan can usually be found eating at Orlando’s new restaurants within one week of their opening, or frequenting Orlando’s most unique and often overlooked establishments.

Right along with breastfeeding and a colic laden baby, one of my biggest fears while pregnant was that my future culinary experiences would consist of Chick-fil-A and Chuck E Cheese.

In an attempt to save my relationship with food, I decided I would not succumb.

Mia was about three weeks old when we made our way to Numero Uno, my favorite Cuban restaurant. (I know, I didn’t hibernate behind closed doors till the eight week shots. Numero Uno was calling for us, and I was quite sure one little trip couldn’t hurt.) The first year flew by and before I knew it Mia was sucking on edamame with the girls and I at our favorite sushi restaurant.

There were certainly times that our dining experience with a small child was strained, but we suffered through and Mia learned…. Even if that meant me taking her outside, looking her sternly in the eyes and telling her to shape up or ship out. You might question if a two-year-old would “get it.” They do.

So to those future mommy’s who think their dining out life is down the tubes. Fret not. Suck it up. You’ll have some hard times, but in the end your kid will know how to act in a restaurant… what is acceptable and what is not. Stay strong, and you to can create a napkin in the lap, waiter savvy toddler.

And, it turns out Chuck E Cheese isn’t all that bad… Every once in awhile. Compromise, and give your child the best. But, don’t give up who you are and what you love, especially when it comes to
your taste buds!

Mia’s Orlando Hot Spots:

Bento Sushi
Located in the Plaza downtown. Sushi at a reasonable price, wine and beer. Mia enjoys a bowl of steamed green beans, rice and Japanese ice cream for desert. The eclectic atmosphere and rocks that lie below the table tops will keep little ones enthralled.

Numero Uno
If you blink, you’ll miss this hidden gem on Orange Avenue near Michigan. The food is authentic Cuban and delicious! Mia’s favorites include anything mommy or daddy order and share with her including (but not limited to) Ropavieja, chicken, tostones, maduros, black beans and rice.

Metro Espresso
Pizzeria with an edge. Metro Espresso serves up pizza, along with salads and other Italian dishes. Mia dines on thin crust pizza, lemonade and half of mom’s side salad. Outside seating lets you soak in the personality of Thornton Park.

On a final note, don’t forget to vote on Nickelodeon’s Parents Picks website for Orlando’s best local blog. Spirit fingers!!!

Posted on June 2, 2009 by Amanda in Local Love, Parenting Leave a comment

Go To Your Happy Place

I’m not sure if my first statement will discredit my blog in anyway, but hey… what can I do. I am proud to say one of my all-time favorite movies is Happy Gilmore. (Yes, the corny Adam Sandler movie.) “Go to your happy place!”

I thought I knew my “happy places.” I was wrong. An urgent re-evaluation is in order! Life has become so hectic and busy. It has become hard to identify an atmosphere were I feel most relaxed. Yes, I know… floating on a raft in a pool with adult bev in hand. That’s definitely one of them. But, really,where is your “happy place”?

With a long “life” to do list and work on my mind, I woke on Memorial Day with a lump in my throat and a very tight chest.

How could I get out of this funk…

Off we went to feed the swans. Ahhh… Euphoria. Tiny goslings swimming by… mommy and daddy handing over tiny pieces of lettuce to their young. Then, swan attack!!!! Apparently we ventured close to the nest. The dad swan was about to lay down the law. Whatever anxiety was starting to diminish came flooding back.

Next stop, Urban Think, the independent book store on Central Blvd. As we entered the store I felt my anxiety start to float away. By the time Mia and I were sitting with tea and gelato discussing the stores unique string of light fixtures, my anxiety was all but gone.

We watched an independent artist stack the shelves with her most recent work, observed people shuffle in and out asking questions about and ordering all types of teas, we listened to the Coffee House music playing on the the store’s Sirius and then cuddled in a big comfy chair in the kids section and read the best of the best children’s books. I even broke down and wore the Horton ears for a self portrait! (Don’t we look happy?)

Although I’d been in this store many times, I never realized it was my “happy place.” The stresses and rush of everyday life leaves many of us not knowing what calms us or what might be the natural remedy for a tight chest. Stop for a second and savor the moment. You’ll be surprised to find out just where your “happy place” might be and how easy and affordable it is to get there.

Although I’d like to keep my “happy place” to myself, I guess I can share the wealth… Click through to the Urban Think website for a complete list of events and store hours. Your well-being will thank you.

Posted on May 27, 2009 by Amanda in Local Love Leave a comment

Life Unrehearsed

My brain is foggy this week. The brain fog is partially from falling down a very steep and slippery set of tile stairs, but mostly because it’s clogged up with a lot of memories that had been suppressed for some time.

This weekend, I watched my long time friend marry her childhood sweetheart in Siesta Key, FL. Good stuff. It was the most amazing and non-stressful wedding I’ve ever attended or even heard of.

At some point over the weekend, the bride to be said to me, “Why am I rehearsing this moment? I don’t want to rehearse it, I want it to be real.” With that, the rehearsal was cancelled. We even had a non-rehearsal dinner.

All in all, it was a beautiful weekend spent with family and friends. My daughter once again amazes me at her ability to adapt to any situation. Sometimes I wish she “needed” me a little more. Mia was born with no fear and no inhibitions. (That topic will be a blog in itself.)

Over an intimate three days in beautiful Siesta Key, I learned a few things…

1. The best things in life are unrehearsed
2. I have the greatest friends in the world
3. Mia is… the next American Idol
4. Tile stairs = bad news after a fresh rain