Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

Finally...

2011-03-25T23:19:00.002-04:00

Ah, what is going on the world of Carmen Sandiego?She is still stateside, enjoying her job and balancing work and family, like so many of us are...I've taken the little one to the allergist for skin-testing recently. Great news! According to the skin test he is no longer allergic to peanuts or shellfish! I have tried a little peanut (two peanuts, to be exact) and he was fine. The Dr. says to

Life has been so hectic!

2010-11-27T12:24:00.002-05:00

I started a new job, so I am now a full-time working mom a.k.a a woman that always tired and has no free time. I'm working on adjusting and getting more organized. I miss blogging, among other things, and I'm trying to figure out how everyone else does it all.In the world of food allergies there is a lot of news.First - I did a training at the PHELC Conference entitled Food Allergies in the Day

2010-07-16T12:33:00.001-04:00

My sister-in-law put me on to this show. Here's a clip...

Accidents Happen

2010-07-16T11:41:00.002-04:00

Two mornings ago, I got up and gave my son a bowl of cereal. With cow's milk.Usually, I don't even have cow's milk in my fridge, but my niece is here for the summer and so we have milk for her. I'm not even sure how I made that mistake, but I did. I poured the milk in bowl, gave it to him, and he ate every drop. And when he asked for more, I opened the fridge and realized that the soy milk was

2010-05-02T10:32:00.003-04:00

Yay! We made it through a week at day care without any reactions.In the end, I decided to send all of his food. I was, obviously, concerned about cross-contamination, forgetfulness and accidents, but after reading their menu I was less than impressed. Here's what the students ate one day this week:Breakfast: Cheese grits, toast with jelly, pears, milkAM Snack: Cinnamon buns, grape juiceLunch:

Day Care

2010-04-22T11:28:00.003-04:00

For the past two years, I have basically been a SAHM (Stay at Home Mother). I work as a tutor, but that takes place in the afternoon and on weekends between October and March, and during those times my son always stayed with a family member. Next week, my son will be going to day care. As of right now, it is only for a week, but it might become a long-term thing, depending on my work situation.

E-training

2010-03-11T14:36:00.002-05:00

The ASCIA offers a free anaphylaxis e-training. If has been specifically developed for school and childcare staff, but parents, friends and patients are also encouraged to take it brush up on their skills and knowledge. I haven't taken it yet, but I will post an update after I take it, which will hopefully be this weekend. Click on the title or the link below to check it out.Anaphylaxis E-Course

WebMD and food allergy prevention

2010-03-08T21:23:00.003-05:00

I read an article on WebMD the other day about preventing food allergies in subsequent children when one child has already been diagnosed with food allergies. This is a topic that concerns me for obvious reasons, as my son has multiple severe food allergies. So far, most of the information I've read has been conflicting and inconclusive. The basic debate is whether or not pregnant women should

Binky's Big Day

2010-03-05T11:54:00.002-05:00

It was Arthur's birthday and the whole class sang Happy Birthday. He brought special treats for everyone at snack time. Mr. Ratuburn asked Arthur to pick a friend to help pass out the birthday cookies. "Pick me!" they all shouted. Everyone wanted to help except Binky. He knew he couldn't eat birthday treats or even help pass them out because of his food allergies. "I want Binky to help me," said

Yay for Cherrybrook Kitchen!

2010-03-04T21:50:00.004-05:00

After being informed by another food allergy mama that our local Target had some peanut, egg and dairy free cake mixes, I finally got to check it out. Initially, I went to the wrong Target and was frustrated by the blank stares and dumbfounded looks of the employees when I asked if they had them. Then I went to the bigger Target (I think the employee said it was a "Target Fresh") and found them.

Travel and Food Allergies

2010-01-30T10:37:00.003-05:00

I read an article the other day about travel and food allergies. According to a study conducted by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 90% of food allergic families have not traveled outside of the US due to issues surrounding medical care and unfamiliar foods. I think this is so unfortunate.There are a number of resources available to food allergic persons that make international travel more

9 days, 6 airports, 5 airplanes, 2 airlines and 1 toddler

2010-01-04T14:11:00.002-05:00

It has been a busy holiday season for us, as you can can tell from the title of this entry. We have spent a lot of time in airports and on airplanes, and some time with family and friends all over the US. I've discovered a few things about traveling with a toddler that will make future journeys easier, and also some things about traveling (and eating on the go) with food allergies.One of the

Holidays and Food Allergies

2009-12-21T18:42:00.002-05:00

are not the easiest combination.What do most people think of when they think of the holidays? Food, of course. Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. Holiday specific treats and deserts. Parties and family visits and office gatherings all involve food. Neighbors stop by with "holiday treats" and strangers offer small children goodies galore. But for a person with food allergies, seemingly benign

It's here!

2009-12-08T21:30:00.005-05:00

We finally received the Medical ID for my son today. Yay! On the reverse:FirstName LastNameDOBAllergic to eggs, peanuts,dairy, shellfish, chickenCarries Epi-PenIt fits well, is clear and easy to read, difficult for him to remove, fully adjustable and doesn't irritate his skin. YIPEE!!Here he is out shopping with his auntie, wearing his new Medical ID. Of course, he kept trying to take it off. At

Gearing up to travel

2009-12-01T12:16:00.002-05:00

Traveling with a little one requires more pre-planning than when it was just me or me and my husband. We can't just wake up and decide to go to Timbuktu (Tombouctou, Mali), we have to think about the logistics beforehand. My husband travels quite often, and is the king of last minute preparations. He will wait to go shopping, pack, sometimes even purchase his tickets until hours before he is

Eczema

2009-11-23T14:06:00.004-05:00

We have struggled with eczema for years. My mother has it. I have it. One of my sisters. Some cousins. Over the years, we have come up with our own natural remedies and dietary adjustments that help with flare-ups. Unfortunately, most of our doctors seem to think it is "no big deal".When my son was born, I was not surprised to see dry, flaky, crusty patches on his skin. But soon they spread from

Food allergies again...and a medical alert bracelet

2009-11-22T13:35:00.005-05:00

Obviously, food allergies are a major part of my life. As my son gets older and begins to spend more time away from me, my angst has increased. In many ways, I am a laid back parent. I believe in letting my child explore his world, and once it isn't dangerous he pretty much has free reign. A friend of mine came to visit once, and my son was playing outside. He picked up the dirt to put it in his

How are food allergies diagnosed in children?

2009-11-20T11:36:00.003-05:00

As I have blogged and spoken and status updated about my son's food allergies, I often hear the same questions over and over again. Aside from "what is he allergic to" and "how did you find out", a few parents wonder if maybe their child has food allergies, and want to know what they should do.In adults and older children, food allergy is usually diagnosed by a combination of skin testing and

More on food allergies

2009-11-07T13:26:00.003-05:00

After watching this video, my mother contacted the Media Specialist at FAI USA and requested some information to share with her coworkers and others. She received an immediate reply, and the DVD's are on their way. We are so excited! Education is essential, because in this case ignorance is not bliss, it is life threatening. And these videos present the information in a manner that is easy to

Food Allergies Video

2009-11-03T22:35:00.000-05:00

Mary Mary - Get Up

2009-10-25T15:15:00.001-04:00

This is my anthem this week. I need some motivation to GET UP and get things done. I keep waiting for this thing or the next, one person or another, the right time, for everything to fall into place, and it is past the point of being acceptable. I struggle with fear, fear of failure. But honestly, to quote Marianne Williamson, like most of us I am afraid that I am powerful beyond measure. It

Postpartum Depression, Bottle Feeding and Infant and Mother Separation at Birth

2009-10-12T22:38:00.002-04:00

I read this article today and decided to share. It is not conclusive evidence, but it is an interesting beginning to what, I hope, will be more research.Postpartum Depression, Bottle Feeding and Infant and Mother Separation at BirthPosted using ShareThis

Let's Start at the Beginning

2009-10-12T00:09:00.002-04:00

When I think about the importance of family, one of the first things that comes to mind is maternity leave. In China, women under 30 are given 3 months paid leave, women 30 and over, 4 months. Women in Mexico get 12 weeks, and Cameroon, 14. Both paid. And most of Europe is even better. England is more than 6 months. Polish women get 4-5 months and French women 16 weeks for the first baby, and

It Takes a Village

2009-10-10T23:09:00.005-04:00

When I was 15, I went to Mexico as an exchange student with a small group from my high school. On the way there, our 1st flight was delayed and we missed our connection. This was before the days of cell phones and widespread internet. The airport staff, dealing with a lot of irate passengers, continually brushed us off. We called our school, and the head of the exchange program was not helpful.

STUFF

2009-10-07T11:53:00.004-04:00

I have a lot of stuff. Just stuff. Things for my future home, souvenirs from various trips, books, lots of books, baby clothes, photo albums, pictures in boxes, yearbooks and autograph books, and a random assortment of items that I keep "for sentimental value". I have stuff in Shanghai, stuff in NYC and stuff in FL. This summer I had the opportunity to go through my collection of NYC crap, and

A New Theme

2009-10-05T12:38:00.003-04:00

I'm trying to get more organized. The past two weeks have been difficult for me, I've been disorganized, lacking focus and generally unproductive. My to-do list was a mile long, and I didn't get past the first 10 feet.So I've decided to get organized. I finally made a daily schedule, and I already see the difference. I know, one child is not that much work, why would I need a schedule? Well, the

The Trend Continues

2009-09-25T13:02:00.002-04:00

This week is all about building green.What is building green? Well, to me it is building in an environmentally friendly, environmentally conscious way, with little waste, the three R's (reduce, reuse, recycle), and making sure that what goes into the house, materials, paint, appliances, etc, is also sustainable, and earth conscious. For me, building green would also mean building off the grid (

Green Pre-fab

2009-09-22T13:06:00.004-04:00

Okay, so I watch World's Greenest Homes whenever I get the chance. Most of the houses are distinctive, and it's interesting to see how many different ways people can achieve the same basic goal. So here is a house that I think is worth another look (and not as expensive as the majority of the homes on that show).It's a pre-fab, a manufactured home. I'm not a big fan of manufactured homes,

Building Green

2009-09-22T00:15:00.000-04:00

I would love to build a green home. The other day, I was driving down the street, and saw an ad outside of a model come. We Build Green. Intrigued, I went back the next day to see what they had to offer, and how much it costs to build an average green home. Boy, was I disappointed. The saleswoman basically told me that they have a few green elements in all of their homes, which means that they

I worked there!

2009-09-09T13:52:00.003-04:00

As I browsed through news articles from Yahoo!'s home page, I ran across a familiar name. "Hey, I used to work for that guy!" Although Burt Flickinger was an oft quoted man long before I worked for him, I did not often come across his name. And I can not recall seeing it in the years since. It was an interesting thing, seeing the name of your former boss in print, recalling what it was like to

2009-09-04T19:45:00.004-04:00

I'm going to France to get some dancing lessons from Elvyna. Trop forte! FRANCHEMENT RESPECT!

I'm a hustler baby

2009-09-03T22:34:00.002-04:00

I realized this evening that I have a few things I'm trying to get going. In addition to being a stay-at-home mom, I recently got a part-time tutoring job, am setting up my etsy shop and selling my stuff locally, and advertising my services as a virtual assistant. I'm also looking into getting one more out of the house part-time job, at least for the time being. I'm here for now, so I could as

Bleeping Food Allergies

2009-08-24T00:10:00.005-04:00

In case you were wondering, food allergies suck. I went to the store to find some easy meals for my son, some of those toddler microwaveable meals, to have in the house or the diaper bag (I carry food for him EVERYWHERE). After checking labels, I discovered that of the 20+ varieties on the shelf, my son can not eat a single one. NOT ONE. I was quite frustrated. Seemingly vegetarian meals made

Mocha Dai

2009-08-22T11:17:00.005-04:00

Another teaser. I made a few of these belts ("dai" is "belt"). I love them! They have a really fun texture and are one size fits many. They seem to be a hit with the teenage crowd, which is pretty cool. I'm going to make a few variations, different colors and textures, maybe you'll find one you love.Setting up this shop is a bit of work. I had to push back my deadline a week, but I'm still

Online Store

2009-08-19T11:55:00.004-04:00

I finally started to set up my Etsy shop! I'm still taking pictures, so the shop is empty. But here is a teaser for all of my faithful blog readers:The Citrus CollectionThe Newspaper CollectionAnd here is my first custom order. She wanted a pair to match her work uniform.That is just the jewelry. I also have belts, hats, scarves, and a baby blanket or two. So, get those bank accounts in order, my

It's been a long time

2009-08-13T09:22:00.002-04:00

I've had a busy summer. Lots of traveling...by plane, train, automobile, and even coach (bus). I attended the long awaited for union of my oldest friend and her husband (CONGRATS Mrs. H! And Mr. H too.) I've packed and unpacked, moved lots of furniture, had a yard sale or two and spent time with the family. I went to look at schools with my sister, spent some time with my goddaughters, saw my

Color of Change

2009-07-11T10:22:00.000-04:00

Dear friends, Two weeks ago outside Philadelphia, sixty-five children from a summer camp tried to go swimming at a club their camp had a contract to use. Evidently, the club didn't know the kids were largely Black. When the campers entered the pool, White parents took their kids out of the water, and the swimming club's staff asked the campers to leave. The next day, the club told the summer

Inside Story - United China? - 08 July 09

2009-07-10T10:02:00.001-04:00

Michael Jackson - Remember The Time

2009-06-25T20:27:00.001-04:00

A little bit of China

2009-06-04T23:28:00.004-04:00

I read this today on the New York times website. Figured I would share.http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/06/04/world/04twitter.full.jpg

The two-nine's have it!

2009-05-29T18:33:00.002-04:00

Birthdays are for me what new years are for most people. A time during which I reflect on the past year, and think about my future. I don't make new years resolutions, or birthday ones, but I do take the time to think about what a blessing it is to celebrate another year of life.This time last year, I was focused on the life growing inside of me. I had just returned to the States from China, so

On the road again

2009-05-19T22:43:00.002-04:00

We are on the road again. So, this is a quick update.I love the play areas at Tampa Airport! The next time I'm there, I will take a picture and post it. I took my son there and let him run around until he practically fell asleep mid stride. It was hilarious. He recently learned how to walk, and still trips on his own feet sometimes. He was so tired that he tripped, and just stayed down. I got him

Pictures

2009-05-01T20:23:00.003-04:00

Four dozen vegan cupcakes. I made plain chocolate, chocolate chip, Oreo Sat Jan 26, 5:05 AM ET

SLEET!

2008-01-27T20:58:00.000-05:00

On Saturday it snowed. On Sunday it snowed and rained. And today we have sleet. Which means that the sidewalks are a nasty, icy, slippery, slushy mess. Ah, great fun. I saw a few people today with plastic bags over their shoes...perhaps they fancied a bit of ice skating.With that said, I am earnestly awaiting the arrival of summer. Last year, it did not snow in Shanghai. Actually, it does not

Bare Bottoms

2008-01-16T00:06:00.000-05:00

A few observations from daily life...It is winter here. As such, people are wrapped up - gloves, winter coats, boats, and other cold weather attire. Babies in snowsuits that weigh as much as they do. With there bare bottoms, not always, but often enough, visible through the slit bottom pants (all three pants, and the snowsuit). I honestly do not comprehend how if it is cold enough to bundle up

I's married now. I said, I's married now...

2008-01-06T07:23:00.001-05:00

To quote Shug Avery from The Color Purple, "I's married now!".Yes, I took my happy self, as my people say, and went to Cameroon and got married. It was an interesting, exciting, unique, challenging, exhilarating and amazing experience. I am not even sure where to begin or what to say. I was "stingy with the details" leading up the wedding, and so most of you had an idea that I was getting married

Updates

2007-12-20T07:46:00.000-05:00

I finally got a new USB and cleared my camera's memory stick. When going through the pictures, I realized how much I haven't posted on here that I should have. I guess I felt like no one ever read this blog, but in actuality, it's just that no one comments. (hint, hint). In the future, I will try to be a better blogger. Glad that you all read (in general, and this blog specifically)!So, here are

Wedding Dress

2007-12-09T20:33:00.001-05:00

On Sunday, I went to Suzhou (a town not far from Shanghai), to the famous wedding dress street to find my wedding dress. I already had a picture that I wanted to make a few minor adjustments to, so thankfully my search was very directed. Wedding dress shopping, especially on a street full of shops dedicated tot hat purpose, can be information overload for a person like me. I am not a sport

Finally!

2007-10-27T01:52:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures of my apartment. Enjoy!Here's the view from my balcony of the grounds. (Actually, I have a good view of the city,but it is a little overcast today, so you'll get those pics another time. )The living and dinning room area. Not huge, but nicely done.Well, 'cept those white floors, they are driving me crazy.I'm getting a maid, just to mop the floors twice a week!The kitchen.

Rent-A-Negro

2007-10-26T02:49:00.000-04:00

I just discovered this website http://rent-a-negro.comHere is an excerpt from the price quote page:Pricing Event Rates • Corporate/Business Rate: $350 per hour • Personal/Private/Individual Rate: $200 per hour • Non-Profit Rate: $275 per hour •

Black is Beautiful

2007-10-23T20:22:00.000-04:00

So the saying goes, and so too, does the headline of the most recent "City Weekend". Under that bold headline, the caption reads, "As Shanghai gears up for Beyonce's landmark concert City Weekend wonders what it's really like to be black in China." My oh my. "City Weekend" wonders what it's really like to be black in China. I was completely surprised. "City Weekend" is a magazine that is geared

Toil and Trouble

2007-10-12T03:15:00.000-04:00

Double, double toil and trouble:Fire burn and cauldron bubble.as taken from MacbethThere is a wonderful lack of true toil and trouble in my life at the present moment, and for that I am intensely grateful. I am thinking about this because a few of my friends and acquaintances in Shanghai are currently experiencing double helpings of toil and trouble. The thing that separates me from them is

A nigger, coon, darkie, Jim Crow

2007-09-21T02:08:00.000-04:00

A negro (pl. –es); a colored person; a blackamoor; a black man; a black; a nigger; a darky (darkie); a coon; a Jim Crow; colored people; the colored. That is the definition, according to Sharp's electronic Korean-English dictionary, of "black person". As an educator, I am appalled. As a person, I am offended.My students are doing oral reports on the Civil Rights Act of 1964, title VII. As such,

The Typhoon is Coming, The Typhoon is Coming!

2007-09-18T01:59:00.050-04:00

Important Announcement!To All Faculty and Staff,Classes are canceled tomorrow due to Wipha Typhon. We expect to resume classes on Thursday, September 20, 2007. Please remind students of the cancellation.Thank You.The Principal.I received this note and looked out of my classroom window. It had been a dark, dreary day with heavy rainfall. I thought nothing of it, as we have had a few dark, dreary,

My does the time fly

2007-08-18T18:40:00.000-04:00

I have been to the States and back again. Three weeks was not enough time, and so I didn't even tell most people that I would be there. Even still, I did not get to see everyone that I would have liked to see, or do even half of the things that I wanted to do. If you missed me, my apologies, I hope you can understand.So, in three weeks, I a lot of time travelling. Drove down to FL. Fly to STL

Reflection

2007-07-19T08:49:00.000-04:00

What a difference a day makes.In my case, a lot of days, but the concept is the same. When I found out, about this time last year, that I would be going to China, I was full of excitement, nervous anticipation, a little fear and a lot of gratitude. After years of feeling like my life was not going the way I had envisioned (good job, steadily decreasing debt, apartment, car, committed relationship

The Pace of Change

2007-07-16T10:14:00.000-04:00

As I walk around this city, I am often struck by the contrasts that I see. Old and new. Rich and poor. Classic European and traditional Chinese. Cutting-edge technology and centuries old tradition. Sometimes these things appear to work out a harmonious dance, and other times it is all elbows and knees jutting out at weird angles. Perhaps the most striking to me, right now, is the contrast in

China executes former drug and food safety boss

2007-07-14T02:31:00.001-04:00