We love Lawrence Farms!

My pumpkin hanging with some pumpkins
behind the Lawrence Farms store

Ok, ok, I'll stop sleeping and eating for a second to post a promised review! Seriously, I do miss posting here more often and keeping up with all my wonderful blog friends, but I didn't remember how rough the first trimester was. And, it sure does makes a huge difference having an energetic boy to watch over this time around!

That said, amid all my eating and sleeping we did make it out to Lawrence Farms Orchards in Newburgh, NY for some apple and veggie picking at the end of last month. And we had a blast! The place is huge and though there were a lot of other folks there, at times it felt like we were wandering through the farm alone (which was so lovely and peaceful). Even somewhat late in the season, there was a good variety of veggies, pears and apples to choose from. And I really loved that everything was labeled so nicely so that you could pick and choose what to gather. Also, most everything could be picked while standing on the ground, which meant no need to wield huge picking poles while wrangling children!

In the cabbage patch

We didn't think ahead to bring a wagons or apple bags, but both are available for a small rental fee on-site. Also on-site were the most delicious apple cider donuts ever, an adorable farm store, a food stand for lunch and picnic tables (quickly-filled), some horses, two huge friendly dogs, and other animals to admire, a hay maze, and a play area filled with adorable kid-sized playhouses--a horse stable, firehouse, church and more!

We will definitely be returning to Lawrence next year--probably in the summer as well to pick more vegetables. The whole experience was definitely worth the ride upstate--and the naps we all needed to take afterward!

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Warning, this Post Might Gross You Out (Or, How We Battle Our Roaches for Cheap)

Ok, so its not as bad as the title makes it seem. Its just that, like many apartment dwellers, my husband and I are engaged in a no-holds-barred war with (dun dun dun) cockroaches. Argh! How I hate them! And I also hate how expensive it is to have an exterminator come by the apartment on a regular basis to take care of them.

Since my landlord is most certainly not paying for tri-monthly exterminator visits, I had to come up with another battle plan. Luckily a friend of a friend is an exterminator and I was clued into a safe and easy roach killing product that many exterminators use: Maxforce Roach Bait Gel.

You can get a syringe of the stuff from DoYourOwnPestControl.com for around $13. That's a huge savings on the $300 fee the exterminator charges each time he comes--and he's using the same exact product! All you have to do is place a little bead of gel bait in nooks, crannies, cracks and crevices around your home every couple of months and the war on roaches will tilt in your favor. Its even kid, pet, and food safe.

DoYourOwnPestControl.com has a bunch of other inexpensive do it yourself pest control products if you are looking for a simple and effective way to make your home bug/rodent free. I reccomend you check it out... why pay someone hundreds of dollars when pest control can be so simple and cheap to do yourself?

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Magic Beans' Awesome 31 Days of Giveaways

We all know I'm a sucker for giveaways, so I have been really, seriously over the moon about Magic Beans' 31 Days of Giveaways online. Magic Beans is a super-cute Boston-area kid's chain (filled with a great hand-picked selection of children's products) that has an even cuter online storefront. Naturally, the products they are giving away are out of this world--from a Bugaboo, to a giant giraffe toy, to a super fancy Monte Designs Luca $1000 glider (that's today's prize!)

Hurry up and get over to Magic Beans site before the 31 days are up (today is day 23, so you've got a good week left of awesome prizes.) Tell your friends and family too--maybe they'll win a prize and gift it to you!

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The Best Meat Deal Ever!! N & V Meat Market in Glendale

My husband and I get frustrated by the "big" grocery stores near our apartment in Glendale, Queens. They are expensive, crowded, and don't have the selection of meat that we are looking for... and there's nothing that ruins your day/week more than a hectic grocery shopping experience where you don't get all the things you need!

Thank God, then, that a neighborhood friend just introduced me to N & V Meat Market! This butcher shop and specialty Italian food store at 66-03 Myrtle Avenue (the sign outside reads "Vinny's") offers special meat freezer orders that have blown our mind.

For just $29.95 you can get:

• 1 1/2 lbs chopped meat
• 4 pork chops (bone-in)
  
• 1 whole chicken (cut to your specifications)
  
• 4 chopped sirloin patties (hamburgers)
• 1 1/2 lbs thin-sliced chicken cutlets
  
• 1 lb stew beef
• FREE dozen eggs!

I calculated the savings using my local Stop & Shop and it looks like we saved about $15 at N&V. Equally important, we saved ourselves the stress of wading through the crowded, poorly-stocked aisles of the grocery store and can pat ourselves on the back for supporting a small local business.

You can order the freezer meat specials ahead of time so that you won't have to park your car or you can just walk in (which is what we do--its totally fine.) The meat is super fresh and you can also make substitutions if you like. We substituted 6 fat Italian link sausages for the whole chicken and made amazing sausage and peppers sandwiches. Yum!

Other freezer deals at N & V:

$46.95

• 1 1/2 lbs chicken cutlets
  
• 2 1/2 lbs eye round
  
• 1 1/2 lbs chopped meat
  
• 5 pork chops
  
• 1 whole chicken
  
• 1 lb milk-fed veal cutlets
  
• 1 dozen eggs
• FREE lb bacon
  

$59.95

• 2 lbs London broil
  
• 1 lb milk-fed veal cutlets
• 1 1/2 lbs chopped meat
• 3 lbs eye round
• 1 whole chicken
  
• 1 lb sausage (any combination of sweet/spicy)
• 1 1/2 lbs chicken cutlets
  
• 1 1/2 lbs stew beef
• FREE dozen eggs
  

$76.95

• 1 lb stew beef
• 1 dozen eggs
• 1 1/2 lbs thin sausages
  
• 1 1/2 lbs chicken cutlets
  
• 3 lbs eye round
• 6 pork chops
• 2 whole chickens
• 1 1/2 lbs London broil
  
• 1 lb Board Head franks
• 1 1/2 lbs chopped meat
  
• 1 lb milk-fed veal cutlets
• FREE lb bacon
  

Go ahead and give this butcher a try... the deals are so good that my mom is even thinking of driving down from upstate to take advantage of them! But don't tell too many people or we'll all be standing in line! :)

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Store Review Part Deux: Woodbury Common

Mamas, Woodbury Common was a nightmare yesterday! The grounds were crowded, there were wars over the seats in the food court, there were 40-min-long lines to get into the top stores (Coach, Ugg, Burberry, etc.) and it took us almost 2 hours to get out of the parking lot due to poor (meaning "no") traffic control.

If you are pregnant or have small children, you are really going to want to stay away from Woodbury on a holiday or other high-volume shopping weekend. I ended up really nauseous by the time I got home because I had been unable to eat anything other than a corn dog, bratwurst, and french fries on the go the entire trip. (It would have been smart of me to bring snacks, but hindsight is 20/20 of course.)

People are also just ridiculously rude--New York City morning subway rush rude--on sale days at Woodbury. They push you, don't watch their children who run smack into you, let doors slam in your face/on your stroller, and, worst of all, a woman came up to a friend of ours and her baby and complained that she shouldn't have her child out amongst the germs. Seriously? We're already cranky, lady. Don't make us crankier.

Also, if you have a small child, you are going to want to bring all of their weather gear. It seems like the outlets are in a vortex and the wind was really rough on our friends 3-mo-old.

Despite all of this nonsense, and the fact that I didn't buy anything because the stores were too full, it was great to see my cousins. I'll probably even venture to Woodbury again, but next time I'll bring snacks and a winter coat (it was so chilly), will park right near the exit, and will go on a weekday!

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Store Review: Woodbury Common Outlets in Central Valley has no Maternity!

The Woodbury Common Outlet Center in Central Valley is a nice day trip at just under an hour and a half driving from south Queens. You can usually find some great deals at stores from the Gap to Coach, but apparently none of the stores at Woodbury carry maternity clothing!

Ugh, I'm headed there this Sunday with cousins and I really wanted to buy a pair of leggings for fall layering (a necessity to extend the life of your summer dresses) and some pantyhose for the wedding I'm going to next week. I'm certain to have fun browsing through purses, shoes and housewares, but I'm just kind of bummed I won't be able to get my stockings--and no way am I squeezing into non-maternity hose!

Sigh. Just a heads-up for you mamas heading up to Woodbury. You'll be able to get some cute accessories--and maybe even purchase some larger sizes or some empire-waisted styles to supplement your wardrobe--but you won't be able to buy anything specifically made for maternity.

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Store Review: Babies R Us, College Point

I'm still pleasantly surprised when I come across an area of Queens that reminds me of my suburban upbringing. For example, the Babies R Us in College Point Queens is huge, clean, and organized, with tons of free parking outside--just like blessed suburbia!

Even on a Sunday afternoon, we were able to get in and out of the store in 20 minutes or so to pick up our crib (which had been pre-ordered from a BRU upstate). We tossed that huge box into the car (with the help of the store staff of course), picked up some Chinese takeout, and headed on home. How nice to not have to stand in long Manhattan lines or lug everything home on our backs!

Here's our beautiful Sorelle lifetime crib, which we have yet to build, and which was purchased on-sale for $275!

I would definitely recommend getting your furnit ure through this store. If I could do it again, I'd probably set up my registry at this store too since it is much easier to navigate--and less crowded--than the store in Manhattan's Union Square.

Now, if I open up the box and find out the crib is in any way damaged, I may be singing another tune! I'll keep you posted with pics soon, Queens Mamas.

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