The New Multipurpose Dora

Feb 27, 2010

She is still around, we tried to hide her, take out her batteries, disguise her, pretend she died and went to heaven. Monster kept asking for her back and kept re-discovering her under mysterious circumstances. We are now intimidated by the doll and have abandoned ideas of throwing her off the 59th street bridge in a sack. We do however, need to find something to do with it, something that will take the edge off of continuing to tolerate her in our home:















The creativity gene runs deep in our blood.
Watch the previously Annoying Dora here.

The day Sunnyside froze over

We had to get ready this morning,

For this...

And this...





And a whole lotta this....

Sucky pictures credit to Samsung Mythic 2.3 megapixel phone camera. Video of Mr. Ozturk attempting to drive out to work coming soon.

Here it is:

Life as a Toddler--Gimme that coffee!

February 22, 2010
The kid has a reputation to uphold; So many expectations can deprive a child of her energy.

I am officially giving her material to call me a bad parent 25 years from now. Or to be a bad parent, give her own kids coffee and then procure this entry as proof that she inhaled coffee as a baby and still turned out near normalok.

The new look for Monster's playground

February 21, 2010

I may or may not have over done the late evening adventure in the abandoned park; we have witnessed a slightly disturbing cough and snotty nose since last night. It was cool though, for once I wasn't afraid of Monster getting run over by bigger kids....or by any kid at all!

Thank God for small breaks in bad weather

De de dil China Town mein...

The shopping spree for Turkey continues:

Today in China Town, we hunt down the best deal on Pashminas; 10 for $40. The cashmere/silk ratio isn't as good as I wanted it to be, but the designs were the best in the 55/45 material. Also discovered a hidden cove of bootleg designer bags but I need to shop for those with someone who understands the value of a fake label (lolz). So I had to wistfully let go of a $55 Chanel tote but I vow to go back one day without telling the shopping Nazi.



The loot

Why does he know me so well?

Feb 10, 2010

First of all, I know the dates are out of order, but I also have a Monster screaming under the computer table yanking at the wires, so I'm posting as I can get at 'em.

So on the morning after the big storm, I woke up way early than should be considered normal, and had a stupid idea in my head to go to gym. I didn't think I'd be stupid enough to actually act on it. It wasn't so bad and on my way back I had another bright idea upon seeing Mr. Ozturk's snowed in baby Subi.

At home, all I said to Mr. Ozturk was "some kids were jumping on the cars with their sleds" and he goes,

"Did you make footprints on the car with your sneakers?" And I hadn't even shown him the picture yet.

We need some time away from each other, just so I can jump him with surprises.

Our wacky Valentine

Feb 14th, 2010

I think Mr. Ozturk must be the only man who actually would prefer to be on the receiving end of a single long stemmed rose. For the sake of doing something for Valentines, I got him a long stemmed, chocolate rose from Dylan's Candy Bar. He promptly drove us over afterwards to Buttercup Cafe and I got myself a pink cupcake on him.

It's not like we actually exchanged gifts and gave in to the system.

Monster's Snow Day

Feb 11, 2010--And how to make the best of an otherwise sucky day: An hour of "do whatever you want, honey" in an empty playground.

Sunny Playdates

Feb 3, 2010
Monster and I love having other kids over. It is so convenient! Specially on days you want to just lounge around. Add to that a

little kid not even half the trouble Monster can be, and life is a breeze. Happy times like these with Melody make me itch for another baby.

Maybe having playdates isn't a good idea after all. Hmmmm.

Here they go, trying to cram inside the laundry bag together.

Joke of the day

One of the funniest and fun-est people in out family came over yesterday for dinner with his family. Over dinner he related a real conversation overheard in the airport.

A russian kid is running around and bothering his mother and people. The Russian woman stops her son and whacks him as punishment. An American woman watching tells her sternly "We don't hit our children in America!"

The Russian mother looks back and says: "And THAT is why they are the way they are!"

The great night I almost missed

Every Friday night, my Turkish peeps get together for a couple of hours. Each night people bring some snacks to the meeting place which is a few blocks from where I live. This last Friday night, I texted back and forth with the organizer and told them I'll make Tuzlu Kurabiye.
I prepare a dish of them and walk over to Turkish Cultural Center only to find out that the meeting had been moved to the TCC in MANHATTAN!
By now, I'm already half frozen and near collapse from exhaustion, but since I already have the yummy kurabiye in my hands, I call and tell my savior Mr. Ozturk that I have to take the train.
I trudge onto the 7 station thanking my stars that I didn't have to bring Monster and seriously considering getting Mr. Ozturk a flower or something on my way back when I see one of my friends carrying a stroller up the stairs with someone's help. Subhan Allah, the relief one feels in the presense of a good friend is what I felt when I ran into her. The soreness left my body and I really perked up. Plus, after hearing about HER day, I realized, we all feel like we're the most abused moms in the world, but there is always someone in a worse condition than us and I decided to definitely get Mr. O a rose.
At TCC in Mahattan, what I thought would be a small group of friends celebrating a friend's recent marriage, turned out to be a full-on Henna Party complete with henna trays, music and OH. MY. GOD everyone was dressed up.
I was dressed in old flappy jeans and a pilly sweater tunic and had forgotten to put on deodrant.
I still managed to dance and enjoy with my arms tucked in for the safety of my friends. For a while I was able to forget the screams and squeals of a toddler whose better part of the day is spent clinging to my leg. Marta, the guest of honor was radient in her dress and I cannot pass up the opportunity to share her picture here.