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mother’s day without mama

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I’ve been dreading this upcoming weekend – the same one I couldn’t wait for at this time last year. The one where finally Quinn would understand who “Mama” is. The one where now I find myself without my own to celebrate with, now unwilling part of the group dubbed as Motherless Daughters. I can’t wrap my head around Mother’s Day without my mother. It seems impossible, but yet it’s there – looming on the calendar and fast approaching just the same.

I decided a few weeks ago that I was going to do as much as I could to make the most of it. In keeping with my focus for the year, I wanted to do so in a personal way way that worked for me. I’ve been getting swamped with Mother’s Day promotions from all sorts of companies. It’s everywhere you turn – from TV to social media to workplace conversations. Instead fighting it or trying to ignoring it, I decided to embrace it. Force myself to get through this extra painful first one. Have I broken down in tears over the last week? Yes. Will I do it again? Probably yes. Do I feel at least a bit better for the different things I’m doing to try to have a good attitude and embrace the day? Absolutely.

I wanted to share a few of these things I’ve been doing in case they’re helpful to anyone else going through the same thing. [Read more…]

downtown seattle pizza at zeeks

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When you take two girls from the NYC metro area and give them one nice meal to share together in Seattle, I’m sure that the top choice you’d guess is pizza, right? Probably not, but as you’ll see below, perhaps it should be!

I had only a few extra hours between when we arrived back in Seattle the trek back from Write Doe Bay (drive, ferry, drive) and my flight back to the right coast. We decided to make the most of it, hitting up the Space Needle and grabbing dinner. Someday Seattle, I promise – I’ll return for a proper visit. This is my second time in Seattle that didn’t really count as a visit. Next time! Anyhow, Zeeks Pizza caught our eye as it had great reviews and the upside of being so close to the Space Needle. [Read more…]

write doe bay

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Almost six years ago, I got a quill tattoo on my foot as a reminder of my commitment to writing. Over the past few months, I’ve looked at it and realized I haven’t been honoring that commitment. It felt like a permanent lie. I stopped trying to find representation for my first novel and shelved the second one I started years ago. I’ve upped the writing on here, but that’s not enough. Something needed to change to get back to where I wanted to be. Enter Write Doe Bay.

Back in March, I came across the website for Write Doe Bay. I hadn’t heard of it before. I didn’t have a close friend who attended. I’ve actually been working with Claire Bidwell Smith, a writer I greatly respect and someone who understands mother loss deeply from personal experience. Finding this opportunity to finally meet her face-to-face bundled in with a writing retreat seemed like too strong of a sign to resist – and something in keeping with my personal theme for 2018 I had to admit I needed.  [Read more…]

visiting the turtle back zoo

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If anyone had told me that there’s a solid zoo less than half an hour from Central New Jersey, I would have thought they were joking. On Saturday, a visit to the Turtle Back Zoo proved me wrong.

Located in West Orange, the zoo is a part of a broader South Mountain Recreation Complex that also includes an ice skating/hockey rink, a mini-golf course, paddle boats a restaurant, and a nautical themed playground. Admission is reasonable – $15 per adult, $12 per kid 2 to 12, and no charge for children under age 2. [Read more…]

just breathe

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This week, I’ve slowly and gently returned back to “my normal.” I’m sitting in my backyard right now, breathing in some fresh spring Jersey air. Last week at Write Doe Bay was amazing. I’m still processing it, but walked away back in touch with something I’d lost touch with over the years. As I’m thinking on all that, returning to my commitment to yoga has been an important immediate step. Yoga has never been a consistent part of my workout routine. Around 15 years ago, I’d occasionally go to a class here and there when I lived in South Florida – more enchanted by the rustic wood cabin where it took place than the class I was attending. I began to wonder over the last few months if it could be good for me as a next step in my fitness journey   [Read more…]

toddler activities for an active weekend

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I have to admit it. We are guilty. Too often, our weekends are planned around errands. It’s the only time we have for grocery shopping, anything we need for the house, the next size of clothing for Q as he continues to grow like a weed… you name it. It’s our reality but that doesn’t make for fun days for Quinn. We’ve been working on changing that and prioritizing planning some toddler activities each weekend.

Toddler Gyms

Over Easter weekend, we planned out some things with him in mind. On Friday, his daycare was closed – so I took off and we had a mommy and Q day. We slept late(ish) and then I took him to a trial class at My Gym. It was pretty crowded, with I’m sure other folks off of work for the same. [Read more…]

donuts and fried chicken at birdies

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We knew going into the trip that we weren’t going to have a ton of free time in LA, but I was determined to find a few good places to eat. What I didn’t know was that we’d end up with an amazing spot right by our hotel that we’d end up visiting multiple times that features two of my favorite things – donuts and fried chicken.

Donuts and Fried Chicken, Lara Ziobro, Grits in the City, Food Blogger, Lifestyle Blogger

Birdies is located in the newly hip Downtown Los Angeles, or DTLA for short. You know, because everything is cooler as an acronym. We thought it might be closed as we walked up the first time. There was a closed place next door and the grate they pull down to close was hovering down just a touch – enough to make you wonder. But nope. They were open – and thank goodness. (Note if you come on Friday or Saturday they’re even open 24 hours!) [Read more…]

5 ideas to spring clean your closet

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It’s officially spring! If you’re in NYC, you might be saying sure – then why is there snow in the forecast for this week. This weather… warm weather or not, spring is here. It might be hard to think about it, but it’s a good time to start thinking about that clothing switchover since warm(er) temps will be here before we know it. This time last year, I was just dusting off my non-maternity clothes – so I pretty much skipped this altogether in 2017. While there are so many other types of cleaning I also want to focus on, this year I fully intend to spring clean my closet. Here are five helpful ways to do so. [Read more…]

giveaway: new york baby show 2018

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The 2018 New York Baby Show, on May 19 & 20 at Pier 94 will once again be the largest show for new and expectant parents in the country. Now in its 8th year, no other event provides a better experience for thousands of expectant and new families from New York and neighboring counties, seeking a family-friendly jamboree of top brands, great speakers and seminars, big giveaways, and lots of learning, support, bonding, and fun as you make your way into parenthood.

Grits in the City - Mommy Blogger - Family Blogger - Lifestyle Blogger - Lara Ziobro

After sitting out last year (we were just moving into a our new house), I’m excited to return this year to check out this year’s slate of vendors. I had a great time when I attended in 2016 only month’s before Q’s arrival and left with more products and freebies than my bag and arms could handle. This year, I’m giving away 10 tickets so you and your family can experience the show, too!

Entry Details

To enter, all you have to do is to comment on this post and let me know what product/merchandise category you’ve been most obsessed with for your little one (or little-one-to-be). For us, this has been pretty basic these days – books! You’ll receive an extra entry if you:

For the additional options, please note as an additional comment on this blog post. Only those actions noted in the comments, below, will count as entries for this giveaway.

All entries must be in by 11:59 PM EST on April 3rd. Winning ticket cannot be redeemed for cash value or transferred to anyone. Entrants must be 13 years of age or older. Winner will be randomly selected on Wednesday, April 4th via Random Number Generator and announced here. I’ll also reach out to the winners via email.

Best of luck!

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Update: The contest is now complete and I’m in the process of reaching out to winners. Please note I will need an email address to send you the code for you to redeem your tickets and unfortunately a number of entries below are missing this. If yours is not included in your profile connected to your comment below, please send me a quick email so I know how to connect with you. Thanks!

opening weekend at waitress on broadway

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In honor of Pi Day, I’m pulling this one out of the drafts. Back in March 2016, I had the chance to see the original cast of Waitress during the musical’s preview weekend on Broadway.

My good friend is a huge Sara Bareilles fan and was hoping that Sara might do something special during the previews. While she did not, I will say the show is now one of my favorites I’ve seen on Broadway. I watched Waitress on DVD several years back on Netflix, curious in equal parts from the cute cover image, the synopsis and the fact that I’ve loved Keri Russell since her days as Felicity. I was curious to see the movie adapted for Broadway and to get to see Jessie Muehler, having never seen her in a show before. [Read more…]