Because chutney goes with everything!

Counting the tissues

pbandchutney — Thu, 12 May 2011 14:39:45 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

I moved to Texas from India when I was 8 years old. I was a complete tomboy and spent all my time outdoors. I played outside, I read outside, I swam, I hiked, I climbed trees – you name it. If the activity involved me being outside and in the sun, I was there.

Then allergies struck.

I had no idea what allergies even were. I was 11 at the time, and had never experienced this problem my entire time I lived in India. Yet just 2-3 years after I set foot in the South, my body decided to repel the main thing I loved the most – being outdoors. I was forced to get allergy skin tests done (ouch!), and had to be put on allergy shots. For 9 years I was getting a shot every 2 weeks. Talk about a pain in the ass!! I finally gave up my sophomore year in college when a) I was seeing no results and b) going to the campus clinic every 2 weeks to get a shot was getting really really annoying.

When I moved to the northeast (it’ll be 7 years this fall), I got MAJOR relief from allergies. Probably because I lived in Brooklyn and wasn’t around too many trees and stuff, but the last few years, allergies haven’t been too bad. Yes I get them, but I can manage them with medication

They say that when you catch a cold or cough when you’re prego – you suffer more than you would if you weren’t prego. As if you’re not feeling enough discomfort at times, you’re gonna feel like shit more and longer than usual. Awesome! With the way the allergy season has been so far these past few weeks, needless to say – I’m freaking miserable. All the sources are saying that due to the insanely heavy snowfall this winter, there’s a tremendous amount of tree pollen and mold that’s lingering. Today, tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday – the pollen count is just sitting at HIGH, which is not reassuring to me.

New Jersey Pollen Count

I can take certain medication (thank goodness), but I’m really trying not to. I bought other alternatives to medicine – saline spray, allergy eye drops, and cough drops (becuase yes, now I’m coughing nonstop and apparently my body wants to continue to punish me in other ways besides constantly sneezing and blowing my nose and having itchy eyes). I also bought the neti-pot, and I’m scared to try it, but I know it may help and give me some relief so I’ll have to suck it up and do it. Has anyone tried that thing? Doesn’t it feel gross? Ick.

Let’s hope this allergy season passes soon and I can enjoy the summer!!

Please Pass the Tissues – Then Shoot Me (noprescriptionnecessary.wordpress.com)
Tree Pollen Count In N.J. Soars After Wet Spring, Snowy Winter (newyork.cbslocal.com)
Allergy Symptoms vs. Cold Symptoms (fitsugar.com)

Stroller Envy

pbandchutney — Tue, 03 May 2011 16:27:38 +0000

Why, you ask, am I writing a post titled “Stroller Envy”? I’ll just jump right into it.

That is because I’m 5 months pregnant!!! It’s still hard to believe at times.. until I look down and see my wonderful baby bump of course! And then I’m quickly reminded that I’ve got a little munchkin growing inside of me. That and the little kicks I’m starting to feel!

The past 5 months have been a rollercoaster to say the least. From the high of finding out, to keeping it a secret, to getting some tests done, to starting to show and having to hide it, to telling our friends and family, to not fitting into my clothes, to buying new clothes! And now the most fun and probably difficult part of all… getting the nursey, house, and surroundings ready for the baby’s arrival! The hubs and I spent 3-4 hours at Babies R Us within a week of us announcing the news registerting for everything that we think we need. Key word – think. God knows what we’re missing or going overboard on!

During my walk yesterday, I found myself acting a little on the creepy side when I glanced a little too long at the strollers and baby carriers walking past me. What brand is it? Does the baby look comfortable? Do I want a 3 or 4 wheeler? Does it look too heavy? Wonder how it folds up. Wonder how much it costs.

Ah yes. Cost. I am in utter shock that there are $1500 strollers on the market. How long does a newborn to toddler need the stroller? How many stollers will the child go through? Do I need just one for the first year, and then get a new one when the baby starts to sit up? Then I get a super light one for when the kid can walk, but needs to rest at amusement parks, malls, etc.?? Do I get a travel system so I’m covered for both – but now I’m buying a monster of a stroller, and although I love that it matches… do I need something like this??

Then there’s the brands! Peg-Perego. McLaren. JEEP. Bugaboo. Graco. Chicco. I have no idea where to begin. So parents.. I ask you for your advice. HELP ME!

The $1,659 ride for tots (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Bugaboo Donkey and 4 other high-end strollers (csmonitor.com)
Baby Stroller Mall Type – The Label, Qualities, Measurement And Cost (jaysdad.com)
Meet the mother of all baby strollers (parentcentral.ca)

Jr. Peeves (via Perpetually Peeved)

pbandchutney — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:44:17 +0000

You know the saying “kids say the darndest things!”? Here’s the perfect example. Totally had to repost this courtesy of my fellow blogger Ms. Perpetually Peeved.

Everyone knows Smalls has a little body and a big personality. So, what pisses off a 4 year old? You'd be surprised. Say what you mean, already! Smalls' pre-K class is gathered around for circle time and they start off the activities by playing the alphabet song on the CD player. Smalls: (sticking fingers in her ears) I am so over this song. Teacher: Smalls, what's the matter? Why are you sticking your fingers in your ears? Smalls: Because, … Read More

via Perpetually Peeved

Back with a vengeance

pbandchutney — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 19:50:48 +0000

My my my…. Where has the time gone!?! What I had hoped to be a short break turned into almost 5 months of a whirlwind. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again.

It’s quite impossible to try to go into detail of what I’ve been up to for these many months… So here’s a short summary:

- Rally to Restore Sanity: totally awesome experience
- My dad’s one year anniversary: scary how quickly time flew by… But loved spending the weekend with my family back home
- The holidays: nothing crazy or out of the ordinary. Good times, good food, good company
- Year-o-weddings: the year finally ended, by attending the 12th wedding. Definitely fun bringing in the new year at one of my best friends wedding reception
- Work: work has been insane to say the least. I shall leave it at that.
- Babies: 2011 will be the year-o-babies. Lots of people getting prego this year, which I’m totally happy to see. I love me some babies

Since I didn’t get time to do my new years resolution so far this year, here goes:

- eat better. I’ve turned (and taken the hubby with me) to organic fruits and veggies. Sure sure I know what you’re thinking… “uhhh where have you been? Way to jump on the organic bandwagon a few years late!” hey better late than never right? I’m so impressed with the freshness factor and how much better my meals taste with the organic ingredients in them. Needless to say, I’m sold.

- exercise more. Yeah ok. Same drill each year.

- be better at keeping in touch with people. After seeing some of my friends at weddings last year after a long long time I realized how bad I’ve been at keeping in touch with them. Yes it works both ways but you gotta start somewhere.

- write more. Ha. This starts now, not 3 months ago.

Nice to be back folks… Looking forward to catching up with my fellow bloggers.

Xoxo,
PB&C

Crap… Wrote this on the iPad and it wrote over my last post. Good thing all it was was out of sight out of mind.

Much a-do in NYC

pbandchutney — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 11:35:07 +0000

For those of you who have employers who give a damn about Columbus Day, congratulations. I get to work on Monday while you sleep in and somewhere in your subconscious thank Mr. Columbus for doing what he did and giving you another day off in the year.

On that note, it’s Friday! And I’ve decided to start a weekly tribute on fun/exciting/different things to do in NYC each weekend. This is an amazing city filled with so much culture, food, and spontaneity… and there’s always a ton of events happening around town. It’s a happenin’ place ya know. You just need to see your options!

And here they are in no particular order…

1. NYC Wine & Food Festival
Celebrity chefs such as Bobby Flay, Rachael Ray, Guy Fieri, Tyler Florence, and many more put on a display of culinary demonstrations, discussion panels, book signings, etc… If you get lucky, maybe they’ll let you taste their More details at http://www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com/2010/

2. Park Avenue Armory‘s Indoor Carnival I haven’t been to an actual carnival in years! And this just sounds bloody brilliant. Carnival junk food, carnival games, rides, and theatrics! What more do you need? Oh yeah, and it’s in New York City. Pow. Take a date on a ferris wheel ride, watch some magic tricks, and top it off with some cotton candy or funnel cake. Admission is only $5 for adults, but rides are additional. I recommend to get an unlimited ride wrist band for $20! You can’t go wrong with that. I convinced my husband to go check this out this weekend! Woohoo! More details at http://www.armoryonpark.org/index.php/programs_events/detail/carnival/

3. The Wizard of Oz
For the kids this weekend, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan lets you and your kids experience the wonders of the classic 1939 movie, The Wizard of Oz. First of all, 1939?! Wow! I still remember where I was when I first saw this movie. It was a “lock in” (you guys remember those right?!) at the YMCA with my entire 4th grade class. The entire gym floor was filled with sleeping bags and they put up a giant projector screen and played the Wizard of Oz! LOVED IT! Anyway, the museum has setup a tornado making machine, The Wicked Witch’s Castle, and even the man behind the curtain. Super cool! Check out more details at cmom.org

4. New York Comic Con/Anime Festival
Calling all geeks! Who needs Halloween when you can dress up in your favorite fictional comic and anime characters for an entire weekend? Riiiight. More details at newyorkcomiccon.com.

Alright New Yorkers… go get em! And have a great weekend!

Today’s eating events: The Brooklyn Bounty and NYC Wine & Food Festival (timeoutny.com)
The Skinny: Park Avenue Armory’s Indoor Carnival, NYC (PHOTOS) (huffingtonpost.com)
Rainy day idea: Check out CMOM’s new “Wizard of Oz” exhibit, which is free tonight! (timeoutny.com)