twodoebs

The sun came out yesterday. Yay!!
We decided to take the dog for a walk. Libby insisted on wearing her sparkly sunglasses. Of course.



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Since becoming the mother of two just about 6 months ago, I have struggled with figuring out how exactly one grocery shops when one child's car seat takes up the entire cart and the other child isn't really old enough to freely walk around the grocery store for fear of dawdling or running off and general disturbances. I have managed my way around this by trying to grocery shop while they nap on Saturday's and Sunday's and Doebtown can stay home with them. But that doesn't of course mean there haven't been times when I've needed to hit the grocery store and have them both in tow. These trips to the store totally bum me out. I end up sweaty, carrying Libby while pushing the cart full of primarily Heidi but whatever groceries I can pile around her in the car seat.

Recently however, Market District has come to my aid! They just launched a new service called Curbside Express which pairs two of the best things in the world - online shopping and 'drive thru' style pick up. Here's the gist. Shop online through their website. . .select a pick up time . . .at your appointed window (windows are 30 minute segments), you show up to the store and pull up in the designated areas out front . . .call the number on the poster which marks the parking areas and one of the Curbside Express team gathers your bags and brings them out to your car . . .an attendant with a hand-held credit card machine comes and swipes your card so that you don't have to get out of the car while another team member loads up the groceries for you.

I have tried this service now twice and I'm totally over the moon!!!! Don't get me wrong, there are a million areas to improve upon. This is definitely their "1.0" version. Specifically:
1. It can be a little difficult to know exactly what you're going to get when you're buying things that are from the bakery/produce area. If you're super picky and like to get your hands all over the apple before you buy it, this is probably not the service for you. You definitely need a little faith and flexibility.

2. They don't always have exactly what you put in your cart. But both times I've bought thru curbside express someone called within 2 hrs of my pick up time to go thru what they didn't have and what my options were. For example "We don't have Chobani Very Berry yogurt, we do have Chobani in orange or chocolate, or Yo Kids Greek yogurt in raspberry" (they had all the price/size options too). This way you can make decisions on the fly. It's kind of a bummer that you can put it in your cart then they don't have it. But to me this is no different than me making a list on Saturday at home and them not having it come Sunday afternoon.

3. You don't get to use the millions of reusable grocery bags. So while we've been amassing all these eco-fabulous reusable bags, this system is all paper/plastic. But seriously, for the convenience I'm totally ok with it!

4. The website isn't awesome. Not everything has images (which lead me to accidentally buying Disney bandaids last week. Oops) and the organization of all the inventory isn't quite there yet.

5. The keyword searching SEEMS to only look for keywords in the product name. So for example, while searching for "Baby Foods/First Foods" I only get 15 results. These 15 products have the words "FIRST FOODS" in their title. If I search under "Baby Foods/Organic" there are SCADS of options which ARE first foods but don't say as much in their product title so don't appear on the "first foods" results. I suppose if the keyword search queried also product DESCRIPTION in their database, the searching process will become more holistic and accurate.

6. Once you submit and inevitably realize you forgot something, you CAN go back and update your order (so long as it's not too close to pick up time) but the flow by which you do that is a little circuitous. There are some improvements there. I mean, I know this is my line of work so I'm more inclined to find website usability issues but there are def tons of improvements which I can only hope are coming!

7. They need a MOBILE APP!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have an app to manage my grocery list as it is. So until Market District develops one, I will have to go to my app to create my list then use my list when I go into the site to 'shop'. In time, I PLEAD that this app allow me to build my list all ad hoc as I run out of things during the week or as they occur to me.

Despite these issues - I truly am thrilled about this service. I've been going on and on about it on facebook too. The convenience charge is very low if you ask me - for the value they are providing me. Right now the fee is $4.95 (though it's waived for your first time) and truthfully I'd happily pay twice that for not having to lug two kids thru the store taking 7 trips to the potty in between.

I also am very hopeful that not only will this process improve over time but my deep hope is that this new service is the pre-cursor to grocery delivery!!!! Oh how can I dream of PeaPod or Fresh Direct or perhaps Market District DELIVERY!?!?!?

Ahhh - dreams. Until then, I will totally be rocking the Curbside Express Service!!!!!!!!! Thank you Market District for making my weekend trip to the store a BUNCH better!!!

Heeeeeeeey Doebtown!

Guess what, you're coming HOME today!!! (well still tomorrow as I sit here writing this, but by the time you see this it will be "today"!)

Today proved to be a very exciting day for our ladies.

The day began with an adorable little cuddle.


Libby seemed to enjoy some morning coffee :)


Libby spent a little extra energy getting ready for her big play date!


Libby and Maya REALLY enjoyed their playdate!


I mean what can be better than dolls, dress up and coloring!!??


Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Little Pink HeidiHood was enjoying time with Grandma!


Libby even got some finger painting in!


This little face can't wait to see you tomorrow night babes.

Travel safely my love!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Doebtown . . . I am so bummed we didn't get to chat today :(

Here's a few pics from the day though!!


This is sweet Libby getting into Grandma's car this morning on her way to "play with Grandma" day.


I had a luxurious lap-breakfast of a cold bagel en route to St. Louis. I didn't take a picture of my super luxurious lap-lunch of Pringles.


Heidi was partying at Grandma's - obviously.


Libby and Heidi appeared to be 'row row rowing' a boat before nap time today. As usual - Weber is not ever far behind!

Looking forward to getting you home in just TWO days! woot woot!

Hey Doebtown!!!

Once again - I am thrilled we got to chat today and I know Libby really loved seeing you. She misses you tons!

Now as for my day in pictures . . .


I know this one is pretty hard to see, but this is a pic of the monitor with Libby all 'buns-up'. I love that she still sleeps like that sometimes. hahaha


I know you already saw this one, but still . . .this love affair between her and bunny is getting serious I think!


I had a diet coke today (see yesterday's post re: wine drinking with Kate A)


I let Libby watch some TV tonight while I cooked dinner. She really enjoyed it. For 10 mins then came over to the kitchen and said she didn't want to watch TV and preferred to help me cook dinner. She needs to be about a foot taller to really help but man she's sweet.


Heidi was my little sous-chef while I cooked. Super helpful :)


Once again, Heidi really enjoyed her dinner. Our girl is loving all this 'food'!!

Ok my love . . .I gotta shut down early so I can pack up for my St. Louis trip. . .airport-inspired pics to come:)

Glad you had such an awesome night and can't wait to catch up with you more soon!

My Dearest doebette,

Although we may still be separated by a large ocean and thousands of miles, you remain close to my heart. While the Swiss people are very kind, I continue to yearn for you, my true love.

I, actually, had a great day today and you would have been so proud of me. Our meeting was great. We made lots of good headway planning the case and arrived at some good, solid decisions that I think will really strengthen our position. Do NOT let Libby put that cell phone anywhere NEAR her head!

Anyway, we wrapped up early in the afternoon. So I put on my walking shoes and went for a LONG walk--over SIX miles (that's over 9.5 kilos, for those of you hip enough to speak foreign).

And I didn't get lost ONCE! (So if you see my mother, would you please tell her that I took rather indignant pride in myself?)

Actually, I took my iPhone along with me. And it was REALLY cool for the task because I asked it to follow my walk and it just drew a line for me of where I'd been so I could never GET lost. Kind of like a more modern version of Gretel's breadcrumbs (do you remember when we were going to name Heidi Gretel?)

Here's a map of everywhere I went. I realize that this doesn't do MUCH for you, but it gives a sense of the islands that I visited, the parks I walked through, and the waterfront that I explored:



The other cool thing about having my iPhone with me was that I could take pictures. I tried had not to be "that guy" and just take pictures of things that would have sucked if they weren't in Europe ("just because it's in black and white doesn't mean it's good") and I really wished I had my big camera with me, but I got some shots that capture the flavor.


First thing I did was ask the woman behind the front desk of our hotel where I should go on my walk. You know, to get some local direction. She told me to head WEST towards the "Old Town."
So--of course--first thing I did was head North to the "New Town." And what I realized there is that they have all the same things that we have in Shadyside. Or Georgetown. Or Ross Park Mall. Basically United Colors of Benetton. And McDonalds. And Earnst & Young. I even saw a City Mini stroller!





Having lived in New York for so long and always wondering what tourists were thinking as they wondered around the city (I don't get that so much in Pittsburgh), it was nice to actually BE one of those tourists and wonder what all those people were thinking as they went about their life in this cool city (I don't get the sense people wonder what I'm thinking as I go about my life in Pittsburgh).
I saw some youngsters playing a ball game that all the locals kept calling "football." But I stayed there for more than a few minutes and there weren't any concussive hits, so I must have missed something in the translation.




I saw the Royal Palace, the Official Apartments, and what was EITHER their Supreme Court or an opera house--I'm not sure (for some reason, every time I try to use that fancy new app I bought on my iPhone to translate signs from Swiss into English, it gets screwed up).
The ONE bummer was that the very cool nautical memorabilia shop that sells old sextons and stuff written in Eurpoean was already closed. And I just KNOW that's the place where I'm going to find a nice little gift to give Victor for sending me on this trip. So I'll have to go back there.
Anyhow, two hours later, I made it back to the hotel. This, by the way is OUR hotel:

Hi Doebtown . . .

It was awesome to chat to you today and know you're doing well. Hopefully you're sleeping like a champ right now and getting regulated for a big week of meetings. Over here, there wasn't too much crazy to report.


For example - it started with Libby making a 'happy bowl'.


Then she became obsessed with helping me to put dishes in the dishwasher.

During the middle part of the day our darling younger child had a HUGE HUGE HUGE nap . . .and Weber had a bath (well, the kind experts down at Larry's took care of Webbie. He's happy to be all cleaned up!!)

I even ironed today!!! Perhaps I was possessed. That honestly would be the only explanation for this.

We played a LOT in the playroom this afternoon.


Heidi tried her first sampling of bananas tonight. She wasn't entirely sure how she felt about it as she kept getting the shivers and twisting around her face, but I do think she liked it. She ate about a half of a container!!! This may well be one of the best pics I've ever taken. Look at that kiddo!!


Kate A came over tonight for some girl/wine time. It was nice :) Apparently the weather won't be super nice tomorrow. I'm sure I'll have some pics coming on THAT.


Oh!! and I DID make the bed today!!!



Sleep well Doebtown.

For those of you who don't know, my esteemed co-blogger Doebtown is out of town . . .no just out of town, but out of the country this week!
Since we cannot text and talk on the phone like we normally would if one of us were out of town, I thought I'd take advantage of ye olde internets to keep Doebtown updated on what we're up to. So for most of you - this will be boring . . .but who knows, you just might find it mildly amusing!

So Doebtown - you've seen most of these already but just roll with it. I only thought of this idea later in the day after you'd already seen most of these pics. Tomorrow should be more interesting!


Now that Heidi can sit up pretty easily - I decided to start using the chair again. She really seems to like being able to see what's going on. I think this means the end of Bear Chair.


We went to a baptism today, and this pic of Libby was all dolled up ready to go but having a little snack before heading out the door. She was having a brief moment of silly-face!


Heidi conked out after we got home from the baptism. Libby did too but I didn't take a picture of that.


Heidi's nap was over before Libby's so we hung out together for a little while - just the two of us. It was pretty nice :)


I never did make the bed today. Sorry honey.

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What a great weekend! Butterflies, eggs, baskets . . . what more could little girls want out of Easter?

I have a feeling there might be a part 2 to this post. However, after a road trip, museums, restaurants, church, Easter Bunny, egg hunts and of course candy, this is the aftermath.






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