Please Share Your Favorites with a Mom of 5 New to the Area

I'm an ex-employee of Kash N Karry (or Sweetbay) so I'm biased. I do think Publix is the most expensive, that's for sure.

Family outings- Brooker Creek Nature Preserve on Tarpon Springs Rd (or, Tarpon Ave from US19- head east).
Howard Park, in Tarpon Springs. Several playgrounds, shelters and the beach! Head west on Tarpon Ave. lol

Pizza- Keystone Corner, also on Tarpon Springs Rd. (See a pattern here?) Quite a way east, but two sizes of pizza- 14in and a HUGE 18in pizza- for $9 and $11 respectively, I believe.

Homeschool- try this website: http://www.geocities.com/uuterri/LIFE.html Scroll down for Pinellas groups.

I have two girls, one on the way. (That's why I quit, btw.) I'm having a hard time finding any families, let alone large families, but that's because I live in an older neighborhood. The homeschool group will help, I bet. ;)

Good luck!

Hi D.,

FAVORITE ICE-CREAM PARLOR: the Marble Slab, corner of Tampa and Curlew Rds, in the same plaza where that 20 movie theater is located, and also Bealls (one of my favorite women store, where I can find Italian shoes for my wide feet for under $50) and tasteful Floridian clothes.
FOOD SHOPPING: I hate what Wall/K-Mart stand for, you won't catch me there even if I am starving. If politics does not play a part you can go Chinese: COSCO and SAM'S CLUB (closest is in N.P.Richey).
Produce: How about the Wagon Wheel Flea Market in Oldsmar? Can't beat their prices!
I liked Publix but I think their employees treated me different because I am/look so foreign, it is so obvious, so you'd have to twist my arm. Albertsons used to be my favorite, especially because I do not shop for TV dinners, just fresh food and cleaning products.
But latelly they look like they are about to go out-of-business.
There is a new chain popping up mostly in the Tampa area called Sweet Bay. I am impressed!

What do your kids like to do?
What do YOU LIKE TO DO?

S. Borges

Hi D.! We just moved here from Texas and I have 3 girls, pregnant with #4 and last (hopefully a boy!). I am still trying to find the asnwers to these questions myself, so I'll just keep reading your responses. I live in Palm Harbor which is more north on US Hwy 19. I have been to that Target on Tampa, and it's pretty nice. As far as grocery stores go, all three of those that you mentioned are very high priced. Publix seems to have the most options for fresh foods, but it is expensive. Walmart Superstore is the cheapest I have found, but it is pretty far from Clearwater. The only one I know about is on Tampa road, even further east than the Target. The library up here in Palm Harbor has a lot of kids programs. They are a first come first serve sign up basis, but I think they have them all listed on their website (palmharborlibrary.org). As far as the schools were concerned, I was very leary. We came from a great school district in Texas where my daughter was in a gifted program. However, since we didn't find a private school that suited our needs, and homeschool wasn't for me, I gave it to God and put her in Oldsmar Elementary. I have heard good and bad about that school, but so far, we have had a pleasant experience. I am in the process of getting her into the gifted program here, and they have been working with me pretty well. My younger daughter is in the voluntary preK program at St. Luke's Early Childhood Center (St. Luke's Evangelical Catholic Church) on Alderman Road in Palm Harbor. I have nothing but good things to say about this school. SHe is coming home with early reading skills, and beginning spanish. She also loves her teachers and her friends. I have yet to find a good pizza place...I am still searching, but I'll keep you posted. Good luck finding all that you are looking for. Feel free to contact me if you would ____@____.com

D.,

You can go to www.target.com and "Find a store" option. There is one in Palm Harbor on E. Lake Road & Tampa Road. OR there is one in Clearwater at US 19 & Gulf to Bay (SR 60). Give it a try -- not sure where you are located.

My husband & I have four kids between us :) Where in the "Bible Belt" did you use to live? We used to live in Murphy, NC!

Good luck! Let me know if I can help with anything else :)

L.
____@____.com

I prefer Publix, I think the store is much cleaner and more organized. I don't think they are more expensive on most things, and they run buy one get one free sales all the time.

As for schooling, I was homeschooled and I loved it especially as I got older I could get done early and go to work or whatever I wanted to do. But I do not have the patience to teach my 3 children at home. The older 2 are part of the Pasco County School system and I am quite happy with their learning.

Hi D.,

The BEST pizza is Milano's on Fort Harrisons between Cleveland and Drew Street. Downtown Clearwater. They are from Italy and had their oven brought over. They also import all the dough and stuff. It is incredible. Ruined me from other pizza places.

I go to Publix. The service is the best and they carry a lot of organic. Look for a local farm stand. With a family so large you should do what I do. I purchase a whole cow once a year and the cost per pound is around $3.00 It is also grass fed beef, no chemicals. If you are interested you can call Dennis at ###-###-####. I also buy a whole pig once a year as well. It takes some work getting it all but it is very worth it.

There is a super Target on Tampa Road heading east west. It is down a ways.

There is a childrens museum in St. Pete that is great. Then you have MOSI in tampa. www.myclearwater.com has all of the area attractions. Friday's the local newspapers announce what is happening on the weekend. Local libraries also have information. There is an aquarium that is fun in Tarpon Springs that is cheap and great for an afternoon jaunt.

Schools? No idea. Florida is in the top ten as far as the worst in the nation. I home schooled my eldest for 4 1/2 years. My youngest goes to Montessori which is a great system. There are some Charter schools. The fundamental schools are supposed to be the best and the one that has the best reputation is Tarpon Springs fundamental. You have to find the local Family Education Center to get information or go to www.bestschools.com and do a localized search.

That's what I have.

Deb

Hi D.;

I'm going to try to do this real quick. This is the 3rd time I'm trying to respond to you, and every time one of my kids needs to use the computer to go on-line.
So, here goes;
We happen to live in a very good school system. I did a lot of research on that before we moved here from NY.
I have 2 neighbors that Home School, but I think kids need socialization (but that's my opinion & I respect other's opinions).
Both my children work at Chick-fila, which is a Christian Based Corporation, they are not open on Sundays. And all the kids that work there are wonderful, young men and young ladies from nice families with good morals and stay out of trouble for the most part. So I'm very happy with the friends my children have made here. They both go to Dunedin High School.

Pizza- Westshore ###-###-#### (corner of Tampa Rd. & CR 1) by Kash- N- Karry They have good Hot Heroes, we always ask for our Pizza to be (well-done because we like it crispy on hte bottom) It's less expensive if you pick-up but they do deliver

There's also Angelo's ###-###-####, we haven't ordered from them in a while because they were remodeling. But their pizza use to be very good.

Chinese - Sun Yuen _ you have to pick-up (BUT it's worth it)
They also have a $4.99 buffet for lunch during the week that is good.

My kids are in High School so I don't have an idea of some of the things you asked about. BUT my friend Laura also goes to the Y in Palm Harbor. She has a 4 year Old Son named Nicholas, he loves to go swiming there. Ahe also takes a class and he stays in the play area. You may meet her or I'd be glad to arrange an intro.
She takes Nicholas to the Palm Harbor Library for Story Time.
My son Michael likes to SkateBoard and we all Volunteered when the Y was being built (the Skate Park part)and he volunteered there and worked there as a SkatePark instructor during the summer.

WE enjoy going to the beach as a family, Honeymoon Island is only 5 minutes from here (I live in Patty Ann Acres, near Palm Harbor Middle School). We buy a yearly family pass and you can use it all year round (I think the family Pass is good for 7 in a vehicle)They have a Dog beach also (don't know if you have a Dog) But that's nice to take your family and/or dog for a walk or swim. It's beautiful and very family oriented.
If you'd like we can go one day with my pass so you can check it out. When your older sons are in school & take the little ones.

As far as Supermarkets, Publix is my Favorite (they had a $5.00 coupon in todays paper)
I go to Kas-N-Karry for a quick run (Milk etc...)
Albertsons is good for their sales especially Seafood (But that's my husbands department)

OK hope this info. has been helpfull and you can contact me at ____@____.com

Bye, C.