C Tann-Starr's Outside Blog

PANI DOLCI BAKERY

137-67 Queens Blvd Briarwood, NY 11435    (718) 526-4407 (718) 569-0908

I was tweeting about attending multiple Christmas parties yesterday and spoofing on my buddies drinking habits when it suddenly occurred to me that I should showcase another favorite neighborhood spot to eat. We had to buy various goodies for multiple holiday events so we got them all from the PANI DOLCI bakery. I love this place. They really know how to do it up right if you need a special creation to highlight any type of celebration. It happens to be our first choice to get kosher foodie paradise goodies. They have a lovely selection of low cal sugar free treats for diabetics as well.

If you want to have a gingerbread house created (to be the envy of your holiday peers) you have got to call these people. Seriously! They do excellent work!

Retail, wholesale, it doesn't make a difference, every customer is important. They provide artisan quality pastries and cakes plus will hook you up with some coffee or a cappuccino while you wait for your order. They are open Monday through Sunday and happen to be a fave foodie paradise spot of my entire family. Stephen is usually glued to the glass chirping, "this one?" while pointing out strawberry short cakes (FYI: our favorite selection there). BTW, he has never spat out a single creation he's had the privilege to taste. This place definitely gets the minion thumbs up and has saved me when my kids started having a melt-down in the middle of the street. Little dude can be distracted with food and if you say "bakery" he will automatically drag you right here (LOL).

Since Stephen was the willing victim of my holiday shutterbug addiction yesterday I've got several pics that I can use for this post, however, the Minion Blur selected this one (LOL). Do you think the yummies on display had anything to do with him picking the only bakery shot displaying the back of his head? Hmm... I think so, which is why I love blogging with my kids (LOL). They make selecting photographs and blog posting so much more interesting and fun, especially when I try to get into their heads and figure out why this one made the cut instead of that one being the winner.

Creating music with them is a hoot too. My neighbors are going to have a very interesting Christmas because their Dad brought them each small drums to go with the guitars, bongos, keyboards and flutes littering our apartment. I may need some Motrin or Bayer... Looks like I'll be shopping at the drug store after this post is published (LMAO).

Personally, I'd rather have the Wii but the idea of Stephen floating it in the toilet made hubby run the other way. Bummer.  Since I know that they both enjoy picking the pictures for my blog posts and I love the computer interaction, I think the Wii University would be a good match for them... We shall see. Noah has a birthday coming up next month so I shall have time to work on Daddy (LOL). BTW, I am teaching them both how to use my Nikon and Noah is getting pretty good with it. Stephen, on the other hand, is still a nightmare with the electronics so we've been working on showing him the correct way to use them. 2009 should be very interesting... maybe he'll use the toilet and toaster for what they were designed for. After all, he'll be 3 in April. Rumor has it there may be hope for me and my electronics down the road. But I digress...  ;-)

Yesterday, my fave party took place in the early afternoon with my son Noah's little friends in Jamaica. The teachers and parents got together to share some food and have a good time with our children. Stephen attended Noah's holiday event and had a blast. He was quite the little gentleman and I was very proud of him. He behaved remarkably well and you would have never been able to guess my son was suffering from PDD-NOS. I credit the hard work of his teachers and therapists and send kudos and congrats to the early intervention program he attends. He was also very proud to have his snacks showcased on the "buffet table." That was fun. He had no problem sharing them because he was too busy swiping chips off of other peoples plates (LMAO). I have soooo gotta work on that boy's social skills...

My child is improving at a measurable pace and I am very grateful God has blessed me with such a precious gift. I am crazy about my two little boys and this is the first Christmas they both are able to understand what it means to celebrate Messiah. The exchange of gifts has been fun so far and Step is excited about a very special treat and wont stop obsessing over a red gift  box the center gave the kids. He will not let anyone touch it because his Speech Therapist Danny gave it to him. As a direct result my kid lit up like you wouldn't believe. That was awesome! He was dancing in the streets and all around the apartment because Dan gave him a present. There was that spark of connection where Dan went from being a teacher to being viewed as his personal friend. I love when he does the Stephen happy dance. That kid hugs and kisses everything that he really, really likes (LOL). I can't wait to see how he greets Dan for 2009. :-)

The Minion Blur really loves discovering Christmas and has a thing for the music, lights and holiday treats. Like his Mama, the Prince of Audacity is a foodie paradise fanatic and makes no bones about where he wants to go when we start out on our community walks. Little dude understands the concept of shopping and has an expectation to always be treated to something nice. He expects to be able to choose something he wants and doesn't care if it is a Hot Wheels car or a spanking-A meal. He is developing an eye for eye candy and will re-arrange his food into patterns that please him. He will eat it as long as it tastes good and the colors suit his mood. If a meal, snack or treat doesn't taste good my boy will spit that puppy out in a New York minute. He doesn't care where it lands either, so you may want to give him a little space if you decide to give him a taste of your food while we're hanging out (LOL). If he doesn't like the color, he wont eat it, period.

I have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but I will be chatting all about it. We have quite a few rounds to make tomorrow. My little dudes have very active social lives. From my family to yours:

Merry Christmas and may God bless you and your families. <3 C. ;-)