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Living overseas

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Original poster

Living in America 2014

505 replies

rootypig · 29/07/2014 11:54

Shiny new thread. After an epic visa fuck up we are starting out (again!) in LA in a few weeks. I am English, DH is American (from southern California), DD is 21mo. I am going back to work after several unintentional years out and terrified. No clue what I want to do, which doesn't help.

Come chat about all things American!

OP posts:
Original poster
rootypig · 12/08/2014 22:11

Man I could complain about washing clothes in the US all day. WHY are their washing machine cycles so insanely short? thankfully we have front loaders at our apartments (communal though, another gripe) and MIL does too, but still, a 30 minute cycle? does. not. work.

And yes, nowhere to hang outside Sad

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eissac · 12/08/2014 22:35

Hi everyone, I would love to join you all, I moved here a few months ago. Really liking it but finding some things really annoying too. Like having to do everything face to face not online like in the UK, not easy with two toddlers! Also I really miss supermarket delivery. Does anyone know of any company like Ocado?

goodbyeyellowbrickroad · 12/08/2014 23:05

Whereabouts are you eissac?

There's no delivery service in Houston where I am. I miss Ocado too! I know that there's a food delivery service in NYC which I think is called Fresh Direct.

eissac · 12/08/2014 23:45

I am in Maine. Its funny the things you miss isn't it. I also find our clothes are wearing out faster here.

TheSarcasticFringehead · 12/08/2014 23:57

Hi. I'm just outside of LA. I've been here for more than a decade and my colleagues still try and correct my spelling. Hmm

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 13/08/2014 12:34

Hi - can you do Peapod delivery (Giant) or Safeway? Wholefoods locally does a cycling delivery service with a minimum spend but definitely not enough for a big shop!

butterfliesinmytummy · 13/08/2014 12:52

There are concierge shopping services in houston but they charge a huge amount on top of the cost of groceries.... Have you looked at amazon for bulk buying dry goods / loo paper etc? We have prime which means free delivery on many items. Not sure how the prices compare but it might cut down your shopping time to fresh goods only....?

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 13/08/2014 16:25

Hello, sorry to butt in, hi to all on the thread.

"Knew" a lovely MNer who was called Blackcurrants from the UK who was living on the E coast of the US with her DH and two little boys, lost touch somewhat - we were posting on another MNer's thread, bit of a saga, but currently rallying all previous posters and lurkers and Blackcurrants' name came up.

If she is reading this, under another nn, hope all's well? If you have lost track of us and want an update, PM me. No pressure, kind regards.

Original poster
rootypig · 13/08/2014 19:18

food delivery

We have a week left in the UK and I am considering moving into Waitrose

I will just sit in the aisles, stuffing myself

Grin
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Original poster
rootypig · 13/08/2014 19:19

Sarcastic whereabouts are you? we'll be the west side of LA. Nobody better correct my spelling! ha.

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TheSarcasticFringehead · 13/08/2014 19:47

Burbank. Loads of people who've moved in, it's great.

butterfliesinmytummy · 13/08/2014 20:09

Bt we do get wholefoods rootypig, not delivered but amazing.

On another subject, does anyone know where I can get a danish / scandi contemporary style dining table in the USA? Online will be fine, light oak or ash, similar to John Lewis / Loaf / Made.com / ercol etc., even Next do one I like but everything near me in Texas is dark wood, country / ranch stye. Looking up to $800.... Can't see anything in overstock which is my fall-back..... Or crate and barrel, west elm, pottery barn etc.....

TheSarcasticFringehead · 13/08/2014 20:13

I was thinking of Skandium but the cheapest dining table is $794 (just had a quick look). Fucking hell.

TheSarcasticFringehead · 13/08/2014 20:18

$800 including shipping, right?

butterfliesinmytummy · 13/08/2014 20:23

Wow, pricey, should have said I need a rectangular table that can seat 6. It's for my kitchen, might have to run to ikea after all Hmm

I can get one in the uk in budget, why not the USA?

TheSarcasticFringehead · 13/08/2014 20:35

Maybe Occa-Home?

eissac · 13/08/2014 20:54

IKEA was our saviour when we got here. We would have been screwed without it as we are still waiting on our stuff to get here from the UK, but that's another story. Furniture does seem to be a lot darker here.

Original poster
rootypig · 13/08/2014 20:59

the cost of whole foods makes me Shock - in fact the cost of food in California full stop. And I spend most of our money on food in the UK Grin

I would go to IKEA too, I think the quality is good. US home decor is Hmm and Confused

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butterfliesinmytummy · 13/08/2014 21:04

Thanks, occa-home doesn't have the styles I want in budget, so many carved table legs.

Most of our furniture is ikea and faux antique Chinese (too long in Asia), like the look of an ikea table and chairs (stockholm) but was hoping that dire interior design was limited to texas. Surely all you Californians and New Yorkers aren't living with mahogany tables, rag rolled walls, wrought iron and chintz too?

eissac · 13/08/2014 21:09

Wholefoods is very expensive, but the standard of food in the "normal" supermarkets that I have tried just isn't up to much at least in the ones I have tried. I am really quite paranoid about food here and read the labels on everything. We try not to give our kids much junk food but when even the bread contains high fructose corn syrup it is proving difficult. I am not a food nazi btw

Original poster
rootypig · 13/08/2014 21:15

I'm really worried about this for DD. Am not massively controlling about food either, but feel like meat, dairy and veg is all much more intensively produced in the US.

Trader Joe's is the place in LA I like the best, Albertsons and Vons are depressing, and Ralphs is crazy prices for the quality. I think I need to find a farmer's market.....

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eissac · 13/08/2014 21:29

Yes Traders Joe's is good, we have a few farmers markets near us. They are really good but expensive I find. I just find I am spending a lot of my time grocery shopping.

On a side note does anyone know of any sugar free yogurts for babies/kids, I have looked everywhere but can't seem to find any.

HerRoyalNotness · 13/08/2014 21:39

About the only sugar free/fructose free I could find in yoghurt is the Total Greek. Of course you'll have to add fresh fruit or honey to it to make it palatable for DC. Might be worth a shot.

There is a scandi style one I found in HEB which was nice, organic and less additives, but I think it still had some sugar in it. So frustrating.

Original poster
rootypig · 13/08/2014 21:40

Agree with buying plain natural yoghurt and adding fruit. If you buy frozen fruit, they mix into yogurt really well when defrosted, as they're so soft.

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goodbyeyellowbrickroad · 13/08/2014 22:53

On the subject of food why oh why is so much milk ultra pasteurised and homogenised?? Tastes foul to drink on its on. Took us ages to find bread that wasn't incredibly sweet - we gets ours from the in store bakery at HEB and it very nice with no nasties as far as I can tell. And why add pectin to yogurt? We just get Total greek yogurt now and add our own stuff.

butterflies have you tried West Elm or Crate & Barrel? Personally I think they're overpriced but you might find what you want. West Elm have a sale on at the mo. I keep browsing craigslist for a couple of bits of furniture we need but no joy yet. Despite saying we want to start buying furniture elsewhere I think we'll end up back at Ikea.