My wish for 2009

PEACE of mind

PEACE of spirit

PEACE with my body

Christmas 2008 in Review

I am exhausted. It has been a very VERY busy week. And I am sad too. Because it is all over. Stefi and Alessandro have come and gone. We enjoyed so much having them with us for Christmas. I have spoken before about the bond I feel with my cousins in Italy. Even though we have only met 3 or 4 times so far, we are all connected in a very deep way. It is hard to explain. But I love it. And my children now have that connection too. That is even better. Alessandro kept telling me that I was the spitting image of my dad's baby sister (Zia C) and her first daughter (M). How can that be - we don't live close to each other. We don't even speak to each other that often - a handful of times per year. Yet I sound like them. My mannerisms are the same. I look exactly like them. We are family. That is how it can be. I hope Stefi and Ale enjoyed themselves with us. The weather sure did not cooperate. We had snow. Lots and LOTS of snow. And it kept snowing. It NEVER does that here. And NEVER at Christmas time! So that was a challenge to overcome. Lots of getting stuck in snow drifts/banks, and shoveling, and pushing out cars... Not my idea of fun... And I was in a car accident last week - before Christmas. I am coping - my car is not... No one else was involved. It is all very miraculous. But that is all I can say. So the loaner car I have (piece of crap) was not good in the snow, and I just want my car back - all nice and new again, and workign in tip top condition... I wanted to be able to drive Stef and Ale around in my car, but alas - such was not the case. My Jetta would never have gotten stuck in the snow. We could have gone to so many more places... I feel a bit gyped - that I was not able to really show them how beautiful and alive Vancouver is... I told them they had to come back, in the Summer/Fall next time around - then we would really be able to get out and about.

I hope every had a wonderul Christmas. We sure did. Spoiled like usual. Tomorrow it is back to work but only for a few days, and then another 4 day long weekend for me. I need it.

Ciao all.

Merry Christmas

From my family to yours.

Ciao

Snow...

Don't like it.
Don't want it.
Don't need it.
Oh, and the -17 degrees outside with wind chill, THAT can go too!!

Reminder - we live in Vancouver! You know, the West Coast! Where it is supposedly milder than the rest of the country!! I put up with the high cost of living and the bad traffic because we don't get winters here!! If I wanted winter, I would move to Regina where property is cheap and we could live like kings!

Go away snow. You bother me.

And to all you Vancouver drivers out there with your summer tires on, get a brain! And to the rest of you, slow down!!

Rant over.

Ciao all.

Me...

I know I have expressed myself in my home decor. And I know people who know me now go out and say things like, "Oh, that is so Carmen". That makes me laugh. Especially when someone says to me, "Oh, I was in so and so's store and saw this and that and immediately thought of you". It's amusing. But I have to say I am tricky. Just because I like something does not mean that I would put it in my house. It has to be the right something. If it is off a hair, it won't work.

The same goes for my shoes. They have to speak to me. It is a fine line I walk. But to shed some light on the matter, I have chosen to display two sets of shoes that are ME.

The first pair is soooo me it isn't funny. The squared off toe, the buckle, the stitching. This shoes YELLS Carmen - functional and yet attractive; sensible but still fun. And shiny. I like shiny. It adds just the right oomph.

These boots - the combination of the patterns and textures make them fun. The heel is way too high - so impractical. Totally perfect for going out; for wearing with jeans! They make the statement that these shoes are for the love of shoes only. That is all. Oh ya. Soooo me!



I think if I could start over in life, I would like to design shoes. Yes. That would be the ultimate job/dream... A few days ago Marc's buddies sent around this You-Tube video entitled "Dog House". The gist of it was a husband gave his wife a vaccum for a gift and she put him in the dog house. The dog house transported the husband to this third dimension where other husbands were trapped doing laundry and other "chores". They all laughed at the new guy because he had given the wife a vaccum. It went on from there. Now, I would not put Marc in the dog house for giving me a vaccum. I love to clean. I would be quite happy with such a gift. BUT if Marc gave me crappy shoes, he would be out of here! Not kidding. That would offend me - if he brought shoes home that were hideous and he thought I would like them - he would have to run for his life. hee hee

So what do you all like? You have to tell me about your shoes. I really believe you can't truly know someone until you have seen their shoes! hee hee

Ciao all.

OH - PS - My cousin Stef arrives in a few days from Italy! I am over the moon. So I won't be checking in much. Have a good week. Hopefully I will remember to take pics while she is here and share them... Hopefully!!

Simplicity

That is the theme of my decorations this year. Nothing over board.

I found these cool glittery trees at Potters last week. I thought they would make a great addition to my forest. I like the pairing of rustic and uber modern.

This is one of the displays on my porch. Rusted jingle bells and a copper barn star with candles and glitter balls and evergreen. Like how it all comes together.

This is my display on my cabinet in my front hall. This is it. My barn star and my three mercury glass ornaments that have the words "Peace", "Joy", and "Noel". They sit in my grandmother's antique punch bowl cups. Man, have these things come in handy over the years! I was wondering how I would stop these ornaments from rolling around and then one day while I was putting glasses away, I found the punch cups! Voila! Perfect. Love when that happens!

I hope you are surrounded by the things that make you happy - simplistic, over the top or inbetween! Just make sure it reflects YOU.

Ciao all.

Inspired

Come on! How fantastic are these??!! Bakerella - you amaze me!!

MIA

Busy:
Decorating the house for Christmas - inside and out
Preparing for my firm's Christmas soiree
Baking
Cooking
Cleaning
Going to taekwondo - testing is very soon
Practicing for church plays
Practicing for school plays
Shopping
Wrapping
Reading

Maybe life will be normal in January. Maybe...

My "Must Have" Accessory for the Season

Scarves!!

Fun ones...

Fancy ones...


Doesn't matter. I am totally obsessed with them! I have three in my closet that I rotate all the time - dark pink; apple green; and a black Chanel one. I think they are stylish. I think they are fun. I think they can be just the right finishing touch to an outfit. And I think they are a great bang for your buck. If you want to spruce up an old shirt or sweater or jacket, go and pick up a scarf! And you MUST wrap it properly. Don't look like you are strangling yourself! Let it loosely drape around your neck at least two times and hang down, or do the European bun knot thing that pulls it closer to your neck, but move it off to the side a bit. You will look marvelous!! Trust me.

Go out and get a scarf. Have fun!!

Ciao all.

Happy Sunday All

We are back from my firm's Children's party, and my kids are exhausted. It was a hoot!! We had kiddies ranging in ages from 1 week old to 12/13 years old. A lot of fun. The kids had a magic show, made crafts, ate lunch, and then had the all important visit from Santa. You can see what Bella got. She was over the moon! It requires a 100W light bulb and all our bulbs are the new LED ones... So I am going to have to stop at the dollar store tomorrow and pick up a bulb for the oven. She is ready to get into it! Too funny. Like mother, like daughter. Ethan got a Lego Mars Mission ship and he is building as we speak. It is a monster of a thing, but he was so thrilled to get it. It really does not take much to make my kids happy.

I am off to rest for a while. We are heading out to my in-laws for dinner. I am always appreciate of the time my kids can spend with them. They are busy people and not around as much as my parents are. So it is good when we can get together. And my mother in law always cooks for us. She goes all out. It is so sweet.

Ciao all.

I am in the mood!

To start decorating for Christmas! These pillows are from Pottery Barn. They would really go well in my living room. It may just warrant a trip downtown Vancouver to check out the store. I wonder what my momma is doing tomorrow? Hmmm... And the Paper Whites are just breathtaking! Just think of three of those lined up on mantle with boxwood clippings tucked in between and tealights and big mercury glass ball ornaments... Ya. I am in the mood!!

Sunday is my firm's Christmas party for the kids. Everyone was so excited today at work for Sunday. It was really nice. It's great to be in such a family friendly environment. We all basically have little kids and we all understand the stress that comes with working and raising children. And we are all supportive of each other. And the big dogs are great with it all! It is going to be a fun day! I will definitely post pics of the day. We have a magician coming and crafts and food and the all important visit from Santa to give out gifts! Yes. The Big Guy is coming out! hee hee Ethan made me laugh. He still sooo wants to believe, but it is getting hard for him. So he says to me, "Mom, I KNOW it isn't the real Santa coming on Sunday". "Why do you say that Ethan?" "Because, he is way tooo busy to deal with your dinky party!". Okay... Got me there! Ahhh, I feel the big "Santa is not real" talk coming on... Sigh. So I will enjoy it for one more year.

And a big happy 3rd birthday to my sweet niece! Tomorrow is the family party and I am really looking forward to getting together with my clan! I miss them all. It has been a month since we have all gathered. Too long. And I can't wait to make fun of my sister and my cousin Marie who are at the New Kids on the Block concert as I type!! ha ha haaa Okay, Marie is only 23. That is okay. But Laura is not! (I won't reveal her true age for fear of my life!! ha ha haaaaa) It will be interesting to hear what she has to say about her former teen girl dream group! I mean, these guys are all in their late thirties/early forties!! New Kids?? Umm, more like Old Men!! ha ha haaaaa I am going to have fun teasing them tomorrow!

Night all. I am bushed.

I am so DANG excited!!

So I get to work yesterday and there is an email waiting for me... But I don't recognize the address. Wait, it is from overseas! Wait, it is an Italian IP address! Wait, my cousin Stefi is coming to Vancouver for Christmas!! Oh ya!! I cried. I was at work and I cried. I was not embarrassed about that either. hee hee She will be arriving the week before Christmas and will only be with us for a short week, but we plan on making the very most of it. Then she is off to San Francisco for a week and maybe New York, and then back to Bologna. Now my head is spininng with all the things we need to do with her!! And I totally have to start baking now so that is done. And I have to get the house decorated for Christmas, both inside and out! The Italians don't do it up like we do here! This will be such a great experience for everyone. And Ethan was over the moon when I told him the news. He really misses Stef - gee, it has only been a month since they have seen each other! It has been 10 years since I have seen her!! I can't wait!

Ciao all.

Super Easy. Enjoy.

Easy Pesto
3 cups fresh basil leaves
1 ½ cups chopped walnuts
4 cloves garlic, peeled
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

In a food processor blend together basil leaves, nuts, garlic, and cheese. Pour in olive oil slowly while still mixing to combine. Stir in salt and pepper to taste.

Keep in a jar with a few tablespoons of oil on top so the pesto does not spoil.

A Busy Weekend Ahead...

I don't know what happened to this week. With Remembrance Day in the middle like that, it was odd. And now it is Friday again, and another hectic weekend looms before me. But I am not complaining. For this weekend I am doing things I love to do. First I am baking. On Monday we have our bake sale at the firm, and since I am the newbie, I have to impress. And I mean to knock their socks off. So I am getting ready to bake 8 dozen Sugar N' Spice Snowflakes. I stopped by the confectionary store on my way home from work today and bougth rough course sanding sugar to make the snowflakes look like they have bits of snow on them... Love that. So I am excited to do this.

I am also shopping this weekend. Las week I was able to finish Marc, my parents, Marc's parents, my one niece on my side, and my two nieces on Marc's side. My sister just sent me my nephew's wish list and so tomorrow I will deal with that. We don't exchange gifts between my sister and me, and Marc and his brothers. It is all too much. And I am thinking about stopping the gifts for the 25, 23 and 21 year old cousins. I think it is time for that to end. Maybe some Starbucks cards... We will see. And I have all those ornaments made = gifts for the teachers and the babysitter. Yeah!! That really just leaves me with my kids, and they are being oh so very good and not bombarding me with too many "wants". They are amazing. Christmas is NOT about presents. It is about celebrating the life of Christ and my kids GET that. It is awesome. So their little lists are very manageable. But they aren't saints. Their little things are quite costly. What can I say, they are MY kids and they have very expensive tastes!! Makes me proud!! ha ha Kidding. But on top of finishing the Christmas shopping, I have to shop for my outfit to wear to my firm's Christmas party. Apparently it is a tres chic affair, so my business suits won't cut it... But I am not a ball gown kind of gal, and I would NEVER wear that again. So I was thinking something along these lines - a bit fun but still a bit dressy. I am conservative every day of my life. I want somethign that is less so. This outfit is from Plum. I am going to head over there tomorrow and see what it is like. The dress may be too short for me overall... Hmmm. But I am totally digging the opera jacket - the sheen adds the pizazz. We will see. At least I have an outfit in mind, so I can mix/match/add/subtract as I see fit.

Hope y'all have a fun and productive weekend.

Ciao.

Lest we forget....

Thank you. From the very deepest corners of my heart.

Tis that time again...

I have begun making the ornaments. So far I am up to one dozen. It is a disease. I know. This year I have a special plan for these lovely ornaments. We are having a bake sale at the firm next week to raise money for a charity we support. So I am making Sugar N' Spice Snowflakes and wrapping them up in clear boxes, tied with organza ribbon and adorned with an orament on top. I think I may blow everyone away! It is my goal. Hey, y'all know my motto -go big or go home!

Ciao all.

Almost done...

Yup - I am on the last book in the Twighlight series - Breaking Dawn. Yup. I read three books in less than 2 weeks... Yup. I sooo will be at the movie at the end of the month. Crazy.

Happy Halloween and November 1st!

So I am a day late with the Halloween wishes. Oh well. Hope everyone had a fun night. My kiddies did. These cute little pumpkin foam bags were a treat/gift for the kids from my super sitter L. She is THE greatest!! My kids come home everyday with a new craft project of some sort. It is wonderful. So thank you L!!

Here is Miss B, the "good" witch. She had to make that very clear. She was not a mean witch. She was good. hee hee

And Master E - the "mad" doctor! Mad as in crazy, not angry! hee hee I said to E that when I do see him in scrubs one day, he better not look like this!! I don't think he will get too many patients this way!

So now that Halloween is over, it is Christmas shopping time! Oh ya. Not kidding. I am off today with my momma in tow to begin the Christmas shopping. And I do have a list with me. I am really hopeful to get many things checked off of it today. Plus my firm's children's party is November 23rd and they reimburse us gifts for the children from "Santa", so I have to get those picked out and wrapped and brought to the firm for next week. Good excuse to get everything done now.

Have a good day all. Happy November 1st.

Ciao

Is the week over yet?

I know it is only Tuesday, but I am exhausted. I got a flu shot today at the firm, and I have to say that I have had an enormous headache ever since lunch time... Coincidence? Maybe... Oh well. I guess I will have to curl up with my book and just relax for the evening. Ha ha haaa. I couldn't even say that with a straight face. Ya.

I have cookies to bake for Halloween parties on Friday, and I need to get a jump on that. It was sooo easy when I only had one kid in school Bella's pre-school did not allow treats unless it was a birthday or year end party. Now in kindergarten, it has all changed. So with 20 little K kids and 24 Gr 4 kids, that's a lot of cookies to bake... And we carved pumpkins today after school. Had to get that out of the way. I went a little overboard with the pumpkins this year. We only carved 2 - not my thing to do - but I bought like 10 of them. I just really love how they look all bunched up around my steps and my porch and my front door. I am not a Halloween person honestly - I don't like costumes and dressing up; and I really don't like the decorations. I don't like all the morbid things - skeletons and grave markers, etc. And I find the majority of the commercial decorations so very cheesy. So my decorations just tend to be harvesty. Pumpkins everywhere - all shapes and sizes and colours. Works for me.

Not much else to say. Hope everyone is doing well out there in cyberland. Give me a shout and let me know how y'all are!

Ciao all.

Around my house today...

You will find:

Ethan building castles out of wooden blocks. These blocks belonged to Marc's cousin Ian when he was a wee one. Zia Connie and Uncle Ian Sr. passed these on to us when Ethan was about 2 years old. They are, by far, his MOST favourite toy to play with to this day. He can spend hours building these castles. And then Bella knocks them down. hee hee

My new cabinet. I love it. Totally. It was exactly what I wanted for the space. As you can see it is not a particulary large space, and so I had to be creative. This fit the bill - in more ways than one! I am a big fan of things coming together.

And cookies. Sugar cookies. But no pictures as they are not done. On Sunday our Primary is doing a presentation and the cookies are rewards for the kids working so hard this past month to get everything done. I am not above a little bribe here and there to get things done! And to make children behave... Oh, come on. Don't be shocked. Y'all know you do it too!! hee hee

Ciao all.

Hooked...

I am slow to catch on. I will be the first to admit it. Unless it has to do with fashion, footwear or home trends, I don't pay attention. I also will NEVER do what someone tells me to do - especially if someone recommends a book to read and gushes that it is the best book ever, or promises I will totally love it.... Ya. No. Wrong person to tell that to. If you say black, I will say white. I don't trust many people. No, let me rephrase that. Other than my husband, I don't trust anyone. You may think you know me, but you don't. So a few months ago the reading club at church read this book. They all thought it was great. The gals were talking non-stop about it. Vampires? Love story? Really???!!! I avoided it like the plague. But on the weekend I picked it up. I was bored. What to do... Totally HOOKED now! I read the book in less than two days. And now I am on to the second one in the series. And the movie comes out next month. Awesome! But I have to say that my first reaction was not one of liking. I find the character Bella really painful. Her extreme clumsiness and anger issues and general anti-social tendencies really rub me the wrong way. Her lack of self confidence just makes me cringe. And then I think HOW could a character like Edward like her so much?? How could such an equisite specimen be drawn to miss plain jane?? Wouldn't she drive him away? The damsel in distress theme goes a bit too far... I could not relate to this character at all (still can't), but I felt that I was invested and so I pushed pass that and read on. I am glad I did in the end. It was a good read. Good escape. Didn't have to pay attention to too much detail. Always like that. Please remember: I read for a living! And it is not light or easy. I read medical reports and clinical records and case law and judgements and letters upon letters... So in my "free time" I like to be entertained. This book did entertain me. And it was clean! No swearing. No suggestive sexuality. Big bonus!! So now I will read the entire series and I will watch the movie when it comes to theatres. I have to convince my sister and my cousin to read the books now so we can go to the movie together! I need to drag others into this mini-obsession now! I can't go down alone... ha ha

Anyone else read the book/series? What do you think? Would love to know.

Ciao

Saturday Stuff...

It is one of those days around the Officer household. There is much to do, but not so much energy to do it. So I have sent Marc and Ethan out to do a few things and Bella and I have stayed home to do some things. By the end of the day it will all be done. It always is. The laundry is done and the beds are stripped and re-made, and cookies are baked and lunch is starting and the bills have been paid. You know. Stuff. It's all good. It has to be done. Not everyday can be glamourous!! hee hee

I thought I would share a few more photos from Ethan's trip. This is Ethan and my mom and my Zia Maria at the Vatican. Totally cool. It is gorgeous.

This is Ethan and my mom in Altilia. That road is over 1000 years old. Way cool. I am a history major - to be exact, Ancient Greece and Rome to the First Millenium. I spent YEARS studying about Roman building habits and methods and tools and strategies. For Ethan to be here is just so amazing to me. I have been to Altilia a few times myself. But it is something so much more satisfying when your child experiences something that you are passionate about, and he thinks it is cool too!!

Well I have thank you cards to make and send to my sweet sweet family in Italy.

Have a good day all.

Ciao

My Clan

I love this picture. To me, this is what Ethan's trip was all about. This is my family. These are some of the people I love more than anything in this world. They are:

Left to Right:
Davide (great-granchild)
Sofia (great-granchild)
Angela (Davide's mom)
Marianna (Sofia's mom)
Stefi
Federica
Alessandra
Angelo
Marilena
Ethan (great-granchild)
Francesco
Nonno in the middle

Missing is me and my sister Laura and my youngest cousin Luca, who is only one year older than Ethan. And then also missing is Bella, my nephew Matthew and my niece Emelia, the other three great-granchildren. That would be all of us. And one day soon we will have a picture with ALL of us!! I can't wait for that day.

Gorgeous, aren't they?!!

Ciao all

Italy

Now does this just SCREAM Italy or what??!! My mom and dad came over this morning and we downloaded all the pics off their camera onto my computer. Fabulous!! I am so thrilled to see all the places they went. And to see all my family again. I miss them sooo much. I can't begin to explain the hole that is in my heart knowing these people live a life that I have nothing to do with on a day to day basis. And I am sure it is the same for them. We live a life here and they don't partake in it. What can you do when you are oceans away... But now Ethan has gone and met them all, and now he is a part of their lives, and it is just so wonderful to have that connection. So I will begin to share pics here and there with y'all. That's my mama and Ethan in Pisa just before Ethan climbed the tower. Amazing.

Ciao all.

Happy Long Weekend - Happy Thanksgiving

The week has flown by. Ethan has adjusted just fine to normal life. He even had two tests in the four days he was back at school and aced them both. He is a super smart kid. He will go far in life. Do I sound like I am boasting? I am not really. He just IS smart. He is gifted. We should all be so lucky... He will do great things. But he is not gifted in the picture taking department. I got his pics developed and I was upset . Really disappointed. He did what a 9 year old boy would do with a camera - took pics of things that make no sense... So now it is up to my mom and dad to produce copies of the pics that I can eventually share. Now, I do have to give Ethan credit for taking pics of the Leaning Tower of Pisa (totally great postcard shot!!) and some really cool pics in Altilia - the Roman outpost. But they don't translate well being scanned in. They were taken the "old fashion" way - film. hee hee They will make great layouts though, so after I wrap myself around that, I will share.

While Ethan was in Italy he grew out of his dress shoes. So this morning we packed up and headed to the mall to go shoe shopping. Well, one kid can't get shoes only! Ethan ended up with a gorgeous pair of Sunday shoes and Bella got a pair of mini Uggs, black - super sweet!! - and I bought a new pair of shoes. Oh ya. They are made by Roberto Vianni and they are cow hide! No joke. They are brown and white cow hide pattern. I adore them. It is not right to be in love like I am with shoes... I could not resist. BUT I did have a coupon for $20 off the pair, so I did get them for under $100... Good deal!! hee hee Oh boy... I will have to take a pic of them and post for y'all to see.

And Marc's poor little beater car needed new tires, so we did that today also. Such is life. There are two places I hate spending money - the computer and the car. But can't get away from either. Necessary evils in life... I can't complain though. We are really blessed to have such a great car for Marc. It is fantastic. It does the job it needs to do. One day Marc can have a pretty car like mine. But not today. And now he has four brand new all season tires, so he doesn't have to fear for his life driving this winter!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone. We are blessed to be able to celebrate it twice - tomorrow with my family and Monday with Marc's family. I always joke about moving away from here. But the truth is that I never could. I love having my family down the street. I love having Marc's family minutes away. I need them. Every single one of them. They all perform vital roles in my life and the lives of my children. I cannot do this - live this life - without them. I hope you can count your many blessings this weekend and name them one by one.

Ciao all.

He's home...

And all is back to normal. It is amazing how fast things just return to normal, even after 5 weeks of not being normal. Ethan had an amazing time in Italy. He did not want to come home. He said he missed me and Marc, but honestly, he could have stayed with my family. And they wanted to keep him. Very sweet. Now I have to get all Ethan's pics developed. I am really excited to see everything. I am especially excited to see pics of my family members. I miss them all so much. So Ethan came home loaded with goodies for everyone. Some of the highlights: new earrings and bracelets for Bella; new Armani sunglasses for me; chocolates; new shoes; new tie for Marc and a bracelet; tons of new clothes; a Berger Lampe for me; the list goes on! Spoiled. We all are.

Happy to have him home.

Ciao all.

Where in the World is Ethan O....

You guessed it - Roma!! My son is finally coming home. He arrives Monday night some time - not quite sure when. Seems Alitalia is on strike, so their flight out of Rome to Amdsterdam could be affected. But in any case, sometime on Monday he should be back. I am soooo looking forward to seeing him! He called this morning. They were getting ready for their good-bye feast with the entire family. Broke my heart. He did not sound particularly thrilled to be coming home actually. I asked Ethan what he was doing, he said, "Oh just hanging out with Angelo and Francesco" (my two cousins who are 30 and 28!). I asked what they were doing. "Oh we went into town and had gelato and walked around. Now we are home.". Okay... Kills me. A nine year old boy hangin' with his family - Ethan not speaking Italian and Francesco not speaking ANY English and Angelo somewhere in between. That is great. The point of my story, before I got off topic, is that my mom and dad and Ethan were off to Rome. They booked a B&B and are staying in Rome until the leave Monday. Much easier than having to get up at 3 am and leave Campobasso on Monday. So they are touring Rome. Fantastic!! Ethan did sound very excited about this. I can't wait to see his pics!!

Oh, and on another side note, I talked to my dad's baby sister this morning too (my Zia Caterina whom I adore!!!!) and she said that she was going to miss Ethan something awful and was wondering when I was going to send him back to her again! I cried. She said he was so well behaved. So kind. So lovely to everyone. So polite. So funny. And now so nice and chunky thanks to the daily gelato regime!! I kind of gasped when she said that and then she laughed. Hopefully she is pulling my leg... Hopfully. My kid can stand to gain a few pounds. He really is tall and super skinny. But I could not imagine him chunky in any way!! I don't think I would like that actually... Well, taekwondo will take care of the gelato weight in no time!!

Ciao all.

Because I am bored...

I scrap. Is that bad?? I don't know. I guess it is not the best reason to create... I have nothing else to do so might as well do this... But these days, it is all I have. I miss my boy something terrible and he finally comes home Monday night! Yipee. But these past few days I have been bored. REALLY bored. I am caught up - beyond caught up - on everything. And I have to stop baking just because it is something to do - I am gaining weight!! There is no one else around to eat my creations! And Marc's new schedule means he is not home with us in the evenings anymore. So Bella and I read books or watch movies. Then she goes to bed at 7:15 pm and I am alone... So I scrap. But I don't know if it is accomplishing anything. I am finding that I am losing my joy of it. I still have pictures from the summer that I would like to do, and Ethan's 9th birthday, and the first day of school... And when Ethan gets home I will have TONS of pics to scrap for him. But none of that excites me. Actually, it kind of overwhelms me. I don't feel inspired to do any of this. I feel obligated to do it. That is not fun. That is not good. That is not why I started this hobby 9 years ago! Holy cow. Has it been that long?? I can't believe it. Although I should. I think I have 9 huge scrapbooks on the bookshelf down here in the basement. Ethan has 5 books and Bella has 4. Well, at least I can say that their complete childhood has been documented and one day their children will thank me for that! One day. Still doesn't help me today... I think it is time to turn my energy to a project. Maybe that will get the juices flowing.

Ciao all.

Dinner - Italian Style

How to turn this....

Into this!!

Totally delicious. This is just store bought polenta that has been cut into discs, pan fried, and then broiled in the oven with marina sauce and mozarella cheese and parmesan. If you have never had polenta, I suggest trying it this way first. Polenta is really quite tasteless. It picks up whatever you pair it with. This is like eating a pizza. But way better for you!! Try it. You will like it.

Ciao all.

Scorpions and Fire Trucks...

That is what Ethan's week has entailed - so far. He sent me an email and said that while he was out in the yineyard exploring with my dad and my uncle, they came upon rock scorpions basking in the sun! Yikes. I mean I know in Tuscany there are scorpions, but I did not figure in Campobasso. It is not very tropical in that region... But Ethan advised that they were killed immediately thanks to my dad and uncle. I am sure, though, not before Ethan could get a good look at them! Crazy kid.

My uncle used to be the Fire Chief. He retired a few years back. But he still pulls clout. So he brought Ethan to the fire house and took him for a ride on the big truck, and let him go up the bucket and climb the ladder, etc. etc. Lucky kid. Ethan said he had a blast. What 9 year old boy wouldn't??

And now Ethan and my parents are off to Rome for a few days to explore. I am really excited to hear about this - especially from Ethan's perspective. I am a history major - and to be exact, Ancient Greece and Rome to the First Millennium. This is soooo up my alley!! I am freak for Roman history. So I am just beside myself with joy that Ethan gets to explore these ruins and see the history for himself. I can't wait to hear about it.

I am off to work. Have a good day all.

Ciao.

Another weekend gone

I swear it was just Friday night!! Now it is Sunday night an another weekend is gone. But I can't say I am too upset. Ethan comes home next week and I can't wait to see him!! I am sure he has grown probably 5 inches since he left! I miss him. Life needs to get back to normal.

So this weekend has been a clean up around here. I dug out all the summer plants and put the pots away. I rearranged the urns on the porch and now I am ready to buy big potted mums. I am in search of the deep red ones. Love them. I need three large pots for the urns and the wrought iron table I have on the porch.

It was also a time to reorganize inside as well. I am in need of a multi functional storage piece. This is what we bought. Love it. It has six shelves inside. Great for dishes and linens. And the top is perfect for displaying a few things. I am pleased. I haven't bought furniture for the house in over a year. It was a thrill! But I must say that we are at that stage where we don't need anything else. Well, I would like a tall chest of drawers for my walk in closet, but I have been on the search for that for over a year and so far no luck. Other than that, we are good. And none of my furniture needs to be replaced. I buy really good pieces and I buy classic pieces. I can change my accents and get a whole new look and not feel guilty about money spent/wasted. It is a good thing. So happy Sunday night to y'all. I am off to watch vintage X-Files episodes. I bought the first three seasons on DVD. Love love love this show! And of course it was all filmed in Vancouver, so it is a total gas to watch the scenes and name all the places. Did I ever tell y'all the story about my X-Files encounter? This is a good one. So my first law firm was in a really seedy part of downtown Vancouver. We were on Davie Street and Hornby Street. My firm was in the basement of the building and it was just faster to access it by the back alley. (Really - looking back - how STUPID was I to walk these alleys alone??!!!) One morning I came around the corner and started down the alley. I had almost come to our door when I saw something in the dumpster. I stopped to take a look and it was a human arm hanging out of the dumpster. I freaked! I started screaming and went running inside and told the partners to call 911 because there was a body in the dumpster. So we called 911 and the police came and the fire department came and the ambulance came. We all went out there to figure out what was going on, and when they pulled the "body" out of the dumpster, it was just a dummy. The X-Files had been shooting in the nightclub across the alley from the firm the night before and had forgotten their prop in the dumpster... Ya. I felt like a moron. Oh well. It was good for a laugh later on. hee hee

Ciao all.

Ethan's Adventures, cont.

He phoned me this morning. I was sooo happy to hear his little voice!! He has had quite the adventures this past week. Some of the highlights:

1. He climbed to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Oh ya. SUPER cool!! My mom said that after he came down, Ethan turned to the guard on duty and said, "Well, the Tower can fall now. I have seen it!". To which the guard replied, "I hope not!". Only my kid... Too funny.

2. He explored the Grotto of Frasassi. Some of the oldest stalagmites and stalactites in the world. Amazing.

3. He is on some personal mission to try every flavour of gelato in Italy, and he has nearly done so! My mom said that Ethan has a gelato every day! And he has somehow charmed his way into the hearts of all of my family members, so they gladly buy this kid gelato whenever he wants! I asked Ethan on the phone if all his pants still fit him. I could hear him asking my mom, "Nonna, mama wants to know if I am getting chubby?!". Hee hee heee He really could stand to gain a few pounds. But I digress.

I am really thrilled that he is having such wonderful experiences. And I am really proud of him that he has behaved like a little man while he is away. My family are in love with him. He is great kid. But you always hope and pray that outside the home he is as great as he is inside the home. I won't tolerate anything less in our home. My mom said that my cousin and my aunt in Imola wanted to keep Ethan with them forever. Stef, my cousin, said to my mom that she was going to make a baby and then send the baby to me and Marc to raise, and we could send the baby back when he/she reached age 9/10. That is the highest compliment I have ever received. And it means the world to me. Marc and I work hard raising our children. We spend quality time with them. And we are tough. But we love them. And they know it. And we expect a lot from them. And they know it. It is good.

Bella and I are going to have some ice cream. Gelato it is not. But it does come from Marble Slab Creamery - fresh made every day. It is second best and will have to do - for now. hee hee

Ciao all.

Out of the swing of things...

Boy, it has been ages since I have scrapped anything. I have to say, I am really out of the swing of things. Totally not inspired at all. I started this layout with something else in mind, and ended up with this. Hmmm. Not sure about it. Oh well. I don't believe in re-doing a layout. It is what it is. That is as "free" as I get!! Time to start surfing sites again and take a stroll through the LSS. I also think my printer is dying a slow death. The picture is not clear... I have had this printer for close to 5 years... Sigh. I never get pics developed. I always download them and print them off. I guess that will be coming to an end as I can't justify buying a brand new printer just to prints a few pics here and there. I really don't print that many.

Tomorrow I have my first parent/teacher interview with Bella's K teacher. I don't need to meet with Ethan's teacher as he attended a whole 4 days of class before he left for Italy. But I am interested in hearing what Bella's teacher has to say. She's a good kid. And she is a smart kid. But she can also be a shy kid and one who is easily led by others. So I am really curious to see if she is being a leader or being led.

Laundry calls. Ciao all.

It is no secret...

That I am a total shoe horse... I don't hide it. I can't. I can't go to a mall without visiting the shoe stores. And I don't buy cheap shoes. No. You get what you pay for. And you will pay for what you get. Cheap shoes WILL damage your feet. I spend a lot of time on my feet. Funny enough. When I go to work, I just don't plunk myself down at my desk and then sit there for 6 hours straight. No. I am up and down dozens of times a day. Good shoes make all the difference. But I am not one to sacrifice style.

I needed a little retail therapy on Friday. I am missing Ethan something bad, and I need to get out. I packed up Bella and off we went to the shoe boutique. I came home with these crocodile boots. They are perfection. Black. Textured. Shiny. Perfection. And in the process of sharing my love for shoes, I have created yet another shoe horse in the house. Yes, Bella. I had to buy boots for her also. But not crocodile! She got suede boots with little black bow ties on them. Super sweet. She wore them around the house yesterday. And she was really quick to pull them out for her dad and show them off! I am not sure Marc is too happy with this turn of events, but such is life. That's why he makes the big bucks!! hee hee

So then why the second pair of shoes shown below?? Because these will be my next purchase next month. Love the buckles. I am always on the look out for classic shape/style/colour with just a hint of whimsy. Bingo. These are by Nine West. Totally reasonable. Shoes make me happy. I have nothing else to say. Ciao all.

A whole new world

Is being opened up to my Ethan. He phoned me this morning from Imola. He was totally excited to tell me that he had gone to the San Marino Grand Prix yesterday to watch the Formula 1 racing. And he took a photo of the car shown above. If y'all don't know what kind of car that is, it is a Maserati. More specifically, the Gran Turismo 2008 - worth about $120,000.00. Yes. The zeros are correct. For the price of a home you can buy this automobile. And they are not that rare in Italy. Ethan said he saw a lot of cool cars at the race and suddenly my little boy did not sound so little anymore... A whole new world has been opened up to him. I fear he will not want to come home when it is time. I fear more that my family will keep him in Italy. He's a great kid. Who wouldn't want him??!! hee hee I am sure he will come home one changed little man. But at least he is showing impecable taste! Hopefully one day Ethan can buy the car shown above when he becomes a big time neurosurgeon!! Then he can spring for an extra one for his mama!!

Ciao all.

Bologna

No, not the gross luncheon meat. Rather the province where Ethan is right now in north eastern Italy. The majority of my dad's family all live in Campobasso. But one of my dad's sisters and his baby brother live in Imola, Bologna. So they have headed up there for a week and will do sight seeing up there. This cool castle, "Sforza Castle", is right in the middle of the city. It is pretty awesome and dates back to 800 AD. Ethan has already emailed me several times and described his adventures exploring old castles and churches. It is truly mind boggling - that these structures survive. You can feel the energy and history ooze from every pore. It is truly amazing. I am ever grateful that Ethan has had this opportunity.

Not much is going on around here. Bella seems to have picked up a cold already. Just two weeks into school... Sigh. But I guess I should be grateful that it is only a cold and will go away in a few days, and it is not the flu or anything else. Kids are germy. I wish I could send her to school in a bubble, but such is not the case.

Last night my Relief Society had a cool recipe swap night. Tasty. I brought my mom's Easy Pesto recipe to share and I made pasta primavera with pesto cream sauce to sample. Tasty. And my recipe was snapped up. Of course, I totally went over the top and did fancy cards for everyone. I kind of upstaged the rest of the recipes, but oh well. You know me - go big or go home. That is my motto for everything in life. If I am going to participate in something, I am going to give it my all. Anything less will not do.

So here is my recipe for y'all to try. Enjoy. Ciao.

PESTO alla Giovanna Chiarizio

3 cups fresh basil leaves
1 ½ cups pinenuts, toasted
4 cloves garlic, peeled
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

In a food processor blend together basil leaves, nuts, garlic, and cheese. Pour in olive oil slowly while still mixing to combine. Stir in salt and pepper to taste.

Keep in a jar with a few tablespoons of oil on top so the pesto does not spoil.

My good ol' OCD came through again

Bella's K teacher, Ms. M, is amazing. Ethan had her for K - I loved her then, and I love her now. So yesterday she sent home this envlope with a lovely letter - Dear parents: please make a book about your child so he/she can share it with the class - help them learn about community and sense of belonging, etc. etc... Assignment due October 14/08. Okay. I'm done. I did a totally COOL 8x8 scrap book for Bella. This is the cover. I don't want to share what's inside because it is too personal for the internet. But the kids in Bella's class will get a kick out of the pics and the stories. It was totally fun to do. I used up all my scraps and little things. It is great! And my OCD did not let me down. I am done, with a month to spare... Such is life. Well, such is MY life. Can't let projects go undone. Not around here. So enjoy Ms. M!! She has probably forgotten how anal I am... Well, this will remind her, and in a hurry!! hee hee

Oh, and have I ever mentioned that blueberries are da' bomb!! We went to a blueberry farm this morning and picked up 20 lbs of the most gorgeous, fat, sweet berries you could imagine. Grown totally organically - no pesticides, etc. Delicious. I have made a cheesecake and now I am going to make homemade blueberry topping for the cheesecake. Mmm.... It will have to set overnight, but tomorrow there will be good eating around here!

And my mom called my sister this morning from Italy to give an update. All is well. Ethan is having a blast. I am so happy for him. He is spending the majority of his time with my cousin's 6 year old son, Davide (which would be Ethan's second cousin... I always get confused how these things work...). Apparently Davide natters at Ethan in Italian and Ethan natters back in English, and the two of them are like peas in a pod. Love it!! That is the beautiful bond of family. It is great.

Ciao all.

Okay... I am ready...

For Summer to end!! Come on now. I am tired of my summer clothing and I want to get back into my totally cool Fall stuff... And I want to go shopping for Fall stuff - I am really digging those argyle patterns that are in this season. But today was 25 degrees. They say we are going to hit 30 degrees by Monday. Ummm, I am done. I have already dug out the flowers from the back yard and put the pots all away... I am thinking about working on the front porch this weekend. The geraniums have to go. I am tired of looking at them. They have been blooming since May. No more. I saw gorgeous potted mums in a really deep red colour that would look just incredible on my front porch. Plus I have to get the pillows put away and change the colours. It is hard to do when you are wearing shorts and tshirts and sweating!! AND I can't go boot shopping in this weather!! But having said all that, how seriously cute are these??!! Ya. I know.

Ciao all.

He has arrived

Safe and sound! Ethan called from Campobasso an hour ago. He arrived safe and sound. They had an awesome trip. No lost luggage. No missed flights. No problems whatsoever. But my poor boy sounded absolutely exhausted! Italy is 9 hours ahead, so his biological clock is going to take a beating these next few days. I can't wait for him to call again in a few days with some stuff to tell me!! And yes, I totally miss him already!! The house is too quiet...

What's up??!!

Ciao all. Just thought I would let y'all know what has been going on here this past week.

Well, Ethan is packed and ready to go. That is his brand new Italian soccer jersey for him to wear on the plane. I wanted him to wear this totally cool Vancouver 2010 t-shirt, but he wanted the jersey. So the t-shirt is packed in his back pack for him to change into when they land in Amsterdam, connecting to Rome. His suitcase has to weigh something like 22.5 kg - ummm, I think we are pretty darn near the maximum weight!! It is heavy. Because I am not going, I overpacked for Ethan. You just never know what he will need... hee hee

The kids started school this week. Again we are so blessed to have the best teachers for our kids! Bella has Ms. M for K - Ethan had her when he was in K and she is just awesome!! And Ethan has Ms. P - only been teaching a few years. Young, hip, totally full of energy!! It is great. They had a good week.

And finally last night Ethan had his buddies over for a quick birthday bash. Since Ethan will be celebrating his 9th birthday in Italy (oh, how tough!! ha ha), we had a quick party for him. He didn't want a cake. He just wanted donuts! It was hilarious. The boys thought it was great. And I only had about 5 or 6 donuts left instead of an entire cake. Good for my waistline!!

So that is it. I wish Ethan and my parents a very safe flight. I wish them tons of fun in Italy. I wish I were going with them. But that is not to be. I wish for them to take tons and tons of pictures so I can live the trip over with them when they come home! And I wish the time to fly by so I don't miss my baby too much!!

Ciao all.