Getting ready for Halloween

I am not a big Halloween person. I don't like scary things. I don't like evil things. I don't like morbid things. I don't like pranks. I don't like rude kids knocking at my door and giving me that look when I hand them 1 piece of candy (you know that look - like I am cheap...) But my kids love Halloween so I get caught up in it each and every year. This year is no different. Ethan is going to be a mad scientist. I have spent considerable time finding beakers for him to carry around. I finally found two different sized beakers at Winners, of all places. They already have candy in the beakers so Ethan is going to go around and give out the candy and convince people that he has created "magic pills" (being the mad scientist) for whatever ails them. Amusing. Bella is going to be a vet. I have made her a set of scrubs and a lab coat and name tag and bought a stethoscope and she is good to go. She has a small carrying case filled with her stuffed dogs and cats. Creative. These costumes I can handle. So I am ready for another Halloween. Although I do admit that I am looking forward to the day when my kids are too old for all of this and I don't have to worry about costumes and props anymore...

Ciao all.

Catch up...

That is what I have been doing - for weeks now. Catch up. With house work. With home work. With church work. With work work. With family time. With spouse time. With me time (which has not existed...). I am exhausted and I feel like I am not caught up in anything. I don't understand why of late I feel like my time is being intruded upon in every aspect of my life. I am usually really very VERY good in being able to manage it all. But not as of late. And it is frustrating me. And it is making me so very tired. So while I struggle to catch up, I will catch yáll up with what has been going on in our household:

Ethan was inducted into Scouts.
Ethan tested for his 2nd degree Black Belt.
Ethan was chosen to participate in the School District's Challenge program. He is super smart. Scary smart. I am happy that he can channel some of those smarts creatively now.
Marc was involved in a huge conference for our church's youth - 200+ 16-18 year olds. For weeks he was not home. It is nice to have him back now.
We are all getting ready for our Primary Presentation.
We are all getting ready for Trunk or Treat for over 100 kids. So I have been busy making 100+ treat bags for all the kids.
I am heading up our firm's fundraising team and we are in full swing for our Christmas charity - actually I started October 1st fundraising for our charity.
My mom is getting stronger but she still needs a lot of help so I am running between two households for now.
Marc and I are heading back to Italy next July. Two of my cousins are getting married and we are going. I am so very excited about this.

That is it, for now.

I am sure I have laundry to do.

Ciao all.

Italy - Part 6 - Roma

 

The Eternal City. The most beautiful city in the world. One day I will own a home in Roma.

Ciao all.

Italy - Part 5 - Pompei

 

After all those years of studying Roman history (and doing my degree in it), I honestly cried when I entered Pompei. It was a dream come true to walk the ancient streets, wander the temple ruins, lurk in the bath houses, admire the paintings and the mosaics... I definitely will go back to Pompei when I return to Italy next summer.

Ciao all.

Cinnamon Toasted Pumpkin Pie Tarts

Oh good heavens - look at these!! I love the Internet. I LOVE you bakers out there who come up with these recipes and post them for all to try! Bless you. I am baking these tomorrow.

Cinnamon Toasted Pumpkin Pie Tarts
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 egg
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
4 sheets of puff pastry, thawed
3 tbsp melted butter
3 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tbsp cinnamon

350 degree oven.

Mix pumpkin, sugar, heavy cream, egg,cinnamon and nutmeg until creamy and well combined. Place puff pastry on silpat or parchment lined baking sheet. Cut out shapes using cookie cutter. Brush each shape with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Spoon about 2 tbsp of filling around centre of each cut out. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes. Serve at room temp or chilled.

Ciao all.

Thankful for...

Marc
Ethan
Bella
Momma
Babbo
Laura
Chris
Matthew
Emelia
Mike
Fran
Athony (and Amy)
Marie (and Craig)
Stephen
Nonno
Paolo
Maria
Angelo
Alessandra (and Italo)
Rosaria
Angelo
Stefy (and Alessandro)
Francesco (and Serena)
Pino
Carmella
Angela (and Samuele)
Davide
Marianna (and Claudio)
Sofia
Libero
Caterina
Marilena
Federica
Roberto
Luca
Mom
Dad
David
Brian
Hannah
Bailea

My family. I love them all.
Happy Thanksgiving.

You get what you pay for...

Last weekend I bought a new suit. It is grey and has the most marvelous details in the jacket. And it was on sale. Bonus. I firmly believe you get what you pay for. I am not young anymore. I can't wear "man made" anything. My feet and my body have become picky and cranky in their old age. ha ha So I am very happy with my new wool suit. Now, having said that, I also believe that you should price out your purchases and understand what you are paying for. Some things are absolutely worth the price. GOOD shoes, for example, are ABSOLUTELY worth their price. There is nothing worse than shoes that hurt/pinch/stretch/fall apart. Some things are not worth their price tag. Accessories, for example, are never worth their initial price tag. Always buy them on sale. And for the big ticket items (jackets and suits, etc.) watch for them to go on sale. Always buy staple pieces in basic colours and they will never go out of style and this way you can ride out the season and scoop up the deal. I enjoy doing this. And I do this often. You get what you pay for. I enjoy getting MORE for what I pay for.

Ciao all.

Italy - Part 4 - Food

 

Ohhh the food... I miss it so. Go to Italy to eat! GO!!!

Ciao all.

Happy to report...

My momma was released from the hospital and is home resting. Thank goodness!!

My momma has never been healthy. She has had heart problems her entire life. And when I was little I was "used" to my momma being more, well, fragile. She wasn't the field trip mom, or the mom that drove everyone around. She wasn't the soccer mom. She wasn't the camping mom (thank goodness for that too!! The apple does not fall far from the tree...) She wasn't the mom that went swimming or skiing or did anything outdoorsy. She just could not manage any of that. But she was the mom who kept an immaculate house. And she was the mom that cooked and baked. And she was the mom with the awesome taste in clothing and shoes and handbags (again, that apple thing!!). And she was the mom that always made sure my sister and I had what we needed AND what we wanted. So when my momma had set backs when I was a child, I thought nothing of them. They were par for the course with her. She was invincible in my eyes. And I had my dad to lean on and my grandparents who took over the child rearing and that goes along with that when my momma was recuperating from open heart surgery (3 times over...). But she was 20+ years younger then... It is different now. Now, each set back she has causes my blood to run cold in my veins and me to run in panic, worrying that this will be the last time I see my momma. I still have my dad to lean on, but my grandparents are long gone (and I miss them terribly!!) and I could not stand to lose my momma. And my children - I don't know how they would survive without her! I can't even bear that thought... So I am extremely grateful that she is home. And I am extremely grateful that the stroke caused no further damage to her heart or her brain. Miracles. All of them.

Love you momma!

Ciao all.