1 Wasabi Mommy

2 for 2 Best

2012-01-19T07:21:00.000-08:00

Pin your interests

2012-01-13T04:46:00.000-08:00

I know many of you are well aware what Pinterest is.. and my cousins' wife Jill.... turned me on to it... I love it... and for those of you who don't know.. Pinterest is like a "self expression engine" It is a lot like twitter and Facebook, but with much more beautiful images. Users can create virtual "mood or inspiration boards" on which they collect images. Then the user can create a separate board for any kind of interest: fashion,art, books,crafts,decor,recipes, inspirational quotes or workouts...You pin those ideas to those boards or images that reflect your style or taste.You can share with friends or virtual strangers. 1.5 million active users most of which are women...If you haven't googled it try it...you might be lost for an hour or more.....looking at the beautiful, fun and creative ideas.
I think it's good for our souls and self-esteem to take time to spend a little time each day asking ourselves some questions... SO every month... I ask myself a few questions and I record them in a journal. Today I will be recording them here for you to read.. maybe you should ask yourself the same questions... and put them in a journal.. they are interesting to read back through.. months and years later.

It looks like this.. but with different images.. depending what you are searching...

Outside my window- It's still dark.. I woke up very early... to give my son medicine he is home sick.. with a bad cough. He went back to sleep.. but I wanted to start my day, blog, exercise...

I am thinking about- How sad it is that my son is sick today, he has worked so hard in school.. from being the last student done on a daily basis to being the first one done, and this month his teachers chose him to be the star student of the month. HE will miss the assembly, the gold star wearing of the pin... and the HOOPLA... sure I can do it here.. but it's not the same as your PEERS seeing your accomplishments and cheering you on.

I am thankful for- As much as being home the last 3 years and only working part-time... I am thankful that we can get by on one income, for now. I want a career.. and this time is helping me get the necessary training I need and make the right choices for my future career.

In my kitchen: The dishwasher is running, the counter has some craft materials...as this has become my spot for working, until I find another good spot to work. My fridge is filled with vegetables and fruit for Sunday's detox. I feel ready, although, I am so worried... Have not gone 7 days with out honey in my tea, and oil on my salad.... The detox is doctor recommended and the food is regular food.. but you are to stay away from oil,butter, margarine and caffine for 7 days.. you can add a small amount of protein... by the 6th day.

Things I am creating- i am working on Mason jars... with hungry caterpillars inside for Eric Carle baby showers... to sell in my Etsy store.. I am working on Tooth Fairy Tins.... to put the tooth... and "she" puts the money in....no more wasting envelopes... and no more lost silk bags....I also made these for my Etsy store

Things I am pondering- Spending a lot of time.. thinking about the detox, and keeping my exercise.... routine up.
I look forward to- Next Wednesdays art class... this is what I did in my first class...

I know it doesn't look like a lot.. just some drawn pears no color. but I learned about measuring, angels, negative space... and I used a little frame that helped me measure...
My favorite things right now- I am enjoying watching the Youtube cooking videos of my healthy lifestyle coach....creating vegetable dishes and breakfast ideas with no grains, eggs or dairy. I also love watching Sunday night Tv.. Once upon a time.
Around the house-All the Christmas things are put away... I have my snowman collection out now.

Something I want to share- a quote I like-"Many persons have the wrong idea about what constitutes true happiness IT is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."- Helen Keller

Well, I am off to work-out and take a before shot.. pic of me.... so in 4 weeks... I can take another pic.. and see if I can see a difference in my body.
So if you have a little time.. jot a few answers to these question down in a spot you can find and read again in 4 months.... or more.

Have a great weekend.

embarking on a journey

2012-01-11T13:44:00.000-08:00

Growing up I was thin... I never spent any time worrying about food I was putting into my body. If I craved it I ate it... I liked vegetables and fruit a lot, but I loved chips and dips, bread and sweets... In high-school.. I was still thin... In college.. some junk in the trunk and my things got a bit bigger.. Still no real thought about food and I only exercised by dancing 4 days a week, in class and at clubs.

Above was my 30th birthday... The best shape I was in in my whole life, toned.. healthy and happy. I was working out with a trainer then.... and he motivated me to eat right too...

Since than I have done weight watchers and yo -yo diets.. but for all of them... I would do really well, exercise lose, but just not have the mind-set. What changed that was a counterintuitive moment... I was playing the Wii with my son and it was Wii fit. The game told me I was obese.. I was shocked, when my son asked me to tell him what that meant. I could have lied or thrown the Wii out the window, and hidden the comment under the "rug" but the next day I looked up my BMI ( Body Mass Index) and indeed it said I was obese. SO with the scale saying 200 lbs... I decided to embark on a journey. NO not a weight loss journey.. A journey to find the missing void.. I was using food as a void in my life. I was filling myself up with sweets and starches and some vegetables... instead of filling up my soul.. So I have started an art class, I am doing a detox and i am ready for a transformation.. I understand it won't be overnight....

Recently my friend told me that I look great,I don't look 200 lbs.. and that is great..BUT I feel it.. I can't do what I once could at 160.....

My healthy lifestyle coach told me....that we sell ourselves short of what we settle for.. Unfortunately most of us don't know anymore because our lives are so crowded with things, and places to be. We tend to use food as our only reward in life, something we look forward to. Food has a way of clouding out what is really going on in our lives.. and can be an artificial substitute for what we are really missing. Take the time to seek out what matters to you and do that for yourself.. Taking a class, working on art, creating a scrapbook or collage...she said.. "As you pull away from "comfort foods" you will find you remember what made you happy and smile before food became the IT thing.

SO you can come along on my journey.. and visit to see me prepare healthy meals... and report about what types of "play" I am engaging in.. but you won't find... cute cupcake and sweet dessert ideas here anymore.. they will be on my pinterst.. account only... I will use Art, sprirtuality and creativity along with exercise and dance... to get me on the path I need to be on.....I will start with a 7 day trek detoxing... followed with a once a week painting class..... Come cheer me on.....

the bad news is time flies and the good news is you're the pilot

2012-01-08T06:17:00.000-08:00

A Happiness Manifesto

To be happy, you need to consider feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling right, in an atmosphere of growth.
One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy; One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.
The days are long, but the years are short.
You're not happy unless you think you're happy.
Your body matters.
Happiness is other people.
Think about yourself so you can forget yourself.
"It is easy to be heavy: hard to be light."—G. K. Chesterton
What's fun for other people may not be fun for you, and vice versa.
Best is good, better is best.
Outer order contributes to inner calm.
Happiness comes not from having more, not from having less, but from wanting what you have.
You can choose what you do, but you can't choose what you like to do.
"There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy." —Robert Louis Stevenson
You manage what you measure.

From the book the Happiness Project
I am searching for happiness... and to do this I need to transform....
I've always had a bit of a creative mind and I've always been artistically minded... but by no means am I an artist. I have always been drawn to classes with collage or chakra's or things that are spirtual in art and mind. SO, I have not done anything like that in so long, that I used a small portion of my Christmas money from relatives to use for a class I took called - Inspiration board.

If you don't know what an inspiration board is... here are a few pictures of some...

The class is suppose to teach you that your thoughts create reality, that your subconscious mind is really "running the show" called "life". We learned how to create things in our inspiration boards as visions, things we want PRESENT in our life, get embedded into your thought process and visioning is crucial to transformation.
I need to transform.. .I have been home making small amounts of money selling on craigslist, sell my party ideas, and in the past selling jewelry. I want to have my own business.. and I have a few ideas that I know people would like... but the promoting of myself and the business sense scare me... and I am frozen in FEAR. Most of us grow up and move on to the more mundane matters of life, but for me, creating is the life long love, and I know it keeps me young.. but If only I could move forward so I can make money from it. I have opened an Etsy store and I know this will be fun, but it may not be the real career I am looking for.

I thoroughly enjoy creating....BUT that FEAR creeps in and tells me I can't.

I know in my mind that FEAR is nothing more than an obstacle that has been standing in my way of progress... MY self confidence and self-esteem of course come into play to.
The class was held in Newburgh, NY at The Center for Being Knowing and Doing you can go here to learn more info@beingknowingdoing.com or www.beingknowingdoing.com the woman who runs it is a Medium her name is Deborah.

The women who ran the class is an intuitive artist, she does soul portraits... you give her a picture of you and she draws your soul...very interesting and beautiful. she can be reached here
She also has a web address of www.ChanneledArt.com her name is Linda Richichi.

I have taken a class like this before at the Omega institute and I enjoyed it but it was a long time ago.
During this class, We were told you could do a inspiration board or a book.. I chose a book this time... I have a few pictures of my work in progress.....

this is my cover... We were told inside to use the chakra color spectrum.. which is all the colors of the rainbow... so I started with red.. and created a volcano... with things spilling out.. still a work in progress....

then I did orange and yellow and then green...

It's not finish... but then for the indigo and violet pages... I have lots more work to do. AT the beginning of the class she handed us a drawing she drew after we signed up for the class, and mine said... Play, Play , Play like their is no tomorrow and soon you'll have a crowd around you.

that resonated with me.. because I really want a crowd around me... in more ways than one.
My sister had a quote on her facebook for New Years Eve and it said.. The Bad News is time flies and the good news is you're the pilot." It's true and I want to be the pilot... but like I said.. FEAR has a way of showing his head....

So if you have a little time for creativity try cutting out magazine pictures of things you want to get every day in your life...( manifest your desires) not all material.

ENJOY

Happy 2012

2011-12-31T20:30:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! :Live Laugh and Love

Memories, dreams and reflections

2011-12-28T07:31:00.000-08:00

Not only did I tell my husband to please take the camera... this busy holiday and get some pictures of me...but I asked him to please try to catch some candid's of me.... with my son.. but as I peruse the film.. no pictures of me... this holiday in any pictures.
I am disappointed in myself at this time of year.. every year... that I did not do enough with my son, that I did not keep my home as clean and neat as I vowed to.. last year... That I would do more on my blog, and visit more and comment more on blogs... but I didn't....So I decided to join an old friend Ashley Sisk from Ramblings and Photos and the many bloggers who are going to follow 24 different prompts in photos. Following her lead.. here goes....

1. Me

*picture taken by Vivian photography
Not taken this year, but a time... where my weight was not much of a problem...and it is now.. So this prompt wants you to write what you are most proud of accomplishing in 2011.... I feel like I am not proud of anything.... I haven't kept to my weight goals or exercise goals.. I still have not found the right niche for me and a job....I guess if I had to choose I would say.. I am most proud of how hard... I push for my son.... for his services in school.. and his special needs... with his NF and his ADHD.
2. I love you

As hard as he can be, I love this kid... Here he is coming down the stairs Christmas Morning in his grinch PJ's from his Aunt Heather... and he is ready to find Christmas under the tree....

3.Still Laughing
I don't laugh enough in life... maybe that's what happens when you live with a bipolar husband... or maybe it's my negative nature.. I want to laugh more, and I love to surround myself with people who make me laugh... but the prompt is about a moment you're still laughing about now... so I would have to pick the elf....
I know a lot of bloggers... called me over achieving.. .and one blog called People I want to kick in the throat.. even bashed....creative elf people like me... but I loved staging the little guy every night...
here are a few of my favorites..

4. Winter Wonderland
It hasn't really snowed yet.. here in my part of NY so.. here is a older pic...

5. Birthday
My husband's birthday is coming up next in January... but a great birthday celebration we had this year was my son's birthday....

6.Friends
well, that's a hard one... I have isolated myself by not wanting to cause waves at my house.. with my husband and I have not gone places this year, and driven to see friends... or gone to events... as I thought it would anger or upset my husband... so I have lost some friends... but here is one of my friends on her birthday.

7. I was inspired

I saw this on someones blog.. Santa chex mix... and the hats...are bugels snacks covered in red candy melts dipped in non parils.. and then marshmallows.
8. Spring Fever

9. Travel...
We went to my husbands great uncle's for the holidays and my mothers

10. Summer Days

11. A Day In My Life

Since I am not working right now.. I spend a lot of time, here...in my home.. very domesticated....I do volunteer at my son's school.... too... but I am here a lot.
12. All Smiles
a picture that makes me smile

a blog I follow.. had a great idea for a North pole party.. complete with a mini scavenger hunt of a Santa mug, Mrs. Claus sprinkles... a fawn's collar, a red bell from Prancers collar and Dasher's favorite snack Parsley.... oh, can't forget we found Santa's drivers license ...
13. Autumn Harvest

I did not take this picture... but I love this fall tail gate... idea...

a book I read this fall

picture I love.....
but did not take.
14. Family

15. Celebrate!

16. Let's Do It Again!

this was my 41st birthday... when a lot of my friends and work friends... came with me... to a place called Space.. for a makeover... and photo session...
17. I Miss You

My father and I in California...
18. Beautiful

You have seen it a lot... but I find these 2 women beautiful
19.Dress Up

my step mother and sister.... dressed up for the holiday
20.Macro.... or close-up

21. Holidays

Christmas am.. breakfast...
22. My Favorite

The elf on the shelf gave my son a note before he left... and instructions for growing a few small "seeds" colored chocolate chips.... and something would grow... My son followed the instructions for 2 days... and then this grew... Gingerbread men.... ( idea from livinglocurto.com)
23. Don't Ever Change ( I am suppose to take a pic of something I love about myself, that I never want to change) I don't love anything at the moment... about myself so this was a hard one...

my creativity.. Santa left a glove behind.. his glasses... and a ripped piece of his suit.
24. Just Because......

one of my favorite gifts... from my neighbor....

25. Hopes and Dreams
I hope to get a job.. that is different than any other job I have had, and hopefully I can use my creativity... I hope to be able to loose a lot of weight this year... and just feel better...Mentally and physically.....

elfie pie

2011-12-21T11:30:00.000-08:00

I am so NOT done with the Elf.... my sister has given up... and is bored of the elf... but me I am still going 3 more days.. till he flies back to the north pole until next December 1st... and last night... this is what he did...
I have been having a number of problems loading pictures on my blog which is one of the reasons, I have not been posting as much... I will be taking the computer into a shop.. for debugging soon...

A Very Merry Christmas

2011-12-16T05:51:00.000-08:00

lights....camera... tradition....

2011-12-14T19:42:00.000-08:00

We have a few traditions at this house around the holiday.. the elf on the shelf,

speaking of him.. see what he has been up to...

ziplining

Locked out...

ice fishing...

ice hammering....

he crammed himself into the sugar jar and ate all the sugar inside...

we took out our glasses and read..lots of holiday books... he's reading Harold and the purple crayon at the north pole here...

he hid our Christmas stockings and put up our Christmas unmentionables....

christmas eve 7 fishes meal... chopping down a live tree

... and going 40 minutes away to see a house that has lights set up to music....
To see how incredible it is go to....click here
Here are some of the pictures I took...

the holidays to us is all about traditions, and family.

2011-12-10T14:10:00.001-08:00

cousins

2011-12-10T13:41:00.001-08:00

we celebrated the holiday early today... with our cousins... flag football, lunch and opening gifts....

As always I forgot to take a pic of me and my siblings together.. maybe 2012 I will get a new one....

Green

2011-12-09T04:16:00.001-08:00

I was raised Catholic.... I went to CCD... and I endured the incence every holiday... but when I met my husband he was a Methodist.. so I got married.... and then had a child... who I baptised Methodist. In this church they do something called a Greenery.... and The church is usually very bare.... and during the greenery service.... we have readers ( I was one this year) who remind us what the significance of light during the holidays is... the advent.... is... the meaning of the Christmas tree, candy cane, and what chrismons are....We hear about the significance of the christmas wreath, mistletoe, and where the Pointsettia came from... very interesting.. all things I NEVER knew... We talked of course about the birth of christ... and the significance of the creche....star and "gifts". My son carried up 1 King and Joseph...

After the adding of tree, wreaths and greenery.. and of course the pointsetta's that we had for family members.. I had one for my Nana.

Finished product..

Elf trouble

2011-12-02T05:15:00.001-08:00

So it's Advent time... the first few days of the month of December..... start it out. To some Advent is religious.... others....it means nothing... and still others.. it means an elf with visit your family until Christmas....
What am I rambling on about... well.. the Elf on the shelf of course....

It's a plush little guy... that you buy and he comes with a book.... and he comes out... every advent... to "watch to see if your children have been naughty or nice" I just call him part of Santa's spy squad...
Now they even have a movie out..... and we already have the CD... with the one song.. THE ELF ON THE SHELF IS WATCHING YOU.... down right stalking... and the tune is catchy..

They sell the skirts now.. to put on your elf.... ( still looks like a boy to me) but anyway....

So the idea... for those of you who still don't understand... You hide this guy every night... and then... in the am.. your child or children... wake up... ( helps mine get out of bed... each December.. because my son likes his sleep) and you find him.... in a new place every night... He goes back to Santa each night and tells him what you did good or bad.. and flys back again.... to "spy" some more... YOU can't touch him kids.. or you loose the magic... some families forget to hide him... for the next day.. .but that has not happened here yet.. and we have been using the spy squad since my son was 3. ( incidentaly that is when my son named our elf... elfie pie)
Well this year... I decided to make it funny... so last night I did this....

when he woke up to see this... he said...." Look he thought it was snow that powder... and he made a snow angel...." Later when he got on the bus... I searched to see if other parents were steppin it up... and look at what I found...

I love this one... but I can't do that.... we have no girls here..
and maybe it sends a poor message.. but it's funny...

We do have a batman car...so tomorrow.. I am doing that... but not on a real road..

I have a great idea for Sunday... involving a candle and a marshmallow... and then this morning before my tea was empty and just before my chores would start.. I found this blog..... and she had some X rated Elf on the shelf...
naughty elf
click on it... and see how clever she is.......
they even have a new book.... for grown ups... about the elf who is tired of spying and being good...

this looks so funny... I want to order it....

So what ever way you do advent in your house... just be glad you don't have a little elf spying on you....
I would recommend if you never heard of this stuff you go to .....www.elfontheshelf.com

all I want for christmas

2011-11-28T04:12:00.001-08:00

Every Thanksgiving.... I have high expectations... for the food, for the behaviors... and for me getting the cards done and the family photo done...... My potatoes were lumpy... my pearl onions... way to hard.... but all in all.. it was good. My son lost his 2nd top tooth and now... he has no front teeth.....
Here is a little recap....

My hair.. did not get straightened this day... I did not plan the food .... timing and the time I would need to do my hair... so it's....a hot mess.

mini jar apple pies.. I made for my son's bus driver and teachers...

Santa,
If your reading this... I need some window dressings..... asap

Between black friday... and the holiday food... the tooth fairy was broke... so she delivered all change.... pennies, nickels, dimes and a few quarters... he wants to know how she carried all that.. heavy stuff?

fun Thanksgiving tables...

2011-11-23T04:20:00.001-08:00

Well, Thanksgiving is upon us.... I am up very early.. pie in the oven.. already.. and then sending my son off to school.. and driving to pick up my maternal grandma for the early celebrations... but I wanted to show you some fun... tables and centerpieces.. for the festive day....

this is from a great blog.. called take six... I love love the browns.. and I have been going to estate sales for 2 years.. trying to buy these old dishes..... no luck yet..

LOVE THIS ONE!!!

I just did candles and beans... for my table.. looks very unique... I will un vail my table on Thanksgiving EVE.

I spray painted my Indian corn gold.. I did not have time to do the glitter but it still looks nice....
this photo is not mine.. my pic's to follow.

bye for now

2011-11-15T07:28:00.001-08:00

*my grandparents front steps... where they both stood to wave goodbye to us.. until we pulled down the street... in any type of weather.
My grandfather made the C... on the screen....

It is inevitable that you will be around to witness the death of at least one of your grandparents, and while it is sad that they are gone, you should take pride in knowing they probably led a full and wonderful life.
This is true in the case of my paternal grandmother- my Nana Helen, knowing my grandmother no matter if you were family, an old co-worker, neighbor or church friend.. you would have said spending time with her was a pleasurable and rewarding experience.

This is me... as a baby with my Nana...ever since I was a little girl she would welcome me with a big smile and a hug and kiss. She opened her home to many and always was a great hostess... getting us a snack or sandwich. (sangwitch)

When I was little an envelope would arrive in the mailbox addressed specifically to me the child.. My anticipation.. in opening it to hear from my Nana was always hard to contain. I always remember the title... Little Miss. LisaRenee and later she mailed mail to my son.. Master A....
Her is a letter she wrote to me when I lived with my Maternal grandmother..( Fafa-as she was called back then)

Recalling my Nana this month has been sad.. but her life with my grandfather paints a rich picture... of what family means..
I have spent the last few days... deciding what to write about Nana and gathering pictures...It was sad for me to learn.. I did not have one picture of my grandparents at Christmas.. which is a bit ironic, because I spent almost every Thanksgiving, countless Christmas Eve's and many birthdays with them from the time I was little till I was married.
I read something someone wrote to my grandfather about my Nana Helen in a sympathy card .. and they wrote ,"she had such a great chuckle"...
People say Laughter is the gift of all gifts ... and she had that gift.

I have always loved old pictures and just this summer my Nana gave me these pictures of her in Texas...

This picture is when they were dating....

Wedding picture of course... one hangs in there home.. from their 50th wedding anniversary.. that we all signed....

This is a picture my relative just shared with me... with my grandmother Helen.. and her sister and Mother...My grandmother Helen's mother had 5 sisters....all are not pictured... but wow... 5 sisters.

My grandparents with my Dad and my uncle.
When my grandparents had their 55th wedding anniversary
I made them a cake shaped like the numbers .. ( carrot cake)

When they were married 60 years.. my siblings and I got a cake for them.. with a photo of them on it...

My Dad was married twice... the first time to my mother.. and my Nana Helen planned the reception at their home... decorated the tables with my Gigi and created a nice spread.

My grandparents were at all our weddings... they are a huge part of our childhood and adult memories. We have spent most Thanksgivings together, almost every Christmas Eve and Christmas day since I was little.

Nana was part of our children's lives too...

My Nana was a inveterate novel reader and I remember her having a different book with bookmarks in several different rooms.. and when I asked her,"How do you remember all the characters when you read so many at once..?" she simply replied.. "It's easy." She loved a good mystery.

When I think of my Nana I think of her meticulously dressed with clip on earrings and matching necklace, her ring... and her silver hair neatly done and nails painted.

Nana and Grandpa and her sister... and her sisters daughter Donna and husband Ken.

I found this picture on my step-mother's facebook... and I love it.. Nana's " rooster themed" kitchen.. with her frog collection in the window... ( she had several things she collected) I recently read on an online guest book for my Nana .. a note from Sandra Owen " Mrs. Ciancio set the bar really high as " Mother and Wife". I can't agree more.

My grandparents would have been married 70 years today.

My memory holds her dearly and on this day I recall her ways and most of all I love her. A kind of love that always stays, it stays inside my heart and memory and she is often on my mind, because a lady like my Nana is rare and hard to find.

My grandmother's godson wrote a beautiful poem to her... and my cousin David read it at the funeral.
Here it is for you to read:

Ma Helen,

My aunt, my godmother-special and kind,
Living afar-but always on my mind.
The talks we had-whether near or far,
The trips up the Taconic in the car.

You always had a sincere and ind word,
Things that stick with you- didn't go unheard.
I remember how you laughed with your deep-dimpled smile,
You brought such happiness- your matter-of-fact style.

To the people that I speak,
of the money ways you were unique.
Larger that life,bright, happy- and never weak.
Always positive- even when times were bleak.
Devilish bright-eyed girl- oh the havoc you will wreak!

I hope you know how much you were loved,
As you overlook us from the heavens far above.
We are not together, nor are we apart,
There will always be a place for you in my heart.
Love you, Ma Helen..... Kevin

In high school my 12th grade teacher sent home a interview sheet... for me to interview my grandparent. I chose Nana.
She was 63 when I interviewed her and was retired. Here is the interview...

who had the most influence on your life?
The person who was had the most influence on my life, was my mother. She was a beautiful person. She taught me personal hygiene and love and what it means to be a family. Our house was full of friends and relatives and mom with a serene smile and a warm heart. My mom had a helping hand for everyone. I felt she left me quite a heritage.

What are the fondest memories of your childhood?

The Bronx of yesteryear when all was green and while shuttered house and apartments wall in one piece. Our picnics at Glen Island, our all day rental of a taxi, we would travel up the Taconic for a Sunday drive. Our trips to the Bronx Zoo with my parents. The holiday get together at holiday time, with my dear cousins most of whom have passed away.
The old traditional cookies and breads we used to make- Mom always had us help even me the youngest of the brood.

What type of school did you attend?
I attended a public school. There were many ethnic children.

What recreation was most popular during your childhood?
As children we played Double Dutch jump rope- We played hop scotch. We rollerskated in the playgrounds, Did a lof of swinging in the school yards-- Chinese checkers, spin the bottle and Truth or consequence.

What did your children enjoy most as family activities?

We used to love to go to Anthony Wayne on picnics - Have family BBQ- Vacation trips to California to visit my Mom and Dad ..trips all the way up to the North Pole... Frontier Town.... Playing lotto

In what ways are your grandchildren like you?
I think they have captured my feelings for loved ones and care for life with its beauty. They enjoy our get togethers. THey love good food and music. I'm sorry to say I think they also have my stubborn streak and a a small bit of a temper when pushed.

What values or traditions have been passed down from you to your grandchildren?
I have tried to pass on all the Italian traditions- Our holiday foods- our Christmas ways of spending the Eve as one big happy family- Our Easter Egg hunt calling each other up after to see how we are-

What was the most difficult task you had as a parent?

It was the time my husband was in the service and I had to be both Mom and Dad..for a few years.

What was the most rewarding experience you had as a parent?

Having been lucky enough to be around to see my son's become successful buisness men in the field of their choice.

What is the best legacy (something coming from an ancestor) you think you can leave your grandchildren?

My dad who is now 93 years young- always taught us to be true to ourselves to treat others as you would want them to treat you so you can live with dignity and love.

C'è una di una risata gentile che ho piaciuto sempre, guarda fuori da dell'occhio primo con un luccichio allegro, poi striscia giù... come una farfalla e come le luci sulla faccia intera come un fiore su una rosa.

BYE FOR NOW NANA...

self portraits

2011-11-11T14:57:00.001-08:00

Just a few of my self portraits.. with my new..Hair due..... no I am not topless...

I have a black halter top on.....

2011-11-09T08:07:00.000-08:00

Every Leaf speaks BLISS to me fluttering from the Autumn tree.

YouTube Challenge - I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy

2011-11-04T07:15:00.000-07:00

Snow on Halloween?

2011-11-01T02:27:00.000-07:00

Surprise.. it's November...1st... and we had snow on the ground for Halloween...

Although, many people were without power...we went to a few houses. to trick or treat.. anyway...This scary scene is courtesy
of my mother.. It was all her idea... I just followed it out....
My son wanted to be Frankenstein... but if you know me.. I just didn't feel it..so I told him...I think maybe next year... We love a movie.. called Gnomeo and Juliet... so we dressed like these guys....

My husband took a picture of us... kissing.. and the picture has vanished....?

But of course.. I have Gnomeo..

We counted all our candy when we got home... and sorted it.. to do a Math project.

Nan was with us.. celebrating.. she opened the door for us... when we went around ....

our house... from the road... on Halloween... but strange with snow?

I loaded him up in the car... to go show his other Grandma... who lives 2 minutes away... and was still without power....

I made candy corn moose... to share...

My husband has to dress up for school... and every year.. he asks me what to be.... this year
I told him.. Mr. Monopoly or Mr.Clean... since he is bald...

I had a terrific costume for my brother's costume party Saturday night.. but the early snow... put a Kabosh... on that... so the only dressing up I did was this.....

One of our neighbors.. was Smurfette.. a personal favorite....

Our friends...

I leave you with my Black pumpkin creation....
Next time we meet... I will share with you a tribute...of a great women...My Dad's mom.. Nana Helen.. who passed...On Wednesday....

random

2011-10-18T06:46:00.000-07:00

Welcome.....I love fall for so many reasons... One of course is that I was married... in the fall...

*my scanner is new.. and it cut off my train... and half of me... I haven't had much practice.. scanning pictures.. lately... but her is the view... of the winery... and me... on my wedding day... 7 years ago.. and and 7 sizes smaller... sorry.. it's not cropped either.. the scanner is tempermental.

I will be married 7 years.. this weekend, As I sit here and sip my Harney and Son's Dragon Pearl Jasmine tea with some honey from our apiary. I reflect on my marriage...in between bites of Apple-Ginger Snack Cake.((homemade recipe...if you want to borrow) It hasn't been all roses... but I like our family unit. I think my husband is still romantic and he and I still have a lot in common. In this society there is so much to tear apart a marriage.. and very little to help support it.. but I feel date night is one of the most important things you can do to help support it... Even if it's once a month... We rarely go anywhere together alone...but... We went out...last weekend... to the Haunted Hayride... I remember my brother saying once... ,"Why would you want to pay anyone to scare you?" and it always makes me laugh.. but it was fun to do something.. different...and yes, it's expensive... but we decided that we would not go out to dinner... we would do the hayride with our Friends Marisa and Fred and then we would go to a winery the next day. We got married at a winery.. so we love to visit new ones...I once had a neighbor tell me... I would never want to spend 80.00 on a hayride when I could go out to dinner and wine... for the same price.. and I agreed with her... I still do... but... my husband and I had our third date... 7 years ago... at the Haunted Hayride... so it felt... full circle... and we enjoyed ourselves.... I love the little shops inside and the corn maze is always my favorite- and when the headless horseman himself.. appears...

The next day... we went to Glorie Winery.. in Marlboro www.gloriewine.com
there website... talked about sustainability... and I found it to be very environmentally friendly...

"To us here at Glorie Farm Winery, sustainability boils down to three pieces: environment, social responsibility and profit. We are serious about the green movement and embrace the concept and implementation of green practices. Being green includes energy conservation, water conservation, and recycling. To conserve energy, in 2008 we installed an 8,300 kilowatt hour solar photo voltaic power system that produces all of the electricity used by the winery. As of this writing, we have produced 21,300 kwh. The solar power allows us to be less dependent on electricity from the power plant and helps to reduce our carbon footprint. Last month we signed a contract with Hudson Valley Clean Energy to install another system that will produce 18,500 kwh/year. Together, the two systems will provide all of the electric needs for our winery, farm and residence.
To conserve water, we installed a trickle irrigation system 16 years ago. This type of system delivers just the right amount of water, one drop at a time, directly to the plant's roots with minimum evaporation and no soil erosion. To conserve natural resources, we recycle all of our glass and metal.
All sustainability also includes a social element. Yes, you have a role to play. Your actions can contribute to the social or society piece of sustainability. One action you could take is to buy local! Local food is commonly defined as food grown within 100 miles from where it is consumed. Articles and cookbooks have been written recently about the 100-mile diet. Why not consider local wine as part of your diet? Purchasing local food is considered sustainable because it has a smaller carbon footrint. Why purchase wine produced in California or Argentina which are thousands of miles from here? Think of the fuel burned to ship that distance!"

My husband purchased me a Hillbilly wine glass... there.. Do you like it? we also got a bottle.. and look at the name of this... wine...

Then we went to another great Vineyard... called Stoutridge, I had my camera with me.. and the memory card was full.. .so me..... so this picture is from their website... www.stoutridge.com
They are also a distillery....

he is always... talking.. when I try to take his picture...
I love the little black lights...

They go green too...
"Our Solar photovoltaic array on the south roof of the production area is nearly 3000 sq. ft of cell area and can produce 40 kW of electricity on a sunny day. Over the year we expect to be a net producer of electricity with the panels supplying more power than we use."

There wine is unprocessed... so no sulfites...

Then we left there to go to the Racoon Saloon in Marlboro.. I have not been there in ages... and we got to sit... at the best seat in the house.. over looking the gorge...Fall leaves and a waterfall.... I ordered Pate.. and calamari... and a glass of wine... HEAVEN....
( from camera phone)

I have been working on... some skeleton's for the front porch... and they are still a work in progress...but they look like this right now...

* still need to fix her head.. and give him more of a neck... and add his legs and boots... but looking good and creepy right...?

My son and I enjoyed some playdough fun the other night.... he made snakes.. I made .. Halloween... people...

My house is decorated for the season....

I am still enjoying some fall food... I made a pear, pecan and pumpkin crouton.. salad the other day for lunch...

Got my son a new bean bag chair.. as recommended by the O.T.. for his upper body... to lean over it to read....but look who wanted to try it out first...

My son loves.. to ham it up.. and he wanted to have a photo shoot with his new pj's...

And now I unveil my recycled Halloween gift idea.. for teachers...

Go enjoy the fall... day....

Autumn allure

2011-10-13T07:13:00.000-07:00

When I was a small child- I couldn't wait for fall. I would love the crisp air, the cider mill... to get hot donuts and hot cider with my grandmother. On Halloween, all our neighbors would open up their homes... with none other than fall foods... Popcorn balls, pumpkin breads, and warm apple crisps. If I just sold you.. then you too.. have an addiction to the allure of Autumn.

Last year my son's Kindergarten teacher shared with the children a apple pizza recipe... and he loved that... so we kept the recipe and we will make that together... again....
I can't shake all the recipes I want to try... my husband and I just found out some news... and now.. we have to be even tighter with our money. Our son is going to need a tutor and I can't buy ingredients we don't usually have on hand. So I started my fall cooking .... route with Pumpkin Lasagna... and

then... I had to make cranberry turkey meatloaf.. ( recipe to follow) which was my husbands favorite...I am still going to make candy corn moose which I was serving at my fall book club meeting... even though I had to cancel my Book club mystery party I still have the ingredients and ....I am sad about not having another fun gathering... but I have been sick and our money is so tight. I even had...pumpkin martini's on the menu... so I am sad to... not be celebrating.

Today I am making a spice cake with ginger frosting... I can't resist.. it's like an addiction.. I would rather create fall food than shop for shoes...It's the last hurrah ... I have no more ingredients for fall fun.. after this...

Yesterday I made Cinnamon apple grilled cheese..YUM!

Today I am also making a fall harvest salad... with Cinnamon croutons... can you blame me for this addiction... maybe I need to go to a 3 step program... to stop this autumn allure?

recipe for turkey cranberry meat loaf.... courtesy of taste of home....
Ingredients:
1 cup seasoned stuffing cubes
1/2 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
1 celery rib, finely chopped
1 each small onion and carrot grated
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary, divided
1-1/2 pounds lean ground turkey
1/2 cup whole-berry cranberry sauce
1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

1. In a large bowl, combine stuffing cubes and milk. Let stand for 10 minutes, break up stuffing cubes with a fork. Stir in the egg, celery, onion, carrot, cranberries, salt and pepper.
2. Combine sage and rosemary, add half the mixture. Crumble turkey over mixture and mix well.Pat into an ungreased 9 inch x 5 inch loaf pan.
3.Bake uncovered, at 375o for 25 minutes drain ... combine the cranberry sauce, ketchup pepper sauce and herbs over meat loaf.
4.Bake 2-25 minutes longer or until no pink remains or a meat thermometer reads 165o
ENJOY

scavenger hunt

2011-10-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

I got a new camera early.. before the holidays... I love Kodak easy share... and I would love to have a SLR but I got a new Kodak and I love it... so I linked up with Ashley Sisk again... to join in the phone of scavenger hunt.. I have not done one for so long.. that it felt great to be back.. behind the lens.

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The first interpretation is for the word
1. Landscape

2. Complementary Triadic color

3. Black and white ( I have not figured out how to use my new camera.. and do sepia or black and white.. so I cheated on this one a bit.)

4. FOOD
I was on a search for a pumpkin bar mix.. and I couldn't find it... so I came home with Butternut squash ravioli for one.... ( looks like I had a great lunch)

5. Blank space

no wine.. how sad...

Whale or Mermaid

2011-10-05T06:54:00.000-07:00

* this is going around facebook... so I put here with my thoughts....

A while back, at the entrance of a gym, there was a picture of a very thin and beautiful woman. The caption was "This summer, do you want to be a mermaid or a whale?"

The story goes, a woman (of clothing size unknown) answered the following way:

"Dear people, whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, seals, curious humans), they are sexually active and raise their children with great tenderness.
They entertain like crazy with dolphins and eat lots of prawns. They swim all day and travel to fantastic places like Patagonia, the Barents Sea or the coral reefs of Polynesia.
They sing incredibly well and sometimes even are on cds. They are impressive and dearly loved animals, which everyone defend and admires.

Mermaids do not exist.

But if they existed, they would line up to see a psychologist because of a problem of split personality: woman or fish?
They would have no sex life and could not bear children.
Yes, they would be lovely, but lonely and sad.
And, who wants a girl that smells like fish by his side?

Without a doubt, I'd rather be a whale.

At a time when the media tells us that only thin is beautiful, I prefer to eat ice cream with my kids, to have dinner with my husband, to eat and drink and have fun with my friends.

We women, we gain weight because we accumulate so much wisdom and knowledge that there isn't enough space in our heads, and it spreads all over our bodies.
We are not fat, we are greatly cultivated.
Every time I see my curves in the mirror, I tell myself: "How amazing am I ?! "

(The girl on the picture is French model Tara Lynn)

I am struggling once again with my weight.. in high-school I could eat what ever I wanted and not gain a bit... sound familiar... then in my late 20's... I had some depression... and I noticed I used food as comfort.. I looked forward to it... I was never a big drinker, nor did I do drugs or smoke... food made me feel good. I wasn't a big shopper and I never gamble.... SO food did it for me. When I got married I was still thin in the stomach but the but and the thighs... were getting bit... I think big can be beautiful.. but I learned MEN don't like it... and yes, who cares what they think... but in reality I care... a bit.

Then came Weight watchers... I love vegetables.. and fruit.. is good.. but I have a problem.. a terrible love affair with sugar... Pumpkin bread, Carmel....sweets rule me... I don't drink soda.. but after most meals..I need a little snack... NOW... I am 200 lbs... and I am not exercising regularly... I have done boot camps and kick boxing.. love them all... but I need the push... and once I don't go due to money.. the push isn't there and I fall.... I eat healthy.. Little red meat.. lots of vegetables. especially in the fall.. butternut squash, and acorn squash.. and Kale and my favorite sweet potatoes... but it's my servings... I have seconds.....I love the saying that we gain weight when our wisdom.. has no room... in our heads so it spreads... but in reality.... I think BIG weight gain and no or little exercise can be unhealthy and I want to live to see my son's children.. So I really love this picture and these words above.... but we need to be realistic... and check are cholesterol numbers and or blood pressure and really be sure we are a HEALTHY weight... regardless of whales and mermaids.

Guest Post: What is Executive Functioning and How Does It Relate to ADHD?

2011-10-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

Guest Post: What is Executive Functioning and How Does It Relate to ADHD?