Two in One Day....What is This?!?!?

Ok so I was in a baking mood today....I had my Girls come over and while they played cards I made Red Velvet Cake and Cheesecake....Yummy... I showed wonderful restraint and only had a small piece of RV cake....I will have a smidge of the Cheesecake....I am so totally ready to have some of that one Later!

My piece of Cake beat me!!! Red Velvet is, by the way much better with HOMEMADE frosting... the other stuff is WAY too SwEeT!!

Lovin' this time of year...

Finally We Saw The Babies!!!

Well it has been a long awaited meeting but we finally got to Memphis to see, my oldest son Nick's, twin baby brothers...
I will let you enjoy their cuteness, I have some baking to do...Merry Christmas and Have a Blessed New Year!!

This (above) is Sir Jayden...

and this is Sir Jordan...
It is a blessing that Nicholas' Dad and I have gotten past so many things to become good friends. He has and amazing wife that Nick calls Mom, for that I am blessed. I know no matter where the Army sends us I know he has a loving family and a close bond with all of his siblings.

This here is a photo of Paul and I holding the boys... This is how we would have looked if we had twins...LOL No more babies for me!! I will be Auntie Dee, the one who spoils them and sends them home...

Love and Best Wishes for you and yours this Christmas season.

The Fond Memories Of My Past, Part Due (Italian for two)

The last time I blogged about my memories it was about the passing of my Grandpa Morano.... well this time its about my other Grandparents, my Mom's parents. It has been so many years since I have celebrated a Christmas with them and but the thoughts and the memories still seem so real and so close. When the older foundation building family members have passed away many of the stories and traditions pass away with them. I am one of the last in my generation that remembers the holidays as though they were yesterday...


This year I wasnt planning on going home to NY to see my family but in a last ditch effort to get me there my niece Alyssa messaged me on Facebook and asked me to talk to Uncle Paul and please reconsider our decision and come home for a big old fashioned family Christmas. How can you say no to the pleadings of your niece... how could you tell her that you are really going to be cutting it close on your budget if you schedule this in....Ahh, Who cares....I say go for it! There are so many memories the younger generations have missed out on and it is now the responsibility of those who do remember to carry on the traditions....so here is where we are today. We are going home to NY! We, and when I say We I mean ME, will be in the cold, snowy, slushy and did I mention COLD NY for the Christmas and New Years Holiday.... I, I mean We will be subject to the harsh winter weather I have long since moved away from .....LOL Its crazy how wimpy we become when it comes to dealing with the cold. I can remember spending Christmas and playing outside throwing snowballs, building forts and seeing if the pond was frozen enough to skate around on. Hahahahaha, I am seriously laughing about the memories as I am typing, they flow from the back of the subconscience mind racing forward to slap me up side of the head and say, "Your not giving your children this experience....Your not letting them get yelled at for leaving their frozen and wet boots, mittens, scarfs, coats, and snow pants in the middle of the floor and you are depriving them of being able to build the memories with their cousins like you have with yours ....whats the matter with you?"


As I said before I am giving in, I am going to make memories and most of this is due to the pleadings of a 14year old girl and from the blog One Perfect Bite (http://oneperfectbite.blogspot.com/2011/12/santa-lucia-crown-for-feast-of-st-lucia.html)....Thank you Both you have jogged the memories laying dormant in my mind, causing me to WANT now more than ever to build memories. So this Christmas I am going to get out the bricks and mortar... I am going to build the next floor of memories.


I challenge you to do the same, call your Mother, Grandmother, Aunts, ask them what one tradition from your family is and do it. Even if it seems simple, keep it that way dont modernize it, dont make it into more than the simple thing that it was...A Family Memory!


Here is just a little memory I have of my family at Christmas...


We would leave very early in the morning on Christmas Eve and head out to my Grandma and Grandpa Ferrari's house over 2 hours away. My brothers and I would make sure we had all of our outdoor gear so we would be able to play outside when we got there. Upon falling asleep in the car we would be awakened with the stir of, "Hey guys we are here." Perking up we would pile out of the car my Mom and Dad would unload the trunk of our family car and bring in the groceries we needed to successfully make our Christmas dinner the way we wanted it to be....Memorable! Soon after arriving there would be a knock followed by the door blasting open and my cousins would barrel through the door and greet each and every one of us in the house. My mom, Grandma and Aunt Mary would talk and laugh making funny comments about memories they had from their childhood. I could almost smell the coffee.... Us kids would be dressed and out the door to do our exploring. If it was too cold we would just look at the perfectly laid snow and say to each other, "How come there are no footprints? Grandpa must go outside.... Doesn't he?" The day would be followed with an evening of watching TV and playing in the basement while the sauce simmered on the stove and the Bacalhau (Salted Cod Fish) was being prepared by my Grandpa. We always knew that our evening was going to be cut short so that my Mom, Dad and Aunt Mary & Uncle Elwood could leave with my cousins and finish the final touches to the food being prepared for Christmas Day activities... My brothers and I would sleep at Grandma and Grandpas because we always knew we would be spoiled and they would make a kickin breakfast in the morning. 


Christmas Day, it wasnt a day where we worshiped the God of TV, though we did watch football games and parades, but it was spent talking, laughing and building bonds and memories with our family that no one in the world could ever take away from us. We have been blessed with the memories and I am so glad I could share them with you...God Bless you ALL  and make every memory count this Christmas and dont forget to Wish Jesus a Happy Birthday!!! After all he is the reason we have the season....

POOF!! ...There She Is...

It's been some time since I was on here to vent, babble, and amuse you with my minut rantings...

In the last few weeks my hubs and I have been discussing the option of going home for Christmas...though I want to just because I am not so sure when I will be able to do so again, I am hesitant... My family for the most part for the last 7 years have been understanding to the fact that I am now married to the military and that I am not always going to be around for family events, functions and other family altering things.... So in the grand design I would be able to attend events and be there for the important things in life but my married life just doesn't give me the option or the opportunity to do such things on an every year basis... don't take this as a complaint but take it as a part of life that I am good with.

Some things that are currently weighing on my mind is that I am not understanding to the wishy washiness of my immediate family. In particular my brother...I love my brothers both of them, I have grown up with my one sister in law and the other well lets just say it is a good thing that I am at a distance...(negativity is not one of my favorite traits among friends and family...) So I have always thought my brother to be a strong minded, well at least when we were little he was the little protector over both my brother and I but it seems to be that over time his wife has just chiseled away at the strong man he once was to a spineless person with shallow ideals...I am sure I have changed as well where I used to be walked on and treated badly I am now much stronger and I am ALL about communication.... When on vacation with my brother (the younger of the two) we had to have the chat that if there was anything that he wanted to do all he had to do was say so I didn't mind and if I did mind then I would get over it and the sun would shine tomorrow....LOL I am not about holding a grudge or dangling ones faults over ones head to say, "Hey! Hey You... don't for get that time.....You know what I'm talkin' bout ...Yeah that's it look up before you get egg on YOUR face...." TOTALLY NOT ME!!!!! If I've been taught one thing if anything by my husband then it is that there is nothing worth stewing, there is no reason to hold a grudge over someone when there are so many other, much BIGGER, fish to fry....

Ok so here is another dilemma I'm going through....and I am in need of some much needed advice. I have a daughter who was diagnosed with a slight dyslexia. In her other school in TX they were teaching her how to undo the things she had been doing for so long to compensate and they were showing her how to use new strategies and they new strategies were working.... And now here in the state of Missouri they (meaning the school district) don't think that dyslexia is a true form of a learning disorder...so there is NO HELP from the school, the principal, or teachers to give her guidance they are just popping her from class to class assistance to assistance, none of which is helping and they are just hindering her progression....I have bugged the school to get her the appropriate help and they just keep on saying that the dyslexia isn't an issue....Yeah That's right dyslexia ISN'T an ISSUE!! I am at my whits end...and then to top it all off they have these things called student led conferences... and so in protest I told my Hubs that if he wanted to attend then that was fine but I was not into sitting in the school for over 3 hours to go from class to class to hear about all the things that we were already talking about at home.... case in point our daughter Lauri was always telling us that she couldn't remember her day and so we told her that she needed to start with the first thing she did in the morning to the last thing she did before she came home....LOL so at the dinner table 90% of the time we sit and ask the kids how their day went, what did they do and what did they learn... I don't need the school to make sure I am doing my part as a parent nor do I need them to try to guilt me into attending the student led conference that I don't believe in... Yes I was guilted...not by one teacher but by 2 out of the 3 teachers....It was crazy... so my Hubs attended the event and was there not for the 3 I thought I would be there for but for 4 Hours and 15 Minutes....Yes this is OVER the top....so I asked him what took so long when he got home and he had to say that after the student led conference each parent had the opportunity to talk to the teacher....going from making the conference time from 30 minutes to over an hour for each student....WOW and we cant get assistance for a child who needs help with reading....its a wonder why our schools are so messed up. Ok side bar....I do think that the teachers of America arent doing their jobs, I actually feel they are under paid and under appreciated...our governments State City and Federal limit the funding that is there to make sure our children are well educated and we lessen the standards to compensate for regions that have to cater to diversity. So I DO appreciate and value the teachers the kids have I am more appalled at the State and Federal standards as a whole...

Ok so what do you do with a non responsive school...who do you go to, to get the assistance we need with out having to spend an arm and a leg....let alone a kidney or lung... Is there a service out there that will be a voice of reason as I am for my child.... I sometimes feel as if I am the only one who cares and wants the best  for Shaunie, she is a child and other than her parents she needs to have a teacher who is willing to go above and beyond, and see the whole thing through....

As Scarlet O'Hara once said...."After all tomorrow is another Day!" So true So true!!

A Little Splash Of Color...

What do you think of when someone new comes into your life? Me, well I do my best to keep an open mind because there may come a time where their insight may be the difference between doing something stupid and doing something smart that may have been over looked or thought of as stupid. 

Over the last couple of weeks I have been in search of an idea I found on a website called pinterest... its Matte Finish Nail Polish. Not that supper glossy look of most all polishes out there but matte. I know I am a smart girl and I know I have some smart thoughts but this one is going to have to go down in the record books as a mistake gone....RiGhT!

Ok so here is the photo I had found on pinterest:

This is a top coat by Essie...that gives a dull look to your polish...

Say this with me, "Hello, brain"....back in the day I had made a small insignificant mistake when doing my nails. I had run out of top coat and so since I had only ridge filler polish I decided to use that as my top coat. Yeah, well little did I know it took my lovely shiny shimmery polish and made it look like a cheap fake bland looking color. I was not happy and I was none the wiser...I took off the polish and left the ridge filler polish off the top. Happily I went on my way.

Speed up to todays time and about roughly 3 weeks ago when I went in search of this "AWESOME" new polish to matte finish my nails....Walking through my local Sallys Beauty Supply it hit me...Like a bag of dirt...HELLO....Danielle use the ridge filler. So with out haste I grabbed the ridge filler polish and out the door I went (after paying of course)...Got home and began to break out in to my experiment mode...

The Angels Sang and the Heavens opened up to show their pleasure with my great discovery....LOL YeaH RighT... No but seriously I accomplished what I had set out to find and I in the process made me realize that my mistake has now made someone Very Very Rich.... So go out and get yourself the following...

Then these are the steps to the finished look ...

1.  Use your Top Coat as a base coat or use a Base Coat as your base either will work...

2.  Then use a color of choice and apply one to two coats of color and let dry completely...

3.  Apply ridge filler and as it drys watch your shiny/glossy finish dull...

**I took photos but they didnt come out very well...(I dont have a high tech camera) :)

So now that you know how easy it is to do you can do it yourself (DIY) or if you want to you can also get the pre-made matte polish....I found some FINALLY at Big K, its by Revlon, Matte Suade... Happy painting!

A Day of Appreciation...

So, it has been a while.... Right?!

Well, I've opted to writing my blogs before typing them. In doing so I am able to weed out the mumbo jumbo blabberings out and have clear concise thoughts. It seems to help with the exception that I tend to add lib as I type what I wrote...LOL Oh well, that's just me.

I want to start today's blog first and foremost by sending a shout out to Maranda, CONGRATULATIONS!! Maranda has become a Pampered Chef consultant and had her first show yesterday. I am so happy and excited for her! I love you Girl and its your moment to Shine! 

For many of you who don't already know I too am a Pampered chef consultant and I love the product and company as a whole. So, being able to pass on the PC world to Maranda and have a wonderful friend by my side to work with is just truly amazing, I can see us doing great things. So if your reading this follow Maranda on Jolts & Jollies here on Blogger, where she posts about all of the Fantabulous Foods she cooks, and visit her personal website for most all of the products she uses by the pampered chef... at www.pamperedchef.biz/marandamedina. You will love her as much as I do and you wont be disappointed in any of her wonderful recipes! <3 you Manna!

Well the Rabbit has done died!...I have another shout out CONGRATULATIONS!! to give this is shooting to my girl Priscilla who has just found out she is PREGGERS!! I am praying for a girl she needs it she is surrounded by all boys and is in the need for a dramatic, sweet, fancy, little girl.

Ok, so now that all my congrats are out of the way I am going to leave you with this...cherish and be blessed with all that you have and understand that just because you are given something different than what you expected, God has a plan and a purpose...all will be revealed in his time not yours! 

Have a Blessed and Pampered Day!!

Inspiration - an inspiring or animating action or influence

This blog was written in early September...but due to life it has taken me a while to post...

I am feeling very inspired today, so much so that I wanted to workout...I think I did it more for the time I could spend thinking. I am sure my hubs was hit with the shock and awe factor. As we went to the gym there was no hesitation, on my part, to delay the inevitable, I dug right in and worked my butt off... OK so I need to take a couple of steps back, church this morning was Wonderful! I go to a Methodist church in the town we live in and I love it... they are ALL about family and spiritual growth. As of late we have been preparing for a program called "Serve 2011".

"Serve 2011" is all about us as a church family going out into the community and helping those who are in need of help...be it cleaning up garbage, fixing a leaky roof, etc. So on the 10th-11th of September we along with all the Methodist Churches in MO are going to forego our normal Sunday Service for a full day of service to our community. So, on to feeling inspired... Today in Chruch we were asked to make a choice and we needed to decide to be either "Hot" for God or "Cold" for God...there was to be no "Lukewarm" people out there because God isn't Lukewarm for us... I began to wonder...How do others see me? I questioned if others saw me as a Christian every time they saw me or if they only saw me to be a "Sunday Christian", (that's a Christian who is about God and Salvation on Sundays ONLY)? I thought long and hard...this is where the workout helped today because I was able to reflect on all the times I was a Lukewarm Christian and I looked at the instances when I was "Hot" for God... It seemed for the "Hot" Christian helping just came naturally... For me it isn't about how you serve...its about how well you serve! If I am serving for the greater purpose to show others that I am proud of being a Christian and I don't care who sees it then I am serving for the grander scheme. I am not claiming to be perfect because I will be the first to tell you I am by NO means perfect and I have faults, hang ups, and insecurities that take a hold of my daily existence and try to make me insane, but I make the choice starting today to work on ME and make me a better...Hot for God Christian. So now that the friends of mine that are reading this are thinking to themselves....Oh Great....here we go we are going to have to put up with the Holy Roller Danielle is going to become....Well, Stop right there...don't even finish the thought. I am still going to be fun, loving, loyal and trustworthy just like I am now but the only difference is that I am going to tone down my cussing, yelling, and wavering on my faith. I am going to be there for my friends, I am going to follow through on the things I commit to, and I am going to show myself that I can succeed and become a better Christian.

I am not saying that you HAVE to be a Christian to do good things because I have many many friends that are not Christian and they do good things to serve our community. I don't put conditions no my friendships I Love them just the way they are. They know I go to church and they know where I stand on my faith but sometimes I do wonder if I come across as a "Lukewarm" Christian? I am just saying that for me I am becoming inspired to do good things that reflect that I am not only a Christian on Sunday but every Day. I am a Christian all the time and I want people to see me ooze Jesus from the inside out...

I Took a Day For Reflection...

Before 9/11/01

One of the Beautiful Reflection Ponds, built to remember all those lost on 9/11/01. Here we are 10 years later...

Reflection...to some reflection is the image seen in a mirror, to others it is a moment taken to look back on a brief time in their life and the impact. I have many thoughts on the topic of reflection. I find it to be a meditational time where I can sit back think and process the events that have brought me to the place I am today. Yes, I am human and my reflection is also, at times, what I see in the shiny reflective material around us...mirror, pool of water, side of a car, a window, self portrait camera mode on my phone...and so on. 

Yesterday I was apart of a great moment in time that helped me to reflect on me. As a person...as a member of a community, as a fellow Christian... I also had time to reflect on how I have changed. This process also helped me to take a moment to remember those I care about that were effected to the utmost by the attacks on 9/11/01. There were things seen by those who worked and lived close to the Trade Centers that I, to this day, cannot imagine seeing. The images seen by those were followed by night terrors, and PTSD. All I can do is pray for their healing and reflect on the things since then that have been blessings and beautiful moments in time. 

There was so much more that had happened that day and I can say from the eyes of this American, We Are BLESSED! I, like so many others, have A LOT to be thankful for. We need to reflect on how we bonded as Americans in a time of crisis, and we need to reflect on how we have a let small part of our patriotism fall to the way side because we became comfortable in the thoughts that Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden have been found and have paid for their crimes. This shouldn't stop us from being there for our neighbor, now when I say neighbor I don't mean Mexico and Canada, I mean the folks that live in your own back yard. The person who just lost a job and really could use a friend to talk to or maybe even just vent out their frustrations to.  We have....Oh wait let me get on my soap box...OK here we are that's better, now where was I? Oh yes, We have to take a look at our own country. I am not saying that we should not aid in the assistance of other countries effected by Natural Disaster...but when Natural Disasters have hit our country where were we, how easy did we make it for our country to get back on its "feet". Did we really help each other up, dust them off and get them on their way.... No we made political red tape and loop holes so we didn't have to loose money on our investment. I know this seems to be going bigger and broader than just a simple reflection but what I am trying to say is that We are Proud Americans and when we don't take care of our own country with the same passion, if not more, then we do for other countries. Who do we hurt? It hurts you, me, those we know and care for, and those we don't know. We need to be strong not only for the welfare of others but we need to be our strongest for OURSELVES!

The reflection I had yesterday was that I am so PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN, I am PROUD TO BE AN ARMY WIFE, I am SO PROUD OF MY HUSBAND and ALL OF OUR SOLDIERS IN ALL BRANCHES OF SERVICE out there defending MY FREEDOMS and YOURS. 

*my soap box has been put away...I thank God I have one, just like you do, to stand on!

Hey!!! I've Been Robbed!

Gosh where to begin. Since the last time I posted things were ok...and now I am not so sure! I know life has its own way of making sure you are on you toes and blind sided but this.... There was no preparation for, I am feeling as if a tornado has ripped though my life while I was fast asleep. I go to bed ok somewhat stressed to wake and find that all the things I thought would be ok aren't. I am so upset with myself that didn't notice and things got this bad this fast and how in the world could I let it get so far.

I have tried to get things back on track, I feel like I have tried everything but this time I am going to have to ride out the bad luck and wait for it to get better. I will not let this get me down... I am going to hold strong, no matter how hard it may or may not get I know that I have great strength. God has always found a way to provide in times of struggle and I am not going to loose faith this time. What I feel has been taken from me I will get back what I am scared to do I will make happen and when it is all said and done I will Praise God for giving me strength in him!

Not much else to say other than I hope these will inspire you to hold your Faith and Strength through difficult and trying times...

Strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble and tottering knees. Isaiah 35: 3

The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him. Nahum 1: 7

If Memory Serves Me Right

Monday afternoon I received a phone call I will never forget. My brother called to ask me if I had talked to my Dad and I told him no and asked what was up. He then blurted out, Grandpa Died!. There was no emotion in his voice as I'm sure he too was in shock to hear the news...he was in a hurry to find my Dad so we hung up. I spent most of the day in a zombie like state of remembering things we did as children and thinking of all the times we spent with all of my family. I missed him instantly there was no getting me out of this funk I was in.

Later that night I went to a dear friends house to do a Pampered Chef Show. My mind was able to think of something other than the passing of my Grandfather. I was kept busy and the thoughts of him were minimal until we were talking about the grill pan and press and my friend mentioned how a steak would have come out nice in that pan. I looked at her and told her that I thought the same thing and for a minute today I was going to get a steak and make it Grandpa Style.

I think making steak and feeding my family, extended and otherwise, is one of the fondest memories I have of my Grandparents and growing up. We spent many weekends and summer nights at 30 Stonehenge, Rochester NY... Irondiquoit to some, but that's only if you want to get technical : ) ... It always started out the same... it was my Dad and our family, Uncle Dom and his family, Aunt Andrea and Rory and Uncle Anthony and his family. It never seemed to matter what the occasion, nor did it matter that there was rarely an occasion our extended family wasn't thought of and for them to be there for cookouts or for them to just stop by didn't disrupt the natural course of human existence. Ok so here is the family that would come by.... There was Aunt Mary "Finary", Uncle Gumpy, Uncle Joe and Aunt Rosemary, Babe and Tiny, Uncle Sam and Aunt Verna, Babe and Tiny's daughter, Cousin Yogi, Sammy and Joann, Marion...Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Pete, Aunt Mame (pronounced May-Me) Uncle Paul, and Aunt Angie. I could never forget the people/family that helped to mold me into what and who I am today, I appreciate and value my family and I hold them with such high regard.

I was so little at the time so for me to remember that far back and who was always around brings a sense of pride and a bit of surprise. It was funny no matter how much food was made God provided and stretched it out and when the door bell rang and our extended family flooded through the doors there was still plenty of food. OK...so back to Grandpas steaks... When he made his almost famous steaks (they will be made famous someday, because this memory lives inside of me and I WILL pass this on to every person I meet and know...)  there was never a change in the flavor nor in the smell and it was duplicated so perfectly every time they were cooked. First you started off with Delmonico or T-Bone...poke it with a fork, squeeze fresh lemon over the top, sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, pepper and Italian seasoning...Flip and repeat on the other side. Make sure your grill is nice and HOT! Ahhhhh, I can hear the sizzle and smell that smell that comes off of any bbq grill in the summer.... STEAK!! Before owning a gas grill he used his Charcoal Outdoor Oven...alright so as my Dad corrected me it wasn't an oven but to me at that age it really looked like an old Italian Outdoor Brick Oven... Ok my brothers and cousins would know what I was talking about... : )....I want one when I build myself a house!!

We would gather in the dining room and Dad would say grace for everyone before eating...it was old school kids ate in the kitchen and the grown-ups sat around the LARGE dining room table (ok so it was Large to me because I was so small)...Oh and there were only rare occasions in which we would we be allowed to eat in the dining room with the adults but otherwise the kitchen was where it was at. My cousins, my brothers and I filled the table and we would laugh talk and polish of every moist tender delicious bite of our steak and potatoes. We never wasted food like many children of today, our Mom's gave us just what they knew we would eat and nothing more....if we ate seconds and thirds it was ok because there was always plenty...

Once they were grilled to perfection, (when I say grilled to perfection I really mean it these steaks were so FanTastiC that even the small edging of fat was pure perfection)...Grandpa would bring in the steaks and Grandma ALWAYS had baked and perfectly seasoned potatoes, if it was too hot out we would half the potatoes, season with salt n' pepper and grill face down on the grill with partially husked corn on the cob. Oh and we can't forget the large fresh, home grown, salad, (with tomatoes, peppers, and homemade dressing) there was NO bottled stuff made in Grandma and Grandpa's household...even when they got old and we went to the house for lunch there was NEVER a bottle of pre-made/store bought dressing...

Food was and always will be a spiritual experience for me... God would not have blessed me with a family who made such wonderful things and who taught me how to make these wonderful things if he didn't want me to bless those I know with it... I am a Foodie from head to toe and all of it began with a simple steak on a simple grill surrounded with my family...its just a little piece of heaven for me to have these memories. There is nothing I wont try and there is very little I don't eat.

Nothing could take that memory away from me and nothing will ever change the way the best steak, in all the world, tastes. And Grandpa if you and Grandma can see me now and read what I am writing....when you have your cookout tonight with all of our family who left this place remember us...Thankful to have been in Our Family, Blessed to have been Loved by You and Sad that those family get together's will have to wait until we are all up in Heaven with You!

RIP: Anthony "Tony" Morano Sr. 1926-2011

The Tango...It takes Two

**CAUTION** Before entering be aware there's lots of Metaphorical Talk and Mumbo Jumbo....Caution upon entering!!! 

Seeing Dancing with the Stars every season since it began, I can tell you that there has never been a time where the Tango was danced alone, solo, mono y mono....You get it. right??

Today between the stresses of DS's being broken (into 2 pieces...don't ask) and trying not to send my husband to the loony bin, my Hubs and I decided to go to dinner. Though I wanted to go, even to just to get out of the house for a little while, I would have been happy and content to stay home curl up with a movie or book and veg. I didn't want my husband to feel as though I didn't want to get away from the kids with him. So we took showers, I primped and he waited patiently for me to be ready...and we left. Conversation tonight was... for us was a bit awkward. I wasn't too much in the mood for talking and now after not talking to me all day my Hubs had lots of things to say. I didn't have any problem talking to him on a regular basis but tonight seemed to be difficult.

Thus began the one sided Tango....We fumbled around the dance floor of conversation like two dummy's (mannequin type dummy's not stupid people, though either would have worked for this situation) put out in the middle of a wind storm. Yeah, it wasn't pretty... finally as the winds of stress and strain settled...and we were slammed together so hard we bumped heads....there were some tears not all bad ones they were like the kind when your trying to make a point and all your emotion comes rushing forward and you cant control the water works...if you could cap that sucker you could supply a small city in the desert with a lifetime supply of h2o.... and though we tried to find some real common ground it was hard to see eye to eye. 

My mono y mono Tango had just turned into Steve Wozniak breaking out with "the worm". We talked and though a lot of our conversation was great and productive I still felt a bit empty after leaving the restaurant, it wasn't for the lack of food as it was the lack of conclusion, no that's not the word I'm thinking of.... hum-mm resolution...that's it!! There was no Resolution....So where do you go from here and what do you do to make sure you are satisfied with the out come of what ever the conflict... Nail your feet to the floor so you don't act a fool trying to tango... LOL no you just think about what it is that you wanted to say and didn't, start a blog, and let it all come out....LOL No... I'm just kidding. For real you just need to put band-aids on the blisters give them a chance to heal but with out letting them become a callus, take a break and come back to it in a couple of hours.

Problems will always come and go and I know the tango of marriage does have its ups n' downs and its ins n' outs but there always seems to be a rhythm, fluidity, flow....sometimes when we get caught up in the craziness of life we forget to take the time to look our partner in the eye, let him grab you close, and 

Tango...

What Does the Future Hold...or is it Only the Palm Reader That Gets the Hint?

I am embarking on a new journey...One that is going to take me on the tricky terrain of emotional hills and valleys. Oh and don't forget to throw in a couple of hairpin turns and some icy roads....My second eldest, my first birthed Son is going to be going off to College next fall! I guess when I was made to be protector and caregiver to a 7lb 15oz bundle of boy, I wished that I could protect them for all eternity... I have always been there for the good, the bad, and the "OH No you didn't, just go there!!". I watched him take his first steps, waited patiently for his first words, listened intently to his dreams and day by day watched as my little boy grew into a handsome young man. He's a dreamer my little boy, he doesn't know how to dream a small dream, he dreams BIG!! What a great young man he has become!

 I never imagined this day would get here so fast. When did my little boy go from being a toddler running around in Footed PJ's and a plastic Fireman's hat...When did he get so good at all that he does, and where was I when I stopped having to look over his shoulder every moment to make sure he was doing things right. I am sad the time has gone so fast and my emotions are all mixed up with a knowing sense that he will be OK and I have done the best job with him I can and now its his turn to start his own journey to Manhood.

This begins the days where his dreams are just around the corner... calling him, beckoning him to where he longs to be. I look at him and see Drive, Passion, Dedication, and SUCCESS! I also see a Kind, Loving, True to his Word, Loyal and God fearing Man... I cant hold his hand and help him jump from rock to rock so he can cross the stream... all I can do now is stand on the shore of the river and tell him to "Go Get Em'!" and "Don't forget who you are!" I don't get the luxury of an easy transition, if that were only the case...there won't be any coming home on weekends to do laundry or Hey, I get a week off let me just come home for a visit. While Nick is preparing for College the rest of us will be prepping for a move to our next Duty Station...

I am choked up typing just even the mere thought of my little boy going to college (can you just see how I will be 10 months from now) but I know it is all a part of the circle of life...no one could have said it better than his favorite movie The Lion King...its no wonder he loves it so much.

To Be Continued....

Pointing a Finger Can...Poke an Eye Out!!

It has come to my recent attention that there are a lot of people who like to point the finger....While pointing the finger can mean many things, for one, I am pointing my finger to tell you directions because you are lost...or I am pointing my finger to your face because you have a little schmutz on it...maybe even I am pointing to my teeth to let you know you have some of this afternoons salad stuck between two teeth... What ever the case may be there are several ways you can positively point the finger...

In the case I am talking about, it is NOT directional, positive, constructive or for grooming purposes. It is because the person wants to point out how inappropriate it was that LiFe had taken a hold of you, and you genuinely forgot to follow through with something... I am not perfect nor do I claim to be the expert on all things right but I do try to live my life to the very simple rule of... "When you point a finger at someone you have 3 pointing back at you!" OK so now take a minute and try it out...Point to something with the pointer finger pointing out where do the middle, ring and pinky point? Now your catching my drift....

My hubby and I are very aware of our obligations and we make good & follow through on what we have committed to doing. We try to be good parents teaching our children to take responsibility for their actions...that there are consequences for such said things and always remember that when you are pointing a finger at someone you are pointing 3 more back at you so your not with out faults. So being a parent that does that to the best of their ability I can now say this...with 3 fingers pointing back at me... "get off my case about what I have to do for you. You have others who are NOT claiming responsibility for so much more and they don't even acknowledge their responsibility! Until they are held to the same standard you have set for me then WE can talk about my faults! You have overlooked their LACK of RESPECT for you and it is OK because "poor mijo"...cut the coddling and stick it to him like you ALWAYS do to me!"

Whoa!!....I feel better!

So maybe your saying to yourself, why am I talking here instead of saying those words to the culprit thats causing me angst, or why be so vague why not just tell us all what is going on... Well its as simple as these few things...The one I love is far more important than "Sticking It" to someone. I was raised to have respect for others and even if they hurt me remember they have their faults, only I am responsible for my actions, causing pain for someone I Love is not worth the pain I would cause... It's more important to me to take the high road, than it is having the last word or starting an argument. Lashing out on them right now would only fall on deaf ears. Besides isn't far better to be there for someone else who may be out there faced with a similar situation. They need to know ..."Their NOT the only ONE!"

Bazaar, The Trips We Take Down Memory Lane....

My last and final trip of the summer consisted of going to Memphis, TN and Canandaigua, NY... It was a combination trip to see my nephew Brandon because he had graduated from HS and the stop in Memphis was to help Celebrate the nuptials and pregnancy of my son Nick's Dad, Patrick and future but now new Wife, Patricia...say that fast 5 times... OK so any ways back on target.

About 3 days before we left Missouri I was on FB (Facebook) to see what the happenings were and found out that one of my best friends, from high school, Dad had passed away. I was heart broken...all of the memories raced through my brain of, the times I had seen him, when the last time I talked to him was and all of my minds history book where he frequently appeared... I was truly sad! With all the busyness of planning my trip and all the things to be done I made sure that I took the time to send a little something with a card to tell Theresa and Tiffany, along with the rest of the family, I was thinking about them. So back to the way the mind brings you to a place and time where we once felt...a place where our current lives seemed so far out of reach and we felt that the future was NEVER going to get here.

I arrived in NY at another of my best friends house...we had made plans for those of us from the Class of 1992 were all going to get together and have an UN-Official Class Reunion. Blasted out on FB we laughed at how old we were and how we would never be able to stay out til 2am and all this and that... long and short of it all was we were going to go on Friday Night. It was set so I thought until that morning I posted that we wanted to get a head count of who was going to show or not...yeah well no one replied... So Paul and I decided to make plans of a different sort. We continued our trip down, my, memory lane with a visit to my bestest (yeah I know its not a real word but I still like to use it), longest, and oldest friends Dad. Side Bar: Shaunessy (my Bestest) called me early this year with the news that her Dad has cancer... It sucked, we cried and talked about the best and worst case scenarios. I couldn't believe that it was possible that my second father was sick.... All things set aside our visit was fabulous...

My visit with Theresa and Tiffanie was pretty much just as stellar as the one with Tom... we talked laughed and had a wonderful time. Later that week I was out to my Dad's and after talking to Tiffanie and thinking about all the fun times we had I for the first time remembered that HS wasn't all bad, so I went up to the attic and found 3 of my 6 yearbooks and brought them home... now most of my memories are in front of my face, there to remind me that my life is good, filled with joy and I am over all blessed to be loved and thought of fondly by others...

Just when you are thinking that things are not going so well take a break pour yourself a glass of wine and stroll down memory lane...It takes little energy and the smile that crosses your face will surprise you and lift you to a place where ALL things are Possible and Your dreams are still with in reach...

I hope you enjoyed.... Now go take a walk! : )

It's Been a Long Time... It's Definitely NOT Like Riding a Bike

Roughly about 7 years ago I met one of my dearest friends, Tammy. Tammy is also a spousal unit of the military but as of current she is of the retired side.  We were instant friends and I love her dearly; I miss her so. We would work out together and it was like "Woo...we worked out for 1.5 hours". Then there is Manna we knew each other for 3 years before meeting and we were instant friends. She was very preggers when we started to go walking together and then moved shortly after, so my engine got started and then poof! A few weeks/month passed and the post gym started to let Mom's bring their little ones to the gym so they could work-out...so then enter: Melissa, my daughter Lauri's best friend's Mom, she is so totally full of energy... this was great but it was all my fault because life got hectic and my new work-out partner and I couldn't get our schedules to work and so err I forgo my work-out routine... Let me tell you squats and lunges....WOW, LoVeD it!!

Today I have to say I could use the motivation of Tammy, Manna and Melissa for working out. You would think that the resistance I have to get back in, the proverbial, saddle again is because I have some sour taste in my mouth from working out but with each of them we would work together. It was GREAT! It wasn't the, here, you go there and I'll go here it was, OK so you like the treadmill and I like the elliptical so we can do that for 30 minutes and then lets go do blah blah... moving on to a workout targeting our problem areas.

Today, I went with my Husband and for some reason going with my husband is just SO overwhelmingly irritating! It isn't irritating because he is running my butt into the ground or it's hard work, he does the opposite, he just expects me to go and do a pre-calculated workout that I got from some weight-loss guru (I have yet to meet one). It would be one thing if he was with me helping me formulate a true workout but no...he HAS to go to the treadmill for a 30 thousand minute run in a room the size of a pocket with NO ventilation, NO air circulation, and NO scenery. If I want to have company while working out then in the mean time I have to kill myself on the elliptical or the treadmill beside him for the same boring, dull, smelly, agonizing run...BLAH!!!!!!

I know I can hear you all saying why not tell him what you want to do at the gym, be thankful that your husband will even go with you, I know I know I have heard it all before and let me tell you I have! I told him between my workouts with Manna and Melissa that I wanted/needed him to Help me with my work-out. Don't just do the same ole work out all the time...don't drill me like a soldier with the "Dont deviate from the Mission, Soldier!!" attitude ....LOL. Really I am thankful that he goes with me but I need to work out more then just my shin-splints.

I began today WHINING and CRABBING being a real let's just say... A Peach of a Wife!!!, about going to the gym so much so that I even got him pissed off but I had told him in the car on the way home from NY that he was going to have to deal with my moodiness for a while and he is going to have to SUCK IT UP! ...LOL that sounded so tough it made me laugh...hahaha!

In all seriousness... Honey if you are reading this PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do more of a work out not just a trip to the sauna and treadmill/elliptical.... It is going to kill me if I have to argue with you over working out and I will give up on it just as I did in the past...

OK all you have seen it first hand and without hesitation me asking him, again, to work WITH me! Let's see how it goes...

Well, I'm off to shower my 15 minutes in the Sauna is starting to make my eyes tear up from the smell...in the words of my daughter Lauri...PEACE!

There's a First for Everything!

Manna this is for you.

I am not to stellar at this I am more the descriptive/animated talker than I am the writer but this summer when visiting with my close friend Maranda she told me that I needed to start my own blog because I had a lot to talk about with my gaggle of kids... So here is my attempt at making my life one of interest, humor, frustration, understanding and over all helpful to someone out there in this great big world, Mia Vita...My Life.

I am of Italian decent so with that comes talking with my hands, facial expressions and attitude...Lots of Attitude. I like to use certain punctuation a lot and you will see many of the ..., !!!, ??? and so on. This is just who I am so either you love me or hate me but its all OK I'll take it.

So here is the break down, I met AND married my husband in a week, I had 3 children out of wedlock before meeting and marrying my husband and since then we have had 2 and I gained one through marriage. This is a total of 6 kids one husband 2 dogs and ME...I am not old but not young. I am not fat but not skinny. I am sometimes not so comfortable in my own skin but I can't ever think of anyone else's skin I would rather be in so I keep my own. I am sure your telling yourself DANG... she has a gaggle of kids, she married her husband in a week Yeah Right!! Well yes that is all true and my husband and I are a great complement to each other, after 7 years of marriage to him and the U.S. Army I can't see my life anywhere else or spending it with any other person but him. I Love my life. Don't get me wrong you will eventually read that it makes me crazy at times, I get pissed off and it will over whelm me... but over all it is my life and for me it fits me like a pair of Manolo Blahnik Mary Janes!

I hope you enjoy the antics of my life...til then keep it simple stupid!!