Merry Christmas to MarcWe have a new addition to our happy little family. He's an English Bulldog puppy named Count Meatball of Azurewood. Santa brought Meatball for Marc...he must have been very good last year. :) Meatball was just three pounds at Christmas and look at him now! At five months old he's a whopping 22 pounds and still growing. He's just a tiny bit spoiled...haha. Meatball has been such a wonderful addition to our little family that we're going to get him a little buddy of his own. We're planning for her arrival at the end of June. Aren't they cute?

As soon as we returned from our trip to Italy we had to find a new place to call our home. The sale of our current home was closing on August 1, 2009, so we only had 4 weeks to make it happen. We chose not to build again because we didn't want to move twice. Luckily we knew the neighborhood and the builder we wanted to use. The builder had two houses available, but we were having a hard time choosing because neither house had everything we wanted.
Then we struck gold!

A house that had been built the year before in our preferred neighborhood, by our preferred builder became available due to a divorce. Sad for them, great for us. This house was perfect. We had actually seen it when it was first built because it was the builder's show home for the annual Parade of Homes in our city, but we were not ready to buy. We struck a deal and the house will soon be ours. August 1st is the magic moving date. WooHoooo! I can't wait to make this kitchen my own. I have a few ceremic pieces being shipped from Cortona that should look pretty fabulous above the cabinets!

About two weeks before we moved into our new home came the arrival or our new English Bulldog puppy, Sister Mary Buttercup. She's a sweet girl, but we can already tell she will be the 'head dog in charge', not Meatball. I don't think he's figured that out yet.

On October 13, 2009, we celebrated Meatball's first birthday, with presents and a cake from the Barking Dog Bakery. At first, Meatball and Buttercup weren't sure what to do with the cake, but after one lick they figured it out. Marc and I had so much fun watching them go after that cake, we decided that we're going to order one for every holiday.

Marc and I are brand new, first-time grandparents! On March 16, 2010, Mikey(my youngest son) and Krystal had a baby girl. He likes Elvis Presley and she likes Marilyn Monroe, so they named her Preslee Monroe. She's beautiful and perfect! WooHoooo! Let the spoiling begin!

In May we celebrated the first birthday of Sister Mary Buttercup with birthday cakes from the Barking Dog Bakery.

This is Buttercup. She and Meatball go crazy over these cakes. There must be some kind of doggie catnip in them.

Marc and I have been looking for a classic car for a long time. In May we finally found the right one...a 1982 Anniversary Edition Corvette. Just the right car for going out for ice cream on a Sunday afternoon.

Last November I started noticing some tenderness in my right shoulder. I thought I might have pulled a muscle and left it alone to heal. I noticed just how tender it was when I was having trouble snorkeling off the coast of Grand Cayman. Still, I let it go. By March, I was having trouble dressing myself. That's where I drew the line and decided to get some help. I went to an orthopedic surgeon and was diagnosed with a frozen shoulder. What the heck is a frozen shoulder, you ask?
It was explained that I probably had injured my shoulder and stopped using it like I normally would because of the pain. Because I wasn't moving my arm properly, scar tissue began to form around my shoulder. In time, this scar tissue restricted the movement of my arm, which caused pain, which made me not move my arm...blah, blah...vicious circle. This all seems about right, except I don't remember actually injuring my shoulder.
I went to rehab(torture) 3 times a week for a month to see if they could break the scar tissue and 'free' my shoulder...can you say PAIN?! Nothing happened. It was no more 'free' than the day I started. The doctor decided to put me in the hospital and 'free' my arm for me. Basically, he knocked me out and yanked on my arm until the scar tissue broke, and my arm moved like it should. Glad I wasn't awake for that one!
I spent the next month in rehab. It was still 3 days a week of torture, but this time I was getting some results. It's been about 2 months since I finished the rehab visits and I have full range of motion. WooHooo!
So, does this fall under the category of use it, or lose it? I'm not quite sure, but I'm swinging that arm around a little every day, so I don't find out!

I borrowed this from a SlowTravel blog. I apologize for not giving the proper credit, but I can't remember what blog I got it from. Here is where I fit in...

*Started your own blog
*Slept under the stars
*Played in a band
Visited Hawaii
Watched a meteor shower
*Given more than you can afford to charity
*Been to Disneyland/world
Climbed a mountain
*Held a praying mantis
Sang a solo
Bungee jumped (no way)
*Visited Paris
*Watched a lightning storm at sea
*Taught yourself an art from scratch
Adopted a child
Had food poisoning
*Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Seen the Mona Lisa in France
Slept on an overnight train(I will in November, 2010)
*Had a pillow fight
Hitchhiked
*Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
*Built a snow fort
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping
Been to a Broadway show in NY
Ran a Marathon
Been in three states at once
Ridden in a gondola in Venice
*Seen a total eclipse
Hit a home run
*Been on a Cruise
*Seen Niagara Falls in Person
Visited the birthplace of your Ancestors
*Seen an Amish community
*Taught yourself a new language(working on it)
*Had enough money to be truly satisfied (life is good)
*Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
Gone rock climbing
*Seen Michelangelo’s David
Sung karaoke
Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
Visited Africa
*Walked on a beach by moonlight
Been transported in an ambulance
Had your portrait painted
Gone deep sea fishing
*Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
*Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
*Kissed in the rain
*Played in the mud
Been to Grace Kelley’s grave in Monaco
*Gone to a drive-in
Been in a movie
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business
Taken a martial arts class
Swam in the Mediterranean Sea
Visited Russia
Served at a soup kitchen
*Sold Girl Scout cookies
*Gone whale watching
*Gotten flowers for no reason
Donated blood, platelets or plasma
Gone sky diving
Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp( I will in November, 2010)
*Bounced a check (oops!)
*Saved a favorite childhood toy
Visited the Lincoln Memorial
*Eaten Caviar
Pieced a quilt
*Stood in Times Square
Toured the Everglades
*Been fired from a job
Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
*Broken a bone
*Been on a speeding motorcycle
*Seen the Grand Canyon in person
Published a book
*Visited the Vatican
*Bought a brand new car
Walked in Jerusalem
Had your picture in the newspaper
Read the entire Bible
Visited the White House
Killed and prepared my own meat
Had chickenpox
*Saved someone’s life(helped someone having a heart attack)
Sat on a jury
Met someone famous
Joined a book club
*Lost a loved one
*Had a baby
*Seen the Alamo in person
Swam in the Great Salt Lake
*Been involved in a law suit
*Been stung by a bee

Hmm, still quite a few things on this list I 'd like to do.

I’m dreaming of Italy and all the beautiful churches. This reminds me of the church I grew up in, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, in Findlay, Ohio. It may not be quite as ornate as many churches in Italy, but it is a beautiful church. Although I now live in Oklahoma, I have a few sad and many happy memories of this church.

About two years ago I added this book to my library of travel books. It's called 1,000 Places To See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz. It provides information about places all over the world. Much more than just the tourist attractions. There is also a website to go along with the book.
http://www.1000beforeyoudie.com/

It's been a valuable addition to my collection.

Today my son Michael is having his 24th birthday. Here is a recent picture of Mikey with his precious baby girl, Preslee.

Happy Birthday, Mikey
I love you!

Marc and I have an upstairs bonus room in our house. It has a little cubby hole area we didn't think was going to be very useful, because it's small. We finally came up with a solution.

Since we needed a place to put our jukebox, we thought we should work with the music idea. We started to compile a list of our favorite bands/albums from when we were teenagers. This was an interesting task because we didn't really have the same taste in music. Then we had to decide which ones were "wall worthy" because we were going to hunt down these albums, frame them and hang them on the wall.

We are having so much fun with this project! Marc and I didn't know each other when we were teenagers and lived in different parts of the country. We're having a great time sharing the memories that are tied to all these albums. We haven't found all of our favorites yet, so some of the ones that are hanging are just placeholders...so the walls look finished. At some point we'll probably hang some curtains and add some fun carpet, but for now we're just doing the fun stuff.

What do you think? Bring back any teenage memories?

We've been trying to decide what to do with the living room in our house... we need tables. We've been here for a year now, I think it's time. I didn't want to just go buy the same thing everyone else has. I wanted something different and interesting and maybe old.

We found these four table/cabinets. They're all a bit different, interesting and a bit old. It's a start.

Today my oldest son, Keith is having his 29th birthday. This is one of my favorite pictures of him. It was taken when he was 6 years old. Isn't he such a sweet looking boy?

Happy Birthday, Keith...I love you.

One thing I LOVE to do is eat...and it shows...on my hips...and my thighs. You get the idea. I'll be turning 50 on November 18th, so with this milestone birthday coming up I'm taking a good look at the first half of my life, and making plans for the second half.

I've put on some extra pounds in the last few years and I think it's time to take it off. I'm really looking forward to my 50's, and want to start off by looking good and feeling good. That means it's time for a diet. This is kind of a new thing for me, so I'm not really sure what to do.

After some careful consideration I've come up with a plan. I can't get anywhere if I don't know where I'm going, so the first thing I'm going to do is set a goal. I would like to lose 25 pounds. This would get me back into my comfort zone...the weight I've been most of my adult life. The next thing is to set a deadline. I think the first of the year is realistic. I'd like to work hard to lose as much as possible before November 12th when I leave for Italy. I know it will be hard to lose anything while I'm in Italy (duh), but hopefully all the walking will keep me from gaining any weight. The holidays will be a challenge, but that's what this whole thing is about...a challenge. Today I am at 152 pounds...boy, that's hard to admit! Everyone has their own weight where they are comfortable, regardless of what the charts and other people think. I am 5' 7'', and my comfort zone is around 125 pounds. That's where I feel the best.

Now, how do I accomplish this lofty goal? I've been following the Pomodori e Vino/ blog, and cooking up a storm, and I don't intend to stop. I'm not going to starve myself and I'm not going on any fad diets. First, I'm going to cut out most of the Pepsi I drink. Second, I'll cut down my calories. I will continue to cook whatever I want, but I won't put the serving bowls on the table. In addition, I'll take small portions and not go back for seconds. I think it's important to only eat when I'm actually hungry. Bad habits, like eating food at the computer and TV will be hard to break, but necessary.

I'll need to add some exercise to the mix. Marc and I have been walking lately to break in my new boots for vacation, so that will continue. We try to walk for about 30-45 minutes every evening. In addition, I bought a Wii, and will try one of the exercise games. I bought one that is a 30 day exercise routine which I'm going to start it today.

I hope this is a good plan, but I would LOVE to hear any comments or suggestions. I need all the help and support I can get. It would be so nice to be in a size 8 again.

Several years ago my father gave me a packet with some old pictures, letters and documents that had been taken from my grandparent's house when it was sold. Boy, was I surprised when I opened the package!

There were several old letters written in italian, dated at the turn of the century. I speak very little italian, so there are just limited parts that I can read. A couple of the letters have a stamp on the back of the letter where you can fill in the blanks on the stamp. I have no idea what this is for, but I makes it look like something official.

Also in the package were documents, including the US citizenship papers for my great-grandparents on my father's side. I can't believe I have these precious documents! Unfortunately, I didn't know these things existed at a time when I could question my grandfather about them. I know my great-grandparents came from Sicily, through Ellis Island, and settled around the Boston area at the turn of the century. My grandfather was born in 1907, and was one of 10 children.

There were also these pictures and several more. Who are these people? I assume they are relatives, but I don't know anything about them, and there's really nobody left to ask. This first picture looks like he is wearing a uniform of the Italian Navy?

This one looks like a formal portrait on the day of her First Holy Communion.

Of course, this is a wedding portrait.

I'd love to know who these people are, but I quess it will always be a mystery. That's not a bad thing...it will always keep me wondering.

Well, I've been on my diet plan for a full week and the pounds are starting to melt away. As of today I've lost 6 pounds. Diet and exercise really does work!

I have stopped drinking so much Pepsi. Whenever I want some, I just have a mouthful instead of a whole glass. That has also helped me to cut down on snacks because Pepsi goes so well with snacks. Less Pepsi, less snacks. Amazing how that works.

Not bringing the serving bowls to the table is also helping. It seems to be a little easier to avoid taking that second helping if I don't see it. I'm noticing that sometimes I take a second helping not necessarily because I'm still hungry, but because it keeps my hands busy while I'm having a conversation with my husband. What a dangerous bad habit.

I've also stopped bringing snacks to the computer and TV. Once again...less Pepsi, less snacks.

I'm finding out that a lot of the time I eat because of boredom, not because I'm actually hungry. Also, that I have some bad eating habits that are contributing to my weight gain. I'm working to change these habits.

I've been working on the Wii 30-day challenge. I have to say it's kicking my tail. The virtual coach gives me praise when I keep up with the workout, but yells at me when I don't. Sometimes I can't keep up because I'm fat and out of shape(duh), but I'm keeping with it.

I've also been walking every evening. First, I take my dogs for a walk, which they love. I have 2 English Bulldogs, which are kind of lazy, so their walk only lasts about 15 minutes. Then Marc and I walk for 30-45 minutes. Between my daily walks and the Wii my legs are tired and sore, but I'm starting to get used to it. No pain, no gain.

I'm looking forward to week two. This week I'm going to try to work more fruits and vegetables into my diet. Hopefully, I'll continue to melt.

Here is one of the newest pictures of my granddaughter Preslee. She's 6 1/2 months old and just starting to get her first tooth. She's such a happy baby. Isn't she precious?

Life is so good!

Today is the second birthday of my sweet boy, Meatball. Marc, Meatball and I shared the celebration with our other English Bulldog, Buttercup. The birthday boy received a few bags of gourmet treats and a new toy. He and Buttercup shared a peanut butter birthday cake from the Barking Dog Bakery. They go crazy over these cakes.

This is Meatball. Isn't he a handsome boy?

We love this sweet little face.

Well, I've been on my diet for 3 weeks. In the last 2 weeks I've lost another six pounds, for a total of 12 pounds. The pounds are just melting away!

I have recently been wearing a size 12. Like most other women, I have a closet full of clothes. I sometimes buy things that are just a little too small, hoping they will motivate me to lose a little weight. Over the weekend I decided to see if I've lost enough weight to fit into a size 10. WooHoooo! Size 10 fits perfectly! I'm doing a happy dance.

I was so excited I decided to clean out my closet and throw away every piece of size 12 clothing I have. It sure felt good to get rid of them...I'll NEVER be a size 12 again!

I didn't realize what a big surprise I had in store for me. When I was completely done cleaning the closet I had ten pair of size 10 pants that are mostly brand new. I also found many tops that I couldn't wear before because they were fitted...now I can wear them. I also found eleven pair of brand new size 8 pants. I don't even remember buying them. I must have been doing a lot of motivational shopping. So, not only do I have plenty of clothes to wear right now, but I have plenty to wear after I hit my goal weight! I was looking forward to buying new clothes after I lost the weight, but now I'll be able to do it because I want to, not because I have to. That's much more fun.

I still have 15 pounds to go, and cleaning my closet has made me really motivated. I'm feeling better, and I have more energy. It's a total win-win situation. WooHoooo, life is GOOD!

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted on this blog, and I’m glad to see people are still checking it. I’ve been so BUSY!
On November 12th, Marc and I left for a 3 week trip to Europe to celebrate my 50th birthday. I didn’t blog while we were away because I really wanted to leave my life behind and just focus on the trip. We had a wonderful trip, which I’ll be blogging about in the weeks to come.
When we returned I had one day to get over the jetlag and unpack before returning to work. On that one day, Marc and I also completed the paperwork for background checks, so we could host a foreign exchange student. I spent the next week decorating for Christmas and preparing for our exchange student.
On Thursday of last week Majed came to live with us. He is a 16 year old from Germany. He’s a very well-mannered nice young man and we are so excited to have him stay with us. He will probably be here until the end of July.
The last few days Marc, Majed and I have been getting to know each other. I think this could kind of qualify as slow travel. Even though we’re not physically going anyplace, we’re going to have the next 8 months to learn about Germany from Majed. What a great adventure this is going to be! He can teach us about Germany and we can teach him about America.
Life is so good…

Last night my family got together for Christmas. When I was taking pictures I realized just how pretty the girls are. Here are a few of the pretty girls in my family.

My 15 year old niece, Kellie.

Me and my granddaughter, Preslee.

My 5 year old niece, McKenzie.

Let's not forget Sister Mary Buttercup and Meatball.

Such sweet girls. Life is good...

This is me on the scale at the American Museum of Natural History. See, I really did lose weight! Haha!!!

It would be hard to have a bad day on this scale. WooHooo! Life is good.

This year the Oklahoma City Ballet is presenting its 40th anniversary season. The season will include Coppelia, The Nutcracker, The Firebird and The Wizard of Oz.
Last night we attended a performance of Coppelia…it was WONDERFUL!

Marc and I are season ticket holders and look forward to the rest of the season. Thanks to many generous sponsors, the Arts are alive and well in Oklahoma City!

We have a new market in Oklahoma City. The Whole Foods Market has just opened and it’s my new favorite place to food shop. Until this store opened it was very difficult to find some of the specialty items I sometimes need to cook.

Those days are over…this store appears to have it all! They have beautiful produce, a nice selection of seafood and a huge meat counter. I counted 17 kinds of sausage!
No longer will I have to find a substitute for a fabulous cheese I need for an Italian dish. The aroma from the bread department is enchanting and the pastry counter mesmerizing.
They had me at cannolis! They were good, too. In the past I’ve had to make a trip to New York or Italy for a good cannoli, but no more. I think I probably should buy some stock in the Whole Foods Market…I’ll be shopping there quite a bit.
WooHoooo! Life is good!

Happy Halloween! I hope you’re getting all treats and no tricks. Here is a picture of a few pumpkins in our front yard.

We spent Halloween giving out treats at the home of our friends, Jeff and Suzy and their family. It was great fun!

Customize your own slideshow design

Last night we had an earthquake! We've had earthquakes in Oklahoma before, but they were very small.This one was pretty big and scary.
I was sitting on the couch with my dog Buttercup, and I started to feel the house tremble. As soon as I knew what it was, I ran to Meatball's bedroom and got him. The three of us sat on the couch for what seemed like a long time, but was only a minute. Nothing fell off the walls and I don't think there is any damage, but the crystal chandelier in the dining room was swaying back and forth. I actually had to grab it to make it stop moving!
It was a bit scary. I'm thankful that I don't have any pictures to post.

Last week I was reading a blog that asked what I considered to be a luxury. It didn’t mean pie in the sky things that were out of my reach, but things that were attainable in my life, that I considered to be a luxury.
It didn’t take me long to come up with a few answers. One of the things I consider to be a personal luxury is soap. Not just any soap, but soap I find on my travels.

The bars of soap in this picture were purchased in several little shops in Italy. They range in price from about 4 to 12 US dollars and were chosen based on smell.
Three of the bars were purchased in a tiny shop in Venice. The shopkeeper was a lady probably in her late 70’s, who didn’t speak a word of English. My Italian is very limited, but as soon as I told her I was looking for a nice smelling bar of soap she smiled and began showing me all her best soaps. We bonded over the fragrant aroma of a creamy bar of soap. She understood the importance of a woman and her soap.
Each morning I jump in the shower, and before long the whole bathroom smells like my wonderful soap. It’s a great way to begin each day. As I get to the end of each bar I look forward to what the next bar will feel and smell like.
To me, it’s one of my luxuries.

‘The Good Food Cookbook for Dogs’ is loaded with healthy recipes for your four-legged friends. My Meatball and Buttercup go crazy for the GingerBones.

Ingredients:
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup molasses
1 cup water
½ cup vegetable oil
4 tablespoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
Directions:
1. Place all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly to combine.
2. Roll out dough on floured surface to about ¼-inch thick. Using a cookie cutter, cut into bone shapes.
3. Place cookies on ungreased foil-lined baking sheets, and bake in preheated 325 degree oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Makes 5 to 6 dozen cookies.

Look at those hap-hap-happy dogs!

We have a new burger joint in Oklahoma City called Smashburger. I’m quite sure these burgers aren’t good for me, but they sure taste good!

My cheeseburger came on a yummy egg bun. The fries were tossed with rosemary…they smell as good as they taste.

Marc had this bacon cheeseburger with a fried egg on top. What a great idea!

I love to read and plan to share my love of books with my granddaughter, Preslee and any other grandchildren that may come in the future. I’m always on the lookout for nice children’s books so I can have my own little library. I want to teach Preslee that she can go anywhere in a book.
Here is one of the first books I purchased for my library. I found it in a tiny book store in the Dorsoduro area of Venice, Italy. The book is called Guido’s Gondola by Renee Riva. It’s a sweet story about a mouse gondolier as he learns to appreciate the simple things in life.

All my grandparents are gone now, but I have fond memories of each of them for different reasons. Wouldn’t it be nice if I were remembered for my wonderful books?

This is a present from my sister, Julie. It’s a bottle of wine with a fur coat…isn’t it ADORABLE?

When I was in elementary school we periodically received a handout with a listing of paperback books we could buy through the school. Even though my mother didn’t have much money she always gave me money for books. I have such fond memories of those books.
I recently found one of those books at the bookstore and purchased it for my children’s library. The book is Caps For Sale.

Do you remember it?

When traveling I like to purchase things that are native to that area. I recently found this book, Made in Italy, by Laura Morelli.
The book is divided into the different regions of Italy. It teaches you about the traditional handcrafted products of each region. It explains how to tell the difference between the ‘real deal’ and the cheap knock-offs. You’ll get an idea about how much you should expect to pay for a good product and a listing of a few places to find the artisans and their wares.

This book is a wealth of information.

I’m always looking for the best tech gadget to take on vacation. I need something that gives me access to the internet, allows me to journal my trip each day and has enough storage to hold all the pictures I download daily.
I used to take my Sony VAIO laptop, but it was kind of heavy. Then I got a netbook. It was perfect because it was small and didn’t weigh very much. The last year or so I’ve been having trouble with my close-up vision, so the tiny screen on the netbook was no longer working for me.
My solution was an iPad and I had an opportunity to put it to the test in Italy a few weeks ago. It passed with flying colors!

I purchased a white 16 GB iPad with Wi-Fi, but no cellular. I then added an app that allows me to journal my vacation. The iPad had enough space to hold two weeks worth of vacation pictures and a nice size screen for viewing. I also added an Apple soft case, which protected the iPad nicely. I only use the iPad when I’m in my hotel room, so I didn’t need to have the added expense of the iPad that requires a data plan. This machine is slim and lightweight, so it’s very easy to pack.
When I’m not using it on vacation I’ll use it in the theater room. We found a great app that is a database for our movies. This iPad will get constant use. It’s a win-win situation.
Life is good.

Today my sweet little Meatball had his 4th birthday. He and Buttercup shared a doggie friendly birthday cake from the Barking Dog Bakery.

Note the gleam of blue frosting on his tongue and mouth. He's a happy boy!

Yesterday Marc and I celebrated Valentine's Day at home with a movie and chocolate covered strawberries. He had a dozen strawberries shipped to us from Shari's Berries and they were WONDERFUL! They were large, juicy and oh so YUMMY!

I can't wait to do that again!
Happy Valentine's Day.