Our Outdoor Fireplace, Dining Room is almost done!!!

The side yard... just before renovations started... bad pool, beach sand, overgrown shrubbery... it's was okay while the kids were small... but now... we are ready for some serious entertaining.

During... still have beach sand... but the fireplace is coming along nicely...

Bill worked on it endlessly on the weekends... endlessly...

Almost done... still need to put seats on the planters, and plant all the banana plants, and ferns...

This fencing is SOOOOO cool... Just regular fence... with silver sheet metal on the back... gives it a very asian feel... with clean lines and modern feel... so of course... I needed to add a little whimsy...

My $10 Pier One table, that Bill built a 5 foot wooden table top for... about an hour ago... we painted it BLACK... and the accent color for this area will be Chartreuse... This is our new outdoor dining room...

Still need to put in all the electricity, shepherds hooks with lanterns and rug... but otherwise...quite functional!

I painted everything on my front porch black and brought it to the backyard... now my porch is empty... LOL

About 80% done... Bill made that coffee table from legs from an old planter and the top of a kitchen cart... my idea to do it... he did all the hard stuff like labor...

Cool huh?

Bill's idea to leave room under the fireplace seat for flowers... can't wait until they fill the area in!

We've had 3 fires in a row this weekend... last night was Smore's night!

So my patio, not pictured is going to be my outdoor kitchen, it already has a table, stove and fridge in it... Bill's next project will be the wood burning pizza oven, and Brazilian Grill, and some kitchen cabinets in the patio...

This picture is my outdoor dining area...

And this is my outdoor family room...

All we need is an outdoor bathroom... as we'll never have to go inside again!

I love Southern California!!!

Wednesday... I'm having 18 5th graders and 6 Mom's over for an end of year swim party...

I wanted to make sure and get some pics of it before the mayhem...

Fun... Fun... Fun!!!

New (possible) Horizons!!!

I don't know where to begin.  Soooo much has been going on!  Some exciting... and some just exhausting... but fun!

Lots and Lots of sports stuff with the boys these days... double header baseball games, late football practices, end of year reports due, dinner parties with Bill's colleagues, and getting ready for Johnny's end of year party at our house next Wednesday, and my possible job...

Did you catch that last one?  Yeah, I thought you might have... yes... I said JOB!!!

Was I looking for one? Heck no! I didn't plan on going back to work until Johnny was at least graduated from high school.  I've been a SMOBFHM (Start My Own Businesses From Home Mom) for the past 16 years! But... William was choosing his Junior Year Elective classes from a course list last week, and International Cuisine was listed.  A few years ago, his school offered a Culinary Arts class, in an AWESOME kitchen classroom, but didn't offer it the last 2 years.  So when I noticed that class was offered again... I was intrigued.

Then... last week at a Parent Football meeting, a friend of mine mentioned that my name "had been thrown around" about possibly TEACHING the class... just as a suggestion.  Well... I didn't hear the rest of what she was saying because I was jumping up and down like a kid in a jumper.  I was sooooo excited!  Just the thought that someone had mentioned ME to do that...was SUCH an honor!!!  My mind started working overtime...
I found myself turning off the radio in the car on the way to carpool, and having "mock" classroom discussion with my make believe students... I was coming up with 1001 fundraiser ideas, and deciding on the final exam dinner they were to prepare... for their families...at school... UGH... it's been SUCH a week!  I can't keep my mind off of it... AND I HAVEN'T EVEN APPLIED YET!

I  have been out of the loop in the job market for 16 years!  The last time I had a job... THE INTERNET wasn't even a normal thing!  I have never worked where there is a computer at every desk!  Cell phones were the size of shoe boxes the last time I clocked in anywhere!  Can you believe it?

Sooo... I downloaded my application tonight and filled it out... oh...wait...was I supposed to fill it in on the computer? I did it by hand... is that still allowed?  I freaked out when the "list your employers for the last 10 years" part came up... and I just had to write... "Self employed" and name my businesses...

I typed out a cover letter, and let them know what I plan on doing... and how excited I am for the opportunity to apply and be considered.  Do people still do that?

How cool will it be to be able to teach at my son's high school? I think it would be for maybe an hour or so a day... pretty good hours... huh?  Well...cool for me anyway... NOT so cool for them... LOL!  But... my sweet William told me he'd definitely take my class... sweet huh?  Then he said... "Yeah.. for the easy "A"!"  Ahhh.... my sweet son...

Even if I don't get the job... it has whet my whistle to pursue other avenues for monetary compensation...at home... of course...

I love my job as Mom... but the pay SUCKS!!!

Lost... I'm totally Lost!

Lost is over.  It was one of my favorite shows on TV.  Bill and I BOTH loved it.  We had the end plot figured out in Season 2.  So last nights finale wasn't a total surprise.

I do still have a bunch of questions though... but to hear other people talk about it... my questions just don't matter... I beg to differ...

1.  Why did they all go back and forth from real life to the island?  Did they die when they returned? Or were they already dead from the first plane crash?

2.  Whose baby was that in the final scene in the church?  Was that Aaron? Or Sun and Jin's child?.  And if it was either of the kids... why are they dead?  Why didn't they live on?

3.Did they all have to die twice?  I am sooo confused!

4. Was the island Purgatory?

5.  Were they all just waiting for Jack to finally die to all get together?

6. When Kate said "I've been waiting sooo long for you"  How long was that wait?  How many years?

7.  Rose and the Dentist... when did they die? and how... did the Smoke Monster lie to Desmond?

Details people... I NEED DETAILS!!!  It's driving me nuts!  I'll get over it in a few minutes... and truthfully, that's what I LOVED about the show... all the questions it left me with each week... BUT... now that it's over...
I'd really like to know about 100 more details... to help me feel like it's over... ya know?

Look what I got!!!

I recently recieved a very nice email... from a great company called... Simply Bags, where they sell and monogram THE MOST LOVELY, USEFUL tote bags you've ever seen!

So when Bob Shirilla, one of the owners, asked me what I wanted embroidered on my bag... I said...

"Italian Mama" of course!!!

And in just a week or so... this great big, wonderful bag showed up at my doorstep!

Of course... they offer TONS of different styles, sizes and colors to choose from... wine bags, college bags, lunch bags, kids bags, diaper bags... bags, bags and more bags galore!!!! One of my absolute faves, and one I am going to buy soon, is the Black and White Damask tote... it's soooo chic and great looking!

I'm going to use this bag for groceries, beach stuff, or maybe even all my crochet stuff...

So head on over to Simply Bags and tell them I sent ya!  Don't worry, I don't get anything if you do... I just like knowing someone is talking about me... LOL

or call 1-888-815-3455

I love my bag Bob!!!

Thank you!

ABC's About me!

ABC's About Me!

A--available/married: Married!

B--best friend: Mari, Mama, Hubby

C--cake or pie: PIE, FRUIT... not custard or creme... yuck!

D--drink of choice: coffee, tea, water

E--essential item used daily: Infusium 23 leave in hair treatment..

F--favorite color: Deep Purple

G--gummy bears or worms: Don't eat candy... but worms...

H--hometown: Southern California

I--indulgence: a new veggies steamer with three levels... sooo cool!

J--January or February: February

K--kids and their names: Three boys-William, Alex and Johnathon

L--life is incomplete without: Family

M--marriage date: Oct. 1992

N--number of siblings: 1 brother

O--oranges or apples: oranges

P--phobias/fears: outliving my children

Q--quote for today: "Living well is the BEST revenge!"... and "There are two kinds of people in this world... those who ARE Italian... and those who WANT to be Italian."

R--reason to smile: Another beach vacation trip coming up!

S--season: Spring

T--tag 3 people: You, you and YOU!!! (Everyone who reads this, tag yourself~)

U--unknown fact about me: Confrontation doesn't bother me in the least...if something isn't right... I'll let ya know about it... I won't go behind your back... I'll tell ya straight out...

V--vegetable you don't like: Okra, turnips

W--worst habit: interrupting when having a conversation... isn't that terrible???? I am a work in progress...

X--xrays you've had: ankle, teeth, hip

Y--your favorite food: Sushi/Sashimi, Mongolian BBQ, Italian

OUTDOOR FIREPLACE PROGRESS

Almost ready to get that concrete in there... Sooo excited!!!

There it is!!!

Woooo hoooooo!

Just need to stamp the ground... put in our family hand prints... date it... and wait for it to cure...

Bill is going to build a gorgeous Steel dome for the top of the fireplace... and we have some GORGEOUS heavy metal grapevine stuff that is a planter right now... that we will RE USE... and recycle to make some awesome screens for the front and back of the fireplace hearth... painted black...

Then we just need to get the wood loaded in... hook up all the electrical plugs, buy all my little white lights... and decorate for SUMMER!!!!!!

Happy Bday to my Mama!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL MAMA!!!

Who can shut me up with one "Italian Eye" look...

Who ADORES and LOVES my boys as much as I do...

Who would do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING for us... even risking jail time... LOL

Who calls this child "Cuore Mio"  My heart... and the feeling... is definitely mutual... this child WORSHIPS his Nonna...

Who LAUGHS at EVERYTHING this child says... funny or not... because she deems him the funniest person alive...

Who brags and brags and brags about is child... for days...and she bakes him special treats...

Who loves my husband like he is her own born son...

Who is ALWAYS our biggest cheerleader...

Who is ALWAYS ready with a meal if I'm ill... and didn't make dinner...

Who canceled plans at the drop of a hat to babysit her boys... when they were young...

Who endured knee pain last week... and came home with me... just so she could be there when William got his truck for his Bday...

Who gave each of my babies their first bath at home...

Who walked the floors with me in childhood and in adulthood...

Who treats me like her best friend...

Who IS my best friend...

Who NEVER lets me forget she is still my Mama and can take me out cuz she brought me in...

Who is the BEST, CRAZIEST, most BEAUTIFUL Mama to ever walk the face of this earth...

Happy Birthday Mama!!!

I love you... I love you... I love you... I love you...

My life in the Passenger Seat II

Three days... it's only been THREE DAYS... with his new truck... and it feels like 3 DECADES!...

I have waaaaay more gray hair than I did three days ago... I'm breaking out... and it takes me about 3 hours to calm the shakes and skipping heart beats after being in the car with a 16 year old driver... who knows EVERYTHING by the way... ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT DRIVING!!!

Today... we got to get up close and personal with a PT Cruiser... Did you know they have fine line pin striping?  Who knew!  I've never really gotten close enough to see in person... UNTIL TODAY!!!  We almost changed lanes right into one, and I noticed the pin striping FROM MY WINDOW... that's how close we got... ain't life grand?

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the inventors of the following items...

1. Seat Belts
2. turn signals (when used... they are AWESOME)
3. side view mirrors
4. blind spot eliminator mirrors (Again... when used... FANTASTIC)
5. BRAKES... (if only his foot would PRESS DOWN)
6. BIG CARS AND TRUCKS... (I know... I'm not saving the planet or anything... but I need him safe... especially the way he is driving right now...)
7. Tylenol (for headaches)
8. Valium/Xanax/whiskey (I've never taken it before... but I may have to call my Dr. for scrip soon)
9. Helmets

Who ever you are... THANK YOU!

Ahem...

I know he'll get the hang of it... I know he'll get better... and I know I can't be crazy in the car and yelling and scared all the time... I know this...
But when YOUR LIFE whishes before your eyes EVERY 2 MINUTES... it's hard not to get antsy!!!

Right now... he has to drive with an adult 25 or older... but what is gonna happen when he gets his license and drives alone!!! I'm gonna be a wreck!  I need to find a hobby...

Maybe I'll start applying to do a bunch of new drug company trials for a few bucks a pop... then I'll be so looped up I won't know which way it up!  There's one way to cope...

Oy vay... why can't he be 4 years old again?  Why?

What's Cookin...

Healthy Vegetarian Frittata

 3 small shredded potatoes

1 cup frozen corn

4 bias cut green onions

1 medium sliced onion

1 shredded zucchini

1 sliced red bell pepper

1 tsp curry powder

1 tsp granulated garlic

1 tsp Dill Mix or Fresh dill

Saute the above until soft and golden...

Add salt and pepper to taste

In another bowl... whisk together 6 eggs, 1/2 cup Romano or Parm cheese, 2 TBS Feta cheese crumbles

and a little salt and pepper...

Spread the veggie mixture flat in the pan...

Pour over the eggs and cook until set...

Sprinkle the top of Frittata with 1/2 cup lowfat cheddar cheese

and place the pan in a 350 degree oven until cheese melts and egg is fully set...

Enjoy!

New Series... My Life in the Passenger Seat...

Holy HELL!

My son turned 16 on Monday.

He's a great kid.  Kind, courteous, studious, handsome, smart, athletically inclined, and he loves his Mama...

Like I said... he's a GREAT KID.  So we bought him a truck for his 16th Bday.  We were sooooo excited!  His school requires freeway driving everyday... and since he's at school 12-14 hours a day for various sports and clubs... it made sense to us to get him a car... so we can have a life too...

WHAT THE HELL WERE WE THINKING!...

He got his permit a little late... I was tired of his lackadaisical attitude at the beginning of the school year to turn in the homework we worked so hard to complete... so for every missing assignment, I pushed the date of his Permit test one month.  So he missed two assignments... which meant he had to wait 2 extra months to take his test... it doubled when he got a tad bit too lippy with me one fine day... so he didn't get his permit until April... last month, it took a couple of months for his schedule to loosen up to actually take the online class.

He started driving my car, with me, almost everyday, in town, on the way home from school.  Just here in our podunk little town.  Stop signs, easy turns, no traffic... pretty easy.  He did a GREAT job.  A GREAT JOB!  I was soooooo happy that he was doing so well.  In my mind... I was thinking... "Oh yeah... he's gonna do GREAT!  He "gets" it!!!" I didn't have to raise my voice ONCE... I was a calm, cool and collected Mama... which, by the way... IS NEVER the way I am described... EVER!

Then... THEN... I must have LOST MY DANG MIND!  He got his truck on Monday... and he texts me every day to drive his truck to school when I pick him up, so he can drive it home... cool.. no problem. 

EXCEPT that his loving Father... on Sunday, while on a Home Depot run to get a new lock for his bed cover (Tono cover?), he, of course, let Will drive his own truck, and was coaching him about braking easier.  Apparently Bill thought he was braking too hard.

So the next day... I get into the passenger side of the truck, and my other two boys get in the extra cab... and Will is driving home from school... on his Bday.  And I notice... that we are approaching a new Lexus ahead of us... very, very quickly.  Here's how the conversation took place...

Me - 'Uh Will... time to put he brakes on, honey... that car isn't moving... it's a red light."

Will - "I know Mom... I see it... Dad said not to brake too hard... I'm stopping."

Me - "Uh... You're not stopping fast enough... stop the car Will... push on the brakes..."

Will - 'I AM MOM... Dad said...

Me - DAD ISN'T HERE... HIT THE DAMN BRAKES NOW! PUSH ON THE BRAKES NOW!!!

Will - I AM!

Me and Alex and Johnny - BRAKE NOW WILLIAM.... HARD!!!!

We end up stopping 1 foot from the car ahead of us.  I could SWEAR I saw the fear, whites and eye shadow color of her eyes...

When we got home... I hugged him, apologized for yelling at him... and slugged his shoulder.  I grabbed his beautiful face and asked him WHY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH DIDN'T HE PUSH ON THE BRAKE to stop the car?

"I was just doing what Dad said... easing on the brake." 

I had a dilemma here.  I DO NOT like it when women demean their husbands...especially to their children... so I said... "Okay... but I'm sure he didn't mean THAT EASY.  I need to FEEL MY SEATBELT when you drive... Capisco? Brake EARLIER than you think you need to!"

Here's what was  REALLY being said in my head... "WHAT?  YOUR DAD DRIVES LIKE A MANIAC! Don't listen to him! He drives like he's got a woman about to give birth and man dying of heart attack in his car... just to go around the corner!!!!  But I didn't say that to him...  I would never diss my hubby like that...

Oh wait...I just did... huh?  Good thing he has an AWESOME sense of humor!!! Love you honey!!!

Stay tuned for more adventures of My Life in the Passenger Seat... or also known as.. "HEY... NO!!! MIRRORS MIRRORS... CHECK YOUR BLIND SPOT... DON'T TURN THERE!!! NOOOOOOOOO!"

Williams Birthday Surprise!!!

This is my soon to be 16 year old son... William.

Today is Mother's Day... and Bill and I couldn't wait another minute to give him his Birthday gift...

His Birthday is tomorrow.

16 years ago tonight... I was having my last meal before a planned C Section the following morning... on May 10th... exactly one year to the day that I miscarried and had to have a D & C... at four months...

That day would NEVER again be a day of sorrow... one year later... This gorgeous creature made me a Mother, on that very day.  Yes, I do believe in miracles... and grace... and mercy... and all those wonderful things...

How can I not? I'm a Mama.

This child got his first car... a truck... used... but in great condition... There are a few nicks and scratches on it that will keep him humble.  Lots of kids from his High School will be driving brand new Mercedes, Audi's and BMW's... my son... will proudly drive a 1999 Ford F150 Truck... Lariat package.  We are SO okay with that...

He's driven us around town 4 times today already... and surprisingly... I am very calm and only give gentle guidance... I have completely surprised myself, and my kids...

A calm new driver, is a safe new driver... no?

Is this not the picture of sheer joy?

I can't believe he's 16.  Just yesterday, I was cradling him in my arms... watching him sleep and sigh the sigh of a satiated baby... and now he owns a car.  Don't blink... man... don't blink... life goes by in an instant...

This child deserves this car.  He's studious, hard working, sweet, courteous, and is drug and alcohol and tobacco free.  As long as he keeps that all up... he will continue to be blessed with whatever good fortune we can swing his way.

16.

Bill's work gets season tickets to the Angels games every year... in awesome seats... with reserved parking, padded seats, and waiter and waitresses to cater to your every whim.  He got 4 of those tickets for tomorrow nights game, and they are gonna drive Will's new truck to the stadium...

So glad he's a good kid... otherwise my butt would be in one of those seats... LOL

Last week, at The Cheesecake Factory... my hubby ordered a beer with his meal... AND THEY PUT IT IN FRONT OF WILLIAM... and walked away...

We all got a good laugh... and shimmied the beverage over to Bill...

He looks older...

I know...

It happens all the time...

Dang hormones...

Happy Birthday William...

I love you... I love you... I love you... I love you... I love you... I love you.

What's cookin!

My two older boys are at school about 12 hours a day these days, between baseball practice and Football weight lifting before and after school... so when they get home... THEY ARE HUNGRY... and our usual fare

of fresh fruit for dinner, isn't cutting it for them...

So... to stay on the path of eating healthy and staying away from meat and heavy proteins at night... I am

making them vegetarian, light meals with huge hunks of watermelon on the side...

Pictured above is my homemade Spinach/Feta Sourdough, topped with fresh olive oil and crushed garlic, low fat, high moisture FRESH Buffalo milk Mozzarella, home grown basil leaves...

and tomatoes, hot house roma tomatoes.

Sprinkled with salt and pepper, then roasted in the oven at 450 for about ten minutes until the cheese is all melted

and gooey...

I made 20 of these things... and 3 minutes later... GONE!!!

Last night was brown rice, corn, peppers and bean taco's on fresh steamed corn tortillas, with a side of fresh guacamole, topped with fresh cabbage, onions, cilantro and tiny bit of cheese...

Eating healthy doesn't have to be boring...

While I eat my watermelon, they feast on vegetarian meals...

Life is good.

Try these quick pizza's... and let me know how your family likes them!

Eat well!

Computer is back and better than new!

Well my friends... if you don't have an anti virus program on your computer... GET ONE NOW!  Holy cow... did my McCaffee save my computer BIG TIME... last night...

Unfortunately, my computer is also the family computer (THAT is going to change REAL soon), and my oldest son clicked on a picture on his FB page that promptly delivered 26 viruses to my computer.  This the FIRST ever time I've EVER been the victim of a virus... that actually alerted me as to what kind, where, and how they got there...
Thank GOD... my MaCaffee program kept them all at bay... held them hostage, and didn't once let any of them through to my actual hard drive or files... Best $70 I've ever spent...

Bill, took my computer to his IT guy at work, who quickly ascertained that my computer had NOT fallen victim... and that my protection did it's job... and he updated all my stuff, added a bunch of new fangled programs, and cleaned my unit all shiny new... FREE!!!  Sooooo love a good IT guy that gets the big bucks from a huge corporation and doesn't charge for piddly stuff like mine...

I lost sleep last night, lamenting on whether my files would be corrupted or not.  I was mostly afraid for all my pictures... but thankfully, I also store them on hard copy, and on an internet based storage place too...Love you Kodak Easyshare!!!

So now I am back in business... whoo hooooo!

Thanks for all the advice!!!

What's goin on...

It's been quite a week.  Johnny was gone to an Outdoor Education camp for the week, and my Mama had knee replacement surgery with some complications that kept me on my toes, and talking to God more than normal.

I had the week all planned out... what to do for Mama, keeping busy so I wouldn't miss Johnny too much... meals I was going to invent... and.. well... as the saying goes... "We make plans... God laughs"

Mama is back home now... in pain, but taking her meds and healing well.  She is taking her walks... and I'll be back on duty tomorrow, visiting her and helping her do what she wants me to do...  I love taking care of her... we get along so well... it's easy.  The only thing we fight about is her Pharmacopia of a purse... that's another story for another day.

Yesterday was Bill's Bday.  He got to spend his day working on the outdoor fireplace and it's surroundings.  The reason he didn't get a day off from it?  We have 3 huge parties planned for June... and it all MUST be done by then... and the only way to do that is to work, work, work on it.  We did go out to dinner for his Bday though... my MIL graciously offered to take us all out for the evening...and we enjoyed a lovely meal with a WONDERFUL server.  She bought Bill and William (bday May 10) a bunch of clothes, and gift cards... very generous!

Bill wants a new watch... so we will be shopping for one this week.  I want him to pick it out.

I did my prep for the week tonight... chopped all the onions, baked all the bread, made all the sandwiches, cooked all the meat, grilled all the eggplant and zucchini.  So nice to have it all done.

This is birthday season for us... All five of us have our birthdays in the next three months... and throw in Mom and Dad's days... and it get's really expensive.

William's big 16th is in 8 days.  We had originally planned (and paid for) a huge Hummer Limo to take him and 6 of his friends to the beach for lunch, shopping and then home for dinner and a baseball game... but his school decided to have a Sophomore Beach Day the day I planned the trip... so I cancelled it... and will now spend that money on something that will last a little longer for him...

He also has a HUGE surprise coming up... but this posts on FB... and he is one of my FB friends... and if he reads this... it'll spoil the surprise... but most of you can guess what it is... and you would be RIGHT!!!  He'll be so excited to use it for school! ;)

How the heck did I become the mother of a 16 year old?  huh?

Oy vay... I'd better go check my wrinkles...

Happy Bday Bill!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY HUSBAND BILL!!!

 I love you honey!

So sorry you have to work on the Fireplace on your Bday... but we'll make it up to you!