The wedding

This post is so late that it's not even funny. 

But here you go, pictures and memories of my brother's big day! 

But let's back up a little and share some horrendous pictures of the preparations of the day before. 

Do I need to comment on this one?? I think not! 

What do you see here is me, my sister and my mom with ridiculous stuff on their heads, while my brother and my dad just look pretty! 

But all was worth it because the next day I was able to sport with hair-do: 

I think my mom and my sister looked very spiffy as well!! 

What do you think??? Was the night before torture.....err prep, worth it?? I think, yes! 

You know, we don't get to dress up a lot so I was trying to get some cute and romantic pictures of me and hubby together...... 

Well, I guess my husband had other plans! LOL 

The kids were amazing. Can you imagine being little and going to a foreign country were you don't know anybody and don't speak the language?? Nonetheless, they were precious, well mannered and managed to make new friends! 

And finally, the moment that everyone is waiting for, the picture with the groom and the bride! 

I love, love, LOVE, my family!!!

The House of Bachelorette Sash review!

I know I've been away from my blog for a many days and while I wish I was on vacation the whole time, truth is that I came back few weeks ago and just couldn't unravel the unique emotions I lived in words yet. 

So, I went back to Italy for 2 week to visit my family in occasion of my brother's wedding. While, I've seen my mother and sister during their visit to the States 3 years ago (remember??), I didn't have the chance to see my brother and my father for 7 long years. 

 I didn't know my sister-in-law at all and neither the tiny little baby she just had. 

 Well, before I dig into the wedding party, I want to take the time to talk about the bachelorette party my SIL invited me too. It was not the typical bachelorette party, or at least I think it was not as I never been to one before and I didn't have one for myself before getting married. 

Anyway, I always heard stories of strippers and drunk people, so this was definitely not something like that. My SIL friends organized a tasteful party in a local pub where we ate a wonderful homemade sandwich, delicious cake, listen to music and drank coffee (typical habit for Italy!) 

We had few silly moments with penis-shaped straws and stuffing balloons up our shirts, but aside from that it was just plain fun. 

Mind you, it was only 4 days after I arrived in Italy after a 30 hours flight.....so here you go the picture with me being super tired!! 

I'm on the right, with my sister in the middle and SIL on the left! 

Before I left from Italy I was contacted from House of Bachelorette to review one of their sash and I was thrilled that they sent me the Super Glam Bride Rhinestone because I already knew who I was going to give it to!! 

The sash is made in-house by their rhinestone artists, and is a fantastic addition to a bachelorette party or bridal shower. 

 It came in the mail in a very sturdy envelope that shows just how much care this company puts in handling their products. Inside the envelope, there was a wrapped package and the sash itself came with little organza bag. 

 I tried taking a picture with the sash of myself, but I married over 10 years ago now and a sash doesn't make a bride. 

 If only I knew somebody that was getting married soon.....oh wait!! 

Doesn't my new SIL look simply beautiful and sparkly with the sash on??? She loved it very much! 

I just wish she lived closer and maybe I could have been the one organizing her party with the many bachelorette party supplies from the TheHouseofBachelorette.com


This post contains my opinions only about this company and their product that I was sent to review. Your opinion about this product might be completely different than mine.  

Vacation time!

Yup, I'm finally going to Italy. 

 

 And let me tell you, so far this year that's the only thing that it's going as I planned as all the other things didn't exactly pan out. 

 

But I will have time to think about that when I come back! 

 

Don't miss me too much!!

Goodbye

I had a fun and light little post planned for today, but truth is that it's a very sad day for me as I received a bad news from my family in Italy: my grandma (my dad's mom) died. 

You have to know that I'm the oldest of my siblings and I've been away from my birth family for over 5 years now and of course when I was told that my grandma was really sick with Alzheimer, the scenario of receiving this news crossed my mind several times and I told myself that I was old and strong enough to receive the news with grace and without too much emotions at least the time necessary to end the phone call with dignity. 

And I did. 

For about 2 nano seconds. 

Then tears, gulps and sigh took over and I had to tell my mom a very quick: "Can I call you later?". 

Without dignity. 

Of course, having hubby standing right behind me asking what the hell happened over and over, helped me to pull my self together. 

For about 2 more nano seconds. 

Just enough to give him the news than dive to cry on his shoulder. 

 I'm crying so much my head hurts. 

For my grandma, for my dad, for my aunts and uncles (my grandma had 8 awesome children, 4 males and 4 females). 

Because I'm 10K miles away and, for reason I don't care to explain publicly, I can't even make a quick run over there to see her one last time and give her a good bye. 

So, I'm crying some more. 

Then I picked myself up and thought to write about all this, as writing is therapeutic and always makes me feel better. I realized with the most hurt in my heart that I have nothing about the woman, not a picture to show, just old memories of my childhood closed up in my head....

except: MY NAME. 

Well, my maiden name anyway, it's the same as her married name as I was born in the core of the South of Italy where the tradition to name the first born after the dad parents is still going strong.

 You also have to know that growing up, every time I've heard of my friend's grandparents dieing, I always imagined the day my grandma would and in my preteens years I always thought that I wouldn't be able to attend the funeral as I would be creep out to see my name on the headstone. I remember vocalizing this concern to my parents and never in a million years I would have thought that I wouldn't be attending her funeral after all. 

Be careful what you wish for I guess. Meh. 

 Maybe it's better this way, it's better that I remember her still happy and busy in the kitchen, where she made the most delicious meals for whomever happened to show up at her door. Happy to open her door to children and grandchildren whatever we needed, happy to listen to us, to spoil us and every time we left just say: "The important thing is that you're ok". Never tired, always putting herself after everybody else, she lost that joy when my grandfather passed away more than 10 years ago. 

Now, at least, they are reunited for ever, while I cry for a little while longer....

Awesome news!

As most of you know, I moved here is Florida around 3 and half years ago with my husband and my kids, leaving in Italy a piece of my heart and my my parents and siblings.

I got a green card 2 years ago and open this business in order to save up enough money to be able to fly in Italy every once in a while.
Well, my business had never be successful enough to pay for an airplane ticket, but you also know that I do appreciate every customer of mine and the money is being used to special doctor visits for my Gabriel.
My parents understood all this years, Gabriel is improving and I'm happy.

So I thank you for that, with all my heart.

Now, before the tears start coming out and I will start sobbing like a baby, I want to thank you again because with last month profit I was able to buy a kick ass GPS for my car and still have plenty for all that Gabriel will need for this month.

Why did I buy a GPS you might ask. I need it for my very first road trip and this time is all mine, no hubby (he wasn't able to take off from work) and no kids since I will need space in the car.

Why? Where am I going? I'm going to the airport in Atlanta to pick my mom and sister flying in from Italy tomorrow.

We're super happy and excited. Gabriel can't wait to see his nonna and my baby girl will kinda meet them for the first time since last time she saw my family she was 9 months old, too early to remember.

So, maybe my business will never be able to pay for me to go in Italy, but I was able to organize a comfortable enough trip in less then 3 days (yeah, they told me very last minute because wanted to make sure was really happening).

Now I'm sobbing and my heart is swelling with happiness and once again I sit here writing to all of you a
BIG THANK YOU!

For all my customers, for all my friends, for all the people who encouraged me, gave advices and promote the heck out of me and just for reading this.....
THANKS!

Trying to give back a little, I invite you to enter a giveaway for $60 gift certificate for CSN.

And I also want to apologize in advance if I'll be a little be missing-in-action for the next month, but I want to spend as much time as possible with my folks.

I promise I will tell you all about is as soon as I can!