30 Day Photography Challenge ~ Day 2: What I Wore Today

I know. I know. I’ve already fallen a day behind on this 30 Day Photography Challenge. I know.

Moving on... What I Wore Today..

You guessed it. Head-to-toe black.

Black flutter-sleeved embroidered long tunic from Old Navy circa 2009 over black stretch capris from Old Navy circa 2007.

I think I’m one of very few who’s Old Navy pieces have survived more than just one year. Thank Goodness for that, because I’m not exactly in the position of buying a new wardrobe every year, either. And, I’m not one for clothes shopping. So, when I find a piece that fits (and is black), I hang on to it for as long as I can – mixing it with newer pieces or with older ones. I wash all my colors and darks in cold water, and I dry in Medium heat setting. I’m convinced this is why many of my clothes last as long as they do.

The thong sandals were a gift from my mom. She bought them at Stein-Mart back in 2004 when she was living in Florida.

And, my jewelry consists of a necklace and earrings from Black House White Market, a silver necklace that used to belong to my Dad that I twisted into a bracelet (and I wear most of the time), and another silver bracelet that’s actually a rosary that came from my mom’s last trip to Peru.

The only price-less pieces I’m wearing are my wedding rings and my Dad’s necklace that I made into a bracelet.

Nothing too glamorous.. Not even my bathroom, some of which you can see in the photograph, including the bath towel thrown over the shower doors to dry, the cluttered counter, and the dirty mirrored closet doors.

What can I say? Real life, people.

30 Day Photography Challenge ~ Day 1: Self Portrait

I cheated and took this picture on Friday.

This is me – bespectacled, in black, and slightly awkward. I think if you ask anyone who knows me to describe Patty, they’ll give you the same description.

The glasses are four years old, and I’ve been wearing them 100% of the time for the last couple of years. I forgot how messy glasses can get at the beach, until we went to Cape Cod on a mini vacation last month - sweat, sand, and sunscreen everywhere. Ugh. Must. Renew. Contacts. Prescription. And, dust off the Jackie Os. I miss my Jackie Os…

I’ve been wearing black since high school. My mom started calling me The Merry Widow – still does, in fact. She could never understand (and still doesn’t) how a young woman would choose to wear black all of the time. Honestly, it’s not for any philosophical reason. I just like black. It’s forgiving, and easy, and versatile... and forgiving. ;-) Although, slowly but surely, color is finding its way back into my wardrobe, and for that, I credit the little 30lb toddler who is currently ruling my life. Doesn’t make much sense to be draped in black when she turns the universe into a Technicolor rainbow, now does it?

Like most everyone, I have some awkwardness in me. I’m painfully shy and prone to anxiety, but once I’m comfortable, I’m an open book to the point of being borderline outspoken. Ask Tony. As exhausting as it must be, he has the ability to talk me off that proverbial ledge while also letting me be me, and all without judgments – God bless him. I can’t say I share in those abilities, but I’m working on it. It’s funny how easy it is to tame the crazy when your objective now is to raise a daughter who’s happy and confident.

So, there you have it. Day 1 – Self Portrait. A peek into Patty. Come back tomorrow for Day 2 of this 30 Day Photography Challenge - What I Wore.

A Challenge

I’m desperate to update this sorry excuse for a blog. So, while satisfying my new addiction to Pinterest (What’s Pinterest? More on that later.), I found this:

Why a photography challenge, you ask?


Because, yet again, I have to somehow revitalize this blog, I want to make it a point to share more with the one or two readers I might still have, and I recently upgraded my iphone 3g to an iphone 4. The 4 is now equipped with a better camera, a flash, and I like the real-life-as-it’s-happening perspective that I get from iphone pics.

Also, August is mere days away. Perfect timing to begin this 30-day challenge.

Should be fun.

Or not.

Check back throughout the month of August to see for yourself.

OK, so... Pinterest.

Basically, it’s yet another form of social media, like Facebook, Twitter, and the like. Only Pinterest is a place to inspire and be inspired by sharing – or pinning - your favorite images (of anything, really) that you find on the internet with the world. OK, not really with the world, but with Followers - not unlike how you’d share your photos and status updates with your Friends on Facebook. And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg of all you can do on Pinterest.

For me, Pinterest is my go-to source of inspiration to try a new recipe, a new haircut, or a new paint color. It makes me think about travelling, redecorating, or changing out my wardrobe. And, it offers me a window into what inspires my Friends... uh sorry – my Followers.

And, to call it addicting is an understatement.

It’s like crack for the eyes - beautiful, creative, delicious crack, from which you can’t ever turn away.

I should also add that it’s “invite only”. So, you’ll have to request an invite from Pinterest, and once you receive your invite, you can register via your Facebook or Twitter accounts. Easy peasy.

See you in a couple of days with Day 1 of the 30 Day Photography Challenge. Until then, here’s a little something currently going on at the homestead.

Ha! Fun times, people.

Bento

Yup, I jumped on that bandwagon FAST. As soon as Gigi was old enough, I started to bento her lunches.

I gained inspiration from AVM over at Bento Madness, where she blogs about the fun bentos she prepares for her family. In fact, I sent her a photo of one of Gigi’s first bentos, and she graciously mentioned it on her blog. Check out that post here.

And, if you haven’t already checked out the rest of Bento Madness, I urge you to do so. Not only are there great pictures, you can also find AVM’s favorite online shops for ordering bentos and bentoing accessories. I promise - you’re going to want to start bentoing, too.

Gigi’s bentos are still on the simpler side. Here’s a shot of one of her first ones – packed in a Beaba Multiportions babyfood container, which I originally used on occasion to freeze Gigi’s purees when she was on solids (I mostly used ice cube trays). Once she moved on to finger foods, I used the container as a bento. Genius, right? Thanks for the idea, AVM!

{Clockwise, starting with cheerios, then green bean casserole, cut up chicken tenders, blueberries, cut up clementine, cut up red seedless grapes, and in the middle, homemade mac 'n cheese}

And, here are a couple of more recent pics of Gigi’s new and more grown-up bento – also by Beaba, this one is appropriately called The Lunch Box.

{Gigi was getting over a little stomach bug when I prepared her bento. So, I didn't pack any fruit for her - just some cavatelli mixed with a cube of pureed peas and some grated parm, some cut-up pumpkin pancake leftover from breakfast, plain cheerios, a pack of mum mums, and half of a cut-up grilled cheese on wheat.}


Fun, right?

Even Tony has gotten in on the action. Here is the one I ordered for him on Amazon. It’s another form of bentoing, but the idea is the same.

Hard to believe, but I have yet to get my own bento. I just can’t seem to decide on which of these is my favorite.

Vivo Square Bento Box

Laptop Lunch B620-Purple Bento Set

Zojirushi SL-NCE09 Ms. Bento Stainless-Steel Vacuum Lunch Jar

Microwavable Lock & Lock Bento Lunch Box Set

Kotobuki 2-Tiered Bento Box

The possibilities are endless.

The art of Bento - packing and presenting healthy balanced meals in a beautiful way - originated in Japan and is still common practice there. The catastrophic tsunami that hit Japan is not at all lost on me. I am fully aware that my own meager little blog means nothing in comparison to the immense devastation that has taken place in Japan. Please consider giving to the relief effort. The Red Cross is accepting donations. Other ways to help are found here.


~~~



In other news, Gigi attended her first Sunday Mass this past weekend. She did great! Phew..

40 Days & 40 Nights

For the last 10 or so years, instead of giving something up for Lent, I’ve been making a promise to myself and to God – church every Sunday, prayers every night, move more, eat less, etc. I’m ashamed to say, I never really made it through those 40 days and nights.

Well, this past January, I joined Weight Watchers. Not many people know this – until now, of course. I did pretty well the first four weeks. Lost a smidge over 8lbs. The last four weeks, however, have been rough. My head has just not been in it. So, for Lent this year, I’m promising to track every single item I eat and drink, resume going to my weekly meetings, and committing to at least four days of exercise during the week. With that, I promise to drink more water; less coffee (can’t possibly give that up entirely), and be religious about taking my multi-vitamin every night before bed.

Oh, and I’m committed to going to church every Sunday. I’m curious to see how Gigi responds to this new Sunday morning activity – and hoping all goes well. Should be interesting.

Here she is with her papa - my other favorite person in the world.


I’ll be sure to report back, because my other commitment for Lent this year is to return to blogging. This sad little blog has been neglected long enough and way too many times at that, and not for any lack of subject matter. We’re chock full of that these days. We have a walking and running little person filling our time with the sweetest of sweetness, big bear hugs, and lots of laughs.

Here’s the little strawberry on the morning of her 1st birthday.


She’s 16 months now – and getting bigger and funnier every day. Here she is chugging her sippy of milk like a champ – and with flair!


And, here she is being busy and important reading her magazine – upside down.


Ha! I can talk and gush about her for days.

When all is said and done, these promises to me and to God are really all for her. She makes me want to be better, healthier, and happier. And, she is more than worth it.

We've been BUSY!

Introducing Giuliana Grace Altieri.. born November 7, 2009 at 4:42pm – weighing 5lbs 5.2 oz, and measuring 18.5 inches.

Yeah, little.. and oh so sweet.

The last almost 8 months have been nothing short of incredible. Tony and I are amazingly blessed with such a happy and healthy little peach. And, I’m not just saying that. She really is the.most.happy baby I’ve ever known or encountered – always quick to smile and giggle, belly laughs during just about every diaper change, and her own adorable sneezes make her grin from ear to ear.

Aww… we love our sweet strawberry. She’s the coolest little human we know, and we’ve been enjoying every moment of watching her grow and learn.

So, without further ado.. Here is a long-awaited collection of Gigi’s first 7 ½ months:

{home from the hospital}

{1 month old}

{2 months old}

{Not happy at 3 months old. Aww...}

{4 months old}

{With Grandma at 5 months old}

{Rolling over at 6 months old!}

{7 months old}

I’ll leave her birth story for another post, but I will say this:

We plan, and God laughs.

That pretty much sums up her birth story in a nutshell.

And, while it wasn’t everything I thought or wanted it to be, it ultimately resulted in our sweet baby girl – pink, healthy, perfect. If nothing else, that little sweetness is living proof that God exists.

36 weeks... and a Babymoon!

How far along? 36 weeks today!
Total weight gain/loss: No weight gain since my last OB appt two weeks ago. We’ll see if that still rings true at my next appt this Thursday.
Maternity clothes? Yes. Tan and chocolate brown argyle maternity cardigan, khaki maternity cords, and brown canvas espadrille wedges.
Stretch marks? Yes.. and still counting.
Sleep: Had the best nights’ sleep on our babymoon in VT this past weekend. Since being home, I’m back to not sleeping comfortably or soundly, but whatevs.
Best moment this week: A couple of great moments, actually. First, the aforementioned babymoon. Two and a half days of rest, relaxation, great foliage, and an even greater bed and breakfast. And, 2nd, WE FOUND A DOULA! What a sigh of relief to know that Tony and I will have our very own advocate and professional to help guide us and support us through my labor. Now, we know we’ll have the best birth we can possibly have.
Movement: A lot! At this point, there isn’t a lot of room in there. So, even the slightest movement feels huge. Feeling her as well as seeing my belly move and jut out is beyond wonderful. While I can’t wait to finally meet her, I know I’m going to miss having her closer than any mother and child can be with each other.
Food cravings: Not really a craving, but this morning, I indulged in a French toast bagel with cream cheese and peanut butter.
Gender: A sweet baby girl!
Labor Signs: Random Braxton Hicks. And, I must say, I’m paying very close attention to any signs of preterm labor. Keep cooking in there, little lady! We’ll meet soon enough!
Belly Button in or out? Still on it’s way out!
What I miss: The sleigh bed in our amazing room at the B&B this past weekend. Most comfortable bed I’ve slept on since our honeymoon in Montreal two years ago.
What I am looking forward to: Tonight’s supplement to our Prepared Childbirth classes – Breastfeeding 101. And, we’re taking Rosa (my mom) along. I can tell she’s excited, because she’s reminded me of it about four times in the last 24 hours. Ha! Cute, that one.
Weekly Wisdom: At the B&B, we met several interesting couples, including the inn-keepers, all of whom had children ranging from 2 years old to 23 years old. Until now, everyone has really brought it home to us that our lives “will change completely” and to “enjoy this time now, because nothing will ever be the same after the baby comes”. While we know that to be true, we really don’t think it’s a death sentence once children come into the picture. We hope and plan to continue on with our lifestyle – with obvious adjustments, of course. The couples we met on our weekend getaway each confirmed to us that becoming parents actually opens our lives up to a lifetime of amazing, wonderful, and unexpected experiences, and to welcome the good with the occasional bad, and we’ll be just fine. Thanks, Noah and Becca from Newton, Mass, Gillian and Dennis, our innkeepers, and the fancy but down-to-earth power couple whose names escape me. Your encouraging words of wisdom to us were invaluable.
Milestones: Reaching 36 weeks today is a total milestone in my book, and each day from here until my due date will be welcomed one at a time with equal enthusiasm.

A weekend in Putney, VT

Last Friday, I took a half day and Tony worked from home. By 2pm, we were headed up to Vermont. It was closer than I thought – only 1.5 hours. That’s it. Hard to believe a place like Putney, VT is that close to us.

When we arrived at the B&B – Hickory Ridge House – we were given a warm welcome by Gillian, one of the innkeepers, as well as Jack and Gracie, the inn’s resident furbabies. They led us through the beautifully decorated inn and up to our room – The Autumn Room - which was very a propos to this time a year. Our “home” for the next couple of nights included high ceilings, windows on three sides with amazing views of the back garden and meadow, an amazing sleigh bed, gorgeously-kept antiques, and a large en suite bathroom (photos courtesy of www.hickoryridgehouse.com).

After getting settled, we freshened up and headed out for dinner in Brattleboro at this tiny and out-of-the-way gem called Alici’s, a Turkish bistro serving Mediterranean tapas-style dishes. Tony started of with the Bistro Mussels, which were drenched in a curry-coconut broth (so good!) and then ordered the kobe sliders, which looked fantastic. I started off with the Lobster Bisque, super chunky and flavorful with real crab and lobster, and then ordered the Mediterranean Mussels, which had chorizo and a really nice spicy tomato sauce. Dessert, which we really didn’t need, because we were beyond full at that point, included fudgy chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream for Tony and crème brule for me (photo courtesy of www.alicisbistro.com).



Breakfast Saturday morning was at 8am sharp and served family-style in the inn’s dining room. Gillian and Dennis really outdid themselves. We feasted on antique compotes of fruit salad, homemade banana muffins, mushroom and rosemary omelet, smoked bacon, and plum tomatoes topped with a sweet tomato salsa or chutney. Seriously. Can I please start every day off like that??

After breakfast, we headed out by car to explore Putney and the surrounding towns. Tony planned a day, that included a visit to a cheese factory, a scenic drive through southern Vermont, and then a stop at the yearly pumpkin Festival in Keene New Hampshire.

We arrived at the Grafton Cheese Company, located right next to one of those quintessentially New England covered bridges, and in who’s pasture were grazing a group of lazy cows.





Ah, cheese, glorious cheese! Inside the Grafton Cheese Company, we caught a quick glimpse at cheese making, and then got to sample so many varieties of cheeses, mustards, jams, and chutneys. We left with six pounds of cheese and two jars of artisan jams.

And then, we were off to continue our exploration..

Thanks to our Navigation System, we were able to get from point A to point B throughout our weekend relatively unscathed. While Vermont is filled with perfectly paved highways and roads, there are still off-the-beaten-paths that somehow were recognized by the navigation system as legitimate routes. Imagine our surprise when on two occasions, we wound up on a road that precariously narrowed and became less paved with every mile, only to end up literally in the middle of the woods in what seemed like a foot path flanked by a ravine on either side. Special… and quite the adventure! I laugh now, but at the time, I panicked and kept thinking about the possibility of getting even more lost in the woods a la The Blair Witch Project! Thank God my absurd melodrama is tempered by Tony’s level-headedness and humor!

The parts of Vermont we drove through were something out of a postcard - antique shops and white steeple churches in every town, farm stands and general stores on every Main Street, and local artists and bohemians everywhere. The foliage was already past its peak, but even the muted colors that spread themselves out along the hills and valleys stretched out in front of us like a carpet. Just beautiful – and a clear reminder to me why Fall is my favorite season.

The pumpkin Festival in Keene, New Hampshire was the perfect place to people-watch. Essentially, it was a huge street fair of vendors of everything from fried dough to chowder. Sorry, chowdah. Speaking of which, Tony and I shared the absolute best seafood chowdah, and we walked what seemed like miles from one end of the festival to the other. Keene is a college town. So, plenty of students, locals, tourists, and pumpkins! There was close to 30,000 carved pumpkins on display.



Later that evening back in Putney, we decided to stay close to the B&B for dinner and ended up at a great little local pub, where we grabbed Fish & Chips and a pint of Pumpkin Ale (for Tony) and a Cobb salad topped with grilled salmon (for me).

After dinner, we settled back in our room at the inn to watch a movie. We were so exhausted from our day of exploration; we were asleep within 10 minutes of popping in the DVD.

The next morning, we packed up our suitcase, and went down to breakfast, which included fruit salad topped with mascarpone cheese and an edible flower, homemade orange and carrot muffins, a cheese omelet, and a tomato and goat cheese tart. Tell me: What is NOT to love about this place??

After breakfast, we still had some time before checkout. So, we laced up our sneakers and decided to wander around the grounds of the inn. It was much cooler and more overcast than the previous day, but after feasting on so much food and in front of a wood stove, the air outside was perfect – cold and refreshing – and the exercise did us a lot of good.









We walked past the property, past a swimming hole, and up to the grounds of a neighboring school. Every person who drove past us smiled and waved. Loved that.

Back at the inn, we thanked Gillian and Dennis for such a lovely stay, said goodbye to Jack and Gracie, and packed up the car and left. Instead of taking 91 to return home, we took backroads, which fortunately didn’t lead us astray, but rather took us through more picturesque towns alongside the Connecticut River.

We really lucked out with the weather. Rain was predicted all weekend, but it actually didn’t start to rain until we were already on the road headed home Sunday afternoon.

This “last hurrah” before the baby comes was a much needed time alone for Tony and me. We really enjoyed the part of Vermont we saw, loved the Hickory Ridge House and the people we met during our stay there, and we can’t wait to return next year. It was a weekend of no pugs, no Rosa, and no other distractions, and yet, we found ourselves talking about them constantly. “Rosa would love it up here”… or … “I wonder what the puggies are doing right now”… or “we have to make sure we return next Fall with the baby, Rosa, and the pugs”.

We know they’ll love it as much as we did.

10.13.07

Two years ago today, I married my best friend..

I don't love you as if you were the salt-rose, topaz
or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:
I love you as certain dark things are loved,
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that doesn't bloom and carries
hidden within itself the light of those flowers,
and thanks to your love, darkly in my body
lives the dense fragrance that rises from the earth.
I love you without knowing how, or when,
or from where,
I love you simply, without problems or pride:
I love you in this way because
I don't know any other way of loving but this,
in which there is no I or you,
so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand,
so intimate that when I fall asleep
it is your eyes that close.
- “Love Sonnet XVII” by Pablo Neruda

34 Weeks... and a Baby Shower.

How far along? 34 weeks today!
Total weight gain/loss: No weight gain since my last OB appt two weeks ago.
Maternity clothes? Purple embroidered babydoll non-maternity top, khaki maternity cords (most comfortable pants I’ve EVER put on), and brown canvas espadrille wedges.
Stretch marks? Yes.
Sleep: A little.
Best moment this week: Today, we had another scheduled ultrasound – to measure for growth. Seeing her face was magical. We could hardly make it out, but there she was, with her hands up to her mouth and moving like crazy. Hearing the doctor say, “this little girl is very entertaining” was HEAVEN.
Movement: A lot! She wasn’t as cooperative as she was at the last ultrasound, but it’s all good. She’s active, and that’s all that matters to me.
Food cravings: Farina. Yes, folks, that’s cream of wheat. And, I can’t get enough of its creamy and gritty goodness, and a sprinkle of sugar, cinnamon, and raisins makes it special.
Gender: Girl!
Labor Signs: Random Braxton Hicks.
Belly Button in or out? Still on it’s way out!
What I miss: This week, I miss sushi. So, after my ultrasound, I stopped at Fuji Sushi and ordered the cooked kind - a crunchy shrimp tempura roll wrapped in crab and row. Oh my God – so good.
What I am looking forward to: Tonight’s Prepared Childbirth class.
Weekly Wisdom: At yesterday’s 34 week OB appointment, my doctor and I discussed Cord Blood Banking, Flu shots, and the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine. Basically, it’s wiser to put my money into the baby’s college fund than into Cord Blood Banking. As for the flu shot, they offered it to me at my appt, and I accepted. I also plan on getting the swine flu shot once it becomes available in a couple of weeks. Apparently, pregnant women are at a higher risk to contract the flu and/or the swine flu, and either one could develop into pneumonia which is known to be fatal among pregnant women and their fetuses.
Milestones: Everything from my fabulous baby shower this past weekend - to reaching 34 weeks today - to seeing my 4lb, 5 oz. baby girl during my ultrasound this morning.


Speaking of “my fabulous baby shower”, it was truly fabulous. This past Saturday, around 40 of my closest and dearest friends and family gathered at The Pond House here in town to shower me with so many well wishes and loot, my head was swimming.

My mom hosted the shower, my mother-in-law took care of the favors and trays of Italian cookies for each table, and my childhood friend Betsy was in charge of the centerpieces, games, and decorations – among so many other details that made everything come together beautifully.

As tacky (or not) as it may seem, I actually helped to plan my own shower. I chose the venue, the date, the menu, and I even made the invitations.

Klassy (with a K)? Maybe.

Presumptuous of me? A little.

Am I a control freak? Definitely!

Here are what the invitation and enclosures looked like:



The blank notecards and envelopes were from Target. The monkey was found in Microsoft Clip Art. The font on the invitation is Papyrus. And, the poems – both on the invitation and on the book request enclosure – were found online by searching Google.

My “theme” was clearly monkeys, and my colors were fuchsia, pink, tangerine, and brown – all the colors in the crib bedding.

And, Betsy ran with it! See the shower pics below.

{ One of the tables - decorated with a diapercake centerpiece, Italian cookies, and oh-so-cute cheese grater favors.}

{ Part of the space. Those pom poms are from Martha Stewart Crafts and were made entirely of tissue paper and wire.}

{ Close-up of one of the famous monkey balloons.}

{ Entrance to the banquet space - flanked by Betsy's monkeys.}

{ Amazingly high wall of glass featuring views of the Pond and the Park.}

{ This is a doll bed that Betsy decorated and used as the "basket" for cards.}

{ The Moses basket filled with gifts that Betsy gave me - and one of the diapercake centerpieces.}

{ The loot.. ha!}

I didn’t include all the pictures that were taken, because I wanted to highlight the amazing job my mother-in-law, aunt, and a friend did in each of their crocheted and knitted works of art. I love handmade gifts!

It was wonderful to see all the amazing ladies - who have each touched my life in their own significant way - all together in one room. Their presence as well as their outpour of congratulations and well-wishes was overwhelming and humbling. I am truly very lucky – as is the little princess bean baking away in my belly.









{ Tony's aunt and awesome sister - she's like a sister to me.}

{ Tony's aunts and cousin.}

{ Me and my adorable mom.}

{ Sister-in-law, niece, me, and mother-in-law.}

{ Best shower helpers ever.}

In the next couple of weeks, I’ll be busy writing and sending thank you notes to all of my guests, as well as helping Tony complete the nursery in time for the baby’s arrival.

As for the thank you gifts for my mom, mother-in-law, and Betsy, I knew I wanted them to be as unique as each one of them. So, thanks to one of the message boards that I frequent, I came across a talented seller on Etsy.com whose shop is called MoonlightDoodles.



{ This necklace is similar to the ones I gave my mom and Betsy.}

{ This bracelet is the actual one I gave my mother-in-law. Each charm is stamped with the name of each of her grandkids' names, and one is stamped with what her grandkids call their grandparents - Ninny & PopPop.}

I presented each one their gift at the start of the shower, and I was so pleased to see how much they loved them. Those gifts were only the tip of the iceberg of my appreciation for all of their efforts to make my shower the special event it turned out to be.