Glamour and Postcards

I love glamour and postcards.  Especially, glamour on postcards!

This is a long-time favorite!

Have a glamorous, great weekend!

The Perfect (Adult) Party Favor!

I enjoy sparkling wines.  Anything with bubbles really.  But in particular, I most love Italy's Prosecco!

If you've never tried it, I highly recommend snagging a bottle from your local wine shop.  To best describe the varietal, it's less dry than champagne, and boasts, with each sip, lovely undertones of peaches, apples, and citrus fruit. 

On a hot summer day, in my opinion, there's nothing nicer than a refreshing glass of Prosecco paired with a few ripe slices of melon and prosciutto.  Talk about bliss!

Anyhow, here's my idea of the perfect adult party favor...

Half-Bottles of Riondo Prosecco with Lollipops or Photo Dowels

In the party circumstance above, we were celebrating our baby shower.  I realize it may seem the unlikely favor candidate for such an event, but we hosted a family-style feast for both my husband and my closest friends and family members.

And nothing screams a celebration like a POP and toast of bubbles.  So, a half-bottle of Prosecco was the perfect parting gift. 

(Upon Aksel's delivery, I also gave my doctor, and the staff of maternity nurses, little bottles, too!) 

In this instance, however, I fastened festive blue boy lollipops to each bottle.  But you could really customize them to compliment any party theme - engagement, birthday, holiday - all by decorating dowels, etc. 

Not to mention, if you're a party enthusiast like me, and the details make you giddy, these bottles placed side-by-side pack an aesthetic punch, too.  Especially, if you have a preferred color-theme going.

Should you have any questions, or need a little party help, feel free to email me.  I'd love to lend a hand...

A Pup from Orvieto.

This little blue pup hails from the idyllic Umbrian hill town, Orvieto.  What a glorious place, if you've not been!

That said, this wide-eyed knick knack is one of my favorite things.

For one, when I purchased pup, I was hoping he'd be the sentimental equivalent to the Venetian goldfish we'd scored years before...

I was skeptical though.  How could a €2 dog rival the Murano marble I'd long deemed our greatest love token? 

If you're curious, and wondering... pup does. 

He most definitely rivals.

Reason being, I was newly pregnant and unequivocally convinced I was having a girl, Gemma.  So, I wandered unknowing through the medieval cittá, ever so often rubbing my belly, speaking in my mind to our little gem.

It was romantic.  And, it was perfect.  Only glitch, I had a boy.

So, the blue pup, much like the blue man here, brings me back, and reminds me how it felt to feel new life, internally.  My lil' boy!

Those days were magic!

If you ever find yourself bored in Rome (ha ha), I highly recommend the hour-long trek to Orvieto via Termini Station. 

Read more Italy here.

My Marcello!

Here's the first shot of my Marcello taken by the talented Abigail Marie of [Non`pa*reil] Photography.  What a dapper dude!

Many thanks (and WELCOME) to all my new followers! 

PS - His name's really Aksel!  :)

The Italian F's.

Me and mine, we're Italophiles.

Meaning, we love all things Italian.  Except maybe, Jersey Shore.

(Hmm... I can't say I don't watch though.) 

For cryin' out loud, we own an Italian restaurant.  And, I'm Irish.  He's German.  Go figure?  But really...

 

I stand to argue it's not about being Italian.  It's about living Italian. 

And by that I mean, centering your life around the following, simple things.  They are (in no particular order):

• Family
• Food
• Fashion
• Fellini

Each of these categories have subcategories, too.  For instance, close friends are considered family.  (You know who you are!)  Food also stands to include PASTA (fresh or dry).  Fashion is inherent.  D&G.  Versace.  Bulgari.  Fendi.  Prada.  Ya da ya da ya...

And finally, Fellini... a GOD among men!  If you haven't yet watched the classic, La Dolce Vita, you must.  And, La Strada is great, too.

Marcello Mastroianni in La Dolce Vita

Tying things up...

There's so much more to touch on, but the Italian F's are a good place to start.  Before I go though, there's a fifth "F" that comes to mind.  And, I'm somewhat reluctant (seeing as I don't center my life around it, especially post-baby), but... if I'm being honest about the whole Italian lifestyle, it's worth mentioning.

• F*cking

Italians do it.  Not that we don't.  They're just a little more open about the specifics.  I mean, you can't turn a corner in Rome (or any Italian city for that matter) without a phallus in your face.

Take David, for instance.

Finito.

PS - Be on the blog lookout for more about living Italian.
PPS - Reading back, this is the lame blog version of Under the Tuscan Sun. 

PPPS - It was totally unintentional!


Aksel's getting dressed up like Marcello (above) today.  Photos SOON!



I Marvel at the Marble.

I marvel at the marble, and wonder where o' where you've gone?

Is it just me, or were they everywhere at one time?  Marbles.  On the street?  In the dirt?  Under a tree?  It seems to me I spent a good long portion of my youth finding them in the most random of places.

Now, nothing.  Nowhere.  Not a sight.

This glass goldfish is not a marble in the good ol' sense, but it so happens to be the greatest token of our love.  (Mark's and mine.)

Aside from our child, that is!

As a side note, you may have noticed recently my sentimental posts showcasing simple (perhaps even odd) things like seal-hair dolls and census papers.  You may wonder why I'm adament in sharing them?

Really, what's the big deal? 

Well, let me try to explain...

I know it's silly, but we're not guaranteed anything in this life.  I mean, I really hope I live to be old, old, old.  And I hope just as much that those I love and care for grow to be old, old, old with me, but I just can't say for sure?  So, I feel it necessary to write what I value.

And I'm learning (with age), that those things don't cost lots of money.  In fact, they're neither bought nor sold for much of anything.  They just have heart.  They tell a story.

And folks, a STORY is gold in my mind.

So, I marvel at the Murano marble.  Our lil' glass ball that we bought together on a rainy September day, on a crooked side street in Venice, when our love was just new and our pockets empty.

It means as much to me as my $16 DICE wedding ring!

The Blue Man Baby Group.

Some of you are probably wondering what the little blue guy has to do with being a baby, or why in that matter, he's my button boy?

I mean really, this isn't the Blue Man Group, or is it? 

In short, the answer is no.  But where blog titles are concerned,
the Blue Man Baby Group is catchy.  You can't deny its ring.

Back to the point though.  Why blue man, and what's the draw?

Well, there's a story.  And it happens to mean a whole lot to me.  By the way, here's the smurf in question, papa blue man himself...

But really this is from where Babble's blue man came... ROME!

Now, an explanation...

I took this photo our first afternoon in Rome, while Mark and I wandered aimlessly, soaking in the splendors of a spring day. 

I was five-weeks pregnant, and resolute in thinking we were expecting a girl.  It was like I'd had some sort of divine pregnancy intervention, and a boy just wasn't likely.  NOT AT ALL!

SHE was to be called Gemma.

Fast forward four months, and SHE was to be called HE. 

So, when it came time to think about, and organize a boy-themed baby shower, this little man was my inspiration.  To me, the colors, the happy Italian kid, and the randomness of this shot were pure.

I went kinda blue man crazy... invitations, cupcakes, the nursery. 

HE WAS EVERYWHERE!

Now, a year and some later...

Every morning, afternoon and night, Aksel stares up from his changing pad at the picture of the blue man, and I tell him over and over the story of the little boy in Rome... and mommy's belly.

FYI:  The blue man makes me cry, because it was the start of JOY!



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A Dime-Sized Something.

A year ago today, we learned there was a dime-sized something growing inside of me!  It was you!

You, Aksel, were just a tidbit, a little boy bean sprout, gaining strength, making mommy sick sick sick!

On dear, sweet Grammy's birthday, the day our baby suspicions were confirmed, we announced that you would be joining our family!  YOU were the present that night on Folly, the gift that made us all smile, hug-tight and toast! 

FYI:   I was drinking Diet Coke!  No bubbles for me...

To think back a year, I could never have imagined how much I'd love you!  How I'd truly enjoy resting beside you, listening to you snore the day away... (You're doing just that right now!)

A year ago, we were preparing for our Rome Adventure! 

Through pictures, I now look to tell you the story of your beginning in Roma.  I believe it's of no coincidence that R-O-M-A flips to spell
A-M-O-R, which as we well know, means LOVE in Latin!

Aksel:  The Story of Our Love in Roma...

Before departing, we enjoyed the newfound perks of pregnancy!

(Notice what Daddy's wearing!  Day One in Black.) 

Aks, comfort is the goal when traveling long distances!

I tried my first, and only cigarette ever, on this rooftop atrium! 

You'll understand why when you watch Roman Holiday!

I'm obsessed with bikes!

Roma is my favorite Italian city!

Each street corner is devoted to beauty!

Betty Boop, no less...

Lemon gelato in Roma just tastes better...

The Roman Cop and Kid.

(This picture is the centerpiece of my Roman Holiday!)

I took this photo our first afternoon in Roma, while we wandered aimlessly in love, soaking in the splendors of a warm, spring day.  Fast forward six months:  When it came time to think about, and organize a boy-themed baby shower, this was my inspiration!  The colors, the laddy-action, and the randomness of this shot... did much to creatively motivate me!  Not only did the blue cop pique my party interest, but this photo and it's primary pallete were the basis for your nursery design!  (See below.)

Closed or Open?

(I love the novelties of life in Europe!)

While visiting the Eternal City,  I was eternally convinced that you, Little Man, were my little girl... GEMMA!  I  nearly had a meltdown to purchase red patent baby Mary Janes in a boutique near Piazza Barberini, hence Daddy's not happy face!  (Day Three in Black.)

Both times we've traveled to Italy, Daddy's luggage has gone missing!

Daddy breaks down, and buys a pair of socks in Termini Station!

(Day Four in Black.)

Mommy's train face...

(More later...)

Orvieto is idyllic, red car and all.

A bottle of Orvieto Classico at a Cucina Tipica!

Everywhere, RED!

Daddy's luggage arrived that night!

Yay!  Goodbye black shirt!

A green, grassy hill!

This blue ceramic dog is now in your nursery, Little Man.

There was Mulligan's on Poolbeg Street in Dublin. 

Now, Mulligan's in Roma!

(Notice the couple in the background.  More later...)

A Vacanze Romane dream come true...

The Mouth of Truth from Vacanze Romane.

PS - You are my truth, Aksel!

A Few Classic Film Recommendations:

 

Roman Holiday (Special Collector's Edition)

Rome Adventure

Al Di La (Album Version)




It Started in Naples

Happy Birthday, Grammy!

We love you so much!

Aksel:  To the many years ahead!