February Photo-a-day Challenge

I'm giving myself an assignment for the month of February and that is to take a photo a day for the entire month. I know I take lots of pictures already but I do miss days and giving myself some guidelines will keep me in check. There are some great challenges out there but rather than devote the 28 days to something different every single day of the month, I made it just a tad easier. 7 different challenges for each day of the week. Let's start small.

Now I'm going to try and take these all on my big girl camera but in the event I find myself out and about with only my phone, that counts too.

Anyone want to join in with me? You could always comment with your picture for that day of the week challenge!

Easiest Quiche Recipe

I love quiche. Easy, delicious and I always have the ingredients on hand. And did I mention easy?

This one is a crust less quiche so no need to make a pie crust, buy a frozen pie crust or mess with a refrigerated pastry shell. Just combine, pour and bake. It really doesn't get any easier than this.

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup grated cheese (I used cheddar cheese but Swiss cheese or mozzarella is great too)
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 cup other ingredients (I used just ham this time)

Other Optional Ingredients:

• cubed ham or crumbled cooked bacon
• chopped tomatoes
• sliced onions
• chopped spinach
• chopped asparagus
• cooked cubed potato

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Whisk together all the ingredients.
3. Pour the egg mixture into an pie dish and bake uncovered for 45 minutes. Make sure center is set and not wiggly at all.

a little of this and a whole lot of that!

What a week we had! So glad it's Friday and we can have some down time over the weekend. Some, not much but I'll take it.

So, I do the monthly pictures of the kids for their first year or so, here is Mario's 13month old picture with the horsey. So cute! I love those chiclet teeth smiles!

Later after his photo shoot, little man had some down time with his books. He seems to enjoy being read to just like his older sisters did and still do. Hopefully we have another book lover in the house.

This past week was Catholic Schools Week and it was a sort of Spirit week for the girls at school. Monday was Dress Up day with a red carpet and all at school. While the girls were excited for the snow, they were really excited to wear their fancy Christmas dresses and shoes to school.

And while we didn't get the major storm that was predicted, we did get a snow day this past week. I'll take it! The snow is pretty much all gone at this point but they had a great time playing in it that day.

And this guy...Seriously, even with the blurriness taken with my camera phone his cuteness still comes through so clearly. He loves the jeep Zio Antonio got him for his birthday. Even if he still doesn't know the correct way to get on.

And much thanks to Zia Chaela and Zio Scotty for letting us borrow the mini pack and play. This thing has come to great use for me especially when I'm cooking in the kitchen. Daddy realized that our little guy has fun in it even when it's on its side. Who knew!?!

And lastly, rounding up this great week was the opening prayer at school this morning followed by presentation of the virtue class picks where our Olivia bella was selected by her classmates for the virtue of effort. Proud of my little girl!

"We show effort when we work toward a goal, we don’t give up when we meet with challenges 

or adversity and when we choose to do what is right even when it may be the more difficult choice. 

 

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of

the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Jesus.” Colossians 3:17"

La festa

Mario's first Festa della Madonna del Carmine, July 15th- July 17th each year and our baby boy celebrated it for the first time with us this past summer. I think Anthony was very excited about showing him the ropes of the festival.

My guys. Daddy is proud to show off his little man.

The procession begins at the church where my parents were married, Madonna del Carmine and makes it way down the street to Chiesa Madre in centro storico, the old city of Mesagne. It's a pretty great production, most of the town turns out for it as well as visitors from nearby towns. And those from Maryland and Pennsylvania too.

Our very beautiful Madonna del Carmine

Chiesa Madre in centro storico

Each year we follow the procession to the square just outside the old city and while the procession stops to speak to the crowd, we make our way to our favorite pizza place in town and grab the perfect spot to watch the remainder of the procession pass us by.

Olivia is actually holding a little toy behind daddy's drink, not the drink itself.

Happy grandkids, happy grandparents. Mario's trying to get that sock off. Look of determination on his sweet little face.

After the procession, eating delicious pizza and sides we're off to the rides. We met with a friend of mine and his son this year to enjoy the rides together. The kids had so much fun!

Should I be concerned that both girls were great on the motorcycles?!?

Those smiling faces that night were out of this world. 

Alberobello

Not too far from the Adriatic Coast up on a hill overlooking olive trees, is the town of Alberobello. Translated literally it's tree pretty, but that sounds weird so we say pretty tree. It's an adorable little town full of little homes called trulli houses. Cone-shaped roofs and round first floors that's what these trulli houses are known for. Some in town have been turned into shops, pubs and restaurants while most in the historic center are still homes to the people of Alberobello.

Walking down one of the many hilly streets and turn and you will spot an image like this...breathtaking, right?

You can go to the roof of a trullo and overlook all of Alberobello.

My little model posing in what used to store olive oil. I love these jugs and would love to have one in our backyard here.

Trulli houses. Some even have symbols painted on the roofs.

Inside the door of a seamstress. I spy a little girl's profile in the reflection.

Numero 31 - just thought they had a very pretty set up for their entry. How amazing would that be if this were your front door?

Love.

And triple the love with these little amazing little beings. Love that they had another great visit to Alberobello! Yes, that is a part of a gelato in Olivia's hand. Every trip ends with ice cream!

scenes about town...

I love Mesagne. There is always something for me to snap a picture of whether it be a random blue bike with a great hat in the basket or some gorgeous swaying palm trees. Can't get enough of this little town.

The church where my parents were married, Madonna del Carmine.

Chiesa Madre in centro storico in Mesagne. Centro Storico is one of my most favorite places. The original town of Mesagne, cobble stone streets, beautiful alleys and old churches. Very old churches. For the past several years now it's the place to live and hang out, new restaurants and pubs dot some of the old streets. I love it.

Happy grandkids, happy grandparents.

a morning stroll alla villa

We love to walk to the villa in Mesagne. Especially when it's gorgeous, there's promise of playground time and of course, gelato!

The best time to go is a Saturday or Sunday morning when most are at the beach. We don't go to the beach on the weekends since it's crazy busy so we stick to other day trips nearby or just hang around town.

Olivia takes "hanging around" very literally.

My little risk taker. She was watching some boys climb up and down this thing, that's not meant for climbing on top of but more for riding your bike under. Regardless, she watched and watched and finally when they left she mastered it too. She was so proud of herself!

I love this tree in the center of the villa. It is so amazing to see and of course climb up on. I'll have to scan the picture of me sitting on this very tree MANY years ago and post it on here.

Happy to be at the villa on a gorgeous summer morning.

Naturally we get gelato too from all that running around and playing.

And my baby boy. So sweet to have tired himself out by watching the girls play that he takes his morning nap in the stroller under the canopy of trees surrounding the villa.

Party, Party, Party!

And so now this marks 3 1st birthday celebrations for my little man but that's ok. Celebrated with Pennsylvania family and friends this past weekend and couldn't have had a better time. Even missing his afternoon nap, Mario Luca was in awesome spirits and was whisked around by family and close friends and finally settled on Daddy for a little disco nap before gearing up for more party fun.

Totally loving to touch the icing, but eat it not so much. At this point, he definitely didn't get his teeth from his mama since mine are all sweet and he wants little to do with sugar. More for my girls and I!

Honestly the sweetest face ever. My little 1 year old! Can't believe how great this past year has been and how blessed our last 7 and a half years have been as parents!

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oh, how I love a week that includes making these little batches of awesomeness! There is no better way to celebrate the end of a school week or start off the weekend then with the best chocolate chip cookie recipe out there. Thank you to Williams-Sonoma for the inspiration!