Sugar cookies

This is what happens when you let the kids have fun with the Christmas sugar toppings.

Simple Birdseed Ornaments

The kids and I make handmade Christmas ornaments each December, all simple and involving minimal steps. Perfect for this very busy but exciting time of year.

We have several bird lovers in the family and thought about making something small to go along with their Christmas gifts. 

Enter the birdseed ornament.

What you'll need:

2 cups birdseed

1/2 cup boiling water

Unflavored gelatin, 2 packets

Cookie cutters 

Cookie sheet lined with parchment paper

Toothpick to make a hole

Twine to hang

What to do:

Place gelatin in a medium-sized bowl, add the boiling water and stir until gelatin is dissolved. Pour in the birdseed and stir to coat birdseed completely. Arrange 4 cookie cutters on the cookie sheet and spoon in the birdseed mixture carefully. Poke a hole through the birdseed mixture with the toothpick, just wide enough for twine to slide through once birdseed has set.

Allow cookie cutters filled with birdseed mix to sit for 24 hours. Pop out gently from cookie cutters and string with twine. 

Mario turns 7!

Hard to believe this photo was taken 7 years ago. Mario Luca makes me smile with all he does - his energy, silliness and kindness and love for his family. Happy Birthday to my favorite little man!

Rose Tree Park

We made hot cocoa and were off to walk through the lights at Rose Tree Park. Beautiful evening, beautiful lights, beautiful Christmas.

 

The wreath Sofia and I made, Christmas 2020

 

Grateful for mom friends who organize mornings like wreath-making with our 8th graders. Such a fun morning of chatting, eating sweets and prosecco. And of course, making our wreath. 

It's here - the most wonderful time of the year!

Halls are decked, lights are twinkling and even the cat is in the Christmas spirit - Chicco's favorite place to hang out is near the tree! 

Peace, Love & Joy!

red is my favorite

 

Autumn

 

Sofia's Confirmation

A beautiful mass for Sofia's 8th grade confirmation! Zio Antonio made a wonderful sponsor and so amazing to have Nonno Nicky so involved in the mass. A beautiful evening celebration for our beautiful girl, Sofia Vincenza. 

Saint Gertrude, Patron Saint of Cats. Chicco was represented even if he wasn't present at church. 

 

Two peas in a pod

 

First Day of School 2020

I can  not believe I have an 8th, 6th and 1st grader! First Day of school 2020 style - masks and all! I told them that others can still see their smiles under the masks. So happy for my babies but going to miss them so much.  This is the first year they all began on the same day AND it will be the last year that they all attend the same school. Talk about emotions for this mama! 

 

Chocolate and Chocolate Whoopie Pies

 

First attempt at whoopie pies and they were a success! I might tweak the recipe a bit, we loved the cake-like consistency of the cookie portion but I think they could have been just a tad smaller. Believe me, go big or go home, but these were monstrous and filling! Also, I used chocolate cream cheese frosting this go-around, maybe I'll try a vanilla frosting next time. With mini-chocolate chips. 

Ingredients: 

Cookies: 

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

3/4 cup milk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions: 

1. Set oven to 375 and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. 

2. In a medium bowl whisk together first 4 ingredients - flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.

3. In a larger bowl, beat together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Your mixture will look soft yellow in color. 

4. Add half of the flour mix to the large bowl and combine slowly with mixer. Add the milk and vanilla, beat on low. Add remaining flour mix and beat until combined fully. 

5. I used a tablespoon, scooped and plopped onto the parchment-lined baking sheet spacing about 2 inches apart. I tried to make sure that my scoops were about the same size so as to easily pair with another cookie to form the whoopie pie. 

6. Bake for 12-13 minutes and allow to cool first on the baking sheet and then move to a wire rack. 

Frosting: 

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

8 oz block of cream cheese, softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

3 cups powered sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions: 

1. In a large bowl, add the butter and cream cheese. Using a hand mixer, combine until smooth. 

2. Add vanilla extract and salt. Mix again on low. 

3. With mixer on low, slowly begin to add the powdered sugar. Then add the cocoa powder, using a spatula in between to scrape down the sides of the bowl incorporating everything together. 

This recipe is good for about 24 cupcakes so this is more than enough for the whoopie pies depending on how much you scoop onto each cookie. Any frosting leftover can be placed into an airtight container, allowing to sit out for a little bit on the counter when you need to use it again. 

Flowers are a girl's best friend

 

The blog needed some Chicco love

 

I love this cat. Me? Someone that said they would prefer a dog over a cat anyday. Not until this little love came into our lives. He is the best. 

Tie-Dye Fun!

Summer in America to me means tie-dye. Don't ask me why but we did it and we had a lot of fun. I may have had more fun than the kids did. Simple, not-messy and we love our creations!

 

The day began with hot, fresh donuts

I wasn't lying, it began with hot, fresh donuts. That's what the sign said when we were driving by the falls and Anthony pulled into a big shoulder of the road near a wildlife preserve. And there was a tiny little food truck selling "Hot, Fresh Donuts!" Perfect start to the day. 

We drove from Seneca Lake to Keuka Lake to the small lake town of Hammondsport and it was love at first sight for me. Such a sweet town, quaint shops and restaurants and not very busy at all. 

We took a walk through the town, one adorable house after another and found these great painter's palettes throughout town. This was one of my favorite. Of course, a big, red barn. 

The lake was sublime. Just perfect, on a perfect weather day. I could have sat there for hours just staring across this work of art. 

Did I mention that there were antique shops? Another reason I loved this town. 

Oh. And my lunch helped too. Aside from the meat (I'm a vegetarian), it was incredible. My son ate the meat pieces. 

Onto our next and final campground for the trip! But first...tractors and farms!