I normally do not do this...but it is so true!

I got this email from a dear friend and had to share it through blog....
so here we go:

Italian Kids vs. American Kids


American kids: 

Move out when they're 18 with the full support of their parents.

Italian kids: 

Move out when they're 28, having saved enough money for a house,
and are two weeks away from getting married...
unless there's room in the basement for the newlyweds.

American Kids:

When their Mom visits them, she brings a Bundt cake, and you sip coffee and chat.

Italian kids: 

When their Mom visits them, she brings 3 days worth of food, begins to tidy up,dust, do
the laundry, and rearrange the furniture.


American kids: 

Their dads always call before they come over to visit them,
and it's usually only on special occasions.

Italian kids:

Are not at all fazed when their dads show up, unannounced,
on a Saturday morning at 8:00,
and starts pruning the fruit trees. If there are no fruit trees,
he'll plant some.


American kids: 

Always pay retail, and look in the Yellow Pages when they need to
have something done.


Italian Kids: 

Call their dad or uncle, and ask for another dad's or uncle's
phone number to get it done...cash deal. Know what I mean?


American kids: 

Will come over for cake and coffee, and get only cake and coffee. No more.


Italian kids: 

Will come over for cake and coffee, and get antipasto, wine, a pasta dish,
a choice of two meats, salad, bread, a cannoli, fruit, espresso,
and a few after dinner drinks.

American kids:

Will greet you with 'Hello' or 'Hi'..


Italian kids:

Will give  you a big hug, a kiss on your cheek, and a pat on your back.


American kids: 

Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.


Italian kids:

Call your parents Mom and Dad.


American kids: 

Have never seen you cry.


Italian kids:

Cry with you.!


American kids:

Borrow your stuff for a few days and then return it.


Italian kids:

Keep your stuff so long, they forget it's yours.


American kids:

Will eat at your dinner table and leave.


Italian kids: 

Will spend hours there, talking, laughing, and just being together.


American kids: 

Know few things about you.


Italian kids:

Could write a book with direct quotes from you.


American kids:

Eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on soft mushy white bread.


Italian kids: 

Eat Genoa Salami and Provolone sandwiches on crusty Italian bread.


American kids: 

Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.


Italian kids: 

Will kick the whole crowds' ass that left you behind.


American kids:

Are for a while.

   
Italian kids:

Are for life.


American kids: 

Enjoy Rod Stewart, and NSync.


Italian kids:


Enjoy Tony Bennett, and Sinatra.


American kids: 

Think that being Italian is cool.


Italian kids:

Know that being Italian is cool.


American kids: 

Will ignore this...


Italian kids:

Will copy and paste this and blog about it themselves
(just like I did)!

After burn out

It has been one hell of a holiday season and it still isn't over for us.
Another family get together is scheduled for this afternoon and I am really looking forward to it. We will be visiting our Cousins and Great Aunt to spread yet more cheer their way.
The past week hasn't been busier than in Christmas past, I've noticed.
The stores were packed, but not overly. The general public had some spirit of the season, but not overly.
I have way too much to put away (yeah, still), but I have a good excuse, I shopped on Friday and worked from 8am-10:30pm yesterday.
It will get done...eventually.
I guess what I am trying to say is that I am totally burnt out!
The baking, the shopping, the smiling can really put a toll on an already cheery person!

I care to elaborate...

I thought I was going to have to pull over while driving home from my parents house.
Brook and Donna were chatting and Brook asked Donna if she knew where Jesus came from and Donna asked her, where?
Brook says, and I quote, "My friend Vinny told me that Jesus came from regular ham".




All proud like.

I thought I would bust my gut laughing as hard as I did!
Donna insisted that he came from "Bethlehem" not "Ham" and she didn't want to believe otherwise.

Snowy Photo Phriday!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!





I love my snow lady! She is a bit perky for an old snow lady, but she worked out!
What did you see?

I Should Jar It All!

Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I make the most awesome soup, gravy and chili this side o' the Mississippi!

I am not Jewish, but my Chicken/Turkey soup is to die for!
I do not know if I should divulge in my ancient secrets, but I will tell you that is is 95% FAT FREE!

I add no fat or added salt, just pure, fresh ingredients. How does she do it, you ask?

Easy.

For the soup, the best way to make your stock is from the bones, whether it be chicken or turkey. Add, carrots, onions, turnips, parsley, dashes of salt and pepper, garlic (2-3 whole cloves cut in half) and about 6 cups of water.
Boil the sheet out of it for at least 2 hours.
Strain it into another large cooking pot and add fresh cut onion, carrots, chopped spinich, turkey or chicken (I prefer the white meat but a little dark wont kill ya), sweet potato cubed and continue cooking for another hour or two. I also add (when I have it) ground turkey meat balls (rolled right into the soup). To make them taste even better, a splash of beef broth really does the trick.
Low fat, easy and delectable!



My Gravy on the other hand has been perfected over the years and is always best with fresh herbs added. There is nothing like an Italian Gravy with fresh basil, oregano, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, garlic powder and plumb tomatoes! Canned tomatoes are ok to use but if you have any fresh from the garden, throw them into a blender or food processor and press puree and voila...instant tomato sauce.
It is so easy a child could make it. Just add it all to the pot and simmer for 3-4 hours. Add it to any kind of pasta (the Whole Grains are so much better than the Wheat in my opinion and it really is very flavorful and better for you).



I like simmering don't I?

For my Chili, I am not traditional in the least and I do have a secret ingredient...I may or may not tell.
OK I will, but not right now.
I have been trying to cut the fat in this household without cutting the flavors, so I use a 1/2 and 1/2 mix of ground beef and ground turkey for my chili. Seasoned correctly there is no difference and my finikey older daughter eats it! Now that is saying something!

I add fresh jalapenos, onion, garlic, bb q sauce, tomato sauce, diced tomatos, kidney beans, salt, pepper, garlic powder, cilantro, green chili's, bacon, chili powder (added to the meet when browning, cayanne pepper sauce, cayanne pepper and the secret ingredient...BEER! Yes, Beer. It gives it the best flavor. Any beer will do, but I use Bud Select or regular Budweiser. Flavorful, low fat and delicious!



There are my secrets for happy, healthy, hearty family dinners!

Mangia!

Photo Phriday

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
What did you see?

Christmas is swiftly approaching!

What?

Two weeks till Christmas?

I am not ready!




Three Days till Donna comes home.



Decorating, still not finished (waiting for Donna).

Shopping still not complete (waiting for Donna and Cash).



Cookies not baked (recipe's found but we cannot bake too soon).



What is a girl to do?

Get busy, that's what!
My list is made of what needs to be done and where to get it done so I am really in good shape. I really like to have it all done by now, but in this economy, it isn't as easy.
Everyone I speak to is feeling the pinch this year, so make the New Year's resolutions to lose 10 lbs by March because all my friends and family are getting "baked stocking stuffers" this year!

Just For Fun Correction!

I rarely make mistakes, I know you are thinking, Cristina? She is perfecto! But alas, I do make a mistake now and then.

My Brother (www.vinniecosta.com) found my error on my "Just for fun" post and the instructions clearly state NOT to use the same word twice and I did.

I meant to use "Crop" for the four letter word and I keyed in "Crap" instead and used "Crap" for my last answer...It was truly a typo and I totally missed it.

I apologize and assure you, it may just happen again (no, you are thinking, not her) but hopefully not for a very long time!

Reward/Club card addiction?

I was in the shower the other day, (I do shower every day), but it was the other day, I was thinking.
I have so many "Rewards", "Club" cards attached to my key chain.

It seems that ALL retailers all are following in CVS's footsteps (that was the first "rewards" card I received). Then came the A & P, Stop & Shop, Borders, Staples, Library Card, Best Buy, Duane Reed...the list goes on!

The retail industry is using these to track us I believe...track our spending and then rewarding us will free gum or $2.00 off our entire shopping order!

I had to detach my keys from the bundle of cards I have acquired over the years from various retailers that I frequent often, or just once in a blue moon because I had more of them than keys!.



These now live in my pocket book, in their own compartment!

Just an observation on my part, do you suffer from Reward/Club card addiction?

Just for fun

Copy and paste into your own blog but follow the directions!

SCATTERGORIES…it’s harder than it looks!

Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things… nothing made up!

You CAN’T use your name for the boy/girl name question. And you can not use the same word twice.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME:
Cristina

BOY NAME:
Christopher

4 LETTER WORD:
Crap

GIRL NAME:
Cheryl

OCCUPATION:
Certified Accountant

A COLOR:
Coral

Something you wear:
Crown

BEVERAGE:
Cola

FOOD:
Corn

SOMETHING FOUND IN A BATHROOM:
Comb

A PLACE :
Canada

REASON FOR BEING LATE:
Cramps

SOMETHING YOU SHOUT:

CRAAAAPPPPP

Photo Phriday

This was actually seen last Friday so it counts!



What did you see?

I already said it in private...

So I must say it publically...




Thanks Uncle Vinnie for taking us to one of the most spectacular shows on earth!





Not only did we see the Christmas show at Radio City we were privileged to witness the union of a couple in Grand Central Terminal!

After the show, My brother and I parted ways and Brook and I were homeward bound.
I wanted to take her through the main concourse because they are running a kaleidoscope light show all this week (maybe till Christmas, I am not 100%) and thought she would love it while we wait for our train.

We noticed a crowd of onlookers and figured, lets see whats going on.
Low and behold, its a wedding!





What a fabulous idea! Why didn't I think of it?
Totally FREE! All they needed was an officiant. The venue was brilliant!

They looked so happy and it was really a beautiful wedding.

What a great kindergarten hookie day!