February 2018 – Supermom in stilettos

5 differences between the US and Italy: school

February 27, 2018 No Comments

Good morning my friends and happy Tuesday!

I hope you had a great weekend. We did: my husband was back home from a week long trip to Europe, so we enjoyed spending time together: we went to Legoland, which the kids love and always ask about visiting, we had a wonderful brunch in Boston on Sunday morning and we watched some tv!

It`s the beginning of a new week, Winter break is over and I don`t have any sick kids at home, it seems so strange to be able to work without interruptions, I wasn`t used anymore!!

Today I wanted to talk to you some more about the differences between the US and Italy, in particular I wanted to discuss about the school system. I am aware though that what I know about the Italian school system goes back to many, many years ago when I went to elementary school, so I could make some mistakes in assuming that the US school organization is different in some cases. Let`s say that I will list below the things that surprised me (always in a positive way) about schools here…

Aurora started Kindergarten this year, so I will talk a little about it.

Lifestyle

Some of my kids favorite books

February 23, 2018 No Comments

Good morning everyone and happy Friday!

How is your week going? I couldn`t work much this week because my daughter was home from school on Winter break and so I was home with her, but we had the chance to spend some time together at the playground, doing some crafts and exercising our writing (apparently I need to improve my writing and reading skills according to Aurora!!).

This week I want to dedicate my Friday favorites to some of my kids` favorite books. Some of them are very popular, so you will all know them, but I always find it helpful to understand what other kids like/don`t like because I am always looking for ideas for presents for my kids` friends birthday parties! And don`t worry Italian friends, I have some Italian books too in my list. In our house we have a variety of books in both languages. The kids have learned by now how to recognize which books are in English and which are in Italian so they can pick them according to the language spoken by the person who is going to read for them.

Food, Lifestyle

Fishloaf recipe (easy and quick!)

February 21, 2018 1 Comment

Good morning my friends and happy Wednesday! How is your week so far?

I am very sorry that this week I wasn`t able to publish a new post on Tuesday, but Monday was a holiday here (Presidents day) and the kids were home so I wasn`t able to work. I actually had a doctor`s appointment on Monday morning with Alessandro who had been sick for the whole previous week, but now he is doing much better, he didn`t have any fever so he is back to daycare today, hopefully he will be healthy for a while (at least one week!).

Food

Home made mayo (easy and quick)

February 21, 2018 No Comments

I found the recipe of this homemade mayo in my go-to website for recipes: www.chiarapassion.com and since I realized that it is so easy and quick, I always make my own when I need it.

You just need a few ingredients, an immersion blender and you will be shocked by how creamy and delicious it will be! Here`s the recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

-1 egg

-1 tablespoon lemon juice

-oil: 220 ml

-salt to taste

TIPS:

-The first thing I always do is to put all the ingredients in the fridge at least 30 minutes before starting, I also put in the fridge the immersion blender and its cup, so everything will be cold.

-Make sure that you are using the right cup, I tried once to use a different one and the mayo did not come out, I think it had to do with the dimension, it can`t be too big.

-The mayo can be used as soon as it is done, then you can keep it in the fridge for 4/5 days

-If you want to try a creamier texture, you could add a couple tablespoons of greek yogurt at the end, I tried it and it is very good!

RECIPE:

Put the egg in the immersion blender cup, add the oil, lemon and salt, place the immersion blender inside so that it touches the bottom and activate it. Don`t move it and keep it going for 10-20 seconds, you will see that the ingredients are mixing and that they are creating a cream, then start moving the immersion blender up and down for 30 seconds until all the ingredients (especially the oil) are well blended. You are done! Buon appetito!

Beauty and fashion, Lifestyle

Friday favorites: love (and pink) are still in the air!

February 16, 2018 No Comments

Hello my friends and happy Friday!

It`s finally Friday! This week has been particularly tough because one of the boys was sick and even though he is very good even when he has a high fever, he was feeling very tired and whiny and was always asking for me and to be held. Luckily he is the smaller boy, so I can still carry him around! Hopefully he will get better soon, but it looks like he might have mononucleosis and he might have a fever for some more days, poor guy!

Food, Lifestyle

Valentine`s day party

February 14, 2018 No Comments

Good morning my friends, happy Wednesday and Happy Valentine`s day!

I am sorry I wasn`t able to post yesterday, but one of the boys was sick and he wanted me with him all day, so I wasn`t able to set up the post (I wrote part of it while I was laying on my bed, holding him!). But since I am one day late, I am able to post this today, on Valentine`s day, how cool is that!!

Beauty and fashion, Lifestyle

Valentine`s day outfit ideas

February 9, 2018 No Comments

Good morning my friends and happy Friday!

How are you doing? I don`t know why, but this week flew by, I think it`s because I have been busy adjusting to our new routine without nonni and my husband was away for most of the week in California (he was telling me about the warm temperatures there and I was so jealous!!). I also have been prepping for Valentine`s day helping aurora with her valentines. To my Italian friends: in the US Valentine`s day is kind of a big thing and the kids in schools and daycares celebrate it writing cute little cards to their friends and teachers. In Italy we don`t have this tradition and generally Valentine`s day is meant just for couples. I actually never loved Valentine`s as a day to celebrate, but now I like it a lot, first of all because it is a very good excuse to go out to dinner with my husband (we usually don`t go out on February 14^th, but we try to do it some days before or after or if we can`t go out, we cook something special at home!) and also because I like to celebrate it with my kids and prepare little presents and cards for them too. During this week I have also been planning our Valentine`s day brunch, which we will host at our house with some of Aurora`s friends in the weekend. I didn`t plan to have a party for Valentine`s day, but last week Aurora asked me if she could have some friends over to celebrate and I said `why not? So it will be a very last minute and “easy“ party.