My Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Yesss... Mother's Day is very near... I'm probably a little late with my list of gift ideas, you probably already have picked something for your Mom. I had fun to look around the web {basically just Etsy.com} and pick different original items that I would love to receive for Mother's day! My children are still young and I'm expecting to receive a beautiful drawing full of hearts {I'll be happy with that!}.. but it's just fun to look around and maybe give you some original ideas..

..like this vintage pattern from the 60's.. if your Mom can sew...

Vintage Sewing Pattern

..or does she like cheese?? She could make her own with this fantastic kit!!!!

Cheese Kit

..if she likes to be pretty and stylish doing chores around the house, this is the apron she needs!!!

Half-Apron

...I wouldlove this cutting board in my kitchen! so original and adorable...

Carved Wooden Board

..and last but not least... home-made organic soap! this one is made in Italy, my beautiful country.

Handmade Soap

I hope you enjoyed my finds.... I wish you all a beautiful preparation to Mother's Day... in the end, the important thing is to show them your Love, even with just a hug.

xoxo,

October Baby ~Movie Review

I haven't written a movie review in a while.... maybe because it doesn't happen very often that I'm really touched by a movie{and I watch a lot of movies!! Thank you Netflix and RedBox!!}.

Last week I happened to see the title "October Baby" among the movie choices on Netflix and I remembered my Mom had seen it and had talked to me about it. So I decided to watch it.

I know, it's not a new movie and probably many of you have already seen it. It's the story of a young girl who finds out she was a survived aborted baby. You can imagine... a pretty dramatic story about how she tries to find her real mom, the feelings of abandonment and rejection which will eventually lead to forgiveness. At the end of the movie I couldn't help but crying!!!

I didn't know any of the actors.. and that's not the reason why I chose to watch it. I deeply believe that to abort is to kill, even if the fetus is only a few weeks old. God creates Life, and we are not the ones who decide to end the lives He gives us. Of course, many people don't know this, are misled by society, they make wrong choices... but the soul of all those babies in Heaven are praying for their Mommies, loving them and forgiving them from Up Above.

Love to you all!

My first Embroidered Hoop

Hi everyone!!!

what is your most relaxing hobby? When I was at the University I used to cross-stitch a lot! After giving an exam I had to cross-stitch {or crochet} something pretty. The pretty colors and the concentration distract me from everything around me... Now that I'm a Mom it's a little harder to find the time to do that!! I haven't cross-stitch in a loooong time!  I recently, though, was inspired by the Embroidery Hoops that many talented people create and sell on Etsy or different online stores. I decided to finally try.. and I loved it!!!! I created an Embroidered Hoop Wall Décor... my favorite are those with verses from the Bible. I opened my Bible by chance and I picked this verse:

"My heart exults in the Lord" {1Sam 2,1}

 

what do you think?

 

I added some bunting banners... just because I love the joyous look they give to the whole hoop.

I think I'm going to start making more, I really enjoyed making this one!

 

Any suggestions on what verse to embroider? I would love to hear from you!!!

 

xoxo,

 

 

 

Sweet Little Cozy

Mothers' Day is close!
I just created this cup-cozy inspired by the joy and the tenderness that I feel thinking of Mom.

 

you can find it HERE .

Have a great Week-End!
xoxo,

 

Pistachio Macaroons Recipe

Who said that to taste a macaroon {sweet and elegant little cookie} you need to find some fancy pastry shop or go all the way to France?? I made them home today!!!! It was fun and not that difficult at all! ..yes, it's true, some came out not perfectly round or a little cracked on top, but the taste.... mmmmmhhh... just divine!!!!

I found the recipe on a book I bought last Christmas, I've been dreaming to make these cookies and post about them since then! I want to share my recipe version with you:

~Pistachio French Macaroons~

{filled with White Chocolate Ganache}

INGREDIENTS:
1/3 cup roasted unsalted pistachios
3egg whites
1/4 cup sugar
green food coloring
1 1/4 powder sugar
3/4 cup ground almonds

FILLING:
1/4 cup whipping cream
5 oz. white chocolate chips
2 tsps. honey

 

1. Pre-heat the oven at 300 degrees. Line cookie trays with baking paper.
2. Process nuts until finely ground.
3. Beat egg whites with electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add a few drops of food coloring and the sugar little by little, keep beating until the sugar dissolves. Fold gently in the egg mixture the ground pistachios, the  powder sugar and the ground almonds.
4. Spoon mixture into piping bag fitted with 1/2 inch plain tube. Pipe 1 1/2 inch circles about 1 inch apart onto baking sheets. Sprinkle the macaroons with a little bit of remaining ground pistachios. Let them stand 15 minutes before putting them in the oven.
5. Bake macaroons for 15-18 minutes. Let them cool down.
6. Meanwhile make the white chocolate ganache.
7. Sandwich the macaroons with the ganache.
8. For the Ganache: Bring ream to boil in a saucepan. Remove from heat and add the chocolate and honey. Stir until smooth. Stand at room temperature until spreadable.

So, what do you think? Are you going to give it a try? Let me know if you do!!!

Mine didn't come out green because I forgot to buy the food coloring!! So... they are not as pretty a they should be.. next time I'll do better, but I'm happy with the results of my first try... ;)

 

 

Sweet Hugs to you all!!!

 

xoxo,

 

 

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Pink Spring

How about a little collection of PINk for Spring?? One of my favorite colors since I was little...

Look at this dreamy cake.. the tea-cup on top makes it enchanting..

 tea-cup cake

..how I would love to sit at such a pretty table!!

lovely table

Isn't this road gorgeous?? I wonder where it is.....

pretty road

...SHOES!! I never have enough!!! Too bad I can't walk on high-heels anymore.. they kill my ugly and painful veins! :(

Pink Shoes

Lovely infinity Scarf from Etsy!

infinity scarf

...Very original and pretty handmade ring...

ring

I hope you are all having a great and pink week-end!!!!

Happy Spring!!

xoxo,

Our long long drive

Hello you all!!! 🙋

I'm starting to write this post sitting in the car {don't worry, I'm not driving... I never drive on the highway}. 🚙 We are driving back to California after having spent a few wonderful days in Colorado. We always drive, yes, with all our children. How do we manage to entertain them for a total of 18 hours stuck in the car? ... Well, we break the trip halfway in Utah {gorgeous mountains and farms all over the place!!}, just for one night.. The rest of the hours in the car we talk, sing, listening to music.. I also crochet and play on my phone.. and the kids watch movies {i rent a few at our local library right before we left} and they share the iPad. I have to say that the technology of today helps a lot!!! I guess they would just use their imagination, as I used to do during the long trips I took with my parents when I was little. It is a big help though. There's a few apps for kids that I really like: sprouts, temple run {that's fun for me too! Especially the Oz version}, pirate school, EduKitchen and Endless ABC.

Well, while I'm gonna be here in the car for a few more hours I want to share with a family picture we took on Easter Sunday. We went for a walk to my favorite park in Denver, where my husband proposed.. 12 years ago.. and we took a picture on that same bench!!! It was very cold and windy, but I love it!!!

 

xoxo,