Classic Vintage Vixens

I love old movies. I love the vintage style, the mannerisms...I wish I could live during those times. The 20's....30's.....40's. Wouldn't it be great if we could time travel! My favorite actress whose movies I can watch over and over.....because of the times and their beauty are Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe.


Sophia Loren has that classic timeless Italian beauty! I love her voice! There are not enough Italian movies.......the ones she is in I adore! She has strength and courage and drive.






Breakfast At Tiffany's is my favorite with Audrey Hepburn. I believe it is the only one I saw. It is a must see! I love how she just goes through life without a care in the world it seems. Her style in this movie is absolutely fabulous!







I first fell in love with Marilyn Monroe movies when I saw my dad watching one of her movies. I was hooked!! When I was in grade school and we had to do reports I always choose Marilyn. My room was covered with her posters. I collect books, cards...you name it! My faves are Some Like It Hot, Gentlemen Prefer Blonds and the Seven Year Itch. She was very vulnerable, something we can all relate to at one time or another.




These women have always grabbed me. There charisma, style, strengths, ambitions and weaknesses all are inspiring.

My current favorite actress is Angelina Jolie. She harness classic and edge! Two of my favorite movies from her are Girl Interrupted and Changeling. I feel that she will go down in history as a classic like the ladies above. I love that she is edgy. To me the classic actress are classic, pure and that is great! But with Angelina Jolie I feel she has what it takes to go down in history as a classic actress even though she has that edginess.

Her role as Christina Collins was played great! The demeanor she portrayed was great. I could not be that calm in that situation. I am assuming that is how she handled it since it was based on a true story. Women back then showed amazing courage, strength and poise. When I watch this movie I realize many things..most of all courage, persistence, professionalism and hope.

Love this hat!!


Ciao~

A Time For Reflection....

Like most people this time of the year marks a transitory period in peoples lives. Looking back at the past year and planning for the next couple years, I've been looking at a lot of things that were painful to go through, but I reflect on them now and see everything with a new life.

People come in and out of your life and it's absolutely amazing the timing. As you grow and evolve your energies change and some people don't fit anymore. When they are gone it leaves room for new people who do fit. I also look at the people that no matter how much you change or how much they change for some reason they still fit. Some people may come from the past and seem to work better now than ever.

I also look back on how I was searching for a purpose and I finally found something that gives me drive and ambition once again. For a while there I did not think I was going to find anything that interested me. Some people who do not even know, have have taught me new things.

I am thankful for coming across the things that have inspired me and people who gave me insight.

For my new years resolution I am going to fully dive into my creative talents. I am going to create more, live in passion and stop being afraid to call myself an artist!

Welcome 2010!

What are some of your New Year's resolutions?

I hope everyone has an amazing year!

Ciao~

Cinema Paradiso

A friend of mine told me about this movie. I am glad he did. This is a great movie about Love and Hope. Italians do it best when it comes to having Love and Passion. It is one of those movies that inspire you.

Giuseppe Tornatore's beautiful 1988 film about a little boy's (Toto) love affair with the movies deservedly won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film and a Special Jury Prize at Cannes. Philippe Noiret plays a grizzled old projectionist who takes pride in his presentation of screen dreams for a town still recovering from World War II. It takes you on a journey of Toto's life as a small boy and as he gets older and comes back to his town.

It has nothing to do with materialistic things. Society gets so consumed with that. It is the simple things in life that matter. My Sicilian cousins know this the best. I see how happy they are with their wonderful homes that are not full of expensive "must have now" things. But they look like a million bucks. That love of life is captured in their decor and that is what makes it so wonderful. I got this impression from the photo's I saw when my cousin went to visit them. I am captured by their auroa.


It is one of those DVD's to have in your collection of movies you can watch over and over.

Ciao~

My First Sale!!!

I am so excited!!! I made a few wire bracelets and I got a lot of compliments on them. Some of my friends said they would buy them. I made some more, thinking they proboly won't buy them...........but they did!!!!!!!! I just sold two!!!!

This makes me feel sooooo good!!!!

Vintage Finds!

For some reason, over night, I have become obsessed with vintage phones. I ordered a french phone on Ebay to put on this stand in my hallway. It will actually look quite cute. I also wanted a black rotary phone for my office area. I found one! I do not really use my house phone anymore so why not replace regular phones with nice vintage ones!

In my search I also came across a vintage lamp. This lamp has a nightlight at the bottom, full light from the top or you can have both top an bottom lit.

This lamp was on sale from $10 to $2! It gives off more light than my newer ones! I had an antique doley I got from my mom's house and put under the lamp. I love the mix of modern and vintage!

Ciao~

A Crafty Book

I was surfing the net and came across this book called, How To Sew A Button and Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew.



I immediately new that I had to have this book! The author, Erin Bried, is a senior staff writer at Self magazine. She is also a native of the Lehigh Valley area, my old stomping grounds! As soon as I came across this book on the "BITCH" blog I went to her website, http://www.howtosewabutton.com/ and just fell in love with it. I went to Barnes and nobles right after work and bought it!

If you are a DIY'er this book is for you. If you are a new and upcoming DIY'er it is definitely for you!

Here are some of the fun things in this book. What to do with that bacon grease, learn how to budget, how to fold a fitted sheet (YES!), make your own cleaners and on and on of goodies!

I am going to start reading it this weekend.

Ciao~

Tutti Gauza.....

This is a recipe that my Sicilian family makes. We call it Tutta Gauza, (everything in there). Here is the story.

On Saturday mornings my grandfather Paul would
take all the leftovers from the week and make this omelet.
He would save everything ,even if it was a piece of lunch meat..a hot dog
some roast beef..pepperoni..sausage etc
He then would add potatoes and eggs ,It is a great memory in my family.My grandfather would call it Tutti Gauza...(everything's in there)

Hope you enjoy !


2 tab of oil
4 potatoes peeled and cut into slices or cubes
4 eggs
2 pieces of cooked sausage
3 hot dogs sliced
4 slices of peperoni
salt ..pepper garlic powder
and anything else you have


Fry potatoes till tender...set aside
In same skillet saute hot dogs...sausage and pepperoni
Add potatoes and simmer all together
season with salt and pepper and garlic powder to taste
Crack the eggs on top..with a fork break the eggs.
Put a lid on till eggs are cooked.
Serve with Italian bread


Ciao~

Designs Designs Designs!!

I have been busy! Have neglected this blog. I created some jewlery. A few of my friends are intereseted in my wire bracelets and my ring! Sooo excited! I have been thrifting. I found the CUTEST vintage purses! I am so thrift obsessed I tell ya! I really need to get my Etsy shop up and running.... I have been trying to get that inventory and my bead inventory up. Busy, but fun busy!!

I am starting on the newsletter this month for the bead society. I am very excited about creating this! This has also re-opened my interest in web design. Isn't it funny how certain things pull you back in?

My friend sent me a box of CAO cigars! These are the cigars that were only smoked on the Soprano show. She works for the place that makes it. They are very good cigars. If you are a cigar smoker, try these. If your a Soprano fan and a cigar smoker....bonus!

Ciao~

New Creations

I just finished a couple of jewlery projects. I search for the perfect bead to go with this glass pendant I found. I love the colors. I found gold tubular shaped beads to go with the gold in the necklace and I had brown crystals wich pull out the colors so fabulously!





I started making rings. I love big rings for the index. Here is one I made with white beads. The beads have brown swirls in them and I used the same crystal beads for my necklace in this ring and it works oh so well!



I learned how to do wire wrapping for a bracelet! This was so easy and I have a lot of fun doing this one.



Ciao~

Weekend Craft Event

This weekend I went to a craft group for the first time! I was a little nervous because I am walking into a group of people who all know each other and are friends. I felt I would be alienated. I new this would be a great group to be involved with for inspiration, good energies and making new friends.......so I hoped.

Well off I went to this meeting and hoping for the best it all turned out great! I left there being inspired, knowing more people who I one day hope to become friends with and left feeling energized.

I am not one of those people who will shy away from something because I am going solo. I don't like to go places alone, but for me I am a one chick show for my hobbies. My crafting is just a fraction of me that I love to do. Why should I not do it because my inner circle does not share the same? I have a whole other life with them too. This is how you make new friends right?

I am glad it went well. I hope each month gets bigger and better! I hope to grow with them and become part of their happy inner family. Now, off to put my good energies to work!

Ciao~

Creativity~ What I am Learning

As I go forward with trying to harness my inner creativity, I want to blog about what I am learning. One, to reiterate it into my hard head and to share with others. It is a hard journey, for me. I first have to get the idea of overnight "success" or "over repair" out of my head, but I think I am thinking to heavily into this. But that is my battle, a rare one at that.

I learn that buying into a limited definition of creativity prevents many from appreciating their own potential. Just because you will never be the next Al Pacino, JLo or Vera Wang, does not mean that you can't harness your ideas generating powers that make your own life your masterpiece. You don't have to be a Picasso, Mozart or Einstein. Anything you do that is creative, whether it be painting a room, redecorating it, or adding something to a lampshade makes you creative. Start small, aim big you never know where it will lead you.

So as I continue on this journey I have to take it easy on myself, have patience, perseverance and a little more faith.

Weekend Ramblings

Halloween weekend was fun. My husband and I dressed up. It was a last minute decision. I wanted to be Marilyn but could not find the wig so I went as a retro go-go dancer. Spent to much money on the costume. I cannot forgive myself for that. But I had fun. That is what it is all about I guess. We went to a friends house, ate, drank and where merry!



I went thrifting for some books. My was saying how she loved Dean Koontz's books. She loved them better than Stephen King. So I decided to go search for some and add to my book collection.

The ones I found were:

Door To December
The Darkness Evening of the Year
One Door Away From Heaven


They seem interesting. I got them for 40 cents each. Not bad for books I would not normally buy. I love to check out what others read and find interesting. For 40 cents, not a bad hobby!

Ever since I watched the movie of The Jane Austin Book Club, I decided to read her books. So far I collected 3 from used books stores and thrift stores. They are vintage hard backs. I love them. Have not read them yet, but I will. I have such a bad habit of reading 2-3 books at once.

I woke up this morning a little frazzled. My son needed his football pants washed and tells me at the last minutes. That started it, on a Monday no less.

Also, I am in a bad habit of trying to perfect things I want to do. I feel like I go nowhere. I see how other people are so established, people I admire. I think I need to realize they did not get so far ahead in a hot minute and maybe it took some time. I assume everyone is an overnight success.

So instead of trying to perfect 10 things at once, I will choose 3 to spend my time on. Two are my jewlery designs. I belong to a monthly group so I can work on projects throught the month and the third will be my spiritual/positive journey I am on. I feel like it is not happening fast enough. It is still a lot. Perhaps I need to add patience to the list LOL

Ciao~

Off to lunch!

This and That

I finally finished my scarf I have been working on. This is my first project since I learned crocheting. I will post a pic later. I am going to learn how to do a hat next. I don't wear hats, but whatever. I will make them cute and give them as gifts.

As far as for my jewelry, I finished a bracelet. The beads are white glass beads with black lines inside them. In between the beads I put black and red sea beads. The picture I posted is from a mobile so I will have to get a better one. I am working on matching earrings for it. I am also working on making a necklace with a vintage pendant from my childhood. This pendant is sooooo super fab, I love it! I am so glad I can make something for it so I can wear it. Did I mention it was vintage?? ;)

I am also taking over the newsletter for our beading group. This is a great opportunity for me to learn publisher a little bit better. This also inspired me to get back into web design. I hope this gets me out there a little. So many people inspired me on the web, I'd like to inspire someone and help them find something out about themselves or discover something new by reading my ramblings.

I have been thinking of ways to be creative or how to be more creative. In this searching, I came across a book called The Artist Way. I am now reading that and doing the teachings. I will let ya know how that turns out. So far it is good. I am hard headed, so I may need to read it again LOL.

I feel good and productive. I have a few different things going on at once, so I need to devote certain times to each project so each becomes fulfilling and one project does not get left behind.

Lately in life I have realized that I pay more attention......to life. I know it is this discovery journey I am on. I finally figured out what I want for my creative self. It took me long enough to figure it out. I take time for what is important. I have slip ups, I revert back to my old grumpy, blah ways. We all do. But at least I have a destination now, I know what goals I want to achieve.

Ciao~

Inspired

A lot of people on the Internet inspire me. I have a list of blogs I follow from DIY'ers and friend accounts of the same and people from Italy. For a long time I was searching for this something I wanted to do. I knew I wanted something, but did not know what or how to figure it out. I had the burn, the desire, but not the tools.

Reading other blogs inspired me to get back into web design. I found my nitch is designing. Also, I am reading a lot more. I Thrift more. I have more confidence. I am blogging. I try new things. I tried Yoga and I love it. I started a little business. I am expanding my knowledge. I go after the mysterious. I learned that what you resist persists. Don't fear anything. I am a braver person. All this from browsing around on the Internet.

I love the Skinny Bitch books. That totally branched me off onto getting more into my creativity. Buy the book. At least check it out. If it does not inspire you, later on in life check it out again, maybe it will. There are a lot of good references in there as well.

I am still fumbling through learning stages. I still try to do 20 projects at once and end up doing nothing because I don't know which I want to do. LOL. I was one of those people that did not know what I wanted. I was one of those people that thought I could never figure it out.

I feel more at peace sometimes. I have set backs, but this journey I am on is fabulous. All those people that I follow........you have all inspired me and thank you!

A Nice Day

Last Sunday me and my husband went to the annual Italian Wine Festival. I love going. This is the only wine festival I go to. I love the Italian music and seeing all the Italians. Almost like home. The food is good, the wine is good and there are a lot of DIY'ers.

After we walked around and drank wine my husband stopped off at the park. We took a 2 mile hike around the area and it was real nice. I had a good time.

Afterwards, we went to check out a dog park. They re-did this park and made it exclusively for dogs! There are separate sections for big dogs and little ones.

It was a great day. Mostly we are running about with sports for our son and for my husbands coaching. This was a nice break. Something so simple just made a great day.

Justice Served

I read the paper from back home online weekly. One day back in October I read an article about a 35 year old girl who was dropping off her son to see his father. Apparently they had an argument prior about child support and I guess she was seeing someone new. This enraged him and he shot her six times in front of their son. Four of the shots were fatal. The trial just started this week and ended with less than a 40 minute deliberation finding him guilty of first degree murder! The defense attorney tried to argue that he shot her in self defense. No one bought that. This guy is known to abuse women and he was living with his common law wife and girlfriend.

I do not know anyone from this story. It touched me because this girl is close to my age and it happened back home. Not to mention this 12 year old boy witness this. I am glad justice was served. I am glad this guy will rot in prison with no chance of parole.

I hope these women who are involved with him wake up and get a sense of self worth, before they become a victim. No one should feel inadequate that they need to put up with any type of abuse. You have to be strong, know what you want out of life and be positive and know you deserve well. When people feel so low about themselves it is very hard to pick your head up. It is easier and less work to sulk and be negative then it is to be positive.

Thrift Store Find!

I love browsing around thrift stores! Today I went to one of my favorites to kill time on my lunch break. I found a cute bag with a red shoe on it for 55 cents! This is soooo me! I am going to use it for my yarn meets to carry whatever I am currently crocheting! Then I saw a chef photo album that had a whole bunch of recipes in it from another person! That was $3.

I have my kitchen decorated in chefs so I loved it right off the bat. Plus, using the photo album as a recipe holder is a great idea. I have a box filled with recipe clips and index card size that will fit in there perfectly and keep them clean!

Sometimes I can go to thrift stores and never find anything, but there are days when you find fabulous stuff!!! Thrift Store Couture Baby!!!!

Buy Handmade

I love handmade! I do not buy anything anymore as far as fashion accessories unless it is handmade. People put their time and efforts into their designs and you can bet you are getting good quality from these artists! It is one of a kind.

When you buy handmade items you are supporting artists, crafters, small business owners and you are also helping them live their dream. Can you imagine how you can make someone feel just by buying their design?

Handmade items are not mass production. You get to know your local crafter/designer so you are getting a part of them.

BUY HANDMADE! :)

Yoga

I love yoga! I have been practicing it for about a year. I love the stretching and they way my body reacts to it. For me, yoga is an art. It is not about just putting your body in crazy bends, but it also transforms you.....the practice itself.

I subscribe to the Yoga Journal magazine and I read an article in it that pretty much sums up how I feel. That article inspired this blog. The article was called The Art of Staying Young. It talks about how yoga keeps you young and pliable.....at any age. The more you practice the better you get and the better your form gets as you get older. This article also talked about serving other people is a great way to stay young. If you serve, the fulfillment of helping others is a rewarding one. There is so much work out in this world to be done that we don't need to focus on trivial little things. If you take care of others, you will be taken care of.

Another thing in this article that was mentioned hit the nail on the head for me. It talked about how we usually worry about when "X" happens, I'll be happy, when, when,when. Why not be happy now? Yoga teaches that you cannot base your life on contingencies. Things can change at any moment. EVERYTHING changes. Good times, bad times. It is all a wave in life. You have to ride it out. Appreciate everything....and relax, it is all good!

Yoga helps me keep myself in check. I just started learning this. I can't imagine how far it will take me.

Favorite Wines

These two bottles of wine are my FAVORITE!!! They are Sicilian, Nero D'Avola. The Ruggero di Tasso is the fruitiest with a bite of spice. The Epicuro is less of a version of that. I have not been to the wine store in a good bit to pick up these two, usually my wine rack stays stocked with these!! I love wine and no matter what I try these two will remain my faves.

My favorite place to get wines are Trader Joe's. I never had a wine I did not like and they are cheap! No more spending $$$$ on wines. Everything at that store is great. They have a large selection of organic, vegetarian, quick meals, heart healthy etc. and everything is priced right!!

Books

I love to read. Usually I read two books at a time, alternating between them. I guess it is the Gemini in me. Anyway, the last two books I bought are The Time Traveler's Wife and Eat Love Pray. I read about Time Traveler's wife on someone else's blog. I love looking at blogs for this very reason, it exposed you to new things. I just started reading it and I really do love it. It is different from the normal stuff I read, but I am going to be hooked on this so far. Claire and Henry and there traveling love and it seems like she is into Art! Bonus.

The second book, Eat Love Pray, I looked it up because I kept hearing about it. What sucked me in was that she travels to Italy! She also travels to two other places, but I love anything Italian. This one I am going to like because this girl is on a self journey of discovery after her divorce. I think we all go through self discoveries. I know I am. I think I will really like to see all the new and exciting things this girl learns.

Keep Yourself Open

I used to be so closed minded! I never really looked at all there is out there in the world. I really love meeting people of all walks of life. You can learn so much from others. I guess you can say I have started on journey of self discovery and I am wanting to know so much of everything it is making me dizzy. That is what I get for being a closed minded, straight and narrower.

There are times in life when we don't see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. We feel so alone, confused, mislead, beaten, and discouraged. We just give up. Then, when we least expect it, someone or something reminds us what life is truly about. To be lived.

We are always so concerned about who has cheated us....what people think of us...why we don't have a partner....or keeping up with the Jones's that we simply forget the big picture. We are all beautiful, unique individuals who are capable of achieving magnificent things and we possess the ability to make a difference in other people's lives. Most of the time we take for granted the important thing and that is that we are alive.

Don't pay attention to the closed minded people who tell you why you can't. Just prove them all wrong and do it anyway. Live your life to your best ability.


There are so many things, ideas, places to explore that we should really step out of our norm and go do something different. Even if it is a little thing like driving a new way to work. Stop and smell the roses. Take a look at what is around you and appreciate something different. Just look out your window and notice a tree, how pretty it is. How blue the sky is. Learn something new....dare to do something you never have done before. Try a new food. Watch a different show. Once you do, you will not believe how enlighted......empowered you will feel. YEAH!!!

My Scarf!

I just started to learned how to crochet. The first thing I am doing is a scarf! I love it, I love the colors and I can't wait until it is done! It is perfect for the fall. It is multiple colors of earth tones. I work on it almost daily. I am already thinking about the next scarf I am going to do. During my lunch today I went and bought more yarn!!! Yellows and whites.

I joined a group with other crocheters and knitters. It is a lot of fun and everyone is great. I just went to the first meet up (first one for me) last night. I love that I am getting involved with all this and meeting people who like the same thing! Life is fun!

Gratitude

I try to be positive and look at the good instead of the negative. I am having a hard time with this. Mainly because I expect instant results!

I know I have to re-condition my brain to think better. I have to undo all the wrong ways of thinking that I got from my Mother and society. Yes, my Mother. She always worried about what others had, what they were doing, what are people going to think, UGH! Yeah, I got my work cut out.

So I came across a little paragraph about writing down the letters of the alphabet, A-Z. For every letter write something that you are grateful for. I think this is a good exercise and am going to do it. Some are silly, But It gets you thinking.

I am a worrier, a what-ifer, and a dweller. I have a lot of reconditioning ahead of me. None of this will have instant results. It is going to be a long journey of dedication and constant reassurance. I just have to keep remembering that.

Here's the List

Abundance

Being from NJ

Couture

Designing

Evenings

Friends

Garage sales

House (mine)

Italian food

Jewelry

Ketchup

Love of family/friends

Moonstruck

Novels

Ocean

Pizza

Quality of Life

Riding with friends on the Harley

Son (my)

Thrifting

Umbrellas

Vintage items

Wine

X

Yellow

Zen

Crocheting

I wanted to post what I did last night on my attempt in learning how to crochet. I just need to learn how to attach the rows!

Ghent

I recently went to check out a craft meeting over the weekend for the first time in an area called Ghent. I am familiar with this area, but never really paid any attention to. I never had any reason to go to this part of town.

I showed up at this meeting about 30 minutes early so I parked and went to explore! I am glad I did. This place has the neatest shops and just walking around in this area I felt like I was in a city! There are antique shops, great food places and cute little boutiques. There is also a fresh market and I saw a couple of Italian (not chain) restaurants. The houses are historic, I love old big houses. They have such character.

There are so many places I need to explore in my own area. That is what everyone should do, just get up and explore 20-30 minutes away. Just drive around. You never know what you will find. For me, finding different shops and places to eat and have a drink are a bonus! You never know what you could run into in your own back yard. You do not need a destination, just drive.

This area is about 20-30 minutes out of my way, but I am definalty going to make it a point to visit it at least twice a month! I hope to meet new people and make a few friends!

Learning To Crochet

I bought yarn and a crochet needle today. I am going to watch a You Tube Video and teach myself how to crochet!

I will update my successes and frustrations!

Wish me Luck!

Ciao~

A Free Coffee

A lot of mornings I stop at the same 7-11 to get coffee before I head off to work. There is a man that is usually there most mornings, he is a contractor and I always see him around. He was standing next to me this morning when I was getting my coffee and I always say hi to him. He was ahead of me in line and asked me if that was all I was getting, just the coffee and I said yes. He told the cashier to ring mine up under his. That little gesture made my morning. It is real good to do little things like that for people, because even if it seems very small to you, you don't know the impact it could have on someone else.

Ciao~

Thrift Store Couture

Nothing makes me happier than great finds at a low prices. These days I am trying to save up money for various things and I don't really feel the need to buy accessories that are very expensive. I sometimes tire of things quickly and then want new, it is the same old cycle. I love to shop but before I know it all my extra money is gone!

Instead of going to the malls I go to the local thrift stores. I have found good books or scarves very cheap! I found a vintage jean jacket for $5. You can't beat that! I recently found on the Internet Italian purses and shoes for about $5 each! Condition was great! I rather buy things from local people selling there stuff and put money in there pocket. If I can get a great vintage find for less than 1/2 the price, save my money and help someone else I am all for that!