Lucy's Lounge at Tutti Chic

Ralph Lauren's New Top Model Mixed W/ Rockin Roll Chick....

   
  
 I've had it with this modeling assignment mommy!  Grandma wants me to tell you all to have a wonderful weekend! xoxo 
 

Little Family........

 My daughter thinks she looks like an exhausted hag in this photo but I love it! To me, Giana's mommy & daddy look so tired but so happy & content as a little family. I just had to post this photo~xoxo P.S. Taking a little "spring break" after this to catch up on everything around here. It's been such a busy few months with our family & my new job that it's time to rest & refresh! When  I'm tired & feeling overwhelmed even blogging seems like a chore & I want it to stay fun & something I look forward to~with that said "see you in a little bit!"

 Looking forward to longer days & recharging my batteries~  

A big THANK YOU to Karen at karensgardencottage blog for framing little Giana in this charming hand painted frame. It was such a sweet thing to do & It's gorgeous! Stop by & say hello to karen as she blogs from  beautiful cape cod!

Giana Lorraine........

 After 3 days of labor pains, 3 trips to the hospital & lots of sympathy labor pains from grandma (that would be me) Giana was born 3/3!!!! We love her & poor Kathryn has had to juggle visitors because the new maternity rules (they say because of the swine flu) have gone down to 2 visitors at a time. If you can get by Adolph Hitler & Eva Braun at the front desk, you're doing well! She'll be home tomorrow & we all can't wait to get our hands on her for more than 20 minutes!lol! All is well after a tough few days & now we just get to enjoy her! xoxo Have a wonderful weekend~I know we will!

  

It's Weird....

It's getting strange around here. Our youngest moved out & after so many years of so much activity & noise in our home it's kind of quiet & kind of weird! The only one here with hubby & I is Gabby our 15 year old grandaughter & before we know it her 4 years of highschool will be over & done with & she'll be off to college! Then what?? Just hubby & I? I don't know if after all these years of so much commotion with raising kids & a grandchild & all their activities & sports we ran around for, we'll be able to stand having time on our hands! For now, it's bittersweet having the last one move out & plan a wedding & follow her own path in life. She's just down the street & I've already cooked every meal for her & her fiance Mike & hand delivered them. Do I think they may starve on their own? My husband just shakes his head & laughs. It's hard letting go....

Have a wonderful weekend my blog friends! xo

We're ENGAGED! (I mean they're engaged!!!)......

 What a wonderful weekend for our family with our youngest getting engaged!!! We knew it was coming but didn't know exactly when. We are SO happy & So looking forward to a big wedding celebration!!! Congratulations to Katrhyn & Mike~We love you both~now lets set a date so I can get going planning this baby!!! :)

   This was your mother Kathryn when Mike called looking for your father & told me what was going to happen Friday night!

 

Your dad keeps telling me it's YOU that's getting married & not me so slow down & let you  make some decisions without me butting in every two seconds! In case you & Mike are wondering this wonderful venue in Newport is in my top five! Can you see Narragansett bay in the background?

 If you're not crazy about the previous photo of the venue in Newport....how about this one? This is my top #1 pick because as you know this mansion was part of the campus where I started highschool. We had all of our dances there & I loved it & would daydream that someday I would have my own wedding there. When the campus closed & the private school moved to another part of the country I had to leave but still dreamt about the mansion. I know you don't like the idea of guest perhaps sitting in different rooms to accomodate the size but..if you change your mind I know we can make it work! It's also on the water~

 Anything you like in here?? I have lots of good ideas! I know I'm driving you & Mike crazy but I want this to be all you want it to be & deserve! I'll sit back & be quiet for a bit (but not to long!) I've waited patiently(okay not so patiently) for the day I could help plan my girls weddings! I've already started the wedding folder & it's chock full of  stuff already!

 For now just enjoy this happy time & let me rant about things.....I'll come down to earth eventually!  LOVE YOU~MOM XO

 

 

 

Summer Please Don't Go....

 I'm so sad to see the end of summer & life at the beach. My grandkids start school next week & then fall is on the way. Although I love the crisp days & cool nights of Autumn, I'm always so sad to see the carefree days of summer leave us every year. Here are some photos shot at the beachhouse of  our dear friends. The surf was up just a bit from hurricane Bill at this spot. It's protected in the bay so the waves were minimal. However, my daughter reported waves at 9-11 feet down in Narragansett where we have our beachhouse. Nantucket & the Vineyard we heard had waves of 16 feet! Yikes!

 I think my grandson Cole was planning on burying his sister in the sand.

 Gabby & her bff Nicole (Nicole always seems to be in our summer photos!) with Cole the digger.

 Worlds cutest baby~Reilly (Her grandma & grandpa own the fabulous beach house on the water)

 I caught my hubby in this pose ALL summer long! LOL!

It' almost time to say see ya summer! It was a good one even though it didn't stop raining until August 1st! :)

My Very First Valentine....

Yes....I'm a daddy's girl for sure. I've always adored my dad & though I am 52 I will still be, no matter how old I am. You see, he was my very first valentine. I was born when my dad was at college in Boston & it was a long haul for my parents with a small family & dental school ahead. No matter how difficult it got with my mom working full time & my dad working & going to school, I always felt completely loved & doted on. It helped of course that my grandparents were my daycare. :) My dad gradutated from Tufts with two small children & one more on the way & eventually our family became 7. Five kids & two awesome parents. I saw my father put him self through school, start a practice, become a doting, wonderful dad to his kids & be there when tragedy struck  both myself & my sister when we were married & starting our own families. My sister & I both lost husbands at a very young age, one to illness & another to an accident. My dad quietly stepped in as stand in dad for my young daughter & my sisters two very young girls. There were always cards for us on valentines day, birthdays & mothers day for us, sent just from him with a special note for us. When I re-married he stepped aside quietly & let my husband take over with those thoughtful acts.  He is the guy that takes my nieces to the dentist (he retired) & the orthodontist & is always just a phone call away from something my sister needs him to do. He does things quietly & with lots of love. His children adore him & his grandkids & great grandkids do too . He's mellowed a lot  & is putty in his grandchildrens hands. He was a body builder & was quite the imposing site for a patient who was about to have a tooth pulled. (Can you imagine your dentist with 20 inch biceps coming towards you?) He was also just as strict as he was loving & many times my sister & I had our dates peel out of the driveway hastily if we got home even 5 minutes late.! ! LOL!  I always felt completely loved & protected as a child & I still do thanks to him......my first valentine.

Handsome Groom

Paratrooper 

This picture is 15 years old & my kids are grown now, but this is one of my favorite photos of my dad & my kids~All his grandkids adore him. 

 

My dad, my sister & moi~He's our very first valentine & always will be.

14 Candles......

 One of my very favorite shots with gabby taken when she was 12~How time flies~

My grandaughter Gabriella turns 14 today. I can't believe how the years have flown & how grown up she is. She's my first grandchild & we are connected in a way that makes me feel like I've grown up right along with her. Probably because I was a very young grandmother when she was born. She is an honor roll student, has an amazing group of close friends & except for the occasional fresh outburst (so 14 ish yes?) we enjoy her more than she will ever know. She has had to deal with some challenging things in her life but all in all it's been good & she continues to make her family proud & to make her grandmother smile (more than she even realizes.) HaPpY BiRtHdAy to my darling girl...........

   Gabby & Her BFF Nicole~

Christmas Eve Italian Style....

It's all over!!! Can you believe it??!! It came & went so fast my head is spinning! I feel a little down now that the holiday has passed~kind of the big letdown after you have been anticipating something for a bit & then it's over! I'm sure we all feel the same way about it. As promised, my house still looks like a big bomb dropped right in the middle of it after the chaos of opening presents, eating ( & eating & more eating!) lots of family & friends passing thru on Christmas Eve & Christmas  dinner. I tried to take some shots in between serving dishes at our  Christmas Eve sitdown dinner for 35 this year (that's not including the friends that stopped by for a drink or a  bite!) We were really comfortable (thanks to my hubby who takes orders from me all day long setting up!!) This man is going straight to heaven!LOL!!! He is the calm to my storm always. He balances me in so many ways.  I'm the emotional, crazy Italian & he is the very calm,very patient even keeled Irish guy I married. LOL! I don't think I thank him enough for all he does for us so THANK YOU honey for all you do & for keeping me sane when I'm on my way to insane!!!LOL! I pride myself on being able to have 100 things going at once & my hand in every single one of them but I wouldn't be able to pull off Christmas Eve without my hubby at my side helping! Here are some shots of  the beginning of our fun filled night~I totally forgot to take pictures of the food!!!!!!! I had so many more great pictures of family & friends but they came out so blurry because of a weird camera setting, I couldn't post them~here's the best of the bunch! While we do a lot of laughing, catching up, eating & drinking we are also mindful of the peacefulness & holiness that Christmas brings to each & every one of us. It was a lovely Christmas Eve & a lovely Christmas day for all~Hope each & every one of you had the same!

My brother the "KITCHEN NAZI!" did a wonderful job cooking!

My nephew Michael & his beautiful girlfriend Robin

My Kathryn's friends that stop by every Christmas Eve

My brothers & my sister & ME!

The man who DOES IT ALL~My WAY better half!

My grandson just found out that there is STILL a "kids table!"~so NOT happy!

My handsome son Tommy & his adorable, sweet girlfriend kathy

My sister Buzzy(Mary Elizabeth) & brother Christopher

Poppee (my dad) & his girl Michaela(my neice)

My favorite uncle (Fred) & Buzzy

okay...I'm missing a mother here because the only pictures I have of her are holding little emily & my brother wouldn't let me put her picture up on the web!He is such a nervous dad! Sorry mom! Here's a picture of some of the guys instead.

The Girls

The kitchen nazi Arthur & his son Mike & nephew Tommy(I think the boys have had a few drinks!)

Uncle Chris & his Posse

Gabby is so shy!

By now you may all know my sweet brother Christopher who has downs syndrome. I have posted about him before & will post about him being in the newspaper soon!. He is the smartest one of the bunch & always has us in stitches. Here he is waiting for my mom to bring him his brooks brothers outfit(Oh yes... he is a fashion statement always!) in one of gabby's robes!!!!!!!!!!! We call him "HEF" because he always has on someones bathrobe!LOL!

Me & My Bro

The end of the night & I'm still standing although my feet are killing me!

The guys on Chrismtas Day~ready for another feast!

Peace & Love To You & Yours~xo