SIX PICTURES

Just a few pictures to share today. 

I can never get bored of this view on the way to Termoli (the city where we go to church and do shopping sometimes). 

This below is our church here. 

"Evangelical Church of Termoli"

After doing our weekly grocery shopping at LIDL in San Salvo. Benjamin gets a doughnut every time. That's his little grocery shopping treat I guess. He always waits for us and eats his doughnut while Scott and I load the car. 

Another pretty view. This time looking at our home town, Petacciato up on the hill. 

Rat-extermination on Friday. They spray the whole town overnight. 

It means we will have to sleep with closed windows and I will have to cover my herbs and plants before going to bed. Last time they passed through town around 2am while we were sleeping. 

I haven't seen any rats around, but husband did. The other day he saw an extremely slow and groggy looking rat dragging himself across the parking lot. It was most likely poisoned. 

Every night we have a family game time after dinner. We usually play Phase10, Benjamin loves it. Every time he gets a Wild card he jumps up on his chair and announces it with a huge grin. 

Nyuszi-face. I love him! 

GLUTEN-FREE LADYFINGERS

I have had a pack of mascarpone in my fridge for a week now so I thought it was about time to use it up. I bought it at last week's grocery shopping for making tiramisu. Husband loves coffee and of course tiramisu.

Here is Italy you can buy lady fingers really cheap. I also saw gluten free ladyfingers (savoiardi) but for a considerably greater price. 

I decided to try to make them myself. I really didn't know what to expect therefore I was a little cautious. You just never know with the gluten free stuff. 

I found a very simple recipe and tried it. Seriously, best recipe ever! They were done in like 10 minutes and the recipe only calls for 5 ingredients!

I am so impressed!

You can find the recipe here.
Simply substitute the flour with gluten- free flour. 

I don't have a pastry pipe so I just used a simple tablespoon to "pipe out" the "fingers".

They turned out super nice, very tasty and soft.

I used most of the for tiramisu and froze the rest. For next time.

The tiramisu turned out great too, husband complimented extra for it.

MARKET, TAKING STOCK

Friday morning is market day. Laura, my preferred vendor has the most delicious fruits and vegetables. Benjamin came with me.

On the way there we made a stop at Cris Angel, a small grocery shop. Benjamin bought his own "lecca lecca" (lollipop).

This alien spaceship looking thing is the local market.

There is everything one might want at a market. Fruits, vegetables, fish and seafood, cheeses and salamis. It always makes me happy to go and fill my basket with wonderful, fragrant, organic and cheap(!) fruits and vegetables.  
Here is the loot.

A little later Scott came home from our landlord's barber shop with a big bag full of produce. His wife had sent some of her goods over.

Now I have a bunch of fruits and veggies, I better come up with some good recipes for this weekend. I watched a youtube video today by Anglophenia and I got totally hungry for English food. I know! English food does not have the best reputation but some of those savory pies looked toothsome! This weekend I'm planning to prepare some of those. 

Benjamin keeps working away on his work-list with unflagging enthusiasm. He did a bunch of things today. Vacuum, sanitize door handles, dust, water plants, massage papa, pet mama's hair, had a "happy heart" at shower time :) , organized shoes, drew a picture for grandma and grandpa and other things. Quite impressed. 

5 THINGS I DID TONIGHT TO RELAX 

1. I gave myself a hand massage

2. I soaked my feet

3. I shaved my legs

4. I brushed my hair for a long time

5. I embalmed myself with enchanting smelling lotion

TAKING STOCK mini

DREAM PEN: PaperMate 300, 0.7 ballpoint inkpen. Perfection!

DREAM DRINK: tea. In Turkey they would call me a TIRYAKI, a person who loves tea and can't live without it

DREAM PLACE: home. I love being at home. 

DREAM TRIP: Japan, Korea

DREAM PIECE OF FURNITURE: This table below from IKEA.

That is all. 

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY

Benjamin was invited to one of his little friend's birthday party. We dropped him off at 12:30 and picked him up around 5. They had lunch and cake and water balloons and who knows what other fun... He was exhausted by the end.

He was all bummed for the birthday present. Because he wanted it so much. 

I always give gifts that I like. This is how it happens that I end up keeping many gifts and get new ones for the person instead. Benjamin loved the little semi-truck we got for Loris. We told him we couldn't just buy one for him...but he could work for one. So I made up a chart of 42 little chores that he has to accomplish before we would allow him to get the truck. 

He was so excited he wanted to get started right away. He folded towels, gave Scott a back massage, cleaned up his toys and coins... He was really motivated! He kept saying, "I LOVE to work, mama!"

DOLCE FAR NIENTE

I don't know why but I was totally moody and bored today (I'm NEVER bored). Might be because of two whole days of shopping and riding in the car to Pescara and back... But anyhow... I was feeling totally pooped all day. 

Tried to study but I just couldn't focus. I stared at the same page for a long time daydreaming...

I finally just shut my book closed and made lunch.

Bunny trail: 

Scott told me about this lady on facebook who drank 3 liters of water for weeks and months and it made a dramatic difference in her appearance and health. She lost weight, her skin cleared off and she was feeling much more healthy and energetic in general. 

It wasn't new information for me, of course everybody knows that drinking lots of water is very good for you! But it's one thing to know OF something and another to KNOW something. 

It really motivated me and I decided to try to drink the 3 liters per day. I could barely get up to 1.5L! What the heck!? It was way harder than I imagined. 

But there is always tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll try again. 

Anyway...after lunch we were all just laying around like poisoned mice and we were like Bwoooaaa I don't feel like doing anything. 

So we went down to the sea hoping that we would get into the mood or that some exercise might help to energize us. 

But no. The boys did a little bit of swimming and surfing, I read my Italian edition Twilight book with little interest. 

After a while we decided to just go back home...

Benjamin and I ate bread and spicy salami for supper, for husband I made pasta. 

Then we played Phase10 with Benjamin. He beat us. 

First I was thinking What a useless day this was.

Then I remembered that not all days have to be super accomplished. Not all days have to be super effective and efficient. 

There are days when we just ARE and not DO. 

Italians certainly know how to do that. As a matter of fact they have this expression "Dolce far niente" which means "Sweet doing nothing". They really are experts at it. They sit outside at the caffe sipping their morning cappuccinos, reading their morning paper, chatting with each other, taking a leisurely morning passeggiata (stroll) and just enjoy BEING. They are not too concerned about this kind of doing nothing. 

I guess we completely forgot how to enjoy some "Dolce far niente". Being missionaries also puts much pressure on, we always feel like we have to be busy with something. 

Studying Italian, working at the office, building relationships with people... Which is funny because it brings me back to "Dolce far niente"...the way Italians socialize. Doing nothing together. 

Well. Today I learnt an important lesson: 

Chill out, mama. It's okay. 

LA PASSEGGIATA

image from livelikeanitalian.com

One of my favorite aspects of the Italian lifestyle is the late afternoon and early evening ritual known as "la passeggiata" or the evening stroll. Each evening, summer or winter, between the hours of 5pm and 9pm Italians take to the streets, to walk and socialize.
["passeggiata" comes from the verb "passeggiare"=to walk]
On Saturdays and Sundays the whole family participates, it is often the main social event of the day. Afterwards everyone heads home together for the evening meal. Italians eat dinner at around 8:30-9 o'clock. Something that we are still not able to adjust to.
We eat around 5-6...although we have been trying to push it out to 7ish...but then we are pretty famished.

Originally, one of the purposes of the passeggiata was to display the charms of young women who were eligible to be married, and in this process, parents of these girls encouraged them to be flirtatious. They wanted their daughters to "fare una bella figura" or to look good. This could be one of the reasons that generally people change their clothing after working, and put on their finer attire, dressing to impress, for the evening stroll. The goal is, after all, to see and be seen.

Italians like to share things and be with one another. They also like to be outside, as their homes are frequently small. Unless it is raining, you can count on "la passeggiata" to occur in every city, town and village in Italy every day of every week.

We often go out as well, Benjamin loves riding his bike or scooter and meet his friends. It is also a good opportunity for us to practice our Italian.

Markers lasted 19 years

I bought a set of CARIOCA (Italian brand) double-tip markers on my very first trip to Italy back in 1995. Most of them got lost during the years, but I still have and use two of them!! Can you believe it!
An orange and a green one. They are the best for highlighting in the Bible because the ink is not as strong anymore and it doesn't bleed through the pages.
PEOPLE! BUY CARIOCA MARKERS! THEY LAST FOREVER!

This post has NOT been sponsored by Carioca. :)

Although I wish...haha.

IN HIS WORLD (8 steps)

I remember when I was a kid. Summer lasted long and it seemed like an eternity till Christmas. I remember being told that life will be very different when I grow up so I should enjoy it while I'm a kid. Then I grew up, I became an adult, I learnt that life is not all fun and games like it used to. This exam needs to be passed, this gas bill needs to be payed, that email has to be written. In the midst of LIFE, of all the things that have to be done I often forget how to slow down and enter my little boy's world, how to stop and marvel at a beautiful lizard or build the biggest tower in the world with him. This morning I am reminded to tune into his channel every day a little bit to not miss seeing the world through his eyes as he is growing up.

TUNING INTO HIS CHANNEL

Step 1: SLOW DOWN
Kids are more concerned about how much fun they are having than how many things need to be done that day. Sometimes I work myself up so much about "not ever having this house tidy". The reality is no matter how much I work at it I will not have my house as perfectly tidy as I would like. While I finish tidying a room another one gets messed up. That is just a reality of having a kid (or more - Moms with multiple kids, all my respect is yours).
The reality is that it really does not matter whether you do those dishes now or 30 minutes later. It just doesn't.

Step 2: LAUGH AND CRY
Kids love to laugh at...well...everything!
A good laugh can relieve stress. So can crying. When Benjamin gets hurt or upset he has no problems crying. We, adults tend to "tuff it out" or suppress our feelings. I do that many times.
So for Pete's sake, laugh more!
P.S. Benjamin has the Best little laughter! :)

Benjamin's little leaf collection.
Even the neighbor lady donated some very special leaves to him from her garden

Step 3: KEEP IT SIMPLE
Benjamin has many toys, but you know what he ends up playing with most of the time? Yes, with boxes and lids and rubber bands. We might take him to the mall to ride the go-carts but he would always rather have me playing with him. They don't need the expensive stuff, they just need 2 minutes of our "precious" time. Play what he wants to play. Watch what he wants to watch. Love what he loves.

Step 4: FORGIVE
Kids are really amazing and quick to forgive. They don't hold on to grudges, they don't hang on to stuff like grownups do. I can yell and holler and get after my little 6-year-old then I turn around to see him hugging my leg, having that sweet expression on his face, head tilted, looking up at me smiling and saying I love you mama. True story. He is my true example of forgiveness.

Step 5: LOVE
Love means self-sacrifice sometimes. Love him with your time. Give him your time. Hard thing. These days (year) we are constantly wrapped up in work, which is for us is learning Italian. And because this work takes place at home, the work hours are very blurry. We don't even have a 9-5 schedule or whatever, it is our life daily. 24/7. We meet people, practice, go to the store, practice, we study at home...it is kind of like a non-stop activity. That is why I always feel like I need to Work. Poor little Benjamin has not even a chance many times. "Play with me! Play with me!" is his thing to say and I am sure he is tired of hearing "Not now, Nyuszi, I'm working".

Step 6: HAVE FUN
My little 6-y-o asks me every night, "Mama, what kind of fun thing are we gonna do tomorrow?" Sometimes this annoys me, why can't My life also be all fun? Then I realize that for him, whatever he does he enjoys it. If I don't find fun and joy in my daily duties and activities it's my own fault. Doing dishes can be fun if I watch an episode of Murder, she wrote meanwhile. Cooking can be fun if I nibble on some cool appetizer while I cook. Vacuuming can be fun if...well...no. Vacuuming is just vacuuming, get done with it quick and move on.

Step 7: BE GOOFY
It's okay to be goofy sometimes, make farting noises with your mouth or wear an underwear on your head. At least that is Benjamin's idea of being "cool" these days. For me it might just take a few minutes, then I move on with my list of things to do, but for him it is a memory that will stay with him. "Mom and I were sooo goofy" :)

Step 8: DO ART AND CRAFTS TOGETHER
Not only this helps your child learn to like and do creative things, it is also a way to express himself and make things. Later, when he is older he will appreciate this skill. Almost every day Benjamin and I go on Pinterest to browse for ideas of what to make that day. It is usually a toy or some other fun thing. I have a separate category called "Kids stuff" on my Pinterest board that is dedicated solely on collecting ideas for this specific purpose. We have made boats out of milk cartons, two story parking garage out of a cardboard box, binoculars out of toilet paper rolls etc etc etc the list goes on.
He loves to "get" a new toy every day, and how much more fun it is to make something cool together with mama! :)

Love you little man...

100 HAPPY THINGS

When I feel down GIVING THANKS is always the remedy. Thinking about all the happy things in my life, focusing on the positives always puts things in perspective for me.
I am a generally thankful person and I appreciate the little things in life. I decided to write up 100 little things that make me happy. But then the "things" kept coming and I ran out of slots. So I started another 100list. That filled up quickly too.
I am actually sure that I could write a 100list every single day! :)
Well, let's get to it.

1. sunny, windy October day
2. happy family reunions
3. childhood memories
4. being alone
5. our health
6. a cuppa strong black tea with honey
7. our eternal Home in Heaven
8. being comforted by the Word of God
9. the cold side of the pillow
10. Korean dramas
11. pearls and gold
12. the sea and the salty sea air
13. IOS everything
14. knitting and crocheting
15. sitting on the deck, wrapped up in a big scarf with a good book and a cuppa tea on a crisp, sunny October afternoon
16. the smell of real Christmas trees
17. an English high tea with all the trimmings
18. learning new crafts
19. stripey tops
20. listening to M.Y.M.P.
21. old Hungarian black and white movies
22. solitude
23. shopping
24. seeing prayers answered
25. making and eating Hungarian food
26. polkadots
27. journaling
28. Japan
29. autumn
30. silence
31. watching Columbo
32. handbags
33. old Roman towns
34. uninterrupted alone-time
35. Korean, Japanese stationery
36. Bath and Bodyworks
37. copying cool illustrations into my journal
38. taking photos of blue sky + white clouds
39. tea
40. PIC COLLAGE app
41. fresh mozzarella cheese
42. notebooks
43. the way I feel after a workout
44. Japanese, Korean fine tip jel pens
45. Dolce&Gabbana everything (just looking of course, being a poor missionary and all)
46. big, dangly earrings
47. watching Poirot
48. getting inspired
49. old photos with stories
50. Hibachi Grill Chinese buffet in Grand Rapids, MI
51. writing in a new journal
52. Moleskin notebooks
53. reading my favorite blogs
54. watching BBC shows with husband
55. smokey eyes
56. parfumes
57. Masterchef
58. tickling little Benjamin
59. the fresh smell of clean laundry
60. cosy nights at home watching tv
61. learning from past mistakes and growing as a person
62. studing Korean
63. a big knitted cardigan
64. sea shell wind chimes
65. short and sparkly fingernails
66. being HOME
67. candles
68. taking a little nap after lunch
69. Christmas preparations
70. the Italian language
71. making our home a HOME
72. skinny jeans
73. frozen grapes
74. getting overly emotionally involved in the lives of fictional characters
75. Cath Kidston
76. old photos of total strangers
77. daydreaming about a trip to Japan and Korea
78. lemon pound cake
79. creating things
80. bows in the hair
81. Hungarian cherry pie
82. fine tip Zebra pens
83. going to school
84. scratching an itchy mosquito bite
85. sneaking your own treats into the movie theater
86. tulips
87. little Benjamin's quirky laughter
88. Korea
89. baking bread
90. finding exciting books at the library
91. Irish accent
92. antiques
93. opening the windows on winter nights for a few minutes just before going to bed
94. imagining time-traveling into different eras
95. sitting in a deep armchair
96. listening to grandparents' stories of the wars, their life, their childhood etc.
97. making lists and checking things off
98. cat eyeliner
99. fresh, warm, crackling bread
100. smell of husband