5 highlights of my week

So it is Friday morning again...my favorite morning of the whole week because both of my boys are in school and I AM COMPLETELY ALONE IN THE HOUSE FOR A FEW HOURS. UNINTERRUPTED!
I love Friday mornings. Please don't judge. My family is everything to me, but man, am I refreshed and charged and a  totally new person after a morning like this! No more cranky, whiny, impatient mama. [at least not for a while]
My batteries get charged and it wouldn't happen any other way.
A dose of sweet solitude is a daily requirement for an introvert.

Here are a few highlights of my week

1. A snail has taken up residence in our mailbox. Did you know that snails poop? Husband has sweeped a whole handful of snail poop out of the mailbox yesterday...Unbelievable! I told him to relocate the guy somewhere else but so far he is reluctant. So now I have to be afraid to reach into my own mailbox?? Gotta do something. I might have to hire Benjamin to remove it from the premises.
Needless to say that my sudden and unexplainable fascination with "The magical world of snails" [beautiful macro photo series by a Ukrainian photographer, Vyacheslav Mishchenko] is quite over.

2. I can't help myself... his name cracks me up. Big Pupo is a "retro" singer [Italians love love love nostalgic music] who gave a concert here in town as a crowning of the San Nicola festival last weekend. Unfortunately we couldn't attend because husband came down with a bad cold. Which now I have by the way.



3. I want to learn French!
I know! The timing! :) I am in the middle of my Italian studies [which I LOVE] and I already have ambitions for another language? I was never interested in French. Not in high school, not in university, not ever. If anything I disliked it for the snobbish attitude of its speakers. And then all the sudden BAMM! I heard Luca Lampariello [polyglot, language coach] speak a few phrases the other day and I was in love. With French. Just happened like that. It reminds me, by the way, of my history with the English language. All I ever heard was that without English you can't do anything anymore, and that English this and English that...it made me like, Hey, I will NEVER learn English and I will be just fine! Watch me! So I choose German and Russian in high school to learn and I was very satisfied with myself. Then I graduated from high school, and was working in the summer for a few months. One morning I woke up, sighed, and thought "What the heck! i will learn English." And it started. I went and bought dictionaries and books and learnt English. It is not until you are motivated enough that you will really be able to conquer a language. No matter how hard they force you, without self-motication it is impossible. So here I am studying Italian full time, but can't wait to resume my Korean studies as well and pick up French. Can't wait!

4. I have been singing Heart's Content by Brandi Carlile day and night for about a week now. It is one of the theme songs of Safe Haven. [My favorite movie, watched it about 50 times] This is what I usually do, I sing the soul out of a song to the point where I get so sick of it that I cannot listen to it anymore.
Anyway, this is a very good song! I will never get tired of it.

5. Definitely a highlight of the week when I make empanaditas. Especially with buttery dilly corn.

I have THE perfect pie crust recipe that I use for the empanaditas. Absolutely fool-proof! I think I got it out of the Wycliffe International Missionary Cookbook years ago and it has changed my life :) (I'm a little dramatic of course)
But it is a super easy, super quick recipe and I use it for both savory and sweet pies, empanadas, cheesecakes, everything.

PIE CRUST

[for fruit pies, veggie and cheese pies, empanadas]

3 cups flour

1 1/4 cups soft butter or shortening

1 teaspoon salt

1 egg, well-beaten

5 Tablespoon water

1 Tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice

Mix everything, but not too well. The little lumps of butter will make the crust flaky. Divide into 4 balls, form  disks out of them, wrap them in plastic foil. Let them rest in the fridge for about an hour. You can used them immediately, put in the fridge, or freezer. 

Works with gluten-free flour mix too!

10 things that changed in my life when we moved from the US to Italy

1. I have a LOT less clothes and shoes now. 

Oh how many plastic sacks of clothes and shoes did I give away to the charity shop just before we left for Europe! And all the stuff I left in containers for storage... Honestly, in the back of my mind I was thinking..."These are just clothes. I will just replace them in Italy". Little did I know how expensive stuff is here. Oh well. 

2. My skin is healthier.

I don't know if it's the sea air, the olive oil, the mediterranean diet...or maybe the combination of all those things, but my skin cleared out. It is healthy and fresh. Well, most days. :) I love it! 

3. No more Korean BBQ sauce for me :(

I just love that stuff. Little sweet, little spicy...perfect. To my knowledge there are no Korean, or even Asian grocery stores here (maybe in Rome). Last Christmas I ordered a jar from Scotland as a treat...but I can't really keep that up. 

4. I became a little bit of a food snob in a few things I guess

Fresh pasta! Homemade olive oil! Real, freshly grated parmiggiano (parmesan)! Fresh pesto! 

5. I started gardening.

Yes, you heard me right. I am growing stuff. Okay...God is growing the stuff. And I supervise. 

6. I haven't done any crafts, sewing, knitting.

Two main reasons probably: 1. No time.  2. No supplies.

7. Newly developed interest in house organizing and decorating.

That's pretty much a no-brainer. This is our first real home. (meaning: we are here to stay) One of my dreams has come true when I was able to set up our new home from IKEA last fall. I love the simple, practical, minimalist, modern style. 

8. I want to learn French too now.

Whatt??!

Yes, it's true. 

9. I don't eat half as much now.

Hey! I've lost 12 pounds so far without making much of an effort. I mean we have been eating so different, and that means a lot! Although I DO miss you, Logan's House salad with creamy Bleu cheese dressing, Jet's Buffalo Ranch Chicken thin crust pizza and Everything in Hibachi Grill Chinese Buffet in Grand Rapids, Michigan! Just sayin'

10. My favorite house work now is doing laundry!

I used to hate doing laundry. Every step of it. But now I am looking forward to it every week. I actually try to get a load in every day. (I am usually not satisfied with the amount of laundry we produce...) The BEST part is when I go out on the balcony in the morning (the sun hits it until about 2PM) and I start putting out the wet clothes on the lines. I take care, I slowly turn sleeves inside out, shake out kitchen towels to reduce wrinkles, match the socks before I hang them... I inhale the delicious smell of fabric softener (which they are amazing here, they smell like designer parfumes, not kidding!) and the fresh morning air (and the wonderful smell of my neighbors' fabric softener, it is fantastic, I still have to find out what she uses...). 

Well there. Now you know. 

Just a normal Thursday

My little boy is growing up so fast. Too fast.



The other day I found some more "sambuco" or elderberry flowers. They are everywhere by the country road but unfortunately too high for me to reach. However I did manage to reach a few clusters which were plenty enough for a big batch of cordial. I love this stuff, my mom used to make it every summer.
It is wonderfully refreshing!


These are the Danish butter cookies that Benjamin can't get enough of. They sell them at LIDL in San Salvo where we get our "big" groceries every week. LIDL is a German chain and it is the No.1 grocery store in Italy. They have all the yummy German stuff, chocolates, cheeses, everything. And of course the delicious 39 cents fresh baguette...ohh....it is always warm when I pick it up, they bake it right there at the store....it is my little treat I look forward to every week. :)


Bettina, our landlady sent over some home-grown fresh Romaine lettuce and peas. Scott goes over to the barber shop every Thursday and she always sends some fresh produce home with him. I really appreciate it!!


I finally realized that having absolutely no (positive) experience in gardening or growing (or even keeping alive) plants is probably a strong sign that i shouldn't try to grown stuff from seeds. I should probably leave it to those who actually know what they are doing. I think all my seedlings are dead...time to scrap them.
From now on I'm buying the already grown plants and try to re-plant them in the bigger pots.
This pot of thyme looks (and smells) pretty amazing.


I am always cautious when I open Benjamin's school bag after school. I never know what I'm going to find in there... This time it was a totally mushed up banana. Everything in the bag was covered with sticky banana pulp. Great. I cleaned it all up and was about to toss the ripe banana... but then set it aside to make a gluten-free banana bread out of it. It turned out so delicious.
When we lived in America I tossed stuff all the time. There was such an abundance of stuff, food, cheap clothes etc that it was impossible to keep everything. Stuff kept coming in, so the old stuff had to go. Stuff was always flowing in and flowing out. (I didnt toss everything, they mostly went to the thrift store, or charity shop, but I did toss lots of food :(

I wanna share my Banana Bread recipe. It is sooo simple and easy to make. Works every time.

Gluten-Free Banana Bread 

1 1/2 cup gluten-free flour (or regular for regular banana bread)

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 large egg

1-2 bananas, mashed

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup oil (or apple sauce)

Bake it in a preheated 375 degree oven for about 20-25 minutes

or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. 

Buon appetito! 

Serendipity in San Salvo

We had a nice long weekend last week and we decided to take a walk around downtown San Salvo, where we get out groceries every week. 

You won't believe what we found! 【ツ】

My top 10 favorite organization ideas from Pinterest

1. Make-up on a magnetic board

This would be amazing to have. Now to find a frame and board...

[Unfortunately there was no valid link with the picture on Pinterest]

2. Necklaces + bracelets on cards

This is such a genius idea. I did this last summer when we moved from the US to Italy. I had all my jewelry squeezed tightly into tiny little ziplocks. Without this my necklaces would have gotten all tangled up. 

link 

3. Rolls of wrapping paper in a glass jar

This looks so cute, love it. I wonder where I could get a jar like that...

link

4. Craft room dream

no link :(

5. Personal "crap" baskets

Mom puts miscellaneous stuff in the basket that belongs to each person, then the person has to put them away. Saves a whole bunch of time for the mama. 

link

6. String holders

How cute are these!! :)  And they look super easy to  make

link

7. Lazy Susan for shoes

Perfect! Husband could make this so easily!

link

8. Cute trash can for the car

I am using a little toy bucket with a bag in it for trash and in case Benjamin gets sick on the back seat...

Yea. Happens all the time. Anyway...the lid is a nice addition. 

link

9. Ribbon organizer

Perfect and simple. 

no link :(

10. Spice organizer wall

I absolutely love this idea, love the white fonts on black. But...what kind of containers are these and where could I get them?

link

This is what happens when you pray that God would help you get to knowmore people in town

I honestly don't know how to even start telling you what happened to me today. [Wednesday]
I am still very shaken up and it physically hurts to think about it. I keep reliving moments of it in my head and it literally makes me nauseous.
After this dramatic preface I hope I wont disappoint with the story.

The brief version:

I picked up a ball on the beach believing it to be abandoned or washed up from the water since no one was around. All the sudden this angry guy pops up out of nowhere with a 2-year-old and started yelling at me, calling me a thief and called the police on me! The whole thing was surreal, he wouldn't hear a word when I tried to tell him I didn't mean to steal anything. He was very very mean and harsh and he also told the police that I tried to take his SON and his thingS... @o@  I was so shocked and upset, I was crying the whole time, the police came out, I explained everything, they were annoyed by this guy and tried to comfort me. Turns out one of them was the police chief and the same guy who helped us the previous week when we reported our missing bank card. [He loves Americans] He greeted me with a smile, they got rid of the guy after "taking his report". He told me nothing is going to happen, this is nothing, really not to worry about it. "The guy was CRAZY"-he said to me [in English]. Then Antonio and Daniele [co-workers] arrived [to my rescue] and we all started chatting. I was still shaking, upset and crying, the officials kept comforting me, giving me Kleenex etc :) It turned out to be a nice conversation about New Tribes and faith and about what we are doing here in Petacciato. We even took a picture together! :) LOL
What a way to turn such a stupid incident into something so cool!! Thank you Lord! Building relationships with the local police meanwhile!
Poor Scott was "stuck" at home during all this because I took the car down to the beach. I called him sobbing when the guy first told me that he was calling the police. He then called Antonio and Daniele who were at different places at the time but hurried to me quick. When I finally got home he waited me with a cup of tea, then he held me and we talked about what happened for a couple of hours. I love him!

Okay. So that was pretty dramatic. After our long talk I told Scott I didn't know how to move on with my life after all this. He suggested to go and watch a cooking show. The man is wise.

Now are you ready for another cool story?
I left an hour earlier to pick up Benjamin from school and took a nice walk around town. To calm my nerves and to get some exercise. When it was time to pick up the bambino I arrived at the school. I saw one of the moms i knew pulling up to the school so I went up to her and greeted her with a cheerful "Hi how are you doing?" [in Italian]. She got out of her car, took off her sunglasses and I realized that it wasn't even the person I thought she was.
Oops!
I had no idea who this lady was yet I greeted her as if we were homies. :)
I was not about to admit I mistook her for someone else so I just kept chatting and tried to act natural.
[but inside I was like...@_@ ]
She seemed to go along with our little chat and actually seemed like she really did know me!
Huh?
Turns out she lived right across the road from us and knew us by sight! She had been wondering about us, what we were doing in Petacciato etc. She invited me over to her house and even gave us a ride home! :)
I just made a new friend! :)
Thank you Lord, only you can do such crazy twists in our story!

Taking stock 001

I used to do this kind of "questionaire" in my journal.
We actually used to make "friendship diaries" in school, my friends and I. We asked questions in there like what is your favorite color, food or what do you want to be when you are older. I couldn't wait to be handed someone's friendship diary...I knew I was gonna have so much fun filling it out that night. It was also fun to read my friends' answers.

This is a little more grown-up version of a "friendship diary"
If anybody reads this and wants to make one too, please send me the link. I would LOVE to read it.

MAKING: massive efforts to erase bad memories from yesterday
COOKING: Korean curry which I learnt from my dear Korean friend, Jinah.
DRINKING: lots of tea
WANTING: a cosy balcony and a pearl ring. And world peace of course. :)
LOOKING: tired
PLAYING: Norah Jones
WASTING: precious hours of sleep
ENJOYING: this quiet hour after supper. Scott took Benjamin out to the playground
WAITING: summer holiday
LIKING: being home
WONDERING: if we will EVER learn Italian
LOVING: my family
HOPING: for a second child
MARVELING: God's ways
NEEDING: more quiet time with the Lord
SMELLING: good. Thanks to Givenchy.
WEARING: yoga pants, favorite cardigan
FOLLOWING: some really great bloggers (thedaybookblog) and vloggers (hannahmaggs)
NOTICING: my drinking straws are identical to the ones one gets in Starbucks
KNOWING: he loves me!
THINKING: time is passing too fast tonight
FEELING: thankful!

Inspiration also here and here.