Una Mamma's article on "mammas"

If you ask me, every day could reasonably be mother's day and we would still be under-appreciated!!!! So although a bit late, here is one mother's tribute to all the mammas out there -Italian or not. This appeared in May's issue of La Voce Newspaper. ENJOY!

Stay At Home Mom

The phrase "stay at home mom" has had many adaptations through the years. Let's face it, it's even been rephrased into "stay at home dads." Well, I am a "SAHM" in every sense of the phrase, but even more so lately.

Tomorrow will mark the four week birthday of our newest addition, Maria Fiorella, who we affectionately call "baby Mia" or "our little flower." Life has been a filled with an abundance of love and exhaustion lately, neither of which I can complain about considering our little blessing arrived perfectly healthy! We are so excited to have another baby girl in the house, but it HAS made us stay exactly there - in the house!

Outings with three children and a newborn is not on my 'to do list' just yet, so we've been thinking of a lot of "stay at home" activities for our family to enjoy together. This way, the other kids don't feel like they got a raw deal when #4 came along!

Our latest endeavor was a day full of homemade bread and pizza dough. Okay we cheated on the pizza dough and used the bread machine (my new favorite invention, by the way) but it was pretty darn good nonetheless!

We then topped our pizza with some homemade marinara and fresh mozarella. It may have looked like a bunch of kids put it together, but it tasted like a bunch of 100% Italian Nonnas labored over it for hours!

The pizza and the cooking process were equally memorable! See for yourself......

Cinque Giorni Piu

So, anyone who has been following my (lately uneventful) blog posts knows that our fourth baby (and third baby girl) is due any day now.  Well, Thursday is the scheduled c-section and it has come WAY too fast!  

(NOTE: In no way does that imply that I am not thankful that the end is near)

But truly, this pregnancy came and went (as did my energy) so I haven't done a lot of blogging, but I assure you, after a little time off with the baby I will be back at it.

So, wish me luck because there's only five more days till this Una Mamma Italiana has four little bambini instead of three! CIAO

Vacationing with kids...

Anyone with kids knows that an otherwise RELAXING vacation might not be so when you bring the little ones along...but that does not mean it can't be fun.  Plan accordingly and you'll create a memory for la tutta famiglia.  Need tips? check out my March article for La Voce Newspaper ( www.lasvegaslavoce.com )

CIAO!

I'm still alive:)

Okay, so maybe I haven't been real lively about my blogging, but I wanted to assure everybody that I AM still alive....(I know you were all agonizing over my lack of posts)

I guess the only pathetic excuses I have to offer are: three kids (four if you count my husband, five if you count the one on the way)....and..........basically - I'm tired!!

But Easter is around the corner and there will undoubtedly be a plethora of dishes to photograph and blog about at my family gatherings!  So, prepare yourself for a joyous time of year, the coming of great weather, and a new baby girl!  

To fill you all in, we are thinking of naming her

  Maria "Mia" Fiorella

She will lovingly be called ia from the moment of birth:).......opinions anyone?

For those non-Italians, "Fiorella" means"little flower" in Italian....and so that's where we are at with the baby names.  We still have almost two months till she arrives, though, so suggestions are welcome!

 Ciao for now

A Love Note to Nonna

Okay, so I haven't posted in a while....in fact, my last post was on Valentine's Day.....and oddly enough, my Valentine's Day article for LA VOCE is now posted online!

So take a look - although a few weeks late, the story is still relevant. It is somewhat of a tribute to my Grandma Rose, who was a wonderful woman, and who would have been 81 this month.

Click here to read "A Nonna's Love" from LA VOCE Italian American Newspaper

Happy St. Valentine's Day (An Italian Love Story)

Being the most romantic holiday of the year, I thought it only appropriate to share a love story. Only this love story is a little close to my heart, as it is about my great grandparents.

It is an especially relevant story given our economic times, since it all happened during the Great Depression. But even in those tough times, the love of their family saw them through.

I think that in struggles and hardships, it is always important to focus on what you DO have. You know, 'count your blessings' and still try to enjoy life. After all, sometimes if you don't laugh, you cry!

So please read my latest article about my great grandmother Josephine Strati and her husband James Savino, who crossed many hard roads to pave the way for future generations. Had they not struggled like they did, I would not be the Italian mamma I am today.

My grandmother, Helen Pusateri, wrote this whole story down from her memory. She did this for me so that I could preserve it and pass on the lessons to my children. I only hope you can all share in the joy and pride it brings me whenever I hear it. We should be proud of our ancestors, who came to America to start a better life for us.

To the article, visit my link on the www.italiansrus.com website, or click here to access it directly. This is a true Italian love story.

CIAO, and much love from una mamma italiana this Valentine's Day....