Lake Como, Cinque Terre, Portofino, Milan and More

 I came home sleep-deprived, exhausted, and sore ... but damn, was it worth it! From the time Elena picked me up from the airport in Milan, it was go, go go!

If you're new around here, Elena was my first ever Aupair. An Aupair is someone from another country who comes to live with you and study in exchange for child care. During Elena's two and a half years with our family, she became like a sister to me. She cared for and loved my boys as I would. She was there when I needed a shoulder to cry on, and she was my biggest cheerleader (next to my husband Dallas).

I am typically a big control freak and micro-manage vacation itineraries, but Elena is as type A as I am, so I knew I was in good hands, letting her plan every detail of our "best friend's trip."

Elena picked me up in Milan, and we immediately headed for Lake Como to kick off our trip. After 2 days, it was on to Cinque Terre, where we visited all 5 towns that make up the cluster of perfectly nestled coastal villages. Then as we drove the coast in route to Elena's hometown of Biella, we decided to call an audible and stop in Santa Margarita and Portofino and it was worth the detour! Portofino might have been my favorite part of our entire trip. It was unexpected and glamorous.

After hiking to the castle where Kourtney Kardashian got married in Portofino, we hopped back in the car and headed inland to Biella, where we arrived just in time for dinner. Mind you; dinner is a little later than what we eat in the states, about 9 pm. For dinner that night we attended a town festival that was raising money for autism (a cause close to my heart). After eating a plate full of local "street meat" we danced the night away to American 90's music. The dance floor (aka the town square) was packed! These cats really know how to throw down!

The next morning, Elena showed me her hometown and took me on a beautiful hike to a quaint mountain top restaurant for lunch. I got to meet all of Elena's family and friends, who were as warm and welcoming as she is! 

Before we departed for our final destination of Milan, Elena's parents took us for a fabulous 5-course pairing wine dinner at a Michelin star restaurant. I was so thankful to spend a lovely evening with them and thank them for loaning me their incredible daughter for two and a half years.

The next morning we piled into the car and hit the road to Milan. Where we spent my last 24 hours in Italy.

During our time in Milan, something special happened. I got to meet my next Aupair in person! That NEVER happens. Typically, even after you match,  a host family doesn't get to meet their Aupair in person until he or she arrives at their home. Chiara was sweet enough to jump on a train and meet Elena and me for lunch. What a special moment to be able to host lunch for my first Aupair and my next Aupair in their home country. I felt like I had to keep my heart from exploding out of my chest! 

 I have been to Italy 5 times now; Rome, Florance, Venice, Tuscany, Orvieto, Amalfi, Positano, and Naples. And although all of these places have been amazing in their own way nothing will compair to this trip. What a way to close out one of the best trips of my life.

Since I have been home, everyone asks me "What is your favorite part of the experience?" And to that I always answer, "I can't pick just one". Each place that I experienced on this journey were all so different and special in their own right. 

I have always dreamed of visiting Lake Como. Everyone told me to go to Cinque Terre (and it did NOT disappoint). Portofino has a glamour and charm that I was not expecting, Milan has so much history and visiting Elena's hometown was like finishing a puzzle you have worked on for years. So no I cannot pick a favorite place, but they will all live in my heart!  

Ciao Bella!

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A Family Heirloom Nightmare

If you follow All Of The F-Words on social media (and why wouldn't you? @AllOfTheFWords) then you know the nightmare that ensued when I took this simple painting to be reframed. If you missed it, allow me to relive this bad dream with you! 

When we moved into our new home the painting above was moved from our old powder room to be front and center in our new living room. Although this piece of art looks like a quaint Italian painted landscape, it is so much more than that. This painting is an artwork that my parents bought together over 35 years ago. It was hanging in their home when my father passed away and my mother asked me if I would like to have it. 

Of course, there was no doubt in my mind that I would find the perfect place to hang it and that it would always remind me of my parents and the undying love they had for each other. However, moving the painting from the powder room to the living room also made me feel like I needed to change the frame. The old frame was gold and intricate and felt unsettling in our cream and navy living area. It almost clashed.    

Because this piece is a family heirloom I wanted to call my mother before I made any changes and out of respect, make sure she was okay with it. After all, she did have a hand in purchasing the original. She gave me her blessing and away I went to price out new frames. 

I had just finished working with Fast Frames in Pineville for two shadow boxes hanging in my "Cloffice" (Office/Closet) and I knew they did impeccable work. I couldn't have been happier with the job they did but they were on the pricey side and I didn't want to break the bank on a basic black frame. 

Next, I made my way to Michaels. I knew they had a framing department and I've always seen the 40% off coupons that you get in their flyer. Now normally I wouldn't throw anyone under the bus but my experience there was so traumatic with one specific employee that I feel the need to share. 

I should have known that it was too good to be true when I picked out a simple black "weathered" frame and it was 1/3 of the price I received with other quotes. As I filled out the paperwork at the counter I asked the gentleman if removing the original frame would damage the frame itself? I thought MAYBE somewhere down the road I would find another piece of art to hang in it. 

"No Problem," he said. "I'll remove it right now and you can take it home". We were off to a great start. He took my painting to the back room and returned with a fully intact frame. However, when he handed it to me I noticed that he also had some sort of black substance all over his forearm. As we both inspected the frame and painting we were alarmed to see the black substance was also all over the sky in my artwork! 

I froze! All I can imagine is that this guy walked to the back with my family heirloom and carelessly popped the painting out of its frame with the tip of his pen. As we stood there staring at each other I felt an eternity go by before I finally exclaimed, "YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING!" He of course panicked and ran to the back room, returning with some sort of spray solution, claiming "This is the strongest stuff we have! It's gotta come out with this!" Before I could even rebuff he was spraying the ink. Nothing. That ink all but told him to go to hell and with that, I felt my blood boil. In my mind, I could see myself leaping over the counter. This was my dead father's f-ing hand me down 35-year-old painting for Christ sake!!!!

Somehow, I stayed calm. Feeling like I was going to snap at any moment. That's when another woman walked out of the backroom and said: "bring it here and let me work on it". I was desperate so I let her take the piece of art. Meanwhile, homeboy has disappeared, probably in fear for his job (or life).

I stood in the framing section of the store by myself for 5 minutes. 7 minutes. 10 minutes. As I fought back the tears anxiously waiting for some news, the woman finally emerged without her male counterpart and to my surprise she had a perfectly clean painting!!!! I almost jumped on her with excitement! "Lady!" I exclaimed. "I don't know what you did to clean this painting but I could make out with you!" 

I don't know why and I don't know how but after I thanked her for saving one of the only things I have left of my father, I actually left the painting there to be framed. Looking back, I can't believe I left it after the experience that I had. Maybe I was still in shock but the more disturbing thing is that other than a half-ass apology, no one on the staff even offered me anything to make it right. I wasn't looking for a freebie, but for the drama, I would have appreciated some sort of discount. Needless to say, I won't be framing anything else at Michaels. 

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The Most Thoughtful Gift!

     Valentines Day has come and gone but this year my husband Dallas gave me a gift I will cherish forever! 

     Dallas really went above and beyond this year with the most thoughtful gift, I have ever received! Recently our morning radio show decided to look into our cast's heritage with an Ancestry.com kit. 

    Of course, I knew some of my nationality came from Italy (40% to be precise). I also knew that my Father's side of the family (The Merolas') were glove makers in Italy once upon a time. However, on one of our many trips to my homeland, I sadly learned that the company had gone out of business.   

    The Merola's were known to make the finest leather gloves around. They designed beautiful Opera gloves for the rich and famous, as well as exquisite driving and all-weather gloves for the rest of us. 

    I almost kicked myself when they closed their doors because I had never splurged and purchased myself a pair! How could I have been so stupid?!? I thought, "I'll never get my hands on a pair now!" but not so fast...

   My knight in shining armor tirelessly hunted down not only a pair of Opera gloves for me but also located a distant cousin and had a custom pair of leather gloves made just for me! 

   Do you know what they named them? Napa Cash! So fitting since Dallas and I took our honeymoon to Napa Valley and our sons' name is Cash (Cashton Duke). 

I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the neatly wrapped box. You know he drives me crazy sometimes but God do I love that man! 

  

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