Reality Check

          I decided that today's post should be about reality. I actually decided this at 1 a.m. when I was sitting at the computer browsing decor blogs in between wiping brows and cleaning the messes of 2 sick children and a sick husband- this is my reality today.
     I got a comment on one of my posts the other day thanking me for showing a "real-life" tablescape in my working office. The writer mentioned how it didn't seem possible for her in her real life to "tablescape with the pros" per se. As it happens, I've gotten several emails from readers bemoaning their seeming inability to "keep up with the Joneses" as far as their homes matching up to what they perceive as the standard by which others are living. We're all drooling over gorgeous tablescapes, beautiful rooms, and delectable 3 course meals in Blogland- then we turn around in our own homes and what do we see??

This is what I see at 2 a.m.

do you see the common thread here?

The amazing part about it is that there are actually PAIRS of shoes lying around together. Usually if one shoe is in the kitchen, the other can be found somewhere in the backyard.

Or at the neighbor's down the street

A few weeks ago one of my boys called home to say that we needed to pick him and his brother up from school as they had missed the bus. They missed the bus because they were searching for my 11 year old's shoes and socks which he "lost".

In school

At the bus stop

It was 28 degrees. I kid you not

   That's another reality- children can do things that will have you scratching your head for weeks wondering whose DNA they got.

  In our case I know the answer

  They take after their father

My family room coffee table-

someone's belt, a cell phone, an Ipod, a textbook for homework that I'm not quite sure ever got done, and a bag containing a combination of sweaty gym clothes and Legos- don't ask

The container of Boy Scout chocolate popcorn might have been me

I'm entitled

So here I am at 2 a.m. looking at pictures of these gorgeous, sparkling clean kitchens with vast expanses of CLEAR counter space. 

I am a decorator

I am a cooking teacher

I am a trainer

Here's my reality

My mixer can NOT be put away. It weighs a ton and I use it 10 times a day. The basket holds my son's allergy meds and my Advil. That not going anywhere! The croissants- just because. Who doesn't love croissants?? The teapot is Allie's latest ceramics class project and has been sitting there for 3 days while I decide exactly where it can be displayed. I'm beginning to think that where it is may be just fine

2 almost empty cookie jars and the Arborio rice that I never put away last night

The Trader Joe's flyer (LOVE that store!), the makings of tonight's frittata and my coffee

Coffee IS my reality

so I wander into my office....

boxes that I've been meaning to get into the attic for 3 weeks

And why Allie's cheerleading uniform is laying there remains to be determined

So, do you get my point now?? Yes, it's true that you may see pictures like this

and this

and this

and this

Just remember- there's a REASON for the close-ups!!


The most important lesson my Grandma Josie ever imparted to me was this- (she said it in a Sicilian dialect, but I'll translate)


Treat your family like company, and your company like family!


So if you're coming to see me today, be prepared to help me play nursemaid. 


And I'll share my frittata with you

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I got an email this morning from my very best friend. Kathy understands my quirks, having been raised with a very Italian mother. And because she has an Irish father, she can listen to me vent about my Irish husband and laugh at me. I had to share this. I laughed so hard I cried- there is not one line here that I haven't lived

Italians

Italians have a $40,000  kitchen, but use the $259 stove from Sears in
the basement to cook.  There is some sort of religious statue in the
hallway, living room, bedroom,  front porch and backyard. The living
room is filled with old wedding favors with poofy net bows and stale
almonds (they are too pretty to open).

A portrait of the Pope and Frank Sinatra hang in the dining room.
God forbid if anyone ever attempted to eat Chef Boy-are-dee, Franco
American, Ragu, Prego or anything else in a jar or can.
Meatballs are made with Pork, Veal and Beef. We are Italians; we don't
care about cholesterol. Turkey is served on Thanksgiving, after the
manicotti, gnocchi, lasagna and minestrone or shcarole soup.
If anyone ever says ES-CAROLE, slap 'em in the face -- it's SHCAROLE.
No matter how hard you knew you were going to get smacked, you still
came home from church after communion, you stuck half a loaf of bread
in the sauce pot, Snuck out a fried meatball and chowed down so you'll
make up for it next week at confession.
Sunday dinner was at 1:00. The meal went like this...
Table is set with everyday dishes...doesn't matter if they don't
match...they're clean, What more do you want? All the utensils go on
the right side of the plate and the napkin goes on the left. Put a
clean kitchen towel at Nonno & Papa's plate because they won't use
napkins. Homemade wine and bottles of 7-Up are on the table.
First course,  Antipasto..change plates. Next, Macaroni (Nonna called
all spaghetti  Macaroni)...change plates. After that, Roasted Meat,
Roasted Potatoes,  Over-cooked Vegetables... Change plates. THEN, and
only then (NEVER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE  MEAL) would you eat the salad
(HOMEMADE OIL & VINEGAR  DRESSING ONLY)...change plates.
Next, Fruit & Nuts - in the shell (on paper plates because you ran out
of the other ones). Coffee with Anisette (Espresso for Nonno, "Merican"
coffee for the rest) with hard cookies (Biscottis) to dip in the
coffee.
The kids go play...the men go to lay down. They slept so soundly you
could do brain surgery on them without anesthesia... The women clean
the kitchen. Getting screamed at by Mom or Nonna - half the sentence
was English, the other half Italian.
Italian  mothers never threw a baseball in their life, but can nail you
in the head with a shoe thrown from the kitchen while you're in the
living room.
Prom Dress that Zia Ceserina made you... $20.00 for material.
Prom hair-do from Cousin Angela... Free.
Turning around at prom to see your entire family  (including God
parents) standing in the back of the gym... PRICELESS!
The true Italians will love this, those of you who are married to
Italians will understand this, and there are those that wished they
were Italian, and finally,  those of you who are friends with Italians
will remember 


Be sure to check out our previous post for this week's Foodie Friday entry- a wonderful Tuscan Salmon for a Lenten Friday and some really yummy Lemon Cream Scones

As Always,

  

Buon Alimenti, Buon Amici,

Pattie and Allie