News – Dolceamericana

March 17

Whipped Cream Easter Eggs

Dye your Easter eggs with this unique technique & strange ingredient! This technique is a lot of fun and your kids will enjoy playing with the whipped cream! Supplies: Food Coloring Whipped cream Large pan (at least a 9×12) Hard boiled eggs Plastic gloves First hard boil your eggs and then allow them to cool. […]

April 10

Becoming Butterflies

This is the perfect craft for Easter! In fact, the butterfly is the symbol for the resurrection! My Mom used to make this craft with her preschool class. I always loved it. In fact, I often helped her add the wings to all of her little butterflies. SUPPLIES: Clothes pins Pom poms Googley eyes Chenille […]

March 30

Jesus Heals!

When we are sick, or struggling, or someone we love is going through something difficult, it is so important to remember that Jesus heals! There are so many stories in the Bible that talk about Jesus’ healing power and his love and compassion for sick and hurting people. In fact in Matthew 14:14 it says, […]

March 30

Bandaid Art Therapy

Creating art with bandaids Supplies: Bandaids Coloring pens, crayons, paints, and/or pencils Paper Recently we created our bandaid family get well cards. The kids absolutely loved creating them! They had a blast and were super creative in making their families…adding pets, balloons, siblings and more. When we were done, we brought the cards to the […]

March 30

Il dono dell’umiltà

Sento dire spesso, “Non cercare di imitare altre Mamme, o fare come gli altri, ma fai al modo tuo.” Questa frase mi colpisce forte perché ci sono bugie molto sottili imbrogliati con una verità importante. Dio ti ha reso Mamma dei tuoi figli perché sei la persona che Lui ha scelto per essere Mamma per […]

January 24

Valentine’s Day Gnome

Create this adorable Valentine’s Day gnome for your sweetie. . .it’s perfect for kiddos, hubby or your wife! Supplies: Cozy socks with a Valentine theme (hearts, cupid’s arrow, etc) Glass jar Your sweetie’s favorite candy (stick with red or pink to keep it extra festive) Beard material Wooden bead for the nose Glue gun You […]

January 24

Bandaid Get Well Card

Get well soon! It’s always hard when someone we love is sick! Especially for kiddos. Sometimes it’s hard for them to understand why Grandpa can’t visit or his best friend can’t come out to play. Making a get well card is a great way for kids to process their frustration and show love for the […]

November 29

Gnome Christmas Ornaments

If you love gnomes then this adorable little Christmas gnome is for you! They are easy to make with just a few simple supplies: Red yard White yarn Toilet paper or paper towel roll Scissors wooden beads or wooden spheres Begin by cutting 8 inch strips of red string. You’ll need a lot of strips […]

November 29

Gnome Christmas Gift

Do you loves gnomes? They are everywhere this Christmas season and I’m loving it. They are so cute- a fun combination of festive and grumpy. If you are looking for a unique gift idea this holiday season, this gnome bottle is adorable and perfect to gift to friends or family this Christmas. Supplies: Bottle of […]

November 22

Thanksgiving Keepsake

These sweet little Turkeys are made even sweeter with the keepsake handprints of your little one! Celebrate Thanksgiving this year by making a keepsake turkey with your kiddos. You only need a few simple supplies… Supplies: Felt: brown, orange, red and colored for the feathers (we used red, yellow and orange) A Large pinecone Small […]

November 20

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Fall desserts are full of flavor and color. I love how pumpkin desserts take on the beautiful pumpkin orange color. The dash of cinnamon and nutmeg adds a rich nutty flavor to the pumpkin. Sweet and cozy and perfect with a pumpkin spice latte. You can use canned pumpkin (which is actually predominantly made of […]

November 19

10 Fun Thanksgiving Crafts & Activities

Keep your little ones busy this Thanksgiving season with tons of super cute crafts. There are also a few fun activities with a great lesson for an attitude of gratitude in our families! Pinecone Turkeys are easy to make and a sweet keepsake made with your kiddos little handprints! You only need a few simple […]

November 4

Big Hug Card

Sometimes when we live far away from someone we love it can be really frustrating or make us feel sad. We miss the normal little things like reading a story together, giving hugs, baking cookies with grandma or going for a walk with grandpa. These feelings can feel big. And they feel even bigger sometimes […]

November 4

How to Make a Candy Cake

If you’ve got an important birthday coming up, try this fun and unique idea for the birthday boy or girl! You can use it as a gift for the birthday boy or girl, or you can do like we did, and use the candy cake as a party favor! As the end of the party, […]

November 4

Get Well Hugs!

When someone you love is sick it can be hard to be far away, and unable to do anything to help them in their difficulty. It can be tough to live far away from people we love. Often times there are new and fun adventures and special new friends to be made, but we may […]

November 4

Monsters Inc Pumpkin

It’s pumpkin season! If you’re not a huge fan of carving pumpkins, try this easy idea with your kiddos this year! Begin by spray painting your pumpkin with a clear sealing spray. It will help the acrylic paint stick better and keep the pumpkin fresh longer. Next paint your pumpkin. We did ours half Sully […]

November 4

Easy Pig Paper Bag Craft

Don’t be a pig, stuck in the mud! Supplies: Printables Pink paper bag Glue and/or double sided tape Google eyes Print out the printables below and cut out as many as you need. I printed the tail, ears and feet on pink paper so that I would not need to color them later. The noses […]

November 4

I Miei Figli Sono Grati?

La maggior parte dei genitori (81%) concorda sul fatto che i bambini di oggi non sono grati per ciò che hanno. Oltre la metà dei genitori (58%) teme di dare troppo ai propri figli, mentre il 42% afferma di sentirsi talvolta in imbarazzo per il comportamento egoistico dei propri figli. Quasi tutti i genitori (96%) […]

August 8

Paper Flowers

When you move somewhere new, sometimes you miss the little things about your old home. I, for example, miss the tall green pine trees! Or maybe you lived in an area that had more rainfall, and therefore was a little more green, or had more flowers, and now you live in the desert, where there […]

July 17

5 Fun Water Games

Beach towel balloon toss Waterballoons Beach towels Make two teams of minimum 2 people on each team. The objective is toss the water balloons from one beach towel to the other. It’s a hilarious game with water balloons flying everywhere! It’s perfect for a birthday party or family gathering. And you only need a couple […]

April 5

Come Parlare del Sesso con i tuoi Figli

Il sesso è un argomento delicato. Magari quando i tuoi figli iniziano a fare domande o quando c’è un commento sulla TV ti senti in imbarazzo perché non sai come rispondere o cosa dire. Forse pensi che sia meglio evitare o stai aspettando per fare il grande discorso sulla vita. Forse hai ricordi traumatici dalla […]

March 23

Glow Party: Games & Activities:

To have an amazing glow party you will need black lights. You can calculate how many you will need per square foot to light up your room and create the right effect. Start with a photo booth! Set out a bunch of glow supplies like bracelets, headbands and glasses and some glow in the dark […]

March 21

Glow Party: Photo Booth

To make your own glow party photo booth you will just need a few simple supplies. Black poster board Glow in the dark tape (we got ours on Amazon) Fun glow in the dark props like glow sticks, glow bracelets, and glasses and headbands and glow int he dark face paint too Set out a […]

March 21

Glow Party: Decorations & Food

A glow party is a great theme for older kids and teenagers. It was the perfect theme for a sweet sixteen birthday! To set up the food tables… We set up three tables. One for the food. One for drinks. And one for dessert. The food table (pictured above) supplies were from: Curtain from SHEIN, […]

March 11

Un Immagine Distorta

Durante il mio percorso di guarigione dal disturbo alimentare ho capito in piccola parte cosa mi aveva portata in quel tunnel nel quale non trovavo via d’uscita. Ho capito che parole dette durante la mia infanzia, soprattutto durante i miei 10/11 anni, periodo in cui tutti gli adolescenti vivono la fase di cambiamento del proprio […]

March 10

Ninjago Party Food

Ninjago is a great theme and there are lots of fun ideas for food and drinks! Just add a little yellow face showing through your mask to create a Lego Ninjago on all different kinds of food! Cute and easy!! Like these water bottles…. these water bottle labels are just little Ninjago faces ready to […]

March 10

Ninjago Birthday

What kid doesn’t love to pretend to be a ninja? Secretive and mysterious and super strong! Lego Ninjago has been a long favorite among kids and is a great theme for a birthday party. There are so many fun games and activities that you can choose for a Ninjago theme! Ninja Headbands Have everyone create […]

February 25

Drive-in Theatre

When you live in a new country, sometimes you lose the opportunity to do the outings and activities you did at home on a regular basis. When I first moved to Italy there were not malls in our area. I didn’t go to the mall very often at home, but I loved going at Christmas […]

February 21

HUG Monsters!

Who doesn’t LOVE hugs?!??! February is love month at our house and we try to show each other a little extra love! These HUG monsters are the cutest way to say I love you! For Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or just because. It’s also a fun surprise for Grandma and Grandpa! To send […]

February 4

Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

Are you a donut fan? My daughter is the biggest donut fan…EVER! To make these amazing donuts you will need a few basic ingredients: 1 2/3 cups Cake Flour (not self-leavening) 2 tsp Baking Powder 1/8 tsp Baking Soda 1/2 tsp Salt 1/4 tsp Nutmeg 4 TBSP Unsalted butter (Melted then cooled) 2 TBSP Vegetable […]

February 4

DIY Hot Chocolate Bomb

I have a HUGE hot chocolate addiction….like I drink it pretty much every day in the winter months! EVERY day. So the hot chocolate bombs fascinated me. But they always seemed o gigantic….and therefore just too much for a cup of hot chocolate. So I wanted to create a recipe that would be perfect for […]

February 1

Caramel Cashew Clusters

The most delish candy for Valentine’s day (or any day?!)? These caramel cashew clusters! They are melt in your mouth good and easy to make. Ingredients: Sugar Heavy whipping cream Butter Cashews High quality Chocolate for melting (I used dark, but you can use milk if you prefer) Begin by making my perfect caramel recipe. […]

February 1

Princess in Training Party

My little girl is obsessed with princesses! What about yours? All three of my kiddos love dress-up and especially beautiful princess dresses and crowns. So, for her 5th birthday a Princess theme was the perfect fit for my little girl. I created all kinds of fun personalized printables like this invitation, food toppers, water bottle […]

January 20

I nostri Corpi Sono Fatti per Cambiare…

I nostri corpi cambiano. Da quando entriamo il mondo a quando lo lasciamo i nostri corpi cambiano tante volte. In fatti sono fatti per cambiare. I nostri corpi sono elastici. Si sviluppano quando diventiamo adolescente, e si sviluppano ulteriormente quando diventiamo donna, crescono per ospitare una gravidanza, si adattano alle circostanze delle nostre vite. E […]

January 18

Art Party Food

If you are hosting an art party, there are so many fun ideas for creating themed food! Especially if you decide on a “Rainbow Art party” like we did” Rainbow food is colorful, often healthy and so much fun to make. And there are all kinds of “art supplies” that you can make as well. […]

January 18

Rainbow Art Party!

Welcome to our rainbow art party! Full of color and fun for your little artist! An art party is a great idea for both girls and boys and is easy to organize. It is is also a theme that works well for coed parties and for various personalities (shy and outgoing). Today I will share […]

January 17

White Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

Create these Valentine lollipops as a special treat for your kiddos on Valentine’s day or for a class party! Ingredients: 5 cups Kelloggs White Chocolate Rice Krispies 50 grams White Chocolate and pink or red melting chocolates 200 grams mini marshmallows 3 tablespoons butter A handful of extra marshmallows to add to the prepared rice […]

January 17

Dark Chocolate Almond Chocolates

Easy candies for your sweetheart! Ingredients: Dark chocolate (can substitute with white chocolate or milk chocolate) Almonds (unsalted) Instructions: These are so easy to make and super addictive. Make some for your sweet heart. Begin by laying out wax paper or parchment paper on your table. Melt the chocolate. Dump the almonds into your melted […]

January 17

Ruby Chocolate Valentine Popcorn

This pretty popcorn is as easy as it is festive! You will need three simple ingredients: Popcorn Ruby Chocolate Heart Sprinkles Have you ever tried Ruby chocolate? It is made with ruby cocoa beans and has a very unique flavor! It is truly delicious and perfect for making festive treats for Valentine’s day. Buy a […]

January 1

Savory Snowflake Pastry Puff

Christmas has come to and end and New Year’s Day has arrived. A new year has officially begun. Sometimes I wish that the Christmas decorations and lights could stay up a little longer … after all, winter has only just begun and there are many more grey, cold days ahead. Something to brighten up those […]

December 23

Gingerbread Cookie Party

Supplies: Sugar cookies or Gingerbread cookies in the shape of houses (I created all different sizes and shapes of houses by hand in order to have a fun variety for the kids). Royal icing (I piped the borders on ahead of time and then supplied sac a poche with more royal icing to attach their […]

December 22

Peppermint Popcorn

This popcorn is crazy addictive and perfect for the holidays! Try making a batch for your next Christmas movie night! Ingredients: Popcorn (I used 1 bag of plain microwave popcorn) Hershey’s White Chocolate Peppermint kisses Oreos Red and white non perils to add a little color (optional) Instructions: Pop your popcorn. Set aside (remove all […]

December 21

Christmas Tree Pastry Puff

This beautiful Christmas tree pastry puff is perfect for Christmas breakfast or brunch. It is perfect because it is festive and delicious, but also because it is sooooo easy! Supplies: Pastry puff dough/Filo dough (rectangle in form) Nutella (warmed slightly to make it easier to spread) Spatula, knife and pizza cutter Begin by opening one […]

December 21

DIY Slippers for a Spa Party

If you need a fun idea for a girl’s Spa night or a Spa party these DIY slippers are fun and easy to make. Supplies: Guest slippers (I found mine here on Amazon) Iron on patches (I used these adorable butterflies from Amazon to fit the theme) Fabric Paint Fabric Pens Needles, thread, scissors Beads […]

December 21

Christmas Tree Ornament

This Christmas tree craft is perfect for preschoolers and toddlers, because of it’s simplicity. Create this wooden Christmas tree with your preschooler this holiday season. Supplies: Green pens, green crayons and green paint Paint brush Wooden craft popsicle sticks Decorations for your tree Instructions: You need three popsicle sticks. Cut off the ends at a […]

December 21

Rolo Bites

These treats are so easy to make, colorful and perfect for your Christmas cookie plate. Supplies: Rolos Pretzels Pecans M&Ms Instructions: Preheat your oven to 350° F. Place the pretzels equally spaced on a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Unwrap your Rolos. Involve the kiddos in this part! They can unwrap while you work on […]

December 20

A Farm Party

A fun and colorful theme for a first birthday! This is the sweetest theme for a boy or a girl! There are so many great ideas for decorations or for themed food! And it’s so colorful that your little one will be sure to love all the animals and colors. A few fun food items… […]

December 20

Wooden Reindeer Ornament

Supplies: Wood rounds Miniature red pom poms Black permanent pens and/or googley eyes Brown paper, scissors, hot glue gun Brown paint, paint brush Instructions: Paint your wood round brown. Allow it to dry completely. Cut out your antlers from brown paper. Glue them to the wood round. Add your googley eyes or draw your eyes […]

December 8

Spa party Photo Booth

Create this easy photo booth with a few simple supplies: String curtain, purple balloons, paper butterflies and butterfly banner from Shein. Two make your balloon arch tie two balloons together at a time. Use different sizes of balloons in your pairs. Then tie your balloons one at a time around your string. Attach it to […]

December 1

Christmas: A season for giving

Christmas is a season for giving. It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. In honor of this season I want to share this unique advent calendar with you! Every day, instead of receiving a candy or some other small gift, your little ones can open their box and receive a simple challenge […]

November 30

Fireman Party Games

Calling all firemen and women! This is such a great party idea and so many fun games and activities to go with it! Activities: It’s always a good idea to have a quiet activity for little ones who are feeling a bit more shy or intimidated by participating in the games. I like to have […]

November 30

Fireman Party

A fireman party is such a fun idea for a birthday party! It is a great way to celebrate our every day heroes! The decorations are easy and fun and colorful. So I am excited to share with you a few simple ideas to make your fireman party extra fun! Create a fun table set […]

November 30

Natale: La stagione per dare

A Natale abbiamo ricevuto il dono più grande! Gesù! Quindi quest’anno invece di utilizzare un calendario del avvento pieno di cioccolatine, usa un calendario per mostrare quanto sei riconoscente per tutto ciò che avete ricevuto, un calendario per servire gli altri e dare in dietro! Ho creato questo calendario per voi e per la mia […]

November 16

Pumpkin craft for Preschoolers

This easy pumpkin craft is perfect for hand eye coordination for your littles. It is also great for decorating for the Fall or even to make a miniature version and use for a napkin ring at the Thanksgiving table! The steps could not be an easier!! And you only need a few supples: Orange and […]

November 11

Calendario del avvento

Quest’anno per contare i giorni fino a Natale fai qualcosa di diverso! Anziché comprare il solito calendario con il cioccolatino che si mangia ogni giorno, crei tu un calendario con bustine di carta, adesivi col numero e i regalini che scegli tu di compare per i tuoi pargoletti! è troppo semplice da realizzare e si […]

November 11

Esplorando Basilicata

Basilicata è una regione pieno di piccoli borghi carini da esplorare come famiglia o per un weekend romantico. La natura in Basilicata è davvero bello…fiumi, boschi, e colline da esplorare. Ma sono altre tanto carine i borghi e i paesi. Ecco una lista di alcuni dei nostri luoghi preferiti della Basilicata. Venosa: Venosa è forse […]

November 11

Snowman Popsicle Stick Craft

Supplies: Wooden craft sticks Black, white and pink paint Black marker Orange felt or foam paper Scissors, glue, hot glue gun Instructions: Place 5 wider wooden sticks or 6-7 narrow sticks in a row vertically. Lay one stick on top horizontally at a slight angle. Glue the back of the horizontal stick and lay it […]

October 29

Fall Leaf Turkey

Supplies: Leaves of various sizes and shapes Fall colored paint Paint brush White paper plate Brown paper Orange foam paper Googley eyes Glue Directions: Begin by collecting your leaves with your kiddos. Gather several different shapes and sizes while you adventure out on a Fall walk together. When you get home make sure that your […]

October 11

Easy Fall Crafts for Preschool Age Kids

Fall Tree Keepsake Supplies: Qtips Fall colored paint Rubber band Brown paper White paper plate Gather your supplies. Squirt several drops of Fall colored paints onto a plastic plate. Make the drops near each other so when you dip your Qtips you gather various colors of paint at one time. Bunch your Qtips together with […]

September 28

Cute Scarecrow Craft

Create your own adorable scarecrow craft to decorate your home this Fall season. Supplies: Wooden craft sticks Glue gun or white Elmer’s glue Googley eyes Paint (pink, brown, black) Black permanent marker Felt Yarn Directions: Place 5 wider wooden sticks or 6-7 narrow sticks in a row vertically. Lay one stick on top horizontally at […]

September 28

Dollar Store Finds

Easy crafts from the Dollar store! Head to your local Dollar Store and grab some easy fall craft supplies! There were several fun crafts and supplies to do with your kiddos. Like these cute Wooden Fall scenes. To create your own wooden fall scene grab a kit from the Dollar store. The kit comes with […]

September 27

Cheat Recipe for Caramel Apples

Do you like caramel apples? I love them… in the sense that I love the way they look and smell and they remind me of fall. I love the reds, yellows and greens of the apples buried beneath the caramel. It makes it feel like Fall. When I think of caramel apples, it reminds me […]

August 22

Polignano dal Mare

Polignano is one of my favorite cities in Puglia. It is built on a cliffside and overlooks the Adriatic sea. The water is crystal clear bluish-green, and the views from the city are beautiful. But this last weekend we were able to experience the view from the sea for the first time and it was […]

July 12

Pokemon Party!

A Pokemon birthday celebration! The perfect party for your Pokemon fan! Start off with some fun customized printables…. I created these fun printables for the birthday boy! They turned out fun and he was happy, so yeah! Begin each party with a photo booth… Why? It is a great memory of who was at the […]

July 10

Flamingo Hand Keepsake

Supplies: Blue and Pink Paper Pink Feathers Black Pen Scissors and glue Instructions: Begin by tracing the outline of your child’s hand. Have them hold their fingers close together while you are tracing them. Next cut out the outline of their hand. Draw and cut out a flamingo head. Glue the head onto your blue […]

July 7

DIY Pokeball Decoration

These Pokeballs are made of paper plates! They are easy to make and a fun decoration for your Pokemon fan! The original idea was to use them as a back drop for the photo booth, but when another solution popped up, they were perfect as a decoration to tie everything together in the backyard. Supplies: […]

June 11

Donut & Shopping

A quale teenager non piace fare lo shopping?? Ed i donut!? A le mie ragazze piace fare lo shopping e la mia figlia più grande adora i donut! In fatti, ogni tanto li fa lei o li facciamo insieme. Quindi quest’anno per il suo compleanno aveva il desiderio di avere le sue amiche a casa […]

June 4

Candy Kebabs

School is out! Celebrate your kiddos surviving the school year by making them a candy kebab! It’s a special treat for a special occasion. They are really easy to make! You just need kebab sticks and soft candy: marshmallows work great, but so do gummy candies. Slide each candy onto your stick from the pointed […]

June 1

Educazione e Disciplina

Di recente io e mio marito abbiamo avuto l’opportunità di condividere sulla disciplina per una seria su Youtube sulla genitorialità. Quando chiesto: Descrivi lo stile educativo messo in atto nella vostra casa? (valori fondanti, principi su cui non c’è da negoziare, situazioni in cui avete spinto all’autonomia, ecc.) Però in un video breve con 4 […]

May 17

Star Wars Games

Jedi Training Academy Star Wars is a fun theme for a birthday party. There are a lot of games and activities that go well with the theme. My favorite is to create a Jedi training academy and invite your guests to attend! While the kids are arriving give them an activity to keep busy until […]

May 14

Star Wars Galaxy Party

Food ideas for a Star Wars Party! There are a lot of fun ideas for a Star Wars party! Like Galaxy donuts and galaxy themed cupcakes and of course a beautiful Star Wars themed cake at the center of the table. If you add a few themed labels to your water bottles and soda pop […]

May 14

Back to School Pencil Pouch

Create your own DIY Pencil Pouch Supplies: Material Old Jeans Measuring tape/Ruler Patches Sewing Scissors Needle and thread Zipper Chalk or pencil for marking your fabric Steps: 1- Cut off a piece of your jeans between the knee and just below where the pocket is sewed in. 2- Measure how wide you want the top […]

April 7

Quando non hai più le Forze…

Quando non hai più le forze…. Più di un anno fa il mondo ha sentito la parola covid-19 per la prima volta. Più di un anno fa abbiamo iniziato il nostro primo lockdown…tutti chiusi a casa. Un anno fa devo confessare che ho pensato, “Fra un anno sicuramente sarà passato, o almeno molto migliorata la […]

April 1

Dying Easter Eggs

Have a little extra fun this year dying your Easter eggs! Create themed eggs! We had fun this year creating a few characters for our eggs! Create your own characters with us! It’s easy and fun. Supplies: Hard boiled eggs Food coloring Vinegar Edible pens are great for adding details like a smile, eyes or […]

March 18

Rainbow Craft

Create an adorable sunshiny rainbow with your littles! Supplies: Crepe paper (red, yellow/gold, green, blue & purple/pink) Paper plate Yellow & pink paint Paint brush, black marker, scissors and glue Yellow construction paper Instructions: To begin fold your paper plate to create a straight line (see image). Fold it about 2/3 of the way down […]

March 16

Fun & Games

Construction Party Start off the party fun with a photo booth! It is a great way to make sure all of your guests are in at least 1 photo and that they each get a photo with the birthday boy! It’s also a fun idea to print the photos out as a thank you for […]

March 15

Work in Progress

Construction Party themed food Themed party food adds such a festive touch to your party! Kids and adult alike love to read the labels and associate the foods with your theme. It’s pretty easy to do with everyday foods, you just need to get a little creative! I’ll share a few fun ideas with you […]

March 14

Work in Progress

Construction Theme Birthday Party This theme is so much fun for a birthday boy or for a Mamma who is expecting a baby boy! The bright colors constrasting with the black are so festive! There are so many fun ideas for decorations, activities and themed food! One of the most fun things about this theme […]

March 1

Rainbow Popcorn

These colorful popcorn are perfect for any special occasion. The easy recipe can be found here. To make your popcorn match your party theme, whether that be your favorite sports team, your school colors or the color scheme of your birthday, bridal shower or wedding just use colored chocolate melts and check out this recipe […]

February 22

Come Togliere il Ciuccio?!

E entro quale età? Il ciuccio….è un aiuto quando sono piccoli ed un tormento a toglierlo quando sono più grandi! L’academia dei dentisti pediatrici raccomandano di togliere il ciuccio entro l’età dei tre anni. Dopo il quale inizia a creare problemi per la boca ed i denti. Ma come si fa?! C’è un modo giusto, […]

February 11

Conversazione a Tavola

Quando ti siedi a tavola cosa succede? Tutti guardano il cellulare? I bimbi vogliono la TV acceso? Rispondono alle domande con un semplice si o no ogni volta? O magari solo uno dei tuoi figli parla, e parla tanto… mentre l’altro o gli altri sono più silenziosi? Noi avevamo queste difficoltà ed in particolare il […]

February 11

Table Talk

How is your table talk?! When you sit at the table is everyone tempted to be on their phone? To watch TV? Do you only get yes or no in answer to your questions? How can you make table time more special? We asked ourselves this question a few years back… and came up with […]

February 4

Painting with Food!

Painting with food?! How fun is that!???! What a fun way to change things up with your kiddos and to do something completely unique! Grab various food items that you think might work, and give it a try! We started with “roses”. We made our beautiful roses with the base of Chard plant (Bietole in […]

February 4

L’Essere genitore nei tempi del Covid…

Ciao a tutti, sono una mamma di 34 anni , mamma di due bimbi, rispettivamente 6 e 3 anni. In quest’anno passato e credo anche quello in corso, essere genitore, credo sia stato un compito più impegnativo del solito. Ci siamo ritrovati tutti a dover fronteggiare delle situazioni a noi del tutto sconosciute, prendere decisioni […]

February 1

Bustine Carine e una sfida per la famiglia tutta!

Prima di arrivare alla parte divertente e vedere come realizzare queste buste troppo carine, parliamo del Love Month Challenge. Secondo il lavoro di John Gottman e Robert Levenson, che hanno studiato da vicino gli effetti della negatività con le coppie, il rapporto suggerito è 5: 1, il che significa che per ogni incontro negativo, dovrebbero […]

February 1

Pittare con il cibo

I bimbi amano giocare con tutto! Cosa potrebbe essere più divertente del giocare con il cibo!? Cerca cibi da provare ad utilizzare per creare le tue opere d’arte! Abbiamo usato gli agrumi per creare un opera d’arte con i frutti! Taglia il frutto a metà, bagna con la pittura e appoggialo sul foglio di carta. […]

January 31

Valentine Card Holders

Love Month Challenge 2021! Before we get to the fun part and see how to make these too cute love note holders, let’s talk Love Month Challenge. According to the work of John Gottman and Robert Levenson, who closely studied the effects of negativity with couples, the suggested ratio is 5:1, meaning that for every negative encounter, there should be a […]

January 26

TV: Come cosa vedo influisce chi sono.

La violenza che si guarda attraverso uno schermo ha un impatto sulla vita reale? Lo schermo diventa sempre più invadente nelle nostre vite. Quando ero piccola io guardavo la TV la sera o il pomeriggio, o un film il fine settimana ma passavo poco tempo nel farlo. Magari massimo 1-2 ore al giorno davanti uno […]

January 26

Peanut Butter bites

When I was a tween and my sister a teen we had a secret treat we loved to make when my parents were away… I really have no idea who started it, or who had the original idea, but it was one of those things that we would make as soon as my parents walked […]

January 25

Crayon Melt Artwork

Crayon melt artwork is so much fun! When I was little, and my Mom was a preschool teacher, she had a hot plate covered with foil where you could make crayon melt artwork in her preschool class. And it was ALWAYS my favorite thing to do! My kids favorite too! This art project is similar […]

January 20

Acchiappasole

Se sei come me, allora hai bisogno di un pò di colore durante questi giorni invernali! Questi acchiappasole sono un lavoretto perfetto per te e la tua famiglia! Hai bisogno di alcuni materiali che molto probabilmente hai già a casa! Materiali: Colla bianca Pittura nera acrilica Una bottiglietta con il beccuccio Bustine rigide di plastica […]

January 20

Sun Catchers

If you, like me, need something to brighten up these winter days, then these sun catchers are the perfect project for you and your family! You only need a few basic supplies and they are truly fun to make! Supplies: White glue Black acrylic paint Squeeze bottle Plastic document sleeve (see photo). Rigid is best! […]

January 20

Creare con i Pastelli a cera

L’arte, creato sciogliendo i pastelli, è davvero molto divertente! Quando ero piccola, mia madre era maestra in una scuola materna. Lei aveva una stazione dove i bimbi potevano andare per creare opere d’arte con una piastra ed i pastelli a cera. Era sempre la mia attività preferita. è l’attività preferita dei miei figli anche. Questo […]

January 19

Painted Hearts

With this project you can create two beautiful pieces of artwork in one!! Supplies: Paper Masking Tape/Painter’s tape Paint Paintbrushes Water Placemat Scissors Begin by cutting out a template. We used heart shape, but you can use any shape of your choice. Tape your template onto your canvas or construction paper using masking tape. Once […]

January 19

Aiuto! I suoi capricci mi stanno facendo stancare.

I capricci dei nostri figli possono risucchiare tutta la nostra energia, pazienza e creatività e lasciarci con mal di testa o senza soluzioni. A volte il desiderio è semplicemente quello di dare ciò che vogliono così per farli smettere di gridare o piangere. Però almeno dalla mia esperienza questa soluzione non aiuta a lungo termine. […]

January 17

Chalk Art

I love how soft and sweet this art project turned out! It reminds me of conversation hearts…those pretty pastels! We made hearts, but you can make whatever shape you would like! Fireworks for New Year’s Day, a star for Christmas, someone’s name to decorate your room! Get creative and have fun with this easy project! […]

January 17

Opere d’arte con i gessetti

Adoro quanto questo lavoretto ha i colori tenui e dolci. Mi ricorda i famosi “conversation hearts” caramelle Americane regalati per il giorno di San Valentino! Noi abbiamo creato dei cuori per questo lavoretto, ma puoi facilemente creare la forma che preferisci! Magari i fuochi di artificio per Capo d’Anno, o una stella per Natale, o […]

January 15

Valentines Day Qtip Art

Creating an adorable heart with your kiddos is easy and fairly mess-free! It’s a great project for various ages. Supplies: Qtips Paint Paper Scissors To make this heart begin by squirting your paint onto a plastic paint and setting out a tub of Qtips, plastic cups of water and several napkins or paper towels. Cut […]

January 15

Pittare con i cotton fioc

Creare un cuore adorabile con i tuoi piccoli è facile e sporchi poco! è un bellissimo progetto per bimbi di vari età. Materiali: Cotton fioc Pittura Carta Forbice Bicchieri d acqua e tovaglioli e salviettini Per creare questo cuore: Prima prendi i tuoi materiali e copri il tuo tavolo con una tovaglia di plastica. Inizia […]

January 5

Frozen Party Food & Fun

Party food should be fun! Especially for a child’s birthday! I love creating fun themed food, like the various ideas you will find here below! Tasty Eats: A few great ideas for Frozen themed food are: Cookie cutter sandwiches in the shape of snowflakes Popcorn (snowballs) Mini Carrots (Olaf’s nose) Pretzel stick’s (Olaf’s arms) I […]

January 5

A Frozen Birthday

Do your kids love Frozen? Do they prefer Frozen 1 or Frozen 2? Frozen is the perfect theme for a winter birthday! It fits right in with winter decorations or even Christmas decorations if you have a December birthday to celebrate. Here are a few of my favorite Frozen party ideas! Activities: As the girls […]

January 1

Ready for a New Year!

2020 is almost over! Whoohoo! Who is ready?! It’s been a strange year and it felt right to send off 2020 with a bang! I had to make some fun festive printables for the occasion! Like these simple placecards and these adorable New Year’s Eve activities. These cards can be found in the printable section […]

December 25

Christmas Traditions

Let me begin by saying that I am not really a Christmas china kind of gal. I don’t have space (mentally or physically) to store china that I get out only once a year. And so I love, love finding fun plates to use each year to brighten our table with a new theme…making each […]

December 24

Christmas Eve in Plaid

The year is coming to an end and I just love the cozy feel of buffalo plaid. It reminds me of my Grandpa and his flannel shirts he used to wear. This year we opted for matching buffalo plaid jammies to immortalize 2020 and the year of covid spent behind a computer screen with jammie […]

December 24

Biscotti ai Marshmallow e Cereali: “Rice Krispie treats”

Ingredienti: 380 grammi di Rice Krispie Cereali 560 grammi di Marshmallow 170 grammi di Burro Colorante Gel Scogli il burro in una pentola grande. Aggiungi i marshmallow e gira costantemente fino a quando non sono sciolti (vedi l’ultima foto). Aggiungi il colorante ai marshmallow e mescola bene. Aggiungi i cereali e continuare a mescolare fino […]

December 23

Easy Apple Cider

This apple cider is such a simple recipe, but it will make your house smell like the holidays and warm you inside and out! Ingredients 4 cups apple juice 2 cinnamon sticks 2 whole cloves 1 sliced orange 1/8 tsp of nutmeg Add your ingredients to a pot on your stovetop and simmer on low […]

December 23

Cute Christmas Cupcakes

Do you like my alliteration?! LOL Dessert should be fun, right?! I love a creative dessert that not only tastes delicious but also has kiddos ooing and aahhing and smiling over the magical fun you’ve created! Like these super cute and easy Santa’s hat cupcakes! Or these beautiful wreath cupcakes… Or these fun Christmas trees! […]

December 22

6 Easy Christmas Activities to keep the kiddos busy

Santa Claus is coming to town! Are you ready?! Printable Activity mats Here are a few fun printable activities for your Christmas table! Because kiddos get bored and a little game to work on while they sit down for Christmas lunch might be the key. It’s a great way to get them to interact with […]

December 21

Spreading Holiday Cheer

Cute little gift boxes are the perfect way to brighten someone’s day this week! Get a box ready for a friend, your staff, a lonely neighbor or elderly relative. We all need a little extra cheer this season. I made two versions of these gift boxes for our staff. First of all aren’t the little […]

December 17

Gumdrop Tree

Nothing is cuter, and more tasty, than a Christmas gumdrop tree! Supplies Foam cone Toothpicks Gumdrops (I chose red and green Spiceletts, but you can do a rainbow gumdrop tree or a tree in that is all the same color as well) Instructions: You will need approximately 1.5 bags for a 6 inch cone. This […]

December 16

Sidro di Mele

Questa bevanda calda ti riscalda e crea un profumo delizioso in tutta la casa! INGREDIENTI Un pizzico di Noce Moscato 950 ml di Succo di Mela 2 bastoni di Cannella 1 arancia lavato bene e tagliato a fette sottili 2 chiodi di garofano Metti tutti i tuoi ingredienti in una pentola sul gas a lascia […]

December 9

Creative Ideas for Gifting Cash

It’s Raining Money Umbrella Gift My tween thought this one was pretty funny! Supplies: Cash Umbrella Mini clothes pins If you want to use coins as well then you will need ribbon and tape To make a money umbrella just use the clothes pin to “clip” the money onto the structure of the umbrella. You […]

December 8

Snowman Bowling!

If you are looking for a holiday activity that is a little different than the ordinary crafting or cookie baking…look no further! This snowman bowling is good for a little crafting, a lot of play and even more laughs! Supplies: White Plastic Milk bottles or another similarly bottle (see below photo) Glue & Hot glue […]

December 7

An Extra Sweet Birthday

Making Gingerbread Houses for our December Baby! Covid is kind of a bummer. In fact, we’ve had to skip a couple birthdays, and Thanksgiving this year and Christmas will be limited too. I am looking forward to this particular season being over. And yet, there are still so many ways to make each day special […]

November 30

“The Nutcracker Suite”

The Perfect Theme for a Winter Birthday We love the story of the Nutcracker. It was always one of Chloe’s favorite stories. So it was also the perfect theme for her 5th birthday party. Entryway: To make the arrival even more exciting for all of my children’s friends, I love to decorate the entrance way! […]

November 30

Nutcracker Party treats

I love the Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky. The music is beautiful and I always loved the ballet. It is also the perfect story for the holidays. My little ballerina always loved her Nutcracker book. So for her 5th birthday we celebrated with a Nutcracker theme. There are so many cute ideas for Nutcracker themed food. […]

November 27

Chocolate Caramel Tart

This chocolate caramel tart has a salty addition to it… a pretzel graham cracker crust! And it is sooooo good! It is delicious as a full-size tart, or as mini tarts like the ones I made this Thanksgiving! I love the bite-size tarts. It’s the perfect amount of caramel and chocolate and crust. This post […]

November 24

Getting in the Holiday Spirit!

It’s that time of year! Well, at least it is for us. We started early this year. . .November 15th to be precise! This year just needed a little extra cheer, don’t you think?! After years of trying, we finally convinced the Daddy to get a fake tree. I am thrilled because as much as […]

November 23

Salt Dough Ornaments

Homemade ornaments are so special! I remember making salt dough ornaments with my Mom when I was little. We had a mold to create Care Bears! They turned out adorable some how and were a fun memory of the time I spent with my Mom creating and of the holiday season. Create your own salt […]

November 21

Un Attitudine di Gratitudine

2020 2020 ci ha accolto di sorpresa… Con tutti gli stress, e sfide è facile cadere in un attitudine di rabbia, ansia, apatia o tristezza. Ogni novembre come famiglia prendiamo del tempo per ricordare tutte le cose per la quale siamo grati. Creiamo un albero di ringraziamento (Thanksgiving tree) e lo appendiamo nel soggiorno. Così […]

November 12

Extra M**st Chocolate Muffins!

These are literally the best chocolate muffins ever! They are more dense than a cupcake, but still humid and light. They are chocolately, but not overwhelmingly so. Unless, like me you add a ton of mini chocolate chips… and then they are just perfectly chocolate! Make a batch for breakfast this week! They freeze perfectly […]

November 11

Sweet Potato Pumpkin Soup

This Fall soup is perfectly cozy and creamy. It is fast becoming my absolute favorite. The delicate pumpkin and sweet potato flavors remind me of the Fall and I love the bright orange color! Ingredients: Approximately 1/2 cup Coconut Milk 1/4 cup Pecorino Cheese 1 Small Pumpkin (approximately 1 1/2 cups of pumpkin) 1-2 Sweet […]

November 9

Turkey Cups

These cute little Turkey cups are fun for keeping your colors or pens in for all your Thanksgiving day games, placemats and activities, for storing your plastic forks on your dessert table or with an adorable straw to drink out of at the kid’s table! They are really easy to make too! Supplies: Recycled paper […]

November 4

Peanut Butter Caramel Corn

Ingredients: 1/3 cup Brown Sugar 2/3 cup White Sugar 5 Tablespoons Butter 1/3 cup Heavy Cream 1/4 cup Peanut butter Approximately 15 chopped Mini Reese’s Peanut butter cups Begin by popping your popcorn. You can use whichever method you prefer: air popped, on the stove top or in the microwave. If you buy microwave popcorn, […]

November 4

The Thanksgiving Kid’s Table

Let’s face it. The kid’s table is the cool place to be on Thanksgiving day! I stayed at the kid’s table for as long as I could. Extra treats, cool placemats, things to color! What’s not to love? This Thanksgiving create something special for the little ones in your home to enjoy! You can make […]

November 2

An Attitude of Gratitude

2020 2020 threw us a curve ball. Quite literally. It was so unexpected. With all of the challenges and tensions and stress it is easy to fall into an attitude of anger, frustration, tiredness, apathy or sadness. Every November we the time as a family to remember all of the things we have to be […]

October 29

Chocolate Pancakes

We all need a little comfort sometimes. Comfort = Chocolate. Right?! All this quarantine business is tricky and a little tiring and some times you just need something extra special to start the day! These chocolate pancakes do the trick perfectly! They are delicious with Nutella, Peanut butter, butter and powdered sugar or fresh fruit […]

October 26

Sweet Potato Biscuits

Ingredients: 2 cups All-purpose Flour 1 tablespoon Baking Powder 1 tablespoon Granulated Sugar 1 teaspoon Salt 6 tablespoons of COLD Butter 3/4 cup Buttermilk 3/4 cup Pureed Sweet Potato Pre-baking Instructions: Before you begin making your biscuits you will need to cook and puree your sweet potato. One large potato is plenty for this recipe. […]

October 26

Monstrous Eats & Treats

We don’t do Halloween at our house. I did growing up… I dressed up as a princess, a rock star, a flapper, a siamese twin and so many other silly things over the years. But here in Italy Halloween kind of took on only the evil aspect of it. It’s pretty dark, and a few […]

October 20

Pancake al Cioccolato

Abbiamo tutti bisogno di un pò di coccole a vole, vero? Sopra di tutto durante questa quarantina che non finisce mai!! Coccole = Cioccolato. Giusto!!? Questi pancake sono deliziosi con burro di arachidi, Nutella, zucchero a velo o frutta fresca e panna montato. Sono cioccolatosi ma non troppo dolci. Sono perfetti per un compleanno o […]

October 19

Apple Blondies

Ingredients: Cookies 1/2 cup Butter 2 Apples 2 Eggs 3/4 cup Brown sugar 1 tsp Vanilla paste 1 cup Flour 1/2 tsp Baking soda 1/8 tsp Baking powder 1/2 tsp Salt Strudel Topping 1/2 cup Brown Sugar 1 cup Flour 4 tablespoons Butter Instructions Measure your wet ingredients: brown sugar, butter (room temperature), eggs and […]

October 19

Boredom Buster Jar

Supplies: Acrylic Paint Pens Large Popsicle sticks Jar to keep your boredom sticks in Permanent pen to write your boredom buster (I used a thin-line permanent marker) Directions: Paint one end of your stick. Do this part of the activity with your kiddos so they can have fun creating too! They can make stripes, themed […]

October 16

Biscoff Chewy Caramel Candies

These caramels are the perfect consistency! Chewy, but not so chewy that they make your jaw hurt. The flavor is rich with a classic caramel base, but the Biscoff adds a unique touch. You will need: 1/3 cup heavy cream 1 cup sugar 5 Tablespoons of butter (no substitutes) 1/3 cup Lotus Biscoff cookie spread […]

October 15

Crayon Melt Pumpkins

Happy Fall y’all! If you want to skip the carving mess, then there are so many fun idea for decorating your pumpkin this year!! Like this crayon melt pumpkin! Materials: Crayons Hair dryer Pumpkin Hot glue gun To begin clean your pumpkin with warm water and a rag. And dry it off well. Clean the […]

October 13

How to Tie Dye: tips for your party!

We bought our tie dye kit on Amazon and asked everyone to bring their own item to tie dye. The kit came with gloves, aprons, 18 different colors and instructions (including different design ideas). A few tips that we learned along the way: Wear gloves. Like all the time. Even at the end when you […]

October 12

Tie Dye Party

My oldest turned 16. Somehow that happened. Although I don’t know how it is possible. We decided to celebrate his day with an all-day party plan! He went to sushi for lunch with his closest friends and then took a walk and went shopping in the big city near us (Bari). They came back home […]

October 11

Oreo Chocolate Chip Cookies

All the goodness of a chocolate chip cookie with a little something extra! Start by measuring the butter [no substitutes]. You will need 1/2 cup or 113 grams. Next measure your eggs into a small bowl. Separate one egg. Keep the yolk. In separate bowl beat the egg and egg yolk. Add sugars, butter and […]

October 6

Jewelry box: Geometric Design

Make the cutest jewelry box ever!! Have you tired tape painting?! The result is so pretty. You can do it with a canvas too, but we thought it would look beautiful on Chloe’s new jewelry box. Supplies: Wooden jewlery box or “treasure box” Acrylic paints Painters tape (or masking tape) Paint brushes, water, mat, etc […]

October 4

Tie Dye Art

Tie dye is back and it is still a lot of fun to make! Whether it’s tie dying a t-shirt or a mask or a canvas…it’s colorful and bright and fun to do with your kiddos. Supplies: Permanent pens Canvas Alcohol Begin by coloring in your canvas with your permanent pens. Try to imitate the […]

October 1

Fall Leaf Candle Jars

Fall is by far my favorite season! I love it for a thousand reasons… but one of those reasons is that I can finally start lighting candles again. Summer here is too too hot for candles, but I just love them! I love the soft glow, the amazing smells and that cozy feel that they […]

September 27

Fall Scrap paper Collage

Create your own Fall art with pieces of extra scrapbook paper or leftover paper from art projects. Supplies: Canvas (or white card stock paper) scraps of paper pencil glue paintbrush (optional) To begin cut your scraps of paper into smaller pieces. I used a single shape. I wanted all of my scraps to be triangles. […]

September 25

The cutest little cloth headband

Chloe’s Crafts My cutie patootie daughter created these headbands on her own. They are pretty easy to make and require minimal sewing (by hand). If you would like a more finished look, then you can easily sew the edges of your material scraps before wrapping them together to create the headband. Material: Sewing scissors Material […]

September 20

Back to School

Are you ready? I don’t know if we are ready, if the nation is ready, if the school’s are ready . . . .but here we go! How are you all doing?! I am a little nervous about a few different things. Particularly that my older kids have to take public transportation to get to […]

September 14

Family Vacation

My Italian Life: Exploring Abruzzo Do you love family vacation? Or do you dread the packing and the bickering and the long car rides? For me it is probably a little bit of both. I love taking time to be in nature, to connect as a couple and with our kids and as a family. […]

September 4

Arriva la Scuola!

Come aiutare i nostri piccoli a prepararsi per la scuola ed affrontare cambiamenti ed il sconosciuto… Prima di tutto credo che sia molto importante per noi genitori di non passare le nostre ansie e preoccupazioni ai nostri piccoli. Sono certa che questo lo sai già, ma a volte lo facciamo senza renderci conto. Magari siamo […]

September 1

Family is the Greatest Treasure

Adoption Shower “However motherhood comes to you, it’s a miracle.” Valarie Harper Adoption is such an important decision! It is the opportunity to meet the needs of a child or children. It is a chance to love someone who needs to be loved. To be a family for someone who needs a family. And so […]

August 29

White Chocolate Pecan Cookies

Pecans are one of my all-time favorite nuts. . . so good! So, when I finally found them here in Italy, I had to make a really great cookie to use them in! Here’s your grocery list: Ingredients 1 cup room temperature unsalted butter 3/4 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla 2 […]

August 28

Tie dye Masks

This has been such a strange moment in history! Covid, masks, quarantine… So, we figured if we need to wear masks, let’s have fun with them!! So we decided on tie dye! Supplies: White Masks Colored Sharpie pens Alcohol Eye dropper Cardboard or cutting board or something to put under your mask to protect your […]

August 6

“Dieta”

Fra poco inizia l’estate. Giusto un paio di mesi per mettersi in forma. Cosa succede?! Ogni anno verso Gennaio tutti vivono una crisi… si mettono a dieta per trovarsi in forma quando arriva la stagione del costume da bagno. Ogni anno. è sempre la stessa cosa. Sempre lo stesso ciclo. Ogni anno. Ogni volta ricadiamo […]

August 6

Peanut Butter Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

Recipe: 6 cups Marshmallows 3 Tablespoons Butter 3/4 cup Chocolate chips 1/4 cup Peanut butter 5 cups Rice Krispies Directions: Measure out all of your ingredients ahead of time. Once you start stiring your marshmallows and butter, you need to have everything ready so that nothing burns. Grease an 8×8 pan and set it aside. […]

August 1

The Best Oatmeal Cookies

RECIPE: 1/4 cup Muscovado sugar (you can substitute with brown sugar if necessary) 1/4 cup Brown sugar 1/4 cup White granulated sugar 1/2 cup Butter (room temperature) 1 Egg + 1 Egg yolk 1 tsp Vanilla 1 cup All purpose flour 1/2 tsp Salt 1/2 tsp Baking Soda 1/8 tsp Baking Powder 3/4 cup Oats […]

July 28

Super Sweet Summer un-Birthday

Do you love cherries? We love cherries, but they are also an adorable theme for a summer birthday party! Bright reds, greens and whites brighten up the room for your celebration. And why an un-birthday?! My daughter’s birthday was during the quarantine. And she was pretty bummed not to be able to celebrate with her […]

July 16

DIY T-shirt Beach Bag

We always have so many bags when we head to the beach! A bag for snacks, a bag for sunscreen, a bag for a good book, and my phone, and a big bag for beach towels. And probably several more than I am forgetting about. There are two different style options to choose from. Take […]

July 14

La Definizione di Bellezza

Come si definisce la bellezza? Se pensiamo logicamente forse tutti noi saremo d’accordo che la bellezza è un concetto astratto, è soggettivo. Però quando si tratta di come vediamo noi stessi, la bellezza diventa meno relativo, e abbiamo invece requisiti molto precisi. Anche se a volte non siamo neanche consapevoli della nostra definizione attuale della […]

July 13

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Summer has begun! And I am so happy. The weather has been how I like it…warm, but not crazy hot! Then I can still bake and just generally function without feeling like a sweaty exhausted mess. Do you love the summer? Or do you prefer another season? I received loads of zucchini recently and so […]

July 11

Zucchini Bread Muffins

If you are looking for the perfect summer breakfast…something to grab on your way out for a hike, or camping or a day at the beach… then look no further! These zucchini bread muffins are perfect individual sized portions, a healthier muffin and just plain delicious! RECIPE: 3 eggs 2/3 cup oil 1/3 cup greek […]

July 9

Fried Zucchini Flowers

A delicious Italian appetizer! On one of my first visits to Italy an Italian friend ordered appetizers. One of the appetizers was something I did not recognize. They told me the name in Italian, but I had no idea what it meant….so I thought, “Why not?!” And I tried it. I fell in love instantly […]

July 9

Plumcake alle Zucchine

L’estate è finalmente arrivata! C’è il sole ma non fa troppo caldo. Stiamo godendo la piscina e la pausa dalla scuola a distanza! LOL Di recente ho ricevuto TANTISSIME zucchine! E quindi ho approfittato per fare il plumcake dolce alle zucchine ed i muffin dolce alle zucchine! Una ricetta dolce (ma un pò più sano […]

July 8

Ma quanto sono stanca…

Alcuni incoraggiamenti per Mamme di bimbi piccoli L’altro giorno una Mamma di due bimbi piccoli stava a casa mia. E mi ha chiesto, “Carli, eri stanca in questa fase? Era una fase stanchevole anche per te?” A volte ci sentiamo mancanti quando siamo stanche. Come dovremo essere super-Mamme con super forze, che non si stancano […]

July 8

Muffin Dolci alle Zucchine

RICETTA: 3 uova 155 ml di Olio di semi 85 grammi yogurt greco (o yogurt bianco non zuccherato) 265 grammi zucchero bianco 65 grammi zucchero Muscovado 2 cucchiaini del caffè vaniglia (non vanillina) 1 cucchiaino del caffè di salt 1 cucchiaino di bicarbonato Metà di un cucchiaino del caffè di lievito per i dolci 100 […]

July 3

Around the Clock Wedding Shower

Have you ever been to a wedding shower? It’s like a bridal shower, but for the couple. And it is a perfect solution. It’s a great fir for couple’s who have both guys and girls for friends. It’s also a great solution for couples who do not love to be the center of attention, and […]

July 2

Bridal Shower

Che cos’è un Bridal shower? E qual’è la differenza fra un Bridal shower ed un addio al nubilato? Bridal Shower: La Bridal Shower è una festa per la sposa con le sue amiche e parenti. Di solito è un pò più formale del addio al nubilato. Spesso si fa un brunch la mattina, ci sono […]

June 23

Piccoli passi per parlare del razzismo come famiglia:

Quando si tratta di razzismo ed i nostri figli è importante parlare come famiglia. Inizia presto a parlare con i tuoi figli riguardo il razzismo. Il primo che inizi, meglio è. Bambini notano le differenze Dopo pochi mesi dalla nascita, bimbi preferiscono la facce di persone della stessa razza e possono distinguere il colore di […]

June 22

French Toast

Noi amiamo fare colazione a cena di tanto in tanto! è una tradizione che avevamo come famiglia durante la mia infanzia. Mia madre faceva Pancake in forme spettacolari, French toast ricoperti di sciroppo d’acero fatto in casa, e waffle con frutta stagionale! è una tradizione che vi consiglio come famiglia! Una volta al mese indossate […]

June 22

Upcycling Old Jeans for the Summer

Summer is here. Maybe your kid’s jean have gotten too short, or you know that they will not fit come Fall. Try upcycling them into some cute jean shorts for the summer! Grab some: Sewing Scissors Felt Tweezers Sandpaper Fork Fabric Glue To Make Distressed Jeans: Step 1: Make your jeans into shorts Try on […]

June 9

Una Gravidanza Interrotta…

Questa è la storia di una donna che scopre per la prima volta che dentro di sé è nata una vita Questa è la storia di una donna piena di speranza Questa è la storia di un dolore profondo che solo Gesù può comprendere accogliere e guarire Questa è la MIA storia Riflettevo su quanto […]

June 8

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies

Peanut butter and chocolate is one of the best combinations ever! So these peanut butter chocolate cookies seemed like the perfect solution! A classic peanut butter cookie with a chocolate twist! If you love pb and chocolate then these cookies are for you. INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup butter (room temperature) 1/2 cup muscovado sugar 1/4 cup […]

June 5

Raspberry Peach Scones

Scones are probably my favorite breakfast. But scones can also be really really dry. And therefore not my favorite…at all. But if you get a delicious, flaky scone, filled with fruit or just humid and flaky and delicious…yum! They are the best! Especially with a coffee and a friend. They are also a beautiful breakfast […]

June 2

Magic Sand

Who doesn’t love to build sand castles in the sand? And the invention of moon sand was pretty cool, the way it hold together so easily. This magic sand is similar to kinetic sand in it’s ability to hold it’s form and squish and build castles with. Because there is no actual “sand” in it, […]

June 1

Chocolate Nutella Cookies

These cookies are soooooo good! Like too good. I already ate two! Help! They are humid and packed with flavor, but neither overly chocolately nor overly Nutella-y (which is of course a word). They are delicious full of chocolate chips, or M&Ms, or just on their own so that you can enjoy the delicate flavor […]

May 29

TUTTI FRUTTI

DIY Mason jar Craft Summer is almost here! Yeah! I am so excited that school is almost out. Summer reminds me of sunshine and fresh fruit and especially watermelon and pineapple. We made these too cute jars to celebrate! The larger size are perfect for pencils or a party table, and the mini jars are […]

May 25

Romantic Red Velvet Cake

My husband and I met in Italy. I was 17 (almost 18) and he was 19. We had both just graduated from high school (they go to school until grade 13 here). We had heard of each other for years, in fact our parents tried to get us to be pen pals when we were […]

May 23

Homemade Graham Crackers

These delicious graham cracker cookies are easy and better than the original! They are perfect for s’mores or for dunking in Milk. In my elementary school days we had snack time once a day. And for snack every day parents took turns supplying one thing: Graham Crackers. It was a special occasion if they bought […]

May 22

Arriva un Fratellino!

Come aiutare i nostri figli ad accettare, e vivere con tranquillità, l’arrivo di un nuovo fratellino o sorellina. Quando arriva il primo figlio è tutto nuovo. è tutto fa un pò paura. Devi ancora scoprire come fare tutto… come farlo addormentare, come allattare, come cambiare il pannolino, ecc, ecc. Il primo figlio ha tutta la […]

May 20

The Best Sugar Cookie Recipe

This is our absolute favorite cookie recipe! It is easy, keeps perfect edges without spreading and it delicious!! Recipe: 1 cup butter (room temperature) 1 cup Granulated Sugar 1 egg 2 tsp vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract) 2 1/2 cups flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt No need to refridgerate! Roll out […]

May 17

No-sew Hair Scrunchies

Hair scrunchies were so cool when I was young! In fact my Mom and I used to sew them together. They eventually came back around…they say fashion repeats itself. So here we are 30 years later and my girls love hair scrunchies too. So my youngest figured out how to make hair scrunchies with no […]

May 16

Cute as a Button: Games & Activities

There are some great and easy games to go with a doll theme, button theme or sewing theme. We found several cute activities for this Cute as a button birthday bash. Photo Booth: We always start with a photo booth! It’s the perfect way to capture memories with all your child’s friends. No-sew Doll Skirts […]

May 15

Cute as a Button: Party Food

Fun ideas for eats and treats at a Cute as a button party (Lalaloopsy doll birthday) Creating food for this little party was lots of fun! We stuck with the cute as a button theme. Using spools of thread, string, ribbon and buttons to decorate everything from cups, to forks, to water bottles. They were […]

May 14

Cute as a Button

A Lalaloopsy Party! Photo Booth Fun! When your girls are as cute as a button, you need a photo to commemorate your special day! To make it extra fun I asked the girls to dress up as their favorite Lalaloopsy doll! They were so creative and it was tons of fun to see the costumes […]

May 12

Popcorn Dolci

Popcorn dolci e deliziosi fatti in casa con pochi ingredienti! Ingredienti: 1 busta di popcorn per la microonde (13 tazze/63 grammi) 200 grammi di zucchero 70 grammi di burro 70 grammi di panna fresco Primo Passo: Cucinare i tuoi popcorn. Puoi usare i popcorn che preferisci tu: per il microonde, da cucinare sui fornelli, ecc. […]

May 12

Shortbread

Are you a shortbread fan? A piece of shortbread and a good cappuccino make for an excellent breakfast… or afternoon snack! And this recipe is so easy it can be done by all levels of bakers. Ingredients: 125 grams Butter (9 tablespoons) 55 grams Castor Sugar (4 1/2 tablespoons) 180 grams Flour (1 1/2 cups) […]

May 11

Sono una Mamma vedova…

Oggi abbiamo l’opportunità di leggere insieme la storia di una Mamma, vedova, e ciò che ha imparato nei suoi anni ad essere l’unico genitore per i suoi due figli. Ogni storia è importante. Ogni storia è unica. Insieme possiamo trovare forza perché ogni storia benedice una persona diversa. Spero oggi la storia di questa Mamma […]

May 9

Kids in Quarantine. . .(Part 2)

25 ideas for family fun and activities to do during quarantine! Each activity has a Bible verse included with it. Day 15:Create an Obstacle course. Create an obstacle course together with your children. Use simple objects like the table, chairs, cushions, books, stuffed toys, etc. Show or explain the path they are supposed to follow. […]

May 8

Plastilina fai da te!

Questa ricetta è facile ed è non tossico! Perfetto per piccole mani! Ingredienti: 300 grammi di Farina (00 o 0 va bene) 150 grammi di Sale 4 cucchiaini di Cremor di Tartaro 475 ml di Acqua tiepida 2 cucchiai di olio di semi Colorante alimentare in gel Inizia misurando tutti gli ingredienti asciutti: farina, sale […]

May 8

Easy Homemade Playdough!

This easy recipe is non-toxic: perfect for the littlest of hands! Ingredients: 2 1/3 cups of All purpose Flour 3/4 cup Salt 4 teaspoons Cream of Tartar 2 cups Lukewarm Water 2 Tablespoons olive oil (or vegetable oil) 4 drops of peppermint (optional) Food Coloring Begin by mixing your dry ingredients into a large saucepan. […]

May 7

Homemade Waffles

Light and fluffy, these waffles are perfect topped with fresh fruit or maple syrup! Waffles are one of my favorite breakfast treats! I love the crevices in the waffles and how you can fill them easily with syrup, or fruit or powdered sugar. And I just really love breakfast food! I would eat breakfast for […]

May 6

Fluffy Blueberry Pancakes

I love blueberries. I could eat them until I am sick. I used to love going blueberry picking with my Mom at the blueberry farm near our house and in later years we had our own blueberry bushes. Now if you put a blueberry in a muffin or a pancake I might love it even […]

May 4

Cupcake Liner Flowers for Mom

Homemade Mother’s Day cards are the best! I love the sweet notes that my kids write me. It blesses me more than any breakfast in bed. . .although that would be nice too!! LOL My youngest and I worked on these adorable cupcake liner flowers for Mother’s day cards for a few sweet Mammas in […]

May 3

Kids in Quarantine. . .(Part 1)

25 ideas for family fun and activities to do during quarantine! Each activity has a Bible verse included with it. Day 1Go outside in your yard or on your porch or balcony. Count 10 things that God created (swallows, sun, etc.). Make a drawing or a painting of one of the beautiful things that God […]

May 2

Great Grandma Meemo’s Sticky Buns

This recipe makes 2 9×13 pans of sticky buns! I had the privilege of meeting my Great Grandma. I don’t remember her really well, but I do remember that she was kind, funny, and quick witted. She was also a great baker! I am so glad that she passed down some of her favorite recipes […]

April 30

Making art with our hands!

Fingerprint and handprint art are fun to make and the perfect way to capture your little guys hands, while creating a work of art at the same time! There hands only stay little so long… In fact, it just goes by way too quickly! That is why I love fingerprint and handprint art. Kids love […]

April 30

Homemade Cinnamon Bread

HEAT: 1 cup milk (Then cool to lukewarm) 6 T shortening ¼ cup sugar 1 t salt DISSOLVE: 2 tsp fresh brewer’s yeast 1 cup lukewarm water 1 tablespoon of sugar Set aside Momentarily MIX IN STAND MIXER WITH DOUGH HOOK: Pour Milk mixture into Stand Mixer and add: 2 cups of flour to make […]

April 28

Come Proteggere i nostri Figli Online:

Alcuni suggerimenti ed informazioni per la sicurezza della tua famiglia online. Viviamo ormai in un mondo in continua evoluzione e questa evoluzione comprende i dispositivi elettronici. I nostri figli imparano ad usare YouTube ancor prima di leggere e scrivere, anzi, ancor prima di camminare. Sono un padre anch’io, e so quanto a volte come genitori […]

April 28

Mimi al Contrario!

Volete un gioco che vi permette di rilassarvi sul divano?! Il gioco dei mimi è divertente è facile! IL GIOCO CLASSICO: Scrivi tante parole (semplici da mimare, o almeno in base al età dei bimbi) su fogli di carta. Metti tutte le parole in una ciotola e mescola bene. Ognuno, una alla volta, pesca una […]

April 28

Pretzel Soffici: fatti in casa

Lasciami dire che amo i pretzel soffici. Mi piacciono davvero tanto. Mi basta per il pranzo. . .un pretzel delizioso e soffice. è uno delle prime cose che compro per me stessa quando torno negli Stati Uniti- un pretzel soffice da Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. Dal altro canto, un pretzel asciutto, duro e secco è la […]

April 27

Homemade Soft Pretzels

Let me just say….I love soft pretzels. Like I really truly love soft pretzels. I used to eat them as my lunch. Just one delicious soft pretzel. It is something I treat myself to when I get back to the US to visit- usually from Auntie Anne’s, who makes my absolute favorite pretzel. On the […]

April 26

Creiamo con la cartapesta

Giorno 34: Creiamo animaletti e tante altre forme usando la cartapesta! Queste creazioni sono facili e divertenti da creare con bimbi un pò più grandi (di scuola elementare). E ti servono pochi materiali che probabilmente hai già a casa! Materiali: Colla bianca (vinavyl) Rotolo di carta di cucina o carta velina Carta stagnola Pittura acrilica […]

April 25

Serata con i giochi da tavola!!

Giorno 33: Oggi facciamo una serata alternativa con i giochi da tavola! Con la quaratena che continua da molto tempo ormai, è facile passare le serate a guardare la TV, la stanchezza della giornata e del stare chiusi in casa ha i suoi effetti. Ma non vogliamo solo sopravvivere, ma trovare modi per godere di […]

April 25

Easy Paper Mache Creations

These creations are easy and fun to make with older children! And you need few supplies that you likely have laying around the house! Material: White School Glue Paper towels or tissue paper Aluminum Foil Acrylic Paint Other decorations to add to your creations (glitter, construction paper, tissue paper, googley eyes, pom poms, etc). Begin […]

April 24

Born to Rock Baby Shower!

A virtual Baby shower Quarantine life is affecting all of us. Life keeps moving forward, but we are stuck at home as it does. People are giving birth, celebrating anniversaries, baby showers, and birthdays as we sit in our houses. These occasions do not need to be any less special! In fact, they shouldn’t be. […]

April 24

Acchiappasogni

Giorno 32: Creiamo un Dream Catcher insieme! 2 Il mio aiuto viene dal Signore,che ha fatto il cielo e la terra.3 Egli non permetterà che il tuo piede vacilli;colui che ti protegge non sonnecchierà.4 Ecco, colui che protegge Israelenon sonnecchierà né dormirà. Salmo 121: 2-4 L’acchiappasogni non ci serve per acchiappare i nostri incubi, perché abbiamo un Dio che […]

April 24

Let’s Color!

Coloring is an activity for the whole family! There is also research that shows that coloring relaxes us. It is a way for us to turn off our thoughts and certain parts of our brain and concentrate on coloring, giving our brains and bodies time to relax and unwind. So, let’s spend an evening with […]

April 23

Colazione a Cena!

Giorno 31: Oggi facciamo colazione per cena con un bel piatto di pancake ultra soffici! I miei figli amano i pancake. In fatti mia madre, quando viene a visitarci, li fa queste forme incredibili! Crea un pancake a forma di un castello, o un cavallo o una chitarra o qualsiasi sfida che loro possono richiedere […]

April 23

A Mother’s Day Gift

This mother’s day, use salt dough to make an extra special ornament for Mom! There are two different ways to make these adorable keepsake ornaments: a fingerprint family, and a fingerprint heart. Both are adorable and will capture Mom’s heart! If you want to surprise Mom completely then the fingerprint heart is the way to […]

April 23

Dream Catchers

Create your own dream catcher with just a few supplies and easy steps! Material: Paper plate Hole punch Feathers String or yarn Decorations you would like to add: beads, glitter, paint, marking pens, stickers, etc Begin by cutting the center out of your plate. If you would like to, keep the center circle and cut […]

April 22

Giochiamo!

Giorno 30: Oggi facciamo un bellissimo gioco insieme! Per realizzare questa attività servono 4 pennarelli colorati (o colori a dita) e fogli. La prima parte divertente è disegnare l’impronta di mani e piedi del bambino: via libera alla creatività. Eccoci pronti per il vero divertimento! Basta disporre sul pavimento, in modo casuale o in base […]

April 21

Mega Poster da Colorare

Giorno 29: Oggi coloriamo un mega poster tutti insieme come famiglia! Il colorare è un attività per tutta la famiglia. C’è anche ricerca che mostra che il colorare ci rilassa. In fatti è come possiamo spegnere il nostro cervello per concentrarci sull’opera d’arte che stiamo realizzando. Dando tempo al nostro corpo e mente per rilassarsi! […]

April 20

Una Busta di Parole

Giorno 28: Oggi per passare un pò di tempo facciamo un gioco molto simpatico! Il gioco si chiama Una Busta di Parole. è un gioco che si possa fare con bambini che sanno scrivere e leggere. è molto facile da imparare e richiede pochissimi materiali. MATERIALI: Penne Fogli di carta Una ciotola di plastica, un […]

April 19

Chocolate Muffins

This plate has become rather ironic! LOL. These chocolate muffins are perfect for a breakfast in quarantine. They are chocolately, light, delicious and best of all they are made with yogurt, so they are a little lighter on the fat content. Ingredients: 1/2 cup Butter 3 Tablespoons Cream Cheese 1 Cup Granulated sugar 2 eggs […]

April 18

Show a Little Love

Social distancing is strange. I haven’t seen my in-laws in two months, or most of our friends and kid’s friends. Some people are stuck at home with their families. Some people are just stuck at home by themselves. Some people are homebodies, and some people cannot stand being locked up inside. Some people crave social […]

April 18

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

These Cinnamon Rolls are fluffy and delicious! They are perfect for a special Mother’s day brunch or for Sunday breakfast. And the best part is that you can begin the prep the day before so that you are not rushing around the morning of! Ingredients: Dough: 1 cup lukewarm water + 4 1/2 tsp dry […]

April 17

Easy Activities for Quarantine Life

Here are a few of my favorite activities to do while in quarantine! Make Putty or Snow These alternatives to slime is a little less messy! Follow the links to read the directions for how to make your own play snow or putty! It is fun to make, and keeps little hands busy for a […]

April 15

Regina del Castello

Giorno 24: Oggi per passare un pò di tempo costruiamo un castello insieme! I bimbi amano usare l’immaginazione! Creare qualcosa di magico, un mondo nuovo, con personaggi speciali trasporta i bimbi da casa loro in un mondo diverso per un attimo di tempo! E che modo migliore per farlo che creare un castello! è molto […]

April 14

Fun with Feelings

Today we are going to use Emojis to create a craft and to help our kiddos to talk about how they feel. The other day when my children learned that we would be stuck another month at home, there were a lot of sighs and groans. Children and young adults are flexible and adapt easily […]

April 14

Come sto Oggi?

Giorno 23: Usiamo gli emoji per creare un lavoretto e parlare di come ci sentiamo oggi. L’altro giorno, quando i miei figli hanno saputo che la quarantena è stato esteso fino al 3 Maggio c’era un enorme sospiro in casa. è vero che i bimbi/ragazzi sono flessibili, e che si adattano a tutto. In fatti, […]

April 13

Parlare Positivo

Fate una cosa prima di iniziare a leggere: Pensate ad una cosa negativa che qualcuno ti ha detto durante l’ultima settimana. Adesso pensate a 7 cose positive che ti hanno detto durante la settimana. Era più facile pensare a l’unica frase negativa, o a ricordare 7 frasi positive? Sapete che ci vogliono 7 parole di […]

April 13

Movie Night!

Buona Pasquetta a tutti! Che modo migliore di finire la giornata di Pasquetta che una serata al cinema?! è una Pasquetta che non dimenticheremo presto! Siamo chiusi in casa, con le nostre piccole famiglie. Non si può uscire, non si può andare in giro, in campagna. è davvero strano. Ma questo non vuol dire che […]

April 12

Mother’s Day 2020

Want a super easy and extra sweet idea for Mother’s day this year?!.This craft couldn’t be easier but is a sweet memory of your little family! All you need is: White Paper, Paint, and a frame!!. Paint your hands (1 at a time) Start with Dad’s hand, then Mom’s, then the kids hands in birth […]

April 12

Una Parata!!

Oggi per passare un pò di tempo insieme facciamo una bellissima parata! E che giorno migliore per fare una parata del giorno di Pasqua?! Possiamo anche fare una parata per Gesù! Per festeggiare la sua risurrezione! Non c’è cosa più bella di questa! Quindi usciamo i nostri strumenti , vestiamoci in maniera elegante o festoso, […]

April 10

Giorno 18: Impariamo ad Avere Cura

Oggi per passare un pò di tempo insieme, possiamo crescere delle piante di lenticchie. è un occasione per imparare ad avere cura di qualcosa! Per fare questa attività, avrai bisogno di pochi materiali: piccoli contenitori per mettere i semini( bicchieri di plastica, ciotoline, vasetti yogurt, barattolini di alluminio ecc.) semini ( qualsiasi tipo, lenticchie, ceci, […]

April 9

Percorso agli Ostacoli!

I tuoi bimbi sono pieni di energia ma non hanno dove andare?! Sono super entusiasti e scocciati e ti serve qualcosa da farli fare?! Oggi facciamo un bellissimo percorso agli ostacoli!! Così possono usare un pò di quella energia senza uscire di casa! Per fare un percorso agli ostacoli in casa serve in realtà davvero […]

April 8

Piccoli Scienziati

Giorno 17: Oggi per passare del tempo insieme abbiamo pensato ad alcuni sperimenti scientifici facili e divertenti da fare insieme!! ESPERIMENTO DEL LATTE: Per fare questo esperimento ti servono LATTE INTERO, COLORANTE ALIMENTARE, DETERSIVO PIATTI e COTTON FIOC. Riempi un piatto col latte. Versa 3-4 gocce di colorante in angoli diversi del piatto di latte. […]

April 8

A Perfect Puppet Show

Creating a puppet show is a perfect way to spend some time together with the TV off during Easter vacation or during these days in quarantine. Create some cute puppets with your kiddos and then help them create a fun theater to tell their story. PAPER BAG PUPPETS: Paper bag puppets are super easy to […]

April 7

Nascondino

Chi della vostra famiglia cerca sempre di evitare a giocare insieme con tutti? Chi preferisce sedersi sul divano a leggere o vedere il telefono o guardare la TV? Stasera dai un enorme abbraccio a questa persona e di, “Abbiamo bisogno di te!!” Stasera TUTTI devono giocare! TUTTI bimbi e TUTTI gli adulti! Nessuno escluso! Il […]

April 6

Il Teatro dei Burattini

I bimbi amano le storie! Di tutti tipi! Amano ascoltare le storie, ma amano anche raccontare le storie. Un modo carino e divertente per raccontare storie, è quello del teatro dei burattini! Nella foto di sopra i miei figli hanno voluto fare tutto da soli!! Hanno costruito il teatro con un tavolino ed un lenzuolo, […]

April 5

Caccia al Tesoro

Giorno 14: Oggi per fare qualcosa con i nostri piccoli mentre siamo bloccati a casa, abbiamo pensato ad una Caccia al Tesoro!!! Ci sono tanti modi per creare una bellissima caccia al tesoro. Lo puoi fare molto elaborato, o molto semplice, con o senza regalini, con indizi da leggere o nella maniera più semplice per […]

April 4

Bunny Bowling

Bunny Bowling!! Spring is trying to arrive and these cute little bunnies are perfect for springtime fun or for Easter games. We used them both for bowling and for a “knock down the cans” game with a baseball. They worked great in both cases. They are easy-peasy to make, cute as can be and just […]

April 4

Bunny Baskets

When I was little, my Mom was a preschool teacher. Every year she would help her kiddos make these adorable little Bunny boxes with milk cartons, cotton balls, and other simple materials. I always loved them So this year I decided to make something similar. Something that reminded me of those cute little homemade bunny […]

April 3

Salt Dough Beads

Salt dough is really easy to make and fun for a variety of ages! It is similar to play dough in consistency, so young kids will love rolling it out and cutting out shapes with cookie cutters. It is perfect for making Christmas ornaments too. It is also a great way to make homemade beads! […]

April 3

Mamma Dice…

Giorno 12: Oggi per passare un pò di tempo, facciamo un gioco super divertente! L’aspetto migliore è che è adatto a tutte le età! PER I PIù PICCOLI: Follow the Leader: Per fare questo gioco Mamma o Papà devono dimostrare qualcosa che il piccolo deve imitare: battere le mani, ruggire come il leone, sederti, saltare, […]

April 2

Calling all Super heroes…

It’s time for a Super Birthday party!!! You can have so much fun with a super hero party! There are so many creative ideas to create and use. You can create a school for super heroes or send your little heroes off on an adventure to save the world! But whatever you do, your little […]

April 2

La Famiglia ai Tempi del Covid19

Come posso aiutare mio figlio a gestire bene le sue emozioni in questo momento difficile!? Prima è più di tutto devi avere cura di te stesso. Se tu non sei forte e tranquillo, allora non avrai la forza e tranquillità per aiutare i tuoi figli a gestire le loro emozioni. Questo non significa che non […]

April 1

Un Impronte Unico

Giorno 10: Come tenere occupati i tuoi figli. Fate bellissime creazioni con la pasta di sale Oggi facciamo la pasta di sale con i nostri piccoli. è molto facile da creare, ed è divertente lavorare! Si possono fare tante creazioni carinissimi! Ed è un modo per passare un bel pò di tempo a giocare… fra […]

April 1

Super Hero Party Eats

Even Super heroes need to refuel! It’s easy and fun to create themed food for a super hero party! My little girl loves DC Super Hero Girls (the original ones, not the latest version). So we went with the super hero theme for her 9th birthday! We used a lot of generic super hero supplies […]

March 31

Super Hero Photo Booth

Help your super hero feel extra heroic on his/her big day with this fun and easy photo booth! These SUPER photos were taken by Millie DiFiore Fotografia. The photo booth was easy to set up. You will need a few materials to put it all together: Blue sheet Cotton, or pillow stuffing Boxes Black paper, […]

March 31

Un Giorno Fuori…

Giorno 9: Come tenere occupati i tuoi figli durante la quarantena. A chi manca uscire!!? A me si! Tantissimo! Mi mancano le bellissime avventure alla scoperta di questa bellissima nazione che amo tanto. Mi mancano le passeggiata come famiglie. . .Il caffè al bar nel paese nuovo. . .i picnic nella foresta. Oggi però abbiamo […]

March 30

Super Heroes For the Day!

Easy DIY Super hero cape! If you could be a super hero for just one day, what would you do?! What super power would you like to have? Today you can help your kiddos become super heroes for a day with this easy super hero cape craft that requires NO SEWING!! This project is easy […]

March 30

Super Eroi per un Giorno

Giorno 8: Come occupare i tuoi figli durante la quarantina? Aiuta loro a diventare un eroe! Se potresti diventare super eroe per solo un giorno cosa faresti tu? Quali super poteri vorresti avere? Oggi puoi aiutare i tuoi piccoli a diventare super eroi per un giorno!! Questo lavoretto è molto semplice e utilizza materiali che […]

March 28

Posso Aiutare Anch’io!

<<Perché, fratelli, voi siete stati chiamati a libertà; soltanto non fate della libertà un’occasione per vivere secondo la carne, ma per mezzo dell’amore servite gli uni agli altri>> Galati 5:13, La Bibbia I bimbi si sentono importante quando li includiamo nelle nostre attività. A volte c’è più lavoro per noi, ma crea in loro un’attitudine […]

March 28

Piccole Mani Occupati

Giorno 6: Tieni occupato i più piccini con questi quiet games! Questi sono tempi difficili per tutti di sicuro. Ma sono tempi anche di confusione per i più piccini. Un paio di settimane fa potevano uscire con Mamma o Papà per fare la passeggiata e adesso devono stare dentro casa. Un paio di settimane fa […]

March 27

Make a Little NOISE!!!

Keeping your kids busy during quarantine is a challenge, but let’s have some fun with it! Today we are going to put on a concert for Dad and Mom! “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, […]

March 25

Making Masks with Paper Plates

Creating paper masks with paper plates is super easy and lots of fun! If you are looking for a simple craft to do with your littles during these days that you are stuck at home, try this one out! It is also a perfect segway to be able to talk with your kiddos about everything […]

March 20

Busy Little Hands

Quarantining: Quiet activities for busy toddlers during these days stuck at home. These are strange times for everyone. They are also confusing times for our littles. A week ago, you took your little one on walks, or to visit Grandpa and Grandma, or to the park. And now you are stuck at home all day […]

March 20

Pasta al Forno

The best pasta dish Southern Italy has to offer! This is not a post for my Italian friends. The very ones who taught me how to make this AMAZING pasta dish! This is a post for those of you who would like to make an authentic southern Italian dish that is so good you will […]

March 20

DIY Stenciled Cake Tutorial

Let’s get tropical!! I love monstera leaves! They are so giant, and beautiful. We wanted to feel like we were on some kind of tropical island yesterday so this was the perfect cake for the occasion. To make your own stencil: I printed an image from the internet and cut out THE IMAGE FROM THE […]

March 19

Easy Fondant Flowers

We needed a tropical escape this year, so this tropical theme for perfect for my girl’s birthday. I wanted to create buttercream monstera leaves on the cake, but it felt empty and boring when I was done. So I decided to add some fondant flowers. And they could not be easier to make!! I used […]

March 19

Una Serata Relax

Non c’è bisogno di essere sempre impegnati!! Fate una serata relax. Tutti in pigiama! Tutti nel soggiorno, con musica tranquilla. Ognuno può scegliere di leggere, disegnare, ascoltare la musica, o avere le coccole. Si può fare anche con i piccoli. Importante rimanere tranquilli voi e dare opzioni per attività tranquilli. Per aiutare i tuoi figli […]

March 18

Why Celebrate?!

Life is worth celebrating! Or that is, at least, one of my hashtags. But is it still? With all the bad news currently? With the chaos of this virus ravaging the world around us? I think so. My girls had youth group last week. They all had to make a rainbow sign with a verse […]

March 17

La Musica a Casa Nostra

Giorno 5: Come tenere occupati i tuoi figli durante la quarantina <<Mandate grida di gioia all’Eterno, o abitanti di tutta la terra; prorompete in canti di gioia, rallegratevi e cantate lodi.>> Salmo 98:4, La Bibbia La musica porta gioia nelle nostre case! Quando suoniamo distogliamo la nostra attenzione da ciò che non va e ci […]

March 16

Perfect Nutella Cookies

These Nutella Cookies are soft and chewy with a delicate flavor. You can’t eat just one! It’s day 259 stuck in our house… well, not really. It’s only day 11. But we are getting a bit stir crazy! The best part is all of the BAKING!! Like these amazing Nutella cookies. They are a new […]

March 16

Un Rifugio in Casa

Giorno 4: Costruisci una tenda nel soggiorno con i tuoi figli! Costruisci una tenda con coperte, lenzuola, sedie, tavolo, ecc. Crea uno grandissimo per poter entrare sotto. é un ottimo opportunità di imparare a comunicare ed a lavorare insieme. Dai a loro il materiale (se sono abbastanza grandi) e lascia che loro costruiscono la tenda. […]

March 15

Canvas Art

Covid 19 is quickly becoming a bigger and bigger part of our daily lives… on a global level. What started in China, with the quick spread among the Chinese population, slowly trickled back into Europe and namely in Italy. Things in Italy have quickly escalated over the last 2 months with thousands of new cases […]

March 14

Strawberry Shortcake

Tomorrow is Father’s day here in Italy. We love our Daddy! The Daddy of my three kiddos. He is an amazing father, kind, generous, attentive, perseverant, loving, faithful and Godly. I am so thankful for who he is in my kiddos lives! He is a great example of our heavenly Father. My husband’s favorite dessert […]

March 14

Mascherine di Carta

Giorno 3: Come tenere occupati i tuoi piccoli! Crea le maschere di diversi animali usando piatti di carta (o carta se non hai i piatti). Per esempio, questo leone: Inizia pittando o colorando un piatto di carta giallo. Mentre si asciuga, ritaglia tante strisce lunge per la criniera del leone. Tagli due orecchie uguali. Quando […]

March 13

Biscotti al Burro

Giorno 2: Come tenere occupati i tuoi piccoli! Fai l’impasto per i biscotti al burro con un adulto. La ricetta: 450 grammi di burro a temperatura ambiente 400 grammi di zucchero 2 uova 3 cucchiaino di pasta di vaniglia (non vanillina) 625 grammi di farina 1 cucchiaino di lievito per i dolci 1 cucchiaino di […]

March 12

Plastilina Commestibile

Amo le coccole vicino il fuoco, vedere i film sul divano, e la cioccolato calda! Ma durante l’inverno i bimbi possono diventare un poco nervosi e scocciati con poco da fare e poche possibilità di uscire. Noi amiamo fare i dolcetti ed il bricolage tutto l’anno, ma lo facciamo molto più spesso durante i mesi […]

March 12

Il Creato

Giorno 1 Quarantina: Come tenere occupati i tuoi piccoli! Vai Fuori nel giardino o sul balcone. Conta 10 cose che Dio ha creato con il tuo piccolo(a). Quanti uccelli vedi? Quanti alberi? Che cosa vedi che Dio ha creato? Che colore è? è grande, o piccolo? Quando avete finito di osservare, tornate in casa. Fate […]

March 11

Nutella Swirl Cookies

Nutella makes everything better. Well, maybe not everything. But it is so good. And so we can agree that it makes A LOT of things better. Like these cookies! These cookies are so good. But when you add in the Nutella swirls, then they are out of this world! Make your own today! You will […]

March 10

Chewy Chocolate Brownies

These Cocoa Powder Brownies are just like the box mix, but better! When I first moved to Italy I had only ever eaten box mix brownies. Sad but true! I was really homesick and desperately wanted some brownies and hot chocolate. So I packed my suitcase full of boxed mixes and my family sent me […]

March 9

Rainbow Swirls

I love rainbows. They brighten up the sky or the room. They are colorful and full of life and joy. According to the Bible, they are also a symbol that God keeps His promises. Which I love. Especially right now. The world is kind of chaotic at the moment. But there is something about the […]

March 8

Lucky

Spring is finally blooming! And we are adding a little color to our March with these sweet Canvases! To make your own watercolor Lucky rainbow canvas you will need: Watercolor paints Or these amazing watercolor pencils from IKEA. Water Heart stickers Fine point permanent maker Begin by placing your stickers onto your canvas. I placed […]

March 7

Pom pom Art

Pom poms are oddly satisfying! And rainbows are just what we need this month to brighten up the house that we are stuck in! Things are pretty crazy here in Italy. The whole country has been placed in Zona Rossa, which means movement is limited, no events, stores have to guarantee distance between customers, theaters […]

March 6

Wizard of Oz Party Food

[Dorothy Reaches to pick an apple from the apple tree, the tree grabs the apple and slaps her hand]Apple Tree: What do you think you’re doing?Dorothy: We’ve been walking a long ways and I was hungry and… did you say something?Apple Tree: She was hungry! Well, how would you like to have someone come along […]

March 4

Make your own Ruby Slippers

To make your own ruby slippers: Red Ballerina style shoes (or another color sprayed red) Red glitter Modge Podge paint brushes Sealant spray (optional) Begin by taping of the insides and bottoms of your shoes (the parts that you do not want to have glitter on them). Next paint your shoes with a very smooth […]

March 3

Wizard of Oz Birthday Party

“A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others” L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Some where over the rainbow the cutest little Dorothy decided to celebrate her birthday with a Wizard of Oz theme. The Wizard of Oz theme is so fun […]

February 27

beYOUtiful Party

Beauty and the Beast Birthday Birthdays are a special occasion to love on your littles and to show love to their friends as well. It is about building relationship, having fun, celebrating life, and blessings others. This Beauty and the Beast Birthday party was one of our favorites. The party colors were gold and red. […]

February 27

Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins

This morning was one of those mornings… My son has to catch the train for school at 7am. But today he has to stay after school for music and basketball lessons. And so he was up by 6:15am and I was up making him a lunch to bring to school (we usually eat lunch at […]

February 24

Teeny tiny kitchen with a big heart

Welcome to Dolceamericana! I am Carli and I am happy you are here. I am a Seattelite living in Southern Italy. I am a Mamma of three, pastors wife, psychologist, party planner and self-taught baker. This is my teeny-tiny kitchen. Why am I showing it to you? Because the size of your kitchen, or your […]

February 16

Swan in a Million

Galentine Party Valentine’s day is traditionally for sweethearts. But in 2010 Galentine’s day was thought up by the creators of Parks and Recreation. And what a great idea it is. Because love is certainly for sweethearts, but it is also for best friends, families and Daddies and their daughters and Mommies and their sons. And […]

February 15

Picky Eaters

Finding food for picky eaters can be really tricky! In fact, before having kids, I used to say: “I want my kids to try everything. It is not okay for them to pick and choose. They will eat what is on their plates, so that they get the healthy food they need and so that […]

February 14

Happy Valentines Day

“4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.” 1 […]

February 13

Dessert Board

This Valentine’s day make a dessert board for your sweet heart or for your get-together! They are colorful and delicious. I love the bright strawberries that contrast in color with all of the baked goods. I used ganache crostatine, brownies, and oreo stuffed chocolate chip cookies, pretzel hearts, toffee granola crunch, and strawberries on my […]

February 12

White Chocolate Heart Pretzels

These adorable and delicious white chocolate heart pretzels were the perfect addition to my dessert board! They are salty and sweet and look just like adorable little hearts- perfect for Valentines day!! The best part is that they are really easy to make to! Begin by melting your white chocolate at 30 second intervals in […]

February 11

Genitore di un Adolescente…

è troppo facile dimenticare l’adolescenza. è troppo facile diventare quel genitore che non c’è la fa più, è stanca, e dice sempre, “Ma non è normale!”. . .ma invece è molto normale. Ti ricordi quanto era difficile mantenere in ordine la tua stanza? Quanta pressione sentivi per andare bene a scuola? Quanto era difficile non […]

February 11

Dolceamericana Stampe GRATIS

Conversazione a Tavola

February 8

Bimbi Schizzinosi

Trovare cibi adatti per bimbi schizzinosi può essere davvero difficile! In fatti, prima di avere figli, dicevo: “Quando avrò figli, voglio che loro devono almeno provare tutto. Non va bene per loro scegliere e lasciare come dicono loro. Devono mangiare ciò che sta sul piatto affinchè abbiano il nutrimento necessario e affinchè possono imparare ad […]

February 7

Chocolate Chunk Pistachio Cookies

Have you ever been to Sicily? Sicily always reminds me of pistachio nuts (pistacchio in Italian) and cannoli. And while I am not a huge fan of cannoli, I love pistachios. In fact we eat them most Sundays at our big family Sunday lunch. And every Sunday our youngest daughter, our son and their uncle […]

February 6

Unicorns on Ice

Whose on board with the Unicorn craze?! Do your daughters love Unicorns as much as mine does? There is something magical about unicorns, just like there is something magical about my sweet girl! I can’t believe she is celebrating her 12th birthday today! WHERE DOES THE TIME GO!!! To celebrate she HAD to have unicorns […]

February 3

Unicorn Cupcakes

Does your little girl love unicorns? Mine went through a huge unicorn phase. Which she has grown out of as far as “obsessions” go, but she still loves unicorns. There is something about unicorns. Maybe because I always loved horses. Adored them! And unicorns have that added magic and mystery to them. You have to […]

February 2

DIY Glitter Jars

Whether it comes to my girl’s desk, or a birthday party or my kitchen shelves, I love the little details! I think they bring personality to the area, room or party that you are decorating. So when I am putting together a party, I love to add little touches here and there to really make […]

January 31

Expectant Chocolate Chip Cookies

The best of two world! Oreos and chocolate chip cookies meet in these delicious Oreo stuffed Chocolate Chip cookies.

January 31

Chocolate Roses

Does your sweetheart prefer roses or chocolate? These adorable chocolate roses are the best of both worlds!! And so easy to make! You just need a few simple items: Chocolates with a soft center (I used Baci Perugina) Pink or Red tissue Paper Green Tissue Paper Cake pop sticks Tape Scissors This video will give […]

January 30

With Love…

I grew up with a preschool teacher for a Mom. Which was the best thing ever because our house was always festive. When she would decorate her classroom for each season, or holiday, she would also decorate our house. I loved it. I love the changing colors, the festive signs and banners and little decorations […]

January 29

Slow Down

Il tempo vola, vero?! Sembra che ogni giorno ci sono mille cose da fare. . . corri tutto il giorno, fino alla sera. Crolli sul letto, e poi ti svegli e inizi da capo con mille cose da fare. Ma come si fa a rallentare tutto? “Slow down, you move to fast. Got to make […]

January 27

Love Month Challenge

When is the last time you told your family how much you love them?! This morning? Yesterday? A week ago? It was probably recently if you are like me. And yet I realize that I do not take the time nearly as often as I should to tell my loved ones why I love them, […]

January 27

Class Valentines

Do your kids make their own Valentines day cards? Do you buy them from Target? I love to create something with my kids to give as their cards. We don’t have class Valentines day parties here in Italy, but they will usually make a few little cards to give to their besties. These were a […]

January 25

Amore in Famiglia

é quasi febbraio! Ogni febbraio noi facciamo il Love Month Challenge. Che cos’è il Love Month Challenge?! è perché mi dovrebbe interessare? Il Love Month Challenge è la sfida come famiglia di mostrarsi un pò di amore durante tutto il mese di febbraio. Quindi ogni giorno, ognuno di noi prende un cuore e scrive una […]

January 24

Amici del Cuore

“Friends of the heart” Valentines day. . .do you love it? Or hate it? I remember feeling a little bit of both growing up. In those days you did not have to make a valentine for everyone in the class. And so you kind of felt dread that maybe you would not get as many […]

January 22

Mini Bundt Cakes

Cake for breakfast?! Yep. It’s pretty normal around here. The cake is called a ciambellone, it is a dense cake, similar to pound cake or bundt cake in texture. It is perfect for eating with a cappuccino in the morning. These mini bundt cakes are made from the classic ciambellone recipe. It is a favorite […]

January 22

Llama Be My Valentine?

We are huge Llama/alpaca fans. In fact I have been trying to convince my husband to buy us a real one! LOL. My daughter fell in love with Llamas when she was little. Her favorite books were the Llama Llama series. We read Llama llama Red Pajama 10 thousand times. At least. So when she […]

January 21

Brownie Heaven

This is it. This is the best brownie recipe ever. They are chocolately, chewy, cakey, fudgy, and just plain delicious all in one small package. And they are easy. When I first moved to Italy, I had never made a batch of brownies from scratch. And so I would ask anyone who came to visit […]

January 20

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

It’s January. And it is COLD. This creamy cauliflower soup will warm you right up and satisfy even your picky eaters. If you have extra picky eaters (I have one) you can also use it as a “sauce” on pasta noodles. It is so creamy that it works perfectly and you pickiest eater will taste […]

January 18

Ganache

Have you ever tried Ganache? It is good. Like I could eat it by the spoonful ALL. DAY. LONG. It is also really useful! I use it as a crumb coat on all of my cakes. It coats the cake more smoothly and hardens slightly when it cools, making it easy to cover your cake […]

January 17

Broccoli Pesto

My kids are not huge fans of broccoli. We once forced out son to at least try a bite of broccoli when we were dinner guests at someone’s house, he did. And the results were, well, let’s just say no one finished their dinner. Eew! So hopefully I haven’t ruined your appetite because this pasta […]

January 16

Coffee Cake

This coffee cake gives me all the feels. . .it reminds me of Christmas morning, and Mother’s day and so many other special occasions we celebrated growing up when this would be the star of the show- the best part of brunch! It is humid, fluffy and packed with flavor. It is a fool proof […]

January 15

Playful Putty

Or better known as “Fluffy Slime”. . .I don’t really know how slime can be fluffy, so I am inventing my own name here, but whatever you want to call it, this recipe is suuuper easy and fun to play with! You need a few basic ingredients: 350 grams Corn Starch 350 ml Shampoo Powdered […]

January 14

Family Game Night!

It’s a little too easy to get sucked into the demands of each week, or to just binge watch something on Amazon or Netflix those rare nights that everyone is home. So instead of just surviving the busy week, we decided to get proactive! We set up a family game night. . . complete with […]

January 12

Hot Chocolate Bar

Creating a hot chocolate bar is a super easy and fun way to celebrate a winter gathering… whether that be a birthday, having friends over, or some other special occasion. It’s pretty easy too! I started with these cute little buckets. I filled one with Milk Chocolate Hot Cocoa Powder and the other with White […]

January 10

Pink Peppermint White Hot Chocolate

It’s January and it is still chilly. In fact, around here it just recently got chilly! SO it is perfect weather for hot chocolate and even more perfect is this super duper simple recipe! Hershey’s peppermint kisses are one of our favorite Christmas treats! And it just so happened that we had half a bag […]

January 8

Snowy the Snowman

It’s a chilly winter day and the perfect time to do any easy craft with your kiddos! These easy snowmen are also a perfect party favor for a Onederland birthday party or a winter birthday or event. They are so easy to put together, that you can make several for your hosting needs without breaking […]

January 7

Magic Sand Recipe

Cold winter days often inspire dreams of warm sandy beaches and wishes for sunnier days! This easy recipe is a ton of fun for littles to play with and super easy to make. To make your Magic Sand you just need a few simple supplies: Play sand: 3 cups Corn Starch: 3/4 cup Dish Soap: […]

January 6

Watercolor Salt Snowflakes

Have you had any snow yet? Snow is rare around here! This art project is perfect for a snowy day or for those who are wishing for snow! You will need just a few supplies to create your own snowflakes: Paintbrushes Watercolor paint set Bowls Salt Cup with water Glue Construction paper (thicker is better) […]

January 3

2020

2020 has officially begun! A new decade. Emma from Friends has turned 18 and I am pretty sure we should be driving flying cars by now. But anyhow- time flies! Our holidays were busy. . .as usual. I read something recently which made me giggle: Adulting is just saying over and over “just waiting for […]

December 31

Happy New Year!

Do you have any New Year’s eve traditions? In Italy we eat a lot of food, set off small fireworks and play card games…. all night! And everyone, including kids, is up until midnight! It is a festive evening and a lot of fun. When I was younger my parents invited all of our neighbors […]

December 27

The Best Cozy Lentil Soup

This time of year we love a cozy bowl of soup. It warms you up on a chilly day and gives your body something nutritious after all the Holiday treats!! This is our absolute favorite soup. I hope you will LOVE it as much as we do. You will need a few delicious ingredients: Dried […]

December 27

SNOW party!!

This cute little holiday party is the perfect way to entertain your little ones and their friends during the holidays. It is even a fun idea for keeping them busy on Christmas or New Year’s eve! It is easy to put together and lots of fun. We started by making our own Christmas trees. The […]

December 23

Santa’s Sled

Santa’s Sled Candy Craft I made this cute little craft the first time when I was in Brownies as a little girl. My mom was our troop leader. I loved the Brownies and Girl Scouts. I loved all the crafts and field trips and baking. I did NOT love selling cookies though. That was my […]

December 23

DIY Snow Globe Ornaments

How fun are these plastic snow globes that you can decorate and create yourself?! They are the perfect idea for a craft night with friends, or a craft to do with older kids. And it is really easy to create something super fun and sweet for your Christmas tree or as a gift for a […]

December 21

Red Velvet Cookies

Do you like Red Velvet? I didn’t really get the craze, until I found the perfect recipe…which I will try and post for you soon!! Now, I get it. It is so good. It is humid, not overly chocolatey, and has a slight tang or kick. I thought it would be fun to turn my […]

December 20

Grandma’s Gingersnap Cookies

Sundays were made for visiting Grandma and Grandpa. When I was little, we had a routine on Sundays. We went to church in the morning, and then to Grandma’s house for lunch. She made the same thing every Sunday: roast beef with gravy, and mashed potatoes and black olives . . . one for every […]

December 20

Homemade Twix Bars

This homemade version is even better than the store bought treat! These Homemade twix bars will knock your socks off! They are that good. It takes a few steps to make them, so they are not for the weak of heart, but if you are ready for some baking fun, then you will enjoy putting […]

December 19

Neve di Frozen

Questa neve finta è facile da creare con solo 3 ingredienti! è scintillante e celeste, perfetto per una serata Frozen! L’aspetto migliore è che è realmente fredda!! I tuoi piccoli ameranno creare questa neve! è anche abbastanza solido per poter creare pupazzi di neve o da utilizzare con le formine per i biscotti. Avrete bisogno […]

December 19

Merry Grinchmas!

Christmas day is in our grasp So long as we have hands to clasp. The Grinch who stole Christmas, Dr Seuss This year to celebrate the holiday season we decided to have a Grinch Christmas party! The classic version of the story is a staple in our home every holiday season. But I had never […]

December 18

DIY Frozen Play Snow!

Have you seen Frozen 2 yet? We went the first day it came out! If you saw it, what did you think? Did you like the first one or the second one better? We loved the Fire lizard. I think overall we preferred the first one. The second one was a bit more dark and […]

December 17

Merry Grinchmas Food!

Who doesn’t love The Grinch?! We watch it every year! It is one of our favorites. This year we decided to throw a little Grinchmas holiday party just for fun! Here are a few fun ideas for Grinchmas food and treats, if you would like to throw your own Grinch party! Let’s start with these […]

December 16

Snowman White Hot Chocolate

My daughter’s favorite winter treat is white hot chocolate! She definitely prefers it over classic hot chocolate. It is a fun treat and a nice change to the classic drink. Give it a try over your holidays. It is even more fun if you turn it into an adorable snowman! To make your own Snowman […]

December 15

Easy Oreo Snowmen Cookies

These adorable Oreo snowmen cookies are super easy to make, cute as a button and tasty too! You will only need a few simple ingredients: White melting chocolate Oreo cookies (I used original, but you can use your favorite flavor). Sprinkles, candy eyes, mini chocolate chips, M&Ms, etc to decorate your Oreos! Begin by melting […]

December 14

Christmas Toffee Crunch

Do you have a food that reminds you of Christmas?! I remember going to the Mall at Christmas time to visit Santa, see the lights, do Christmas shopping, and see the decorations. It was one of the ways that I knew the Christmas season had officially arrived. I loved all the decorations and lights. The […]

December 12

Nutella Hot Chocolate

To make your own reindeer hot chocolate you will need: 2 cups of milk Saucepan 4 tablespoons of Nutella Nutella whipped cream Melting chocolate (I used dark, but milk is fine). 4 Mini Chocolate chips for eyes White melting chocolate Red sugar crystal sprinkles Begin by making your antlers and reindeer nose. Melt your chocolates […]

December 11

Peanut butter Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

This easy chocolate-peanut butter treat is delicious and super quick! Just one warning: once you eat one, it’s hard to stop! They are soooo good! You only need 3 easy ingredients: Ritz Cracker Creamy Peanut Butter Melted chocolate (dark or melt chocolate): I like to use a combination of milk and dark chocolate for my […]

December 10

Let’s Have a Llama fun!

Shopping party… This year I did a surprise party for my youngest. She woke up on her birthday and the table was already set. Her friends arrived shortly thereafter to surprise her with a pancake birthday breakfast! It was easy to prepare, the girls had fun and my daughter was truly surprised! The fun has […]

December 7

Chewy Chocolate Cookies

Chewy chocolate cookies are one of our favorite cookies during the holiday season. These cookies are perfect with Nestles Winter chips (dark chocolate and mint chips), andes mint pieces, or mint M&Ms. They are extra chocolately and the mint gives the perfect contrast. You will love this wintery treat. They are perfect with a peppermint […]

December 6

How to Package your Christmas Gift the Fun Way!

Sometimes the way you wrap the gift is half of the fun! If you have a gift that is showing up late (oops!) or a gift that is not possible to wrap (a trip, a car, or any other oversized item), or just want to give cash in a creative way, then these are a […]

December 4

Festive Holiday Bottles

I love throwing holiday parties! I like to throw one or two for my kids and their friends, and host a gathering for our friends as well. There is something so cozy about fires, Christmas carols and cookies, and lights strung around the tree and house! I will post some fun ideas for holiday parties […]

December 3

Easy Holiday Dessert

Do you like the Holiday season? I love it! I absolutely love Christmas lights, and all the color on decorated windows and trees. It can, however, be pretty overwhelming. My kids all play an instrument. So often we have Christmas concerts, sports games, school plays and church events which all pile up within a two […]

December 2

Santa Surprise Ball

Surprise balls are a sweet stocking stuffer, shoe filler for Sinterklaas day, favor for a holiday party or gift for a class party! Kids love unwrapping the ball to discover all the hidden goodies and surprises inside! Begin by picking out your prizes. You will want them to be small and relatively flat in size. […]

December 1

Sinterklaas Day

My husband is half Italian, half Dutch. When we got married and were trying to decide which Christmas traditions we wanted to keep from our childhood and which new ones we wanted to create it was pretty challenging. There were three different cultures coming into play and two very different perspectives. We tried a few […]

November 30

Fun gifts for advent calendars & stockings!

Advent calendars are a lot of fun to make and to do with your kiddos! I love our advent surprise boxes. They are easy to make and fun for the kids to fish out a new surprise each day! But whatever calendar you are using, these are a great idea for the advent calendar & […]

November 29

Advent Surprise Box

Do you do an advent calendar countdown until Christmas? We usually do a countdown until Sinterklaas day on December 5. In fact, we are just finishing up our advent surprise box countdown (as you will notice in the video, that Chloe has to dig down deep to get her last prizes! Then we do a […]

November 27

Last Minute Thanksgiving Game!

Here’s an easy last minute Thanksgiving activity for you and your guests. Divide everyone up into teams. Set your timer for 2 minutes and have each team write down at least one (sincere) item for each letter in the time they have! The team with the most items wins (a prize)!! But the answers can […]

November 26

Caramel Crunch Bars

Last year at Thanksgiving I made all of these wonderful seasonal treats… apple pies, pumpkin cupcakes, sweet potato corn bread, pumpkin cookies, and more! They were all delicious and fit perfectly with the Fall theme. The problem arose that Thanksgiving day when my daughter, who was so excited when the moment for dessert rolled around, […]

November 25

Mini Apple Pies

Can I just admit something right now?! I have never been a huge pie fan. I know that is rather scandalous in view of Thanksgiving just around the corner, but I just always felt like there was too much filling, and too little crust. So when my Mom would make her amazing pies, with her […]

November 24

Mom’s Famous Pie Crust

2 1/2 cups All purpose Flour 7/8 cups Shortening 1/4 tsp Salt 5/6 tablespoons Water Mix flour and salt. Cut in shortening, one half at a time, using a pastry cutter or a fork or clean hands. Add cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Form into a ball. Roll out half of the dough […]

November 23

Charcuterie Board

Snack boards are such a fun and colorful way to welcome your guests! They are an easy appetizer, but beautiful and full of color as well. It is really easy to put your own snack board together for holiday hosting. This is a savory board, but sweet snack boards are also very festive. This is […]

November 22

Pilgrim Hat Place cards

These cute little place cards are perfect for a festive table and even better for the kids table. And they are super quick to make! You will need: Hot glue gun Faux Leather ribbon Yellow and Black construction paper Black cups (plastic or paper work fine) Fine point Sharpie pen Begin by cutting a circle […]

November 20

Easy Thanksgiving Table

I am probably somewhere between elegant and bare minimum when it comes to holiday table settings. I love to get creative, to add festive touches, and sweet notes to welcome my guests, but I am not a silk tablecloth and crystal wine glasses type of gal. I like people, including families, to feel at home […]

November 20

The Best Cornbread

Do you have Claim Jumpers in your town? It has disappeared from my home town, but it used to be one of our favorites. My husband loved their hamburgers and I was a huge fan of their Potato-cheese soup and giant cornbread muffins! The first time I tried it was because it was the cheapest […]

November 18

An Imperfect Mom

Your children do not need a perfect Mom, they need a happy one. Unknown I hate to admit that there are more days that when my head hits the pillow, I feel inadequate, than days that I feel like I conquered the world! I, like most Moms I know, struggle to keep everything in balance… […]

November 16

5 Minute Appetizers!

Yesterday I shared my favorite easy roll recipe, made with pizza dough. They make amazing pizza appetizers for birthday parties and gatherings. They are easy no mess finger food that take only a few minutes to prepare. Today I want to share these mini cornettini, or mini crossaints. These will take you even less time […]

November 15

Easy Appetizers

Sometimes everything does not come out of the oven on time! As hard as you might try or as organized as you might be, sometimes it is just really hard to coordinate several plates arriving to the table at the same time. The solution? Prepare a couple appetizers that people can snack on while they […]

November 14

Turkey Surprise Ball

This Turkey is easy to put together and so fun for your smaller guests or your kiddos to unwrap! Each layer hides a little surprise. I thought of this cute idea a few years back when I saw the saran wrap ball game. Each layer of saran wrap hides a candy bar. I thought it […]

November 12

Thanksgiving Fun and Games

Is your family more of a eat turkey and watch football kind of family? Or more of a eat turkey and play football outside family? Or maybe a eat turkey and play games kind of family? Our family is a little bit of everything. My Uncle would always turn on the game after we were […]

November 11

Thankful Box

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. Oprah Winfrey Who doesn’t need a little more gratitude in their life?! We love to make a gratitude box! It is cheap and easy to make with your kiddos! You will need a Kleenex box Carefully remove the Kleenex out by […]

November 10

Alla Ricerca di Avventura

Qualche anno fa, quando i bambini diventarono un poco più grandi, decidemmo di fare uno sforzo per uscire regolarmente in cerca di avventura. . .Per essere nella natura, esplorare nuove città, fare una passeggiata sulla spiaggia, acquistare qualcosa di nuovo e buono e mangiarla sotto un albero nella foresta o su una panchina di fronte […]

November 9

Pecorino Cheese Drop-Biscuits

Biscuits are perfect for Thanksgiving dinner (or lunch)! They are as delicious with turkey and gravy, as they are with cranberry sauce or homemade raspberry jam! These biscuits are amazing! They are packed with flavor and so fluffy and not dry, that they are wonderful without adding butter or anything at all! This cheese is […]

November 7

In Search of Adventure

A few years back, when the kids became a little older, we decided to make an effort to get out regularly in search of adventure. . .To be in nature, explore new cities, take a walk on the beach, buy a tasty new treat and eat it under a tree in the forest, or on […]

November 6

Thanksgiving Traditions

Why do you love Thanksgiving? What is your favorite part?! We still celebrate Thanksgiving every year here in Italy. I love the chance to celebrate with friends and family, to rejoice and be Thankful and to eat stuffing (my personal favorite!). This year I wanted a reminder staring back at me telling me: “Be thankful!” […]

November 6

Apple Blossom

Apples are one of the best fruits that Fall has to offer! Pears and pomegranates are also a favorite around here! In fact, I cannot manage to keep a basket of pears in the house for more than a day or two before they disappear. The truth is that 80% of the year I do […]

November 5

Biscotti Americani: con le Gocce di Cioccolato

Quando ci siamo trasferiti in Italia 16 anni fa, abbiamo vissuto in campagna durante i nostri primi tre anni. Era un posto stupendo, ma a volte mi sentivo un pò sola. Avevamo una sola macchina, ed eravamo troppo lontani dalla città per poter andare da qualche parte a piedi. Quindi, quando ci siamo trasferiti nella […]

November 3

Ranch Popcorn Mix

Are you looking for the perfect snack?! Got the munchies? This is the popcorn mix for you! It is A- MAZ- ING! Seriously, I could not stop eating it! And the best part is that this mix is super easy to make too! All you will need is: 5 cups of popped popcorn 1/3 cup […]

November 1

What are you Thankful for?

A thankful heart is a happy heart. Be glad for what you have, that’s an easy place to start. Veggie Tales, Thankfulness Song Thanksgiving is around the corner! Fall is my favorite season of the year, and Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! I love the traditional food, the day off, the time with family and […]

October 31

Twix Snack Bites

Do you have a favorite candy? I am not partial to “candy”, but I do love chocolate, especially dark chocolate, or a chocolate bar/treat that balances sweet and salty. Overly sweet treats can tend to be nauseating. These candy bars are just the right amount of sweet. They are similar to Twix bars, but slightly […]

October 28

I am proud of you

I read a post recently where the author said that we should not say, “I’m proud of you” to your child, but instead “Be proud of yourself.” While it is important to encourage our children to be proud of an accomplishment or of the person they are becoming or of how they have improved, it […]

October 25

Customized Printables

Coming soon to the blog! Customized printables for every occasion! Birthday Packages Invitations Word art Water bottle labels Cupcake toppers Banners Stickers Gifts Cards Party planning list & organizer Send me an email if you interested in ordering your own customized party supplies for your special occasion! Visit me on Instagram to see of the […]

October 24

Fool Proof Caramel Corn

I have heard that a lot of times… fool proof. But caramel is not fool proof. In fact caramel can be very tricky! I had a recipe that worked perfectly every time, it was “fool proof” and then I changed stove tops. My new stove top is gas, and it is new. Which means that […]

October 21

Favorite Things Party

If you are looking for a unique, fun and easy idea for a get-together with friends, or a holiday party, a Favorite things party is a great idea! I have thrown one a few times, and each time was a lot of fun. It is a great opportunity to get to know each other a […]

October 19

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies

Who ever thought of the name Snickerdoodles? How strange is that name?! When I tried to look it up it says that it is probably of German origin, and just a spin on a German word that means, “snail dumpling”. Which is interesting, except for…. WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU CALL A COOKIE A […]

October 14

Shabby Chic First Birthday

First birthday’s are so sweet! The little birthday princess all dressed up in her birthday dress and ready to smash that cake! First birthdays here in Italy are also a REALLY big deal! People like to go all out and the party tends to be pretty big and festive, with lots of family and friends. […]

October 10

Shabby Chic Jars

A sweet little princess is turning one! Little Amira is turning one and her Mom chose the adorable Shabby chic theme. I love the colors in the shabby chic theme… they are so delicate and femminine. I also love the mix of casual and “shabby” with delicate lace borders or pearl strings. I made these […]

October 7

Great Grandma’s Apple Crisp

We called my Great Grandma Meemo. She was my Mamma’s Grandma. She lived in California and we loved to visit her and my Grandma (her daughter). She was clever, and sweet and fun. She smiled a lot and had a lot of great stories to tell. I think it is pretty amazing that I got […]

October 4

Italian Butter Cookies

My husband grew up in Southern Italy, where we met just after high school, (that is a story for another day). He and I got married on May 18. That August, when we were done with school, we flew to Italy to celebrate our marriage with his family and friends. We stayed in Italy for […]

October 3

Coke & Mentos

Coke and Mentos geysers are famous and a whole lot of fun! If you are looking for an easy experiment that is sure to be a success, then this is the one for you! It is explosively fun and kids love it! It is, however, quite messy. So, it is better to do it outdoors […]

October 3

Elephant Toothpaste

You will need a few ingredients for this experiment: A plastic bottle (1 Liter size) 1/2 cup 20-volume hydrogen peroxide liquid (20-volume is a 6% solution) 1 Tablespoon (1 packet) of dry yeast 3 Tablespoons of warm water (not hot) Liquid dishwashing soap Food coloring Plastic cup and small plastic spoon Safety goggles Disposable aluminum […]

October 2

Density, Tornados & Ivory Soap

It’s nice to start off a science party with a few easy experiment that are low mess and easy to organize and to have the kids participate. Here are three easy experiments for you to try at your Mad Scientist Party. Density Experiment: Honey Corn syrup, Maple syrup, Whole milk, Dish soap, Water, Vegetable oil, […]

October 2

The Milk Experiment

This fun experiment is super easy to put together! All you need is: Whole milk Dawn soap Cotton swabs Plastic dishes Liquid food coloring (not gel). Begin by pouring your milk into a dish. In a separate bowl pour some dish soap. Set out a container of cotton swabs. You will need a to change […]

October 1

Lava Lamp Experiment

Do you remember lava lamps from when you were a teenager? Were you even around?! LOL. Lava lamps made a come back in the 90s. I had one in high school and I loved it. This experiment imitates the look of a lava lamp. It is an easy experiment to do with kids and they […]

October 1

Blowing Up Balloons

To prepare for this experiment: Fill your 16 oz plastic water bottle about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way with vinegar in advance before the party begins. Replace the lid and set aside in a cool, dry place until the party. Fill as many balloons as you have water bottles (1 balloon per water bottle) […]

September 30

Pom Pom Pumpkin

This year I am all about skipping the carving mess and enjoying painting and decorating pumpkins with my kiddos in a less traditional way! This Pom pom pumpkin was super easy to make and so much fun! You will need: Pumpkin Pom poms in the colors of your fall scheme Hot glue gun Spray paint […]

September 30

Mad Scientist Party!

A Mad Scientist party is the perfect party theme for the boy (or girl) who loves experiments! Our little guy has always loved experiments- taking things apart, seeing how things work and learning cause and effect. This was the perfect theme for him. It is also a great theme for Fall birthdays, it fits right […]

September 30

Happy Fall, Y’all!

Fall is my favorite season. I love to watch the leaves change color and the air turn crisp. I love the smell of fireplaces beginning to be turned on. I love the air in the morning is crisp and fresh, waking you up for a new day, but that it is warm and sunny in […]

September 27

Stampe Dolceamericana

Le stampe Dolceamericana sono fatti su misura per il tuo evento. Presto avrò alcuni esempi che potete già scegliere o potete richiedere un tema adatta al tuo evento speciale! Tornate presto a trovarci ed a scoprire le novità! AL MOMENTO STAMPABILI PERSONALIZZABILI SONO DISPONIBILI TRAMITE EMAIL Visitate il mio account su instagram per visualizzare stampe […]

September 23

Oreo Ice Cream Pie

Today we are celebrating my 15 year old. I can’t believe he is 15. It seems like he was born yesterday. And well, I can’t be old enough to have a 15 year old. I am certain of that. So today I will be eating my Oreo and maybe crying just a little bit. He […]

September 15

Gravina in Puglia

Gravina has become one of our favorite places to visit. Gravina is in Puglia. It is similar to Matera, but much less touristic. . .so less crowds. It is equally beautiful, in my opinion. Ironically, as we were exploring the cliffs across from the city we noticed some antique “relics” that looked new and out […]

September 15

Pannenkoeken

If you ask my husband about his ethnicity, he will say that he is Italian. He was born and raised in Southern Italy, it is the culture he knows and the language he speaks. Yet, my husband is actually half Italian and half Dutch. His Mom is Dutch and his Dad is Italian. They met […]

September 12

Cookies n Cream Popcorn

Soccer is a really big deal here in Italy. . . I suppose like football or baseball in the USA. So when the game is on it’s all about rooting for your colors! My husband is a Rome fan. When the game is on, you need some snacks to keep everyone happy. My husband, for […]

September 8

Berry Oatmeal Cookies

Italy is a magical place to live. There is so much history around every corner. People are warm and hospitable, at least where I live here in the South. Any time people find out that I live in Italy, they always begin to gush about how amazing Italy is, and how it is on their […]

September 6

Free Fall Printables

Fall is my favorite time of year!! Enjoy a few Fall printables to celebrate the season… Free Fall Printables: Free Thanksgiving Printables:

September 5

Perfect Caramel

This caramel is easy to make and is perfectly delicious! And when I say it is easy to make, I mean it! Because caramel can be tricky, but this recipe will have you shouting for joy at how easy it is! You will need: 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 cup sugar 5 Tablespoons of butter […]

September 3

Breakfast for Dinner

One of my family’s favorite traditions growing up was having breakfast for dinner! We almost never ate a big breakfast in the morning. I never eat a big breakfast because I am half asleep until 10 am, even if I am out of bed by 6:30! I am officially NOT a morning person. But breakfast […]

August 28

Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

My kids love pancakes. My Mom (Ama to my kids) makes these crazy pancake shapes that they fell in love with from the time that they were little! She would make them castles, Llamas, horses, guitars, snakes and anything they could come up with! While I am not as talented as my Mom with pancake […]

August 16

A Little Monster is turning 2!

Do you have a little monster at your house, or on their way?! Then this is the party for you! This theme is so fun and there are so many ways you can take the theme and do something fun with it! This Mamma wanted the Monster Inc spin on her little monster theme, because […]

August 15

Tavole Palatine

We arrived to the temple just before sunset. Just in time to read the signs describing the history of the place, to take a few pictures and to look at the immense columns towering over us. Temples always create a sense of awe and wonder in me…. how did they do it? How did they […]

August 10

Chocolate Chip Muffin Cookies

Cakey Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe When I first moved to Italy I struggled a lot with feeling homesick. In the last few months before my husband and I moved back here, I had taken a lot of photos with my family in the USA. I printed out those photos and looked at them a thousand […]

July 29

The Art of Showing Up

“True friendship isn’t about being there when it is convenient. It’s about being there when it’s not (Author Unknown).” The day of my son’s 6th birthday two of his friends called and cancelled. And one of his best friends just never showed up. When I called they said they had other plans and would not […]

July 21

Easy Pizza Rolls

Food is a really big deal in Italy. It is an art form and it is easy to offend if you do not get this art form quite right! There are certain noodles that you are supposed to use in certain pasta dishes even! I have learned a lot about cooking since I have lived […]

July 21

Traveling with Kids

Traveling with kids is easier than it used to be in some senses, and much more complicated in others. Before there were not security checks to try and lug sleeping toddlers through, but there was also just one screen at the front of the plane most often playing very inappropriate movies for a toddler. I […]

July 19

The Lion King

Who is excited to see the Lion King live action film coming out today?! I always loved the music from the Lion King. I memorized all the songs when I was younger, so I was excited to take the kids to see the new version. To celebrate the release of this classic movie turned live […]

July 16

Ice Cream Sandwiches

Summer is here! Whose ready for ice cream? My kids love ice cream sandwiches. So we made this delicious homemade version together. The chocolate chip cookie recipe is the classic Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip cookie recipe. It works perfectly for ice cream sandwiches because you want a nice flat cookie to make your sandwich. […]

July 4

Happy Fourth of July!

How do you celebrate the Fourth of July? Does your family have any traditions? What are your favorite snacks and treats for the big day? My kids have grown up in Italy, but I still like to do something small for the 4th of July each year. Here in Italy our festivities are obviously a […]

June 27

100 Ways to use a Solo Cup!

Some years the fourth of July is extra festive for our little bunch, because we are back home in the USA and can celebrate with family. The years we are back in Seattle we love to go to the park during the day for a nice relaxing walk, to play games and spend time together. […]

June 21

Forky

Toy Story 4 You’ve got a friend in me. You got troubles and I got ’em, too. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you. We stick together, we can see it through ’cause you’ve got a friend in me. You’ve Got a Friend in Me, Toy Story Have you seen Toy Story 4 yet? […]

June 20

Camping Party

Did you like camping when you were little?! What was your favorite part? I loved camping as a child, and my kids love camping too! In fact, every time we are back in Washington, we love to go camping! A few years back we were camping with the kids and my parents in my parent’s […]

June 11

Nutella Girelle

If you are looking for a super easy party treat that will still make a great impression, then these bite size pastry snacks are the perfect solution! I love to make them for parties or get-togethers- they are an easy finger food, but my kids love them for breakfast too! Just grab a roll of […]

June 11

A Chocolately Twist on a Classic Treat

Rice Krispie treats are a classic childhood recipe. They were one of my Mom’s favorite easy treats, and are now one of my daughter’s favorite treats. I never really cared for them because I found them to be too sweet. So recently when my middlest asked me to make Rice Krispie treats with her I […]

June 9

Popcorn Bar

If you are having a get-together, a movie night, a party or a small group at your house, then this is a super fun idea for you! Popcorn bar! It’s fun and easy to put together, and everyone can create their own mix. This popcorn bar was from a “Reunion” theme night I put together […]

May 28

Ma Lei, Come fa?!

Non esiste un modo per essere una Mamma perfetta, ma ci sono un milione di modi per essere una mamma amorevole! Carli, Insieme Mamme È una domanda che ci chiediamo spesso quando vediamo qualcuno che fa qualcosa fuori dalla nostra portata o capacità. Mi ricordo che osservavo mamme con più figli che facevano il volontariato, […]

May 28

Free Summer Printables

Let’s thank our teachers, celebrate summer break and the fourth of July with these free printables! Free Summer Printables:

May 24

A Whole New World

Have you seen the new Aladdin movie yet?! We did and we loved it! I was surprised because I loved the original so much. Robin Williams is my favorite. He was wonderful as the genie. But I was pleasantly surprised with this version. I loved the music and costumes. to celebrate the release of the […]

May 23

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies!

When we moved to Italy 16 years ago, we lived in a farm house in the country during our first three years here. It was beautiful, but a little bit lonely at times. We had one car and were too far from town to walk anywhere. So, when we moved into Modugno, the city where […]

May 23

Cookie Cutter Sandwiches

Cookie cutter sandwiches are a fun idea to make for any party or event. And they are so easy! You will need a few supplies: Thin sandwich bread (Pane da Tramezzini) Mayonnaise Tuna Cookie Cutters to fit your party theme If you, or your kids, do not care for tuna, you substitute thin sliced meats […]

May 22

Aladdin

Are you going to go see the new Aladdin movie? We can’t wait! It was one of my favorite Disney movies growing up! I had every song memorized and Robin Williams was my favorite. Disney has been on a remake rampage… and for the most part I have enjoyed how they have turned out. My […]

May 10

A Sunny Baby Shower

You are my Sunshine, my only Sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are grey. You’ll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away. Jimmie Davis Joy. What a perfect name for a sunshine baby. And this polka dot red velvet white chocolate cake was perfect for the Mommy-to-be, […]

May 6

You Think it’s Hard Now?!

Have you ever had anyone say to you, “You think it’s hard now?! Just wait until….” When my kids were small we worked with a couple who had older kids. They were always making comments like, “Small kids, small problems. Big kids, big problems” or “You think you don’t sleep now?! Just wait until you […]

April 20

Easter Treats

These easy Easter egg Rice Krispie treats were fun to make with the kids and even more fun to eat! You can find the recipe here. To make the eggs, all you need to do is follow the original steps all the way until you press the treats into a greased 9×13 glass pan. Then […]

April 18

Easy Bunny Treats

Easter is around the corner and we are getting ready to celebrate at our house! What are your Easter traditions? We love to go to church in the morning and then have a family lunch or brunch in the afternoon. The other traditions we have done have varied over the years, seeing as though egg […]

April 12

Mini Bunny Easter Bags

Do you make Easter baskets, boxes or bags for your family? When I was little I always looked forward to them. I remember one year my parents brought my white bunny Buffy in and put her down by the baskets right before I we came in! I was convinced that my bunny was the Easter […]

April 4

A Spa Party Brunch

Are you throwing a Spa party? A brunch is the sweetest solution! It fits perfectly with the theme and allows you to create lots of fun treats for the girls to enjoy! We went with a tropical theme, to fit my daughter’s current obsession with Flamingos. These adorable printable were created for the party theme. […]

April 1

Spa Party!

Figuring out how to entertain a bunch of tweens or teens can feel a lot more intimidating than entertaining a bunch of kiddos. Yet, there are a lot of great ideas for entertaining older kids! A Spa party is on the top of the list. It is a fun way for your daughter to pamper […]

March 6

Uova a Temperatura Ambiente

La maggior parte dei prodotti da forno richiede uova a temperatura ambiente. Ma perché?! A temperatura ambiente, le uova e altri ingredienti per i dolci e prodotti di forno formano un’emulsione che intrappola l’aria. Durante la cottura in forno, quell’aria intrappolata si espande e produce un prodotto da forno soffice. Se le tue uova sono […]

March 5

How Does She Do it?!

…It’s a question we often ask ourselves when we see someone doing something beyond our own means or abilities. When I was a new mother, I remember observing mothers with more children than I, who still did volunteer work, served in their church, brought older kids to their afternoon activities on time, while simultaneously caring […]

March 1

Free Spring Printables

Spring is blooming and so are these fun holidays! Enjoy these free printables as you celebrate and create and decorate with your little family! Life is just more fun with printables! Add a little color to your spring with… Free St Patrick’s Day Printables: Free Spring Printables: Free Easter Printables: Free Mother’s Day Printables: Free […]

February 27

Edible Playdough

I love winter snuggles, movie nights, hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies! But with the cold and rainy winter days, kiddos can get a bit stir crazy. In fact we love to craft and bake all year round, but the winter months we do it even more often. This edible playdough is a fun and […]

February 24

Latticello: fatto in casa

Il latticello è un ingrediente segreto in molti deliziosi prodotti da forno e altre ricette! E mentre può essere facile per molti di voi trovare, per altri come me, non si trova il latticello nel vostro negozio di alimentari dietro l’angolo. In effetti, qui nell’Italia non vendono affatto il latticello! I primi anni che ho […]

February 10

Burro a Temperatura Ambiente

Molte ricette richiedono che il burro sia a temperatura ambiente. Perché?! A temperatura ambiente, il burro forma un’emulsione che intrappola l’aria. Durante la cottura in forno, quell’aria intrappolata si espande e produce un prodotto da forno soffice. Ma ….. se sei come me, spesso dimentichi di lasciare il burro fuori dal frigorifero prima di averne […]

February 9

Adorable Origami Bookmarks

My parents met my husband and his family here in Italy long before I did. In fact, the first time they visited Italy with a group from our church my husband was only 12 years old. They fell in love with Italy before I did, and are a part of the reason that I myself […]

January 31

Free Printables

Printables are such a great addition to any occasion. Like cute Super hero tags, which are perfect for Valentine’s day or as a tag on your birthday gift. And what makes these printables even more perfect is that they are free! Take a look around and download what you like… Table Talk Tags/Valentine Cards For […]

January 29

Millie Difiore fotografia

Sono Millie, una donna Italo-argentina. Faccio Servizi Fotografici di Famiglie, Matrimoni, Gravidanze, Bambini, e molto altro! In ogni evento e celebrazione scopro che la vita offre molte cose da documentare. Il mio desiderio è di catturare il momento, un dettaglio, e di aiutarti a ricordare i sentimenti e le emozioni del tuo grande giorno, o […]

January 25

Buttermilk

Buttermilk is a secret ingredient in many delicious baked goods and other recipes! And while it may be easy for many of you to find, for others like myself, buttermilk may not be sold at your local grocery store. In fact, here in Southern Italy they do not sell buttermilk at all! The first several […]

January 22

Gingilly

Ciao mi chiamo Nella, e sono l’autore di Gingilly! Amo i fiori 🌼, i colori, i brillantini e gli unicorni🦄 . Gingilly nasce da un mio desiderio: creare oggetti unici che possano ispirare, far sentire amati e regalare un sorriso! Sono un ingegnere meccanico e mi diverto ricercare materiali sicuri e resistenti e sperimentare tecniche […]

January 11

Room Temperature Eggs

Most baked goods call for eggs to be at room temperature. But why?! When at room temperature, eggs and other dairy ingredients form an emulsion which traps air. While baking in the oven, that trapped air expands and produces a fluffy baked good. If your eggs are straight out of the fridge and you need to bake right away, then this […]

January 10

Free Winter Printables

Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Valentine’s day… are a few fun winter holidays that are worth celebrating with your kiddos! Take a look around and find a printable to meet your holiday needs. Free Christmas Printables: Free New Year’s Printables: Free Valentine’s Day Printables:

January 3

Gingerbread House Party

My girls wanted to invite their friends over during the holiday break from school. So we threw a little party for each of them and a few of their friends. Our eldest daughter chose a gingerbread house party. We call them crazy cookie houses around here (make sure to check out this post to see […]

January 2

Room Temperature Butter

A lot of recipes ask for butter to be at room temperature. Why?! When at room temperature, butter forms an emulsion which traps air. While baking in the oven, that trapped air expands and produces a fluffy baked good. But…..if you are like me then you often forget to leave the butter out of the fridge before you need it and […]

December 20

Encouraging Creativity!

We make “gingerbread houses” every year during the holiday season. When the kids were younger I bought several different kinds of gingerbread house kits. I even made a fool proof recipe once or twice. The problem was that the kids started trying to build their perfect little house and they just ended up frustrated. The […]

November 1

Precious Cargo

Kid, you’ll move mountains! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So get on your way! Dr. Seuss, The Places You’ll Go There is precious cargo on the way! This sweet baby shower theme is perfect for baby boy!! All of the items, from food toppers, to banner, to photo props, to wishes for […]

July 4

Liberty

Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island Thankful for freedom today and every day. Freedom of faith. Freedom as a woman. Freedom. […]

July 3

Roma

You may have the universe, if I may have Italy Giuseppe Verdi At least one of the times you make a trip to Italy (or if like me, you live here), you need to visit Rome. I have been 5 times total and every time feels like the first time. It is, in fact, all […]

June 14

Vieste

A day at the beach is never lost time. When the warm grains of sand touch our hearts, we know we’re in the right place. Unknown Vieste… the perfect vacation pot for families. Sunshine, never-ending sandy beaches, and a sparkling sea. Vacationing with little kiddos can be hard. And finding the right place can be […]

September 9

Laghi di Monticchio

Grandma and Grandpa are here visiting, and so we are off to explore! In fact, today we had the privilege of exploring with both sets of grandparents. My kids are blessed to have their grandparents around and are always happy to spend time with them. And we are happy for the extra hands in keeping […]

August 4

Salento

Salento is one of the most beautiful areas of Italy. Especially if you are looking for amazing beaches with crystal clear water. Our favorite vacation spot for years was Torre del Orso, and Otranto. And vacation is even more fun, when grandparents come along! Really!! We love having my parents with us when we get […]

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March 17

Whipped Cream Easter Eggs

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Becoming Butterflies

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Jesus Heals!

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Il dono dell’umiltà

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Valentine’s Day Gnome

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Bandaid Get Well Card

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Gnome Christmas Gift

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10 Fun Thanksgiving Crafts & Activities

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Big Hug Card

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How to Make a Candy Cake

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Get Well Hugs!

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Monsters Inc Pumpkin

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Easy Pig Paper Bag Craft

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I Miei Figli Sono Grati?

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Paper Flowers

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5 Fun Water Games

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Come Parlare del Sesso con i tuoi Figli

March 23

Glow Party: Games & Activities:

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Glow Party: Photo Booth

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Un Immagine Distorta

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Ninjago Party Food

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Ninjago Birthday

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Drive-in Theatre

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HUG Monsters!

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Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

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DIY Hot Chocolate Bomb

February 1

Caramel Cashew Clusters

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Princess in Training Party

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I nostri Corpi Sono Fatti per Cambiare…

January 18

Art Party Food

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Rainbow Art Party!

January 17

White Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

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Dark Chocolate Almond Chocolates

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Ruby Chocolate Valentine Popcorn