Every Christmas Eve growing up, my family and I would wait outside our house for Santa to drive by with the fire department. He would stop, give us lollipops and wish us a “Merry Christmas!” Then, we would enjoy hors d’oeuvres like meatballs or perhaps a meal and open one gift, the present for each…
Author: the italiagal
Simple Pleasure Sunday: My Favorite Chocolate Truffle
In just over a year of documenting simple pleasures, I’ve written about savoring a chocolate truffle or two here, here, and here. I often enjoy this particular pleasure. However, I do not believe that I’ve posted my favorite to date. Since I love to shop small, surprisingly, it’s not even by an independent maker, but a…
Simple Pleasure Sunday: Poinsettias
On Sunday, I celebrated Christmas with my dad’s side of the family in Delaware. We gather to catch up, eat and engage in a white elephant gift exchange. It is always great to see my grandmother. Her chicken salad (with its homemade salad dressing) is also a highlight and will always be one of the…
New Recipe #4: Cranberry Scones
Back on Monday, December 15th, I made another new recipe, cranberry scones. I selected this particular dish since cranberries had just been in season. Every once in awhile, I will make cranberry-orange muffins from the box for breakfast. Even though it was my first time preparing any kind of scone, they looked like they were…
My Favorite Christmas Gift
I am thrilled to report that I got back together with E. Since I believe that relationships are healthier away from social media, I will simply add that he’s still wonderful… We agreed upon dating on 12/13/14, which is a nice anniversary date! The next day, on Sunday, December 14th, he treated me to a…
Reflections on 2014 and Resolutions for 2015
Happy New Year! I had a fabulous 2014 for a few reasons. First, an international trip certainly makes my year. I was so thrilled to have traveled to Paris with Elizabeth in celebration of my 30th birthday in April. I covered it in a series called French Friday. It is such a beautiful city, from…
Simple Pleasure Sunday: Watching a Movie at Home
My Dell Mini was seven years old and really slowing down, taking a long time to load a webpage. It would be incredibly cranky too. “The Blue Screen of Death” appeared more and more frequently, with troubling text such as “Dumping physical memory.” I would restart my computer and it always resurrected itself. Luckily, my…
A note from Santa…
I find a letter from “Santa” accompanying a lovely gift at my office door every Christmas. Read the poem I received last year here. Dear Michelle, I know that year twenty-fourteen Is one like you’ve never seen, I know it has had many ups and a down And often felt like a merry-go-round. One “up” was…
Book Review: At Home with Madame Chic: Becoming a Connoisseur of Daily Life
This review of the wonderful book At Home with Madame Chic: Becoming a Connoisseur of Daily Life by Jennifer L. Scott of the blog The Daily Connoisseur is a long time coming. I pre-ordered the book, so I received it months ago, in October and devoured it right away. I actually read it twice and have…
Links I Love: Christmas 2014
South Philly Conrad Benner for Visit Philadelphia via facebook.com/visitphilly * 10 things you should know before celebrating Christmas in Germany [dw.de via facebook.com/ glitterandbow] * my favorite Christmas ornament… [cestmoisaralouise.com] * Countdown to Christmas- Italian Style! December 11 [theveniceexperience.blogspot.com] * What do the Bolognesi eat at Christmas? [bolognawithlove.com] * 20 Traditional Christmas Dishes From All Around…