Grandmothers- a little therapy for CP~

A brief CP~  grandmother history

The most important women in my life were my Grandmothers.  I had three, (divorce makes family math complicated) my Gram Millie (my mother's mom), my Grammy Alice (my bio-dad's mom) and my Grandma June (my step-dad's mom). I was very close to my Gram and Grammy.  All three of my grandmothers died within nine months of each other. I was clearly devastated. I think of myself as someone who has her act together most of the time, but those few months wrecked me.  I still worked, I took care of things at home, I certainly didn't starve myself (clearly), I still laughed, smiled and enjoyed life but I would cry at the drop of a hat. Note: I REALLY don't like crying in front of people, I think it shows weakness...meh, I've got issues.
*this is a good example of when Choosing Joy is really important, although I might be missing my grandmothers I Choose to remember the good, I let myself feel what I'm feeling but don't let myself linger in self pity. It does no good. My grandmothers were trying to teach me that...I wish I would have understood it sooner, but am thankful that I get it now!

Grandma June

My Grandma June died first, in September of 2009.  I was not close to her as I got older but when I was a kiddo I spent a fair amount of time with her and Grandpa Frank. I was a BIG Grandpa Frank fan, I loved hanging out at the Cincotta Greenhouses with him. He was gruff, hard working but he also had a wonderful smile and a very sweet side that he showed me since the moment I became one of his family.  Grandpa Frank would tell me to go get his pipe out of the drawer and Grandma June would say "no you will not"...and I was torn but I always got it because Grandpa Frank was louder.  Grandma June and I were never tight but she was always kind to me and I have fond memories of her.  I would go with her and her mother to the beauty salon- that's right, old school/smelling like perm chemicals/little old ladies gossiping beauty salon.  Grandma June made the best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, she made really great food in general, but those sandwiches are attached to memories of having lunch with Grandpa Frank so it's all I can really remember. My cousin Chris and I would have sleepovers at Grandma June's house and it allowed the two of us to have a special cousin bond, I'm grateful for that relationship and the others that I have with my Cincotta cousins.  Grandma June always made sure Nate had a full plate and was very kind to him, I appreciated that, very much.  My "step" dad, Bob, would do anything for his mother. His sun rose and set in her, it was very sweet (maybe not always healthy, but what do I know).  When she died I was very sad for the entire Cincotta family. My heart broke for them.

The family that Frank and June Cincotta built

Gram Millie

Gram Millie died in February of 2010.  She was my best friend for, easily, the first 8 years of my life; definitely the first 4 she was my world. Gram Millie and Grandpa Mike were my favorite people (in my Minnesota world). I was at their house every-ish weekend and THRILLED to be there. I loved every minute of it. They made me feel special and loved and safe. And I needed that. Gram would sing-song all day long, really silly old songs about nothing and she breathed joy. Gram was never a good cook but everything was made with love and she could buy Double Stuf Oreos with the best of 'em.  I have so much to say about this woman that she's getting her own post as I have something that needs to be said that wasn't at her memorial service and I'm still pissed about it. I miss her, my heart still aches. She's in heaven and that's awesome, but I guess I'm a bit selfish and still need her.

Nate, Gram and I

Grammy Alice

My Grammy was the last of my grandmothers to go to go Heaven; she died in June of 2010 . She was my everything when I was growing up and would go for visitation to see my dad (the original one, Alan) in Wisconsin.  She could be a little, um, ornery on occasion and she could spin a tale like no one else I've ever known.  I'm still finding out a few "exaggerations" were not completely the truth but that was just her way...I guess I know where I get the "embellish a story" gene from.   Grammy was a hard worker, a bit complicated but most importantly a Jesus Follower. I didn't know what all of that meant, but I do now and I am honored to be her granddaughter and I miss her EVERY.DAY. I have a LOT to say about Grammy as well so maybe she deserves her own post as well...and no, I don't feel silly as a 36 year old still calling her Grammy.

 my sister Ashley, Grammy and I

So What?

I guess I just needed a little therapy.  I wanted some of my peeps (that's y'all) to know a little about these three women and how they each, in their way, made me who I am today. I am blessed to have known all of these women and that they all had something to do with raising me.  Grandparents are so very important so if you are lucky enough to still have your grandparents on this planet PLEASE find time to love on them.  They have important things to say, take time to listen.  One day they are gone and you want to call and ask them a question, but you can't...I know, I've picked up the phone.

Love and God's Peace,
CP~

Moving Mountains!

 

LET HER SLEEP

FOR WHEN SHE WAKES, SHE'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS

 

Here is a little crafty project that I did for my

Cuzzie (cousin) Danielle's baby

Riley McKenzie.

 

I found the saying on Pinterest, of course. 

 

Needed:

11x14 canvas

letter stickers for the words

paint & paint brushes

a ruler (if you are fancy, I just winged it- clearly)

Paint pens

 

Please note: I'm in this place in my life where I want to make things for people, I think it's a nice personal touch. 

 (Also note, I learned the hard way not everyone appreciates this- but Cuzzie Danielle did)

Anyway, that same place in my life is also where I'm finally letting go of always wanting things to turn out PERFECT.  It's not going to happen.  I am not perfect (shocking, I know).

 I will still try my DANGDEST (that's gotta be a word) to make whatever craft/art/food/etc. nice and personalized but I already have WAY too many gray (grey?) hairs to freak out that each letter is perfectly straight...blah, blah, blah- this makes me want an adult beverage just thinking about it and why I did not use my ruler.

 

How To:

(prepare yourself- this is super simple)

 

Adhere the sticker letters to the canvas

 

 

 

 

The rest of the letters I used a variety pack of sticker lettering

 

 

Then I chose my paint colors and began painting.  BE CAREFUL around the letters.  I tried CRAZY HARD not to let any paint seep under the stickers and thought I had succeeded...not so much. 



 

 

 

 

 After the paint dried I carefully peeled off the stickers.  In order to correct the places where the paint did seep I took a white paint pen (LOVE PAINT PENS! MORE ON THOSE LATER) and was able to clean up the lines nicely.

 

 

 

 

This is the sweet, sweet baby girl that will be moving those mountains-

stay tuned for that...give her a few years, she's brand new.

Riley McKenzie

 

I'm Not a Material Girl

When I was ten years old my Grammy brought me to an antique store.  She wanted to get me something special to last me years, that I would get use out of and find joy in. We found a beautiful 60 year old, at the time, vanity and bench.  Sadly, I don't think I have any pictures of it.  After I loved on it until my 31st year it was time to say goodbye.  We just couldn't fix it anymore...the poor thing was always losing it's legs and the last two years it was sitting on blocks of 2x4s. We put the vanity out of it's misery. 

Now, I know we shouldn't get attached to "things" and I'm usually really good about that- but that vanity was extra special, a wonderful gift from my Grammy.

Living the last 4ish years without a proper place to do my make-up and hair just hasn't been the same, so I started the hunt for a new vanity.  8 months later I found one on Craig's List!

I documented the process of refinishing it:

 

BEFORE

 

The day I bought it

(nothing special, right?)

 

 

Wrong!! Look at the inside of it- LOVE the pink velvet.
 I cleaned this up the best I could.

Rough sanded it

 

Top

(Bianca's all about the photo bomb)

 

"Dry" painting

(don't saturate the paint brush, just get the bristles barely wet) 

 

Top 

(and I did add a thin coat of Poly on it to protect it...from me, I'm a spiller)

 

I should have taken a pic of the hotttt mess I was using to hold my make up and jewelry but I was too excited to get it out of the bedroom;
I did take a pic of how I was storing my girlie goodies post antique vanity.

__________________________________________________________________
 

AFTER

 

And here is is done and set up!
Nate was able to save the mirror from the antique vanity. 
He took the giant & heavy wood frame off it and secured the mirror to our wall.

 

 

Inside!

(sorry about those cords on the ground...gotta plug in curling irons and such)

 

Ahh...girlie goodness is BACK! A place to put "stuff" and a place that is just "mine".  For an only child I think I share pretty well, but there are some things a girl should just get to keep to herself and have a pretty way to keep them.

 

I'm excited to start the next project which is a gem of a chair to go with this "new" vanity.  I found the chair at Goodwill, yes Goodwill, for only $6.99. 

 I will refinish it as well and recover the seat in a fun pattern.

 

 

 

 

 



Fashion. Marchesa. Best.

I do not pretend to understand the world of Fashion.  I do understand that there is a difference between Fashion and Clothing.

Thank you Project Runway for teaching me that- because REALLY no one in their right mind would wear 98% of the creations that appear on that show. 

I must share my FAVE designer of ALL TIME:

Marchesa - those ladies are BRILLIANT!

Yes, Chanel, thank you for the best pink suit of all time.

  (Jackie Kennedy rocked the $hit out of this suit!)

And yes, Burberry, a tiny whole would be in my heart if I did not have your

 brilliant plaid print embedded on it.

                           But Marchesa (Mar-kay-sa) takes the cake. Every time. The designs are feminine, classic, yet forward thinking, and simply beautiful.

 'Nuff said.

Watch this: http://www.marchesa.com/

Here's a sample of a Marchesa gown

Check out the shoes and boots too. Gorgeous!

What Read You?

Here's the scoop on The Phillips' current reading- July 2012

Nate is reading the following

 Summer reading is not a top priority for Nate- there are fish to be caught!

Therefore, IF it rains, Nate can be found reading one of these:

 

________________________________________________________________________

Christina is reading the following

Firefly Book Club

Monday Night Christian Women's Book Club

Just because I am loving this author and I need to know what happens!  This is the second book in a trilogy.  The author, Karen Kingsbury, as numerous series based on the Baxter family.  Great plots, wonderful consistency, easy read. 

 http://www.karenkingsbury.com/?url=home

My favorite place to read is on our deck.

Iced tea in hand and feet up!

(Minnesota is having ridic hotttt weather right now,

so the couch- fully reclined of course- is working fine too)

HAPPY READING!!!

Tell us what's off your book shelf and in your hand right now!

Going to the Movies- Phillips Style

The Phillips' Home has a philosophy about television and movies:

When there is real life to be lived -  turn the television off!

Simple as that.

That being said we really love movies so we do indulge ourselves movie time- the winters in Minnesota make movie nights easy to choose but in the summer it's much more rare; usually summer nights that are 106 degree heat index or rainy days. 

Movies are such a great escape from reality!

We have an issue with Hollywood however: we think writers don't have any original thoughts left.  This used to annoy us but recently we've decided to embrace it.  If we are going to spend two hours staring at that stupid box we want that time to be filled with quality cinema.

Here is a short list of some our fave classics

      

   

     

  

A few notes on these movies:

I'm CONVINCED That Touch of Mink is the original Pretty Woman.

White Christmas is my favorite movie of ALL TIME/ALL GENRES.

I have mad love for Ocean's Eleven-- all of them: the original with the Rat Pack, then Ocean's 11,12 and 13 with George Clooney, Brad Pitt and crew. Mad.Love.

I never thought I would enjoy Alfred Hitchcock so much but his movies are quite brilliant.

I could list every Audrey Hepburn movie ever made. She was amazing.

Same with James Dean, he wasn't just a pretty face- that man had serious talent.

What are your favorite "oldies"???

Coming soon: a list of our fave "Guy" movies, "Chick Flicks" and date movies.

Choosing Joy.

For the last two-ish years I've been working VERY hard at Choosing Joy. The concept is simple: Life can be hard, but you get one shot at it so don't live it being negative and ungrateful.


Sun shining day, rockin' it out at my job day, getting along great with husband day, I didn't do anything to piss off my mom day, looking cute day= easy to be Joyful.

Minnesota winter snow storm day, can't do anything right at work day, just not clicking with husband day, my mom yelled at me day, the silver (fine, gray) roots are really showing day= NOT as easy to be Joyful.


joy·ful

adjective

1. full of joy, as a person or one's heart; glad; delighted.

2. showing or expressing joy, as looks, actions, or speech.

3. causing or bringing joy, as an event, a sight, or news; delightful: the joyful announcement of their marriage.

(thank you dictionary.com)

I would add:

4. the joy of the grace and love of God; the joy in one's heart comes from God.

Also in the last two years I've annoyed people with my "Choosing Joy".

Fine.

But I'm not sorry. I usually post something about Joy when I'm struggling the most.
Must.Reframe.
(reframe= stop. think. evaluate situation. is it really as bad as I thought? put it in perspective. be self aware. be grateful. adjust attitude.)

The more I remind myself that when things are ugly or inconvenient or uncomfortable that I need to Choose Joy in the situation. It is up to ME to make the best of EVERYTHING in my life while leaning on and being grateful to God for giving me the ups and downs that I experience therefore I will learn from them and perhaps share the wisdom gained with others.

So. I do it - my Facebook status will be "Choose Joy! It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood"

(Mr. Rogers flashbacks occasionally occur in my head)

Or it'll say "Missing my Gram Millie today, but I will Choose Joy as I know she is in heaven and I'm grateful to have known her"
...or they could be less serious "Choosing Joy that although my yard is full of dandelions at least I have a yard!"

Cheesy? Perhaps. Does it work? Absolutely.  Just a few seconds to stop and think about my attitude and I reframe.

--sometimes reframing also includes pouring a Diet Coke into a full, frosty glass of ice...meh, I never said I was perfect.

Bible verses:

Psalm 118:24 - "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Proverbs 17:22 - "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." 

John 16:22 - "So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.".

2 Corinthians 7:4- "I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy."

Not into God? (well, call me- I can introduce you to Him)--- There is still a place for Joy in your life. Just live a few days reminding yourself to Choose Joy when things seem to be going south...I predict your heart will feel better and your mood improved. 

It's NOT often easy, but it makes life so much easier/better/positive and really affects the people around you when you Choose Joy!

Book Club. A Must.

For years- YEARS- I didn't read for pleasure.  Don't get me wrong, I loved a good magazine or I'd read articles online about politics or the news, but reading a book for the pure love of it was NOT HAPPENING. No interest. Fast forward 10ish years and I am now in TWO book clubs. And I have serious love for them. I am blessed to be married to a man that not only totally gets me but he also gets that women need women time and he supports me taking time to spend with other chicks.

Here is a peek into my psyche- the reasons I Love & Need my book clubs:

1. I have WONDERFUL friends. Book club is a great excuse to get together
2. Test new recipes
3. Moscato on a week night
4. Every few months I get to be the hostess (which I adore! there are definitely ladies that are "better" at it, but I LOVE hosting!)
5. Oh! Then there is the books-- I read FOR PLEASURE now which has forced me to sit down and relax. I had no idea that I sucked at relaxing. Sure, once or twice a month I'd scrapbook and that was good (post later on this AMAZING-ness), but reading is something that can be done daily to just chill.  And I would much rather read than stare at the stupid box that is the television.
6. The "extra" of the night- getting updates on each other's lives: kids, parents, jobs, travels, struggles and victories.
7. I work from home. I heart my job. Muchly. But being at home all day where I now have full conversions with my Doberman has proven that I needed something to GET ME OUT OF THE HOUSE on a regular basis. Hence the TWO book clubs.
8. Two book clubs:
     - "Monday Night Women's Christian Book Club" consists of some lovely ladies that I know from church. We usually choose books written by Christian authors and/or have Christian themes. We meet every six weeks.
     -"Firefly Book Club" consists of this beautiful mix of some of my favorite women EVER. Family (Lisa T, Danielle & Lise not pictured), friends from high school and college (Kristine & Crystal, Lisa M not pictured), a neighbor (Amanda), a crafty friend (Katie) and a new friend (Gail). We meet once a month.

My Firefly Book Club

Celebrating our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY in June 2012!!!

I hope that I know these women forever.

Book Clubs= Good. Need them for sanity and brain & heart health.

My Goodreads link:

In my next life...JuNkiN'

If I believed in next lives (which I don't- Heaven is my goal, for the record) I would spend my next life as a designer.  As in Interior and Exterior Designer...shopping for treasures and remaking/repurposing/reloving them for people's homes and businesses.

I would do EXACTLY what these ladies do: http://junkgypsyblog.com/ and http://www.gypsyville.com/

And I want to talk like them.  They say precious things like "Ya'll" and "Golly!"  It's so sweet I get a toothache when I listen to them.  I want these ladies to adopt me and teach me everything they know.  AND I'd also get to live in Texas, which is on my bucket list.

Ya'll know what!? I don't need to dream about this...I can totally do this! Why not?  I can still keep my day job.  Aren't dreams what weekends are for?  ...well, dreams and everything else that needs to get crammed into two short little days that didn't get accomplished the other five days of the week.

So- raise your glass to dreams! I hope you are doing something about making yours come true!

Don't mess with my Iced Tea

I have SERIOUS opinions about Iced Tea.

1. Nestea is the BEST
 --preferrably the way Gram Millie used to make it- crazy strong and sweet, tons of iced cubes  (note: I'm also addicted to iced cubes. this makes Nate crazy)
 --problem with this: one serving of Nestea is the equivalent  to ALL of the carbs I eat/drink in ONE day.
 --yes, we always bought it in this giant tub.  I remember when it was $2.99 (back in the day, when the world was black and white).  Now it's $4.99.  I don't care- totally worth it...except for the dang carbs.

2. Sun tea is a waste of my time
--not yummy. easy as that.

3. Crystal Lite, although tasty enough, gives me RIDIC (ridiculous) heart burn...lame.

4. I'm happy to report I will not have to live Iced Tea free this summer!
--I took a leap of Iced Tea Faith and, after staring at and reading the labels of the choices in the coffee/juice/beverage aisle for a good, long seven minutes, the Lipton Diet Iced Tea with Lemon found it's way into my cart.
--My mom, aunt and Gram Millie have always been hard core Nestea fans so I feel a bit like a trader for buying Lipton.  HOWEVER. I'm desperate.  Summer is around the corner= nice weather, nights on the deck, grilling, boating, 4th of July, God Bless America--

I MUST HAVE ICED TEA.

So, I'm drinking it right now...with a twinge of guilt. It's tasty and, for comfort, I added extra ice and I'm drinking it out of the last official 'ol school pink

Tupperware cup from Gram Millie's cupboard.

(can people read blogs in heaven?? Hi Gram! Love you & miss you-- more than I could ever explain!)

 I'm relieved.

Everything is going to be OK.

Dinner.

We're a low carb house.  People don't always get it.

And that's okay, it's not about other people. 

It's what I need for my health, so it's what we do.

Enough about that.  Now- onto the FUN part. 

Tonight's Menu:

"Mrs. Capones"

(inspired by, er...copied from our butcher -- Big Steer Meats)

What you'll need

Chicken breasts

Green Olives

Capicola

Hard (or Genoa) Salami

Provolone Cheese

Seasoning - we use Porketta seasoning that our butcher sells

Prep chicken

(the usual- remove silver skin and such, wash it and I split the breasts in half)

Then use your seasoning on the raw chicken.

Yes- I wear latex gloves when I work with chicken. I'm not necessarily a germaphobe...but chicken freaks me out.

Bake the chicken on 350 degrees for about 20 minutes

(or until the chicken has about 10 minutes left to bake)

Take the mostly baked chicken out of the oven, place the Capicola, salami, green olives and provolone on the chicken and finish baking the chicken.

And Enjoy!

Replace chicken with steak= "The Al Capone"

Replace chicken with the pork chops= "Squealy Capone"