Memorial Day Weekend; NYC

Captured NYC architecture.

Little Italy for yummy dessert and street vendors.

Boat ride to the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island.

Our hotel room view of the 9/11 site. 

volunteer love

“Awareness-raising is a worthy activity unto itself, but the reality is that awareness without action results in little change. After all, awareness is supposed to inspire people to act!”

I'm excited to report that I have been selected as a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow, and I will participate at Crystal Eye Clinic in Ghana, Africa during February 1st-15th 2012.  Unite For Sight is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that is the world's leader in socially responsible, effective volunteering and also a leader in providing high quality, cost-effective care to the world's poorest people. To date, Unite For Sight has provided eye care services to 1,200,000 patients, including more than 44,000 sight-restoring surgeries. While abroad, I will participate daily with the local ophthalmologists, local optometrists, and local ophthalmic nurses to eliminate patient barriers to care and to facilitate comprehensive year-round eye care for patients living in extreme poverty.

As a Unite For Sight Global Impact Fellow, I am fundraising at least $1800 to provide eye care for patients living in extreme poverty, but I hope to raise much more - My goal is $3000.  I would be so grateful for your support.  The average cost of a cataract surgery is $50, which means that $50 will enable someone who is blind to have their sight restored, and $250 enables five people to have their sight restored.  Any help is appreciated, and no amount will go unnoticed.  100% of your tax-deductible donation to Unite For Sight goes directly to restoring sight for patients living in extreme poverty.  Can you imagine impacting another person’s life in a more significant way?

I would be grateful for your support of Unite For Sight to provide eye care to many more patients living in extreme poverty.  My goal is to raise at least $5,000, which will provide 100 sight-restoring surgeries. By raising $5,000, I would also receive a volunteer of the year award from Unite For Sight. You may donate through my online fundraising page by clicking here.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration.  I look forward to whatever support you can provide.

love vintage market sundays

We got to the market for the later half of the day, we enjoyed all the outdoor art, crafts, music. We met up with two artist-friends that had set up shop and chit chatted a bit about who has the best finds, most unique talent and well the rest just gossip. It was good to hear how well their art had been selling and made me give Greggers a big nudge of encouragement later (for he is my fav artist of all time) for doing more of what comes so natural to him. After the great outdoors environment we headed into my place of love, it sucks me in and I feel at home with all the vintage finds. Swear I was not meant to come in this world in the 80's. I snapped photos and took it all in, bought a few trinkets and felt my weekend become complete.. all while Gregg played atari, which almost made it home with us. I'm sure his fingers are crossed its still there next weekend. Well the wheels are def spinning on our holiday crafts and homemade items to come, the market really gave that extra touch of inspiration.

to do's

My list is slowly getting smaller. The big move happened this past weekend, I've officially slept at my new city apartment. I'm in love. Jake & Henry enjoyed their time in Brophy park yesterday... maybe Jake more so than Henry. Henry sat on a park bench like a little man with his buddy Gregg. Jake played with his 2new girlfriends & rolled around in the grass for hours.

Leaving Newbury comes with great emotion. Its bittersweet. I've lived on my own for the first time there & learned so much about myself. Now, all that stands in my old 1770's farm house are my two blue ladies wing chairs & a shabby old tall dresser. Time to go back and tie up some loose ends then its on to the next chapter.

Sunday Newburyport had a festive parade down our main historic street. We sat out on our farmers porch and watched on all the festivities as they went by. It was like our own farewell tribute... I felt torn the whole time I watched on. Do I really want to give this up, my heart felt heavy. Getting back to the city last night things lightened up and I started to feel some excitement, those "what if's" past by.

My Newbury "to do's"

• wing chairs & dresser to Boston.
• remaining dishes & glassware to Boston.
• old coffee & end table to Moms barn.
• cut some fresh flowers from yard & bring to my new kitchen.
• empty storage area in barn, bring old vintage sofa to Moms for its rehab project.
• wash floors.
• take photos of my favorite things I leave behind.

My Boston "to do's"

• hang tall shutters in living rm windows (best flea market find ever!)
• rearrange living rm furniture & organize book case.
• set up my office area & organize arts/crafts stufffff.
• touch up antique white paint on hutch & buffet table.
• put glass knobs on tall dresser & buffet table.
• arrange kitchen cabinets! ugh
• set up phone & Internet asap
• stop & smell the fresh cut flowers.
• unpack shoes & clothes... can't wait, I have two big closets to fill =)

The crossed off things far out do the "to do's", thank god. I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel... fingers crossed.

pictures to follow

harvest

Just as the Summer crowd dies down... Plymouth harbor gets one more wild run before the winter turns everyone away -- the Thanksgiving crowd. Buses are pulling up to the harbor daily, people pouring out to see "the rock" & mayflower. Shots of the very popular attractions from the ocean.

plum island

Spent the past two days out on the plum. I'm so burnt and Gregg's feet are wicked swollen from his burns...we're such dorks, more sunscreen next time for sure! We got away from life here and the two crazy boys, to be joined with friends and family for some good food, wine and laughs....oh and of course the beach! We filled our days with biking around the island, kayaking out to the sandbars (where i found really cool shells!), and soaking up the rays. We sat out on the sandbar for awhile, watching skydivers jump from their plane to land on the beach below. Ate at one of the TWO restaurants on the island for breakfast, Mad Martha's...good french toast with strawberries and fun people! Then this little muppet above followed us where ever we went & we did encouraged it for she is the mother of our two boys, weird to say but true! Well we've def found our second home up on the north shore, thanks to mom & dads relocation. We can't wait to spend more time up there this summer!

italian girl ♥s france

anyone who knows me. this blonde haired, blue eyed Italian girl knows i do love my background i love Italy and all things it has to offer. I def. want my children to grow up knowing Italian and eating all our homemade Italian meals that have been pasted down. I even named my dog after my papa Enrico, it means Henry in English & who knows we may have a son one day name Pasquale after my uncle, jk but who knows. Anyway, with all that said...I just have a very unhealthy obsession with all things french instead-- i heart Paris...I won't say more then Rome just yet because I may get myself in trouble (for some unknown reason?) So this man in my life needs to get me there in a hurry if he wants to stop living in this french like museum i made for ourselves =]

ok here are some great french reads.

this is paris
"So here we are," begins M. Sasek's iconic This is Paris. Sasek's whimsical drawings and witty prose introduce children to life in Paris, from sidewalk artists to mademoiselles carrying baguettes, to the history and culture of the city.






Paris Out of Hand: A Wayward Guide
Do not try to make a reservation or plot a walking tour with this deliciously droll illustrated guide to an imaginary Paris. Just close your eyes and dream. By Karen Elizabeth Gordon, Barbara Hodgson, and Nick Bantock.






My French Life
http://www.vickiarcher.com/

In 1999 Vicki Archer fulfilled a lifelong dream and bought a home in France. With chapters such as "The Women," "The Scents," and "The Weekend," coupled with sumptuous photography, Archer chronicles an insider's view of life in France.

we heart vt

vermont 1/08

we didn't want to come back - we had so much fun & enjoyed the laid back enviroment.this little guy is about all we came home for ;)
can't wait to visit again.