Do-it-yourself Sushi Night

For those of you that don't know it, I' am a Japanese food fanatic, especially SUSHI & SASHIMI. Here in my City not may places know how to make it (plus it's expensive), and there are no Japanese restaurants, soooooo I taught myself how to cook Japanese food and make Sushi (courtesy of amazon.com).

Enrico & I thought that it would be fun to have some of his work buddies of to have a do-it-yourself night and bond with them. We all took part in buying ingredients and making it.

Table all ready to start!

Mikki thinks she's Japanese! Shushi 101

Sushi 101!

And this is how we roll!

Yummy Yakitory marinating in teryaki sauce

(Chicken Skewers)

Yakitory 焼き鳥/やきとり/ヤキトリ

Enrico filleting tuna

Table ready!

Say Sushi!
Sashimi and Nigiri creations

Nigirizushi 握り寿司 & Sashimi 刺身

Sushi Rolls

Makizushi 巻寿司

Sashimi 刺身

Nigirizushi 握り寿司

Nigiri

Nigirizushi 握り寿司

We had a fun night!

"Scarpetta"

A "scarpetta" is when you take your bread and clean your plate from the yummy juice or sauce that's left on it! Etiquette says that it's bad manners to do it at a restaurant buuuuuut, you may do it at home! And when you have guests over, and they ask you if they can do "scarpetta" well, to the cook (me), it's a great honor meaning that what you cooked was sooo good, that they need to get the last bit in! And so scarpetta it was at our house!

They literally put pieces of bread into the pot to soak up the yummy juice from the mussel sauce!

After dinner we played UNO and had a "self inflatable camping mat" contest. The guys were showing off their gear and were all: "oh oh! mine's the best".

(yes they had their gear in the car, "be prepared" right"?)

The judges Mary, Luana, Me and Giulia

The Guys: Bebe, Diego and Enrico.

We were laughing soo hard!

Bebe & Luana brought their new born Carlo along,

so I took advantage to get a few pix!

He is just the calmest and happiest new born!!

Carlotta's FIRST day of School!

Today my niece Carlotta started 1st grade! I couldn't miss taking her to school and getting some pictures of her!

Here in Italy we start school late, and each Region can choose which day to start between the dates of September 13th and 20th. In the south we start later because of the heat, while in the north they start earlier so that they can have "snow days"

The school sign

Cristiana, Raffaele & Carlotta

Carlotta & I

Throughout elementary school, children are asked to wear these blue uniforms over their clothes or "bibs"as they call them here and depending on what grade they are in, they will receive a different color bow to wear around the collar.

The "bibs" have 2 functions:

1. so that they don't mess up their clothes

2. so that the kids are all the same and no jealousy about clothing can come up.

Gabri tagged along with us too!

Happy 1st day of school Carlotta!

Busy Busy Busy!

Just been really busy babysitting in the morning, teaching in the afternoons, trying to get the last days of summer soaked in and keeping our social life a float ;-) !!

So blogging has just been put on my "to do" list! ;-)

35 Baby!!!

So it was Enrico's 35th birthday on Aug. 26th,

and we decided to have a birthday bash at my Mom's house!

She helped us organize everything and decorated the yard oh so well!!!

Penny the dog, Enrico & Francesco

My good friend Alice, Virginié and me!

Diverland!

The other day in the car while driving back from the beach with the girl I babysit for, (her name's Mapi) she asked me a series of questions in a very "questiony" tone:

Mapi: Christina, have you ever been to the water slides?

Me: Uhm, yes, in California I have.

Mapi: ......... (a few seconds of pause) And have you ever been to the ones HERE??

Me: No hun, why? Have you?

Mapi: (with disappointment in her voice) Nooo, me neither.

Me: But would you like to go!?

Mapi: ......... (a few seconds of pause and shy voice) Uhm, em, yes!

Me: Well then! Ask your mom for permission and we'll go tomorrow!

Mapi: REALLY!!!!??? (in an astonished voice with disbelief)

Me: Yes Really!

Mapi: You would actually take me?? Aaand go on the slides with me??!! (still incredulous)

ME: Sure why not!???

Mapi: Oh my gosh! I can't believe it!

Later on that evening I received a text message from her telling me that she had gotten permission to go.... So Diverland it was!!!

Mapi at the entrance styling with her Ray-bans!

It was reported to me that last night she hardly slept and was up at 7a.m. even if our appointment was at 9:15!!! What a sweet girl she is!

At about 1p.m they shut down the slides for a pause so I went back to the locker and got the camera to snap a few Kodak moments!

She had to get a picture of me!

Showing me her excellent floating skills and hand stand!

We had a great time! and when we returned home, she was treated to go and see Shrek 4! I really think you can't beat her day!!!!

Four walls, three words, two hearts, one love.

Love this song by Randy Travis and just thought I'd share.....

My Grandpa farmed for a livin',
Content to live the simpler kind of life.
My Grandma worked in the kitchen,
Awfully proud to be that farmer's wife.
They used to say that they'd got everything that they need,
Each mornin' they wake up:
Four walls, three words, two hearts, one love.

Here I am, ring on my finger:
Grandpa's little grandson, all grown up.
I found my rock and I plan to keep her.
I wish they were here to see the two of us.
They'd proud to know we've got everything that we need,
Each mornin' we wake up:
Four walls, three words, two hearts, one love.

With the highway twice as wide,
And the farmland sub-divided.
It's good to know that some things never change.
I'm still lovin' an I'm still livin',
By those simple words of wisdom:
Life an' love come down to just four things.

My Grandpa, Lord knows, I miss him,
An' the way that he and Grandma looked at life.
And each day, I count my blessings,
To have that kind of love here by my side.
No matter what, we know we've got everything that we need,
Each mornin' we wake up:
Four walls, three words, two hearts, one love.

Yeah, we've got everything that we need,
Between the two of us:
Four walls, three words, two hearts, one love.