Wednesday, November 4, 2009

NOVEMBER’S MOM OF THE MONTH

[ LIZ GREENE ]

Its that time again, weve chosen another mom out of the bunch, and let me tell you, she is just marvelous. Liz is the mother of two children, Samantha, who is thirteen, and Andrew, eleven. She and her husband Mike have been married for seventeen years. Liz has lived in Westchester since she was four years old, and more specifically, in Yorktown for the last eight years. She is the Office Manager at Tri-State Engineering, but that is not even close to being the extent of her weekly work. She is a long time Girl Scout Leader, and on the Yorktown Girl Scouts Community Service Team, as well as volunteering her time to be the Vice President of the Mildred E. Strang Middle School PTA. (SuperMom or what?)

We asked Liz our usual questions, and here are her responses:

1. What surprised you most about being a mom? That it was so easy to make my kids happy when they were young. I am learning that this gets a bit harder as they enter the teenage years!

(Original answermy husband thought it was inappropriate to tell you this: That you can still love your children so much even when they are both throwing up on you at the same time.)

2. What is your favorite thing your children say to you? And how was your day, Mom?

3. What is one thing of your children's that you refuse to throw away? One thingthats hard to say. Each child has their baby box, as I call it. They are filled with things I could never throw away like the New York Times from the day each was born, coins from the year they were born, hair from first haircuts, first shoes, and the book our daycare person (Me Ma) wrote in every day to tell me what they were up to while I was at work. I am now proudly adding awards, concert programs, and some amazing report cards.

4. What is the best parenting advice you ever got? To keep doing whatever it was I was doing because my kids were turning out great!

5. If a group of magic fairies were to come into your house at night what would be on the "to-do" list you would leave for them? That would have been a great prize for this contest! First I would need them to consolidate my many to-do lists into one master list. Then I would need them to re-do my 1970s bathroom and then if they had time, put thousands of photos into albums (by child, in age order, if they wouldnt mind). And they should work quietly so they dont wake me up!

6. If you could pick up your house and move it anywhere in the world, where exactly would it be? Call me boring, but I love my neighborhoodthere are lots of great people here. And I wouldnt want to leave my family and friends (and my kids would kill me if I said we were moving!). But, if you could pick up a beautifully landscaped yard from Hawaii and move it to my house here in Yorktown, I wouldnt complain!

7. What is your never-fail-everyone-loves-it dish or dessert to make for dinner parties? Take out from Yorktown Pizza and Pasta. I have served it to the finest of guests!

8. What did you collect as a kid and how is it different from what your kids play with or collect? My sister and I had a huge pile of comic books and issues of Mad magazine that we kept near the kitchen table. Although my kids enjoy reading similar materials, they are much more into video games, itunes and their computer.

9. If you had an unexpected free day, to do whatever you wanted, how would you spend your day? I would grab my sister-in-law Sue Fuirst and my close friend Ellen Pinto and head out for lunch and some me shopping time (and definitely some ice cream). Too often I start out looking for things I need and get distracted by the things I see for my children. If this unexpected free day showed up during the Crafts at Lyndhurst show, thats even better. I would head over there to explore all the great, creative items for sale. And yes, before I left the craft show, I would pick up some fudge to bring home for my kids and husband.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Trick or Treat
















Monday, October 5, 2009

OCTOBER'S MOM OF THE MONTH

{JOAN LUNNY SAIA}
We have another winner.......and yes, it's another rockin' mom out there in her second round with kids (aka Nanny). We love these women that put in their time with their own kids and then are there to do it all over again with their grandkids. Joan has been married 44 years to her now retired CPA husband, Frank. She has three married children and 9 grandchildren that range in age from 3 to 14. She likes to travel, shop, play tennis, and she walks each day. She is active in her church as a Bereavement Counselor, Visitor to the Sick and she coordinates retreats. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, she doesn't cook anymore. Bravo, Joan!
Here are her answers to our questions:


1. What surprised her most about being a mom? The unconditional love she felt for her children. "I could forgive them anything, and ask their forgiveness too. I never knew such love could exist."
2. If she had 3 days to herself, a plane ticket, and $10,000 what would she do? "I would go to Paris. My husband and I spent our honeymoon there 44 years ago. My daughter lived there for 3 years during which we visited often. Everyone falls in love with the sophistication, the history, museums, food and language."
3. What three words would you use to describe yourself BEFORE having kids: "Rebel, Challenging, Lots of wild fun."
4. What three words would you use to describe yourself AFTER having kids: "Cautious, Structured, and still lots of fun."
5. What is your favorite thing your children say to you: "My grandchildren usually compliment me on my clothes, or new haircut, etc. But more importantly, they always say, I love you Nanny."
6. Being totally honest, would you rather make a clay pinch pot or have cosmos with the girls? "I enjoyed good quality time (arts, crafts, etc.) with my children and loved it. I always chose them over my friends. I am glad I did, the time goes by too fast. Now, I enjoy my time with my grandchildren, collecting shells, watching the stars at night. I love time with my friends too, we all need balance in this life."
7. What was your most effective discipline tactic and what percentage of the time did it work? "When my children were young, I would put them in the corner. It was a successful tactic. Now, I consider it cruel and unusual punishment. I prefer to let my grandchildren share their feelings about the issue."
8. What is one thing of your children's that you refuse to throw away? "I still have their security blankies. All three. And I have my grandchildren's cards and drawings all over my kitchen. I can't take them down, lest I insult one of them."

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

My New Right Arm



This gorgeous creature is my niece Jillian. She is here for the next three months to help me make it through this holiday season, which, (hint, hint, nudge, nudge) we're expecting to be crazy busy!

She's from California and sweet as the day is long. Poor thing has already unpacked about 50 boxes and was shivering like crazy the other night when the temperature got "all the way down" to 55 degrees.....I have a feeling it's going to be a long three months for her. So, when you come into Marmalade, make sure to say hi and make her feel welcome. (Maybe bring her a few of your extra sweaters as well.)

Sunday, September 20, 2009

They're finally here.............the skinny legged pumpkin people are back. Hurry, hurry, hurry, I didn't buy a lot.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Smile





Find what makes you smile.

This does it for me.....

Sunday, September 6, 2009



With the first slight delicious feel of the approaching fall season in the air this morning go do something you've never done before.

Nuf said..........