Since Easter just passed, I couldn’t help but share with you one of my favorite memories, ages ago, but embossed in my memory forever.

I can remember, clear as it was yesterday, my favorite holiday with my favorite person. I was about 9 and I had shown my Nonno a trick. At school I had learned to put a circle or “button” on the back of my hand and write, “push”. When they push the button you open your arms and dance and say “Hey Chicky Baby”!  He loved it and since it made him smile so much, I did the dance for everyone that day, and the name stuck.  I’ve been Chicky Baby ever since.

I think I remember that day so well for a number of reasons.  First, I loved my Nonno and he loved Easter. So I think that is how I came to love Easter. I love everything about it.  The time of year, the weather, the pretty dresses, the hunts, the egg preparation, the time with family, and going to church to learn about Jesus’ resurrection.

Easter was always a very special time for my family.  We would decorate eggs until our fingers were rainbows, we would hide them in easy to find places especially if they were hard-boiled, we didn’t want them spoiling all summer! We would sit outside in the patio under the grape vines and dine on a cornucopia of amazing homemade Italian food, telling jokes and stories and laughing until our bellies hurt.

My Nonno was the best joke teller in the world; no one could deliver a punch line like him.  I have such amazing memories of holidays from my youth, my family was always around, and we would live in the kitchen, cook together, laugh together, eat till we felt like sleeping and then eat some more.

My goal in life is to create amazing memories for my girls, so they can grow up and know they are loved and that they loved growing up. It’s getting harder and harder in today’s world to stop and take time to be with your family, but my girls are very lucky, they get to spend time with their great-grandmother. How many people do you know who get to do that on a daily basis, or even a yearly basis?  I am so blessed to have been raised by the village of my maternal family.  And now, my kids get that luxury.

Nonno has passed, but I still think of him everyday, I know he is watching over us from heaven keeping tabs on all our successes and beaming with pride.  I hope that you will all join me on my quest to share our memories and create new ones and have fun in the process.  Thanks so much for checking in with us and we look forward to hearing about your memories, too!
Keepin’ it Original!

I’m Gina D’Atri! I’m the one you’ll find chasing four little girls around all day!

But the more hectic life gets, the more I’m determined to create ways to spend fun time with them and create lasting memories. Whether it’s baking, having a car picnic or just playing on the floor and getting the giggles going, my goal each day is to help them thrive. Some days are better then others, they don’t all go as planned, but, hey, if we can get through the tough stuff together…we’ll all be better for the wear, right?

So keep checking back for ideas that may help simplify your life. — a great sweetheart cake recipe, the best cookies ever, fun Easter eggs you can make together, teaching kids about spices—or you can write me with your great family success stories, or concerns. I would love to hear them!

So, until next time, I’m sure to be Keepin’ it Original!