I think I have an addictive personality.
When I like something, I REALLY like it.
When I dislike, something I REALLY dislike it.
Snakes, they are a good example of something I REALLY dislike. Actually they fit more into the HATE category. But more about that later...
...Back to the point, a few weeks ago I was online reading blogs and such when I came across a really great article on The Worship Community about a band called Gungor and their song called Beautiful Things. I was so intrigued by the article that I bought the song on Itunes and have been listening to it on repeat ever since.
The song is so beautiful and haunting.
The vocals and music are amazing.
But the lyrics speak the loudest. To my heart anyway.
As a woman that struggles with so many issues from self-worth to self-image and everything in between how can I not be affected by a song that reminds me over and over again that my God makes beautiful things?
Out of the pain.
Out of the dust.
Out of us.
Julia
Beautiful Things All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You
You make me new, You are making me new
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
"Survival Mode" is over.
Last year my Mom was diagnosed with two types of cancer.We spent that year at three different hospitals for three different surgeries and over 8 months of recovery in the hospital or at home.
Last month we got great reports from the doctors that everything looks really good.
Last week my Mom began to drive again.
Last week my Mom began to drive again.
Last weekend I cried because I realized that she SURVIVED.
Survival mode is over.
We are back to living life.We will go on vacation to celebrate.
I am so thankful.
Julia
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The recipe is in my blood.
I'm going to let you in on a little secret.
I love to cook.
And I'm actually really good at it.
When I cook for my friends they always ask me for the recipe.
It's a Silvestri thing, we are all really good cooks.
No word of a lie.
Here's why.
Meet my Dad, Corrado.
He is the best chef I know. He can make a delicious meal out of pretty much anything.
For as long as I can remember we have been in the kitchen together.
He always included us in every step of cooking a meal shopping for food, preparing ingredients, cooking and presentation were a family affair. And that's where he passed down the family secrets.
Where did he learn all of those secrets?
Meet the Nonna.
The best chef ever.
She had more amazing Italian recipes in her heart than you can imagine. She is the maker of my all time favourite food, Pasta Fagoli.
When I was little I would spend my Friday nights in the kitchen of our restaurant cooking with her. She would set me up in front of the sink on a milk crate to help her clean the mussels and learn her tricks.
I was so blessed to live with the Nonna in Italy for a year in 2006-2007. At that point she wasn't cooking much but you can be sure she would sit with me in the kitchen when I was cooking and tell me what to do.
So you see the recipes are all set up in my DNA. As adults my siblings and I have this amazing foundation of a love for food, creating and cooking for people that we love that runs from a place so deep. I hope that it will never be lost and that we will be able to pass it on for generations.
Julia
I love to cook.
And I'm actually really good at it.
When I cook for my friends they always ask me for the recipe.
The only catch is I don't usually cook from a recipe.
The recipes are in my blood.It's a Silvestri thing, we are all really good cooks.
No word of a lie.
Here's why.
He is the best chef I know. He can make a delicious meal out of pretty much anything.
For as long as I can remember we have been in the kitchen together.
He always included us in every step of cooking a meal shopping for food, preparing ingredients, cooking and presentation were a family affair. And that's where he passed down the family secrets.
Where did he learn all of those secrets?
The best chef ever.
She had more amazing Italian recipes in her heart than you can imagine. She is the maker of my all time favourite food, Pasta Fagoli.
When I was little I would spend my Friday nights in the kitchen of our restaurant cooking with her. She would set me up in front of the sink on a milk crate to help her clean the mussels and learn her tricks.
I was so blessed to live with the Nonna in Italy for a year in 2006-2007. At that point she wasn't cooking much but you can be sure she would sit with me in the kitchen when I was cooking and tell me what to do.
So you see the recipes are all set up in my DNA. As adults my siblings and I have this amazing foundation of a love for food, creating and cooking for people that we love that runs from a place so deep. I hope that it will never be lost and that we will be able to pass it on for generations.
Julia
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day!
Today is Valentine's Day.
Last week I was so excited to get this card in the mail.
It is from one of my closest friends Leslie.
She just wanted me know that she loves me so she sent me a V'day card.
That's a pretty great friend don't you think?
Getting the card me got me thinking about Valentine's day. I usually feel pretty sad about being single when the big day rolls around. I know it's just a Hallmark holiday created to sell greeting cards and roses. But I think about how I wish I had a man to send me a card and buy me something shiny.
I realized something this weekend
I don't feel sad this year.
Sweet!
I'm just really content where I am at.
Don't get me wrong, I WILL NOT turn down shiny things when Mr. Perfect-for-me shows up.
But right now I am thrilled to get an obnoxious pink card from my Bestie and know that there are so many people that love me and show me/tell me that every day.
Time for me to get out there and spread the love.
I made cookies.
That's how you know I love you.
Baked goods!
Julia
Last week I was so excited to get this card in the mail.
She just wanted me know that she loves me so she sent me a V'day card.
That's a pretty great friend don't you think?
Getting the card me got me thinking about Valentine's day. I usually feel pretty sad about being single when the big day rolls around. I know it's just a Hallmark holiday created to sell greeting cards and roses. But I think about how I wish I had a man to send me a card and buy me something shiny.
I realized something this weekend
I don't feel sad this year.
Sweet!
I'm just really content where I am at.
Don't get me wrong, I WILL NOT turn down shiny things when Mr. Perfect-for-me shows up.
But right now I am thrilled to get an obnoxious pink card from my Bestie and know that there are so many people that love me and show me/tell me that every day.
Time for me to get out there and spread the love.
I made cookies.
That's how you know I love you.
Baked goods!
Julia
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Gap Girl.
Pictures this...
Saturday night dinner with the girls.
The setting Astoria Shiskebob House on the Danforth eating the best Greek Salad.
Gorgeous strawberry blond friend says, "I like your shirt, Jules."
Gorgeous brunette friend says, "Yeah, it's really cute. Where is it from?"
Me, "Oh, thanks. It's from the Gap. Come to think of it so are my pants, my long sleeve shirt, socks and yup my underwear too."
Was that an over share? Sorry.
Me, "Guess I'm just a Gap girl."
This is where I start laughing hysterically.
All I can think of is the SNL skits from the 1990's featuring Adam Sandler, David Spade and Chris Farley dressed in khaki skirts and denim blouses as the Gap Girls.
I couldn't find a good clip on YouTube to show you, but trust me it's really funny.
I couldn't convey the hilarity to them either.
So I had my own moment.
Then we went back to our discussion about online dating and babies.
Julia
P.S. Check out my outfit, underwear not included what kind of girl do you think I am?
Saturday night dinner with the girls.
The setting Astoria Shiskebob House on the Danforth eating the best Greek Salad.
Gorgeous strawberry blond friend says, "I like your shirt, Jules."
Gorgeous brunette friend says, "Yeah, it's really cute. Where is it from?"
Me, "Oh, thanks. It's from the Gap. Come to think of it so are my pants, my long sleeve shirt, socks and yup my underwear too."
Was that an over share? Sorry.
Me, "Guess I'm just a Gap girl."
This is where I start laughing hysterically.
All I can think of is the SNL skits from the 1990's featuring Adam Sandler, David Spade and Chris Farley dressed in khaki skirts and denim blouses as the Gap Girls.
I couldn't find a good clip on YouTube to show you, but trust me it's really funny.
I couldn't convey the hilarity to them either.
So I had my own moment.
Then we went back to our discussion about online dating and babies.
Julia
P.S. Check out my outfit, underwear not included what kind of girl do you think I am?
Friday, February 11, 2011
Is this really my job?
On Monday I was late for work. Didn't show up until 12noon.
On Thursday I left an hour early.
On Friday I took a 3 hour lunch.
I'm not a slacker.
Nope.
It was all for work.
How did I get so freakin' lucky?
I guess the answer lies in the fact that my bosses believe in two really important things...me and the power of social media.
This week was Social Media Week in Toronto and around the world. I was fortunate enough to attend three session throughout the week. The titles ranged from Social Media for Social Good talking about how we can use social media to promote causes to The People Web which was a look at how Facebook is connecting Canadians to each other and causes/brands.
There were so many brilliant people everywhere I turned. Some of the panelists included Joe Rospars from Blue State Digital and the Digital Strategist for Barack Obama's presidential campaign, Sean Moffitt author of Wikibrands and Steve Irvine of Facebook Canada. It was so cool to get a tiny glimpse into how this amazing monster is changing the world.
I'm so excited to be a part of it.
To learn. To try. To fail. To succeed.
Did I mention it was all FREE?
Maybe that's what the bosses actually believe in.
Anyway.
Can't wait for Social Media Week 2012!
Julia
On Thursday I left an hour early.
On Friday I took a 3 hour lunch.
I'm not a slacker.
Nope.
It was all for work.
How did I get so freakin' lucky?
I guess the answer lies in the fact that my bosses believe in two really important things...me and the power of social media.
This week was Social Media Week in Toronto and around the world. I was fortunate enough to attend three session throughout the week. The titles ranged from Social Media for Social Good talking about how we can use social media to promote causes to The People Web which was a look at how Facebook is connecting Canadians to each other and causes/brands.
There were so many brilliant people everywhere I turned. Some of the panelists included Joe Rospars from Blue State Digital and the Digital Strategist for Barack Obama's presidential campaign, Sean Moffitt author of Wikibrands and Steve Irvine of Facebook Canada. It was so cool to get a tiny glimpse into how this amazing monster is changing the world.
I'm so excited to be a part of it.
To learn. To try. To fail. To succeed.
Did I mention it was all FREE?
Maybe that's what the bosses actually believe in.
Anyway.
Can't wait for Social Media Week 2012!
Julia
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Starting from scratch.
Let's try this again. My last blog failed pretty badly. Live and learn. I'm not going to dwell on it like I did about eating three chocolates that were left out in the office yesterday. No, I'm over it. Onward and upward as "they" say.
For the past few months I've been trying to figure out what my next career step should be. I love my job but have an overwhelming urge to learn. To be challenged. To do more and excel like nobody's business.
A few weeks back I attended an Association of Fundraising Professionals seminar on social media and was inspired. The key speaker was Claire Kerr from Artez Interactive and the Queen of Social Media, if you ask me. Once I got over my girl-crush on Claire, she is Italian you know, I noticed that she kept throwing around the words "Social Media Manager" when referring to the person in a company who manages social media. And the light went on. That's where I want to go. I want to manage the social media for an amazing non-profit that does great things for the city of Toronto.
And so begins my journey. I am going to take every opportunity to learn about what it all means, how to do it well and love it while I'm doing it.
First stop...Social Media Week Toronto their name says it all!
Wish me luck,
Julia
For the past few months I've been trying to figure out what my next career step should be. I love my job but have an overwhelming urge to learn. To be challenged. To do more and excel like nobody's business.
A few weeks back I attended an Association of Fundraising Professionals seminar on social media and was inspired. The key speaker was Claire Kerr from Artez Interactive and the Queen of Social Media, if you ask me. Once I got over my girl-crush on Claire, she is Italian you know, I noticed that she kept throwing around the words "Social Media Manager" when referring to the person in a company who manages social media. And the light went on. That's where I want to go. I want to manage the social media for an amazing non-profit that does great things for the city of Toronto.
And so begins my journey. I am going to take every opportunity to learn about what it all means, how to do it well and love it while I'm doing it.
First stop...Social Media Week Toronto their name says it all!
Wish me luck,
Julia
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