BLOGGING GRANDMOTHERS SERIES WITH MARISA FROM ALL OUR WAY

The first blogging grandmother to be
featured for this series is Marisa from All Our Way.

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR BLOG

NAME OF YOUR BLOG: ALL OUR WAY – ADDING AN ITALIAN FLAIR TO YOUR LIFE

SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook • Google+ • Instagram • Pinterest • Twitter

WHERE DO YOU LIVE: We live six months out of the year in Bloomington, Indiana and the rest of the time split between Venice, Florida and Saint Simons Island, Georgia.

WHAT DO YOU WRITE ABOUT: I’m Italian. I was born there and came to the States as a little girl. I feel very passionate about Italian food, culture, the language. When people come to my blog I want to help them channel La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life) into their own lives. Rather than simply posting recipes I want to write more about Italian customs and the power of family.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME FOR YOUR BLOG: Whenever my Honey and I cook we always said we were doing it “Our Way”. In fact, that’s the name our spiral binder where we keep all of our favorite recipes. That particular title was taken so we made it “All Our Way”. Actually we are happier with that title because we have always done everything in our way.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START BLOGGING: It was our children. They bought us a camera for our trip to Italy and they wanted us to document the trip. I did a little here and there but nothing serious. When we got back, Hubby and I continued to cook and bake. We’d text and email photos to our kids showing them them what we were doing, and what we were going to bring them on our next visit. Our oldest son Jason kept commenting that we should do tutorials and post them. That kernel of an idea must have taken root deep in my mind.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BLOGGING: 3 1/2 years

WHAT DO YOU FIND MOST CHALLENGING OR FRUSTRATING ABOUT BLOGGING: Since we travel so much it’s difficult finding the right equipment to make what I want. We rent houses when we travel but the equipment there is not what I have in my kitchen. But we make do.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU BLOG: At least once a week and sometimes twice.

DO YOU PARTICIPATE IN LINK PARTIES: Yes I do.

THE BEST THING ABOUT BLOGGING: I love sharing my passion about cooking, baking, and family. And the wonderful Internet friends I’ve made. Some truly amazing and talented ladies that I’m really crazy about.

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU AS A GRANDMOTHER

WHAT DO YOUR GRANDCHILDREN CALL YOU: Nonna

HOW MANY GRANDCHILDREN DO YOU HAVE: 4 absolutely wonderful grandsons!!!!!!!!!!

HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET TO SEE YOUR GRANDCHILDREN: As often as we can. When we travel we don’t get to see them so we try to make up for it when we get home. My children and grandsons live about 1 1/2 hours away. We are moving within the next 12 months to be closer to them. We don’t want to miss any more of those precious moments than we have to.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A GRANDMOTHER: Spoiling them and not feeling guilty about it. Spending time with them is such a joy – they are awesome.

QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU

MARRIED, SINGLE, DIVORCED, WIDOWED: Married to my sweetheart — it will be 48 years in January. I’m crazier about him now than in the beginning and I was pretty much head over heels in love then.

HOW MANY CHILDREN DO YOU HAVE: 1 girl, Michelle, 2 boys , Jason and Reid.

DO YOU WORK OR ARE YOU RETIRED, WHAT IS OR WAS YOUR PROFESSION: First I was a stay at home mom. Then when the kids left the nest I started my own medical billing office. I did that for a few years then “2000” happened, Honey was going to be retiring soon so I retired the business.

WHAT IS THE BEST AND WORST THING ABOUT GETTING OLDER: The best thing is that I can do what I want when I want to. The worst thing is that I can’t do it as fast as I used to.

WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY: That’s simple – my family. My heart swells with love and gratitude when I think of my Honey and family.

WHAT 3 WORDS BEST DESCRIBE YOU: Loyal, Friendly, Loving.

WHAT ARE 3 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT YOU: I’m Italian and speak the language. I’m always seeking to learn new things. Love to sew and create window treatments.

HOBBIES: Gardening, Reading, Knitting, Photography has turned into more than a hobby now with the food blog.

PETS: Been there done that – at one time we had a collie, 3 cats, 1 iguana, 2 piranhas, and a boa constrictor. The kids left and it was Honey and I that had to take care of them or get someone to pet sit if we left. Once they were gone we said – NO MORE PETS. All of our pets lived a very long, easy life.

FAV ICE CREAM: Butter Pecan. This was a difficult one because ice cream is a weakness of mine.

FAV COLD DRINK: Wine

FAV FOOD: Italian – all of it, especially homemade pasta.

FAV AROMA: Bread baking.

FAV PERFUME: Anything natural — I love the scent of basil, lemon, fruity smells. Nothing too sweet. I’ve actually stopped wearing bottled scents and started using body creams – nothing heavy.

FAV AUTHOR: Sandra Brown or Linda Howard.

FAV MUSIC: Smooth Jazz

FAV TV SHOW: Blue Bloods

FAV TV SHOW WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD: The Mickey Mouse Club

WERE YOU A GIRLY GIRL OR A TOMBOY AS A CHILD: Tomboy

SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, OR WINTER: Fall

DO YOU HAVE A TALENT: I play the piano, bake, cook, hopefully add successful photographer.

WHAT TALENT WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE: Public speaking.

EARLY BIRD OR NIGHT OWL: Early bird

HOW DO YOU RELAX: In the kitchen — whipping up something.

MOVIES OR BOOKS: Books

CELL PHONE – APPLE OR ANDROID: Apple

CALLING OR TEXTING: I do both. It depends on circumstances — the family is busy so if it’s a quick message I text. I like the personal touch of hearing a voice so if I get the chance I call.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO TELL US: The day I decided to start a blog is crystal clear. It was the same time my Honey rediscovered his passion for fishing. He caught the fishing bug and I was thrilled for him. He’d worked all of his life caring for his family and now was his time to relax. But what was I going to do?? I didn’t fish nor did I care to. Out of the blue I felt almost like a panic start to form in me. I’d been a daughter, a wife, a mother, a grandmother and I loved every minute of it. But now what? I couldn’t imagine me sitting for hours on end simply readying novels. We’d always done everything together – I was feeling a little lost. Then I remembered what our children had said about documenting and photographing what we cook and putting them on a blog. Somehow that little kernel of an idea began to sprout and grow. We eat daily. We cook daily. Why not?? Enthusiasm started to run wild. I’ve never regretted that decision. I love what I do! I’m constantly learning whether it’s SEO, photography, or a new recipe. I guess you can call it a labor of love.

 

*Who will be the next featured grandmother in this series?

*You can see those who have been featured at the bottom of the this page.

If you would like to be featured, you must first join our Blogging Grandmothers group at Facebook. Click here to join. Once you're approved as a member, let me (Grammy Dee) know you’re interested and we’ll get it set up.

 

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