Letters To Lorenzo: A Birth Story

Excuse me while I clear the cobwebs from my blog. Yes, I did have that baby I kept chatting about for the last almost year and being a first time mom I'm sure many of you can relate to the fact that I haven't blogged since! I've been meaning to write this post for a long time so finally I'm here to share the story of my dear baby boy Lorenzo Pietro Folino's birth.

It was exactly 2 weeks and 1 day before your due date. I had just started working some days from home and thank goodness I chose to do so on this particular morning. Ok, fine I had an eyebrow wax and manicure appointment in the afternoon, but that's neither here nor there. It was a beautiful Spring morning and I had just got done eating my breakfast after waking up from a long night of tossing and turning. As I'm sure you know, your mama isn't a very large woman and your little body was becoming too much to handle. Already for the umpteenth time that morning, I had to pee. Don't worry, you didn't fall out in the toilet, I'm leading up to the story here. At 8:30 a.m. I came out of the bathroom and I started playing with your little dog Luigi when all of a sudden felt like I had peed my pants. How was that possible when I just went to the bathroom? Could it be? Would we finally get to see your sweet little face in person instead of on a screen?

Finally deciding I needed to be that psycho mom who would go to the hospital proclaiming I was in labor and be sent home, your dad came and picked me up and off we went. I hadn't even brought my hospital bag I had packed for weeks since I was sure I was overreacting. After being awkwardly examined by a woman who was going to buy one of our houses, gave us a deposit, then wanted it back never to be heard from again, she let us know you were indeed on your way. I'll never forget the look on your daddy's face. Definitely sheer terror, but also an excitement in his eyes I'd never seen before.


Well just like you are now, you couldn't make up your mind what you wanted to do. I wasn't having any major contractions whatsoever. So out came the pitocin. And you still took forever. Exactly like your dad when we have plans to go somewhere. Clearly you were on Italian time already. Nonna and Nonno came to visit, but still no baby. I was so glad Nana and Pop stayed the whole time even though your poor Nana had worked the whole day. I secretly loved that she was there in her nurse's uniform so I could get extra good care. Anyway, I'll have you know I had no lunch that day and by this time it was super late and if I had one more Jello I swore I was going to scream from that, not the labor pains. But I was still hanging tight waiting around to finally meet you. Things got a little frightening when your heart started slowing down. The doctors had to put a monitor on your head since we couldn't get a good reading from my belly anymore. It kept getting slower and slower until one very scary occurrence that forced the decision of a c-section. Meaning you just came out of my belly a different way, nothing more to that story.

We had a few more scary moments until finally on April 26th at 3:26 a.m., you were placed in my arms for the first time. I couldn't believe it was really you. I looked at you and just could not comprehend that this tiny little person was meant to be for me. Your father on the other hand was amazing. It was as if he practiced for this very moment. I was a little out of it afterwards and couldn't really move around too much. So cleaning your diaper (with that lovely tar like substance) was very difficult for me. But your dad did it like a pro. He was so in love with you from the moment you arrived and would do anything it took to ensure you and me were safe and happy.









Once we went home, many friends and family asked me what it felt like to be a mother. And for some reason, I felt the need to be brutally honest.

Things will get easier they said. You'll start to fall in love with him they said. All I could think was how they also said we'd be immediately in love with each other the first time we saw one another, and I'm very sorry to say my dear Lorenzo, that didn't really happen. Don't get me wrong, I knew I loved you, but that instant connection they speak about seemed like it wasn't happening for us.

Instead, something more magical did start to happen. As each day passed we got to know each other a little more, a little more, a little more until suddenly my heart would ache if I was away from you for more than an hour. I began to go to bed anxiously awaiting the morning when I would get to see you smile as I would peek over into your crib. How I would be so excited to take you places and get to tell people I was your mama. How I would just stare into those eyes, those eyes that looked exactly like mine. How I fired the first nanny we hired because I didn't like how you smelled like her perfume at the end of the day ( kind of funny now, but not at the time). Now I completely understand why a woman decides to become a mother. Having you has taught me to be more patient, more kind, more understanding, and more loving than I ever thought possible. You make my days brighter with that beautiful smile you're constantly flashing around. I've become a better person thanks to the love you've given me my little Lorenzo. Even though we may not have hit it off right from the start, I always knew you were meant to be mine.


Your Going Home Outfit!

Maternity Photo Session

Last month, we had the amazing Maria Stamy Photography take our maternity photos and we couldn't be happier with the gorgeous outcome! She did such a great job and I can't wait to hang one in Lorenzo's nursery!


I'm working on the baby shower post, so check back next week! Have a fabulous weekend!

Letters to Lorenzo

Well little guy, the countdown has begun. Everyone is anxiously waiting to see your beautiful teeny face! Minus starting to feel a little uncomfortable from carrying around your little 6 lb body, you could not have made my pregnancy easier. Let's just hope you're keen on making our lives easier when you come out, too :) Here you are in my belly the last month!







House Progress: Part III

Well, we have concrete footers at our house! Woo hoo! I am beyond excited that we have finally started making progress in our little clump of woods. I've been doing my best to plan the design of each room. All I have left is the dining space and I think I've planned almost every little nook in our home. Now it's just a matter of ordering all the products so we don't delay construction. That's going to be super fun with a newborn!

Anyway, here's the design for our master bedroom. I'm planning on using the Phillip Jeffries studded wallpaper as the accent wall behind the bed. I also really want to do something interesting on the ceiling. I'm not sure if I'll save it for the dining room or if I should do it in our bedroom (or both). My friend's husband recently did an amazing designed tray ceiling in their master bedroom which has me itching to do the same thing. I'm in love with this gorgeous quatrefoil design trimwork:

   

If we did a similar design on our ceiling to echo the design in the accent rug, that would be amazeballs:



I like the idea of using creams to create a serene environment. And obviously I can't resist throwing in a few black accents. CANNOT WAIT!

P.S. Make your donations to the victims of Boston here. Every little bit counts. Show whoever did this senseless act that there are still more good out there than evil.


Chic Mama Looks

I refuse to dress frumpy just because I will have a newborn baby. It's been hard enough this last month trading in my heels for flats, but it was a necessity I was willing to accept since we're getting closer to meeting our little guy. Here are some cute outfits I'll be relying on:

                                                                          - WEEKEND-

Mama Weekend Look

 - DAY -
Momma-To-Be Outfit

Btw, I feel so on trend with my Sophie the Giraffe toys.


 - DATE NIGHT-

Night Out
I'm totally still having date nights. With heels. Probably not right away...

Life Lately

Goodness me do I have a lot to catch up on! How is it April?? Instead of writing a plethora of excuses for my lack of posts, let's just dig right in, shall we?

I'm super excited for a local magazine I write for to print their May issue. I wrote and styled a piece for maternity fashion and had a great time doing it!


Bought some goodies for Lorenzo's nautical themed nursery (can you believe that lamp was only $40! Marshall's is my BFF):


I used a gift card I received for Christmas to get a makeup lesson and finally purchase a real woman makeup wardrobe. Goodbye Wet n' Wild, it's been real...


Ate blood oranges by the bag full. Mixed in a salad with goat cheese, they are amazeballs:


Went to a fun fancy social gathering our area's young professionals throw every year. It was interesting looking for something dressy for the bump, but I managed to squeeze myself in a non-maternity dress I can use afterwards:


I had a lovely birthday filled with lots of goodies:




And cannot stop purchasing fresh flowers for Spring!







The belly just keeps on growing, but I love finding ways to dress it:


And I had my baby shower! More photos to come:


It was a nautical themed shower and these were the favors. They were called Make a Wish Charm and requested the guests to make a wish for baby Lorenzo the first time they put it on:


Spring brights! (ring from Sorrelli)


And had a lovely Easter with my new Old Navy boucle jacket. Inspired by Parisian 50s style, says the tag. Loving that:



I hope to keep the blog more up to date this month, but it's crunch time! Only 5 weeks until we get to finally meet our little guy. We have a maternity photo session this weekend and getting everything put together for Lorenzo's arrival.

House progress has been a little s-l-o-w as we are waiting for the township to finish approving our permits, but that hasn't stopped me from designing every inch of space. Master bedroom design coming soon!

Before I go, I must fill you in on The Skimm, the best daily newsletter ever. I know, who wants another email in their inbox everyday, but this is one you need. It covers, very quickly and with a dose of humor, all major things happening in the world each day. I for one despise watching the news and have zero time to visit news websites so this is perfect for me. Especially once the baby comes and all I'll have time to focus on is the number of bowel movements he made that day.

Hope you're enjoying your April Fool's Day! (I thought it would be funny to play a joke on my family/husband that I was going into labor, but was fearful of a boy who cried wolf sitch being the result and decided against it...)

Birthday Wishlist

The big 2-7 is quickly approaching and my husband's been asking me what I'm currently coveting. Well, I pretty much always have things on my radar, so below is my little birthday wishlist that I'll be so generously forwarding on to him in an email. Hey, he asked for it...


1. My gold Michael Kors watch is looking very sad lately after 4 years of constant wear. I've been loving the idea of swapping it out occasionally with a black faced gold watch. This Kate Spade version is perfection.

2. This dainty asymmetrical initial necklace is the perfect size to wear when you have little chubby baby hands flailing all over the place. I thought about getting his initial, but I do already have a bangle I'm planning on engraving with his name. Don't want to be too over the top...

3. I love, love, love these wedges for Spring. Totally up my alley.

4. I still do not own a Diptyque candle. I think this will finally be the occasion I choose one. And then just stare at it in my home without ever lighting it...

5. Do you not just want to eat this clutch up? This little guy has a serious cuteness factor going on I can't resist.

6. A day in NYC since it will most likely be the last time I can venture into the city for awhile. I have quite the list of locations I'd like to stop by, including snatching up some macarons at Laduree :)

And back to work I go. Can't wait to take a break from work in the coming months!

A Fashionable Interior: Black & White Floral

I miss blogging! Being preggers and running your own businesses are taking a toll on poor little Fashionable Interiors. But anyway, I have a post today so I'll settle for that.

Who doesn't love black and white? Incorporate it into a floral print and you have yourself a winning combination:
P.S. Those pants are not even close to being buttoned. This little guy came to the rescue that day.

Via DecorPad

Homemade Pasta

Last month, hubster and I took a homemade pasta making class at Sur la Table. If you have one near you, I highly recommend taking their classes. I've taken this one, macarons, and next month I'll be taking homemade croissants. My husband's parents make homemade pasta all the time, but they're not the best of teachers. So, we took it upon ourselves to finally learn, and we are so glad we did.

Here I am at Sur La Table learning how to knead the dough properly:


And here were the three different types we made:
- Fettuccine with Roasted Winter Squash, Arugula & Pine Nuts
- Tomato Pappardelle with Sausage & Mushroom Ragu
- Spinach Linguini with Walnut Sage Cream Sauce & Crispy Proscuitto


I'll show you how we made fresh papardelle with mushroom and sausage ragu at home:

Start off making your fresh pasta dough. You'll basically need flour (I used "00" which is the best for pasta dough), eggs, olive oil and salt. The classic ratio for fresh pasta dough is 3 parts flour to 2 parts egg. Add one egg for each main course serving and then add 1.5 times that amount of flour. We made it for 8 people. So we had 8 eggs and 5 cups flour. Obviously if you want to make it for 4, you'd use 4 eggs and 2.5 cups flour. Add 1 tbs salt per 4 servings.


You can do this in a bowl to make it less messy or throw it all right on your countertop as my husband insisted on doing. Make a well with your flour and crack all the eggs in the center.


Then smash it all together:


You'll want to knead the dough then on a lightly floured surface, adding small amounts of flour if needed, for about 5 - 10 minutes. If it's too dry, add a drizzle of olive oil. The dough is done being kneaded when it's smooth and flexible, but not sticky. Gather the dough into a ball and and flatten into a disk. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest at least 10 minutes up to 1 hour. We let it rest while we made our sauce.

Here are the ingredients for the sauce (this recipe serves 4, so we obvi doubled it):

- 2 tbs olive oil divided
- 1 1/2 lbs italian sausage
- 4 portobello mushrooms, cut into 1 in pieces
- 1 yellow onion, cut into 1/2 in dice
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- salt and pepper
- 1 28 oz can tomatoes, crushed
- 2 cups low sodium beef broth (always buy low sodium when cooking. You can always add the salt yourself)
- 1 tbs sage leaves, thinly sliced


Place a large skillet over med-high heat and add 1 tbs oil. When oil begins to simmer, add sausage, crumbling with a wooden spoon and cook just until browned, 3-4 minutes. We removed the casing ourselves first.


Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked sausage to a plate lined with a paper towel to drain. Wipe out the skillet and add the remaining 1 tbs of oil. Add mushrooms and cook over med heat, about 4 min. Add onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 min. Season with salt/pepper. Stir in tomatoes, beef broth and sage. Stir in sausage and lower to a simmer. Gently cook for 10 minutes. (We actually let it simmer until our guests arrived.)


Your pasta dough should be ready by now. We splurged and purchased the Kitchen Aid attachments, which are the best. I can't recommend them enough. One is for flattening the dough, one for fettucini, and one for linguini. You can also purchase a hand crank one, which works well, too. I prefer the automatic version. 

Cut the dough into thirds. We used this tool, which works really well for scraping and cutting dough. To prevent the dough from drying out, cover the remaining pieces in the plastic wrap again. Flatten one piece into a rough square that will fit within the width of your pasta machine. Place the number on 1, the widest setting, and begin to feed your dough through the machine:


You want to do this 4 more times, each time changing the dial to the next number, all the way up to 5 or 6, however thin you want it. If it becomes too long, just cut it in half and keep going. We wanted papardelle, so I cut our dough by hand. You want to flour it again while your working with it:


Place cut dough into little floured nests onto baking sheets. Be sure to toss them in flour to prevent sticking. You can cook the dough immediately or covered and refrigerate for up to 1 hour.


To cook, add enough salt to the water to season like sea water. Once water is boiling, add pasta and stir right away to prevent sticking. Fresh pasta cooks very fast, only 2-3 minutes. We used this tool to scoop out the finished pasta since it can be very fragile to handle.

To serve, pour the ragu sauce over each dish of pasta and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. In typical me fashion, I did not take a picture of the final product, I instead consumed it at an alarming rate. So if you want to see what it looks like complete, you'll have to make it yourself! Good luck!