My Family History

As aforementioned, I am a full-time wife and mother, and a part-time dental hygienist (must have a regular paycheck somehow!), crocheter, seamstress, crafter, chef, blogger, and business woman. Although I feel like I must do-it-all, at the end of the day, my family's happiness is what counts most.

I am a Bay Area native -- born and raised in San Jose (Almaden), California. I grew up in a tight-knit and very large and loud Italian, Catholic family. Although I never went hungry (in fact, I was always offered too much food) and I never was bored (how can you possibly be bored with so many people around?), growing up in such a rich culture of tradition taught me to value my personal history. On the Calabrese side (paternal), I grew up seeing the deep love between my Nana and Papa (grade-school sweethearts) -- not necessarily puppy, mushy, romantic love, per se, but more of the Italian yelling loud type of love (Italians tend to be very emphatic about anything and everything). My Nana, although not necessarily a DIY-er, taught me style -- my Papa gave her multiple furs, invaluable jewelry, and designer outfits -- she just seemed to sparkle all the time. On the contrary, my Sicilian side (maternal) -- and I must reiterate on the contrary -- taught me the value of school, work, and a happy household.

(From left to right: my Nana, me, and my Grandmother, 2006)

Niiiiiiiiiicola, my grandfather would say, "how are you doing in school? Do you have a job? How many hours are you working a week? How much do you get paid an hour? Remember, a penny saved is a penny earned!" -- all this before I had a chance to walk through the door. Ever concerned about money, my grandfather who grew up in the depression, always emphasized the importance of having and saving money -- "if you don't sweat, you don't eat," he would say (and at 83 years old, he is still working -- kid. you. not.). On the flip side, my grandmother, a mother to five children of her own and one stepson, was always cooking, sewing, jarring, painting, laundering, planting, harvesting, grafting -- always doing something inside the perimeter of their property. She didn't necessarily sparkle like my Nana -- she glimmered from sweat. While my grandfather brought home the bacon, my grandmother was cooking it. She taught me the value of a happy household.

(From left to right: my mother, our boston terrier Enzo, and my dad, 2011)

My parents, of course, were just as important role models. Married for 35 years, they have exemplified a rock-solid relationship. They provided me with the most fulfilling childhood and adolescence, and have continued to support me through my adulthood. I was sent to private schools and allowed to participate in any outside dance and sport activities that I wanted -- and my parents never missed a practice or game. They truly loved being parents, and we felt it. My father, a construction project manager and self-proclaimed clean freak, instilled the value of mathematics, being rational, and a tidy household. If I ever needed help in math or history -- my dad was the go-to guy. He knew everything. And when I needed help cleaning something? He knew just what cleaner would do the trick (he STILL thinks it's funny to squirt me with Windex!). My mom, on the other hand, was the go-to woman for anything literary or fashion-oriented. She helped proofread my papers in school, helped me study before any exam, and taught me how to dress, and do my hair and make-up.

(From left to right: my mother, me, and my dad at my UCLA graduation, 2006)

Although I came from such a loving household, I was ready to leave it for awhile in order to explore my own identity when I turned 18. Because of being so diligent in school for so many years, I was able to choose any college without too much worry (except Stanford, of course -- the only school that did not accept me!!) -- and so I chose to go to UCLA. I could not wait to leave and discover life outside the parental walls. It was an amazing, and at times rough, five year journey. I entered a Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology major, and graduated with a BA in Anthropology. I absolutely loved learning the rich history of other cultures, ultimately learning cultural tolerance. It became a passion -- so much so that I felt that I wanted to earn my PhD in Anthropology and become a professor. At the same time, my innermost gut knew I wanted to have a traditional Italian household -- marriage, kids, food. My senior year at UCLA, I met with every female Anthropology professor at UCLA and asked them about their home life. Not one was married. Not one had children. It was clear that I was not going to be a professor. So, I graduated and moved back home with my parents to think about a career path. My mother, who had always worked in the dentistry field, suggested that I go into hygiene, specifically because I could work a little, make a lot, and still be a very involved wife and mother. The deal was sealed. I signed up to take my pre-requisite courses at a local community college, and down that path I ventured.

Who woulda thought that 6 months into my dental hygiene journey, I would met my husband, Kyle.