Little Italy Art Walk

I absolutely LOVE visiting little towns and exploring but even more so when that town is a Little Italy... so when my friend asked me to accompany her up to Mayfield, OH, outside of Cleveland, for an art walk I was all in... I must admit though, I was far more enamored with the quaintness and heritage of the town that I was with the actual art walk. 

Images and statues of the Madonna adorned shop windows with protection and love. 

Street cafes bustled with customers enjoying cannoli and expresso.  Delicatessens served up made to order lunches with outdoor seating as well. We actually had lunch here at Presti's and the panini were divine.... of course, so was the tiramisu!

I just love how the Italian American heritage is always on full display in little Italy towns. 

The main street through Mayfield is Murray Hill and it was littered with little Italian shops and antique stores. 

Of course, no little Italy would be complete without a statue of Christopher Columbus. 

Through my browsing I found a hidden gem that I brought home with me as well... a memento to always remember my day and watch over me at home as well. Granted he needs a little love, maybe some starch to hold his garments in place but for $35 what a find! These dressed Infant of Prague statues sell new in the hundreds and clothes sold separately. This find is a genuine antique as well as being made from chalk plaster. Baby Jesus is definitely going to a good home... I found him a spot of prestige on top of my China cupboard, facing the front door with a mercury dime underneath of course.

What kind of towns do you like to explore? What are some recent treasures you have found in out of the way places? Comment below and don't forget to subscribe for updates. 

Festival Time

 Most years, during festival time for Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Lowellville, I focus on the festivities and the Baby Doll dance more than the reason for the celebration in the first place. After the long year we have all had, I thought it was important this year to focus on the religious aspect of the annual Feast Day and give thanks in everything I am grateful for.

So how did it begin that Italians, especially Southern Italians, became so devout to Our Lady of Mt Carmel? A brief and short history lesson can answer this....

Way back in the 13th century, St Simon Strock, of the Carmelite order, professed to have had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary at which time she presented him with a brown scapular. During his vision, Mary promised that the faithful who wore her scapular would be saved. Today on the Feast Day devotees still don the scapular around their necks for the entirety of the festival week. This scapular is seen as both a sign of devotion as well as a pledge to the devotee of Mary's motherly protection. If you go back and look at previous year's festival pictures, you will begin to notice the scapular on the necks of those involved in the festivities as well. 

So how did Our Lady of Mt Carmel become so tied to Italy? She was adapted a patron saint in Southern Italy first in the Calabrian town of Palmi in the 1800s. The town suffered a massive earthquake during which and in warning of the statue of Mary was said to have moving eyes, a miracle that was recognized and affirmed by the Vatican. The immigrants from Italy brought their faith and devotion to Our Lady of Mt Carmel with them to America as well as their celebrations. 126 years later in the town of Lowellville, OH, here we are....

We still take the statue from her place of reference in the front window on a parade through town across the bridge to a mass which is read in Italian. The process itself draws many out from their homes to pin money on her banners in hopes of having a prayer granted for the year. The band plays as the devotees follow the procession to mass. 

Once mass has concluded, the procession continues back to the hall to take Mary safely back to her place of reverent display. Along the way many homes also have become stops along the way, offering wine, cheese, and other snacks for those in the procession. 

The whole day is just magical to experience. I couldn't imagine this magical week in July without this mass and parade any more than I could without a Baby Doll dance. 

Bee Farm

Always looking for something new to do and somewhere new to explore when I have nothing planned, I found an event listing on Facebook for a garden walk tour in Trumbull County. Intrigued, I hopped in the car and headed out to FarmGirl's Honey in North Bloomfield. I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived that it was actually someone's home.... I don't know what I had expected but I perhaps thought it would be more of a "farm". I was not disappointed though. The owner raises bees at the back of the property and creates her own honey which was for sale in the front shed turned into a gift shop. The rest of her property was a whimsically decorated scattering of small gardens, all planted with flowers to attract the bees. 

There were areas with ladders made into displays.... areas of useless objects planted into the ground such as the typewriter with succulents popping out of the keys... areas of an old sink as a planter... areas where broken plates created a garden edger even. While it may seem like old junk, it actually was giving these discarded items new life and purpose. Somehow it all just worked and each arbor passed into an area of new surprises. I highly recommend if you see this event posted again that you attend to see the whimsy. You will not be disappointed and the honey is delicious!

Office Revamp

Like everyone else these days, I find myself spending a lot more time in my home office. I use the smallest of my bedrooms as my home office and it was beginning to feel a little drab and uninspiring. Just as with other areas of my home, sometimes it is the smallest of changes that can actually make the biggest difference. I began simply by reorganizing my storage in my desk drawers.... not something you really see but definitely something that made a huge difference in the clutter that was on top of the desk. 

The largest impact I made though was on the small wall area between the entry door and closet door. The only thing that was hanging here before was a bulletin board, nothing very pleasing as my zoom meetings backdrop.... I did not take a before picture but honestly there was nothing to see. 

Some of the items I used, I already had but had not found a home for yet. The two hooks with dog phrases to the right were a gift I got last Christmas. The plaid framed dog photo was found at Hobby Lobby after last Christmas in their sale items. The small friendship quote box also had been a gift. Some items also were antiques I had tucked away as well such as the brass horns and the horse bits and harness pieces. 

A visit to Hobby Lobby for more pieces added in the shelves, the clock, the 3 hook plaque, and the table. I then also added in the personal touches with photos from the KY Derby as well as frame tickets. I definitely am happy with the outcome and have a much more personalized video call backdrop. 

Mario's International Spa Retreat

Much like for everyone else in the world right now, life has been completely turned upside down for more than a year now and it is time to attempt to get back to normal. During my quarantine I not only had concerns about COVID but also of being a caregiver. Grandma fell and broke her hip which led to surgery and a rehab stay as well. So, I do apologize for the lack of posts during this period but life was insane!

Once life started to calm back down to some semblance of normalcy, I could not wait to kick of my return to the world with a girls' trip weekend.... and where better to go than a spa retreat?!?! We decided to head to Mario's International Spa for some much-needed pampering and R&R with the Spa Retreat Package. I had never been here before but was certainly not disappointed in the decor and friendliness of the staff. Once I changed into my robe, I didn't look back for 2 days!

Excuse the no makeup look but when in Spa....

Even the waiting rooms were a tranquil retreat....

The grotto gave a feel of being in Ancient Greece or Rome and felt so luxurious....

At every turn, there were grand displays of columns and Romanesque statues.... I definitely would return here. Where do you retreat for a relaxing weekend? 

"And a Merry Christmas to All!"

 There are a few customs in NEO that the holiday season just could not be complete without...  and one of those is a visit to White House Fruit Farm at the holidays. Granted there are many others to visit this farmer's market as they have many events throughout the year, but there is nothing more magical than browsing the gift barn for the perfect gift, having a warm cider or cocoa in the crisp air, and visiting Santa on a wagon. 

What are some must visit areas where you live? What place is it that if you don't visit, it just won't feel like Christmas? Comment below and hit subscribe to get updates. 

The Leaves are Falling

 What better way to celebrate the changing of the seasons than to bring those elements inside? 

I like to make little groupings just to add some fall looks into my living spaces. This crate area is inside my front door and I just added some fall leaves, flowers and pumpkins to the decor already there and changed the artwork on the wall.

The only new finds added this year here were the fall sign from Hobby Lobby and the wooden rosary beads from a local home boutique shop called Spruce. 

To the other side of the door, I simply sat up a Hot Toddy bar and added some small real pumpkins from the farmer's market. 

For my dining room table centerpiece this year, I also kept it simple filling a silver punch bowl with picks from Hobby Lobby and a white real pumpkin. I also added some beaded coasters on the lazy Susan that I received as a gift last year. 

On the fireplace I simply added some cotton picks to the florals already there and the leopard fall blocks (from Hobby Lobby a few years ago) along with some wooden blocks painted to be pumpkins from a local craft fair. 

I did the same on the buffet. Simply adding some leaves and picks as well as some decorative pumpkins that were already in my stash. I filled the chicken fruit bowl using picks and smaller white pumpkins into the greenery that was already there. 

On the couch, I simply changed out the throw and added a new pillow in center found this year at Hobby Lobby as well as the burlap pillow wraps also from Hobby Lobby. 

Small touches here and there can make a difference on their own and definitely make you feel the season. What touches have you added in your home to bring fall inside? Comment below and subscribe for future posts.