Jacob and Kari

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Smelly Danielly

Last Saturday my cousin Jacob married his wife, Kari. I took lots of pictures.

Jacob & Kari

My Family

Ryan & Elise

Food!

My Dad and his siblings. Yes, there are 10 of them.

Laura, Elise, Sarah, Francesca, Me, & Chiara

Steven& Dad

Ever since Dad nixed the moustache people comment on how much he looks like Steven. Funny because with his moustache people use to comment on how much he looked like me…

Steven & Jake

We have a long standing joke that I am his father and he is my daughter. It’s been 15 years in the making.

Ma.

Family resemblence?

Cake cutting.

I wore a new dress I got from Plum (naturally). I was going to wear a big statement necklace but my jewelery drawer is in a state of emergency and I couldn’t find anything I liked. Instead I went for layered pieces of silver.

I have veiny hands. It’s a family thing.

Things started to get silly when the music came on.

I married this guy.

There is nothing quite like a Rossi wedding. I have the best cousins in the world.

Even my Dad got into it. I wish I had snapped a picture of Uncle Jim too. He started the Sun Glasses trend.

These guys are a bit too crazy.

We ended the evening off with a drive to Mc Donalds where Chad accidentaly opened Elises window which was holding her Canucks car flag. Her flag flew off into the night. We tried looking for it but is was gone. Therefore we blame Chad for the Canucks last two loses. But don’t worry, he bought her a new flag and will be giving it to her tonight. Hopefully that will remidy the situation.

Ze Germans are Coming

Posted on May 27, 2011 by Smelly Danielly

Sunday after watching the fabulous hockey game at Francesca and Conns place (which the Cancucks obviously won) we had some time to kill before celebrating Ryans none birthday.

We decided to take a stroll along the nature walk right outside of Francescas place, which turned into Elise leading us on a wild goose chase down some path to a pond that didn’t exist. Once past the point where the pond was supposed to be we decided to try and walk all the way to the 200th street overpass which they had openedup for pedestrians. Once there we realized that although they had finished the over pass it was not quite open, so our excitement of crossing 200thquickly came to a halt. So, with no real sense of purpose we decided to turn back and just head home, except Elise wanted to take another nature walk back which lead us all through out Langley. By that point the sun was coming out and our jackets and scarves (which we needed for the morning weather) quickly becamea burden. Damn mis-planned adventure of time wasting!

Finally back at the car, after much cursing at the city of Langley and Surrey (or is it township of Langley and city of Surrey? Why do they have to make it so confusing?) we decided that with 4 hours left until food time we would drive around Langley and Surrey looking at houses. Personally, if I’m moving to the Valley, I’m doing it for the acreage, not to live in a condo. Elise and I planned out our estates accordingly.

Once the driving got boring we headed to Cristinas house to drop her off and play with Barra.

Barra
Woof!

Barra is Cristinas personal RCMP guard dog. Ok, well maybe not personal, but she is definitely an RCMP Pup.

The fam got Barra when she was about 9 months old straight from the RCMP training facility. When RCMP dogs don’t pass at the tests required for them to become a full fledged Police Dog they are found homes. Zio Paul was lucky to get his hands on this special German Shepard.

Chad and Barra played fetch. They were both loving it. Chad considers Barra his God Dog-hter. Hahaha!

Barra is the most energetic dog I have ever seen. I guess given her background of RCMP work it makes sense.

Watching her drink water from a hose is hilar!

You never want to enter a house with an RCMP dog unannounced. They are so protective of their space. I always wait for Zio Paul to come to the gate before entering the yard! Not that I think Barra would ever attack me but she is very intense and it scares me. But once inside she is the sweetest dog ever and listens so well. She loves her ball more then anything.

She also has a sweet tooth for Sleeman Honey Lager.

Herro Puppy!

We spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out with Barra, playing fetch and eating cookies. It did end up turning into the most perfect of random days despite our Nature Trail fail. Probably a sign I should never follow Elise into the wilderness.

Tractor Gave Me a Present

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Smelly Danielly

We had dinner over at Mama and Papa Ciavarros house on Saturday. I thought it was the right time to bring out my awkward smile.

There was a rumour that Tractor has a present for me but he wasn’t giving away any secrets.

I was getting a bit antsy because I really wanted my present. It’s not every day you get a gift from the family cat so I knew this had to be special.

Finally he handed over the goods and helped me unwrap it.

Ohhhhh! The Flavor Bible! Whats this book all about!?

He wasn’t too impressed that I didn’t know what it was. Apparently all the foodies, including himself, live and breath by the Flavor Bible.

So we went through it together. It’s wasn’t a book filled with recipes, but instead a book filled with information on flavours! He told me I’d learn the following…

*explore the individual roles played by the four basic tastes — salty, sour, bitter and sweet — and how to bring them into harmony;

* work more intuitively and effectively with ingredients by discovering which flavors have the strongest affinities for one another;

* brighten flavors through the use of acids — from vinegars to citrus juices to herbs and spices such as kaffir lime and sumac;

* deepen or intensify flavors through the layering of specific ingredients or techniques; and

* balance the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of cooking and serving an extraordinary meal.

He went on to explain that if there was a a dish I was looking to cook and wanted to see what flavours would work well with it, all I would have to do is look it up! For example, if I were to make Lobster it would give me flavour information on the Lobster itself and then give me a list of flavours that would work well with it, like Anchovies or Apples.

I was pretty impressed that Tractor gave me such a thoughtful gift. I guess he really does listen when I go on and on about all the things I love to cook. He sure does know me pretty well.

Thanks Tractor, you are the best <3

Alexis and Dave

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Smelly Danielly

Since Saturday (my actual birth DAY) was going to be a gong show of activity, Chad said he wanted to give me my birthday card on Friday night. I was told that my birthday present was not yet available because he ordered it through work (they have a special deal with Nikon) and he wasn’t sure when exactly it was arriving. So Friday night he gave me my card and it was all adorable. Then after dinner he turned to me and said, “You know your Birthday present has been in plain view all evening”. I knew exactly where to look. 3 small-ish boxes were scattered around the book case. It had arrived! My shiny new Nikon D3100 Digital SLR. I was in love.

We spent the evening figuring out all the features and taking test pictures. It was so easy to figure out and even ‘boring pictures’ looked amazing through the viewfinder. Finally I’d be able to have the picture quality I had always envied! Saturday was oing to be a perfect day to try it out.

As I mentioned in earlier posts, my cousin Alexis got married on Saturday. The timing of everything worked out quite nicely with the ceremony at 11, and lunch from 12:00 -3. It ended up leaving lots of time to watch the Canucks lose (they never win when they play on my Birthday, its a fact) and then head to a late birthday dinner with friends.

Doesn’t Mr. Ciavarro look so handsome. I dressed him myself ;)

Alexis and her husband Dave got married at the same church Chad and I did. Its tradition. Everyone gets married at my uncles church.

Aren’t they just the cutest couple EVER.

Alexis made her wedding dress with the assistance of a family friend. Yup, she’s just as crazy as me! I absolutely loved her dress. Pale grey, 1940 styling, yellow accents. STUNNING! Anyone can go out and buy a pretty white wedding dress and look beautiful, but I love it when someone chooses a dress that suits them so well you can’t imagine them wearing anything else.

Their reception was at the Rainflower Restaurant in Richmond. Yup, Dim Sum for all!

I had only ever been out for Dim Sum once so I somewhat knew what the expect. The food was so good, I could have sat there all day and stuffed my face. Pork Wontons, Deep Fried Tofu, BBQ’d Pork Buns, Chinese Broccoli, BBQ’d Duck, Fried Rice, Prawns, Noodles with Pork, Spring rolls, and more! It was such a different but amazing reception experience.

I appriciated the fact that the attention was taken away from it being my Birthday and placed on Alexis for it being her wedding day! Haha!

I always love getting together with my cousins when everyone is dressed up. It’s like we are mature classy adults. Well, for the most part.

Chad is my number one photography subject. I should publish a book filled with random pictures of Chad.

Over all it was a great wedding. Different from the traditional big Italian wedding, but a welcome change. The food was awesome, the restaurant was beautiful and the Bride & Groom looked like they were straight out of a movie!

Tombola Per Tutti

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Smelly Danielly

Italian traditions die hard around here.

A few weeks ago we all got together to play a high stakes game of Tombola, which is basically like bingo but with out the bingo. Chad and I being the unlucky ones only won once at a $1.20 each. Next time we are going to bring an Asian good luck charm with us in the form of Steve Tang.

Tombola Teresa was out in full force this year but would not answer when called ‘Dame Edna’. She won way too many games. I think she’s with the Mafia or something.

Jim decided he would be East Indian at one point.

Dario didn’t want to play anymore and decided to go on a safari.

Every time a number was called out Chad would challenge himself and call out a hockey player who wore that number. Jim, on the other hand, would call out something that reminded him of that number. 66 – Chevy, 67 – Chevy, 68 – Chevy, 92 – How old I will be when I die. I’m surprised he didn’t do what he did last year, 69 – My favorite number. Friggin priceless.

We had pasta for dinner but this year it wasn’t Whore pasta like it was last year. Jim, however, did bring along some home made olive bread which was amazing.

For dessert we had some of Settimos ‘Fugathe’. Yes, it’s that time of year already! I think my Mom will be holding the annual contest around Easter.

Family & Friends + Wine + Illegal Gambling Italian Style = The Perfect Sunday Afternoon