A little of what I bring back....

So, to go with my missing and bringing theme...

Here is my new favorite breakfast...

but unfortunately, I only brought one big box back from the US.

Banana Nut Cheerios, with strawberries!!

It is so yummy, and now, I am wishing that I had brought back more!

What I miss...

So, by now I am sure you have read somewhere on my blog some of the things that I miss from my childhood home...

my family is number one of course,

but when it comes to "things" that I miss here is my Numero Uno:

Yes, this is the famous Primanti's Bros. sandwich from Pittsburgh.

They are so yummy...

I know it looks a little different, but let me try to explain this sandwich.

They start with the most delicious, soft with a harder crust Italian bread, then you pick your meat...my favorite is Cappicola but others include pastrami, keilbasa, roast beef, corned beef, salami, etc....

next is the usual tomato, cheese....

then comes the ultimate difference: french fries and cole slaw.

Now, not just any cole slaw...not your run of the mill runny, soggy, too much liquid, small cut up cabbage, cole slaw...

the most delicious, spicy cole slaw you ever tasted!

The french fries are thick and add just a little bit of texture.

Side it with a tart dill pickle slice and your taste buds soar with flavor!

Have a root beer with it, and you have a yummy 'burgh experience. Enhanced with a Steeler game is even better, but you better get there early, because the restaurants fill up!

Ah, if you ever pass through Pittsburgh, be sure not to miss one of these sandwiches!

Happy Monday :)

Home sweet home...

It is so nice to be home....

As I have said in previous comments on another's blog,

home is where the heart is. A country, a city...

that is not home to me.

I am home when my family is complete.

The weather is a little colder this year, a little more rainy...

not what my family wanted, but I can't control Mother Nature :)

The kids are just happy to be home, amongst their animals, their toys, their home

and me too

Bye, caio, arrivaderci, au revoir...

We are leaving today...

my Mom is taking the chance and traveling with us. I am so happy about that!

Talk to you all once we are back home in Brasil, God willing

:)

Wordless Wednesday-Snack Time

The search

Do you know how difficult it is to find a

4-ring binder?

It was on my son's 5th grade list of what to buy for school this year.

I have looked everywhere here, and to no avail. I got the strangest look when I actually asked about a 4-ring binder in one of the popular office supply stores...

you know, the look like...

A what? 4-rings? no, ma'am......

we only have 3-rings here (meaning America in my opinion, hahaha)

So, I wrote an email to a couple of people in the school, and yes, in fact, the paper and the binders in Brasil are 4-holed/ringed.

So, that is one item from "The List" that will have to be bought in Brasil!

Remembering and sharing

I can remember these machines from when I was a kid...

and now I like to share and see the excitement on my children's faces.

Shaved Ice...

I always got the cherry flavored, like my daughter.

I like the one my son gets, too...

half blue raspberry and half cherry!

Yummy and cool in the summer heat!

A Funny for Friday

I thought this was so funny.

I found this "Living" Basil is the grocery store the other day...

boy, am I glad it wasn't dead! We would have a crisis in the grocery store!

AAAAHHHH, mass confusion in the vegetable aisle. The basil is dead, I repeat, the basil is DEAD!

Well, luckily, that was only my imagination because the basil is "Living"!

reminiscing and stuff

Here are some fotos of our 4th celebration.

We always seem to do the same thing every year.

We go to the parade and watch the 5k run, marching bands, war veterans, fire trucks...

Of course we celebrate my nieces birthday, she turned 23 this year!

Wow, time goes by so quickly...I am her Godmother, and can still remember being so nervous holding her in church.

Then we go to my Brother's house and have grilled yummies, delicious sides, cake, ice cream...a great time hanging out with family.

Then off to the fireworks. This year I didn't take my camera to the fireworks, and really, they weren't all that good this time. I mean, they were fine, but they have been better in the past.

Still, the kids love celebrating the 4th, and I love being around with my family.

Happy 4th of July

What does it mean...

to be an American

So you may think, how can this girl that lives in Brazil, used to live in Venezuela, married to a Peruvian.....know about being American?

I was born and raised in a town whose reputation was for steel. The Steelers are our football team, the mills spewed out ash that covered cars, houses....

but that wasn't my family. We weren't steel workers, but Pittsburgh was a steel town.

That wasn't my time, but I see the pictures and recognize the streets, the mills.

My family is still living in the same house that I grew up in, my sister lives 3 houses away, my brother lives a street away. Yet here I am, the world traveler, the otherworldly resider.

Well, I am American.

I enjoy the adventure of living in foreign lands, and meeting strangers. I enjoy the thrill of finding something new in a different culture.

But I am American.

I try to learn new languages, I try different foods, I spend my time learning new places.

I am American.

I am American, I have the freedom to do whatever I want, practice any religion, say, generally, anything I choose, wear freedom on my sleeve. My country has given me the ability to discover myself, as a complete person, without the restraints of oppression.

I like to travel and explore, learn and see, live and discover new worlds,

but I am an American.

Let us celebrate the freedoms that our country allows us....

because there are many others that do not have this freedom.

Happy Fourth of July, let freedom ring...

I pledge allegiance, to the flag, of the Unites States of America

and to the republic, for which it stands, one nation,

under God

indivisible, with liberty and justice for all

Wordless Wednesday

Views of my town, part 1: nature