13 Things Only Siblings Understand, 21 Things Disney Taught About Having a Sister, Facebook Posts Mom Sends Us…

Like I’ve said many times before, I have a sister and a brother. So this video is pretty self-explanatory. I found this and thought it really could not be more spot on. I always love to see things like this because I love comparing how my siblings and I act to the way others act.

So another thing I found, through my love of Buzzfeed… 21 Things Disney Taught You About Having A Sister. If you have a sister, you know how accurate it is. “Can’t believe how similar, ” “good looks run in the family,” “childhood memories on embarrassing home video,” etc. Basically my life… Here’s the link.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/krystieyandoli/things-disney-taught-you-about-having-a-sister

So my mom has a facebook to “keep an eye on her children.” She finds all these cute pictures or quotes and posts them on our walls. Here’s a few that she just recently posted. She really is just the cutest ever.

People always saw how jealous they are of my relationship with my parents and my siblings. When I’m told that, I really am honored. I love how close we are. I love that I can depend on my parents for anything, that I can go to my sister when I’m having a bad day and she’ll make me laugh, and I love that I can depend on my brother to beat any one up who breaks my heart. My family members truly are my best friends.

Schools and Family

TV These Days.

So lately I’ve been watching a lot of Toddlers and Tiaras, Dance Moms, this cheerleading show and another dancing show. I cannot believe the stuff they will put on these days. It’s literally all mothers living vicariously through their children. Putting their children through spray tans, verbal abuse, diets, etc. RIDICULOUS!

For those of you that don’t know, Toddlers and Tiaras is a beauty pageant show. These poor girls ages range from literally nine months old all the way up to the late teens. If you’re a daughter and you willingly want to participate in pageants, more power to ya, but from what I’ve seen, this is all about the moms.  These moms are crazy. They force their already adorable daughters to get “prettier.” Get spray tans, diet, wear fake teeth.. All for what? So your child can be judged based on her beauty… You’re teaching your daughter great life skills… What kills me even more is that a lot of the time, these costumes and trips cost thousands of dollars, and the mothers have NO problem refinancing their house, not paying bills, hiding things from their husband, all so their daughter could be judged and be called pretty. These mothers are ruthless too! They fight worse than anything I’ve ever seen. If you’re looking for some ridiculous comedy, I definitely recommend this show.

Dance Moms is a small, phenomenal dance company. I mean these little girls really know what they’re doing. They’re so talented. Anyway, the mothers are crazy. The coach, Abby Lee is so mean. She verbally abuses these girls. The mothers just sit there and allow it, and when they don’t, they fight with the coach. If they aren’t fighting with the coach, they’re arguing with each other, talking behind each other’s backs, and literally bashing the other dancers. It’s so sad.

Anyway, most of these shows depict mothers living vicariously through their talented children. The sad part about this is I have witnessed this all first hand. Not so much in my athletic career, but my sister’s. While my sister was in high school, she cheered for the school. The cheerleading squad at our high school was nationally ranked, very prestige, and had crazy talented tumblers. So anyway, it was a competitive team, 12 hour practices in the summer, late practices during the school year, all year round. These girls put in a lot of heart, blood, sweat, and tears. Parents were expected to step up a lot for this team too, fundraising and whatnot. One thing the parents were responsible for was decorations for our homecoming dance. My high school goes all out for homecoming. Themes, decorations on all the walls of the gym, decorations down the hall ways, etc. Parents were there almost as much as the girls were practicing. My mom would come home with crazy stories. Mothers physically fought each other over who’s kid was better. I swear my mom has a million stories of fights happening over the talent of each cheerleader. There was one mother who’s daughter was one peg below my sister (meaning my sister had all the tumbling, was a lead flyer, and had a front position in the choreography). This mother told my mom’s friend, that she spied on every practice, and kept a notebook and kept track of every time a cheerleader fell, missed a jump, was behind choreography, things like that. She especially kept track of my sister, just so if the time ever came, she can brag about her daughter.. Come on, ladies, really?!

These mothers really need to calm themselves. I cannot believe it these days.

The Cerniglia’s Take South Carolina

So after much deliberation, my family (aka my parents) finally booked our summer vacation. We’re going to … WAIT FOR IT…. South Carolina! I could not be more excited! An entire week on the beach, outlet shopping, mini golf, game nights, sun tans – or burns in my case. What could be better?!

When I mentioned to my friends how excited I was, they literally could not believe why. All they kept saying was, “OMG 13 hours in the car with your family?!” “That’s a lot of quality time..” “My family doesn’t vacation together anymore.” I could not fathom these statements. I’m actually looking forward to the long car ride. We always make the best out of any situation. My sister’s boyfriend is coming, so we will probably be laughing the entire ride down. My brother is bringing his XBOX to hook up to the TV in my mom’s mini-van, that way we can watch movies. We’ll play country music and sing at the top of our lungs. It’s really a good time! My mom is so excited she just texted me with the seating arrangements for the car ride. Jonathan and my dad in the front (since they’re the best with directions), my mom and I sitting in the captain seats, and Kylie and Chris (the BF) in the back seat.

When I think about family vacation, I think about all of the great vacations we’ve had in the past. I reflect on all of those memories that I am going to have with me forever. The memories that will cause me to strive for perfect family vacations when I’m a mother. No matter where we go, my family always has an amazing time. 

My sister and I were talking about this upcoming vacation, and we got on the topic of what happens when we grow up, since I’m off to grad school, and we wondered what it would be like. We mulled it over and went to my parents and told them we want to go on family vacation every year, together. Even when we’re married and have our own kids. We’ll be together all the time. It makes for great fun and even greater memories!

The Age of Technology.. Making Or Breaking The Family?

We all know this girl loves her social media.. Cell phone, laptop, and any other form of technology, you name it, I have it and most likely love it… But, there is no denying that technology is the result of a drastic change in today’s society. Some may argue that it is the downfall of our generation.  Honestly, I don’t necessarily think that technology has entirely ruined our generation, because there are some good things that come along with being knowledgable in the field of technology and social media, but I do think it is changing the family dynamic.

I’m all about Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (especially!) but I know when enough is enough. I look at kids, mainly my cousins and their friends, and I’m appalled. These little kids do nothing but sit on these social media sites all day. Four year olds have iPhones and iPads… WHAT?! I didn’t get a cell phone until like 7th grade. I feel SUPER old when I complain about this stuff, but life sure has changed… I don’t even want to start on TV… My cousins are in the zone when the TV is on. They do not hear anything but what the characters are saying. They look almost zombie-like.

It takes everything in my power to peel my cousins away from technology when I’m spending time with them. I mean I’m doing things they like.. ice cream, park, batting cages, shopping, etc… If it’s like that when they’re with their super cool 21 year old cousin, what is it like at the dinner table or lounging around the house every night!?

I think children should have limited access to technology. They should be spending more time outside playing, or with their families, and less time on the computer or glued to the TV.

Family Traditions.

One of the things I hold onto dearest are my family’s traditions. They are just so special and so unique to my family. These traditions are ones that I will cherish and carry with me when I have kids, and I will carry out when my kids have kids.  Though my family has traditions for EVERYTHING, I’m going to just briefly mention some of our traditions for the major holidays.

Thanksgiving: Until I started college, Thanksgiving was held at my grandmother’s (mom’s mom) house in Vermont. My family would go every other year (our off years would be spent with my dad’s family – at my other grandparent’s house). When we did go up there, we would drive up Tuesday night, spend all day Wednesday preparing food and baking, spend Thursday finishing up the cooking and baking, and we would eat together, and then just play games and enjoy each other’s company. My mom’s two sisters, their husbands, and my cousins would also go up to Vermont. We would then spend ALL DAY BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING!! The men would see a movie and just hang out. It is just so much fun. We then spend the entire weekend enjoying the outdoors (sometimes snow!) and play games all together. When I started college, since it was too difficult to come home and go right up to Vermont, my mom hosts Thanksgiving at our house and both sides, mom and dad, come over. The food is literally out of this world. We have the typical turkey, stuffing, yams, etc., but then my mom also makes an antipasto, a pasta (usually lasagna or baked ziti), and so many other delicious foods. Our Thanksgiving table is out of control.

Christmas Eve: Christmas Eve is again hosted at my house with my dad’s family. Our house is all decked out – falalala la la la la (just kidding). It’s decorated beautifully. Our tree is lit up, our stockings are out, the lights are on outside, garland is hung on the porch outside and the inside stair well. Christmas is seriously my favorite time of year… Anyway, My family goes to 5pm mass, come back home, finish the appetizers, and then family comes over at 7:30. My mom bakes seven different kinds of cookies with my siblings and I the three days before Christmas. Christmas music plays softly all night. Once our family arrives, we sit down, eat our appetizers, our seven million courses of food, take a break and convene in the living room. It’s then time for presents as tea and coffee is being made. These presents are just between my family, no Santa gifts yet! Once we are finished with presents, we all eat dessert. People start trickling out. We clean up, and then start preparing the house for Santa! … Santa?! I KNOW HIM! (Elf :]) When we were younger, we would go to my grandparent’s house late at night and open our presents from them at that time. Now we’re older, they bring them to our house (much less stuff because we have expensive taste).

Christmas Day: My brother wakes us up at the crack of dawn, we go downstairs and open our stockings, then wake our parents up, make cinnamon rolls and tea and coffee, and eat breakfast as we’re opening presents from Santa. Typically, my Uncle John from San Fran, and my grandma from Vermont stays over our house and is with us when we open our presents. We spend the morning relaxing, watching the parade, and getting ready. Christmas Day is spent at my Aunt Jo’s house, with my mom’s side of the family. It used to be the tradition seven fish dinner, but I ruined that… I’m allergic to all fish now – bummer. As soon as we get there, I stuff the cannolis with my grandpa. I am a PRO cannoli stuffer 🙂 Now, we have a smaller dinner (my aunt really is not the chef my mother is), filet mignon, stuffed shells, a salad, and the garnishes. After we eat, we open presents, play some games, then have dessert. Even though Christmas Day is a smaller gathering, and much less hectic than with my dad’s family, it’s my favorite holiday. 

Easter: We wake up early, again… Thanks, Jonathan. We open our adorable baskets. Then have a quiet breakfast with just my immediate family. Easter is another holiday spent at my house with both sides of the family. My mom cooks her bajillion courses and we celebrate after mass. When we were younger, I would dress up like the Easter Bunny and help the little kids with their Easter Egg Hunt. Now that we’re all older, everyone gets a lottery ticket at their place setting, and a bucket of plastic eggs are passed around the table – they are all filled with candy and one lucky winner gets money!

Though these traditions don’t seem like much, they’re mine. They have created memories that will last a lifetime. My family is incredibly busy, and holidays are the times when everyone gets together, rarely talks about work, and just enjoys the time together. I cannot wait to start taking over and giving my mom a break, and host all of these holidays for my family and my future husband’s family. 

Moving Back Home..

So, I have finally decided to attend Rutgers University for graduate school, which means… I will be moving back home after graduation.  Everyone always says such bad things about moving back home after graduation. Yes, I have become accustomed to living on my own, making my own rules, and just being independent, but I am not going to mind having to move back home. I love being home with my family. It’s great. My parents have already said that they understand that I will be 22 and living back home, and probably won’t move out until I’m at least 24. They are going to respect the way I live my life. My mom is not going to be up my butt about studying, about a curfew, or following the rules. As long as I am respectful of my parents, my brother, and the home, we will not have any issues.

I am actually excited to move back home. I love my parents, I love spending time with them. I’m excited to live at home with my brother again. He’s grown up so much since that last time I’ve lived in my house for more than a summer. My sister won’t be home, but I will be close enough to go up to her school to visit. I cannot wait to embark on this new journey and I’m ecstatic to be sharing this new experience and growing and learning process with my family members. 

The Hardest, Most Impossible Job Ever…

So I found this video last week and when I first saw it, I thought it was totally legit. Until I started thinking and I was like wait… I know what it is!

So basically, the job requirements were: standing most of the time, constantly exerting yourself, working from 135-unlimited hours a week, degrees in medicine, culinary arts, and finance, no vacations, workload increases during holidays, no time to sleep, and no salary. They then had real people interview for the job. Before I say what it is, here’s the link. STOP READING AND WATCH!

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/24-people-who-applied-worlds-toughest-job-were-quite-surprise-157028

So… the job was being a mom. Watching that video really made me appreciate both of my parents so so so much! They honestly do so much for my siblings and I. Without either of them, I don’t know where I would be. Like at all. They easily play doctor, chef, chauffeur, best friend, teacher, coach, and cheerleader. The list goes on and on. I cannot express how thankful I am for my parents. This video helped put it in perspective. 

 

Home Sweet Home.

So I’m writing this as I lay in my big, comfy bed at home in NJ. I’m literally just reflecting on how amazing it is to be home. I got home at around 6:30, was immediately greeted by my brother and his friend Brian to help carry my bags in – let’s just talk about how much of a gentleman my little bro bro has turned into…. I’m loving it. Anyway, after a loving welcome from my dog, mom, and dad, we all sat down for a famous family dinner. Mom had chicken marsala waiting for me. Is she not the BEST mom ever?! I love it. The only thing missing was my sister. Unfortunately, she goes to a public college and can’t come home until Saturday night. Wahhh 😦

After dinner we all just hung around and watched the Yankee game together, talked about the crazy week my mom had at work, and discussed Easter plans and what we have going on for this mini break. To say I’m happy to be home is an understatement. I just love how calm and relaxed I feel the minute I walk through my door. There’s just something so serene about being in the comforts of my own home. My dog, my family, that distinct smell that only my house smells like, my bedroom, my quiet little street in my adorable little town. Just everything about it. This feeling is just making the idea of graduating in one mont (WHAT?!) feel okay. I’m not worried anymore. I’m really looking forward to moving out of DC, coming back home, and starting my new journey in grad school somewhere else.

For now, I’m going to enjoy sleeping in my own, non-college sized twin XL bed. Tomorrow I have a day with my mom to look forward to, then we’re meeting my sister for pedicures, and finishing the day at my baseball star of a little brother’s game. I LOVE BEING HOME!

Family Dinner

Growing up, my friends would always say how weird it was that my family ate dinner together, at a table, every night. I would get a little self-conscious and ask why my parents were so “weird.” Looking back on it now, I really appreciate my parents being “weird.”

Every night, no matter what we were doing, my mom and dad would make us come home for dinner, that way we all can eat together. It was a great way to make sure we all spent time together despite our busy schedules. Friends were more than welcome to join, my mom and dad just asked that the kids always be home. Obviously, if we were invited out, we were excused from dinner, but there were no other excuses. When we got old enough to have cell phones, our “text messaging machines” (as my dad would call them) needed to be put on silent and away from the table. TV in the living room went off. Laptops were left where they were. Dinner was family time. We had to disconnect.

Dinner time is my favorite time with my family. We all just discuss our days, the people we talked to, funny stories, and just enjoy each others’ company. As I get older, it gets better and better. I really think my parents have done a good thing for my siblings and I by making us eat dinner together every night. We enjoy spending time together and look forward to dinner time. We also know the proper dinner etiquette, manners, and know how to have conversations over meals.

I doubt my parents knew this, but studies have shown that eating dinner together as a family is linked to lower rates of substance abuse, lower rates of teen-pregnancy, lower rates of depression, higher GPAs, and higher self-esteem. I’m not complaining, I love family dinners, but those are some great added benefits 🙂

I encourage everyone to take part in The Family Dinner Project. Start having regular meals with your family, at a table and not on the couch. You’ll learn a great deal about each other and have fun while eating great food!

http://thefamilydinnerproject.org/ Here’s a website to help you out 🙂