You Know You Are Italian When.....

I tried to make Spring rolls last night and that wrap you use for them...weird and gummy and gross. I had bought cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, green onion, etc. All these healthy things. Any way, I tried them raw, deep fried even baked. They were not a hit last night and I was so looking forward to making them.

So much for my attempts at creating a "food network type" recipe. Now I have all those ingredients, so I decided to make a PASTA SALAD.

All good recipes start with pasta...can't help it and you know it's true!!

The kids love this and will just go to the refrigerator and help themselves...


You know you are Italian when...... you AND your young teenagers snack on fresh mozzarella cheese and tomatoes drizzled (ok, drenched) with balsamic vinaigrette .

Camp Cadet

Jack was asked to go to Camp Cadet this year and after much pleading, coercing, cajoling, convincing and even bribing (yes bribing) he decided to go. Much thanks to my Berlin family consisting of Keith, Mark & Roni Sue with my college buddy Cooch, chiming in....HE'S GOING!!!

I am so thrilled. It is such a wonderful opportunity for him and he will learn and grow so much. The coolest thing.. the age range is 13-15 so guess what other child with the last name Murphy is going? 

KATE!!!

I am so thrilled for her. She asked about it last night and she even cried a little (they give drills and yell a lot at you) because she was afraid of that. Both kids will be getting up at 6am, running 2 miles, doing push-ups, etc. They will also get to see ground zero of Flight 93, a SWAT team, helicopters, a drug dog sniffing, conduct a forensic investigation, gain CPR certification,  and do the repel wall, zip line and ropes courses at Outdoor Odyssey.

So, if you are free the week of July 25th - 31st...so am I. I don't know what I will do!? I know I have to clean, maybe clean out that extra room and create that library I always wanted. Exercise. Clean my office at work. exercise, clean out clothes that don't fit, exercise, afternoon matinees, exercise.

Make a great dinner for when they come home, exercise.

Watch a lot of 24 reruns too!! exercise

Dinner with friends?!? So many things to do. exercise

I will miss them horribly, terribly, miserably...but I am so proud of what they will be doing.

call me!

Some Easter Pictures

The kids and me with my Dad. he is actually taller, just being silly!

Kate, my Dad, my brother Matt and Jack

 Matt and his fiance, Jill. They are stunning and wonderful and so great with my kids.

Aunt Margaret, My mom, Me, Jill, Jill's mom Barbara, Jill's sister-Heather and my Kate!

Forsythia in the backyard in Riverhead, NY.

Great Friends

What is it about your friends from college that makes them so special? One of my dear friends was passing through on her way from visiting Catholic University with her daughter, and we met up with her at McDonald's in Somerset.

WHAT A GREAT 2 HOURS! Just talk and laugh and encouragement and getting connected again. So much fun and the best part..

I have been trying to get Jack to go to Camp Cadet and I get "the look". When we were talking last night, all Cooch ( official name: Laura Cuchinello-she like a calmer version of Jerseyshore) had to say was "what a great opportunity, you should go!" On the way home, Jack said,"you know, maybe I will go to Camp Cadet, Stew, David and Steven are going, it should be OK"

YES! The power of a Great Friend!!!