Hudson_Hawk
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Who Italia-Come On Down, You''re the Next Contestant!
- Thread starter Hudson_Hawk
- Start date
Italiahaircolor
Ideal_Rock
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I found this thread on accident try to locate your wedding pictures...and I''m flattered. But, the problem is, I don''t know where to start or what to say. Who''s Who isn''t a place I normally visit, so I''m a bit lost.
However, I''m an open book...so anyone feel free to ask anything...I''m not shy
. In the meantime, I will try to gather my thoughts in a way that make sense.
Again, Hudson Hawk, thank you!
However, I''m an open book...so anyone feel free to ask anything...I''m not shy
Again, Hudson Hawk, thank you!
tigian
Ideal_Rock
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Italiahaircolor
Ideal_Rock
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Hi Iota!
Let''s see...what are my interests...
Well, I love to read. I have quite the collection, and I keep everything I read--and always have. I would happily read 2-3 books per week if I could, but due to my work schedule it''s more like 1 and 2 if I''m lucky. I recently bought a eReader...but if I really enjoy a book, I''ll still buy it a tactile form so I can shelf it and share it with others.
I spend a lot of time with my Chihuahua''s. I have 3...Chupacabra, Diesel, and Itsy-Bella. My boys, Chups and Big D are rescues. Itsy-Bella was from breeder, but only because I exhusted my rescue search, surprisingly very few chihuahua''s are in formal rescue--which is a good thing. Due to my great love for dogs in general, I try to stay active in Chihuahua rescue--and foster home on occassion if a pup needs a place to stay. I cry during every ASPCA commerical I''ve ever seen...so in general, when it comes to animals, I have a soft spot.
I love to travel. We usually take 2 to 3 good vacations a year. My favorite place in the world is Las Vegas...if I can go on a trip anywhere, I would choose Las Vegas. Something about the town, the pace, the places to go and things to do just totally sucks me in. I love to gamble, but only in Las Vegas. And I honestly do okay...for instance, our upcoming trip, it''s all comp''d as far as rooms go. I only play the slots...and have never played a table game in my life.
I like my "toys". This is something that my husband got me into and is now a shared interest. I like cars, boats, motorcycles, scooters....and I would have more if we had the room. Right now we have two cars (getting a 3rd), two motorcycles (one Harley and one sport bike), two scooters (his & hers), and a smaller sized boat that we have docked at a marina down town Chicago.
I enjoy going to movies. I''m a big movie buff. But, I like the silly, romantic and scary stuff. We have "Friday Night Date Night"...and we always go to the movies.
Oh! And I love antique shopping. I like to semi-restore things I find....a medicine cabinet here, a trunk there. I love paint, so naturally I paint everything. It''s like therapy for me....the sanding, polishing, priming, painting...and in the end, a really cool piece for my home. I get a thrill from that.
That''s all I''ve got right now....but feel free to ask more!
Italiahaircolor
Ideal_Rock
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Hi Tigian!Date: 7/17/2009 2:35:07 AM
Author: tigian
After reading your posts about your DH birthday surprise, I was wondering if you had a WW post. Glad to see one has just started. Hmmmm...some questions to start off..what is your average day like from morning to night? What is your favorite food? What do you cherish the most?
An average day....
I''m up at 4am. I take the dogs for a walk, shower, dress and hopefully walk out the door by 5:30a.
I drive into Chicago before rush hour, so it''s not so bad and am usually at my office by 7am. The hub of my company is East coast, so I need to be working when they are. Sometimes I do work from home, like today...but for the most part I like the face time with the other employees.
My busiest time is usually 7-9:30. I answer e-mails, touch base with my boss, set up my daily plan of attack and so on. From there on out, it''s a normal day--meetings with clients, product launches, sales, building the business. I try to post on PS during my "down time".
I try to leave the office by 5...that doesn''t always happen. I''m usually home by 6-6:30. I occassionally see my forever clients in the evening at a small salon suite I keep close to my home (less than 5 minutes away).
Once I''m home, the real work starts. I care for the dogs if Mark isn''t home yet, make dinner, try to get some school work done...
I do have three side jobs which I attempt to fulfill on my "off" time. I keep clients, like I said before...these are people whom I have seen since I started working. I also sub at a beauty school--teaching cosmetology. And, every couple of years I submit and publish a new "makeup" curriculum for a very well known beauty school--this is totally a labor of love for me.
I struggle with a life/work balance. It''s getting easier...I''m now working less than ever before...but sometimes I just need to shut off my computer and focus on my family...this was something for a long time I was horrible at doing...but in the last two years, since getting married, I''ve realligned my priorities. I really am passionate about what I do so I don''t mind the work...but I love my "life" more.
____
My favorite food.
I love fruit. I''m big into berries, and I''ll take em'' in whatever form they come...fresh, a smoothie....whatever. I make huge fruit salads and I''ll eat those for a couple of days nonstop.
____
What I cherish....
My relationships. That was easy. I value the people that fill my life more than anything else in the world.
My husband first and foremost is the best man I know. He''s loving and generous and kind and I''m lucky...my marriage is and always will be my first priority.
Second only to Mark is my family. I still live less than 30 minute from my grandmother and my parents. We do big holidays, and Sunday''s dinners...we''re a very close family and I count that amoung my blessings.
Third, my friendships. My friends are family to me, and I would do whatever I could for them--and I know the same is true in reverse. Most of my friends have been in my life since I was little girl. I consider myself lucky to be surrounded by good people with good hearts.
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Italia, have you always lived in Chicago/suburbs? I used to work in Darien and lived in Willowbrook for a few years. I did a lot of PR work there and in the surrounding areas for the company I worked for, and I have a lot of friends in your industry, so I wonder if our paths ever crossed?
Back to have you always lived there...did you grow up in Chicago? Any siblings?
Back to have you always lived there...did you grow up in Chicago? Any siblings?
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tigian
Ideal_Rock
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Hi Italia,
Wow! I can''t imagine waking up at 4am on a regular basis. I only wake up that early for a flight or if my DH begs me to go fishing with him, which isn''t too often.
I''m so happy for you that you have found the love of your life. I think it is wonderful when two people can balance eachother out. I''ve seen changes in myself which I can only attribute to my marriage as well in terms of priorities and attitude. I hear you when you say the real work starts when you get home. I''m the same way and I just wonder what the heck it will be like when my DH and I have kids. We love dogs and have two 2-year old pups. I cry at ASPCA commercials as well.
Are you and Mark planning on having children? (I apologize if that is too personal. If so, ignore the questions)
What kind of speed bike do you guys have? Do you ride on your own?
Do you have any new foundation recommendations? I like the consistency of T. LeClerc foundation but the color match is a bit too pink for me and I after about 4 years of searching, I still haven''t found anything that I like as much. (just thought I would ask our PS "beauty expert."
Love reading about you!
Wow! I can''t imagine waking up at 4am on a regular basis. I only wake up that early for a flight or if my DH begs me to go fishing with him, which isn''t too often.
I''m so happy for you that you have found the love of your life. I think it is wonderful when two people can balance eachother out. I''ve seen changes in myself which I can only attribute to my marriage as well in terms of priorities and attitude. I hear you when you say the real work starts when you get home. I''m the same way and I just wonder what the heck it will be like when my DH and I have kids. We love dogs and have two 2-year old pups. I cry at ASPCA commercials as well.
Are you and Mark planning on having children? (I apologize if that is too personal. If so, ignore the questions)
What kind of speed bike do you guys have? Do you ride on your own?
Do you have any new foundation recommendations? I like the consistency of T. LeClerc foundation but the color match is a bit too pink for me and I after about 4 years of searching, I still haven''t found anything that I like as much. (just thought I would ask our PS "beauty expert."
Love reading about you!
trillionaire
Ideal_Rock
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Italiahaircolor
Ideal_Rock
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Hi Monarch!
Yes, I have always lived in the area. Born and raised in Naperville. My GGMA lived in Darien, so I''m really familiar with that area.
I am one of four girls. My father was married before and had two daughters, H & Amy. Amy died at three in a house fire along with her Grandmother (my dad''s ex wife''s mom)...the furnace exploded and she was killed instantly. I posted before about my relationship with H in LuckyStar112''s thread about excommunicating family members. We haven''t spoken in nearly 4 years. I have younger sister M, she and I are extremely close and I adore her--very "big sister" of me.
It''s entirely possible that we may have crossed pathes. I got into the salon industry in 2002, so if you were working then in PR...it''s entirely possible.
Italiahaircolor
Ideal_Rock
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Hi MTG!
I am a director for a cosmetics company. My region is the entire midwest.
My husband is the VP of National Investigations for a large bank in the United States. Basically, if someone is looking to get a loan upwards of 10 million dollars, my husbands team sifts through their entire life to see if they are a "good" loan or not. It sounds boring, but it''s not...he has dipped into many very interesting people''s lives.
I am currently in school finishing a Human Services degree. Eventually, I''ll be a drug and alcohol counselor...my speciality will be working with women.
Italiahaircolor
Ideal_Rock
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Hi Trillionaire!Date: 7/17/2009 11:25:25 AM
Author: trillionaire
Italia,
What are your guilty pleasures?
Any favorite books that you highly recommend?
Also, what''s the secrets to winning on the slots???
My guilty pleasures...hmmm...probably my purse collection. I only use purses for a max of 2 months before I stuff them and shelve them. I spend a fortune on them and I buy often. Last time I counted I have 20 designer bags--all bought at full retail, reaching upwards of 15k total. I just don''t have a gag-reflex when it comes to spoiling myself.
Favorite books...there is a lot!
My all time favorite is probably The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb...who also happens to be my favorite author. This novel really moved me...it was such a rich story...the characters were so believable, you loved some and hated others. It was a great read, it made me think.
I adore the Twilight saga...and have re-read them.
I like Gillian Flynn, a Chicago author who writes really scary macabe stuff. Her two books...Sharp Objects and Dark Places were fantastic. They aren''t cheesy, silly scary...they are like "whoa, wow" scary. I recommend these to any horror buff looking to get the job done.
I''m always up for a good Jennifer Wiener book and am looking forward to her new release later this month.
I dig James Patterson for a good edge-of-my-seat suspense read.
____
As far as the slots go....
You need to be willing to gamble, just because you aren''t playing a table game doesn''t mean you don''t have to bet big. I play $1.00 slots and bet max...this means I''m eligiable for the bonus, which is where you win the money.
I play progressive slots, community game and Wheel Of Fortune is a big earner!
packrat
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Dreamgirl
Ideal_Rock
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Italia- I''ve always loved your company in the various threads and enjoy reading your posts. I sure hope you don''t think I''m upset with you or anything like that from many many topics ago! (because I''m not) I really like you as a PS''er and the things you have to say!
So on that note here''s a question for you...where did you come up with your "PS alias" ? I''ve always found it very interesting and was just curious!
I''m a HUGE dog lover and I think it''s pretty cool that 2 of your little pups are rescues! Props to you for that!
So on that note here''s a question for you...where did you come up with your "PS alias" ? I''ve always found it very interesting and was just curious!
I''m a HUGE dog lover and I think it''s pretty cool that 2 of your little pups are rescues! Props to you for that!
Italiahaircolor
Ideal_Rock
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Marriage does change everything!Date: 7/17/2009 10:37:41 AM
Author: tigian
Hi Italia,
Wow! I can''t imagine waking up at 4am on a regular basis. I only wake up that early for a flight or if my DH begs me to go fishing with him, which isn''t too often.
I''m so happy for you that you have found the love of your life. I think it is wonderful when two people can balance eachother out. I''ve seen changes in myself which I can only attribute to my marriage as well in terms of priorities and attitude. I hear you when you say the real work starts when you get home. I''m the same way and I just wonder what the heck it will be like when my DH and I have kids. We love dogs and have two 2-year old pups. I cry at ASPCA commercials as well.
Are you and Mark planning on having children? (I apologize if that is too personal. If so, ignore the questions)
What kind of speed bike do you guys have? Do you ride on your own?
Do you have any new foundation recommendations? I like the consistency of T. LeClerc foundation but the color match is a bit too pink for me and I after about 4 years of searching, I still haven''t found anything that I like as much. (just thought I would ask our PS ''beauty expert.''
Love reading about you!
As far as the babies go, no, that''s not to personal. Mark and I want children in the worst way, we''re not childless by choice. But it''s been hard. We''ve had 4 miscarriages. It just isn''t working. Right now I''m emotionally drained trying and failing. I think that''s a pretty common feeling I believe. I cannot even bring myself to go into the TTC thread. I cry just going there in my head. On my low days, I feel like on the most basic level I''m a failure. On my high days, I''m still hopeful. Mostly I''m in between...I tetter a fine line.
We''ve spent the last 2 years really getting the facts together on infertility, I''m not a canidate for somethings and other things have failed us. Right now we''re seriously considering adoption, its a new door we''re opening...we''ve hired an attorney, done the home visits, and submitted our look book. I haven''t talked about it on the site because I fear getting myself overly excited--we may never chosen. But life is full of chances...and I would love nothing more than to be mom...so until I can''t, I can''t give up.
____
Speed bike...we have a Kawasaki (sp?) Ninja. I gave it to Mark as a wedding gift. I don''t personally ride...I''m to short, and to scared. But I do ride scooter, and that''s thrill enough.
____
Foundations are tricky. I personally never, never, never wear any--I don''t even own one. Most woman don''t need foundation, many can get away with a tinted moisturizer and creme bronzer. A little concealor on an "as needed" basis.
Right now the tread in cosmetics is being a minimalist. Seeing natural skin is beautiful. Even if you look at red carpet shots, you''re seeing freckles and a dewy glow.
If you can get away without a foundation, do it. You won''t be sorry!
Italiahaircolor
Ideal_Rock
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Are you reading Swimsuit? I am. It''s really good, better than I would have thought since his last Alex Cross book was a bust.
Gillian Flynn''s books are fanastic. I loved Dark Places...it was fantastic. It is based loosely, I believe, on the Ketty Cabin Murders (also made into the movie The Strangers). Great read. I also read her first novel Sharp Objects...it good, but got even better near the end!
Another good scary book, is Heart Shaped Box...I don''t remember the author (read it around Halloween last year)...but it won the Edgar Allen Poe award, and deserved it! Very, very intense
Italiahaircolor
Ideal_Rock
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packrat
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Those books sound sooo good! I''ll probably not be able to sleep for a week, but I can''t help myself!
I''m in the middle of Run For Your Life, the 2nd Michael Bennett book. The most recent Cross book I read was Double Cross. I see there''s a new one, Cross Country-is that the one that was a bust?
Italiahaircolor
Ideal_Rock
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Haven
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Italia--Jennifer Weiner is going to be in Lincolnshire at my alma Mater this Monday from 7 to 9. I''m going with my mom and a bunch of her friends.
If you''re interested, there''s more info here.
I know it''s an hour from Naperville, but I figured I''d post it in case you were interested.
I love meeting writers!
I''m so glad you have a WW thread, I always love reading your posts. I''m going to go back and read the rest of the thread now . . .
packrat
Super_Ideal_Rock
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Italia, we either have crossed paths or we know some of the same people. One of my very good girl friends manages Jeffrey LaMorte, she''s usually at the Orland Park location but rotates between there and Lemont and Frankfort. She was at Texas in Willowbrook prior to that.
I know you don''t love colored stones, but there is a new jeweler in Oakbrook at the newest shopping center across from Champs/PF Changs/etc., it''s Anna Marek Fine Jewelry. I believe her store manager used to work for Van Cleef & Arpels in NYC, I''ve met her and she''s super nice. Sometime when you get a minute or are in the Oakbrook area you should stop in and see what she has, I hear good things but left the area before she opened. I think the owner''s name is Barbara.
You''ve probably posted this before, but if you did I don''t remember...how did you and Mark meet? High school or college sweethearts? Or did you meet through friends? I always love to hear how people met.
I know you don''t love colored stones, but there is a new jeweler in Oakbrook at the newest shopping center across from Champs/PF Changs/etc., it''s Anna Marek Fine Jewelry. I believe her store manager used to work for Van Cleef & Arpels in NYC, I''ve met her and she''s super nice. Sometime when you get a minute or are in the Oakbrook area you should stop in and see what she has, I hear good things but left the area before she opened. I think the owner''s name is Barbara.
You''ve probably posted this before, but if you did I don''t remember...how did you and Mark meet? High school or college sweethearts? Or did you meet through friends? I always love to hear how people met.
Italiahaircolor
Ideal_Rock
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Okay...I''m actually not familiar with Jeffery LaMorte. I did, however, work for Mario Tricoci which I''m sure you''ve heard of. That is where I got my start and most of my on-the-floor training.
I am not a huge lover of colored stones, but coming so highly recommended, I will pop in. I know exactly where she is located...there is a huge sporting good store, Weber Grill and another fantastic mexican place in the same plaza.
I actually met Mark online.
I was never the type to "date" a lot anyway, and when I starting my career I didn''t have a lot of time to date even if I wanted too. I went on a few not-so-great dates, and realized I was completely wasting my time. However, I''d been pretty messed up due impart to two really bad relationships...so even online dating was just a fluke and I didn''t take it very seriously.
I did the whole eHarmony thing...filled out my forms and it actually came back that I had no matches at all. I was totally "WTF"...how could I have no matches?! But I pressed on...did another popular site, and Mark was my first match.
We did the phone-date thing...chatted, got our feet wet...and eventually met for coffee...and the rest, as they say, is history!
Hudson_Hawk
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OUpearlgirl
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jcrow
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SarahLovesJS
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Haven
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Italiahaircolor
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I don''t have any pictures on my computer...but I will snap some tonight (after my cleaning lady leaves!)
My home is a three story row-home. It''s classified as a condo, but with the attached garage in the back. It''s not glam, or huge or incredible like some of the homes here are...it''s small and we''re always talking about moving up for more space. Right before the market crashed, we decided to redo our home with the hopes of selling it once we finished--unfortunately, as we got started, things bottomed out in the real estate market. We haven''t know what to expect from home values, so we''re staying put for now--we don''t need more, although it would be nice to have more...it''s just not smart to sell right now after putting in the money we did--we''d never get it back. We''re actually fighting a losing battle to steady the price of our home...we live in a really "old" area so to speak, its a historic district with great schools, wonderful ammenities, so because of our location in the row homes coupled with the affordable price, we have always had a younger crowd who want to live here but cannot afford the million dollar plus single family home...unfortunately, from what we''ve seen, some of our neighbors got caught in the mortage bubble--and we have a huge forclosure rate in our small developement. That hurts.
My decorating style is really contemporary...I love rich textures and mellow colors that minic nature. When I was working with my decorator redoing our home, I told her I wanted my home to be done in the colors you''d find on a beach...creams, sandy browns, cool greens, yellow-greens, blues, chocolate browns, tans, and taupe, and of course white. I wanted to evoke the feeling of peace and comfort and relaxation without doing a straight-up beach house.
I have very little carpet in my home...just our two bedrooms and stairs, it is very textured and the color of sand. The hub of our flooring is a handscrapped chocolate brown re-purposed wood in very wide planks. My bathrooms and walk-out basement are in tumbled travertine marble. My eat-in kitchen has granite counters and full backsplash and cream glazed cabinets--its a very traditional with the maple cabinets, yet contemporary with the loads of stone--even our sink is a chocolate granite composit. All of our hardwear throughout the house is oil-rubbed bronze...I love consistancy in metals. We have "beachy" doors that are custom with tons trim work. I have thick white baseboards...we''re still finishing trim work...I''m adding a coffered ceiling in my family room...and thick crown through the home. I turned my formal "dining room" in a comfortable sitting area with matching sail cloth covered chairs, espresso brown book shelves, double fans, and an antique tiered table. All in all, we created a home for the way we live...we have no formal spaces...it''s all really comfortable and casual with interesting touches.
As far as my general style decorating style...most of my furnishing are from Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardwear and Target. I find those stores often fit my needs best.
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