Monday Morning Remembrance

Morning Friends! Usually I reserve CreateGirl for all design business but there are times like today where I just feel the need to show off someone special to me.

 Not only my Gram but my friend and wine tasting partner!

You see, one year ago today I lost one of the most important people in my life, my beloved Grandmother. If you knew Frances Maravigna Covino you would know that she was up for any adventure! She traveled around the world, volunteered her time endlessly and was up for just about anything! If she was in the city and saw you with a map in your hand she would immediately walk up to you, ask if you needed help and most often invite you over for dinner. Growing up these dinners expanded our knowledge of different cultures and shaped up to be much more open minded people!

On her 90th birthday her wish was to take all of her children and grandchildren to Las Vegas, a place she had never been to. This is Gram above with one of my cousins at midnight making a last run through the casino!

She died at 92 and up to the very end she was the one coordinating trips for her friends. Often she would say daily exercise, reading and being social was what kept you young! Of course since she was a Sicilian lady a Mediterranean diet was also what kept your energy level up!

Today take the time to give someone you love a "hello call" just for a moment. I promise it will be something that will brighten both of your days.

xo jul

(images property of Jace Interiors please do not duplicate)

Running off to Vegas

I apologize in advance but posts will be light this week as I am off to Las Vegas. The entire family is going out there to celebrate Gram's 90th birthday! Vegas was here choice and all 25 of us are excited to spend some time together. I am especially looking forward to good food, shopping and HOT weather by the pool. Hopefully I will have some new home decor finds and great house pics to share when I return! Check back in next week when I will officially launch CreateGirl for everyone to see.
Enjoy the week!

(image from HGTV)

When 90 feels like 75!

Gram and I acting silly a few years ago

Today is a very special day! My Beloved "Gram" turns the big 9 0!! It's hard to believe she is 90 because to be honest, she doesn't act like it. Its a family joke that she runs circles (actually she does aerobics 3 times a week) around all of us. Which is the truth, her social calendar is booked weeks in advance, she is always going to the movies with her friends, taking a trip to Foxwoods or volunteering at the church or the rehab center. She is one of the most giving people I know. My love of the city started when my Gram would take me into "town", to the Italian part of Boston known as the North End. When her family came from Sicily, the North End is where they settled and started the first Macaroni Factory. Hearing all of the stories of the factory and running a business helped me start my own company. People always say you are so courageous to have a company and I just say it's in my blood! Gram is an amazing woman who, if she saw you on the street with a map would stop, ask where you were headed, give you directions and than invite you over for dinner. You had a lifelong friend in her after this meeting! She is proof age is really just a number...she says she feels like 75 after all!
So here's to my Gram, happy happy birthday I hope you are always as healthy, happy and energetic as you are today!

a picture of Gram and her sisters in 1928 (she is the adorable girl on the right)

(all images from my personal collection)