1000 Pillows

This beautiful fabric pillow is 16×16 in size and made from 35% cotton and 65% polyester and has a zipper for easy removal. The cost is $25 and fifty percent of all sales will be donated to the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation in loving memory of my brother Americo Palladino. The goal is to raise $2900.

The Love story continues… I absolutely, unequivocally hate to fly. I know it’s one of the safest ways to travel, but I just can’t get myself to calm down while on a plane. As the Southwest flight sat on the runway at LAX to prepare for take-off all I could do was pray. I could not believe that three weeks had past and I was on my way back home to Chicago.

The captain’s voice crackling in and out on the speakers announced that we were preparing for takeoff. As the plane started to pull away from the gate I quietly began chanting, “Find a happy place… Find a happy place.” I wish there was a shot for this kind of thing. Something that you sign up for in advance so that when you get on the plane a flight attendant injects you with a happy serum; you pass out, and then wake up at your destination. No feeling of jumping out of your skin from fear, stomach acid from nervousness or needing a barf bag. “Fasten your seatbelts folks cuz here we go!” said the captain. I looked over to the right of me for moral support, but the woman sitting next to me was already snoring. “Really,” I need to be on whatever she is on. No luck to the left of me because the ipod and ear phones were plugged into said human. “Ugh!, how do people do this on a regular basis?” Read more»

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This 100 % cotton fabric pillow is 16×16 in size and has a zipper for easy removal. Fifty percent of all sales will be donated to the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation in loving memory of my brother Americo Palladino. The goal is to raise $2900.

The Love Story Continues…Friday: Have you ever eaten so much that your stomach looks like it is three months pregnant? I stood in Joel’s bathroom and was caught off guard by how huge my belly looked this morning. I was bloated from days of feasting and I had yet another dinner planned for this evening that included John. I had to get over this quickly so that I could fit into my cute dress. This Girl was in need of a remedy STAT!

I quickly bolted to Joel’s kitchen to whip together an old family remedy to get myself back to normal. I took a lemon, boiled some water, found some honey, a little cayenne pepper and some fresh ginger….Mixed them all together to make the perfect witches brew. For as much as I love to eat, I have always had an unhappy stomach and digestive tract so my mom used to come up with concoctions that she would get from health books to ease my pains. Down the hatch! Read more»

To all of you who have supported this blog, I wanted to let you know that John and I have decided not to wait any longer or do a super expensive wedding. My grandmother’s health is fading and I really want her to be a part of our day so we decided to get Married over the Thanksgiving Holiday in Chicago. We are going to have a small ceremony of just close family and friends and a dinner party.

Many of you have written to me to ask that I continue the love story so I will. I have a lot of planning to do in the next few weeks so I will not update the love story until after the wedding.

1000pillows will take a new turn starting December. It will be the story of our love and I can’t wait to continue telling it.

Love,
Frances & John

I recently discovered a fabulous place called Melange Apothecary in Sherman Oaks a few weekends ago with John. We walked in and I immediately fell in love with the intimate fragrance that invites you into the the shop.
John and I spent an hour customizing a perfect blend of eau de parfum made with hints of chocolate and fig. The owner blended my choices and guided John through the process of what additional scents she could add to make the perfume tantalizing to his senses. I loved discovering what peeked John’s interest.

I highly recommend spending some time with the man in your life in a place like Melange Apothecary to learn what scent makes you irresistible to him.

The convenient roll-on applicator delivers the perfect dose of fragrance and is great to carry in your purse or pocket. The budget friendly price of $18 for a scent that is customized to make your man go crazy for you, is well worth the price!

This 100 % cotton fabric pillow is 16×16 in size and has a zipper for easy removal. The donation for the pillow is $25. Thank you for supporting our wedding dream!

Love Story continues…Life always seems to have its own plan for me. There is constantly a struggle when it comes to control. Some people know exactly what they are doing and when, while others get a clue along the way. I knew what I wanted to accomplish and what I needed to be responsible for in life, but it forever seems to have a bit of a different plan for Me! Instinct can only take one so far. I am learning that it is necessary to just let go.

Coming to Los Angeles may have been a test run for Boston. Boston would bring me relief or challenge my ability to accept some of the things that have happened in my life. To understand solace. Being alone, as I have mentioned before, was never needed or possible. I didn’t know how to be still, much less far from home. My Home… Alone…Quiet. I didn’t know what those words meant after so many years of being surrounded by people. Too many people. Too much of what everyone else always wanted but not enough time for me to decide what my favorite drink was or what Chicken Tika Masala was, or Pho, or real French Onion soup! Read more»

My mom and nephew are in town for three weeks so I will be taking a break from making pillows while they are visiting. However, I am on the hunt for some good fabric deals so if you know of any please let me know.

This cotton fabric pillow is 16×16 in size and has a zipper for easy removal. The donation for the pillow is $25. Thank you for supporting our wedding dream!

The Love story continues… The hazard of sleeping in random places is waking up and not remembering where you are. I had slept in a half a dozen places in the last two weeks so when I woke up on Joel’s couch, it took me a moment to remember where I was. Teddy had ended up on the floor facing me with his cute little perma-smile. Joel and I had worked hard over the last few weeks and this was the first morning we were able to sleep in. Read more»

Here is another fun find for chocolate loving brides. If you haven’t noticed from reading this blog, I have a serious affection for sweets and when I found this recipe for chocolate marshmallow pillow cookies I could not resist and had to share! If you love S’mores here is a great alternative. No fire, no sticks, no mess. Round up your bridesmaids, a few good bottles of wine and bake the night away.

Wrap the chocolate marshmallow pillow cookies in any of these cute favor boxes and your wedding guests will leave with a wonderful taste in their mouths. Click here for the prize winning recipe.

This cotton fabric pillow is 16×16 in size and has a zipper for easy removal. The donation for the pillow is $25. Thank you for supporting our wedding dream!

Love story continues… Because I let go and just went with what the universe offered, I started a new journey. I had no intentions of doing anything, but visit a friend going back now three weeks ago. This day was the last day we would be spending in Northern California filming the golf and gourmet show for PBS. Everyone was wrapping up to head back to LA. Being a part of this film crew was a wonderful opportunity. Read more»

I went to Chicago this past week for my nephew’s eight grade graduation and while in town I visited some of my favorite haunts. One of which is m.henry.

My sister-in-law and I stopped by for Sunday Brunch and ordered the
Blackberry Bliss cakes. This dish is a must try. They are hot cakes layered with blackberries, vanilla and my favorite thing in the world…mascarpone! They also add a little bit of brown sugar and oat crusts to add an OMG factor. The wait is long on Sundays, but worth it!

For Chicago brides, m.henry would be a great place to have a bridal brunch! Berry Bliss equals Wedding Bliss!!