When we were growing up we lived two streets over from our cousins, Tricia, Jennifer, Stephen and Colleen DeJohn.  We were always back and forth between houses and they were basically like our older siblings.  Though we don’t get to spend as much time with them these days as we’d like, we love them so much and are all still very close.  Today’s Coast to Coast post is a three-parter and we hope you enjoy it as much as we did.  Thanks cousins!!

From left to right: Stephen, Colleen, Tricia & Jennifer

Colleen:  What are you planning for Rocco’s birthday since he’s turning 10 (and entering double digits is a big deal)?

Tricia:  We are planning an extravaganza, of course! We usually do a joint birthday party with both of his families and invite everyone–his entire class and our neighbors and so many other friends. It is a zoo and quite a front-end production for me. I wanted to create something different this year. So, for his 10th, his other mom and I are taking Rocco and 3 friends to Great Wolf Lodge in Washington. It is an indoor water park and hotel and it looks like great fun. I always want to do a separate thing with him, too, so later in the summer I will take him and some kids and other adult friends and we will go to a Treesort! It is in southern Oregon and you actually sleep in tree houses. It’s very fun.

Colleen:  Do you guys have any trips planned in the coming months? If so, where, when, what, etc.?

Tricia:  Funny you should ask that. Just last night Janice was saying she really really wants to go on a trip. We discussed Las Vegas for 3 nights or a weeklong trip/cruise to Alaska. I am up for either one and we were thinking of planning it for July.

Colleen:  What are you most looking forward to now that the brutal winter is VERY SLOWLY starting to thaw?

Tricia:  Our winter in Eugene has been different from yours, to say the least. Let’s put it this way: every single day in February was blue skies, sunny and around 60 degrees, give or take a few. Bees were actually pollinating my camellia tree outside the kitchen window on January 30th. Even though this weather is gorgeous, it is also scary to think about how hot summer will be, or how hot 2025 will be, and how hot our Earth is getting…

Colleen:  What new recipes are you perfecting or sharing?

Tricia:  Oh boy, good question! I get a CSA box every couple of weeks so that drives a lot of my home cooking. I just made a delicious potato soup with lots of onion and cheese thrown in. For Easter at our neighbors house, I made a delicious roasted asparagus in walnut oil with garlic, parsley and fresh lemon squeezed (not ‘squoze’, side note) on top. YUM! My friends Cheryl and Ben and their kids are coming over for dinner this weekend and I am preparing a Moroccan feast! I will make Bisteya, plus a chickpea and sweet potato dish as well as a zucchini dish. Cheryl is bringing dessert. I am excited for it!

Colleen:  Have you been binge-watching House of Cards, Bloodline and Kimmy Schmidt (or any other Netflix series)? if so, what do you think?

Tricia:  House of Cards is so February 2015! Done. We are binge watching Inside Amy Schumer and she is hilarious! I’m kind of digging Backstrom on Hulu because it is odd and crime drama-y. Because Janice has never watched Entourage, I am re-watching that with her disc by disc and we are on season 3. It is one of my all time favorite shows and I cannot wait for the movie to come out.

PS I’ve never heard of Kimmy Schmidt or Bloodline. Should I?

Tricia: What is the very best thing about living near Mom and Dad as they age?

Jen:  I am happy that they are a part of my daily life. I feel fortunate to be able to help them now as they get older as they always helped us growing up.

Tricia: You’re a hometown girl and have lived in Cleveland almost all of all your life. If you ever think about living somewhere else, where would that be?

Jen: Definitely, in a warm climate near a beach! While I’ve not made it to Hawaii YET, I imagine that is a place I would be very happy!

Tricia:  What are you reading right now that is really stimulating?

Jen: Do People and US Magazine count? Just kidding! I’m currently reading The Girl on the Train for book club. It’s a New York Times Bestseller. I’m not very far but it’s getting rave reviews.

Tricia:  What feelings come up for you as our parents put the Nicholson house on the market?

Jen:  It’s interesting because when mom and dad first moved out of the Nicholson house, I was pretty sad. It was our childhood home and held so many wonderful memories. After most of their stuff was out, I went back in and everything but the basement was empty and I burst into tears. Lately, since we are finishing up cleaning out the basement, I feel like “get it done and over with.” This has taken so long and it has been frustrating at times. I do hope a young family buys it and finds as much happiness there as we did.

Tricia:  As a recent entrant into your 40s, what do you know about yourself that you did not know when you were in your 20s or 30s?

Jen:  Probably the biggest thing I learned about myself is that I actually really like alone time. I never thought I would as we were always surrounded by people growing up and I was reticent to live alone. Turns out, sometimes all the commotion is too much for me and I need to be alone and have quiet around me. I still LOVE all the get togethers and family time and fun but I also need a balance of alone time.

Jen: What surprises/fascinates/frustrates you about Cleveland since you moved back?

F:  Tell us about your next showing of The Disco Emporium? What are the deats?

L:  I’ll be selling at the Artists & Fleas market in Downtown LA on April 18th and 19th!  I also have a bunch of new pieces to be photographed and posted online.  You up for another photo session??

F:  Where is your favorite place to eat in Los Angeles thus far?

L:  Dune over by Teddy and Kelley’s is so delicious!

F:  Where is one place that you still would like to go in LA?

L:  I still haven’t been to the Griffith Observatory and feel like that needs to happen.  A visit to the Adamson House in Malibu that was recommended to us last weekend also looks worthwhile.  We should check it out while mom is here.

F:  What is one thing you miss about NYC?

L:  I miss my friends!

F:  Do you like DIY projects? If so, what is one that you would like to do? If not, what’s up with that?

L:  I want to think I like DIY projects but I’m usually deterred by having to gather all the necessary supplies.  That being said, I’ve always wanted to take up tiling.

Despite also being from Cleveland, I met sisters Annmarie and Natalie DiLillo years ago in NYC and we’ve been friends ever since.  Can I just tell you how fun these two are, and how much they love each other!  It’s the best.  (You might recognize Natalie as one of the faces of The Disco Emporium)

Since Farrell and I are now on the same coast, we’ve invited Natalie and Annmarie to do today’s Coast to Coast post.  Thanks so much, ladies!

Annmarie

N: After 8 years of living in New York City, you have relocated back to our hometown, Cleveland, OH. How’s that going for you?

A: It is great to be back home. I love that I get to see our family a lot more often and I don’t have to use public transportation.

N: Cleveland is said to be going through a renaissance, what are your thoughts on this?

A: I think that the Cleveland I left eight years ago is definitely not the Cleveland I came home to. I returned to a lot more high quality restaurants and a better nightlife.

N: How has your dog, Franklin, adjusted to mid-West livin’?

A: He loves it and he hates it. He loves the amount of space he has inside and outside. But he hated the snow and how cold it was this winter.

N: You’re getting married, how’s wedding planning?

A: Honestly, I have done nothing for the wedding except find a venue and pick a date. The whole thing seems kind of overwhelming at the moment.

N: Do you miss me?

A: YES! EVERYDAY! MOVE HOME NOW!

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Natalie

A: You went to Bali in October to get your yoga teacher training, how was that?

N: It was absolutely life changing! I have been practicing yoga since 2003 and becoming a teacher has been a dream for a while. The hardest part was to stop making excuses why it was not the right time and just do it. It’s so easy to convince ourselves why something isn’t logistically perfect when in reality we are just scared of diving in and making changes in our lives. I am so happy I finally did it! Bali is the Island of the Gods, and was a perfect setting for such intensely introspective work.

A: How is it having your boyfriend live in LA when you live in NYC?

N: To be frank, I had no interest in a relationship, especially one that would be long distance but when you meet someone who just fits you know longer have a choice; it happens. Lately, I have come to see that certain things seem to be beyond our control. (Smile).  He and I live alternative lifestyles that involve occupational and leisure travel, so we have made it work through random dates in several states, extended visits, texts and phone calls. It’s pretty new so it hasn’t worn on me yet but I sure do miss him on the daily.

A: Do you have any plans to move to LA or back to Ohio in the future?

N: Sister, you know me too well to ask such a question! I can’t even tell you where I’ll be this weekend with any certainty! But I do know LA and Ohio are in my future.  As permanent homes, hard to say, we will see. (Wink)

A: Are there any major differences living with our brother compared to living with me?

N: Haha, yes! You’d be horrified with the cleanliness of the apartment. When you lived here I could eat off the floor, with brother, the five second rule is not an option!

A: I know your boyfriend loves dogs, will you ever get a pet?

N: I have both a cat/dog allergy making full-time living with an animal quite challenging. Also, I travel too much to be a good canine mother. If my lifestyle changes to where I am in one place more consistently I would consider it. Maybe a monkey one day!