20 questions with JPT, Founder

1) When is your birthday?

August 25th…I’m a Virgo, but on the Leo cusp so I have lots of qualities from both signs.

2) What is your favorite animal?

I love all animals, but my favorites are my Miniature Australian Shepherd, Tucker and my Silkie chickens, Blanche, Sophia and Dorothy.

3) What did you study in school?

I did my undergraduate degree in biology, I wanted to be a veterinarian…then I went for a master’s degree in art and ended up going for a second master’s degree in art education.

4) If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

England or Italy…I love both places so much. I have great memories of being in London with my two sisters, walking around the city before anyone was awake, it was magical and I LOVE British history. I also adore Italy, I am 100% Italian and find everything in Italy to be so beautiful, the language, culture, architecture and of course the food and drink!

5) What was your favorite school subject?

Art! I had the best teachers and I love being able to express myself creatively. I also taught high school sculpture and ceramics for a short time.

6) Do you have a big or small family?

I currently live with my son and husband, so my very immediate family is small. But, I was lucky to grow up with two sisters, both parents and a really large extended family, I have 20 first cousins! Once I got married, I inherited 3 more siblings, who I adore, along with their spouses. So I guess you can say overall it’s pretty big! 

7) What songs can we find on your Spotify?

This is hard to admit…but I still have free Pandora with the ads on my phone! As for stations, they are pretty diverse, my most recently played are Billie Eilish Radio, Jack’s Mannequin Radio and Nicki Minaj Radio.

8) How do you like to spend your free time?

I love hanging out with my family. My happiest times are sitting around a dinner table with everyone eating, drinking wine and chatting.

9) Are you a morning or a night person?

NIGHT! I’m basically nocturnal, but I’m coming around to the idea of mornings now that I have a child and sleeping in is no longer an option.

10) What is your favorite food?

Pizza! Any type, any/all toppings… I’ll take it all!

11) What is your favorite movie or TV show?

I love period dramas, Downtown Abby, The White Queen, White Princess, The Tudors, Poldark, Outlander, etc.… I was also a big Game of Thrones fan (Woohoo Arya! I love a badass female!).

12) What is your favorite childhood memory?

Christmas Eve…every year my grandparents and aunt would host a huge party. It was so fun spending time with all of my cousins. The fire department would stop by with “Santa” and we would eat, catch up and hang out. It was great being together!

13) Who is your celebrity crush?

RIP Paul Walker, he will forever have my heart…but now that he is no longer of this earth, Henry Cavill. For the longest time I thought he was a no name actor that played a supporting role in the show, The Tudors. When I asked my sister if she knew who he was, she looked at me like I had 100 heads and said, “umm, you know he is super famous and plays Superman!” I did not, but I do now!

14) Do you speak more than one language?

No :( I don't have an ear for language…I took Italian in school for so many years. I will dive back into lessons one of these days.

15) What is your biggest pet peeve?

When people are unkind to strangers. It infuriates me!!!

16) What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween/All Souls Day/Samhain & Dia de los Muertos- I seriously love it all!! I love the idea that the veil between the living and dead is thinnest, visits from ancestors who have passed on, wearing costumes to ward off ghosts. In fact I love it so much, I used to lead a haunted historical pub crawl around Manhattan for my friends and family every year.

17) Where did you grow up?

Manhasset, it’s a small town on Long Island in New York.

18) What is a skill that you would like to learn?

I’d love to learn Italian or Spanish, maybe both! I love when people are multi-lingual.

19) What do you value most in a friend?

I am SO lucky to have amazing friends, and I value ALL of their qualities. They are fun, funny, kind, honest, loyal and encouraging. I love that they are so supportive, and we have the best time when we are together.

20) Name two things that you always have with you.

Water and my Da Madre Terra 2 in 1 Necklace- I wear it in clear quartz and labradorite and if its not being worn as a necklace, its doubled around my wrist!