My Royal Halloween Party!

Welcome to Marie Antoinette's boudoir!

I'm getting ready for the party but there seems to be a little problem with my neck....

You have my permission to compliment the queen on her ability to "keep her head" whilst attending the party.

Must have more jewelry for my hair. More is more!

Forget cake, Let them eat cookies!

And by them I mean me.

I can't go to the guillotine with out proper ribbons to hold up my stockings!

Happy Halloween party goers!! Remember to keep your heads this holiday!!

*Thank you to Vanessa at http://afancifultwist.typepad.com/ for hosting another fabulous blog party, I look forward to it all year!!*

You Won't Believe What Was Out My Window Today!

I do not think it is a coincidence that the president of Italy decided to visit Torino on the same day that the 2010 Girls of Lavazza Calendar was released. To explain, I looked out my window this morning to find all the roads blocked off and police everywhere. A diplomatic car drove up to the theatre where 2 men jumped out and escorted the Italian president, Giorgio Napolitano, into the theatre for a morning showing of La Traviata. My little piazza was buzzing as the president stayed all day visiting the government offices and police headquarters (also in my piazza).

For reference here is a picture of the president:

AND Here is the closest I got to taking a picture of the president (Hint: He's the bald one) On the other side of the square the Lavazza coffee company was having a PR and paparazzi party to celebrate the release of the 2010 Lavazza Calendar. Coffee is sexy you know. This time I was able to get closer to the excitement.
Here are the models of the 2010 Lavazza Calendar. The guy in the middle is holding the official calendar which you have to buy to see, it's not even on the Internet...yet. (Also I heard one of the models speaking and she was American!). I never get tired of what is happening just outside my window. I never know what will be there tomorrow....

Another Great Weekend at the Market

Everyone was out at the markets this weekend. For those of you who ask me where I find the vintage goodies for my shop, it's at outdoor markets like these.

In Season: Porcini

Everybody's gone mushroom crazy around here because the Porcini's have arrived. This is how they are displayed at the market this week.

Porcini's are found wild around the forests of the Piedmont region. The mushrooms are so big and meaty there are so many things you can make with them. Try this recipie from Food and Wine Magazine for Porcini Mushroom Tartlets.

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/porcini-mushroom-tartlets

Weekend Market Finds

I'm back to cruising the weekend markets finding the oddities, interesting, the wacky and fun items Italy has to offer. Check out some of last weekends finds:

Don Bosco the Musical!

Don Bosco was a priest from Torino who took in homeless children who were unruly and disobedient children and made them into obedient and good children of God. There have been 2 movies made about his life and now a musical where Don Bosco is played by this guy:

Tickets are on sale now at Teatro Olympico....Maybe I ask for tickets for my birthday. I can't help this nagging feeling that this Don Bosco reminds me of someone..hummmm...

In Season: Pears

And that means delicious chocolate and pear tortes are in every window of the cafes. Here is one I spotted walking threw the Sunday markets.

I could just eat the whole thing myself. Feeling like you wish you could have a piece? Well, try this recipe from Godiva and you might feel like you were here too! Buon Appetito!

http://www.godiva.com/recipes/recipe_zoom.aspx?id=649

This is New

Bicycle taxis in Piazza San Carlo. Where would you go in one of these? Are they safe among the typical Italian drivers? How many people can they hold? Could you take one to prom? I might have to take one to answer these important questions. Inquiring minds want to know.

The Jonai Are Coming!

I thought that now that I'm back in Italy I might escape the invasion of the Jonas Brothers (Jonas's? Jonai?). It seemed that everywhere I went they were on my TV, on a t-shirt, on the radio, opening a wal-mart, etc. etc. But today I learned that there is no escape. Now I see that next month they will be here in Torino. They truly are taking over the world. Awesome.

It's Time It's Time!

To sign up for A Fanciful Twist's Halloween Party!!I can't wait, last year's was so much fun. This year my costume is going to be fabulous...and scary all at the same time! See you there!

A Fanciful Twist:http://afancifultwist.typepad.com/a_fanciful_twist/

TRL in Torino!

MTV is broadcasting Live in the piazza next door to my apartment building all this week. Total Request Live Italia is in Torino which means everyday after school there are a thousand screaming teenagers fainting and crying at whatever singer is entertaining us each day. Here are a few pictures of them setting up for today. Note the teens already waiting, probably skipping school as this was noon. I'm still on the look out for the Italian Carsen Daly.

State Fair

Last year I blogged about the Texas State Fair and all of it's fried bacon goodness. This year I went to the Utah State Fair. My mission is to go to every state's fair to eat the best foods on a stick, to find the best rides, and to, of course, see the world's smallest horse and mermaid woman. (I didn't make that up because those were at the Utah State Fair!). Anyways, check out all the fun I have, including the pie eating contest! (In case you are wondering, the pies were chocolate mouse and cream from Marie Calenders). Plus there were cowboys with cows real and mechanical!Now if only Ann Margret was at our State Fair instead of the Rogers and Hammerstein one...

**YEP, I SAID SALE**

***SALE***25% off EVERYTHING on my first page! Plus combined shipping deals! Convo me with the items you wish and I will take 25% off, reserve them for you and sweeten the shipping! Sale lasts threw Sunday, Sept. 20th only!!!
http://www.italianpostcards.etsy.com/

It's My Un-Birthday

So I'm almost finished with my visit home and will be headed back to my Italian life shortly but before I head out my Dad decided to celebrate my Un-Birthday today as I won't be here for my real birthday. So they asked me what cake I wanted and naturally I said pumpkin pie (a favorite I can not enjoy in Italy). So they put candles on a pie, made me some paper birthday hats to wear (which looked strangely Halloween related), and gave me a card. Now, it's the card all you bloggers and blog readers will enjoy, here it is:

Yes, I Said Deep Fried Butter Balls!

Unless you're Paula Deen, the current health food trend is to strive to a more organic and green lifestyle. We shop at Whole Foods buying products with names like "free range", "local", and "all natural" in the titles. But then there are those times when only the most greasiest, fattening, cholesterol ridden heart attack foods will do. That's where the State Fair comes in. Deep fried foods (usually on a stick) have always been on the menu at the Texas State Fair ever since the corn dog was invented there in 1942. Last year you might remember I posted a picture and review of last years fried food invention, Chicken Fried Bacon...if you don't remember that post, it was awesome! This year I don't know how they have come up with this but they have out done the bacon. This years tasty delicacy is Deep Fried Butter Balls!On a side political note, I think Texans should vote for the socialized health care. Just in case.

Please leave me a comment telling me what is your favorite worst food ever!

I Was Called A Fanatic and DJ's In PJ's

Once again, lucky me, I was invited to be a part of the Radio From Hell radio program on X96 in Salt Lake City. I listen to the program pretty regularly online in Italy and it keeps me abreast of the happenings from home. They are so open about inviting listeners to come by that when I'm in town I always try and stop by. This time it was Kerry' s (one of the 3 DJ's) birthday and they were having a pajama party. A local chef came by and made us Belgium waffles, presents were given, fun was had by all! Because it was my second time in the studio, I was called a fanatic fan, at least I wasn't called a stalker. Here are a few pictures of the festivities. Some of the pictures, well you might just have to be a regular listiner to get the jokes... The DJ's in their PJ's.

This is what the producer does.

Chef Bryan from Channel 2

Breakfast cupcakes with famous sign off

Kerry's dream...