European Life

It's the everyday things that make living life in Europe the weird and wondrous thing that it is. Here in Italy we bag our own groceries and pay for our plastic bags, 5p each. We also pay a 1-euro fee to use the shopping cart. This is to ensure that we won't run off with it but that has spurned a whole beggars community wanting to take your cart back to get your euro, which can be disturbing while you are putting your groceries in the car. Also I have to make sure I get to the grocery store or butchers before lunch time because everything closes in the middle of the day for about 3 hours.
So today I went to the grocery store before noon, paid for cart, and after getting my groceries, paid for my bags and then I will recycle them the next time I can make it to the store before noon. And that's today's weird and wondrous thing about living in Europe!

On an Evening in Roma

I have lived in Italy for almost one year now and I have learned many things about Italian people. One thing I have learned that is quite different from Americans in general is that Italians are not shy, at all, about showing love and affection in public. At any age. At any time. At any place. It's never uncool for young or old to walk hand in hand or to declare love in front of all your friends. Most of the graffiti around the city is "Te Amo Amore" or " Francesca e Sempre". Public displays of affection are never met with, "Hay! Get a room!" And the radio is full of love songs.

Down each avenue or via, street or strataYou can see 'em disappearing two by two

On an evening in Roma

Do they take 'em for espressoYeah, I guess so

On each lover's arm a girl I wish I knew

On an evning in Roma

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PIER!!! Tanti Auguri!

Baci Baci!

Big Ups!

Have you seen the new look of my shop? Well, if you haven't, you should! The very talented computer skills of Anaderoux have given my shop a whole new look! She is a Texas girl, who has an Etsy shop where she makes custom innovations, stationary, and banners and gadgets for your blog and Etsy store. Visit her shop here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5808108

Here is a sample of her work taken from her shop:

So Big Ups to Anaderoux and a thank you for all the work she did, I love it!!

Great Door Series

Continuing my series great wood doors Piedmont, here is door #2 from Chieri. Dark and gothic and Yes! Somebody lives here.

You're Invited!

I love a good Halloween Party. Hosted by A Fanciful Twist. See her blog for all the juicy details!! http://afancifultwist.typepad.com/a_fanciful_twist/
See you there!

It's Time For...

...This weekend at the Marketini!! The markets come out full force now that it is fall and everyone is out in their best Sunday outfits, walking their dogs, and shopping at the market. I, however, am the only one walking around with a coffee in hand because Italians don't carry their coffees outside, that would be absurd! Check out my favorites:

How Did Etsy Get it's Name?

Every wonder how Etsy go its name? Well, wonder no more! Rob himself (Etsy pioneer) had said in an interview that it came from this 1963 Fellini movie 8 1/2: "Asa Nisi Masa" Nisi=Etsy. I know it's a bit of a stretch but inspiration does come from the strangest places. But not at all strange that it came from an Italian..hehe...

On another Etsy note I thought I would share with you what was my fastest selling item (also something Italian). This purple closhe hat sold in under 30 minutes. Was it the item? Was it the pictures? Was it the color? You decide. (I'm just grateful)

Go'en to the Villa and We're, Gona get Marr-ar-ar-ied...

Well, not me but wouldn’t this be a nice place to get married?! I'm not hinting, I'm just say'en. It's called Villa Durazzo and it is directly on the seaside in Santa Margarita. It's open to the public because it is owned by the city and there was a wedding taking place when we walked by and it was so beautiful. A park full of fountains and statues surrounds it. I’m just saying, with no pressure or agenda, it's just a really nice place for a wedding...really nice...like perfect...

100 Hearts!

I have been looking forward to this day since I opened my shop. My shop has just acquired 100 hearts! You Etsyians know what that means to a girl but for all you who are not familiar with the inner workings of the Etsy heart program, I shall explain. When a fellow shop owner or buyer really digs your stuff, they add you to their personal list of favorites. It's a complement and often equals sales either now or in the future. It's called "hearting". I have hearted many shops myself and often check back with them to see what's new. Unless a person has blocked their list private, anyone can see an Etsyians list of favorites. Feel free to check out mine by clicking on my shop and then clicking in "Favorites". You can also see who hearts me by clicking on "See who hearts this shop".

Lucky Me!

Lucky for me the largest marketini in all of Italy was in my backyard this weekend. Only a few miles away in Cherasco. 600 venders and I tried to shop each and every one of them. Unfortunately Pier gave me a time limit of 3 hours. Of course in typical Italian style there was no parking lot for the 100's of shoppers but my mother taught me well so I made sure we went early to find a good spot. It's a famous market so naturally the BBC was there filming a travel show, and I got a few pics...

Fire Update: Moncalieri Castle

Recently I posted about the Moncalieri Castle having had a fire. Pier and I actually watched the fire department put out the fire at the 12th century castle, which is being used as a military base. But now the reconstruction has begun and here is a photo of its progress.

And just for fun, here is the Wikipedia entry on the castle's history:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moncalieri

Kids These Days

This is what happens when artists design a kids park in Italy. Too cool!

Etsy Commercial

Are you on Etsy? You should be!

D&G at the P

Because I know you are just dying to see it, here is the fall window of the Dolce and Gabnana store in Portofino (or D&G if you are in the know). It's plaid maxi dresses and patent leather clutches for everyone!

Back to the Market!

The markets are back! After taking August off because it's just so darn hot, the local markitini is back. Yeah! Here are some of the great finds from this weekend.

You Like Me, You Really Like Me!

If you know Etsy, then you know that it is impossible to get a treasury. Ok not impossible but a special treat for sure. A treasury is a grouping of favorites that a fellow Etsysian makes with a common theme. Themes like fall, purple, travel, cooking, kids, rainbows, felt, etc etc. Many treasuries make the front page. If you are lucky yours will make the front page and then everyone will see your goods! Today I made my first treasury. It was put togather by my new friend Elsiee. She has an Etsy jewlery shop. See it here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5346869

She included one of my photographs and you can see her treasury here:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=24094
The more comments we get the more likely we might make the front page. (You know what you have to do lili81).
I'm so grateful to be included that I just have to say: "I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you really like me!". HeHe!

Who Me? I Never Win Anything!

I have recently discovered Auction Wally. Besides having a successful Ebay store, Etsy shop,and auction and appraisal business, he also has an internet radio show called "The AuctionWally Show" on Blog Talk Radio. I started listening for tips on Etsy selling. Check it out here:

http://auctionwally.blogspot.com/

Wally ends every show with a trivia question contest that comes with a prize and everything. Last night I won! He says my name in the last 10 seconds of the show. (Show #27) The question was: How old must an item be before it can be called an antique? Do you know the answer?

On another note...

<-- This is what my new business cards will look like.