Christmas at the Flea Market, Italian Style

Despite the temperatures being below freezing, The marketini went on and so I went. After all, I am a professional. And there was plenty going on to put you in the holiday spirit.

Like roasted chestnut stands:

Evidence of Santa:

And little chocolate houses:

Merry Christmas From Prada

An invitation from Prada doesn't come in the mail everyday. Or so I thought. Apparently my mother-in-law gets them all the time. When this one came in the mail for a private shopping day I kept it to share with you. It is an invitation, personally addressed to her, printed in gold on a very thick and heavy piece of black snake skin textured board. Sent with a catalog full of the 2008 Prada Christmas accessory line. I felt a little special just holding it. Behold! This is what it looks like when you are on Prada's private mailing list.

Italian Take on the Election

...And I say THE election because all the world was watching. Everyday on the news RAI, BBC, etc. etc. was keeping a close eye on who would be the next President because it affects everyone. Pier kept the Torino La Stampa newspaper of the day after Obama won and as you can see, the headlines say the same thing that ours did, only in Italian. Small world.
The middle headline says it all, "America Changes Skin".

And Were Back...

Our triumphant return to Italy after a month of indulging in American gluttony of Halloween candy, Thanksgiving stuffing , holiday shopping, and catching up on hours and hours of much missed T.V., has brought back the reality of everyday responsibility. Now I'm looking forward to an big family Italian Christmas. My sense of travel and adventure is revitalized and ready to take on another year in the old country. On that note, here is the a photo of a typical December morning here in Torino, taken just this morning.

For My Birthday I...

Today is my 33rd birthday. 20 years ago for my 13th birthday I made my parents take me to the Ramses exhibition at the Dallas Museum. It sparked a lifetime passion for ancient civilizations. Today, the Dallas Museum is visited by Tutankhamen and I made my parents take me once again. This time the exhibit was full of treasures from King Tut's tomb. I could never choose my favorite thing but there was some amazing jewelry dripping with gold and semi precious stones that would make any girl fall in love. Perhaps in another 20 years I will make my parents take me to Egypt to see the actual pyramids.


Also on this whorl wind birthday weekend, I got to meet one of my most favorite people. The famous travel writer and PBS star Rick Steves! He was giving a talk and slide show at the local library and so my mom and I went to see our travel guru and get some books signed. Here is a blurry picture my mom took of me and the man himself. And here is a non blurry picture of him. He gave a really inspiring and eye opening talk and got me excited to keep seeing the world! So, overall an awesome birthday! One to remember for sure.

Round Two From the Expo!

There were so many things to see at the Wholesale Expo, I had to have a round 2. Check out some more craziness of what we saw.

See You at the Expo

Here in Texas there is enough room to do everything big. Therefore, Dallas holds alot of expositions from the Monster Truck Show to the Home and Garden Expo. This weekend we headed to Dallas for the "Below Wholesale Expo". An exposition for the shopper who loves to buy Christmas presents direct from a seller who has below wholesale prices. Here are a few pics of the best of the expo, and there were some wild finds! They even had Santa on hand so you could point out your immediate wishes!
There's more! Catch it on tomorrow's post.

Halloween, The Day After.

After the kids have had their fun, It's time for the grown-ups to let lose. Our neighborhood has a dress up party the day after Halloween and here are a few pictures of the best costumes.

Gypsy Rose:

Amy Winehouse:

Shiner-bok

Sarah Palin and 50's Greeser with lipstick kiss from Sarah and a Country Western singer:

Ok, We let 1 or 2 kids join the fun because they've had their costumes still on after about 48 hours and counting.

It's Good to Be Home

Ahh, I missed the Estate/Garage/Tag sales of the states. Walking threw someones' house and discovering that they were a school teacher who collected ceramic pigs and who...ahh choooo....had cats. Most times a purchase comes with a story of how that sweater was grandma's and we used to play dress up in it or I brought that back from a trip to Spain when I was backpacking around Europe one summer... etc etc. These were a favorite find this weekend, a couple of 1950's college band sweaters.

I'm Out of Town

So, I've taken a break from the European lifestyle to visit my family and get a little bit of the comforts of home. Namely Mountain Dew, pumpkin pie, and Cheetos. Not in that order or together but all priorities. Another priority of visiting home in the fall is the Texas State Fair, world capital of fried foods and food on a stick and they take that title very seriously. This year's buzz food was chicken fried bacon. Possibly the worlds most dangerous food which makes it a challenge we had to try. And we did. And it was awesome. Here are a few picks from the highlights of the fair...

My sister and brother-in-law with the famous fried bacon:
Sculpture of King Tut's mummy and Imus made entirely of butter.Dancing puppets:And my mom pretending to play a piano: The robot at the Ford display. He talked to the people.
Gotta love the state fair!

Welcome to the Party!!!

Happy Halloween everyone! Would you like your fortune read???

I see great festivities in your future...
Now go forth and celebrate!

Door Series, Page 4

Here is the fourth example in my "Great Doors of Piedmont" series. It is the door to an apartment complex courtyard in the center of Torino. The color of the wood is so warm inviting that it would make the perfect front door greeting, if this was your apartment complex.

Tex, An Italain Hero.

Italians love comics. They have many long time running comic characters like this guy,Tex Willer. TEX, as he's better known, is a cowboy from the American old west that this month celebrates his 60th year of fantastical gun slinging adventures. My neighborhood, Moncalieri, has been giving a nod to 'ol Tex's birthday by putting up these posters all over town in support.

Here are a few really great Tex images so you can see an Italian's romanticized version of the American wild west.

Torino, The Greatest City To Get a Coffee, Officially!

Its official! Torino has more cafes recognized by the Michelin standards than any other Italian City. This was reported in Torino's newspaper La Stampa just yesterday, calling Torino "La Capitale dei Caffe". Our city of 1 million people now has 4 cafés recommended, coming out in the 2009 guide. Take that Rome, Venice, and Milan! Read the La Stampa article (in Italian) here:

http://www.lastampa.it/Torino/cmsSezioni/cronaca/200810articoli/8267girata.asp

Door Series, Page 3

The third example in my great doors of Piedmont series. This one comes from Moncalieri and is again, the entrance to a home on the main street not far down the road from the Moncalieri castle.