{2013 Fiat 500 versus Fiat 500 Topolino}

Last year, actually last week, we went to Atlanta, Georgia, for stocking up at our favorite stores: Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Cost Plus World Market and Costco. We also stopped at Lenox Square Mall to go to Neiman Marcus. Quite surprised to find a 2013 Fiat 500 parked in the mall as being the Best Gift You'll Ever Get... Or Give.

It instantly did bring back memories from Italy, from the time we worked and lived there in Il Veneto.

At that time when we had moved from Pennsylvania to Italy, there was a strike at the harbor of Genua so our containers did not arrive in time. But my Dad did lend us his Ford Fiesta to drive down to Italy. That's what we did for our trip of about 12 hours one way to Cornuda, TV in Italy, all the way from the south of The Netherlands.

Here is the 2013 Fiat 500 at Lenox Square Mall

From Fiat USA of Atlanta 

My husband Pieter standing in front of those cute Fiat 500 models at Lenox Square Mall... 

Wearing his wool Fedora hat and lambskin leather jacket from Pond's India's Leather Garment Factory. 

Just had to snap these pictures with my iPhone!

Hah, here is my Dad's Ford Fiesta parked at work (seen left in photo), beside one cute red Fiat 500 Topolino and there is another one in front... It was quite a change in car-size, coming from Pennsylvania, USA to Italy!

Actually the Fiat 500 is born on July 4, 1957. Just click that hyperlink for some videos of this cute Little Mouse as it translates to in English from the Italian Topolino.

Fond memories of Italy!

Are some of you driving a Fiat 500 at present? 

Or any cute little car for that matter?

{GIFT from Blogger I Admire}

What a surprise to receive such a special GIFT in the mail from Germany... From a Blogger I Admire: Claudia from NuNu's Garn-und Stofflabor (Yarn and Fabric Laboratory). Links to her sites you find below post. Let me proudly show off Claudia's artful sewing and embroidery... What is it? Can you already guess??

Look what Claudia created! Beautiful Rose Embroidery for the Rose Suite...

Embellished with her lovely signature tag.

Handmade with love... when translated into English

I bet you this talented worker bee also handmade this beautiful cord for wrapping it...

Lovely signature tag, showing her sewing machine on one side...

Look: Mariette's Rose Suite...

Do you have any idea?

On the reverse side it shows her signature LABEL... But WHAT is it?...

Tada; a lovely pillow case!

Fits perfect in tone of the chairs in our Rose Suite.

This sweet gift came complete with one of her signature hand made cards.

Thanks a million  Claudia, that will reside with pride in our Rose Suite indeed!

See Claudia's links below this post. She is such a multi talented lady, you have to check her out!

By the way, being German, Claudia is also fluent in English so there are no borders between you and her. 

Related links:
{Claudia a Blogger I Admire and her Gift for Baby Stef} previous post by me
DaWanda Nunus-Garn-und-Stofflabor Claudia's online shop
NuNu´s Garn-und Stofflabor Claudia's blog

{Let It Be A Happy New Year}

Indeed; Let It Be A Happy New Year for 2013! Above all in good HEALTH and may we all be SAFE. We all lost loved ones and also lived through happy moments and now the memories remain as we move on. For the end of the year we both wanted to toast with an Italian Roscato Rosso Dolce that we got at World Market Cost Plus. So let us toast to all of you and thank you for your loyalty throughout the year...

Just poured this delicious Roscato into our French Baccarat crystal champagnes. 

Our Camellias are blooming very pretty right now.

Winter Rose is an appropriate name for them!

The red box with Mon Cheri chocolates from our German 'son' and family SURVIVED 2012 but they will be short lived in 2013... They are pure bliss, together with a coffee.

On a sunny day it looks really nice outside...

This is our Camellia Japonica Debutante.

Showing you the detailed hand crocheted lace that my friend Ellie gave me in 2010.

An elderly lady in Sevenum, The Netherlands made them...

Cheers from our Gazebo, in  the sunshine. We did go for a walk in the afternoon, wearing my hair calf Escada skirt and moccasin boots.

Together with Tiggy-Tiger our little feline girl...

Wishing you all a Safe, Healthy and Happy 2013!

Related links:
{Happy New Year - 2012} previous post by me
{Our New Year's Eve Dinner at Ristorante da Maria} previous post by me
{A LAST Toast to 2011... framing its STERLING MOMENTS!} previous post by me
Roscato Rosso Dolce at World Market Cost Plus