Christmas Shopping with Carmen

December 13, 2014

Tis the Season..... Ho Ho Ho....I love Christmas and all that goes with it! The feeling of love and pace in the air. Friends and family gathering together for parties. Christmas decorations....Christmas Trees... the lights...and of course the shopping. In my village we stroll the streets and visit all he shops to see what they have. We stopped for coffees and pastries...we have lunch... it is an all day event with friends. We chat, we gossip, we eat and we shop till we drop....sometimes we actually buy a present or 2. 

 I miss all that but I did go to a Ho Ho Holiday Bazaar put on by Dawn of Shop Small Lehigh Acres. They had sooooo many little vendors all set us inside and outside that all sorts of wonderful items for sale. They even had the place decorated. Santa was on hand too. I even met Sammy the Snowman. Hubba hubba my kind of snowman. We were introduced to each other by Debbie and Wayne. These people make their own soaps and lotions and even some home decor items. I really fell for Sammy but it was doomed from the start. Turns out he was leaving for New Jersey in the morning. I guess Florida is a bit too hot for him. Oh well there is always Facebook.

I did see some old friends like Crystal. She made me this most awesome pink dress but it was just a wee bit too big. The I met Linda and he hubby again. I call him Mr. Tupperware. Would you believe they have PINK storage containers???? I was looking for something to send home to my family and just had to send them something PINK! I got momma some jewels from Miss Joy, my sister Carla some sandals from Miss Dawn. My nieces Carina and Carmelina some Frozen Flip Flops from Miss Beverley. I also got some homemade Christmas Card from Miss Karen. I also treated myself to the most delizioso pretzels covered in white chocolate. It so reminded me of the treats from back home where everything is homemade! The even had a fudge there too. I made so many new friends and saw so many old friends that it brought back so many fond memories of my little village. If you did not go to this, then you missed out. I got most of my shopping done that day. All but my papa!! Not sure what I will be sending him. He is not so easy to buy for. 

I think I will go check Facebook and see if there is any thing there from my hubba hubba Sammy the Snowman!

Carmen

Carmen at the Networking Bash

December 10 2014

There is something business people do called networking. This is a foreign concept to me as that is not how we do business in my village. Where I am from we just make offers people can't refuse if you know what I mean. Here in SWFL this networking is a very popular thing to do. 

The nice people of What's Up SWFL hold what they call a Networking Bash every month. They invite people to come to a local restaurant..eat...drink...talk.... eat some more...talk some more....drink some more....and somehow during all that they discuss business. Interesting. I have never experienced such a thing. I am always eager to meet new people so I was very keen to attend this event.

So I met this gal Cathy... I found out she works at the Seminole Casino!!! It is in some town called Immokalee. I am not sure I can even pronounce it much less know what it means. That is when she told me is is derived from a Seminole word that means my home.It just may become my home away from home because this cannoli loves to play the slots!!! I was all excited when she invited me down for a tour. Ok, so is this how this networking works??? If so I think I am going to like it. I just hope the slots pay off better than the casino near my little village. 

I then met Dr. Tucker. He is an optometrist. I thought ok so he is optimistic but what kind of doctor is he really??? That is when he explained he is an eye doctor that checks your eyes to see if you need glasses. NOT this cannoli....no way....wear glasses heaven forbid. He did explain contacts and all these other options but I am so not ready to even consider that I might need glasses.I have to admit though that we do take a good picture together. I am not so sure I am liking this networking thing anymore.

The next person I got to chat with is Tim!!! This is a man after my own little cannoli heart. not only did he share his beer with me but he is a writer! He told me all about the different types of writing he and his company does. As we chatted I learned there was a group of writers that meet each month. Now that is something that this cannoli would love to go to. I may only write blog but who knows what the future holds... maybe a book...then a movie...ya never know! I also know another writer Debbie from Trinidad... I think I need to get these 2 people together.

There were lot's of other people there. My friends Marsha and Earl from the Hanger Dance. Insurance people, Bookkeeping people, travel people and people who love to work with animals and so many others and they all got along so well and were willing to help each other. I got to thinking that this networking thing might be a good thing after all. I mean really what is better than meeting new people and seeing how they can and do help each other. I just may have to do more of these networking type of things. 

Carmen  

   

Quarter Auctions from the Heart

December 4, 2014
 

Oh my friends..have you been to a Quarter Auction yet? I am told they are all the rage here in SWFL. We do not have anything like it in my village that is for sure. The one I went to was to raise funds for an organization called Learning for Life. They work with students to teach them things they need to be more successful like character education and things like that. I think they need to bring it to the schools in my village. Sometimes cannoli's can be mean to each other and the youth of our village could use some direction and guidance when it comes to making better choices. Ever see a teen cannoli these days??? Not sure what the deal is with the pants that ride so low you see what they have on underneath, if they even have anything on underneath. Lucky for SWFL they have a group like this.

So at this Quarter Auction I was told that you can win prizes for only a few quarters each...my type of game! They have all these local vendors, who also were selling their items, each auction off something of theirs for like 2-3 quarters. You rent this thing called a paddle and if you see an item you want to win, you put the amount of quarters they as for in this bowl and hold your paddle up as high as you can. Now they told me the higher, the better your chance to win. I figured being so small I would not stand a chance to win anything but that was not the case. I actually won 2 items!!! Holy Cannoli!!!! 

I won some bling and these sandals that had bling on them. I made new friends too and met Sissy Love owner Crystal and a Fibi and Clo gal Elba! These ladies know how to dress this cannoli!!! Do you like my new pink bow and sandals???? I am a cannoli trend setter...a cannoli fashionista!!!! 

This Quarter Auction also had entertainment from the Florida Calendar Girls! I had seen these gals dance before but this time they asked me to dance with them! I had to turn them down....I am way too small, did not know their dances and they did not have a costume that would fit me! Ok... truth be told cannoli's can't dance! 

So it was really a fun evening and of course I was a big hit! If you want to know more about Quarter Auctions take a hop over to SWFL Quarter Auctions from the Heart
There you will find a complete schedule. They are great fun and who doesn't want to help a local charity, shop with local businesses and win prizes too!!!! 


Carmen

Black Friday Craziness

November 28, 2014

Apparently you American's have this thing called Black Friday. It is not really a holiday but it should be from what I have seen. I find it amazing that people get up in the weeeee hours of the morning to go shopping for deals on all sorts of things. To make matters worse, I heard people actually start their Christmas Shopping on Thanksgiving evening. Now, we do not have either of these holidays in my village. But I hear they both are big here in the States. So if Thanksgiving is about spending time with family and friends to give thanks for all one has, which is what I was told it is all about, why would one go shopping to get more stuff??? Some say it is fun to stand in line for ours to get the big deals but I don't see why that is such a big deal. The only times we have lines for something is when the bakery has just put out the fresh breads. This little cannoli fails to understand why anyone would do this. 

When the nice people of What's Up SWFL asked me to go with them to their Black Friday Shopping Extravaganza I was not pleased. This Diva is not a morning cannoli and did not want to risk getting trampled on by crazy shoppers....never mind the fact that it was going to be cold at that time of the morning. I mean really who goes shopping at 5 am? Apparently there are people who love to do that. So I figured I would go and see what this Black Friday is all about. 

Tavolo Dello Chef

November 22, 2014

There are many things that I love and wine ranks #2...#1 being coffee! So I was eager to attend another Chef's Table at LaMotta's Italian Restaurant. This time he had 6 different wines with some tasty delights to go along with them. What Chef Carmelo does is invites people to his restaurant to sample some of his wines and he pairs them with some of his dishes so that you get to choose which you like with your food. I prefer white but his sweet red's are outstanding. My favorite though is his sangria. His white sangria is the best around! You just have to try it. 

 I do not know if you know this or not but Italy is famous for their wines. Why in my village alone there are 4 wineries that make Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Montepulciano and of course Chianti Classico. 

I always enjoy meeting new people and this time I met some new friends like Debbie and her boyfriend. Debbie is from Trinidad and I got to learn about the food they eat there....now I must say most of it is very different from anything this cannoli has ever had and I am not so sure I am brave enough to try it but I do like curry so perhaps I will try some of those. Being Italian and enjoying pasta, I was surprised that they do not use much pasta in their cooking. I thought pasta was everywhere!!!

Carmen Does The Hanger Dance

November 15, 2014

It is Hanger Dance time!!!!! When I was asked to make an appearance I had not idea what a Hanger Dance was. I thought maybe it was like the Tarantella only you dance around hangers. It was not until I arrived did it begin to make sense. It was a huge gala held, you ready for this, inside an airplane hanger. Have you ever been inside a hanger? They are huge!!! Well at least to me they are.  
This gala was a fundraiser for the Sundown Patrol  and what a service they provide. They actually patrol the water ways of Lee County from the air. What a great service that is! Venice It. could such a club what with all those canals.My friends Marsha and Earl put this gala on and did a great job too!!!

So this gala reminded me of weddings back home in my village. Long tables all decorated. An orchestra for dancing. Buffet food, cake, beer, wine....the only thing missing were the wedding gifts. But they did have gifts of sorts. They had what they called a silent auction where people could win some grand prizes.

They had plenty of entertainment. So who are these gals called the Florida Calendar Girls? They must be important because they were having their picture taken with this rather handsome pilot. They took so many that by the time they were done and he left. So alas I was unable to have a photo op with him. Now these gals did perform some dancing seem like they are great fun. Shhh I did hear some people say these gals are all over the age of 50! 

I'm Baaaaaack!

November 9 2014

My stay at the Cannoli Hospital was one I do not ever wish to repeat again! The surgery, while painful at first, was a complete success and I look better than new. I was told that should I encounter another such accident I may not be so lucky.

The rehab was strenuous to say the least. All those exercises!!! I had to ride a bicycle to nowhere, climb steps that led nowhere and walk for miles but go absolutely no place. No don't get me wrong in my village I could be seen riding my little bicycle and walking in the park but these instruments of torture where another thing. I heard people pay to go to places called fitness centers to use the very same equipment. Why would someone do that??? Pay to be tortured??? Not this Cannoli!!!!!  I am not sure what was worse the surgery or the rehab! 

However all that is behind me now and I am looking forward to seeing my friends at the next LaMotta's Chef's Table!

Carmen

Adventures at The Taste of Lee

November 1, 2014

As I sit on my hospital bed, I can only reflect upon the events of today. It started out so wonderfully and ended so tragically. This Taste of Lee was a huge vent. So many people came to eat, drink, walk around. It reminded me of some of my experiences as festivals in my little village, only with a lot more people....who are all soooo much bigger than I am. 

I was at the LaMotta's booth once again and met sooo many nice people. Many of whom posed with me...but I also got meet other official spokespeople... Like Wilbur and Menchie and others! I was going to be interviewed by a local TV station problem was it was in Spanish... Yo no habla espanol! So Chef Carmelo had to do the interview instead, something I do not think he minded! 

Right next to the LaMotta booth was a wine booth....needless to say I kept visiting them!!! What nice ladies they were! I made a new friend Heather. She is a florist and what Diva does not like flowers. I will have to pay her shop a visit!!!  I also walked around and saw some friends like Karyn, Shirley, Bill, Judy, Latasha and Aria. It was so nice to see so many familiar faces in a sea of people who are all so much larger than I am.

I guess the idea of this event is for people to come and spend some time in lovely downtown Fort Myers.  They had soooo many restaurants and the smells were oh so tempting. I did have some fried shrimp from the Three Fisherman that was really good. They were so nice to this cannoli and the girls working their booth were soooo much fun! I just may have to pay them a visit too. 

Ok so who is this Jean Le Boeuf character? I was told he was eager to meet me and would stop by the LaMotta's booth so we could be properly introduced like they do in the old country. So I waited and waited and waited. Then I got word that he had been there but I was too busy to speak with him... Well if he had introduced himself to me.... I would of stopped what I was doing. Later I heard that JLB as he is called is not a real person but a phantom who mysteriously visits and reviews restaurants. My little cannoli heart was crushed. I got stood up by a phantom who never was going to admit who they really are. After that major disappointment the day went down hill for this little cannoli!

Halloween LaMotta's Style

October 31 2014

Halloween is not something we celebrate in my little village. Some areas of Italy have adopted it from America but in my village not so much. It is some what like our Carnevale that we celebrate the 2 weeks before lent. So when I was asked to participate, I was eager to experience this American tradition.  

I had such short notice about this event, that I did not have time to dress for the occasion. However, being a cannoli I figured I would tell people that I was in costume. It worked, nobody was the wiser. So at LaMotta's I posed with Margaux and Shelby....don't they look so cute as broken down - zombie dolls....if they were trying to scare anybody I don't think they did. Anyway Lamotta's was giving candy out to all the diner's big and little alike! I kinda dived into the bowl and got a bit carried away!!! And for this I get paid!!!! I did not see tooo many costumes that night. A few children dressed as Elsa??? Ok can somebody tell me who Elsa is? I hear she is a movie star from something called Frozen but I don't get what all the fuss is about?? I think I am much cuter and I certainly can sing better. Why in my village I am known for my beautiful voice...but I digress. We ended the night early as I am to attend the Taste of Lee tomorrow. Diva's do need their beauty rest ya know! 

Carmen
  

Carnevale

Carnevale

Carnevale

Italian Fest

October 26 2014

Today I was at the Italian Fest in Fort Myers. We have festivals in our little village but as we are small only several hundred attend them. This festival had more people there than live in 3 villages near me. So many people....eating...dancing...did I mention eating???? 

I was at the LaMotta's booth of course. They were serving meatball lollipops, Chicken Parm Sandwiches and cannoli's of course. They kept me really busy but I did get a chance to walk around and see what all was there. There were other restaurants there but some of them did not seem that they were Italian...even though they were serving Italian food. I did try the cavatelli one place had but it left me scratching me head. The sauce had an odd flavor and even adding some of LaMotta's sauce did not help much. It was certainly not like any other sauce I have ever had. I did have some great zeppoli's though....one of my favorites from back home. I also tried American ice cream from Queenie's. Love the name!!!! It was delish and while a prefer gelato this American ice cream was soooo good!!!!

I really thought I would get homesick being at this festival butta notta so much!!! Oh they had Italian music and some dancers but at 3 pm they played American music...not sure what they were thinking with that one cause I noticed people leaving once the American music started....they all must of been Italian! 

I did get to meet some wonderful people and had my picture taken with them. I even met some local celebrities. They were eager to have their picture taken with me even though I am just a cannoli! I looked for the Mayor of Fort Myers as I wanted to introduce myself to him but alas I could not find him in the crowd and I was also way to busy at the LaMotta's booth to keep searching for him. 

While there were a lot of people there, there seemed to be something missing. It was not like an Italian Festival back in my village. It was great getting to meet the people of SWFL and most were really nice...there was not anybody selling Italian trinkets. I missed seeing items from my homeland. I did not get to bring any such things over with me and would of liked to have a few. Contests are just not part of what we do either. 

Despite all that I did have a great time and I got a feel for what living in SWFL is all about!!!! Next weekend is the Taste of Lee so I am really looking forward to that. Another adventure!!!
Carmen

It's Official

October 18 2014

I am just so excited to share my news. The nice people at What's Up SWFL have been taking me around to meet some great people. I went to another Chef's Table where I met Colin. He is a long time friend of Chef Carmelo and oh the stories he had to tell. I am sworn to secrecy as to what those stories are but I definitely had a great time chatting with Colin and his friends. 

Then I went to a business meeting where I met Donna and Shelby both are awesome servers at LaMotta's. Donna and I hit it right off and I am sure we are going to be fast friends. I also met another Diva, Elba. This gal  knows just what I like....Bling and Shoes!!!! She even has sandals that are all blinged out. Elba offered to give me a makeover but really how can you improve upon perfection!!!! 

Now for the exciting news I mentioned earlier!!!! The nice people at What's Up SWFL offered me a position within their company. They too made me an offer I can't refuse...I am now their Brand Ambassador!!! Imagine that, me a little cannoli from Sicily a Brand Ambassador. They told me that they were impressed with me being the Official Spokesperson for LaMotta's and that I am a perfect fit for their company! 

So now I have 2 jobs and I can't wait to see where this adventure takes me. I am told I have 2 jobs coming up for LaMotta's. I will be attending the Italian Festival and the Taste of Lee events!!! I have never been to such events but wow how exciting!!!!

Carmen

Wine Wine and More Wine

October 4, 2014

I must say that I was really did not know what a Chef's Table was. I had to ask my friends at What's Up SWFL just what it as all about. You see we do not have such a thing in my village. When I found out that it entailed wine and food, I was all over that! Two of my most favorite things in the world, coffee being my most favorite.
I was overwhelmed when I arrived and there were 20 people waiting to meet me....until I found out they were there for the Chef's Table...opps talk about being embarrassed! No matter, I just went around to all the guests and introduced myself. I think they struggled a bit with the fact that not only am I diva but a cannoli besides. It turns out that there are not many cannoli's in SWFL so I was a bit of a novelty to them. 

 I met some really wonderful people though that took to me rather quickly. Margaux, Francine and Angel. We became fast friends. Perhaps all that wine had something to do with it. 6 different wines is a bit more than this cannoli can handle. 

We ate, we laughed, we drank, we told stories. I must say it was a wonderful time and nobody seemed to care any longer that I am a cannoli. 

I am so grateful to have meet such wonderful people. What great fun it was. I was delighted to find out that attending the Chef's Table was going to be part of my regular duties! You Floridians sure know how to have fun. If this is what you call work, am I in for a real adventure. Look out SWFL....here comes Carmen! 





Carmen    
 

The Adventure Begins

October 2 2014

Having arrived in SWFL the first thing I wanted to do was have some great food. I wanted to go where locals go eat, none of them chains for this diva. Where I come from we do not have any chain restaurants. Heaven forbid! So I hopped onto the internet and began to search for a locally owned Italian (of course) restaurant. That is when I discovered LaMotta's Italian Restaurant. I called the nice people at What's Up SWFL , where I had found a review by the Discriminating Diner, an asked them if they could take me there. You see I can't drive. They were all to happy to dine with me.
I must say I was pleasantly surprised with how at home the people at LaMotta's made me feel. The food was heavenly and the wine was some of the best I have had in ages. Sometimes where I am from we have, well home made wine I guess is the best way to explain it. 

I met the Chef and owner Carmelo LaMotta. What a nice young man and to find out he was from a neighboring village in Sicily was a real surprise. He was just so taken with my beauty that he made me an offer I could not refuse when he asked me if I would be their official spokesperson. I had not been in SWFL 24 hours and already my talents were in demand! One could hardly refuse such a offer. My first official duty was to attend his Chef's Table event on October 4. I could hardly wait to experience that! 
The nice people of What's Up SWFL offered to be my tour guides during my stay in SWFL. What a lucky diva I am!!!!! I know my adventure here in SWFL was off to a great start!  
Carmen     

Meet Carmen

On October 1, 2014 a plane landed at SWFL International Airport from Atlanta. On that plane was a famous international diva. She quietly slipped through the airport virtually unnoticed. Something she was most grateful for. In her home country she could not go anywhere without being spotted and the paparazzi chasing her. Who was this international diva??? Why was she here???? 

Well let me introduce you to Carmen the Cannoli! She came to SWFL because she heard of all the wonderful things there are to do here. She is eager to experience SWFL as the locals do. She's eager to eat and shop and experience SWFL as if she too were a local.She will be sharing her experiences as she begins her adventures here in SWFL.