A little touch of Tuscany

My precious parents have never thought I was too old to receive souvenirs from their awesome vacations.  I am pretty sure I get just as excited as they do for them to explore new and exciting places so I can open a package a couple weeks after and find my trinkets and goodies.  Different trips bring different gifts, and their recent trip to Italy did not disappoint.  Bo (who is beginning to understand the benefits of mom and dad's trips) received a beautiful alligator wallet with his initials, and I got some beautifully intricate gold earrings.  Mom, being a fellow foodie, sent us some authentic limoncello and aged balsalmic.  My mouth started watering as soon as I opened the package. 

A couple of days after we opened the Italian getaway package, Bo actually had an entire weekend off from work (this happens once in a blue moon).  So, we decided to put together a little backyard patio in order to take advantage of our last year here in beautiful Florida weather.  Over the next few days, we poured and shoveled loads of rocks, dug and planted several flowers, and strung Christmas lights until our little hearts were content.  In the end, we had a beautiful place to sit, relax and reminisce.  With all the goodies I received from my parents Italian trip and the inspiration from our Tuscan patio, I thought it only appropriate to cook an Italian-inspired meal, drink wine, sip limoncello and listen to Italian music (I like to go all out and make everything perfect...almost to a fault.)  So we dined and wined and had one of the most memorable nights...our little 3 hour trip to Italy.