Surprises are the best!

Gary has a client from Italy. His name is Pierluigi. Isn't that awesome? Anyway, he came down a couple months ago and as a thank-you sent us this HUGE box of amazing Italian things!

I immediately called my friend Francesca. She is a real, bona-fide, Italian model. Gorgeous. I hate her. Just kidding. Anyway, she explained the significance of the cakes, and the best way to use the cheese. Side note: I live in this teeny town and have all of these European friends who have somehow found our little "metropolis" as the place to settle. Funny, huh? Francesca is, as I mentioned, Italian, and her husband is an Englishman born in Kenya. Their two children were born in South Africa.

Oh, the excitement!

Cake!

What could be better than cake? Cake with a chocolate shell
around the outside!

These are kind of like a flaky, croissant-ish pastry. Just
perfect for after my daily exercise session.

He even thought of something for the girls.

These are heavenly. They are like butter/almond-flavored cookies.

We also had two HUGE hunks/wedges of cheese!

As Francesca said, these are all so good, "But for your calories, it is like a bomb!"

He also sent me earrings, and a wallet for Gary. He tried to send me Italian perfume, but their customs wouldn't let it through. I am in deep, deep mourning over that. As you can imagine.