Make a To-Don’t List – Set Boundaries for the Future
I love lists. I'm always making lists of things to do. I made them daily, weekly, monthly, yearly. I'm all about getting things onto my calendar. But here is a new concept. Let's make a To-Don't List. A To-Don't List is a list of all the things you’re not going to do...
The Manhattan Cocktail – A Sophisticated Affair
My brother had a milestone birthday this month, and asked me to make him a Manhattan cocktail. You may not know this about me, but I’m a master cocktail mixer, if I do say so myself - LOL. I have no formal training but I have a fascination with vintage cocktails, and...
Top 10 Summer Essentials You Need Right Now
The Italian word for summer is estate (pronounced eh-stah-tay). Summer officially begins June 20th, although most people in the U.S. unofficially start with Memorial Day weekend. To make 2021 the sweetest estate of your life, let's jazz up the sunny season with these...
10 Ways To Live La Dolce Vita
What do you think of when you hear the phrase la dolce vita? Do you think of the Fellini movie with Marcello Mastroianni fishing the luscious Anita Ekberg from the Trevi Fountain? Or perhaps you think of enjoying a beautiful plate of pasta with an Aperol Spritz while...
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How To Create an Elegant Mindset
Elegance is not just about style, manners, and design. True elegance starts with your thoughts. Here are some tips on how to create an elegant mindset. All of the lovely, elegant things you want to create will start to fall into place for you when you start by sorting...
5 Days of Self-Care Practices
It's self-care week. Yay!!! Below you will find five days of self-care practices to help you navigate this thing called life. Enjoy! Day 1 - Controlled Breathing Whether you listen to a meditation, relaxation music, or breathe in silence, take time to rest and...
Identity Crisis – Who Am I Now?
I’ve been going through some personal branding exercises in a coaching program. It made me realize for the past several years I’ve been going through an identity crisis. When I was living in Los Angeles and working as an automotive journalist, I had a very strong and...
Cartesian Questions: Looking at a Problem From All Sides
If you’re pondering a big change now that life post-virus is starting to get back to normal, here is an exercise that can help. They are called Cartesian Questions. They are four questions developed by French philosopher, mathematician, and writer, René Descartes. He...
How To Make Salt Scrub for Your Feet and Body
After winter my skin is feeling dry and in need of some loving. My feet especially are not ready to be seen in all the cute sandals I plan to wear this summer. Sea salt to the rescue! Here is how to make salt scrub for your feet and body. Salt scrub is fabulous for...
How To Rock a Nude Lip
When you want to switch up your look, try a neutral nude lipstick. You can rock a nude lip no matter your skin tone. You just have to find your right shade. Why a nude lip? Nude lips can be a real statement, as much as a red lip can be. A nude lip gives you an...
How To Be Elegant in Social Situations
I've written before about la bella figura, the Italian idea of casting a beautiful figure. It’s about the way you look and dress, but it's also about the way you behave as well. It's about manners, etiquette, and how to be elegant in social situations. In modern...
Spring: A Time for Renewal
Spring has sprung in my little corner of the world. After a long winter of lockdown, it’s a welcome change. It's been cloudy, gloomy and chilly for way too long this year. But the sun is finally breaking through. The mornings are bright, and the evenings are cool but...
How An Elegant Woman Eats
How you eat is just as important as what you eat. If you want to lose weight and elevate your overall lifestyle, start at the table. The foods you choose, the portion sizes, the table settings, and how you eat, all contribute to an overall elegant lifestyle. In this...
Step Outside Your Comfort Zone With Fashion
Ever feel stuck in a rut? You do the same thing every day, drive the same route to work, wear the same clothes, eat the same foods, talk to the same people. It’s time to step outside your comfort zone, my friends. One great way to shake things up a bit is through...