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...
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...
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...
Isn't it wonderful to see green again. The flowers are blooming. The birds are singing. Our Mother Earth is coming back to life. It’s a time for renewal and optimism. To help get you into the spirit of la primavera, I made you a list of 30 things to do this...
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...
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...
This is the first article in a new series about modern elegance and glamour. In the coming weeks, I'll be exploring the concept of what it means to be an elegant woman in the modern world. What is modern elegance? The word "elegance" comes from the Middle French word...
Living La Dolce Vita is what my website is all about. You can interpret this Italian phrase, which literally means “the sweet life” in any way that suits you. Think about what makes you happy and makes your life sweeter. For me the concepts of glamour, wellness, and...
It is the tradition in Italy to eat lentils for prosperity in the New Year. Round little lentils, or lenticchie, represent Roman coins. If you eat lentils on New Year's Day, wealth and good fortune will be on their way to you. Lentils are usually served as midnight is...
Sometimes I think the best part of holiday meals are the leftovers. I love to snack on leftover turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. If you're looking for something to do with your turkey meat, try making a Leftover Turkey Pot Pie. It makes a hot comforting meal on...
Affogato is an Italian dessert of gelato “drowned” in espresso. The word affogato in Italian means “drowned.” It comes from the root affogare which means “to drown.” Whenever I’ve had this dessert in Italian restaurants, they usually crumble almond cookies on top to...
Panettone is a sweet bread that originated in Milan. It is a standard treat enjoyed by Italians during the Christmas season. It’s wonderful on its own, with perhaps a little butter. I like to use it for a breakfast treat. If you have any leftover panettone from...
Hello, beautiful, Congratulations for making it through this complicated and sometimes terrifying year. You made some tough adjustments along the way, and kept stepping forward despite all the obstacles put in your path this year. You managed to hold it all together,...
This mulled wine recipe from Italy is easy and fun to make, and a great hot celebratory beverage to share with family and friends. It tastes delicious, but making it might be the best part. It’s a real crowd pleaser as you set it aflame before consuming. You can make...