5 DIY Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas
With the pandemic still raging, and the mail delivery system backed up, it might be a good idea to stay home this Valentine's Day and make your own gifts. You don't want to be caught waiting on the mail truck for your V-Day present to arrive on the big day. Here are...
What To Do When You’ve Got the Blues
Snow is in the forecast for New Jersey. In the meantime, the air is icy cold, and it’s a little foggy when I look out my window. The house is chilly. The air is dry. My hands are dry. The trees are bare. These are the times when the blues set in. The winter blues. All...
A Dream Come True
How do you make a dream come true? I read a quote recently that really got me thinking. It's from Earl Nightingale who was a speaker and writer in personal development. I've been reading a vintage business management manual he wrote called Lead the Field. While it is...
My Aspirational Dress
I was watching season 1 of Gossip Girl, and in the first Episode, Serena goes on a date with Dan wearing a sequin mini dress with thick black tights and ankle boots. I fell in love with this outfit. Despite the fact that Serena is supposed to be a teenager in GG, and...
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Glamour, Wellness, and Elegance Lead to La Dolce Vita
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...
Finding Your Aesthetic as a Key to Your Future
Our lives have changed dramatically during this pandemic. Most of us spent a lot more time at home than we are used to. Now that we can see the light at the end of the proverbial quarantine tunnel, it’s time to get ready to be back to normal. Finding your aesthetic...
Lentils for Prosperity in the New Year
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...
New Year’s Eve Makeup Look
Even though I’m not going anywhere for New Year’s Eve, I still want to be festive. I rarely wear makeup these days as I don’t go out much. And when I do go out, most of my face is covered with a mask. Despite everything, I will be getting a little glitter on this...
Things To Do Instead of Making Resolutions
When I first started exploring the concept of a La Dolce Vita lifestyle, I was reacting to the fact that everyone around me was talking about their New Year resolutions and all of the bad habits they were going to fix. It struck me as very negative behavior. "I'm not...
Leftover Turkey Pot Pie
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 With Leftover Christmas Cookies
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 French Toast
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...
The Week Between Christmas and New Year
I want to encourage you to take this week between Christmas and New Year to rest and think. We’re always so busy and stressed leading up to the holidays, and this has been a crazy year. I want you to take some time to relax, recuperate, and enjoy your gifts. Spend...
A Christmas Message
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,...