Over a decade ago I was contacted by a PR firm, who asked me to prepare content for a major pasta company. Apparently, this company was aware of my work highlighting Italian cultural traditions and lifestyle; and countering negative cultural stereotypes. The company wanted to pick my brain for ideas on the best way to market and promote …
My Dear Friends, Followers, Readers and Former Students, I write this with great affection to thank those of you who have supported my work throughout the years and have valued my existence in the world. I appreciate you more than words can say.As 2024 comes to an end, we tend to reflect on the ups …
Research shows we may not know ourselves as much as we think we do. As we go through our busy lives, we tend to sacrifice important self-reflection time at the altar of getting a bunch of things done on autopilot. If this is you, you are not alone. Yet taking just a short daily pause to get quiet and …
Self-care goes beyond simply looking at your reflection in a mirror and telling yourself how much you like yourself, as former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi reportedly used to do. Caring for yourself should translate into routine practices designed to foster your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. I’m not talking about spending all day obsessing …
It is among the most modest of gravestone inscriptions, stating only: Gino Bartali — July 18,1914- May 5, 2000. This wasn’t to say that Bartali hadn’t won numerous championship medals for his cycling excellence, including the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia. Nor was it because this Italian icon hadn’t used his fame and …
What’s there to think about when it comes to enjoying Italian gelato on a hot summer day while traipsing through the bel paese on vacation? Well as it turns out, there are a few tips to consider if you want to savor every drop of this sweet Italian experience. The Italian gelato experience can transport …
I wrote my first book over 20 years ago. When it was published, it seemed everywhere I went people were not only interested in discussing the contents of my book, but also wanted me to coach them on how to write THEIR book. One woman told me she had wanted to write a book for …
For me and for many Italians, February is the month of song. It is the month of the renowned Festival of San Remo, the yearly song competition in that officially began in 1951 in beautiful the coastal city of San Remo in the northwest Italy, known also for its extraordinary 19th century villas, lush tropical gardens, and …
There is no denying that technology has become an important part of contemporary life. Almost everywhere I go people are snapping selfies or walking with their heads buried in their phone. Our smartphones, tablets and computers have provided us with efficient ways to keep to our schedules, find answers to many of life’s “questions”, without thumbing …
America recently fell in love with the record-breaking Jeopardy champion, Amy Schneider, the first transgender woman to compete—and win over a million dollars– on the game show. Despite the nasty transphobic social media snipes, Amy handled them with grace and a sense of humor—a reaction, no doubt born from a solid sense of self-worth. I was …
The Dolce Vita Lifestyle 