You know how your mom said something as a child that always stuck with you and you find yourself remembering those wise words well into your adult years?

Well, when I was young, I had a hard time understanding the Mother’s and Father’s Day gift-giving rituals that excluding us kids.

“But when is Kid’s Day?” I asked, as I handed her the gift my father had bought in our names.

“Every day is Kid’s Day,” she replied, as she happily accepted the present, along with the laughter and adoration of my father, her quick remarks had earned her.

“Hmmm …,” I thought, as I begrudgingly marched off. “It’s never kids day … and I’ll never tell my kids that!”

And I haven’t. (No, I don’t have kids, but that is neither here nor there, really …)

But I have repeated those words.

When I moved to Calabria in 2006, I’d never heard of the Festa della Donna or International Women’s Day, so I wasn’t really expecting the outpouring of presents I received from my husband. Although he brought me a mimosa flower-and if memory serves, a new pair of shoes-he did have one thing to say about it.

“Why isn’t there an International Men’s Day?” he asked.

… and I think you know what I said.

photo credit: jlastras

But more to the point, today, March 8, is International Women’s Day. It represents not only the economic and political achievements for which it was founded, but for me, here in Calabria, thousands of miles from my closest female family members and friends, it represents gratitude.

1. Today, I’m celebrating Women’s Day with as many international women as I can round up-and that is the first way you can celebrate. We are meeting for pizza and shopping here in Catanzaro, and I, for one, am hoping to hit up the Furniture Fair in Catanzaro Lido.

2. If you can’t get your girls together for lunch and shopping but happen to be in one of Italy’s larger cities, then you are in luck. Venice had free admission to the state museum yesterday and several attractions in Rome and Florence regularly have free or reduced entrance fees for Women’s Day.

3. Recognize the Women in Your Life. I’m thankful for many of them*, particularly the ones who have helped to make my transition into Italy a success.

From the blogless world, I’d like to thank my favorite Irish lass, Jenny, who found my sign for a mother language English teacher in our local bookstore and dialed the number.

Kerri and Felicia, who are down to earth, logical and realistic in their experiences as an expat in Calabria and who share their positive perspectives each time we meet.

For my newest friend, Karen, who’s recent move to Catanzaro has spurred an equally enduring friendship between our husbands and who is teaching me the art of making a mojito.

Many of you know my friend, Michelle of Bleeding Espresso, who incidentally, I met-along with Dawn, from Bovino-the weekend of my first International Women’s Day celebration in Calabria.

So, there you go. Three ways to celebrate International Women’s Day today. What are you planning to do?

*For the purpose of this post I’ve limited my shout-outs to women who live in Calabria. So, Mom, yes … I love you, too!

Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan the trip of a lifetime.

A couple of months ago I was contacted by a producer at KPAM Portland Radio. He wanted to know more about my favorite little region in Italy and asked if I’d be interested in talking to them about Calabria.

Me? Talk about Calabria?

Now, that’s not fun at all.

photo credit: Dave Kleinschmidt

Due to time zones and sleeping habits, we decided to do the interview once I was on American soil, so one day after my flight(s) home for Christmas, we got down to business.

Via the great telecom system of AT&T (and least on my end), I met with radio talk show anchor and host of The Azumano Travel Show, Pat Boyle.

The segment aired the day after Christmas in Portland, but for all the rest of you, it is right here.

Enjoy!

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I type this post-one day before it’ll be published and you’ll read it-on the one year anniversary of the day my life  forever changed.

Yes, that sounds dramatic-and those of you know me know I have that flair … but this time, it is true.

One year ago today I received that middle-of-the-night phone call from my mother that spurred my last-minute trip to Texas, the fight to arrive at my father’s side “in time” and the inevitable services and formalities that follow when things don’t go as you’d hoped.

One year ago today, I was still a rather naive American living the dream in southern Italy.

One year ago today, I had that sense of indestructibility of people who’ve never been crushed.

One year ago today, I didn’t think we’d make it.

But we did.

I’ve been thinking lately about the events in our lives that forever change us. It doesn’t have to be something as dramatic as a middle-of-the-night phone call or as traumatic as the death of a loved one. For many of us it is the moment we met our future spouse, the day your children were born, the day we moved abroad.

And it is that positivity of change I want to focus on today.

photo credit: dodo1976

For starters, I want to welcome Leanne of from Australia to Italy to bella Calabria. She and her bel ragazzo (aka: new fiance) recently relocated to Malito in the province of Cosenza-about an hour northwest of me here in Catanzaro. They have a lot of things in the works up there and I wish them good luck with their new endeavors.

Elsewhere in Calabria, Michelle of Bleeding Espresso has been talking about Zen in the Pen and one of her kids, Pasqualina, was recently entered into a photo contest at Huffington Post. I gave her a “10″-and you should, too … but I still don’t see the family resemblance, Michelle.

Natalie Trusso Cafarello of Letters From Tuscany recently wrote about a love affair of a different kind-a love affair with a woman, whose tough past and complex future is often at odds with Natalie’s own plans for this lovely lady. It is poignantly written and soulful, and I’m sure this woman’s other lovers feel the same way about her.

Speaking of love affairs, the Italophile site has information on dating and mating in the bel paese, complete with facts and data about marriage in Italy, who the Italians are marrying, when they are marrying and why, while Jessica at Why Go Italy has helpful hints for anyone wanting to snag-snag, guys, not shag-an Italian.

If you already have that someone special, visit Melanie at Italofile for a roundup from the Twittersphere of the most romantic places in Italy locals go with their sweethearts.

As for me and my sweetheart, we are going to lay low this weekend, reflect upon the events of this past year and give thanks to all of the loves of our lives. Valentine’s Day is not just a day for lovers, it is a day for love. It’s a day for friends-both real-life and virtual-and a day to celebrate the impact these people have in your life. And I, for one, am glad you are here.

Happy Festa di San Valentino!

(This post was originally published on this website in February, 2007)

Homemade chocolate chip cookies, fresh from the oven …

Whoa. Stop right there. Don’t hit that back button or double-check the url.

You are in the right place.

Welcome, friends and blog readers to the new My Bella Vita.

It has been a long road, through logo design, color choices, font options, column width and header size and seriously, it is enough to make a girl wrap herself into a fetal position and moan html, html, html until someone snaps her glazed-over eyes into focus and forces her up again.

I mean, I’m just saying … I didn’t do that. Well, maybe once.

But in the end my friends at Kaiz Agency came through and designed a new template we feel will highlight some of the changes we have in store for this website.

Oh yes, my friends … there are changes.

In addition to the funky new logo and what will soon be a photo slide show-small technical delay, slide show’s a comin’, few tweaks, no worries-I’m expanding products and services offered here.

Custom Itineraries

We all know Calabria can be intimidating and a well-traveled Italophile once said, “Calabria is not for the faint-hearted.” But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come. Calabria has beaches, mountains, ruins and religion, a unique cuisine, good wine and warm people and it is listed as an “Italian favorite” for many people who have visited.

But it is not easy to get around Calabria and researching the area can be tough.

The custom itineraries I offer will help with that.

Based on your preferences, I’ll create a custom itinerary, complete with hotel reservations, transfers, car rental and activities for each day of your trip. You can read more about that here.

Travel Consulting

For travelers who prefer to make their own reservations, but still need recommendations on which areas to visit, what activities to book or which city or location is the best base for their southern Italy vacation, Travel Consulting is the way to go. You can read more about that here.

Tips Booklets

I recently completed my very first tips booklet, “Don’t Get Stuck With Dirty Drawers … and 64 other tips for traveling in Calabria.” More information will be available soon.

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Prizes and Fun Stuff

In conjunction with this week’s relaunch, I’ve joined forces with other Italophiles around the world to bring you some great prizes.

Check back this week to enter new drawings for prizes such as free nights at a bed and breakfast in Catanzaro, free itinerary planning and free Italy photos!

Today’s prize: A premium subscription to ItalianPod101, the award-winning website that was featured on Newsweek, PC Magazine and right here … at My Bella Vita.

All you have to do is leave a comment on *this* post between Monday, December 7 and Sunday, December 13. Winner will be announced on Monday, December 14.

In bocca al lupo!

A few weeks ago I asked where all of the good customer service guys had gone? I lamented the lack of a customer-service oriented mentality in south Italy and wondered how businesses could remain open with the attitude they have towards their customers.

Well today, I have that answer.

photo credit: Gudlyf

But before we get to that … I have a back story.

There is a steak house in Beaumont my family frequents as often as possible. They have great steaks, great sides and according to my cousin, Angelique, great fajitas-although I leave my Tex-Mex to the professionals.

One day seven or eight of my family members met there for lunch. Since my husband and I had a lunch date a few hours later with friends, we skipped the meal. We didn’t, however, skip the company and we joined them towards the end of their meal for a chat.

It was about that time my mother noticed a hair (eek!) in her plate. She didn’t complain, just pushed it back and continued talking. The ever-attentive server noticed, asked her about it and immediately apologized and offered to bring her a replacement dish.

She was finished anyway, she said, and insisted she wasn’t upset.

A few minutes later, the manager appeared.

“I’m so sorry, Ma’am (we are in Texas, remember!),” he said.

“Are you sure you don’t want a replacement?”

When she refused, he made another offer.

“We’d like to offer you all desserts-on the house!”

Well my family never met a dessert they didn’t like and they were thrilled with this customer service gesture.

“And what kind would you like?’ He asked, looking at my husband and me.

“Oh no. We didn’t even eat here,” I said apologetically. “We just came in to see them for a few minutes.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “You are here now. What can I bring you?”

—

And that dining moment-at The Cattle Company restaurant in Beaumont, Texas-became the standard by which we measured all other customer service experiences.

And no one has ever matched them.

Until now.

Fast-forward three or four years and 6,000 miles to last Tuesday, November 17-the night of our 2nd anniversary.

We chose Carn & Vino in Catanzaro Lido-and if that name sounds familiar to you, it is because I’ve written of them before.

The restaurant has more elegance and class than any restaurant I’ve been to in southern Italy and the chef is among the most creative I’ve seen-anywhere.

But Tuesday night, I did not choose wisely.

Among the list of primi plates was a cocoa pasta dish, made with Gorgonzola cheese and topped with shredded black truffles.

Although I wasn’t sure if I liked truffles, with their strong, earthy scent and matching flavor, I thought I’d give it a try.

Now I know.

I don’t like truffles.

I picked at the plate and with the antipasto we’d shared and the quickly-diminishing bottle of wine, I was fine.

The owner stopped by the table.

“You didn’t like it?” He asked me.

My husband jumped in to help. “It was really just the truffles. They are too strong for her. She just didn’t choose well.”

Thanks, honey … .

The owner took my plate.

A few minutes later he returned.

“The chef is making you something else,” he told me.

“Oh no,” I insisted. “I’m ok. I’m not even hungry anymore.”

About that time, my husband asked him about the dessert options.

He chose homemade tiramisu. I chose panna cotta with frutti di bosco topping.

We finished our desserts and proceeded to the front of the restaurant.

“The desserts were compliments of the chef,” the owner told us.

We chatted briefly with the chef, thanked him profusely and left.

In the car my husband looked at the receipt and noticed that not only had the chef offered dessert, but the owner had removed my plate from the bill.

We were shocked.

We had finally found a restaurant whose customer service rivals our favorite steak house back home in Texas, and we found it in the most unusual place.

In another favorite steak house … in our new backyard.

Have you had any good customer service stories lately? Please share!

I know, I know … it seems too early to think about Holiday gifts but I’m sure everywhere you look there are Christmas trees and nativity scenes, or maybe that is just here in Italy? They get ready for Christmas so early here, it is like Thanksgiving doesn’t even exist. It is like, they have skipped it entirely.

The truth of the matter is, it isn’t too early to be thinking about that perfect gift. Christmas is just six weeks away-six weeks!-and while I can’t speak for the travelers in your life, I can offer these five ideas to get you going.

photo credit: alancleaver_2000

1. Travel Gift Certificates

Frequent travelers love nothing more than traveling and when it is on somebody else’s dime, well that is the equivalent to having our own little private island holiday wrapped in bacon.

You know what I mean.

If your favorite traveler likes to cruise, check out Cruise Brothers, or consider Bed and Breakfast.com or CityPass for frequent domestic travelers.

2. Lightweight Luggage Scale

I wrote about the Travelon luggage scale last year, but I love this baby so much it is worth the repeat. This is an ideal stocking stuffer or inexpensive gift that I guarantee the traveler in your life will love, especially as airlines increase their Scrooge-like policies on luggage weight and carry-ons.

3. In-Flight Comfort

Speaking of Mr. Airline Scrooge, many of them now charge for blankets and since you don’t want your favorite traveler shivering-or sniffling from using a germ-infected blanket-why not hook them up with one. While you are at it, go ahead and think about other comfort items such as neck pillows, a lumbar pillow or ear plugs. Word to the wise: Be careful of choosing products that are too heavy or bulky for your traveler to take with them.

4. Books, Books, Books

Ok, this seems to be in direct contradiction to what I said above about weight, but if the traveler on your list is about to visit a new destination, why not get them a book set in that location? If your traveler is heading to southern Italy, for example, try In Etna’s Shadow by Karen Landes or My Cousin the Saint by Justin Catanoso. Also keep in mind that while hard cover books make nicer gifts, paperbacks are a traveler’s best friend.

5. Memories

Whether you are buying for a full-fledged travel writer-in which case, check out this list at Travel Writer’s Exchange-or a traveler who likes to document his voyages, notebooks, journals, pens and memory cards are always a good bet!

What other gift ideas do you have for frequent travelers?

I wonder what Robin has going on today at My Melange.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

* The Amazon links are affiliate links.

I’ve spent the last few days honing my tour guiding skills, pushing the limits of where I’ll normally drive in Calabria and being an interpreter and translator for two of my closest friends who are here visiting from Orlando.

With all of the happy friend-vibes running through my veins, I figured there was no better time than now to write about my friends-and no better place, than in this column.

Like my southern Italy pal, Saretta of Amid the Olive Trees said in one of her very first blog posts, “food happens.” And, that it does, Sara. That is why all I’ve done with my friends since they got here … was eat.

To lose these newly-placed kilos, I should turn to Linda of Ciao Chow Linda and try out her Calabrian jarred green tomatoes or her pepper jelly … that’s not fattening … is it? And about the chocolate zucchini cake? What? They are vegetables!

My real-life blogging friend, Andrea of Andrea Unplugged is taking her newly married status seriously. She has posted two new recipes in the last few weeks-one for a chicken, biscuits and gravy casserole and another for a light mac and cheese.

Brooke of Everyday Bailey is taking a look at things to come with her daughter, Rachel while Erin of Fully Alive … Ready to Smile is making a mess of her own in the kitchen.

My virtual friend Emma of How to Italy is back to blogging, while Abigail of Inside the Travel Lab has quietly announced a break.

Melanie of Italofile recently posted October events throughout Italy, Jessica at Why Go Italy listed the best Italy expat blogs in the travel industry and Judy Witts of Over a Tuscan Stove was recently published in Travel + Leisure Magazine. Way to go, Judy!

And speaking of writing …

Linda of Milanese Masala urged bloggers to sign the petition in support of freedom of the press in Italy, something I was just discussing with my husband since his friend was recently banned from Facebook in Italy for posting negative comments about Berlu.

And that is hard not to do.

If you are in bella Italia, enjoy this beautiful weather we are having! Everyone else … Buon Weekend!

I first started visiting Calabria on a regular basis in the summer of 2003 … just five months after the US invaded Iraq. It was a time in America where people who publicly opposed the war were shamed, intimidated and shunned and I’m not the only person who bit my tongue when talk turned to the war.

But here in Calabria, it was different.

Peace flags pronouncing “PACE” hung from balconies and adorned doorways … they were even plastered on market handbags and t-shirts. And I wanted one.

photo credit: steve p2008

I searched desperately for one of those cheap purses I could proudly tote in the US, stating “pace” to non-Italian speakers while secretly denouncing the war.

But I was too late. The Calabrians beat me to them.

I think of this today, on Peace One Day, a day established 10 years ago by Jeremy Gilley to document his efforts to create a universal ceasefire and non-violence day. A day that was unanimously adopted by the UN in 2001, a day that is told through film, education, music and soccer.

And through us.

According to Jeremy

“We want to reach 3 billion people with the message of Peace Day by 2012, and we are working with governments, the UN system, non-governmental organisations, schools and corporations to achieve that; but ultimately it is your support that will help make it a reality. As Ahmad Fawzi (now Director of News Media at the UN) said at our launch in 1999, ‘It is the peoples of this world who can create peace.’”

And, I’m just doing my little part to help out.

To get more information about Peace One Day, visit the website,  purchase the Day After Peace DVD, donate money or pledge to take action.

You can even buy Peace One Day t-shirts, posters and books. I just don’t see one of those rainbow “Pace” purses. But who knows, maybe he’ll add it to his collection by 2010.

Happy Peace One Day!