My Bella Vita was selected to be part of this program sometime last year but it is only the last month or so that our group has come alive.

The latest labor of love has been a new Squidoo page dedicated to world travel with excerpts and feeds from all of our sites.

You can read about fighting fires in Laos, visit a fish market in Mumbai or even follow naked men around the City of Lights as you travel the world with the LP bloggers.

So when you get a chance, visit the World Travel Squidoo page and visit some of my new friends. But I have to warn you, their sites are pretty addictive. It took me two hours to write this post because I got carried away to Vienna, then Mexico to Kosovo and then … ahhh … . You get the picture.

Buon Viaggio!

Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip to Calabria or southern Italy.

Photo: Memic

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Yea … that’s four. I never was good wit da math.

In an interesting twist, Tripbase contacted many of the bloggers who participated in this meme and with permission, compiled our posts into a series of free travel ebooks.

And the books are now available.

You can download your FREE copies of the Best Kept Travel Secrets Ebooks here and start learning about secret places all over the world in posts written by some of the most-traveled bloggers on the Internet.

Possibly the best part of this is that for every book that is downloaded, Tripbase will donate $1.00 to Charity: Water, a non-profit organization that delivers clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

In fact, Charity: Water is a pretty dynamic organization. Did you know that nearly one billion people in the world-that is one in eight of us-don’t have access to clean drinking water and that just $20 will provide one person clean water for 20 years?

Think of how much we can do with these books.

Here’s how you can help!

1. Tripbase is donating $1.00 per downloaded ebook, so click this link and download your books.

2. Instead of forwarding the books to your friends, send them this link and ask them to download the books themselves so their downloads will be counted in the total.

3. Share this post with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and any other social networking methods you know.

Enjoy your free travel secrets ebooks and thank you for helping me help Tripbase help Charity: Water.

Be sure to see what travel tips Robin has today.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

Traveling to Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip to Calabria or southern Italy.

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***

Marianna Giuditta reminds me of mothers I grew up around in my New Jersey neighborhood. It makes sense, since so many of them were descendants of folks from Calabria, this region in the toe of Italy’s boot. Marianna even moves around the kitchen like they did—a tigress going in for the kill.

“The pig is the meat of Calabria,” she tells me, hacking away at a chunk of pork and tossing big fatty pieces of it into a pot to start off her sugo Calabrese.

Cooking by Marianna’s side is taking the straight shot into the rustic, generous spirit of the region.

Her classroom is a hilltop cottage, what around here is called a casetta. It’s surrounded by lemon and fig trees, a chicken coop, tiny gardens where Tropea’s famous red onions, herbs, chard, fava beans, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, and melons grow.

There’s an outdoor woodburning stove. It’s a typical Calabrese set-up: a slapped-together country getaway townies build to have a place to grow their own food and cook great fresh meals.

Marianna’s evening class is a whirlwind of picking vegetables from the garden and then working on a huge outside table, doing everything from chopping onions to making meatballs that go into pasta al forno. Her husband Franco pours prosecco and adds fresh-picked strawberries to our glasses.

We nibble on pecorino paired with the garden’s fava beans—a divine combo.

While the tomato sauce bubbles along, Marianna teaches me how to make fileja, Calabria’s signature pasta. It looks a little like what back in Jersey was called cavatelli, pronounced gava-deels by those moms of my past.

The sunset turns the sky pink and orange. It’s dark out by the time class is finished. Loads of stars. We dine outside by candlelight, and when Marianna breaks out the limoncello, we realize it’s two in the morning.

The Cooking in Tropea school is the creation of Tania Pascuzzi, an Australian-Italian whose parents were born in Calabria and then emigrated to Melbourne. Tania, who grew up around delicious Calabrian food, came to live in Tropea after fourteen years of high-pressure work as a New York stylist. She’s a sophisticated woman in her forties, the type who looks chic even when she’s wearing faded jeans.

The cooking program includes a food tour of Tropea, where with Tania by my side, everyone treats me like I’m part of la famiglia. This is hot red pepper territory. They’re dried and tied up in garlands all over the place. They’re minced up and made into n’duja, a spread that sizzles on the tongue or has me choking and gasping, depending on intensity.

And now for the giveaways!

Susan’s publisher, Travelers’ Tales has offered My Bella Vita readers, Facebook Fans and newsletter subscribers four Italian titles to help them prepare for their vacations to Italy.

Here are the details:

- Leave a comment on **THIS** post between today, Monday May 10 and Thursday, May 20 at 5:00 PM Italy time for a chance to win a copy of Susan’s book, 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go.

- Retweet, repost on Facebook or otherwise show social networking love to this post by Thursday, May 20 at 5:00 PM Italy time and tell me you did so either in the comments, via Facebook or Twitter and you’ll be entered into a separate drawing for Travelers’ Tales Tuscany: True Stories.

- 30 Days in Italy: True Stories of Escape to the Good Life and Travelers’ Tales  Italy: True Stories of Life on the Road will each be given away to fans and subscribers. One book will go to a random Facebook Fan and the other to a random newsletter subscriber. If you aren’t a fan or a newsletter subscriber, you should quietly take care of that here and here before next Thursday, May 20.

Books will be shipped anywhere in the world, so get going and in bocca al lupo!

Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip to Calabria or southern Italy.

Photo: Agnese Sanvito and Tania Pascuzzi

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If you are a regular reader, you might have noticed My Bella Vita’s newest series, Experiencing Italy, written by guest travel bloggers and published every Wednesday here on MBV.

What you might not know, is that there are seven other travel blogging series rotating in the blogosphere on seven other sites.

As I type … .

Lisa at Wanderlust Women’s Travel Dreams is hosting a Sunday Soul series where bloggers write about their favorite way to spend a Sunday alone while Robin of My Melangè is asking bloggers about their favorite French Experience. In fact, I’ve already written on both of those sites … you can hear all about my favorite way to spend a Sunday in Catanzaro Lido or have a glimpse into my life as an expat in Paris.

Mike of Fevered Mutterings is asking what people miss by not traveling, Abi of Cheap Weekend Breaks wants to know about well, cheap weekend breaks, Cecil from Travel Feeder is interested in our favorite city and Danielle from When in Rome Tours wants to hear even more about the bel paese.

photo credit: James Nash (aka Cirrus)

Through the Experiencing Italy series, you’ve already heard from Danielle and Laura and by the end of the series you’ll have heard from the whole group.

But what was really interesting to me, as the group began to take form, brainstorm topics and exchange ideas, was the realization of just how intimate the travel blogging world is. Unknown to me, Laura and Lisa are (gasp!) real-life friends who met on one of Lisa’s trips to the Amalfi Coast. Danielle and Laura are now teaming up for some of their tourism efforts and Mike and Abi are regular twitter friends.

But it doesn’t stop there. Mike, who initiated the round robin-type series idea is a longtime friend of southern Italy’s own, Katja of Driving Like a Maniac and winner of several of the Blogging from the Boot awards I co-hosted earlier this year. Speaking of those awards, my co-host Tina has now set up shop in Puglia and too, has met, that crazy-drivin’ expat, Katja. Mike is planning a trip to Italy this summer and wants to swing by Umbria to meet one of my favorite expats in Italy, Judith, of Think on It!

I was telling all of this to Mike, who echoed my respect for the travel blogging world and at how helpful and generous these bloggers are with their time, ideas and projects.

I feel lucky to be part of this group.

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

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You might have heard about a little blogging contest called Blogging from the Boot, being hosted by yours truly and Tina Ferrari of Tina Tangos. The contest is in full swing, finalists have been selected and voting is now open for the Best Italy Expat Blogging from 2009. (So please go vote!)

During the process of reading submissions and chasing down finalists, I stumbled upon some top-notch travel writing, written by some of my fellow expat in Italy bloggers. I’ve pulled some of my favorites together here for you today.

Enjoy!

Photo by: Scintilla, finalist for Best Expat Photography, 2009

- Danielle of When In Rome Tours tells her story-and the thought process behind the decision-to take 17 of her closest friends and family with her on her Big, Fat, Italian honeymoon and offers a spotlight on Emilia Romagna’s fast cars and slow food.

- Katja of Driving Like a Maniac shares her Roman Holiday-Part I and Part II while discussing the wisdom of wearing the same pair of shoes for the entire trip.

Photo by: Lucia, finalist for Best Expat Photography, 2009

- Laura of Ciao Amalfi! talks about one of her new favorite Sunday traditions-listening to the old men play Bocce ball and offers an up-close-and-personal tour of her backyard … the Amalfi Coast.

- Linda of Milanese Masala writes about learning to love nature in a peaceful Tuscan agriturismo while watching a not-so entertaining game of cat and mouse.

Photo by: Lucia, Finalist for Best Expat Photography, 2009

- Lucia of Dim Sum, Bagels and Crawfish (dang, now I’m hungry!) offers her take on Palermo with kids and talks about discovering Posidonia Sphereoids in Sicily.

- Francesca of Burnt by the Tuscan Sun writes about how much Rome has-or hasn’t-changed in the last 2,000 years, offers travelers tips on tipping and even gets into a little Italian potty humor with her post, A Royal Flush.

While these post highlight great Italy expat travel blogging from 2009, I know I’ve missed some fantastic writing. What were some of your favorite Italy travel posts from 2009? Feel free to leave them in the comments!

I wonder what Robin would say about it … let’s hop on over and see what travel tips she is offering up today.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

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After two weeks of accepting posts, nominations and submissions, the first annual Blogging From the Boot contest is closed for entries. Judges worked all weekend narrowing down the entries, breaking ties and notifying finalists.

And now it is up to you.

The three finalists from each category are listed on the AffordableCallingCards.net website, along with links to their respective blogs and posts. Take your time, read through the posts and click the “VOTE” link below each section to cast your vote for that category.

But I warn you … it won’t be easy.

The judges had a hard time narrowing the entries to three in each category. How, oh how, could I ever vote for just one?

So grab a glass of wine, sit back, relax and read Blogging From the Boot: The Best of 2009

READ ENTRIES AND VOTE HERE!!

Voting is open between now and Friday, February 5, 2010 at 5:00 PM … which just happens to coincide nicely with World Nutella Day!

And speaking of World Nutella Day, one of WND’s co-hosts, Michelle Fabio, of Bleeding Espresso just happened to be one of the judges for the 1st annual Blogging from the Boot contest. I’d like to publicly thank Michelle, along with Georgette Jupe of A New Beginning! Bring it On! and Audra de Falco of That Girl in Italy for judging the contest … so, grazie mille, ragazze!

One of the most enjoyable things for me as a co-host of Blogging from the Boot was getting the chance to work with bloggers I didn’t know well. Although like many Italy expat bloggers I “knew” Tina of Tina Tangos, I hadn’t worked with her on blogging projects until now. For any of you considering teaming up with her on projects, I highly recommend it. She’s a gem to work with and I hope we can join forces again in the future.

And to all of the Italy expat bloggers who entered the contest. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You helped make our first annual blogging contest a success, you educated us about private, maternal issues, shared personal wedding and honeymoon stories  and warned us of potential stalkers … and bankers.

Congratulations to all of the finalists and in bocca al lupo!

Vote Now!

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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.

—

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!

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Over the last few months, My Bella Vita has been washed, scrubbed and dried, and we’ve made a few changes you may not have noticed.

Now we are pulling out the paint.

photo credit: Marshall Astor – Food Pornographer

In the coming weeks we’ll roll out a whole new My Bella Vita-but I need your elbow grease to do it.

You in?

If so, just answer the following five questions-an anonymous survey you can take in 60 seconds or less-and I’ll bring the beer and pizza!

Grazie mille! Feel free to contact me if you have anything else you’d like to say.

I appreciate it.

Photo by Yan Pritzker Photo on Flickr

 
“How do you say that again?”
 
“I thought I’d be fluent by now.”
 
“I’m just not good with languages …”
 
One of the first things expats who move to non-English speaking countries are faced with is the 24-hour language fest-and if you are anything like me, you left your invitation at home.
 
Over the last year negative phrases like these have crept into my consciousness and crowded my mind with self-doubt and insecurities. I. Just. Can’t. Get. It.
 
I mean, don’t get me wrong, I am perfectly conversational in Italian, can understand most people and accents and can basically get by in any situation.
 
But it ain’t purty.
 
Post continues here.
 

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There is nothing like a trip back home … back to the vastness of America’s first national preserve, back to the home of Texaco, TexJoy and Seaport Coffee, back to the birthplace of country music legends Jones, Chestnutt and Byrd.
 
And yes. I am glad to be home.
 
For the last four weeks I’ve been exploring the state capital, visiting our bayou-bound neighbors in the Pelican State and melting in sun-scorched southeast Texas. Seriously, it has been in the high 90s since I arrived and has even hit 111 once or twice. And I thought Calabria was caldo!
 

 
But the weather isn’t the only thing that’s hot here in southeast Texas. One of my Beaumont buddies released his first album Have You Heard? in 2007 and since then, Italian-American singer/songwriter, Damian Giglio has written more than 40 songs and had his music licensed for MTV’s The Hills and The Real World.
 
If you haven’t heard, then don’t fret. You can listen to a sample of Damian’s music, purchase a CD, or follow Damian on Twitter and Facebook.
 
Or maybe laughs and giggles is more your thing? Fellow Kountzite and stand-up comedian Erik Knowles is making headlines in California where he has opened for Sarah Silverman, Pauly Shore and Bobby Lee. He was a finalist at the California Comedy Festival and has performed in comedy clubs throughout California, Arizona and Texas. You can see him live at The Comedy Store in La Jolla, California, check out his clips, follow him on Twitter or visit his Facebook Fan Page.
 

 
In other celebrity news, Sandra Bullock‘s restaurant Bess Bistro is the place to go in the Lone Star capital and has been listed as one of the Top Three Austin experiences by OK Magazine.
 
I partied there last month with Andrea of Andrea Unplugged and although Sandra Bullock might be the restaurant’s shining star, it was the profiteroles that stole the show.
 

 
So here is hoping ya’ll are all staying cool and enjoying your summer! Until next time … buon weekend!
 

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With all of the language learning talk that has been going on around here, I decided to test my skills and head to Lamezia Terme’s finest movie theater to check out Dan Brown‘s latest hit. While I’d love to say I loved Angels and Demons, I just can’t. It is not you, Mr. Hanks … it is me. I just wasn’t ready for that kind of Italian-language only commitment.
 

Photo: Roaring Forties Press

 
However, what I am ready for is Rome’s Angels and Demons: An Insider’s Guide, written by Angela K. Nickerson and photographed by Christine Cantera of Miss Expatria. The guide is just under 50 pages and is a history book of Rome’s best piazzas, churches and obelisks as visualized in the book or seen on the Big Screen. Side notes and travel tips for visitors are included throughout the guide. Download your FREE copy here.
 
In other Italy-related news, Chicago authorities recently found 1,600 stolen Italian artifacts worth an estimated $5-$10 million in a suburban bungalow. Among the loot were ancient Etruscan artifacts that date back to 900 B.C., books and documents written by popes and kings and a handwritten preface to a book that was penned by Mussolini.
 

Photo: Chicago Breaking News Center

 
Elsewhere in the blogosphere … I was recently interviewed by Lulu of Calabrisella Mia where we discussed blogging, writing and finding inspiration. I am also scheduled to be a guest blogger next Friday at City Girl Lifestyle where the site’s owner and I will exchange perspectives on how being an expat has changed us.
 
And speaking of change, I’m heading to Texas on Tuesday to tackle the state capital and be a blushing bridesmaid in a friend’s wedding, spend some much needed recoop time with my family and get away from this grueling southern Italian heat (because everyone knows how breezy southeast Texas summers are).
 
So starting Tuesday, I’ll update My Bella Vita three times a week. Next week, I’ll post Tuesday (because those are sacred travel tip days), Thursday (to wrap up the Saint series) and Friday … just because. After next week, I’ll post Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays through the end of July.
 
In other blogging news, Marryann of Finding La Dolce Vita has called it quits. Interestingly enough however, one of her last posts was still available through my Reader. Given her recent departure from the blogosphere and Joe of Italyville’s touching post regarding his friend’s decision, I found it fitting to include some of her post here.
 

FRIENDS: Will say “hello.”
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Will give you a big hug and a kiss.
 
FRIENDS: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Call your parents mom and dad.
 
FRIENDS: Will eat at your dinner table and leave.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Will spend hours there, talking, laughing and just being together.
 
FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.
 
FRIENDS: Are for awhile.
ITALIAN FRIENDS: Are for life.

 
Thank you for your contributions to the blogosphere over these last few years, Maryann. I join Joe and your other blogging buddies in wishing you the best on your new ventures.
 
Buon Weekend!
 

 
Those of you from the major metropolis of Kountze might have heard this headline before …
 
“Moore n’ more about People, Places and Things”
 
by Buddy Moore
 

photo credit: theogeo

 
“Moore n’ more” was my dear ole Dad’s legendary headline column. He wrote it over a thousand times and mentioned tens of thousands of people, places and things that were important to his readers.
 
With the support of my mother and sister, I’d like to continue his column by bringing it to you … right here on My Bella Vita. Starting today, “Moore n’ more” will be published every second Friday of the month, ’til we run out of people, places or things to talk about. And I suspect that’ll take awhile.
 
To kick things off, I’m going to answer some questions. Stellina emailed me a few weeks ago and wanted to know what the heck was up with the PdP. Don’t you remember her? The PdP was our Polish neighbor who stole my dog, tried to steal my husband and repeatedly insulted my Americainzed Italian in public. Well, she eventually got evicted, leaving Viale Isonzo and yours truly, PdP’less.
 
Carole D. has mentioned how she loves stories about my father-in-law, that carne-cookin’, pasta-boilin’ scrooge who whips up three-course meals and gets grumpy when all plates aren’t wiped clean. Well, Carole D, il suocero is just fine. He’s still cooking and I’m not still eating-not enough for him, anyway. But I found a way to put a stop to those comments. From now on, when he says, “Tu mangi poco,” or “you eat so little,” I respond with a heartfelt “Ahhh, grazie!” After the first two of three times … he got the message. He certainly doesn’t want to encourage me not to eat.
 

 
Speaking of eating, Judy Witts, Tuscan-chef extraordinaire and long-time Italy-based expat has published her first cookbook, Secrets from My Tuscan Kitchen. The handwritten recipes and blank note pages make a perfect addition to any Italofile’s collection … and the dishes? Well, let’s just say her husband isn’t the only Italian husband who approves.
 
Another new book has hit the shelves and this one, too, gets our stamp of approval. Traveller’s Calabria, the first and only English-language guidebook dedicated entirely to Calabria, has hit the shelves and I can’t wait to see it. Lara Dunston and her globe-trottin’, camera-toting hubby, Terry Carter, have visited more than 60 countries around the world and I’m happy to report they’ve included our bed and breakfast in catanzaro as a recommended place to stay in Calabria.
 
In other travel news, two of my favorite American-based Italy bloggers are heading to the Bel Paese. Robin, my Travel Tip Tuesday counterpart, is set for her two-week stint in the Eternal City, while Jessica of Why Go Italy is busy planning her month-long hiatus. I’d like to wish them both safe travels.
 
And I’d like to wish you, un buon weekend!
 

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Overused cliches, “when it rains-it pours,” “between a rock and a hard place,” and “every cloud has a silver lining,” were born from seeds of truth that grew into expressions people pick and use as needed.
 
But I always thought, “if it rains-it pours … .” Who cares?
 
In the end, you still get wet!
 
How wrong I was.
 
The last ten days have been the most emotional days I’ve had since my dad died in February-possibly because the protective shock barrier is wearing thin or maybe because of the upcoming holiday I’m dreading so much or maybe just because … .
 
Then smack dab in the middle of the rain, it started pouring and I became a blogless blogger.

photo credit: smellyknee

 
My old domain name was stripped and I found myself figuratively between a rock and a hard place. I could either pay Siteground-the company I had bought my domain name from-$199 or I would lose the site.
 
Although my domain name account at Siteground was listed as expiring in February, 2010-they pulled it, altered “my account section” information and blocked me from their site.
 

photo credit: russelljsmith

 
Pay $199 and let them get away with it=Rock
 
Move to a new domain, lose all of my incoming links, subscribers and loyal readers=Hard Place
 
The next day Siteground sent me an email that said, “It doesn’t say 2010 (in your account section) and it never did.”
 
I have little experience dealing with companies who outright lie to their customers but I didn’t feel like giving into their ransom was a choice I could live with …
 
Since I couldn’t imagine the universe conspiring against me at a time like this I searched for the silver lining.
 

photo credit: Aaron Escobar™

 
- Should I let go of My Bella Vita?
 
- Should I start a new site focusing exclusively on living and traveling in Calabria?
 
- Should I try to merge the old My Bella Vita with a new Calabrian-focused site?
 
What should I do?
 
Twelve hours of Internet searching, a half dozen espressos and just a few temper tantrums later here I am at my-bellavita.com.
 
In the end I just couldn’t let go of My Bella Vita and merging my personal anecdotes of Calabrese in-laws, hysterical neighbors and old Calabrian-wives’ tales with a professional Calabria travel website just didn’t seem to fit.
 
The silver lining I did discover, however, was the inspiration to create a new Calabria travel site that I’ll share with you in the future.
 
So thank you, loyal readers, for sticking with me through all of this. Please update your bookmarks and feeds to reflect the new domain name – http://my-bellavita.com.
 
In the end, I think I’ll come out ok. But if I don’t, I’m sure there is another overused, ineffective expression out there that will fit the bill.
 
Grazie mille!
 

It has been said printer’s ink runs deep, but it is really more than that. I think printer’s ink is hereditary. It’s genetics. It is stamped into our DNA and no matter how hard we try to fight it … it begs to be free.

At least that was the case with me.

I’ve said before my father was a small-town newspaper journalist, a short story writer and a storyteller. He could spin a tall Texas tale quicker than a hurricane could hit Houston or have our entire town in a tizzy trying to decipher his latest scavenger hunt clue.

He was fun and he passed that on to me.

photo credit: ArTaide

I don’t talk about my freelance writing much on this blog. Yes, it is scribbled on the right-hand side over there and I’ve received a few emails from curious readers and some requests from potential clients but I don’t really get into the details much and I’ve never shared those other links.

So today is the day.

When I am not brainstorming travel tips or trying to make sense of these crazy Calabrians, I’m working on other exciting assignments.

Because of the ghost-writing nature of some projects I can’t share links or details, but over the last year I’ve been busy scripting children’s stories for an overseas book publishing company, working on appendices for ESL books for children, developing newsletters for a corporate training client, blogging for an international card company and writing historical fiction short stories for a non-profit organization-that I got to work with my father on! I have also had several articles published in Panama Q Magazine, from romancing 1950′s style in Bocas del Toro to  harvesting coffee beans in the hills of Boquette.

photo credit: Otäcon

And there are a few online articles, as well.

According to the editor,  Five of the World’s Best-Kept Secret Destinations was one of the most popular articles on their site in 2008. How flattering. I think it is only because we love to dream about visiting places like Yogyakarta, Indonesia or Stranja, Bulgaria or well, read the article-you might have heard of that last place … once or twice.

Looking for a place to get away from it all? Think about heading to one of the Seven Best Hidden Beaches in the World or spend some alone time in one of the Six Least-Densely Populated Nations on Earth.

If you prefer to stay in the US, then get a glimpse of Six National Parks You’ve Probably Never Visited, then kick back and relax in one of the Five Charming (and yet Still Under-Appreciated) US Cities.

Have extra airport time on your next vacation? Then learn How to Maximize Time on Your Next Layover or get the scoop on Five Places You Can Become a Coffee Snob.

Getting married? Well Venue is Everything and figure out how you can Save Money With an (Almost) Hometown Honeymoon.

Whew … I know. That was long. But if you are anything like me, you’ll be wanting to set sail-or hop on a plane, or plan a roadtrip or get in gear and walk to some of these fabulous places. But instead I am stuck here in southern Italy with nothing to do but drink limoncello and walk on the beach … oh yea, and get back to work.

If you are interested in a career in freelance writing, then head over to Bleeding Espresso where she is answering readers’ freelance writing questions all week.

 
When I last left My Bella Vita I was rushing to the airport in what I hoped would be a superfluous trip to Texas where I’d eagerly meet my family at the hospital, encourage my mother and sister and aid in my father’s slow, but inevitable recovery.  I convinced myself somewhere over the Atlantic that my trip would be a homecoming of sorts and that we would all laugh about how Dad had given us a scare, but had once again pulled through.
 
However, this time it was not meant to be.
 
I arrived at the hospital at 4:30 on the afternoon of Friday, February 13 … my dad passed away an hour later.
 
What transpired over the next few days was a muddled rush of numbed emotions, crushing moments of clarity and difficult decisions no child wants to make. I am proud of the way my mother, sister and I united, agreeing on every aspect of the services we would hold to honor my father’s life and legacy. Our extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins were unbelievably supportive and went above what could have possibly been expected of them.
 
The Kountze community, KISD and especially the teachers and administrators where my mother is employed at Kountze Elementary School outdid themselves, and my admiration and respect for them has skyrocketed.
 
Oh yes. Dear old Dad would be proud.
 

 
He would have been proud of my sister and me for collaborating on his obituary and for mustering the courage to share our favorite memories with the standing-room only crowd that gathered on that rainy Tuesday afternoon.
 
He would have been proud of the articles that were written about him, from Editors and Publishers Magazine to the Beaumont Enterprise, Silsbee Bee, Hardin County News and Orange County Record.
 
He would be proud of his family, his community, his journalist buddies and all of the people who traveled long distances by air and land to show their respects.
 
He would be proud that none of us can remember a time – politics aside – when he muttered a negative comment about another person. 
 

 
A friend told me that losing a parent is like losing a limb … you will always know it is missing, but you will always feel like it is there. I know he is gone and I feel his absence in more ways than he could have ever imagined.
 
I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly thank my virtual and “real life” friends for your emails, comments, Facebook messages, letters, phone calls and cards. Although I haven’t yet responded to each of you, I did see your messages of support and I felt your thoughts and prayers each day.
 
Thank you for bearing with me over this past month. It is good to be back.
 

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photo credit: euthman

 
With the Italian-frenzy that is bouncing throughout the Internet these days, missing a blog post here or a news item there wouldn’t be hard to do.
 
So, to help you out, I’ve rounded up some of my favorite posts from the week and included them here for your leisurely weekend reading pleasure.
 
Enjoy! (you can thank me later)
 
1. Head to Joe’s and weigh in on whether the New York Knicks are stereotyping young, Italian athlete Danilo Gallinari or whether they are just showing him the love.
 
2. Read up on World Nutella Day and see how you can get involved.
 
3. So, who do you think drinks for wine – Americans or Italians? Get the read deal at Bleeding Espresso.
 

photo credit: daBinsi

 
4. See what Babyroma’s been eating as her mom, Kataroma deciphers the differences between Australia and Italy.
 
5. Get an insider’s view on her favorite fountain in Rome at NYC/Caribbean Ragazza’s blog.
 
6. Curb that sweet tooth with Frutto della  Passione’s chocolate pasta. Best of two worlds, I’ll say!
 

photo credit: André-Pierre

 
7. Visit Italophile.com and get the scoop on the latest social networking sites – created just for us Italophiles!
 
8. Candied carrots – who knew? Visit Alex’s Blog from Italy and get the dish on this and other Italian candied specialties.
 
9. Think you know Italian food? Visit Italian American Girl who is Saying NO to Bogus Italian Food.
 
and finally …
 
10. Check out the hottest Italian soccer players at Why Go Italy, Part I *and* Part II. Grazie mille, Jessica!
 

 
Buon Weekend!
 

 
All of the Christmas talk around here has me decking halls, caroling carols and rockin’ around the Christmas tree. Well … the decorations.
 
What?
 
Doesn’t everybody?
 
And all of this good cheer is just too much to keep to myself. So today I’m gonna borrow a theme from Bleeding Espresso. I hope you all will play along and
 

Blog my Blog

 
Here’s how it works:
 
1. I’ll kick it off with a question.
 
2. The first commenter answers my question and leaves a new question for the next commenter. It can be a general question, fill in the blank sentence, a “tell me about a time when,” etc.
 
3. The next commenter answers that question and asks a new question for the following visitor.
 
4. And so on and so forth.
 
5. This is a family blog folks (or, well … it could be) so let’s keep it clean. My mama comes here.
 
6. In a situation where two commenters have answered the same question and you’re next to answer, please either choose one of the questions or answer both; if you don’t answer both, you are free to pass along the question you didn’t use or come up with a new one. Apparently this was an issue at Bleeding Espresso. Thanks for the heads up!
 

And now the first question …

What is one thing on your Christmas list

you really hope Santa brings?

 
And you are up!
 

 
Who by Fire. This book has been blazing the blogosphere lately, with giveaways, author interviews and guest posts popping up at many of my favorite sites. The book sounds fantastic – there is crime, there is love, there is family … but is there forgiveness? Well, I don’t know. I haven’t read the book yet, either.
 
But thanks to the charismatic young author, Diana Spechler – I have to say young, she is younger than me and I am young, right? Right? - you can win a copy!
 
As a recent winner of the NaNoWriMo challenge, I am intrigued by the writing process of published authors, so after a few polite email exchanges, Diana let me quiz her on her writing.
 
Our interview is below.
 

But first … the giveaway!

 

Just leave a comment – any comment! – on this post by midnight (Calabria time) Wednesday, December 17.

 

One winner will be randomly selected and announced on Thursday, December 18.

 

The giveaway is open to anyone with a US address, but I have an idea for you overseas folks.
 

1) Enter the contest and use a family member’s or friend’s address in the US

2) Enter the contest and if you win, send a bonus holiday gift to a friend or family member in the US

3) Enter anyway. I’ll be in Texas for Christmas and since I am feeling the holiday spirit, I’ll mail it to you myself!

 

And now … Diana Spechler on her writing process.
 
What got you interested in writing?
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing. I was writing stories and poems from the time I could pick up a pencil. Eventually, I gave up poetry. I was a terrible poet.
 

photo credit: Mike Willis

 
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
As soon as I was no longer a student, I started calling myself a writer, because I wasn’t sure what else to call myself. But I was self-conscious. When you say, “I’m a writer,” people ask, “What have you written?” and when you have to say, “Lots of things, but none are available for public consumption,” well…it’s embarrassing. Once I sold my novel, I became more comfortable with calling myself a writer. Now I call myself an author, which feels like a promotion.
 
How do you develop plots and characters? Do you use a formula or do they evolve as you write?
Characters come first. Always. I’m inspired by people I meet. I love quirks and tics. I love strange accents. I love people who use big words out of context. I love when someone’s pants are too tight or when someone has the loudest laugh in the room. I love the lies we tell one another. I love when someone says the wrong thing. I love looking at two people and knowing that Person One likes Person Two more than Person Two likes Person One. My fascination with character is endless, so character development comes much more easily to me than plot. I find plot painfully difficult. I was surprised when I finished writing Who By Fire that I had written such a plot-heavy novel. In the first few drafts, there was no plot.
 

photo credit: Kables

 
What books have influenced you the most?
It’s hard to say, but a couple of my favorite novels at the moment are Mystery Ride by Robert Boswell and Rules For Saying Goodbye by Katherine Taylor.
 
If you had to do it again, what would you change about the writing process you underwent when writing Who by Fire?
Please don’t make me do it again!
 
The whole time I was writing Who By Fire, I was thinking, Never again will I write a multiple-vision narration. Never again will I write about people who don’t want me to research them (Orthodox Jewish men). But avoiding particular challenges doesn’t make the writing process any easier—new challenges inevitably arise. My second novel is causing me just as much grief as Who By Fire caused me, but for different reasons.
 
What do you find most challenging as a writer?
It’s difficult to make a living as a writer. I have to work other jobs and squeeze the writing in, which is incredibly frustrating.
 
What advice do you have for other writers?
Be open to constructive criticism. Don’t be afraid to throw out twenty, fifty, or even two hundred pages; writing is really just lots of re-writing.
 
That is great advice, Diana and I want to thank you for your candid thoughts on the difficulties and challenges of being a writer.
 
Now the rest of you – enter this contest. If you can’t wait until next week, you can buy the book now. Right here.
 
In bocca al lupo!
 

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With only two days to go, NaNoWriMo‘ers are working hard to finish their novels … skipping meals, forgetting their children, forgoing TWITTER?!? What kind of craziness is that?
 
I’m bouncing against the 45,000 word mark. Can I do it?
 
Can I dig deep into my writer’s soul and find 5,000 more words so I can conquer this novel writing monster of a contest once and for all?
 

photo credit: Michael Cornelius

 
Well, if I take all of the words I’ve written for this post and have my main character say them, I’d be 80 words closer. Hmmm … now I just have to figure out Why the heck she’d say ‘em.
 
I’m off to NaNo, folks. Ya’ll have a great Saturday!
 
Have you ever participated in NaNoWriMo? How did you do? If you are participating this year do you think you will hit 50K by tomorrow night?
 

 
Oh yes. This little shot of java will seep into your blood stream, tickle the tips of your typing fingers and flutter your heart with the greatest of ease. Coffee is an art.
 
No, seriously.
 
Coffee is an art. Check this out.
 

photo credit: antjeverena

 
And this.
 

photo credit: ~ggvic~

 
I was Stumbling the Internet last week and found this page, with over 100 Stumble Reviews (that’s a whole lot!) and 15 coffee art images. I’ll give you three guesses which of these three pictures I took.
 
Ahem.
 
Although in an online writing course I took last spring, I was encouraged to write 300 words about coffee. And writing is art, too.
 
So, here’s the snippit I wrote about a caffè bar in downtown Catanzaro, Calabria …
 
Enjoy.
 

Although it is only a three minute journey through the dark, humid tunnel that transports commuters to downtown Catanzaro, the pint-sized cable car pauses to rejuvenate and collect steam for the final upward battle. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to the brilliant sunlight, as I am ushered forward with the hurried steps of strangers speaking foreign words.
 
I take a moment to soak in my surroundings, and am drawn to the bar immediately to the right of the cable car station. The Condorelli Bar, one of two in the Catanzaro district, creates the creamiest caffe macchiato baci in the area, and the rich fragrance seeps into the street and tempts me with the delicate mixture of coffee and chocolate.
 
Although the area is closed to motorized traffic, I pause on the grey pebbled pavement to allow a young couple on a Vespa-like cycle to pass. Wind gushes through the cold street, and I stuff my hands further into my black wool coat to compensate for the drop.
 
My mouth begins to water as I enter the bar and am greeted with a friendly “buon giorno” from the barista. I look through the glass encasement and see freshly baked cornetti in all tastes and sizes … nutella, hazelnut, cream. Upon testing my will-power to the utmost degree, I order coffee, and wait at the bar with the locals. My miniature macchiato is topped with foamy, off-white cream and is sprinkled with powered cocoa and drizzling warm chocolate.
 
There is barely room for the spoon of sugar needed to complete the masterpiece. For a brief moment my eyes engulf the frothy liquid, until the aroma drifts upward and presses my patience. After thirty seconds, the coffee is gone, the chocolate is finished, and all that remains is a slightly stained porcelain cup and silver-plated spoon.
 
And now … on with the day.

 
Since we are on the subject of jumping java … what is your favorite? Do you prefer espresso Italiano or a tall mug of America’s mud?
 

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