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!

Whoever chose December-the final month of the year-as the time to celebrate the holidays, buy and wrap presents and cook for family and friends probably didn’t own their own business-and relaunch their website during the week of Italy’s first festa of the holiday season.

I’m just saying … the holidays could come at a better time of the year.

Photo: Viktor Kaposi

Oh, but who I am to Scrooge-up your holiday season? Forget about end-of-the-year invoicing, new year’s goals and the most generous of all holiday gifts-taxes.

The holidays have arrived, and that, in conjunction with the My Bella Vita relaunch, is why we’re giving away ItalianPod101 lessons, an 8X10 Italy photo of your choice and a free one-day custom itinerary.

Last week I asked my husband how he planned to contribute to the new site’s relaunch.

His response?

“I have an old pair of shoes!”

I mean, if you are into the shoes, then come on over and get them. Please.

Otherwise, read on.

THE FINAL MY  BELLA VITA RELAUNCH GIVEAWAY:

A romantic weekend for two at Il Cedro Bed and Breakfast in Catanzaro, Italy and a Taste of Calabria welcome basket, complete with Calabrian specialties of the season and drinks.*

See details below. And now, on with the column …

With Christmas breathing down my neck and an international trip on the horizon, I’m lucky to find 20 minutes a day for my Mari Winsor Pilates. And in keeping with the good-will of the season and the new FTC rules for bloggers-I don’t get money if you click on that link.

Wink. Wink.

Speaking of time-consuming projects that pay, I was recently asked to update the Southern Italy section for DK Eyewitness Guide, Italy 2011. I’m thrilled with the gig and anxious to learn even more about my adopted area of the bel paese.

In keeping with the Calabria travel writer theme, Lara Dunston, travel writer extraordinaire recently asked her blog readers to share their worst hotel experience. Her post was prompted by a recent stay at a five-star hotel** where she and her husband returned to their room on their first night to find urine-soaked sheets and comforter. (Gah!)

photo credit: karpov the wrecked train

People responded to her call for worst hotel experiences.

Erica of Travel Blissful reported smoky rooms that lack hotel-room essentials, Tess of Luxury Beach Escapes spoke of language mishaps-in a perfectly normal and charming way-and Mary Jo of Suzhou Mojo told of having a man sleep on her balcony and a literal hole-in-the-wall of the bathroom that led into the hallway.

And their stories got me thinking.

As bed and breakfast owners, my husband and I focus on the details of the guest experience and do everything in our power to make it positive. But some hotels don’t.

My worst hotel experience was at a bed and breakfast in the mountains of Calabria my husband and I chose for a weekend getaway. The room was musty, dusty and rusty, the towels were paper thin and tearing at the seams and the bathroom was tiny-even by Italian standards. Instead of a king-size bed, they’d pushed two twins together forcing us to sleep separately-newlyweds that we were-or fall into the crack between the beds.

The room was icy cold and they only offered housekeeping if you left your keys with them, a fact they didn’t tell us when we checked in.

However, it wasn’t a horrible experience because we spent time walking through the mountain trails, warming up by the fireplace in the sitting room and eating at the hotel’s surprisingly fabulous restaurant. I’m curious about your worst hotel experiences …

But now back to that giveaway!

There are five ways you can enter the drawing to win the romantic weekend at Il Cedro Bed and Breakfast and Taste of Calabria welcome basket.

1. Leave a comment on this post detailing your worst hotel experience.

2. Retweet this post. Be sure to include “@mybellavita” so I’ll see your tweet.

3. Subscribe to my RSS (either in a reader or via email) and leave me a comment telling me you are a new subscriber.

4. Post this on Facebook and either leave a comment on the My Bella Vita Facebook page or tell me in the comments.

5. If you do all four, you’ll receive a bonus entry-just for kicks!

Contest ends Thursday, December 17 at 5:00 PM, Italy time. Winner will be selected in a random drawing.

In bocca al lupo and Happy Holidays!

* The fine print: The romantic weekend at Il Cedro B&B is based on availability and must be booked within one year of notification. There are no refunds and prize can not be combined with other offers or promotions. The Taste of Calabria welcome basket accompanies the room nights and can not be shipped separately.

** The hotel pictured is NOT the hotel where Lara and her husband found yellow sheets!

I have exciting news coming up in the next few weeks regarding My Bella Vita, Il Cedro and some new products and services that are tailor-made to southern Italy travelers. I’m excited-and I can’t wait to share. Another thing I couldn’t wait to tell you about is the overwhelming support I’ve had from friends in the blogosphere who are in the travel industry. They’ve sent me emails, brainstormed with me on Skype and offered their two centissimi that was worth much more than I could have paid them in sterling, euros or even that pitifully low dollar. And even with all of the encouragement they’ve been giving me, they are still busy as elves at Christmastime.

Photo: Haven in Paris

Megan of Bella Vita Italia recently crossed the border with her blog and wrote about a luxury apartment rental agency, Haven in Paris, that was opened by an American in 1993. Megan is also staying busy planning weddings and events in Italy and she and her husband just celebrated their wedding anniversary. Auguri!

In other Italy travel consulting news, Madeline of Italy: Beyond the Obvious recently published an article on ItalianKids.com. In her article, Madeline describes the best restaurants in Torino for tiny tots and divides them into categories based on outdoor scenery, local food, atmosphere and more. It was a great article. But, heck. Don’t take my word for it. Go read it yourself!

Speaking of reading-and cool things to do in Italy-Melanie of Italofile recently wrote a post about the top five things to do in Le Marche. She has also been busy building a social networking site for Italofiles at Italofile.Ning.com. Check it out-and tell her Cherrye sent you.

photo credit: 1la

Paula Russell from Paula’s Tour Talk and Time of Your Life Tours released the dates for their Spring and Fall 2010 Tuscan Treasures Tour. If you are interested in Tuscany-and come on, who isn’t?-then check out their website or Paula’s Tour Talk blog for more details. And I’m not the only one with changes a’coming. Paula recently announced some impending changes at her place, too.

Here is hoping the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010 bring great changes to all of my Italy travel and tourism buddies. In bocca al lupo!

Next week is my second wedding anniversary-which means we get to start celebrating this weekend. Since I’m in such a loving mood, I invite you to have a great weekend, too. Enjoy!

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!

Watch out Hollywood! On September 7, German filmmaker Wim Wenders began shooting his latest movie in Calabria. The 3D film is set to explore the relationship between immigrants and natives in and around the medieval village of Badolato.

Does that name sound familiar to you? Well it should. Calabria’s own, Michelle of Bleeding Espresso calls this village home and rumor has it the film crew will be filming near her house all day today. Come on, Michelle … sneak in the background. We expect to see you there when the movie is released.

photo credit: Fiore S. Barbato

And speaking of just released, the Calabrian band QuartAumentata just released their fourth CD, “U Mundu Balla,” or, the world is dancing. If you’d like to add their concert to your Calabria vacation, click here to check their tour schedule.

For more information on the group, you can read this English-language interview from OnMilwaukee.com, check out their Calabrian proverb of the day-or watch this quick video from a live show they performed near Reggio Calabria.

If you want some Calabrian nibbles to go with those funky, new tunes, then check out this delicious new food blog, written and published by Calabrian-American chef, writer and tour guide, Rosetta Costantino. The idea for Calabria From Scratch was hatched in 2004 when Rosetta and her family were featured in an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, an article that, ironically, I read years before virtually meeting Rosetta. Today, Rosetta stays busy teaching classes, planning her culinary tours to Calabria and writing her new Calabrian cookbook, which is scheduled for release next Fall.

Oh yea … I can’t wait to get my hands on that!

If you are in Calabria, enjoy these last few weeks of sun and surf. And to everyone else … Buon Weekend!

 
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!
 

 
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!