Our hilarious travel mishaps and how to avoid them

Our hilarious travel mishaps and how to avoid them

Our hilarious travel mishaps and how to avoid them (#Dolcevitabloggers)

Pre-children Hubby and I used to travel A LOT! We do it much less now but there was a time when we would rather travel than do much else with our spare time.

I remember 2010 it got to Christmas and I said to my Husband that I didn’t want to go anywhere, I was so exhausted. He agreed we would do nothing for Christmas and New Years Eve. Then at the last minute we booked a quiet trip to Cornwall. I guess this is what people now call ‘FOMO’ meaning - Fear of missing out!

Of course this is what life can be like when you’re young, spritely and both earning a salary without any kids in tow.

But that doesn’t mean we always got things right then, or now!

This month on the Dolce Vita Bloggers linkup we are all writing about ‘Hilarious travel mishaps’.

Read More

Why Sicily is the ultimate family holiday destination

Why Sicily is the ultimate family holiday destination

Why Sicily is the ultimate family holiday destination

If you’re planning your next trip for you and your family, and are unsure of where to go, Sicily has your name written all over it. The perfect place for families, Sicily has different activities for every family member. Thanks to its sprawling nature that includes both beach and mountain options (including the famous Etna volcano), the infinite culinary options that are great for family meals, and its many different monuments, you will hardly be bored on this vacation.

Read More

7 of the greatest time saving Italian gadgets for your kitchen

7 of the greatest time saving Italian gadgets for your kitchen

7 of the greatest time saving Italian gadgets for your kitchen

As you can imagine the kitchen is quite important in our house! It’s not always easy without a nonna to recreate all those freshly cooked pasta dishes and homemade gnocchi.

We definitely don’t have time for this amount of preparation! I’ve been searching for a while now for gadgets that give us the essence of being back in Italy without quite so much effort!

I recently stumbled upon LionsHome, a site which helps you find the most beautiful furnishings and accessories for living spaces. They offer inspiration on homes, gardens, DIY and have gathered together a myriad of practical products to discover.

Read More

How to find the best regional Italian dishes from Piedmont

How to find the best regional Italian dishes from Piedmont

How to find the best regional Italian dishes from Piedmont

This month myself, Jasmine of Questadolcevita and Kelly of Italianatheart are hosting an Italophile linkup called #Dolcevitabloggers. Every month we encourage people to write on a different topic and in September we're sharing our 'Favourite Italian Recipes'. 

So what better way to find some new special meals to create than to ask a community of Italians and those living in Italy absorbing the culture!

Read More

How to warm up this Autumn with heavenly leek and potato soup!

How to warm up this Autumn with heavenly leek and potato soup!

How to warm up this Autumn with heavenly leek and potato soup!

Happy September to you all!

As you may have read elsewhere on the blog. This is the week where myself, Jasmine of Questadolcevita and Kelly of Italianatheart host an Italophile linkup called #Dolcevitabloggers. Every month we encourage people to write on a different topic and in September we're sharing our 'Favourite Italian Recipes'. 

I decided on a quick creamy Gorgonzola pasta recipe for mine. To my delight some of the wonderful Italy loving community have contributed recipes of their own!

Here we have a super, comforting leek and potato soup shared with us by Mary.

Mary is from Chicago and now lives in Italy, in the Province of Ascoli Piceno. This dish is a huge hit in her house and we can’t wait to try it!

Read More

Italian culture shock (#Dolcevitabloggers)

Italian culture shock (#Dolcevitabloggers)

Italian culture shock (#Dolcevitabloggers)

This month for the #Dolcevitabloggers link up we're writing about our experience of 'Culture shock' in Italy. 

You may think that being married to an Italian is plain sailing and you just gaze into each others eyes while your partner gesticulates, talks loudly and cooks you heaps of pasta.

The pasta part is quite true! However there have been many times over the years when I have wondered if I could have taken an easier route. 

Read More

The Bittersweet Life; a perfect podcast on life in Italy

The Bittersweet Life; a perfect podcast on life in Italy

The Bittersweet Life; a perfect podcast on life in Italy

If you love a podcast or need a reason to start listening in, this is your chance!

The Bittersweet Life is a podcast run by two expats, writer Tiffany Parks and radio producer Katy Sewell. It's based on their unique experiences of life in Rome. The wonder and yet sometimes the bittersweet aspects of life abroad.

Read More

5 Ingredients for a 'Dolce Vita' (#Dolcevitabloggers)

5 Ingredients for a 'Dolce Vita' (#Dolcevitabloggers)

5 Ingredients for a 'Dolce Vita' (#Dolcevitabloggers)

This month our #Dolcevitablogger topic is to describe our 'Dolce vita'. What does it mean for each of us?

While the famous film, Federico Fellini's 'La Dolce Vita' shows us a frivolous, carefree life with a dark undercurrent. My version of 'a sweet life' is something much simpler and more transparent. 

Read More

#DolceVitaBloggers Linkup - #8 July 2018 - Your 'Dolce Vita'

#DolceVitaBloggers Linkup - #8 July 2018 - Your 'Dolce Vita'

June: Hidden Gems

For the June #DolceVitaBloggers link up topic, we’re asking you to spill the beans on your favorite Italian hidden gem! Your hidden gem could be anything that you think is too good to be kept secret any longer, such as a town, a beach, a restaurant, a shop, an Italian wine, a made in Italy product, a recipe or dish….the options are endless! Give your Italian hidden gem the love and attention it deserves. Shout it from the rooftops!

Read More

Which is the most beautiful Italian lake of them all?

Which is the most beautiful Italian lake of them all?

I wish it was that simple to look in a magic mirror and be told which Italian lake is the most stunning and should be your next holiday destination!

I've been to many of the Northern Italian lakes. Como, Garda, Trasimeno, Lugano. They all have a certain beauty to them. Their own personality.

Read More

Locanda Sant Anna: An Italian Hidden Gem (#Dolcevitabloggers)

Locanda Sant Anna: An Italian Hidden Gem (#Dolcevitabloggers)

An Italian Hidden Gem (#Dolcevitabloggers)

There are some places you want to keep for yourself. But then you can't believe somewhere so wonderful exists and really want to share!

So I'm going to be sharing a restaurant and hotel. Except it's not just any hotel, to us anyway. As this hotel is where we ended up having our wedding reception. 

Read More

Best place to stay on Lake Maggiore

Best place to stay on Lake Maggiore

As most of you know by now, we are huge fans of the Italian lake region. We've been holidaying and visiting family around Lake Como for 12 years. We were married there, our babies were baptised there and we really feel like it's a home from home.

However recently we were persuaded by Jo of Bookings For You to consider a different lake for our next holiday. Lake Maggiore.

Read More

#DolceVitaBloggers Linkup - #7 June 2018 - Hidden Gems

#DolceVitaBloggers Linkup - #7 June 2018 - Hidden Gems

June: Hidden Gems

For the June #DolceVitaBloggers link up topic, we’re asking you to spill the beans on your favorite Italian hidden gem! Your hidden gem could be anything that you think is too good to be kept secret any longer, such as a town, a beach, a restaurant, a shop, an Italian wine, a made in Italy product, a recipe or dish….the options are endless! Give your Italian hidden gem the love and attention it deserves. Shout it from the rooftops!

Read More

12 Perfect Holiday Villas in Italy

12 Perfect Holiday Villas in Italy

12 Perfect Holiday Villas in Italy

Today we have a fantastic Guest Post from Jo Mackay, founder of Italian Villa rental company Bookings For You. Jo has kindly gathered together 12 beautiful villas which all suit different types of holidays. Have a read and find the perfect break for your family and friends.

Read More

5 Italian Words or Phrases (#DolceVitaBloggers)

5 Italian Words or Phrases (#DolceVitaBloggers)

5 Italian Words or Phrases (#DolceVitaBloggers)

This month at Dolce Vita Bloggers we're writing about our 5 Favourite Italian Words or Phrases!

It's pretty hard to pick just five as you come across so many wonderful words when you study languages. 

These are mine, although I had to do words AND phrases as there were too many! 

Read More

#DolceVitaBloggers Linkup - #6 May 2018 - 5 Italian Words

#DolceVitaBloggers Linkup - #6 May 2018 - 5 Italian Words

May: 5 Favourite Italian Words/Phrases and How to Use Them

This month on #DolceVitaBloggers we're looking for your 5 Favourite Italian Words or Phrases! This can be anything you love, something unusual even something naughty! Definitely something we were unlikely to learn in a class!

We're really excited to read your suggestions and learn some new vocabulary ourselves! 

Read More

A Perfect Day in Italy (#DolceVitaBloggers)

A Perfect Day in Italy (#DolceVitaBloggers)

A Perfect Day in Italy (#DolceVitaBloggers)

This month at Dolce Vita Bloggers we're writing about our Perfect Day in Italy. 

It's so hard to pick just one idea or one day as so many different perfect things seem to happen when you're in Italia. What I love is the amount of spontaneous moments you tend to have here. Is it because you're on holiday. Down to the people you're with or just the nature of Italy that everything is that little bit more flexible?  

Read More