How to cook Peaches and Amaretti; Italian classes with Cooking in Florence!

/
How to cook Peaches and Amaretti; Italian classes with Cooking in Florence!

In September I was lucky enough to make a trip to Tuscany. The weather was still beautiful and I enjoyed several activities in this stunning region, some of which you may have wondered about trying yourself.

I’ve always wanted to do an Italian cookery class. I’m married to an Italian and have had lots of lessons from Nonna and Zia (Grandmother’s and Aunts) however there is always another dish to learn in Italy as food is so regional.

Read More

10 Best Things to Do in Tuscany in Autumn or Fall

/
10 Best Things to Do in Tuscany in Autumn or Fall

Although we all love a Summer break, Autumn is one of my favourite times to travel to Italy. There are fewer crowds, the heat is not so overpowering, but often there’s a warm sun. Local festivals which suit the seasons are in abundance and most importantly the food in Italy is so comforting!

Last month I ventured back to beautiful Tuscany and as usual, the break was wonderful but too short! There is so much to do in this region and it’s easy to miss out or just visit the obvious hot spots.

Read More

Why a Tuscan Villa Holiday is the Perfect Family break

/
Why a Tuscan Villa Holiday is the Perfect Family break

Having just returned from a wonderful Tuscan Press Trip with a group of female writers you may think I would be booking my next grownup getaway!

We were lucky enough to be guests of luxury villa company Bookings For You in the small village of Monte San Savino. We stayed at their property Villa La Tornaie and were hosted by the welcoming Mansalto Vineyard group.

Read More

Staying In Touch With Overseas Friends and Family

/
Staying In Touch With Overseas Friends and Family

It’s a big old world, sure, but it’s also getting smaller with each passing year. Indeed, more young people than ever before are living in countries other than the one where they grew up. While this is a good thing, and exciting for the people who get to experience a different culture, it’s not all positive. There are downsides. For example, it puts a big gap between loved ones. Whereas people used to live close to their family for their entire lives (usually in the same house), now they’re in different countries!

Read More

The Big Events That'll Make Memories On Holiday

/
The Big Events That'll Make Memories On Holiday

A family friendly holiday can be hard to come up with, especially if your kids are quite young and have a lot of needs to deal with. However, it’s a lot easier than it’s made out to be, and we’re going to prove that to you right now! After all, you should plan to make memories, and as kids, the memories we make help to form the adults we become, so here are some healthy and happy activities that’ll leave a big impact.

Read More

Why you'll love listening to The Big Travel Podcast

/
Why you'll love listening to The Big Travel Podcast

Why you'll love listening to The Big Travel Podcast

This week I’ve been chatting to a very inspiring friend of mine, Lisa Francesca Nand. A travel journalist, writer, filmmaker and regular on radio and TV in the UK, Lisa has a long list of accomplishments!

She is also a brilliant, kind friend, mum of two gorgeous boys and the creator of what has become one of the top rated podcasts on iTunes around the world, ‘The Big Travel Podcast’.

Read More

Why Bormio is one of the greatest Italian Ski Resorts

/
Why Bormio is one of the greatest Italian Ski Resorts

Why Bormio is one of the greatest Italian Ski Resorts 

I wrote about why we love Bormio a year ago now and nothing has changed. We will be off there again in February to take both our children, one who can now ski. Partly from learning in Bormio and partly in the UK at the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead.

My youngest is too little being only 3, although the Swiss start at 2 years old! However a good ski instructor friend of ours told us the perfect age is 4 years old.

Read More

How to find quality childcare on holiday in Italy

/
How to find quality childcare on holiday in Italy

SuperCamp is part of the famous camp network in America for tweens and teens. With a wonderful base in the Dolomites, Lisa runs a camp here every Summer.

Read More

4 Great Activities For A Family Trip To California

/
4 Great Activities For A Family Trip To California

4 Great Activities For A Family Trip To California

California is considered by some to be the most beautiful state in the whole of America. You’ll find plenty of amazing places to visit, great food and drink and all sorts of different activities to get involved with. That’s why it’s such a great destination for a family vacation. It’s ideal for all age groups and you’ll always be able to find something to please everybody. If you’re planning a family trip to California, these are some of the best things to do while you’re out there.

Read More

Christmas vs La Befana: Festive Traditions

/
Christmas vs La Befana: Festive Traditions

Christmas VS La Befana: Festive Traditions

With the most joyous time of year approaching for family occasions, festivities and fun. Some of the cultural differences for the merriest time of the year vary between England and Italy. If you have an interest in visiting either country, here are some of the cultural traditions you can expect or may even wish to use on your stay. Alternatively, you may also decide to use the below as inspiration for your own Christmas traditions.

Read More

Bilingualism: The Best Gift of All

/
Bilingualism: The Best Gift of All

Guest post by by Martha Miller

This week the wonderful author Martha Miller has shared her Italian story with us. Martha and her Husband, John sold everything and moved to Italy! How many of us would be that brave?

They were searching for adventure, but also the desire to feel settled in their community. To have a truly authentic experience not touristic one. So off they went!

I love this story and am slightly jealous we haven’t done this yet!

Read More

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

The trials of raising a bilingual child in small-town Italy

/
The trials of raising a bilingual child in small-town Italy

The trials of raising a bilingual child in small-town Italy - Guest post by Rochelle Del Borrello

This week I'm delighted to welcome Rochelle Del Borrello from the wonderful blog Sicily Inside & Out Rochelle is an Australian with Italian heritage and lives in Sicily. She is married to an Italian and has been raising her little boy with her native English from birth. I love that she explains so well the real daily challenge of raising a bilingual child. You do need to be persistent but the rewards are immense! I’m very excited to look for podcasts for children as well!

Have a read of her lovely insights into raising a child in the minority language but in an area of Italy where English is not widely spoken.

Read More

4 Stunning European holidays to warm you up in 2019

/
4 Stunning European holidays to warm you up in 2019

4 Stunning European holidays to warm you up in 2019

If the change in weather has you turning up the heating this weekend, start dreaming of your holidays now!

Though it’s always tempting to stick to what you know and head off for sunny Spain! There are some stunning destinations to discover in Europe, if you’re prepared to try the unknown!

Travel group HolidayGems.co.uk have ten years experience taking holidaymakers on their much deserved breaks; and we’ve been brainstorming where we’d like to go in 2019!

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

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

10 Unusual Gelato Flavours to Try This Summer

/
10 Unusual Gelato Flavours to Try This Summer

10 unusual gelato flavours to try this Summer

We all think about ice cream as soon as the sun arrives. It seems to be a food whose popularity crosses all age groups!

Gelato is the Italian word for homemade ice cream with whole milk and sugar. The main differences between ice cream and gelato is that gelato doesn't include as much cream. Sometimes egg yolks are included but often not. It's usually lower in fat because it has less of these two ingredients and is softer due to being churned slowly. This means less air getting into the mixture, it becomes more dense. It isn't stored at such a low temperature as ice cream so there are no ice crystals. Enjoy our unique gelato flavours here.

Read More

Family Friendly Vacation Ideas The Whole Family Will Love In The US

/
Family Friendly Vacation Ideas The Whole Family Will Love In The US

Family Friendly Vacation Ideas The Whole Family Will Love In The US

Family vacations are a great way to spend some quality time with the family and often it is the only opportunity you get to spend a decent amount of uninterrupted time with them. So you want to make it count, right? The truth is, the family vacation can often be a highly debated topic as I guarantee everyone will have different ideas of what to do. So I thought I would share a few of my own with some destination suggestions thrown in for good measure.

Read More

Your Family, The Big Apple, And You: A Quick Travel Guide

/
Your Family, The Big Apple, And You: A Quick Travel Guide

Your Family, The Big Apple, And You: A Quick Travel Guide

Traveling to New York City with your family is going to be an experience for all of you. Going on new adventures and doing new, novel things together can really help you to strengthen your bond and create memories for the future.

Read More