Hi and welcome to my brand new blog, dedicated to all sorts of things. I'll mainly talk about family (and all the good things that go hand-in-hand with that) and how I balance being a mother and having a life—ahem…. not always the easiest thing in the world with two kids in tow. I hope … Continue reading Welcome!
One of the trips I've most enjoyed with my husband and children is the long weekend we spent in Slovenia in October 2021. I'm sure part of my excitement was due to the fact that it was our first time outside of Italy in over a year (thanks, COVID!), but I do believe that Slovenia … Continue reading Slovenia for the weekend
If you'd like to read more books by contemporary Italian authors, but are unsure where to start, this blog post might give you some good ideas. In it, I discuss five contemporary Italian authors that, in my opinion, are worth reading.
Traditional Florentine dishes are, for the most part, meals that were consumed and passed on by the working class. Think tripe and lampredotto (cow stomach), ribollita, and pappa al pomodoro… Nothing too fancy about these plates, made with leftovers, hard bread, or animal scraps that people could not afford to get rid of. And yet, when that spoonful of warm bread … Continue reading Panzanella: A Midsummer Night’s Meal
Summer is starting to creep up in Florence (and pretty much all around Italy), so after months of being cooped up in our apartments, it is more than understandable that we are all in dire need of finding activities to do outdoors. Those of us with young kids are in an even more desperate condition, … Continue reading Parks around Florence: The Perfect Place for Summer
The Comune of Florence has finally announced that it will open its summer camps (centri estivi) for kids between the ages of 3-14. Unlike other years, enrollment will not happen on a first-come, first serve basis, but rather on a need- basis. Precedence, in fact, will be given to children whose parents are healthcare workers, … Continue reading Summer Camps in Florence
As we anxiously wait for summer to come knocking on our door (although this year the summer months will probably look a lot different than years past), most of us dread the arrival of an unwelcome guest. No, I’m not referring to those pesky mosquitoes that keep us awake at night with their incessant buzzing. … Continue reading Escaping the Florentine Heat: Daytrip to the Fattoria di Maiano
As Italy slowly inches back to a new normal (with plans of opening up its borders to EU visitors on June 3rd), everyone is wondering if summer plans will not be completely shot. Though, people might not be able to (or might not want to) wander outside of Italy, the bel paese has so much … Continue reading Weekends around Italy: Lake Garda
When people think of Florence, filled with incredible museums, art pieces, palaces, and churches, one doesn't automatically think that it would be a great place to take your kids. At least, I wouldn't think it if I did not live here. Having grown up in this historical city, and experiencing it now with a family … Continue reading Enjoying Florence with kids: Boboli Gardens
This summer sure isn’t going to look like what we had in mind a few months ago. We might not be able to travel outside of our region, let alone outside of the country. Thankfully, those of us who live in Florence, have the fortune of living in Tuscany, which is a beauty in and … Continue reading Daytrips in Tuscany: Siena & San Gimignano
One of the most common scenarios that everyone pursuing a post-graduate degree will face at some point is sitting in front of a computer screen, a blank page ready to be filled with words, and nothing to write. Writer’s block can manifest itself in many shapes and forms, and can range from a few hours … Continue reading Ph.D. Stories: Tips & Tricks to Overcome Writer’s Block
The Florentine Mom 