Have you seen Under the Tuscan Sun
? Oh, good – Diane Lane just looks so fantastically womanly in that film, don’t you think? I love all of her full skirts and belted dresses, gorgeous wavy hair, and of course her Tuscan farmhouse and Italian Lovah. Let’s pretend we’re going down to Positano for the day to eat gelato on the beach. Afterward, we’ll have a tiny glass of limoncello and toast to the Mediterranean sea.
At the end of the day, we’ll both hop on my Vespa and zoom up the hill to your house – it’s always so pleasant hanging out by the fountain in your courtyard. In the evening, we’ll open up all the shutters to let the scent of roses come in, and you can play us something on the piano.
{Caravella Limoncello; delicate wine glass; cute printed skirt; rustic wall fountain; vintagey tortoiseshell sunglasses; Carthusia perfume; raw silk belted dress. Photo of Positano by Allerina & Glen MacLarty; Film stills from Under the Tuscan Sun}
Amalfi, Italy, September 1999
It’s well past dinner time, and the whole town is hanging out in the Piazza Duomo. Teenagers lean against the side of an ancient building, young children weave through the tables, and couples sit close together on the stone steps. The air is warm and heavy as we finish our espressos. At the table next to ours sits a big Italian family; their youngest boy keeps bobbing out from under the table, making eyes at us. I think my sister’s luxurious red, curly hair has him entranced.
When it’s time for them to go, the little boy hangs back. His mother says something in rapid-fire Italian that we can only take to mean, “Come on!” as the little boy continues playing around our table. Instead of leaving with his family, he cheerfully waves and shouts, “Ciao, Mamma!” – to which his mother replies incredulously, “Ciao, Mamma!?” and then bursts out laughing. Ah, Italia…
{photo: Laura Gaskill}
Woo hoo! It’s practically May, which means that now is the perfect time to sign up for summer classes. Is there something you have always wanted to try? I think we all have those things, those ideas that we keep on a backburner in our minds (Someday, I’ll do that…) but never quite get to. For me, the top of the list includes photography and interior design.
{Print by Hijirik Studio}
This summer I plan to change that! I have just been browsing the summer courses available through RISD’s continuing education department, and I am blown away by the variety of juicy-sounding topics out there. They offer everything from antiques appraisal to print making, web design, and wood-grill cooking. I realize that I am lucky to live in Providence, with continuing education classes at RISD, Brown, and Johnson & Wales just a few minutes away; but every community has a lot to offer if you take the time to look.
So, what are your plans for the summer? What have you been itching to learn more about?
As a nod to the inimitable Diana Vreeland, whose long-running column for Bazaar, “Why Don’t You?” was always full of pizazz, I thought it would be fun to try my own spin. I’ve found this to be a really nice way of generating creative ideas ~ try it in your own notebook (or list some in the comments section if you like) and I think you will see what I mean.
Why don’t you…
Pin a hot pink flower in your hair when you are feeling blue?
{flower pin from handle & spout}
Why don’t you…
Keep a small book of poems in your purse to read at bus stops?
{photo by Marcin Wichary}
Why don’t you…
Set your table with a circle of cream colored glass votives?
{votives from glassbaby}
Welcome to Lolalina!
I am so excited to swing open the “doors” and tell you about my new project: Lolalina is a blog about discovering hidden passions and living your sweet life. I am an unabashed romantic at heart, and I would love for you to join me in my ongoing quest for la dolce vita. To me, the sweet life means being open to new experiences, getting in touch with your personal style, finding joy in everyday pleasures, and having the courage to believe in yourself and follow your dreams wherever they take you. What does the sweet life mean to you? I would love to hear from you.
I'm throwing out 50 things - join me!
