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December Dolce To-Do List

The Christmas season is upon us!  While there is much to see and do this month, be sure not to miss out on some of the most important things.  To help make sure you don’t, check out this month’s “Dolce To-Do” below! 1. Write your holiday cards – This year, log off, and put some pen to […]

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DECORATING FOR THE HOLIDAYS: THE NATIVITY SCENE

Decorating for the holidays is so much fun! While the Christmas trees, the twinkling lights and the lush garlands make me smile from ear to ear, the sight of il presepio, or nativity scene, really warms my heart. Il presepio has longtime been a huge tradition in my home. We have always enjoyed designing our presepio with […]

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MUSIC MONDAY ~ N.14

This week’s Music Monday features Annalisa, with her current chart topper, “Direzione la vita.”  This artist has been featured before on VLD, when she collaborated with the duo, Benji & Fede, this past summer.   Like many other artists, Annalisa shot to fame after participating in a reality television talent show. While, the hit TV […]

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AN END TO BULLYING

Today marks the end of Bully Prevention and Awareness Week – a week designated by the province of Ontario to help promote safe schools and a positive learning environment.   Schools throughout the province have been busy with various initiatives and events going on this week in hopes of shedding light and understanding on this […]

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FASHION : FALL/WINTER 2017 TREND ~ VELVET

One of the hottest trends for the fall/winter season this year is, velvet.  It was on all the major runways, in all different forms and colours. From jumpsuits to dresses to boots and more, there is a little something for everyone’s tastes! With inspiration from Italian designers such as, Valentino and Gucci, I have curated […]

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ITALIAN RADIO STATIONS

Many times when teaching students language, I often emphasize the fact that practice is key.  Since immersion is one of the best methods for learning how to communicate in a foreign tongue, it can often be frustrating when one cannot participate in such an experience.  This leads me to suggest a variety of ways to authentically […]

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NOVEMBER DOLCE TO-DO LIST!

It’s already mid-month, daylight saving time has ended, and holiday prep is everywhere – how are you feeling?   November is an interesting month: it is a time to mourn the dead (according to the Catholic calendar); it is the time when daylight saving ends, making the days shorter; and it is the time businesses […]

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MUSIC MONDAY ~ N.13

This Music Monday, VLD is featuring Italian artist, Biagio Antonacci, with his current hit, “In Mezzo al Mondo” (“In the Middle of the World”). Although Antonacci had a slow start to success, he is now known as one of Italy’s prominent male artists.  He has even been recognized internationally, winning “Best Selling Italian Male Artist” […]

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ITALIAN HALLOWEEN VOCABULARY

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! BUON HALLOWEEN!  It is October 31st, and time for all the ghosts, goblins and ghouls to come out and play!   While this holiday is highly celebrated in North America, it is not traditionally as recognized in Italy. Typically, Italian culture has focused on November 1st, All Saints’ Day, and November 2nd, All Souls’ […]

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MUSIC MONDAY ~ N.12

In the spirit of Halloween, this week’s Music Monday selection features the amazing, yet slightly haunting voice of Giuliano Sangiorgi – lead singer of the popular Italian music group, Negramaro. Sangiorgi is known for his unique sound, and multi-talents.  Not only does he perform lead vocals with the band, but he also plays guitar and […]

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LANGUAGE LEARNING BOOKS FOR KIDS

1 ~ Lil’ Libros – These books are a great resource for Spanish language learning.  Each book has both English and Spanish translations, and incorporates the learning of elements such as numbers and shapes into cultural stories. 2 ~ Caillou Spanish and French Books – When introducing a new language, it is sometimes best to use […]

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MUSIC MONDAYS ~ N.11

Music Monday is back!  If you were wondering where the music was last week, it was intentionally skipped, as this has now become a bi-weekly feature on Viva la Dolce (*the weekly feature edition will resume in the summer*). Who do we have this week?  It is Giusy Ferreri with her latest hit, “L’amore Mi […]

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FALL ROUND-UP: THE VERY BEST IN FOOD, FASHION & FUN!

Fall is such a great time of year for many things, including food, fashion and outdoor activities!  I’ve gotten together with some of favourite bloggers to put together the ultimate list of fall fun!  Make sure to check out all of the awesome posts below to get inspired this fall! *  *  *  *  * […]

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PUMPKIN INSPIRED ITALIAN RECIPES

As we decorate for the fall season, and upcoming Halloween holiday, there is no doubt an excess of pumpkins lying around!  While there are multiple ways to use pumpkins for decor purposes, there are also plenty of ways to use them in the kitchen! I’ve rounded up five great delicious pumpkin inspired, Italian recipes that […]

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OCTOBER DOLCE TO-DO-LIST!

Fall is the a great time to celebrate some of life’s dolce (pleasures)! For starters, there is plenty to enjoy outdoors, such as the gorgeous colours of nature and the refreshing crisp air.  Furthermore, the thanksgiving holiday celebrated during this time of year, reminds us to reflect upon our lives and truly appreciate all that we have. This calls for more time spent with family […]

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One Night in La Dolce Vita

This past Thursday, I had the privilege of experiencing “la dolce vita” firsthand at Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.  The event, entitled,  “One Night in La Dolce Vita,” merged together Italian food, fashion, music and more, in efforts to raise money for the Oakville Hospital Foundation. With acute attention to Italian details and […]

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