I am passionate about slowing down and simplifying my life and I talk about it sometimes with a real sense of urgency. I am finding that the more I speak to others about slowing down, the more I see their eyes light up and then they basically say they want to slow down their busy lives...but don't think it is possible. 

There is a sense of guilt that accompanies wanting to slow down.  We would feel guilty  because our society does not accept the concept. Instead our society has always rewarded whatever or whoever is faster. Being faster connotes being more productive, more vital, more energized. Our society has created this myth that whatever is faster, is automatically better. We have been conditioned to think this way.

So here are some tips to help you slow down without the guilt:

1. Take a step back and think about what you are doing. Is the activity you are doing, or have signed up for, something you really want to do or are you doing it because you should do it?  Is this something that you can politely refuse and say no to? What's the downside of slowing down? There is none. You only have to gain from it.  It is a quality of life decision.

2. Realize that wanting to slow down is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. You have the reins on your life and want a stronger quality of life. You value your time and want more time to do what you want to do. This is through simplifying your life.

3. Know that having and doing  more activities does not make you more productive. It is a misconception. How about toning down your extra activities and concentrating on only a few that you really enjoy doing? 

4. Speak with others and become passionate about slowing down. This is something to be proud of  and not something to keep as a secret. You will see the eyes of others light up as they too want to regain the reins of their lives. They will ask you how you did it. Make it a conviction of yours and others will follow.

5. Be your own person. Just because your neighbors are on the fast track treadmill of life, does not mean you should be. Just because the other chilren have three afterschool activities does not mean your child should. Don't go with the flow. Instead make a conscious decision to slow down and simplify your life. Be a role model for those around you. Afterall your child never asked to be put on the treadmill.

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The Mediterranean diet is healthier. Italians live longer then almost the entire rest of the world. Can we learn from them? I  think so. In Italy caregivers including mothers, fathers, grandparents, babysitters, daycare and schools traditionally offer healthier alternatives to their children as snacks. Here are some more healthy snack ideas for your children. The next time your younger or older child asks for a snack, think of offering these:



1. A chunk of fresh parmigiana reggiana cheese 
This cheese is not only tasty to the palate but good for you. It is full of calcium, has no preservatives, no additives, no colorings and is easy to wrap up and place in a backpack.  Make sure you purchase one that is real parmigiano reggiano and not aged more then 24 months. I have found with my kids, the fresher it is, the more they like it.

2. Some fresh vegetables and olive oil dip (carrots, celery, tomatoes, radishes, fennel to name a few). 
Wash vegetables well and cut in bite size pieces. Each child can have his/her own dipping cup with olive oil and/or bit of salt. Presentation with children is everything. Children love having their own dipping small cup.  The smaller the cup the better. I use an espresso cup and each person gets his/her own.

3. A slice of home made with little sugar "ciambella" cake. 
You can and should make this at home where you can judge how much sugar to use. You can store this cake for days and use it as a snack. I will provide the recipe in a future blog post.

4. A piece of crunchy focaccia (little or no sugar) in a variety of ways: plain, with cheese, with raisins and walnuts.
It makes a great healthy snack that children love. If you happen to visit a bakery in Italy in the early morning hours (before school starts) you will see cues of mothers, fathers, grandparents with their children waiting to get their focaccia for their child's school snack. You however can make this at home and store it for many days.  I will provide the recipe in a future blog post. 

5. Some pear slices with pecorino cheese wedge and honey.
 My chlldren adore this snack and it is easy and healthy. Wash and peel pear. Cut in slices and place on serving plate. Alternate pear slices with pecorino cheese wedge. Sprinkle honey across top of both pear and cheese. You can use any favorite cheese you like. I also adorn the plate with crumbled walnuts.


Usually in Italy, children are given water and not juices, sport drinks or colas to accompany not only their snacks but also their meals. The rule of thumb is simple and healthy. Buon appetito.

For more information on how to live a simple and slow life using the principles of the Italian lifestyle, please support my ebook and resources "Living the Italian Lifestyle...Anywhere":
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The slow food movement began in Italy and Italians have one of the greatest life expectancy rates in the world.  Their Mediterrean Diet is a factor for their good health. After 16 years living in Italy, I have learned what Italian children eat on a regular basis. Here are the easiest and healthiest snacks Italian children eat in Italy that you can prepare for your children no matter where you live.

1. Fresh bread with extra virgin olive oil. 
We may not be able to purchase fresh bread everyday but we can choose amongst many different breads that are available. It is a good idea to read the labels and select that bread that has the least amount of preservatives, additives and food colorings. With regard to extra virgin olive oil, make sure you are using a quality product that does not have any added preservatives, has an expiration date, is stored in a glass bottle.  High quality olive oil is not cheap and if it is, you are probably not getting the best product.

Use one or two slices of bread (toasted or not depending on preference) with the olive oil drizzled on top. The bread should not be swimming in the oil. I sometimes sprinkle very little salt on the bread before drizzling the olive oil but this too is an option.

2. Fresh fruit.
Italians opt for fruit that children can easily manage and store in a backpack such as bananas, tangerines, apples, oranges, .

3. Dried fruit and seeds
Here Italians use dried figs, apricots, apples, bananas and seeds such as sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds

4. Freshly squeezed orange juice (not from a carton)
In the winter I see Italian caregivers give their children freshly squeezed orange juice. They will take 3 or 4 ripe oranges and juice them for the children.  

5. Fresh bread sandwich with "frittata" (omelette)
Often times the omelette is fried but it can also be made in the oven with very little oil. Cool the omelette, cut and place within the sandwich and you have an instant delicious healthy snack.

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I am always trying to find ways to not only simplify my life but how to do less. Let's face it quality of life has to do with not cramming more activities into one's precious day. Quality of life is about having more time to do what one really wants to do. I am not into multitasking, which is defined as simultaneous execution of more than one program or task by a single computer processor (wikipedia).  We are not computers nor shall we want to be. We are not meant to be doing many things at once. So in all my research and talking to women, men, young people, college students and elderly,  I am repeatedly told "Lucia, I want to slow down but I just feel it is a lost cause." So this list is for all of us and starts with you taking the first step.

1. Say No without the guilt. It is ok to tell your son's coach that your son cannot make it to the game or cannot come three times a week for training. It is ok to tell the dentist's secretary that you cannot schedule that appointment that day.  You don't have to justify yourself with anyone. It is ok to say no to your child that you cannot take her to the mall. It is ok to say no to your spouse that you cannot have Mr. and Mrs. X over for dinner tonight. 

2. Wash and dry clothes only once a week. If possible,  hang your clothes outside to dry. Even if there is no sunlight, the air and wind will dry your clothes. This was something I did not know and learned from the Italians.  There is nothing like air dried clothes and you will save in electricity costs.

3. Shop for groceries only once a week. Be creative with your meals and use what you have without having to repeatedly go to the supermarket.

4. Run your dishwasher only once a day. The more you run your dishwasher the more you have to empty your dishwasher which also consumes more electricity.

5. Keep only one waste / recycle bin area in your home.  You don't need waste bins in every room. More bins equal more trash equal more physically having to empty them. If your home has more then one floor, each floor should have one recycle area. 

6. Don't bring home unnecessary advertisements, pamphlets, business cards. You can find most anything nowadays online and these create clutter which will then lead you to have to do more de cluttering. I now refuse any free gifts and all the packaging materials, free pamphlets, free gadgets, free clutter!

7. Tidy up your bedroom as soon as you can first thing in the morning before leaving your house.  This means fold and put away clothes, make your bed, etc.

8. Clean your kitchen, counters, etc right after mealtime. This will save you loads of time and help you feel less cluttered. 

9. Go outdoors. Spend as much time as possible outdoors.  It is an energy booster and will rejuvinate you. 

10. Eliminate your telephone land line. I was constantly interrupted by solicitors all day.  I eliminated the land line and have one personal mobile and one mobile that I use as a land line for emergencies. This one change has freed up my time and put a skip in my step.

I want to hear what your suggestions and tricks are for doing less and living more!! I welcome your comments.

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I am no jet setter but I have done my fair share of traveling with my children when they were in my womb, infants, toddlers, elementary school children and now adolescents. Not only have I done a lot of traveling with them but I have done long sixteen hour plus flights with them.

These have included all sorts of unexpected arisings: dropping the pacifier on the airport floor, diaper changes in every imaginable place and then some, hauling carseats across various European airports, suitcase breaking apart at check in, dropping my bracelet in the airplane's toilet, accepting stares and glares from other passengers when my son's ears were hurting at landing, etc.  The list goes on and on and I can sure give advice on all sorts of do's and don'ts. I go on long trips for long periods of time with children. The following is what I have learned about packing that will make your trip so much more enjoyable:

Packing your luggage:

1.Each family member should have one small piece of luggage. This will save loads of time when searching for items, clothes, toys, shoes.  Also each airline allows for one piece of luggage (within maximum weight limit) per person. 

2. Bring only one week's worth of clothes for each family member. Yes this actually works! Each family member should only have one week's worth of underwear, socks, nightwear, tops, pants, sweaters, one jacket (heavy or light depending on season), and one extra pair of shoes.  You will love me for this. This tip alone will make travel so much more enjoyable because it entails less packing, less clutter, and less unpacking. Think simple! 

3.  Bring clothes you won't mind discarding at the end of the trip.  You will want to donate them or discard them so you will have extra room in your luggage for new purchases, souvenirs, etc.

4.  Pack one or two favorite toys, books or activities per child in his/her luggage.

Packing your carry-on luggage:

5. Give each child over the age of 5 his / her own small backpack to carry with a favorite toy and healthy snack.  Itg ives the child a sense of responsibility and is one less thing the adult has to carry! 

6. Bring one extra top, bottom, socks and underwear for each child with your carry on baggage. This is for possible spills or accidents. Each child should wear Velcro strap shoes with socks for easy on and off.

7. Bring plenty of healthy snacks and keep them in zip lock baggies in your carry on luggage.

8. Bring medicines you may need for each person. I usually bring fever medication for adults and children, allergy medicine, cortisone ointment, asthma spray. These will be according to your particular needs of course.

9. Buy water right before boarding. Any other liquids will be asked to be tossed.

10. Don't bring lots of toys and activities for flight. Children get bored quickly and toys end up on the floor or between the seats.

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The Slow Food Movement originated in Italy.  It is no surprise then that Italians rank one of the highest countries in terms of longevity. Italians live to be a whopping 83 years old!

This longevity can be attributed to many factors but one of these factors certainly is Italian food and meals. Here are five easy ways to eat simple and healthy Italian food and maybe just maybe increase your longevity:

1. USE HIGH QUALITY EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL. Italians use high quality extra virgin olive oil in almost everything they eat.  I say high quality because on the market there is everything and anything with the high quality label. This type of olive oil is not cheap. If you are getting a 5$ bottle (1 liter)  of oil, chances are it is not high quality. If it is Italian, make sure it is actually made in Italy and not just bottled there.  Also make sure you keep your olive oil  away from heat. Olive oil needs to be stored in dark bottles and in cool places in order for it to keep its healthy antioxidants.  It is better to buy small quanties at a time.

2. EAT RAW VEGETABLES.  The more the vegetables are cooked, the more they lose their  important nutrients and vitamins. In fact, it is best to opt for fresh and eat them as soon as you can. The more they are in your refrigerator the more they lose their nutrients. Yes, I know who has time for this? Well, make it a habit of purchasing lots of vegetables at one time and then making sure you eat veggies with every meal. Some favorites of my Italian friends: cabbage, broccoli, asparagus, artichokes, tomatoes.

3. CONSUME AND USE GARLIC IN MEALS FREQUENTLY.  I  was told by my older Italian friends that eating 2 cloves of raw garlic in the evening is a sure way of keeping away colds and illnesses. But I said "It will keep away everyone around me too." The answer they say is chewing 2 coffee beans afterward. It's worth a try.

4. EAT LEGUMES. Italians consume many legumes of all types. Lentils, peas, garbanzo beans, pinto beans, soybeans. These can be cooked in even 15 minutes time. Strain, add some salt and a bit of that extra virgin olive oil. Instant healthy meal.

5. AVOID PROCESSED FOODS, CONDIMENTS, FAST FROZEN MEALS.  These are huge no no's for Italians. 

TWO MORE AS FREEBIES:

6. EAT A HOME COOKED MEAL THAT IS EASY, SIMPLE AND HEALTHY (I WILL INCLUDE SOME OF MY FAVORITE RECIPES IN AN UPCOMING POST)

7. DARK CHOCOLATE. YES OF COURSE "WITHOUT EXAGGERATION" AS SOME ITALIAN FRIENDS NOTED.

For more easy to follow recipes and how to simplify your life through the Italian lifestyle get my ebook with resources and audio:

I did not realize I was living a fast paced life until I received certain signals from others around me in Italy. When I began to look around me, I realized I was multi tasking, stressed and definitely not living the Tuscan lifestyle I had envisioned. In fact I was even more restless in Italy then I had been in Los Angeles. After many years of observing and researching the Italian lifestyle, I learned and am learning the steps to live slower and simpler. 

I would say the first step to slowing down is knowing it is time to make some changes. The following are the five ways to know you need to slow down:

1. You speak fast.  Often times you do not let others finish speaking and you interrupt them. While speaking you are thinking about the next thing you have to do.  You are not attentively listening to the other person.

2. You walk fast.  You walk fast even if it is not for exercise purposes.  You don't know how to stroll. You are always in a hurry.

3. You multitask. You are constantly doing more then one activity at a time. You have not finished one thing before you start another. You multitask also in thoughts. You are doing one thing but thinking of another.

4. You eat fast and have poor eating habits.  You don't sit down at a table and slowly consume your meal. You usually do not chew your food at least 20 times before swallowing. You do not eat healthy meals. You don't take the time to drink at least 8 glasses of water daily.  You eat or drink standing up, on the go, or at your desk.

5. You cannot just BE. You find it difficult to just sit still and relax. You cannot be without an electronic gadget (computer, television, phone,etc). You become fidgety.

To learn more about taking the steps to living a slower and simpler lifestyle get my ebook 
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What is minimalist dressing? Why do I need to master it? How will this tiny change in my life grant me loads of free time? Minimalist dressing is dressing by removing the superfluous or constitutes a style that uses pared down essentials. The Italians have always used this concept and they not only look impeccable but probably don't spend hours trying to figure out what to wear. There are only three requirements: the clothes must be clean; the clothes must be in good condition; the clothes must fit properly.

Ok. Here are the top 10 ways to dress like a minimalist Italian woman and free up your time:

1. Use monocolors.  In other words your outfit should be of the same color even with different tones of the same color. For example, in one outfit,  trousers and the blazer can be dark brown, while the blouse can be lighter shades of brown.  Socks and shoes should also be brown. 

2. Wear footwear that has the same style of the outfit. If you are wearing a conservative pantsuit, you should not be wearing athletic shoes.  Instead you should opt for moccasins, loafers, pumps or dressy shoes.

3. Keep accessories down to a minimum. I am not saying you should eliminate the accessories but use good taste. You should not be piling on necklaces or bracelets. Usually one nice accessory is all it takes.

4. Stick with classic colors. Yes it is true that trends call for pastels one season or fluorescent colors the next but minimalist dressing is really pairing down and staying with the classic, yet chic colors of black, brown, grey, red, white, navy blue. 

5. De clutter your closet and leave only a small collection of high quality pieces that you like, fit you well and that you actually wear frequently.  Hint: if you haven't worn a piece in the last year, it's time to let it go.

6. Have your own style. You can dress with the minimalist concept but still have your own style. This may be using form fitting outfits, layers, long skirts, short skirts, jeans, whatever.

7. Build your wardrobe one piece at a time, focusing on quality items that last a long time. 

8. Do not impulse shop.  Buy only pieces that will match or fit in with other pieces you already own and wear.

9. Know what styles flatter your body.  Once you know what is the most flattering, stick with it. 

10. Rotate your outfits. This alone will save you hours of time and stress especially in the morning when you are squeezed for time. If you are dressing with the minimalist style no one is going to notice that you wore that black blazer two days ago if you now put a grey blouse under it and add a different necklace. You can wear the same pants or skirt as long as they are clean and ironed. 

For more information on dressing simply and living simply get my ebook with resources :