Espresso Is The Breakfast Of Champions In Italy.

I can remember from an early age, my mother and father putting a little bit of coffee into my milk with my breakfast. When I would go to Italy and sleep over at my cousin's house my aunt would prepare a bowl of latte with a splash of coffee in it that went along nicely with my breakfast biscotti. Most people and especially here in the USA, no doctor would say to do that for the fear your child would be bouncing off the walls. Not to mention the American diet is filled with sugar and tons of other toxic ingredients and this is probably the biggest reason why a doctor would say that today.

Drinking coffee is really like a staple ingredient in the Italian diet, they drink it sporadically all throughout the day and can visit "the bar", not the alcohol bar but coffee bar located at every corner usually in Italy. I think coffee gets such a bad rap here, but really the consistencies are different. Here we drink large cups of coffee with tons of either milk or half and half. There you drink literally a shot of espresso with some sugar and that's it. What's better? I think the small shot of espresso, rather than a cup of fat and sugar.

Coffee has become like a family member in my parent's house. My father has a fit if the coffee runs out at night and then he's panicked that there is no coffee for the morning. Or if the coffee pot breaks he's literally heart broken. He made the transition to regular cafe Americano years ago and now is a proud supporter of Maxwell House. But, give him a shot of espresso and his eyes light up. Its safe to say yes, coffee may be addictive but scientifically the benefits of coffee are really quite good. I'm no doctor, but Italian research has indicated that the antioxidants present in coffee help arteries and the heart. But I would also say, coffee in moderation is good. I believe in the Italian diet because their way of eating consists of moderation and not overkill of one ingredient. We could learn a lot by the way the Italian eat.

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Los Vivancos- The Spanish Team of Brothers Who Dance Flamenco.

If anyone watched a few weeks ago when this Spanish team of professional dancers who happen to be brothers, performed on 'Dancing with the Stars' then you were in luck. The team as they call themselves, "Los Vivancos," introduced themselves to a national audience on live television. These guys are professionally trained dancers right out of the Professional Conservatory of Dance of Barcelona. Their performance was filled with Spanish flamenco moves with a touch of modern dance and a whole lot of European hotness. I really enjoyed the performance and not to mention they're super attractive men. I think its important to keep connected with the arts, this is a great way to broaden your interests. Check out their performance.

http://www.losvivancos.com/compaEng.html

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Real Estate Investments In Reggio Calabria.

If you're looking for property in Italy to invest in then you should look no further than Reggio Calabria. We all know that properties in Rome or Tuscany areas are very inflated and actually hard to find with their tourist popularity. If you're looking to find an older property like farm, estate or orchard like properties then the best area to find great deals is in Reggio Calabria. Based on the quality of life, scenic views and overall beauty of the area..its worth researching and shopping before you buy in Northern Italy. As a repeat visitor, resident and native of the area..I highly recommend it. You can Google search property and Reggio Calabria to find the best real estate guides and sellers in the area. Good Luck.

http://news.hotproperty.co.uk/Southern_Italy_offers_alternatives_to_north_18844820.html Tweet

American Dream May Be Fading For Immigrants.

With the economy in such turmoil and our stability on rocky ground, the once "American Dream" is slowly fading for those millions of immigrants who came to American is search of a great future. The realization even for illegal immigrants has left them with dwindling jobs and no hope for securing money for their families or their futures. Here is an interesting article about the economy and its results on immigrants here in America.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iiPRls7CuArFG9OP_X06EcL4RNhQ Tweet

JOE AVATI, Is He Really The Italian Version of Seinfeld....???

Let me start this by saying...I don't think I have ever laughed so much in my life after watching Joe Avati clips on Youtube and on his myspace page. Joe Avati, is an Italian-Australian comedian from down under and has been compared to Seinfeld due to his incredible success.

His comedy routine is so unbelievably funny, because if you're Italian you can relate to exactly what he is saying. For me especially, because I am Calabrese, I know exactly what he's describing when it comes to his family and the dialect. I found myself thinking, "wow, I thought I was the only person who thought that..or went through that.."

His celebrity has become so big in Australia and Canada, that he sells out his shows in minutes. Now, I haven't had the honor yet of attending any of his shows because he hasn't had any large venues yet here in the states..as far as I know. It would be fabulous to see this comedian because he really hits home for all the Italian immigrants. He's amazing. I encourage you to visit his site and youtube channel. I found myself laughing hysterically in my office while watching his show. We can only hope the tri-state or any part of the United States gets booked for one of his shows.

http://www.joeavati.com/intro.html Tweet

Locating Your Long Lost Relatives in Italy.

Sometimes, looking and researching family ancestry in Italy can be extremely difficult and complicated if you don't know what or who you are looking for. Knowing where you come from and connecting with your background or family is a large part of a person's identity, so reconnecting with your roots is sometimes an essential task in learning about yourself.

If you ever watch these reuniting shows, like "Troy, the Locator" on the WE network, you can see how extensive and hard the process is, now take that and add the fact you are going to broaden your search into Italy..no doubt...its a big endeavor. So, in finding your ancestors or living relatives you should start with basic web resources that can narrow your search or give you an idea of places or people. Remember using Google is also key in locating information. Here are a few good sites and a genealogist-- I came across. Start here, read about it and then move onto the next step. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day. Good Luck. (PS- Remember find credible people and sites..don't get scammed.)

http://www.italiangenealogist.com/inglese/home_english.html

http://www.italyworldclub.com/genealogy/

http://genealogy.about.com/od/italy/Italian_Genealogy_Family_History.htm Tweet

What Ever Happened To Sunday Dinners....?

I can speak for myself and say that I am extremely lucky. Come hell or high water..which is pretty likely these days..there is always dinner on Sunday at my parents. By dinner, I don't mean like 5:00 or 6:00 pm its more like 1 or 2:00 pm. My father is a creature of habit and loves that my mother cooks him sausage and meatballs in the sauce. (Yes, its sauce.) Then following a fantastic plate of pasta. Sometimes, if I have an event to go to or someone invites me out for a Sunday I always do a second guess about attending, because I almost feel like I am missing out if I miss dinner at parents.

Their house is like the headquarters for everyone. I might be there, then my sister shows up with her kids and husband, followed by my brother or my other brother who might be visiting with his family. Sunday dinner, doesn't mean its just about food. I mean, Sunday dinners are like the meetings of the knights of the round table. There are some serious conversations that occur and pretty deep ones at that. We usually sit around the table for hours with revolving courses and especially coffee at the end of our meal.

Sunday dinners are one of the major characteristics of our family's values. No matter what, you are expected for dinner and you usually should attend..its in your best interest. ;) (according to my father.) Now, that I look back at my life growing up as an Italian American, I really cherish the fact that my parents kept my brothers and sister and myself super tight. The core of our values revolves around our family and respect for one another. Who would of thought that pasta and a few meatballs could be so meaningful? I'm lucky and wish more Italian Americans could experience Sunday dinner. Tweet