La Femme Curiosita

Tag: life

  • A Season Of Change

    Hi, it’s been some time since I last shared an update – JUNE in fact and so much has happened.

    After spending fourteen years at my last company, it’s been strangely freeing to realize I can begin somewhere else and that not everything needs to be permanent. Being a temp has its own rhythm; I’m part of the team but not entirely woven into the fabric, and there’s an awareness that this chapter will end. I’m learning to sit with that instead of clinging to the illusion of stability.

    I also moved. I spent the last four years living alone in my apartment, which was an experience I am utterly grateful for. It was a period of quiet independence and learning how to fill my own space. Saying goodbye felt bittersweet, but stepping into something new feels right like I’ve outgrown the version of myself who needed that cocoon.

    And then, Portugal. We went for a wedding, and it turned out to be everything I hoped for. The food, the cliffs, the energy! Even the drive down south was its own memory of long open roads and this sense of calm I haven’t experienced on European roads before. (I didn’t drive, but still.) There’s a whole separate post coming for that trip.

    What ties all of this together is that everything in my life feels like it’s in motion .. my work, my home, even the places I’m drawn to. Change used to scare me, but lately it feels like the only way forward.

    A few other noteworthy things lately:

    I’ve been practicing watercolor again, and the lemons below actually made me smile, they were the first ones that felt like talent on the page.

    My mom made homemade mozzarella, and of course she made it look effortless. It’s simpler than I expected, and now I’m convinced I need to try it myself.

    I finally went to Oysterfest. Not life-changing, but it was a fun afternoon and I’m glad I experienced it.

    Tried a Georgian restaurant in the city& absolutely going back. The flavors were so different from anything I usually eat.

    Took myself to Sugarfish because sometimes a solo sushi date is necessary. It never disappoints.

    And I have to say… I might be at my culinary peak when it comes to breakfast. That egg taco? Top-tier. Honestly proud of it.

    And that’s a wrap for now.

    December always feels a little enchanted, maybe it’s just NYC being magical this time of year. With all the change lately, I’m realizing there’s probably more ahead for me than I expected, and that I can actually handle it.

    Ciao xo

  • A Love Letter to Rossano

    Buongiornio,

    The sun rises early and lands on my face. I squint at the clock – 6:30 a.m. Normally I’d groan, but not here. Here, it means it’s time to move. I put on my jogging shorts and shoes and decide if I want to stroll the water or if I have energy for a jog. Mornings are my favorite time for movement here also because the sun feels deadly after 8 a.m.

    I head to the water, it’s quiet save for a few folks doing the same as I am, and it’s already hot – I am in heaven.

    On my way back I daydream of the first coffee I will have. My mokapot at home never hits the same – how could it? Everything here tastes better. I prepare my coffee but hop in the shower first, a quick rinse as the water is finicky and this won’t be my only shower of the day. I sip my coffee black and rich and welcome the warmth, not that I need any more heat.

    Slowly, I pick out a linen or cotton dress, anything else would feel like a sauna. I head to my aunt’s and ask if she wants to grab collazione. We walk to the bar and order cappuccino and croissants. I save the receipt to show friends back home how two cappuccinos and two croissants cost just seven euro. It never ceases to amaze me. The cappuccino is also the way it should be – about five ounces, not a drop more. Afterwards, we head to the beach where we swim in the clear, beautiful water and lay in the sun until it’s time for lunch..

    As I won’t be going to Italy this summer I’m reminiscing on the beauty of the land and how much joy I feel when I am there. The heat can be intense but having the sea a few steps away makes it all the more magical.

    ciao xo

  • Falling into Comfort

    I had this realization today, it’s not new – and it’s possible I may have written about it before but .. I have this habit of identifying an issue, and then working to correct it. Then, once I do, I stop doing the very actions that helped me – because everything feels fine… until it doesn’t.

    For example, maybe it’s meditating. I will do that if I start to realize I am in my head a bit more or stressed, and I start that practice again. Then once I feel happy and healed I disregard the meditation and slowly I end up back where I started. Why do I do this?

    This came up recently for me as I am experiencing some neck tightness, similar to how I felt post surgery 2 years ago. My doctor asked if I have been stressed and it seems I’m clenching my jaw a lot and I realized, I have totally let me nightly winddown routine go! Of course that isn’t the cause of my stress, I am sure being jobless is contributing but I’ve let go of the anchor that was helping me through it.

    So tonight, I’m going to do one small thing to reconnect with what grounds me – maybe a stretch, maybe a guided meditation, or maybe just silence before bed. I don’t need to overhaul everything, but I do want to remember that these habits aren’t just tools to fix something; they’re part of how I care for myself, always.

    I want to catch myself when I start falling into comfort, so I can hold on to the things that keep me steady, not just when things are hard, but always.

    Thanks for tuning in xo ciao!

  • When Life Pushes You

    It’s been longer than I’d like to admit since I last posted. In April, I was part of a layoff – something I always knew could happen but felt safely out of reach. When it finally did, it left me feeling unmoored, uncertain, and honestly, a little frozen ..

    Since then, I’ve been applying to roles, trying to stay curious, and deepening my creativity by working through The Artist’s Way. It’s not always easy – I’ve hit some resistance, which the book says is normal, but that doesn’t make it feel any less frustrating.

    One thing that’s helped me reconnect with inspiration is art (thanks to the book). I recently spent an afternoon at the Met, letting myself wander without a plan. There’s something grounding about being surrounded by so much history and creativity.

    Here are a few things that touched me:

    One thing I keep returning to: if you don’t make a change, life will often do it for you. I know I tend to hesitate when something feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable. Discomfort makes my whole body tense, like when I spot a bug and instantly feel a wave of tingles. It’s irrational, but powerful. Still, I’ve realized the only way to move through that discomfort is to stop avoiding it.

    I’m still in the thick of things, but I’m choosing to show up – discomfort, resistance, and all. Maybe this is what growth actually looks like: a little messy, a little scary, but deeply human.

    Strangely enough, this unexpected time off has also created space for something I’ve been putting off: getting my Italian citizenship paperwork in order. It’s a process I’ve wanted to tackle for years but always felt too busy to manage. Losing my job gave me the gift of time and urgency – and also an appointment with the consulate!

    If you’re going through a season of change, I see you. We don’t always get to choose the timing, but we can choose how we respond.

  • From Overthinking to Adventure: Turning 35

    From Overthinking to Adventure: Turning 35

    Five years ago, I celebrated my golden birthday, 30 on the 30th. It was March of 2020. We all know how that went. Oddly, I felt relieved not to have to plan a big celebration.

    I had hoped to take a trip to Arizona with friends, but I couldn’t fathom aligning schedules or even figuring out who to include. In the end, I found myself worrying more about other people’s feelings than my own, a common theme for me.

    So when the world shut down, I used it as a perfect excuse to avoid worrying about my birthday altogether.

    In hindsight, it ended up being a day filled with so much love. Friends sent sweet words, and food was delivered to my door. I felt more loved than I expected, and it reminded me of how many people care about me. I didn’t even have to ask. 

    Since then, I’ve tried to make birthdays more about me. I’ve learned to focus less on others’ expectations and more on what I really want.

    At 32, I traveled to Germany to visit family, and it turned out to be one of my favorite birthdays. My cousin showed me around Berlin, my personal tour guide! We visited her mom who made me a traditional German breakfast and dinner, and then my uncle made homemade pizza. Simple but so special.

    At 33, I wanted to go to Paris. Originally, I planned to go solo, but my mom, who’d always wanted to visit, joined me. Looking back, I think she didn’t want me going alone.

    Last year, at 34, I struggled. I was caught up in this desire for the “perfect” birthday but didn’t even know what that meant. My friends and I went to New Orleans to celebrate two of our birthdays, so I already felt like I’d celebrated.

    Afterwards, I still planned a small night out, though I wasn’t really sure that’s what I wanted.

    What I’ve learned is this.

    My favorite birthdays have been the ones where I do what I want, without worrying about everyone else’s experience. Or where I am surprised by the kindness and love of the people around me, without feeling like a burden.

    All that being said ..

    I don’t want to put too much pressure on what turning 35 means.

    I do want to be more intentional, both in how I shape this year and the years to come. I love my self-awareness, but sometimes I wonder if it holds me back from being fully authentic.

    On one hand, mindfulness has helped me become less reactive and anxious.

    But, I also worry that in my efforts to stay grounded, I don’t always let people see all the parts of me. Especially those parts that are fearful.

    I want to get better at sharing not for reassurance, but for real connection.

    So as I step into 35, I want to focus less on over analyzing and more on doing. 

    On making choices that align with what excites me, challenges me, and brings me joy. 

    Some of those things are small shifts in my routine, and others are dreams I’ve carried for years.

    But first, a reminder of all I’ve already done:

    • Traveled solo to Arizona
    • Ran a half marathon
    • Started this blog (!!)
    • Strengthened my Italian and picked up French along the way
    • Learned to advocate for myself in work and life
    • Went to Paris twice 
    • Went to the Louvre and saw the Mona Lisa
    • Went to a ballet
    • Canoed into a cave in Belize
    • Visited Mayan Ruins
    • Stood at the Berlin Wall 
    • Traveled with my boyfriend for the first time
    • Posted silly videos on Tiktok
    • Participated in a 5k Turkey trot on Thanksgiving

    This Year

    • Take Ice Skating lessons
    • Consistent blog posts
    • Continue perfecting Italian
    • Find an organization to support/volunteer
    • Pick a career enhancing course or certificate program

    Life Bucket List

    • Hike a volcano
    • Swim in crystal blue oceans
    • Go on a Safari
    • Visit Pompeii
    • Swim with dolphins
    • Meet an elephant
    • Create something meaningful 
    • Live in Europe for a period of time
    • See an Opera

    & I expect the list will only continue to grow

    If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that life keeps evolving, and so do I.

    I’ve spent a lot of time trying to get things right, but maybe it’s less about getting it right and more about just living.

    Embracing the things that light me up

    Letting go of the things that don’t

    Trusting that I’m exactly where I need to be.

    So here’s to 35! To less overthinking & more doing. 

    To more adventure, learning & growth and moments that make me feel incredible joy. That type of belly laugh you only experience in special moments, I’d like some more of that this year.

    Ciao xo