It's never crossed my mind to provide this post even though it's common with bloggers. I only recently had the idea to do so when, after purusing Google Analytics, I discovered that people often end up on my blog after asking Google what CHILLY GEL is. I found this HILARIOUS and decided to find out what other posts people tend to gravitate to when they end up where you are right now: the best-damn-racially-ambiguous-Asian-Canadian-expat-in-Italy blog ever! After compiling this list, I noted that there's one that is a bit of an odd-one-out, my review on the Rudsak Grace coat that I procured in Toronto in 2014. Apparently, many potential buyers were looking for reviews on it! The rest of the posts are more Italy/Italian-focused. So here they are, the TOP TEN MOST POPULAR POSTS ON QUESTA DOLCE VITA THIS YEAR:

1. How to Snag (and Keep) an Italian Man ​
What you'll read in this post:
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Be a good cook: Take note that "good" is very relative and a "good" cook in North American terms will probably not suffice in Italy. You cannot use anything pre-made here except perhaps Giovanni Rana lasagna (because my future mother-in-law says it's good). Your future Italian relatives would expect a homemade five-course meal MINIMUM so if you can't take that kind of heat...get outta the kitchen girl. 
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2. Asians and Italians…The Perfect Cross-Cultural Cocktail? ​
What you'll read in this post:

Asian-Americans work well with Italians because we come from similar backgrounds that focus heavily on the two things most important things in life: FOOD and FAMILY. Most nationalities claim to emphasize similar values, but maybe not to the extent of Asians and Italians. We get really intense with this stuff. 

3. The Unofficial, Community-Curated, Comprehensive List of Italophiles ​
What you'll read in this post:

This morning I started a project to create a user-driven compilation of all the best Italophile Instagram accounts to follow, the only criteria were that those included love Italy and/or Italian as much as yours truly. We did it “chain-reaction” style in order to get the widest reach and the most diversity in contributions so anyone who was added was then asked to add their own favorite “Italophile” to the ever-growing list. It's easy to find a "blog roll call" or a list of recommended blogs to follow these days, but I have yet to come across a community-curated list of Instagram accounts. The best part about this list is that all the featured accounts have essentially been "hand-picked" by YOU AND ME, mutual lovers of Italy and all things Italian. 

4. A Short Rant on Customer Service in Italy ​
What you'll read in this post:

I mean, it's a general well-known fact that customer service in Italy is laughable- from being transferred from person to person on the phone and finally being hung up on to having someone make me wait while they take an Instagram of their morning coffee- I've experienced it all. I really would have pulled a Samantha (remember that iconic "dirty martini, dirty bastard" scene in Sex and the City?!) on that girl taking a photo if not for the fact that she was sitting behind a pane of protective glass. More often than not, people in the customer service in industry in Italy act like they are serving a life sentence while at work, as if they never asked to be doing that job and someone is coercing them into it. I'm sure sometimes that's the case, so I'll let those people off the hook. 

5. ​wear this: Rudsak Grace coat (STYLE Nº # 8113928)
What you'll read in this post:

Rudsak is a Montreal-based company that epitomizes 'the spirit of cool rebel', but in my mind, it aligns perfectly with 'the style of Torontonians', which I would describe as being very much the high-end hipster with rebel touches. I love to buy local and I still adore my made in Canada Mooseknuckles bomber jacket, however it is not exactly something you can dress-up or wear out to a fancy dinner. Enter the Grace coat. 

6. ​What the heck is Chilly Gel?
What you'll read in this post:

If you don't know the answer, that means you've never lived in Italy and therefore not well-versed in the infamous detergente intimo (soap for your intimate parts, my goodness it sure doesn't translate well!). Chilly gel is a brand of these soaps and there are whole sections in the supermarket dedicated to a vast selection of them with varying characteristics such as pH type, scent, etc.

7. ​The Weekend Catch-Up: Santa Margherita Ligure and Pretty Portofino
What you'll read in this post:

​The nightlife is young-ish, trendy, wealthy; the heels of the girls super high and skinny while the skirts were so short they almost were non-existent. Be warned it's alot of tourists and the locals/Italians did not seem overly interested- I think it's gotten to the point where foreigners aren't so preyed upon, therefore if you're looking for a fling with someone who you can't understand, from my observations I think that would be unlikely- try Florence instead.

8. Annoying Things Non-Canadians Say About Canada ​
What you'll read in this post:

It’s consistently said that travel is the cure to ignorance and I understand that travel, especially across the Atlantic, is not economically feasible for everyone. But inform yourselves the old-fashioned way. Ask questions, read books or at least scroll through Google images of different countries. Do all of this before telling me how relieved I must be to be “out of the cold” and living in a “real city”. I live in Bergamo, it’s 115,223 people. Remember Edmonton’s number? 932,546. I think it’s safe to say that I was living in a real city before as well.

9. LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Maddie & Gio
What you'll read in this post:
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I was also completely taken aback by how direct Gio was with his feelings. This was a combination of having less-than-perfect English (which forces one to be direct) and him being Italian. I remember getting a text from him one night asking me what I was doing that evening. I wrote back saying something like, "I am tired, so I am just going to watch a movie. I will see you tomorrow because I am sure you want to be out enjoying the city with the others!" and he wrote back saying, "No, I want to be with you. You are the only one I care about here, I will come watch a movie with you." 

10. The Appeal of Italian Men ​
​What you'll read in this post:

​Okay, this is the blog post that everyone wants. So grab your prosecco and pull up a chair, let’s discuss the global appeal of Italian men. Let’s start off with the superficial basics. If you have any taste in men at all, it’s almost impossible to deny the classically revered features of the Italians- the strong noses (here there is a fine balance required, let’s be honest), the even stronger jawlines, the thick eyelashes that look better than mine with two layers of falsies…just the eyes in general. Sometimes I think that the Romans invented bedroom eyes.

What's your favourite post? Is it included on this list? If not, let me know! 

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like to "dare un'occhiata" at these ones:
​Why We Love Italian Boys
​Immunity to Accent Attractiveness: Can the Italian Accent Stop Being Sexy?
​Can You Fall in Love Without Speaking the Same Language?
​The Double Standard Between Italian Street Harassment and American
​Can Men and Women Be Friends? Here's How My Italian Colleagues Responded
Dating Diversity: Italy vs. Canada (and North America)
Cross-Cultural Dating: My First Jaw-Drop Moment with an Italian 
Italian Men: The Unofficial Guide for Wives and Girlfriends
How to Date an Italian Man or Woman (From The Iceberg Project)
Guest Post: My Story with the Italian Language

RECENT POSTS FEED:

​Ciao a tutti! As many of you Instagram diehards might already know, I was lucky enough to be invited to The Grand Blogger Dinner in Milan last Friday night, the inaugural event hosted by Mr. Experience Creators, a PR and event company based in Amsterdam. This was their third event after Berlin and Amsterdam, with another three up-and-coming in other cool-kid European cities. The event was held at the ultra-trendy NHOW HOTEL in the center of Milan and featured 39 hand-picked bloggers from all over the city, plus...yours truly! The evening began with me arriving in typical Canadian fashion, 30 minutes before the 6pm start time. I was ecstatic to have arrived at all, having never driven in Milan before and certainly never even having entertained the idea of driving right into the heart of the city at rush hour on a Friday evening. When I parked the car with minimal scratches and minimal “multe” (fines), I had to sit for a few minutes to calm my heart that was rammering against my chest, high on adrenaline and espresso. The dress code was “Indian Summer” and I had to wear my interpretation of it to work since I would have no opportunity to change beforehand. I was interested to see how the other milanesi bloggers would be dressed and all I can say is that there was a lot of black with accents of colors. A few of the fashion bloggers opted for the very hot-right-now turban that just a few days before had caused, and is still causing, a stir in the fashion world thanks to their inclusion in the Marc Jacobs show. I applaude them for taking risks. I wanted to wear flowers on my head but balked at being too "last season" or too "Coachella" and in fact, maybe I was right because the only headgear I spotted was the notorious head wrap.

​Upon arrival, the bloggers were treated to what might have seemed like champagne at first sight, but was actually a Poretti beer. I drank my share rather enthusiastically much to the bemusement of the Dutch organizers and the rest of the women who might have preferred champagne. Most of the conversation and exchanging of account names and blog names took place in Italian and I was more than excited to flex some linguistic muscle. Once stomachs started rumbling, we were escorted into a delightfully-decorated candlelit dining area that looked like something off of Pinterest. Seats were assigned and written in golden cursive, my card bearing only a first name, “Jasmine”…I felt as significant and special as Cher. The flower arrangements towered over our heads, cake-like layers of every white flower you can imagine, flanked on either side with candles ready to burn the midnight oil. I was starving. 

The dinner proceeded thanks to a number of sponsors and featured products and brands, before each dish was presented, the brand’s chef (including high rollers like Chef Giancarlo Morelli, pictured above) would make an appearance to give us the backstory on his or her use of the product. Five courses later, I headed to the bathroom to unzip the top of my skirt and sneakily hide the evidence under my top. An interesting touch was that each dish was accompanied by a specifically-chosen Poretti beer rather than wine and I kept thinking that my husband would have been in heaven!
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This blogger dinner was my first event in Milan and it’s safe to say that the organization and execution of it all just blew me away. Mr. Experience Creators hosted a top-notch event that let a variety of bloggers rub shoulders in an elegant and refined atmosphere that felt neither stuffy or snobby. I expected to feel like a fish out of water in such a swanky venue in the world's most fashionable capital city but I felt completely at ease. They also sent us home with the biggest swag bag seen this side of Hollywood, packed full with fresh pasta from Giovanni Rana and many other brand products as you can see in the photographs below. Here’s hoping to be invited back next year! ​

 Okay, this is the blog post that everyone wants. So grab your prosecco and pull up a chair, let’s discuss the global appeal of Italian men. Let’s start off with the superficial basics. If you have any taste in men at all, it’s almost impossible to deny the classically revered features of the Italians- the strong noses (here there is a fine balance required, let’s be honest), the even stronger jawlines, the thick eyelashes that look better than mine with two layers of falsies…just the eyes in general. Sometimes I think that the Romans invented bedroom eyes. Italians also have gorgeous coloring, that is of course, if that’s the look you’re into. In the north, they are tall, (less) dark, and handsome. Traditionally things get a little shorter and tannier towards the south and the hair increases (everywhere). But that’s still hot because hello, Hugh Jackman as Wolverine folks. And of course, there are blonde Italians, there are redhead Italians, because God is good. Personally, I’m a sucker for your tall, dark, and handsome type, hence my choice of husband although he could work on his tan a bit during the winter months. But despite all those adjectives, I think the Italians have 50% of their sex appeal in their eyes and the other 50% in their swag. Indeed, I have used the word swag in this post. It’s really the best word to describe this because it’s this innate, inner confidence and style that just emanates from every Italian, women included. Some tourists however, see it as arrogance. But I like my men with confidence (as do a lot of women I imagine based on the success of 50 Shades of Grey…!), call it arrogance if you will, it’s attractive paired with green eyes. On that note, you get some superb eye colors in Italy ranging from ice blue to the green that you thought was the stuff of urban legends. If you can’t tell already, I also adore green eyes (again, see husband choice). Moving on, Italian men tend to have style that most other men only dare dream about, or have to follow a step-by-step article in GQ to attain. They are also big on personal grooming, sometimes their eyebrows are more on fleek than mine. This is often associated with being excessively metrosexual but I assure you, no one is kicking an Italian out of bed for having too perfect eyebrows. Unless they are a forma di rondine, then yes, you are being kicked out, actually you are not being invited in at all. Finally, the last factor in all this appeal is passion. Italians, men and women, are so passionate about everything that they do (cough, cough...) and passion is sexy, I assure you there might be no bigger turn on than going to a soccer match with your Italian man and watching him watch his team win. That is passion personified if I ever saw it.  Forget oysters, champagne, and strawberries, let’s go to San Siro!

Leave me your experiences in the comments, do you agree with me or did I miss anything important? 

Put your credit cards away amiche! If you're a self-professed italophile, you NEED to check out the Winter 2015 Collection by Wildfox Couture, click here.  VOGLIO TUTTO! This collection is basically MY LIFE, written on clothes: 

Not on my 'wish list' any longer. Wild Couture, per favore, help a girl out and sent these to Italy! x

If you follow me on my Facebook page (), you've already seen this one- that time I wore my boots to the beach in Sicily and all the flip-flop-clad Europeans experienced a major case of shock and awe. I would just like to point out that all the major Italian magazines are touting "western style" to be the newest summer trend this year. 

Awhile back I did an awesome interview for Travel Fashion Girl, a travel website that focuses on, you guessed it...globetrotting and looking good doing it! Here's a sneak peak but check out the full interview here.  Thanks for the compliment of "Italy Insider", wowza! 

Q: What destination surprised you the most with the ways locals dressed or their type of clothing?Moscow, Russia. The Russian girls look like and dress like models every moment of the day, not just for going out in the evenings. On a normal weekday at the grocery store it would not be uncommon to spot a Russian girl teetering in the cheese section in sky-high stilettos and the tightest tube dress you’ve ever seen. Talk about intimidating. My girlfriend and I traded in our  after that trip.

Q: What’s your preferred travel outfit on a plane?
I like a shift dress with wiggle room and non-strappy wedges. I prefer dresses because they are easier to maneuver in bathroom situations, especially when we’re talking about squat toilets. It’s rather tricky trying to hold onto your pants and not pee on them at the same time!

Adore the detailing of this plain black French Connection dress, it was originally a below-the-knee length however I had it tailored to fall above the knee considering how short I am. I've always loved it because it reminds me of when Dolce & Gabbana were going all-out Sicilian influenced a couple years back (Fall/Winter 2012/2013 perhaps?) in a full black ensembles and intricate baroque embroideries. 

Italy tends to bring out the best in people- not sure if it's the warm sun on your shoulders, or the warm glow after a bottle of red, but so many of us feel like the best version of ourselves in Italy. Personally, I always felt like I had my best outfit inspirations while on my various trips here. I also attribute this to the fact that it's impossible to dress terribly when everyone around you is dressed impeccably so maybe it's just a little peer pressure, who knows! This white cotton dress was perfect for a breezy stroll along Lago d'Iseo, it hit right above the knees so I know for sure that I did some wading in the cool waters of the lake in it. Paired with the kitschy Gucci hip bag that was all the rage back in the day, I feel like this just screams summertime at the Italian lakes. I wanted to do these posts about my favourite "Italy" outfits, almost as an homage to the Carrie-in-Paris episodes when she busts out the gloves, that bluebird blue overcoat, and the beret...some outfits wait a lifetime to taken to the right city, the right country, to be worn. Have you ever had an outfit (or two) like that? 

Wearing my hair with a very blunt cut these past few days. This mainly was due to the fact that I went to hairdresser for the first time here in Italy but perhaps made the mistake of seeking out my own (I saw Chinese writing and was sold because my old family hairdresser in Edmonton was of course, Chinese). They ended up not speaking Italian and I found myself leaving with a rather interesting cut that was a bit too FOB-y for me, very straight, VERY layered, especially in the front around the face. So this bluntness is therefore the result of me re-cutting my hair afterwards! It's on the "short" side for me, I was almost interested in how I'd look with the current all-the-rage wavy bob. But Massi would probably have a hissy fit if I cut that much off. Thoughts?