paula reynolds

Gucci. Even if the name doesn’t immediately conjure up images of iconic green and red wide stripe motifs on everything from watches to leggings to luggage, unquestionably the name is instantly recognized by most anyone tuned into high end fashion.  …

Few scents evoke an emotional response like that of bread as it rises to perfection in a hot oven. Taste buds awaken, eyes widen, stomachs rumble, voices cry out – “When will it be ready?”  Each civilization since anyone’s kept …

Oh the delights of Christmas in an Italian village with all its endearing traditions! Twinkling lights, carols floating on air, the revered nativity crèche, spiced aromas of mulled wine tickling your nose…so much to delight the senses and wrap you …

Time machines — how many of us have imagined strapping into one, flipping a few switches to then find ourselves whisked into a whirling vortex — finally plopped into some ancient land of long ago? Only in our dreams or …

Wheat fields have decorated the rolling hills of Tuscany for thousands of years. Interspersed amongst linear vineyards and silver-leafed olive groves, the golden grain has nourished generation after generation, just as it continues to do so today.  In recent decades, …

There are those brands that rise above, morphing into a name that stands for an entire category of products. Kleenex, Chapstick, and Jacuzzi – all stand the test.  Whether it’s an innovative product or merely a great marketing scheme, when …

The vigorous celebrations of Pasqua and Pasquetta in Italy — Easter and the Monday after Easter — are as much a part of the season of renewal as any of nature’s predictable proclamations. It’s a time of awakening. Vibrant green …

Ask the average non-Italian to give you a rundown on Italian cuisine and chances are it will sound like this: “Spaghetti…with meatballs, Fettuccini Alfredo, lasagna for sure…and pepperoni pizza…!”  We’ll spare the culinary critique of how…shall we say… deficient” this …

Admit it – it’s been on your mind since that first viewing of “Under the Tuscan Sun” … owning your own magical villa in the lush Italian countryside surrounded by singing birds and plentiful wine. After all, who amongst us …

As “resta a casa” mandates and travel bans continue to be the new normal, many of us have found extra time to daydream, to get lost in thoughts that whisk us away from reality. For me, those dreams often center …