A Southern Italian Christmas
Spoiler alert ahead about the Feast of the Seven Fishes! (It doesn’t exist in Italy!) Yes, it’s true! Do southern
Francine Casalino Laura
Francine Casalino Laura
Fran is a proud Italian-American and dual-citizen, splitting her time between NYC and Italy. Her passions are family, friends, food and faith + theatre and travel. (And finding the perfect Manhattan).
Fran’s treasured memories are centered around breaking bread with her loved ones and feeding an appreciative audience (literally and figuratively).
Fran started her career on the stage but traded it in early on for a successful 40 year run in corporate America. She always says the best part of that experience is the life-long friendships made over the years.
Holiday season is upon us! For some, this brings joy – but for others, dread!
Today, my holidays are very different from the holidays of my childhood. With no local family in the New York
Thanksgivukkah: A Beautiful Memory
Thanksgivukkah is the name given to the holiday which is the convergence of Thanksgiving and the 1st day of Hanukkah;
Memories from My Childhood: An Italian-American Thanksgiving
The thing I always loved about my childhood Thanksgivings was the merging of my Italian culture with the traditional American
Where Should I Stay? Choosing between Vacation Rental Platforms Vs. Traditional Lodging
Finding accommodations in the Stone Age The Internet has made booking travel a breeze, especially when it comes to booking
Thursday Nights with Daddy, Deutsch,and Dino
I was always a daddy’s girl. I had a close relationship with my father and was blessed to have known
A Man Is Not a Plan: A Lesson From Mom
When I was growing up, my mother always stressed the importance of earning your own money; to never be beholden
Preparing for Aging: Getting Old Ain’t for Sissies
Bette Davis knew what she was talking about! This is not an easy topic to address. The key to securing
Do You Know HerStory? Mother Cabrini
As a little girl growing up in New York City, Brooklyn was my world. There were the occasional trips to
Do You Know HerStory? Bella Abzug
I was fortunate to grow up during a time when the world was changing dramatically for women – for the
Want to Learn a Foreign Language? It’s Not Too Late
Duolingo? Babbel? A traditional class? There are so many options available today; how do you decide what’s best for you?
Dreaming of Italy? How to Plan Your First Trip!
Anyone who has seen Roman Holiday, Summertime, Room With A View or Under The Tuscan Sun has dreamed about a
From Dreams to a Living Reality: Palermo and NYC
Dreams to Live Abroad Start Early Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed about traveling the world. Back
Wanderlust Unleashed: The Liberation of Traveling Alone in Retirement
They say you never know someone until you live with them. The truth is you never know someone until you
5 Benefits Of Early Retirement: Why I Retired Early and You Should Too
I was always a do-er. A bit of an overachiever. Even as a child I was way over-scheduled with activities and friends. I had a lot of energy and just kept moving forward.
In college, I didn’t just go to school, I had a job, took five dance classes, a week, two singing lessons, an acting workshop, and did off-off-Broadway show on the weekends.
