La Dolce Vita Dreams: My Tuscan Villa Fantasy

With everything swirling chaotically and heartbreakingly around the U.S. these days, I've found myself escaping into vivid daydreams à la Diane Lane in "Under the Tuscan Sun." Naturally, this led me down the enticing rabbit hole of 1-Euro Italian villas, charming, rustic gems just waiting for some love, laughter, and a fresh coat of dreamy possibility.

So, universe, I'm officially putting this dream out there: show me the way to a beautiful Italian villa nestled in a quaint town overflowing with gelato shops, charming piazzas buzzing with life, and cozy espresso bars staffed by passionate, gorgeous Italians who serve my daily inspiration (and caffeine). I envision myself tucked at a little corner table with a breathtaking view, typing away on my Substack or perhaps even penning my first book.

Naturally, in this dream, I also look like an Italian Supermodel!

Maybe, just maybe, we'd transform this villa into a warm and welcoming Bed & Breakfast, hosting visitors who share our love for delicious Italian food, lazy afternoons spent sipping local wines, stories of worldly travel adventures, and evenings illuminated by golden sunsets. Perhaps we'd even launch a cooking school experience, teaching guests (and ourselves!) the authentic ways of making pasta from scratch, kneading dough on worn wooden tables, and sprinkling parmesan with a generous, loving flourish.

We'd lovingly undertake the villa's restoration with the help of local artisans like Mario and Bruno, men whose families have carried the torch of Italian craftsmanship for generations. Imagine the thrill of knocking down a wall to uncover a stunning hidden fresco, or stumbling upon an old wood-burning oven that's begging to bake pizzas on warm summer afternoons. I wouldn't worry about modern conveniences like wifi, electricity, plumbing, or heat. I'd be too captivated by the romance and magic of it all, savoring every moment.

Clearly I am getting aggressive in my Manifesting!

Maybe I would refocus my love of Art History and learn watercolor painting, or even take up oil painting, setting up an old easel in our courtyard overlooking vineyards stretching for miles. We'd ride antique bicycles into town for an afternoon gelato or perhaps zip around in a charmingly temperamental old Fiat, embracing every twist, turn, and adventure along the way.

Hubby would immerse himself fully in the timeless crafts of wood carving and furniture restoration, and together, we'd lovingly tend to our garden filled with tomatoes so perfectly ripe and plump they'd elevate his homemade sauce to legendary village status. We'd become fluent in Italian, chatting effortlessly with neighbors and local workers, casually debating whether today or next week would be best for harvesting olives or grapes, tasting freshly pressed olive oil drizzled on crusty bread as part of our morning routine.

I am imagining the lasagna we'd serve alfresco on a warm summer night, laughter and clinking glasses echoing under string lights as neighbors, friends, and travelers gather around, bringing our own "La Dolce Vita" moment to life—exactly like that dreamy Netflix ending we've replayed in our minds countless times. To be fair, I've been thoroughly inspired by the beautiful and very, very cheesy and predictable Netflix movie actually called 'La Dolce Vita.' If you haven't watched it yet, consider this my heartfelt recommendation—credit where credit is due!

Manifesting Dreams in Midjourney AI. I can almost feel the fresh breeze blowing over the grape vines, mixing with the smell of our fine Chianti wine.

I am old enough to know that reality would likely be vastly different, probably involving rats, loose electrical wires, non-existent plumbing, freezing winters, scorching summers buzzing with mosquitoes, and sinking all our hard-earned savings into something neither of our boys would have any interest in—but in these turbulent times, a girl can dream, can't she? I usually roll my eyes when someone says the word manifesting but desperate times call for desperate measures, so I am going to manifest the SH*T out of this dream.

Things I Need to Do to Make This Dream Happen:

✅ Commit to daily Italian DuoLingo (ciao, bella!).

✅ Encourage (gently nudge) Hubby to sign up for local woodworking classes.

✅ Start binge-watching painting tutorials on YouTube—oil or watercolor? Decisions, decisions!

✅ Dive into researching all the delightfully overwhelming financial logistics involved (because practicality and reality sneaks into every dream).

✅ Re-watch Under the Tuscan Sun for the 99th time—for inspiration and manifestation purposes, of course.

✅ Casually start speaking Italian around the house. Andiamo!