A big Welcome to my New York Times readers, it’s great to meet you here. As you may have guessed I have a passion for Italy. I’m hoping it’s something we share… perhaps we also share similar dreams. A simple home in Italy, a life less hectic, time to spend with my husband and children, living the good life. If you are here because you have a dream I can tell you that they do come true, if our little family can do it so can you!
So what is your dream, why is it so important to you?
Just over a year ago I was contacted out of the blue by a journalist writing an article about Bloggers who renovate. Massively exciting, we spoke on the phone about dreams and a life lived out of boxes.
Today the article Expatriate Bloggers Chronicle Details of Home Renovations went “live” at The New York Times.
Moving from those early excited moments to the final glory of the finished article in print, is a little like renovating. Patience, details, and looking beyond the obvious to tell a story. So firstly I’d like to thank Roxana Popescu for seeing something special at Renovating Italy, and congratulate the other writers.
If there’s anything I’ve learned since starting this blogging adventure, it’s never give up on your dreams, and share from the heart. If you do that, others with “longed for dreams” will somehow find you. The friendships are priceless and I treasure each one.
So if you are visiting today from the New York Times or the International Herald Tribune I’d like to say welcome and I look forward to getting to know you!
You can chat with me here with a comment below. Yes I read every comment and would encourage you to connect with other readers. You can find me at facebook, twitter, and pinterest come by and say hello we’re a friendly bunch.
I’d like to share some of my favorite posts with you. Not necessarily the most commented or tweeted, just the ones I love.
ciao for now ~ lisa
Italian Rustic – Did you see the New Place?
Our dream Italian Village – renovation project stage one
Living the Italian Dream – Your new home is waiting
Great Minds Dream Alike – Living la Dolce Vita
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh my God, Lisa!! This is fantastic. All I can say is that it couldn’t happen to a nicer, smarter and funnier girl than you! Complimenti!! Hugs. Tni
Toni DeBella recently posted..Living in Italy: A Part Time Life In Between
Grazie Toni, everyone here has so much passion. I think that’s what draws us all together. We all have dreams and support each other to reach them, sending love, lisa x
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..Memories of Venice
Congratulations too!
Isn’t it amazing how long it took?! And finally I got to know who the other bloggers are!
Really nice meeting you and your blog, strange that we did not bump into each other before
Saluti
Suzie
Yes great to meet you also Suzie, it’s certainly been an interesting process. I was also curious who the others were so it’s nice to finally meet you all this way. ciao lisa
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..At the back of the Beginning – a photo finds it’s way home
Ah Lisa!!! Couldn’t wait to say how wonderful this is. Fabulous! And congratulations!!! I haven’t even read the article…. Coffee’s on so I will sit back and savour it now. But I just wanted to straight away add my voice. Complimenti tesoro!!! Janine xx
Janine recently posted..Day dreaming of a sunny Friday in Rome when I should be doing other things
Ha Ha that’s just what I did Janine, a friend let me know it was live and I had to quickly take a look and come back later after picking up the kids. Thank you for that beautiful “voice” of yours, you have such a gift for getting to the heart of people! Hope you enjoyed the coffee and the read. ciao love lisa x
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..International Womens Day and Kony
Ahhh marrrrrrrvelous stuff Lisa!
Cant wait to hear more from you and especially that crazzzzy renovation project you’re about to sink your teeth into:-).
Susan
Susan Heslington recently posted..Italian Moving Network
Thanks Susan, it’s all I think about most days. Sam keeps telling me how far it is from the house to the place we’ll be able to park…all up hill so I should get very fit. ciao lisa x
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..Why I write about Italy
Oh Congratulations Lisa – this is just fantastic and SO well deserved. Thank you too for your lovely comments. Ciao Bella Francesca
Francesca Muir recently posted..Athenian love
Francesca feels like I’ve know you forever yet in reality it hasn’t been that long. Time has flown since I started blogging a year ago. I love seeing your images each week, they have something so familiar about them. ciao love lisa x
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..Memories of Salina ~ we find the family home
Got your email (via subscrip to Renovating Italy) and rushed off to read the NYT article. Bloody awesome and well deserved. Imagine…. making the big-time traditional news (and in Print which is much fussier than TV or Radio) all because you two followed your singular heart?
And what a potentially amazing synchronicity-inciting event (…I am intuiting here). The manifestation of the synchronicity I am suspecting here has yet to unfold but I think this article could be the tipping-point, the resonating energy to begin that process. Do you guys have a reno-dream that needs a few more folks (as new reno-villagers) to get off the ground
??? Something like a whole-village restoration project/venture maybe? One that sits on the side of a mountain?
Brian
Your ex-pat-reno lifestyle is inspirational for me, and others I suspect, who are on the precipice of “What now?” meets “What if?” and cascades to a “Why not!”
J. Brian Hennessy recently posted..KnoWear – Fashions that Teach Us about our Self
Arghhh Brian we must be kindred souls, I can feel your excitement leaping out!! I love the thought of life yet to unfold! Oh yes we have a village in mind, how incredible it will be to get started.
I hope everyone reading gets to experience that feeling of “What now?” meets “What if?” and cascades to a “Why not!”
sending love
lisa x
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..Dream Italian Villages – our first encounter
A huge congratulations sent your way – love that you got your story into the paper! It was such a great article….
and its so true – having a dream and sharing that dream will connect you with others who also have the same dreams!
You blog is such an inspiration and I love reading all about Italy!
Cheers
Lisa
Lisa Wood recently posted..Monday Featured Travel Blogger On New Life on the Road
Thanks Lisa, I know how your family have not only followed a dream but picked it up twirled it around and danced with it ever since!!!
love lisa xx
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..Dream Italian Villages – our first encounter
Congratulations Lisa! Well done. You are an inspiration to all of us to pursue our dreams and find happiness while doing so. Thank you!
Trisha Thomas recently posted..Bold and Beautiful, Brooke and Ridge
Thanks so much for that Trisha, I hope you know how inspiring I find your writing!! The best part of this blogging adventure is being able to connect with others with the same passions and find great friends! xxx
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..At the back of the Beginning – a photo finds it’s way home
Congratulations Lisa, I’m so excited for you!! <3
Kelly recently posted..Pattern of the Week – September 22, 2012
Thanks Kelly, it was a long process but it was a good way to learn about the way journalists work.
ciao love lisa