The one thing you probably do know about Tuscany is that it’s one of the most visited regions in Italy, topped only by the Veneto, and also one of incredible beauty. Most visitors leave with memories of art-filled cities and medieval hilltop villages, and of landscapes of olive groves and vineyard-carpeted hills crisscrossed by cypress trees.

These are such familiar images that even if you’ve never stepped foot in Tuscany, you probably still have some idea of what makes the region so special.

But if you have been lucky enough to holiday there, you’ll know that time constraints make getting off the well-trodden path fairly challenging. We’ve been lucky enough to have lived in Tuscany and, after years of planning our own tours in the region, we’ve really got to know every nook and cranny.

So, while Italy remains mainly off-limits, here are our own little Tuscan gems, guaranteed to whet your appetite for your next trip!

Is Florence the Best Place for Art and Culture?

When it comes to visual art in Tuscany, be prepared for an embarrassment of riches. While most visitors head for Florence, eager to visit cathedrals and churches crammed full of Renaissance art, nearby Siena is less crowded and every bit as lovely.

First stop must be the Campo, Europe’s most spectacular medieval square and home to the annual Palio horse race. After that, there are works by Donatello, Michelangelo and Pisano to explore in the Duomo, and piazzas and streets flanked by Renaissance palazzi.

Which Are Tuscany’s Prettiest Hilltop Villages?

The astonishing view of the iconic towers in the medieval hilltop town of San Gimignano is quite mesmerising – a very good reason for including it on one of our Tuscan tours!

But we challenge you not to fall in love with nearby Volterra, one of the most charming walled Tuscan towns. Best-known for its Etruscan and Roman remains, extraordinary medieval ramparts and alabaster artefacts, the town is often overlooked by visitors to Tuscany.

Tuscany Has Over 4,000 Mountains

Most people associate hiking in Tuscany with gentle walks in the Chianti hills. In fact, the region has over 4,000 mountains, with the highest, Monte Pisanino, reaching just under 2000m. Fortunately, with so many to choose from, you don’t need to be superfit and under 25 to appreciate the beauty of the region’s mountains!

We love walking in the Lunigiana region nestled between the Apennines and the Apuan Alps, and along stretches of the Via Francigena.

Tuscan Food – From Humble Beginnings

Despite what many think, Tuscan food isn’t just about expensive Bistecca alla Fiorentina. In fact, most traditional Tuscan dishes are far more modest.

The humble ‘cucina povera’ is still very much in evidence in Tuscany where bread features heavily in dishes such as ‘panzanella’ (summer bread salad with sun-ripened vegetables) and ‘ribollita’ (bean and vegetable soup served with toasted bread).

Our favourite Tuscan dish? Well, it has to be ‘pappardelle con ragù di cinghiale’ – broad, flat ribbons of pasta served with a robust wild boar sauce!

Is Chianti Classico the Best Tuscan Wine?

Wine is very much part of Tuscany’s cultural identity. Chianti Classico is one of the best-known wines of the region and in the south of the region, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello di Montalcino are icons of the wine world.

However, you’ll get a different picture if you head for Tuscany’s coastal area where the tiny village of Bolgheri is fast becoming one of the region’s most exciting wine-growing zones.

Here, the superb, high quality wines, produced mainly with French grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot rather than the native Sangiovese grapes, have been awarded DOC status and are known as Super Tuscans.

Where Are the Best Tuscan Beaches?

As if art-filled cities, glorious countryside and mountains weren’t enough – Tuscany is also blessed with beautiful beaches! The beach resorts in Versilia, such as Viareggio, Camaiore and the rather glitzy Forte dei Marmi, are the main crowd-pleasers.

Arguably, however, the best beaches are in southern Tuscany, in the Maremma, where the coastline switches between rocky coves and powder-soft sand. Better still, follow the Italians over to Elba, one of an archipelago of seven islands, where the mood is distinctly understated but the beaches absolutely gorgeous.

Horse Blessings at the Palio Di Siena

Yes, it’s true. The Sienese take their Palio festival so seriously that the horses are blessed before the start of the race.

While the race lasts just one minute (3 times round the magnificent ‘campo’), the ritual-rich festivities last for 4 days. These include a spectacular parade and a dinner on the night before the race day.

Have you ever holidayed in Tuscany? Do any towns, villages or even meals bring back special memories for you? Do you have any tips for fellow readers?

Kameron Westcott’s Pink Puff Sleeve Ruffle Dress at Southfork Ranch

Real Housewives of Dallas Season 5 Episode 15 Fashion

Come on, Barbie, let’s go to an ’80s murder mystery party! Kameron Westcott’s pink puff sleeve ruffle dress that she wears at Southfork Ranch (aka the setting of the hit show Dallas) on this week’s episode of RHOD totally fit the theme of the night. And while it’s still available to shop, we’ve also included some more affordable Style Stealers below considering even the on-sale price might totally murder your bank account.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to Shop Her Valentino Dress on Sale

Click Here to See Her Sold Out Valentino Bag

Click Here to See Her Sold Out Valentino Belt

Click Here to See Her Sold Out Jimmy Choo Pumps

Photo & Info: @KameronWestcott

Originally posted at: Kameron Westcott’s Pink Puff Sleeve Ruffle Dress

For many Western women, the mention of the word menopause is associated with dread and fear – in a culture that relishes youth, it has come to be considered as part of the ageing process. Menopausal women have often been labelled “grumpy” and “old.” Both are unrealistic stereotypes.

As many women grapple to come to terms with the physical pain, hot flushes and anxiety that are part of menopause, they are also forced to cope with cultural and social labels that do not accurately reflect who they are or what they are experiencing.

In reality, menopause is a natural, bodily cycle – it marks the end of mensuration and childbearing years. It is the start of a new chapter in a woman’s life. One which can be enjoyed and celebrated.

Celebrating Menopause

Did you know the women in Greek and Mayan cultures look forward to menopause? They wait with anticipation for this time to come as it relieves them of the responsibilities of giving birth.

The women of these cultures believe menopause is a new phase of life, where they can re-focus on themselves; so much so that they report on having a much more fulfilling and satisfied sex-life post-menopause.

Can we change cultural attitudes about women and menopause? Yes, and here’s how:

Talk About Menopause

Talk about it. Menopause is a part of life for every woman. By valuing each other’s voice and learning from a shared experience, women can educate and empower each other.

Menopause: A New Beginning

Shift the narrative and adopt the view that Menopause is a new phase in life. Challenge the stereotypes and the outdated notions.

Reflect and Respect

Menopause brings challenges for many women; with real changes and hormonal fluctuations it can mark a difficult time. But it is also a time to reflect on how these changing hormones have made you the woman you are and pay respect to the miraculous female body as it undergoes changes to enter a new phase of life and living.

Menopause is a new stage of life and for every woman the experience will be unique. For some women the symptoms are increasingly physical, while for others the experience can be extremely emotional – of course, there are the fortunate few who enjoy a symptom-free menopause.

Do your own homework when it comes to menopause as diet, lifestyle and supplements can all make a difference as you transform into this new and exciting phase of your life.

As a medical professional, my advice to all women is to speak to their own health care practioner as they begin their menopause journey.

Be educated, know that menopause varies greatly for every single woman, and that your experience matters. Celebrate your transition years and embrace the new you.

Is there a stigma in society about women undergoing menopause? How do you feel about that? Have you tried to go against the current and embrace your transition and transformation? Are you happy with the new you?

To begin, let me say that the following answers are based upon my training and experience as a holistic nutritionist. Opinions on what’s best in nutrition are highly controversial which is the reason so many consumers are confused about making the best choices.

Keep in mind that you are unique, and your genetics, lifestyle, age, and even where you live factor into what might be the best choices for you.

However, there are some absolutes that the nutrition community agrees upon. Highly processed foods, chemicals, additives, refined sugars of any type are unhealthy. Consuming them on a regular basis will harm your health. Consuming meat that contains added growth hormones and antibiotics is unhealthy as well.

Below you will find some frequently asked questions and my response to them:

Full Fat vs. Low or Non-Fat Milk and Yogurt

Q. What are the benefits of full fat milk or yogurt versus low or non-fat in our diets? Is it safe to say full fat products are less processed?

A. Healthy fats play a vital role in our brain health and in helping us feel satisfied. However, when you narrow it down to dairy fats, full or low, consume them in limited amounts. Many people are sensitive to any dairy and the sensitivity can show in acne, digestive issues, phlegm in the lungs or sinuses.

Dairy is not the only answer to acquiring adequate calcium as the Dairy Council might suggest. There are other calcium rich foods. And remember to have adequate Vitamin D intake daily. It aids absorption of calcium and is a proven deterrent to serious Covid illness.

Plant Fat vs. Animal Fat

Q. If all plant fat is healthy and animal fat is dangerous, does that mean it is healthy and safe to eat margarine for example and dangerous to consume butter?

A. Quite the opposite when it comes to butter v. margarine. Butter is a saturated fat, and when derived from grass-fed/antibiotic-free/added-hormone-free cows, it is a rich and nourishing food – when eaten in a limited amount. It is true that your brain needs fat to flourish and maintain healthy performance.

Around 60 percent of your brain is made up of DHA – an omega-3 fat that you get from algae and fish. A little butter in the mix is also fine for the brain. (An early treatment for epilepsy, a brain malfunction, was a full fat diet because of fat’s importance in nourishing the brain.)

And forget about the margarine. Early versions of margarine contained hydrogenated or trans fats. They have been upgraded to contain interesterified vegetable oils which is also highly processed. Modern margarine may contain several food additives, including emulsifiers and colorants.

Put simply, modern margarine is a highly processed food product made from vegetable oils, while butter is basically concentrated dairy fat. You want to eat real food. Your body and brain will thank you for it.

Food and Inflamation

Q. What is inflammation and how is it affected by what we eat?

A. That’s a great question. You may not realize it, but that back pain, joint pain and headache probably stems from your diet. It all starts with what you eat. If you are eating highly processed foods with artificial ingredients and chemicals, your body is charged with processing these unnatural products.

They take longer to be disposed of because the liver’s function is to filter out toxins, and the products in processed foods are indeed toxic.

So, imagine that eating this way is a way of life for you. Eventually, your digestive system will break down because of a lack of healthy foods that produce needed gut flora that regulates metabolism, mood and immunity.

Your energy will fade, leading you to overeat to somehow find the nutrients that the processed foods aren’t giving you. It creates a vicious cycle. Your brain, your muscles, and your joints, along with your digestive system, will need tobcarry on without the vital nutrients these systems need. This is what creates inflammation.

It will show up as headache, acid reflux, back pain, sleep disturbances and joint pain. Don’t pass it off as part of your age; it is your diet, not your age that triggers inflammation.

One-Food Diet

Q. Does eating a cup of blueberries every day help maintain brain health?

A. It definitely will help, but it’s only one piece of the dietary mix that will keep your brain healthy. Blueberries prevent oxidative stress in the brain, so they are definitely beneficial.

You also need healthy fats in your diet that come from walnuts, salmon and avocado. There is never just one food that makes you healthy; it’s a combination of fruits and vegetables of many colors, nuts, seeds and grains, and clean antibiotic-free meats if you choose to eat them.

What nutrition questions have been on your mind? Do you wonder about nutrition conundrums? Have you connected your diet to any particular health conditions? What do you do to keep your body healthy?