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Living La Dolce Vita

June 17th, 2010 Kristi Leave a comment Go to comments

Those of you who are Facebook friends with me (http://www.facebook.com/labellafigura) may have seen that I am on my annual vacation to visit family in California, so  my posting may be sporadic.

I’m enjoying spending time with family and today I am heading up to camp, fish, kayak and drink gin and tonics at the lake.

I’ll try to check in every once in a while.

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  1. Angela K. Marvin
    June 18th, 2010 at 10:05 | #1
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    You ARE missed, but enjoy yourself in California! I LOVE it out there.

  2. SimplyMe
    June 19th, 2010 at 21:39 | #2
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    I discovered your blog last night and read it top to bottom. Love it! Your style is fresh, easy, approachable and oh-so-true on every front. I’m only half Italian, but can relate to much of you write. My blog, “Less is Fabulous, Living Simply in Las Vegas” covers everything from simple style to simple pleasures to desert gardening to quirky things that compel me to post (like truck nuts, those silly novelty testicles that hang from truck hitches!). I added your blog to my blogroll – hope it drives some quality traffic your way. Keep up the great writing and advice.

  3. Fiona
    June 20th, 2010 at 19:46 | #3
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    Hope you’re having a wonderful time Kristi!

  4. Kristi
    June 22nd, 2010 at 09:27 | #4
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    Fiona,
    Thanks. When I get home I look forward to catching up with your blog. You always inspire me.

  5. Phyllis
    June 22nd, 2010 at 09:40 | #5
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    Have a fun vacation, Kristi! Miss you!

  6. Karin
    June 22nd, 2010 at 10:45 | #6
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    I just wanted to finally say hi. I’ve been reading your blog for quite some time and have been inspired by your approach to daily living — simple, quality purchases and experiences that add up to a life well lived, even on a budget. Enjoy your vacation. I’m looking forward to joining a community of like-minded people, like yourself in the blog world. Enjoy your vacation.

  7. Stephanie
    June 22nd, 2010 at 16:29 | #7
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    Enjoy your vacation and have fun with your family.

  8. aaonce
    June 25th, 2010 at 06:49 | #8
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    Enjoy your vacation Kristi-I know you are having a great time. Needless to say, you are missed.

  9. Kristi
    June 28th, 2010 at 06:42 | #9
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    Karin,
    Just wanted to say a quick thank you for your comment — I’ve been a bit lax in the blogging world lately. I have also been a lurker on your blog and you are right, it is so nice to have a community of like-minded people to check in with. Thanks again.
    And also thanks again for allt he vacation and anniversary wishes; Phyllis, Stephanie, Aaonce, Fiona, Annie and A — you chic women inspire me every day!

  10. Kristi
    June 28th, 2010 at 06:43 | #10
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    SimplyMe,
    Thanks so much for the add and for checking in, looking forward to reading more of your blog I love the less is fabulous tag!

  11. Kristi
    June 28th, 2010 at 06:43 | #11
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    Angela,
    Thanks! It was cooler than normal, but still very relaxing!

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What is it about those Italian women? You know the ones I’m talking about: beautiful, sexy, dressed to the nines just to take the kids to the park. They have a certain something that is indefinable. It is in the way they dress, the way they prepare their meals, the way they spend their leisure time.

It is because they know the importance of la bella figura. Roughly translated from Italian, it means putting you best foot forward in everything you do. It means cutting a beautiful figura. The opposite of la bella figura is la brutta figura, which is what someone might say about the falling down drunken guy at the party or the super tackily dressed woman at church. It means ugly figure.

La bella figura is much more than your appearance. It goes much deeper than that. It is about how you act. It is about how you treat others. It is about how you care for yourself, your home and your family. Living a life in line with la bella figura doesn’t take money. In fact, it is more about how to have class without a lot of money. Many guys who aspire to be a PUA are actually pursuing the La Bella Figura Lifestyle.

Someone who exudes la bella figura will have clean, pressed clothes and be well groomed. They will not be rude or sloppy. Their fingernails will be impeccably groomed. Their hair shiny and clean and their shoes will be polished. They will not have stray threads hanging from their suit hems. They will not be driving a car in need of the car wash.

La bella figura means driving that 15 year old car and meticulously cleaning it and caring for it. It means keeping your belongings in good repair. It means taking time to clean your house and not cluttering it up with meaningless objects.

When you focus all your spare energy, time and money on the things that bring you the most amount of pleasure, then you are truly living a life in line with la bella figura. The best part about it is that you don’t have to be Italian to do so. You just have to think like an Italian.

Italian children are raised to present la bella figura in whatever they do. From the time they are small and are groomed perfectly to attend church or school, they know that appearances count. They count because it is the first thing people judge about you. That first impression does matter. Appearances are also important because when you take the time to look nice, you are showing that you care about yourself. When you care enough to look good, it shows you have good healthy self esteem. Nothing is more attractive than self confidence.

In addition, dressing nice also shows respect for others. If you invite people over for dinner and greet them in flip flops, baggy sweats and a stained shirt, it is really disrespectful to them. The same if you dress sloppy to go to church or even to the market. By dressing nicely and being well groomed, you show respect for everyone in your world.

Having la bella figura means presenting yourself in the best light possible in all your interactions.