Things you don't realize you need until you're in Italy

1. Mac&Cheese (I know, I know. The pasta looks like wet cardboard, and the "cheese" is about as unnatural as you can get. Still, there's something about that uniquely fluorescent orange macaroni that I can't resist. Sometimes you just need something cheesy and instant. I do like adding parmigiano grattugiato to it though, to dress it up a bit.)  

Everyone's a Critic

As soon as our front door opens, the little girl shoots in with the energy that can only come with great curiosity combined with inappropriate quantities of sugar. Her mother is unconcerned, and with barely a glance at her 4 year old cannon rocketing around our small flat, she goes to the living room to talk with AmoreMio about private chemistry lessons for her elder daughter.

In the mean time, the little girl sprints through every room three times, questions streaming from her mouth as fast as she can breathe.