--- title: Author Crystal King's Blog - Tasting Life Twice | fun description: fun | Author Crystal King muses on life, history, writing and food. --- # Tasting Life Twice Author Crystal King muses on life, history, writing and food. Browse by All Blog Books italy ancient rome Italian History Recipe Writing When in Rome food Feast of Sorrow fun historical fiction Bartolomeo Scappi Viva Italia! The Chef's Secret reading history Apicius Italian Language Renaissance 52 books Boston Cinquecento Publishing italian recipes grub street renaissance recipe roman video Ancient Roman Food Colosseum Culinary Delights books set in italy renaissance italy Ancient history YouTube authors cooking fiction music 52 books in a year Author Book Christmas Language Learning Maine Poetry Pope Roman Forum Scappi The Renaissance Venice Writer Writers Resources fantasy learning Italian travel writers Anne Rice Art Book Clubs Christmas carol Christopher Castellani Circus Maximus Florence Gillian Flynn Greek Harry Potter Honey Italiano Italo Calvino Latin Literary agent Marcus Aurelius Marcus Gavius Apicius Muse and the Marketplace Pantheon Papal conclave Pope Benedict XVI Research Roman Empire Sardinia Sistine Chapel Turkey Ursula K- Le Guin Vestal Virgin Wine ancient recipes architecture baking beauty blogging book recommendation book review christmas gift cibo cookies crystal king gelato giveaway holiday ice cream interview italian cooking literary literature middle ages new year's resolution rejection renaissance Italian food recipe roma rome sci-fi shopping social media special event summer television xmas 100 favorite books 1950s 1960s 1970s 2016 2017 320 AD 3D Achilles Aelia Agostino Chigi Alice Alina Reyes All This Talk of Love Amanda Palmer Amaryah Orenstein Anais Nin Ancient Greece Ancient Roman architecture Andrea Bocelli Anita Shreve Anjali Mitter Duva Anne Carson Anne Rampling Antonio Latini Arch of Constantine Arts Artusi Astrology Augustus Author Life BBC BDSM Baldassare Peruzzi Baroque Bell-ringer Bells Benvenuto Cellini Black tea BlogHer Bloggers Bologna Boodles Byki Cake Catholic Church Cellini Charles Dicken Chuck Palahniuk Clark Frasier Colleen McCullough Cologne Colum McCann Concord Cook Cookbook Corsica Cosimo de Medici Critical & Creative Thinking Dante Dante Alighieri David Bowie David Wishart De Re Coquinaria Doge's Palace Dormouse Durham Cathedral E-L- James Earth Egypt Eleonora Galasso Emily Browning England English language Ernest Hemingway Erotic literature Etsy Faint Promise of Rain Fifty Shades of Grey Fight Club Flamingo tongue snail Forum Forvo France Francesa Michielin GO Literary George Orwell Germany Gone Girl Gone Girl (novel) Google Translate Got Milk Grasso Grub Grub Street Muse Gunter Grass Hairstyle Harvard Harvard University Henry David Thoreau Henry VII of England Hunger Games Independence Day International Space Station Isabella Dalla Ragione Italian American Italian food J-R-R- Tolkien James Wood Jane Austen Janet Fitch Julius III July Justin Rowe Karl Lagerfeld Katie Caldesi Kennebunkport Maine Kessler Twins Keurig Kindle Deal Kit Harington Kurt Vonnegut L'Amore Esiste La Cucina Leicester Leonardo Da Vinci Linguistics Livia Lucca ## Posts about fun: ![Oh Snap!](https://blog.crystalking.com/hubfs/matt-botsford-197870.jpg) [Books](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/books) [litsnap](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/litsnap) [Anjali Mitter Duva](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/anjali-mitter-duva) [Faint Promise of Rain](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/faint-promise-of-rain) [Feast of Sorrow](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/feast-of-sorrow) [fun](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/fun) [historical fiction](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/historical-fiction) [video](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/video) [LITsnap](https://litsnap.org/) that is!  ![Out With the Old, In With the New](https://blog.crystalking.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/img-23.jpg) [Books](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/books) [2016](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/2016) [2017](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/2017) [Feast of Sorrow](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/feast-of-sorrow) [fun](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/fun) [new year](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/new-year) [new year's resolution](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/new-years-resolution) [Publishing](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/publishing) Another year nearly gone by. A time for reflection and a time for resolutions. The end of this year feels fraught with anxiety for me, for a variety of reasons. I know I'm not alone in this regard. There seems to be a collective UGH that the people around me are saying. 2016 can't go away fast enough, for me, and for [many others](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ6WPo-oW5Q) out there.  ![An Italian Roundup for September](https://blog.crystalking.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/img-11.jpg) [amatrice](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/amatrice) [italy](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/italy) [Katie Caldesi](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/katie-caldesi) [Viva Italia!](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/viva-italia) [cookbooks](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/cookbooks) [earthquake](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/earthquake) [Eleonora Galasso](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/eleonora-galasso) [food](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/food) [fun](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/fun) [Isabella Dalla Ragione](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/isabella-dalla-ragione) [Trajan's Market](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/trajans-market) [Via Dei Coronari](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/via-dei-coronari) I'm a voracious consumer of information, especially about *il **mio* *posto* *preferito** sulla terra *(my favorite place on earth), Italia. Why not share all those fun tidbits with my readers? I'm going to start doing these roundups more often. We can dream about *la **bella** vita* together.  ![Summer Faves](https://blog.crystalking.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/img-2.png) [Books](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/books) [Boston](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/boston) [delicious](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/delicious) [fun](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/fun) [summer](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/summer) So far it's been a perfect summer in Boston. Temps in the high 70s to mid-80s, no humidity, cool nights. Gorgeous, gorgeous. I wish that I had more time off to enjoy these beautiful days!  ![Ancient Rome – Podcast Style](https://blog.crystalking.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Italy-March-2010-185.jpg) [ancient rome](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/ancient-rome) [Ancient history](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/ancient-history) [fun](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/fun) [history](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/history) [podcasts](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/podcasts) Podcasts are all the rage these days, which in some ways surprises me as I used to write columns on mobile marketing [ten years ago](http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/6923.asp) when “podvertising” was a new way to promote. When the stellar podcast, *[Serial](https://serialpodcast.org/)*, came along in 2014 everyone jumped back on the bandwagon. Fortunately, podcasting has come a long way and there are some fantastic, well-produced gems out there to set your ears upon. Also, if you need a better way to organize your podcasts, check out [Overcast](https://overcast.fm/). ![Robot Romans](https://blog.crystalking.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/img-46.jpg) [gladiators](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/gladiators) [music video](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/music-video) [they might be giants](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/they-might-be-giants) [TMBG](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/tmbg) [Blog](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/blog) [fun](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/fun) [i'm impressed](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/im-impressed) [robots](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/robots) [romans](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/romans) I’m a big They Might Be Giants fan. They always have fantastic videos and this one is one of my favorites. Robots+Romans culminating in the Ides of March. ![L'Amore Esiste - Love Exists](https://blog.crystalking.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Lamore_esiste.jpg) [Italian Language](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/italian-language) [L'Amore Esiste](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/lamore-esiste) [love](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/love) [lyrics](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/lyrics) [music](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/music) [Blog](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/blog) [Francesa Michielin](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/francesa-michielin) [fun](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/fun) [video](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/video) One of my favorite Italian songs is by a young pop star, Francesa Michielin, from her 2015 album [di20](https://play.google.com/music/m/B3ubqlnu42lanypqob4fr57qou4?t=di20_-_Francesca_Michielin). She rose to fame when she won the 5th season of Italy's X-Factor. I find great emotion in this song. I think she captures much of what I have felt in my life when I have been (and still am) in love. Lyrics in both Italian and English after the video.  ![Buon Natale!](https://blog.crystalking.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/img-69.jpg) [Andrea Bocelli](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/andrea-bocelli) [italian](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/italian) [italy](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/italy) [music](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/music) [Natale](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/natale) [Viva Italia!](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/viva-italia) [Blog](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/blog) [boun natale](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/boun-natale) [buone feste](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/buone-feste) [Christmas](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/christmas) [Christmas carol](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/christmas-carol) [fun](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/fun) [merry christmas](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/merry-christmas) [video](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/video) [xmas](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/xmas) One of the most well-known Italian Christmas carols outside of the US is *Caro Gesu Bambino* which means "Dear Baby Jesus." It's a newer carol, dating to about 1960 and one of the earliest American-known singers to cover it was Frankie Avalon. The [lyrics are here ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caro_Ges%C3%B9_Bambino) (Italian and English) if you are interested, and below, Italian treasure Andrea Bocelli does a beautiful version of the song. Buon Natale my friends! And Buone Feste to those of you who are celebrating other holidays. I wish the best for you and yours this season.  ![It's Time for a Summer Writing Retreat!](https://blog.crystalking.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/IMG_0170.jpg) [Writing](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/writing) [Arts](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/arts) [Mameve Medwed](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/mameve-medwed) [writers](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/writers) [authors](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/authors) [Blog](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/blog) [fun](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/fun) [grub street](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/grub-street) [Maine](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/maine) [Steven Bauer](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/steven-bauer) [Writers Resources](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/writers-resources) [writing retreat](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/writing-retreat) It seems like [the last retreat](https://blog.crystalking.com/crystal-king/blog/2013/06/24/a-writers-retreat) has just come and gone and here we are again, leaving husbands and children behind, off to [Maine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine) and a kickass writing schedule with good good friends and inspiring fellow writers. Many people I talk to think my retreat is a boondoggle of sorts, as though I'm only saying that I'm going to Maine to write but I'll really just be sitting on the beach getting tan. So to prove that idea wrong, here's our schedule. ![A Look at the New Pompeii Movie](https://blog.crystalking.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Italy-March-2010-854.jpg) [ancient rome](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/ancient-rome) [italy](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/italy) [Kit Harington](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/kit-harington) [Paul W-S- Anderson](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/paul-w-s-anderson) [Blog](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/blog) [Emily Browning](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/emily-browning) [fun](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/fun) [Italian History](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/italian-history) [Mount Vesuvius](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/mount-vesuvius) [movie](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/movie) [Pompeii](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/pompeii) The movie [Pompeii](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompeii), directed by [Paul W.S. Anderson](http://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul_ws_anderson), is coming out in February and I have to say I've not really been this excited about a movie in a long time. The film has the eye candy of incredible special effects and also [Jon Snow](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Snow) himself (*Kit Harrington*) but what has me most intrigued is that Anderson apparently cares a lot about authenticity when it comes to the story and the era. The film comes out on February 28. I can't wait to find out for myself if that's true! httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoVNF1Zus7Q ![Adorable Italian Ad: Armando's Dream](https://blog.crystalking.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/ArmandoDream.jpg) [advertising](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/advertising) [italy](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/italy) [Viva Italia!](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/viva-italia) [amando's dream](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/amandos-dream) [Blog](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/blog) [cibo](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/cibo) [food](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/food) [fun](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/fun) [pasta](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/pasta) [Short film](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/short-film) [When in Rome](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/when-in-rome) I stumbled across this fantastic advertisement for [Grano Armando](http://www.granoarmando.it/en/) pasta and I had to share. It's an adorable, beautiful mini-film of sorts, about a young Italian boy with a special dream. The cinematography is wonderful and I love the characters in the film. I think it does the trick--if I saw Grano Armando pasta, I think I'd be pretty inclined to think about buying it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfLzvxnazsA ![Brilliant Literary T-Shirts](https://blog.crystalking.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/bb1984.png) [Books](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/books) [literature](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/literature) [t-shirt](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/t-shirt) [Blog](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/blog) [fun](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/fun) [shopping](https://blog.crystalking.com/tag/shopping) I came across these awesome literary inspired t-shirts over at [Meanfellas](http://meanfellas.com/store/literary-tshirts-c-0_201.html?zenid=3t42do0hiocjce32ni0abgb3e3). They have a whole bunch but these are my faves:   ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1481231558851356&ev=PageView&noscript=1)