Siiii! Milan is My New Madeira: How This American Scored the Ultimate Goal Living La Dolce Vita!

From L'Aquila to Milan: My Italian Transfer Saga Begins

Listen up it all started in 2003. I wasn't scoring goals on the pitch yet but I was scoring big time in L'Aquila! One semester there and BAM! I was hooked on Italy. It was like discovering my own personal transfer market but instead of clubs it was cities. Two years later Milan called offering me a master's degree at Bocconi University. Milan? Fast cars fashion a nightlife that even I Cristiano Ronaldo could appreciate – it was a bit like my Miami days! After school there was no other option but to stay. It has become the beginning of a beautiful long lasting love affair with Italy.

Marrying into the Serie A of Love: My Italian Maestro

In 2012 I made the ultimate commitment: I moved to Milan permanently after marrying my Italian husband Diego. It's like finding your perfect teammate someone who understands your passion your drive and your occasional need to shout 'Siiii!' at the top of your lungs. Now we have our son Lorenzo and I run 'Doing Italy,' because why not share the joy? I help Americans find their own piece of the Italian dream. It's all about believing in yourself and knowing that even a small town girl can make a big name for herself in a city.

The Apartment: From Old School to Ronaldo Approved

We rent a place – a 1,227 square foot 3 bedroom apartment for about $1,850 a month. Not bad eh? It's where we hang our jerseys figuratively speaking. But when we moved in Lorenzo was just three and the place was…vintage. Let's just say it needed a serious upgrade to meet my standards. Imagine Ronaldo living in a place with outdated faucets? Unthinkable! So we renovated and made it our own. This is where Italians do things a little differently. Getting tax credits for renovations even as renters? It's like getting a free kick in the penalty box! Our landlord even gave us eight months of free rent. Talk about a win win!

Bathroom Blitz: Making it the 'CR7' of Bathrooms

The bathroom was a disaster zone but now? It's one of my favorite rooms! We gutted it changed the faucets and added these amazing hexagon tiles. It was like transforming a rusty old defender into a world class center back! We sourced the tiles from a small family owned company in Tuscany. Support the little guys that's what I always say…unless they're trying to tackle me on the field. Then it's game on!

Kitchen Kick Off: From Zero to Culinary Hero

The kitchen hadn't been touched in 40 years! 40 years! That's like waiting for Manchester United to win the Champions League again…too long! So we brought our appliances from our old apartment tearing out the sink and stove. It was a memorable transfer trust me! We added cabinets a new countertop and demolished some old wall tiles. It's now a kitchen fit for a champion…or at least someone who enjoys a decent plate of pasta!

Living the Milanese Dream: More Than Just Football

Living in Milan is incredible. The fresh produce at the market? Top notch! It's like having the best training facilities right at your doorstep. Then there's the 'aperitivo,' that sacred Italian ritual. After work everyone stops for a drink and some food. Even my son Lorenzo wants to join in! He says 'facciamo un 'peritivo',' it's the cutest thing. Raising a family here is amazing. There are parks galleries museums – it's a cultural goal fest! And with all that vacation time we can easily escape to Lake Como or the seaside. From immigrant roots to vacations in the Dolomites? I feel incredibly blessed. Remember folks: dream big work hard and maybe just maybe you'll score your own Italian dream!