Erica has some stories to tell this week-and not all of them are about everyone's favorite food, that delicious, gooey, satisfyingly salty and doughy dinner known as pizza!

A descendent of Italian immigrants, Erica carries the strength and determination of her forbears. She tells stories of family, community and the power of never giving up-resulting in beauty, belonging and how her family changed the fabric of a town simply by showing up and being themselves! Sometimes food does bring people together! And I'll let Erica tell you the story of the Mafia-she will do it much better than I could ever do!

To read a bit more about this wonderful and unstoppable human, click here! and to buy her book, "A Story About Pizza" click here!

Your bit of beauty this week is this from the World Photography Awards ~ the BEST nature photos of 2024. Scroll on through to see just how exquisite and full of gorgeousness this world truly is. And...

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!