indulge in the sweet scent of lavender

A little buzzing bee visiting my garden; 

She’s a lavender lover, just like me!

Lavender has been used for over 2,500 years, starting with the ancient Persians, Greeks, and Romans who added lavender flowers to their bathwater to clean and purify their skin. Even the word "lavender" comes from the Latin word "lavare," which means "to wash". During the Medieval and Renaissance periods, it was scattered all over stone castle floors in Europe as a natural disinfectant and deodorant. 

Lavender is known for its calming and relaxing properties, which can help with insomnia, anxiety, and stress. Not only that but lavender is so easy to grow in the garden, and you can enjoy its beautiful fragrance outdoors as well. I know when I spend time among the lavender in my garden it instantly calms me and provides an amazing experience while doing chores outside.   

One of my favorite ways to enjoy the scent of lavender at home is this

French Lavender Candle by Love Goodly.

Four ways to easily indulge in the relaxing scent of lavender:

1. L'Occitane Lavender Hand Cream

2. Trader Joe's Lavender Body Oil

3. Heirloom Variety Linen Spray from World Market

4. Trader Joe's Dish Soap

And, why not serve a little lavender at your next gathering?

Lavender Honey Lemonade

Ingredients:

1 cup raw honey

12 cups pure water

1 drop lavender essential oil

6 lemons, peeled and juiced

lavender sprigs for garnish

Directions:  Mix all the ingredients together in a small pan and heat on low until honey dissolves.  Cool it and add more water or honey 
to taste.

Fresh Lemon and Lavender Ice Cream
Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse
Total Time:  40 min.  Prep: 20 min. Cook: 20 min  Yield:1 quart
Ingredients
3/4 cups granulated sugar
2 lemons, zested
1/2 cup fresh lavender or 1/4 cup dried lavender
2 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
8 egg yolks
12 thin slices fresh lemon
12 small sprigs fresh lavender

In a saucepan, combine lemon zest, lavender, milk, and cream. Bring to a boil. Steep for 20 minutes. Strain. Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together. Whisk 1 cup of the hot cream into the egg mixture. Mix thoroughly. In a steady stream, slowly add the egg mixture to the hot cream mixture. Continue to cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and cool completely. Strain the mixture. Add the mixture to the electric ice cream maker. Process according to manufacturers' directions.

ciao! fabiana

Unique Gifts & Accessories for Everyone on Your List at Cost Plus World Market.

yolanda and her lemons

 

It’s Tuesday, that means tonight is the night for the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, one of my guilty pleasures. 

I’m really enjoying the two new housewives this season, soap stars Lisa Rinna and Eileen Davidson, and it help that their hubbys are also entertaining to watch, (Harry Hamlin and Vince Van Patten). 

Back to Yolanda… I love her fashion sense, seeing her beautiful home and watching her dinner parties that always feature music by her husband, David Foster and a few talented musical guests (last week it was Babyface). 

BUT, most of all, I get a kick out of the huge hoard of lemons she grows in her backyard orchard. She’s a bit obsessed with lemons, as I am too. 

I have a few trees in my back yard, but Yolanda takes it to a whole new level, as witnessed in these photos!

I do love how Yolanda incorporates the lemons on to her dinner table with flowers and candles. These pics are plucked right from Yo’s Instagram, so let me know what you think! 

   

Lemon Yogurt Pound Cake

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt

1 1/3 cups sugar, divided

3 extra-large eggs

2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (2 lemons)

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

For the glaze:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease an 8½ x 4¼ x 2½-inch loaf pan.  Line the bottom with parchment paper.  Grease and flour the pan.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into one bowl.  In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 cup sugar, the eggs, lemon zest, and vanilla.  Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. With a rubber spatula, fold the vegetable oil into the batter, making sure it’s all incorporated.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes, or until a cake tester placed in the center of the loaf comes out clean.

Meanwhile, cook the 1/3 cup lemon juice and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is clear.  Set aside.

When the cake is done, allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes.  Carefully place on a baking rack over a sheet pan.  While the cake is still warm, pour the lemon-sugar mixture over the cake and allow it to soak in.  Cool. 

For the glaze, combine the confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice and pour over the cake.

Recipe by the Barefoot Contessa at Home by Ina Garten,

Lavender Lemonade 

4 lemons

1/2 cup dried lavender

1/2 cup raw honey

1.   Using a vegetable peeler, remove zest from two lemons, leaving white pith behind. Squeeze all of the lemons for 2/3 cup juice and set aside. In a large pot bring 5 1/2 cups of water and zest to a boil over high heat. Stir in the lavender. Partially cover the pot, lower the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes.

2.   Meanwhile, place a large strainer lined with cheesecloth or a damp paper towel over another pot or heat-proof bowl. Strain tea, pressing on herbs to extract all liquid. Stir in honey until dissolved. Stir in lemon juice. Let cool completely, about 45 minutes. Fill four tall glasses with ice. Pour tea over ice and serve immediately. 

Recipe by Martha Stewart.

ciao! fabiana

a flamingle pool party

According to the urban dictionary,

a flamingle is a combination of flirting and mingling,

but in this case, it’s just a little mingle

amongst the flamingos, 

with a little swimming thrown into the mix!

So here's how I set the scene for
our latest pool party...

To set the table for this fabulous pink soirée,
I started with luau style raffia placemats

and large palm leaves that look

like philodendron leaves.

They’re perfect for a fun summer party! 

Always a great standby for any party are
a great set of clear glass plates.

You may recognize them from 
some of the other tables I've shared on the blog.

They're so versatile, match any style and theme,
and are one of my all-time favorite
tablescape accessories.

Well, look at how they work here...
the beauty of the palm leaf comes shining through
but the glass adds a much needed dose of elegance.

It's so fun to mix high and low pieces on a table.

The little inflatable 
flamingo drink holders were a must for this table.

As soon as I spotted them in the Oriental Trading catalog,

I had to have them for table...

and I ordered a few extras for the pool.

They’re soooo cute!

I love how these little flamingos add

just the right touch of whimsy

to the table.

At the center of the table are

two more friendly little flamingos

that are part of the centerpiece.

These guys came in a set of four,

with two large ones (mom & dad)

and two smaller ones (the kidlets).

I just cut a few leaves from my sago palm

and used two blocks of floral foam as a base

to create a little nesting area

for this pair of flamingos.

Some bougainvillea adds 
a bit more pink.

Bright paper lanterns are always a festive accent

and they look so pretty swaying in the breeze..

Seeing these little guys floating around

just makes me smile.

The larger flamingos are out near the

pool keeping an eye on the festivities, and

I don’t think a pool party is

complete without a few fun beach balls.

I also set up a few cocktail

tables around the pool for extra seating.

Lavender lemonade will be on the menu

to help keep thing cool.

You know me and my succulents, 

well I found the cutest pink succulents

that make the perfect accent for the smaller tables.

BTW, they're faux!

I'm not the only one who's a big fan 

of my new flamingo accessories, 

my dogs got really excited about the 

new inflatable flamingos in the pool.

They actually thought they were real

 and started barking up a storm!

And little Dugan was the biggest culprit...

wishing you a fabulous weekend!

ciao! fabiana

And it all came together like this:

Luau Place Mats:  Oriental Trading
Large Palm Leaves:  Oriental Trading
Inflatable Flamingo Drink Holders:  Oriental Trading
Bright Beach Balls:  Oriental Trading
Pink Napkins: World Market

Pink Glasses:  vintage
Clear Glass Plates:  vintage

Bamboo Flatware:  ebay
Flamingo Party Tea Towels:  Ciao Blog Shop

Paper Lanterns:  Oriental Trading
Bistro Chairs:  Serena & Lily
Faux Succulents:  World Market

Thank you to Oriental Trading for sending me these products to review. 

The opinions expressed in this post are truly my own.

Unique Gifts & Accessories for Everyone on Your List at Cost Plus World Market.

black and white curb appeal

White homes with black trim… it’s a look that’s been around for ages, it’s a look that I have blogged about a few times, and today I have a few more of my faves to share with you all, just for fun! Don't you love this idea for different black and white tiles on the front steps? 

The wrought iron details are fab!  

A classic look with a farmhouse fence and gate.

I love the symmetry and those huge palm trees,

and circular driveways are the best! So elegant!

Modern townhouse living with traditional style.

Three stories of fabulousness in this Carolina home,

with tons of outdoor porch space too. 

White painted brick is one of my  all-time favorite looks.

I love how the front steps just draw you in... 

I love the steel framed door paired with this classical pediment.

Story book charm and charming turquoise door.

  

This one of my faves! -- My husband's childhood home in Geneva, Illinois. Not only did he grow up in this house, but so did his mother!

Here’s a cute little cottage in my neighborhood. The stonework really works in nicely with the black and white look.

And for all you "black sheep" out there, why not try a black house with white trim! Kind of a fun look, ya think? Well, I hope you’ve all enjoyed a marvelous Monday and MLK Day. The kids were off school today, and we just lounged around a little today, and got some odds and ends done around the house. 

The fun part for me was that I got plant some winter lettuce and kale in large pots in the yard, and then I ran over to Roger’s Gardens to get a few of my favorite herbs to fill in gaps in my garden; Sage, thyme, mint and lavender. Our lemon tree is practically falling over, full of fruit! 

And, you know what they say, "When life gives you lemons," well, you can fill in the blank, but in my case, we enjoyed this proverb to it's literal meaning. We made some fresh-squeezed lemonade.  

ciao! fabiana

photo credits:

Serena & Lily

House Beautiful

Luxe Source

Pinterest

Traditional Home

Ciao Newport Beach Blog