the best toffee for valentine's day

B. toffee has just introduced this adorable Limited Edition Glitter Mason Jar.  These make the cutest Valentine’s Day gifts ever! Each glittery jar comes with 10-ounces of either milk chocolate toffee or dark chocolate toffee (my favorite is dark!) And the gift is finished off with a handwritten hang tag. These make the perfect gift for your sweetie, a favorite teacher, or your best friend. 

For a smaller, but equally sweet treat, B. toffee also offers Valentine’s boxes that can be personalized.

The Glittery Mason Jars are priced at $24.99 (plus tax & shipping.) Orders must be placed by Friday, February 6th. Please email orders to hello@Btoffee.com .  

 ciao! fabiana

This post is sponsored by B.toffee,
 however all opinions are genuinely my own.

downton abbey fashion show

The fashion show last night on Downton Abbey was breathtaking! We got a few glimpses of a few high-society flapper looks with a bit of an art deco feel, especially with that first dress and the Cleopatra style hat. 

I love the costume designs on Downton! Anna Mary Scott Robbins really does her research and pays attention to details. 

The models on this catwalk were wearing amazing 1924 fashions that had Lady Mary exclaim “Yummy!” They use real vintage dresses when they can and restore and reinforce them. 

They also pick up vintage fabrics and laces at Paris flea markets that they incorporate into their costumes. 

And didn’t you love when Charles Blake gave Lady Mary a smirky nod when the wedding dress came out at the end? I love just them together!

ciao! fabiana

home tour on Balboa Island

A little Sunday tour 

of this pretty Balboa Island home,

all done up with fun coastal style!

ciao! fabiana




via Brandon Architects

a little purple cottage

Driving through old town Orange, I came across this little purple cottage, well it’s actually more of a periwinkle color, and I had to stop and take a closer look.  

The plaque on the front says it was built in 1900.  I just love all the period details and the fact that they were not afraid to use some color to highlight the architectural charm.  

“If you're quiet, you're not living.

You've got to be noisy and colorful and lively.”  
-Mel Brooks

Happy Saturday!

ciao! fabiana

the perfect gift for mom

Mother’s Day is a few months away, but it’s never too early to think about special things for my mom, especially with Valentine’s Day and her birthday coming up.  There is a fabulous Helen Ficalora store in Beverly Hills and I recently connected with them. Helen Ficalora creates beautiful and simple customizable jewelry, and they were so kind to send me a sterling silver “MOM” necklace. 

It has become one of my favorite pieces to wear daily.  It looks great layered with other necklaces, or just on its own.  I wanted to share with you all these lovely options for mom.  These pendant charms come in yellow, pink and white gold and also in sterling silver.  Some even have diamond accents.  

The best part about it for me, is they have the cutest grandmother pendants too!  My mom is Mimi, so that would be perfect for her, and the pink gold is so pretty! 

There are so many choices for mom

and also for the grandmother in your life.

These are some of my favorites and

I love the clustered look

Some of these gals wear Helen's initial charm.

I wear mine everyday!

Hot pink is Helen's trademark color, 

and you can see more of 

Helen Ficalora's style on Pinterest. 

There are literally hundreds of choices.  

Please check out Helen Ficalora for all 

the details and let me know what your favorite is! 

ciao! fabiana

outdoor entertaining, French style

A few key ingredients for entertaining like a true connoisseur, from our lovely Marion Hartwich of European Flair Interior Design and Fabric Studio and seen in French Style Magazine this month.

ciao! fabiana

modern victorian

I love how the owners of this 1906 Victorian home decorated it with elements that reflect their love of Paris. 
      

The front of the house looks like a stately 

turn of the century Marin County home,

 but as soon as you enter, 

you're transported to Europe by 

the gorgeous color palette, 

antique furniture, and sophisticated style. 

With all that said, 

they kept the home feeling light and airy 

by painting all the wood floors a bright white. 

What do you think about this mix of

 Victorian and Parisian styles?  

ciao! fabiana

photo credit:  Luxe Magazine. 

Lars chair giveaway

The Lars chair is built in Vermont by skilled craftsmen 

out of solid cherry wood with broad armrests, reminiscent 

of an Adirondack chair.  

Room & Board is giving away one of these beautiful 

Lars Leather Lounge Chairs, which retails for $1,299.  

This chair will become a family heirloom for years to come. 

Enter for a chance to win one at Room & Board,  

now through February 11th, 2015. 

ciao! fabiana

fight the flu the natural way

I recently found this all-natural tea recipe

that helps with fighting flu symptoms.

It's really easy to prepare and tastes 

pretty good, especially when it 

helps to clear up throats and noses.

My whole family came down with the flu 

this weekend, so we decided to try this tea
.

Luckily I had all the ingredients at home,  including 

fresh lemons, thyme and sage from my garden.

I put the peeled ginger, sage, thyme and oregano

 into a 2 cup glass Pyrex measuring cup and let it

steep for 15 minutes. 

Meanwhile, I got my cup 

ready with a little lemon juice and about a teaspoon 

of honey. 

After 15 minutes, I poured the hot liquid 

into my mixture of honey and lemon in my cup. 

It's really  quite good!

Natural Tea Recipe for the Flu:

2 cups boiling hot water
1 slice ginger root (about 1-inch thick)
1/2 tsp oregano (dried, fresh or oil)
1/2 tsp sage (dried or fresh)
1/2 tsp thyme (dried or fresh)

Steep the tea for 15 minutes.

Add honey and lemon to taste.

Use maple syrup for children

under the age of 1.

ciao! fabiana