make your own terrarium

Doesn't this sound like a fun DIY class?  You will be able to create your own terrarium at Roger's Gardens here in Newport Beach! This is a really easy  workshop where you will walk away with your very own 'Garden Under Glass' creation. 

Create your own terrarium with a collection of compatible plants featuring indoor foliage for a natural woodland scene or a beach cottage design. There is a registration fee that includes the glass terrarium, soil, plants, and instructions. 

Terrarium Workshop

Saturday, March 14 at 11 AM & 2 PM

ciao! fabiana

time out

I need a time out today, 
not because I've been bad, 
but because I've been good!

ciao! fabiana

open shelving in the kitchen

I'm so into this open shelving in the kitchen right now...

thinking about adding a few shelves 
to a small wall in my kitchen.

What do you think about this look?

ciao! fabiana


photo credit:  a gentlewoman

cape cod style in california

Take a peek into this fun Cape Cod-style house located on one of Manhattan Beach’s favorite walk streets. The young family that lives here wanted a bit of a glamorous home, but comfort was a must as well! 

Don’t you just love the front door? 

The open flow of the kitchen and living areas is 

perfect for entertaining too.  

 

A beautiful blue library is located on the second floor 

and is filled with antique books, comfortable furniture 

and personal treasures. 

ciao! fabiana

via Luxe Magazine

a hint of orange with aqua

Don’t you love how the little hints of orange

complement the pretty aqua blues of this dining area?

ciao! fabiana

photo credit: Toby Farley 

oscar fun with reese witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon looked stunning

last nightat the Oscars.

Here are a few of my favorite

behind-the-scenes looks…

Great fun from Reese Witherspoon’s Instagram page.

ciao! fabiana

my Oscar favorites

I was blown away by Lady Gaga last night on the Oscars. I really haven't been a Gaga fan or even a Sound of Music fan, but her performance of a few classic Sound of Music songs took my breath away and gave me goose bumps!  

And how fun when Julia Andrews came out! Just in time to wake everyone up from an otherwise dull show.   

Here is Gaga arriving at the Vanity Fair party.  I do have to admit, the other enjoyable performance was of the Lego movie song, haha. It was fun and upbeat. Of course John Legend and Common’s song for the movie Selma was emotional and beautiful. Graham Moore’s acceptance speech for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Imitation Game was the most moving and powerful. 
  

Here are some of my favorite fashion moments....

 Black and white on Patricia Arquette and Reese Witherspoon.

 Margot Robbie and Cate Blanchett in dramatic black gowns.

Rosamund Pike is stunning in red 

and America Ferrara looks ethereal in an airy teal gown.

Lupita in  a gorgeous gown with over 6,000 hand-sewn pearls.

Jewelry details on Margot Robbie.

 
Cate Blanchett in an impressive Tiffany & Co 

turquoise statement necklace.

ciao! fabiana

your pick for the Oscars...

Who are your favorites in these Oscar categories?

I haven't seen all the movies,

but my picks are Julianne and Patricia.

ciao! fabiana

entertaining for the Oscars

The Oscars are tomorrow night, and hosting a red carpet watching party is so much fun!  I love getting together with a few girlfriends and noshing on a few fun hors d’oeuvres while watching the fashion parade of celebrities unfold on tv. 

I want to share with you some fun and simple decorating ideas for hosting an academy awards party. One idea is to sprinkle around some framed photos of your favorite movie stars.  You can just fill small silver frames with photos cut from magazines or ones printed from your computer.    

Add a dazzle of gold to some plain white helium balloons.

Wrap some glass votives with some old 35mm negatives.

I love this one!

Cut out a few sparkly Oscar statuettes 

and highlight them with candle light. 

Create some specific Oscar wine charms.

This one is creative,

make your own Oscars with old Ken dolls!

Offer your guests a popcorn bar with a variety of flavors.

Movie props are always fun.

Party stores usually have some available.

Buy or make a few starry garlands. 

A red napkin represents the red carpet,

then all you need is a white folded napkin with a gold sticker and a touch of red ribbon for this table setting.

Enjoy your night at the Oscars!

xo  

ciao! fabiana


photo credits:
  Good Housekeeping
Babble
Pinterest 
Tip Junkie
Life in Yellow
Celebrations at Home
Escapades Blog
Maddie Bella Home

cooking with herbs from the garden

I just got the perfect book for myself. You all may know how much I love to cook and to grow herbs, fruits and veggies in my garden. Well, my latest acquisition is Homegrown Herb Garden. The name may be deceiving. It's actually mostly a cookbook with fabulous recipes. 

The first section of this book gives great tips on growing herbs and it also provides interesting facts and nutritional info about each herb. In my garden, I grow basil, chives, oregano, thyme, rosemary, bay laurel, mint, sage, and lavender, so the second part and most lengthy  part of the book is to die for! 

The book is filled with gorgeous photos of delicious recipes using all my backyard herbs. My favorite recipe is for the Nutty, Chocolaty Rosemary Cookies. The taste of chocolate and rosemary together is amazing!

Here are some of my herbs that I grow in containers,

but most of my herbs are grown in the ground.

Herbs are not fussy and so easy to grow!

I always have fresh herbs on hand, 

no matter what I am cooking.

Here are some of the gorgeous photos 

from this book.

Fines Herbes Quiche with Flowers

Nutty, Chocolaty Rosemary Cookies

Spaghetti with 

Chunky Tomato, Olive and Mint Sauce

Heirloom Tomato and Peach Summer Salad

Vietnamese Pho 

Springtime Vegetable Stir-Fry

Skirt Steak with Chimichurri

Chimichurri is a sauce that 

Argentinians use on their grilled steak.  

I grew up on this stuff, 

and not only is it delicious,

it's also so good for you!

The addition of cilantro and marjoram

make this specific recipe so good. 

All the recipes in this book are 

straight forward 

and not difficult to prepare.

From sweet to savory, 

this book covers a variety of 

culinary cultures too!

It really one of my favorite books this year!  

ciao! fabiana