french doors

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” --Walt Disney

ciao! fabiana

photos taken by my friend Bryn Mohr in Saint-Martin de Ré, France.

garden muses

I just planted my new garden muses with 

cascading succulents, 

and I think they need names. 

What do you suggest?

ciao! fabiana

style crush: julia roberts

Julia caught my attention in last month’s InStyle with all of her cute fashion choices. She’s looking better than ever, and she can go from zero to sixty at a drop of a hat.  Glam one minute, and mom the next!

 Julia over the years.

She gets better with time!

ciao! fabiana

some of my favorite home stores

1. Bliss Home and Design This Corona del Mar showroom offers the most amazing coastal inspired accessories for the home. Shop around for a few fun accents or consult with them for their expert interior design advice and guidance. 

2. Juxtaposition Home Located in the gorgeous Crystal Cove Shopping Center, Juxtaposition is a favorite among locals. They are known for their European industrial meets vintage Americana look. I love the amazing pillows, baskets, and accessories they carry. 

the dressing room is really stylish too!

3. Roger’s Garden’s Home Located in Corona del Mar in the well-known Roger’s Gardens is a little labyrinth of vignettes that offer a variety of décor styles. While shopping for plants and succulents, you’ll want to stop by their home department as well! 

4. Babette’s One of my new favorite place to stop and refuel with amazing food is Babette’s. It’s also located in Crystal Cove and their outdoor patio is a perfect little getaway spot to recharge and enjoy the ambiance.  

5. Coastal Cool Boutique While you're out shopping for your home, you've gotta look cute too. This shop has really fun clothes and jewelry, with locations in Crystal Cove and Corona del Mar. Looky what I found here… ciao!

ciao! fabiana

pretty little bar carts

A bar cart doesn't have to exclusively serve alcoholic beverages. They can be a pretty focal point in your home whether you’re entertaining or not. A few pretty bottles, fresh flowers and a personalized touch or two can elevate any bar cart to superstar status!

This way, you will always be ready if friends drop by!

A beautiful box can provide extra storage.

Perfect indoors, or out.

Bar carts always look so pretty near a window...

be creative with your set up...

The one below is one I set up a few years ago for a small pool party in my back yard.  I like to serve soft drinks in fun "cocktail" glasses for fun!  It's so much more elegant!

ciao! fabiana

photo credit:

BH&G

Pinterest

One Kings Lane

House Beautiful

French Larkspur

Ciao Newport Beach

seattle: woodland park rose garden

One of our family’s favorite stops in Seattle is the Woodland Park Zoo, and right next door is the gorgeous Rose Garden that was originally opened in 1924. As we entered the stately gates, we were delighted to find a really unique and quaint formal garden with lots of pretty little surprises.   

What first caught my eye, were the really tall topiary trees that are pruned in a really fanciful way. They really anchor the space and tone down the seriousness of the formal rose garden.
  

Little cozy spots to sit and observe the garden are scattered throughout the park. There is a pretty little gazebo, a shady arbor and a few fountains set perfectly among the hundreds of roses and other flowers and trees.
  

These blue hydrangeas were mesmerizing!

Don’t you just love those funny swirly looking trees?

The view from the gazebo is perfect!

Even if you don’t go to the zoo, which is also a treat,

think about a short visit to the Rose Garden. 

The Rose Garden is free to the public

with just a small charge for parking during zoo hours.

ciao! fabiana