practice easy yoga moves on the go

With the holiday weekend around the corner, a little road trip may be in the works. Keep yourself loose and relaxed with these three easy yoga moves that can be done on-the-go. 

ciao! fabiana

via rodale's organic life

fizzy fruity ice cream floats

To create Fizzy Fruity Floats for your next gathering, set out a variety of fruit sodas, like raspberry, orange and grape, and chilled glasses filled with scoops of vanilla ice cream. Garnish with festive straws.

ciao! fabiana

recipe via Good Housekeeping

white kitchens, always a favorite

A white kitchen is a classic design choice, but it’s open to interpretation. Mix in a little color, or stick with basic black as an accent. 

Throw down an exotic rug. Display your favorite collection. It’s a blank canvas and the artistic vision is all yours! 

ciao! fabiana


photos 

1 House & Home  2 Decoholic  3 Pinterest  4  Wit & Delight
5  Decor Pad  6  J. Barron Interiors  7  My Design Chic  8  New England Home
9  Desire to Inspire  10  Scout & Nimble  11  Coastal Living  12  Architectural Digest

drew in pink

There are only a few weeks left of summer, so why not treat yourself to a little pink before the autumn hues are upon us? A little rosy pink inspo from Drew…. 

via good housekeeping

ciao! fabiana

early morning window shopping

 An early morning at Crystal Cove.

The stores are still closed,

but the shop windows are so pretty to peek into.

All these vignettes are from Juxtaposition Home.

I love their vibe!

If you’re down this way,

skip going to Starbuck’s

and go next door to 
Babette’s for coffee.

It’s amazing!

Babette’s has the coziest patio for lunch and dinner too!

ciao! fabiana

the ultimate outdoor fireplace

One of our neighbors in Hilton Head has the most amazing brick outdoor fireplace. Here’s a sneak peek just for you! I just love the symmetry and scale of it.

It’s perfect for warming you up on those cool coastal evenings. 

Since the front yard is the beach, the fireplace sitting area is located in the expansive side yard of this home! 

There’s a luscious green lawn and it’s surrounded by more beautiful brickwork on the home, gates and hardscape. I love the classic Charleston green on all the shutters.   

I really love the lattice work design of the brick. Open design for brick walls is popular here the south. It really helps with air flow and looks gorgeous! 

The path leading to the fireplace and more!

Here’s the view from the front, right on the beach.

One of my favorite houses ever!

ciao! fabiana

carolina on my mind

We just got back from an amazing trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia. That part of the country is gorgeous and so full of history.  

I truly love it there, but it’s so nice to be back home!  I'll be sharing some of the highlights of the trip with you in the next few days. 

ciao! fabiana

beach house style done right

My favorite elements in a beach house are crisp white walls, exposed natural wood and comfortable casual furniture. Always throw in a few sentimental vintage pieces and keep the palette cool with blues and other ocean hues. Don’t overdo it with “obvious” beach accessories, and keep everything grounded with natural textiles and rugs.   

ciao! fabiana

💕

While I’m here today, I wanted to share some of my "Tablescaping Essentials" with you. I have a whole page on the Amazon website with my favorite picks for setting a beautiful table.

Quite often time is of the essence, and I have last minute projects or events to work on, so I turn to Amazon for one or two day delivery. You’d be surprised at how many amazing items they have to offer! And I'm constantly updating this page with my new favorites. 

You can check it out here, at “Tablescaping Essentials”.

Photo Credit: Coastal Living and Traditional Home

summer tomato tarts

Now is the time to enjoy those last tomatoes of the season before fall brings the summer harvest to an end. Here’s a yummy and elegant way to incorporate those little summer gems into a delicious treat. Serve them in decorative muffin papers to really wow your guests!   

Ingredients

1 (17.3-oz.) pkg. frozen puff pastry sheets, partially thawed

½ cup mayonnaise

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

10 ounce sharp Cheddar cheese, finely shredded (2 ½  cups)

11 ounces multicolored cherry tomatoes (about 3 cups), halved

2 tablespoons torn fresh basil

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Gently unfold both pastry sheets. Spread ¼ cup mayonnaise on each pastry sheet; sprinkle each with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.

2. Cut each pastry sheet into 9 (3-inch) squares. Gently press squares into 2 lightly greased muffin pans. Divide cheese and tomatoes among tarts.

3. Bake in preheated oven until pastry is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool in pans on a wire rack 5 minutes. Top with torn fresh basil. Serve immediately.

ciao! fabiana


via Southern Living

relax and take time

“Together with a culture of work, there must be a culture of leisure as gratification. To put it another way: people who work must take the time to relax, to be with their families, to enjoy themselves, read, listen to music, play a sport.” --Pope Francis

ciao! fabiana

succulent saturday

Here’s a little inspiration to get you going this weekend. Succulents are super easy to grow and offer year-round color and beauty. They look great on a kitchen counter or a dining room table for a fuss-free pop of color. 

Find a fun pot or container with drainage, fill with a cactus-mix garden soil, and bunch in your favorite succulents. My favorite is hen & chicks aka sempervivum. 

I love the way they just hug each other and fill the pot, as seen in the first photo. Finish off the look with gravel or pebbles to cover any exposed soil. 

Here are a few of my favorite looks from Roger’s Gardens.

ciao! fabiana

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.