headed back to california

After a little stay in South Carolina,

and a little time away from my computer (yay!),

I’ll be back on the blog in September…

We’re headed back home to Newport!

ciao! fabiana

time off

Hi! 

I just wanted to let you know

that I’m taking a few days off

and I’ll be back in September

with lots of fun, new posts

and lots of photos!

Can you believe fall is just around the corner?!

I'm so looking forward to all 

the festive pumpkins and autumn leaves

that'll be making their appearances very soon....

until then,

enjoy your last few days 

of summer!

ciao! fabiana 

glamping

I’m not a happy camper!

In fact, I just don’t like to go camping at all.

I leave that to my husband and boys

who seem to enjoy the whole situation.

…but just look at these adorable tents!

I could get use to a set up like these!

As long as there isn't too much work involved with 

setting up and cooking, I'm good to go.

When I'm on vacation,

the least amount of work the better... 

It's all about relaxing for me.

I hope you're having a fun Sunday!

ciao! fabiana

photo credit:

Sunset Magazine

Coast Magazine

weekend thoughts

5 Great Ways to Relax this Weekend

1. Try a New Recipe

 

When was the last time you cooked something new? The weekend is the perfect time to try one of those new recipes you’ve been saving. For me cooking is a very relaxing activity. How about you?

Or, if you’re not in the mood to cook, order take-out from a restaurant you haven’t eaten at yet. And if you’re really adventurous, go for something exotic like Moroccan, Persian or Thai!

 

2. Start a New TV Series or a New Movie

Do you get hooked into a series on netflix and end up binging the whole season or two? Amazon Prime has a great series that is at the top of my list, “The Last Tycoon”. It’s based on an unfinished book by F. Scott Fitzgerald and takes place in 1930’s Hollywood. I even think my husband would like this one! Have you watched this yet?  

 

3. Read a Book

 

What a novel concept… hahaha, sorry for the silly pun. But really, we spend so much time on our phones and computers, that it’s easy to forget how relaxing and therapeutic reading a book can be. Biographies and nonfiction are my favorite reads. Do you have any favorite books to recommend?

 

4. Take a Walk

 

Being outdoors is a beautiful thing, so make the most of the end of summer by getting out and walking for a good half hour or more. Walking around a favorite neighborhood can be fun too. I love to get an up-close look at some of my favorite homes.

 

5.  Spend time with Friends and Family

 

Weekdays can be so busy, so make time to reconnect with family members and good friends on the weekend. My bestie and I don’t see each other that often because she lives three hours away, but when we do, we start of right where we left off and giggle until our tummies hurt!  

ciao! fabiana

photo credit:

House Beautiful

afternoon tea bites

Every summer when I visit Savannah,

my first stop in the city is Gryphon.

Gryphon is an ultra-hip tea room

located in the heart of Savannah,

on a historic corner overlooking

Madison Square.

In its intimate book-filled interior,

I feel perfectly at home and oh, sooo happy!

I always order the tea service complete

with a variety of mini sandwiches,

scones, tarts and fruit.

These two make-at-home recipes

remind me of my favorite days in Savannah 

and noshing at the Gryphon Tea Room.  

Very Berry Cream Tartlets

Crust:

¾  c. (1 ½  sticks) butter, softened

3 tbsp. granulated sugar

¼  tsp. salt

1 large egg yolk

1 1/3 c. all-purpose flour

Pastry Cream:

6 large egg yolks

¾  c. granulated sugar

6 tbsp. cake flour (not self-rising)

¼  tsp. salt

2 ¼  c. whole milk

1 vanilla bean, split

½  tsp. almond extract             

½ c. sliced almonds, toasted

Topping:

blueberries

blackberries

raspberries

small mint leaves

edible chamomile flowers

confectioners sugar

Directions

Make Crust: Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 6 (4 ½ -inch-wide) mini tartlet pans with removable bottoms.

In medium bowl with mixer on high speed, beat butter, granulated sugar and salt until smooth and creamy. Beat in egg yolk, then flour until just combined. If dough is too soft to handle, wrap in plastic and refrigerate 5 to 10 minutes.

Divide dough into 6 equal mounds. With lightly floured hands, press into bottoms and up sides of prepared tartlet pans in even layer; place pans on cookie sheet.

Cover each tartlet with small sheet parchment; add enough dried beans or pie weights to fill bottoms. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden. Remove parchment and weights; bake another 5 to 8 minutes or until golden brown. Cool tartlet shells completely on wire rack.

Make Pastry Cream: Meanwhile, in large bowl, whisk egg yolks, granulated sugar, cake flour and salt until smooth.

In 3-quart saucepan, heat milk on medium-high until steaming and bubbles form around edge; remove from heat. To egg mixture, add splash of hot milk until smooth, whisking. Continue slowly adding and whisking in hot milk until half of milk is incorporated. Whisk in remaining hot milk until mixture is smooth. Return egg mixture to saucepan. Cook on medium 5 to 7 minutes or until very thick and bubbling, whisking constantly. Remove from heat.

Scrape seeds from vanilla and whisk into pastry cream, along with almond extract. Using med-mesh sieve, strain pastry cream into medium bowl, pushing through with rubber spatula. Discard any solids. Cover cream with plastic, pressing against surface.

Refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours.

Divide almonds among bottoms of tartlet shells. Spread or pipe chilled pastry cream into tartlet shells. Top one-third of surface of tartlets with berries, mint and flowers. Dust lightly with confectioners’ sugar.

Minty Pea and Pecorino Finger Sandwiches

8 oz. frozen (thawed) or fresh (cooked) peas

1/2 c. grated Pecorino cheese

3 tbsp. Greek yogurt

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

2 tbsp. finely chopped fresh mint

1 tbsp. snipped chives

White bread

In food processor, pulse peas, pecorino cheese, Greek yogurt, salt and pepper until mostly smooth, scraping bowl occasionally. Fold in fresh mint and snipped chives.

Serve sandwiched on soft white bread. Cut off crusts and cut into squares or, with 2-inch round cutter, cut into circles.

Good Housekeeping magazine suggests

serving these with pimiento cheese and 

crab, mango and cucumber sandwiches for

a lovely variety that looks

as good as it tastes.

ciao! fabiana

photo & recipe credit:

Good Housekeeping

monday blues

No need to feel blue today,

I’ve gathered up a few of my favorite

rooms that feature blue!

A little or a lot,

we all need a little blue in our homes!

ciao! fabiana

photo credit:

1 8 9 10 11 12 13 House Beautiful

2 Coastal Living

3 Traditional Home

4 7 BH & G

5 6 Good Housekeeping

a little bit country

I don’t consider myself a country girl,

but I do love a few rustic elements

thrown into my home to add

a lived-in and homey vibe.

How special is that dutch door?

It sets the tone for the whole house.

In this dining space,

it’s all about the rustic quality of the farm table,

the floors, the hutch. It’s all stripped down and bare,

but there's an elegance to all this.

No rug. No Fabrics.

Just the beauty of the wood coming through.

Country décor can be elevated

to something spectacular.

A home in the country,

designed with the mindset of

a sophisticated city dweller.

The yin and yang of décor…

Country pieces mixed with

high-style classic elements.

Opposite design elements that somehow

complement each other is what I’m talking about.

Like the old saying from Donny and Marie:

"A little bit country

and a little bit rock n roll!"

Do you have any favorite country pieces in your home?

I know I do! 
Actually, I have several.

We have a few lovely family heirlooms, 
and I guess the one that stands out the most is 
the fabulous antique round pine table.

It's got a nice thick pine top with a lovely patina,
and cute and simple slipper feet. 

It's so wonderful during the holdays
because we add the three large leaves
and the whole family fits at one table!

Happy Sunday...

 ciao! fabiana

photo credit:

Country Living

French Country Cottage

Good Housekeeping