happy new year... 2018!

The last day of the year... wow! I know you must be having a busy day, but I wanted to pop in real quick and thank you for the moments you spent visiting my blog this year. I appreciate all of you and especially love to hear from you. This blog is just a fun extension of things in my life that mean a lot to me and that I’m excited to share with you all!

Today I found a few inspirational quotes to share with you that I think are especially dear and perfect for ringing in the new year. Don't mind all the images of champagne flowing, I prefer sparkling cider myself. I just wanted to visually find some ways to say "Cheers!" 

"All of us every single year, we're a different person. 

I don't think we're the same person all our lives. " 

―Steven Spielberg

"For last year's words belong to last year's language. 

And next year's words await another voice." 

― T.S. Eliot

"Learn from yesterday, 

live for today, 

hope for tomorrow." 

― Albert Einstein

“Tomorrow, is the first blank page 

of a 365 page book. Write a good one.”

― Brad Paisley

“Be the better version of yourself this new year. 

Fall, learn, carry on, repeat. 

Happy new year.“  

―unknown

"Write it on your heart that every day 

is the best day in the year." 

―Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Cheers to a new year and 

another chance for us to get it right." 

―Oprah Winfrey


happy new year!

ciao! fabiana

Get this New Year's eve kit now from Amazon:

I was mentioned on the today show !

It was a total shock and surprise yesterday when I was given a shout out by The Today Show yesterday on this New Year's Eve segment with Kathie Lee and Hoda!

                    

Amy E. Goodman of Zulily was doing a fun New Year’s Eve segment on the show and used my clock face table runner idea for the foundation of her tablescape!  Watch the segment here.

It’s really easy to recreate. All you have to do is print out 6-10 copyright free and pretty clock faces and cut them out. Then you just layer them in the center of your table and embellish with new year’s décor of your choice.

Amy used silver spray painted wine bottles which would look great with candles in them as well.

For my original table, I used silver and gold glass globe Christmas ornaments and pearl necklaces strewn about, and lastly livened up the look with mercury glass votives and clear glass candles. These items all add a bit of dimension to the center of the table and highlight the runner.

I cut out large circles of leopard wrapping paper for my place settings and layered them between silver chargers and clear glass plates. No gluing required for any of this! 
   

It’s a really easy and festive look to pull off!

Thanks so much to my friend Lynn Simons for her eagle eyes and ears and letting me know about the shout-out on the Today Show, or I would have totally missed it! I feel so honored.

Here’s the first New Year’s Eve table I featured on my blog way back in 2012. We were ready to ring in 2013! I used the same clock faces from the runner for my place settings. I still have these clock print-outs, and they’re easy to reuse from year to year. They’d also be great for a milestone birthday party or wedding.

Remember when Teresa and Dina Manzo used my clock plate idea back in 2014?

Here’s an updated version of my clock tablescape from last year…

And yes, these are the original paper cut-outs from 2012 and I think they still look great!  

The floral centerpiece utilized evergreen cuttings and white roses sprinkled with eucalyptus tips.

This year we’re ready with a simpler table for a more casual gathering. 

I do love the clock theme, and this year I found these adorable cardboard clock buttons at Oriental Trading and just strung them on twine to create a fun little accent for the table.

We have mini champagne bottle bubbles and selfie props all ready to go... Happy New Year!

ciao! fabiana

Today Show photo credit: Amy E. Goodman of Zulily

getting ready for new years eve

New Year's Eve champagne bubbles and photo booth props ready for action! Today I’ve been testing some little props for New Year's Eve coming up soon on Sunday. We have a just few friends coming over, so the planning has already begun!

I found the cutest little champagne bottle bubbles and 2018 New Year’s selfie props at Oriental Trading! Along with the rose gold table runner and my favorite clear glass plates, the décor is looking pretty festive. Here’s how my table is looking so far…

I strung the cardboard clock buttons 

with twine to make a fun little garland

 for the table.

Vintage coupe champagne glasses are my favorites!

I prefer them over the flutes.

Can you believe we’re only four days away from 2018?!

Here’s to enjoying the last few days of 2017…

xoxo

ciao! fabiana

Click here for links to products:

Glass Salad Plates
Dinner Plates:Wedgwood   
Champagne Glasses: vintage, similar found here
White Beaded Placemats
Mini Champagne Bottle Bubbles
Cardboard Clock Buttons
New Year’s Photo Stick Props
Round Metallic Confetti
Rose Gold Glitter Runner
Rose Gold Glass Ornaments

an eclectic holiday neighborhood

Christmas greetings from Newport Beach! So many of the homes are all decked out for the season, and I wanted to give you a little glimpse of the local charm here from Newport Heights.

This first lovely Georgian style home belongs to our friends Sandra and Don. I love the cute Santa hats on the two canine statues! Aren't they fun?

Driving through the neighborhood, it’s interesting to see all the eclectic styles of homes and holiday décor. A Merry Christmas banner is the perfect choice for this traditional front porch, and I love the hint of red in these flower bowls with the cyclamen flowers.  

This glitzy blue and white Hanukkah wreath was really pretty in person. It sparkled so beautifully in the sunlight.

So here’s wishing you all a fabulous holiday season 

and a very Merry Christmas…

from sunny Newport Beach.

merry christmas!

x o x o   fabiana

last minute christmas treats

There’s always a last minute little gift or two that we all need to get. My favorite places to find those are at World Market, TJ Maxx or Trader Joe’s! It’s quick, easy and hopefully painless, especially when all these shop open so early. After my morning drop-off at school, it’s easy to pop into one of these places and grab a few fun treats for a neighbor or friend.

Packaged together with a little bag of coffee or cocoa and we've got a fun little holiday gift. This deer mug is from TJ Maxx and the peppermint candy cane stirrers are from World Market.

These little gingerbread people are such a blast to wake up to in the morning. They bring an instant smile to your face! Both the Rae Dunn Mrs. Claus mug and the cookies are from TJ Maxx. (I'm keeping this mug for myself!)

Even though the series is over, I know a lot of die-hard Downton Abbey fans! This tea by Republic of Tea is really good, and I always have it in my pantry! My kids love the English Rose Blend when they’re not feeling well because it tastes like raspberry. I always stock up when I go to World Market.

Another thing I love about World Market is all the international foods I find there. They have a really fabulous selection of Italian goodies. These are some of my favorites from the last shopping trip. My family will love these, especially my mom!! It's not Christmas around here without Panettone in the morning with our coffee.

ciao! fabiana

barclay butera's home at christmas

Happy Thursday before Christmas!

I’m sure it’ll be busy, busy day for us all,

finishing up last minute stuff,

so today I wanted to quickly pop in 
and share Barclay Butera’s home, 

all prettied up for the holidays,

and featured inTraditional Home magazine.

Enjoy!

Barclay is a huge supporter of the

Newport Harbor Home Tour,

and his home has been on the tour twice!

He’s also been so generous to host our

Home Tour after party for the last twenty years.

Isn’t the tree gorgeous?

Here are a few photos I took yesterday…

Barclay’s home is soooo charming.

ciao! fabiana

photo credit: Ryan Garvin