fall fashion faves

I’m so happy it’s Saturday! This week was a little quirky, due to Halloween in the middle of the week and then there was no school on Wednesday. It’s almost like Thursday was Monday all over again!

With the holidays quickly approaching, I’ve been inspired by a few recent fashion finds that will work beautifully for me through the end of the year.

First off are these darling “Arabesque” earrings from Stella & Dot. Not only are they a classic style, but they’re a great size, not too big. I chose mine in rose gold, but they also come in silver and gold. These can be easily dressed up or dressed down. I’ve been wearing mine all week, and have  already gotten several compliments J.    

Red is the most festive color and really can make you stand out from the crowd, and now is the best time to add a bit of red to my wardrobe. I don’t think I have enough red in my repertoire, so with my new Pippa Cold Shoulder Top, also by Stella & Dot, I’m ready for any of those December holiday gatherings that are already penciled in to my calendar. 

Who doesn’t love a classic Levi jean? These are especially cute with the addition of embroidered red roses, and the best part about these, they’re high-waisted, woohoo! Available at Anthropologie.

Although I live in Southern California, and don’t often need winter coats, I love this casual look by Gal Meets Glam. It’s simple, traditional and youthful, and that’s what makes it work!

With the addition of a fabulous wool coat like this, I'd be all set to book a weekend up north!

Warning… splurge moment! Yes, I just hit the “add to cart” button on these same Gucci Marmont Pumps in Blush Suede. Doran of Haute Beauty Guide (above) has styled the Marmont perfectly with cuffed jeans and pink accessories. It's my first time saying YES to Gucci! Can't wait...

This little group of fashion choices is all quite casual, but each one can be easily redirected for a more formal look. What are your favorite fashion items for the holidays? I’d love to hear all about it!  xoxox  

ciao! fabiana

photo credit:

1. Stella & Dot

2. Stella & Dot

3. Levi's 721 Jeans at Anthropologie

4. Gal Meets Glam

5. Haute Beauty Guide

the pumpkin paradise cocktail

This time of year, pumpkin permeates just about every thing from oreos to lattés, so if you’re looking for something new and a bit more sophisticated, why not try the Pumpkin Paradise cocktail at Tommy Bahama’s? This hand crafted seasonal drink features a warm blend of comforting flavors.

Knob Creek bourbon and Sailor Jerry spiced rum blends with pumpkin puree, maple syrup, a dash of bitters and is then finished with some ginger beer and the juice from a lime wedge for this festive fall cocktail.

The Pumpkin Paradise can be enjoyed at any Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar, or you can create it at home with this recipe. It's just a little something extra for you from my friends at Tommy Bahama!

ciao! fabiana

november, a new start

Well, Halloween is over

and thank goodness, I didn’t miss it! 

Last night was really fun and low-key. The kids were all with their friends and our youngest had a small group of buddies over to trick or treat. I made this favorite tomato soup, and it was a hit!

We even tried something new this year, carving our pumpkins using a drill with a large bit. It was so fast and easy! The result was a group of pretty pumpkins with lacy circular patterns that became simple beacons at the front entry.

I love how the jack o’lanterns start glowing as soon as the sun goes down!

I posted some extra Halloween photos on Instagram stories. Did you happen to see them? If not, check them out here.  

The gray and white pumpkins were especially gorgeous with their vibrant orange interiors. I still have a few of these left that are uncarved and will still look great through Thanksgiving.

It’s amazing how they can last from September through November and still be fresh. They’re so perfect for creating different seasonal vignettes.

And now that's the weather's cooled off a bit, I'm trading in my flip flops for funky little flats, that are so comfy!

I'm so love with my new Tory Burch "Minnie" Ballet flats. They're the perfect pinky-beige neutral color, and the leather is like butter! The hot pink colored flats are by Sam Edelman.

One last pic from the neighborhood yesterday… Isn’t this cobalt blue door amazing? And the orange pumpkins and planter really pop too!

With October come and gone, let's celebrate the first day of November! I always get excited at the beginning of the month, because I feel like I hit “refresh” and can start with a clean slate. 

It's a great time to reflect and be thankful for the blessings in our lives. With the end of the year quickly approaching, I'm looking forward to some much-needed family time. I really love cooking for my friends and family, so for me, it's a great time to start baking again. 

I'm definitely making these Easy Apple Tarts again very soon. We have a very prolific apple tree in the yard that produces bushels of fruit in July, and I've got a few bags of sliced apples in the freezer that'll be perfect for this recipe. They're so good that my family devours them in a day or less!  

Thanksgiving is one of my all-time favorite holidays and creating new and unique tablescapes really makes my heart flutter! 

One of my favorite ways to start creating that November vibe is by clipping a few vibrant branches of liquidamber and just popping them into a large cylindrical vase. Where do you find your inspiration?

ciao! fabiana

this year's halloween tablescape

Why do I love Halloween so much?

I think it’s because I have the happiest of memories from my childhood filled with creating costumes, carving jack o’lanterns and heading out on cold nights to trick-or-treat to our hearts content.

I still can’t resist all the fun of decorating for Halloween. 

It’s fun setting a themed table for my family… this year’s tablescape features my favorite black and white transferware plates. 

They both feature birds with a floral motif, so why not add a few black birds to the centerpiece?

Elegant with just a touch of spooky is always my m.o. so this vintage looking bird cage was the perfect focal point for the center of the table. 

I just pulled some of my favorite pieces out and reimagined them in a new light. You may remember some of these accessories like the black wine glasses from last year’s Halloween table.  

To add a touch more drama, I connected all the elements with twigs, green moss and spooky cheese cloth, also from Oriental Trading. I like the cheese cloth better than spider webbing because you get a neater overall appearance.

A little bit of orange was added with napkins and glass votives. Black and white all over is lovely, but this year I felt like the table needed a pop of color.

The little crow looks quite comfortable in his mossy nest. 

Transferware plates are my favorite table top accent and these black and white patterns offer the perfect juxtaposition with all the rustic and slightly eerie holiday décor. 

Candlelight is essential for Halloween and these cheery votives evoke thoughts of orange pumpkins and jack o’lanterns.

Another feathered friend stands guard over the stash of white and glittery gold pumpkins.

These glittered pumpkin votives will make a perfect transition into my Thanksgiving décor.

It’s just a casual setting for four, and now I have to work on my menu…

A little roast chicken would be perfect for the night and maybe some roasted butternut squash soup. 

My favorite recipe is from Michael Chiarello, and includes cinnamon, coriander, molasses, sage and balsamic vinegar. I’ve made it several times and it’s amazing!!  

Halloween dinner will be tonight because 

tomorrow is reserved for lots and candy and pizza! 

ciao! fabiana

Click on each item to see how it all came together:

Black Wine Glasses

Orange Glass Votives

Dinner Plates

Bread Plates:  vintage Wedgwood

White Salad Plates

OrangeNapkins

Hammered Silverware

Spooky Cheese Cloth

Green Moss

Bird Cage

Black Crows

Bundle of Twigs

Glitter Pumpkin Votives

Glitter Spiders

Spider Web Runner

Round Placemats

All Pumpkins: Roger’s Gardens

Riviera Side Chairs:  Serena & Lily

💕

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”.

witchy storybook style

A little Disneyland vibe

and a little touch of Grimm’s Fairy Tales

just about sums up this whimsical

type of architecture called Storybook Style.

You may recognize this iconic Witch’s House

from the corner of Walden and Carmelita in Beverly Hills,

It's the crème de la crème of Storybook architecture!

For decades, the Beverly Hills Witch’s House,

aka the Spadena House has provided amazing

memories for all the children trick-or-treating

in the neighborhood.

Who can resist this quirky style,

especially on the spookiest night of the year?!

This fun style of architecture is sprinkled

throughout Beverly Hills, Los Angeles and

even Laguna Beach.  

Here are a few fun details

of my favorite storybook homes

 in Laguna Beach.

Notice the old-fashioned doors

and charming diamond pane windows.

This little cottage has recently been lovingly restored.

Don't you love the pop of cobalt blue 

and all the pretty purple blooms?

This home is surrounded by fanciful

butterfly bush, deep purple sage and lavender.

Here’s Orange County’s version of a witch’s house.

It's not as prominent as the the one in Beverly Hills,

but it is quite popular in North Laguna.

Built in the 1920's, this home has eerily

tall gables, crooked stone steps and even had 

a large boiling cauldron that originally hung over the

huge stone fireplace. 

You can see the influence of this style

in the quaint details of the homes 

surrounding the Laguna witch’s house.

And, if you want to explore this more,
 here's a fun book that has lots of storybook design inspiration, 
including my favorite, the Spadena House!

ciao! fabiana

Spadena House photos are from Yelp