a gorgeous day in la jolla

Last weekend, we had a chance to getaway for the day to La Jolla. It’s just a 90 minute drive here from Newport, so getting there is not a big deal, and when we arrive….  

I love to stop off at La Valencia for a peek at the view and a yummy cappuccino – with almond milk. They also make amazing blueberry muffins, but I was just an muffin observer this time around, you see I’m on the Paleo diet. More on that later…

Seriously, the day was absolutely flawless! Look at the view looking down at the pool and at the Pacific beyond.

This is the kind of place I love calling "home". We didn't stay here this time around, but I do have another longer trip planned soon. 😉  

Here’s a look at the lounge area that’s so cozy for breakfast or an afternoon snack.

This is the view from that same lounge. I just LOVE it here!!

So, after a quick pick-me-up at La Valencia, we headed down the street for a walk around the always stunning La Jolla Cove area, high above the cliffs, and looking down at the incredible wildlife and ocean below.

There are seven caves in this area, but the most famous one is my favorite, the Sunny Jim Cave that’s accessible through the Cave Store.

The Cave Store’s been around for more than a hundred years, and for a small fee, you can descend 145 steps into the underground world of the beautiful Sunny Jim Cave.

This little journey feels sort of like you’re walking down into a mine, but the end result is just absolutely breathtaking!

Do you see the profile outlined in the cave? He's so cute!

From there we continued our walk around the cliffs, around the bend to see the seals and sea lions that nap along the smooth rocks there. Do you see how well they blend in to their surroundings?

As long as you don’t bother these guys they’re harmless, and how lucky are we to get so close to this amazing wildlife?

And speaking of wildlife, how cute is this loggerhead sea turtle? She lives at the Birch Aquarium which is just around the bend from downtown La Jolla.

I hadn’t been to the Birch Aquarium in ages, and it was really a fun visit and so calming to get a glimpse of just a little bit of the fascinating underwater world.

This is the view from the aquarium, looking back at La Jolla in the distance.

I'm so thankful for such a beautiful day and can't wait to visit again soon. It's was the perfect little getaway!

ciao! fabiana

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balboa island and anthropologie

Spring has finally arrived on Balboa Island. It's not surprising with all the rain we've had! 😉 And this cottage is the cutest, with all its classic details and pretty garden flowers. 💗

A morning walk on Balboa Island always makes me feel like I'm on vacation. 

And not far away is Anthropologie in Fashion Island. I’m kind of obsessed with some of their antique tables they use as displays.

This one’s ↑ my favorite!

The merchandising and table décor at Anthropologie is always so inspiring.

Kind of like the gorgeous styling at the Paris Market in Savannah!

Thanks for stopping by today! I’ll be back soon with more fun décor to share with you all. 😘

ciao! fabiana

a rose themed galentine’s day table

I’m so excited to finally share my pretty cute Galentine’s Day tablescape with all of you. I shot this layout way back in November exclusively for Romantic Homes, but since that magazine is no longer being published, their sister magazine Cottages & Bungalows got to share it!   

It truly is my most favorite tablescape of all time! I wanted to make sure that I blended beautiful vintage tableware with accessories that were more modern feeling.

Deeply hued pink roses were my inspiration point, especailly when gathered in this vintage red and white transferware tureen. The roses came from the garden, and since it was late fall, I collected as many pretty blooms as possible, and they all seemed to mesh well together!

And the fabric square I used as a backdrop pulled everything together nicely and created that “Romantic” look.

A close-up of the mismatched garden roses….

compared to the more uniformly shaped ones from Trader Joe's. 

And isn’t this ice bucket perfect?

Some of my favorite items from Serena & Lily were incorporated to provide a fun-factor at this party! 

Please stop by Cottages & Bungalows for the FULL STORY and lots of even prettier pictures!

And it all came together like this:

White Dinner Plates -  Home Goods

Floral Salad Plates - vintage

Pink Glassware - vintage

Flatware - vintage Italian silver

Pink Napkins - Home Goods

 Round Raffia Placemats - Serena & Lily  

Assorted tea cups, tea set & vases - vintage

Table fabric & heart wreath - vintage 

  Bedford Tray - Serena & Lily

Floral Ice Bucket - Nice Buckets

Cove Rattan Lanterns - Serena & Lily

Linzer Cookies & Lemonade - Mother's Market

ciao! fabiana

easy & yummy recipes for your valentine

I couldn’t help sharing these fun and easy Valentine’s Day recipes with you all. I hope you like chocolate, because two of them are luscious and chocolatey good but pretty simple to make…

And how about a little pepperoni pizza, valentine style?! This recipe is perfect for the whole family.

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 box (15.25 oz.) chocolate cake mix

• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

• 24 fresh strawberries, washed and dried

• ½ cup frozen strawberries, thawed

• 1 cup butter, softened

• 4 cups powdered sugar

Directions

Prepare the chocolate cake mix according to package instructions. Pour batter into a paper-lined muffin tin. Bake according to package instructions. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, melt the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Cook on half power for 60 seconds, then continue at half power at 30 second increments, until the chocolate is completely melted. Prepare a plate with wax paper. Dip the strawberries one at a time into the chocolate, then lay on the prepared plate. Set in the refrigerator to harden.

In a blender, puree the thawed strawberries. Yields about ¼ cup of pureed strawberries.

To prepare the frosting, mix together the butter and powdered sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl. Beat in the pureed strawberries and mix until desired consistency.

Spread frosting over the cooled cupcakes and top each cupcake with a chocolate covered strawberry.

Makes 24 Cupcakes.

Homemade Heart-Shaped Pepperoni Pizza

Ingredients

• 11 ounces refrigerated thin cut pizza crust dough

• ½ cup plus 2 Tbsp. pizza sauce, divided

• ½ cup plus 2 Tbsp. Kroger Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

• ½ cup sliced pepperoni

• Fresh basil, to serve

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.

Roll the pizza crust out onto a lightly floured surface. Using a large heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut about 10 hearts out of pizza dough. Gently transfer the hearts onto the prepared baking sheet.

Spread 1 tablespoon of sauce onto each heart, then top with 1 tablespoon of cheese.

Use a small heart shaped cookie cutter to cut hearts into the pepperoni. Place the pepperoni hearts on the cheese.

Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the edges start to brown.

Serve with fresh basil.

Serves: 10

Slow Cooker Lava Cake

Ingredients

• 1 box (15.25 oz.) chocolate cake mix

• 3 ¼ cups milk, divided

• ½ cup pure coconut oil, slightly melted

• 3 large eggs

• 1 package (3.56 oz.) instant chocolate pudding

• 1 bag (12 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips

•  optional, vanilla ice cream

•  optional, fresh berries  

Directions

Spray the liner of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, 1¼ cups of milk, coconut oil and the eggs. Beat on low speed for 1-2 minutes, then on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until the batter is glossy.

Pour into the lined slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, combine the pudding mix, 2 cups of milk and beat until the pudding thickens.

Pour the pudding over the cake batter; do not stir.

Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top; do not stir.

Cover and cook on high for 2½ hours, until the top of the cake is set.

Serve with vanilla ice cream and fresh berries.

Serves: 10

enjoy!

ciao! fabiana

Recipes courtesy of Kroger 

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pretty motivation for the weekend

I have to admit, since the beginning of the year, I’ve struggled a bit to find the motivation that I usually have. I kind of like to start the year fresh with a clean slate, and recalibrate myself for the new year ahead, but this year it's taking me longer than usual to get motivated.

That’s why I love the simplicity of this quote by Mark Twain. I do find that when I push myself just a little, it really helps to get the ball rolling with whatever endeavor that I’m starting to work on.

And, seeing a pretty kitchen like this, full of gorgeous flowers, always pumps me up, just a little bit... 

Look at those amazing lilacs! I can almost smell their intense fragrance just from their beauty in these photos.  

These dazzling photos are from the latest issue of Country Living, and they're really motivating me to look ahead towards spring, when everything is blooming around me. For those of you who live in utterly chilly conditions, take a moment and think about the renewal of Spring, and that it's not too far off!

Isn’t this cupboard styled beautifully? And look, in the next photo, there it is again, but styled a little differently with just pretty collection of white ironstone.

And I love marble subway tiles on the back wall of these shelves! 

😍 

I'm also loving these vintage bistro chairs... in my favorite color! Aren't they so special in this all white and neutral room?

And speaking of chairs, I love the quirkiness of these bar stools. I'd love a pair of these in my kitchen.

And as a final note... a blue and white room with a pop of yellow daffodils for fun! If this doesn't say "Spring", I don't know what does!

I hope you stay plenty warm and dry this weekend!

I'm quite enjoying the rain from inside 😏

ciao! fabiana

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photo credit:

1-5 Country Living

6-7 Southern Living