a fun field trip for mother's day

One of my favorite local field trips is to the gorgeous old Mission San Juan Capistrano. The gardens are  truly magnificent, and my family and I head down there a few times a year to just marvel at the history and beauty of this California landmark.  

There’s an unassuming calmness about this place. Unexpected beauty is everywhere. The koi fountains filled with water lilies are among my favorite things!

The colors are so vibrant here! And I love the contrasting plants like this amazing purple sage set among the rosette shaped succulents.

Mother’s Day weekend is the perfect time to visit the mission and wander around. I love to grab a cup of coffee at the Starbuck’s across the street and have a “Sip ‘n Stroll” around the gardens here.   

Remember the “Super Bloom” we had here in California about a month ago? Well you can still catch all the beauty of our favorite California Poppies and other native plants here at the mission.

The exquisite chapel is open to visitors. It’s also nice to know that prayer candles are available for purchase and you can light one in memory of someone special.

Another one of my favorite spots here at the mission is the potager, or kitchen garden. Look at the beauty of this artichoke! 

The surrounding area in SJC, especially near the train station is lovely to explore, as well. There are several quaint restaurants there with charming cottage gardens that are so fun to check out!  

And speaking of gardens and flowers, here’s my pick for a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift. If mom is interested at all in flowers or having beautiful arrangements of flowers at home, The Posy Book is perfect.

It’s like a recipe book for creating gorgeous flower arrangements at home!

It also includes the meanings of many of our favorite flowers and herbs. I love the idea of creating little floral messages.

Did you know that our favorite flower the hydrangea means devotion to love? Isn’t that sweet?

I also love that they include ideas to incorporate succulents and herbs into these posies.

Such a sweet idea!

The good news is this brand new book is available on Amazon,

my favorite way of shopping these days!

ciao! fabiana

looking forward to the home tour!

Happy Wednesday! I can hardly believe that the Newport Harbor Home Tour is a week away! The buzz is already starting here in town.

This once a year event is such a fun day to see friends, have lunch and of course, view a handful of the most gorgeous homes in Orange County!

Here’s a look at some of my favorite homes from the past few years…

The big day is May 16^th and I’ll be sure to share more on the home tour very soon!

ciao! fabiana

For lots of fun extras, follow me on instagram!

For more Newport Harbor Home Tour inspiration,
check out this brand new book:

french country mother's day style

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and I wanted to send a little inspiration over to you today…

Inspired by my visit to The Ivy restaurant, I wanted to bring that French country style to my table for a special indoor garden party brunch that’s sure to make mom feel special!

In fact, you can read the whole story here, at Cottages and Bungalows this month.

I was fortunate enough to acquire some beautiful tableware designed by Mark D. Sikes and made by Blue Pheasant.

The plates, napkins, placemats, card holders, flatware, pitcher, and wooden pedestals are all beautiful examples of Blue Pheasant's elegant tableware.

The roses and citrus are the heart and soul of this table, but not without all the fabulous pieces of this tablescape that are the backbone of the design.

Stop by and check out Cottages & Bungalows’ post on Instagram too, and leave me a comment, if you’d like! Just say “Hi Fabiana!”

Personally, I like to celebrate Mother’s Day all month!

Why not!?

ciao! fabiana

Here are some easy-to-shop pieces to create a similar look: