pistachio shamrock cookies

 

Shamrock Cookies are not just a delightful treat but also come with a sprinkle of history and symbolism!

 

Shamrock cookies are typically associated with St. Patrick's Day, which is celebrated on March 17th. 

The shamrock itself is a three-leafed clover, which, according to legend, was used by St. Patrick to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) to the people of Ireland. Over time, the shamrock became a symbol of Ireland and St. Patrick's Day.

 

While shamrock cookies have Irish roots, their popularity as festive treats soared in the United States, where St. Patrick's Day is widely celebrated with parades, parties, and lots of green-themed foods. 

The cookies are often made in the shape of shamrocks and decorated with green icing and sprinkles. This recipe is a real gourmet upgrade!

Pistachio Shamrock Cookies are the most a delightful treat, especially for celebrating St. Patrick's Day! Here's a simple recipe from Better Homes & Gardens magazine for making these tasty and festive cookies.

St. Patrick's Day is bursting with delicious and festive treats! Here are of my other favorites, Including Irish Soda Bread which I make a lot. It’s not only a March treat, you know!

 

Irish Soda Bread: A traditional bread made with baking soda instead of yeast. It's often studded with raisins and caraway seeds. Check out my Soda Bread Recipe here.

 

Corned Beef and Cabbage: While not a "treat," it's a classic St. Patrick's Day meal in the U.S., often enjoyed with potatoes and carrots.

 

Shepherd's Pie: A hearty dish with ground meat, vegetables, and mashed potatoes baked to perfection. I make this every Christmas as well!

 

Potato Pancakes (Boxty): These crispy pancakes made from grated potatoes are a delicious savory treat.

 

Green Velvet Cake: A festive twist on the classic red velvet cake, usually adorned with green frosting. I must try this one!

 

 

 

ciao fabiana

 

 

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an alfresco table that keeps on giving

 

Today has been the most amazing sunny February day! So perfect for a little alfresco table with all sorts of spring vibes! Blue and green Talelayo tablecloth and napkins from August Table.

 

So, I’m just sharing this little impromptu alfresco table. It’s an easy, breezy way to instantly set a beautiful table when you start with pretty table linens like this and then simply add your everyday tableware and a lovely bouquet of cottage garden flowers.

 

I'll be in the veg garden most of the day. The Rainbow Chard hasn't stopped since December, and I'll be making a delicious garlic and chard pasta for dinner tonight.

  

These flowers were all grown in our cottage garden and are just loosely arranged in a wicker basket to softly sway any which way the wind blows.

 

Shades of blue paired with crisp whites can evoke a coastal vibe. Think navy blue, turquoise, and seafoam green, complemented by white tableware and accents.

 

Creating a beautiful ambiance for your alfresco table can make your gathering truly special. Here are some ideas to elevate the atmosphere:

 

Lighting: String lights or fairy lights can create a warm, inviting glow. You could also use lanterns or candles for a cozy, intimate feel.

 

Decor: Add fresh flowers or greenery as a centerpiece. You can even place small potted plants or herbs around the table.

 

Table Setting: Use a tablecloth or table runner to add a splash of color or texture. Pretty napkins, nice dinnerware, and elegant glassware can all make your setup feel more special.

 

Comfort: Provide comfortable seating with cushions or throw blankets, especially if the evening might get cool.

 

Music: Soft background music can enhance the mood. Choose a playlist that complements the vibe you're going for, whether it's a relaxed dinner or a lively gathering.

 

Scent: Use scented candles or let the fragrance of the garden flowers be your focus.

Personal Touches: Consider adding personal touches like handwritten place cards or themed decorations that reflect the occasion or season.

 

Weather Prep: Make sure you have some umbrellas or shade options in case the sun gets too intense, or a backup plan if it rains.

 

Creating an ambiance is all about paying attention to the little details and making your guests feel welcome and comfortable. 

Make sure everyone will enjoy your alfresco dining experience!

 

I’d love to show you how this same look works indoors! It’s as easy as it looks. Just create the same vibe in your favorite dining space.

 

Best of all, this look can last for days and days! In fact next time you set an alfresco table, just bring it all indoors after the party is over to enjoy the flowers and gorgeous tableware for a bit longer.

 

In case you haven’t heard, I started a new Instagram page in October and named it Claudia Fabiana Home. My former page is still up, but after getting a new phone, I was no longer able to log into this account, so the new profile was born!

 

ciao fabiana

 

 

You can check out some of my favorites here at “Tablescaping Essentials” 

 

 

 

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links.

 

a gorgeous new garden green tablecloth

It’s early morning in the breakfast room. I’m starting off the day with a few other new treasures on the table, and it’s an easy to put a big smile on my face!

Stop and take a peek at this gorgeous new Garden Green Tablecloth and Napkins from August Table. 

The look of these table linens is so cozy thanks to the fact that these are all 100% linen. The darling little stylized floral pattern is a classic.

 

Don’t you love the look of these wonderful new woven Safavieh farmhouse chairs? And there are also a few other goodies to share…

A pair of woven wicker glass vases in two complimentary sizes. These are so versatile for holding flowers, stems and even candles. Best of all, they look very pretty on their own too!

As a soothing backdrop, I just clipped a few eucalyptus branches to add a lovely bit of green to the room.

  

Freshly cut sprigs of kumquats add life to this little scene, not to mention a fun pop of color. The morning light in February is magical!

Check out these cute stoneware bowls from Antique Farmhouse. I love how they look with this Garden Green Tablecloth and round burlap placemats.

I have this same Garden tablecloth pattern in the yellow and gray tone that I love to style with lemons, but today I felt like a pop of orange from the kumquats would be fun!

Here’s another quick look at the new Garden Green tablecloth from August Table. Sometimes the simplicity of a simple white centerpiece is all you need to create a soothing look for the room.

 

A pair of white ironstone pitchers always come in handy, whether they’re holding some flowers from the garden or pouring your favorite iced tea. 

One of my favorite ways to serve Arnold Palmers is to have tea and lemonade in separate pitchers so guests create their own custom formula, over ice, with a sprig of mint!

 

 

ciao fabiana

 

 

For lots of fun extras, follow me on Instagram!

 

 

 

You can check out some of my favorites here at “Tablescaping Essentials” 

 

 

 

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links.

 

the evolution of the dish room

 

Here’s another look at the new area in the house that I'm calling the “dish room”. 

Throughout the seasons, it’s really proven to be quite useful and popular for photo shoots, as well as housing all my extra plates, home accessories and vintage colored glassware.

Last year I decided to take an unused bedroom and use it as the main hub for a lot of my styling props. 

Here it is styled for the autumn months. Brown and white transferware, copper accessories and lots of natural textures five this space a fall vibe.

 

A cottage farmhouse display was set up against the big wall with furniture that was already in the room. I just added a peg rack to the shelves that were already in the room. 

I did have to paint the shelves white and move them to the center of the wall, but all in all, this was all very budget friendly.

 

A dark brown-black Ikea desk and the two shelves were transformed with a few coats of white chalk paint. I papered the wall with a fun beadboard textured wallpaper which saved me quite a bit of money on using actual beadboard.

 

All I bought, besides the wallpaper, was a custom-made peg rack to fit right under the bottom shelf and a cute gingham curtain for the desk opening.

 

I also found the most adorable vintage chandelier to finish off the room. This is now a great spot for my early morning photo shoots and also fulfills my organizational tendencies! 😜

My good friend and contractor George found this vintage corner cabinet around the corner from my home, on the curb!! It was free, and he knows my taste so well, that he immediately called me to give me the heads up on this free cabinet.

 

When we found this piece, it was painted with a very shiny and bright enamel paint that was just starting to peel off.

 

A lot of elbow grease, sanding, scraping and now this piece was ready for a new coat of paint.

 

I painted it a neutral grey-green color. In this photo, it looks greener than it does in real life. It’s a great farmhouse style neutral color.

 

With all the pretty dishes and plates I’ve collected over the years, I decided floor to ceiling dishes on the wall was a fun surprise for this main accent wall.

 

The stage is now set. There’s still time to fill in all the plates, but projects got in the way of it all. I love the evolution of it, so time is on my side.

 

Some of my favorite farmhouse and cottage style pieces are now on full display here in my new dish room.

 

And best of all, when Christmas projects came along, this was now the perfect backdrop for some very special stylings…

 

You may recognize this shot from the winter 2024 issue of Country Sampler Farmhouse Style magazine. Yes, my new little dish room now has proudly graced the cover of a magazine!   

 

Don’t ask me how this happened! It was a complete and utter surprise, but wow!!! A very special one!  

Here' how the cover shot turned out... 

This dish room is like a dream come true! I love how you've made use of an unused space and turned it into something so functional and aesthetically pleasing.

It's always inspiring to know a little creativity and some resourceful design can completely transform a space.

 

ciao fabiana

 

 

For lots of fun extras, follow me on Instagram!

 

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links.

pantone color of the year, Mocha Mousse

 

Have you heard?! The color of the year is Mocha Mousse and I couldn’t be more thrilled! Although this subdued neutral, it’s quite chic and so versatile!

To quote from the Pantone website: "For 2025, the Pantone Color Institute selects PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, a warming, brown hue imbued with richness. 

It nurtures us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort." 

Fashion already seems to be hitting its stride with this color of the year. Here are some beautiful gowns (and celebrities) featured in a recent Us Magazine article.

 

Which look is your favorite? I have to say I prefer the first group of Molly, Rosie, Ashley and Monica.

So dreamy, but back to reality and the thing I'm most comfortable with... tablescapes!!

 

One of my most favorite jobs ever…

 

styling tables for Pacific & Rose. This brand-new look is a slightly updated version of the classic LILIBET pattern and is a great neutral colorway known as MOCHA.

 

Reminiscent of the color of the year, Mocha Mousse, I know this will be one of my faves for ease of styling and giving me that pretty farmhouse cottage look that I love!

This pretty pattern is hot off the press, just arrived from India and is available at Seaside Gallery and Goods.

 

Also available online at Pacific & Rose. A great way to start the new year… pretty table linens and we’re good to go!

 

Here’s a collection of accessories in Mocha Mousse shared this week by star Magazine. My pick is the cozy Unhide Little Marshmallow furry blanket in Mocha Shar Pei.

 

So many cute things to choose from!! The Puma sneakers and the OPI nail polish are my picks of the week!

Even magazines in the UK are jumping on the Mocha Mousse train! This collection of goodies was shared this week by Your Home Style magazine. My pick for an easy Mocha Mousse update... candles!!

Candles, pillows and lamps are all a great way to easily add this color of the year to our homes!

 

My pick for bringing the color of the year into the kitchen is this gorgeous MarthaStewart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven in the color “Ganache”. A gorgeous sister tone to Mocha Mousse!

 

 

In case you haven’t heard, I started a new Instagram page in October and named it Claudia Fabiana Home. My former page is still up, but after getting a new phone, I was no longer able to log into this account, so the new profile was born!

 

I hope you’ll follow along with me on Instagram for all the latest projects and décor I will be sharing in 2025.

 

 

 

ciao fabiana

 

For lots of fun extras, follow me on Instagram!

 

 

 

You can check out some of my favorites here at “Tablescaping Essentials” 

 

 

 

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links.