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:

my favorite summer cocktail

Prosecco is a sparkling white wine made only in specific provinces of northeastern Italy. All Prosecco wines are made primarily from the Glera grape, a native variety with origins in the lovely village of Prosecco, near Trieste. 

All of my father’s family comes from this region of Italy, and I feel like I have a deep connection with this “Italian champagne”. And now, with the addition of a little pear and citrus, The Sparkling Portofino has become my favorite new summer cocktail.  It’s so glamorous and refreshing!  

And, I love that they have these adorable set of “go-anywhere” flutes available for a limited time that epitomize effortless summer fun. These unbreakable flutes are perfect for poolside or beachside with their gorgeous floral design and are the perfect complement to those sun-soaked get-togethers that define the summer months. 

The limited edition flutes by Ruffino and Govino are available on Amazon. They make a really fun hostess gift too!  Sharing this recipe with you all...

The Sparkling Portofino

16 oz chilled Ruffino Prosecco

4 oz pear nectar (or pear juice)

4 strips of orange zest

4 strips of lemon zest

Place two strips of zest into the bottom of each flute

Pour pear nectar into flute, filling 1/3 full

Top off with Ruffino Prosecco

Makes four cocktails

ciao! fabiana

my new year's eve table

This year's New Year’s Eve table is set.

We used leopard plates, a clock-face

runner with a scattering of pearls.

Mercury glass votives and vintage glass

ornaments add sparkle and shine.

Do you recognize these clock faces

from another table setting seen here?

Don’t forget to have plenty of

“Midnight Kisses” on hand!

Party hats and horns are a must!

 Pearls are the perfect accent.

And these clock faces are so easy to print out.

We’re ready to make some noise!

Only a few hours to go….

‘til midnight!

The champagne is chillin’…

Wishing you a fabulous new year!

ciao! fabiana

💕

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”.

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

the truth about the French ( a book review)

Our love-hate relationship with the French

and all things French has inspired

writer Piu Marie Eatwell,

to write this fun book,

"They Eat Horses, Don't They?".

This book looks at the myths and stereotypes

that we associate with the French. 

Any Francophile can appreciate the subtle humor

and irony in this book. Eatwell looks at such things

as fashion, food, marriage, manners in

 the City of Light itself, Paris. 

I bought a few copies this year to give to some friends

who love anything French. 

This book is also loaded with fabulous quotes

by some famous French glitterati. 

Here are a couple of my favorites…

au revoir! fabiana