pink perfection for spring

As the  mother of four boys, 

I like to pamper myself with pink. 

And, this Spring, Pink is everywhere! 

There are some incredible fashion essentials out here, 

some frivolous tasty treats, 

and so many ways to brighten up your living spaces, 

that "pinking it up" is  now easier than ever.  

Here are some of my favorite finds:

Above, peony-pink drapes can brighten up most living rooms.  
This one was featured in House & Home.

Emma Stone looks so cute with 

just the right shade of pink lipstick.  

Don't forget to sample different shades of pink 

to pick the right one for your skin tone. 

Ride a bike to run some errands.  

It's so easy now that it's Spring, 

and you'll save a wallet-full on gas . 

 I love one with a great basket to hold lots of goodies, 

and it's got to be a pretty color too!

I love the combination of pink and navy blue.  
This lovely inspiration is from pinterest. 

Martha Stewart does it best mixing pink 

and a bit of red in this tablescape.

Paint some framed mirrors hot pink for a unifying display 

that looks great with a group of shabby pink roses.

Create a breathtaking entry 
with the simplicity of pink and white and
 some statement succulents
 in a beautiful gray tone.

I grow these beauties in my garden.  
They're pink lemons, perfect for 
authentic "pink lemonade" .

Or try this recipe that uses passion fruit.

"Sparrow me the Drama" by OPI 

is my new favorite shade 

for Spring.

Try a mix of patterns and tones in the 
pink and white range, unifying it all with white.

Accent pieces are so much fun!

Treat yourself to a strawberry cupcake.  

These are from Casey's Cupcakes.

Pink accessories can be any easy way 

to pull together just the right look for Spring.  

Sunglasses by River Island 

and flip flops by Havaianas (my favorites). 

Rachel Bilson pulls it all together 

with a fun pink polka dot scarf. 

The perfect pink hat for a cool spring day.  
It's so cute with a blue blazer!

Miranda Kerr out and about in her soft pink slacks.  

I need these!  

Here's a pair from J.Crew:

Ferrigamo patent pink flats, oooh la la!

Pink accent pillows always look great with green. 

Invest in some vintage Pyrex mixing bowls.  

They are quite affordable at

 flea markets or on ebay.

Treat yourself to a decadent dessert. 

No special occasion necessary!

A hot pink wrap around 

studded bracelet by Tory Burch 

is just what the doctor ordered

 to raise your spirits.

I'm loving Jessica Simpson's "hot" pink Dior bag. 

Jessica Alba in "sensible" heels that add 

the perfect fun accent to her conservative outfit. 

A wow of color on Blake Lively.

Pull up a fuchsia cube and relax in this crescent shaped nook.

Soft colors in an elegant format.

Hot pink in small doses is just enough to make you smile.

Make the garden pop with a gorgeous shade of pink!

Plant some pink roses to greet you in the garden.

Tulips are a wonderful way to bring pink into your home.

Shopping for a new camera?  Consider a pink one!

I've got to try this gorgeous pink bowtie pasta, 

colored naturally with beet juice.

A handful of these 

Jelly Belly Pomegranate Cosmo beans 

is all you need to get your pink on.

Now, remember, don't get too carried away!  

A little goes a long way!

ciao! fabiana

when life gives you lemons

This winter has been amazing for our little lemon tree in the back yard. I have literally picked hundreds of lemons since December, and it’s still going strong!

My friends and neighbors were happy to also share in this year’s bounty, and I’ve been trying to find more and more ways to enjoy these amazing fruits.

In addition to adding fresh lemon to my water and tea every day, I have a few other simple recipes to share today…    

A simple lemon scrub is perfect for getting our skin summer ready and it also works beautifully on your face, if your skin’s not too sensitive. Here's one I love with three basic ingredients:  

Lemon Sugar Scrub

2 cups granulated sugar
1/4 to 1/3 cup coconut oil
1 tbsp lemon zest

Glass container with lid for the scrub

In a mixing bowl add 2 cups of white granulated sugar

Slowly mix in the coconut oil until the sugar is a nice smooth consistency. Add the lemon zest.

Transfer the sugar scrub into a jar. When you shower, rub the sugar scrub on wet arms and legs to exfoliate and rinse clean. 

We do love to make homemade lemonade too, and here’s one of our favorite super yummy pink lemonade recipes. The sweetness on the raspberries does amazing things to your taste buds when mixed with the lovely tartness of the lemons.

Pink Lemonade with Fresh Raspberries 

1 ¾ cups fresh squeezed lemon juice, from 8-12 lemons, strained

½ pound fresh raspberries, plus more for garnish

5 cups water

1 cup sugar

Lemon slices and fresh mint, for garnishing

Combine the raspberries and ½ cup of the lemon juice in a blender and purée until smooth, then strain the mixture through a fine sieve or cheesecloth into a large bowl to remove the seeds.

To create a simple syrup, place water and sugar into a small sauce pan, heat on medium and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Let cool. Add the rest of the lemon juice and combine with raspberry mixture.

Pour into glasses with ice cubes and garnish with lemon slices, raspberries and fresh mint, if desired.

This will last for up to five days in the refrigerator.

Makes about: 1½ - 2 quarts

Lemon Muffins are always yummy, and I have several recipes I love to make. These Lemon Blueberry Streusel Muffins were featured in the Spring issue of Farmhouse Style magazine. 

I can’t divulge this recipe just yet, but you can still find this issue on newsstands. Here’s a similar recipe you can save right now.

The summer issue of Farmhouse Style magazine will feature another one of my lemon recipes. This time it’s Bob Hope’s vintage recipe for Lemon Meringue Pie.

It may sound complicated, but it’s really not! 

This issue will be out on April 16th. Check it out! It’s full of great recipes, tons of inspiring décor and other fun articles.

Here are some bonus lemon recipes:

Homemade Arnold Palmers

Citrus Vinaigrette

Lemon Blueberry Muffins by Gesine

happy saturday! 🍋 fabiana

For lots of fun extras, follow me on instagram!

an elegant Easter table in pink

Mixing dish patterns is a great way to set a unique and fun table. This table in Southern Living magazine uses light pink chargers and delicate, gold-edged bone china in two patterns. 

Then they chose a graphic napkin and tied on a tulip with ribbon for each setting. 

Teacups are a fun way to anchor the place setting and hold a personalized golden egg for each guest. A bit of moss or Easter grass is nestled under the egg.

Beautiful ribbons are simply woven to add the perfect amount of color. 

Start with a crisp white table cloth. Use the length and width measurements of your table cloth and cut about five strips of ribbon for the length of the table and about sixteen, in groups of four, for the width (add a few inches to each piece of ribbon you cut to trim later). 

Weave them, lattice piecrust style, over your tablecloth. Trim the ribbon even with the hem of the tablecloth. Make sure the ribbon is pulled taut.

   

gorgeous!

A precious golden egg.

Single flower groupings pack more of a punch. Hot pink striped tulips are the perfect choice for this table!

Ornamental kale in terracotta pots balance the ends of the table.

A separate bar area is always a good idea.  Here beverages are color coordinated. Guests are offered rosé, pink champagne and pink lemonade. 

Drink tags are made with more pretty ribbon. Mint garnishes remind us of Spring and delight our senses.

For the finale, don't forget to impress guests with dessert.

A store bought coconut  cake was
 dressed up with tulips and a trio of Easter eggs.
  

More ribbon laid as a runner on the buffet completes the look. 

I think I might have to  incorporate 
this ribbon look at my Easter Table!

ciao! fabiana