visiting seattle

A few weeks ago my family and I traveled to Seattle for a long weekend. I was so happy be reminded that Seattle's a city filled with innovative parks and green space. Some parks are nestled in established neighborhoods, some are built on vacant city lots, and many provide luxurious views from windows of skyscrapers. Rooftop gardens are totally happening in Seattle! 

I love the way this lush metropolis embraces the beauty of nature, sculpture, art, food and, of course, amazing music at every turn. Right when we got off the plane, we were delighted with all the sculptures that are prominently displayed throughout the airport. 

We stayed at the Olive 8 Hotel in the heart of the city and just a short walk to the monorail, which takes you right to the  Space Needle.  The Olive 8, pictured above, gets its name from its location at Olive and 8th Streets. Great to remember when you are finding your way back to the hotel!

This is the view from one of our windows. There are probably hundreds of rooftop gardens throughout the city. It really makes the views so pretty!  
  

Although there were quite a few Starbucks within walking distance to our hotel, the hotel coffee shop, Urbane Market, had great coffee and baked goods and really quick service. It was fun to sit in here and watch the action on the streets.

Here’s the view from the monorail. The boarding area for the monorail is actually in the downtown shopping mall known as Westlake Center Mall. It only has two stops, the mall and the Space Needle Station, but that’s all you need, really! It’s quick affordable and a great way to see the city from a different perspective.

 

There are so many great restaurant choices!  Every meal we had in Seattle was great. Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory (above) was a real treat after a long day of exploring.I was craving avocado toast, for some reason, and luckily they had that on their menu. After a few yummy appetizers, that was plenty for me!

Il Fornaio, the Rissotteria (above) was also walking distance from our hotel and did not disappoint!  Their focaccia bread is amazing and we ordered, Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare, Salmone Piccata, and a Seafood Risotto. Of course, we had to finish off with Tiramisù and Crème Brûlée.

I have to include our lunch at the Woodland Park Zoo in my favorites too.  They have an amazing homemade clam chowder they serve there at the Pacific Blue Café, which is located in the middle of the zoo. The chowder really hit the spot on that cool and misty day!    

Around the corner from our hotel, we found the Carlile Room. OMG, we had the most amazing pasta, homemade pappardelle with garden veggies, which we devoured before we could get a shot of it, but here is a photo of the squash blossoms filled with goat cheese and served with fresh herbs and rainier cherries. 

Wow!! The decor is really fun too. Try their spicy home brewed ginger ale and the amazing churros for dessert! The Carlile Room is right across from the iconic Paramount Theater, which is a great local concert hall. 

Yum!

I had to take a photo of the funny little gargoyles 

on this building which is right next to the Carlile Room.

I have lots more to share on Seattle! 

ciao! fabiana

weekend in Seattle

We spent a really fun few days in Seattle last week, and I took tons and tons of photos!  Seattle is such a green city with great gardens and there’s so much to do there! We visited a few must-see sites and a few that are off the beaten path, so I am working really hard to get those pics and descriptions ready for you. 

Here's one of my favorite shots of a storefront from the old part of Seattle known as Pioneer Square. I will also be sharing info on the fabulous hotel we stayed at and the great meals we had. Stay tuned! xoxo

ciao! fabiana

seattle: woodland park rose garden

One of our family’s favorite stops in Seattle is the Woodland Park Zoo, and right next door is the gorgeous Rose Garden that was originally opened in 1924. As we entered the stately gates, we were delighted to find a really unique and quaint formal garden with lots of pretty little surprises.   

What first caught my eye, were the really tall topiary trees that are pruned in a really fanciful way. They really anchor the space and tone down the seriousness of the formal rose garden.
  

Little cozy spots to sit and observe the garden are scattered throughout the park. There is a pretty little gazebo, a shady arbor and a few fountains set perfectly among the hundreds of roses and other flowers and trees.
  

These blue hydrangeas were mesmerizing!

Don’t you just love those funny swirly looking trees?

The view from the gazebo is perfect!

Even if you don’t go to the zoo, which is also a treat,

think about a short visit to the Rose Garden. 

The Rose Garden is free to the public

with just a small charge for parking during zoo hours.

ciao! fabiana

new accessories from room & board

Room and Board has always been one of my favorite home furnishings stores, so I couldn’t wait to check out their new home accessories. It's that time of year once again when we all start to think about refreshing our homes for the holidays!  

They've added so many pretty home accents like lighting, pillows, decorative ceramics, mirrors and storage options.  Their designs simple and straightforward, with a little bit of a mid-century style to them.  

Almost 100% of their furnishings are made in America by skilled artists and craftsmen, and the quality is outstanding.  Here are some of my favorite picks from my visit to the Santa Ana showroom.    

Who doesn't need a great set of  nesting bowls?  The Good Bowls are created in Seattle and come in three color ways.  The slate blue, ochre, and charcoal set would go nicely with my kitchen.  These would also make a great gift, hint, hint!

A rich handmade charcoal bisque shade in two sexy shapes with walnut and brass trim make up these stunning Cloak Pendants. I am even in love with the braided cord detail that reminds me of an old-fashioned iron cord. 

Chevron takes on a little bit of a Moroccan feel in this velvet Mahal Pillow.  It comes in four colors, and the gold one is my pick!

Haze, Topaz and Tangerine are the deep, rich colors used in these handcrafted glass Banded Bowls that really make a statement on their own or grouped together.  

New colors of the sleek Shelter Magazine Stand are in.  I love the white and gold versions! 

These handmade Kori braided wool storage bins are perfect for holding surplus pillows, blankets, toys and even holiday gifts. 

Photographer Sharon Montrose’s intimate animal portraits look great grouped together on a wall as a simple but elegant photographic gallery. 

Every time I visit Room and Board, the Loft Round Mirror takes my breath away.  It is built shadow-box style out of solid curved wood.  It now comes in walnut, ebony, maple and cherry.  I think walnut would look perfect in my home! 

A little bit of glitz and glam is always perfect for the holidays, or any time of year! That’s why I love the Shimmer and Tagine Pillows.  They come in square or rectangle and in loads of colors.  My color picks are above.

The charming Pigeon Toe Tri-pod Bowls are handmade out of porcelain in Portland and then glazed on the interior for that fun pop of color.  Which one's your favorite?  

The elegant Silver Bowl and Vase are made of hand-blown glass and then silver leaf is applied by hand and that gives these pieces a little bit of a golden hue. These are one of a kind pieces that will become heirlooms for years to come!

ciao! fabiana

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Room & Board, 
however all opinions are authentically my own.

collecting: souvenir plates

Sometimes one little treasured find can spark a whole interest in collecting something new. Last summer, I was all hot and heavy into collecting vintage colored glassware, like Indiana glass. 

This summer, I’m into hunting for Vintage Souvenir Plates. I have picked up a few here and there over the years, but this time I’m focusing more on the transferware type, both the blue and red varieties. 

Blue Transferware Souvenir Plates and Red Transferware Souvenir Plates, both on my radar everytime I go into a thrift store, antique store or to a yard sale!

I just love to use them for my table settings, but they also work quite well in a wall collage with different plates.  

Recently on one of my thrifting adventures with my friend Laura at the Orange Circle, I found a few really great ones.

I think it’s so fun to collect Vintage State Plates from places I’ve visited, especially my favorite cities, like this La Jolla plate.

Seattle is another one of my favorite cities, and I couldn’t pass this plate up! We had lunch at the top of the Space Needle, which was quite memorable. 

And that’s what collecting and souvenirs are all about, memories. It’s a way for us to capture a moment in time, so we don’t forget about the fun time we had on vacation!

This New York State plate is quite different and so pretty with its pastel colors. I found this one a long time ago, and it’s one that I really treasure, having grown up in upstate New York.

It's a real beauty that crosses over to another collectable that I love, map plates. I have found some interesting ones from England and Scotland, as well. 

These next two photos are examples of pretty settings from Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

Aren’t they fun!?

via etsy

Here are a few collections from around the web that are interesting.

via Jojotastic

This week I even found an Italian souvenir plate that’s hand-painted and so pretty! Santa Margherita is a beautiful coastal town in northern Italy near Genoa. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to visit someday? 

Another new branch of my collecting tree, Vintage Italian Souvenir Plates. So Fun!

What do you enjoy collecting?

ciao! fabiana

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