Dec 5, 2013
I would like to be the kind of gal that waits until after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas… but since I’ve been in retail, decorations at home have become less about timeliness and more about a free day to actually put them out! It’s a juggle of calendars and commitments and an 8 hour window were I can squeeze it in on my one day off a week. I know that if I don’t plan ahead, it probably won’t happen. That might seem sad, but it’s workin’ for me, and I’m okay with that.
So, here’s the thing. I don’t do “pretty” Christmas. I have plenty of decorations for my little home, but I’m just not an extravagant person, so you won’t find an abundance of fancy ornaments or over the top decorations. I don’t deck out every surface in garland and lights. I don’t put up 16 Christmas trees or even (gasp) put lights on the house (I’m not big on tall ladders). My version of “Deck the Halls” is more about the memories – an assortment of Santas given to me from my grandmother, nativities curated from estate sales or travels over the years, and other odds and ends that are sentimental, but also just blend in with my style.
Here are a few of my favorite things:
Señor Nutcracker (the official looking one with the white wooden mustache). I’m not sure why in my mind he’s a Mexican grandpa, but he is. He was my first nutcracker to “save” from an estate sale last year. Until then, I was kind of afraid of them- I had always thought nutcrackers were sorta creepy. Since then I’ve added a few more (but don’t worry, I won’t go crazy – I still think they’re creepy en masse).
My paper nativity scene. It’s from the 1950’s and my mom has one just like it. This one I got from my friend Tony, and every year when I put it out, I send him a photo. It’s such an amazing piece of history (with its spot for the “colored wise man” and all). SO crazy to think that wasn’t offensive at the time.
My tree. Now that I’m an adult, I get a real, honest-to-goodness live Noble Fir every year. I always wanted one as a kid, but my mom’s allergies were too bad – the one year we tried, that poor tree spent all of 10 minutes in the house… before it was sequestered to the back porch and eventually chopped into firewood. (sadface) Where are all the ornaments, you ask? Let’s just say having two dogs and a few unfortunate Christmases have led me to keep it simple! I only use plastic globes on my main tree (and this year I ventured out with a little ribbon- so far, so good).
My sled. Scored at a neighborhood garage sale for $20. Love it.
Ice skates. Got this pair of skates in Michigan when I went to visit my mom during one of her “nerd conferences”. I love finding cool, local antiques when I travel!
My favorite hallway. All decked out with an over-sized print of the hymn, “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come” and a nativity from my grandmother.
This picture. An enlargement of my brother and I (circa 1984?) mounted on foam core. It fits snugly inside the frame I usually keep on the mantle, but I think it adds a really fun, personal holiday touch.
My hand-carved Santas. These are whittled by artist Dan Rankin in Post, Texas. Since I’ve discovered them at Caprock Heirloom, I buy one every year. Just love how cute and unique they are!
My “monthly” themed Santas. Always a favorite at my grandmother’s house when I was a kid, she gave them to me when I bought my first home in Dallas. They’re so special to me, and I proudly display each Santa (depicting a different month) in my entry way.
Jingle all the way. This little ditty was a pinterest project from a few years ago. It’s easy to store in a Ziploc bag and re-assemble every year in my existing shadow box frame!
I may have saved the best for last… this is my favorite nativity set from my childhood. All of the pieces are made of wood, and I just makes my heart do a somersault when I pull it out. I keep this one inside a domed cheese board for a little extra protection.
So there you have it. It’s not all of my decorations, but I think you get the idea. No PRETTY Christmas for me. Less is more, well-worn is good, and sentimental is best.
As Christmas grows closer, I hope that you enjoy the season (and decorations) as much as I plan to! Cheers, friends!
Nov 30, 2013
5 Reasons to Shop Small
Today is Small Business Saturday, 
and I’ve got 5 reasons why you should “shop small” with businesses like mine (Calligraphy Etc.)!
1. Sometimes Less is More
No need to drive all over town or stroll down aisles and aisles in a big store to find the perfect gift. We’ve already hand-picked a great selection of gifts just for you in our little shop! Quality and value are important to us too, so you can rest assured that we’ve selected items with this in mind.
2. Help a Neighbor
Shopping small supports local jobs. Each time you purchase an item at a local store, you’re helping us provide a paycheck to a friend or neighbor (and sometimes in our case, a poor college kid)!
3. Show Love to Your Community
Small businesses give back to the community. We donate money and/or volunteer to benefit local charities, schools, churches and other organizations that YOU care about. Shopping small allows us to keep pouring more into the community we share.
4. Friendly is Better
At a small business like ours, you won’t be waited on by some random teenager who just “needs a job”. Our employees are bright, friendly folks who genuinely want to help you! Customer service is our priority, and that’s harder to find at larger stores.
5. Support the Dreamers
Do you have a dream? Well, small business owners do too! Shopping small helps keep the American Dream alive (and tells us that we’re doing a good job for you).
Nov 26, 2013
First, what the heck is crème fraîche anyway? In a word: Awesomesauce. In reality? It’s a “fresh cream” that is naturally soured (not quite as much as sour cream), and contains 30-40% butterfat (yes, I looked it up). The texture is thick, and it has the most AH-MA-ZING, velvety, buttery taste (thanks to the butterfat). I happened upon this recipe by accident – I had some creme fraîche in the fridge and just thought it might be a good addition to mashed potatoes. As it happens, I was right!
So, just in time for Thanksgiving, I share with you my new go-to recipe for mashed potatoes:
Crème Fraîche Mashed Potatoes
(serves 4-6)
6-8 Yukon gold potatoes
1/3 c. creme fraîche (plus more to taste if desired)
chicken stock
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
chopped fresh chives (or dried chives) for garnish
Wash the potatoes and cut them into cubes. (You can skin the potatoes if you prefer, but I like the skin, so I just peel off any dark/hard spots).
Fill a large stockpot half full with water, throw in a Tablespoon of kosher salt, and bring to a boil over high heat.
Add the cubed potatoes and reduce heat to med-high. Boil until potatoes are cooked through (approximately 20 minutes). Drain and pour the potatoes into a large mixing bowl.
Use a masher to break up the potatoes (just don’t overdo it).
Add the creme fraîche, gently mixing with a large spoon. Add chicken stock, a Tablespoon at a time, until you reach the consistency you desire. I like mine fluffy, but still with a little texture and small clumps. Add salt and pepper to taste, and top with chopped chives as garnish.
The creme fraîche is so rich and buttery and smooth, I think it makes mashed potatoes even better than adding butter and cream. If you give it a try, let me know what you think!
Nov 16, 2013
It’s no secret, I’m a soup lover, and Toscana soup is definitely in my top three favorites right now (the other two are Chicken Noodle and Egg Drop). It’s a go-to pretty much any time of the year (if you like comfort in a bowl like I do). I first fell in love with “Zuppa Toscana” at Olive Garden, but over the years have developed my own recipe (and used it pretty loosely). It’s one of those recipes that I’ve made so many times I don’t actually measure anything. Sometimes I add more cream, sometimes I use half and half instead… sometimes I use ground turkey and add fennel (to make up for that loss of flavor of the sausage). Even though the “meat and potatoes” are usually the star of any dish, my favorite ingredient in this recipe is the kale. It cooks quickly, so when you add it at the end, it turns this beautiful, bright green color – hey, the eyes DO feast first – not to mention it’s a superfood (and oh-so-delicious).
Toscana Soup
16 oz. package of Italian sausage ( I use the Owens brand)
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, diced
2 celery ribs, sliced into half moons
2-3 carrots, peeled and finely diced
1-2 medium russet potatoes, diced (I don’t peel mine because I like the peel, but you can)
4 c. chicken stock
2 c. water
1/2 c. heavy cream
1 bunch of kale (about 6 cups, loosely chopped with center vein removed)
extra virgin olive oil (maybe)
First, add the sausage to a large stockpot and brown on medium-high. Once cooked through, transfer to to a paper-towel lined plate.
Add garlic to the pan (without cleaning it), supplementing with extra virgin olive oil if necessary (so it’s not so dry that it burns). Cook for about 1 minute (until fragrant).
Add chopped onions, carrots, and celery to the pot, stirring occasionally. Cook until softened, 5-7 minutes.
Slowly add chicken stock, water and potatoes over high heat. Once it reaches a boil, reduce the heat to med-low. Simmer for approximately 20 minutes, until potatoes are cooked through.
Add heavy cream and stir well.
Add kale and stir occasionally. It will turn bright green when it’s al dente (my favorite).
Add pepper to taste (usually I don’t need to add salt – the sausage and chicken stock will add a lot of saltiness to it) and serve with crusty bread slices (optional).
There you go! A hearty soup that’s perfect for winter (or anytime of the year for me)… Hope you enjoy!
Nov 8, 2013
I’m not really a fan of bread in the morning. I don’t care for donuts or muffins or pancakes – don’t get me wrong, I’ll eat them if that’s what’s available – but it’s not my first choice. My first choice will always be eggs. If I could only eat eggs for breakfast, I would… but I’ve found that it’s just not enough to get me through my busy mornings. So lately, my favorite breakfast has been toast, topped with avocado (either smeared or sliced, depending on the ripeness) and a runny egg on top.
It’s delicious, savory, and the toast helps fill me up for a little longer.
See? Now isn’t that just yummy? Believe me, it is. And simple. And I’m all about that in the mornings!
{Want to know how I cook my eggs? Find out here.}
My sled. Scored at a neighborhood garage sale for $20. Love it.
Ice skates. Got this pair of skates in Michigan when I went to visit my mom during one of her “nerd conferences”. I love finding cool, local antiques when I travel!
My favorite hallway. All decked out with an over-sized print of the hymn, “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come” and a nativity from my grandmother.
Jingle all the way. This little ditty was a pinterest project from a few years ago. It’s easy to store in a Ziploc bag and re-assemble every year in my existing shadow box frame!
I may have saved the best for last… this is my favorite nativity set from my childhood. All of the pieces are made of wood, and I just makes my heart do a somersault when I pull it out. I keep this one inside a domed cheese board for a little extra protection.
