Normally Christmas started the day after Thanksgiving, this may seem a wee bit early to some, but Christmas tradition dictated that the day after Thanksgiving my Brother and Mother and I were to go to a Christmas tree farm, of which there are plenty at close distances in Garrett County, unlike this area.  Adam and I would look at each candidate of appropriate varieties- no white pine or blue spruce need apply, we went for Frasier Firs or Douglas Firs of the size acceptable to appraise it’s adequacy.  Usually this meant traipsing in at lest a foot of snow, saw in hand, with our Mother telling us that this tree or that tree would not fit in the house.  Adam and I had to gauge the amount of nooks and crannies for decorations versus gaps and flaws.  We always picked a huge, but beautiful tree. (Sometimes so large we had to tie it to the radiator pipes just to make sure.)

My Mother was the Queen of holiday decorations.  Our home was always so tastefully decorated for the holidays with bits and pieces here and there.  Lots of greenery and holly, thoughtfully made grapevine wreaths from memorabilia from Christmases past adorned our house, with beautiful folk decorations.  My Mother has a good eye anyway, but her Christmas decorating was special.  It had a way of making our home feel like true real deal, Santa really does exist, even for adults.

And the tree was always stunning, between the artistic eye of my Brother and Mother decorations were never just placed anywhere, they all had to be put in a place to highlight their glory, be it popsicle stick sleds with our names on them or handblown glass ornaments.

Then there was the Christmas Eve routine.  We had Christmas Eve with Mom where we drove around to look at Christmas lights and we sometimes stopped in to give and get presents from family friends and then went to midnight mass (at 10 pm). We then each opened one present on Christmas Eve, of course my Brother and I were horrible snoops, he was worse and would touch and try to decipher what each gift was but Mom had her tricks to deter detection.  That night Mom would somehow sneak down an old wooden staircase that always squeaked (trust me I was a teenager in this house) without a peep to lay out our presents from Santa, not the ones from us that were beneath the tree before.  I think I probably believed in Santa far beyond the time a normal child would because my Mother made it so much fun to believe.  Sleigh Bells or passing salt trucks with chains on the tires?  Train whistle from coal trains passing, or the polar express outside the door?  That morning was always special, my Mom delighted in having her babies home with her, all hers for a few hours where she could still see the wonder and excitement in our faces, just like when we were two or three.

Next up we went to Dad’s house where we ate some of the Godiva chocolate he always received from us for Christmas and gave him classic Polo aftershave, along with other things. He always showered us with gifts.  That is what divorced parents do well, normally from all the guilt.  And it was the one time of year that he was always there to see us and not at work or running late or sending someone else to pick us up.  In years past we would have huge Christmas gatherings at that house filled with love and laughter and it was like the house had retained some of that happiness and let a little out each year when we stepped inside for Christmas.  Nothing and everything had changed, but Dad did everything he could on that one day to show us how much he loved us.

Next we got back into the car and my Brother drove us down the winding mountains into West Virginia to visit my Mother’s family.  This may perhaps have been secretly the best part of Christmas.  My brother and I would play our favorite Christmas songs and sing-along, although neither of us can carry a tune and fat chance if you hear us sing like that again.  The grand-finale would always be White Christmas by the Drifters where I would sing all the low parts and he sang all the high ones.

At my Grandmother’s house we always gathered in her big living room opening stockings that always had an orange in the toe, walnuts for cracking and a Whitman’s sampler and presents that I was truly embarrassed to receive from my Grandma, the home made teddy bear sweatshirt, the Princess Diana doll when I was awkwardly above doll age, but she adored Christmas and in her glow we all adored the love that poured out at having us all together on that day.

Finally we would then pile in the car with all our presents and drive across Petersburg to my Father’s first Wife Betty’s house.  Betty is a truly gracious woman.  She not only allowed, but welcomed Adam and I into her home as family to have Christmas with our half brothers and sisters in what must have been for her a terribly awkward situation that she embraced and made wonderful.  There was always a fantastic meal of the best lasagna you can imagine, not fancy, but the best, with homemade baklava from my sister Sue for dessert.  We would try not to fall asleep listening to the stories about our six half brothers and sisters growing up and laughing.  And we opened yet more presents, even ones from Betty herself.  I don’t think she will ever know how much gratitude my Mother, Brother and I have for how wonderful she is to our family.  We would fall asleep on couches there and wake up in the splendor of our large loud family and Christmas all around us in boxes. Christmas when I was young was the time when everyone showed up and the cares of the world were delayed to later days.

Now things are much different, my Dad is gone, my Grandmother is gone and I am married.  Mom doesn’t normally decorate too much as we don’t spend Christmas at her house and most of our treasured family Christmas decorations were burnt in a fire.  Although much different Christmas is still the best time of year.  Because everyone stops and spends a couple days with the people who really mean so much to them, and isn’t that what we all really want for Christmas?  And now it is my turn to make Christmas special, and at least for this year and last I think I succeeded.  Luckily I don’t have a squeaky wooden staircase to navigate- I still don’t know how she did that.

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My family is native to West Virginia and Virginia, and I grew up in Western Maryland.  My Father’s family is VERY Southern and so was my Mother’s Mother, Betty, but I just didn’t realize that until law school.  You would have thought all the etiquette books, obsession with Emily Post, Miss Manners and A Southern Belle Primer: Or Why Princess Margret will Never be a Kappa Kappa Gamma would have been a clue.  Or the fact that my family actually used the phrase, “Bless their Heart,” in conversation.  But it just didn’t hit me.  I learned all the right ways to present yourself in public, to throw a fantastic party and all the subjects a lady never discusses.  I knew how to sew, how to raise a garden and how to ride a horse.  And to top it off the only sport my Father ever cared that I was good at was tennis.  He sent me to tennis camps at William and Mary, and was so happy when I made the college team at my college.  Alas how did I not know?

My first day at law school orientation there was a big lecture about what it meant to be a professional, at that time I met one of my very best friends.  It was friendship at first sound when she muttered under her breath, “It means you wear pearls and suits everyday.”   There was an instant bond, someone who had been raised with the same ideals I was raised with.  And she has the most beautiful Southern Accent.  It makes me feel welcome just to hear her speak to me.  It was only upon our friendship I realized what I hadn’t put a finger on all this time.  My morals, my standards of etiquette, the way I did things were a Southern tradition.  It became so apparent at Catholic where there were so few of us.

I have a bit of an odd accent.  It isn’t the traditional Southern Accent- it is the Appalachian Regional Southern Accent.  Sometimes I am twangier and sometimes you don’t notice so much.  I have found that my accent can be very good at helping out in life, especially in Washington, DC, where there is such a melting pot of people and lack of distinctive regional accent.  After a time being home I come back to Arlington and have to erase the gonnas and hankering to’s from my vocabulary.  Because it can come across in many situations as a lack of education and being from the sticks.  But interestingly enough here in what is kind of no-mans land between the North and the South people really love the Southern Accent.  So many people just adore my accent, and to me it is just how you speak.  But I too have learned to love it because it really can open doors.

Court clerk’s love it.  Yankees love it.  Virginia Judges- heck yes, when I am out in unfamiliar small courtrooms I am not the big city girl, I am the girl with a familiar accent.  You wanna haggle with someone in a nice way over a price at the Big Flea, Southern Accent time.  You NEED something done at a government run institution it is Southern Accent time.  You wanna crack up friends and colleagues with everyday sayings- Southern Accent time.  But it isn’t just the accent, it’s the standards of conduct.  DC is a very formal area and the manners I grew up with just make people in this area feel comfortable.  The time honored conduct and etiquette fits this formal city.

Is it because DC just loves to think we could be full of Southern hospitality (Not the case unless you are in Alexandria City limits)?  Or is it the influence of so many Southern politicians?  I am not sure.  But I have to say here I am proud of my accent.  And I am so thankful that my best friend helped me realize who I am.  Looking back on it now it is so obvious, but it wasn’t before.  And it isn’t that Western Maryland is Southern, it’s not, it’s that my family is Southern.  That is something I truly cherish.  My Grandmother Betty is no longer with us, but I think she would be proud that I finally figured it out and hold it as such a treasure, as she did.  She was a beautiful Southern Belle, and I hope to live my life with such grace.

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So where do I get my chocolate?  Artisan Confections, period, done, say no more.

Jason Andelman makes a fine selection of truffles, barks, bars, caramels, dragees and even hot chocolate.  The truffle flavors change from time to time to keep things fresh.  The passionfruit has a great distinction between rich dark chocolate and the tang of passionfruit, the caramel truffles are like bombs of oozing caramel goodness contained in a tasty, crunchy shell, the lavender honey is a personal favorite with a subtle but rich texture underneath a just thick enough, but not too thick layer of chocolate.

Of course then there is the Bittersweet bark with my other addiction: candied ginger and coconut.  This is a great little crunch which is ther perfect bite at 3:00 in the afternoon when you need just a taste of something sweet.

But if you are like my Hubby then you need the peanut butter bars, crispy peanut butter praline with honey topped with chocolate are the best little candy bars I know.

And then there are the fought after, sought after caramels which are so good.  While on the one hand the melt in your mouth goodness has just the right balance of sweetness, you also don’t want it to melt too fast because then it is gone and you need another!

Jason’s chocolate make great gifts and stocking stuffers.  I know my Hubby is probably headed there this season and me too!  And doesn’t it feel good to support a native Virginian?  There are also fantastic chocolate classes, and you can see him making his tasty chocolates right in the store!

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I recently was at a fantastic baby shower where after the main part of the shower we played the board game Encore.  It is so much fun.  The main point of the game is to form teams and be able to sing at least eight (or six) words of a song with a particular word in it.  You go back and forth until a team can’t think of any more songs with that word.  Normally people are a little nervous about singing, but once they get started other players join along and it really isn’t about how good you can sing, it’s about the lyrics you can remember!  I really think you could even play this game without a board, but it makes it a bit easier.  When the word “love” was up I was very glad I had such a strong love affair with everything Beatles for years when I was younger.

Then we were up at Autumn Glory in a rental house.  I am sure if we looked around there would have been a board game, instead we played a game similar to Apples to Apples without the board.  It was super easy to do just on a whim.  First we thought up a list of category/questions e.g. What shouldn’t you say to a cop? OR What’s your favorite Disney Movie?  Each turn there is a reader, who doesn’t play that round.  We let them think up the category/question after the first few practice rounds.  You then write down your answer.  Then the reader collects the answers from people and reads them aloud twice.  Then the participants clockwise from the reader try to guess whose answer matches who.  The reader doesn’t re-read the answers until the turn comes back past them after one round.  If you guess someone’s answer they are out for that turn, and you get to guess again.  If you guess incorrectly your turn is done if and until it comes back around and the reader has reread the remaining answers.  People try to set up other people or just have outrageous answers and it is pretty funny.  You get one point for every answer you get correct on your turn and five points goes to the person who wins the round.  It is great because you really learn a lot about your guests.  And you just need some paper and pencils.

Neither game is overly competitive, and it is a great laugh so it keeps the mood light.  And remember when playing games it normally is best not to put couples as team because that can cause tension, and guests don’t have the opportunity to get to know other people.  Hubby and I were so happy to have such fun occasions to be able to relax and play games and laugh with our friends.  We are so busy right now I think it’s going to be a while until we get that kind of time again and it’s just so fun.

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Sorry it has been so long from my last post.  I am facing a huge work-load at work and trying to FINALLY get enough jewelry made to open an Etsy Store.  But will try to make a concerted effort to do better.  I really need some guest writers…

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What I think I like about her designs so much are that they are organic and while well made and not simple, they have an easy-ness to them that I find really appeals to my sense of style.  So readers here is what I am currently drooling over:

There is also a gorgeous necklace that matches the flower pieces above, that I couldn’t find a postable image of.  I really love her stacking rings, I have really wanted stacking rings, but I want a unique design that isn’t something just anyone would wear and I think these definitely fit that bill.

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I just love her products they use fruit and plant oils, butters and natural botanicals, which means they are great for all skin types.  And they smell like real plants, not something artificial or over the top.  And they fit in well with my lavender obsession.  This weekend I purchased the Lavender Lotion Bar, Laevender and Eucalyptus Body Butter and the Salt Scrub.  I had the best intentions of giving at least one of those items as a gift, but that didn’t work out.

I do crossfit, and I garden, and cook to the point where I really wreck my hands quite frequently; the Lavender Lotion Bar provides deep moisture to restore even the tough areas like hands, feet, elbows and knees.  But it is light enough that you can use it on your legs and arms too.  It isn’t messy and it is really easy to apply.  The fragrance is just phenomenal and just makes me think I am running my hands through my lavender bush.

But the Body Butter, which is more like a really hydrating lotion is what I use more day to day, after a shower, type of thing.  Again- phenomenal scent.  And it keeps my skin hydrated, even with this weird weather, for a whole day.  When we stayed out at the Royal Palms in Phoenix there was Eucalyptus all around, and this smells just like that memory.

The real coup d’etat is the salt scrub.  This has been featured in Allure magazine, even.  It really makes your skin smooth, without then covering it in too much oil which would make you break out.  It is easy to use and apply.  It is a really well made product that I like so much more than anything you can get in a drugstore or body product shop.  All the products are really nicely packaged and made by hand with care.  And they make great gifts- if you can bear to give them away.

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I think sending someone mail is perhaps one of the most time honored traditions we have.  Sure e-mail is fast and easy, but isn’t that what makes getting real mail so special?  I especially believe in thank you notes.  I try to be very diligent about my thank you notes because I am just blessed with a lot of people I really care about and I want them to know how much I value their relationship to me.  I write notes for presents, kind gestures, hosting, dog sitting, etc.  It only takes a moment and you feel so good doiIf you don’t currently write thank you notes, you should really consider it.  I think writing thank you notes builds and maintains relationships in ways many people just don’t realize.  And not writing notes is a big faux pas in many cultures, especially Southern culture.

Writing thank you notes are so simple, you just need to follow some simple rules:

1. There should be a greeting:  Dear Aunt Hilda, Hello Grandma, My Dear Nephew Ned, Greetings Sue, something simple, not too flippant.

2. A line saying thank you for the item you received or gracious hosting.

3. A line saying how you have used the item or plan to use it, or something nice about the stay: I just bought some roses that look so nice in the vase, I am planning to wear the necklace this weekend for a date with Hubby, the candles smell so good when I burn them my whole house smells like gardenia, the sheets on your guest bed are so soft, I slept so well!

4. One to two lines of small talk: I hope I can host you next time you are in Washington, you would love the orchid exhibits, I am looking forward to seeing you at Thanksgiving, last year your grace was so touching, I hope you are having good weather, I have fond memories of your lovely garden.

5. Salutation: Best Wishes, Thinking of You, Sincerely, Love, Best Regards.

6. Postage.

I normally pick up thank you notes when I see them on sale, normally TJ Maxx, Marshalls or Home Goods have very nice little cards.  I don’t like big cards because I feel I need to fill them up with writing and sometimes if I have just seen someone I don’t have as much to say.  I also have some really cute Bichon notes for Max specific thank you notes.

I like notes that do not have any wording so I can use them for a variety of occasions, like these:

Bright Flowers

Fish notes

Of course if you want to be a real badass then you need some cool custom stationary like this:

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After hearing so many good things about Fiola, it had been at the top of my hmmm list.  And since Hubby has been dearly missing good homemade pasta, I figured it would be a place we would both really enjoy.  I was warned, however, that it is really loud.  And it really is loud.  If you are someone who can’t tolerate a lot of noise I would advise going early or late because peak hours are loud.

The decor to me was interesting.  I loved the Le Paradou decor, but this was a totally transformed space.  I really liked the stone and clean lines.  I was a little miffed by the white scalloped curtains which were a little to cutesy for the modern space, but overall the space is really beautiful.

Our server was very nice and informative.  I wish I could remember his name.  He did a very good job of reading our table.  We started with a bottle of wine that was wonderful, and I have no clue what it was, except I think it was a Sangiovese.  Perhaps Hubby will come to my aid with the name?  It was very good and versatile for our meal. (This is what happens when I don’t write reviews immediately, sorry I was so busy that week.)

Let’s first talk a second about the rolls. A mix between a yeast roll and croissant.  A bit salty, tender and flaky, they were just perfect little snacks.

For a first course I had the  Ahi Tuna Carpaccio, Lemon, Tomato, Olives, Smoked Steelhead Caviar.  This was light and fresh with a lovely balance between the lemon and smokey taste of the caviar on the smooth and very fresh tuna.  Hubby had the meatballs and those were good, as well.  I think they would be great on a colder night.

For a second course I did cheat and have the half order of Pappardelle, King Oyster Mushrooms, Hudson Valley Foie Gras.  This was like the best mushroom stroganoff ever.  The noodles were perfectly made and cooked homemade noodles.  They were so well balanced in weight and texture and shape.  The mushrooms were very flavorful and the foie gras gave the dish this richness that made you not want to put your fork down.  At one point I had to make myself stop to save room for our entree.  The portions were a very good size for this dish, with how rich it is I don’t think I could ever eat a full portion.  Hubby had the Fiola Maine Lobster Ravioli, which he thought was ok.  I think I would have preferred the style over others with big chunks of lobster and not made into much of a filling or heavy sauce, but he I think wanted more sauce or richness.

For our main course we had the whole roasted duck for two.  The preparation on the duck is intense.  It is brined, then marinated, then roasted and grilled.  It is served in two different preparations.  I almost didn’t order this.  I almost went with the snapper, which was our waiters favorite dish, but he told me he didn’t eat a lot of red meat.  But after explaining the almost three week preparation I had to give it a try.  Of course at the end of my order he asked me if I was sure.  With a menu so full of good options just ordering was the most difficult part of the evening, no I wasn’t sure!  But Hubby and I both really like duck and with three weeks in the making, like ordering dessert 30 minutes before it arrives, it had to be good.

The main preparation was the breast with marinated almost caramelized skin on the duck breast, carmelized endives, cherry and a balsamic sauce.  The fat below the skin had nicely rendered leaving a thin, but delicious layer of fat.   This was perhaps the best duck preparation I have had, save for a really spectacular peking duck.  The second preparation was a crispy skin thigh with lettuce and fennel salt.  This had a wonderful balance of flavor between the dressing and duck.  The crunch of the lettuce and crispness of the skin made this a great dish.  We had so much duck we had to take some home.  (We gave a little bit to Max, who afterwards went bolting to the fridge every time the door was opened.)

We got sent out a dessert.  I am not sure if this is a normal birthday thing, or if it was because I happen to be a member of some online food communities, or because we did really take a liking to our waiter, who was just a lot of fun.  But we did get a comped dessert-full disclosure.  And it was a good comped dessert.  I am a chocolate fiend and although I was really too full for dessert I somehow found room in my stomach for more.  I can’t find it on the website, but it was similar to the Michel Richard kit kat.  Don’t tell that I said this, but it may have been better.  Certainly the flavors were similar and really a side by side comparison would be needed to be sure.  They also sent out a couple petit fours.  A chocolate chip macaron that I could eat a whole box of they were so good.  A small shotbread and jam cookie and a chocolate and brittle bit, if memory is correct.

The meal from start to finish was really wonderful.  There is so much more of the menu I want to explore.  The next night we went back to the bar and had some fantastic cocktails.  They even made my best friend a non-alcoholic sparkling lemonade.  I tried the fried chickpeas, which weren’t at all as I was expecting, they were more like gourmet mozarella sticks, not sure I would re-order those with all the other good stuff on the bar menu, like Hubby’s meatballs, but they were good for sharing and we ended up finishing them, so they couldn’t have been too bad.

And the staff really is top notch.  It isn’t a romantic, talk quietly and gaze into each others eyes type of place, but if you like vibrant spaces with top notch food and are open to some fun, it’s a great experience.  Sorry I have no pictures, since it was a birthday dinner with just Hubby and I, I didn’t photograph my food.  We had a really nice evening.  Hubby as usual made my birthday spectacular, he is just so great!

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