This past weekend was one of my favorite holidays, Easter! I think I love it because it’s set in one of the most beautiful times of the year, Spring.

Also, it’s a chance for everyone to get together and enjoy each other without the pressure of gifts. That Spring themes of detoxing and renewing follows Easter and really makes this time feel different than the other holidays. 

We need it now...more than ever!

Of course there was lots of food is involved and last year on the blog I talked about my favorite traditional greek dishes. My family is Greek and the traditions are every important to us but this year I decided to experiment a bit. I tried out a few fun modern Greek-esque dishes and I wanted to share in case you might need some inspiration as well....and, of course, the major difference was we all got together and had Greek Easter via Zoom!

Below I have included two different dishes I made: an appetizer and of course a dessert! Since we all are at home more now...maybe you can try when you get a chance.

Appetizer - Grilled Bread with Tomatoes, Feta Cheese, and Oregano

• 4 3/4-inch slices of bread (country style)
• 1 tomato (chopped)
• 1 tbsp. feta cheese (crumbled)
• To Taste: olive oil (extra virgin)
• Garnish: Greek oregano (dried rigani)

Note: Quantities depend on the number of people and the size of their appetites. Be creative!

Grill the bread over coals, in the oven, or on a countertop grill until the ridges are clearly defined and the bread is crusty. Brush well with olive oil while hot. Top with enough chopped tomatoes to cover, and add crumbled feta cheese to taste. Sprinkle with oregano, and serve.

Dessert - Butter Cookies with Sesame

• 1 lb. unsalted butter
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 6 eggs (reserve 2 for brushing cookies)
• 6 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 4 cups flour
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 oz. Ouzo
• Sesame seeds (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Using the mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and ouzo and mix well. While the mixer is running, add eggs one by one and mix until well incorporated.

In a separate bowl, sift the flour with the baking powder and soda. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture little by little. The dough will be soft and malleable but it should not be sticky.

You should be able to pinch off a ball of dough and roll it in to a cord or thin tube.

If the dough is too sticky, add a little bit more flour. Allow the dough to rest a bit before rolling into shapes.

To shape the cookies, pinch off a piece of dough about the size of a walnut. Roll out a cord or thin tube of dough about the length of a dinner knife. Fold in half then twist two times. You can also make a coiled circle or an “S” shape.

Beat the remaining two eggs in a bowl and add a splash of water to the egg. Brush the cookies lightly with the egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.

Bake cookies on parchment paper or on a lightly greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes or until they are nicely golden brown.

Enjoy!

It’s February, and you know what that means…love is in the air. Even if you don’t really care for Valentine’s Day there is something about February that feels fun and light. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s the shortest month or maybe it’s because we are finally over the New Year excitement, but there seems to be a weight that has been lifted.

I know I am feeling attracted to all things sweet and rose-colored. As I was having one of my inspiration sessions I found myself creating a little mood board and wanted to share to the love.

It can be a hard time of the year depending on where you are in your life, but as cliche as is it, it’s important to know you are loved. Maybe you can’t feel it right now, but I can promise you that there are people you touch everyday who are grateful to have you apart of their lives. 

We get so caught up in the schedules of everyday life that we forget one of the main reasons we are here on this earth is to love and be loved. Sending you a big hug.

Next till week,

Yes, yes I know this time of year we are hit with tons of “gift guides” and lots of ideas of how to buy the perfect gift. It feels as if everywhere we look we’re being told to buy buy buy.

I love giving gifts but I hate the stress and pushy marketing. I want to share with you a gift guide of sorts that also doubles as the greatest hits from every collection. This way you can see what pieces in the collections (year after year) have always been the perfect gifts. No pressure, just suggestions based on what has always worked in the past. 

I think the holidays are a great time to give people timeless pieces, the tried and true. The pieces that build collections and fill holes in any style genre. When I talk about classics I just don’t mean classic as a style but the classic pieces that are at the base of every style.

Check out the guide below, it’s broken up by category and includes only the best pieces that have always been top sellers and never go out of style.

Till Next Week,

 Yes, it’s that time of the year, the time where we get caught up in family celebrations, friends, good food, drinks, and lots of cheer. But it’s also that time of year where it’s very easy to get wrapped up (no pun intended) in the stress and busy-ness of it all.

I love that Thanksgiving is right before Christmas and Hanukkah because it’s the perfect mental prep for the more stressful holidays. Unfortunately, the holidays tend to focus a lot on gift giving and spreading ourselves too thin, so Thanksgiving is a time to just be together enjoying each others company and appreciating everything we have.

I also love that it’s centered around a meal made of delicious food. I try really hard to make this meal full of yummy food that nourishes our bodies. Food has brought people together for years and there is something about making food and sharing it with the people you love that feels good deep down in your soul.

I also make the day about honoring the people in my life. Telling family and friends how much they truly mean to me and appreciating them is my intention during the day and it feels fantastic. I find that the more love I give the more love I feel.

I hope your Thanksgiving holiday is full of love and gratitude, I’m sending you some as well.

Till Next Week,

Summer is a beautiful thing isn’t it?! Everyone is in a great mood, tan and gathering anywhere there is a grill and a cooler. The energy feels exciting and possibility is everywhere.

 

As the biggest summer holiday is right around the corner, the 4TH of JULY! My favorite trip for this time of year involves lakes and long days up north. I really feel like the midwest does a great job at summer because the rest of the year the weather is usually terrible. Summer is a time to shine and I love to plan my holiday with a few extras to make the holiday feel special and effortless. 

  

Memorial day was this past weekend and you know what that means…summer is here!

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner and if you know anything about me and my story you know I love Mexican culture. My husband and I spent an amazing summer in a small Mexican village and it’s there that I created the first Stephanie Kantis jewelry collection.

I loved so much about that time, but the culture and the people where a huge part of what inspired me to be my most authentic self and create the artwork that has become this amazingly successful business, I never could’ve imagined. 

So, it’s safe to say that Cinco de Mayo has become one of my favorite times of year to celebrate. I love to host a cocktail party with this theme, and have found over the years it’s pretty easy if you stick to the basics. And that includes a good margarita recipe and homemade guacamole. You can’t go wrong. I say simple and fresh are always the way to go over store bought options. 

 

For the decor I’ve included some of my favorite ideas here, in a little design mood board. This theme is what I love about Mexico and it’s all about culture and color.

Let me know if you if you have any ideas and tips of your own.

Till next week,

This past Tuesday, March 20th was the official Spring Equinox, aka the first day of Spring for the northern hemisphere. This date signifies longer days and fresh starts for a lot of people, and who doesn’t love those two things.

The date is chosen every year depending on the length of day and night time. When they are both equal, as close to 12 hours each, then that date is marked. For the southern hemisphere Spring starts in September. 

  

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I am sure you are feeling all the cozy wintery holiday feelings and with the seasons being only a month long, there is no time like the present (pun intended) to get started.

We spent this past weekend getting the house all ready for the season. We started pulling out all the decorations and also finding a few new ones. As you know my design aesthetic tends to go towards more minimal than over-the-top and I love finding just the right touches.

It’s impossible this time of the year to not get excited because everywhere I look there are glorious light displays, fresh greenery, and vibrant colors that signal the holidays are here.

I have created a seasonal mood board that showcases everything I love about the holidays and hopefully will give you a bit of inspiration if you are in need.

 Till Next Week,

This weekend is the biggest birthday party of the year, Go USA! I can really feel the summer buzz once this holiday hits. It’s full of patriotic feelings and all the other fun stuff that goes along with it like food, friends and outdoor fun.

I also love that family traditions seem to be important around this holiday. I love decorating in subtle ways that reflect the history of traditional Americana but in a modern way. I challenge myself every year to find a few new ways to celebrate while still keeping some of the great older traditions I have.

I have been pinning a lot of new ideas and doing some shopping getting ready for this weekend so I thought I would share.

I also am including a few recipes I have made that I love! I hope this helps you while getting ready for this weekend and making your holiday as beautiful and effortless as possible.

Have a Happy 4th of July,