“The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.” — Louisa May Alcott
READING: For the whole list of the books I read in 2021, click here.
Lagom: The Swedish Art of Balanced Living by Linnea Dunne — “The Swedish concept of Lagom (pronounced ‘lah-gom’) roughly translates to ‘not too little, not too much, just right.’ This charming book introduces readers to a new way of balanced living that promises happiness and sustainability in work and in life. Lagom provides simple solutions to juggle everyday priorities, reduce stress, eat well, and save money, with lessons on the importance of downtime, being outdoors, and Sweden's coffee break culture. Tips on removing clutter and creating a capsule wardrobe help readers achieve Sweden's famously clean and functional design aesthetic, while advice on going green and growing food gets their hands dirty. With seemingly endless financial, emotional, and environmental benefits, Lagom presents an accessible and all-encompassing lifestyle that is sure to inspire mindfulness, wellbeing, and contentment” (Goodreads). I started the year with a Scandi lifestyle book and ended it the same way. During the holiday season, it feels good to lean on tradition and heritage.
The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron — “Based on true accounts of how Parisiennes resisted the Nazi occupation in World War II—from fashion houses to the city streets—comes a story of two courageous women who risked everything to fight an evil they couldn’t abide” (Goodreads). Yes, I know, another book about the résistantes.
The Last Mona Lisa by Jonathan Santlofer — August, 1911: The Mona Lisa is stolen by Vincent Peruggia. Exactly what happens in the two years before its recovery is a mystery. Many replicas of the Mona Lisa exist, and more than one historian has wondered if the painting now in the Louvre is a fake, switched in 1911. Present day: art professor Luke Perrone digs for the truth behind his most famous ancestor: Peruggia. His search attracts an Interpol detective with something to prove and an unfamiliar but curiously helpful woman. Soon, Luke tumbles deep into the world of art and forgery, a land of obsession and danger” (Goodreads).
WATCHING:
My favorite Christmas movies and specials: White Christmas, Love Actually, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown — Vince Guaraldi’s soundtrack always makes me smile while Linus’ recitation of the gospel of St. Luke always brings me to tears. “That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown!” We also watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf, Prep and Landing, and The Holiday.
And Just Like That on HBO Max — “The series follows Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte as they navigate the journey from the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 30s to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s” (IMDb). There’s something wonderfully familiar about these women and of course, it’s all about the clothes, shoes, handbags, and NYC venues, but so far, I haven’t enjoyed the plot lines or incongruous personality quirks that Charlotte and Miranda have developed. Still, I look forward to the next episode first thing every Thursday morning. It’s still a guilty pleasure.
Emily in Paris (Season 2) on Netflix — Speaking of guilty pleasures, this series is very soapy, but again, for me, it’s all about the clothes and the scenes that take place all over Paris. Oh, how I miss it!
House of Gucci in the cinema — “When Patrizia Reggiani, an outsider from humble beginnings, marries into the Gucci family, her unbridled ambition begins to unravel their legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately...murder” (IMDb). I especially enjoyed the Gucci fashions from the seventies and eighties.
LISTENING TO:
My Christmas Playlist — Everything from Band Aid to Bing. Occasionally, I add something new, but this list has been my classic go-to for decades.
Smooth Jazz Christmas station on Pandora — I can never get enough of Vince Guaraldi and George Winston, especially at Christmastime.
Holiday Traditions on Sirius XM — Traditional holiday recordings from the ‘40s through the ‘60s. It’s so wonderfully nostalgic.
ENJOYING:
A little Christmas celebration chez nous — just the Larsons and, of course, the three beagles. We had Champagne and hors d’oeuvres throughout the evening along with Jesus’ birthday cake and Swedish pancakes and Swedish meatballs for brunch the next morning.
12 Days Off — Although we don’t have any special plans for the holidays, I am so fortunate to be able to take a nice long break. That’s exactly what I want and need as 2021 comes to an end.
