"And I said, ‘What about Breakfast at Tiffany’s?’” — Deep Blue Something
READING:
Books:
Njuta: Enjoy, Delight In: The Swedish Art of Savoring the Moment by Niki Brantmark — “Njuta, which means ‘enjoy’ or ‘delight in,’ is the Swedish art of savoring the moment. Focused on finding happiness in even the smallest things, njuta can be applied to every area of life — daily rituals, creating a comfortable home, nature and friluftsliv (open-air life), meal times and fika, adapting to the seasons, celebrations with family and friend — relishing a quiet moment of comfort to enjoying the beauty of nature or even just reveling in the deliciousness of a favorite snack, you too can do like the Swedes and open your eyes to all of life’s pleasures, no matter how simple” (Goodreads). I like to start the new year with some simple, Scandinavian wisdom.
Photography: History · Art · Technique by Tom Ang — “This fascinating all-in-one guide shows you how to take better pictures. A comprehensive guide to all things photographic, Photography opens with a gallery of more than 30 of the key figures in photography… [and] such diverse genres as art photography, reportage, portrait, and wildlife photography. The book then tells the story of photography, from its beginnings to the rise of the "selfie" today. The second half of the book introduces cameras, accessories, and software, explaining what they can do and how to use them, then shows how to take bettEverer photographs by mastering the technical aspects of your camera; experimenting with composition, color, and light; and digitally enhancing your photos. Inspirational masterclasses covering all genres of photography--including landscape, portraits, wildlife, architecture, and art--also provide you with an opportunity to apply your new skills in a clear and practical way” (Goodreads). I did a cursory read of this beautiful book, but I’m eager to delve deeper into it when I can concentrate and practice — perhaps this summer.
The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe — “This riveting novel takes you inside the scandalous courtship and catastrophic honeymoon aboard the Titanic of the most famous couple of their time—John Jacob Astor and Madeleine Force” (Goodreads).
Links:
The Earful Tower’s Ultimate A to Z Guide — “This year on The Earful Tower, it has been the ABC season, affectionately known as the ABCson. In alphabetic order, we’ve taken a deep dive into Paris and sometimes beyond.” BONUS: Guide to the Best Park in Each Arrondissement
How the Chanel Flat Became a Fashion Icon (InStyle) — I love mine so much that I get them re-soled every summer.
WATCHING:
Breakfast at Tiffany’s — A trip to Chicago with a stop at Tiffany and Co. along with a Breakfast at Tiffany’s narrated re-watch on the final day of winter break inspired this month’s color palette. Last January’s blue was icier; this year, I’m warming it up a bit with a hue that can only be described as “Tiffany Blue”.
Mamma Mia and Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again — I was hyper-focused on all things turquoise so two movies set in the Greece caught my eye. And, of course, the movies are great excuse to listen to ABBA. (Do I need an excuse for ABBA?)
The Boys in the Boat — The Boys in the Boat, directed by George Clooney and based on the 2013 book by Daniel James Brown, follows the University of Washington rowing team and their quest to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics. As rowers, Eric and I were both eager to see this film. The scenery, the boats, and the fashion from the 1930s were beautiful, but the story was underdeveloped. We would have liked the movie to be longer.
Happy Days (Prime) — Milwaukee Magazine featured an article about the 50th anniversary of Happy Days, the 1970s sitcom, set in Milwaukee in the 1950s. As a little girl, I loved Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley so much that I begged my mom to change my ballet lessons from Tuesdays to Wednesday so I wouldn’t miss the shows. For the past couple of weeks, we have been revisiting a couple episodes each night.
LISTENING TO:
My Jimmy Buffet Playlist is always the perfect palate cleanser after a month of Christmas music.
My January 2024 Instapuzzle Playlist:
Happy New Year (ABBA)
Everyday I Write the Book (Elvis Costello)
These Are Days (10,000 Maniacs)
Skating (Vince Guaraldi Trio)
Moon River (Audrey Hepburn)
My Girl (The Temptations)
Music Box Dancer (Frank Mills)
Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes (Jimmy Buffett)
Theme from Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Henry Mancini)
ENJOYING:
New Year’s Eve at home — Rather than drive to Milwaukee and dine out on one of the busiest nights of the year, we decided to stay home and make Julia Child’s boeuf bourgignon. There are 44 steps and the recipe takes five hours to complete. That’s what makes it a such special treat. We do substitute beef tenderloin instead of stew meat which makes it even more decadent. While the dish simmered for the requisite three hours, we drank wine, and watched Julie and Julia and A Good Year. It was a lovely way to spend the evening.
Snow Days (sort of) — On Tuesday, January 9th (Piper’s 9th birthday) and again on Friday, January 12th, all schools in the area were closed due to inclement weather (although Pewaukee held virtual classes). Tuesday was manageable and the temps were pleasant. Piper was happy to play in the snow and enjoy extra snuggles and Grandma’s pupcakes on her special day. Friday’s snow was another story. We got over a foot of snow on top of the 6” that fell on Tuesday. The snow was heavy and wind was fierce. Eric spent most of the day clearing the driveway, sidewalk, and deck and blowing a path for Piper to go out into the yard. We lost several large tree limbs and had to rescue many young trees and shrubs that were bending under the weight of all the snow. We cleaned up as much as we could before a week of sub-zero temps and and dangerous wind chills set in. I love snow, but we don’t need to get a winter’s worth in one week. I’m hoping for gentler, lovely snow in February.
PLANNING:
Some January touch-ups — After the Christmas tree and decorations are down, I enjoy our clean, Scandi minimalism. Yet as much as l revel in the winter sunlight reflecting off the brilliant white snow and love how it brightens the January blues, the light also illuminates a year’s worth of dinginess and dings that require some attention. It’s time to clean out cabinets and closets and rid ourselves of things we no longer want or need. I want to touch up the trim and Eric will repaint our kitchen cabinets with a fresh coat of creamy white paint. I always feel better in a clean, uncluttered space.
Our spring break trip — In March, Eric and I will be chaperoning the PHS music trip to Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, and Venice. I am excited to visit these beautiful European cities, to see Alps again, to rediscover Venice (one of my favorite cities when I first visited Europe), and most of all, to do The Sound of Music tour in Salzburg. I love The Sound of Music so much that I even walked down the aisle to The Processional rather than Here Comes the Bride. Here is the full trip itinerary. But before we join the PHS travelers in Prague, Eric and I will be spending four days alone in Paris. I suggested that we extend our European holiday with a little excursion on our own and let Eric choose where he would like to go. I was surprised that he chose Paris. I thought that, since we were ending our tour in Venice, he might like to explore another region of Italy (Florence, Rome, Cinque Terre, etc.) or visit la Côte d’Azur and our friends in Provence. I suggested that, since he has been to Paris twice before, he might like to go someplace new. But he pointed out that he will be visiting four new places on the tour and would like to relax and enjoy some time together in Paris. Who am I to argue when, in fact, I was secretly lamenting the fact that I would be so close to my beloved Paris without paying her a visit? We have no definite plans beyond enjoying Paris in the springtime.
