Tag: hygge (page 2 of 2)

It’s Beginning to…

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our little cottage. The candles are lit, the decorations are hung, Christmas music is playing and my little lady’s risengrød is almost ready for the Nisse.

Risengrød is Danish for “rice pudding”. Eating rice pudding as part of your Christmas meal and making a bowl as a gift for your Nisse is a Danish tradition. My friend R.’s sister lives in Denmark and around this time of year we would always talk about leaving out our little bowls of risengrød for the Nisse.  I think R. might have been a pixie himself, there was always a twinkle in his eyes.

You want to keep your Nisse happy you see, especially at this time of year, or they’ll play all kinds of little jokes on you. Nisse love to tease! Our Nisse is usually very well behaved, but I know he’s been up to some kind of magic in the cottage lately. I heard laughing the other morning and came down to find that he had been feasting on a bowl of Christmas candy I had set out. A pile of foil wrappers littered the floor and a little trail of chocolate crumbs was leading away from it.

I’ve been very lucky this year because my little lady is making us a big patch of risengrød to put up in the attic for him. I prefer keeping him happy as I don’t want him to get up to too much mischief! 

A Taste of Snow

It’s trying so hard to snow today. You can feel it. That particular dampness that snow brings to the air and the way the world smells. I saw a few flakes tumble down around me on my run this morning. It makes me so happy! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for at least a good dusting. I want the world to look like a Christmas cake powdered in icing sugar, with no nook or cranny left un-sprinkled by white. Snow today seems fitting as tonight we usher in the Full Snow Moon.

I’m curled up this afternoon, the candles are lit. I’ve feasted on toasted challah bread, smothered in butter and strawberry jam. A hot cup of tea is by my side, sending steamy little tendrils into the air.

It feels like an Anne Shirley kind of day. So, I’m listening to the soundtrack while I work. Happiness is…

Poof!

Abracadabra and POOF! January has disappeared! How did that happen? How can we already be 31 days into this new year?

In some ways this month seems more barren than January to me. With all of Christmas put away, the cottage looks a bit bare. I actually don’t mind it, it simply feels fresh. There are still candles lit and a few twinkle lights glowing for coziness, but everything else has been stripped back. I like getting back to the bones of things and then re-fleshing them out again.

The first of February has brought with it a lot of rain. It is supposed to rain this entire week. I’m going to keep my fingers, toes, eyes and anything else I can think of, crossed for at least one snow day.

The first of the month also brings with it a very special birthday in our family! Happy, Happy Birthday and many, many more! You know who you are! I love you!

{Lucy meets Orson found HERE // Birthday Party found HERE}

The Flowers of Copenhagen

I have always loved flowers and I adore the flower shops in Denmark. Simple, yet elegantly arranged, candles lit in the windows and on stands outside. The flowers aren’t just contained within the stores, they spill out over the thresholds and into the street.

Without fail, I spot something unusual, like wreaths that have bulbs, ready to burst open, wired directly to the the frame. Or, hydrangea petals glued around a star shaped stake; placed in a pot amongst moss, bulbs and miniature candles. It’s invariably an array of colour and smells. A feast for the senses and a true delight!

Copenhagen Hot Chocolate

Sort Kaffe & Vinyl

Sort Kaffe & Vinyl

The American Pie Co.

Sort Kaffe & Vinyl

Sort Kaffe & Vinyl

Baresso

I adore hot chocolate and it tends to be my breakfast drink of choice while in Copenhagen. These were just a few snaps I took at some of my favourite places to have this comforting concoction of velvety chocolatey happiness. Very hygge!

Copenhagen: Places

Giraffes at Tivoli

Giraffes at Tivoli

This is my last Copenhagen post for this visit. We explored two new spots this time and some old haunts as well. The Arken Museum for Modern Art and Frederiksborg Castle have been on our list for awhile. We had beautiful sunny days on both occasions so the walk around the lake and on the beach in both instances were breathtaking.

A visit to Copenhagen never seems to be complete unless we stroll around Tivoli’s beautiful gardens. The night we were there we hit the dance floor and took a spin along with the Big Band that was playing. They were fantastic! Afterwards we stayed to watch the fireworks and stayed cozy under the heaters, while sitting on sheepskin rugs and drinking hot chocolate. It was a perfect evening.

Oh Copenhagen, as always, I can’t wait to return!

 

Arken Museum, Homage to the Hunters from Mande, Abdoulaye Donate

Arken Museum, Homage to the Hunters from Mande, Abdoulaye Donate

Arken Museum, Lady with Anemone, Gerda Wegener

Arken Museum, Lady with Anemone, Gerda Wegener

Arken Museum, Circle of Animals, Ai WeiWei

Arken Museum, Circle of Animals, Ai WeiWei

Arken Museum, National Career Lamp, Olafur Eliasson

Arken Museum, National Career Lamp, Olafur Eliasson

A stroll on the beach outside of the Arken Museum

A stroll on the beach outside of the Arken Museum

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Frederiksborg Castle

Frederiksborg Castle, Fountain

Frederiksborg Castle, Fountain

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Frederiksborg Castle, Ballroom

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Frederiksborg Castle, Zodiac Globe

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Frederiksborg Castle, Door entryway

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Eating candy and watching the sunset

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Watching the sailboats in the Sound

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A full moon

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Lights at the Tivoli Candy Store

Copenhagen

I have a secret! Mr. Michie surprised me on Valentine’s by telling me he was taking me to our beloved city for a short break! I almost passed out with delight! We bundled up and walked through the snow to some of our favourite places and made some new discoveries along the way too. We ate delicious food, lit candles in our apartment and watched the river go by at night. It was very hygge!

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Our view of the river.

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Le Gourmand on Værnedamsvej. This street is the “mini Paris” of Copenhagen.

Jennifer Michie Copenhagen 3

Blomsterskuret, the most amazing flower shop. Also located on Værnedamsvej.

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Tulips for sale at Blomsterskuret.

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Snow laden branches.

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A walk in the snow.

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Lunch at the Louisiana Museum.

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Physichromie 497, Carlos Cruz-Diez at the Louisiana Museum.

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A different way to view the world, Louisiana Museum.

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Juicy Burger Order.

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Juicy Burger potatoes.

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Brisket, sweet pickles and mac ‘n cheese at Warpigs.

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Hushpuppies with pimento cheese at Warpigs.

Louisiana Museum
Juicy Burger
Warpigs

The Monday Morning Blues

Jennifer Michie Star Man

Do you know that scene in Adventures in Babysitting, where they end up in a night club and once on stage are told by the band that “No one leaves this place, without singing the blues!”? That is how I feel today, I’ve got the blues, the Monday morning blues.

I have so much fun during my weekends, I just want it to keep going! I’m sure I’m not alone in this feeling?

Mr. Michie was sick this weekend, so we were quiet. There was music, candles, movies, homemade chicken soup and fresh bread. We stayed snuggled under blankets and rested. After such a hectic first week back to school, it was a wonderful way to spend two days together, even though Mr Michie was under the weather.

Enjoying the art of everyday living is something that the Danes have completely figured out. Mr. Michie and I feel like Denmark is a second home. It is a magical place. Heading out to find breakfast in the morning, you will find coffee shops with candles lit in their windows and blankets laid over the outside seating to keep yourself warm. Everything is cozy. And the Danes have a special word for that: Hygge (pronounced hue-gah). There is not an exact translation. It is more about a feeling; the ritual that comes from taking joy in the simple pleasure of everyday living; in making the ordinary – extraordinary. We try to do this at home. From the moment we wake-up at the weekends, candles are lit, music is on, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee permeates the house.

I feel that making things cozy becomes even more precious to me when the sun is late to rise and early to bed. I love the Winter, but I like it on my own terms. I want to be able to go for walks; to bake cookies and bread; to stay indoors and be cozy. What I don’t like is leaving for work in the dark and journeying home in the dark. However, following our “Hygge Mantra” makes for a happier household and definitely fends off some of the Monday morning blues, no matter how dark and cold it is.