Jolabokaflod, Book Gifts, #blingit and More on Weekend Meanderings.

Jolabokaflod, Book Gifts, #blingit and More on Weekend Meanderings

Good morning friends, how are you?

Today I am joining Kim and Juliet for weekend meanderings, our weekly series of things that caught our eye, piqued our interest. Adventures, style, life and so much more.

I’ve got a busy weekend of baking, I’ve already made rugelach, Russian tea cookies and Viennese whirls. Today I will be making sugar cookies, linzer cookies and fairy food.

Then to finish up tomorrow I will be making caramel corn and caramelized almond bark. What are you baking or making friends?

Meanderings

Which reminds me, tomorrow my family is having their annual cookie exchange and holiday party. My mother has 9 brothers and sisters and all of them participate along with many of my cousins.

Not only is it a chance to catch up with all of the relatives. But time to go down memory lane while eating cookies using the same recipes my grandmother used and her mother before her.

As a child I remember my grandmother would bake hundreds and hundreds of cookies from the end of November thru December. She had a closet full of tins filled with cookies and I would sneak in there and eat my favorites.

Tonight we are going to a party and I made a salted caramel and chocolate tart, I will let you know how it tastes.

Enough about me, let’s meander.

JOLABOKAFLOD

What is jolabokaflod you ask? Jolabokaflod, pronounced yo-la-bok-a-flot, for those who don’t know, is the annual flood of new books and Icelandic tradition of exchanging books with loved ones on Christmas Eve.

The “Book Flood” tradition dates back to World War II when foreign imports were restricted and paper was cheap so books became the predominant gift to give.

Every year at the start of the holiday season, my mailbox in inundated with gift catalogs. In Iceland the holiday season starts with the delivery of the Bokatindindi, a catalog of all of the newest book releases from the Icelandic Publishers Association, delivered to every household in Iceland.

Here is an interesting factoid: Iceland publishes more books per person than any place in the world and most of these books are sold between September and December. Who knew?

GIVING BOOKS FOR GIFTS: THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TRADITION

I think this is the perfect tradition to adopt for Christmas. It is a wonderful way to introduce children to a love of books and to continue to foster the love through their entire lives.

You can share an old favorite, or a classic piece of literature,  maybe even your favorite cookbook, or perhaps introduce your family and friends to something new.

Although I am not from Iceland giving books to family and friends for Christmas, and every other holiday is something we always do. In fact we all give and receive books at Christmas and will sneak off from the festivities to enjoy them in our rooms or beside the fireplace.

Christmas Book Wish List

Here are a few books that I have on my Christmas list that you might enjoy as well. .

One Mans Folly

Furlow Gatewood is a one-of-a-kind classic-this book presents his magical private enclave for the first time. Antiques expert Furlow Gatewood’s highly personal property in bucolic Americus, Georgia, where he has meticulously restored his family’s carriage house and added intimate dwellings and outbuildings-several rescued from demolition-has evolved over decades to become a sublime expression of stylish living.

Notes from a Small Kitchen Island

Through her stories and recipes, she will whisk you away to hot summers in Languedoc and balmy weeknights in London, revealing the life-changing dishes that made her. Bound together with life- and dinner-saving lessons, Debora has written the essential kitchen companion for every home cook.

What Writers Read

In this love letter to reading, curated by Pandora Sykes in aid of the National Literacy Trust, bestselling and beloved writers share their favourite books: the ones they hold most dearly, that they return to time and again and that helped make them the writers they are.

 

Encyclopedia of Exquesite

Encyclopedia of the Exquisite is a lifestyle guide for the Francophile and the Anglomaniac, the gourmet and the style maven, the armchair traveler and the art lover. It’s an homage to the esoteric world of glamour that doesn’t require much spending but makes us feel rich. 

John Derian: Picture Book

Now, for the first time ever, comes the book John Derian fans have been waiting for. Culled from the thousands of images that have appeared in his biannual collections, here is an astoundingly beautiful assortment of nearly 300 full-bleed images in their original form. From intensely colored flowers and birds to curious portraits, hand-drawn letters, and breathtaking landscapes, the best of John Derian is here. The result is an oversized object of desire, a work of art in and of itself, that brilliantly walks the line between commerce and art, and that is destined to become the gift book of the season.

The Golden Age of Flowers

The historical illustrations presented here are arranged in alphabetical order by flower with an accompanying text that outlines their geographic and botanical origins, the derivation of their names, and the properties for which they were most valued. This beautiful and informative book will appeal to gardeners and flower lovers as well as readers interested in the history of botany and illustration.

The Story of a Country House

The genesis, style, and purpose of architectural masterpieces such as Hardwick Hall, Hatfield House, and Chatsworth are explored, alongside the numerous country houses lost to war and economic decline. We also meet a cavalcade of characters, owners with all their dynastic obsessions and diverse sources of wealth, and architects such as Inigo Jones, Sir John Vanbrugh, Robert Adam, Sir John Soane and A.W.N. Pugin, who dazzled or in some cases outraged their contemporaries. The Story of the Country House takes a fresh look at this enduringly popular building type, exploring why it continues to hold such fascination for us today.

Made for Living

Known for her eclectic approach that stems from her California cool, Amber Lewis trains your eye in Made for Living, offering friendly advice on everything from nailing that perfect shade of paint to mismatching patterns with wild abandon to choosing a stone finish for new countertops.  These pages will help you design a home that’s made to be lived in.

Modern Patina

Tools, principles, and the power of designing around the things you love—this is the gift of Patina Modern, showing just how to put it all together to create your own beautiful spaces.

You can find all of the books that I have posted about on the blog over the years as well as additional books on my wish list in “My Book Shop.”

Looking for a few gifts ideas for bibliophiles that are not books? Check out my gift guide for bibliophiles.

#blingit

Kim and Juliet have been doing Instagram live videos for the last two weeks and this week on of the things they talked about was antique and vintage brooches.

Kim shared her love for her own collection of brooches inherited from her mother and grandmother, including a beautiful snowflake pin and from there #blingit was hatched.

I remember my grandmother had a colorful christmas tree pin that she wore on her black coat all December long, I wonder what happened to that piece.

Get out your treasured heirlooms, vintage finds or even new pieces and share them all month long using the hashtag #blingit. Kim and Juliet will be sharing your images on their accounts all month long.

As you know I love brooches and wrote a post about it a few weeks ago on weekend meanderings. Although I am partial to vintage pieces I love looking at all of the options available today. In fact I have this little cup of hot chocolate in my cart right now.

Get out your bling ladies and share your photos along with the stories and memories from each piece. I am looking forward to seeing all of your treasures.

Obviously this is not a brooch but it is a beautiful piece of bling It is a piece that I treasure. My mother-in law made this in 50’s and many years ago gave it to me. Sadly at the age of 95 she doesn’t remember making it but I remember her telling me all about it and where each piece came from. I love seeing it each Christmas when I pull it out of storage.

In other news

The ‘Smitten Kitchen Keepers’ author on cooking for her family and herself.

Looking for a signature cocktail to serve over the holidays, check out this cara cara orange spritz. 

17 New Year’s Party Ideas to Usher In 2023

Speaking of parties, did you check out Kims’ holiday outfit ideas. 

This week Cindy shared how to turn any outfit into a holiday outfit. 

If you love Brooke and Steve from Patina Farm check out this post from Julie Blanner and you see all of the beautiful details of Patina Farm which they just sold. 

Celebrate Christmas all’italiana: how to do the holidays like a Venetian

Playfully disgusting food combos are giving legacy brands an energy boost.

This is what Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z can learn from each other at work

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

This week I shared a book that you will want to relax and read this, holiday movies, and lots of holiday finds. As well as lots of links for recipes, interesting articles, movies and more.

 My family tradition celebrating St. Nick! Did you celebrate?

A guide after my own heart, gifts for the hot chocolate lover in your life. All of these gift suggestions would also make wonderful stocking stuffers.

sequin sweater//pink skirt//earrings// brooch //shoes//

And last but not least, Friday Favorites. You are definitely going to want to read this book! It is so good. And check out the recipes for French onion dip, a ham and Swiss puff pastry, details on this outfit and lots and lots of links.

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