Monday Musings on Peace and Quiet
I’ve been listening to this book lately, and I’m so glad I downloaded it. I began reading it a few years ago but put it down and never finished it. Audible books are so much easier for me because I can listen while cooking, walking on the treadmill, or folding laundry. There’s a lot to be said about the benefits of not multitasking, but listening to a book is a worthy exception to me.
SCARF AND LAPEL PIN FROM MY CLOSET ARCHIVES
I wore this outfit shopping on Saturday and got the nicest compliment! While standing in line to pay for a few things, the young lady in front of me turned and said, “Oh my God, I love your outfit! You look so smart. You look like you’d be fun to hang out with!” It was a sweet and funny compliment. Especially from someone in their twenties, which I can comfortably say is not my typical audience on the blog. 🙂
My daughter Vanessa is in town and recovering from a lousy case of Shingles (noooo fun, and I hope you never have to deal with it). We found these fun and hilarious hats at Anthropologie yesterday. They immediately reminded us of our trip to Japan a few years ago, where we tried on the wildest (and most expensive) hats in a Tokyo shop. Apparently, hats are a weakness for both of us.
I’m not sure where we will wear them or how we might style them, but they were too cute to leave at the store…especially at 40% off! I know I’ll be bringing mine up to Canada when I return in the New Year because it’s much colder there.
Like many of you, this next week will be filled with family time, little traditions, gift exchanges, and holiday baking. I decided to use up an extra bag of cranberries my husband had bought by baking some cranberry walnut orange muffins. They sound delicious, and I think they could be if I’d realized that the flour I purchased is actually “vital wheat gluten” – apparently something used to make vegan meat. What a nightmare!
After a quick trip to the store, my daughter made some delicious ginger snap cookies, which I’ll have to hide from myself. Tomorrow, we’ll make Mexican wedding cakes – a Christmas favorite. While our tree has been up for a few weeks now, I’ve saved a special tree for my daughter and I to trim later today — its a Southwest tree, filled with chili pepper lights, and ornaments that my mom purchased for me many years ago, when she was living in New Mexico.
If you’ve been out, you know the stores are a nightmare and packed with shoppers. I still have a few things to pick up at Sephora, which has really come through for me this year, and then I’ll be staying home and decompressing.
We’re hosting a Christmas day brunch and enjoying time with our grandsons, followed by a big turkey dinner with all the trimmings. That means I’ll be taking a few days off from the blog. I hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday. I’d love to hear about your holiday traditions, so please share if you have any favorites or your favorite holiday baking recipes!
My grandparents were from Lithuania and mom made potato Kugelis… grated potatoes cooked in a loaf pan….mom’s were delicious and I’ve never been able to match her recipe! Certainly baking the potatoes in a loaf pan is easier than frying individual pancakes for latkes. And the crust around the taters was so crispy; served with applesauce or sour cream. The sheet pan latkes would be similar to the loaf pan Kugelis except for larger slices. M-m-m-m-m-m
Merry Christmas to everyone! And, a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas Margie!
Today’s post reminded me of a time when my sister and I were shopping at the mall and decided to try on hats. I have a small head and most fell over my eyes. We laughed so hard we cried. My sister passed in May so this brought back a precious memory and a few tears.
Merry Christmas from my house to yours!
I’m so very sorry to hear about your sister. Sending hugs Joanna! Merry Christmas! Xo
You and your daughter look so great in your hats!
I love family time at Christmas.
My granddaughter organ an amazing cocktail challenge.
We were all divided into random teams and the results were were extremely good.so fun to celebrate family !
Merry Christmas
How fabulous! Merry Christmas Dianne.
Brent and I and our fur babies will have a quiet Christmas together. Our family is large and spread all over the country. The ones that travel this far usually plan trips in the fall or late spring to avoid snowstorms crossing passes to get to us in Colorado. No snow this year, warm at 57 degrees today. Christmas Day will be sunny and warm as well. Shingles are definitely not fun. I hope your daughter is recovering and able to enjoy her visit. She is a beautiful and tall woman. Merry Christmas Jennifer and I look forward to your blog when you return.
Thank you Sydney. She’s the very best. Merry Christmas! Xo
Jennifer, you look so good in colors! I dont think you do yourself justice in those neutrals that I think just wash you out. I think the comment in line was a good one. Merry Christmas! Enjoy your time off. You deserve it!
She was so sweet. Thank you Jan. They’re growing on me. Merry Christmas!
Happy Holidays Jennifer!
I sincerely enjoy your writings and the personal touch you add. Wishing you a wonderful quiet time with your family.
Thank you Mary. I hope yours are wonderful too!
Merry Christmas to you and your family and everyone here on the blog. We always have our large family over on Christmas day and serve a buffet with ham and turkey and lots of appetizers. My grandsons are expecting my sugar cookies and grandpa’s spritzer cookies. 🎄🎁🎄
Have a fabulous time! Merry Christmas.
Happy Christmas Jennifer to you and yours and all good wishes for the New Year! Xo
Merry Christmas Francesca! xo
Happy Holidays!
Enjoy your time off with your family.
Hope your daughter feels better soon…I have heard that Shingles is very painful. We got the vaccinations a few years ago.
Cute hat!
Shopping with our daughters has to be one of the best shared experiences ever :-))
Will be cozy for the cooler winter days when you get back to Vancouver.
Leslie Lord
Merry Christmas Leslie! Xo
I am so sorry that your daughter has Shingles. I had Shingles two years ago and almost lost the sight in my right eye. I am still putting drops in my eye. The Shingles are finally gone from my eye. I had the original Shingles shot but had not gotten the new one. I encourage everyone to get the Shingles shot because they are very painful. Because my immune system was down, I also had Covid at the same time.
If you are over 50, please get the Shingles shot.
Oh no Linda! I’m so very very sorry to hear that. I also encourage everyone to get the Shingrix 2 part Shingles vaccine.
Sounds fun, other than shingles. I am recovering from ankle surgery, and my husband will be making Christmas Eve dinner for our sons and families. I did no baking, minimal decorating and wrapped everything prior to surgery so it doesn’t seem very holiday, but I am not sweating it either. Merry Christmas, enjoy!
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Jan!
as for recipes: We do holiday cookie exchanges with about 4 other neighbors. I try to make a new one each year, last year it was pignolis. A few years ago one of the neighbors gave us some (purchased from an area Italian bakery) and they were so good! Then I saw a recipe and found out how easy they are to make. Look for the “easy Italian pignoli ” recipe on Foodtasia.com. They are made with almond paste, not four, so they are gluten free.
They sounds amazing!! Thanks for the tip. Happy holidays.
Sheila, thanks for sharing the recipe and looks so much easier than I thought. These cookies bring back fond memories from my Grandmother and I never tried to make them. I will be trying out after Christmas. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah to all. Jennifer, you look amazing in the navy blazer and love that look!
Thank you Cheryl. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Jennifer!
Thank you Nancee! Happy holidays.
Merry Christmas Jennifer, to you, your family and to all in this wonderful community.
Merry Christmas Yvonne! Xo
Merry Christmas to you & yours!
Thank you and wishing you the same!
Wishing you and yours happy everything! Enjoy your time together! And, thanks for all you do! 🤗
Have a fabulous holiday Terry!
What a kind and observant compliment! I also love that you showed items from your closet “archives “. I imagine most of us have items we should incorporate into our newer outfits but need the inspiration. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
It made my day! She was so sweet. Merry Christmas Linda!
We all have “closet archives” at this point, don’t we? (I have also used that term!) I think that’s part of what makes personal style. This year our family is trying a sheet pan latke. You put the potato pancake batter on an oiled sheet pan and bake at high temperature. Avoids the individual frying and your house smelling for days. I hope you have a wonderful holiday with family! Thanks for all you do and most of all for being REAL!
So true about the archives 😍. I love latkes but they take so much work! Please share the recipe. Happy Hanukkah Shari, and thanks for being a great part of our community. xo
Love that curly hat, I would buy that in a minute. Merry, Merry and Happy Happy.
Merry Christmas Nola!
Thank you for your blog, and all of the pertinent and interesting content. Have a wonderful holiday spent with your family and friends. I look forward to hearing from you again in the New Year!
Happy holidays Bunnie!
Fun at your house Jennifer! You will be deserving of of a few days off! I’ll be at my sons home on Christmas Eve for his annual. get together on Tuesday night- food, beverages, and a gift exchange. He ‘ll have his tree lit and my two older grandsons will be home from college! Happy me! I get to see them…Then, on Christmas day we generally brunch too- at my daughter and son in laws house! The two 6 year old twins ( who I get to see most weekends) will show us all what Santa brought- its great! I feel so blessed!
What wonderful traditions Paulette!! Have a very jolly time. You are blessed.
Merry Christmas to you and your family and all your blog fans. My daughter is a graduate of Johnson and Wales Culinary school, so she always fixes a very elegant entree. I do side dishes and my very merry berry pie!
Yum!! Merry Christmas Kathleen