In college, I spent just over two weeks traveling through Europe as a part of a study abroad session during winter break, just after the New Year. We traveled through Paris, Brussels, Vienna, and a few cities in Germany, my favorite of which was Heidelberg. I fell in love with the gorgeous German homes dusted white on one side of the Neckar River, and the quaint city {and castle!} on the other. Flurries sparkling overhead. Bundling up to stroll down the brick-lined streets through town, ducking into shops to warm my nose and toes. The glow of tiny restaurants and pubs at dusk. Beer steins and crackling fireplaces.
Experiencing a small piece of winter in Europe planted a seed in my brain that has been growing ever since: I want to spend Christmas in another country-- perhaps somewhere else in Germany, the Netherlands, or one of the Scandinavian countries. Part of me might admittedly dream of this fantasy because I'd like to escape from the stress and jam-packed holiday calendar of my Decembers at home, but the other part of me truly thinks that a quaint, cozy, and quiet Christmas spent in a cottage in the snow-covered countryside sounds perfect and picturesque in its own right. If it's a good day, I imagine my whole family there with me. If not, it's just me and a pile of books, blankets and hot tea ;)
Perhaps this fantasy is why I'm drawn to all things Nordic and Scandinavian print lately. Here are my favorite picks from around the web. Until I can manage to scheme up a Christmas away, I'll have to settle for a pair of Mukluk slipper boots or any of these items: 1. Oversized Fair Isle Sweater from JCrew // 2. Striped Snow Patterned Elastic Trousers via Wanelo // 3. Snowflake Wool Mittens from Elde // 4. Stud Post Earrings in Midnight from WildWomanJewelry.
PS - Here's a full Etsy treasury that I made over the weekend on this same theme called "My dear, let's have a Nordic Christmas." I think it's my favorite treasury that I've made yet!
Does anyone else share my fantasy a holiday escape? Where do your dreams take you?
I LOVE those stockings on Wanelo and tried to buy them but PayPal thought it was a scam and cancelled the transaction, which made me sad. I mean, happy if it actually wasn't legit, but I LOVE those stockings!
ReplyDelete@doniree ~ So sad! I wondered how legit that site was... it looked a little sketchy. I did a quick search for "snowflake leggings" on eBay and it looks like there are a few sellers with the same (or similar) products. Maybe that's worth a shot!
ReplyDeleteOh man, those pants are amazing. And I hear you on the Christmas away fantasy!
ReplyDeleteMy Grandma and Grandpa had the opportunity to live in Germany for 5 years around the time that I was born. The entire time, my Grandma kept a journal (on a typewriter!!!). It turned into a 2.5 inch thick stack of loose paper (all in order) in a book sized box that sat on her shelf, doing nothing. I got ahold of it and retyped the entire thing, and turned it into a hardbound book for her. To her surprise!
ReplyDeleteReading of her RIDICULOUSLY romantic sounding strolls through the German streets during Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve... oh my goodness... it seriously just took me away to that dreamy place you're talking about. I am obsessed with the idea of walking those streets, bundled as the flurries fall, listening to the sounds and seeing soft light come onto the streets from the shops nearby.
OMG.
@Megan ~ That is an incredible story! You are so lucky to have your grandma's journals of that time. And so cool of you to have surprised her with the hardbound book. What an amazing keepsake! Very very cool :)
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