This was the most perfect book to read during the first week of November with colder temperatures and shorter, darker days:
Wait, wait. I know what you’re going to say. I am about five years late to the hygge party – actually, closer to six, given that we are almost done 2021 (WHAT). In my defense, I have had The Little Book of Hygge on hold at the library for many months, and it just came in last week, and so really I’m more like four and a half years late. Or five and a half, depending.
Many of you will remember that last year I started to embrace the Norwegian part of my heritage, adopting the concept of friluftsliv, getting outside and enjoying the fresh air, no matter the weather. And believe me, in Calgary that can be a challenge, but it is a challenge I have accepted. Then, in the spring, I decided to Embrace The Season, in every way possible. Now, I am adding to the roster the concept of hygge, which, to be honest, I have probably always embraced.
Hygge, for those of you also late to this party, is pronounced HOO-ga, which is super fun to say, like an old-timey air horn, and it is roughly translated as a feeling of coziness, intimacy, warmth, home, and safety. It’s the feeling I hope my kids get when they come home after school and activities, and it’s cold outside and I’ve baked muffins for their arrival. It’s the feeling I get when I’m having a hot drink and it’s cold outside and everyone is home and happy. It’s the feeling I get when I switch the bed to flannel sheets and start wearing legwarmers over my yoga pants on the daily (it’s a look).
Maybe I am spiritually Danish, because this book resonated with me a lot, except for the part about how much meat the Danes eat and how many candles they burn, as I don’t eat meat and I am terrified of candles with their possibility of setting the house on fire. Candles are fire hazards, people. I even get a little nervous with birthday candles. Anyway, there is a description of Danish fashion: all black with the exception of summer, when Danes get crazy about colour and break out the grey, with scarves and layers and hair in buns. IT’S ME, YOU GUYS. They are describing ME! Also, Danes lead the world in cake consumption, which is a fun fact that I am here for; cake is the queen of all the desserts, I will die on this hill.
One thing about living in a cold climate, when you are a person who does not like the cold, is that you really have no control over your environment. I guess that is true in any climate, none of us can control the weather – can we? – and so there are two ways we can react: we can complain endlessly, or we can accept it as it is and embrace the things that make it beautiful. I have chosen the latter, mostly, as I think complaining about the weather is the most useless thing we can do, and wishing the weather was different is futile. We get what we get, and we don’t get upset, as we say to preschoolers. I mean, sometimes I am going to be upset, but I’m trying.
So I’m embracing the concept of hygge, although as I said I think I have ALWAYS embraced it, I just didn’t know there was a name for it. It’s going to be ALL COZINESS ALL THE TIME around here, now that we are back to standard time and soon the sun will set just after four o’clock and temperatures dip low. As an aside, in the recent municipal election there was a question about getting rid of time change altogether and adopting Daylight Savings Time year-round, and I have feelings about this. It got voted down because people realized that the sun wouldn’t rise until 9:30-10:30 in December, but here’s my question: why Daylight Savings Time? Why not have Standard Time year-round? This was our chance to get rid of time change altogether, and it has been ruined. Why was Standard Time not an option? WHY? Do we really need the sun to be setting between 10:00-11:00 pm in June? STANDARD TIME MAKES SO MUCH MORE SENSE, WHO MADE UP THESE POLLS.
Anyway, that’s one more thing I can’t control, so I’m not going to rail about it – much – so let’s get back to hygge. The festive season is the perfect time to consciously be hygge. It’s pretty easy to Embrace the Season when you love the season, and it’s not yet so cold that my face hurts to be outside. Actually, we had a couple of unusually warm days last week – it was warm enough to run outside! – and we have had the most gorgeous sunrises lately. Yay for November!
Oh, one other great thing about November: kalettes are back at Costco!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. I was so excited to see them on my trip there this week and I kind of think that I should be getting some kind of kickback from The Kalette People, as I convince at least one person to buy them every time I see them, giving them a rave review and also my favourite way to prepare them – roasted, with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I’ll see a person – almost always a woman – at the display looking at them and then I will strike up a conversation about how much I love them, and the person inevitably puts a package in her cart, possibly to put an end to my enthusiastic raving, who can say. Well. Roasting vegetables is very hygge, in my humble opinion, as is baking:
Upon the kalette discovery I immediately texted my friend Janet (HI JANET) about their reappearance, and she said that she was also just at Costco and was going to text ME about kalettes, and don’t you love having friends like that? That kind of friendship is so hygge.
Pandemic Reading
Other than The Little Book of Hygge, I read a few books this week:
Things To Make and Break. I liked a couple of the short stories in this collection, but mostly this was not for me.
Broken (in the best possible way). It has been many years since I’ve read Lawson’s blog, but this series of essays reads just like I remember it: funny in a silly, over-the-top kind of way, and also dark, raw, and sad. This was very hit-and-miss for me, but fans of the blog will really love it, I’m sure. There were two essays in this book that I found quite beautiful, but mostly this wasn’t for me.
Yoga Pant Nation. I read and enjoyed the first two books in this series – Class Mom and You’ve Been Volunteered – and so I was happy when my friend Anna (HI ANNA) mentioned there was a third. It’s very light and fun and fluffy, and if you, like me, have ever clocked tons of hours volunteering at an elementary school, you will find this very relatable.
The Rules Do Not Apply. Have you ever gotten through a good chunk of a book only to realize you’ve read it before? There was a chapter about the man with whom the author’s mother was having an affair that seemed vaguely familiar and upon looking at my book record, I saw that I read this in 2018. I couldn’t remember any of it, so it was almost like a fresh read! For the first 2/3 of this book, I found all the people – particularly the author – to be extremely unlikeable. But there’s a heartbreakingly tragic event – which I had no memory of – and a redemption arc.
Wow, that’s a lot of books this week. Well, once winter starts to settle in, reading is very hygge for me! Have a great week everyone, remember our bodies are an hour ahead of what the clock says, in case you start feeling starving for lunch at 10:30 am. xo
Beautiful sunrises. We’ve been having very nice sunsets and our leaves are peaking so it’s been quite pretty here.
When North was in preschool and I said “You get what you get and you don’t get upset,” they looked at me and said, “No… I get what I want and I don’t get upset.” So much for that.
I was reading Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson a while back and realized I’d read it before. I kept going, though, since by that point I was invested.
Hahahaha North!! That’s cute.
I really do agree that Big Kalette needs to sponsor your blog or something, because I abhor kale but (due solely to your enthusiasm) would probably pick up a bag of kalettes should I ever see them in the wild.
They are more like Brussels sprouts, which I tend to like only roasted, and less like kale, if that makes sense?
I NEED KALETTE. My Costco doesn’t have them. Or at least, I’ve never seen them. I love that you sell them when buying them; you need a kickback.
I love this Hyggee thought. Let me tell you, I’ve never heard of this book so I’m even further behind than you.
Cookies and beautiful sunrises; sign me up.
I need to be seen by Big Kalette!
I read a book that was very similar to your hygge book, however it was in the middle of summer. It then inspired me to hygge in July, ha! I, too, consider myself “spiritually Danish.”
Kalettes look delicious! I wonder if they’re available at our Costco?
I used to dread the time change, but since the pandemic, I’ve come to embrace it. Maybe that’s my spiritual Danish side? 🙂
Early darkness, cold days – time to get hygge!!
Hi Nicole! I totally agree with the Standard Time vote, why didn’t they do that?? I hope we get to read another Laurie German book and I also thought of you when I saw the Kalettes as Costco and immediately threw a bag in the cart. Hoo – gah!
Love it!!! And yes, why not Standard Time? It makes no sense!
I totally bought Kalettes yesterday and thought about you…:)
YEAH BABY!
I had to google Kalettes to see what all the fuss is about. A cross between kale and brussels? Sounds healthy and possibly delicious roasted. I’ve not seen these at our N CA Costco, but I will keep my eyes peeled for such a product. Thank you for the tip!
They are so yummy – I hope you find some!
I agree that complaining about the weather is a waste of time…and yet, I still complain when I’m cold. I’m going to try your approach – we get what we get. I also agree on the whole time change thing…WHY?
It makes no sense and I will die on this hill!
My brother (a Canadian) moved to Denmark a decade ago and has since married a Dane, so I love all mentions of hygge.
I jumped on this bandwagon slightly before it was a bandwagon. We visited Copenhagen back in 2012. It was the first time we met his then girlfriend (now wife). We had just gotten home from a bike ride (how Danish) through Christiania (how extra Danish) in the pouring rain. We were soaked and cold and our 18 month old was crying.
We took hot showers, my brother took out beef bourguignon that had been simmering all day, lit about 200 candles (a slight exaggeration), poured some wine and we settled in for a long night of cozy relaxation. My future sister-in-law sighed so happily at one point and approved the whole scene as being very hygge. And that was my introduction to the concept.
Just last week they texted a picture of their afternoon “tea” – fresh pumpkin cake (homemade, so goodness knows their place smelled amazing) on lovely plates, a hot cup of tea and…wait for it…a candle.
The Danish sure love their candles! That sounds like the ultimate in hygge! Thanks for telling me this – I love it!
Wait, you enjoyed a book called Yoga Pant Nation? Of course you did. So
Oops. I wasn’t done. My phone has a mind of its own this morning.
I need a lesson in embracing the weather in all seasons, because Chicago winter drives me nuts. It was 64 degrees and beautiful Sunday and Monday and Mini and I were visiting a college. Perfectly timed.
Pretty sunrise pics and delish baking pics. 😉 Love your blue print workout pants.
Thank you! I love them – they have pockets!
I am embracing the season too! Yesterday I went swimming. OUTDOORS! In a pond! It was ever so cold and ever so wonderful.
PAULA MY GOD!!! That is really truly embracing the season, you wild woman!!
I read your post yesterday, and ever since, I have been saying hygge, thinking hygge, looking for hygge, and recognizing hygge. I think that if you are open to it, then it’s more than a fad or trend, more than an influencer’s party flavor of the day. It’s forever, for every day, a way of living, and so you can’t be too late! I love all the ways and places you have found coziness, comfort, joy.
It’s all coziness all the time around here!
I love the idea of hygge (is it Hoo-ga? I’ve been mentally pronouncing it more like heur-ga), and I’m bitter that my thermo-regulatory issues prevent me from experiencing much of it. I couldn’t put my flannel sheets on last year no matter how lightly I dressed for bed. I actually get excited when I’m cold enough to put on fuzzy socks and read with a blanket.
I felt the exact same way about that Bloggess book. The parts that hit really hit, but mostly it missed.
I did buy new blankets and cushions for the couch that I think are peak hygge. Ooh, blog post opportunity. Thanks for that.
I think it can be pronounced both ways, just not “higgie” like I mentally thought.
I remember the Hygge book being featured on the podcast By The Book. [I used to listen to it regularly.] I loved the ideas represented in the book and the ways in which Kristen and Jolenta embraced them. Cool that you’ve found this book and it resonates with you. Cozy is good, regardless of how you define it. As for kalettes, never heard of them but am intrigued.
I need to find that podcast! I will report back 🙂
I am all about the hygge life…. although most of the summer ,I have to embrace the terrible heat where I live. I am looking forward to the next few months 🙂
All coziness all the time!
Every time I walk through the door of my house, I want to take off whatever I’m wearing and put on pajamas (even if it’s noon.). I must be practicing hygge and never realized it before! I do love this season- it’s about as cozy as we get in Florida.
Enjoy your coziness!
Hygge is basically my life’s motto at this point. Comfort and coziness at all times!
I listened to a podcast episode that talked about standard time vs Daylight Saving Time and how we should allow different states (or, in your case, provinces) to decide if they want to be on standard time or DST. Where you live, standard time is best. In Florida, DST works (well, for me, ha; others might feel differently). But the idea of every state being in their own version of time seems like it could be so complicated! I much prefer being in DST, because I prefer lighter evenings to lighter mornings, but I know that it could get really difficult for other states/provinces, especially those with later sunrises. I think we just need to decide which time to be in and STAY THERE. This whole switching back and forth is ridiculous.
Those cookies look AMAZING MMMMMM.