When I first read Little Women a few years ago, I’ll admit, I thought it was duller than dull. Perhaps it was because I had been spending the past few years immersed in new motherhood, and tales of domestic bliss bored me. Or maybe it was because we never read it as children, that I didn’t have a sense of nostalgia. None of that matters, though, because Greta Gerwig’s 2019 film adaptation of the book. Is. So. Wonderful.
The cozy clubhouse attic! The hand-crafted costumes! The Christmas morning feast! The genuine kindness and good! The female camaraderie! The stay-true-to-thyself mentatlity! Timothee Chalamet! It’s all so swoon worthy, and the ‘simple’ Victorian house they call home is charming beyond all measure, and it’s time we all move to the New England countryside to live our best lives.
We’ve collected some essentials to help you feel as if you are one of the March sisters:
, I realized I have a thing for cozy, story-driven family-centric cookbooks. I devour them like novels, and keep them on shelves faaaar away from the mess of my kitchen. Here are a few in my collection:
– This delightful book is divided into recipes based on color. My favorite: the hot chocolate with homemade whipped cream. GUH so good. I’m sad I’ve never had a chance to flip through her other books, 
and 
. Author Tessa Kiros is also a delight to follow on 
– Hands down, one of the best books ever published. It is so inspiring, and makes me want to have beautiful, sit-down dinners with my family on a nightly basis. With contributors like Tom Hanks and beautiful recipes for the whole family, this is one of those books that’s actually very rarely in my house because I loan it to everyone.
– Stephanie is one of Ina’s biggest fans. When we found out she was doing a book signing and Q&A in Kansas City, we left our babes at home and eagerly drove up to see her. It was my first real introduction to her, and oh what a charmer. I went home with this book and have tried almost every recipe in it. Every single one of her books is ten thumbs up.
– this book is more about if you want to *start* a family (wink wink, nudge nudge). It’s a cookbook that’ll make you blush. I first read it while working at a cafe where we hosted an annual “Aphrodite’s Feast” romantic dinner. The courses all had aphrodisiac properties, and this book was our ultimate resource.
– Started revisiting The Office and it is so delightful. A decade ago I was smitten with Jim & Pam. Now I just want more Creed and Dwight. I rush home from a night out with friends because I want to spend it with my Dunder Mifflin friends.
– I have a stack of well-loved library books, just waiting to be opened. And I tipsily went on a buying spree to get some old classic paperbacks that I’ll probably never get around to. Like 
& 
. Light a candle, draw me a bath, and I’m set.
– Did someone mention bath? My body has been *hurting* lately, and my winter of flu prevention included eating and soaking in pounds of sea salt. I’ve been making my own bath salts and soaks (future post!), but I’m tempted to try this ylang ylang and vanilla soak. Ahhhhh. Light a few prayer candles and listen to some classical music, and you’ve got yourself a well spent evening.
, instead of my boring ol’ Cuisineart. (Just kidding, I love you, boring toaster. But…pale blue retro toaster!?)
? And cozy socks? I’m wearing both right now!
to your kiddos.
For those of us who might not be able to wrap our spiral staircase with a mural…
to keep all your books and plants in, and to use while walking down charming British streets. {I actually do have about 1000 of these in my house…}
, I decided to write down all things “cozy” (the definition of Hygge – pronounced hoog-a).
