Last year has been the toughest year I remember- the entire year of Covid uncertainty, and a spring earthquake in Zagreb, ended in its terrible fashion, with a devastating earthquake in central Croatia, that left thousands of families without a home, my parents and family included. Then, amidst the whirlwind of unfortunate events, a close family member died, and that death fell like a heavy blanket over everything ugly that happened before. We needed, and still need, time to heal- and now, the forced staying at home came like a relief. I retreated to the house, to every day at home, to coffee by a candle in the morning, and a cup of tea by the fireplace in the evening, to books, and family phone calls. Like a wounded animal, I wanted shelter. Mundane things people were celebrating on the social networks irritated me, they felt inappropriate. Photos of new haircuts, celebrations of this and that, clinking wine glasses with friends when at the same time, so many people from our country were suffering. People that lost their homes, and the lives as they knew it, families that slept in the improvised shelters in the middle of the central Croatian winter, their housing problem looking only glum in the future. When a town that was destroyed by the war only thirty years ago, turned into a ghost town once more. When a virus cut off our social ties in a blink of an eye, but for longer than a year, made us fear for our elderly, and threw so many businesses into despair.

The last two months sucked out most of my good humor and energy, and even though I know the problems are not going to disappear with the new year (better yet, new challenges are awaiting us)- I need a little beauty in my life. And to brush off a bit of the last year’s ugliness, I decided to write another Last year’s favorites post, with the positive things from the last year.

Things that got me (and still get me) through the isolation

Make-believe breakfast at a foreign cafe. We take out the nicest plates and cups that we have, light a candle, make coffee with lots of milk foam to go with either homemade cakes or store-bought croissants. In spring and summer, I would take out a little tablecloth and a bowl of fruit to our terrace, Luka would join me with two coffees, sometimes I’d bring a book or a magazine, just as I like to bring my book to a cafe when I’m by myself. It made us look forward to Saturday breakfasts (now it’s already several times a week), and this is usually the time when we daydream about some future travels.

Early morning and late afternoon swim at the Cape (we’d bring a bottle of water, summer fruit- watermelon, cherries, peaches, the good stuff, and books). The perks of living by the sea.

Books. (See book recommendations below.)

Spring cocktails on our balcony. In Croatia, spring lockdown was a more serious one than the winter lockdown, and we switched evenings at a bar with evenings at our balcony- Luka would experiment with new recipes, and we would enjoy the spring sunsets, and the evening calm of the village.

Candles, lots of them. We’ve been burning candles so much in the last year, especially in the winter months when our living room gets quite dark! They make any lunch or dinner feel a bit more festive.

Movies and series. (See movies and series recommendations below).

Daily walks and bike rides at the Cape. I got so used to having nature close to home, that at the moment, I can’t imagine myself living in a city, especially during the lockdown. Observing the seasonal shifts in nature is one of the joys of countryside/seaside living: first mimosa blossoms appear in February, followed by almonds, plums, and cherries, bright daffodils, and intoxicating Hyacinthus (that are on the tip of blooming at the moment). Later in spring, the autochtonous orchids on the Cape appear (what beauties!).

Then, as the summer approaches, Japanese cheesewood behind our house starts emanating its sweet smell in the evenings, and enters the house through various windows, depending on the wind. In summer, helichrysum and rockroses envelop the entire coast in that typical, southern Istrian scent. In autumn, fallen pine needles, wet soil, and mushrooms make for a cozy smell, that I associate with young wine, and chestnuts by the fire. I learned to appreciate winter- the calmest season in the village when it’s us and nature. Last winter I caught so many sunny days at the Cape when I would bring a blanket, and a bottle of hot tea, to sit and soak in the winter sun.

Old school correspondence. I’ve always been nostalgic about real letters, and have kept occasional correspondence at least by holiday cards with family and a couple of friends. Two Christmases ago, I answered a thank-you note that Luka’s mother’s friend sent after visiting us, and we started a more than a year-long correspondence, that made me look forward to checking our mailbox. Just a couple of days ago, I received a letter with a Christmas biscuit recipe from her great-grandmother. Imagine that! No baking powder!

Sending and receiving packages. Since we haven’t had the chance to gather with family and friends around the holidays, we sent (and received) a couple of surprise packages. We mostly sent chocolates, specialty coffee, our homemade jam, beer or wine or gin, cheese, cute stationery and little toys for the kids, and freshly baked cookies. We received tea and chocolate spreads, homemade sausages and Turkish baklavas, dried fruit and cheese, fancy jellies, and a tote bag I plan to wear as a regular bag, and my parents even threw in a fluffy colorful towel that I enjoyed using in the wintry months.

In the summer months, outdoor drinks at either our favorite cocktail bar in Rovinj- Circolo, or a little beer fest that Kampanjola organized on the weekends at their brewery, or at friends’ (or our) terraces, where there would also be some delicious snacks!

Cooking and baking. As always, but this year even more. On top of everyday cooking, we made sourdough bread, jams, granolas, kimchi, homemade pasta, and dumplings. Lockdown slow-food.

Coffee at Lattiera. Lattiera opened last winter, as a cool neighborhood cafe with great coffee, and we’ve spent most of last summer and autumn, having weekly coffee on their nice, breezy terrace in the Veruda neighborhood in Pula.

Travels

Last year was the first year I remember, that went by without any travels. To be honest, there were two day-trips to Trieste, one in February, and the other one in October, which were two highlights of the year. After a spring quarantine, a very weird working summer, and another semi-quarantine from September until now, a day trip to Trieste felt like a miracle. It was that little beauty I need now and then- something to look forward to, and something to think about later. We walked on a sunny October day- down Ponte Rosso to a pastry shop I discovered during spring quarantine and longed for ever since. Pasticceria La Bomboniera is an Austro-Hungarian establishment with a black and white tiled floor, crystal chandeliers, majestic wooden shelving and counter, and showcases gleaming with an exuberance of cakes, pastries, chocolates, and colorful jellies.

We ordered two latte macchiatos (they served it in paper cups, coffee and milk separately so that you can make yourself a latte to your liking). Maybe it was because of the whole ambiance, but it was the best coffee I’ve had in a very long time. Then, two doughnuts in form of a braid, as we longed for ciambelle (fluffy doughnuts covered with sugar) that we had on Marettimo more than a year before. We sat on a terrace on the street, and for the first time in a year felt like we were somewhere, traveling, out in the world. Afterward, we walked, visiting this and that favorite store: L’Erbolario for body creams, Mac for lipstick, ortofrutta (vegetable shop) for cime di rapa, mushrooms and pears, a kids stationery store for presents to our favorite Japanese girls, a toy store for the same two, butchers for some delicacies for the next day. Then we had pizza at our pizzeria- Al Civicosei, where the owner recognized us, even though we visit only a couple of times a year, even though we were wearing masks (he said that he recognized us as soon as we started talking- I suppose our Slavic accent had something to do with it!:)). We went to Eataly for some more delicacies, and to a supermarket for groceries that we have missed since February (Parmigiano!pasta!beer!wine! yogurt with walnuts and honey!coffee!). And that was all the traveling we did in 2020.

I’ve been daydreaming daily about past and future travels, so I’d like to “enrich” this section with some of the places I’m dreaming about visiting in 2021.

Sweden: beautiful Stockholm (I’ve never been there, but I think it’s beautiful), stone-paved streets, neat buildings with December lights in each of them, cinnamon buns, bakeries, coffee shops, cool stores, morning frost, antique markets, cold wind that makes your ears freeze, boat rides, nature all around.

Italy: Italy is my passion, and every morning we listen to the Italian radio and think of a “fancy” life we lead in the times when we used to travel to Italy regularly. I miss my Padova, a town we spent so much time in, where the restaurateurs, shop, and kiosk owners recognize us as regulars, I miss my Marettimo where friends are waiting, with whom we already plan this summer’s activities, I miss every town we visited, and every town we’ve yet to visit. The lunch at a simple osteria, the aperitivo on a square, smart clothing of the passers-by on the evening passeggiata, architectural beauty everywhere you look, the beauty of life Italians are the best at.

This year, I would love to visit Roseto Botanico Carla Fineschi in Tuscany, either in May, or in June- allegedly, one of the most beautiful rose gardens where most of the roses are in bloom just then. Then, Giardino di Ninfa in Lazio, “the most romantic garden in the world” according to Monty Don. It really seems like pure magic. Back to Sicily in the summer, in a summer dress, on the hottest day, feet in sandals and a straw bag, sitting on the warm stone of one of the glowing Sicilian towns, with a pistachio ice-cream in hand.

Japan: watching Ebony’s (@hellosandwich) and Angela’s (@internationallyMe) stories evokes memories of my experiences of Japan. The narrow, cute backstreets, busy izakayas (sort of pubs), hipster cafes, colorful packaging, a melody that marks the end of a working day, vending machines, train rides, colorful bento boxes, random friendly people you meet on neighborhood walks… I miss Tokyo neighborhoods, each one a town in itself: from a flashy entertainment district to a peaceful park, from a business district dotted will tall rises, to the village feel neighborhoods with cheap bakeries and old-style grocery stores. Except for Tokyo, next time I want to take another road trip through the lesser-known regions of Japan, as those proved so interesting on our previous trips. I daydream of a mountain spa town in the snow, the quietness, and simplicity of the tatami room, peaceful observation of nature, the beauty of everyday objects and rituals.

Vienna: I have been enchanted with Vienna since my early teenage years when I used to read Marija Jurić Zagorka’s books that took place at empress Maria Theresa’s Habsburg court, and still remember the excitement of the night before the first visit to the imperial town. During my student years, I grew fond of the Viennese Secession- and regularly returned to the city, last time by train in 2016. The meaning of Vienna for me is a mix of my youth nostalgia, one time that I traveled with a friend and slept in a bit shabby, old-style inn, with the best location just off the Mariahilferstrasse, and the view of the narrow street under the window, the feeling of staying in the city it gave me. The elegance of times went-by, the carriages, the coffee shops, the history I feel I could find in a cobbled back street, the warmth of an Advent market on a very cold Viennese winter day. The music shops that Luka and I used to rummage through when we were students. The warm pubs serving Wienerschnitzel and beer, with a curtain over the front door to keep the cold out.

Germany: We had such a nice time visiting our friends in the Black Forest region in 2019, that I’ve been dreaming about those golden hills, thermal baths, heavy dinners in old-style taverns, the wine, the cheese, the fir treetops, and the flowers in every garden… a bubble of prosperity as Luka called it, and I enjoyed every bit of its neatness.

Belgium: we visited Belgium a couple of times, a result of a direct and cheap flight from Pula to Charleroi. Most of the time we had great hosts, such as a lovely family in Waterloo that welcomed us with a batch of cookies even though we were terribly late, or another wonderful host that took us all over the city of Antwerp, brought freshly baked croissant every day (best in town!), and whose townhouse made us feel as if we lived there for a moment. I want to go back to our favorite restaurant in Antwerp with the warmest, most exciting atmosphere (and food!)- it’s Brutal if you find yourself there, to a favorite burger place which actually is a chain, but I still dream of those burgers, a sort of a boudoir art deco restaurant in Bruxelles, where we had the national staples such as mussels in a black pot and french fries. Waffles in Bruges, fantastic city bike rental system in Antwerp, the Middelheim sculpture park which is the best thing I’ve seen, a wonderful parfumerie in Brussels, where I discovered Byredo- their Bal d’Afrique will always remind me of that trip and will remain my signature scent.

Prague: Last time I visited Prague, I was a teenager, but I still remember the hearty food, knödels, sauerkraut, and goulash under cross vaults in the basement pubs. Then, the majestic Karl’s bridge, the main square, the Gothic buildings, the little medieval streets, the handicraft shops, the ring with a red garnet gemstone Prague is known for that my mom and I bought on the Wenceslas square if I remember correctly. Recently, I read Viktor Žmegač’s treatise on Prague (in “Četiri europska grada” or “Four European Cities”), and then “Prague Stories”- a collection of short stories by the turn of the century German authors in Prague. The mysterious and magical atmosphere intertwined with my memories of the town and made me long for a return.

The Baltic countries: We got a glimpse of the Baltic when we visited Rostock and the surroundings in 2017: fairy tale houses with thatched roofs, long stretches of sand and yellow grass down the coast, cold wind, and flat, greenish sea. I’ve been reading blogs and articles about Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, and then our friends Yuko and Hiroshi visited Estonia last year. Yuko’s post on Instagram with handicraft things she bought in Tallinn with the caption “Old town of Tallinn, Estonia. It becomes a mass of desire.” made me want to browse through the little handicraft shops myself.

Books

Praške priče (“Prague Stories”) is a collection of short stories by four German-speaking, Prague writers that worked at the turn of the 19th century: Gustav Meyrink, Egon Erwin Kisch, Franz Kafka, and Rainer Maria Rilke. I am sure that there is not exactly the same collection of those stories in English, as they were chosen by a Croatian author. But you could probably find some of them in other collections, and I’d recommend looking for Meyrink’s: “The Clocks Maker” (my favorite of them all) and “A city with a secret heartbeat”, Kafka’s: “Blumfeld, an Elderly Bachelor” (a very Kafkaesque story with two bouncing balls that appear out of nowhere in the protagonist’s life and act as live beings), Rilke’s “King Bohus”, and Kisch’s “Magdalenenheim”. The thread that connects those stories is a strong devotion to the city and the mystical atmosphere of the turn-of-the-century Prague.

Milan Soklić’s first novel “Izlet na Kras” (which hasn’t been translated yet, but I hope it will - it would translate to something like “Daytrip to Kras”). A novel to my taste: set at the turn of the century (my favorite historic period), situated in Trieste, beautifully portrayed both the city and the atmosphere, cleverly put relationships between characters. It would make a great theater piece- while I was reading it, I could imagine all the scenes on the stage. It took me back to some other times, and to a city, I recently grew fond of, just in time when we weren’t able to travel.

Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer’s “La Superba” is a peculiar, dark, perverse novel that I took off the shelf because of Genoa, the city it’s dedicated to, and ended up lured into Pfeijffer’s labyrinth of not only Genoa’s streets but dark characters, Italian bureaucracy, mafia, dead-end streets and situations, city’s legends, Italian traditions, poverty, and history. The book is a labyrinth, such as the city itself.

I read Astrid Lindgren’s “A World Gone Mad, The Diaries of Astrid Lindgren, 1939-1945” just before the start of the pandemic, thinking how strange must have been living in times when the world was facing such a horrible threat, when you had to worry about stocking the food and the hygienic products, listening to the radio every day, counting the numbers of deceased… and then it wasn’t even a month later when the pandemic hit, as an eerie echo of those times. Panic, lockdown, numbers of deceased, empty stores, closed businesses. The diary is very observational, gives a lot of insight into Second World War (I wish we learned the history in school through books like this one), and despite the dread she felt towards the war, Astrid’s positive spirit kept resurfacing, through noticing the change of the seasons, something beautiful she saw, a new pair of shoes she managed to provide for her children… A valuable read for the times we live in.

First I watched “The Bookshop”- a period drama about a single woman that opened a bookshop in a small, enclosed, conservative community on the British seaside, starring Emily Mortimer. Then I read Penelope Fitzgerald’s book, upon which the movie was based. I liked them both- understated, simple, and slow, my kind of stories to unwind (even though the book ended on a more bitter note than the movie). Fitzgerald has a lovely writing style: smart, observational, and human, and I’d like to read more of her.

Since Wes Anderson quoted Stefan Zweig’s “The Post-Office Girl” as one of his inspirations for the Grand Budapest Hotel, I was curious about the book. Last year we watched “Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe” which was beautifully filmed, moved us as a story, and made me start reading about the writer. He is relatively unknown in these parts, rarely translated into Croatian, undeservedly so. “The Post Office Girl” came as a late Christmas gift in January, and I read it in a couple of days. Zweig has a beautiful writing style, descriptive, witty, slow-paced. He is a great emotional portraitist, sensitive to human suffering, poverty, critical of the political situation, understanding of the inescapable conditions that make people do desperate things. Those who watched the movie and know about Zweig’s destiny will be especially moved by this story.

Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s quirky story “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” transported me back to Japan. In a Tokyo back alley (and I could imagine so many of them), there is a cafe that brews coffee that can take you back in time. The trick is that you can only meet people in the past that have visited the cafe before, and that you have to return to the present before the coffee gets cold. What I enjoyed the most in this story is that through the dialogues, human relationships, and the descriptions of the space and atmosphere, I could instantly tell it was Japan, even if I hadn’t known the author’s name, or where the story took place.

Things I bought (or received) and enjoyed

Goutal perfumes. Last time in Padua (September 2019, seems like a lifetime ago), in my favorite profumerie (Beghin!), I bought my usual Guerlain foundation and the best makeup investment in form of a YSL highlighter that I used all summer long, and got a couple of perfume samples, among which- Goutal’s Tenue d’Soiree (evening dress). I loved its powdery, feminine notes of iris and patchouli which are the scents I usually use in my skincare.

Since Goutal isn’t available in Croatia, I was waiting for us to travel again, but still had put their bestsellers box on my Christmas wishlist. Luka somehow managed to get the box to Premantura, just in time for Christmas. There are four perfumes inside, each of them completely different, reminding me of a different season, and a different place. Eau d’Hadrien takes me to Sicily with its lemon prickliness, Petit Cherie to France in spring, with its cherry and peach blossom pastels, Rose Pompon to a winter night at the opera, and my favorite, powdery Tenue d’Soiree became one of my signature scents.

A cute t-shirt from Cos. I love to wear simple cotton T-shirts, either white, black or striped. I found a blue and white one with the bright orange collar at Cos that I know I’ll be wearing whole spring long (under a raincoat), and whole summer long with jeans and white sneakers.

Another three pairs of Bonne Maison socks, because, even though it’s the pandemic and I hardly go anywhere, I’m lacking in socks, and these were Luka’s gift for Christmas (he chose the patterns by himself). I love their Le Feu (fire) collection with deep cobalt blue contrasting the flaming reds and oranges. A pair with green, blue and yellow geometric pattern goes so well with denim, can’t wait for spring!

To finish the look (and also because I love red lipstick), I bought MAC’s Ruby Woo in Trieste. Such a beautiful bright red with a blueish undertone. There is not much need for lipstick under the mask, but I am hoping for a more relaxed late spring and summer when I’ll wear it with white T-shirts and black dresses.

Nabla Metropolitan eye palette. I am by no means a makeup expert, but I have been using Nabla eye shadows for a couple of years now, and love how strong the pigment is (and all the glitter). The Metropolitan palette has a couple of neutral shades, an almost transparent white glittery one that attracted me immediately, and a dramatic pink, that I still haven’t found out how to use but I will.

I have been writing about Not Perfect Linen regularly on this blog. Last year, more or less in form of gifts that I chose, there have been new additions to my closet: beige culottes that I wore all summer long, especially when we had guests at the distillery almost every day. They are elegant, comfortable, understated, easy to move in. Later arrived boyfriend pants with a waistband in Morrocan red, elegant and comfortable as well, but a bit fancier. The waistband and the beautiful, rich brick-red do the trick. Then there was a bright yellow dress with buttons and a Peter Pan collar, a yellow so bright I feel like a dandelion when I wear it. The long black slip dress is one of the most perfect dresses I ever owned. Feminine, very elegant, statement dress. I wore it for both festive occasions (with a belt) and for every day (with a white T-shirt underneath). The latest arrival was an indigo blue loose jacket which is one of those pieces I will choose any day, any time, so wearable, and simply cool.

A black beanie. I’ve been wanting to recreate this look by Emma Watson, and I also needed a black wool hat that goes well with everything. The soft, flowy cashmere beanie from COS was just what I had imagined. Not that I go out much this winter, but when I do, I regularly wear it.

L’Erbolario Iris body cream. I have been using a deodorant from Erbolario’s Iris collection, and it is my favorite, powdery scent. It works so beautifully with the warmth of the body. Last time in Trieste, I bought a body cream which is very light, fastly absorbent and smells divine. It is not as rich as my dry skin would like it but still gives pretty good moisture.

Byredo Tulipmania hand lotion. I had Byredo’s Tulip perfume and loved its flowery freshness. Lately, my hands have been very dry (as they always are in the winter), but especially due to the constant handwork at the distillery. I wanted a quality lotion and a beautiful scent, in a pretty dispenser to stand in a designated place in my living room, where I can use it several times a day. The scent is very flowery, green, enveloping. I intended it to be for the both of us, but Luka said it reminds him too much of a grandmother’s scent- and I have to agree that it’s more feminine than I have anticipated.

Armani Exchange jeans. I have been dreaming of high-waisted, short-legged jeans for quite some time, found them in Coin Casa in Trieste in October, didn’t buy them then, and found them at a 50% discount in January. They fit perfectly, and I am so lucky that there was my size left!

Two vintage dresses from Luka’s mother. A green linen maxi dress, nineties style, with big mother-of-pearl buttons both on the front and the back. And a white, light, sort of boho-style dress with a little bit of lace that I wore often last summer.

Fortnum and Mason box- for Christmas, as a surprise for Luka, I ordered a box of Fortnum and Mason delicacies. We discovered Fortnum and Mason on our first trip to London- a tea and chocolate, coffee and cookies, marmalades and preserves, department store of my dreams. Every item packaged so beautifully that even unwrapping feels like a treat, smartly described on the outside, and terribly delicious on the inside. A package consisted of rich chocolate-covered cookies, lovely cans of Earl Grey and Green Tea with Mint, delightful caramels, cocoa covered truffles with a soft center, their signature pickle. It was the best kind of gift because it lasted for longer than a month- we would return to it as to a treasure chest, choose to split a caramel along a cup of tea, or serve cookies on a plate with a glass of milk and a favorite series.

Blogs

In the blogging world, my last (and this) year’s crush has been Elsa Billgren’s blog on the Swedish Elle. I discovered it by chance, through a photo of a lavish apartment in Paris, and started reading it with the help of Google Translator in English. It is very atmospheric, with day trips in the Swedish countryside, candlelit dinners with friends in a barn (so hipster, I know, but not in an annoying way), beautiful interiors, flea market finds, puffy dresses, weekend getaways to Paris, cute dog, and colorful breakfast tables. Then there is Elsa’s writing which is personal, fresh, analytical sometimes, inviting. A sort of a lifestyle blog to make your mind wander.

Articles to read

Anne Helen Petersen’s article on why people vote for certain political options as a way of self-preservation is the best piece I read on politics in a long time:

https://annehelen.substack.com/p/the-lifestyle-blog-voter

A dream house, a succulents nursery, and a bookshelf I want at home (and a work ethic I admire but don’t aspire to;)):

https://www.freundevonfreunden.com/interviews/gwen-gawie-fagan/

A bit of history on my favorite drink and everyday ritual:

https://blog.britishmuseum.org/the-tea-rific-history-of-victorian-afternoon-tea/

Elsa Billgren wrote a nice article on jealousy, forced happiness, and positivity that resonated with me at this very moment. Lately, as so many bad things happened in my immediate family, I started feeling annoyed by public displays (and by that, I mean social media displays) of endless happiness, joy, and fun. A flick of injustice sparked in me, something I rarely experienced before.

The sorrow that I felt because of everything that had happened made me think of the social media culture of forced positivity, happiness, and perfection- online, it seems that everyone is happy about everything: their lives, their job, their family, their friends, their colleagues, their dog, their lunch, their home, their cup of coffee. If not, then they are labeled as unaccomplished, negative (and therefore a bad influence), immature. If someone shares his/her sadness, then he/she immediately proclaims that he/she will move on eventually, that everything is going to be fine, no time for sorrow in this world. On the other hand, when I talk to my friends in person (which means on the phone lately), they acknowledge that they are unhappy at times, annoyed and tired of last year, unable to work from home and take care of the kids at the same time, craving coffee at a cafe, or big gatherings with friends, fearing for their job, or a family member that had a hard case of Covid, etc. Now I know that we all head to social networks as a means of escape from our daily worries, but I don’t think they are the right solution most of the time.

What are your thoughts on this, I am very curious (please let me know in the Comments section)?

https://elsa.elle.se/om-avundsjuka/comment-page-1/

Instagram accounts that I enjoyed following

While we are talking about social networks, here are a couple of accounts that I found inspiring, or that made me daydream in a good way:

@niconeco_zakkaya is a Japanese stationery store in New York that crafts dreamy packaging and offers inspiration for journaling and correspondence- it is quiet, creative, understated, a bit nostalgic.

@vicpic9 Just recently I discovered Victoria’s cheerful feed- with lots of Orla Kiely mugs, bags, and patterns, flowery dresses, a colorful mug shelf, details of her quirky, carefully, but what looks like an effortlessly decorated Scandinavian home. It just makes me happy!

@hellosandwich I already mentioned that Ebony’s photos and stories transport me right back to Japan, but did I mention that she is an artist, and sees the world in a different way than the others? She sees the light, colors, quirky things, beauty in simple things. She takes photos of her neighborhood, grocery store shelves, cute packaging, construction site signs, hanging laundry, colorful table settings- and makes you think that every single thing in Japan is either beautiful, or cute, or peculiar (which, most of the time, it is).

@froken.frida Even though Frida’s beautiful photos are staged and the entire feed is carefully curated and repetitive (and I got bored with those), the photos of her large porch windows sprinkled with snow and a calm table with a terracotta vase on it, make me imagine myself there, with a cup of coffee and a book, surrounded by warmth, looking out to the snowy Swedish countryside.

@elsabillgren’s account is a nice insight into beautiful Scandinavian homes, nature, the city of Stockholm, the antique market finds and tempting dishes. A video of snow falling outside her window in Stockholm, made me imagine myself living there.

Objects of desire

Alix D. Reynis’s earrings and rings. Delicate, elegant, imperfect, inspired by the medieval jewelry.

Polene Paris bags. Exactly my style, I know I will have one someday.

Max Mara 101801 coat. Their iconic coat that hasn’t been changed since it was launched in 1981. In camel.

Emma von Brommsen plates and mugs, in Dew cover, either blue or green (usually, I prefer blue and white porcelain, but here I’m in doubt).

Series

Sharp Objects is a very atmospheric slow-burner (I love slow-burners, both on television and in books), with powerful performances by main female actresses, fantastic music, convincing characters, tense relationships, story and air so seducing that you feel lured in. I won’t reveal anything regarding the plot, but in the mass production of series, this one really stands out.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel got me through some tough times- it is a joy to watch her wit and character, her marvelous outfits, her quirky family (Jewish parents reminded me so much of Croatian parents!), and a feminist message on top of it.

The Queen’s Gambit is smart, refreshing, and engaging, even if you (like me) were never interested in the game. Like Sharp Objects, it stands out from the mass with a powerful, tense story, intelligent, successful female character that isn’t idealized (she is a drug addict and an alcoholic), serious approach to the game (matches in the series were recreations of famous chess duels), and spot-on costume design and scenography.

Ted Lasso is a type of series I didn’t think I would be interested in, and yet, I watched this entire sports comedy twice in one week. Ted Lasso’s approach to life and people just made me feel good, I loved the interactions between him and Coach Beard, and the fact that the series was filmed in Richmond with most of the cast British, helped too.

Movies

A white white day.

The County.

Woman at war.

Three Icelandic movies to begin with, and I’ve come to appreciate Icelandic cinematography over the years. The rugged landscape is the ever-present background, it kind of echoes the social issues, determined characters, real relationships, raw and uncensored life. In the end, they always leave me with something- a feeling or a thought, as if I did something good for myself by watching them.

In “A white white day” a man deals with the death of his wife by bonding with his granddaughter (and building a house, and digging into uncomfortable family secrets). “The County” and “Woman at War” are both focused on strong female characters, that drew the line at some point, skipped social conventions, and marched onto socially accepted wrongdoings of the society.

The Tiger and the Snow. I understand the critics’ objections to this movie, but I think that Benigni’s goal was for it to be nonsensical, dreamy, irrational, oblivious, and magical. I got completely enchanted with this modern-day fairy tale, accompanied by Tom Waits’ beautiful music, and the strong chemistry between Roberto Benigni and his partner and wife Nicoletta Braschi.

Learning to Drive’s subtlety, slow pace, a connection that almost evolves into a love story, a juxtaposition of the cultures, a developing understanding between the two, reminded me of one of my favorite movies, Cairo Time, where the lead actress was, same as here, Patricia Clarkson, accompanied by Ben Kingsley this time. An upper-middle-class woman, left by her husband starts a new chapter in life, by learning to drive, taking lessons from a Sikh instructor.

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga produced so many jokes, hilarious characters, and catchy songs that we have not only watched it several times but kept referring to it regularly since we first watched it. Will Ferrell did his research on Eurovision- the music, the outfits, the characters were just right, as when the real Eurovision has a good year! Rachel McAdams was sweet and funny and so good in her role, and Dan Stevens, portraying the Russian diva is the comedian of the year!

Booksmart is a funny, smart, cheeky, coming of age movie. Two friends that got through high school by keeping to their books and missing out on partying decide to make up for the lost time in one crazy night before their graduation day. So different than the coming of age movies of my generation, I could feel the shift of times.

The Nest was for me one of this year’s revelations: slow-paced, atmospheric, beautifully shot, it gradually builds up tension but mostly on human relationships, and evokes perfectly the atmosphere of the eighties. Carrie Coon was a discovery for me in this movie, and I loved the character she played.

Summerland. A period drama, set on the cliffs of Dover, with a house by the sea, and Gemma Arterton in a colorful sweater in it, reluctantly taking care of a war orphan? Yes, please!

On the Rocks. Sofia Coppola’s new movie with Bill Murray in it, couldn’t help but reminding me a bit of Lost in Translation, with not much, but then again something profound happening. Then there is also the city, back in Lost in Translation Tokyo, here, New York.

Misbehaviour tells a true story about a feminist group that disrupted the 1970 Miss World beauty competition in London. It’s a British feel-good comedy-drama that tackles a serious manner in light and cozy way-and I am in for the stories like this to be told!

The Last Black Man in San Francisco is a melancholic, dreamy, heartbreaking, colorful, peculiar story about gentrification and an ode to the city. Beautiful music, too.

Tutto quello che vuoi (Firends by Chance). A story about an unlikely friendship between a young layabout in a Roman neighborhood of Trastevere and an elderly poet suffering from Alzheimer’s. It is heartwarming, and at a time when one can’t travel, takes you to the streets of Rome, which is always a good thing in my opinion.

Kajillionaire is a very quirky, awkward, funny, and sad movie about growing up with sociopath parents, and the things children would do for their family, the elasticity of their acceptance, even though they never experienced parental love or care. Great performance by Evan Rachel Wood!

Ingrid Goes West portrayed very well the social media and influencer culture, along with the loneliness and alienation of the individuals in the modern world. We had some good laughs, felt mirrored in some scenes, felt the absurdity of it all in others.

Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter is the last movie we watched, and I had to include it last-minute. Another movie that depicts modern-day loneliness and alienation, and the pursuit of fleeting, unrealistic goals. Melancholic and kind of warm at the same time, with an excellent performance by Japanese actress Rinko Kikuchi. The director of photography had a good time filming it, you can tell.

Recipes

Here are a couple of recipes we tried and repeated last year, so I thought they were worth sharing!

Baci di dama- this recipe for a classic Italian biscuit is so good that Luka said they tasted exactly the same as when we first tried them in the iconic Torinese Cafe Al Bicerin! I used hazelnuts instead of almonds, just as they do in the Piedmont.

Nigel Slater’s Muscovado Banana Bread- without a doubt, the best banana bread I have ever tried.

Jamie Oliver’s Cauliflower Mac’N’Cheese is pure comfort food.

Mimi Thorisson’s Flammekueche (I sauteed the onions before adding them to the mixture, I think sauteed onions always improve the taste!). Serve with a simple salad.

Rachel Roddy’s Spaghetti alla chitarra with onion and tuna- simple, Italian, “no-recipe” recipe. Delicious!

Jamie Oliver’s Pavlova. I have already shared this recipe on my blog, but…

Things I look forward to when life gets back to a previous version of itself

Coffee in Zagreb (in Kavkaz or Dezman) with a friend or a book, with a previous trip to the library at Cvjetni trg.

Aperitivo with Luka in an elegant bar in Venice (for example a bellini in Harry’s bar).

A half-improvised road-trip trough Italy.

Relaxed family lunch at my parents’.

Opera or ballet night in Croatian National Theater in Zagreb, or even better, London’s Royal Opera House (a dream!)

To sit on a long-haul flight to Japan, and experience that feeling when you take off and know that there is absolutely nothing for you to do in the next thirteen hours but eat, sleep, and watch in-flight entertainment.

What are some things that you look forward to, or that got you through last year? What was that little beauty in your life?

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