TRADITIONS & OTHER COZY THINGS

since about right after thanksgiving til right before new years i get this magical, glittery feeling. these holidays, which evolve around love, friends and family, gratefulness and coziness are truly my favorite ones. in my mind they are associated with hugs, dimmed sitting rooms, glittering lights, and all sorts of toasty, spicy smells.

this is also a season full of little habits that have gradually turned into traditions over the years, i'll share those with you today!

{Wollman Rink, New York, 1951}
* this is the perfect time for ballet and classical music for some reason. in particular, i have an immense love for the nutcracker. as a matter of fact

tchaikovsky has a permanent place in my playlist.

* period drama, and lots of it for that matter has also made its way into this season. i watch them back-on-back while drinking cinnamon based tea and tons of Christmas cookies.
small historical fact: it used to involve just bbc's pride and prejudice, and the n north & south, every Christmas with my best friend georgia. it was an entire event. however, after moving to new york, i just couldn't keep it up because it didn't feel the same without her.

{National Ballet of Canada’s dancers backstage for Nutcracker. Photographed by Bruce Zinger.} * in many regions in greece, people traditionally decorated breads for various holidays (depending on the respective region). i took this tradition and adapted it to today. every Christmas now, family and friends wait for the festive, decorated bread to make its appearance on the table.

* since we're on food, i also make a specific recipe for carrot cake (based off this one) which i decorate differently every year. last year it was candied cranberries and cinnamon sticks grouped over the creamcheese, vanilla frosting. this year i'm aiming towards something like this!

{via} *on the subject of home made - we've often talked about mailing cards, and how it is the best, warmest thing to do, to make them yourself! here is a sample of last year's. (this year finals are making me run late). also, just seasonal crafts in general, like this.

* the movies. i somehow manage to gather at least a couple of friends and head to the cinema together. i don't know what it is about the cinema, but we just love it during holiday vacations, and then of course going to cozy cafes.

* lots of jazz. it plays on my computer for hours per day -

billie holiday,

nina simone,

peggy lee,

nat king cole,

michael buble...

what are your favorite things to do during the holidays?

xoxo