Happy Thursday ladies. It’s also Christmas Eve and Jólabókaflóð in Iceland! This tradition of exchanging books and drinking cocoa on Christmas Eve is also called the Christmas Book Flood. How fun is that? 
This tradition started during World War II when paper was one of the few things that was not rationed in Iceland. It has become a cultural phenomenon that I can wholeheartedly embrace. Books can be tricky gifts to choose but are always welcome in our house.
Here are some great books I’ve either read or have on order:
Do you have some great titles to share? What’s on your list to read next?
WEARING – FAUX FUR COLLAR DOWN VEST – NORDIC FAIR ISLE SWEATER – STRETCH CORDUROY STRAIGHT LEG PANTS – VELVET BIRDIES
This is as red as I’ve gone with my wardrobe this holiday and I’m finding it very festive! I hesitated to buy these Birdies because my daughter isn’t over the moon about hers, but I’m wearing them all the time! They run very generously through the toe box so I’m finding them super comfortable on my wide feet.
I’m wearing an 8 petite in the pants, a regular medium in the sweater, and a regular large in the vest which is way too large for me. I like the length but I need the small one.
I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday season. Your presence and comments are what make this blog what it is and I am extremely grateful for each one of you.
I will be with my family tomorrow and back here on Saturday for our regular would you wear it.
Make it a great one and remember to treat yourself with love and kindness.
Merry Christmas to you & your family 🎄
I have come to term with being alone ,just the 2 of us this Christmas.
We are going to be fine & safe,
Your red vest looks so festive.
You have always reminded me to look my best even though we are staying home.
Thanks for your positive perspective on daily life through this strange time.
Dianne🇨🇦
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Merry Christmas, Dianne!!
Merry Christmas, Jennifer!
Your Icelandic greeting brought back so many wonderful memories of our month in Iceland. A couple of years ago, we explored the whole island except areas that were still snowed in and we braved snow squalls along the east coast. Having been brought up in a Danish & Germanic speaking home, I could understand a lot of Icelandic. Did your family come from Iceland?
You look lovely in the red outfit. Thank you for such a positive, truthful and interesting blog. Good luck with your hand issues (mine have osteoarthritis & I’m early ‘60s).
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Merry Christmas, Elizabeth! I was born in Canada as were my parents. My great grandparents came from Ireland and England.
Thanks Jennifer for putting yourself out there for all of us to enjoy each day. We really needed-your sunny smile and down to earth demeanor this year. May Santa bring you and yours a year of good health and warm hearts.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Merry Christmas from Alberta! Looking forward to a better New year.
Merry Christmas Jennifer, to you and your family.
Love the red vest and especially with the sweater, great look!
I look forward to reading your posts and have enjoyed learning new things and then finding I needed to be reminded about other things.
Blessings for the New Year
Merry Christmas Jennifer. I am sitting here debating whether to wear either my new navy dress or the red one today for Christmas lunch. Seeing you in the fabulous red vest has made the decision for me – it will be the red, paired with tan wedge sandals. I have just started to read Antony Beevor’s book on the siege of Stalingrad, but not sure if you are a military history buff Lol. Have a safe festive season.
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I bet you looked amazing! Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas from KY where it is very cold and snowing right now. Since I can’t be in AL with my son and family, snow flurries are my consolation prize!
The red vest is so pretty on you. Thank you for the information on the book trading tradition in Iceland. I just finished reading Daughter of Molokai by Alan Brennert and now I am reading The Book of Unknown Americans by Christina Henriquez. Both very good reads. I appreciate the names of the books others have read. May you have a lovely Christimas Jennifer. thank you for all you do.
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Merry Christmas Claudette
We’re spending Christmas alone but I won’t let that deter me from making all our favourite recipes, playing Christmas tunes, and enjoying the twinkling lights. Life is too short to not enjoy every day.
Merry Christmas Everyone from Vancouver Island!
Merry Christmas, Jennifer! I love the Icelandic Christmas Eve tradition. Perhaps I should incorporate it into our Christmas plans for next year.
Perfect outfit to lift the spirits! I love reading all the comments. All of us are stil a little shell shocked and Christmas is different this year but we are still living, learning and loving so life will move on to better times. Happiness after all, doesn’t stay with us. It comes in bursts, moments in time, and we cherish them. Enjoy this Christmas and hold it close.
Jennifer, I join your other readers in saying that your posts are the first thing I read in the morning! Thank you for your fun, interesting, educational, and inspiring posts.
That red vest is a winner! Hope you will get lots of wear out of it throughout the season.
I am reading Jack by Marilynne Robinson and The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante. Both are great reads!
Merry Christmas and good health in the new year!
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Merry Christmas Bea!
Oh yes to RED!! You look fab in this color and should wear it more often 🙂 May you have a Merry Christmas with your family and a very Happy New Year!!!
Merry Christmas, Jennifer!
You look great in the red vest! It’s such a happy color to me.
Thank you so much for the time and effort you put into writing your blog. It’s the first email I look for every morning. You’ve been through a lot this year, but you have always maintained a positive attitude. Here’s to a better 2021.
I don’t comment much on blogs even though I read several. I always enjoy your blog along with Pam’s. You look wonderful in that red vest – the color really suits you so hopefully you’ll branch out into that color in the next year. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
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Merry Christmas, Vicki!
Merry Christmas!! 🎄
This Christmas will be my husband and I only. We were unable, unwilling, to make the trip to the mainland. I have been trying to think of ways to spend Christmas Eve. Love the idea of reading and drinking cocoa, or maybe an eggnog latte with brandy! Anyway, good choice on the red vest! Very festive, and eye catching! The color causes people to look, and then see your beautiful smile. A heart warmer for sure! Merry Christmas to all!
I’m currently reading The Secret Women. Just finished Bodie on the Road. Great story about a woman who adopts a rescue pup and goes on the road traveling with him.
Merry Christmas Jennifer, thank you for providing your informative blog. I agree with the previous ladies, the red vest looks wonderful on you!
I loved Travels With Charley so this seems to be along the same lines. Will check it out. Thanks Nancy for recommending this book. Merry Christmas.
I look forward to reading your blog every morning. Merry Christmas.
Great outfit!! Some good books I have read lately.., the Hideaway by Lauren Denton, and The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner. Both very heartwarming and are about the bonds between mothers and daughters and a grandmother. Hope you enjoy ‘
Merry Christmas and Happy New Yea🎄🎄🎄
Merry Christmas, Jennifer! I look for your blog when I open my email each morning. It is always one of the first things I read. Thank you for writing it. I feel like we are friends even though we have never met. I love the red vest. This year we need all the Christmas we can get and your red vest certainly says “Christmas Joy” to me.
Merry Christmas Jennifer to you and your family.
Many thanks for continuing your blog during this crazy year, it was always the light at the end of that tunnel.
Lynn
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thank you so much for your daily blog. I enjoy reading all your posts. It’s been a highlight of my day, especially this year.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. And to all the lovely ladies who comment and read your wonderful blog. We always learn some fun facts from you and appreciate your hardd work.
Jan did remind many of us of the great treat of the bowl of nuts and I actually like the brazil nuts as hard as they are to get out of the shell. We had two sets of tools to share and such fun with a hot chocolate and Christmas excitement. We are getting freezing rain and much snow so staying in and safe is even easier. Best to all.
Merry Christmas Jennifer and family. You have brightened my days through the pandemic with your postings. Hope your days are bright throughout the holiday season and in the new year. Suzanne
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Merry Christmas, Suzanne
I love love love the Talbots sweater and vest on you! It’s very flattering and festive! Enjoy a very Merry Christmas with your family and a healthy happy New Year!
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Thanks Dawn. Merriest Christmas wishes to you too 🎄🎄🎄
Merry Christmas to you and hopefully a much happier new year 🎄⛄
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Merry Christmas, Rose 🎄🤶🏻🎅🏻🎄
Merry Christmas to you and your family. I am new to your blog and I want to thank you for your posts. Hopeful for the new year for all of us. Blessings
Oh Jan……………..your memory of the bowl of mixed nuts and the nutcracker set sent me way back! Our bowl was made of wood that had the inside all smoothed and polished, but the outside was bark (lacquered or something to keep it from disintegrating) and the tools had their own little holes in the middle. Yup, shell bits everywhere……………and avoiding the Brazil nuts!
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Ours was wooden too!! Nothing fancy, just an old salad bowl but wow, it was fun. I’m still not a fan of the Brazil nuts :).
Carol, your description of the nut cracker set is exactly how I remember it!
We had that same nut bowl and I love Brazil nuts! Happy memories.
Merry Christmas, Everybody!
Happy Christmas to you and your family, Jennifer! 🎄🎁⛄️ Thank you so much for your wonderful blog!
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Thanks for being here with us Terry. Happy and Merry Christmas!🎄🎄🎄
Merry Christmas to you and yours! You look lovely in the red which is my favorite color. Have a wonderful holiday, be safe and well. Love, love, love reading your blog each day!!
Merry Christmas to you and yours.🎄
The red looks great on you. So flattering.
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Merry Christmas, Nancy
Merry Christmas to you and to all your fun subscribers.
You look wonderful in that clear red.
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Thanks, Susan. Merry, Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas. That red makes your whole face come alive. So happy to see you branching out into more color. I love the whole outfit, but then I love Talbots winter clothes.
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They make some of the best, festive clothes!! Merry Christmas, Pam
Hi Jennifer,
I recently found your blog and absolutely love it!
I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Stay safe and be well.
Karen
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Welcome! Merry Christmas, Karen.
Wishing You and Yours a safe and happy Xmas.
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Merry Christmas, Pat🎄🎄🎄
I know it’s been a challenging year for you Jennifer but I just want you to know how much I value your posts. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year!
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You’re so kind, thank you Linda. I’m so glad you’re here. Merry Christmas!🎄🎄🎄
Some of my earliest memories of Christmas Eve probably are from the 1950’s. My mother would use her cast iron skillet and make a batch of old fashioned cocoa/sugar fudge. The recipe was on the cocoa can. We would gather around the kitchen table and thoroughly enjoy this treat while it was still warm! There would also be a large bowl of mixed nuts and the nut cracker set put out as a holiday treat! Needless to say, little bits of shells flew everywhere!
These simple joys brought a lifetime of precious memories!
Merry Christmas to all!
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Beautiful memories❤️ Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!🎄🎄🎄
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Jennifer! I came across your blog this year and have enjoyed it very much! Lots of fun inspiration! BTW – You look great in your outfit!
Happy holidays!
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Happy Holidays, Eileen!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Jennifer ! Enjoy your day.❤️🎅🏼
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Merry Christmas, Paulette 🤶🎄🎅🏻
The large vest fits fine over the bulky sweater, In Ohio you would be zipping it to the top! It’s raining now but is expected to be 18:degrees by Christmas morning. We are excited to have a cold white Christmas this year. Books and chocolate for certain!
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That’s chilly! Merry Christmas