quoi de neuf – wishes for a whimsical December

Salut et bienvenue decembre! We welcomed in December here in northern Ohio with a bang – an old fashioned snow storm ❄ Tis the season! Not really too much that’s new this month, with the Covid still running rampant. Still, I am enjoying the excuse to stay home and enjoy our beautiful Christmas tree and stay cozy by the fire. Here are some odds and ends, or should I say quoi de neuf – wishes for a whimsical December.

listen

I’m continuing to listen to all the YouTube holiday music, I find something new each day. I was so sad to hear one of my favorite podcasts, The High Low is ending, I don’t think there is anything that could replace it! Still I am searching. The girls did mention The Gemma Collins Podcast, perhaps I’ll give it a listen today. They also talked about how much they like Desert Island Discs, I’ll put that on my list too.

What I did find and listen to is the SmartLess podcast with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett. The first one I played had Paul McCartney as a guest! Awesome – it was a great podcast. I subscribed and am looking forward to more.

watch

Of course I am watching all the holiday movies and such. Watched The Grinch, I’m sure I’ll watch it again. Have Rudolph recorded ✔ I see The Christmas Chronicles 2 starring Kurt Russell & Goldie Hawn is on Netflix, for sure watching that!

What else? How to make a Christmas Yule log: Yann Couvreur teaches Othilia Simon. From Vogue Paris on YouTube and one of my favorite pastry chefs, the foxes! I’m so blessed to have been able to visit his shop in the Marais on our last trip to Paris. What I wouldn’t do to visit at Christmastime! Speaking of The City of Light, Super Walker is Back to Paris!

shop

I’ve already talked about some whimsical gift ideas, I’ve got to get cracking on the jams and granola! Here are some more things I’ve found. I just ordered this mask from Coach 🦄. What about this beautiful floral face mask from Lotuff?

I will be ordering this Vacherin Mont D’Or from Murrays Cheese before it sells out, like I have for the past several years. I first found out about it from Ina Garten. I know its a big splurge, but it is so worth it and again, tis the season.

Oh, no another fox tee… Sister would like this tee😜 And speaking of whimsical, I need to order some of these holiday cards from Jahna Vashti on Etsy tout suite!

make

So many fun things to make this time of year! This Red Wine Pasta looks awesome. Super festive too for the holidays, just garnish with a little fresh basil. I will be making it very soon! I’ve been doing salad week this week, bien sûr, after the long holiday weekend. Doesn’t this VEGAN CAESAR BRUSSELS SPROUT SALAD w CRISPY CROUTONS look like a delicious way to use the rest of my brussels sprouts for dinner tonight?

The aforementioned High Low talked about how much they loved Marks and Spencer’s Prawn Sandwich. I am duplicating this for sure – a delicious something special for the holiday season!

I just saw a post on Instagram from Fox in the Snow – they make in-house marshmallows, dip them in chocolate and cover them with candy canes. I must replicate! Would make a great gift too! Here’s a recipe for Peppermint Chocolate Marshmallows to get inspired by. And here is a recipe for the actual marshmallows.

Check out the santa clause cookies from Half Baked Harvest! At first I thought, no, too much effort. But the more I looked at them, the more I just had to try. I started gathering supplies last night 🎅.

One last beautiful thought from Charlie Mackesy. Quoi de neuf – wishes for a whimsical December – short but sweet! See you Friday for something Frenchy or something foodie, I haven’t decided yet 🥂 À bientôt!