There is a storm forecasted for this weekend. On the horizon outside my window, brumous clouds are gathering in a gray sky. A fine mist of raindrops are sprinkling the window. My dorm room is dark except for the glow of twinkling lights and my desk lamp.
I am exhausted. After a particularly stressful week of midterms, I want nothing more than to cuddle up on the couch with a book and a cup of tea. Wonderfully enough, I’m going home this weekend … and going home means still early mornings with tendrils of steam rising from my coffee, long walks through the countryside with my mom, and evenings spent reading good books beside a crackling fire. And best of all, it means cozy movie nights, which are an essential of winter hygge.
If you too are longing for a moment of rest this week, I invite you to join me. Before you begin, make sure to take a steaming hot shower and get in your comfiest pajamas and fuzzy socks. In your designated space – whether its your bed, your living room, your dorm desk – surround yourself with pleasant light: candles, twinkly lights, lamp. Consider grabbing dark chocolate or popping some popcorn.
And of course — make yourself a heartening cup of tea.
When you’re all settled, wrap yourself in the fluffiest blanket you can find and sink into your nest of coziness. Need some movie ideas? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here are a few old favorites that will always lift your heart …
Roman Holiday (1953)
Audrey Hepburn plays Princess Ann, an exhausted princess who, during her official royal tour of Europe, decides to take a day to explore Rome for herself. When journalist Joe Bradley, played by Gregory Peck, discovers her real identity, he offers to take her on a tour of the city. Hilarious chaos ensues that make this fun for any audience. And who doesn’t love a movie with Audrey Hepburn?
Disney’s The Aristocats (1970)
You could close your eyes and pick any classic Disney movie off the shelf, but for some reason this story feels especially cozy. It follows a family of high-society cats who, with the aid of an alley cat, have to find their way home to their high-society home in Paris. This seems like a lesser-known one of Disney’s movies, but it’s every bit as delightful as the rest.
Anne of Green Gables (1985)
This one is a classic for a reason. Based on Lucy Maud Montgomery’s series, it is the story of Anne Shirley, an eleven year old orphan girl who is mistakenly sent to live with a middle-aged couple, Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, who live on a farm called Green Gables in Prince Edward Island. It goes on to follow the adventures (and misadventures) of the imaginative and spirited Anne as she goes to school, makes friends, and learns to live in the quaint town of Avonlea. A couple years ago, I was blessed with the chance to go visit Prince Edward Island with my mom and sister. Believe me, the real place is every bit as magical as the fictional one. If you like the miniseries, be sure to check out the follow-up tv show by Sullivan Media called Road to Avonlea.
Little Women (1994)
Another heartwarming story, based on Louisa May Alcott’s novel of the same name. It narrates the lives of four sisters as they grow up in nineteenth century Concord, Massachusetts. It could be described as a romance, I suppose, but I think a “coming of age” story might fit it better, since it largely focuses on the four sisters and their relationships with each other as they enter adulthood and go their ways in the world. It is heartbreaking at some moments, heart lifting at others; in short, the perfect movie to watch in midwinter.
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
I just discovered this one a few weeks ago and I have no idea how I didn’t hear about it sooner. In this romantic comedy, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks star as Kathleen Kelly and Joe Fox, respectively. They are pen pals online, but since they don’t know each other’s real names, they have no way of knowing that in real life, they are the owners of competing bookstores. Kathleen’s darling little bookstore is called The Shop Around the Corner and it is a homey little refuge for book-lovers. Her apartment is also cute in so many ways that I ended up taking notes.
North and South (2004)
For some reason, any movie based on a nineteenth century novel feel perfect for winter. This four-episode miniseries is an adaption of the grim and dramatic romance novel by Elizabeth Gaskell. It follows the story of Margaret Hale, a woman from the south of England who moves with her mother and father to the industrial cities of the north and finds herself in the midst of turmoil of class struggles.
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
This movie might seem a little out of place amongst all these old-fashioned classics, but I think it is worth it. This live-action remake of the Disney fairy tale is brimming with beauty and is visually stunning. Living up to everyone’s high expectations must have been difficult, but the entire cast and crew outdid themselves. I remember when I left the cinema the first time I watched it, it just filled my soul with happiness because the movie was so beautiful.
Whichever one you pick, I hope you allow yourself to “hygge” it up sometime soon. A good movie, a blanket, a cup of tea … sounds like a recipe for a perfect Sunday afternoon, doesn’t it?
Wishing you a cozy week,
<3 Olivia Grace
