Aimee

Aimee lives in a 100-year-old house in Minneapolis with her husband, her two sons and two dogs (one good, one naughty). Over the past ten years, she’s been a lawyer, an entrepreneur, an account manager, and a stay-at-home mother. Her work with Hygge & West has given her a rare opportunity to combine her mad spreadsheet making and googling skills with her love of art and design. She has thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with Christiana ever since they were in the 5th grade and created “The Denver” — a hand-drawn catalog of what were surely devastatingly chic ensembles.

Q. Describe a hygge moment you’ve had recently.

A. Canoeing on Lake of the Isles with my husband and sons the other evening. We inherited my in-laws’ old canoe that my husband used to use on trips to the boundary waters when he was young and it’s one of those special items that manages to last through several generations. I will always have the mental image of when the boys put their hands in the water, leaving a small wake behind. It also reminded me to be incredibly thankful to live in such a wonderful place - where else but Minneapolis can you live less than 2 miles from downtown and one block from a lake?

Q. Describe a hygge place you like to go.

A. Java Jack’s/Rustica is a coffee shop and bakery near my younger son’s preschool. In the summer, they have garage door like windows that come completely up and bring the outside in - and in the cold Minnesota winter, those windows are a reminder that we won’t always have to be shut up inside. Rustica’s breads and pastries are the very definition of hygge - handmade, buttery and exquisite. You get the feeling that a great deal of care goes into everything they create.

Q. Describe an object in your home that embodies hygge.

A. Our porch, which isn’t really an object, but it’s the absolute embodiment of hygge. We have friends over, drink wine, light candles and watch the kids play in the front yard. I recently received my grandparents’ everyday dishes - amazingly, they are the same dishes my mom ate off of the first time that she met them. I thought that the dishes had more meaning than the fancy china that was rarely used. Every single time I use one, which is multiple times a day every day, I think of my grandparents - especially my grandfather who thoroughly enjoyed a good meal.

Q. Tell us about your favorite things.

A. Songs - anything by U2. I love that their music has been a part of my life for the past 20+ years. Different albums remind me of different times, places and people. It’s like a soundtrack to the movie about me. Books - my husband bought me a first edition of For Whom the Bell Tolls as a law school graduation gift and it’s one of my most treasured possessions. I was shocked that he actually remembered my mentioning off-handedly one day that it was my favorite book. I love the symmetry between the first and last paragraph - and everything in between.

Q. Describe a perfect day.

A. The perfect day is impossible as it would require my being able to bend the time-space continuum. But here are a few things that I’d do on the perfect day… Sleep in. Lay in bed with the boys while watching Saturday morning cartoons. Take Maggie to Ft. Funston and watch her jump fearlessly into the big waves after a ball. Eat brunch with the whole family at The Cupping Room or The Bongo Room. Go shopping with Laurie (on an unlimited budget!). Watch MJ skateboard. Listen to Jack sing Wonderwall. Share some really juicy gossip with my sister. Eat a long, romantic dinner at Grove or Le Bouchon with my husband. Go for ice cream with my grandma and grandpa at the Sugar Bowl. Have Christiana over and drink at least 2 bottles of wine on the porch. Watch a good movie on the sofa with Wade asleep with his head on my lap. Put on flannel pajamas and go to sleep.

Q. What is something unexpected that makes you thankful.

A. That I am working with my best friend doing exactly what I enjoy doing - completely unexpected and I am extremely thankful for it.