Man Up directed by Ben Palmer

I’ll kick off this list with one of my favorite lesser-known rom-coms – “Man Up” from 2015. Lake Bell of “In a World” and Simon Pegg of “Shaun of the Dead” have great chemistry in this London-set story of mistaken identity. When Bell’s character Nancy finds herself mistaken for Pegg’s blind date, instead of clearing up the misunderstanding, she decides to pretend to be the other woman. If that premise sounds too cringe-worthy, maybe this isn’t the movie for you. But if you like your rom-coms with plenty of laughs (and a dance number set to Duran Duran’s “The Reflex”), this film will hit the spot!

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As a child, one of the highlights of any visit to my grandparents’ house was seeing the Sheboygan Breakwater Lighthouse near Deland Park. On a stormy day we would look at the lighthouse from a safe distance, but when the lake was calm and the weather was nice, my grandparents would walk all the way down the pier with me to see the red lighthouse tower up close. Though no one lives in Sheboygan’s lighthouse, I would still imagine what it might be like to make a lighthouse your home!

If you or your family are similarly interested in lighthouses, here are some children’s picture books which will light up winter’s darkest nights!

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall

The illustrations are the star in this lighthouse book, from the eye-catching cover to depictions of whales, icebergs, and the Northern Lights. My favorite illustration, however, is a lighthouse cross-section that will fuel young readers’ imaginations. This colorful book is a delight to look at for all ages.

In addition to the fantastic illustrations, Blackall also did her research, and if your curiosity isn’t sated by the main text, check out the book’s endnotes for more historical information!

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