Dec 25th

Merry Christmas everyone!

Dec 24th

I had no idea what I wanted in the way of Christmas flowers until I saw the silvery branches at the garden center. I bought hose along with a red amaryllis and some small black (slightly glittery) stones.
At home I got out the big vase.

It looks grand.

And yet so simple.

Just the way I like it.

Happy Christmas Eve!

Dec 23rd

I wonder...
..can you detect the secret ingredient in my plum marmalade?
*grin*

Dec 22nd

What is your favorite holiday sweet?

Ever since I was a kid, it's always been these green marmalades.
I couldn't tell you why..
I used to get a box from my Grandma every Christmas.

Then my parents joined in.
Then my in-laws...

I don't gobble them up right away though.
I like to open the box and let the marmalade dry a bit, a week well hidden usually does the trick.
It's a good thing to have one box out for everyone else to eat and keep one hidden ;)

Dec 21st

I wonder what these three are up to?

Dec 20th

Remember this sequence of pics from last winter showing the amount of snow?
December 2009, January and February 2010.



Let's take at look at December 2010, shall we?

We're way ahead of the game already...
*sigh*

Dec 19th

It's already the fourth advent.
I'll share all four in one post.
Keep your eyes open now to spot the differences ;)

(ooops.. someone knocked the number four askew..)

(yes, I dusted the table between advent three and four..LOL)

I picked up these black metal numbers this year.

They are pushpins :)

Dec 18th

Snowflakes outside.
Snowflakes inside.

I bought these a couple years back and love the subtle twinkle.

It's my favorite thing about this season...

Decorating our dining room.

Even the chandelier gets a facelift.

Dec 17th

I have this sweet glass Xmas tree I got as a present two years ago.
I love it.
Love it. Love it.
(Kiitos Lenni ja Minna!)


Last night Niina switched the decorations :)

I like it this way too...

Very cute!

Dec 16th

At the end of November I spent some time at work making new ornaments for our tree.
The old ones were quite horrid and by luck of draw had been tossed out (along with the old tree) during renovations.

So, I mentioned I had seen an idea online I thought would work fabulously.
Mind you I added a little twist to mine.
I printed, glued, folded and glittered for three days :D

Then I decorated the tree.
It looks oh so pretty by the school main door.

Yup.

Still tearing out pages from old copies of Johnny Tremaine :)

Dec 15th

Lights downtown :)


These are my favorites!

The ferriswheel.

Not all pretty lights need to be Christmas lights.

I snapped this from the bus :)

Dec 14th

A secret passion.

Of sorts.

My small collection of mercury glass ornaments.

I haven't bought one this year.

Yet.

*grin*

Dec 13th

Today is Saint Lucia Day.
She brings warmth, hope and light.
I give you some of my favorite kind of light this darkest time of year.

Dec 12th

We did something special yesterday.
We got a professional family picture session :D

Saara got lucky at the Habitare exhibit and won us an hourlong session.
This is a portait studio to my taste: young, hip, relaxed and fun.

I can say we had a blast and a half...

Next week we get to go back and check out how the pics came out.

Can't wait!

Dec 11th

You know what?

It just doesn't get much prettier than this...

Dec 10th

This is the time of year to go window shopping.
And let your eye rest.

Loved those beanbags outside the main Marimekko store :D

So many windows were understated this year.
Lots of white and linen with just a hint of red.

Isn't that lampshade cool?

My favorite was quite dramatic...

The Ice Queen.

Dec 9th

We got snow last week.
Then we got snow on Monday.

And I'm not talking of an inch either...

Yesterday I got caught in a flurry downtown...

During a seven minute walk I had de-snow myself three times!
That's how thick it was coming down.


But it sure looks pretty on my street.. all 40cm of it..
That's a good 16 inches.

At the moment Helsinki has more snow than Lapland :D

Dec 8th

I saw this great idea some time ago, I think on One Pretty Thing, of course I can't find the link now.. sorry.

Basically the idea is the same as with the wreaths, wrapping yarn around it to bring out the shape.
And then decorating it.

Here's the rest of that broken bracelet :)

I also made a green Christmas tree.

With silver bells....

Easy and quick!

My favorite kind of project.