This Week: Love the season

Hard working Yours Truly is really enjoying the days right now.
I am so looking forward to Christmas, and especially the days leading up to the most special time of the year.
I think the COZIEST time is BEFORE Christmas. I have zero problems with decking out the house at the end of November. On the other hand, I want to take it all down again as soon as school is in session again (3 Jan 2011) after the winter break. Nothing looks as old and dusty as Christmas decorations do after the new year has started.

As you all probably know, I have an obscene amount of Christmas ornaments and decorations. I don't even display it all. Some things never make it out of the big plastic boxes where they are stored during most of the year. But, on the other hand, some things are so beloved that I want to have them around Christmas after Christmas after Christmas...

Today I thought we'd take a look at my kitchen, parts of it at least. This is what you'll find there right now...

My Swedish dala-horses always make it out of the box. I really like having them around, and sometimes I light the candles...

Random Christmas ornaments on the table, these will soon be hung in the kitchen windows.

A traditional Scandinavian count-down candle. I have bought the candle online here in the US from an US based store that specializes in Scandinavian things. You will not find these candles in regular stores as you do in Sweden.

This year I have put up new Christmas curtains in my kitchen windows. I bought the curtains last Christmas in Stockholm at Indiska. I like them.

My Advent candle holder (one of them). This one is also bought in Sweden a couple of Christmases ago when we were home for the holidays. The brand is SIA, and SIA has the most precious stuff you can Imagine.

This little gnome is old. He's from Sweden, and I got him as a gift when I was 5 years old from a friend of the family. He was old then, when I got him. I do like him, and he's always a given come Christmas.

A pair of candleholders that I like a lot. I bought them in Middleburg, Virginia in the Swedish shop Skandina many years ago. The shop is no more, and I miss it...

Angels and Christmas go hand in hand. I am not religious, but I really do like angels. Always. These angels come out to play every year. They are bought here in the US. I would say that they are from Michael's...

I have a lot of candleholders in my home. This one is from IKEA.

Cute stuff is everywhere...


These cute little fatties were bought in Stockholm last year. It is fun to buy something new every year. And, when I celebrate Christmas in Sweden I usually go nuts because there are so many adorable decorations in the stores and markets...(I go nuts in the US, too, by the way)
Another Advent candeholder, I guess. I bought it at SWEA's Christmas Bazaar in DC many years ago. I don't use it as an Advent candleholder. I lit all four candles whenever I feel like it.


I love this candleholder!! I bought it in Stockholm last Christmas, at the Christmas market in Old Town! It is so beautiful when lit!





Each and every picture are taken in my kitchen...