Merry Christmas!

Little sister striking a pose

Cheese, crackers, and gingerbread cookies before dinner

Christmas tree decorations

Sis got this cute Santa from mom

Face timing with my 90 year old grandfather in the US

The dessert spread

Merry Christmas everyone!

While a lot of you are probably celebrating Christmas today, we already celebrated yesterday. The tree was beautiful, the food was good, the company great, and I got so many nice gifts from everyone. After dinner we Face timed with my 90 year old grandfather in the US, how cool is that!? And before dessert we Face timed with my sister’s boyfriend who’s in NYC. Thank you for your magnificent technology Apple.

There’s more photos to show, but I’ll save them for another time. I’ve got to get busy with my studying now, I have so much work to do… phew. I know I’m not alone though, my brother’s girlfriend also has exams and studying up-to-here. So send a little study motivation and strength our way please.

t’was the night before Christmas…

The 23rd of December, commonly referred to as “uppestittarkväll” here in Sweden (an evening for sitting up late with family waiting for Christmas, which is celebrated on the 24th here). Scrap that, sis and I had a girl’s night instead!

I spent the entire day yesterday cleaning like a mad woman. My place sparkled and smelled divine when my sister came over. We got lots of time to catch up and chit chat over dinner and wine and snacks while watching Crazy, Stupid, Love. A movie my sister hadn’t yet seen, and I didn’t exactly mind seeing it again. Two hours of Ryan Gosling? Yes please.

Couldn’t have asked for a better Sunday, night before Christmas, 23rd of December, or “uppesittarkväll”.

My cosy Saturday

I had such a wonderful Saturday! I was lucky my sister was home when I got out to mom’s place yesterday afternoon to start my Christmas baking, I got her to help me out a bit. I made truffles and saffron fudge that tasted good but didn’t look very pretty. I was too distracted talking to my sister – and recording video greetings to send to her boyfriend in NYC – that I apparently forgot to focus on making the candy look appealing. I also forgot to snap photos of the final product so you’ll just have to believe me that candy was actually made. Post-baking, I spent some time playing the piano, and then goofed around with my sister some more.

I’ve got a pretty busy day ahead of me today, on the agenda is a visit to the gym followed by cleaning my place from top to bottom and throwing in a load of laundry before meeting my sister to shop for this evening’s girl’s night! We’re having cheese and other goodies, and watching a movie. You can bet there’ll be plenty of girl talk too! Ohh, I can’t wait!!

Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!

(Click images for source)

Merry Christmas 2011

xx Tina

Photos for Anna

Last year, my friend Anna came to visit all the way from Australia. She did an impressive journey through Europe and stopped in Sweden in the beginning of December.

I showed her around Stockholm and we saw all the Christmas decorations. The big fancy department store, NK, do a new holiday display each year and Anna and I checked it out together last year.

Since you couldn’t be here again this year, these photos are for you Anna. This is what the display looks like this year.

What do you think?

Saffron fudge



Here’s one of the things I baked today. My, soon to be, traditional saffron fudge. I made it last year too.

Other than a batch of saffron fudge I made chocolate truffles with a splash of Cointreau. I’ll get photos of it all at Christmas so I can show it off. Haha…

Busy day before Christmas



I’m exhausted! I’ve been going non-stop today: laundry, cleaning, baking, fixing the last things for Christmas, exercise etc.

I also fit in a much needed coffee date with Malin, so we could catch up and give each other a Christmas hug.

This evening I meet up with my mom and sister to go for a walk in town to check out the Christmas decorations. The tiny bit of snow we got the other day is now gone. It’s been warm today and raining so it’s all melted away.

Despite all my baking and Christmas fixing I have lost my Christmas feeling. I can hardly believe it’s Christmas eve tomorrow. I hope I feel more in the holiday spirit tomorrow.

Hope you all have a nice evening!

Let me introduce… the Christmas tree!

The tree is up in all its glory! I have to say, it’s a good one this year. Lots of thick, bushy branches. I decorated it yesterday evening and I like the result. A lot. Smells nice too.

Is your Christmas tree up yet?

The baking result: Saffron Buns

I made three different kinds of lussebullar. Two of them with fillings, one with orange zest and almond paste and the other with almond paste, raisins and cinnamon. And the rest of the dough I used to make the regular traditional lussebullar. They came out fluffy and lovely, so I’m pleased with the result. And the place smells lovely now!

What bake goods are staples for you at Christmas? 

Saturday inspiration: Gingerbread houses

With only a week left until Christmas I thought I’d decorate the blog with some pretty gingerbread houses to spark your creativity (and mine). I’m off to buy ingredients to get started on some Christmas baking, I might make a gingerbread house today too.