A European Christmas Market

Happy Friday folks! "Christmas tree ornaments" is the theme on my blog this week. I've been telling you about the new additions to our tree and the stories behind them.

Today's post is extra-special because it's something I was able to cross off my bucket list just last month. You see, I've always wanted to experience a Christmas market in Europe.

My husband and I spent the Thanksgiving holiday in England, and our gracious hosts enthusiastically took us to London's Hyde Park. 

The annual "Winter Wonderland" opened that weekend, and I was as excited as a child on Christmas day. Here it is, a European Christmas market!

Wooden houses trimmed with pine and fairy lights lined a path. These are shops selling beautiful crafts, unique gifts and tasty food.

 There's a skating rink...

 And a huge carnival with rides and games.

{Yes, we braved the rain!}

There's also a carousel {which I thought was frighteningly fast}. 

 There are stalls selling drinks like hot chocolate, coffee and 

mulled wine -- just the right antidote for the cold weather.

There were also German beer gardens offering savories 

like sausage and potatoes. 

 Handmade sweets to enjoy or take home.

But what I loved most were the crafts:

Santa Claus and Christmas trees made from wood

Canvas and burlap totes and leather bound journals  

Tea light holders with mosaic-like winter scenes 

Undoubtedly, I was drawn to the handmade wooden ornaments in various designs like nutcracker soldiers, hearts, stars, moons and drummer boys.

 I chose this set of angels holding musical instruments.

They're made in Germany.

Aren't they adorable? A lovely souvenir from my first European Christmas market. I really hope this will only be the first of many.  Have an awesome weekend, ya'all!

A Day at the Harbour

For the long Thanksgiving weekend this year, my husband and I crossed the pond and visited some friends living in Kent, England. We always have a great time with them because we have so many things in common -- the love for food, treasure hunting, and exploring little towns.

One of our day trips was at the Whitstable Harbour, also in Kent. 

It's a coastal town with a rich history in shipbuilding, 

fishing and diving. 

It's a very popular destination during the summer when the weather is nice and all you want to do is hang out by the ocean. Every July, there's an Oyster Festival where you can indulge in oysters and other seafood at very reasonable prices. Visitors eat these right there, with the view of the water.

Hooray for oyster shell recycling! 

Another claim to fame of Whitstable are the independent shops such as the butcher, a bakery, clothing and shoe boutiques, as well as toy stores and gift shops. No commercial establishments except maybe a bank and a sandwich shop.

 Isn't this candy store darling?

And this book store, too! 

There are several charity shops {their version of what we know as "thrift shops" in the US, where profits go to a specific charity} which were a joy to browse in. Many of them sell packs of Christmas cards just in time for holiday mailings.

In a corner of one gift shop, I found these -- wooden ornaments for 50 pence each! 

I'm not quite sure where they're made, but they remind me of Swedish ornaments {Is that a good assumption given that I've seen something similar in Ikea...heehee?}.

They don't exactly fit our white and silver-themed Christmas tree but I got them anyway. I can probably use them when we decide to add an accent color like red in the future.

Or I can turn them into gift toppers to add some TADA! to an otherwise blah package.

Anchors Away

A few weeks back, I went on a quick Boston getaway. 

Here's a souvenir from that trip:

It's a tree ornament in the shape of an anchor. 

It's made of wood and rope.

It was a serendipitous find at the Boston Tea Party Museum gift shop. After spending part of my day at Fort Point, I was crossing the harbor on Congress Street, and decided to make a stop. They sell Boston/Massachusetts memorabilia and collectibles, tea sets and food items on top of the seasonal merchandise like Christmas ornaments.

I made a mental note to schedule a museum visit on a future trip which promises a multi-sensory experience {ex. actors in costume, interactive exhibits, a walk through the ships} dramatizing an important event leading to the American Revolution.

There's also a Tea Room in the premises...great for an afternoon snack after learning a bit of history.

Now that this anchor ornament adorns our tree, it quickly transports me back to the gorgeous coastal towns of Massachusetts such as Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard, the beautiful Boston harbor, the boats on Charles River. Sigh. That thought alone makes me happy.

Peace and Liberty

Hello there! This week, it's all about Christmas tree ornaments on my blog. When we first got our tree, we bought a bunch of white and silver trimmings in one go -- we didn't want a bare and blah tree after all. Over the years, picking up a new piece or two was standard. This time, each one had a story behind it.

Today's ornament finds roots in England. 

Over the summer, I was able to go back to one of my favorite cities -- London. And I made sure to stop at Liberty on Regent Street.

You can tell by the Tudor-style exteriors alone that Liberty is one magical place. It's been around since 1875 and has always been associated with impeccable design and luxury. 

 Fresh blooms, sold at the door, bathe you in fragrance as you enter the store.

The Tudor design continues even inside -- dark, heavy wood, and not the typical glass and steel of modern department stores, adds to the overall shopping experience. 

This winding staircase and light fixture makes me wish I was wearing an elaborate dress and petticoat, instead of casual jeans and sweater.

The staircases lead to small rooms and TADA! you'll find yourself at the ladies or men's department, the home section, the cafe' and so on.

I love the lace buntings and paper honeycomb balls on this floor. It's decorated this way because...  

It's the Christmas shop! It's located on the top floor, dressed up with fairy lights and walls upon walls of Christmas things like decorations, party crackers, gifts, candy and greeting cards. 

I spent more than an hour here, just mesmerized.

Many items were a bit pricey, but I had to get a little something for our tree. 

I chose this white wooden dove with gold accents. It was light and easy to pack in my suitcase. 

I liked its symbolism, too -- "Peace on Earth" and "Liberty", just like where it came from.
   

Christmas Ornaments

Hello Lovelies! Have you started decorating for the holidays?

This is what our Christmas tree looks like. It's a fresh Fraser Fir tree, meticulously and ceremoniously chosen at a plant nursery in our neighborhood. Once we find "the one", we load it up on top of the car, bring it home, and set it up in a tree stand filled with water. My husband cuts away the netting and we take a whiff of the intoxicating scent of fresh pine. Then we string on the lights and hang the ornaments!

Our colors are white and silver, reminiscent of newly fallen snow on Christmas morning -- very calm yet festive. When we eventually get tired of this scheme, we can easily add another set of ornaments in a new color like red or gold. But for now, it will remain white and silver.

The ornaments were purchased in department stores, dollar stores and craft markets. Some were gifts, some were handmade. But over the years, we've made it a point to pick up an ornament when we travel. I love the thought of ornaments, no matter how inexpensive, of having a story to tell. 

This week, I'll share with you the ornaments I recently found, starting with this:

It's a sand dollar. By adding a piece of twine, it can be hung on the tree...TADA! I'm not sure if this is a real sand dollar or just a replica. It's delicate and looks very real.

It's a souvenir from a day at the beach, specifically from The Sand House in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. {I really hope the store wasn't damaged by Hurricane Sandy!}

The Sand House is a delightful store with treasures from 

the sea like shells...

and starfish...

and many nautical-themed gifts.

When I see this sand dollar ornament, I'm reminded of trips to the beach with family and friends.

I'm reminded of blue skies, warm rays of sunshine and the scent of sunscreen lotion.

And I'm reminded of care-free days in colorful suits, with no agenda except chasing the waves.