Advent time of an Expat in Paris

Christmas officially starts with the Primary School Holiday Bazaar when the premises get decked out with glitter and gold and you can feel the tiny tots' excitement growing. All proceeds go towards the "Children without Cancer Foundation" which sets the theme for the season: "Better Together!"

December 6th the Swiss Samichlaus knocks on the door and Expat Girl and I bake Grittibänz (sweet bread men) for the family to devour over the weekend.

Two weeks ago the Christmas tree went up in our living room and all the little Swedish handmade wooden Father Christmases found their place on our dining room table - much to my unenthralled hubby's opinion.

My Christmas cards have been dispatched, the Christmas gifts have been purchased - despite the gilets jaunes' protests - wrapped and shipped. We have hosted two Christmas dinners this weekend and tickets to the Nutcracker ballet are booked for tomorrow night's performance at the legendary Palais Garnier .... all of this when we still have a week to go before it’s Christmas.

I have never been so on top of things... feeling chuffed I took myself off to some hot yoga this morning for some meditation and sailed though the Yves Saint Laurent exhibit this afternoon for some inspiration!!!

Let the festivities begin...

Homemade arts and crafts on sale for a good cause

Grittibänz: it definitely tastes better than it looks! ;)

Homemade Christmas cards with a Parisian touch for friends who have moved abroad

Gotta love those Pink flamingo gift tags my friend sent me! 

Christmas tree delivered for free... what a treat!

This year's addition: una cafeteria italiana!

Swedish Tomte figurines

The things you can learn in youtube!?!

Pinterest inspiration!!!

Good old family turkey recipe

Yves Saint Laurent's office in Paris