Thanking my followers for being part of my adventure in Lugano, Paris, Madrid and beyond...
Best of nine in 2018!
A transitionary home for my soul stuck somewhere between the Swiss Alps and Parisian chic.
December 31, 2018
December 27, 2018
Christmas in London
It is time to head back... leaving Expat boy behind for him to finish his six-month internship at one of London’s swankiest hotels, the rest of the family hopped in the black cab taking us to St.Pancras station where we heavy-heartedly caught the Eurostar across the channel to Paris.
Five days... and it seems like we know the city. We went from Christmas Carol services at St.Martin in the Fields to watching a football match at Fulham stadium. We had lunch at Quaglino’s, tea at the National Portrait Gallery and dinner at the Aquashard. We loved the Lion King musical and enjoyed skating at Somerset House.
We strolled along the London Southbank and took lots of photos on the Millenium Bridge. We opted not to pay 18.- GBP entrance per person to visit St.Paul’s Cathedral! Seriously?!? I have an objection, a mix of meanness and principle, to paying an entrance fee to see a place of worship. We attended a Catholic Sunday mass St.Paul’s Church instead and celebrated a sung eucharist on Christmas Day in an Anglican Church.
We hit Harrods on Boxing Day and couldn’t miss checking out Harvey Nichols’ Christmas Wonderland window displays. Fortnum&Mason’s, Liberty’s, Hamleys, Maison Assouline, Waterstones and Lillywhites were duly visited as were Bond Street and Covent Garden.
A teenage tour led us through Abercrombie&Fitch, Hollister and Thomas Hilfiger until we found what we were looking for at TopShop... where else?!? And how could I resist Victoria’s Secret?!?
Peggy Porschen and Spectrum were a must see if only for Expat with Kids Instagram account.
Carnaby Street and Kingsley’s Court were much to Expat Girl’s liking while a pub dinner at Shepherd market was a true British treat for the whole family.
A quick walk in Green Park for some fresh air while bumping into the squadron of the Queen’s Life Guards in front of Buckingham Palace and trying to avoid the horrendous crowds heading towards Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland.
By which time we were ready for some real Neapolitan food at Da Maria in Notting Hill just in time to watch the Napoli vs Inter match on Italian SkyTV!
A well deserved rest at the Savoy lounge covered in Christmas galore topped off our London holiday experience.
And although Expat boy could not join us for all the fun, it was great being together again these past days for we’ll have many happy memories to look back on when Expat Mummy finally got her British Christmas festivities after two decades of Natale alla Napoletana.
Annabel’s night club will have to wait for next time...
Five days... and it seems like we know the city. We went from Christmas Carol services at St.Martin in the Fields to watching a football match at Fulham stadium. We had lunch at Quaglino’s, tea at the National Portrait Gallery and dinner at the Aquashard. We loved the Lion King musical and enjoyed skating at Somerset House.
We strolled along the London Southbank and took lots of photos on the Millenium Bridge. We opted not to pay 18.- GBP entrance per person to visit St.Paul’s Cathedral! Seriously?!? I have an objection, a mix of meanness and principle, to paying an entrance fee to see a place of worship. We attended a Catholic Sunday mass St.Paul’s Church instead and celebrated a sung eucharist on Christmas Day in an Anglican Church.
We hit Harrods on Boxing Day and couldn’t miss checking out Harvey Nichols’ Christmas Wonderland window displays. Fortnum&Mason’s, Liberty’s, Hamleys, Maison Assouline, Waterstones and Lillywhites were duly visited as were Bond Street and Covent Garden.
A teenage tour led us through Abercrombie&Fitch, Hollister and Thomas Hilfiger until we found what we were looking for at TopShop... where else?!? And how could I resist Victoria’s Secret?!?
Peggy Porschen and Spectrum were a must see if only for Expat with Kids Instagram account.
Carnaby Street and Kingsley’s Court were much to Expat Girl’s liking while a pub dinner at Shepherd market was a true British treat for the whole family.
A quick walk in Green Park for some fresh air while bumping into the squadron of the Queen’s Life Guards in front of Buckingham Palace and trying to avoid the horrendous crowds heading towards Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland.
By which time we were ready for some real Neapolitan food at Da Maria in Notting Hill just in time to watch the Napoli vs Inter match on Italian SkyTV!
A well deserved rest at the Savoy lounge covered in Christmas galore topped off our London holiday experience.
And although Expat boy could not join us for all the fun, it was great being together again these past days for we’ll have many happy memories to look back on when Expat Mummy finally got her British Christmas festivities after two decades of Natale alla Napoletana.
Annabel’s night club will have to wait for next time...
Carol Service at St. Martin in the Fields
Lion King at the Lyceum theatre
Christmas vibes at Quaglino's
View from the Aquashard
St.Paul's Cathedral admired from the outside
Panoramic view on the Millenium Bridge
Skating at Somerset House
Harvey Nichols' window champagne display
Burlington passage
Pimp my car
Dinner at a local pub
When you go over the top with Christmas decorations
Peggy Porschen's Christmas wreath
Hotel Claridges' tree of love
Changing of a guard?
Liberty at Christmas
Paddington Bear at Hamley's
Maison Assouline's inspiring world of beyond!
Covent Garden
Hitting the sales at Harrods
Christmas galore at the Savoy Hotel
Dinner Menu at Da Maria's
Spectrum's Instagram set-up
Annabel's at Mayfair
December 24, 2018
December 21, 2018
A Christmas tree à la Parisienne
Of course, Christmas would not be the same without a stroll through the Parisian Department Stores... the most classic of all being Le Bon Marché. How many Instagrammers have immortalised their picturesque escalators? This year the Bon Marché's decorator opted for hanging Christmas trees much to my delight!
I cannot resist perusing through their Christmas department every year to discover the trend in Christmas baubles. From traditional to quirky, Christmas tree decorations don't come any more festive than this!
A view of the Bon Marché's escalators
Who would want to hang a Camping car on their tree?
A space inspired Christmas tree
Father Christmas' trip to the moon
NASA is calling
Pink onions anyone?
Broccoli, how eccentric can you make your Christmas tree decoration?
Gotta love these orange coloured carrot ornaments.
A little Dutch clog
Hmmm, do you feel the vibes?
Asparagus bauble, anyone?
Now, these are my colours...
Pick and choose!
Getting sidetracked by a lovely selection of cookbooks.
A great gift idea for French foodie lovers.
Even kids can have fun with Paris' themed gifts.
Most original Christmas gift idea so far... a glittery gold set of Ping Pong rackets!
A touch of pink can never hurt!
December 19, 2018
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...
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
