Liverpool light in darkness

 Cold night warmed up by the soaring music of the Swedish Lucia celebrations at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. Candlelit crowns and the procession of a goosebump inducing soul stirring choir dressed in white gowns. Utter bliss. It couldn't have been any more wintry followed by a hot chocolate with whipped cream in the pop up ski lodge under the illuminated Christmas tree in the heart of the city.

As we walked around, past revellers and festive romancers we found a light show projection onto a building at the historic Albert Dock and fairy light scattered carousel horses reflected in those cold waters of maritime tales and yellow submarines. The lights of Liverpool. a city of great culture and a lot to explore day or night. Stumbling upon the oldest building in Liverpool that is now an arts venue,the security guard couldn't have been any more helpful and despite it being closed, he delighted in telling us all about the history of the place. But that's what you come to expect from Liverpool, proud people full of life just like their city. 

Winter styling ideas with a Scandi feel

I think winter home styling might be my favourite for it's all glowing lights and nesting with layers and the snug feeling of relaxing in the cosy rooms you have created. The style that I instantly think of is Scandinavian and that fresh simplicity but warmth and that word which I used to love s much but now it's everywhere.......hygge *screams!*

But although the word hygge is now ingratiatingly overused, I still love the ethos and above all I love Scandinavian and winter style and try to recreate elements of it in my own home for Christmas.

Image source

Natural decorations:
Add lots of greenery, wooden decorations and pine cones. This weekend I purchased a small fir tree for the windowsill, a sprinkling of glitter and a little red pot, it may not be snowing outside but I have that wintry feeling. Think of gathered fir and conifer shaped onto wire wreaths and mossy pots of hyacinth. A trip to a local florist or supermarket at this time of year can yield inexpensive greenery to decorate the home with. Zinc tubs of holly and a single fir branch in a glass bottle are so simplistic yet very effective.

One Kindesign

Candles
My favourite, a gentle source of light for the room from tea lights in lanterns to dinner candles and pillar candles arranged in all sorts of displays using greenery. You can really creative with the moss, pine cones, fir and holly - collect some from a winter's walk or the garden. Sometimes as I'm out and about I'll see bundles of holly being sold on a country lane with an honesty box. Children in the house, be safe and use battery tealights and candles or strings of fairy lights. 

Trendenser

Textiles and furniture
A new throw or a new statement piece for the room. Look at designer chairs and homeware to brighten a room up, layer with knitted blankets. I love the crisp feel of reds and whites together for Nordic inspired rooms. The shops are full of cushions with snowflake detail and festive colours in which you can add to a sofa or a bed for a quick seasonal update.

Taverne Agency

The tree of course!
Christmas is on its way and this weekend will be time for me to put the tree up. I'd like to have a smaller tree and pop it in a bucket this year, decorate simply with warm white lights for a simplistic look. I love the dinky trees that you can pick up from the Christmas markets or from the local shops. If you have the room, a tree in the kitchen or the hallway looks really cute and is a pretty welcome for guests. I have a mini tree at the front door which was a bargain supermarket buy that has grown so pot grown trees are worth the investment for future years. 

Willow Decor

Kitchen treats
Frosted cookies in jars and cinnamon sticks add prettiness to gorgeous Christmas scents to the kitchen. Bake a batch of pepparkakor biscuits - orange zest, ginger, brown sugar..... get the cookie cutters out and then ice them with white icing in delicate designs. Each year we like to ice a gingerbread house and I like to leave it a little while, so beautiful as a decoration in the kitchen that I hate to eat it.

Vibeke Design

Stars
At Christmas market you will find stalls selling lots and lots of these paper lantern stars, different colours, golds and silvers,  and intrinsic paper-cut designs. A Swedish tradition and you could try to make your own to hang in a window. An inexpensive way to bring a hint on Scandinavia to your home

Planete Deco

*Featured post

Chester Cathedral Christmas spirit

 A tradition of ours is going to Chester Cathedral at Christmas for the tree festival and their storybook recreations, this year A Christmas Carol. From the vision of the ghost of Christmas present looming over Eberneezer Scrooge in his bed to Jacob Marley in his chains, a wonderful way to explore the Cathedral especially with young children.   Then the trees lining the cloisters, so many varied decorations from fun and quirky red rubber ducks to traditional angels and baubles. At one point a door opened and out walked all the choristers in their red robes which was a lovely sight, all getting ready for choral evensong.   The Cathedral is spectacular at any time but around Christmas it's amazing with all the twinkly lights and the exhibition. It was fairly quiet too in the evening so a little eerie as we walked around, not that LB was scared at all. 

Decorating the tree

 Every year we head off to Delamere forest to pick the tree, just a few to choose from and different types from spruces, pines and firs, then of course all different heights. This year after mental note from last time, we quickly picked a perfect 6ft bushy Nordmann Fir and legged home with it as it was a very rainy night. Little Bird was a bit frightened too and was keen to get back into the car - I suppose it was a little creepy amongst all those trees in the dark.  With being so busy, this time it was decided that we would go for more of a minimal look rather than letting every single Christmas decoration we own explode around the room. I love a Scandinavian feel so some little wooden decorations that my mum found in a charity shop were scattered around the branches and mixed with a few existing ones from little snowmen to my favourite nutcracker men.
 Lights untangled, angel watching over from her lofty height and presents already appearing under the tree. It's all feeling really cosy but I would still love some window decorations, like a snowflake from Cox & Cox or maybe some added woodland charm with birch bark snowflakes and stars to go with the red berries of the ilex stems on the mantelpiece.   White lights sparkle in the window and I've had some sweet remarks about the tree which makes me happy as I want the house to look warm and inviting, that hygge feeling. My favourite time now in this last stretch to Christmas, I may still have plenty of shopping to do but coming back to the home filled with festive spirit is keeping me going. 
*Collaborative post*

Nottingham Christmas Market

 Every year we like to visit a different Christmas market, fill ourselves up with stripy fudge and sample some delicious foods from german potaoes to garlic mushrooms, Bratwurst, roast chestnuts and crepes with all kinds of toppings.

Rows of chocolate coated plump marshmallows and decorated gingerbread hearts beckon us over. Gathered in bunches by pretty ribbons, iced in bright colours - Frohe Weihnachten

All with a mulled wine or cider to keep you warm, just the aroma alone is enough to reduce the chill. 
 Chalet stalls sell interesting and beautiful gifts- wooden toys, Swedish stars, candles and colourful woolly hats. A colourful extravaganza to fill your senses and empty your pockets at the same time.   The City Hall was bedecked in winter finery of twinkling bauble lights and an ice rink was one of the star attractions although we didn't go on it. Every year we love the Christmas markets more and more as Little Bird comes out of his shell, he's trying more food and enjoying the festive feeling and looking around at all the stalls.

Have you been to any Christmas markets this year, would love any recommendations for next year?