Secret Santa / Julklappsbyte 2015!

På svenska längre ner

It's time for the annual* Christmas Gift Exchange! It's a fun Christmas gift swap, often with people from many different parts of the world.

So how does it work?!

All participants will send and receive a Christmas gift!

Email me at komheden (at) hotmail . com by 6 December and provide your name, address, blog url or Instagram (not necessary for participation), three things on your wish list / things you like and three things that is not your cup of tea.

I will send you an email with a name and address of a person as well as the information about what s/he wishes / likes and don't like. You will then send a wrapped gift worth a maximum 100 SEK (10 euros) and a Christmas card to your designated person by 15 December.

Spread the word! The more the merrier!


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Det är dags för det årliga julklappsbytet! Det är en rolig julklappsutväxling, ofta med folk från många olika delar av världen (av vilka majoriteten är svenskar pga en blogg- och Instagramgemenskap med svenskar som bor utomlands).

Så hur fungerar det?!

Alla deltagare kommer ge och få en julklapp!

Mejla mig på komheden (at) hotmail . com senaste den 6 december och ange din adress, eventuell bloggadress eller Instagramnamn (ej nödvändigt för att delta), tre saker du önskar / gillar och tre saker som inte är du.

Du kommer sedan få tillbaka ett mejl med en adress till en person samt information om vad hen önskar sig / gillar och inte gillar. Du skickar sedan en inslagen julklapp värd max 100 SEK (10 euro) samt ett julkort till din utvalda person senast den 15 december.

Sprid ordet! Ju fler desto roligare!

Isolde on the lap of Saint Nicholas (two years ago) who is celebrated on 6 December in Belgium, among other countries

* Initiated and most often organised by Emma, and by me last year and again this year. 

Secret Santa / Julklappsbyte! NEW Deadline / Nytt sista datum!

På svenska längre ner

Emma has organised a Christmas gift exchange among bloggers and others for a few years in a row now but this year she's a bit swamped and I have promised to substitute for her!

So how does it work?

All participants will receive and give a Christmas gift to someone still unknown person!

Email me at komheden (at) hotmail.com by 8 December and provide your name, address, blog url (if you have one), three things on your wish list / you like and three things that is not your cup of tea.

I will send you an email with a name and address of a person as well as the information about what s/he wishes / likes / don't like. You will then send a wrapped gift worth maximum 100 SEK and Christmas card to your designated person by 15 December.

Spread the word!

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Emma har organiserat ett julklappsbyte bland bloggare och andra några år i rad nu men i år har hon lite fullt upp och jag har lovat att vikariera för henne!

Så hur fungerar det?

Alla deltagare kommer få och ge en julklapp till någon ännu okänd person!

Maila mig på komheden (at) hotmail.com senast  den 1 december och ange din adress, eventuell bloggadress, tre saker du önskar / gillar och tre saker som inte är du.

Du kommer sedan få tillbaka ett mail med en adress till en person samt information om vad hen önskar sig / gillar / inte gillar. Du skickar sedan en inslagen julklapp värd max 100 SEK samt ett julkort till din utvalda person senast den 10 december.

Sprid ordet!

10 Years!!

No, it's not my anniversary with Peter. We've "only" been together for 9 years in November (and married for four). It's my blogoversary!! Yesterday on 29 September - and I forgot about it then even though I thought about last week - it was exactly ten years ago since I posted my first ever post. I only blogged two or three times that autumn and the blog really got going in the spring of 2005, but still, I think it counts. I will need to make some sort of post about what the blog has "lived through" in this decade, both in my life and the world at large. Just think of the people I have met through the blogging community, such as Petchie whom I now consider a very close friend, not just here in Brussels but in general.

I hope for at least another decade of fun and new encounters through Anna, Fair and True!

December Last

Thursday is bullet point day and since I haven't done one for a while I thought I'd restart this Thursday theme today.  I haven't blogged about our two weeks in Sweden over the holidays yet, nor about the weeks leading up to Christmas.  It is perhaps a bit overdue and not in anyone's interest to read about Advent and Christmas now, but for my own record here are some pics from December.

• My mum visited in early December (that weekend I got stuck in Copenhagen Thursday to Friday) and she performed her grandmother duties very well and baked both ginger cookies and saffron buns with Isolde (and I helped a little too). 

 

I brought some of the saffrons bun to work for the Christmas drink and another colleague made very delicious salmon and caviar treats = the Swedish contribution

 

• I think I mentioned this in a previous Thursday post but without any photos, so here is one of perhaps the cosiest holidays/celebrations of them all, Saint Lucia.  In Sweden we very rarely every go to church, except for weddings, christenings and funerals, and the occasional Advent or Christmas service, but when living abroad the church becomes a very important meeting place, and something that provides a sense of community and contributes to continuity of Swedish customs and cultural habits, whether or not you are a faithful believer or not.  Peter has started going to the church's playgroups, mainly with Harald on Tuesdays but sometimes also on Wednesdays with both children.

Saint Lucia with the children's choir at the Swedish Church in Brussels

• I participated in Emma's Christmas Gift Exchange again this year, and this year my Secret Santa was Petchie!  I don't know if Emma planned it this way, since she knows we are neighbours here in Brussels, or if it was just a happy coincidence :)  And I sent my gift to Emma - and it wasn't that secret for natural reasons since she organises the draw.  Well, the gift was a secret but she knew it would be from me :)  I hope she liked her present (this reminds me that I have to double-check that she received it)!

Petchie-Santa brought me a note book and a range of different cards.  She had read my letter to Santa carefully!  (Sorry about the feet in the picture!)

• In Sweden the tradition is to decorate the Christmas tree on the 23rd of December, just the day before Christmas (Christmas Eve being the most important day of Christmas in Sweden), but since we knew we were not going to stay in Belgium over the holidays, we got a tree already the second week of December so we could get into the Christmas mood (the anticipation of Christmas is the best part after all). I'm quite minimalist in terms of Christmas ornaments (the opposite of Annika haha), and we didn't bring all our Christmas stuff to Belgium anyway (though Peter brought a few additional baubles for the tree when he went home that same weekend my mum was here) so in addition to the tree we only had a few other decorations, mainly made by Isolde at school.
  

  

  A bit funny-looking, at least the top part, but it was good enough for us.

 

I really like this little Russian doll nativity set!

 

We received a handful of Christmas cards.  I wish more people would send them, but on the other hand it is better for the environment if they don't I guess.  We still send a real card, with pictures of the children.

One of Isolde's creations.  Harald was rather fascinated by it, maybe because it was even bigger than him!

Another of Isolde's creations from school, a Saint Nicholas and a mushroom (I need to google why toadstools are typical Christmas ornaments, it can't be only because they are red and white??)

And the prettiest Christmas ornaments signed Isolde, though this one I think we can use throughout the year as it is more pink than red.

• We also tried to take some Christmas portraits of the children but it was a bit difficult... In the end we opted for a Christmas card with photos from throughout the year instead.

Take 1

Take 2

Another day

Christmas card 2013

Christmas Gift Swap!

It's finally time for the annual Christmas gift exchange!  Emma is our coordinator as usual.  Visit her blog for more details, but just in case you're not a Swedish speaker (and you certainly don't need to be Swedish to participate), here are the instructions in English:

All participants will receive and give a present to someone still unknown... Email [Emma] at rappapiraya@hotmail.com by 1 December and provide your address, blog url (if you have a blog - not required), tre things you like and three things that are not you.  You will then receive an email back with name and address to a person to whom you should send a wrapped present (new and not used - but I think regifting is fine) and a Christmas card.  You will be provided information about things that person wish for / like / don't like and you are free to send something you think will be appropriate!  The value should be around 100 SEK (10 euros) and you should try to post it by 7 December.

It's really fun both to pick out something for the recipient, also to wait for a package from your own Secret Santa!

2012 Christmas Present Exchange

In this year's Secret Santa that Emma organises every year I was treated to some Florida treats by Katrin aka Swede in Florida. I'm looking forward to devouring saltwater taffy and trying the orange coconut marmalade and especially the alligator beef jerky. Thanks Katrin!

I sent my gift to Cecilia in the UK. I was a bit late but I hope she has received it by now. She doesn't have a blog so can't check. I sent a necklace, a owl birthday card and sweets (must for Swedes abroad), according to her wish list :) No photo evidence though.

Can't wait for next year's Secret Santa!

We Meet Again

Fellow blogger Anki with family was visiting Stockholm today and stopped by our hoods (also familiar to them from their student days) at the end of day for a chat and playground time for Isolde and E. Last (and first) time we saw them was in November when Isolde and I visited them, so it was so great to see them again! And fun to see the kids play together. Hope to see you again soon!

Blogmeet (and Work) in Lund

This evening you find me in a hotel room at Lilla Hotellet in Lund due to a little work trip (onto Malmö tomorrow).  I took the train southwards mid-day today and when arrived and settled in the hotel, I met up with Västmanländskan and accompanied her home to her family for dinner and a chat.  It was the first time we met and it's always so exciting to meet a fellow blogger IRL!  Thank you for a lovely evening!

I walked back to the hotel through beautiful Lund scenery on a warm evening. Summer is really here now! Here are some pictures from my walk.

It's very green now.  I love the yellowy green of early summer!

Lund University Library, Lund's most beautiful building according to Västmanländskan (if I remember correctly).

I liked this student house.

I love all the brick buildings in Lund.  I think this is the the University's Department of Philosophy.

There's an exhibition about climate change outside the Cathedral.

One of many streets with cute little houses in Lund.

Secret Santa

One of the highlights of the year, Emma's Christmas Present Exchange, just took place.  My gift travelled to Karin in Åland (hope she has received it?!) and I received a package that had travelled much further.  Thanks Annika!

"Who are these jolly people?"

"Mummy, let's open this one first!"

"I like the Christmas ornament - and especially the bell inside - but mum likes the cards the best.  And the iPhone gloves will come in handy when I want to play Peekaboo Barn while out in my pushchair."

Books Etc.

Finally I have had a chance to play detective and find out who my secret book friend is (I participated in the book exchange Pocket & prassel in case you don't remember) even though the package arrived over a week ago. I think it's Mrs E who's the culprit!

Look at the lovely content!  In addition to the book - which sounds really good - and a film that I haven't seen either, I got some tasty licorice (all gone already!), chocolate (almost gone!) and tea, a shopping list note pack, ribbon and a little gadget for curling ribbon (can't wait to try it!) and a nice card.

Thank you!

Blog Date

This morning Isolde and I met Marianne from Nya äventyr (New adventures), previously in Kairo and now in the metropolis Älmhult (or thereabout) for fika (coffee and cake) before she had to catch the train back to the birthplace of Ikea. I'm so happy we were able to see each other 'cause it's been a while since last time!




Via Anna's iPhone

Sweet News

Just heard that my blog (and now also IRL) friend Petra has given birth to a baby boy today! Sweet Pea is finally here! All children are little miracles but some are a little more longed for because they took a bit longer in the making.

Congratulations!!!


Via Anna's iPhone

More BlogPresents

Thank you Stella & parents for the cute Ralph Lauren top! It will be perfect now during the summer.


Via Anna's iPhone

Flicka

Another blog baby has been born! Anne and Martin in Oregon are now parents to a baby girl!

Congratulations!

Another One

Västmanländskan's baby and T's little brother is here! Finally, if you ask Västmanländskan. An addition to the blog baby gang!

Congratulations!

Thank You!

Two new blog gifts have arrived!

Thank you Emma for the adorable socks :)

And a cuddly blanket and booties from Olgakatt and Marianne. Thank you!

Via Anna's iPhone

Thanks Saltis!

Another gift arrived for Isolde today! The world is full of wonderful people, and especially of fellow bloggers!



Thank you Saltis & family for the cool pajamas and cute shoes! I like the eco touch on the PJs - they are made of 50% soy beans. I bought something similar the other day; made of bamboo :)

Hope to see you soon so you can meet Isolde!

Another Blog Baby!

Anki had a little boy on 6 February! A bit earlier than expected but all seem to have gone well!

Congratulations & Welcome!

Isolde's New Blog Buddy

Marie had a little Alfred on Friday (my birthday!) - he's very cute!

Congratulations to Marie and Engelsmannen &Welcome to the world, Alfred!

Thank You Bejla!

Isolde thanks Bejla for the cool gift from Greenland, a rattle ball in sealskin (right?)! Isolde must be one of few children in Sweden with one! I expressed a liking to it a while back (before I was pregnant and had a friend in mind then) but never got around to ordering one via Bejla but evidently she remembered! :)



Via Anna's iPhone