I even though decorated the vase. I always take out my Christmas tree to first of Advent and decorate our house. I want to feel a little bit of Christmas even in Belgium before we go to Sweden... I have to say, Christmas is not Christmas till I ending up at mamas in the Swedish countryside Småland ( its not the playground at IKEA hahaha, its a real area there IKEA started once upon a time) I put my cosy clothes on, open up the fire and drink "glögg", a Swedish Glüwein and eating mamas cookies... My mum is a fantastic Christmas decorator in the traditional Swedish style. We even though cut our own tree at the farm... watch up for pictures from Sweden around Christmas day! Down under earlier year at mamas! Kissy and Ophilie are helping me out! I turned the autumn branch to a Christmas branch. I put some handmade hearts (made by me) with glass pearls in and some metallic Christmas decoration, angels and stars. Angels are important. I hung one in the kitchen lamp, she hangs there the whole year around. Like she protecting us :) I got a sweet angel (Sigtuna) from a sweet little student last year. She moved home to Sweden and she has started up in first class with me. And also, the same year, in fact, an angel (Wilroy en Bosh) from a dear college. Sunday the first of Advent, we light up the first candle. This year I made a candleholder from an old baking tray. I put some green moss, pine and blue berries from the Parthenocissus quinquefolia. The berries stay for quite a long time. I even put the berries on the brass wreath I bought in Sweden. I couldn't dare to not put some pearl into it also ... less is not more, for me hahaha... No advent without real Swedish "Advents fika". I went up early to bake Swedish " lussebullar". Safran bun. And that to my homemade "glögg", with red wine, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom in a sugar layer. We have visitors from Sweden, old colleges and friends from Brussels. they live normally in Gothenburg, my old hometown. Maybe the perfect give away gift,,, homemade strawberry jam... and suddenly the summer is not so far away! Enjoy the good things in life.. flower it!