Christmas and the month of December is my very favorite time of the year. The day after thanksgiving is my family’s rule when we can start playing Christmas music, wintery candles will be lit around the house and the decorations and Christmas cheer start soon after. And then to top it off we all start to watch our favorite Christmas films. Who doesn’t love “The Holiday”? Or “Love actually”?

Ever since I was little it was the countdown to Christmas that was the most exciting time for me. Advent calendars and sweets around the house, hot chocolate stations and candy canes, what isn’t there to love? The festive spirit during those 24 days until Christmas is something I absolutely love. Then the 25th, opening presents and a delicious family lunch is really what it’s all about. This year my family will be dressed in my new match your mini collection of PJ’s and robes.

I do adore a big Christmas tree decorated with large pine cones and fairy lights, then all the ornaments that I have collected over time come out. Christmas wreaths are all about sprigs of pine, pinecones and cinnamon sticks, as well as winterberries, oranges and holly, I find them not only beautiful, but oh that smell of Christmas!

Our tree always goes up the first week of December with just the fairy lights and pine cones, then The second week the family comes together to decorate it - normally over a weekend. Each member of the family has a favorite ornament and I'm pretty sure they still get the same pleasure from decorating the tree as they did when they were little. It's a great way to get together and celebrate the spirit of family and Christmas. I have a Christmas playlist on Spotify that I've been adding to over the years, but it's pretty much the same music that I play every year. Click here to listen to it now on Spotify.

We have Advent calendars scattered around the kitchen. My favorite, are these beautifully painted house ones that I found at Fortnum & Mason in London. I fill them with sweet treats, little gifts like: jumping jacks, silly putty, Legos, but now that the kids are big and only two at home it is mainly chocolate and sweets.

December is the month for ice skating and when we were living in London, Somerset House or the Natural History Museum Ice Rinks were a must, followed by hot chocolate. Winter wonderland in London is just the best and I wish they had the same thing going on here in New York, However NYC has lots to do.

New York has a beautiful ice rink in Central Park or Rockefeller Plaza. It is also the season for the Nutcracker Ballet, which is a perfect way to get into the mood for Christmas. There is the Christmas show performed by the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. But in any city its the festive lights that are up which makes it so special.

Whichever way you like to celebrate, make yours a happy merry healthy Christmas!