I hope US readers had a wonderful holiday weekend with your loved ones. I spent the past few days at my parents’ house, and relished not even touching a computer or going shopping. Instead, I…
and discovered the magic of making gingerbread houses/villages. If you have kids (or kid-spirited adults) in your household, this might be one the best $5.99’s I’ve spent.
My parents served as blind judges and inspected our houses for structural integrity and decor. First prize went to brother Ed (an engineer, so it wasn’t really fair), Nick came in at a close second, and lil’ brother Schuyler and I tied for sloppy thirds. Ed is leaving soon for a semester in Stockholm, Sweden – any readers who have visited or lived there, please share any “must do’s” or “must sees” !
Hi! I'd love to get the directions on how to make this display case! I found this picture from a Google search and scoured your blog for the instructions but did not find them. Can you point me in the right direction?
I'd like to second Gamla Stan. It's really a gorgeous place that I think is unique to Stockholm. Do the boat cruises as well (I wish I'd had time to do one, but I didn't.) Your brother might also be interested in visiting the Svenska Academien, or the Nobel Academy that is in Gamla Stan as well. They had a listing of all the Nobel Prize winners when I was there 6 years ago.
The gingerbread houses are wonderful, and I just realized that I go to school with your brother Ed!
Making a gingerbread house is going to be one of the things on my winter bucketlist!
@Anonymous Sure thing – it's the BR Octavio heels at the end of this post: https://www.extrapetite.com/2011/10/cobalt-skirt-remixed-banana-republic.html
@Anonymous We get that a lot! : )
I store my jewelry the same way. Love it because it is easy to see all my "options."
I spent a glorious 3 days in Stockholm in June 2007. We just got "lost" and followed the locals. Were i to go back I would try and take the boat to Estonia.
Those houses look festive and adorable! Ed and you have very similar smiles, while your youngest brother and you seem to have eyes which look alike.
it's me again about the 11/21 tweet pic shoes…thanks anyway! but can you tell me what brand they are so i can look for them? thanks! 🙂
the photos of your family (the boys) putting ginger bread houses together are priceless and so special x
Cute pics. All we do is talk and eat. We visit both his family and mine, so holidays are hectic. But Christmas is on 2 separate days this year, yay!
@Anonymous Ah, darn it…I returned them and put them on hold for another blogger who wanted them. I think they are gone and will check with her.
u and ur brother do have the same smile! it's a nice warm friendly smile though…nothing bad.
thx to aubs for notifying me that info, lol!
Happy thanksgiving! I did a semester in Stockholm as well (a long time ago!). The archipelago is beautiful, something to do in the spring time if your brother's there that long. Skansen park/museum is really cool because it features a lot of swedish heritage in an outdoor setting. If your brother likes hockey, catching a game at the globe arena would be cool. The architecture is nice and you get to see a game 🙂 A lot of students take trips to helsinki via a cruise ship. helsinki is pretty small and you can see it in a day but it's fun with a group of friends. In the winter, you can walk out onto the frozen water for at least a mile. Another trip is to go see the ice hotel and the norther lights in norther sweden. I didn't go when I was there but would like to someday 🙂
hope these help!
Family time is always the best! Glad you spent a stress-free week w/ the fam!
xo, tasha
twenty-something blog
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Love you blog!!! Can't wait to see your jewelry organization method. Can you also do a post/video on jewelry collection?
thanks !!!
Cute!! My nieces are coming to visit mid-December and they are already talking about making gingerbread houses! 🙂
Looking forward to seeing your jewelry display!
Glad you had a relaxing long weekend! 🙂
looks like a very fun way to pass time on thanksgiving! i haven't made a gingerbread house since i was a kid…i'd love to do it again! can't wait to see the finished diy piece!
Looks like you guys had a wonderful time with your family. Making gingerbread house is one of the things that we planned to do with little Courtney this Christmas. I haven't been to the outlet mall for a while but sounds like I didn't miss anything =)
Hi Jean! U tweeted a photo of tan heels on 11/21, can u tell me what store you will be returning those to? I'd gladly take 'em!
Those tiny gingerbread houses you made are so cute. Aside from the eyebrows, your brother Ed looks a lot like you!
Yay, making gingerbread houses is such a fun pass-time. Looks like you had a great weekend. <3
xoxo
Sexy Little Things
your little brother is super adorbs. You guys all have the same lips. 🙂
What a fun-filled time. Love all the holiday sweets.
http://www.thegirlieblog.com
your brother's ginger bread house is so neat and well constructed.
Sounds like you had a nice time not being online 🙂 Gingerbread houses are a great way to keep the flow of the holiday spirit! I will get this kit too, although my parents aren't any good at inspecting structural integrity LOL
I love your little brother's name!
I love making ginger bread houses 🙂
It's nice to unplug and spend time relaxing… says the girl on the computer!
Stockholm is so cold this time of year! But it's still really beautiful. He can go skating at Kungstradgarden, or visit Gamla Stan for afternoon tea. Also, I highly recommend the boat tours. Don't know if he'll be into shopping but T-Centralen is great for that! I remember Gina Tricot had pretty good fit for petites. Maybe you should visit while he's there 🙂
-Cecilia
Looks so fun! I've only ever made gingerbread houses in class… my family isn't big on Thanksgiving and such, haha.
xx maggie
Your brother Ed's gingerbread house looks professionally made! Looks like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Now, to look forward to Christmas…:)
Enjoyed the pics, thanks for sharing! I can't wait to see your DIY, it looks lovely. Reminds me of this sunglasses storage (http://cupcakesandcashmere.com/sunglass-solution/) I wanted to try but then I realized I didn't own enough sunglasses, lol.
BTW did you study abroad in college? I never found the time and the 1-2 week vacations I've taken abroad just aren't the same as living in a place. I hope your brother has fun!
Your brother Ed looks just like you! what a beautiful family hehe. He has the same smile as you =)
Jean, your brother is cuuuuuuuute!!!! I'd say the same thing about Nick, but he's yours. lol!
Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
That jewelry box looks lovely – I've seen some DIYs but am looking forward to reading yours as I'm sure it will be very clear 🙂 I really want to find a better way to storing my jewelry but some of my pieces are too chunky to store easily! Glad you had a great Thanksgiving 🙂
helloo, looks like an awesome thanksgiving! was an exchange student in stockholm in 2009 and compiled a list of stockholm to dos and must sees. happy to email the list to you (it's pretty long), how do i do that please? 🙂
Looks wonderful! The jewellery case looks amazing. We tried the gingerbread house decorating one xmas at a big organised event and loved it. These look so cute!
Love your gingerbread houses! I have done this many times with friends and family, and it always ends up being so much fun.
I am excited to hear more about the DIY jewelry case. My treasures have staged a hostile takeover of my bathroom/closet, and they desperately need a more organized way to see and be seen!
I loved the Swedish Christmas markets! They were fun. Be warned that it gets dark by 3pm! It was so strange and really cold! I was only there for a weekend though and didn't get to do as much as we hoped. Boo. Think I'd go again but not in winter!
So cute, they look like they're really concentrating and working hard.
I always wanted to do those gingerbread houses but my family isn't that creative. Hahaha! Looks like a fun thanksgiving weekend. You didn't do Black Friday? I realized even outlets are expensive, even with their percentage off.