Fairy Lights and a Happy December

We are almost halfway into the month of December and it's been a good start to the season so far. As the year draws to a close, the days seem to bleed into the next, making time pass twice as quickly. While we start to (or have already started) the holiday gift-grabbing spree, here are ten ways why it's begining to feel like Christmas already:

1) The malls are draped gloriously in Christmas ornaments matching their December splendour; the window displays resemble a scene out of "A Christmas Carol" and I almost find myself tasting snowflakes.

2) Mom put the usual Christmas CD on loop early in the morning, so we get to hear cheerful carols all day long. Boomer radio online has a great selection of Christmas music, which is all I listen to currently and recently every time I am on the computer. My personal favourites include Baby, It's Cold Outside and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. Last Christmas by Wham! brings back fond memories of my sweet 16.

3)

We're not having a tree at home this year. Inspired by fairy lights here, we'd broke out the Christmas decorations, stringed white fairy lights in the living room and filled a clear vase with fuschia and silver baubles and golden pinecones to use as a centrepiece for the dining table. The pair of reindeers were actually bought from Daiso @ Plaza Singapura for an amazing SGD2.00 each.

4)

The BFF returns from down-under for this season of cheer (as with all past years), of course, we had to go out on a little Korean food date and some Asian desserts! The little darling turned finally turned 21 this year, so this will be her first Christmas as an adult!

5)

There are more reasons to pick a day out of our busy schedules, save it for that special dinner date with the girls. There's something strangely exhilarating about writing that appointment in your trusty ol' appointment booklet from last Christmas. Friday's cosy dinner gathering: pasta at Arbite and durian mousse at Dessert Bowl. Seems like the good old days again.

6)

This year's Christmas presents came in early. Don't we all just love thoughtful gifts?

7) Starting on Le Projet, making mistakes along the way, and finally deciding to unravel hours of my hard (and heart) work to start all over again. Talk about perfecting that first handmade knit.

8) My fingers sting as though I've just made a pomander ball, but in fact, it was because of Le Projet. Something which involves aching arms, superb concentration, christmas carols and maybe a cup (or two) of coffee.

9) Picking out holiday cookie recipes here , and the best ways to package them here .

10)

And of course, we'd celebrated l'anniversaire de mariage de mes parents with some fast, fancy and romantic dessert: Molten chocolate lava cake fresh from the home oven (recipe here).

I'm sure we're all ready for Christmas, nést-ce pas?