I grew up in the UK and moved to Sydney after I met my (now) husband - he brought me back for a "visit" and I never went back. We now have a hectic (happy) house with a 3yo, 4yo and 7yo.
Australia is my home now, but with Christmas around the corner, it reminds me of how wonderful it was growing up in England with all my family around me and the traditions we grew up with - real Christmas trees, making gingerbread, mulled wine, stockings on the fireplace, walking to church in the freezing cold on Christmas Eve - it really was a magical time.
Christmas is different now (more like 40 degrees than -4), but I still want it to be as full of memories for my kids as it was for me. There are so many great ideas out there on how to create special family memories over the festive period, but I want a tradition that builds excitement over the month of December - something that involves the whole family.
Six years ago I made our first family advent calendar and the next year started making them for family and friends. Last year I started my little business Hyggehaus, with my first product being a beautiful solid wood Advent Calendar, to give other families the opportunity to create their own Christmas traditions.
It is amazing seeing other people get as much enjoyment out of them as we have. Whether the calendars are filled with chocolate, toys, activity cards or acts of kindness notes – nothing can beat the Christmas magic created when a family gets behind a heart warming tradition.