[Living Abroad] Christmas On The Other Side Of The World

How is it December 2017?  O tempo está VOANDO! (Time is flying!)  This will be my fourth Christmas in Brazil.  And while I enjoy spending the holidays by the beach, it always feels a bit weird.  Being Canadian, I associate Christmas with cold, snow, family gatherings, and a full schedule of potlucks, parades and parties.  Being far away from loved ones it can be lonely(my first Christmas here there were a lot of tears) and I find it tricky to get into the “Christmas Spirit”.  I’ve polled a few experienced expat friends on the matter: Sarah Reimer, a Canadian living in Thailand, Kathryn Cross, a Canadian living in Australia, and Kristen Wruck Hammer, an American living in Brazil.  These are some things we do to make it feel more Christmasy even when we’re sweating.

• Crank the Christmas tunes.  In Canada you can’t escape the bad Christmas music – the same annoying songs(although some good ones) are played on the radio and at the supermarket for at least a month.  Here in Brazil I have yet to experience this, which is kind of nice, as not to get sick of the songs, but also not nice because it can be easy to forget that Christmas is coming and it’s up to YOU to put on the tunes at home!  Now you can skip all the crap and just listen to the good stuff. I always start with the Good Lovelies, Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald.  I also have a Christmas playlist on YouTube: (click image below to open)

• Canadians, four words: Vinyl Café Christmas Tour.  Go, right now, subscribe to the Vinyl Cafe podcast so that the Christmas ones will appear in a couple of weeks.  If that doesn’t get you in the spirit, nothing else will.  Take care though, you may end up feeling nostalgic and homesick!  For Stuart McLean newbies, he’s a fabulous storyteller and every year he does a Christmas tour around Canada with a band, so it’s a great combination of tunes and heart warming stories.  I recommend this podcast to everyone, Canadian or not.

Stuart is great any time of year…

• Watch at least one Christmas film.  I’m sure we all have a favourite.  It’s not Christmas time for me until I’ve watched Love Actually.  It’s not just my favourite Christmas movie, it’s my all time favourite movie.  Just in case you wanted to know.

• Throw or partake in some Christmas parties.  Last year the kids and I threw a birthday party for Jesus – we had cake, cookies, and other goodies, colouring sheets and snowflakes, and we read the story of Jesus’ birth in the Jesus Storybook Bible.  It was a big hit.  You could also host or attend a potluck for other expats, especially if you’re far away from family and friends!

• Make your house smell delightful.  Every year, Kristen makes an aromatic pine spray, and also diffuses an essential oil blend of clove, cinnamon, orange, and nutmeg.  Last year Sarah’s expat friend gave her a ziplock bag with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and cardamom, with instructions to simmer it on the stove if she missed that “Christmas-y” feeling.  

Sarah’s spice mix

• Coooookiiiiiieeeees!  Kristen makes gingerbread cookies every year and this year she and I are planning a cookie exchange where each person brings a plate of cookies and everyone goes home with different kinds.

• Books and Activities for Kids.  Being involved with children can help a lot with getting into the Christmas spirit.  Last year I read the Christmas stories in the Jesus Storybook Bible for my boys(aged 1 and 3) every morning at breakfast.  Get your hands on a Christmas story you like(or ten!!) and read the heck out of them!

Some more thoughts:

Sarah:

Though I truly love living abroad, I find one of the major challenges is being away from home/family during holiday times.  Being in Thailand, I have felt especially removed from bustle of the Christmas season that I’ve known for so many years.  As Christmas music has begun already in early November at home in Canada, I am over here lathering on sunscreen and heading out the door in flip flops.  When I don’t own anything warmer than a jean jacket, I definitely have to use my imagination to get in the Christmas spirit!  Aside from listening to Christmas music at home, and watching “Home Alone” (one of my faves), here’s a couple things that really help bring back that Christmas-y feeling:

I always look forward to Christmas Skype calls with family at home.  Last year I skyped them from a beach in the south of Thailand!  My husband and I also made sure to whip out our Santa Hats and wish others that we saw on the beach a Merry Christmas 🙂

Sarah and her husband Zack spending Christmas in Koh Lanta, Thailand

Kathryn:

I get out the Christmas stuff/music earlier than I would if I was in Canada…having it around and set up longer helps.  

Keeping some traditions I grew up with helps it feel “real,” like opening Christmas jammies on Christmas eve, and having a large fake Christmas tree.

Planning to celebrate a meal with friends so you get that “family feel”

Don’t try and cook a traditional Christmas meal… it’s too much effort, and at least for me I don’t feel like eating heavy food when it’s 40 degrees out or having the stove on for hours…

Try and embrace some local traditions (going to the beach, eating salads and bbq seafood, playing cricket – or not….etc)

Doing some kind of Advent Calendar if you have kids helps build the anticipation!  We like “Truth in the Tinsel” 

Kathryn and her family keeping cool in Perth, Australia

Kristen: 

My husband comes from a family where Christmas was not celebrated, and so it can be a lonely time of the year for me as it lacks all of the things that make it “Christmas”! So one thing I do is buy little presents from the States during the year and hide them. Then when Christmas rolls around, I’ve forgotten about them, and it makes it feel more normal to open things on Christmas Day. Sometimes you have to get creative!

View from Kristen’s home in Florianopolis, Brazil

Here’s a fun Christmas diddy to get you started!

Have you spent Christmas abroad?  What did you think?

Expat friends, Christmas 2015

[Food] Lindsay’s Top Ten Cookie Recipes

I LOVE COOKIES!  I made chocolate chip oatmeal cookies from a mix at least three times a week when I was growing up.  I had that technique DOWN.  I prefer making cookies from scratch now, and am always trying new recipes.  Here are my ten favourites.  Pour a glass of milk and enjoy.

1. Peanut Butter Banana Oat Chocolate Chip (Do not contain gluten, refined sugar, eggs or butter)

I’m not sure which website this recipe came from, but I wrote it down in my recipe book and it’s probably our family’s favourite – not only because the cookies are healthy, but because they really are so, so good.  I don’t make them all the time because it uses quite a bit of peanut butter, which is expensive in Brazil.

Ingredients:

2-3 mashed bananas (depending on size)

1 c. natural peanut butter

1/4 c. liquid honey

2 1/3 c. quick cooking oats

3/4 t. salt

add ins: raisins, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, cinnamon

Combine ingredients together in mixing bowl.  Drop by spoonful onto greased cookie sheet and bake for approximately 15 minutes at 325 degrees F.

2. Chocolate Macaroons (no bake, does not contain flour or eggs)

Photo from Google Images.

This is my grandmother’s recipe for this classic chocolate oat-coconut cookie.  My mother and I both made this recipe all throughout my childhood.  They have a lot of sugar in them but they really are amazing.  Often when I try a new recipe I will modify it to see if I can make it healthier somehow.  I wouldn’t advise that with this recipe.  It’s perfect as it is.

Ingredients and Instructions:

Combine together in large pot over low heat:

2 c. white sugar

1/2 c. milk

1/2 c. butter or margarine

Bring above ingredients to a boil and add 1 tsp vanilla.  Allow to boil gently for 1-2 minutes.

Add in 6 T cocoa

1 c. fine coconut

3 c. quick cooking oats

pinch of salt

Mix together and drop by teaspoon onto tray or waxed paper.  Allow to cool.

3. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies (do not contain flour or butter)

In case you don’t like or have any bananas, this is another great simple peanut butter cookie recipe.  Click here to be taken to the recipe at Ambitious Kitchen!

4. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

It’s like pumpkin pie met chocolate chip cookie and had a baby.  Soft, moist and delicious.   Click here to be taken to the recipe at Averie Cooks.

5. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Lentil Blondies (vegan, healthy, gluten free)

Yes, lentils. Don’t knock it til you try it okay?  A great way to get some nutrition into your dessert!  Click here to be taken to the recipe at Ambitious Kitchen.

Photo courtesy of Ambitious Kitchen.

6. Flourless Chocolate Chip Cookies

This recipe is very good as well, using an oat flour base – you just need a food processor/blender to blend up your oats(or buy oat flour if you don’t have a blender).  Also, this recipe doesn’t make very many cookies.  I think I quadrupled it to get a normal batch(18 or so) cookies.  Click here to be taken to the recipe at Chocolate Covered Katie.

A picture of happiness. Am I right?

7. Chewy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sea Salt

For those days you need a little extra chocolate! Click here to view the recipe at Ambitious Kitchen.

8. Mary’s Classic Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I got this recipe from my AMAZING friend Mary in university and they are the classic, no fail oatmeal cookie.  I can’t count how many times I have made these.

Ingredients and Instructions:

Mix together:

3/4 c. margarine or butter

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. white sugar

1 egg

2 T. water

1 c. flour(I use whole wheat)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

3 c. rolled oats

1 c. chocolate chips

Drop by spoonful onto cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes.  Do not overbake!

9. Unbelievably Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies (for when you’re out of oats!)  These ones are made with coconut oil and honey.

Click here to be taken to the recipe at Deliciously Yum

10. Centennial Squares or Hello Dollies(not healthy AT ALL but so amazingly good)

This is another Hay family favourite that my Mom made a lot at Christmas.  It’s a great recipe for something a little fancier, without being difficult.

Photo courtesy of Google Images.

Ingredients:

1/4 c. butter

1 c. Graham Cracker crumbs

1 c. shredded coconut

1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 c. chopped walnuts

1 can condensed milk

Instructions:

Melt butter in microwave or over stovetop.  Mix in crumbs and pat down mixture on bottom of an 8×8 pan(I recommend lining with waxed paper).  Sprinkle coconut, chips, and nuts evenly over crust and pour condensed milk over top.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes.  Cool, store in fridge.

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There you go people!  If you try any of these recipes take a picture and tag me on instagram @lindsaycmuller!

What’s your favourite cookie?

You may also enjoy:

my life this week

1. Tried two new recipes: Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies (vegan) and Nuts and Seeds Granola Bars.  Both were excellent but I am particularly fond of the granola bars…

2. Went for walks around the lake with Sonia and the dogs:

3. Started work!  I am loving it so far.  I think it’s the best job in the world actually, teaching piano and hanging out with the girls one-on-one.  Also it’s nice to have a routine again and something to get me up and out of the house! 🙂

4. Met a VERY adorable puppy!  My friend Abbie found it on her way home and now she’s being adopted by some friends.  Abbie brought her over one morning before she went to her new owners’.

5.  Found an AWESOME website for photographers with TONS of tips and ideas: www.photographyconcentrate.com

6.  Received some pictures from Nuni’s very talented friend Augustin.  During our last week or so in Brazil he had an exhibition to display his amazing artwork and Nuni played background music for him.  I love these pictures… it was a really nice evening and as it was our last bit of time in Brazil, I was just starting to get to know people and carry on conversations in Portuguese.  Also I had just received that awesome dress from Nuni’s aunt.

Augustin, his girlfriend Stephanie, Nuni and me in front of one of his paintings

isn't this a great shot? I wish I took it!

I look SO cool and funny in this picture. Sadly in reality they were probably laughing AT my horrible Portuguese... let's go with the cool and funny theory

I just love this guy.

7. I have been enjoying daily photos from photobotos.com.  They feature a guest photographer every day.  The photos are mostly travel based and they are always absolutely stunning.

Happy Friday!