Let ME talk to you about Christmas..

Darlings, just one day to go - can you believe it!?! 

I always get nostalgic at the tail end of the year; reflective, pensive, and always so grateful for what the year has brought - the good and the bad. It's been a BIG year for us. Many adventures.. Many changes..

The biggest one of course was the move from Australia to Sweden, which marked the end of my 23 years as an expat ('Alien' or 'Euro-trash' as Marshall likes to call me..ha!).  I am finally home again in my beloved Sweden!

I am loving every moment and cherishing all that is familiar, yet so new to me due to the years I've been away. Christmas time is of course very special up here in the North. We get the 'Winter Wonderland' dream by default, and where as many of my fellow Swedes dream of sun and hot temperatures, I want to go nowhere. I am completely and blissfully happy with the cold and dark (really!).

Having shared eight fantastic Christmas posts from some of my dear blog friends around the world, it is now my turn to 'talk to you about my Christmas'.. 

What does Christmas mean to me?

Christmas means kindness, generosity, togetherness and consideration. This can be expressed in an array of  ways and I have so enjoyed Sarah Klaassen's lovely Christmas series 'In the Spirit of Kindness'.  
Sarah I love every post you have written on the topic and think you have such a beautiful heart! Thank you! xx

 

It's simply not Christmas without..?

People to share it with. 
Though family is the ultimate choice, I have learned over the years abroad that Christmas can be wonderful also with friends (other 'Christmas orphans'), and even strangers if shared in a spirit of kindness, togetherness and joy.

I also used to think snow was absolutely necessary for Christmas but having lived in Australia I learned that it was the darkness I missed.. (Yep, you heard me right..).

 

My ideal Christmas..

Having lived so far away from my family for so many years all I have ever really wanted for Christmas is a ticket home so that we could all be together. 

Now that I am here (insert: cartwheel) I will allow my self to dream about the ultimate Christmas..

A log cabin perched on a mountain side near a small & pitoresque village. There would be lots of snow, low temperatures, Northern lights and perhaps even howling wolves at night.! :)

The cabin would be authentic but big enough to host my entire family and closest friends. 
We'd arrive a week prior to Christmas and together we would deck the place, cook the food and build the merry atmosphere. We might squeeze in a spot of skiing, a dog sleigh safari, and long walks under the starry sky at night.

 

Christmas morning we'd fill the house with scents of seasonal foods, laughter, old time jazz and excitement of what's to come. 
Of course we'd roast apples & chestnuts, grill marshmallows, drink hot chocolate with whipped cream & candy canes, bake ginger biscuits & saffron bread, and generally be totally merry and bright..! :) 

Log fires would keep us snug and cozy, candles would flicker in the windows casting long shadows over the dressed tree that we would have cut ourselves from the nearby forest... *sigh*..  One year we'll do all of this..! :)

Fave Christmas movie?

In our house we LOVE watching Christmas movies. Especially those with a happy ending - it's all about that cozy warm feeling right! :)

We particularly love 'the Polar Express', 'Prancer' and Dickens' classic 'A Christmas Carol'. The latter is a wonderful way to remind oneself that we can all make a difference. My children curl up close to me during the scary parts when the 'ghosts of Christmas' appear, and without fail there is always a lively discussion about 'morale', and the importance of 'kindness' & 'compassion' at the end of the movie. I love that! :)

Number one Christmas song / music?

Ever since I was little I have loved listening to Adolphe Adam's 'O holy night' (listen to THIS - it's amazing!) and 'Ave Maria' at Christmas time (well, any time really..). They are both magic and are always part of our Christmas playlist, as is a generous selection of old school Christmas jazz.

 

What's on my Christmas table?

I have always dreamed about hosting the family Christmas dinner and this year my dream will come true! :)

Everyone - including my Godfather - is coming over on Christmas Day for my very own version of an 'Australian Christmas buffet'.
On my buffet table there will be a large roast turkey (I am using Nigella Lawson's recipe - HERE), a bowl of freshly made 'Risotto alla Milanese' (recipe HERE. You can swap the 'dry white wine' for Champagne if you want a nice twist), oven baked figs (topped with freshly grated Parmiagiano-Reggiano).

There will of course also be a Swedish roast ham, home made mustard (by my sister Sofia), a large apple & ruccola salad with a balsamic & honey dressing, smoked salmon carpaccio (topped with fresh coriander leaves, lime juice and large capers), freshly baked breads from my local baker and a generous cheese buffet.

Of course there will be dessert! There will be a large tropical fruit salad (mango, melon, strawberries, kiwi, star fruit etc) with whipped saffron cream. 
Also, I have spent the entire afternoon making chocolate truffles (HERE), saffron & roast coconut toffee (HERE - I added a pinch or two of chilli pepper to add some depth amongst the sweetness), and also some chocolate toffee (HERE - thought I swapped the ginger for coffee!).

 

Tomorrow I will add a few different toppings - like flaked sea salt, fresh chilli pepper, pine nuts and coconut flakes. We all like a bit of flavour in our family! I might drizzle some white chocolate over some to create nice patterns too. We'll see what time allows (it's so much fun though!).

What would I love Santa to bring this year?

It would be lovely if he could bring my husband..!
Marshall sadly has to stay in Sydney due to work commitments and won't be joining us for Christmas this year (the very first we spend apart..!). 

Of course he could have flown up for the actual Christmas week, but it is a big ask doing that from Sydney! Instead we were sensible and decided that it would be more fun for the kids (and us) if we held back the trip for the Spring when he can stay longer. We have some wonderful plans for then, which I'll share with you nearer the time.. Actually just the anticipation of all that is enough as a present for me!

Also.. I wish that Santa could bring comfort and relief for those less fortunate than us. May they be the target for acts of kindness, compassion, and support. Christmas is a very difficult time for many and we must not forget to reach out! 
I for one will be lighting candles for those suffering in the world and send a prayer of comfort and relief. Please do the same. x

My Christmas message to the world..

Be kind to those who least expect it. 
Show love, appreciation, and gratefulness. 
Share and receive with grace. 
Donate to and help those less fortunate. 
Embrace the spirit of joy, and help spread it further in the world!

Darlings, with that I wish you the most magical Christmas! 
I know you are all celebrating in your own unique way - some of you perhaps not at all. But whether you are following or breaking tradition this year, I hope that you have a wonderful time and that you find time to look back at the past year with gratefulness and love in your heart. 
May the new year bring laughter, good health, fortune, and the most splendid new adventures!

I treasure you so much and have had such a fantastic year with you all. Thank you for everything. Let's do it again in 2012! xx

 

All my love & the biggest Christmas & New Year's hug to all!

xx Charlotta