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Living a Nordic Life
Welcome to Living A Nordic Life, helping you live a Nordic Life, wherever you are.
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From my home in southern Norway I'd love to share my Nordic lifestyle, cooking and surroundings with you, and show you how I have discovered that you don't need to live in Norway to enjoy and embrace a Nordic lifestyle and way of living.
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Vispipuuro - Finnish Whipped Dessert. Pink Food!
Vispipuuro is a traditional Finnish dish that is simple and delicious. It's comfort food in bowl for many Finns and uses just a handful of simple ingredients.

Fiona McKinna
Jul 152 min read
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Norway's Must-Try Summer Salads
Summer in the Nordics is all about eating seasonally and making the most of what is at it's best. That means lots of delicious and fresh salads

Fiona McKinna
Jul 122 min read
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Two Duvets: The Scandinavian Sleep Secret
There's a secret to good sleep and it's a Scandinavian thing!! Want to know what it is?

Fiona McKinna
Jul 64 min read
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Velkommen juli! Welcome July!
As I write this we are sweltering in heat that feels like something from the tropics. Although we do get warm summer days in Norway it's taken us a little bit by surprise. It's also a wonderful start to summer and how July ought to be.

Fiona McKinna
Jun 302 min read
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Fennel & Ginger Herring (Fänkål och Ingerfarssill)
Pickled herring is about as Scandinavian as you can get, but sometimes it's nice to have make it a little more exciting and flavour packed. Fennel and ginger pickled herrings takes just a few minutes to make and is delicious and unusual

Fiona McKinna
Jun 252 min read
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What Makes Nordic Noir the Go-To Genre for Cosy Nights In?
In recent years, the genre known as Nordic Noir has taken the world by storm. This stark and moody world of crime dramas has captivated audiences with chilling narratives, complex characters, and a unique atmosphere. Whether it's through binge-watching series on streaming platforms or diving into gripping novels, fans can’t seem to get enough of this genre. But what is it about Nordic Noir that has made it the go-to choice for cosy nights in? Let’s unravel the mystery.

Fiona McKinna
Jun 215 min read
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The Nordic Tradition of Midsummer Bonfires
All throughout Scandinavia at midsummer you see bonfires burning. It's a strange time of year to light a fire and it's been done for millennia, but why?

Fiona McKinna
Jun 152 min read
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How to Make Chocolate Covered Spruce Tips
Spruce tips are delicious seasonal treat. A few years ago I was given a beautiful German cookery book. It was one I had coveted for a long time and I was excited to read the recipes. It was a collection of fairly unknown and regional recipes from around Germany. I loved it. But after I had read through and made a few of the dishes I flicked to the end of the book and discovered a small section devoted to leftovers and foraged food. It was really only a couple of pages of

Fiona McKinna
Jun 103 min read
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Unlocking the Secrets to Embracing a Simple Nordic Lifestyle
In our fast-paced, modern world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the clutter and chaos of daily life. The Nordic countries have long been admired for their ability to promote simplicity and well-being. With their sustainable practices and emphasis on balance, they offer a way to live a more fulfilling life. This is how i live in my own simple life in Norway and id like to help you explore practical steps towards integrating elements of Nordic living into your own life, leadi

Fiona McKinna
Jun 75 min read
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Jonsokblom: The Red Campion Flower and Its Enigmatic Traditions in Nordic Cultures
Jonsokblom or red campion is a common flower in Norway. It holds lots of significance in Nordic cultures and especially at Midsummer

Fiona McKinna
Jun 14 min read
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Velkommen juni! Welcome June!
Welcome June in the Nordics, the first summer month and a month of joy, long days and beautiful traditions

Fiona McKinna
May 312 min read
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Heavenly Swedish Strawberry Cake (Himmelsk Jordgubbstårta)
It's just not summer in Sweden without a taste of this heavenly cake. Light sponge is topped with fluffy cream and filled with sweet strawberries. A true taste of Swedish summer!

Fiona McKinna
May 283 min read
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What is Kristi Himmelfartsdag?
I don't usually like writing about religious and holy days but in Norway they are entrenched into normal day to day living. It's got nothing to do with the country being religious, because it's most definitely not, but more about tradition. Many of the religious holy days in Norway are included in the primstav (runic calendar) and as it's something I take a keen interest in and have been sharing with you, I feel the need to include as much as possible.

Fiona McKinna
May 242 min read
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Spruce Tip Sugar (Granskudd Sukker), a Perfect Nordic Sprinkle
Spruce tip sugar is a delicious and unusual sweet sprinkle that you can make yourself from foraged pine shoots. It's easy and fun to make and adds a very Nordic twist to sweet dishes.

Fiona McKinna
May 132 min read
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What is slow living
Slow living is nothing new, although many people are only just realising how wonderful it is. It's a chance to make the most of our lives, reduce stress and enjoy moments of hygge in a fast paced and material focussed world.

Fiona McKinna
May 113 min read
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Escape Info Overload: Your Stress-Free Guide
I had quite the day a few weeks ago. I was working quietly doing some accounting and writing articles and I thought it would a productive and peaceful day. But every few moments I was getting a text, a message, an email or a notification. Some of them were social media notifications, but many of them we reminders of appointments, emails with calendar requests (for the same appointments!) and newsletters from my kids' schools and message about various things. At first I tr

Fiona McKinna
May 45 min read
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Unlock the Secret Power of To-Do Lists
To do lists have power! They are great to keep us focussed and on track in a simple and gentle way

Fiona McKinna
May 44 min read
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Løvetannsirup (Dandelion Syrup), a Scandinavain Favourite
Løvetannsirup or dandelion syrup is a Scandinavian favourite.

Fiona McKinna
Apr 303 min read
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Anne Marie Ødegård, Artist and Designer
You might not be familiar with the name Anne Marie Ødegård (or maybe you are!) but if you are a fan of Norwegian Porsgrund porcelain I can guarantee you have come across her beautiful artwork either on dinnerware or as simple artwork.

Fiona McKinna
Apr 262 min read
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Hygge: Daily Joy in Simple Pleasures
Hygge is the Danish concept of enjoying every day life. But how do we embrace that in our lives if we don't live in the Nordics? Let me show you how

Fiona McKinna
Apr 215 min read
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