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Living a Nordic Life
Welcome to Living A Nordic Life, helping you live a Nordic Life, wherever you are.
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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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 27, 20252 min read


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 21, 20255 min read


What Do Norwegians Eat at Easter?
Every country has it's special dish for celebratory days and as you know in the Nordics, a celebration is a perfect excuse to indulge a little bit. What I love about traditional Norwegian food is that it so often follows the seasons and makes the most of whatever is in season at that time. This is something that people have been doing for millennia and the traditional dishes have simply evolved and followed the patterns of the seasons. These days with easy access to exotic

Fiona McKinna
Apr 16, 20253 min read


14 April is Sommerdag on the Nordic Primstav
The 14th April is a significant day on the Nordic runic calendar. It's the time to turn to the summer months and look forward to warm days

Fiona McKinna
Apr 13, 20252 min read


Easter Marzipan: A Surprising Scandinavian Tradition!
Marzipan is a favourite treat in Scandinavia and Easter is a time to indulge a little in a tradition that is a little surprising

Fiona McKinna
Apr 7, 20254 min read


Velkommen april, Welcome April
It's a simple joy to find ourselves in the months leading up to summer. It comes so suddenly it feels in the Nordics. One moment we have snow and the next we have warm sun on our backs and the glittering sea with banks of wild flowers and all the wonderful summer food.

Fiona McKinna
Apr 1, 20252 min read


Fløtegratinerte Poteter (Creamy Gratin Potatoes)
Fløtegratinerte poteter is a simple and delicious dish of cream, potatoes and garlic. It's really popular in the Nordics with good reason!

Fiona McKinna
Mar 26, 20252 min read


Why keeping your distance matters more in Nordic culture
Giving one another space in the Nordics is a really important part of the culture. It shows respect and thought for others.

Fiona McKinna
Mar 23, 20254 min read


Sisu: How to Have True Finnish Resilience
Sisu is the very essence of Finnishness. It conveys a resilience and bravery in the face of adversity that we can all benefit from

Fiona McKinna
Mar 17, 20253 min read


Traditional Finnish Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto)
Traditional Finnish salmon soup is the ultimate fast food with melt in the mouth salmon, fresh vegetables and herbs in a creamy broth

Fiona McKinna
Mar 12, 20252 min read


Six US Cities Where Scandinavian Culture Thrives
Scandinavian culture is not only important to those living in Scandinavia, but also in te US. Here are six cities in the US where it thrive

Fiona McKinna
Mar 9, 20256 min read


Ready or Not, Here Comes the Nordic Spring
March is the first spring month in the Nordics and one we eagerly anticipate. Long winter days begin to warm up and the snow melts

Fiona McKinna
Mar 3, 20255 min read


Velkommen mars
March is the first spring month in the Nordics and a time of joy, rebirth and growth

Fiona McKinna
Mar 1, 20253 min read


Kanelgifflar, Swedish Mini Cinnamon Rolls
Kanelgifflar are mini Swedish cinnamon rolls that are perfect as a little treat for fika or to grab for a trip out.

Fiona McKinna
Feb 26, 20252 min read


Funny Norwegian Phrases to Brighten Your Day
Every language has it's own idioms and funny expressions, but Norwegian ones are some of the funniest. Can you guess what each one means?

Fiona McKinna
Feb 23, 20253 min read


The Quirky Traditions of Scandinavian Fastelavn: What You Didn't Know
Fastelavn is a joyful and fun celebration throughout the whole of Scandinavia. It's a time to embrace joy before the start of Lent

Fiona McKinna
Feb 17, 20255 min read


Jordskokk Suppe (Jerusalem Artichoke Soup)
Simple, traditional and warming, Norwegian Jerusalem artichoke soup is quick and easy to make

Fiona McKinna
Feb 12, 20252 min read


How to celebrate your birthday Norwegian style
Norwegians certainly know how to celebrate. Birthdays are organised in a special way, but we can do the same wherever we are in the world.

Fiona McKinna
Feb 9, 20255 min read


Blåsmesse, a very strange day that marks windy weather
One thing I learnt when I first moved to Norway was that people here rally like to celebrate any special day that comes along. This has been going on for many years. Many hundreds of years, in fact. The simple pleasures of celebrating a day and noticing anything significant about it makes daily life much more interesting. Blåsmesse is a saint's day that is marked on 3 February in Norway. It's a day that is special on the Nordic primstav (runic calendar) and I thought it w

Fiona McKinna
Feb 3, 20252 min read


Velkommen februar, Welcome February!
February is such a romantic sounding month. It has the promise of an early spring, longer days and the romance of Valentine's Day. In the Nordics Valentines Day is not celebrated as much as elsewhere in Europe and the rest of the world. It's marked but in a very understated way and there is no exchange of cards and gifts in schools for example. We do, however, celebrate some other days and in true Nordic fashion these are not allowed to go unnoticed or without cake and a

Fiona McKinna
Feb 1, 20252 min read
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