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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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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, 20255 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


Motti, a traditional dish from Finnskogen
Motti is a very traditional dish from Finnskog in Norway. It is a combination of Finnish and Norwegian food culture from a uni region

Fiona McKinna
Jan 29, 20252 min read


Pålsmesse, a Special Day on the Runic Calendar
The Nordic primstav or calendar stick is a special part of Norwegian culture with important days still marked today

Fiona McKinna
Jan 26, 20253 min read


Uncovering the Secrets of Scandinavian Winter Wellness for a Healthier You!
Enjoying winter also means being healthy through it regardless of the weather. Let's look at how Nordic people embrace winter wellness

Fiona McKinna
Jan 20, 20254 min read


Perfect Norwegian Pancakes
Norwegian pancakes are the ultimate in Nordic comfort food. This 4 ingredient recipe is what you need for a typical Norwegian warming dish

Fiona McKinna
Jan 15, 20252 min read


10 Unusual Facts About Oslo (To Make Your Trip More Memorable)
Oslo is a beautiful city to visit at any time of year with an abundance of culture, history and green space. It's small but mighty

Fiona McKinna
Jan 12, 20254 min read
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