Living a Nordic Life with Fiona McKinna

The middle of August is the start of the new school year in Norway.  It's a time of excitement and a few nerves, but before school starts we have to get some supplies in.  Join me in this episode as I discuss what my three children need for school. Hilsen fra Fiona For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook...

All throughout the whole of Norway in April, May and June you will people celebrating in a very traditional way.  It's all part of the "konfirmasjon" or confirmation, an ancient rite of passage for 15 year olds. For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/livinganordicl...

Why are people in Scandinavia and the Nordics so happy?  There are lots of factors that contribute to happiness and wellbeing in these countries.  Let's explore why and how they make people here so happy and how we can embrace that in our own lives. For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebo...

Creating an edible garden or kitchen garden is incredibly rewarding and it's fun to replant every year, but for something more sustainable that will produce year after year, perennials are a game changer.  Perennials are plants that keep going year after year as they get older.  They are a wonderful addition to any edible garden.  Listen to this episode for some inspiration to get started gro...

Midsummer and the celebrations around it are a big deal in the Nordics.  We love to throw a party and celebrate the longest day of the year.  It's a beautiful season with long, long days, warm sun and an abundance of flowers and foliage.  In this episode I share the ways in which you ca have your own Nordic midsummer celebration wherever you are in the world. For more Nordic living, visit the...

It's high summer in the Nordics and we like to make the most of the long day and warm weather.  Let's take a virtual trip out to a special place and spend the day as we would in Norway when the days are long and the sun shining and we have the chance to get away from civilisation and be in nature For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com or join us...

We are under constant bombardment from social media, magazines, and TV programs to be more and more perfect.  It's exhausting!!  Not to mention terrible for our mental health.  But did you know that you are allowed to be less than perfect?  There are no rules about being perfect and you are fabulous just as you are.  In this episode we explore why trying to be perfect is not ideal and how we...

If you have a longing to visit Scandinavian and experience true Scandinavian culture, but you simply can't get there right now, this episode is for you.  You don't need to travel to Scandinavia to enjoy some Scandinavian culture.  In the US there are some cities that are so Scandinavian that you believe that you are Sweden or Norway, or even Finland. To read the full article go to https:...

The Nordic approach to health rarely focusses on one part of the body, but more on the whole body and mind.  Women's health in particular shows this with high quality of life, long lives and general good health in the Nordics.  But we don't need to live in the Nordics to embrace the same holistic approach to our health.  Join me, Fiona, in this episode as I share the ways in which Nordic...

Not all Easter traditions revolve around the festival of Easter itself.  In the Nordics there are some fun and less conventional traditions that happen at Easter at a time when we are beginning to get longer days, warmer weather and time to spend outside in nature. For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group...

Lagom, sisu, hygge, friluftsliv and fika are all Nordic concepts that can seem a little mysterious, but they contribute to the great quality of life that people in the Nordics enjoy.   We don't need to live in the Nordics to enjoy them ourselves.  In this episode we look at each of these ideals and how we can embrace them in our own lives For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life...

To-do lists get a bit of bad press.  They are seen as something that uptight people tend to do, but I want to share a few things that might change your mind and show you that to-to lists can have a huge amount of power in our lives. For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/livingan...

Birthday celebrations are different the world over and even from family to family.  Norwegian birthday celebrations are no exception, but there are some unwritten rules that you might need to know before you attend a Norwegian birthday party or decide to throw your own. For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook...

Procrastination gets a really bad press.  We are encouraged to be busy and productive at all times, so is procrastination the worst thing in the world??  I have a few ideas that might suggest otherwise For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/livinganordiclife

We might strive to have a life we see on social media or in magazines, but we actually have what we need to live a lovely life already.  We simply need reminding of it. In this episode I share 10 ways to make life lovely in gentle and easy ways For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebook.com/gro...

As a parent it's nerve-wracking when your child starts school, but even more so when it's in another country.  This episode is for everyone who feels that way (and those who don't).  Maybe you have just moved to Norway and are wondering what school will be like for your little one, or perhaps you are a teacher yourself and want to know, or maybe you are just curious.   Join me in th...

In Norway there is a special word for the cosiness before Christmas.  It's called førjulshygge and it's taken very seriously.  Join me in this episode as I take you on journey to a Norwegian Christmas market and the very essence of what førjulshygge means. For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook grou...

The Nordic primstav or runic calendar is an iconic piece of Norwegian cultural history.  Although no longer in use it still has a profound influence on every day life in Norway and the special days that are celebrated throughout the year. Want to know more?  Join me in this episode to learn about the history of the primstav and what it means today. To learn even more and to follow my own journey t...

In a busy, pressured and technology filled world, simple living seems ever more appealing.  We don't need to completely strip away our lifestyles to achieve more simplicity (and happiness) in our lives.  In this episode we look at the easy ways in which you can embrace a simpler life and find fulfillment and joy in the every day. For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livi...

Unless you live in a tropical climate, winter is something we can't avoid.  But we don't need to dread it and endure it.  In the Nordics people actually look forward to winter!   In this episode I share some ways in which you can not only get through winter with a smile, but even enjoy it. If you are ready to embrace winter like you are Nordic and make the most of it rather than count th...

Autumn is a magical time when it's perfect to be outside and making the most of the coller weather before winter arrives. Lots of us love autumn, but what happen when we run out of ideas to keep ourselves entertained?  I have 17 simple or free autumn activities that you are going to love. For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com or join us in the Living...

You might not instantly think of the Nordic countries when you think of coffee culture, but they are the biggest coffee drinkers in the world. Join me to explore the Scandinavian coffee culture, how to drink it and why you will never find a pumpkin iced latte here. For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group...

The harryhandel is a bit of modern Norwegian culture that you might not have heard of if you don't live in Norway or Sweden.  Join me in this episode for a light-hearted look at the "harry". For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/livinganordiclife

Foraging can be an enormous amount of fun and really rewarding.  Not only does it get us outside into the fresh air, but we learn new skills, learn about our environment and follow the seasons. Let me inspire you to start a new hobby of one of life's simple pleasures - foraging. For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com or join us in the Living a Nordic...

Den utedo or the Norwegian outside toilet is a slightly mysterious looking and rather cute building, but it also has a great deal of history and is an important part of Norwegian culture.  Join me as we take a lighthearted look at the "utedo" For more Nordic living, visit the Living a Nordic Life www.livinganordiclife.com or join us in the Living a Nordic Life Facebook group www.facebook...