Little Scandinavian

The Scandinavia Show which is held on 9-10 October 2010 at Olympia Conference Centre, London is the only UK show dedicated exclusively to showcase the best of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland. The show incorporates Scandinavian design, travel, lifestyle, fashion and food.

We recommend especially visiting www.95percentdanish.co.uk presenting the new brand Ferm Living from Copenhagen with their contemporary and playful wallpaper and wallstickers to which they have added cushions and bedding including a kids range.

www.KoziKidz.co.uk and www.raindrops.co.uk will also have a stand with their range of Scandinavian designed, fashionable and functional outdoor clothing for kids.

This is in addition to all exhibitors showcasing the finest contemporary Scandinavian design, Scandinavian fashion, the best of Scandinavian food and lots of tempting holiday options to the far north. – It’s all for you to see, taste and buy!

Show Opening Hours
Saturday 9 October 10am – 6pm
Sunday 10 October 10am – 5pm

Visit www.scandinaviashow.co.uk/ to see more and to book your ticket online, £8 for adults – children for free.

Photo: Northen Lights in Tromso, Norway by Visit Norway

Amélie’s friend, Harry 5yrs, declared on a sunny afternoon as they walked together over the famous new bridge (built in the 18th century) in Ronda, Spain:

I will marry you, Amélie.
But not now! I’ll have to go to university first.
…
I would need to be at least 15 years old!

Summer in the land of the midnight sun is a unique experience; Brilliant weather combined with raw nature and contemporary style -It’s a dream!
To be inspired and to see more Scandinavian holiday homes visit MyScandinavianRetreat
Photos: Claesson Koivisto Rune

How to make a 8 year old feel like a princess on a ordinary Thursday?

VisitNorway has launched a competition; Norway.Your Way. Enter and you can win a 10 day dream holiday and adventure, all expenses paid, to Norway.
Anyone from Germany, UK, Russia, Italy or France are allowed to enter. The competition’s deadline is 19th July 2010. 5 winners will be notified via email the 23th July 2010.

Photo: Fjaerland, Sognefjorden, Norway by Visit Norway

Did you know that in Scandinavia we celebrate Midsummer – St.Hans with gathering around huge bonfires and singing traditional songs? The night of St. Hans was supposedly a night of magic. If, for instance, a young girl picked seven flowers and put them under her pillow, she would dream of her future husband. Read more about St Hans here norway.org

Danish designer Tina Wodstrup has since 2004 created functional and comfortable clothes for children up to 12 years with a romantic and nostalgic touch. Tina Wodstrup design is very much sought after in Scandinavia and is also available in Fenwick.

The Scandinavian Dad has already enjoyed being served espresso, chocolate(!), strawberries, fresh newspaper and last but not least home made Father’s Day cards from the girls.

To all you fathers out there:

It’s wonderful to have a day like this -it’s only about the dad. Oh… and a little bit about fashion!

UK kids trade show Bubble London is on today and tomorrow, and this time it’s all about Summer 2011. Christina Rohde, MinyMo, MeMini are among the 200 exhibitors showing the latest trends within kids fashion. It will be really exciting to see what’s on and to share all the news with you!

Bubble is also celebrating Father’s Day! Blogger Tabara will be snapping up the latest insights into kids’ life with their dads. Photos and interviews will be posted on the Bubble Blog throughout the event. Have a look at bubblelondon.blogspot.com.

Photo: The Scandinavian dad with his girls, Portofino Italy, summer 2007

In Norway “Saturday Sweets” are still the normal practice and attitude towards sweets when raising children. It makes it easy to make sure that your everyday isn’t filled with sweets and unhealthy foods since there is a special day for it.

In our home the girls (and the Scandinavian Dad!) usually get a bowl each with a mix of their favourite sweets. This for not to put a stress on the ones who don’t want to eat as fast (as dad).

We would try to choose chocolate before more artificial alternatives. But of course a compromise so the treat will not be too boring.
The girls do not eat sweets before or after school and therefor this is something they look forward to.

Beatrice and I visited a lovely old sweet store in Covent Garden this week, and purchased a bag of lots of naughty sweets for each “Good girl” as it said on the label. It’s waiting in the kitchen, and the girls are so excited and can hardly wait.

Photo: Hope and Greenwood

Swedes are fun loving people and it’s no secret that they look for any opportunity to celebrate. The summer is a particularly busy season with the arrival of midsummer, the onset of the crayfish season and momentous National Day parties.

HIPP HIPP HURRA! It is Swedish National Day today!

Did you know: Sweden didn’t officially celebrate their first National Day until June 6, 1983.

On that very same day a Swedish National Costume was introduced by Queen Silvia. Although the costume was in existence since the 1900s, it was not accepted as a National Costume until this day.

Every little girl needs an outfit to celebrate all these special occasions and at KIDSEN is this adorable one piece traditional costume made from 100% soft cotton.

It’s called ‘Sverige Klänningen’ (The Swedish Dress) and it’s designed in the Swedish national colours: Yellow and Blue. This super cute one piece dress comes with collar, ruched sleeves and a sewn on apron, to make it
practical for kids to play and dance in. Perfect for joining in the celebrations!

Available in sizes 1 – 6 years at £34.99.
Visit Kidsen.co.uk to find out more.

If you feel like celebrating you should try out a recipe on a “smörgåstårta” (sandwich cake), like this one here. Best of luck and enjoy the day!

and elephants…

It’s holiday and the weather is miserable. What to do? A rainy day is usually a good opportunity to take the children to a gallery or museum. But sometimes it’s nice to stay home too.

You could

- make food together. Let there be some Little Cook’s helping out with making dinner. Or bake bread. Nothing like the smell of freshly baked bread to brighten up the day. Make a plain dough and then let your child add their favourite ingredient (cereal, olives etc)

- do crafts. Teach the children to knit or finger knit. (Suitable from 6 years.) By the end of the day you’ll have gorgeous presents for both grannies!

- play Scrabble or Monopoly or another board game. Or play UNO or another fun card game for everyone to join in.

-have a story time. Snuggle up in bed or in a big sofa and read one of Enid Blytons (or another of their favourite author) capturing children’s book.

- have a big clear out of either toys or clothes. Children usually loves taking part in this. What does not fit any longer? What do we not use any longer? What can we give away to charity? This is something that needs to be done in all family homes from time to time. You will probably find that old treasures will be rediscovered! Let’s do it on a rainy day!

- go camping in the great indoors. Rugs and blankets make great tents and houses. Provide the little people with a proper picnic bag for their “outing”.

- play school. Have some books and fun activities that the kids might enjoy in their own version of “play” school. Little table and chairs are perfect. Remember to serve something nice for School dinners.

- go to the “cinema”. Watch a film together in style. Write up a poster of the treats in store, cinematic and otherwise. Make cinema tickets. Make snacks such as popcorn, carrot sticks and mini tomatoes, darken the room, use torches to show people to their seats, then let the show begin.

Finally, if the weather is only wet, but no thunder or lightning threatens, let the kids take a walk out in the rain. Either dress them in rain wear from top to toe, or if it’s warm just let all of you go out, barefooted, and enjoy traipsing through the falling rain and jumping in all of the puddles you encounter. (I used to do this as a child!) Kids are so used to parents telling them to come in out of the rain, they are sure to love and appreciate a rare opportunity to go out and play in it!

Learn more about the Elephant Parade throughout London, read all about it here.

When I was pregnant with Amélie knitting became back in fashion again. You could see young ladies knitting whilst going for a cup of coffee with friends in several cafes in Norway.

In Oslo the shop Nostebarn was the ultimate hot spot for mums (and -to be’s). They sell yarns of natural wool and knit recipes for the most beautiful little garments. Also really popular was the Nostebarn Baby Blanket. For me that had barely touched a set of knitting pins before this took ages to knit. But was well worth it, as Amélie loved it. It was snuggly and warm on cold days and cool and soft on warmer days.

During the last days it has made it’s reappearance into the children’s room. Now serving as a roof of their new imaginative home.
“No adults allowed, mummy!”

Maybe the knitting pins should reemerge from the cupboard as well?

In the local bookstore the other day I saw a book that I would like to recommend, The Nordic Diet.

The University of Copenhagen has been researching a balanced diet that will both keep us healthy and at a normal weight, and their findings suggest that the traditional diet, lifestyle and foods produced in northern climates are not only extremely healthy but also environmentally friendly.

The Nordic diet is all about eating locally sourced seasonal ingredients combined in a balanced diet of protein, carbohydrate and fat. The traditional diet of Northern Europe, with its emphasis on good, homemade and often home grown, seasonal food consists of a wide variety of grains, berries, vegetables, fish, poultry and game.

And the Scandinavian active lifestyle is also a great way to keep the body in optimum health as northern Europeans tend to live an outdoor life, with walking and cycling their preferred means of transportation in cities and the countryside.
Most importantly, they still eat meals together, around a table, where the senses are nurtured and fulfilled by delicious food and friendly conversation.

In this beautiful illustrated lifestyle and cook book, Trina Hahnemann, provides a succinct guide to the Nordic Diet, its elements, ingredients and basic philosophy and how to use it to live a healthier life.

The 17th of May is the constitution day of Norway and that’s celebrated amongst Norwegians all over the world. And the annual celebration in London is taking place in Southwark Park.
It’s been a fantastic day filled with sunshine, ice cream, children’s parade, more ice cream, Norwegian hot dog (yes, that’s our party food!), children’s shows, games and activities and then some more ice cream.


The girls are wearing our traditional Norwegian costume. Amélie is wearing a knitted “bunad” from Horten. Beatrice is wearing a “stakk” from Sigdal.
Read more about our traditional costumes here: Norsk Husflid

Photo: theScandinavianMum