Contact Me

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Click on the link to drop me a line!

Linda@lindamcgurk.com

Linda-455-low-res

rainorshinemamma

Swedish American author, speaker and nature play advocate🌿 Living an open-air life⛺️ Start here👇🏼

Did you know that October 4th is the official Cinn

Did you know that October 4th is the official Cinnamon Roll Day in Sweden? Well, now you know😅 While I’m usually not a huge fan of cinnamon rolls, I thought it’d be fun to try making them over the fire. I’ve seen different versions of them but this being a school night and we didn’t have much time before dark, I decided to go with the easiest possible recipe and tweaked it just a little bit. And you know what? I must say these beat the ones from the store by far! The trick here is not to cut yourself short on margarine - if the rolls are dripping of fat, you’ve done it right😋👍🏻

SWEDISH CAMPFIRE CINNAMON ROLLS

1 pre-made pizza crust
5 ounces margarine, soft
4 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon cardamom
1 ounce margarine for frying

Make a fire and place a large cast-iron skillet over it, letting it heat up. In a bowl, add the margarine, cinnamon and cardamom and beat until smooth and all ingredients are mixed. Remove the packaging from the pizza crust and spread it out on an even surface. Distribute the margarine mix evenly over the crust, then roll it up from the long end. Divide the roll into 16 equally sized pieces. Add the rest of the margarine to the skillet and let it melt, then add the rolls. Put a lid over the skillet and leave the rolls for 5-10 minutes, then turn them and bake the other side until they’re golden brown and slightly crispy.

We made these before dinner time, which was a strategic mistake since they’re rather filling and there were enough for the kids to eat three each😳 Don’t say I didn’t warn you…
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#theopenairlife #theresnosuchthingasbadweather #friluftsliv #campfire #campfirecooking #cinnamonrolls #cinnamonrollsrecipe #kanelbullensdag #outdoorliving #freshair #outdoorsyfamilies

This giveaway is now CLOSED. The winners will be a

This giveaway is now CLOSED. The winners will be announced soon!

🎉🎉🎉GIVEAWAY! 🎉🎉🎉

Today is no ordinary day; today is the five-year anniversary of the publication of my book There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather! I think that’s worth celebrating, so I’ve partnered with Julia of @wildhavenwools for a giveaway. Wildhaven Wools is a small business that makes adorable, high-quality base layers from sustainably sourced merino wool in their studio in Haines, Alaska. I’m very excited to introduce you to Julia’s unique designs, just in time for colder days outside!

The giveaway:
1st prize: 1 copy of There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather and a $200 gift card to use in Wildhaven Wool’s webshop
2nd prize: 1 copy of There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather

Here’s how to enter:
✅ Like and save this post
✅ Follow @rainorshinemamma and @wildhavenwools
✅ Share your favorite tip for staying warm outside in the winter
✅ Bonus entry: Tag a friend!

Must be 18 and a resident of the US or Canada to enter. This giveaway is not affiliated with or endorsed by Instagram. Ends Wed. Oct. 5 at 11:59 pm EST.
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #wildhavenwools #giveaway #bookgiveaway #baselayers #merinowool #alaskamade

Cooler temps lie ahead but just because it’s fal

Cooler temps lie ahead but just because it’s fall it doesn’t mean camping must be over!🍁⛺️ I’ve done a challenge to sleep outside at least one night per month in the past year and these are three of my best tips to stay warm during chilly nights☺️
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#friluftsliv #theopenairlife #openair #sleepoutside #camping #freshair #lifeisbetteroutside #fallcamping

If travel and outdoor adventures are part of your

If travel and outdoor adventures are part of your DNA, transitioning to parenthood can leave you feeling lost. How do you keep doing what you love with a new baby in the mix? Is it even still worth pursuing between nap schedules, diaper blowouts and the increased stakes of planning to accommodate a baby when you're on the go?And how do you handle all the nay sayers? My friend @meghanjward is looking for answers in her travel memoir Lights to Guide Me Home, a candid tale of finding a sense of self through your outdoor passions, then reinventing yourself as you become a mother.

I've been reading an advance copy of Meghan's book and pulled out some of the quotes that really spoke to me. Can you relate? If so, I think you'd enjoy this book too☺️
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#lightsthatguidemehome #bookstagram #book #booklover #travelbooks

Getting kids outside often comes down to finding o

Getting kids outside often comes down to finding out what makes them tick and there’s no one approach that fits all.

Yesterday, when I asked Little Miss N if she wanted to come for a walk with me, I was snubbed with a decisive “Nope.” So, I changed tactics.
”How about Pajas (the cat), do you think he wants to go for a walk?”
She lit up.
“Yes!”
“Okay, should we go see if we can find him?”
“Yes!”
And off we went😁

Over the years I’ve found that it usually helps to take off your adult hat when you want to take kids outside. They don’t necessarily enjoy the outdoors for the same reasons we do (relaxation, taking in the scenery etc) but have unique motivations of their own. In our home, creating a buy-in for the kids usually goes by the way of involving our pets😅

In this case, bringing the cat gave Little Miss N a task - to make sure the cat kept even steps with us and didn’t get left behind. It made her feel important and gave her something to focus on other than putting one foot in front of the other (which kids tend to get tired of pretty quickly). While it isn’t always feasible to bring our cat along, it’s low-hanging fruit when I just want to get out for a short walk around the neighborhood.

What is your go-to motivator when your kids resist going outside?🤔
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #theopenairlife #friluftsliv #outsideeveryday #lifeisbetteroutside #outdoorfamily #outdoorfamilies #catsofinstagram #catstagram

One of the things that I love the most about livin

One of the things that I love the most about living an open-air life is that it provides restoration and balance, regardless of what’s going on at work or in the news. It’s an antidote to the pressure we feel to compete and achieve, whether real or perceived. It’s also a powerful anti-depressant, even more effective than pharmaceuticals according to some studies🍂

In nature, I always feel like I’m exactly where I need to be.
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#TheOpenAirLife #friluftsliv #naturetherapy #lifeisbetteroutside #outsideeveryday #slowliving #nordic
@tarcherperigee

I know Richard Louv has been an immense inspiratio

I know Richard Louv has been an immense inspiration to many of you for years, and his book Last Child in the Woods is what really started the children and nature movement in the US. I’ve heard him speak several times, both in person and online, and his appearances always leave me feeling energized and hopeful🍁

Beginning this Thursday, Louv and 24 other experts will talk about different aspects of positive parenting at the @raisedgood online summit, a five-day event that is completely free to attend. All you need to do is register - just follow the link in my bio. This is going to be a good one!💜
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#raisedgoodonlinesummit #raisedgood #positiveparenting

5 FREE recipes when you pre-order THE OPEN-AIR LIF

5 FREE recipes when you pre-order THE OPEN-AIR LIFE!

Fall is here, the air is crisp and it's hands down my favorite time of the year for campfires - and campfire cooking!🔥 Gathering around the fire for warmth and food is a common way to enjoy the outdoors in the Nordic countries and the hygge factor is high. If you haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend outdoor cooking as a way to spend time with loved ones and bond with nature. And if you're you looking for some super tasty and healthy meals (and a couple decadent sweet treats!) to be enjoyed outside, I've got good news.

I've developed five new recipes exclusively for those who pre-order my new book, The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature in Everyday Life, and put them together in one beautiful PDF. The bundle includes:

- Dutch Oven Potato Soup
- Fiery Campfire Noodles
- Zesty Portobello Burgers
- Open-Air Blueberry Cobbler
- No-Bake Chocolate Trail Bites

Getting your recipes is easy - just go to the link tree in my bio and follow the links to pre-order the book and claim your bonus recipes!🥘😋

What if I've already pre-ordered the book? Will I still get the bonus recipes?
Yes, of course! Just follow the link in my bio to claim your bonus.

Yum!
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#theopenairlife #friluftsliv #recipes #campfirecooking #campfirerecipes #outdoorrecipes
@tarcherperigee

It’s been a month since my youngest daughter and

It’s been a month since my youngest daughter and I went to northern Sweden to climb Kebnekaise, but I can still feel the presence of the mountains in every cell of my body🏔 I get that this isn’t most people’s idea of a relaxing vacation, but to those who’ve never tried it I warmly recommend it.

Few things can restore balance in my life like living a truly simple life for a week. A life where the only goal for the day is to take care of my basic needs - food, water, warmth, sleep and shelter. Where I can realign myself with my circadian rhythm in the open air and and hopefully take in some scenic views and spot som wildlife in the process🐿

At this point I’m back at home and back to work, but a piece of my heart remains in the mountains🏔

What moments from the summer will you carry in your heart as we head into fall?❤️
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #openairlife #theopenairlife #openair #openairliving #theairisfree #lifeisbetteroutside #outdoorfamily #backpacking #sapmi #swedishmoments #swedishlapland

One of the books that has by far had the most prof

One of the books that has by far had the most profound impact on my parenting journey is Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods. Needless to say, I'm really excited that he's one of 25 amazing speakers at the 2022 FREE Raised Good Online Summit on September 22-26!🌿

This summit is unique in the parenting space bringing together experts in clinical and developmental psychology, anthropology, evolutionary science, natural health, spirituality, early childhood education, neuroscience and more. Besides Louv, speakers include Dr. Gordon Neufeld, Kim John Payne, Lawrence Cohen, Mona Delahooke, Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, Kristin Neff, Pam Leo, Julie Bogart, Julie King, Joanna Faber and more.

This summit promises to challenge the paradigm of modern parenting to one of joyful curiosity, humility, adventure, play, simplicity, and wonder. To deepen your confidence in your own ability to parent and lead through relationship, not strategy🫴🏻

Head to my bio to get your free ticket in the link tree!

@raisedgood @richlouv
#raisedgood #raisedgoodonlinesummit #gentleparenting #richardlouv

🥘Vegan Southwest Soup - Outdoors🥘 One of th

🥘Vegan Southwest Soup - Outdoors🥘

One of the reasons I like to share videos of myself cooking outdoors is that I want to show how easy it is, even when you go a little bit above and beyond the standard hot dogs. This soup is incredibly rich in flavor and texture and takes less than 30 minutes to cook, including prep time. To make it easier on yourself you can chop up the veggies at home, before you head out🌶 This soup has quite a few fresh and canned ingredients, so it’s better suited for day trips and car camping than backpacking, considering the bulk and trash.

Ingredients:
2 garlic cloves
1 red onion
1 yellow onion
2 bell peppers, red and yellow
1 tbs olive oil
1 pkg diced tomatoes
1 bouillon cube
1 pkg black beans
1 small can of corn
1 small can of green chiles
1-1.5 cups water
1 tbs lemon juice
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprika powder
1/2 tbs chili powder
1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions:
Chop the garlic, onions and bell peppers finely. Heat the olive oil over a camp stove or open fire. Sauté the chopped vegetables while stirring until translucent, approximately 5 min. Add the tomatoes, bouillon, beans, corn and chiles while stirring. Add the water, lemon juice and spices and cook for approximately 20 minutes. Serve with fresh cilantro, plant-based sour cream and tortilla chips.

Bon apetit and don’t forget to save this Reel for later😋
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #theopenairlife #lifeintheopenair #friluftsliv #outdoorcooking #freshairliving #openaircooking #vegan #veganrecipes #veganrecipe #plantbased #plantbasedfood #plantbasedrecipes

Raise your hand if you know this word!🙋🏼‍♀️ Friluftsliv lacks an equivalent in the English language but is usually translated to "open-air life" and I think that sums it up perfectly. There are many different definitions of friluftsliv but I like to think of it as the outdoorsy cousin of hygge🔥

In the Nordic countries, living an open-air life means embracing nature in everyday life, regardless of the weather or season. It's about finding joy in simple outdoor activities like wild foraging, bird watching, camping, cold swimming or just going for a walk around the neighborhood. But at the end of the day, friluftsliv revolves less around a certain activity and more around experiencing joy in the natural and cultural landscape🏔

Besides joy, friluftsliv comes with considerable health benefits. In fact, it has the power to prevent and alleviate many of the leading public health challenges of our time, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, depression and burnout.

The best part? You don't need to be athletic or wealthy or live in the countryside to enjoy friluftsliv, just have a desire to embrace nature in everyday life. Find out more about how you can benefit from friluftsliv in my upcoming book The Open-Air Life, slated for launch by @tarcherperigee on Nov. 1🌿 Pre-order through link tree in bio.
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#TheOpenAirLife #friluftsliv #rainorshinemamma #tarcherperigee #outdoorliving #theairisfree #freshairliving #freshairlife #lifeisbetteroutside

How do you like my kitchen?🌳🥰 If it hadn’t

How do you like my kitchen?🌳🥰 If it hadn’t been for the ant trail that ran straight through it, I’d rate it a 5/5😅

Seriously though, I can’t wait to share this recipe as soon as I get the Reel done! It’s worth the wait, believe me😋
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@fristadsofficial @primusequipment
#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #outdoorcooking #vegan #vegancooking #primuscampingstove

🕙🕙🕙 SAVE THE DATE 🕙🕙🕙 On Sunda

🕙🕙🕙 SAVE THE DATE 🕙🕙🕙

On Sunday, Sept. 18 at 10am EDT, I will share some of my best strategies on how to get kids outside through the Nordic outdoor philosophy of friluftsliv, or "open-air life" in a Zoom webinar🌱 Some of the topics I will cover are:

🌼 The meaning of friluftsliv
🌼 Making time for nature in everyday life
🌼 Dressing for the elements
🌼 Getting kids to unplug from their digital devices
🌼 Overcoming fears around outdoor play

The webinar is hosted by Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront in Vermont and is $10. It's open to anybody but spots are limited, so swipe right for the QR code and register now!🔥
@btvparks
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #openairlife #webinar #outdoorlife #gettingoutside #gettingoutsidewithkids #outdoorfamilies #burlington #burlingtonvt

🔥Making fire with a firesteel🔥 Judging by t

🔥Making fire with a firesteel🔥

Judging by the responses to my story the other day it seemed like a lot of people were interested in learning more about the firesteel, so I put together this reel. Honestly, it took me a while to get the hang of this and I still find that some types of firesteels are easier to work with than others, but it’s a great skill to have. Unlike matches or a lighter, a firesteel works even if it gets wet, which is important in a survival situation. Plus, it just looks kind of cool😅

Be sure to save this reel for later!
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #openairlife #openairliving #bushskills #firemaking #firesteel #friluftsliv

Childhood has changed a lot in the past few decade

Childhood has changed a lot in the past few decades, and not all for the better. Children today have busier schedules and less freedom to play outside than they used to. At the same time, they are under higher pressure to reach academic milestones early. But the biggest change has probably been the rise of digital devices and the amount of time devoted to them - 1,200 hours per year by some accounts😳

I’m not anti-tech but I do think that we need to achieve a better balance between screen time and all the other things children need to thrive - free play, physical activity, seeing people IRL and nature. Setting a goal to spend a certain amount of time outside every year can be a powerful motivator to realign your life with the natural world🌳

Ginny, who is the founder of @1000hoursoutside, has just launched a book with the same name and whether you’re ready to invest more time outdoors or wondering why you should, I highly recommend it🙌🏻
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #1000hoursoutside #outdoorplay #1000hoursoutsidechallenge #friluftsliv #rewildchildhood #letthemplay #letthemexplore #protectchildhood #gooutside #gooutsideandplay

Can anybody relate to this?😂 I’ve always been

Can anybody relate to this?😂 I’ve always been a fan of process-based art and it tends to get messy - sometimes VERY messy. Process art is different from product-based art in that it is open-ended and doesn’t strive to look a certain way. There is no right or wrong way to do process art and the child is completely in control of the finished product. (In this case, the product was a big pile of laundry and a very slippery driveway, but hey, that’s OK too.) The girls got to explore the paint hands-on, let go of their inhibitions and expand their creative horizons. Above all, they had fun🎨

But process art isn’t just valuable for children; it’s good for parents too. For one, it helps us practice letting go of control. We control almost every aspect of our children’s lives and they too have a need to feel free.

The drawback? They used up a LOT of paint that day…🎨 Then again, that was a lesson too, since there was none left the next time they wanted to do outdoor art🤪
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #messyplay #rewilding #rewildchildhood #wildandfree #wildandfreechildren #wildchild #runwildmychild #1000hoursoutside #processart #messyart

This stopped me in my tracks today. Well said, @yo

This stopped me in my tracks today. Well said, @yournaturallearner🌿
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #playbasedlearning #learningthroughplay #ECE #earlychildhood #protectchildhood

And the summit of Mt Kebnekaise is a wrap!🏔🏔

And the summit of Mt Kebnekaise is a wrap!🏔🏔🏔

I’m so very proud of this girl and how far she’s come in the past few years. If you’ve read my book, you might remember that my youngest daughter Nora hasn’t always been super enthusiastic about playing outside. Today, I can usually count on her to tag along on all sorts of adventures. In fact, the whole idea to climb Kebnekaise was hers☺️

During this trip, we spent five nights sleeping in a tent, hiked over 19km of difficult terrain for 12 hours, encountering heavy fog and wind at the top (that’s why we’re sitting rather than standing in the photo😅). While Nora was tired at times, she was never short on motivation and turning around without reaching the summit wasn’t an option.

I’m proud of Nora’s accomplishment, but more importantly, I’m happy that she’s proud of herself. And to all the parents of young children who are in the trenches, making the effort to get outside to play every day, no matter the weather, I hope seeing this may serve as an inspiration. Not because you and your child have to climb a mountain to prove anything. But because it’s reassuring to see that the alluring whisper from nature eventually will turn into a roar that your child can’t ignore🌿
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My clothes: @fristadsofficial
Nora’s clothes: @polarnopyretusa
(Not an ad, but many of you ask what we wear☺️)

#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #outsideisforeveryone #outsideeveryday #runwildmychild #wildschooling #1000hoursoutside #kebnekaise #kebnekaisefjällstation #kebnekaisefjällen #swedishlapland #sweden #norrland

One of the reasons why I’ve always made a point

One of the reasons why I’ve always made a point to get outside with my kids is that there’s so much valuable learning involved from being immersed in nature. And I’m not necessarily thinking of learning facts about plants and wildlife, even though that’s part of it as well. I’m thinking about life skills like problem solving, decision making, risk management and grit. All crucial to children’s future success in life. But I also want to connect my kids with nature to help them fully understand where they came from🌿

As I’m writing this, my 11-year-old and I are on a train on our way to Swedish Lapland, where we will attempt to climb Mount Kebnekaise, weather permitting. This area runs deep through my family history, since my parents and grandparents took me here when I was little and it forever made an imprint on my inner landscape❤️

While I’d love for my daughter and I to make it to the summit, it’s not my main objective with the trip. It’s for us to learn and grow together through physical and mental challenges on the mountain. And to make Lapland part of my daughter’s history as well🏔
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #outsideeveryday #wanderlust #wanderer #backpacking #backpackingwithkids

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