A Winter Like Gnome Other: 15 Weeks of Friluftsliv starts now!

"Gnome Matter the Weather" is back with your "15 Weeks of Friluftsliv"inspiration to get outside and welcome winter. Read on for Weeks 1-5 inspiration.

Welcome Winter ‘25-’26 (Weeks 1-5)

It’s here! Week 1 of “15 Weeks of Friluftsliv.” The kickoff to what will be 15 weeks of transformative outdoor experiences, from December to March, where we embrace winter together, channel “friluftsliv,” and create the warmth and glow to get through the darkest days of the year.

If you’re new here, welcome! You’ve heard the phrase about getting outside “no matter the weather”… Well, we (Tacy Quinn and Lauren Theis) put a whimsical, nature-infused, spin on this with our collaboration, “Gnome Matter the Weather.” Inspired by the Scandinavian ethos of “friluftsliv” (pronounced free-loofts-leev” and translating literally as “free-air-life”), we help families and friends get outside, at least once a week, for easy, meaningful, and fun activities through the winter. With just a simple once-a-week outdoor activity, winter becomes a time of delight, rejuvenation, and joy.

Kicking off "15 Weeks of Friluftsliv"

Our experiences with nature, education, and championing environmental conservation all come to bear in this festive endeavor and winter newsletter. If we can do this in New Jersey, you can do it anywhere!

This year, we’re trying something new with the “Gnome Matter the Weather” newsletter. Instead of weekly newsletters to inspire activities, we’re creating 3 issues: Winter kick-off; Midwinter; and Signs of Spring. We’re eager for everyone, including ourselves, to spend more time offline and outside, and less time on screens.

With just 3 issues, you can plan your upcoming weekly adventure and choose from ideas for activities, outings, recipes, and gatherings to create your own guide to embrace nature and get outside for “15 Weeks of Friluftsliv.” The goal is to have at least one outdoor experience a week, but you may find that you have more time than you think to make friluftsliv part of each day.

Here’s what to expect in each of the 3 issues:

• Upcoming dates to inspire plans or events to attend whether locally in NJ or wherever you live.

• Activity guides and inspiration.

• Recipes to fuel your friluftsliv, from hot beverages, to yummy Scandinavian favorites from Tacy’s family, to new twists on traditional fare.

• Book recommendations to cozy up with and inspire your next adventure.

New for ‘25-’26! A constellation of inspiration for your 15 Week journey

We’ve created a beautiful way to capture your winter adventures! Use this downloadable poster to write in the outdoor activity you do each week in the numbered, white stars. Get inspired by ideas on the surrounding yellow stars. At the end of your 15 Weeks of Friluftsliv, you’ll have a constellation beautiful memories to gaze upon.

You may recognize Lauren’s illustrations from her work at Raritan Headwaters Association, local farmers markets, or as the creator of the Kids Page in the seasonal Edible Jersey magazine. Now you can bring her whimsical designs into your winter adventures and use this downloadable poster to track each week’s outdoor experience.

If you’re interested in a special edition print, reach out via the comments here or DM us on Instagram via gnomemattertheweather or friluftslivingfamily for details.

Mark your calendars

Upcoming events to attend or inspire your friluftsliving:

• 12/4/25 - The full “Cold Moon” will be the last supermoon of the year. See our activity guide below to create your own full moon hike or gathering.

• 12/12/25 (Rescheduled!) - Local to New Jersey? Join us for a winter kickoff campfire under stars at Raritan Headwaters association. There will be an astronomer to help us view the winter sky, stories around the campfire, and of course, some hot glogg and hot chocolate to warm up.

• 12/19/25 - NJ area friends, join Tacy at Reeves-Reed Arboretum for a Winter Solstice Celebration as part of their “A Very Merry Month” lineup of classes and programs.

• 12/21/25 - Winter Solstice! The first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. The darkest day where you can create your own light to welcome the sun back as winter proceeds. Check out our activity guide for ways to celebrate.

• 1/3/26 - Join us for a Full Moon Hike & Howl at Raritan Headwaters Association.

• 1/7/26 - Virtual program with Harding Township Kemmerer Library, Friluftsliv: Finding Joy in All Seasons with Tacy. Learn about friluftsliv and how “15 Weeks of Friluftsliv” came to be.

Winter full moon

Activity Inspiration for Weeks 1-5 of “15 Weeks of Friluftsliv”

To kick off winter and the weeks in December, here are some activity ideas to choose from to create your weekly plan for 1 outdoor, friluftsliv-inspired experience a week. We know time in nature is beneficial but so often the demands of busy weeks sneak up on us and suddenly it’s Monday again. Add the holiday bustle to this, and it can feel overwhelming.

…But here’s the beauty of “friluftsliv,” your time in nature doesn’t have to be a big production, it can be as simple as an evening walk to catch a winter sunset. Yes, that counts as friluftsliv! Friluftsliv during the holiday season can give respite from the bustle and can create the space for quality time together. This month’s ideas are shared with this in mind.

1. Kickoff campfire: Create a gathering or take a moment for yourself to kick off the winter season. Whether you build an outdoor fire or take a candle outside, spark the glow to keep you warm all winter.

2. Full Moon walk: There will be 2 full moons over the next 5 weeks. One on 12/4/25 and one on 1/3/26. Make the time to step outside and appreciate this bright spectacle in the stark winter landscape. Even if it’s a day before or after the official full moon, it’s a magical experience.

3. Winter Solstice gathering: The winter solstice falls on 12/21/25 this year. Check out our activity guide for three different ways you can celebrate and learn what this moment means in our seasons.

4. Glogg gathering: Get in on this Scandincavian tradition to serve glogg to family and friends. Heat up some warm yummy goodness (or make it a spritz if you’re in a warm climate) and take it outside for a stroll. Recipe in the section below.

5. Sunrise or sunset ritual: As the days get shorter leading up to the Winter Solstice and as the light begins to return after, it’s easier to witness the sunrise and sunset each day. Make this your outdoor experience one of the weeks by setting aside the time to watch the sun move through the winter sky. Here’s our guide for a twilight ritual.

   Enjoy these activity guides and follow us on Friluftsliving Family Instagram to share even more ideas and show us your adventures! (#15weeksoffriluftsliv)

2. Fuel your friluftsliv — Recipes to warm your winter

It’s time for glogg! This warm, Scandinavian mulled wine with many variations makes an outdoor adventure festive, whether you drink it outside, or when you return to the warm indoors. You can make our recipe with or without alcohol, or you can check out a tried and true, more traditional version from True North Kitchen.

We love the social traditions of glogg—inviting neighbors to go house-to-house to enjoy a cup, or gathering friends together for a toast before a hike (skal!). Given the hectic pace of the December holiday season, this modified recipe is intended to spare you time in the kitchen, so you can spend more time savoring it and slowing down with some friluftsliv.

Apple Glogg

Ingredients:

8 cups apple cider

Juice of 2 lemons

Orange slices and star anise for garnish

1-2t crushed cardamom pods (strain before serving)

Optional kick for adults: Splash of Aquavit to taste

Instructions:

Combine apple cider with cardamom in a pot on the stovetop and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for 15-20 minutes. Add lemon juice. Strain before serving if desired. Serve hot with orange slices and star anise. Add optional splash of aquavit (a traditional Scandinavian spirit) for adults.

Modifications: You can refrigerate the glogg to re-heat later or to serve cold—we like to add seltzer to make it a spritz if December temps or activities don’t require a warm drink.

Cheers (skal!) to glogg season

Friluftsliv-inspiring books to cozy up with

Here are 3 books to inspire your weeks 1-5 of “15 Weeks of Friluftsliv.”

1. Goblin Mode: How to Get Cozy, Embrace Imperfection, and Thrive in the Muck by McKayla Coyle. A close cousin to gnomes, perhaps? A very fun read for certain.

2. The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day by Linda Akeson McGurk. The ultimate book that defines friluftsliv and how to embrace nature in all seasons. You’ll even see reference to Tacy and Frilufstliving Family in the last chapter!

3. Fireside Warmers: Drinks, Sweets, and Shareables to Enjoy around the Fire by Emily Vikre. Find wonderful recipes to enjoy around your kickoff winter campfire and warm up the season ahead.

Friluftsliving Friends

We love to share stories of friends who are out there embracing friluftsliv and creating outdoor inspiration, wherever they live. This issue we’re highlighting our friend Vicky Derksen of Night Sky Tourist who helps people fall in love with the dark (perfect for dark winter skies!). She’s actually based in Arizona where her winter hits a bit different than ours, but the spirit of embracing the winter night sky is the same. She creates and shares free Stargazing Guides each year and has a wonderful podcast where you can hear 2 episodes that featured Gnome Matter the Weather. Check out her site and get inspired for some magical winter nights under the stars.

So grateful to gnome you

Thanks for being here for another winter with us! We love getting to know this community here and on Instagram via gnomemattertheweather or friluftslivingfamily We can’t wait to hear how you spend weeks 1-5 of “15 Weeks of Friluftsliv” and welcome winter.

Here’s to sharing ideas and getting outside gnome matter the weather.

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