The Simple Things

The Simple Things is a beautiful, useful, quirky and fun magazine about taking time to live well. We cover mindfulness and microadventures, eating and growing, forgotten wisdom, home life and slow moments. It's for people who love their lives but want to take the pressure off and remember what’s really important. We like tea & cake, learning stuff, being outside and the satisfaction of a job well done. Do you?

A could-do list Glimpse

EDITOR

Book club supper • HOST A GET-TOGETHER THAT’S WORTHY OF NOTE; INVITING (OR MAYBE EVEN STARTING) A BOOK GROUP TO SHARE GOOD FOOD AND STRONG OPINIONS

How to book club well

ENGLISH WINES FOR SHARING

Books to get you talking

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF ROOKS

Things to want and wish for • Loving your home, inside and out. Books and treats for you to enjoy.

WISHLIST

Maker of the month

COLOUR IN NATURE • Nature’s Palette by Patrick Baty

February Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • Get the most from the forced rhubarb around this month with this sweet cake made for sharing

My day in cups of tea • We asked anatomical embroiderer Cath Janes to tell us about her day in cuppas – and how her unusual business began from her hospital bed

A simple thing...

CAMPAIGN AND THE WINNERS ARE…

MY CITY* LIMA • LIVING IN THE PERUVIAN CAPITAL BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS AND THE OCEAN, SIMEON TEGEL ENJOYS CEVICHE AND SURFING

SIMEON’S PERSONAL TOUR

A POETIC PAUSE • The Dipper

The winter kitchen • RACHEL DE THAMPLE LIKES TO MAKE A ROAST GO FURTHER WITH MEALS THAT LAST ALL WEEK AND CAN FILL YOUR FREEZER AND PANTRY, TOO

MAKING MEALS OF IT

SHOPPING LIST

All in your mind? • NAVIGATING THROUGH BRAIN FOG CAN MAKE YOU FEEL ALL AT SEA. BUT UNDERSTANDING ITS CAUSES WILL LIGHT THE WAY TO CLEARER THINKING

Brain-healthy habits • If your concentration is becoming clouded, there are some simple steps you can take to refocus your mind

The life of a Thermos • Imparting a taste of home, no matter where it’s taken, the Thermos warms hearts and bodies alike. For Tim Hayward, it’s an object rich with memories – and ready to be filled with more

What Thermos to keep in your

GOOD THINGS • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

GOOD FIGURES • Where statistics and optimism meet

Queens of the highway • MOTORBIKING WOMEN IN KENYA ARE CHANGING SOCIETY BY RIDING THE ROADS

EXCELLENT WOMEN • Empowering women with clothes and kindness

The Happy Broadcast • Taken from The Happy Broadcast by Mauro Gatti. Follow @the_happy_broadcast

ART IN THE WILD • YOU DON’T HAVE TO HEAD TO A GALLERY OR MUSEUM TO BE INSPIRED. SIMPLY STEP OUT YOUR FRONT DOOR TO DISCOVER ART THAT CAN CHALLENGE, STIMULATE AND PERHAPS EVEN CHANGE THE WAY YOU SEE THE WORLD

Putting art on the map

How to DIY

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love BROGUES

A simple thing...

Letters of love • AN ENTHUSIAST OF THE WRITTEN WORD, LIZ MAGUIRE FOUNDED FLEA MARKET LOVE LETTERS, AN ARCHIVE OF FOUND CORRESPONDENCE DATING FROM THE LAST 100 YEARS

Love letters lost – and found

Call of the song mother • As they gather to mark the beginning of Lent, the Seto people – one of Europe’s last indigenous folk cultures – help preserve their heritage through singing songs passed on through generations of women. Sarah Thomas gives us a glimpse into their unique way of life

THE ICE FANTASTIC • ALL EYES ON THE SLOPES, AS WE CELEBRATE THE RECORD-BREAKING ATHLETES AND EVENTS THAT HAVE SHAPED THE WINTER OLYMPICS INTO THE SPORTING SPECTACLE IT IS TODAY

RECORD BREAKERS AND OTHER OLYMPIANS...