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 Tonic

Editor

HOME ECONOMICS Early spring kitchen • RACHEL DE THAMPLE COMBINES ROAST CHICKEN AND WINTER VEG WITH SPANISH FLOURISHES FOR MEALS THAT LAST ALL WEEK AND FILL YOUR PANTRY AND FREEZER, TOO

MAKING MEALS OF IT

SHOPPING LIST

TV series to do in one day

Devote a day • WE ALL NEED TIME TO OURSELVES. BOOK THE TIME OFF WORK, BLANK IT OUT IN THE DIARY, AND REALLY MAKE THE MOST OF AN ENTIRE DAY TO DO EXACTLY AS YOU WISH

Books that can be read in a day

magical creatives AN APPRECIATION OF THE TOAD

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

WISHLIST

Maker of the month

March Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • This cake is just the tonic with lime giving a twist to a classic lemon drizzle.

My day in cups of tea • We enjoy a cuppa with ceramicist and printmaker Kate Russell of Skratch Studio and a chat about her love of Welsh folk art and Yorkshire tea

A simple thing...

MY CITY* SEATTLE • RICH IN HISTORY AND NATURE, WITH GREAT FOOD AND COFFEE, SEATTLEITE ANN PEAVEY GUIDES US AROUND HER HOME CITY

ANN’S PERSONAL TOUR

The future’s bright • AN EVENING OF MEXICAN DISHES, SERVED ON CHEERING COLOURFUL CROCKERY, IN THE COMPANY OF GREAT FRIENDS IS ALWAYS A WINNING RECIPE

Thanks a bunch • FRESH BLOOMS ARE ONE OF THE JOYS OF SPRING, BUT THESE FLORISTS ARE RETHINKING THE POWER OF FLOWERS: USING THEM TO ALSO SHOW HOW WE CAN CARE FOR THE PLANET, THE COMMUNITY, AND EACH OTHER

A POETIC PAUSE • Cats Sleep Anywhere

Walk this way • MUCH MORE THAN JUST EXERCISE, WALKING BENEFITS OUR MINDS AND BODIES – AND THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO DO IT, ONE IS SURE TO SUIT YOU, SAYS ANNABEL STREETS

Ways to walk well

WHAT I TREASURE • My Claddagh ring By Jocelyn Kennedy

GONE WITH THE WIND • RELICS OF A LONG-LOST WORLD, OUR OLD WINDMILLS BRING A STATUESQUE GRACE TO THE LANDSCAPE AND MAKE A DESTINATION TO AIM FOR ON A SPRING WALK OR CYCLE RIDE

Windmills of note

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love CARDIGANS

Ethical Beauty • Picking products that do good as well as feel good is often about a lot more than what it says on the tin

What’s in the logo? • These accredited, certifying bodies drill down not only on what’s in the products, but on the practices used as well.

Forager’s beauty • These DIY skincare ideas use four naturally abundant plants

Cosmetics with a conscience • From blogs to books, there are plenty of ways to do beauty more ethically

A simple thing...

GOOD FIGURES • Where statistics and optimism meet

SMALL CHANGE

Kung-Fu fighting • THE BUDDHIST NUNS CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES, PROMOTING EQUALITY, AND CLEANING UP THE HIMALAYAS

The Happy Broadcast

EXCELLENT WOMEN • Developing tech to tackle FGM

LOVE NESTS • THERE MAY BE SOME INGENIOUS BUILDING HAPPENING IN YOUR GARDEN THAT YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW ABOUT. ARTIST SUSAN OGILVY PAINTS THE WONDERS OF BIRDS’ NESTS

Why a brownie will help • LEAH HYSLOP SAYS THAT WHATEVER'S HAPPENING IN LIFE, A BROWNIE IS ALWAYS THE ANSWER

GO WITH THE FLOW • WHEN IT’S STILL NIPPY BUT YOU WANT TO GET CRACKING IN THE GARDEN, TRY A...