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 August

Editorial

Changing your tuna • PRETTY TINS – AND THE CANNED FISH INSIDE – MAKE FOR FRESH SUMMER DISHES THAT TRANSPORT YOU TO SUNNY SHORES

August Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

WHAT I TREASURE

Packed with stories • WHEN IT COMES TO SUMMER DILEMMAS, WHAT BOOKS TO BRING IN YOUR SUITCASE IS SURELY ONE OF THE MOST DELIGHTFUL. WE CELEBRATE THE MANY PLEASURES OF HOLIDAY READING, AND OFFER A FEW SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT PAGE-TURNERS TO CONSIDER PACKING

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • Think of this as a kind of cocktail bar – boozy nibbles that look like sunshine on a plate for special occasions.

My day in cups of tea • Curator Katherine Carter takes us for a tour around Winston Churchill’s former home – and reveals whether it really is tea for victory…

A simple thing…

Feast over fire • GETTING TOGETHER ROUND A CAMPFIRE TO SHARE FOOD, STORIES AND GOOD COMPANY IS WHAT SUMMER EVENINGS ARE ALL ABOUT

BEACHES (as suggested by you) • WE ASKED YOU TO SHARE THE BEACHES YOU LOVE THE MOST. WHETHER THEY’RE PLACES FULL OF MEMORIES, OR THOSE THAT HAVE THE BEST SNACKS CLOSE TO YOUR DECKCHAIR, THESE ARE THE SPOTS ACROSS THE UK WHERE YOU ENJOY SPENDING TIME

Win a week in Whitstable, worth up to £1,800 • SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY ALL THAT WHITSTABLE HAS TO OFFER WITH OUR COMPETITION TO WIN A BREAK AWAY BY THE SEA

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF THE LIZARD

MY ISLAND* CRETE • DELICIOUS FOOD, OPEN-HEARTED LOCALS AND ENDLESS SUNNY DAYS, GABI ANCAROLA SHOWS US AROUND GREECE’S LARGEST ISLAND

COULD-DO CRETE • Gabi's favourite places on the island

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love TEA DRESSES

Veg Patch Pantry • GROWING YOUR OWN, BEING OUTDOORS, THEN COOKING UP KITCHEN TABLE DISHES, KATHY SLACK SHARES HOW TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOURS FROM HER GARDEN PLOT

Available to stream now • RIVERS ARE WILDER THAN LAKES AND MORE INTIMATE THAN THE SEA, BUT HOW CAN YOU TELL IF THEY’RE CLEAN ENOUGH TO SWIM IN? OUTDOOR SWIMMER AND DIP ADVISOR, ELLA FOOTE, FINDS OUT

A simple thing…

Good things • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Looking for LOLs • AFTER BEING BRANDED A ‘FUN SPONGE’ BY HER TEENAGE SON, ALI MCCLINTOCK SETS OUT TO REDISCOVER HER LAUGHTER MOJO

Slow nature • A timely reminder to stop, look and be amazed by the tiniest of things

A SLICE OF LIFE • INVITING A SORT OF EVERYDAY TIME TRAVEL, OPEN-AIR MUSEUMS CHARM AND ENCHANT US, INDULGING OUR SIMPLE DELIGHT IN THE PAST

Gathering together • THE AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY CAN FEEL LIKE A PAUSE BEFORE ACTIVITY BEGINS AGAIN, PERHAPS A DISTANT ECHO OF HARVEST RHYTHMS SUGGESTS AMY BARNARD

FACE UP TO IT • ONCE YOU BEGIN SPOTTING EXPRESSIONS IN THE MOST UNEXPECTED OF PLACES, EVEN CAMERAS, CARDBOARD BOXES AND CHEESE GRATERS CAN RAISE A SMILE

EVER GREEN • PICNICS AND PLAYGROUNDS, KICK-ABOUTS AND DOG WALKS, GRASSY SPACES ARE CENTRAL TO HAPPY URBAN LIFE. WE TAKE A STROLL THROUGH THEIR GRAND AMBITIONS AND IDIOSYNCRATIC WONDERS

FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE • Bringing blooms indoors: it’s what every home needs

CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER • MOVING TO A VILLAGE IN CORNWALL GAVE A COUPLE THE QUIRKY COTTAGE OF THEIR DREAMS – THINK UNUSUAL COLLECTIONS, WONKY WALLS, SAUSAGE DOGS AND EVEN A SHED FOR SEWING

To STAND AND...