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 January

Editorial

Spice routes • YOU MAY BE STAYING HOME, BUT TREATING FRIENDS TO FOODS FROM AFAR CAN INSTANTLY TRANSPORT YOU TO MORE COLOURFUL PARTS OF THE WORLD

The honesty box • THROUGH HER OWN SMALL BEACON OF GENEROSITY, LUCY BRAZIER AIMS TO HONOUR SEASONAL JOYS. WE JOIN HER AS A NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW RESOLUTIONS AND THE SHARING OF EVERYDAY SUNSHINE IS ALL THE MORE WELCOME

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF ROSE-RINGED PARAKEETS

TIDAL TREASURES • WILD WINTER WEATHER STIRS UP THE SEABED AND EXPLORING YOUR NEAREST TIDELINE TO SEE WHAT THE STORM HAS WASHED UP MAKES FOR A FASCINATING DAY OUT, SAYS VANESSA WRIGHT

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • This little loaf celebrates bergamot’s incredible smell, and goes great with a brew – and, as we all know, tea makes everything feel better

My day in cups of tea • We chat to Monmouthshire-based Poppy Wall, founder of natural fragrance business Eym to tell us about her day in cuppas – and even (whisper it) coffee…

january Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

KITCHEN TABLE PROJECT

A simple thing…

VANCOUVER ISLAND • WINTER STORMS, RAINFORESTS AND A WARM, RESILIENT COMMUNITY. JORDYN GIESBRECHT WELCOMES US TO CANADA'S WILD WEST

COULD-DO VANCOUVER ISLAND • Jordyn’s favourite places on the island

That's my jam • APPROVED BY PADDINGTON, THESE ARE MARMALADE RECIPES NOT TO KEEP UNDER YOUR HAT

"Talk to everyone because whoever you speak to teaches you something and, in turn, they learn from you" • Whether it’s objects, the people around us, or even ourselves, The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades believes that we find true value when we learn to work with what we have

MOUNTAINS TO CLIMB • BATTLING LONG SKIRTS, NOT TO MENTION GREAT HEIGHTS OF PREJUDICE, WOMEN HAVE ALWAYS HEADED TO THE BIGGEST OF HILLS FOR THEIR ENJOYMENT. WE FOLLOW THEIR DIFFICULT JOURNEY OVER THE PEAKS

Win a weekend getaway in Whitstable, worth up to £785 • YOU AND UP TO THREE GUESTS COULD EXPLORE THE DELIGHTS OF THIS CHARMING TOWN, COURTESY OF WHITSTABLE HOLIDAY HOMES

THE Comfort ZONE • WHEN THE WORLD OUTSIDE FEELS A BIT BLEAK, WHAT CAN BE BETTER THAN ESCAPING INTO A GOOD BOOK? ENJOY A SUNNY SOJOURN, CRACK A FIENDISH MYSTERY OR SINK BACK INTO A CHILDHOOD FAVOURITE – ALL WITHOUT HAVING TO LEAVE YOUR ARMCHAIR

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS • GIVE FURNITURE A NEW LEASE OF LIFE WITH STENCILS, WALLPAPER AND A DAB OF PAINT

TIPPLE OF THE MONTH • Fill up a flask and head out on a winter wander, knowing you have something warming to hand.

Small ways to live well • Join us for season 1 of our new podcast, a six-week companion to thriving in winter.

Stitch in time • IT’S LITTLE, EVERYDAY MOMENTS THAT MAKE UP OUR LIVES. EMBROIDERY ARTIST JORDAN CUNLIFFE RECORDS THESE MOMENTS, AND ENCOURAGES US TO DO THE SAME, MINDFULLY, STITCH BY STITCH

A simple thing…

Good things POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

FULL STEAM AHEAD • WITH ITS MANY BENEFITS FOR MIND AND BODY, THERE’S NO WONDER WE’RE WARMING UP TO THE SAUNA

PAUSE • Take a moment with some well-chosen words

MODERN ECCENTRICS The Wassailers • IN A WORLD THAT CAN FEEL INCREASINGLY UNIFORM, WE’RE CELEBRATING THOSE HAPPILY DOING THINGS a bit differently. Meet the PEOPLE...