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 March

Editorial

Plant party • A GET TOGETHER FOR GREEN-FINGERED (OR NOT) FRIENDS WHERE YOU SWAP HOUSEPLANTS, CUTTINGS, SEEDLINGS AND ADVICE BEFORE TUCKING INTO A SEASONAL SPREAD

The honesty box • THROUGH HER OWN TINY BEACON OF TRUST AND GENEROSITY, LUCY BRAZIER AIMS TO HONOUR SEASONAL JOYS AND SIGNIFICANT DATES - WE JOIN HER AS SHE PAVES THE WAY FOR THE TRUE ARRIVAL OF SPRING

Oat cookies

Small ways to live well • Coming next month! Season 2 of our new podcast - a six-week suggestion box to put a spring in your step.

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • Great as gifts or as a way to use up leftover Easter chocolate (yes, we know...!), you can enjoy experimenting with the fillings.

My day in cups of tea • We're saying 'teas', not 'cheese', as we drop in on analogue photographer Rachel Brewster-Wright to find out how she spends her day in cuppas

March Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

A simple thing...

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF THE SPARROWHAWK

GUANGZHOU • AUNPEIN CHEAH GUIDES US AROUND THIS LAID-BACK AND LEAFY METROPOLIS, WHICH BLENDS MODERNITY WITH AGE-OLD TRADITION

COULD-DO GUANGZHOU • AunPein's favourite places in the city

Think pink • LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE WITH FORCED RHUBARB DISHES, A GUARANTEED COLOUR BOOST FOR ANY GREY DAYS

WHAT IS FORCED RHUBARB?

The drafters • WHERE DO WE TURN WHEN WE WANT TO COOK, MAKE, DANCE OR PLAY? THESE WOMEN DEVISE THE BLUEPRINTS FOR US TO FOLLOW, AND MAY WELL SPARK OUR OWN CREATIVITY IN THE PROCESS

BRING YOUR OWN BLOSSOM • CELEBRATE CHERRY BLOSSOM SEASON BY MAKING YOUR OWN, WITH THE TRADITIONAL JAPANESE CRAFT OF ORIGAMI

Soundtrack to March TIME AFTER TIME

Cake swap! • Our search for your hand-me-down cake recipes is on. Reveal the secrets of Aunt Enid's fruit cake or Marjorie's chocolate slab and we'll recreate them to share with fellow readers of The Simple Things

DRAWN TO EARTH • ARTIST CAROLINE ROSS PRACTICES EVERYDAY ALCHEMY, FORAGING FOR EARTH PIGMENTS AND TRANSFORMING THEM INTO NATURAL PAINTS

Life lessons from nature • THE NATURAL WORLD CAN TEACH US A LOT, FROM THE ART OF PATIENCE TO COPING WITH CHANGE AND LOSS, SAYS REBECCA FRANK

A simple thing...

Good things • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

SHOW TIME • WHETHER IN WOODLANDS, MEADOWS OR FIELDS, FLOWERS EN MASSE HAVE INSPIRED POETS, MAKE THE SPIRIT SOAR, AND CONNECT US TO THE CHANGING SEASONS

The art of forecasting

How hard can it be... TO MEND A FAVOURITE JUMPER? • VISIBLE MENDING IS GROWING IN POPULARITY. FRANCES AMBLER DIGS OUT A DARNING NEEDLE TO GIVE IT A TRY

PAUSE • Take a moment with some well-chosen words

WILD CARD • Perhaps best known on prints and greetings cards, the work of American artist Charley Harper broke the mould with his stylish, simplified animal images

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love ANKLE BOOTS

A POTTED HISTORY • THE POTTERIES HELPED CHANGE THE CONTENTS OF OUR KITCHEN CUPBOARDS FOREVER, AND BROUGHT BRIGHT AND BOLD MODERNITY INTO OUR HOMES. WE RAISE OUR MUGS TO SOME OF ITS PIONEERING WOMEN

WHAT I TREASURE • My stool to reach the counter By Sally Costelloe

Lost in music • SINGING IN A GROUP HELPS YOU FEEL GOOD, FIND FRIENDS, CONNECT GENERATIONS...