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 April

Lisa

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

Dinner for good • RAISE MONEY FOR A WORTHY CAUSE WHILE ENJOYING DINNER WITH FRIENDS – WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE ABOUT HOSTING A CHARITY SUPPER CLUB?

ALL-WEATHER FRIEND • SPRING TRADITIONALLY BRINGS HOPE OF FAIR WEATHER. HOWEVER, MATT GAW ASKS IF THERE REALLY IS BAD WEATHER, OR ARE WE JUST LOOKING AT IT THE WRONG WAY?

My day in cups of tea • We take a trip to North Yorkshire to find out how potter Makiko Hastings spends her day in cuppas – and enjoy a peek at her handmade mug collection

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • The antipodean classic made into loaf form. Take a pause this arvo and enjoy with a cuppa…

April Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

A simple thing…

magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF TADPOLES

MY ISLAND * SÃO MIGUEL, AZORES • GABRIELA TEVES WELCOMES US TO THIS ATLANTIC ISLAND WITH ITS LUSH VOLCANIC LANDSCAPES, TIDAL POOLS AND RICH MARINE LIFE

COULD-DO SÃO MIGUEL • Gabriela's favourite places on the island

Butter for Queens

Tales from a veg patch • MAKING THE MOST OF THE HARVEST AT HOME, KATHY SLACK COOKS SEASONAL DISHES AND SHARES THE STORIES FROM HER BACK GARDEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

The bright side of life • WHY LIMIT THINGS TO BLACK OR WHITE OR GREY? THESE WOMEN LIVE THEIR LIVES IN FULL COLOUR – AND BELIEVE THAT THERE'S JOY TO BE FOUND IN EVEN THE TINIEST DAB OF A VIBRANT TONE

Steady as you go • IT'S NOT JUST THE PACE THAT FAYE KEEGAN ENJOYS ABOUT NARROWBOAT LIVING – IT'S HELPED HER APPRECIATE LIFE'S FLUX AND FLOW, TOO

To be fair… • HOW A CURIOUS MIND LEADS TO A MORE HARMONIOUS LIFE

LOST WORLDS • YOU MAY NOT KNOW IT, BUT THE UK IS HOME TO SOME OF THE PLANET'S RAREST RAINFORESTS, FULL OF NATURAL MAGIC. STEP INTO A FASCINATING WORLD OF FERNS, FUNGI AND FAIRIES

A simple thing…

RHINO RESCUE • Hope that an almost-extinct species can be saved from disappearing

BRIGHT THINKING • Biological textile dyeing to redress the environmental impact of the fashion industry

Excellent WOMEN • Making a fairer media

TIPPLE OF THE MONTH

FAIRGROUND ATTRACTION • 0JOBY CARTER'S SIGNWRITING CRAFT GREW AMONG THE VINTAGE ARTWORK OF A STEAM FAIR, USING SKILLS PASSED THROUGH THE GENERATIONS – A PASSION HE'S WORKING HARD TO CONTINUE

WHAT I TREASURE • My big red bird book

Do not disturb • CREATING YOUR OWN RETREAT ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE JUST THE EXPERIENCE YOU IMAGINE, DISCOVERS VICTORIA MAW

Relaxation your way • Work out what you want from a retreat and then have some fun planning it out

Magic beans • THE HUMBLE CHICKPEA IS LOVED ACROSS THE GLOBE, AND FOR GOOD REASON, WHEN IT CAN BE TURNED INTO A VARIETY OF SAVOURY – AND SWEET – DISHES

The indie bookshops • Many of us dream of running our own business. We ask the people who are actually doing it to share some of their insights and inspirations, the reality of the graft and their hard-won wisdom – and why they wouldn't have it any other way…

HOUSEHOLD NAMES • THE LANGUAGE WE USE TO DESCRIBE OUR HOMES REVEALS A LOT ABOUT OUR HISTORY AND THE WAY WE USED TO LIVE

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love COVERALLS

FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE...