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 June

Lisa

It's a shore thing • PACK UP A PICNIC AND HEAD TOWARDS WATER FOR A DAY SPENT LOUNGING, EATING AND PADDLING WITH PALS

The honesty box • THROUGH HER OWN SMALL BEACON OF GENEROSITY, LUCY BRAZIER AIMS TO HONOUR SEASONAL JOYS. WE JOIN HER AS SHE ENJOYS THE SUMMER SOCIABILITY OF VILLAGE LIFE AND SHARES THE BOUNTY FROM A LOCAL PYO

My day in cups of tea • We visit Somerset to chat to Saskia Marjoram about flower essences, favourite mugs and her day in cuppas

INTO THE BLUE • HARNESS SOME SOLAR POWER AND USE FOUND FOLIAGE TO SUN-PRINT CUSHIONS AND CLOTHES

Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

LOS ANGELES • STAR OF THE SILVER SCREEN, LA'S BEACHES AND SKYLINE MIGHT SEEM FAMILIAR, BUT LOCAL NATALIE JAMES TAKES US BEHIND THE SCENES

COULD-DO LOS ANGELES • Natalie's favourite places in the city

PAUSE • Take a moment with some well-chosen words

Mothers nature • THE NATURAL WORLD INSPIRES FOOD, HEALING, PLAY AND CREATIVITY – AND THESE WOMEN HAVE MADE IT THEIR JOB TO SHARE THEIR PASSION FOR NURTURING PLANTS

magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF THE STAG BEETLE

HOME ECONOMICS Herbs • ADDING DEPTH AND FLAVOUR TO ANY DISH, RACHEL DE THAMPLE MAKES THE MOST OF AROMATIC HERBS – AND FINDS WAYS TO PRESERVE THEM FOR A TASTE OF SUMMER ALL YEAR ROUND

Creating calm • WHEN LIFE FEELS TOUGH, DOING SOMETHING CREATIVE CAN HAVE A SOOTHING EFFECT ON THE MIND AND BODY

Relief • These activities are great for when you need a short, powerful release to soothe the nervous system.

Recharge • These take a little more time but can still be fitted into your lunch break. Think of them as life anchors for when you can feel yourself moving towards the edge of your tolerance.

Restore • Slower and longer, these are activities you can get lost in and their impact will continue long after you've completed them.

WHAT I TREASURE • My parents’ painting by Mary Whitley

IT'S ALL SUNSHINE AND ROSES • TAKE TIME TO ENJOY ROSES, WHICH ARE AT THEIR MOST SPECTACULAR THIS MONTH, WHETHER YOU'VE A SPARE DAY, AN AFTERNOON OR JUST A FEW MINUTES

How hard can it be… TO BECOME A BEEKEEPER? • THIS TRADITIONAL SKILL MAY SEEM A TAD INTIMIDATING, BUT LOCAL EXPERTISE – AND SUPPORT – HAS GIVEN LAURA BROWN A BALM FOR THE SOUL, AS WELL AS PLENTY OF HONEY

THE BIG IDEA • So many wellbeing books, so little time. Our deconstruction of someone's fresh thinking could send you in a new direction

A simple thing…

Good things • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

The enduring appeal of simple shelters • A PLACE FOR REST AND RESPITE, REMOTE HUTS OFFER HOSPITALITY AT ITS MOST BASIC – BUT SOMETIMES, ITS MOST INVITING, TOO

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love BEACH BAGS

Keepsake cakes • Our search for your hand-me-down recipes is over. Here we share our favourites, baked and photographed by our food contributor Catherine Frawley, who gives her own verdict on them – and couldn't resist sharing one of her own

Delicious, fictitious picnics • INSPIRED TO SPEND A SUMMER'S DAY STRETCHED ON A BLANKET? TAKE A LEAF FROM THE BOOK OF ONE OF THE MANY PICNIC SCENES IN FICTION AND LUNCH IN LITERARY STYLE

Add some Scandi summer fun to your wardrobe • WE'VE TEAMED UP WITH ICONIC...