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 for February

Lisa

A feast of colour • IN THE LONG WINTER MONTHS INVITING FRIENDS TO DRESS BRIGHT AND ENJOY FIESTA FOOD IS JUST THE TONIC

CARNIVAL IN BRAZIL

A SHORE THING • THE WINTER COAST HAS QUIET BEACHES, HUGE VIEWS AND ALWAYS-CHANGING WEATHER. WRAP UP WARM TO ENJOY BEACHCOMBING, FOSSIL HUNTING AND WILDLIFE WATCHING. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Winter warmers • Stay cosy at the coast with these activities and essentials says Daniel Start, author of Wild Swimming: Hidden Beaches (Wild Things Publishing)

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • Make the most of forced rhubarb and winter citrus with this deliciously sweet and fantastically fruity pink cake.

My day in cups of tea • We pulled up a chair at the work table of artist, designer and knitter Dee Hardwicke and asked her to tell us all about how she spends her day in cuppas

February Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF OYSTERCATCHERS

MY CITY REVISITED* PORTO • WE REVISIT PORTO WITH PAULA CALHEIROS DURING WINTER TO DISCOVER A DRAMATIC CITY WITH WATER AND WINE AT ITS HEART

PAUSE • Take a moment with some well-chosen words

Two's company • SIDE BY SIDE, MATCHING STRIDE FOR STRIDE, WALKING WITH SOMEONE IS SHARED PLEASURE AND A GOOD TIME TO TALK

Walking companions • Hike from the comfort of your armchair with these great books

“Colour is fundamental to everything. It's like music, it has such a positive effect on your mood. It is an essential.” • Adding more colour to your life not only changes your room, it's got the power to change lives, too, believes Annie Sloan. After all, it's certainly defined her own

TRUE COLOURS • Annie's lessons for life

COFFEE TO GO • ACROSS THE WORLD, COFFEE HAS BEEN ADAPTED TO LOCAL PALATES AND INGREDIENTS. TAKE YOUR TASTE BUDS ON A GLOBAL TOUR FROM GREENLAND TO VIETNAM WITH THESE FAVOURITES FROM THE BOOK SPILL THE BEANS

How to make good things happen • MANIFESTATION IS ABOUT USING THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING TO HELP SHAPE THE LIFE YOU WANT

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love RED LIPSTICK

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

Good things • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

LIGHT YEARS AHEAD

Excellent WOMEN • bringing music to our ears

SISTERS OF THE SOIL • OFTEN OVERLOOKED IN DEPICTIONS OF THE COUNTRYSIDE, PHOTOGRAPHER JOANNE COATES CAPTURES WOMEN FARMERS AS THEY SOW, SHEAR AND SHARE THEIR STORIES

Good vibrations • FROM WATER DROPLETS TO EATING RAW HONEYCOMB, CHERI AMOUR TUNES INTO THE SENSORY WORLD OF ASMR

SHARING STORIES • It's official, a subscription to THE SIMPLE THINGS makes you feel good

FULL OF BEANS • COFFEE HAS SHIFTED CULTURES AND CHANGED THE COURSE OF NATIONS - AS WELL AS MANAGING THE IMPRESSIVE FEAT OF GETTING US OUT OF BED ON A DARK WINTER'S MORNING. GRAB A BREW, AS WE PORE OVER ITS FASCINATING HISTORY

YOU'RE HAVING A DECAF

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

COASTAL TREASURE • CORNISH-INSPIRED STITCHER, POPPY TREFFRY, FINALLY FOUND HER FAMILY HOME BY THE SEA - BUT IT NEEDED ALL...