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 Touch

September Almanac

Plan a magical weekend jaunt

September • Here are a few suggestions for things to read, do, make and think about this month. Pick and choose the ones you want, do all of them or just enjoy reading and do none of them!

Give a fig • If you’re lucky enough to have a glut of figs, try one of these tasty ideas. If you aren’t, we think they’re delicious enough to be worth buying some.

Truly scrumptious • MAKE THE MOST OF APPLE SEASON WITH A PICNIC THAT CELEBRATES THE BEST OF THE LAST FRUITS OF SUMMER

CRAFT CIDERS

A story of larks and owls • WHETHER YOU’RE AN EARLY RISER OR BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL, THERE’S PEACE TO BE FOUND WHILE OTHERS SLEEP, SO EMBRACE YOUR BODY CLOCK, SAYS KATHERINE MAY

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF WILD PONIES

Things to want and wish for • Loving your home, inside and out. Books and treats for you to enjoy. Supporting small shops both in store and online to keep the high street alive.

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • How to make doughnuts more delightful – shrink them and then serve with your favourite film

My day in cups of tea • We asked Sharron Jenkins, the Bedfordshire-based creator of natural soap and skincare range Kalabash, to tell us all about her day in cuppas

A simple thing...

GOOD THINGS • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

SMALL CHANGE

Losing touch • SOCIAL DISTANCING HAS LEFT MANY OF US CRAVING CONTACT. REBECCA FRANK LOOKS AT WHY WE NEED TOUCH AND HOW TO COMPENSATE FOR A LACK OF CUDDLES

Fill up your senses • Ways to feel better without a hug

Flying carpets • From Amsterdam to Japan, Bill Young charts his travels through the most unlikely of objects – carpets...

A sense of place • TRANSPORT US TO SOMEWHERE SPECIAL TO YOU AND YOU COULD SEE YOUR WORDS IN PRINT AND WIN A SEASALT SHOPPING SPREE

“Our raison d’être has been to make something that doesn’t exist. You’ve got to be searching for something new.” • Harriet Vine and Rosie Wolfenden started jewellery brand Tatty Devine over 20 years ago turning trash into treasure. They tell Karen Dunn how collaboration is at the heart of both their business and their friendship

DEVINE MOMENTS • Harriet and Rosie’s CV

SIMPLE STYLE • THE PUSSY-BOW BLOUSE

MY CITY* HANOI • NIOBE SHAW GUIDES US AROUND THE CAPITAL OF VIETNAM (BY MOPED, OF COURSE), WHERE LIFE IS LIVED OUTDOORS

NIOBE’S PERSONAL TOUR

A POETIC PAUSE • Sheriffmuir

MODERN ECCENTRICS VINTAGE STYLE QUEENS • IN A WORLD THAT CAN FEEL INCREASINGLY UNIFORM, WE’RE CELEBRATING THOSE HAPPILY DOING THINGS a bit differently. Meet the PEOPLE WHO ARE seriously PASSIONATE about their pastimes. PERHAPS THEY’LL PERSUADE YOU TO TRY something NEW?

MAKE, DO AND BREW • WANT A PERSONALISED CUPPA? BRUSH LETTERING AND A FEW FLOWERS CAN MAKE A MUG YOUR OWN

Good mood foods • COLOURFUL INGREDIENTS LOOK PRETTY ON YOUR PLATE, AND ARE THE BASE FOR REALLY HAPPY MEALS, TOO

excellent women • BY CHANGING PERCEPTIONS OF ROUGH SLEEPERS, ZAKIA MOULAOUI IS GIVING THESE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY A VOICE

PAST IMPERFECT • AS THE NATIONAL TRUST CELEBRATES 125 YEARS, IT’S LOOKING BEYOND THE RICH AND POWERFUL INHABITANTS OF THEIR PROPERTIES AND REMEMBERING THE SURPRISING (SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLE) CHAPTERS IN THEIR...