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?

Lisa

A could-do list October

Harvest feastival • MARK THE END OF THE GROWING SEASON WITH A GARDEN PARTY UNDER GLASS… AND THE STARS

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

UNDER PRESSURE • Lapidarium: The Secret Lives of Stones

UNDER THE CANOPY • The Lost Rainforests of Britain

PUTTING ON A SPREAD • The Little Library Parties

Markets & festivals

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF THE JAY

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • It’s our 10th birthday! So, what better way to celebrate than with a decadent cake made just for us, topped with plenty of foraged fruit: a treat to share with friends. Join us to blow out the candles!

My day in cups of tea • We chat with vintage homeware aficionados Adelle and Justin over a cuppa and banana loaf in their Welsh cottage

October Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

BELFAST • ALI McCLINTOCK WARNER SHOWS US ROUND HER HOMETOWN, HIGHLIGHTING THE CITY’S HIDDEN GEMS, HISTORY AND HUMOUR

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

SPINE POETRY • WE LOOK TO DISCOVER VERSES THAT MOVE US INSIDE BOOKS … BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF TAKE A LOOK AT THE OUTSIDE, TOO?

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love WELLIES

"The worst thing we can do is to teach that the Earth is a problem to be solved. The challenge is real. But we have to counter that with love, awe and wonder" • Conservationist, campaigner and author Mary Colwell believes that respect for the natural world is rooted in experience, whether in the Serengeti or the garden; we just need to keep curiosity alive

NATURE AND NURTURE • Mary’s lessons for life.

Braw bakes • BISCOTTI, BUNS AND SHORTBREAD FROM THE KITCHEN OF THE HEBRIDEAN BAKER MAKE THE HEATHER STREWN HILLS AND FISHING VILLAGES OF THE SCOTTISH ARCHIPELAGO FEEL THAT BIT CLOSER TO HOME

Shape of you • MAKING SMALL CHANGES TO YOUR POSTURE CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT - AND IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT STANDING UP STRAIGHT, DISCOVERS VICTORIA MAW

Working from home • Pilates teacher Diane Nye explains how to sit better at your desk

Do try this at home

It's the little things…

WIN a Weleda Skin Food bundle, worth over £120! • WELEDA’S ICONIC SKIN FOOD - ITS LITTLE GREEN HERO - IS THE ULTIMATE SAVER WHEN IT COMES TO RESCUING DRY SKIN

The scenes within • AS THE NIGHTS DRAW IN, FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS ARE TRANSFORMED. FRANCES AMBLER EXPLORES THE MAGIC CREATED BY THE ILLUMINATED WINDOW

Good things • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

The apples of our eye • SIMPLE PLEASURES CHANGE LITTLE OVER TIME. PICKING APPLES IS AS FULFILLING (AND FILLING) NOW AS IT WAS WHEN WE PUBLISHED THIS IN THE FIRST ISSUE OF THE SIMPLE THINGS

MODERN EƆCENTRICS Tarot readers • 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?

A little shot of horror • REBECCA FRANK EXPLAINS WHY A SCARY STORY CAN BRING AN UNEXPECTED THRILL ON A DARK AUTUMNAL NIGHT

THE MOTHER OF...