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

CHRISTMAS IS COMING… • ENJOYING ADVENT MEANS TAKING TIME FOR SMALL CELEBRATIONS AND MAKING THE MOST OF THE SIMPLE THINGS

EARLY DECEMBER The tree and decorations

MID-DECEMBER Baking and wrapping

CHRISTMAS EVE Celebration time

The honesty box • WITH THEIR SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY, WHAT BETTER TIME TO CELEBRATE THE EVERYDAY WONDER OF THE HONESTY BOX? LUCY BRAZIER INTRODUCES US TO HERS, WHERE HEARTFELT MEETS HANDMADE

My day in cups of tea • Home and giftware guru Victoria Eggs tells us about her day in cuppas, and why she’ll always have room for John and Yoko on her Christmas playlist

December Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

The people seeing us through winter • CHRISTMAS IS PORTRAYED AS A TIME OF PLENTY BUT THE COLDER MONTHS CAN BE DIFFICULT. MEET THOSE WORKING TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY WARM

The proof is in the pudding • ONE OF THE JOYS OF THE FESTIVE SEASON IS THAT A PUD IS PART OF EVERY MEAL - IN FACT, SOMETIMES IT IS THE MEAL… AND YOU KNOW THAT SANTA ALWAYS DELIVERS YOUR JUST DESSERTS

MY CITY* BRUGES • KATE MICHAJLOWSKAJA SHOWS US AROUND HER CITY OF CANALS, COBBLES AND CHOCOLATE SHOPS AT CHRISTMAS

Veg Patch Pantry • GROWING YOUR OWN, GETTING OUTSIDE AND COOKING UP A FEAST, KATHY SLACK SHOWS US AROUND HER VEG PATCH AND SHARES HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR CROP

Sister act • HOW TO GET ON WITH YOUR SIBLINGS AS GROWN-UPS (AND HAVE A MORE HARMONIOUS YULETIDE)

PAUSE • Take a moment with some well-chosen words

BURNING LOVE • WHETHER A CENTREPIECE FOR YOUR TABLE OR JUST FOR YOU, THESE HOMEMADE CANDLES ARE A TREAT FOR THE SENSES

A simple thing…

FORWARD THINKING

Good things POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD • POSITIVE NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

FOLLOW YOUR NOSE • One woman’s super sense led to a scientific breakthrough

Excellent WOMEN • Adorable soft-toy adoption

SEEKING WINTER • DESPITE THE SCENES ON CHRISTMAS CARDS, WE SELDOM GET A BLANKET OF SNOW. BUT STEP OUTSIDE AND YOU’LL FIND MANY BEAUTIFUL WINTRY SIGHTS AT DAWN, DUSK AND DARK

Win a shepherd hut stay, worth £340! • ENJOY THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS WITH A BREAK THAT OFFERS NATURE ON YOUR DOORSTEP AND ALL THE CREATURE COMFORTS OF HOME

CHRISTMAS RITUALS • NO MATTER WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING, OUR SEASON IS SHAPED BY LONG ESTABLISHED TRADITIONS THAT HELP TO BUILD THE MAGIC

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love A BIT OF SPARKLE

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

NIGHT FALLS

THE SPICE OF LIFE

Christmas Markets

A WINTERS TALE

Win a colourful shopping spree at Gudrun Sjödén • TWO LUCKY READERS HAVE THE CHANCE TO WIN A £200 GUDRUN SJODEN VOUCHER TO UPDATE BOTH THEIR WARDROBE AND THEIR HOME

MERRY AND FRIGHT • THOUGH WE OWE A LOT OF TRADITIONS TO THE VICTORIANS, THEIR TASTE IN CHRISTMAS CARDS WAS SOMEWHAT QUESTIONABLE. WATCH OUT FOR THOSE FROGS!

SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL • Pick up your pen and see your work in print!

A NATURAL TOUCH • ENGLISH FARMHOUSE MEETS AMERICAN HOMESTEAD IN A THATCHED COTTAGE, WHERE FORAGING AND CRAFTING ARE WHAT MAKES THIS TIME OF YEAR SO SPECIAL

WHAT I TREASURE • My tape measure

My place •...