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 February

Lisa

THE LANGUAGE of LIGHT • Light is to our homes what seasoning is to food – the right amount enhances everything, bringing out depth, warmth and contrast. And it’s most welcome at the trying end of winter, says Jono Fleming

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF SHETLAND PONIES

Kitchen Therapy Warmth WITHIN • SPENDING TIME COOKING AND BAKING CAN BE A FORM OF SELF-CARE. LOTTIE STOREY INVITES US OVER TO FEED BOTH BODY AND SOUL

Change by numbers • HELPING TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS PICKING A NUMBER AND GETTING STARTED

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • A colour combo guaranteed to cheer you up before you even taste them. These blondies make the most of the forced rhubarb season.

My day in cups of tea • We head into the Hampshire fields to enjoy a cuppa with knitwear designer Claire Turner, meet her alpacas, and find out how she spends her day.

February Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

A simple thing…

MY CITY TAIPEI • TEMPLES, CHERRY BLOSSOM AND BUBBLE TEA, TAIWAN’S CAPITAL IS COLOURFUL, ESPECIALLY AT LUNAR NEW YEAR SAYS JOSH ELLIS

COULD-DO TAIPEI • Josh’s favourite places in the city.

Tea and Tarot • AN AFTERNOON TEA WITH A WELLBEING TWIST IS JUST THE WAY TO GET YOUR YEAR OFF TO A FRESH START - IT’S IN THE CARDS

“My parents gave me the sense that you can change the world, even incrementally, if you’re prepared to raise your voice” • A much-loved fixture of British arts and culture, the broadcaster, writer and former agony aunt, Mariella Frostrup is now tackling health policy, too. She tells us why she’ll always be a woman of action

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love LACE

Friends for life • WITH THEIR HEALTH-BOOSTING, MOOD-LIFTING BENEFITS, FRIENDS WILL GET YOU THROUGH THE DOG DAYS OF WINTER AND BEYOND, SAYS REBECCA FRANK

Foods of love • SHUCKING OYSTERS OR SHARING SPAGHETTI, WHAT WE EAT AND HOW WE EAT IT HAS LONG ASSOCIATIONS WITH ROMANCE. LUCY BRAZIER TUCKS IN TO SOME OF THE STORIES

A simple thing…

MOVING MOUNTAINS • Building communities through Alpine adventures.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS • How Romania turned around their recycling rates in only two years.

Excellent WOMEN • Equal rights for women in Chile.

PAUSE • Take a moment with some well-chosen words

Know a thing or two… Cats • Circling our ankles and climbing the curtains for centuries, cats have captured our hearts (and our mice). We take a deep dive into the feline world.

AROMA THERAPY • FILL YOUR HOME WITH MOOD-BOOSTING SCENTS THANKS TO THESE FRAGRANT PROJECTS WHICH CAN BE TAILORED TO SMELL JUST THE WAY YOU LIKE IT

TIPPLE OF THE MONTH • A no alcohol take on a classic mule cocktail, this version has the signature ginger tang, but swaps mint for rosemary.

ADMIT ONE • THE SILVER SCREEN IS NEVER MORE ALLURING THAN IN WET AND WINTRY WEATHER. TRY ONE OF THE UK’S HISTORIC, VOLUNTEER-RUN OR SLIGHTLY ECCENTRIC CINEMAS FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS OF MOVIE MAGIC

COMING SOON TO A CINEMA NEAR YOU… • More indie screens worth a visit

Reading the cards • PSYCHOTHERAPIST LOTTIE STOREY EXPLORES HOW TAROT CAN HELP TO UNLOCK OUR THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS

My living Community arts & crafts • Many of us dream of running our...