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 June

Editorial

A lovely arrangement • SPEND A SLOW SUMMER DAY GATHERING YOUR OWN BOUQUET FROM A FLOWER FIELD, THEN UNWIND WITH FRIENDS OVER A LAID-BACK PICNIC SURROUNDED BY BLOOMS

BLOOMING GORGEOUS • Pick-your-own flower farms around the country

Magical creatures • AN APPRECIATION OF THE BEAVER

Could-do WEEK • LIFE'S TOO SHORT TO SPEND HALF YOUR WEEK WISHING FOR THE WEEKEND. WELCOME TO YOUR COULD-DO WEEK, A WAY TO TAKE TIME FOR YOU AND THE THINGS YOU ENJOY EVERY DAY

CAKE IN THE HOUSE • Deliciously pretty mouthfuls of cake, with Middle Eastern flavours. One, however, is never enough…

My day in cups of tea • We head to Norfolk to enjoy a cuppa with Meg Lowder to find out all about her day in cuppas, and to pick up a few pointers on making beautiful paper flowers

June Almanac • SEASONAL THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU ENJOY THE MONTH

A simple thing…

WEARING WELL • Stories of the clothes we love BUCKET HATS

MY ISLAND LOFOTEN • SOARING MOUNTAINS, CLEAR WATERS AND 24-HOUR DAYLIGHT, THE LOFOTEN ARCHIPELAGO IN NORWAY IS AN OUTDOORSY PARADISE

COULD-DO LOFOTEN • Vanita's favourite places on the islands

Kitchen therapy TAKE IT outside • SPENDING TIME AT HOME COOKING AND BAKING CAN BE A FORM OF SELF-CARE. LOTTIE STOREY INVITES US OVER TO FEED OUR SENSES AND TO PICK A DISH OR TWO THAT BRING US PLEASURE

A question of sport • LONG, LIGHT DAYS ENCOURAGE US TO GET OUTSIDE AND GET MOVING, JUST LIKE THESE WOMEN, WHO YOU'LL FIND DOING WHAT THEY LOVE ACROSS THE UK'S PATHS AND ROADS, BRIDLEWAYS AND WATERS

A simple thing…

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT • International efforts contribute to a revival in Monarch numbers

FINDING FAVOURS • More historic treasures than ever have been discovered thanks to amateur detectorists

Excellent WOMEN • Social change through architecture

RADIO TIMES • WHETHER THE TOP 40 OR DESERT ISLAND DISCS, WE TUNE INTO THE PROGRAMMES THAT HAVE RULED THE AIRWAVES – AND OUR HEARTS – OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS

RISE AND SHINE • IN FLIGHT OR TOUCHED DOWN, THE BIRDS, MAMMALS AND INSECTS IN THESE WINNING IMAGES FROM THE BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS MAKE OUR HEARTS SOAR

Good vibrations • HOW USING YOUR VOICE HELPS TO CALM A BUSY MIND

Down UNDER • YOU'LL FIND A SENSE OF CALM AND INCREDIBLE UNDERWATER WORLDS AT UK SNORKELLING SITES, SAY THE AUTHORS OF A NEW GUIDE

PAUSE • Take a moment with some well-chosen words

My living

FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE

SLOW SUMMER LIVING • A RENOVATION ON A TIGHT BUDGET HAS TURNED A NEGLECTED HOUSE IN NORWAY INTO A BRIGHT AND WELCOMING HOME THAT ENCOURAGES TAKING LIFE AT A GENTLER PACE

SCRAPPY-DOS • SIMPLE FABRIC STASH MAKES FOR PARK DAYS, FESTIVAL WEEKENDS AND SUMMER OUTINGS

SALAD DAYS • WHAT COULD BE NICER THAN EATING HOMEGROWN LEAVES ON A SUMMER'S DAY? IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SOW YOUR OWN THIS YEAR

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

MY PLOT Tales of the riverbank • GROWING FLOWERS FOR A BUSINESS AND VEGGIES FOR THE KITCHEN ON A NARROWBOAT REQUIRES INGENUITY AND A LOT OF IMAGINATION

My place • The corners of our homes that mean the most. This month: GARDEN HIDEAWAYS

Weekend away • A COUPLE OF DAYS AS A...