Slow Living in Spring

It is the 2nd of September.

The spring rain is falling outside as I write this but that is not dampening my excitement for this season!

I am sipping on my second cup of tea this morning and I am so glad to be back in the blogging world.

Today I thought I would welcome the new season with a few ideas for slow living activities to get the most out of this season of sunshine, rain, spring blooms and new beginnings.

My mind is full of ideas & aspirations for the warmer months and I cannot wait for all the seasonal delights that come with the sunny weather.

I say that as it is now raining cats & dogs outside my window...

But for now, let's get into these simple slow living ideas for Spring!

Have a picnic (weather permitting!)

Nothing is nicer than eating outside in the sun after months of being cooped up inside. 

Pack up a simple meal, wear a springy outfit (optional) and grab a blanket and head to your local park or even your own back yard to enjoy the outdoors and the spring flowers.

Turn over your wardrobe

As soon as the weather got warmer, I brought out all my spring and summer clothing. I couldn't help it! I was so excited to wear them.

If you are like me and you store your out of season wardrobe away while it is not in use, now might be the time to switch over to some warmer weather pieces.

But Spring weather is unpredictable, so make sure to keep back a few sweaters in case it gets chilly.

Clean + declutter

It's time for spring cleaning! During winter, the house tends to get a bit dustier & dirtier because we are indoors more and if you are using a fireplace, that will also create dust from the ashes and wood you are using. So take this time to give your house a good clean and declutter some things too.

We want to begin the Spring & Summer with fresh clean homes!

Dust surfaces, wash linens, clean the windows, and declutter the things that have been sitting around taking up space.

Plant a garden

This is quite an obvious thing to do in the Spring but I thought I would include it anyway. We are slowly planning our garden and using up the last of the winter crops (which didn't grow very well this year). 

I also want to bring some new life into my cut flower garden which all but died out in the summer because of drought. 

Get out into your garden and plant something, even if it is only a pot of flowers or herbs, it is so rewarding to grow something yourself!

Eat the new seasonal foods 

Check what's in season in the Springtime around you and try to make meals using them. 

For New Zealand, see this helpful list of in-season fruits and vegetables. 

Also, try and shop locally for these ingredients to support your local shops and farmers. It is so wonderful and important to know how your food is grown and where it comes from.

You can make fresh salads, lemon curd, delicious vegetable soups and much, much more in the springtime!

Wake up early

I usually try to wake up early all year round but it becomes a lot easier during the Spring & Summer because the sun comes up earlier so it isn't dark and cold when you get up.

If you don't already, set your alarm for an hour earlier than you normally wake up and get a head start on your day and take advantage of that extra daylight.

Sew something

Whether you mend or alter something, thrift flip something or sew an item from scratch, get out your fabric and sewing machine and create something this Spring.

I have a top that needs altering that I plan on sewing and I might make a few other fun projects too!

That's all my ideas for now! 

Let me know what activities you like to do in the Spring months in the comments!

keep blooming,

Hannah

My Recent Favourites

Hello everyone & welcome back!

I am finally able to get back into blogging again after I had some technical difficulties with Blogger over the past few months.

It feels good to be back and I thought to kick things off I would give you a sort of recap of the last few months and share with you some of my recent favourites!

I am cosied up on the couch wrapped in a blanket and sipped on a delicious apple & blackcurrant tea as I write this and though Spring is upon us, today is a dull, cloudy day.

But without further ado, I'll get into my favourites...

My reading has been quite sporadic over the last few months I have read a lot of different books and there a few which have stood out to me.

During the Autumn I decided to read a Daphne du Maurier book because I had heard they were a little more Gothic in style and so I thought it a fitting reading choice for the cooler, cosy Autumn days.

I chose to begin my du Maurier journey with Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (link to my review) and I was not at all disappointed! I am already expanding my du Maurier collection and cannot wait to read more of her books.

An author I began officially reading in the last few months is Agatha Christie. I am familiar with her books and had already read a couple of them but I wanted to go through the entire series of Poirot books in the order in which they were written so I began with The Mysterious Affair at Styles. 

It was a delightful beginning to the many adventures of our beloved Belgian detective and I already got my hands on a copy of the 2nd book, Murder on the Links, which is waiting for me in my room...

Back in January, I heard a new acquaintance of mine highly recommend the Kingdom Series by Chuck Black and my curiosity was piqued!

I have only read the first two books in this series but I thoroughly enjoyed the plots, characters and underlying Biblical themes in this allegorical fiction fantasy story.

I have also been reading through The Chronicles of Narnia books for the first time. I am quite familiar with the stories as me and my siblings used to listen to the Radio Theatre audio drama productions of the series over & over again.

But it has been great to read the physical books for myself and I've become immersed in the wonderful land of Narnia.

As for listening material, I feel like I haven't been listening to a whole lot of new music or podcasts but there are still a few that I discovered recently that I have really enjoyed.

I created my own playlist that to me, captures the happy, whimsical vibe of the springtime which we are now entering and it is called sunshine & blooms {spring}

I follow the bubbly and inspiring Georgia Brown on IG and was thrilled to hear her new song (On This Side Of Heaven) after it came out. Her personality and her music is truly a ray of sunshine! 

The only podcast favourite I have for the moment is the Fight Hustle, End Hurry Podcast which I have been enjoying. I love it looks at Jesus' lifestyle on earth and how we can implement the slower-paced lifestyle He followed into our own daily lives.

There had been one song I have listened to on repeat and that is Springtime by Chris Renzema!

It is so beautiful and perfect for the springtime season. I think I'm going to go listen to it now...

I have discovered a new little love for bracelets and in particular making my own friendship bracelets!

This one pictured above is just one of the handful of different colour combos I had fun creating.

With the arrival of Spring, came the unpacking of my Spring - Summer wardrobe from storage and the putting away of a few of the warmer jerseys and knits that I don't see myself wearing anymore this season.

Seeing my pretty warm weather pieces of clothing that I hadn't set eyes on since I put them away in early Autumn was almost like shopping and getting a new wardrobe without spending a ton of money!

So lately I have been enjoying incorporating some more spring-appropriate pieces into my outfits.

I also realised that over half of my entire wardrobe is more warm weather pieces so I think next Autumn - Winter I need to work on building up that half of my wardrobe.

I am slowly incorporating a few items of makeup collection and my most recent one is this lipstick in the shade 'Violet Mousse' by Karen Murrell.

It a lovely pinky shade perfect for a lipstick-wearing newbie like me! It is almost the same shade as my lips but it gives just a touch of colour. I have worn it almost every day since I got it.

Well, that covers just about everything I can think of for now.

keep blooming,

Hannah

Slow Living in Winter

Coming to you today from the couch in our living room, sipping a cup of earl grey (my current favourite tea) and with a view of the golden leaves outside.

Though there are still a lot of leaves still clinging on, with the arrival of June I consider winter to have arrived with it.

This winter, as I mentioned in my last post, I want to be intentional to slow down, enjoy the seasonal delights and use the time to rest and work on some projects. I want to fully embrace the season for all it's beauty. 

So I decided to put together a list of some slow living activities to do in the winter months.

Knit something (scarf, sweater, blanket etc.)

This is perhaps my favourite winter activity! I am working on a throw blanket at the moment and I love pulling it out in the evenings to work on while a watch a TV series or listen to an audiobook.

The process and time that goes into it makes the end result worthwhile & pleasing too!

Bake a sourdough loaf

There is nothing like the smell of fresh bread to warm the home! 

Again, the slow process of mixing simple ingredients, kneading or folding the dough and producing a warm, fluffy loaf holds so much satisfaction. 

Take some time to master the art of bread making if you are new or experiment with a new recipe if you are a seasoned baker.

Read a beloved book series

Take the time to revisit an old favourite book series and read through it during the cold months of winter.

I am currently reading through The Chronicles of Narnia and I am quite enjoying them. They are light reads but full of nostalgia for me.

Go for walks 

Despite the cold, I still want to get outside to get fresh air in winter. I have to take Molly, my little dog out for walks daily anyways so I want to take the opportunity to embrace the rain & cold and get outdoors!

Fresh air support the immune system, cleans your lungs and even boosts your mood. So it is especially important to get lots fresh air in the winter to help ward of the winter bugs.

Unplug

To full be able to rest, set aside a day to fast from social media or limit your usage in general.

I decided a little while ago I was going to keep my Sunday's social media and YouTube free and it has been truly a blessing. 

I am so much more present & in the moment when I forget that my phone exists!

Spend time in front of the fire

Sit by the fire with a hot beverage and simply watch the flames while sipping. Or play a game with your family while the fire warms you up.

A wood fire crackling in the room certainly adds a homely & cosy ambiance for winter. 

Eat seasonally

Instead of shopping for imported or out of season produce, opt for in season root vegetables and groceries. It may differ depending on where you live but typically pumpkin, kumara (sweet potato), cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, silver beet, leeks and potatoes are in season around autumn/winter.

There are so many delicious recipes to make with winter veges. I'll link my recipe board (link) on Pinterest so you can see some of my favourites. 

Do you have any activities you would add to this list?

keep blooming,

Reading, Knitting & Golden Leaves // Autumn Seasonal Journal

Hello darlings!

Welcome to a new series on my blog!

In series I will be documenting the beauty and little joys of each season throughout the year.
I will be sharing projects I'm working on, highlights of the season, recipes, photos, and any other interesting tidbits I feel like including.

So lets hop right in!

I think Autumn has to be my favourite season of all!
I think it's so beautiful and peaceful. The leaves start to softly fall, woodpiles are stocked up, the scent of wood fires burning penetrates the crisp air.
Produce is in abundance which means soups, pies, crumbles and stews are on the menu.
The following links are to some delicious recipes I have enjoyed this month:

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chilli

Spiced Baked Fruit (I haven't gotten to making this one yet but it is a easy and quick dessert to enjoy on these cold evenings!)

Swedish Cardamom Buns (These are some of the best things you will ever bake if you try them!)

Ultimate Sticky Buns

This season I have been filling my room with flowers, fresh and dried. I found these ones by the footpath on one of my many walks in the past few weeks.

I have been reading a lot in that past few weeks and have somehow manged to get 5 books on the go all at once!

One of those books is Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, which I felt would fit the season perfectly with its slightly dark and Gothic theme. So far I'm finding it a great read and I can't wait to finish it!

It is the perfect book to read while the rain is pouring outside, except we have not had much rain this month so I read it outside on a blanket with a cup of coffee instead.

After finishing a vintage cardigan I was working on for over a year earlier in the season, I couldn't wait to get started on a new knitting project. Knitting is a very appropriate autumn & winter activity for me and once summer comes around I usually put a hold on it. 

My current project is a throw blanket, made with a soft cotton in a lovely oatmeal colour.

I have since knitted quite a bit more than what is pictured here. We have been watching a lot of different TV series and I like to knit away while I watch.

Quick story: I remember when I first started learning how to knit. My Nonna had come for a visit and she helped me to knit my first wobbly rows. That evening out family settled down to watch a movie and she brought out her knitting and began clicking away with her needles with her eyes on the screen. I figured I'd be able to do it too, so I got out my knitting. But my Nonna discouraged me saying I would need a bit more practice before I could both knit and watch a movie.

Well Nonna, I can do it now and quite well if I do say so myself! 

This past weekend I intentionally made time for rest & restful activities.
One thing that I really enjoyed was doing some simple sketches of leaves and other little things in nature. It was really fun to just sketch. I didn't worry about making them perfect and just tried to capture the simplicity of each leaf.

Little Things
~ the fire burning in the fireplace
~ hot cups of tea & coffee
~ plaid shirts and jeans
~ Birkenstocks
~ colourful leaves pressed in an old book
~ sketching in the sunshine
~ stewed apple
~ feijoa jam making
~ baking lots of goodies
~ staying in my warm bed on crisp mornings
~ blooming zinnias
~ sugar and spice
~ pumpkins, apples and sweet potatoes
~ turning the pages of a book
~ making coffee in a french press
~ acoustic music

Music: I've really enjoyed listening to acoustic songs and instrumentals this season. The warm, deep tones of the guitar really warm my heart and I love the mood they create. I'll link to some of my favourite playlists:

morning mist and coffee {autumn}

Sweater Weather Instrumentals

Into Freedom - Lovkn album

I hope you enjoyed my highlights of the season so far.
Let me know your favourite Autumn recipe in the comments!

keep blooming,

A Slow & Quiet Life

Hello darlings!

With everyone basically being forced to stay home for a while, I think one lesson that many will take away from this experience is to slow down!

Our culture today is very much focused on being busy, productive, accomplishing everything and just overall living a very fast paced life.
Many people are starting to wake up to this over time and realizing that they just can't do it anymore.

For me personally, I don't have a very busy schedule or a demanding job. I am just a teen living at home, studying at home and writing this blog.
But even I have been caught up in crossing off all the things on my to do list and getting things done.
I actually went through a season not long ago where this mindset of always having to be doing something kept me from being still and spending time sitting in God's presence.

It is not a healthy way to live, nor is it biblical.

Even God Himself rested after He created everything (Genesis 2:2-3). This was an example for us to follow because He knows that we need rest from our work.

Matthew 11:28-30 tells us to turn to Christ when we are weary and burdened and He will give us rest, that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

Matthew 11:29

His burden is light because He does not leave us to carry it.
If we are willing and lay the burden of our busy life at His feet, He will carry it and we will be at rest.


So surrendering our schedules to Him is the first step but how do we live slower, quieter lives in the midst of the mile-long to do list?

Dwell in His presence
By spending time in God's Word early in the day, you are allowing yourself to have some quiet moments before the day starts and you are filling up with His love & grace which are vital to surviving each day.
You will be better equipped to deal with challenges and blessings that come along your way throughout the day. You will be able to handle things with grace.
I usually find my days go much better when I have taken the time to read the Bible in the morning.


Limit Social Media
I don't know about you, but I find that often spending any extended amount of time doesn't leave me feeling at peace or restful.
It usually leads to some discontentment or restlessness.
So in the pursuit of a slower, quieter life I think limiting time spent on social media is a wise step to take and I speak to myself here also!


Surrender to the Lord
This is probably one the most important step on this list. If you feel weighed down by everything, the best and first thing to do is to surrender it all to the Lord.
Just tell Him what is on your mind, all of the things you feel you should be doing and leave knowing He hears you and He will give you peace that passes understanding.


Declutter & Simplify Your Space
Decluttering is almost the 'trend' at the moment. I have seen countless 'declutter with me' videos on YouTube and I enjoy watching them. I also find them motivating to start decluttering my own space.
It is quite freeing to get rid of unnecessary items in your home or bedroom and create a simpler space to live in.
Decluttering my physical surroundings often clears some head space and leaves me feeling refreshed.


Do Something You Enjoy Outside of Working
Do something creative that you enjoy or pick up a new creative hobby! I personally enjoy painting, knitting, photography, reading, and more recently art journaling/scrapbooking.
Whatever it is that you enjoy, do it more often and have fun with it!


Notice Everything & Delight in the Lord
Something I learnt in my quiet time recently is that part of delighting in the Lord is delighting in all of the blessings He gives us.

"All through the day, every good thing that gives us pleasure should be an instance of delighting in God." (John Piper, How Do I Delight Myself in the Lord?)

"Notice everything. The way the snow falls. The way the light comes through the curtains. The way your morning coffee smells. The way the wind blows. Notice everything." (Kaetlyn Anne, Winter Rest, Roots, and Reflections)



I chose to place some spiritual things on this list because I believe it is an important part in all of this but I also included some practical steps on this list because our physical surroundings often influence our mind and feelings.

For some further reading, I suggest this blog post from Calico + Twine.

Let's stop and think about the way we are living and make the necessary changes to start living at a slower pace.


keep blooming,

A Day in My Life - Quarantined Edition

Hello darlings!

Today I thought it would be fun to take you along on a day in my life at home, during the current quarantine. To be honest, this won't be much different from an average day in my life because I am usually at home.
But in any case I hope you enjoy this and let's dive right in!

~ ~ ~ ~

{Thursday 2nd of April, 2020}

I woke up at 6:15am, turned on the lights and got out my Bible reading things. This morning I read Psalm 34 which is one of my favourites.
O, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8
I make sure I drink water first thing in the morning to get hydrated and start the day right.

After I was done with my quiet time and prayer, I did some stretches to get warmed up for the day.
I've been following Sarah Therese's 10 min stretch routine on YouTube. I love a good stretch and it helps with any stiffness I get from lying in bed.

This morning was a shower morning so after I finished stretching I picked an outfit and jumped in the shower.
I recently got the Love Beauty & Planet Lavender & Argan Oil shampoo and conditioner and I am loving it so far. It seems to help with any frizz and define my curls better. I also comb and scrunch some argan oil in my curls once I'm out of the shower aswell.

My outfit for today was a plaid shirt dress and some leggings. Super simple and comfy!
I also decided to put on some makeup today, which I don't always do. I just did my eyebrows, a touch of eye shadow, mascara, and later on I put on a tinted lip balm.

Around 8:00am is when I usually had breakfast. This morning I had overnight oats prepared the night before, topped with blueberries.

Study time! 

I brewed my daily cup of peppermint tea and got to work. I am currently going through a study on health & nutrition which has been quite interesting and a personal finance course.

If you haven't guessed by now, I am home schooled and have been for my entire life!

I am most productive in the morning so that is when I like to get the important stuff done. 

After a couple of slices of avocado toast for lunch, I finished off some tasks, and did a bit of reading. Then me and my siblings video chatted with a friend we haven't talked to for a few months. I am so glad to have technology to stay connected with people during this time.

In the late afternoon my brother and I took our dog Molly for a walk. I love going for walks especially in the Autumn when all the leaves are falling and changing colour.

Thursday is meant to be my baking day, and that would have been lovely to put into this post. But I didn't have the right flour so I couldn't make the sticky buns I had planned on making.

I watched a few YouTube videos and then spent my afternoon reading Daughter of Rome (by Tessa Afshar). It is the current read for the Biblical Fiction Buffs Group that I am a part of.
While I was reading I listened to some instrumental music. I don't always listen to music when I read but sometimes it helps me concentrate.

My favourite place to read!

The fading light! It is getting darker much sooner now and I am a little sad about it. But I love everything else about Autumn.

During the evening I finished reading Daughter of Rome! (You can read my thoughts on Goodreads.)

My family gathered in the lounge after dinner to watch a couple of episodes of Rosemary & Thyme, a cosy mystery series from the early 2000's.

In between the episodes I took care of my evening skincare which just consists of removing any makeup with coconut oil and cotton pads, washing my face and applying moisturizer.

Before I go to sleep, I write a line in this sentence a day journal and answer the question for the day.
I also like to read a bit in bed at night to make myself sleepy!
I decided to begin The Magician's Nephew (C.S Lewis) and so I read the first few pages.

And that was a day in my life! Not the most interesting day but that's how it is sometimes.
Nevertheless, I hope you enjoyed this post!

What have you been doing while being in isolation?


keep blooming,

Why I Want To Be A Mother & Homemaker

Hello darlings!

I'm going to warn you now, what I am about to say in this post might be a little controversial and many women today wouldn't share my opinions on these topics.
But I have decided to go ahead and share what is on my heart about being a mother & homemaker and I hope that you find it interesting and inspiring all the same.

My reason for speaking about this is because I think its something that is unpopular but necessary in today's society and the women that do want to pursue the life of a mother/homemaker often feel alone in their choice of lifestyle.



My Life Dream

If you were to ask me what my biggest dream in life is, my answer wouldn't be to have a great career and a fancy apartment in the city.

No, my answer would be this, that my dream is to become a wife and mother and create a home in the country where we can grow our own food, live naturally and simply and let my kids grow up getting dirty and playing outdoors.
We'd have some chickens, maybe a cow and live of the land where we could.

This is my dream,  however counter-cultural it may be.
If you share the dream to be a mother and homemaker one day I want to tell you that that is a wonderful calling and dream and if it is the Lord' s will for you then go for it!
The world needs more women to mother and nurture the next generation in godly homes that radiate Christ.


Motherhood

Yesterday, my dad told me he had been talking with our neighbor and mention how I wanted to be a mother and stay at home etc.
The neighbor was of the opinion that that wasn't a real job. He couldn't have been farther from the truth. I believe being a mother is a job, and not an easy on at that.
As a mother, you give all of yourself to raising and nurturing your kids and that isn't easy. I know from watching my own mum and other stay-at-home mothers I know.

The call to be a mother is a Biblical one too. Often in the Bible God used mothers to accomplish His will.
I believe it is a worthy calling and if I am called to be one I intend to honor that calling.



Homemaking

A homemaker is a person who manages a home especially as a principal occupation.
A homemaker is a woman who's primary occupation is nurturing and creating a home for her family.

Personally, I enjoy creating a happy, comfortable space and nurturing my space so I love the idea of having a home to nurture and being a stay-at-home mother.
Homemaking is also a Biblical practice, like the woman mentioned in Proverbs 31!

Many women in the past lived like this and families thrived. Think Little House on the Prairie...
That simple lifestyle is a healthier than the hectic rushing around most people call normal.

Read Calico & Twine for more inspiration and info on a simpler lifestyle!


Resources

These are a bunch of women, blogs, YouTube channels and Instagram accounts that embrace motherhood, homemaking and simple living.

Milena Ciciotti YouTube

Mrs Midwest YouTube

Girl In Calico YouTube

Housewives are Not Oppressed Mrs Midwest YouTube Video
Homemaking Practices You Can Start TODAY! Mrs Midwest YouTube Video
Why I Love Being a Homemaker Mrs Midwest YouTube Video

Farmhouse on Boone Blog


So those are some of my thoughts on the matter!
What are your thoughts? Lets chat in the comments!


keep blooming,

An Autumn To Do List

Hello darlings!

With Autumn approaching fast (some might say it has already arrived), I have been thinking about some seasonal activities I want to do to get the most out of the season and enjoy it.

Each season is beautiful it its own right and so this Autumn/Winter, I want to make the most of them and learn to enjoy each day.

So I'm sharing my ideas with you and maybe you'll give some of these ideas a try too!

~ ~ ~ ~

- Go to a farmer's market

- Collect leaves to be pressed

- Decorate with dried foliage & flowers

- Make cinnamon rolls or cardamom buns

- Switch over your summer wardrobe to more winter appropriate clothes

- Make your own candles

- Bake these amazing pumpkin cookies

- Start a new knitting or crochet project

- Make a batch of chai tea (link to recipe)

- Go apple picking

- Read a mystery novel or a beloved classic

- Plant flowers that need to be planted in Autumn

- Eat your perfect bowl of porridge for breakfast

- Get some warm socks

- Have a cosy night in by the fire

- Simmer some Autumn potpourri on the stove

- Play in the leaves

- Go thrifting for warm jerseys

- Bring some baking to a neighbor or friend

keep blooming,