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

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,

My Sourdough Experience

I have been keeping a sourdough starter for a little over a year now. It has been fun (and frustrating at times) experimenting with different recipes and learning little tips and tricks along the way.

My family isn't new to eating sourdough. We eat sourdough breads on a daily basis (ordered in a great big box from a bakery) and I actually get an unpleasant reaction to normal supermarket breads so I like to stick to sourdough & organic breads.

So last year I decided I wanted to try making my own and my sourdough starter was born!

You might be asking, "what is a sourdough starter?" 

Sourdough starter is a fermented mixture of flour and water containing a colony of microorganisms including wild yeast and lactoacilli. 

This fermented starter is the rising agent in sourdough bread and also develops a wonderful flavor. 

Sourdough bread is healthier for you as well because it has a low glycemic index, making it easier to digest. If you want more info on the science behind sourdough, feel free to do your research, but for now that is my brief explanation! 

For my starter, I used the instructions on Lisa's blog Farmhouse on Boone(link).

I kept my first starter for almost a year, but at the beginning of this year while I was away from home, my starter was thrown away by accident so I had to start all over again.

Here is my current sourdough starter (my second one) that I have had for over a month.
It is happy, bubbly and active and I have made several breads with it already.
Now, I will note that I am by no means an expert! To be completely honest, I haven't had a ton of success with any of the breads I have made.
I am still working on getting it right and perfecting my technique. But with practice, I hope to bake a perfect loaf one day.

Sourdough bread requires more tender loving care than your normal yeast breads so be patient with it. It takes longer to make, rise and bake but it is totally worth it!

Like with a lot of things and especially anything worth doing, making sourdough bread at home takes a lot of practice. I know this first hand as I have made sourdough bread a significant amount of times and I still haven't gotten the technique down.

When it comes to maintaining my starter, I have been experimenting with feeding my sourdough starter and I think I have found what works best for me.
What I like to do is feed it 1/2 cup of flour and 1/4 cup of filtered water, then mix well. 
My starter lives next to the oven where it stays pretty warm. Temperature plays a key part in the well-being of your starter, so you want to make sure yours is kept nice and warm. 

I just place a little square of fabric over the mouth of my jar to allow for air to go through but keeping the bugs out. 

Rescources:

How To Care For A Sourdough Starter

The Best Beginner Sourdough Bread Recipe 

So that is a little glimpse into my sourdough journey so far. I'm still learning and I am by no means a professional!  But I enjoy it and that is what matters. 

The process, the journey, is what makes it appealing for me. It takes time but it is worth doing because of the result. 

Let me know if you try making your own sourdough starter!

keep blooming,

Things To Do When You Are Stuck At Home

Hello darlings!

I was hesitant to do a post like this because I wasn't sure if you would be interested since it is quite a common blog post topic at the moment.
But I asked, and you answered and said yes, so here it is!

These are some fun ideas of what we could do while stuck in quarantine at home.
I wanted to come up with some original and positive ideas to help keep us happy during an unpredictable time.

Personally, I am mostly an introvert and have been home-schooled my entire life so staying at home isn't a biggie for me. I feel for you if you an extrovert and are craving to be with people and around your friends.
But I hope that these ideas help keep you have some fun, stay entertained and stop you from going too crazy!

~ ~ ~ ~

1. Have a games night with your family
Now is a great time to start spending some quality time with your family so what better way to that than a fun games night!

2. Reorganize your bookshelf (ideas here)
For my bookworm friends out there, have some fun with your bookshelves and organize them by colour or add some little nick-knacks here and there to give your shelves a fresh look.

3. Do a read-a-long of a favourite book (or a new one) with some friends
I'm thinking of doing this with a couple of my friends and to pick one of Jane Austen's books as a way to finally read one and connect with my friends at the same time.

4. Spend an afternoon creating outfits with the pieces in your wardrobe that you don't wear often
I have been wanting to do this for a while and I think now is the perfect time to get creative with the pieces in my wardrobe that I don't wear very much and find some new ways to style them.

5. Go for a prayer walk 
Go get some exercise and fresh air and spend time in prayer to tell Him what's on your heart during this crazy time.

6. Spend more time in the Word
Are you always making the excuse that you don't spend time in the Word because you're too busy?
Well, now you have time so go spend time with your Saviour!

7. Try some new recipes
I know that for me personally, I have a bunch of recipes saved on my Pinterest that I'd love to try out.
Here's the link to my foodie board on Pinterest if you need inspiration!

8. Have a fun self portrait photo shoot
Get into a cute outfit and take a bunch of snaps! If you have a sister, get her to join in and have fun with it.

9. Write letters to your friends
I'm definitely going to be staying in touch with my friends and to make it more fun I'm going to send some good old fashioned snail mail!


I hope these little ideas give you some inspiration and brighten your day!

keep blooming,

Christmas Gift Guide for Young Ladies

Hello darlings!

With Christmas fast approaching, I thought it would be fun to compile a few gift ideas for the special girls in your life!
I have to be honest with you and say that I love giving & receiving gifts both equally.
It is fun to pick out something for someone you love, carefully wrap it up and then present it to them at Christmas time.

I do love homemade gifts and think that they are a great option that shows extra thought in your gift. But I am here today to share some fun things I have found that I think would make wonderful Christmas presents!

Let's go!


Disclaimer:
Many of these will be New Zealand stores so if you live outside of NZ, I apologize if you can't find it in your country. But most of these things(or similar versions) should be available at a range of stores worldwide.



1. ESV Journaling Bible Elegant Grace Print from Manna Christian Store
A beautiful journaling Bible like this one would be a great gift for a girl in your life who loves studying the Bible and who has an artistic side.

2. Little Letter Necklace in Silver or Gold from Sophie Store
I myself would love to get one of these sweet little letter necklaces! It's small, special and slightly personal because you can pick out their initial.

3. Love Defined by Kristen Clark & Bethany Baird from Amazon
If you know a girl who loves to read, get her this wonderful book! It's full of practical and biblical advice and perspectives on romantic relationships.

4. Sol Cup Reusable Glass Coffee Cup from Oh Natural
If your friend is a coffee lover, a pretty & reusable coffee cup would be perfect for her. This one is gorgeous with its pink accents and bound to make whoever you gift it to happy.

5. Emma Block Lady Cyclist A5 Notebook from Emma Block's Etsy Store
A small notebook with a darling cover illustration by Emma Block would be great for the girl ho can't get enough stationary. Pair this with a cute pen, and maybe a pencil case for a cute gift to give your stationery fanatic!

6. Kind Is The New Classy by Candace Cameron Bure from Amazon
Another great read that any of your friends or women in your life are bound to love! Candace Cameron Bure's book talks about the lack of kindness in this world and how women can put kindness into practice in their lives.

7. Canvas Tote Bag : Woodland from kikki.K
I would personally get this tote bag as a way of holding other smaller gifts inside it. Imagine the delight on that special girls face when she pulls all the little hand-picked goodies out of this adorable tote bag (gift wrapping that is also part of the gift!).

8. Burt's Bees Holiday Spa Collection from Burt's Bees
Girls, be honest, we all would love a gift like this! Pamper your girlfriend by gifting her this lovely spa set from Burt's Bees. Maybe you could have a spa day together at a later date and create a memory too!

9. Tickets to a concert or event
Does your friend or sister have a favourite band? Or maybe she would love to go see a ballet? Get tickets for the two of you to go and do this together. Not only will she loves it but you will share the experience and make memories.

10. Velvet Knotted Headband - Baby Pink
For the girl that you know loves a good accessory, gift her this beautiful velvet headband!


I hope these ideas help you find the perfect gift for the girls in your life that are special to you.
Personally, I would love to receive any of these!

Merry Christmas!


keep blooming,
Hannah, xo




(Blogger wouldn't let me add my usually signature at the end so this will have to suffice.)

My Favourite Youtubers

Hello darlings!

Today I bring you another list!
List posts are some of my favourites to read and to write. This particular post was requested by a followers on my Instagram (@joy_and_wildflowers).

I used to watch a lot of channels on YouTube that made me want more things and be dissatisfied with what I had. I sort of decided to be a bit more intentional with what I was watching.
I slowly found a bunch of Christian YouTubers and now the majority of the YouTube I do watch is from these Christian channels. Instead of making me unhappy, they inspire, encourage and are much more enjoyable than the others.

Without further ado, let's get onto the list! (These will be in no particular order by the way!)




1. Coffee & Bible Time
This might be at the top for a good reason, even though I am not putting these into any sort of order. Coffee & Bible Time was one of the first Christian channels I discovered on YouTube about two years ago and I have been enjoying their content ever since.
Sisters, Ashley and Taylor, create videos on Bible study, journaling, and other things pertaining to the life of Christian women and girls today.
I find their videos inspiring, encouraging and fun to watch!


2. Coffee Girls
Coffee Girls is Ashley and Taylor's second channel that covers everything from day in the life videos to makeup & hair tutorials. It's their more casual, day to day stuff that they like to share and it can be quite entertaining while still being inspiring and faith-centred.


3. Girl Defined
Kristen & Bethany, sisters again, are tow of my biggest 'role models'! I love their books, their blog, their YouTube (I wonder how many times I've said YouTube by now!), and following their lives on Instagram.
They are like the big sisters I never had and share so much Biblical wisdom on femininity, womanhood, guys, relationships, marriage and pretty much every topic you could wish to know about.
I have reviewed two of their books on my blog, Girl Defined and Love Defined. 


4. Mrs. Midwest
I only found this beautiful lady a wee while ago and already I love her channel. Caitlin is a young, married homemaker who aspires to inspire women to be feminine and adopt the simple homemakers lifestyle.
Most of her content is most sit-down, chatty sorts of videos. But she has recently started doing more daily life as a homemaker types of videos and I love those.


5. Lauren Johnson
Lauren is a fashion YouTuber who's style I would describe as classy, feminine, with a touch of vintage!
She makes outfit look books, styling videos, sewing tutorials and other fashion related content.
I love her style and she has inspired some my own wardrobe changes recently as well. She also has an Etsy shop where she sells a bunch of her beautiful handmade clothing and accessories.


6. Lindsey from Books for Christian Girls
I first found Lindsey through her book review blog, but when I found out that sh had a YouTube channel I headed over there too.
She set out to find good, clean books for Christian girls to enjoy, and so she write detailed content reviews on her blog. Her channel is where you will find lots of bookish fun so if you love books and Christian books at that, I suggest you watch her videos!



There you have a few of my favourite YouTube channels!

I hope you enjoyed this short little post and remember to come back on Monday when I'll hopefully have a new post up!


keep blooming,

xo, Hannah