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

Autumn Reads

Hello darlings!

I love reading all year round but in the colder months, I feel like its a much more common activity.
You can sit there all snuggled up with a hot cup of tea, coffee, hot chocolate (or what ever else you fancy) and be transported to another world.

I am quite seasonal reader. With the changing of the seasons come the changing of my reading tastes.
In Autumn, I gravitate to mystery novels, old favourites, classics and comfort reads.

So I am putting together a list of some of the books that I feel fit that description.
Not all of these will be ones that I have read, though the majority will be as I don't like to suggest books that I have not read. I mark titles that I have read with a *.



Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier {currently reading}

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell*

Return to the Hundred Acre Wood by David Benedictus*

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak*

By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder*

The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell

The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer

Brambly Hedge: Autumn Story by Jill Barklem*

The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen*

Thin Ice (Men if Valor #2) by Irene Hannon*

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott* {currently rereading}

My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier

What are your favourite cosy reads?

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,

Getting Back Into The Word

Hello darlings!

I coming to you today from the couch in our living room with a post that I need and I hope that you will also benefit from it.

Since the beginning of this year, I have found it difficult to have regular quiet times with the Lord.
Now life has been full of ups and downs for me ever since December 2019 till now.
I knew that I needed Jesus in those moments but it was hard to find the time and the frame of mind to sit still and read His Word.

In the past week I have tried getting back into it, but it is still a struggle however much I crave it and need it.

So here I am today with this post where I will give myself and you ideas and motivation to get back into the Bible!


1. Spend time with Him even when you don't feel like it.
One of the biggest lessons I learnt last year was that you shouldn't depend on your feelings when it come to spending time with God. You may not feel like it but it is so important that you do it anyway. Then eventually it will become easier and He will give you a desire for His Word.


2. Change things up.
This will look different from person to person but make whatever changes you think you need to get back into reading the Word.
Maybe do it in a new place in your house or outdoors. Use a new Bible study or plan.
Start reading a Christian non-fiction book at the beginning of your quiet time.


3. Listen to worship music or hymns during the day.
I always find that listening to some Christian music uplifts and inspires me and sometimes gets me motivated to spend more time with God.


4. Pour out your heart to Him in your journal.
I recently started doing this and it has been really good. All I do is pull out my journal before I start my quiet time and answer the question God asked Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, "Where are you?"
Where are you at? Where is your heart?
Tell Him how you feel and what is on your heart. He is a caring Father who wants to know you!


5. Do a Bible study with some friends or together with others on the YouVersion Bible app.
I'm doing this at the moment and not only does it keep you and your friends accountable, it is a wonderful way to grow together and connect over the Word.


6. Make it a time you look forward to.
Make this special time with Jesus special same as you would with a friend. Make yourself comfortable, brew some tea or coffee, light a candle or turn on some fairy lights, and use some pretty stationary for your journaling.
Also remember who it is that you are meeting with. We have the privilege to meet with the King of the Universe when ever we want! And He is always there waiting for you to spend time with Him.



Do you have any thought or ideas? Share them in the comments!
I'd love to hear your thoughts and I pray that we all have the strength and grace to get back into the Word and continue in it.

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,

5 Movies That You Will Love If You're A Bookworm

Hello darlings!

As a bookworm, I love watching films with literary themes as well as reading itself.
So I came up with five movies containing bookish themes that I have seen and enjoyed that I am going to share these recommendations with you today.
There is something cosy about many of these films and you feel connected to many of the characters through the love of books.
I realise now that all of these are period drama films as well, meaning I clearly haven't seen any modern day films about writers or books and that historical set movies are my favourites!

Well, let's begin shall we!



The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I have watched this movie several times and both me & my mum love it. I confess that I am guilty of having not read the book yet but it is on my list!
The movie is so heartwarming and beautifully filmed, centered around how books bring people together among other things and is set during and after the Second World War.
This was a pretty obvious one to add to the list!




Tolkien

As we were watching this film, my mum whispered to me, "This is going to be one of your new favourites isn't it." She was right!
This movie is so beautiful and truly wonderful. Even though I've only read The Hobbit so far, I loved learning a bit about the life of J.R.R. Tolkien from this film.
The actors were fabulous and it was a thoroughly enjoyable! I especially recommend it if you are a Tolkien fan yourself.




Bright Star

You'd best be warned that though Bright Star is a very beautifully filmed movie, it will make you cry...a lot!
But aside from that it is on this list because it is all about the romance between the famous poet John Keats and Fanny Brawne, and involves reading, writing & reciting poems and other literary themes.
There are stunning scenes with bluebell woods and cloudy pink spring blossoms to feast your eyes on. I can't say much for the costumes, especially worn by Abbie Cornish's character Fanny Brawne, but the rest of the film is really lovely.




Miss Potter

Who didn't love Beatrix Potter's daring books when they were younger? I still do in fact and am pleased to own a cute little box set of many of her books.
It has been a little while since I have seen Miss Potter but I had to include it on this list since it is about such a famous writer.




The Book Thief

Obviously I could not have a list of bookish movies with out including the movie which even has the word 'book' in the title!
I read The Book Thief  some time after we first watched the film but it has been a while since I have revisited either book or movie and I feel it is high time I did so.
So unfortunately I don't remember a whole lot about the story but I knew I had to include it in this post.



I hope you enjoyed this post and discovered some new movies.
Do you have any films you would add to this list?


keep blooming,

My 2020 Reading Goals

Hello darlings!

Welcome to my first post for 2020 (that's going to take some getting used to...)! Can you believe that it is already 2020, and a new decade has begun?
I love how the dawning of a new year offers a new beginning and a fresh start which always motivates me to make changes and set goals.
Today's post is going to be on the topic of books & reading, and what my plans for this year are as far as reading goes.

First of all, how many books do I want to read this year?
Last year I set my Goodreads Reading Challenge to 60 books. But when I saw that it was unlikely that I would reach a total of 60 books, I lowered it to 50 and then managed to complete it.
This year I don't want to pressure myself to read a certain amount of books so that I end up rusjing through book to finish them and reach my goal by Dec 31st. Instead, I've set my goal to 1 book so I can just read for the enjoyment of reading and see how many I manage to read by the end of 2020.
I want to simply enjoy reading and not worry about completing a large goal even though I know that I can reach 50 books in a year.

As for my other reading goals/plans, I have been thinking about what kind of books I want to read this year.
I would like to try and read all of the books I own currently and have sitting on my shelves and to have the satisfaction of knowing that I own books that I have read and loved.
Another goal for my reading this year is to read more classics.
A while back, I wrote a post (here) where I talked about how I wanted to start reading more classic books and this is the year I am going to put that plan in action.
I am actually currently reading Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell, and very much enjoying it!

A few of the other classics I would like to try and read this year (most of which I already own)...
- Larkrise to Candleford by Flora Thompson
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
- Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
- Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
- Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen
- Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott

I also plan on reading some more Christian non-fiction this year and try to reread some old favourites aswell.

Tell me in the comments below, what is your reading goal for 2020 and what is one book you plan on reading this year!


keep blooming,

My Top 10 Favourite Books of 2019

Hello darlings!

It's that time of year again, time to talk about my favourite books of the year.
These aren't necessarily book that were published in 2019, but just my favourite books that I read this year.
Most of these books came to mind fairly easily when I was looking over my 2019 reading stats on Goodreads.
I had a pretty good year of reading in 2019. I read a lot of good books and wasn't majorly disappointed in any of them.
But some definitely stuck out as my favourites and I am going to tell you which ones they were now.

This list is in no particular order, because I could never rank them.

1. Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin

I read this twice this year, so that says something! I really enjoyed this book and I think its the perfect read if you feel like your quiet time needs a boost in the New Year. It is short, easy to read and full of helpful tips & advice.

2. The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen

My first Julie Klassen book and one of my favourite reads of the whole year to be sure! I loved the mystery in this, the characters, the romance and the whole package. 

It was a chunky read but honestly I didn't mind because it was so good and I even had a slight book hangover afterwards!

I can't wait to read more of Klassen's books next year and probably reread this one because I have my own copy now.

3. The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

After watching the movie adaptation for this book (actually filmed in New Zealand), I was of course interested in reading the book. The movie itself was emotional and beautiful, but the book only exceeded in making me emotional, even to the point of shedding tears!

The story is such a heartbreaking one but so well written and and though there are a few inappropriate comments (within their marriage thankfully) that I could have gone without, I do recommend this book to those of you who love a beautifully written, heart breaking historical read!

4. Heart on the Line by Karen Witemeyer

I read the Ladies of Harper's Station series throughout this year and while I loved the series as a whole and enjoyed reading the other women's love stories, this one was my favourite.
Amos was a different hero to what we are used to seeing and his relationship with Grace that grows throughout this book is just the sweetest.
I love that they first communicate through telegraph messages, much like texting today only much cuter!

5. Love Defined by Kristen Clark & Bethany Baird

The second book on my top 10 in the Christian non-fiction genre. I read more of this genre in 2019 and I hope to read even more in 2020 because they a faith building and encouraging to read.

I have a review on this wonderful book, which I'll link here.

6. Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar

I was introduced to the genre of Biblical Fiction this year by Jenna van Mourik (I highly suggest you look her up on her Instagram, Blog and Youtube channel, all @jennavanmourik!) and she raved about Land of Silence so I had to pick it up and I soon found out that her praises were not for nothing.
This book is so, so good and I am eyeing up Tessa Afshar's other books now...

7. Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations by V. Joy Palmer

I finally got to reading this book this year and I really enjoyed the story & Palmer's fun, quirky writing style. Also, the topic of being content with singleness was addressed in this story which is rare in the Christian fiction genre.
I cannot wait till her third book gets released! 

8. The Secrets of Paper and Ink by Lindsay Harrel

Another new-to-me author that I discovered this year was Lindsay Harrel. I have a written a review here on this blog so I'll leave that linked here.

9. In My Father's House by Ann Rinaldi

Ahh, just thinking about these books, especially this one, makes me want to read them again!

This lovely book had been sitting on my shelf for quite some time before I finally decided to pick it up this year. I shared all my fangirly thoughts on in a review here on my blog not long ago so if you are curious you can check that out.

10. Kind is the New Classy: The Power of Living Graciously by Candace Cameron Bure

I listened to an audio book of this book read by the one and only Candace Cameron Bure and I really enjoyed it. She writes about her own life experiences and her career, all while presenting the message of kindness in a simple and inspiring way.



I would happily go and reread most of these book right now, that's how much I enjoyed them!
Have you read any of these? What was one of your favourite reads of 2019?

keep blooming,

a little list of my favourite Psalms

Hello darlings!

Throughout the Bible, we see true stories of faith, God using people to carry out His plan and many of the human struggles. We can relate to the struggles of many of the famous Biblical characters, but to me the most human and relatable book of the Bible is Psalms.
David poured out his heart in the Psalms. His joy, sadness, grief, anger, depression, hope, gladness, the lot!

I love going back to the Psalms to read and meditate over them. Over the years a few have stuck out to me and remain some of my favourites and I am going to share them with you now.

~Psalm 139~

If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 

even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

(v.9-10)

Psalm 139 is so beautiful in my eyes! The language used is quite poetic, as you can see from these two verses. I just love it so much!

~Psalm 119~

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. 

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

(v.2 & 11)

I know what you're thinking! The longest Psalm? 

Yes, I really love this Psalm. One day I read the whole thing through twice and it didn't take me as long as I expected. I love how it speaks of the importance of God's word and how we should study and delight in it.

~Psalm 34~

I sought the Lord, and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears.

They looked unto Him and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

(v.4-5)

Again, I just love this Psalm and always associate these two verses especially with sunsets!

This psalm praises the Lord and gives hope to someone who is feeling low.

~Psalm 63~

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. 

Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

(v.3-4)

I 'fell in love' with this psalm when I studied it along with a study video from Coffee & Bible Time on YouTube. It has since then been a favourite and I have memorized verse 3.

~Psalm 1~

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

(v.2)

My favourite thing about this psalm is the parallel between the righteous and the unrighteous. I love that the Bible gives us an example of both so we know not only what not to do, but what to do.

I hope this inspired you and uplifted you. Let me know your favourite Psalms in the comments!

keep blooming,