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,

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,

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,

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,

Sin Entered the World // Christmas Through the Carols

Hello darlings!

This week was the first week of the Christmas Through the Carols Advent Bible reading plan that I created (link to that here).
The theme for this week was looking at  the Fall, & how sin came into the world, creating a need for a savior.

We began by looking in Genesis 3, which I love as a passage and find incredibly powerful.
Today, I wanted to share a few of the points I took away from reading & studying this chapter of the Bible.

First off, this chapter tells us lot about how Satan works.
As a Christian it is important to know our enemy, Satan, so that we can be prepared for his attacks and know how to fight back.
Here's what I found:

The serpent was more subtil (crafty) than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He crept in silently, and still does today, planting doubt and questioning the words of God.
He caused Eve to doubt the words of the Lord by asking her, "Did God really say...?"

"Satan suggested that God was withholding something good from them & tempted them to reach and grab what would make them like God himself." ~ Nancy Guthrie


On the flip side...

God always speaks truth. He never lies and always gives us rules that will guide us and keep us safe.
Psalm 84:11 says this: ...No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Adam & Eve were already made in the image of God, there did not need to make themselves more or better than Him.

My main takeaway point from my notes is this.

The fruit of the forbidden tree looked good. It was pleasing to the eyes, and it was tempting to reach out and pick one.
Something may look pleasing, tempting, promise us happiness, or satisfaction.
But the worldly things that are tempting to try or take, will not ultimately bring us fulfillment.
Alchohol, drugs, porn etc. may offer relief, satisfaction and happiness but their charms quickly fade and like Adam & Eve, we are left empty, cheated and ashamed.
When Adam & Eve ate the fruit, their eyes where opened and instead of feeling satisfied, they wee ashamed.

The Lord promises good things and true fulfillment. Because He is Lord God, His Word is to be trusted to be true & His promises sure.

At the end of this sad day in history, it seems as if all is lost.
But hush, the Lord is doing something! He has a plan to rescue his people from the result of sin-death-by sending His Son Jesus to die for us. Jesus died the death we deserve as sinners, but he became the ransom for us.
The story does have a happy and good ending. We who believe in Him and his sacrifice on the cross have the hope of heaven to cling to!


During this season of Christmas, we get to celebrate the gift the God gave the world on that night long ago.
May we ever be thankful & grateful for His love in giving up His son to die a sinners death so that we could experience the joys of heaven!


keep blooming,

Favourite Christmas Albums

Hello darlings!

"It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas..."
One of the things I really love about this time of year is the music. The fun Christmassy songs and the rich & meaningful carols that tell of the Nativity.

This year I've discovered some new Christmas albums & songs and I want to share them (and some old ones) with you.
I do realise that some of these were in my favourite Christmas songs post from last year but there some new ones as well so I hope you'll enjoy this none the less!


Christmas - Phil Wickham

I listened to this today and I love the whole album, but I think Away In A Manger (Forever Amen) is my favourite.
Phil has a great voice and these songs capture the joyfulness of he Christmas season!


Behold The Lamb Of God - Andrew Peterson

I enjoyed Andrew Peterson's Easter album earlier this year and I also quite like his Christmas album.
I also have to be honest and say that I think this song (Matthew's Begats) is my favourite!



Unto Us - JJ Heller

JJ Heller's Christmas album is a favourite for most of our family. It's so calming, peaceful and happy feels.
I love all of the songs on this album so it is hard to pick a favourite but if I did have to choose one I'd have to go with Unto Us.


Christmas - Michael Buble

I think most people can agree that Michael Buble is a Christmas classic! His voice can be heard singing "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..." in the supermarket, the mall and pretty much everywhere this season.
So each year I enjoy listening to a bit of Buble while making Christmas cookies or doing some other Christmas related activity.


Christmas - Guy Penrod

This album is another comforting & cosy one perfect for a festive evening by the Christmas tree!


Those are the albums that have made their way onto my favourite list but I have a few singles that I love to listen to during the Christmas period as well.

- Glory by JJ Heller
- Messiah by Francesca Batistelli
- Light of the World by Lauren Daigle
- Mary, Did You Know? by Pentatonix
- All Glory Be To Christ by Nomads + Natives


What is your favourite Christmas album? I'd love to discover new songs!

I decided to post today since earlier this week I forgot about posting so this ought to make up for that!
Look out for another post tomorrow...

keep blooming,

Christmas Through the Carols // FREE Advent Bible Reading Plan

Hello darlings!

You know those ideas that just come to you out of nowhere and you have no idea if it will even work or how to do it but you go ahead and do it anyway?

Well, this was one of those ideas. I was just going about my day when the idea to create my own Advent Bible reading plan came to me and I went with it! I didn't know how was even going to create this, but I am very pleased with how it turned out.

So I am very excited to bring to you my Christmas Through the Carols Advent Bible reading plan!

~ ~ ~ ~

What inspired this plan?
It is called 'Christmas through the Carols because I wanted to take some of my favourite and most popular carols and delve into them a little and think about the words and how they relate to the beautiful Christmas story.
Throughout the month of December, I have compiled my favourite versions of the carols I selected for you to listen to.


How do you use this plan?
Each day there is a scripture reading and a song/activity. The scriptures were selected carefully to explore several main themes that encompass the Christmas story. The Fall, our need for a Saviour, prophecies of the Messiah, the coming of the Messiah, and hope for His second coming.
Through this plan, we will be reading form all over the Bible, including the Old Testament, the Gospels and even the letters in the New Testament to get a broad picture of the whole story and the wonderful way that God wrote it.


Right, are you ready to see this Christmas Bible reading plan? Okay in...
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3
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2
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1

Ta da!

I love how it tuned out and I can't wait to do this along with you!
Here's a closer look at the schedule...

Click here to download PDF!

What else can you expect this month?

Some fun, Christmassy posts here on this blog,  plus snippets of my Christmas preparations and what I get out of this Advent study over on my Instagram (@joy_and_wildflowers). 

I have also created a playlist with all of the songs in this Bible reading plan so that it is easier to find them.

Link to my Christmas Through the Carols playlist on Spotify!

I hope and pray that if you use this plan that it will fill you with hope and encourage you during this Christmas season.

One thing that I really desire is that we would all become women who love and cherish their Bibles and time spent between its pages. 

In doing this plan I also hope it will help us keep our eyes on Him during this busy but wonderful time of year.

keep blooming,

I ♥ autumn tag

While spring is in on the other side of the globe, autumn is kicking in here. Autumn is nearly my favourite season.
So I had to do an autumnal tag! Or you could call it an excuse to show you my favourite autumnal pins from Pinterest!

I think just seeing the first hint of orange or red on the trees. That and when we light the first fire!

Chai! Cinnamon, chai, vanilla, anything that smells cozy and makes me want to snuggle up with a cup of tea.

Neutral, earthy, warm tones all make me think of autumn. But my favourite would probably have to be burnt orange. Or maybe darker red.

 Chai tea/vanilla chai tea/rooibos chai or Teeccino Maya Chai. Anything chai flavoured!

Mmmmmmm!

I have Victoria Season 2 on my list along with The Crown Season 2 and Little Women. But we'll basically watch whatever. 

Plaid/tartan patterns. I have a plaid thrifted dress which just screams autumn to me! I really love it and I plan on wearing it a lot.

Going for a walk in the crisp autumn air is quite nice. Collecting little bits and pieces form a nice walk is great too. I collected some beautiful leaves yesterday and now they're pressing inside some books.

I swapped the original question 8 for my own, which is this. The books I hope to read in autumn are My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier, The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien, I Never Promised You A Rose Garden by Hannah Green and Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell.

Have a lovely spring/autumn!

Happiness in a Bowl of Oats

When the mornings are fresh and cold, when you reach for your cozy socks just as you step out of bed, when your breath turns to a cloud, when you can't feel your nose, when your empty tummy growls...that's when it's time for a bowl of oats.

Serves 1

1/2 cup oats

1/2 cup water or milk

a dash of nutmeg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Cook until all ingredients are combined and the oats have a thick consistency.

Serve with drizzled honey, a splash of cream and sliced banana.

(Or however you like it :))

Thrifted Clothing Haul

I have been wanting to go thrift shopping or 'second-hand' shopping for a long time and finally, in the past month, I've been to a thrift shop more than once.
I've fallen in love it. Getting great clothes for half the price is awesome! And shopping is fun!
You can either find cool vintage pieces or in style items that are brand new.
I found some pretty cool stuff so I decided to show you! Thanks Mummy for taking the photos! ♥


Grey Knit Striped Pencil Skirt (Cotton On)

 Grey and blush pink are my favourite colours at the moment so this outfit makes me soooo happy!
The skirt is stretchy and comfy but stylish. It could be dressed up or down and will go with a lot of different things. I like having simple basics like this to go with anything.


Pink Floral Rose Pencil Skirt (Pinup Couture)

When I got this it still had a tag on it and the original price was $105 and guess how much I got it for? $10? $5? No, this skirt cost a total of $3!! Crazy right?
I love pencil skirts (if you haven't noticed). I have four pencil skirts in my wardrobe now.
This skirt is relatively comfortable and nice for a more dressed up outfit. I have worn it to church once so far.


Flowy Yellow Summer Dress (Capture)

My 4 yr old sister calls this a 'Belle' dress because it is yellow (Belle from Beauty and the Beast)!

It's a really nice summer dress, even though summer is nearly over here. (Yay for Autumn!♥) This dress is the kind of dress that seems to float around you. It is quite cool too which would be great on a hot day.

Retro Red and Polka Dot Fit and Flare Dress (Handmade?)

Love at first sight! The minute I saw this I knew that if it fit I had to get it! I mean some dresses like this cost a $100 or more and this was $3. It needed a lot of ironing after I washed it. I don't know where I 'll wear it but am glad I have it in my wardrobe.

I also think it may have been handmade soooo......

Plaid Tie-Up Shirt Dress (Just Jeans)

Doesn't this dress scream autumn/fall to you?  I have a wool hat in a dark red-purple colour that I forgot to add to the outfit but it would look great. These sandals go well with it but ankle boots will be even better(I have been promised a pair)! The fabric is very soft and it's a nice casual outfit but still good for going out. 

Cream Floral Blue Dress (Pagani)

I plan to wear this for an upcoming wedding! It's quite elegant and still comfortable. I think the sleeves are cute and the fit of the dress is also nice. *thinks about what else to say about a piece of fabric*

I bought this lovely dress for only $1.50! Can you believe that? The length is only just within my modesty preferences so that's good.

Feather Knit Striped Jersey (?)

I have had my eye on this kind of jersey for a while and I finally have one! I would have chosen a lighter colour but this one is still really nice! It's soooo soft which is great because I hate scratchy clothes/jerseys.

Now all of the above cost $ 37.50NZD. So that my friends is why it's good to go thrift shopping!

Will you go out to your local thrift shop/op shop/second-hand store and see what you can find? 

This is also my 70th post!