Simple & Slow Living Habits I Practice Daily

In this fast-paced, fast-moving world, it is so important to make the most of each day and implement some slow & simple living habits into our lives so that we are not too caught up in the hustle and bustle.

Each day is a gift from the Lord and so it is our responsibility to live every moment wisely and for His glory!

By practising these little habits every day, I am able to take joy in the mundane.

It also helps to slow down, focus on the little things in life and delight in the Father who has blessed us with so much.

Today I am going to share with you a few of the slow living habits I try to implement in my everyday life.

1. Taking time before the day begins to be still before the Lord

This is really the most important habit because doing this one thing will set the tone of your entire day.

I always notice the difference in how my day goes when I haven't first done my quiet time!

Wake up earlier so that you have some time on your own before you begin your day and soak in His presence and don't rush it.

2. Get outside

I try to get outside and do something every day, whether I go for a walk with my dog, or work in the garden. Fresh air, sunshine and exercise are all vital for a healthy lifestyle. 

I find that if I don't go outside at all for a day, I feel stuffy, tired, or I get a headache. 

Being outside is a great way to slow down and appreciate the beauty in nature too!

3. Doing one thing at a time

This one is a fairly new habit that I am working on implementing but it has already made a difference in my productivity.

I used to try to multitask and do a bunch of things at once. But it's not really the most efficient way to do things. 

Now I like to focus on one task at a time and give it all of my attention, which actually increases my productivity because I am completing one thing after the other and doing a good job on each assignment. It's a great feeling!

4. Turning off notifications

This one is more of a one-off thing, but it did affect how I live my everyday life so I am including it on this list. 

A while ago I decided I didn't want the noise and distraction caused by the constant dinging I got from the notifications on my phone.

So I went into the settings and turned off all notifications and I haven't looked back.

It means I am not always picking up my phone to see what the latest update is and can resume my life without so much distraction.

5. Writing my to-do list for the day in order of priority

Usually, in the morning or sometimes the night before, I write out all the main tasks I need to do in my noted on my phone and enjoy the satisfaction of marking them off as I complete each one.

I put the most important things first so that I get them done before doing the smaller, less important things.

This little habit brings order to my day and makes for a clearer mind and a smoother day. 

6. Doing things that I enjoy 

After all of my schoolwork and other tasks are done I like to make sure that I do something that I enjoy as a way of resting and doing something that makes me happy.

This could be making something like a craft or some baking or simply sitting down to read with a cup of tea! I think it is important to have times of rest as well as times of productive working.

Each of these things may not seem very big, but sometimes it is the smallest habits which make the biggest changes in your day to day life.

I hope you gained some inspiration for embracing simple & slow living habits into your own life!

Let me know what your favourite slow living habit (if you have one) is down below!

  

keep blooming,

Hannah

What's on My Spring Wardrobe Wishlist

I have been thinking about my wardrobe lately and how I want to curate it more carefully and also invest in good quality pieces that will last.

At the moment I am working on my Spring-Summer wardrobe and I have noticed there are definitely some gaps I need to fill.

My wardrobe has quite a bit of colour and pattern, but I feel like I am lacking some good basics to tie everything together.. So a lot of this little wishlist is really just some basics to help streamline my entire wardrobe!

I hope this will offer some inspiration and ideas for your own spring wardrobe and be sure to let me know in the comments what pieces you are looking for for your own wardrobe!

a linen skirt with buttons down the front

I would love to add some more skirts to my wardrobe and I think that a simple plain coloured linen one with buttons down the front would be a great addition.

Whether it was a pink tone one like the one pictured here or something a little more neutral, I would style it with a plain tee or a cute white blouse, my brown sandals and some delicate necklaces!

A muted green button-up shirt

I have been loving shirts this year and I also love darker, more muted greens. So a green shirt is definitely up on my wishlist! There is something so versatile about shirts like this and they can easily look more dressed up or more casual, whichever look you're going for.

As far as styling goes, I'd wear a shirt like this either with a pair of jeans and a pretty necklace or with a denim skirt and some boots or sandals.

A grey longline cardigan

Almost everyday this week as I've been putting together an outfit for the day, I have looked in the mirror and thought, "a grey cardigan would go so well with this outfit."

I have coloured cardigans but I don't have a simple grey or neutral one that goes with everything.

Especially in the Spring, I think a good neutral cardigan is a great staple to have in your Spring wardrobe because of the fluctuating temperatures.

A plain tee in white & grey

It doesn't get much more basic than this! But I really think they are a necessity in any wardrobe.

I can picture these going with pretty much everything in my wardrobe and so they are definitely essentials. I am eying The Organic Cotton Crew style from Everlane! 

If you also like black, a basic black tee is also a good option. 

I have personally found that I don't like to wear black much so I am opting for a grey one instead.

A pair of white sneakers

These shoes look good with skirts & dresses as well as with jeans, so they check the versatility box!

I currently have a pair of black sneakers but I want to lighten things up a bit for the Spring and Summer.

A neutral-toned jumpsuit 

Last year, I thrifted a jumpsuit to see if I liked the whole jumpsuit thing, and I did!

I would love to add a few more into my wardrobe, particularly one in a similar colour to the one shown here. A jumpsuit is such an easy piece to wear because you can just pop one on and you're done! 

Denim overall dress

I have been searching for a dress like this for a while and I still haven't found the right one.

But I love how versatile denim is and how a dress like this could easily be worn all year round, with a cute sweater and boots in the cooler months or with a comfy tee in the warmer months.

A Straw sunhat

Is this not the sweetest little accessory for this season?

I'll admit I'm not much of a hat person, but I think I could get away with a simple straw hat for the summer. I hope to find on second hand but if that doesn't work there are a few from boutiques I have my eye on.

A dainty floral skirt

Dainty florals are so darling and pretty! I would love to find a skirt similar to this one at the thrift store.

This print simply screams spring to me! I would style a skirt like this with a white tank top or a plain tee, straw hat and my brown sandals.

the perfect striped tee

A good striped tee was a go-to of mine for a while and then while I was decluttering my closet, I ended up getting rid of most of my striped tees because they were a little worn.

I would love to find one really good striped tee to have as a basic in my wardrobe! I will look at the thrift stores first but if that fails, I love the look of this J.Crew Vintage Cotton Crewneck tee!

That's a wrap of my list, but what about you?

What are you looking out for to add to your wardrobe?

keep blooming,

Hannah

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

A Simpler Way of Life

Recently, I have been dipping my toes into the whole simple & slow living lifestyle. 

The whole idea really interests me and I have been inspired by various Instagram accounts too.

So I have decided to be more intentional to take the steps to choose slow & simple everyday.

In the words of Kaetlyn Anne ," simple living is not something we arrive at or accomplish. It is something that we nurture throughout our entire lives. "

So after learning more about this way of living, I sat down a wrote down some of the ways I wanted to incorporate these ideas into my day-to-day life.

These a few of my ideas:

- pursue full & lasting pleasure in God

- treasure time spent with family

- create a simple schedule--not too overloaded--each day and stick to it

- get out in nature daily

- spend less time on tech and more time on creative pursuits

- help my mum keep our home clean & tidy

- cherish & pour into friendships

- write more letters

- nurture our garden 

- work towards becoming more self-sufficient

It may look different from person to person but these are the ways I intend to pursue a slower, simpler life.

Why do I want to pursue this lifestyle?

Firstly because it makes me feel happy, at peace and I find it fulfilling.

It is also a Biblical way of life. Jesus continually took time by himself to rest and commune with His Father. He took time to spend with others and nurtured relationships with those around him.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:11, Paul writes "aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you. "

The Christian life should not be one of idleness, but of hard & honest work. Paul himself worked to pay his own expenses when planting churches so that he wouldn't have to depend on others during his ministry.

Part of simple living is living in alignment with the seasons. 

" Simple living is living deeply rooted in each season. Simple living is eating seasonal fruits and veggies. Simple living is being present in each season, connecting with nature. Simple living is  slowing down enough to recognize the different beauties that each season brings. Simple living is seasonal living. " - Kaetlyn Anne, What is Simple Living? 

I want to live in a way that is rooted in the changing of the seasons. To get out in the garden in the spring, to enjoy the delights of the summer, reap the harvest of autumn, and turn inward to rest in the winter.

I want to eat what's in season and curate a thoughtful seasonal wardrobe and grow closer to God as I learn to be still enough to hear His voice.

I want to learn to treasure the little things in life and value time spent with my family. I have the tendency to sometimes live for myself and in my own little world (the introvert in me) and not pay much attention to the needs of my family. I want that to change.

I want to spend less time scrolling and more time living and working on creative pursuits like watercolour painting, drawing, knitting, and cooking.

These are the things that actually matter in life not how many comments my post gets, what my Pinterest boards look like or watching hours of YouTube a week.

Friendships matter.

Relationships matter.

My health matters.

My family matters.

Most importantly my personal relationship with God matters and I can fully devote my heart to Him if it is distracted with many things.

I am excited to see where this new venture takes me and what I will learn on the way!

keep blooming, 

xo, Hannah

Book & Film Recommendations // Homemaking & Simple Living

The idea for this post came to me, as the best ideas do, as I was lying in bed trying to get to sleep one night.

I began compiling a list of movies/books that contain homemaking, garden or simple living themes.

Since this style of life is somewhat rare these days it is nice to see it in films or written about in books.

I haven't got much else to say in this intro so I will get right into my list! Enjoy!

Little Women

I feel like this one may be an obvious items for this list but I had to include it because I believe the whole story to be truly wonderful!

I highly recommend the 1994 movie (as it is my personal favourite) but the newer 2019 adaptation is also quite well done. I also highly suggest you read both Little Women & Good Wives (I am currently reading Good Wives now!).

The whole story of the March girls is very much set in and around their home. 

Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy all learn in Little Women to work diligently with their hands and that such work pays of rather than continual pleasure and play.

Louisa May Alcott highlights the joys of homemaking and the struggles too! 

Through the book (and the film) there is such a happy, cosy home atmosphere that is truly heart warming.

This Beautiful Fantastic

 I think this movie is really quite charming & delightful and has all the beautiful gardening and floral themes you could want!

Bella is terrified of nature and has let her wild garden be to the annoyance of her gardening fanatic neighbor, Alfie.

He demands that she do something about the state of her garden. So she conquers her fear and slowly begins to fall in love with gardening and the ability to create something beautiful.

She is also a write and the film has many bookish aspects that fellow bookworms like me can enjoy.

But for the purpose of this post I am focusing in on the gardening aspect of the story.

It is the perfect springtime watch!

Larkrise to Candleford

I would really love to re-watch this (for the 3rd time I think) soon!

It is a really lovely series and probably one of the most family friendly period dramas (with the exception of several episodes) that I've seen.

This series is set in a small town in England and the surrounding countryside and the farmers and people that live there.

I love the countryside setting and there is a lot of beautiful scenery throughout the series.

Being set in the countryside, there are many farming, gardening and old fashioned living themes which are quite lovely to watch.

Little House on the Prairie 

Another more obvious pick for this list!

It is such a classic in my eyes and highlights the sorrows & joys of the simpler lifestyle of the past so well.

I feel it is such a shame that we have lost the value of such work as Laura, Ma & Pa used to do on a daily basis. 

Whenever I watch Ma hanging washing or cooking meals for her family I feel like getting up and working away with my hands too!

Love Comes Softly 

All the films in this series are so lovely and heartwarming and portray the old pioneer life from years gone by similar to Little House.

I love the stories and in all the movies the daily struggles of plowing, farming and homesteading are evident.

Amish Heirloom Series by Amy Cliptson

I thought I would include this book series on my list because you can't get much more simple and homey than the Amish!

In this four book series, Clipston writes the stories of three Amish sisters & their mother and it is a truly peaceful & enjoyable set of books to read!

The Amish lifestyle is one that I admire for it's simpler ways and these books are reminiscent of that.

The Light Between Oceans 

For the sake of this post I am focusing on the film but the book is also beautifully written and a heart-wrenching read! 

The film is so beautifully filmed and captures the mundane everyday life of a lighthouse keeper & his wife in such a lovely way.

Their life is a simple one and there are many scenes set around their little lighthouse cottage and cottage garden (including chickens!). This one may considered a bit of a stretch to put on this list but I still think it has the themes of simple living that we're looking for!

The Waltons 

My family was only introduced to this lovely series in recent years but we have enjoyed working our way through the episodes since.

One of the things that draws me in is how warm & inviting the Walton family home is. Olivia Walton is a great example of a loving mother and homemaker and creates such a happy environment for her children and anyone else who walk through their doors.

The series kicks of during the Great Depression and so that is a strong theme in the early seasons as the family works hard to get though it. 

Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards

This little book is a sweet story of a girl & a garden and it is rooted in the seasons and gardening! It is a delightful read and anyone who has a passion for gardening will adore it.

That is all for this post! 

If you have any books or films you would add to this list, I'd love to hear about them in the comments!

keep blooming,

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,