The Simple Things

Taking time to live well
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Back cover 2.jpg

July | a final thought

Iona Bower July 22, 2020

From Am I Overthinking This by Michelle Rial (Chronicle Books)

We’re nearly at the end of our July Unwind issue and our August issue is just around the corner. We hope the issue helped you unwind a little, as well as find some things to inspire and give you hope.

Here’s an image from our back cover, to make you smile. Will it be ok? We’re hoping for the best, too. It usually works out just fine.

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribeMore from our July issue…

Featured
Oneworld3.jpeg
May 20, 2026
Competition | Win £500 to Spend at One.World
May 20, 2026
May 20, 2026
Breakfast Bars.jpeg
May 16, 2026
Recipe | Fruit & Nut Breakfast Bars
May 16, 2026
May 16, 2026
Librarians Getty.jpeg
May 14, 2026
Reading | What librarians mean to me
May 14, 2026
May 14, 2026

More wisdom from our back cover

Featured
Back page lone wolf.JPG
March 24, 2021
March | a final thought
March 24, 2021
March 24, 2021
Back page.JPG
February 23, 2021
February | a final thought
February 23, 2021
February 23, 2021
Back cover.JPG
January 27, 2021
January | a final thought
January 27, 2021
January 27, 2021
In Chalkboard Tags issue 97, hope, Issue 97, back cover
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Illustration: Am I Overthinking This? by Michelle Rial (Chronicle Books)

Illustration: Am I Overthinking This? by Michelle Rial (Chronicle Books)

February | a final thought

Iona Bower February 26, 2020

We’re waving off our February issue today. We' hope you’ve enjoyed it. Here’s a little illustration from our back cover that we hope makes you smile, courtesy of Michelle Rial from ‘Am I Overthinking This (Chronicle Books).

Our March issue is in shops any moment now. We’ll see you on the other side!

In Chalkboard Tags february, back cover
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Illustration: Am I Overthinking This? by Michelle Rial (Chronicle Books)

Illustration: Am I Overthinking This? by Michelle Rial (Chronicle Books)

January | a final thought

Iona Bower January 22, 2020

An illustration from our back cover to make you smile.

We’re saying goodbye to our January issue today. We’ve loved learning how best to thrive in winter, use citrus in our baking, spot snowdrops, make cold comfort balms and gather for food with friends.

Our February issue is in the shops soon. In the meantime, please enjoy this illustration from the back cover of our January issue,

Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe


More from our January issue…

Featured
back cover.JPG
January 22, 2020
January | a final thought
January 22, 2020
January 22, 2020
No more sick days bath soak Shutterstock.jpg
January 18, 2020
Make | No More Sick Days bath soak
January 18, 2020
January 18, 2020
Snow day pic Alamy.jpg
January 15, 2020
Winter | a suggested snow day timetable
January 15, 2020
January 15, 2020

More wit and wisdom from our back cover…

Featured
Back page lone wolf.JPG
March 24, 2021
March | a final thought
March 24, 2021
March 24, 2021
Back page.JPG
February 23, 2021
February | a final thought
February 23, 2021
February 23, 2021
Back cover.JPG
January 27, 2021
January | a final thought
January 27, 2021
January 27, 2021


In Chalkboard Tags issue 91, January
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Am I Overthinking This? by Michelle Rial (Chronicle Books)

Am I Overthinking This? by Michelle Rial (Chronicle Books)

October | a final thought

Iona Bower October 22, 2019

A cartoon from our back cover to cheer your day

We’re seeing off our October issue today. All the pumpkins, spooky stories, toffee apples and tea have made us feel properly autumnal. We hope you’ve enjoyed it, too. Our November ‘Cosy’ issue will be snuggling up on supermarket shelves this week so do pop out and buy a copy.

Meanwhile, please enjoy this cartoon from our October back cover.

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our October issue…

Featured
Pumpkin Beer Keg Jonathan Cherry.jpg
October 31, 2023
Make | a pumpkin beer keg
October 31, 2023
October 31, 2023
Back cover cartoon.jpg
October 22, 2019
October | a final thought
October 22, 2019
October 22, 2019
Spooky Stories Alamy.jpg
October 19, 2019
Build your own spooky story
October 19, 2019
October 19, 2019

More amusement from our back cover…

Featured
Back page lone wolf.JPG
March 24, 2021
March | a final thought
March 24, 2021
March 24, 2021
Back page.JPG
February 23, 2021
February | a final thought
February 23, 2021
February 23, 2021
Back cover.JPG
January 27, 2021
January | a final thought
January 27, 2021
January 27, 2021
In Chalkboard Tags issue 88, back cover, cartoon, fun
1 Comment
Am I Overthinking This? by Michelle Rial (Chronicle Books)

Am I Overthinking This? by Michelle Rial (Chronicle Books)

September | a final thought

Iona Bower September 24, 2019

We’re waving off our September issue with the final thought from our back cover

Our September issue will soon be off the shelves and we’re welcoming in October. We hope you enjoyed the Begin issue. Perhaps it inspired you to take up a new hobby, learn a new skill or just mark the beginning of a new start, or a new season.

The illustration we used on our back cover made us all laugh so we’re sharing it with you here. It’s from Am I Overthinking This? By Michelle Rial (Chronicle Books).


More from our September issue…

Featured
back cover.JPG
September 24, 2019
September | a final thought
September 24, 2019
September 24, 2019
Coastal Path.jpg
September 21, 2019
Walking on the edge of land
September 21, 2019
September 21, 2019
Tiny Books Rachel Hazell.jpg
September 18, 2019
In praise of | teeny, tiny books
September 18, 2019
September 18, 2019

More from our back covers…

Featured
Back cover Michelle Rial from Am I Overthinking this Chronicle Books.jpg
July 23, 2019
July | a final thought
July 23, 2019
July 23, 2019
March chalkboard.JPG
March 27, 2019
March: a final thought
March 27, 2019
March 27, 2019
Feb chalkboard.jpg
February 27, 2019
February: a final thought
February 27, 2019
February 27, 2019



In Chalkboard Tags back cover, september, issue 87
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Am I Overthinking This? by Michelle Rial (Chronicle Books)

Am I Overthinking This? by Michelle Rial (Chronicle Books)

August | a final thought

Iona Bower August 22, 2019

We’ve almost reached the end of August and are already looking forward to our September issue hitting the shelves.

We’ve enjoyed ‘pausing’ and all that encompasses this issue, taking time to enjoy the things on our doorsteps we often miss, time to learn something new or try a new skill, and time to spend in simple pursuits, cooking over a fire or reading a book.

The illustration we used on our back cover struck a note with all of us at Simple Things Towers so we thought we’d share it with you in case you missed it. It’s from Am I Overthinking This? By Michelle Rial (Chronicle Books). We hope it makes you smile, too.

Goodbye August! Bring on September!

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe


More from our August issue…

Featured
BACK COVER.jpg
August 22, 2019
August | a final thought
August 22, 2019
August 22, 2019
TheWayHome, MarkBoyle.jpg
August 17, 2019
Lost arts | writing a nice, newsy letter
August 17, 2019
August 17, 2019
Earth's Crust Castle douglas Europe’s Best Bakeries by Sarah Gu.jpg
August 14, 2019
Nostalgia | Forgotten bakery goods
August 14, 2019
August 14, 2019

More wit and wisdom from our back covers…

Featured
Back cover Michelle Rial from Am I Overthinking this Chronicle Books.jpg
July 23, 2019
July | a final thought
July 23, 2019
July 23, 2019
March chalkboard.JPG
March 27, 2019
March: a final thought
March 27, 2019
March 27, 2019
Feb chalkboard.jpg
February 27, 2019
February: a final thought
February 27, 2019
February 27, 2019
In Chalkboard Tags issue 86, back cover, August, Chalkboard
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Am I Overthinking This? by Michelle Rial (Chronicle Books)

Am I Overthinking This? by Michelle Rial (Chronicle Books)

July | a final thought

Iona Bower July 23, 2019

This post is our last for the July ‘embrace’ issue. Hopefully you’re fully embracing summer now, relishing every moment and looking forward to some slow time just for you over the next few weeks.

Above is the illustration from our back cover. We hope it made you smile. And here’s a haiku we penned as an ode to June. As always, we would love to hear yours. Write your own in the comments below or leave it for us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Five, seven, five, remember. We’ll send a lovely book to the author of our favourite.

New books to be read, 

Sands to tread, tastes to try.

Holidays are here.

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our July issue…

Featured
Back cover Michelle Rial from Am I Overthinking this Chronicle Books.jpg
July 23, 2019
July | a final thought
July 23, 2019
July 23, 2019
Lavender Lia Leendertz and Kirstie Young.jpg
July 20, 2019
Science | why lavender calms
July 20, 2019
July 20, 2019
Reader holiday.jpg
July 18, 2019
Reader offer | The Simple Things Holiday
July 18, 2019
July 18, 2019

More wit and wisdom from our back covers…

Featured
Back cover Michelle Rial from Am I Overthinking this Chronicle Books.jpg
July 23, 2019
July | a final thought
July 23, 2019
July 23, 2019
March chalkboard.JPG
March 27, 2019
March: a final thought
March 27, 2019
March 27, 2019
Feb chalkboard.jpg
February 27, 2019
February: a final thought
February 27, 2019
February 27, 2019
In Chalkboard Tags July, issue 85, embrace, chalkboard, haiku
2 Comments
Back+cover.jpg

June: a final thought

Iona Bower June 26, 2019

This marks the end of our June ‘shine’ issue. We hope it brought a little sunshine into your life.


As is tradition now, here’s a haiku we penned as an ode to June. Write your own in the comments below or leave it for us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Five, seven, five, remember. We’ll send a lovely book to the author of our favourite.

Grass-stained feet, bed before dark,

Days longer than nights.

Midsummer folly all round.

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More wit and wisdom from our back covers…

Featured
Back page lone wolf.JPG
March 24, 2021
March | a final thought
March 24, 2021
March 24, 2021
Back page.JPG
February 23, 2021
February | a final thought
February 23, 2021
February 23, 2021
Back cover.JPG
January 27, 2021
January | a final thought
January 27, 2021
January 27, 2021

More from our June issue…

Featured
Back+cover.jpg
June 26, 2019
June: a final thought
June 26, 2019
June 26, 2019
Strawberries and cream muffins.jpg
June 23, 2019
Pudding facts: strawberries and cream
June 23, 2019
June 23, 2019
Bookshop Lewes.JPG
June 15, 2019
Celebrate | Independent Bookshops Week
June 15, 2019
June 15, 2019





In Chalkboard Tags June, issue 84, haiku, back cover
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Illustration: Mari Andrew, from Little Gestures Cards for Every Occasion (Clarkson Potter)

Illustration: Mari Andrew, from Little Gestures Cards for Every Occasion (Clarkson Potter)

May: a final thought

Iona Bower May 27, 2019

We hope you enjoyed our May ‘Relish’ issue, and our back cover cartoon

This month we have loved celebrating the outdoors, relishing long weekends and making the most of the late spring sunshine. In homage to all that, here’s our May haiku. We’ve chosen the theme of casting not a ‘clout’ until May be out. But do have a go at writing your own (on anything May-related) and leave it in the comments below. We’ll send a lovely book to the author of our favourite.

Discard vests in May!

When they said ‘cast ne’er a clout’

They meant the hawthorn.


More thoughts from our back cover…

Featured
Back cover Michelle Rial from Am I Overthinking this Chronicle Books.jpg
July 23, 2019
July | a final thought
July 23, 2019
July 23, 2019
March chalkboard.JPG
March 27, 2019
March: a final thought
March 27, 2019
March 27, 2019
Feb chalkboard.jpg
February 27, 2019
February: a final thought
February 27, 2019
February 27, 2019

More from our May issue…

Featured
Kite Getty.JPG
February 28, 2020
How to | make a kite
February 28, 2020
February 28, 2020
Back cover Mari Andrew.jpg
May 27, 2019
May: a final thought
May 27, 2019
May 27, 2019
Analogue Jonathan Cherry.jpg
May 11, 2019
Etymology: jukebox
May 11, 2019
May 11, 2019
In Chalkboard Tags issue 83, may, haiku, relish
3 Comments
Illustration: Nicholas Stevenson – Folio Art

Illustration: Nicholas Stevenson – Folio Art

April: a final thought

Iona Bower April 26, 2019

Please enjoy our back page chalkboard message and a seasonal haiku

We’ve loved all the fun of our Treat issue and we hope you enjoyed the slightly out-of-the-ordinary cover of this issue.

Here’s an April haiku in homage to all that. Do have a go at your own and leave it in the comments below. We send a lovely book to the author of our favourite each month.

April brings showers,

But sweets, treats and flowers, too.

It’s a spring surprise.

 Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from the April issue…

Featured
Back cover.JPG
April 26, 2019
April: a final thought
April 26, 2019
April 26, 2019
Green and clean oven gel pic.jpg
April 22, 2019
Make: your own clean, green oven gel
April 22, 2019
April 22, 2019
Charlie and Cho Factory pic.jpg
April 14, 2019
Game: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Puzzler
April 14, 2019
April 14, 2019

More wisdom from our back cover…

Featured
Back cover Michelle Rial from Am I Overthinking this Chronicle Books.jpg
July 23, 2019
July | a final thought
July 23, 2019
July 23, 2019
March chalkboard.JPG
March 27, 2019
March: a final thought
March 27, 2019
March 27, 2019
Feb chalkboard.jpg
February 27, 2019
February: a final thought
February 27, 2019
February 27, 2019



In Chalkboard Tags issue 82, April, haiku, back cover
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March chalkboard.JPG

March: a final thought

Iona Bower March 27, 2019

Photography: Catherine Frawley

Please enjoy our back page chalkboard message and a seasonal haiku


Our ‘Seek’ issue has been a veritable romp through spring sights, quirky curiosities and all sorts of magical things that you only spot when you’re really looking. We hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as we have.

Here’s a March haiku in homage to all that. Do have a go at your own and leave it in the comments below. We send a lovely book to the author of our favourite each month.

Light, bright mornings and

A breath of bulbs on the air.

Spring is really here.


Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe


More from our March issue…

Featured
March chalkboard.JPG
March 27, 2019
March: a final thought
March 27, 2019
March 27, 2019
Clocks.JPG
March 25, 2019
British Summer Time: a brief history
March 25, 2019
March 25, 2019
allotmentbooze.jpg
March 24, 2019
Five plants for making allotment booze
March 24, 2019
March 24, 2019

More inspiration from our chalkboard…

Featured
Back cover Michelle Rial from Am I Overthinking this Chronicle Books.jpg
July 23, 2019
July | a final thought
July 23, 2019
July 23, 2019
March chalkboard.JPG
March 27, 2019
March: a final thought
March 27, 2019
March 27, 2019
Feb chalkboard.jpg
February 27, 2019
February: a final thought
February 27, 2019
February 27, 2019
In Chalkboard Tags issue 81, march, chalkboard, haiku
15 Comments
Photography: Catherine Frawley

Photography: Catherine Frawley

February: a final thought

Iona Bower February 27, 2019

Please enjoy our back page chalkboard message and a seasonal haiku

From overnight bakes to wild walks, to indulging in the art of bathing, we hope you’ve enjoyed our Soothe issue this month. Here’s to lighter, warmer days to come.


We’ve penned a haiku in homage to February. Do share your own below (5, 5, 7 syllables, remember). We’ll send a lovely book to the author of our favourite haku.

Last days of winter,

Only twenty-eight, at least.

Thanks, February.

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe



More from our February issue…

Featured
Feb chalkboard.jpg
February 27, 2019
February: a final thought
February 27, 2019
February 27, 2019
feb+cake.jpg
February 20, 2019
Cake facts: drizzle me this
February 20, 2019
February 20, 2019
dressing gown.jpg
February 16, 2019
Etiquette: dressing gowns
February 16, 2019
February 16, 2019

More of our back cover messages…

Featured
Back cover Michelle Rial from Am I Overthinking this Chronicle Books.jpg
July 23, 2019
July | a final thought
July 23, 2019
July 23, 2019
March chalkboard.JPG
March 27, 2019
March: a final thought
March 27, 2019
March 27, 2019
Feb chalkboard.jpg
February 27, 2019
February: a final thought
February 27, 2019
February 27, 2019
In Chalkboard Tags issue 80, haiku, february, back cover, chalkboard
1 Comment
Photography: Catherine Frawley

Photography: Catherine Frawley

January: a final thought

Iona Bower January 29, 2019

Please enjoy our back page chalkboard message and a seasonal haiku

Our ‘Cheer’ issue has reminded us of all the reasons why we love winter. We’ve been celebrating the dark evenings by hunkering down, gathering friends and lighting fires. Having an excuse to stay at home and cook, relax and hibernate a bit is a very good reason to enjoy the cold weather.



Here’s a January haiku in homage to all that. Do have a go at your own and leave it in the comments below. We send a lovely book to the author of our favourite each month.

Don’t misunderstand,

Snow’s great for a week or two…

But hibernation’s better.


Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our January issue…

Featured
Oneworld3.jpeg
May 20, 2026
Competition | Win £500 to Spend at One.World
May 20, 2026
May 20, 2026
Breakfast Bars.jpeg
May 16, 2026
Recipe | Fruit & Nut Breakfast Bars
May 16, 2026
May 16, 2026
Librarians Getty.jpeg
May 14, 2026
Reading | What librarians mean to me
May 14, 2026
May 14, 2026

More inspiration from our back cover…

Featured
Back cover Michelle Rial from Am I Overthinking this Chronicle Books.jpg
July 23, 2019
July | a final thought
July 23, 2019
July 23, 2019
March chalkboard.JPG
March 27, 2019
March: a final thought
March 27, 2019
March 27, 2019
Feb chalkboard.jpg
February 27, 2019
February: a final thought
February 27, 2019
February 27, 2019







In Chalkboard Tags issue 79, haiku, chalkboard
3 Comments
Image by Nadia Taylor

Image by Nadia Taylor

December: a final thought

Iona Bower December 25, 2018

Please enjoy our special December cover, along with a seasonal haiku

We so enjoyed putting our December issue together and pausing to remember all the things we love about midwinter and the magic it brings.

We’ve packed up our pencil cases for the holidays now so will leave you with our December haiku…

An afternoon walk
Gets more unlikely
The more sprouts one has consumed.

Please do have a go at penning your own and leave it in the comments below. We’ll send a lovely book to our favourite.

This cover was a little different but usually we publish a back cover chalkboard and have turned some of them into postcards that you can buy here if you would like to.

That’s all from our December The Simple Things, but our January issue should be in the shops any day now, full cheery wintry things to inspire and surprise you.

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

See more of our final thoughts…

Featured
Back cover Michelle Rial from Am I Overthinking this Chronicle Books.jpg
July 23, 2019
July | a final thought
July 23, 2019
July 23, 2019
March chalkboard.JPG
March 27, 2019
March: a final thought
March 27, 2019
March 27, 2019
Feb chalkboard.jpg
February 27, 2019
February: a final thought
February 27, 2019
February 27, 2019

More from our December issue…

Featured
sun bread.jpg
December 21, 2021
Bake: sun bread for Yule
December 21, 2021
December 21, 2021
xmas cover.jpg
December 25, 2018
December: a final thought
December 25, 2018
December 25, 2018
donkey pic.jpg
December 15, 2018
Meet the donkeys of the New Forest
December 15, 2018
December 15, 2018
In Chalkboard Tags issue 78, christmas, december, chalkboard, haiku
1 Comment
Chalkboard: Catherine Frawley

Chalkboard: Catherine Frawley

November: a final thought

Iona Bower November 20, 2018

Please enjoy our November back cover, along with a seasonal haiku

Some of the things we’ve enjoyed most about our November issue have been finding out about fabulous bookshops from around the world, creating nooks in which to read alone, perusing essays on autumn, and cooking comforting things perfect for a Sunday afternoon in with a rip-roaring novel.

Here’s our November haiku in homage to all that.

Reading a good book

Is so much more rewarding

With a good biscuit.

That’s all from our November The Simple Things, but our December issue should be in the shops any day now and we’re feeling rather festively excited about it.

We publish a back cover chalkboard most months and have turned some of them into postcards that you can buy here http://www.icebergpress.co.uk/shop/chalkboard-postcards-pre-order-

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe



More from our November issue…

Featured
nov chalkboard.JPG
November 20, 2018
November: a final thought
November 20, 2018
November 20, 2018
chickpeasnew.jpg
November 16, 2018
Hanger: the struggle is real
November 16, 2018
November 16, 2018
maltloaf.jpg
November 15, 2018
Cake facts: malt loaf
November 15, 2018
November 15, 2018

See more of our chalkboards…

Featured
Back cover Michelle Rial from Am I Overthinking this Chronicle Books.jpg
July 23, 2019
July | a final thought
July 23, 2019
July 23, 2019
March chalkboard.JPG
March 27, 2019
March: a final thought
March 27, 2019
March 27, 2019
Feb chalkboard.jpg
February 27, 2019
February: a final thought
February 27, 2019
February 27, 2019



In Think, Chalkboard, Haikus Tags issue 77, November, chalkboard, haiku, books, bookshops
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Featured
 MAY ISSUE   Buy  ,   download  or  subscribe   Order a copy of:  Our new Homebird bookazine    Flourish Volume 4 , our wellbeing bookazine  A Year of Celebrations  – our latest  anthology  See the sample of our latest issue  here   Listen to  our po
February 27, 2026
February 27, 2026

MAY ISSUE

Buy, download or subscribe

Order a copy of:
Our new Homebird bookazine

Flourish Volume 4, our wellbeing bookazine
A Year of Celebrations – our latest anthology

See the sample of our latest issue here

Listen to our podcast – Small Ways to Live Well

February 27, 2026
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The Simple Things is published by Iceberg Press

The Simple Things

Taking time to live well

We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

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