Simple Ways... Archives – The Good Simple Life

February 3, 2019February 5, 2019

Rest and Recharge

By the end of 2017, I realised the aftermath of hurricane Maria had really taken its toll on me; I withdrew from my active life with friends and family, opting to be on my own, silently shaking my fists at fate between bouts of intense anger and tears of frustration and fatigue. When 2018 rolled up, I resolved to improve my mental health and went on a self-help book shopping spree.

Out of all my purchases, the most challenging read was 12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson. Rule 2, Treat yourself like someone you are responsible for helping, resonated deeply with me. After the hurricane, I threw myself into helping family and friends and worked tirelessly. I neglected myself. Peterson points out our responsibility for young children, the elderly and even pets is characterised by a greater level of care than that we have for ourselves . What is something that makes a world of difference to young children that we treat with utmost attention? Rest. Parents and caregivers agonize over full nights of sleep and naps; their children enter an intense program of rest training.

“Time for bed, my little darling.”

“C’mon little junior, it’s nap time.

A new year is here, I’m doing well but battling bout of insomnia. I remembered Rule 2 and decided a return to rest training had to be prioritised. First Sunday of February, what would normally be billed as a Super Hygge Sunday, was a Super Hygge Sunday of rest.

I have put a lot of effort into making my room an airy, peaceful sanctuary. Good quality, fleecy bedding makes sleep toasty. Leafy babies (my nickname for my plants… they also have individual names and that’s a separate post!) adorn the windowsill and side table. It’s a fantastic place to rest and feel at peace.

If you must retreat, retreat into cushions.

Cushions. Lots of cushions. 4 pillows and 5 cushions might be overdoing it at first glance, but if you’ve ever come home after playing “sardines in a tin” with other London commuters, you will appreciate falling backwards into a heap of softness swathed in sumptuous fabrics. Yes, the cushion love is deep.

Lena und Rolf. My German sheepie slippers.

I wake up, throw on Lena and Rolf (my beloved felt and wool slippers from the Cologne Weinachtmarkt), shuffle to the kitchen for some tea and get right back to bed. I listen to scripture, jot down blessing in my thankfulness journal and close my eyes with deep breaths and observe my mental state. Which wrong turns did I take this week? How can I redirect my path? Everything will be ok, right? Yes, everything has a way of working out.

Relaxing Lavender Sleep Mist from Holland and Barrett’s MiaRoma range

I drink lots of water and nap some more. I decide to intensify the mellow mood with some lavender aromatherapy. My training is going really well. By midday, the sun is so bright I want to go outside and enjoy it.

Light Relax from Aromatherapy Associates features Lavender, Ylang and Pettigrain to help unwind.

My intentional rest was a huge success and a Super Hygge Sunday (or Saturday) of Rest will be a regular fixture on the calendar.

💕

February 2, 2019February 9, 2019

Finding Magic in the Mundane

We’ve made it through January replete with snow, arctic vortices, upsetting headlines and travel woes. Let’s make February different. How about shifting our perspective more to the present and injecting magic into the mundane. Case in point: a trip to the post office.

I walk through a biting wind and sloshy sleet to buy stamps. Sounds fairly mundane, right? As I fight with my umbrella (it pops the wrong way out) in the wind, I laugh. That brief moment of engaging my cheek muscles reminds me to smile. It’s simple and has the power to shift everything. So I smile. I look up at the beautiful, brick façades in Belgravia. A man in a parka cruises by on a bike.

Cyclist cruising by No 38, Blo Chelsea Green Salon and Luxe + Hardy in Belgravia, London

Some seriously stylish women glide along the glistening pavement in luxurious fur. I fear they will get doused with paint but nothing happens. They soon disappear leaving only a trace of oudh in the chill. Silvery olive trees quiver. Vans and taxis stream by. The odd music of suitcase wheels rolling over grit accompanies tourists heading to the local hotels. I listen. I see. I smell. I smile. I feel calm and happy. My face is freezing but my heart is toasty.

It’s all beautiful. When you are mindful of the present moment, you can truly appreciate its magic. Try it the next time you’re going through what seems mundane. See how your spirit quiets within and life feels simply good.

💕

November 20, 2018November 20, 2018

Loose Leaf Tea To Go

A biting Easterly blows over the city of London, skies take on that all too familiar grey hue and the temperature drops. This is no cause for concern. Don your favourite wooly hat, twirl into a soft scarf and keep your hands warm around a flask of hot tea. Here’s a simple, cost effective way to get your tea fix on the go and spare the landfill another paper cup.

I’m the proud owner of a matte, coral T2 Travel Flask. It comes with an infuser so you can elevate your tea experience from boring bag to luscious loose leaf. A spicy chai, also from T2, is a perfect pairing for the gloomy weather. Cardamom, star anise and cloves call to mind a Christmas market visit with the aroma of mulled wine lingering in the chilly air.

On Fridays, you can bring your Travel Flask to any T2 shop and have it filled with your favourite tea for free. How’s that for return on investment?!

To save a little more time in the morning, you can measure your tea into the infuser, seal to keep fresh and fill the kettle, all the night before. Everything will be waiting and knowing there’s a special treat in the kitchen will diminish the shock of getting out of a warm bed. Hopefully.

Fill the flask with boiling filtered water. I use a Brita filter to improve the taste of the “government juice” from the tap. The filter also reduces the water’s calcium content, in turn protecting your kettle from limescale deposits and the need for harsh descaling chemicals.

Once the tea has steeped, remove the infuser, dispose of the leaves in the food bin if you have one (never down the drain!). Add milk and sugar to taste.

Keep warm. Keep smiling.

November 15, 2018November 15, 2018

Self-Care Saturday – Soho and Seven Dials

A simple guide to mastering self-care dining.

To start

Wander past Soho Square to the corner of Old Compton and Greek Street. Look at the raindrops dancing at your feet, the fall leaves glistening and puddles reflecting the red glow of cautioning tail lights.

Enter Café Boheme and ask for a table for one. Ask with joy. Ask as if it is the most normal thing in the world. Reject any pity the waiter may cast your way. You are here to treat yourself, to delight your senses and it requires your rapt and undivided attention. No. There will not be anyone joining me. Graciously pile your coat, scarf and bag on that empty chair next to you!

Sophisticated solo diners indulge in offal on the regular. Order the Chicken Liver Pâté and a Boheme spritz (St. Germain, Suze, sparkling wine and grapefruit tonic, garnished with ruby grapefruit wedge). Forlorn harmonica. French jazz accordion. Warm light. Fast service. Eclectic, buzzing crowd. Staff glide through their tasks as if in an exuberant, extemporaneous dance. The sprtiz hits. Ah. If a smile wells up from deep within, don’t hold back. Let the strangers stare.

Adore Café Boheme; the art on the walls, the metallic fragrance of the polished brass, the candlelight, the ebb and flow of music, people, laughter, the crash of breaking glass. Forget your cares. Be thankful to be alive and fortunate enough to dine out.

The Main

Cross Cambridge Circus. Artfully dodge taxis and tourists. More puddles. Enjoy them. Observe how they reflect the cityscape. Beautiful, no?

Enter Flesh and Buns, Seven Dials. Sky Train pumps out of the sound system. Rhythmic bass with honey-smooth contralto vocals. Head down to the basement. Wooden booth dividers, reminiscent of Minka partitions, create cosy nooks. Diners are mellow and the atmosphere is more sedate. This is perfectly fine.

Wait for the Crispy Duck Leg Bao. The wait is ridiculously long but glass of Alvarinho is generously topped up. Get seriously tipsy. Nap in the dipping bowl. Rest is an important part of self-care. The duck arrives. Wow. Is it ever crispy. The duck needed time. Respect the time needed to attain this level of perfect crispiness.

Crispy Duck Leg Bao at Flesh and Buns, Seven Dials

Bao building: smother sauce, cram in cucumber slices, layer lettuce and dish out the duck. Big bite. Big smile.

Would you care to see the dessert menu?

Try the ice cream another time. Like summer time.

Full and content, stroll the cobbles of Seven Dials and contemplate what confection will delight and draw the evening to a close.

Mon Plaisir! Drift back to France. This is the oldest French restaurant in London. The interior is so charming and the staff are exceptionally polite and attentive. Order a tawny port and warm Tarte Tartin with a melting scoop of vanilla ice cream. Let it remind you that nobody can love you quite the way you do. And each day is an opportunity to extend that level of love to any other human being you encounter. It makes the world a beautiful place.

November 4, 2018November 4, 2018

Morning Espresso

November is here. Mornings are frosty and dark. Getting out of bed is slow and so sleepy. How about a piping hot espresso to start the day? Don’t wait until you’re halfway through your commute to spend money on a coffee to-go. Slipper shuffle to the kitchen and get set for a java jolt in style. Save your pennies because Christmas is around the corner.

This gorgeous stovetop espresso maker from Gnali and Zani makes me smile every single time I get it out of the cupboard. Storing on the counter-top or a kitchen shelf are also great options to display the happy duck egg blue and soft wood-effect handles. Matching espresso cup is optional.

Opt for fairtrade coffee. Lately, I’ve been savouring the full-bodied Machu Picchu from Café Direct. Dark chocolate notes linger and the aroma is irresistible. Go on. Stick your nose in the bag and have a good whiff.

There’s no need to compress the coffee in the funnel filter. Stovetop espresso makers don’t create the same high pressure as a counter-top espresso machine. Fill loosely, level and clean the rim of coffee grounds.

For safety’s sake, don’t overfill the boiler. Place the funnel filter in the boiler and screw the coffee pot on securely, creating a good seal.

Keep the handle away from heat source. Confirm with your espresso maker manual that your hob or stovetop is appropriate.

Your espresso maker will fill the kitchen with its special brand of music: gurgles, sputters and hisses. Don’t be alarmed. When it dies down to a steady hiss, the coffee pot is full. Promptly remove from heat to prevent burning the espresso.

Smells so good!

Remember we’re getting this caffeine kick in style? We need some dainty cookies and candlelight.

All smiles in no time. Shine bright today.

October 17, 2018October 25, 2018

Add Light to Your Day

There is a tiny, bright spark of the infinite and eternal within you.

Your potential. Your passion. Your purpose.

Do all you can to discover the source of this light.

Nurture it.

And shine!

I’m a huge fan of the Scandinavian concept of hygge. Hygge is that indescribable feeling and atmosphere of cozy, heart-warming and happy. The Good Simple Life is all about getting more of this! One of the quickest ways I can inject a little hygge into my day is with candles.

Tea lights and an assortment of scented candles are always on hand at home. For my morning espresso and all meals at home, the flickering glow of candlelight makes a special moment of what so easily becomes rushed and mundane. At the end of the day, my room is lit with only one or two candles; the dim light slows everything down and eases me into a restful night of sleep.

I invested in this beautiful Lavender Scented Candle from L’Occitane en Provence. It comes in a hexagonal glass jar with a metal lid. The lilac design on the lid turns the candle into a beautiful Art Deco object d’art when the candle isn’t in use (and hides the charred wick). Lavender has soothing and relaxing properties and the scent of this candle is just right in terms of strength.

If you’re not quite yet ready to splurge on this beauty, don’t worry. TK Maxx has great deals on Sand and Fog candles right now. I got the Pumpkin Spice mini candles for less than £3.00 each. They come in white glass with a lovely carved wood lid.

Candle light is mesmerising. As I light my morning coffee candle and think about the day ahead, I’m inspired to let my light shine.

It’s good. It’s simple.