All in Good Time

Well, here I am post half-marathon. I didn't break any records in the race but getting back to this level of fitness is a great achievement for me. Now a shorter run like a 5K is a pleasure rather than a chore. Although a rather enthusiastic run on Saturday has left me with a torn calf muscle and an enforced rest. 

Just to let you know all is well here even though I have taken an unplanned blogging break, as you may have noticed. Work has been all-consuming, but in a good way, as I'm enjoying covering a class due to a colleague's sickness. This is likely to continue until the end of this academic year but I don't mind as I'm enjoying the role of class teacher again. I'm teaching the best class I've ever taught, so I feel blessed.

Many things have had to fall by the wayside - such as reading, blogging, photography, decluttering and compiling my Friday links. I have been focusing on staying well though and my running has certainly helped with this. I gave up alcohol for April and this also gave me lots more energy and zest for life. May is all about moderation. We've been cutting down on sugar and carbohydrate too as Tim was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in February but has now got his blood glucose levels down to normal with a very careful diet and increased exercise. Michael Mosley's blood sugar diet book was instrumental in this - thank you to my friend who recommended it.

While I've been very disciplined with my work and health I have relaxed on my spending and have made a few clothing purchases. My love of clothes has not waned but my spending habits are much more considered than they once were. My year of less spending has fizzled out too but a new change is that I'm no longer managing the food planning on my own and our spending is more consistent. 

Since January I've been in the process of resetting many areas of my life. Finding a new balance between work and relaxation, minimalism and materialism and contentment and drive. I have found new focus but some areas are still a muddle. 

So, here's an unexpected blog post. Probably not the one you expected to read or I expected to write. 

A new balance is emerging and hopefully some new blog posts will too. All in good time.

Be happy xo

44. Happy Friday Links

Every week I like to share wonderful reads and resources to inspire simplicity, mindfulness and living well on less.

• 12 Ways To Stay Motivated To Keep Fit by Susannah Taylor via Get The Gloss
• Happy Valley: female solidarity is stronger than male exploitation by Elizabeth Day via The Pool.
• 7 Simple Spring Cleaning Secrets: Are You Ready To Clear The Clutter? by Dan Erikson at Hipp Diggs.
• 10 Ways Minimalism Saved My Life by Erin at A Welder's Life
• The 9 Secrets Of Tidy Families from Fat Mum Slim 
• spring!! beautiful images from Artemis at Junkaholique
• Pope Francis on Instagram

Wishing you peace this Easter. 

Claire xo

43. Happy Friday Links

Every week (ahem, or fortnight) I like to share wonderful reads and resources to inspire simplicity, mindfulness and living well on less.

• 5 Simple (But Powerful) Tools For Fighting Stress by Chris Kesser. I think number 3 is a useful tool. I don't know where I found this site but I'm glad I did. I like Chris' holistic approach to health. 
• From Country Living, How to take your porridge recipe to the next level. I'm getting through a lot of cinnamon this week, it's so warming on cold mornings.I don't know about savoury porridge though...
• Small changes for our young people, What if Schools Taught Kindness? via Greater Good.
• This blog because I couldn't choose one sassy post over another. 
• The self-help books that aren't just for January by Kat Brown via The Pool.
• Dear Younger Self, by Miss Minimalist.
• The Small Flat that's Big on Romance via Homify.
• Pretty pics of The Book Barge but you'll have to buy this month's Country Living. Yes, I indulged. 
• Why Legumes are the New Meat via Khoollect. Healthy. Tick. Budget friendly. Tick.

I think I've ticked enough boxes. Happy Friday! 
Claire xo

image

42. Happy Friday Links

Every week I like to share wonderful reads and resources to inspire simplicity, mindfulness and living well on less.

• On getting intentional with Instagram by Fran at The Simplicity Journey. Yes, Instagram niggles me, as I'm not sure I want to share my daily life, and Instagram does require fairly frequent posting which is not always easy when you're working.
• Oh the joys of Dickensian on the BBC. Bless Inspector Bucket! Here's something to dream of, Win a complete set of Charles Dickens published by Vintage Classics. I've entered this competition by Foyles (twice).
• Do you power nap? How to get a good night's sleep by Tamsin Kelly via Prima.
• The beauty of Barbie diversified, Barbie launches three new body types, by Victoria Kingdon via Harper's Bazaar. 
• 'Minds change' says Matt Haig, author of Reasons to Stay Alive and this article in The Guardian, As therapy shows, words can be medicine. Read Matt's book if you haven't yet done so. It'll change your mind and help you change others' too. 
• Have we fallen out of love with jeans? By Chemmie Squier at The Debrief.
• Fairy lights and flowers: Susannah & Tod's Renovated Portland Flower Cart via Apartment Therapy. Pretty perfect. 

It's been a while, I know, so thank you for still reading here. I'm hoping to post these links every Friday or at least once a fortnight. I shall be working (almost) full-time until the end of May so I'm being very mindful to not overdo things in other areas of my life. Reading (see the sidebar list), cooking, exercise and just being are taking priority over blogging at the moment. I hope you understand and thank you for your kind wishes. Having said that, I might pop up with an occasional catch-up post, so please don't strike me off your reading list just yet! 

Happy weekending! Claire xo

image

41. Happy Friday Links

Every week I like to share wonderful reads and resources to inspire simplicity, mindfulness and living well on less

• I dropped a size on the anti-ageing diet, via The Telegraph, sounds like a sensible way to shed a few excess pounds (scroll down to the bottom of the article for the check list).
• This book looks interesting. I think it could bring a lot of pleasure year after year. A buy to last book, I guess.
• Lonely? 5 habits to Consider to Combat Loneliness. Good advice for anyone, from Gretchen Rubin.
• I love this film and Alan Rickman will be missed: Alan Rickman plays the cello in Truly, Madly, Deeply via The Strad.
• I've made notes on this one, 12 Things Confident Women Do, from Well Made Lives (not gender specific advice, in my opinion).
• I love Wildacre blog and the hellebores in this post. Snowdrops and hellebores brighten January, which has to be the longest month.
• Less is more and small is beautiful I still believe. This home, via My Scandinavian Home, oozes charm and calm.

I hope you enjoy this week's compilation. I'm juggling blogging with teaching almost full time at the moment and the planning and marking are winning - just so you know where I am if I miss a post. Have a lovely weekend, friends xo

image

40. Happy Friday Links

Every week I like to share wonderful reads and resources to inspire simplicity, mindfulness and living well on less.

• How to Make the Most of Staying In This January and February. Some positive and indulgent ideas for hunkering down (and beautiful images too) from Houzz.
• This beautiful letter from mum who died will make you laugh (and cry) via Good Housekeeping.
• I like the idea of progress rather than perfection - How to get More Energy: 8 New Secrets Backed by Research from Barking Up The Wrong Tree. 
• A no-plastics pledge from Anna Hart via The Telegraph, Why Dry January should be about giving up bottled water.
• A delicious vegetarian feast on a plate, Harissa Carrots with Fennel and Lentils, by Sarah at My New Roots. 
• Marie Kondo Shares Her Happy Life Secrets via Red Magazine. I might have to add tidying my sock drawer to my staying in list! 
• "An amazing life. An amazing career." Elton John remembers David Bowie via The Huffington Post. 

Image source unknown. I offer it in gratitude to a musical and creative hero. 

Have a great weekend.

Claire xo

39. Happy Friday Links

Every week I like to share wonderful reads and resources to inspire simplicity, mindfulness and living well on less.

• Did you have a traditional Christmas? Ever fancied a change? What I Learnt Spending Christmas in a Country That Doesn't Celebrate Christmas by Becca Caddy via Life Hacker.
• Bikini bodies are so 2015. Some life-changing magic, Drowning in commitments? It's time to stop giving a damn by Sarah Knight via The Guardian.
• This home is cheery, from Wealden Times. 
• "Give your body some love." 10 running resolutions for the New Year from Realbuzz.
• 230 Great Books for Children in 2016. We're enjoying Charlotte's Web in the class I'm covering at the moment.
• Sam Baker via The Pool: Books to look forward to in 2016.
• New Year tips for a healthy 2016 via British Heart Foundation with a bonus 15 great links from 2015.
• Freeze food flat. Now, that makes sense. New year, new kitchen - get your cupboards in order! by Naomi Devlin via River Cottage.
• A minimalist nest with shoe storage via Remodelista.
• Traditional Seville Orange Marmalade from Delia. I'm in the mood for marmalade making... is this the best recipe?

Take care this new year

Claire xo

image

Minimalist and Simplicity Plans for 2016

So what are my minimalist and simple living plans for 2016? I've been mulling this over and here are my very loose ideas thus far:

• To enjoy life. Every day to seek and acknowledge the beauty, simplicity and power of life. 
• To work steadily on my goals and develop motivation to meet them. The time to start is now but reviewing goals regularly is important too. This year I am not settling on one word to guide me - I feel the need to explore and be multifaceted. 
• To look forward. I'm looking forward to great new food to eat, to planting more flowers and crops in our garden and to a few short breaks away from it all.
• To continue A year of Less Spending with as many no spend days as possible. Yay to list writing, sticking to a budget, stock taking, occasional stockpiling and eating down the contents of the freezer and food cupboard. Red cabbage anyone (we have plenty). I am happy with my wardrobe and look forward to wearing every piece throughout the year. I hope to buy very few new items this year.
• To be more anti-consumerist and to not follow trends blindly. 
• Keep my head in a book. In 2015 I read more than I have for many years and I believe reading helped me to both recover from and acknowledge the reality of losing my dad last January. H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald was a great help for this and my favourite read of 2015. I've started a sidebar of my reads in 2016 and may write about some of my reading.
• To read authentic blogs. My taste in blogs has changed and so I've updated my blogroll to reflect my current taste in blogs: authentic, inspiring and no hard sell (especially of simplicity - pleeease). I did fear in 2015 that the heydey of blogging was over but I'm quietly confident that 2016 will be a great year for blogging. 
• To take a balanced approach to health. I must be mindful to not beat myself up if I forget to meditate or miss a run. Any exercise is good. I love walking. Running is less enticing but I have vowed to run a marathon this year (to raise money for Parkinson's in honour of my dad). Wish me luck. It will be my first and (probably) last marathon.
• To continue to declutter. There's still a need to declutter here and there but I can afford to take a relaxed attitude now that the major purging is over. 
• To work hard but appreciate my time off and not feel guilty if it's not productive.
• To continue writing here. There'll be very few changes but hopefully lots of enthusiasm. Happy Friday links will resume on the 8th.

Have a great first week of 2016 xo