Living simply is an ethos and way of life for us: we try to live consciously and by the seasons, growing our own food and making use of what we have, but it isn't easy. Sometimes you need an inspiring post to motivate you to get off the sofa and actually get on with stuff. Sometimes you desire affirmation that this is the way of life you want to adopt. Most of the time I find this in the books and blogs I read, and in today's post I'm sharing 10 of my favourite simple living blogs that you really should be reading...

1. Mitenska - Sarah's blog has been a favourite of mine for quite some time. She documents her life in the blustery north with images of spectacular scenery, snippets from her life as a mum and seasonal posts that always feel so real (as well as being beautiful - she's got the perfect balance). Favourite post: Elegant Economy: baking
2. The Frugal Cottage - Nicola is not only the writer of a hugely helpful blog dealing with all matters frugal, she is also a close friend that I have known for a number of years. Her positive posts offer advice on budgeting, living simply in order to save and long-term goals for the future which include early retirement.  Favourite post: How to Achieve a Good Work/Life Balance
3. House of Humble - Katie and Reuben have just had a baby so (inevitably) posts are infrequent at the moment, but the archived content is so wonderful for this blog that you'll still be kept happy. Posting on steps to a simple life, planting vegetables and living frugally, this is one inspiring space. Favourite post: It's OK to be Happy With a Quiet Life
4. Cinnamon Girl - Posts are often infrequent but oh so wonderful when they do appear. Focusing on rearing animals, growing your own and family life, these images tell a story that will make you want to follow your dreams. Favourite post: First Snow
5. Sophie Isobel Asher - After a recent name change this blog seems to have gone from strength to strength. A source of constant inspiration for practical tips and links to other helpful sites. Favourite post: Staying on Track with Simple Living Goals
6. Nina Nixon - Nina's blog is full to the brim of evocative, seasonal images and carefully crafted words. Her approach is always a little bit different, and that's what I love about heading over to this space. Favourite post: Flow
7. Hannah's Homespun Life - A recent addition to my reading list, Hannah's focus on simple living and homespun pleasures makes for a refreshing read. I also discovered Pretty Nostalgic through Hannah, which is another reason to love her blog! Favourite post: Lazy Girl's Bara Brith
8. Curlew Country - The header for Steph's blog promises countryside bliss, and believe me you won't be disappointed. With images of walks in the countryside and family life, if you don't live in a rural area this blog will make you want to move. Favourite post: Hill Country
9. Hugo and Elsa - Recipes that will make you want to get cooking right away and and images filled with beautiful light are the order of the day over at Michelle's blog. Her book - A Table in the Orchard - will be released soon and has gone straight to the top of my wish list. Favourite post: A Camping Master List
10. Little House Living - A treasure trove of helpful hints, how-to posts and frugal living tips - pretty much anything you need help with will be covered here. Favourite post: The Homemaker's Creed

Do you have any favourite simple living blogs that you follow?

What a week! It took me most of yesterday just to catch up with everything: sleep, the news, blog posts, cleaning... and I still don't feel like I'm quite there yet. But the sun has managed to sneak out from behind the clouds and despite the wind blowing a gale, I'm feeling positive about the week ahead and what I want to achieve. If, like me, you're a bit behind the times, catch up on the last few days with a summary of things to read, eat and do...

Read

People always argue you should do what you love, but what if that's not possible, practical or achievable? A thought-provoking post on doing what you love vs. doing what you must from Clare.

I've discovered a few new blogs this week, including Little House Living, and I particularly love the tagline - "making the most of what you have". Head over and check out these 14 steps to living a simpler lifestyle. I especially like the idea of creating home 'stations' - what do you think?

Eat

Mornings are always busy in our house. Head over here for 4 easy breakfast ideas to get you up and ready for the day ahead.

If you've got a little more time, make sure there's cake in the house with this recipe for banana primrose lemon cake - perfect for spring!

Do

Make your morning better with these tips.

Become a Nostalgianeer with Pretty Nostalgic (my new favourite publication). It's not often you discover a magazine, a blog, or an outlook on life that so perfectly aligns with your own. I had that moment yesterday when reading the pledge (see below) for Pretty Nostalgic and immediately signed up to be a member. If you're intrigued, head over here to read the newest issue for free!

What do you think? Will you take the pledge?

So many happy memories this week! It's been hectic, don't get me wrong, but that's often the way I like it, as long as my diary is full of positive things rather than simply lots of deadlines. Last weekend was spent with family: Friday night out for a meal celebrating my new job; Saturday night at the village hall to see a live blues band; and Sunday in the garden planting onions, digging veg beds and indulging in my mum's homemade scones. We also took Bella for a walk with a new toy, and I can't resist including this new photo of her looking oh so very grown up.

A beautiful bunch of pink roses have also been cheering up my kitchen table all week (a gift from my mother-in-law-to-be!) which are lovely not only to look at, but also will be a welcome addition to my dried petal confetti for the wedding once they have outstayed their welcome in the enamel jug. Sticking with a floral theme, the deep purple hellebore is out in our garden at the moment and looked absolutely glorious over the weekend in the sunshine.

Things only got busier after the weekend, and on Wednesday we picked up our new (well, new to us) car! We have to be a two car family because of our jobs, and unfortunately Mr CC had been using my old car for far too long - so much so that we decided it was time for a more efficient investment. He has also promised me that mine will receive a full spring clean this weekend to make up for the fact that his is now new and shiny (although I won't hold my breath...).

Thursday (I can't believe we're still in the same week!) was a long day at work followed by a wonderful meal at a local Italian restaurant to celebrate a close friend's birthday. The food was good, the company even better, and it was such a cheerful way to end a busy week. Next week I will be working for a couple of days but then I will be off over Easter, and I am so much looking forward to a bit of time and space to myself, much as I have loved the last few sociable days.

What memories have you made this week?

Flowers through your letterbox, green shoots appearing in the garden, long walks in the Lincolnshire countryside, drinking tea alfresco, reading everything and anything, cake (in its many glorious forms), writing, making memories, trying out new recipes, a lazy hot bath with a new magazine, the smell of fresh washing, clean sheets, warming your toes by a roaring fire, eating a meal when you have just picked all of the ingredients from the garden, dancing to folk music at a ceilidh, going out for breakfast, noticing the seasons change, watching the sunrise, catching up with friends and family, hearing the morning chorus of birds, taking photographs and the promise of a new day.

What makes you happy?

P.S. This post was inspired by Sarah over at Daydreams of Summertime!

The intermittent reading of poems is such a pleasure over the course of a month. I haven't read all of the poems from my February choice of the Virago Book of Love Poetry, but those that I have read have provided much needed creative inspiration and time for reflection on what is important in life; namely, love. Mr CC and I don't get to spend much time together, but we try and make the most of what time we have. This week we took Bella for a walk and laughed the whole way as we watched her scamper and frolic in the fields and it felt so joyous that I didn't want to return back home.

I had already read a number of the poems before, but nevertheless it was pleasant to peruse a few classics and some more modern selections. Despite a vast number of poems and many favourites among the bunch, I doubt it will be a book I reach for in the near future; rather a reference book should I ever feel the desire to read a love poem, or perhaps to utilise when we are choosing the readings for our wedding ceremony.

For the month ahead I'll be trying something a little more countryside-focused: The Old Ways by Robert Macfarlane. Following ancient tracks, holloways, drove-roads and sea paths, Macfarlane explores the stories of these tracks, the people and places associated with them and the landscapes which they inhabit. Professing to bring togther 'natural history, cartography, geology, archaeology and literature', it promises an adventurous journey and 'nourishment for the mind.' A hefty tome, it presents as the perfect choice with which to begin the Spring segment of my year in books journey, with positive energy and a renewed focus on the natural world.

What have you been reading this month? Any recommendations? As always, head over to Circle of Pine Trees for more inspiration and to share your choice for the year in books.

Good morning and happy Sunday! I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend so far. Yesterday was gloomy and miserable and it felt as though Spring had deserted Lincolnshire after tempting us with sunshine late last week. Today I am hopeful that things will improve; there's nothing better than bringing in washing that has dried on the line to a hearty dinner after a day planting in the garden, and all being well that's how I'll be spending today. If it's miserable where you are, or if the duvet is simply too tempting to leave this morning, check out this week's links and explore things to read, eat and do...

Read

Tips on conscious living and how to set yourself some simple living goals. The thoughts on media consumption are particularly enlightening.

Soft, Spring-like images over here.

How to deal with work-related anxiety. Something I am sure many of us can identify with.

I am a little obsessive with magazines. I now want to go and buy lots of new ones after reading this post.

Eat

Looking for something sweet but don't have to time to commit to proper baking? Try this super easy apple tart.

Banana, chia seed, cashew butter and cocoa smoothie. Perfect for a post-workout energy boost.

For a lighter dinner or a weekend lunch try this avocado and blush orange salad with miso yoghurt dressing.

Do

Catch up on news of The Lost Carnival and use the clues to solve its mystery. Intrigued? Book tickets here.

If you're looking for a blogging or small business course with a difference, sign up for the free to flourish inner circle for a six month mastermind group for heart-centred businesses.

Book yourself in to learn something new. I've been browsing the exciting range of courses on offer at Trill Farm this week: willow weaving, simple herbal remedies, seasonal beauty and living nutrition to name just a few. Book your place here or be inspired to search for something similar in your area.

Have I missed anything this week? Post a link below if so!

This week has been such a strange one. It has been full of exhilarating highs and stressful lows, but is ending on a happy note: a new job! I am starting at a smaller company and have been offered a promotion - both swaying factors in leaving my current employment - and although it will be a few months before I officially begin my new role, I am so excited for a fresh start.

Most of the rest of the week was been spent preparing for the interview for said job, never a pleasant or stress-free experience, and it does tend to take over every other element of your life (my house is looking a little worse for wear as a result). My plans for the weekend therefore involve an awful lot of sorting out and clearing up and doing all of those everyday things that have fallen by the wayside over the past few days.

Pre-empting memories, we are going out for a meal to celebrate this evening with friends and family and I can't wait to catch up and switch off from the working week. How are you spending your Friday night?

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Photo via Unsplash.

Morning is my favourite time of the day. Sunrise is even better. There's something about the clarity of a fresh new day that offers a release, and a chance for a different beginning, no matter how tough the day or night before has been. This month the mornings have been particularly beautiful, with cold, crisp breezes and bright blue skies that herald the true start of spring. The sunrises have blazed majestically at times, with deep hues of ochre and burnt orange smeared across the sky. Other times, the pale pastel pinks and peaches have softened the early morning lines.

Nothing makes a sunrise more beautiful than a Lincolnshire skyline, and the silhouettes of trees have featured heavily in these early morning vistas across the rolling Wolds. I've been capturing images most days: sometimes with my phone stuck far out my back bedroom window, sometimes braving the elements in the garden, clasping the camera with my dressing gown on still and the dog circling my feet, wondering what's going out.

Somehow a sunrise seems even more sublime at this time of year, as the fingers of branches stretch far across the sky, itching to break out and unfurl. The melodic sound of birdsong accompanies these moments of solitude and punctuates the otherwise deadly silence. The world is still. Life is about to awaken, and so is the day. I can take my time, because I know that most others are still curled up in bed, curtains closed and trying to ignore their alarms. A cup of lemon and ginger tea, a hot bath and a moment to breathe are all I need, for there will be no other time for these during the hectic day ahead.

Do you get up early to see the sunrise? What do you like to do on early mornings?

1. Take any spare tins/cans you have to a food bank.
2. Leave your partner or friend a post-it note to let them know how much they mean to you.
3. Use discarded envelopes as shopping lists to save on paper.
4. Plant a tree. Even a dwarf version in a pot counts.
5. Write a positive comment on a website or blog. You might make someone's day!

It's that time of the week again. Happy Sunday and Happy Mother's Day! How are you spending your weekend? We spent last night with family (sixteen of us squeezed into my nan's house) and dined on a very Spring-like meal of salmon with tiny roast potatoes and creamed leeks and mushrooms. There were no less than four puddings (yes, four!), all of which I consumed with gusto. This morning I awoke tired (any bedtime after ten leaves me feeling this way) but happy; getting the whole family together can be difficult and often there's one person that is out of town or has to work, but this time we were all there and it was wonderful.

I've not had a huge amount of time this week to read and comment on the blog posts I have enjoyed, but here's a taster of what's been gracing my screen with loveliness over the past seven days...

Read

Reasons to love Spring. It's time to get excited by the new season.

Sarah talks about the creative process of blogging and her essential tools for the job over here.

Eat

If you're running a bit late this year, try these Mother's Day macaroons for a quick, homemade gift.

I think brunch might just be my favourite meal of the weekend. Looking for some brunch inspiration for Spring? Look no further than this asparagus and mushroom strata.

It's a pie. It involves chocolate. I need to make this now.

Do

These candles are pretty special.

Looking for a gift for a tea lover? Want an unusual way to display house plants? These DIY teacup planters are most definitely the way forward for you.

Are you the sort of person (like me) who takes their rings off while washing up, going in the bath, gardening and so on? If so, you need to make yourself one of these nifty ring cones.

What posts have you loved this week?

This week, for the first time this year, I ventured out into the garden to attempt a bit of a sort out. Walking out of my door to be greeted by a gale-force wind, I was pleased to be able to remove my hat and scarf because it actually wasn't that cold (!) and the sun shone the whole day long. Daring to climb the steep bank next to our house to feast my eyes on a whole host of dancing snowdrops, I decided to try and capture their beauty, but photographs never seem to do them justice. I even attempted a video but I need to work on my skills before sharing on here. We also took delivery of our new DSLR camera, and I am so excited to get started!

Over the weekend I managed to clean the polytunnel and give the garden a spruce to prepare for the planting season. There's nothing better than that satisfying feeling of being ready and poised to begin. I also bought some new herbs for the hanging basket next to our front door - I'll be able to swing out and grab a handful now whenever I'm cooking.

Mr CC and I took Bella for a walk with her favourite toy, and spent a happy time running (yes, I know!) through the fields, chasing the wind home for our reward of sausage sandwiches.

I also received some positive news from work this week; regardless of what (if anything) will result from it, it's always nice to hear that you're seen as a valued employee and that people recognise the hard work you put in on a daily basis. Mr CC and I went to the local pub for dinner to finish off the successful day and consumed some local cider before heading home for relaxation, then blogging for me and hammering away making bee hives for him: perfect!

What memories have you made this week?

Buying British products and produce is something that I will be forever passionate about. If it's available in the UK, why waste time, money and air-miles on products flying in from far afield? Nearly 90% of the flowers we as a country buy are imported, often travelling thousands of miles before being packaged and placed in our shops and advertised to sell as 'fresh' flowers. What's fresh about that? Perhaps more importantly, why do we feel the need to buy in these exotic blooms when British flowers are so wonderful?

A posy picked straight from the garden is always going to make a house feel firmly rooted in the season. Failing that, a bouquet or small bunch from a local florist will do almost as well. They might be a little more expensive if you choose certain flowers, but go for the ones that are abundantly in season, and you'll find they're usually cheaper than any other flowers you can buy. In March, daffodils often go for a pound a bunch and can brighten up any frosty Spring morning with their vibrancy. As we get further into the season, tulips can often be just as inexpensive and can surely satisfy that need for pops of colour in our vases? You'll also be helping to support the habitats of insects in the UK; from butterflies to bees they all need flowers, but farmers will only grow them if there is the demand.

With this in mind, here's a quick summary of what's in season (florally, of course) during Spring...

• Daffodils {so easy to grow in the garden}
• Tulips {look for different varieties - there are plenty!}
• Hellebores
• Hyacinths
• Irises {a particular favourite of mine}
• Lilac
• Bluebells