Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2020 i In The Moment

The world was a different place when we began planning this issue a few month’s ago. As I write we are in lockdown and this issue has been created entirely from our homes. Our theme was always going to be nature and how time spent outdoors has an incredible and tangible ability to calm us, to lift our mood, to bring us moments of joy and help us gain perspective. Now, more than ever, when our time outdoors is limited, the moments we can spend outdoors are precious and vital for our physical and mental health. So, our features this month are a quiet celebration of the seasons, a reminder to look up, to look down, to look closely, to notice the little things that can make our hearts soar…

CHARLIE LYON Charlie is a writer and editor from Bristol who usually spends much of her time outdoors. She finds that when you’re surrounded by ever-changing nature and thriving wildlife, it’s hard to feel alone. Charlie writes about how we can use seasonal shifts to find small moments of joy through the year, p20 KIRSTY NUTKINS Kirsty is a London-based freelance journalist. She enjoys interviewing well-known faces, finding out who they really are – and what makes them tick away from the limelight. Catch up with Kirsty at kirstynutkins.co.uk. Kirsty speaks to Julia Bradbury to find out how we can use time spent in nature to improve our wellbeing, p26 JESS LACEY Jessica is a beauty editor with over a decade of experience testing, writing and talking about all things…

GROVE SPRITZ 1 Add 25ml of Seedlip Grove 42 and 25ml of Æcorn Bitter to a glass over ice. Top with soda and garnish with a grapefruit twist and one green olive (pictured left). COSNOPOLITAN 2 Add 50ml of Seedlip Grove 42, 30ml cranberry juice, 15ml lime juice and 10g sugar into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake 3 times, then fine strain into a coupe glass and top with a lime leaf if you have one (pictured right). Find more inspo and recipes at seedlipdrinks.com…

CultureMinds Therapy is a online interactive platform about Mental health for ethnic minorities. “Within the ethnic minority background, mental health is not often spoken about, due to stigma, lack of understanding and various cultural reasons,” founder Sharnade explains. “I wanted to change people’s lives by creating online content that is not often shown on television.” Through CultureMinds Therapy, Sharnade shares blogposts and advice about all different aspects of mental wellbeing, from motherhood to social media. She also hosts an online show, In Conversation With, interviewing celebrities about their mental health stories and how they have overcome difficulties. “I want to normalise these healthy conversations and encourage individuals who are watching to share their own story and/or seek support if they need it,” she says. Notable interviewees so far include Gospel…

Which is your favourite season? Is it spring, with its first warm sun rays of the year, fresh breezes and clouds of blossom that bedeck the trees; or summer, with its long, drawn-out days that present an opportunity for beach trips and sea swimming? Perhaps you yearn for autumn, for forest walks through golden trees followed by steaming mugs of hot chocolate; or you crave the cosy rest time that winter allows, and the chance of an exciting snowfall. There’s no doubt that the month of May is a firm favourite for many of us. Flora flourishes, our wildlife becomes more active and easier to spot. Delicious new produce arrives at local farmer’s markets, and we can start creating warm salads full of bright colours and flavours – deep bowls…

The world of beauty can be lightening paced, with new hi-tech formulations appearing what feels like weekly, but one skin saviour has survived millennia – and that’s the humble oil. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and burial sites depict that early tribes used a variety of plant-based oils in their bathing rituals, including castor, olive, sesame and moringa oils. “Botanical oils have been used for thousands of years across the world to protect, moisten and nourish the skin,” says medical herbalist and renowned skin expert, Dr Mariano Spiezia of InLight Beauty. “They’re an excellent natural source of skin-loving nutrients such as essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.” Oils are capable of feeding, hydrating, treating, calming, and even cleaning our skin, but how can something so basic rival the latest sci-fi serum?…

EFT (which stands for Emotional Freedom Technique) is a tool for healing and empowerment, stress relief, pain relief and emotional processing. It’s a simple therapeutic technique that’s said to heal physical and emotional problems by adjusting our energy flow. EFT was developed by energy psychology practitioner Gary Craig in 1995, based on the theory that experiences, such as trauma, do not directly cause negative emotions and physical symptoms. Rather, they cause disruptions in the body’s energy system, and these disruptions cause those things. For example, you might have a pain in your left knee with no known cause. According to EFT, the real cause is a block in your energy. That disruption could have been caused by a physical fall onto your knee, or by something emotional, like a conflict…

My growing awareness of the global food waste situation and food’s connection to climate change inspired me to take on a whole new approach to life based on the true value of food: a way of eating that prioritises the environment without sacrificing pleasure, taste and nutrition. I call this ‘root to fruit’ eating. Root to fruit eating is a holistic diet that joins the dots between ourselves, food and nature, giving us the skills and knowledge to shop, eat and cook sustainably, while eating healthier, better tasting food for no extra cost. Root to fruit breaks down food sustainability into an easy-to-follow philosophy with three core principles: eat for pleasure; eat whole foods; and eat the best food you can. To eat for pleasure means to cook with love,…

Art to inspire An easy way to bring nature and tranquillity into your home is through art. There is an abundance of artists who are inspired by the natural world, so go with what speaks to you – whether that’s an abstract detail of a favourite plant or a majestic landscape view. This Scandinavian forest, 'Skog Print', was photographed by Elisabeth Dunker of Swedish brand Fine Little Day. £45 shop.aliceinscandiland.com Sustainable style A bench can be a really versatile piece for your home. Use it at a dining table, in a hallway or on the landing, at the end of your bed or even in the garden during summer. Go for one made from bamboo, which is a sustainable, natural material and, despite its appearance, incredibly sturdy. £59.99 twigghome.co.uk Treasure…

Simple style Klean Kanteen’s smart Reflect water bottle is made with just three materials: sustainably harvested bamboo, stainless steel and food-grade silicone. It works brilliantly, keeping cold drinks cold for 20 hours due to vacuum insulation. We like the lidded handle, ideal for clipping your bottle to a backpack while on a stroll. £37.95 kleankanteen.co.uk Colour pop Inspired by Australian café culture, the pleasingly minimalist SmartCup has a pop-up opening on the lid that is secure against leaks when closed. A clever thermo layer keeps coffee hot for hours, and we love that you can customise the colours of these dishwasher-safe cups – you’ll want one in every shade. From £19.99 frankgreen.com Brilliant bamboo Eco-friendly brand Blue Marble offers a great selection of flasks, but our favourite is this handsome…

“Using our walks as creative inspiration can help us to enjoy them even more,” says artist Matilda Tristram. “We often don’t notice fences and walls in our daily lives – look out for them when you’re out and about or take a photo for this drawing exercise. Fences are interesting to draw because slats, pickets, bricks, planks and posts line up against each other, making unintentional abstract patterns. Some fences are gappy and overgrown, with plants and trees bursting through, and new pieces tacked on where old pieces have fallen off. Others are freshly primes, high and fortresslike. Look for fences in different colours and styles, and notice how they connect to the fence of neighbouring property. You can imagine the gardens behind them. For each different section of fence,…

Poem by Angus D. Birditt, illustration by Lilly Hedley, from Our Isles – Poems Celebrating the Art of Rural Trades and Traditions (Pavilion, £9.99). This gorgeous book is a project born out of the couples’ love for the countryside and the history and heritage of Britain’s rural lifestyle. Warm, nature-infused and uplifting, it’s the perfect collection to dip into while you take a few moments to sit, to pause and contemplate. Read more about the therapeutic power of watching birds in our feature on page 108. The Birdwatcher Opatient soul who drifts the land With silent feet and steady hand, ’Mid early copse and harvest wheat Climbs upland moor in hopeful meet. The watcher stands with solace imbued, Awaiting a glimpse of feather viewed; In hide of field, on shining…

Listening to… Jocelyn K. Glei's inspiring podcast celebrates the power of slowing down, helping us to be more productive, creative and resilient. Reading… Florence Williams explores the science behind nature’s ability to improve our creativity and our mood, through its effect on the brain. (The Nature Fix, £12.99) Recommending… Pulse point oils are such a great way to lift the senses. I love this blend of neroli, frankincense, bergamot and mandarin. (£12, blovedcandles.com)…

Put on a happy face Need a few minutes for yourself? A facemask is a lovely way to feel pampered and take a break while it works its magic. “You don’t have to think about a thing because our products do it for you, whether that’s in 5 minutes, 20 minutes or overnight,” say faace, who offer three simple options: Period faace, Sweaty faace and Tired faace. Organic, vegan and ethical too? Sorted. wearefaace.com Repair and rewear Sliding on a pair of really good jeans feels like a hug from an old friend. So, there’s nothing worse than hearing that rip or breaking the zip. “Our jeans are not designed to be used a few times and then thrown away,” says Swedish denim brand Nudie Jeans (nudiejeans.com). “We cherish the…

Home organisation There’s never been a better time to sort out and spruce things up at home. Get organisation inspiration from these cleaning queens @abowlfulloflemons Toni helps you to keep your house clean all year long with a week-by-week challenge, tackling one room at a time. @theorganisedmum Gemma knows that it's tough to keep things straight with kids around – she shares how to stay on top of things in just 30 minutes. @declutterdollies When Dilly isn’t organising other people’s homes, she shares posts, stories and more about how you can better use your space. @thehomeedit This duo organise celebs' kitchens, making them more efficient and aesthetically pleasing. If it’s good enough for Gwyneth… WHAT IS? TANDSMØR It’s a Danish word for butter spread so thick that your teeth leave…

When Julia Bradbury was seven years old, she was a fan of adventure stories. But while most kids her age were content to curl up at home with a copy of The Famous Five, Julia was striding out into the wild to live the adventure first hand. Her father, a keen walker, would regularly take her rambling in the rolling hills of the Peak District, near their Sheffield home, and instead of reading her books he’d invent fantastical tales of his own based on the places they visited, such as the caves under craggy rock faces which became hiding places for pirates’ loot. These magical experiences left a lasting impression on her. More than 40 years on, Julia – who is now a parent herself, with her husband Gerard Cunningham,…

Herbivore Botanicals Emerald CBD Deep Moisture Glow Oil, £48 (spacenk.com) Did you know that CBD oil can calm your skin as well as your mind? Antioxidant cannabinoids backed up by a dream team of vitamins A, C and D and natural antiseptic turmeric root make this the ideal antidote for troubled skin prone to acting up. Neighbourhood Botanicals Dream Dream Dream Night Facial Oil, £28 (neighbourhoodbotanicals.com) Night oils are a great starting point if you’re not fully oil-proficient, and this rich, cashmere blanket of a facial oil is one of the best. Macadamia nut, apricot kernel and blackcurrant seed oils wrapped in lavender and chamomile essential oils make this the ultimate restorative skin ritual before heading to bed. Q+A Skincare Squalane Facial Oil, £9.99 (feelunique.com) Derived from olive oil, this is a long…

1 Ten to Zen by Owen O'Kane If you need something short and sweet to keep daily stresses at bay, this one's for you. Author Owen O'Kane uses his background in psychology to guide you through simple, 10-minute 'mind workouts' based on tried and tested therapeutic models. Combined with his light approach, this book will help you stop, switch off the anxious part of your brain and find calm. £10.99, Pan Macmillan 2 Tin Can Cook by Jack Monroe Been cleaning out the kitchen cupboards? Jack Monroe knows exactly what to do with those long-forgotten cans hiding in the back corner. She shares imaginative cooking ideas using simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions for tasty dishes full of flavour. £6.99, Pan Macmillan 3 Conscious Creativity by Philippa Stanton Professional artist and…

Hypnosis, derived from ‘hypnos’, the Greek word for sleep, involves focusing one’s attention while reducing awareness of our immediate surroundings and enhancing our capacity to respond to suggestion. Many of us associate hypnosis with the likes of Paul McKenna, who famously brought it to the stage and TV as a form of entertainment. However, used in combination with a range of therapeutic techniques, hypnosis can also help maximise our potential and change limiting beliefs and behaviours, enabling us to make positive changes to our lives – a process known as hypnotherapy. There are many different types of hypnotherapy, but the majority work with our inner self (our subconscious). “Our beliefs, behaviours, self-image and habits are located in our subconscious mind, which also stores our immense strengths and knowledge,” says Dr…

Not avocado on toast: broad bean guacamole, coriander & chilli Who needs avo on toast when you have broad beans? When blended, they become creamy, unctuous and vivid green, just like avocado but with a fraction of the carbon footprint. METHOD 1 Blanch the whole broad beans in a large pan of boiling water for 3 minutes, then drain and refresh under cold running water. Transfer the beans to a food processor, add the extra virgin olive oil, coriander stalks, half of the coriander leaves and the lime zest and juice, then blitz to a smooth purée. Season to taste with sea salt. 2 Spread the guacamole generously onto the toast and dress with the remaining coriander leaves, diced red onion, some chilli, a dusting of sumac, if using, and…

Foraging and crafting tonics and teas from wild herbs and plants is a therapeutic, rewarding and enjoyable pastime. It’s a way to deepen your connection with nature, both in the ‘getting outdoors’ sense, and as a way to view your local woodland, hedgerows and parks through a different lens. It’s sustainable too: you can forage for wild plants while they’re in abundance and preserve them for the winter months. May, in particular, is a wonderful time to begin exploring herbology as wild plants are fresh, young and plentiful. You will probably find yourself honing in on little pockets of beauty that you didn’t know existed. Suddenly, nature becomes even more alluring and that meadow or park you pass every day will begin to feel like a treasure trove of gifts…

When I was commissioned to write this column, the brief was to look at how to cope with work stress, whether freelance or office-based, both inside and outside of work. Since then, the world has changed. Coronavirus has made us all re-evaluate everything and we find ourselves facing work stresses (and world stresses) that we could never have imagined back in those innocent, pre-pandemic days. As I write, we’re a week into lockdown, with a quarter of the planet directly affected. Whether it’s losing your job, trying to keep a business afloat, working overtime (and then some) as key workers and frontline teams, missing face-to-face contact with colleagues, adjusting to a home office (or kitchen table/cramped conditions), and the sheer mayhem of home-schooling while trying to hold down a job,…

Willow has become so popular in the last few years,” says Jenny Crisp, master craftswoman and willow basket maker. “Yes, now it’s cool,” agrees her daughter and business partner, Issy Wilkes. It’s easy to see why willow weaving has grown in popularity – it’s a natural, biodegradable material from which many things can be made for the house and garden. Willow rods are cut from plants that regrow new shoots every year, making it a sustainable choice, too. Making these items also has layers of additional benefits: crafting with the willow is a relaxing, mindful and therapeutic activity that encourages the creative side of the brain as well as the analytical technical side; getting outside into the fresh air and garden to harvest, grow and/or weave the willow is enormously…

Welcome to the wonderful world on your doorstep. When you think of adventure, your mind probably flits straight to far-off islands, prop planes flying above jungle canopies or trekking trails winding through snowy mountain ranges. And there’s a place for those big epic travels in all our lives, of course – but don’t let them blind you to the joys and discoveries to be found far closer to home. Little adventures await. Right now, travel is something that none of us are planning, and long-term we do all need to consider flying and travelling less, reducing our carbon footprint and our impact on the planet. But staying close to home isn’t about denying adventure – just about looking at it with new eyes. Go local, be mindful and you’ll be…

Mindful Thoughts for Birdwatchers by Adam Ford (Leaping Hare Press, £5.99) Adam Ford explores why birdwatching is so good for our wellbeing, from the art of listening deeply, to the hidden birdlife we can find all around us once we start to really look, even if we live in an urban setting. Noticing the birds around us is, he says, a form of mindfulness: a way to be present, clear our minds and let go of stress. This beautifully illustrated book offers 25 focused reflections on all things feathered. Bird Therapy by Joe Harkness (Unbound, £9.99) This passionate and inspiring book began its life as a blog by the same name, recounting Joe Harkness’ experience of anxiety, depression and breakdown and his surprising discovery that watching birds was a way…

Empowered read I genuinely cannot recommend In The Moment enough! I made a resolution to stop reading gossip magazines that seem to just spend their pages shaming women and now I read one magazine a month, which is this one. Thought-provoking insightful articles which do nothing but empower, evolve and celebrate life. Go have a read. Perfect with a cuppa and a bubble bath. @essie.healthyliving, via Instagram Creative inspiration I was thrilled to see that the ‘Good News’ section of issue 36 opens with a paragraph on creative hobbies. I used to enjoy tapestry kits when I was a little girl, creating images out of wool and watching them slowly emerge in colour and texture from the canvas. I have occasionally created patterns from scratch over the years, but rarely…

It’s all too easy to dismiss small talk as being inconsequential when in fact it’s an essential part of day-to-day communication which can add real value to our relationships. Even now, small talk can be helpful as a way to share our experiences and connect virtually when we can’t in person. Small talk helps us to test the mood of the social environment we find ourselves in. Recently, this has been by phone, via text or email, Skype or FaceTime, and the conversation has been driven often by concern and the restricted detail of our days. But normally, from first dates, to business events, to meeting up with a friend after a long day’s work, small talk is a way to assess the mood, gauge how others are and, importantly,…

I’ve always been enamoured with handwritten letters. There’s a certain romance with the handwritten word that simply does not exist in an email or a text. You cannot hold a text or an email close to your heart the way you can a letter. In comparison, a text feels like a steely cold finger, whereas a letter feels like a hug. I have something that I call ‘Correspondence Sundays,’ where I sit at my writing desk, cup of tea to hand, with an array of coloured envelopes and a writing pad. Classic FM is playing in the background. I write to my friends and family; I tell them about my day and the thoughts that have been running through my mind. But since the virus hit, along with social distancing,…

Waste not Every piece of activewear from GNGR Bees is made from reclaimed materials – cement bags and tea sacks are just some of the waste products they use to make their colourful, coordinated kit. They also support communities around the world and plant a tree with every order, thanks to their charity partners. From £42.50 gngrbees.com Eco everything We love Yogamatters' eco mats and accessories, and now they've turned their hand to clothing too. Their new ethically-made and eco-conscious yoga wear is designed to support every body, regardless of age, size and shape, with sizes from 6 to 24 and four coordinating colours to mix and match. From £29 yogamatters.com One-stop shop Yoga Bliss have a whole section of products with sustainable credentials on their website, from mats and…

Living in lockdown has unquestionably been one of the biggest challenges most of us have ever faced, and there’s nothing like mandatory isolation to make you yearn for the fun and frivolity of our former existence. But while the coronavirus pandemic has indeed been emotionally distressing and deeply worrying, there are perhaps lessons we can all learn from this cruelly imposed new way of low-key living. Taking a step back and doing precious little in some ways helps to reboot the soul, showing us clearly what matters most: our loved ones and our health. If there are any positives to glean from the crisis, it’s that we all have the ability to live more slowly and more mindfully, while communicating more meaningfully with friends and family. So, when post-virus life…

Work was what initially brought Melia Malmquist from her homeland of Sweden to the hubbub of London. For 10 years, her career was focussed on PR and marketing for a large brand, but the last few years brought changes to Melia’s working life. The catalyst for this was the home she has created in a leafy corner of north London, which she shares with her husband, and a passion for interior design. Melia began her blog, Contemporary Life, (contemporarylife.co.uk) to explore the idea of home, and this led her to a degree in Interior Design at the KLC School of Design in London. She explains how her new way of life as a designer is much more suited to what she wants in the long term: “I love having the…

Going out in nature is a soothing way to reset your mind and soul as you appreciate all its intricacies. Whether it’s the way leaves glisten in the sunlight, or how waves crash and create a beautiful sea foam throughout the water, there’s bound to be something you love and cherish about time spent in nature. Yet in the midst of admiring what our planet offers us, a fingerprint of humankind may appear as a surprise. Ever enjoyed the tranquillity of an early morning hike, only to see the bright red silhouette of a plastic candy wrapper on the trail? Or perhaps you were relaxing at the beach, only to find pieces of plastic strewn throughout the sand. It can be distressing and deflating to see how humankind has treated,…

Maureen Colquhoun. Jayaben Desai. Caroline Norton. Very probably, you have never heard these names. Yet all these women were famous in their own time (notorious might be a better word), and all played a vital part in establishing the way of life for women that we now think of as ‘normal’. Colquhoun became the first openly gay MP in the 1970s. Desai led the Grunwick strike, taking on not only her employer, but also the boys’ club of the old Trade Unions. In the mid-nineteenth century, Norton publicly battled the brutal divorce laws – at high price to her own reputation. So why don’t we know who they are? Because they were all difficult, argues Helen Lewis in what she calls “a partial, imperfect, personal history of feminism.” They do…

Free Calming Calligraphy supplement Introducing a brand-new magazine, packed full of inspiration for creating your own lettering, with advice from leading calligraphers and creative project ideas. JUST £9.99! Inc free UK P&P 8 PULL-OUT ART CARDS• EXPERT GUIDES• STEP-BY-STEPS• EASY PROJECTS ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY! ORDER ONLINE www.buysubscriptions.com/moderncalligraphy OR CALL 03330 162 138†, quote ‘Modern Calligraphy issue 2’ † UK calls will cost the same as other standard fixed line numbers (starting 01 or 02) and are included as part of any inclusive or free minutes allowances (if offered by your phone tariff). Outside of free call packages call charges from mobile phones will cost between 3p and 55p per minute. Lines are open Mon – Fri 8am-6pm and Saturday 9am-1pm for orders only. Overseas please call +44 (0)1604 973 746.…

After 13 years in nursing, I was becoming increasingly unhappy at work. Stress was causing my health to suffer and, with a young family, I often found myself run down and sick. My friends and family encouraged me to follow my passions, and after thinking hard about what these might be, I realised I had always loved being outside – at the end of a long, stressful shift, I would often find myself walking in woodland or pottering in the garden. An amazing opportunity presented itself to me through a charity that were willing to give me a job while helping me to retrain in horticulture. I found myself handing my notice in and plunging, green fingers first, into the start of a new career. I remember clearly the moment…