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A New Habit, a Royal Wardrobe and Fall Apple Recipes
Published 4 days agoΒ β’Β 5 min read
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Hello!
Anyone else out there feel like they are constantly in a rush?
Recently I noticed that I was feeling like I was in a hurry most of the time, constantly trying to catch up. It made me feel stressed and uncomfortable, and even worse, like time was slipping by even faster.
One morning while I was grabbing a quick solo breakfast, I found myself picking up the fall issue of Magnolia Magazine from a pile of magazines I had been too busy to read. Serendipitously, the theme of the issue was "linger longer". In that rushed moment, the idea of lingering longer really resonated with me.
But how could I linger longer when I already felt so busy? After some thought, I realised what I actually craved was to feel unhurried, whilst still accomplishing everything I wanted to.
I knew this could be a challenge because I like to plan ahead to make things easier for my future self. Then I realised that being unhurried does not have to mean avoiding making plans or being unprepared.
(Quick aside - So it's okay that I have got Christmas on my mind at the moment because I want to be able to relax and enjoy it when it comes. If you are feeling like me, there's a compilation of lots of my favourite Christmas recipes and ideas on the blog now. π And if you are not feeling like me, let's pretend I never said anything. π )
In the end, I knew I wanted to be able to be prepared and accomplish my goals without the feeling I was constantly behind. And I realised that the only way to do this was to choose to act as if I was unhurried, regardless of what was going on around me, in order to make a new habit of actually feeling that way. In the words of my friend, author and website designer Pauline Wiles, I wanted to "glide more, flap less".
In the end, I decided that I would start my day with the affirmation, "I am calm and unhurried," and bring it to mind regularly throughout the day, particularly if I'm starting to feel rushed. It really helps me centre myself.
Also, instead of hurtling into my working day, I now spend 20 to 30 minutes each weekday morning journaling - both in my personal journal and in the kitchen diary I have kept for years - before I start to work on other projects.
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Do you know what? It has made a huge difference! My to do list is no shorter, but my head is clearer, I feel more organised and I'm definitely getting more done.
What small pocket of time could you set aside for yourself? You may not like journalling, but a short walk, a cup of tea on your porch or 20 minutes with a good book might be the little bit of space you need to help you feel unhurried too.
And on that note, being unhurried and lingering longer helped me to get even more out of one of London's most popular exhibitions of the moment - Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style at The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace ! Here's a little taste of all there was to see.
With my friend Sarah van Dort at the King's Gallery
Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style
An evening gown the late Queen wore to a State Dinner at the White House.
The exhibition takes you through the Elizabeth II's life and wardrobe from the time she was a baby and includes dozens of beautiful outfits, including her richly embroidered wedding and coronation gowns. They are absolutely breathtaking.
Her life story is told through the medium of clothes and fashion, and the exhibition is a testament to the strong creativity and personal style of our longest reigning monarch.
The dress worn by Queen Elizabeth II to her sister Princess Margaret's wedding.
There is also a section sharing her 'off-duty' clothing which reveals a little bit more about Elizabeth II as a woman, wife and mother, not just as a queen.
I love autumn and often feel even more motivated now than I do in the spring. So I've been decluttering and deep cleaning (with a little help) as well as getting back into a fall routine.
And of course, there's lots going on in the kitchen!
Apple Recipes
There are lots of fresh seasonal apples at my local farm shop - and frankly they are hard to resist. I love biting into a fresh, crisp autumn apple! I also love the idea of spending a day at a 'pick your own' orchard and coming home to cook or bake something delicious.
Apple Cinnamon Yogurt Cake
A moist, easy to make, easy to decorate, adaptable cake perfect for any occasion. It's a great recipe to bake with the kids after a day apple picking.
I made this flaky and delicious recipe in a joyful collaboration with Sandi of the Fearless Dining blog (who also took this photo for me) when we cooked together back in 2017.
Links marked with an asterix (*) are affiliate links - If you purchase using these links I make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
This week I'm...
Reading - Paper Ghosts* by Sarah Addison Allen. I have read and loved all of Sarah's books. She has a real flair for magical storytelling.
Working on - The Kitchen Diaries Project - more news coming soon! I can't wait to share this new project with you.
Asking - a small favour. If you are planning to buy something from Amazon, please first check out my Amazon Storefront*, where I share my favourite reads, home finds, kitchen essentials, gift ideas and more. It helps support my website and this newsletter. Thank you so much!
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead!
Thank you so much again for being a subscriber. Remember you can reply to this email with any questions, comments, suggestions or just to say hi. I love to hear from you.
Warmly,
April x
April J Harris | Helping you make the most of life at home and away.
Helping you make the most of life at home and away
Recipe creator and lifestyle storyteller helping you curate a life you love at home and away with delicious recipes, home ideas, travel escapes and style tips to help you live beautifully and make the everyday feel extraordinary. Subscribe for thoughtful ways to elevate how you eat, live and travel.
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