Slow Life on Ordinary Days | Simple life, cooking & homemaking & gifts | Countryside Vlog UK

There is no peace like that of a winter forest enveloped in mist. Trees are bare once again, seeds are buried deep in the darkness of the soil, and the air is filled with scents of peace and calm. It truly is one of the most beautiful times to be out in the nature, and as they say, it's never too cold. You are just not dressed warm enough. There is no right or wrong way to practice slow living. Here in the forest with my husband by my side is how I do it. We are parents of two children and run a small but very busy business, and time in the nature is how we regain our balance. Slow living has nothing to do with cottagecore aesthetics, ducks in the garden or vintage dresses. Of course they are lovely, but slow living in the real world is about cherishing the different, sometimes difficult aspects of life and making each day count. It's now late afternoon, it's already starting to get dark, but I have one little but very pleasant job to do in my garden. In the blick of winter in the English countryside, one of the best ways to bring hope and optimism into your home, so needed at the start of the long and grey month of January, is with bulb flowers. I'm planting mine now, hoping they will bloom for the New Year's Day. Now that Christmas is over, I hope to take better care of my garden. I need to prune roses and plant tulips. The end of December or even January is still not too late to plant them to enjoy them in spring. My husband Andrzej is my favourite chef in the entire world. And today he is cooking one of my favourite meals. Salmon in honey and lemon sauce with baby potatoes as a side. I must admit I indulged quite a bit this Christmas and I regret nothing. Every mince pie and gingerbread latte was absolutely worth it. At the same time I am looking forward to getting back on track with healthier food choices and exercise. Food is a huge part of our life and by choosing meals that are both nourishing and delicious, we can incorporate it in our slow living rituals. I written a blog post on 25 slow living habits to transform your life in 2025. It includes ideas around food and seasonal living. I'll link my blog in the video description for anyone who would like to get inspired and perhaps share your ideas with me and other readers as well. I received two items, one which I knew I was getting and one which was a surprise from my husband. They are both from my favourite brand. I am just over the moon with my gifts this year to be honest. It should not come as a surprise, it is Fairfax and Favour. I absolutely love their branding. I already own this handbag in black and have been wearing it constantly since I got it in early spring this year, so I feel completely justified in getting it in brown too. The gift that came as a surprise from my husband, it is very special. Not the gift itself but the fact that my husband observes me and remembers little things about me. I know this is something that should be basically given, it should be something natural in a long term relationship. But I've been in a relationship in the past when man couldn't even remember my date of birth. Having Andrej who notices little things like my hands getting cold and ordering me a pair of beautiful leather gloves. It is really, like, I don't know, it just makes me love this man even more. I am very pleased with this year's Christmas gifts and they are going to be put in a good use. You're going to see me wearing the handbag, wearing the gloves all the time. I didn't know there was one more gift arriving in the post from my husband and it only further proves what a thoughtful and loving man he is. A few months back I mentioned to Andrej while passing a jewellery shop that I could use a good pair of quality stud earrings for everyday wear. And here they are, precious little diamond earrings that match the necklace I got last year for my birthday. Let's get ready for a walk in the English countryside. Brown has been my favourite colour for many years since it's the colour of trees and soil. I'm happy that it has become popular again in recent months but overall I don't really care because I'm not planning to stop wearing it once fashion trends change. Our style and how we dress can absolutely be part of our slow living lifestyle if we stop chasing trends and choose clothes that highlight our personality and make us feel comfortable whatever they are skinny jeans or vintage dresses. We've had a lovely and mild end to the year here in Somerset but I didn't expect to see new spring shoots so early. It's not completely unusual especially in sheltered locations when winter is warm but seeing daffodils and prime roses surprised me and made me very happy. What a joy to spot a colourful flower on a grey gloomy day. I think it's a good sign for what we can expect in the new year 2025. As this is the last video of 2024 I just want to thank you so much for all your kindness and support. As I navigate life in my mid-30s being a mum, wife, daughter and a business owner I feel confident in the way of life I've chosen and how I want to build my future. I wish my younger self had known that one day the mess of a life she was in would feel light and bright. That I would look forward to each and every day because even the ordinary unimpressive days are worth cherishing. I now understand that we only have a limited amount of time on this earth and each moment is precious. Thank you for watching.