Stylish, beautiful, or not at all - things go make January and February more bearable!

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

It’s cold, it’s dark, and let’s not even talk about the C-word. Last night I was thinking about what would make the next few weeks/couple of months more bearable. Any thoughts?

So far I have:

Ordered some lovely cosy cashmere-blend socks from Etsy for cold working from home feet

Bought a couple of nice candles in the White Company sale which I am not saving

De-cluttered a bit, and got rid of things which were tired/shabby

Booked a couple of lunches out for the next few weeks

Tried to drink more water (a glass every time I boil the kettle), using face masks, making time for nice baths with the Molton Brown haul I got for Christmas

I’ve dithered about ordering a veg box but the “preview” sections tend to show things that one of us is not keen on or not able to eat. I’d like to try and cook one new recipe each week.

Oh and nice scented candles too and lighting the wood burner! AA had an offer on where you get a free deep relax candle with all purchases over £75. I adore the deep relax and got two of these and a little something and the free candle!

www.aromatherapyassociates.com/ultimate-moment-sleep.html

I love my Lego flower set too - the assembly square shops set may have to wait a few weeks as DS bought me the bonsai tree for Xmas - will post pictures when finished - DD would love the Winnie the Pooh set too
In more traditional style and beauty - I’m loving my snuggly wool cashmere dressing gown from woolovers and tonight my sale purchases of 2 jumpers and a cardigan arrived which I need to try on to see what I’m keeping

Oh and this from Boots - hadn’t tried this before but love the scent

www.boots.com/aromatherapy-associates-the-forest-therapy-collection-10303549

And this gorgeous jigsaw puzzle, it’s a hard one though even if it is very pretty.

bloompuzzles.co.uk/products/winter-magic

@Judystilldreamsofhorses that grow looks cosy. I keep dithering trying to work out which is the warmest.

@OtherPlans this is the one I have if helpful www.johnlewis.com/dreamland-heated-velvet-herringbone-quilted-throw/p5655713

@LoveLabradors I love AA stuff! I have also been buying knitwear:

www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/knitwear/sweaters/product.collared-cable-knit-sweater-pink.1057862001.html

Also this:

www.arket.com/en_gbp/women/knitwear/product.bell-sleeve-alpaca-jumper-grey.0900663011.html

Oh that's nice, that is on my shortlist @magicmagician is it soft, does it get very warm, can you wrap it round you?

I love Aromatherapy Associates - couldn't sit on my hands tonight and bought a half price gift set - I have a bottom of my wardrobe stuffed with their stuff and use the bath oils every night- weirdly the only thing of theirs I have tried that I don't like are the shower oils which everyone else seems to love

I have 2 jigsaws to do - new gifts for self as I haven't done a jigsaw since a child and after buying one for a dear friend of late MIL fancied trying one myself

Snuggling with my cashmere socks and have just finished the Thursday Murder Club book which DS bought me for Christmas - so far January is good

Oh @Judystilldreamsofhorses that &stories jumper is beautiful! I couldn't carry off the colour but I love the shape.

@BeaLola based on this thread I ordered a jigsaw late last night. DP's face when I told him this morning was a picture, so let's see how we get on with it!

@Puppylucky to be fair I think it's one of those colours that properly suits no-one, and you just have to be brash enough not to care. I plan to wear it with high waisted blue jeans, orange-red lipstick, and an air of no-fucks.

@floisme, I've never come across a description like this before, of January being the start, a fresh space with no expectations. I've never felt the dread of January but I will now be adopting this altogether positive notion.

From a S&B side I have just bought two wonderfully cosy cardigans from Toast so I will be wrapped up!

Can I join in too please? I had such plans for January.

Started HRT before Christmas and saw the new year as a fresh start, the germs did too and now the entire household has covid and we are all released back into the wild on Monday.

So far I have purchased a personalised journal to begin, some lovely loungewear from the white company and a new sweaty Betty gym set which I fear I may need to slim into after festive indulgence comfort eating .

I'm planning to start meditating again. If I write it down hopefully it will happen! The aim is to do the meditations by MARK from the Hammer museum six days out of seven. Each meditation takes 30 minutes. I'm feeling irritable with my teenagers and with proposed redeployment if the C word takes off so hopefully meditation will help.

I love this thread-last January was the worst of my life but this one feels so much more positive and I feel genuinely safe and happy,
Love the idea of a fresh start- I have a lovely heated throw and I think I could do with making myself a bit of an 'after work plan' as at the moment I tend to get home and crash and do nothing

I be sorted out some of my wardrobe and will do the rest next week, I’ve done the same with my ever growing toiletry collection.
I got my fringe trimmed yesterday and tinted my eyebrows and had my Christmas shellac nail varnish removed.
On a non style and beauty front I’ve had a nice little session ‘playing’ with my dolls house and have been watching all the good new year TV series’ on at the moment.
I feel good.

I've today ordered some foot cream and body lotion but I have a track record of saving such things instead of using them so really need to make it a habit (I have a dry skin issue)

After being tempted by a heated throw for at least 12 months I bit the bullet and ordered one. Due to arrive in the next couple og hours and so I am eagerly awaiting it.
I usually hate Jan and Feb, the darkness, cold etc but this year I am trying to embrace it more. Tbh after the craziness of preparing for Christmas it is nice to focus on myself more and not have a huge to do list.
Last year I started 30 days yoga with Adrienne, lasted a few days to my shame. I have set out my exercise bike in the living room so the plan is to get back on that daily.

@crimsonlake

After being tempted by a heated throw for at least 12 months I bit the bullet and ordered one. Due to arrive in the next couple og hours and so I am eagerly awaiting it. I usually hate Jan and Feb, the darkness, cold etc but this year I am trying to embrace it more. Tbh after the craziness of preparing for Christmas it is nice to focus on myself more and not have a huge to do list. Last year I started 30 days yoga with Adrienne, lasted a few days to my shame. I have set out my exercise bike in the living room so the plan is to get back on that daily.

I was the same about the throw- took me ages to actually biite the bullet but I am SO GLAD i did

It is so cosy!

@crochetmonkey74

I love this thread-last January was the worst of my life but this one feels so much more positive and I feel genuinely safe and happy, Love the idea of a fresh start- I have a lovely heated throw and I think I could do with making myself a bit of an 'after work plan' as at the moment I tend to get home and crash and do nothing

I think the after work crash is like jet-lag - you just have to push through it and avoid comfy areas

A holiday, somewhere hot. I'm currently sitting in Dubai. Breaks up the cold and helps with winter eczema.

Without a doubt the best thing to do is get outside for a while every day. By all means go into cosy hibernation mode after dark, but make sure you get some fresh air and daylight while you can. It will invigorate you and stop you feeling lethargic.

Loving this thread - in the spirit of saving money but also some self care I used my boots points on a nice new nail varnish today. I’ve also been doing a jigsaw, and finally got round to watching the call the midwife special while wrapped in my heated throw - this is definitely the way to do January!

Great thread.
I am drinking Equi London Beauty Fluid daily and drinking two litres of water daily too. Also no alcohol in the week and very little at the weekends. After having rubbish skin all Autumn I’m committed to looking after it properly.
Also saving money, enjoying wearing my lovely Winter clothes rather than buying more.
And I’ve got a book lined up to read.