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.

Edith Wharton ‘The House of Mirth’ 😊

I am so pleased I started this thread - such lovely ideas on it, and I am delighted people have been converted to #teamheatedthrow!

I’ve resumed my monthly flower subscription with Arena Flowers and it’s been lovely having some cheerful bouquets in the house after all the decorations have come down

Love this thread. Coincidentally I was so cold working from home this week I ordered the dreamland heated throw from Argos for same day delivery and have been recommending it to everyone!

We are Lego fans - DS has a summer job at Legoland so uses his staff discount - he's got the Medieval Blacksmiths, I have a the gingerbread house and a Mickey Mouse Steamboat Willie set https://www.lego.com/en-gb/product/medieval-blacksmith-21325?efid=CjwKCAiA5t-OBhByEiwAhR-hm0mkXy7WfiL4Ukdq-USTlrzjNpj5WXXebPnYbCzGWPF-dq5C0xAtvRoCnl0QAvDDBwE:G:s&skwcid=AL!933!3!495029321672!e!!g!!lego%20blacksmith&cmp=KAC-INI-GOOGEU-GO-GB-EN-RE-PS-BUY-CREATE-CREATOR-SHOP-BP-EX-RN-MEDIEVALLBLACKSMITH

Charity shops can be a good source for jigsaws, especially if trying to do no/low spend.

My biggest January treat, though, is musical theatre/show tickets

I bought a mountain bike yesterday! DH, DS10, DS8 and DS3 all go out on bike rides and I've never joined as I didn't have a bike!
Went on a bike ride yesterday and it was great! I'm going to alternate bike rides and hiking with the family to get through Jan and Feb.
I love the build up to Christmas so always feel flat afterwards.
I'm also going to try and be more positive!
Loving reading everyone else's ideas. I will add scented candles to my list and maybe some face masks.

I think their relentless target marketing gets up some peoples noses but I gave in on Black Friday and bought some Nordic Socks. Absolutely love them

@Santina

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

[quote JaceLancs]It’s not style and beauty I’m afraid - but I rediscovered adult Lego just over a year ago and bought myself this big project to get through that flat January feeling
www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/lego-and-bricks/lego-exclusives-and-hard-to-find/lego-10255-creator-expert-assembly-square-set-for-adults/p/166500?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=surfaces_across_google&gclid=Cj0KCQiAw9qOBhC-ARIsAG-rdn51bsCLQE1ZP-_2Z7_0vut3ZnrltqkVTbCRDkU8XVd1EVBWbz_QTyMaAosYEALw_wcB[/quote]
Oh i love this idea!

@Santina

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

Not exactly achievable for all though.

Feeling much less flu like today so planning to having a long soak in the bath, exfoliating, deep conditioning hair mask, de fluff, tidy up eyebrows (missed appointment as isolating) and moisturise from top to toe. Soaked off shellac this morning so will give myself a mini mani/pedi to tide me over until Fridays appointment.

Really enjoying this thread. My other happy January thing is tulips. Lidl do the best and a big vase of tulips makes me anticipate good things to come. Likewise watching snowdrops peep through in the garden. I find it is very hopeful and positive. Equally spend as much time as possible outdoors which isn’t always easy I know but it’s a mood lifter. At lunchtimes in work I try and go for a brisk quick walk to at least see some daylight.

I had a lovely bath this afternoon, and tinted my eyelashes and brows. Patiently waiting for my hyacinths to bloom.

I bought a lime green moleskine journal to start planning my regime to get from fat to fit for walking the Great Glen Way in September.

Got an account with a lovely local florist for a monthly delivery of whatever takes my fancy.

And I was lucky enough to receive a gift voucher for Rocket Gardens from FC so I’m browsing what plant, herb and salad wonderfulness to buy for the garden.

I've booked an amazing deal through spaseekers for an overnight stay at a hotel with bed breakfast and a massage for me and a friend £60 each.

I've also picked up a load of hair accessories at accessorize at 70% off ( slides, scrunching etc- I'm shit at styling my hair so rely on accessories to make it look nicer)

Also picked up some reduced makeup I'm space nk sale not that I needed any more.

I am also going a little mad on candles (a promise to myself). We have a kitchen drawer filled with candles which I never use. Seriously- probably 50 of them, and they pre-date my living here when DH was married before (so 20 years ago!). I am devoting myself to having candles on our kitchen windowsill throughout the rest of winter.

Lovely idea. Thanks @LoveLabradors, I've just ordered that AA set to collect at Boots. That's a great deal. Unfortunately can't smell at the moment, yet to recover it after covid, but if it doesn't come back (it seems to be recovering extremely slowly) it will make an excellent gift!
I'm trying not to buy any snuggly woollies, unless I am happy for them to be oversized, as I'm currently losing weight. Saw a fab cashmere sweater in M & S, but still about 80 quid. I'm still enjoying th e one I had a couple of years ago from them, reduced multiple times, and I think I paid about 12 pounds in the end.

I've had some nice black jeans in the sale, and a warm zebra tunic top from Roman. I realise that I have jumpers, and long t shirt tops, and going out tops, but not smart/warm tops, if that makes sense! Intend to take myself off for a walk round a nearby lake very soon.

@SpongeBobJudgeyPants. I had a bath with it yesterday, the oil blend and the bath oil, really loved it. Then a spritz of the wellBeing mist. The scent lasted for ages. Felt very uplifted afterwards. It’s a lovely and unique scent. I hope you regain your sense of smell and enjoy it as much as I am!

Thank you @LoveLabradors. I've got off lightly compared to lots of folks. I had no idea that I could actually get AA via Boots until now! It may not be a good thing that I know, as I buy enough in Boots to avoid p & p charges, so tempting .I'm a tightwad who loves a bargain, hates p & p charges There were a couple of other gifty things in AA that are all now sold out, but a couple of hours ago that gifty type set was still in stock.

I treated myself to some wireless earphones so I can listen to true crime podcasts whilst my kids are around

Also some new slippers and thick bed socks in the sales. My hands are always dry and I've noticed they're aging badly so I got myself some hand cream too.

DP and I went for brunch today which was lovely - and a perfect crisp, frosty day. I’m currently sharing (begrudgingly) my heated throw with the cat, while we watch Stay Close on Netflix.

This is a bit niche, and not stylish or beautiful at all, but one of my favourite DJs left the radio (BBC6) at the end of last year and I missed him so much. He has created a Patreon and is doing a live show on a Friday, which I subscribed to.

Thank you OP - this thread is lovely (and giving me ideas!)

Earlier on thread I said about the jigsaw I bought myself (haven't done any since a child) and I opened it last night - all 1000 pieces !

I set it up on the dining table - before I started I confidently told DH that my thinking was I had til Easter to complete it ..... now I'm thinking next Dec & I should have started with a 50 piece to ease myself in !
This is the puzzle
georgeswhitstable.com/collections/all-puzzles/products/nel-whatmore-star-of-the-garden-1000-piece-puzzle

I am loving hearing how everyone’s month is going so far.
DH made me breakfast in bed this morning to celebrate the last day of isolation. I still can’t taste or smell much but the thought was very much appreciated.
I have spent my day filling out my new journal and doing some online sales shopping. I ordered some basics that needed replaced from Boden and Zara (wide leg jersey trouser, Breton tops x2, white T-shirts and a black one) plus a few pairs of 70% off bargain earrings from Acessorize thanks to @JorisBohnson2.

I finally treated myself to a lovely new reusable coffee cup made from recycled material this morning (after my old one cracked mid coffee in December!).

I have decided that 2022 is the year I get fit and I have been walking and cycling. But I have no clothes really suitable and have been wearing an old rain jacket of dh's with ancient trainers (so don't mind them getting wet etc) so I have used some Christmas money to buy myself a lovely Helly Hansen fully waterproof jacket and some Merrell walking boots both in impractical colours but they will cheer me up and encourage me to keep going.

I'm excited about this new plan!

Also, dh bought me lovely scented candle as part of my Christmas present and I lit it over the weekend for the first time - such a nice treat.

I also got some books for Christmas and have been making time in the evenings to read which I love

This is such a nice idea for a thread

Fabulous @UniBallEye, I think you enjoy any exercise so much more when you feel nice in your clothes.

Love this thread. I've sorted out my drawers, upped my meditation and exercise and am trying to read more books. Need to spend more time outside but it's been v cold, wet and miserable this week...