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.

I love snowdrop watch, I love crocus’ too.

I had a lovely coffee with my parents this morning, it was lovely to see them without DH and DC (granted they adore them) for a change.

Popped to Glasgow this afternoon and treated myself to new gym trainers and the tastiest doughnuts for after dinner - I fully understand the irony!

I tried to post last night, but the wifi crashed.

@Judystilldreamsofhorses what is the plant you won? Did you manage to get it home OK?

@AuldAlliance my appointment was rescheduled to Saturday as my hairdresser needed the day off for a family emergency. So he had better have an amazing plant waiting for me!

I am wondering about the plant too! We were on a ferry from the Isle of Man yesterday, and DH bought me the box of four Hermes perfumes. I even love the box! I saw the 24 Fauborg on there, but at £72, couldn't justify it, when I have other perfumes I really should be using up. The box set, whilst not the most economical way of buying them, is a nice way of trying them, and the little bottles bring me joy on my shelf!

I just has the mulberry Anthony messenger bag delivered… it’s beautiful

Oooh lovely thread. I've acquired a few things in January that are making me happy. I'm recovering from surgery so needed a bit of cheering up.

This gift set from Gruum which I got in the sale, it seems to be back to full price now. The sleep mist is gorgeous. Plus their hemp oil and a body oil that makes me smell like a yoga studio.

This cashmere beanie and this grey shacket from Dunnes. They haven't arrived yet but I'm looking forward to them.

Some stuff from Molton Brown in the sale - nice in itself but it came with a sample of Labadanum Dusk perfume which I LOVE and will treat myself to a full size bottle of at some point.

The Michael Kors bag in the picture which I bought second hand and I really like because the colour is cheerful.

This nag champa oil which smells just like the incense without catching in your throat.

The Sweaty Betty bag in the picture (in the sale) which has straps at the bottom for a yoga mat. Plus a couple of pairs of leggings in the sale too and they are incredibly comfortable for wearing around the house.

And some lovely crystals from Etsy. I don't use them for healing or anything like that but love to look at them and hold them because they are so pretty.

You won’t believe this but I forgot the plant! My hairdresser owns the salon and often brings his dog in, and I was so distracted by him that it totally slipped my mind. I’ve messaged to ask if I can pop in for it next week.

Some lovely purchases coming through. Mini perfumes are so charming @SpongeBobJudgeyPants! @Monsterjam show us your bag, pls. @evilharpy that is an excellent haul!

I am waiting on this jumper - the colours just sing to me.

Oh gosh, that must be annoying re the plant. But did you see it? Can you describe it? (Can you point to it on the trolley for Victoria Wood fans)

The salon is like a botanic garden - plants absolutely everywhere. None of them were labelled with my name. I only had eyes for the dog, really. I love him. ❤️

Arket I have not bought for them before - is the quality ok - presume sizing is standard ? (As long as customer service better than Zara) I may just need to have a quick browse

Ooh, the plant suspense will have us on tenterhooks for days now.

Nice buys on this thread. I'd never looked at Dunnes, before - they have some nice things.

I potted up my pothos babies today, all 9 of them, and while I was buying potting compost an asparagus fern leapt into my hands and is now sitting in my entrance, alongside various other plants. I'm slowly trying to create a kind of green barrier between the street and my house.

I have done some polishing of furniture, banisters, etc., so everything smells of beeswax, I've lit some (non-scented) candles just for the hell of it, and am on the sofa (where I never, ever sit, as I don't make time for it). I'm going to read a book from the library about making your own scents and perfumes for the house. I live in a lavender-producing region and a friend told me the other day she sprays her sheets with dilute lavender oil when she puts them on the bed, and that set me thinking about scents for my home.

Then I'm off to friends' for an apéritif/galette des rois evening.

And I have done my daily photo and can report that the days are definitely, albeit slowly, getting longer.
All good January stuff.

Really enjoying this thread and all your lovely purchases and ideas.

I had a nice walk in the park this morning then met a friend for coffee and cake, it’s really true that the small things make me happiest.

@BeaLola I have quite a few knitwear bits from them - wash beautifully in a wool cycle and some coming up four years old. Sizing tends to be quite generous, I am a UK 10 and a small.

@AuldAlliance I absolutely love lavender. I use a spray on the bed every night, but just a Boots one. Neat lavender oil is also really good at seeing off a spot if you have one starting.

I spotted that our snowdrops are peeping through on my way home earlier. Tiny shoots.

@Judystilldreamsofhorses here she is… it makes me so happy owning it. I’ve been searching for the right bag for years and for me this is perfect

Beautiful @Monsterjam ❤️. I have never owned a designer bag but it would definitely be a Mulberry if I did.

Monsterjam's lovely bag reminded me of a charity shop buy the other day. Vintage Samonsite travel handbag/manbag with travel journal (untouched). There is a pocket on the back for presumably one of the first mobile phones, complete with a cutout for the aeriel! Just big enough for a small brolly (I've checked) I luffs it! Whether I will actually use it properly or just gaze at it hung off a knob on my wardrobe door is another matter entirely

Thank you ladies. It’s part of my turning 40 and trying to be a bit more put together and organised . That’s my excuse anyway!

Judystilldreamsofhorses thank yuo - I do like a lot of the things on the website so I may just need to dip my to arm in ... I am the other end of the scale from a size 10......

My jumper came today and it is delightful 💕

That looks like the ideal January antidote, @Judystilldreamsofhorses

Judystilldreamsofhorses that looks fab I did like that one & the bell sleeved soft green and also grey ones on website - just wondering if "itchy" & whether the sleeves will be too long as with bell shaped cant really turn up ?

Having been cheered enormously by th is thread I am going off to wallow in a AA oil bath - not sure which one yet but am taking wine with me

Thank you @AuldAlliance and @BeaLola - I love it! @bealola I actually have the alpaca bell sleeved jumper in grey. It is over-sized but I don’t find the sleeves long or flappy. I sized down to XS in the rainbow one (am 100% not XS) and wish I had done the same in the grey with hindsight. I wear a lot of knits that other people term itchy - one of my work friends says she starts sneezing just looking at me on a Teams call - so my tolerance might be quite high!

This has reminded me that, in about November, I ordered a jumper from Arket which was a bargain. They sent me a pair of tights instead, which I returned and they never refunded me.

That is awful! I once ordered cleanser from John Lewis and got a silicon egg poacher - but they let me keep the poacher and also gifted me £20 off the cleanser which they sent next day delivery.