Style, beauty, anything else - what’s going to get you through driech January and February?

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

I know there will be plenty of people who love these months, but I hate them! Tell me what will make them better for you if you’re like me, please.

I’ve bought a big bunch of tulips and some daffs today which are a bit at odds with the fairy lights.

MIL always gets me the Molton Brown “selection box” for Christmas so I have lots of nice bath stuff to use.

I have some nice new knitwear I bought with Christmas money, and am going to get some new nightshirts for bed at the weekend.

The good telly has started.

So

Spring flowers, scented candles and fairy lights oh and tea lots of tea.

I am planning a weekend by the sea. Seasides in the winter are fantastic. Stay in a cheaper B&B.

I like to take a step back in January. Reflect on 2023 and think a bit about making things better for 2024. I try to just slow down a bit, notice things a bit more. Like the winter. Summer is time for action, spring for being busy, autumn for back to school. But now after Christmas, it’s one of the only times in the year where things go a bit still. The skies are quiet and grey. Everything seems to be waiting. I love it!

I’m going to go through and sort stuff, organize, get the house looking a bit better. I’ll stay in more, so it’s perfect to get more homely and there is less pressure to go out as it’s raining and cold.

What a lovely, thoughtful, optimistic post. Enjoy your January.

Love this! Lean into the dark & enjoy the snug warmth of home <3

Have a holiday planned for February - Spain so hopefully nicer than here but not hot-hot.

I go for a walk each morning with my dog and I'm doing some on-line exercise classes and guided mindfulness. Trying to eat healthier foods .

I also like to get outside in the garden first thing and watch the birds, look at the new buds coming through.

Will be making a few out of season clothing purchases for my holiday - mainly new tee shirts, possibly some trainers.

Lovely thread, some really nice ideas here and lots of positivity!

Today we de-Christmas-ed the house, and went for a nice lunch. I got some fab burgundy cords in the Levi’s sale, and a “whoops” cream cake in M&S. Six Music has had a “cloud busting” theme on every show today which has been great - we always have it on in the kitchen.

And buds are budding in the garden, look!

What a lovely thread.

My big focus for this week is the slightly lighter afternoons. It isn’t by much, but sunset is around the time that I’m driving to pick DS up from school and by the end of the first week of term I definitely notice it is ever so slightly lighter. It might only be a few minutes, but it makes such a difference to see that spring will be coming.

From a more material perspective, I always budget some January spending money for little treats. Lovely bath oil, nice candles, my favourite coffee at home and when out. I definitely get a dopamine hit from sales shopping in January, but I refuse to feel guilty and embrace all the positivity I can find this time of year.

@BangingOn i totally agree with the little treats! I ordered a lovely candle from the John Lewis sale (it’s a Hush one) and I’m excited to collect that tomorrow.

I’m back at work tomorrow so today I have done a manicure and pedicure, and picked out outfits for the next couple of days. We’ve done a meal plan for the week with a bid to try and run the freezer down because it’s jam-packed.

Oh, and I also bought a pretty pot of hyacinth bulbs yesterday which is sitting in the hearth.

@Judystilldreamsofhorses I love hyacinths. Which candle did you go for? Hush randomly sent me a free one, leather and something. It was lovely.

It’s rose and cassis - I saw it on Midlife Chic’s roundup of the JL sale the other day and she really rated it. She used to work in fragrance/candles so that’s high praise from her! Apparently it’s similar to Diptyque Baies.

I might have just ordered one…

SingleMum11 that was so lovely to read

Thrilled to enable you 😂

It's 'dreich'!

Exercise is getting me through. I don't want to go to the gym but I feel amazing afterwards.

Also cheap daffs, lighting Christmas candles, reading Christmas books and finishing my Christmas jigsaw.

I love this time of year. Once Christmas is over and fhe days are getting longer, it's only a matter of time.

Oh god, how embarrassing. I was thinking of “i before e except after c”. I’m a bloody lecturer and known as the spelling and grammar police. 🙈

@mnhq any chance you could edit that typo in the thread title, please? I can’t unsee it now.