January: Blue month survival toolbox

January is a miserable month. If it were a colour it would be dark blue and grey. It makes me feel doubly awful because even though it is the coldest, darkest, brokest month of the year - we expect to have limitless energy to persue resolutions that when we fail [even though they were unattainable in the first place] we beat ourselves black and blue about how much of a failure we are. That's without even taking into account the post christmas 'is this all there is?' feeling. I look like http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l6toxlsAv81qcwucro1_500.jpg throughout this month.

As today is the final day of January, I'm doing a little hooray inside and reflecting on what has got me through this month....

Shrink christmas

So this requires some planning ahead, but due to a mini meltdown I stripped back christmas to it's bare essentials and boy has it made the new year better. I did no travelling, didn't gorge myself and just enjoyed simple presents with people I love and who accept me exactly as I am - even if that is in pj's and weeping occasionally.

Spend time being cosy

This can quite easily be done with a hot cup of tea and a blanket. Very simple and cheap yet highly effective. Add in a homemade flapjack if you are feeling really in need. Just the one mind. In seriousness though, sometimes a little hibernation is good for us and helps us to reset our internal clocks. Getting enough rest and calm is as essential as brushing your teeth.... although I have yet to make a firm habit of of resting.


Be glad

When it looks black and miserable post this as you computer background. Feel good and grateful for the simple things you have and can do.

Less than a fiver!

Cutest gift ever. £3 from a new chinese supermarket that popped up in town. Monday gift to myself.

Week round up : 23 - 29 Jan 2012

One massive sugar low induced strop [more on this to come]
Two too short days spent with Mr C.
Three weight lifting workouts
Four magazines started to read...all at once
Five items chewed by mr smudge - he got my cross face...
Six impossible to get out of bed days
Seven things created including a paper house, lovely yellow nails and other randoms

Lovely yellow weekend

Four things for your weekend to make your everday a little bit more yellow.

1. Celebrate the new year with mochi, jasmine green tea and a trip to your local chinese supermarket. I'm off to our local  city's parade, to sneak in on the kids craft table and hopefully get hit by some lettuce from the dragon [good luck apparently!]

2.Paint your nails. I did and an odd one out. 

3.Make a piece of something creative. I signed up for creative every day 

4. Get your feet nibbled. We're off to see the little fishes!!

Life Lists

I have rejigged my life list. Before it was prescriptive, and I was trying to force myself to become a better person through my list. WRONG on so many levels. Inspired by the always inspiring Nicole at Making it Lovely [yes I did use her lovely in my bloggy name] I made my list longer, more flexible and open. And it has a health warning attached to it.

I also set no resolutions this year. Because I use them like a stick to beat myself up with

Haven't run a marathon yet -  what are you playing at ??? Fool! You are TOO lazy. 

That is my delightful internal dialogue.

Amusingly, things that got thrown off the list:

101. Get a tattoo

81. Bring up balanced kids 

83. Go base jumping

75. Inspire other people to live the life they can only imagine 

64. Bartend 

62. Learn to roller skate

44. Create my life handbook

37. Gamble in Vegas

18. Marathon 

I am never going to pull off a tattoo and am more than happy to admire them on others. I am not going to set out any expectations for my kids [if they ever exist!].

Base jumping - I didn't actually know what this was, it just sounded cool. No 75 is so pretentious I can't believe I wrote it and I don't like drinking or gambling, yes I am a geek. 

Love my new list.