Despite having my birthday in January I can't help but generally feel a bit dragged down by the post Christmas blues. I try to see it as a fresh new page and everything, but the biting wind and icy starts can't help but make me long for the cheerful Springtime. I was approached by Hallmark with some wonderful suggestions on how to make the january blues much more bearable.

Four Ways to Beat the January Blues

The weeks after Christmas can be tough on our spirits, and with the weather taking a turn for the worse the January blues could be set to stick around for a little longer than we’d like. But why should we put up with them? Here are four great ways to banish those blues without stretching your post-Christmas budget.

Go for a Swim

Many of us will have promised to improve our fitness in 2013 but gym memberships can be costly, and not everyone can spare the time, that’s why swimming is such a great activity. It’s a whole-body workout that’s also great for your mind, as the rhythmic strokes and immersion in the water help to relieve stress and increase feelings of positivity. And as if that’s not enough, a swimming session can cost less than hitting the gym so there’s no reason not to splash your way to happiness this January!

Hug it Out

It’s probably not a coincidence that International Hugging Day takes place in January; a day on which people across the world are encouraged to open up their arms and share a comforting cuddle with someone they love, or even a stranger! The event took place on the 21^st January, but it’s never too late for a hug, especially as cuddles have been found to release the bonding hormone Oxytocin which is also incredibly effective in improving your mood. So it’s time to hug your way to happiness!

Plan a Getaway

There’s a lot to be said for planning your summer holiday, or even just a weekend break, during the month of January. As well as giving yourself something exciting to look forward to during these short, snowy days, there are also lots of fantastic early-bird deals to be snapped up which is great news after a costly Christmas.

Make a Friend Smile

Happiness is infectious, so why not send a friend a special surprise....just because? A cheerful message inside a personalised card fromHallmark is sure to raise a smile, especially when paired with a little gift. There’s a great selection on the Hallmark website so head over to Hallmark nowto check out their range of personalised cards and personalised gifts. They’re guaranteed to make both you, and a friend, feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

Hope you're all enjoying January, what ways do you have for keeping positive?

I won! Pretty Dandy/Kat Got The Cream Giveaway

Yippee! I found out just a few weeks after Christmas I won a fantastic giveaway over on Kat Got the Cream blog - a £25 voucher to spend at the wonderful Pretty Dandy - a gorgeous new online interiors boutique which specialises in beautiful handmade, vintage and new designers home accessories.

It was so hard to choose what to get, the vintage crockery on the site is amazing, but really there's only so many teacups and pyrex a girl can fit in her kitchen cupboards (or maybe I should just put up some more shelves?!) So I decided to get something we would really use and need in our house. I'm not sure if I posted about it but in the summer we bought our first house, and lets just say it's definitely a 'project', and one thing that I can't wait to get stuck into when it gets a bit warmer is the garden. So I decided that the main purchase would be this beautiful handpainted birdhouse. I would have taken a picture of it in our garden as it s now, but frankly it's such a state that it really doesn't do this gorgeous little home any justice so here is the picture from the website - I think it's going to be the starting point to our first family garden, and I can't wait to see it being used!

The next thing I chose what this set on coasters which I love, I always love a bit of geometric imagery on things, and I think these are the perfect accompaniment to our charity shop Ercol coffee table (get me!) They're the most gorgeous quality melamine topped wood with a felt base, and I just know they're going to be something we love using for a very long time. Check out their the Pretty Dandy website to see more of their wonderful gifts.

And for those of you who aren't familiar with Kat Got The Cream blog, here I would like to introduce you to the lovely Kathryn! The blog features gorgeous thrifty finds, creative projects and her style posts, which I love. The blog is really happy, and I love to have a long read of all her recent posts on a Saturday morning when I have some baby free time and a large cuppa on the go.

Excitingly she's just about to start a new business designing and making childrenswear and accessories. If you take a peek at her blog she has some photographs of some of the types of clothes she'll be selling and they just looks so comfy, practical and beautiful (definitely something I will have to buy for Delilah!) This little top and bloomers are my favourites, I adore the fabrics she's chosen and the shapes are perfect too. I look forward to her online shop opening!

                           

Thanks so much to Kathryn and Pretty Dandy for the amazing giveaway!xxx