Jilting January! — Violinkit

Dec 18

Dec 18 Jilting January!

Now you may seem confused by my rather odd blog post title for this week but as I'm getting the last few bits ready for the festive season my mind keeps wandering to January and the silence and bleakness that sometimes accompanies it.

I'm thinking to myself that I need to kick January's ass..... I need to get in gear for the dreaded month where most people make resolutions and plans with great intentions and well they usually never come to fruition.

I am not one of those people , I never make New Year promises that I really won't keep. I never make any resolutions at all and I'm not sure if its a bad or good thing...Hmmm.... However, this post is not about keeping New Year resolutions its about the exact opposite....Hurray!!!!

Christmas for me tends to be about putting the most massive effort in and generally not really getting anything back...By this I mean that you can go out of your way for people , trash the shops looking for that ideal present that you know they would like and in the end it really doesn't matter I'm beginning to realise. The effort in return is most often not very much and so I begin to think what is it all about....

I think that Christmas changes for people as you progress through life. The exhaustion of giving "Stuff" and the pressure of affording to do so brings a lot of unnecessary stress. A lot of people therefore dread this time of year and it shouldn't really be like this. People should be free to spend as much as they can comfortable afford and be happy about that.

Faux fur coat by florence +fred Tesco.......!!!!!!!!!!! i kid you not.....

Once January hits this year I am making a promise to myself that this is exactly how I am going to manage Christmas gift giving every other year. I am going to stick to a budget and not ask people what exactly they would like but rather be interested in their lives for the coming year and then buy an appropriate present that can only be purchased by truly knowing who they are.

this coat was the bargain of all bargains.....it cost me €13 last year in the winter sales....

Its funny that we all have family and friends but most of us don't really know who they are outside of the family connections. I have three nephews and though I still am fairly familiar with the younger two the older boy who is in his late teens I have lost that personal connection with..This is something I hope to rectify before next Christmas.

the red tunic dress is ,,,,,,,,,,,,100% cotton and was bought in the irish cancer society charity shop. great cheery colour on a cold day.

Tackling the tricky month of January has been something that I have given some thought to over the last few days. The depressing flood of words like Gym, Detox, New You, New Year Resolution, Diet.... its enough to make the most contented person depressed. If you think about it January is usually one of the coldest and bleakest months of the year and to suggest that we lower our food intake and start training etc in the midst of the freeze is both ludicrous and not in the least healthy for our well-being.

the boots are kmb and again were a thrifted purchase. the cute beanie is penneys/primark.

Any thoughts about detoxing and adjusting our calorie intake is best left to the springtime in my opinion. The term that we are all to familiar with "The January Blues" can only be accelerated by tiresome attempts at dieting and self inflicted misery. Ignore the posts and Magazine articles on Dieting and Toning those abs for a little while anyway. Instead spend January planning something nice to look forward to. Read a new book , go see a couple of movies at the Cinema. Be kind to yourself and January will become a month noted for its comfort and restfulness. Have a hot chocolate after work and indulge yourself with the odd massage when you can afford it. Light a fire and snuggle up and life in the coldest January will become warmer again.

Red touches here and there and i'm good to go.

When the sun begins to lift its head again, and the day seems that little bit longer, then we can put on the running shoes and break out the diet crackers. In the meantime lets take care of our spirits and our bodies will take care of themselves when the timing is right. I find wearing a bit of colour in my clothing or continuing that xmas sparkle well into the month of January cheers me up no end. Faux fur is a great way to stay warm and contented and still look great and at the same time luxurious.

Lights and more sparkly lights are addictive and oh so welcoming around the house in the month of January. I always leave the battery operated lights up around the house and tweak them to blend in with the decor after the Christmas decorations come tumbling down Ha Ha!. I place them in lanterns and on the fireplace mantels and also light as many candles as I can get away with for a super cheery contented feeling on a cold January evening .

So now this year I'm kinda looking forward to January 2018 in a way I never did before. There will be no self-inflicted pressure and no expectations. I intend to spend January cosied up but also planning and setting goals for myself for the rest of the year. I will spend it brainstorming and drinking hot chocolate ...I can think of worse things friends.......Ha Ha Ha! ............

Enjoy your Christmas everyone and have a fabulous January...

XXXXXXX VIOLIKIT