Suffering from the lurgy and a general winter’s gloom we decided we needed something to cheer us up this February. Here’s how to channel a sunshine state of mind until spring appears.
Bring spring inside
The quickest way to light up a room is to bring in some flowers. There’s not a lot in the garden, maybe a few sweet snowdrops to look out for. You can now pick up daffs for £1 from the supermarket. For tulips we love British growers, Smith & Munson. Order a tube or try the subscription service to have them delivered at intervals of a week, month, or fortnight. And Flowerbx make spring bulbs incredibly easy. Narcissi symbolise the end of winter and beginning of spring – watch them bloom.
£40 from Flowerbx
Brighten Up Your Wardrobe
Neutral colours just aren’t cutting it at the moment. We need something cheery to illuminate our pallid winter complexions and put a bounce back in our step. Yellow is scientifically proven to be the most mood-lifting of all, leaving you feeling more energetic and optimistic.
£16 from Opi
£95 from Pangaia
£85 from Nike
£55 from Arket
£140 from Mango
£30 from Zara
Order Some Gelato
Forget about ice cream from Ocado and treat yourself to some gelato delivered to your door. Gelupo holds the keys to our heart. While flavour availability changes, we really love the Ricotta Sour Cherry and Blood Orange. It comes in the prettiest packaging too.
Celebrate the End of Dry January with a proper cocktail. Head to The Connaught for some old-fashioned cocktail vibes or to Nightjar if you want a little jazz with your drink. At home we’ve got into making the Sidecar; Cointreau, cognac and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Watch a Feel-Good Movie
We loved The Tender Bar, now on Amazon Prime. This coming of age movie is directed by George Clooney, with great performances by Ben Affleck and newcomer Tye Sheridan. And find our current favourite Retro Romcoms here.
Give a Persephone Book
We love Persephone Books’ Valentine’s offer so much – but it’s not just for lovers. We think it would be a great present to send a friend or even treat yourself to. For £22 they’ll send a grey Persephone book of your choice wrapped up in a Persephone napkin; this doubles as a dishcloth, scarf or ‘furoshiki’ (a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth). Tucked inside will be a bookmark and a handwritten gift note. Order here.
And we did enjoy these Read the Signs: Literary Horoscope suggestions from McNally Jackson for a bit of literary inspo.
Book a trip to Paris
Eurostar’s sale is now on and runs until 8th February. Get tickets to Paris from £35 each way. Putting a weekend away in the diary makes a very cheering thought indeed. Book here.
Tune in to a talk
Fans of the Fabergé exhibition will enjoy the online talk, ‘Rivals on Bond Street: Fabergé and Cartier’ next Tuesday evening. Tickets are just £5 to hear Wartski’s Kieran McCarthy, curator of the exhibition and best-selling author, Francesca Cartier Brickell discussing the great rivalry between the brands at the start of the twentieth century. Book here.
Get Out for a Walk
It does sometimes seem impossible to get out for a walk in this cold weather, but ultimately always makes us feel better. Rather than walking the same old loop at the park, try to find a walk that allows for little adventure and take in something new.
Recently, we have been walking with a friend along The Regents Canal. The Modern House has a fun guide for strolling along this London waterway, including stops to make along the way for food and drink.
And, if all else fails, remember things are getting brighter.
By the end of the month, there is almost an extra hour much needed daylight. And, the clocks change in March!
A Little Bird Loves
