8 Things To Do When The Days Get Shorter

I'm one of those people that really struggles when the days get shorter, and it feels like you're living in an eternal night (mare).  I know there's lots of us out there who struggle so I decided to write up a list of the things I do to keep my spirits up and try to appreciate the cosier time year.

1, Candles - OK so this is an obvious one but my ballet coach once said to me that lighting candles in the evening helps her mood because the light they give off is natural light as opposed to the artificial light of a light bulb.  I have no idea if there is any science behind this but I do like the idea, and candle light is much more soothing than the glow of a bulb.  Bonus points if they're scented too.  I know candles aren't convenient though if you've got babies or pets so maybe try number 2...

2.  A salt lamp - I was on holiday in a seaside town and spotted some well priced himalayan salt lamps in the shops there.  It was something I had read about as being good for eczema sufferers (something to do with it giving off salt in to the air when warmed by the light of the bulb inside).  Well I will try anything once if there's a change it could help with my eczema but asides from that it gives off a really nice warm glow.  The light is very similar to the glow of a candle or a fire so if candles aren't your thing but you like the idea of the warm glow they give off I would really recommend you try a salt lamp.  I would have one in every room if I could during the dark wintery evenings.

3. A warm bath - There's no windows in our bathroom but this seems to matter less when it's dark outside anyway.  I love to run a bath with some salts or oils in it, light a candle and read a book.  It becomes a nightly ritual in the winter time and it really does help to relax you in the evening.

4.  Embrace winter fashion - It sucks that the weather is so dreary outside but autumn/winter fashion is appealing for so many reasons.  Treat yourself by buying the softest, warmest jumper/cardigan you can find so that you wont feel the cold when you leave the house.  Not to mention the gorgeous boots/coats/hats that you finally get to wear.  Getting experimental with your style could give you something to look forward to when you wake up in the morning.

5. Autumnal make-up - You can get away with darker shades of lipstick, eyeshadow or blush (not all at once though!) when the days are darker.  Whatever you like to experiment with, now is the time to do it.  I like picking out a darker shade of lipstick to wear out on an autumnal weekend.  Darker shades work so much better with autumn fashion than with summer clothes.

6.  Hot drinks - Whatever your favourite hot drink is now you get to drink it all. day. long.  I love drinking different kinds of teas and mix it up through out the day drinking tea after tea.  I pop out to the supermarket and grab myself a nice selection I can look forward to working my way through during the colder months.

7.  Baking - I haven't got my baking on yet but if there's a good time to get the oven on warming the house and filling it with yummy smells then this is it.  Eating hot food is much more appealing and enjoyable when it's cold outside and there really is nothing better than filling the house with the scent of a roast dinner or apple crumble baking in the oven on a chilly day.

8.  Go for a walk - A big part of enjoying the cold weather is staying indoors and getting cosy, but to keep up your mood I would definitely recommend getting out for a bit every day.  Particularly when the sun is still up.  Getting fresh air always makes me feel better so on a day off work I will still make sure I go somewhere for a little walk.  What better way to get out and about than to wrap us warm and walk to a cosy coffee shop for that nice warm drink?

10 ways to cheer yourself up on a gloomy day

It's overcast and rainy, or maybe you just had a rubbish day.  Sometimes I feel down and it's hard to drag myself out of it.  I tried to create a list of things I can do to cheer myself up when I'm feeling gloomy.  Maybe they can help you too or maybe you can give me some of your own ideas!  Anything that takes a lot of effort is much too easy to dismiss when you're feeling blue, so I'll try to make most of these quick and easy!

1.  Run a bath
An obvious one but a brilliant one.  If you have a bath make it extra special with added sea salts or bubbles.  Light candles for extra points!

2.  Make your favourite hot drink.
On a gloomy evening I would probably go for hot chocolate, or decaf tea.

3. Watch an episode of your favourite TV programme.
Trashy TV cheers me up the quickest!  Hello PLL or Made In Chelsea.

4.  Phone a relative or a good friend.
Someone that's good at making you laugh!

5.  Read a bit of a good book
Maybe even in the bath?  Escapism is always a good idea

6.  Write lists.
Do you have a pretty notebook?  Make plans in it.  To do lists.  Things that you want to accomplish this week, this month or this year.  Look to the future.

7.  Be creative.
I always have loads of little projects I want to do in my head.   Try to start one of them.  Lose yourself in something creative.

8.  Bake
Always comforting, and you get to eat something tasty at the end of it.

9.  Put on your pj's
It feels indulgent and comforting.

10.  Clean something
It seems strange but I often feel a bit better even if I just clean or tidy one thing.  Like cleaning the bathroom mirror or the kitchen surface.

I already feel a bit better just for writing this list.  I know these things seem obvious but even just having a list to look at can sometimes be good motivation for doing something!

Candles and grey eye shadow

Hi there!

Sorry I've been quiet for a week or so.  I was feeling run down for days!  My brain was sooo foggy.  In the end I just had to be nice to myself and do as little as possible apart from the dancing that I had to do for my job.  Luckily I managed to feel much better by the time I had to do a show last Thursday but after that I had a little crash again.  So I'm taking it easy once more.  I've been preoccupied with trying to calm down my system and stop it reacting so sensitively to everything.  I've been drinking lots of tea, lighting lots of candles and having a few baths.

These pictures were taken last Sunday morning when the weather was much brighter than it has been this weekend.  It's horribly grey and overcast.  I've been keeping up trying to drink probiotic yoghurt drinks in the morning.

I had some of my home made banana bread for breakfast.  This time I had smaller bananas which made the bread slightly less moist.  I also added 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon but I didn't notice any difference in the taste so next time I might try adding 1/2 teaspoon.

I thought it would be nice to see some more of the Too Faced eye shadows in action.  I used the two darkest shadows in my Too Faced Palette; the darkest grey all over the lid and the black shadow a little bit on the outside edge of the top lash line.

I kept the rest of my face natural apart from some blusher and mascara.  I'm obsessed with make-up being relatively subtle and natural at the moment.  I've always gone through fazes, not so long ago it was a black eye liner obsession which I would do every day.  Then I got sick of that and now I like to do something quite subtle and natural for the day time.

I hope you're having a lovely autumn.  I've been gathering up any candles I can find lying around the flat to cosy up the evenings!  I need to go and get myself some scented ones for that extra luxurious feel.

Till next time :)

Twirlybirdie

Bits and Bobs

Hello!

I've got a few photos I've taken intending to either write full blog posts for in the future or include them in posts that have then seemed long enough with out them so I thought I'd collect some of them here.

This was my first attempt at using my new muffin tray.  I made muffins with prunes and seeds in them so they were healthy-ish.... They were good to take in to work for extra energy though.  The recipe is here.

I bought these glass containers to store dry goods.  I love them and want to buy more!

I bought some washi tape for future craft projects ( I just haven't figured out what yet!)  Actually I was thinking of using them to stick labels to the new kitchen jars.

I bought a milk frother so I can make foamy lattes!  My eczema has been flaring up recently so I've decided to go completely lactose free dairy wise to see if it helps.  So anyway I've been drinking frothy lactose free lattes.

I had a premiere of a new role in a show recently and was given this beautiful plant as a gift.  I know nothing about flowers though ( I think the label says Rhododendrons on it) so I hope I wont kill it off too quickly.  I thought the pink blooms looked gorgeous in the autumn evening sun.

I went for a walk today and the weather was gorgeous.  Those autumn leaves.  The sun.  Sigh.

I actually took these pictures whilst running for the bus.

Ahhh the autumn colour scheme.  Just so lovely to photograph.

Till next time!

Twirlybirdie :)

Life lately: Reading and writing

Hello!

Autumn is well and truly upon us and I am trying to adjust accordingly.  I try not to let the overcast weather get me down too much by distracting myself with the cosier things in my life.  It's nice to be snuggled up in my apartment and finally make use of all the crafty bits and bobs I buy myself and then neglect for too long.  In summer I'm obsessed with being outside.  If it's sunny I have to be outside and can't stand been cooped up indoors so I suppose now is time to enjoy life indoors!

I wanted to share this super cute 5 year diary my boyfriend bought me about a month ago.  I've been staring at them in the bookshop for absolutely ages but because I knew I could get one much cheaper back in England I never bought it.  Well I think he had had enough of me staring at them and one day he came in to work with one as a surprise gift!

The cover design and inside is just gorgeous.  The edges of the pages are lined with gold.

You answer a different question that is at the top of each page for every day of the year, for 5 years, and see how your ideas change over the time. 

I've enjoyed writing in it even more than I thought I would!  I think it would make a great gift.  They are produced by a company called Potter Style and I think you can buy them on Amazon in the UK.

Today I've been suffering from really bad stomach cramps so my lovely boyfriend bought me Vogue to read when he went to do the food shopping.  Another surprise gift!  I know I'm a very lucky girl :)

The horrible weather is another great excuse to cosy up with a magazine. There's even ballet on the cover!

Here's a peak at my knitting too.  I'm trying to knit a cosy throw for winter.  I have a feeling it's going to take me a long time though!  I'm knitting with mohair wool which feels luxurious!  I have to knit 2 then pearl 2 and I keep losing track of where I am!

What do you do to feel cosy when the weather gets colder?

Until next time, stay cosy :)

Twirlybirdie

Life lately; settling in to autumn

Hi there.

I hope your week is going well.  It's been getting very cold and autumnal over here with many many grey days and just the occasional bout of sunshine.  Yesterday the sun was out so I decided to make the most of it and took my camera out for a walk.  I have an obsession of taking pictures of trees.  I find them so beautiful, particularly in the sunshine and when the leaves are changing colour.

Leaves on the ground

Red berries in the trees

I love a good solar flare!

Some of the houses are beautiful in the sunlight

Sunny yellow house!

There are some quirky shops on our street.  One selling second hand furniture and the other some sort of pottery shop which has very recently opened.

Then we popped in to a little Jazz cafe we hadn't been to before for coffee.

I spotted this cute post office sign on the way home.

Today the weather has been overcast and miserable so to make up for it I'm trying to get autumnal by making sweet potato chips and trying to take up knitting again to make a mohair throw.  It's a bit of a disaster at the moment though and I think I've restarted it about three times.  I'll let you know how it goes!

I'm going to go and get on with eating my chips now!

Until next time :)

Twirlybirdie xxx