Blueberry&Pinks: Beat the blues!

Firstly, *applause* you've survived the new year, the January blues AND you've survived Valentine's day. Some times of the year are harder than others and, although the new year brings with it all manner of promises and hopes and plans, when they don't always bring everything you hoped they would, it can feel kinda sucky (especially when we are only gifted with a pitiful 20 minutes of bright sunlight a day). SO beat those S.A.D blues, forget the gallons of wine you drowned yourself in for Valentine's and focus on the coming months! (There's a lot to look forward to!)

I'm a firm believer that a well timed present is the cure-all solution to all of the worlds problems. So considering the events you've managed to survive over the past couple of months, a present must be well deserved by now!

In order to give the perfect gift, you have to know your subject - now is a good time to sit down with yourself and think carefully about who you actually are right now. It's so easy to have an image of yourself that stagnates in the back of your mind while you're focusing on everything and everyone else. Who you are can change all the time, of course there are the fundamentals, you're basic moral principles for example, that'll more or less stay the same. But your tastes, priorities and opinions are constantly changing (If they never changed then you'd still have the same fairy/football wallpaper you had when you were 6) and change is awesome! It means being able to clear out, get new, see different and move on. If you're the type of person who still has a black bag of size.. smaller.. clothes from 10 years ago that you just can't let go of, then you need to update yourself. Take a look at the things you actually care about now, who are now, not who you thought you were for the past 20 years.

Once you've realised that maybe technology isn't the devil anymore and that you would actually rather go to dinner with a friend than play Tekken until 9pm and that your Charlie body spray probably hasn't been 'your' scent since the 90's, then it's time to move on. What actually is your scent? How much of your wardrobe was an impulse sale purchase, and how much of it is worth while investment pieces that will last? Is your laptop due an upgrade? Do you own a suit? (If your answer is yes, but followed by 'from New Look/ASDA/Hand-me-down', then no, your answer is no.) It's time to start investing in yourself! Every week/month put aside as much money as you can spare and at the end of each year invest in something worth while!

That being said, considering the year has only just begun, and that the end of it seems like a lifetime away, there's no harm in a few 'filler' gifts. Things that don't take a year to save up for, that probably won't last, but that will make you happy. As a poor lowly student, any presents have to be within budget (free). It's supposed to be something to make you happy, not something that will have you living off cardboard noodles for the next month!

You can give yourself anything from that perfume you've been smelling every time you walk into a shop, to new PJ's, a nice bottle of wine, or even just an at home pedicure or a Galaxy bar. Just dedicate some time into doing something nice for yourself! Another thing to consider is involving your friends - after all, they survived too! - arrange each friend to bring something to nibble, set out some nail varnishes, DVDs, load up the kitten videos, glasses of wine and water, face masks - anything you want - turn your phones off and have a night of doing something for free that will make you happy. Take a look on discount websites, like Groupon, that offer trips, experiences and items at discount prices. Take a walk around and look and things you never noticed before, take a tour of your own city! Just make sure you do something!

And just in case a present isn't quiiite enough for you, below are some things that are bound to put a smile on your face!

All kinds of animals!

ASDF

Cupcakes

Actually just the Soul pancake channel in general...

It's basically an adorable virtual tamagotchi!

Feel good movies!