By Sarah Miles 

January: it gets a bad rep. With Blue Monday (officially ‘the most depressing day of the year’) falling in it, we say stop those negative vibes because there’s so much to get happy about. Here’s 10 things RN: 

1. January sales

So who doesn’t love a bit of retail therapy to help cheer you up? January is the perfect time to get shopping – hopefully with a bit of Christmas money – the sales are a shopper’s paradise and it means more dollar for the weekend. 

2. Spring isn’t far away

Just a matter of a few weeks stands between you and spring time, and you know what that means! Lighter mornings and evenings – actually seeing some proper daylight! And not having to dress up like the Michelin Man every time you go outside because it’s freezing cold – hurrah.

3. Makeover magic

Fed up of wearing the same clothes all the time, even though you have a ton of clothes in your wardrobe? Give yourself a wardrobe makeover – have a good clear out, get rid of things you don’t wear, or haven’t worn in like forever. You will feel like a more organised person, and you never know, you may even discover your new capsule wardrobe already sitting there ready and waiting!

4. Style overhaul

Always dreamed of having a short pixie crop but nervous about being so daring? Go for it – a change in your hair, make-up or fashion can give you a whole new outlook on life, and make you feel so much better about yourself.

5. Summer holiday planning commences

Now is the perfect time to start planning that summer holiday – this will help lift that low mood and give you something exciting to look forward to. And to shop for as well!

6. Get that dream job

Not happy in your job? Bored of doing the same stuff each day? Then make 2017 the year of getting your dream job. Get your CV looking amazing, brush up on any skills you need to update – maybe take a course or two, and nail that dream job. Make 2017 the year your job becomes your career.

7. Get festival planning

The festival season will be kicking off soon -get your tickets booked, start making your lists of who you want to see, what you need to pack, and most importantly what you need to buy. 

8. Arrange loads of girlie catch-ups

Do you always feel guilty that you never get the time to see your friends? Arrange catch-ups with all the VIP girlies in your life and have a good old laugh and a gossip. 

9. Take up a new hobby

Always fancied writing that novel, or learning another language? Then do it! Take the bull by the horns, and do something you have always wanted to – make 2017 YOUR year.

10. Always remember – life is short, make it count

Life is short and life is precious – don’t waste your life away being unhappy and miserable – make changes and make your life the best it can be.

Have a good one!

Image credit: Unsplash 

Feel like you’re in a committed relationship with coffee? Addicted to that smooth rich caffeine hit and inhaling the intense aroma? Another sleepless night, you hit the snooze button for the umpteenth time and build a duvet fort. It can’t be time to face the world yet? Snore. And then you remember, coffee is life.

Signing myself up for this challenge was a big achievement in itself. Over the years, I’d never ever ever be seen without make-up. Rumour has it I’d put it on first thing in the morning before anyone (not even family members) could see me without it. True story.

My biggest issue is redness. Without make-up, I look like I’ve just crossed the finish line of a half marathon when in reality I’ve just had a duvet day and been a bit of a slob.

At the gym, it’s great. I can do 25 minutes of HIIT training and slope off looking like I’ve been in there for hours. But in life, not so much. My teens were spent investing in every green concealer and foundation you could find. I even used to put talc on them to try and mask the lobster look. 

So to willingly sign away five days of my life make-up free a couple of years later was a pretty big deal. Here’s how I got on…

Day 1 

Ironically, I ended up rushing around more than usual in the morning with the effects of a late night taking their toll. This wasn’t helped by a power walk to work in the wind with two bags and a suitcase, plus a run-in with one of those people you really don’t wanna see sans Double Wear. So I rocked up to HQ a little flushed to say the least. I then spent the morning subconsciously explaining the fact I was doing a make-up free challenge to anyone and everyone so they didn’t think I was ill or just woke up late. Aside from getting a shock each time I went to the loo and looked in the mirror, I otherwise forgot about the challenge. 

Day 2

Since I’ve pretty much mastered washing my hair and getting ready in twenty minutes on the daily, I didn’t really get much more of a lie in than usual. Thanks to a very windy day, I arrived at work once again flushed AF and nipping out into town on lunch only ended with similar results. I’m not sure whether it was psychological, since I looked like I’d had an all-nighter without eye make-up, but I felt more tired than usual. Maybe I’d had too much sleep with my extra five minutes of ZZs… 

Day 3

Despite my morning routine becoming less about highlighting and more about cleansing and toning, I spied a sneaky spot. Shock horror. I guess I was semi-cheating with the challenge in that I volunteered to do it on a week where I had little to no plans after work or at the weekend that involved me being out and about. When the topic cropped up again in a conversation at work, a very kind colleague told me they wouldn’t have even noticed I didn’t have make-up on. Somehow I didn’t quite believe them… 

Day 4 

So far, anything that drew attention to the challenge in question (and my bare fare) meant I turned redder than red but if I forgot about it, the redness calmed down. As part of the challenge, I took one selfie a day and I didn’t hate any of them – though my flat does have great lighting.

Day 5 

As I started this challenge on a Tuesday, my final day of being makeup free fell on a Saturday, which is actually one of the few days I’m more than happy to ditch the beauty blender if I’m heading to the gym or dying of a hangover. 

The day started out with good intentions to workout and do my weekly shop but resulted in me doing an online order from the comfort of my bed and watching films instead. However, the temptation to resist (and albeit dry) Saturday night out was too much and since I’d already tempted fate and bumped into someone earlier in the week with my fresh face, I wasn’t prepared to hit up the bar make-up and alcohol free. 

So I lasted all of four and a half days. 

By Clare Evans

There are a few things that will always be timeless classics. THAT Little Black Dress and killer heels combo,  a chilled glass of prosecco or a killer Cosmo, a smoky eye or red lip, Love Actually and Kate Moss. 

Queen Kate has been gracing catwalks since the early 90s and is, quite frankly, the ultimate boss. In honour of her 43rd birthday (no, we can’t believe she’s 43 either!), we’ve put together a list of reasons why we should all bow down to Queen Kate.