So we’re almost at the end of the first month of the year — January is nearly at a close.
What does this month mean to me? Well, in a few days time it will be my birthday.
It’s funny, I’ve always moaned about being born a month after Christmas. As a child I felt sad — and a bit cheated — not to have a summer birthday; parties outside in the garden and long, light days, enabling the birthday girl (or boy) to enjoy their special day for just that little bit longer.
But as an adult, I feel grateful that I have something to look forward to, during one of the greyest and — let’s face it — depressing months of the year.
That said, January is a time for renewal and change. And that’s got to be a positive thing.
The days are beginning to lengthen ever so slightly and, in our garden, the bulbs are starting to boldly sprout, little green shoots.
I’m definitely one for living in the moment but, in January, I can’t help but look forward to spring.
Last year, my friend Rachel joined in with a blog series called Styling The Seasons.
Every time she posted one I’d say ‘Argh — I keep meaning to join in with this!!’. And the following month I’d forget.
On repeat.
Well, in this years resolutions, I said that I wanted to do more making and doing posts — and I also said I’d plan better — so here I am.
Doing and planning, with my first Styling The Seasons post.
And, as I’m in a reflective mood — for my first attempt — I have found a corner of my home with the most reflective thing I own. My granny’s mirror.
I’m not a natural stylist, that’s for sure, but I love this little collection of items. All serving to remind me of my family.
And also to remind me that — even though it’s a grey and dismal month — January is a time for celebration.
I’ll be another year older (some may say that’s a bad thing but anything that gives you a genuine reason to drink Champagne and eat cake should be celebrated)!
Plus spring is just around the corner.
And that’s definitely a reason to put out the bunting, if nothing else.
The pictures and the styling are gorgeous. I think your right, January is a great month
Thanks so much xx
Such pretty styling! I love the postcard, that is really special. xx
Aah thanks so much Jemma :)
Yay for birthdays around this time of year, I just had mine on the 22nd and whilst it’s not a fun time of year I do so love being an Aquarius :) Your styling the seasons is beautiful, a perfect collection of pretty and meaningful items. I must think about joining in with this one month too, determined to get better at styling this year with you as my inspiration Xx
Aah you’re a little Aquarian like me!!! :) Happy belated birthday! We’re almost birthday twins — I’m on 25th!! Thanks so much for your lovely comments pet — that means such a lot xx
Such a beautiful collection of pieces that are obviously so dear to you. Love the mirror. And the January calendar page would brighten any dull winter’s day up!
Thanks so much Keira!
Ahh really pretty photos, and i love the vintage postcard. I love finding old things like that, that my parent’s have kept – they threaten to throw them out, so I keep them with me instead! I should make some sort of arty display with them or something xx
#HomeEtc
Do it!! My husband has just had my grandad’s medals framed for my birthday — it’s so nice having family memorabilia like this! :)
I think that looks styled beautifully. I am going to check this out and see if I can join in too!
Aah thanks so much Claire!
what lovely things, that mirror is so pretty! Happy almost birthday!! I hope you have some lovely plans xxx
Thanks so much lovely — birthday has been and gone and the boys were poorly!!! Hoping to celebrate this weekend instead :)
I love this idea. I like what you have chosen too. I look forward to next months! Happy birthday as well. Hope you have a great day!
Thanks so much Tori — it’s such a lovely project to be involved in :)
Happy birthday! I’m a January birthday and I felt the same when I was younger about not having a summer play outside type of party. Stunning photos x
Thanks Jenni — and happy January birthday to you too! :)
I wait for spring as soon as winter begins. My hubby thinks iam crazy . My favorite season in India was Winter as my birthday falls in November but now I hate east coast snow storms .Anyways , Birthdays are special ! Happy Birthday and Hope you have a great year ahead!
Thanks so much Aparna! I am JUST the same — winter is definitely not my favourite season!! I LOVE the spring :)
This is lovely Caro, something that looks beautiful and it means something precious too. I keep thinking that spring is just around the corner too, January is a tough month but at least you have your birthday to celebrate in the middle of it (although I know this week hasn’t been the best one for you!). We are starting to see daffodils on our walk to school now which is brightening our days a little xx #HomeEtc
Aah thanks darling. And YES!! We have snowdrops in the garden!! A sure sign that spring is on it’s way!
Caro what a gorgeous collection, and I just love you photographs so beautiful, stylish and vintage looking. pictures like this make me so happy, I just want to spend ages taking in all the detail x
Thanks so much lovely :) This ‘styling the seasons’ project is going to be good for me. I find the styling very hard so it’s good to have something to practice on!
Belated happy birthday Caro! Such a pity you were struck by a bug.
Styling The Seasons looks great. I have been having a look at some photos over on Instagram. I love your arrangement here.
#homeetc
Thanks so much Fi — so happy I’m finally joining in! :)
Beautiful Caro – I love the styling the seasons posts and did a couple myself last year and then got myself out of the habit. I should get back into it – maybe next month though. Thanks for hosting #homeetc x
Thanks love :) Yes — definitely start it up again! I’m so excited to be joining in at last! xx
Happy birthday for soon. The pictures are gorgeous. I too tend to look forward to the next month or season. I need to live in the moment more x
Thanks so much lovely :)
Ah Happy Birthday! Lovely positive thinking, those pieces are beautiful and lovely memories attached to such little things.
Thanks so much Steph! So happy I have these little bits of ephemera — it’s lovely to have these family mementoes xx
Happy birthday!! (Well belated!) Hope you had a lovely day. Lovely photos and beautiful items x
Thanks ever so much Eve!
Lovely! I agree that having a birthday in January is a great thing to look forward to after all the grey days. I am one of the lucky ones with a summer birthday, but as you say you can have bunting and champagne at any time of the year, can’t you!? I have finally joined in the Styling the Seasons too this month after seeing it on Rachel’s blog xx #HomeEtc
Yay! So happy you’re joining in too Lizzie! I was adamant that I was going to join in this year — so happy I’ve actually done it! Just another 11 to do!! ;)
Ahh so pretty, the pale grey/blue and the gold just go so well together. I’m personally so glad that Jan is almost over as its been quite a stress for me!
Thanks Nancy. Aah I’m sorry to hear that lovely — it’s not the best month to have stress in either, is it? Personally I cope with things much better when there’s blue sky and sunshine. Grey skies only serve to make matters worse, in my humble opinion!!
Love this, I will have to take a look at the Styling the seasons post linky. x
Thanks Caroline! xx
Eliza is a January baby and we are really restricted to what we do which is a shame. It is nice to have something to look forward to though. Happy Birthday :0)
Thanks Kara xx
You said you’re not a natural stylist – but your photos are absolutely gorgeous, so you definitely have a talent for it! I love the perfume bottle and old photo and postcard. Just lovely. Hope you have a lovely birthday x
Ah Cathryn — that’s such a lovely thing to say! Thank you so much! I find it hard work — in my mind I want things to look a certain way but I find it very difficult to place the objects exactly as they appear in my head!! ;)
I had to scroll back up to read the blog post, I got so distracted by your beautiful pictures! Well done on your re-organising for the new year :) x
Thanks ever so much Amy! :)
I LOVE this styling the seasons Caro. What a gorgeous and precious bunch of items. I joined in styling the seasons for the latter half of last year and loved it! You’ve reminded me that I need to finish mine off xx
Thanks so much Esther! It’s such a lovely prompt to have isn’t it? I’m so looking forward to joining in this year :)
Gorgeous photos! That mirror is awesome, and the flowers look so subtle and pretty in that vase. Happy Birthday too! (I think we will always find a way to be disappointed with birthday dates though – mine is August and I always hated it because everyone was either on holiday or had just forgotten I had survived another whole year, lol) x #HomeEtc
Ha! And there we go!! It just goes to show that none of us are ever 100% happy!! ;)
PS — yes — LOVE the mirror too! So happy my granny had such good taste! :)
Beautiful! What a lovely collection of treasures – is that your Granny in the picture? Gorgeous. I hope you have a lovely birthday with plenty of cake xx
Ah thanks Becky! YES! It IS my granny in the pic! Shame we can’t still have black and white passport photos! They’re so much more forgiving than full colour!!
What a beautiful photo and styling, that mirror is so pretty. I love vintage mirrors.
I have seen a few posts on this and it looks like fun xxx
Thanks so much Kara!
Happy Birthday! Such beautiful styling, very gorgeous, and a lovely tribute to your family and granny x
Thanks so much Molly! xx
God Caro I couldn’t agree with you more. I am all for living in the moment too but desperately looking forward to spring, just the weather, mainly that it is not so extreme come spring time. We are nearly at the end of January now and I am looking so forward to February. I hope you had an amazing birthday, Happy birthday !! I love these photos you have styled them so well. They are beautiful x
Thanks darling — yep — living in the moment is hard when the skies are so grey!!! I’ve always got one eye on spring in the winter! ;)
What a beautiful mirror – and a beautiful granny too :) I think you’re more than a natural stylist, your photos are just lovely. Happy Birthday to you too! It must be lovely to look forward to your birthday after the boringness of those first few weeks after New Year have passed :) Mim x #HomeEtc
Aah thanks lovely, that means a lot!! xx
Ah beautiful pictures and so sentimental. Happy Birthday to you lovely. I have a personality clash with January but even I feel that spring is on its way and the lighter evenings are very exciting. Thank you for hosting xx #HomeEtc
Thanks so much lovely :) Yep — I don’t get on with cold dark days either! Roll on spring!
Caro, this is so, so beautiful. I’m so happy you’re joining in, this year. I think you’ll love it. Katy and Charlotte are so kind and I learn so much from them. My styling posts are still a bit rubbish but every month, I get a bit more confident, and it’s seriously helped me take better photos, too. Belated happy birthday … hope you’re feeling a bit better xx
Ah thanks so much Rachel. I find the styling aspect of photos really difficult. Often I can’t make things look — in real life — how they appear in my head!! Does that make sense?!
What a gorgeous collection of images, love them a lot. Particularly the older items they are just so precious.
Ah thanks so much Karen! I’m so grateful to have all these lovely old bits and pieces!
This is so, so lovely! And happy birthday!! What a precious collection of objects and I love the soft colours. We are thrilled that you have joined in – welcome xx
Aaah thanks SO much Katy — I’m so, so pleased to be finally joining in. I’ve been promising myself I’d do it for so long — but last year the will was there but my planning was awful. This year I’ve resolved to plan a little better! :) Thanks so much for having me along xx