Beat the Blues... February Style!

With just a week remaining in the shortest, and most depressing, month of the year those of us in university are faced with midterm exams, papers, and the dreaded thought of six more weeks until the long awaited freedom of summer vacation. On top of all that, it's the time of year that just won't let it be spring. I've come up with a few suggestions to beat the February blues for the rest of the month, and maybe into March as well, if you're in a cold climate than the temperate west coast!

I figured a good place to start was brightening up my outside, so I could then focus on brightening up the inside...

: I prepped for spring + summer with a hair colour overhaul. Dark hair is so warm and cozy in the fall + winter, but I like to have something bright and shiny for the warmer months! I also like to not have to touch up my roots and have to deal with fading when the sun finally decides to make an appearance. So I was proactive and did up my hair in a pretty light strawberry blonde colour which definitely gave me a mid-winter perk up, and got it all ready for sun kissed summer!

This obviously only works for people who dye their hair, but even if you aren't ready for a full head of colour, ombre is a great, low commitment and low maintenance option for brightening up dull winter hair!

I'm also a big-time nester, and I finally decided to nest in my apartment! It's so open and airy now; I want to spend all my time in there with my windows wide open {hopefully it will be warm enough to do that soon!!!}

: I picked up this adorable cat poster from the poster sale at my school, as well as a string of white christmas lights from Home Hardware, white and black floral sheets from IKEA, and wall flowers thatwere inherited from my sister {originally from Urban Outfitters, I believe - here's a similar set of wall decals}! Add a fake flickering candle in an old peanut butter jar to the night stand and voila! A whimsically girlie room for hanging out, reading {if you do that sort of thing}, and daydreaming {it is whimsical after all...}

And don't forget about brightening up your insides too! 

: I love this shimmery tea from DAVIDsTea. 

"This deep dark Chinese tea is like a gorgeous starry night, glimmering with gold and silver sugar crystals that shimmer as they steep. Take a sip and the slow suggestion of cinnamon will warm your body. Your toes will tingle and your mind will turn to fireworks, falling stars, late night seduction. It's basically magic." - DAVIDsTEA

I personally find it warm and fresh at the same time, perfect for these colder transition months! I particularly like that it actually shimmers, too! 

I've covered a few things to do on the grey days of February, but what about those glorious days when it pretends that it's spring? 

: I'm lucky enough that I live approximately ten minutes from the beach at both my parents' and at school, so I like to take a walk down to the beach, or wandering around the neighbourhoods of my city when it's sunny and I don't have a mountain of midterms to study for. It's good to get outside, and remind yourself what sun feels like, and that winter isn't going to last forever! 

What do you do to combat the mid-winter blues and ward of the overwhelming longing for spring + summer?