I think we all know what tomorrow is but one of my favourite blogger, As the Bird flies…, is calling it Celebrate-Yourself-Day! Just like her, I like the idea of Valentine’s Day, but sometimes find it overwhelming so her idea of treating yourself appeals to me so much! You can find her whole list here, but I want to list my favourite options and then a few of my own!

• Wake up to a Post-It note saying “Smile”.
• Pour yourself a bowl of your favourite cereal; the one with all the sugar in that your mum never let you eat.
• Purchase flowers a few days before Celebrate-Yourself-Day so that when your eyes finally adjust to being awake one of the first things you’ll see is a collection of blooming treats.
• Spend an extra 30 seconds in the shower. Count them down one by one. You’ll be smiling by the time you hit 3-0.
• Wear that outfit that makes you feel more confident/sophisticated/slim/curvy/muscley/sexy/like Beyonce. Delete as appropriate.
• Text five people who might need a hello from someone they love, i.e. you. You’ll feel fantastic by the time that last message is sent.
• Stay off Facebook all day. Spend that time you save (minutes? hours?) deciding or thinking about where in the world you’d like to travel to next.
• Spend more money (or if you work from home, time) on your lunch than you would normally. I’m thinking of going for sushi… or maybe some greasy, too-spicy noodles.
• Buy/make cake. Celebrate-Yourself-Day is a day for cake.
• Do not work while you eat your lunch. Read a book, read a magazine, read your favourite blog or bookmark this to read. It’s my Celebrate-Yourself-Day gift to you. (Let me know if you liked it…)
• Get a take-away drink and if it’s from the shop that insists on asking you for your name, give them the name you always wanted to have when you were a child. I’ll bet by the time you’re holding the coffee in your hand, you’ll find yourself missing the name you have – that’s a GOOD thing. 
• Spend five minutes staring at something you like. It could be a nice view, that piece of cake you bought, or a photo of a happy memory. Five whole minutes doing nothing, but looking at that.
• Smile at at least one stranger on your way home or during a walk around the block
• Eat pie for dinner. Or pizza. Or curry. Or something else as rich, creamy and bad for your arteries.
• Wrap your pyjamas in a hot water bottle ten minutes before you go to bed.
• After you’ve watched your favourite film or four episodes of your latest favourite TV show, open the love letter that you’re about to write to yourself. The one that lists 10 things you really like about yourself. Alternatively, if you didn’t bother to do this in advance like I’m suggesting that you do it by the time Celebrate-Yourself-Day (formerly known as Valentine’s Day) is over. Look I’ve already done mine… and this is a much harder exercise than it looks.

And mine?

• Play with bubbles. Acting like a child is one of the freest feelings there is!
• Watch Miranda Hart’s TV show – that will teach you everything about being true to yourself and loving it!
• Face painting! You can’t frown with a butterfly on your cheek!
• Pat an animal or have a cuddle with one. If you don’t have one of your own, go for a walk in the park and say hello to dog walking past. 
• If you are near a beach, feel the sand between your toes. This has been proven to cure all problems. Trust me. 
• Feel the sunshine on your skin and if you are a photographer, look for the light and take a portrait of someone or something you love with the sunlight behind them.
• Paint your nails with fun design – doesn’t matter what! Look at my Emma’s puzzle nails below for inspiration!