With the festivities of Christmas behind us & the glam of New Year resolutions beginning to fade, the January blues are probably setting in. You know exactly what I mean. Your summer tan is long gone, you resemble a marshmallow every time you set foot outside & your definition of a fun Friday night looks like a bowl of something crunchy & a mindless Netflix marathon in your empty apartment. I get it, dear friend, & I am here to brighten those dark & dreary January days!

Someone probably said something somewhere about the very best way to lift one’s spirit is through the act of service. I am a firm believer in kindness & the art of gift giving. Today I’m sharing three fun gift ideas to lift your friends’ january blues & in return brighten your own!

1. A cute box of sweets
Your friends are sure to smile when you knock on their door & dash with a cute box of somethin’ sweet left on their doorstep. Grab a pretty Smock box from Shindig Paperie & stuff it with macaroons, sprinkled donuts or dark chocolate. Complete the look with a pop of nice satin ribbon!

2. A bouquet of spring blooms
Nothing says “I love you!” quite like a bouquet of flowers. Grab a bundle of tulips (& another bundle for yourself!) from the grocery store, wrap the bouquet in kraft paper + ribbon & add a fun letterpress tag from Shindig. Gift it to a coworker, your bestie or a friend from church… there’s always a good reason to gift pretty flowers.

3. A handwritten letter
If there’s one way to cheer up a friend, it’s with good ol’ fashioned snail mail. Grab a pen & jot down some positive thoughts to your pen pal! Savor the experience with something sweet & a cup of warm tea. You’re sure to feel the warm fuzzies when you drop off your letter in the mailbox!

Give it a try, craft up a gift for another & throw around kindness like confetti! When we love on others, we’re sure to lighten our own January blues!

Content by Natalie Freeman of Natalie Creates