I've Been Thinking... - Some of My Favourite Christmas Candles

Hi!!!

For Blogmas Day 3, I wanted to chat to you about some of my favourite Christmas candles. I've picked out some that I really love the fragrances of and which really remind me of Christmas and they are all available in a variety of sizes and a variety of price ranges - all of them can be bought for less than £17 depending on the size you opt for.

First up is, as I described it last year, "my number one bae of a candle" - John Lewis Winter Spice. I love this one so much. This has a traditional Christmas scent - I'd describe it as spiced orange, with a good balance between the fresh and fruity orange fragrance and the spicy notes cinnamon. When I first came across this one I was delighted because it really reminds me of Christmases from my childhood. I reach for this one time and time again because I know it will take me straight into a festive state of mind and because it really throws its scent around the room making it well worth the money.

The next candle I want to tell you about is Yankee Candle's Christmas Cookie. This is definitely one for those of you who like sweet smells - if Lush's Snow Fairy bath products are your go-to at Christmas, then I think you'll like this, but perhaps not one for traditionalists. I think the main scents in this are sugar (like pure sugar) and vanilla but there are some slightly less sweet notes that ground it and do give it the quality of sugar cookies baking in the kitchen (so it does what it says on the tin).

Another Yankee Candle that I really like at Christmas-time is one called Red Apple Wreath. The notes of apple make it quite a fresh and fruity smelling candle while also being reminiscent of Christmas punch as it also has top notes of cinnamon and clove and mid notes such as walnuts. It is a very homely scent and one that I think would make a lovely gift as I know plenty of other fans of this candle.

And to finish, one more offering from Yankee Candle - and a footnote that so many are here because I have received gift sets of their festive fragrances in the past. Candy Cane Lane is a great one to burn in the kitchen or anywhere where you're looking to make smell fresh. It really does smell like someone has crushed a load of peppermint candy canes and made a candle from them and so while it isn't necessarily the first scent you'd look for in a Christmas candle, it is still rather festive.

Thanks for reading my Blogmas Day 3 post - I hope you enjoyed it.
What are your favourite Christmas candles? Do you have any other comments or perhaps a suggestion for a post you'd like to see during December? Let me know by leaving a comment below.
See you tomorrow for Day Four. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Have a fantastic day!

GingerSnaps xxx

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do - Music - My Top Christmas Compilation Album.

Hi!!!

Welcome to Blogmas Day 2! Today I wanted to talk all things music and in particular Christmas music, now that it is finally acceptable for me to blast it at top volume throughout the house. I'm going to tell you about a wonderful Christmas compilation album that has become a staple of the festive season for me and might for you, too.

I bought this album last December because I decided the drive to visit some of my family - which takes a couple of hours - definitely required some guaranteed Christmas tunes (I always struggle to find the Christmas radio stations and then when I do I'm normally just in time for the adverts - not ideal).

Now (That's What I Call) Christmas is a three disc compilation album and I think it has everything you could want at Christmas - pop songs, nostalgic sing-a-long classics, traditional songs and carols and jazz.

I would say Disc One has more of a pop sing-a-long vibe, kicking off with Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You', moving through 70s and 80s Christmas essentials from the likes of Wizzard, Slade and Jona Lewie as well as some more recent instant classics from Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, Coldplay and more.

Disc Two is where most of those wonderful timeless jazz tracks are - think Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole singing songs like 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' and 'The Christmas Song'  - as well as some slightly more upbeat songs from the likes of Darlene Love and The Jackson 5.

I'd describe the overall feeling of CD Three as traditional and focussed on what Christmas means to people. It features a variety of traditional songs like 'Silent Night' (performed by Nat King Cole, which is, quite frankly, the stuff of dreams), 'Silver Bells' and 'In The Bleak Mid Winter'. It also features some less traditional - but just as meaningful - songs like 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)', 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' and 'The Power of Love' which are three of my favourites.

I think it is clear that the main reason I recommend 'Now (That's What I Call) Christmas' so highly - it has something for every mood, every festive occasion and for every taste. That and the fact that it is actually full of songs that you'll know - sometimes compilations end up with all sorts of odd songs on them that act like a weird sort of filler but not this one (except for maybe 'Senor Santa Claus'?).

At £11.99 for three discs and over 70 songs, I think it is an absolute bargin and the perfect album to treat yourself (and maybe your Christmas/music loving family and friends) to this Christmas.

You can buy it -here-.

Thanks for reading.

Do you have any Christmassy album reccomendations for me? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment below to tell me.

I hope you enjoyed today's post. See you tomorrow.

I hope you have a cracker of a day!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - Surprise, I'm Doing Blogmas!

Hi!!!

Happy December! I am so excited that December is here again. Christmas is my favourite time of year and Winter is my favourite season, so December is all kinds of wonderful in my eyes. I have some news about my plans for this blog in the run up to Christmas to share with you (which, as you may well have guessed from the title, is that I'm doing Blogmas). I thought I'd start this project by explaining what that will involve and what I hope to do so let's get started, shall we?

 First things first, for those of you who aren't familiar with it
Blogmas = uploading new posts every day from December 1st all the way to Christmas Day.
It is something I have watched other bloggers (and YouTubers - through the equivalent Vlogmas) do for years. I have wanted to participate for such a long time but this year seems the perfect time to commit to it because I have plenty of time to invest in this project and plenty of ideas for things to share.

I'm a little bit apprehensive but mostly very excited to create twenty-five posts for you to read (and hopefully enjoy) in the run-up to Christmas. I think it will really get me into the spirit of the season to be uploading Christmassy posts every day and hopefully I can pass it on to you when you read them.

As I mentioned earlier, I have got lots of ideas already in the pipeline. I think there's something for everyone with music and beauty and theatre and lifestyle posts all making appearances - put simply, it will be all of the things I usually share with you but with a Christmas twist.

Thanks for reading Blogmas Day 1!

What are your plans for December? Do you have any suggestions for posts that you'd like to see during Blogmas? I'm definitely open to your ideas, so feel free to let me know in the comments if you have any.

See you tomorrow for Blogmas Day 2!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

GingerSnaps xxx

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do - Music - New Music Picks.

Hi!!!

Good afternoon, lovely people. Today I have some new music to share with you. Most of the songs in this post are so new that they have only been released in the last week or so making them hot off the press tracks. There's everything from slow melodic songs to upbeat bops so hopefully you'll find something you like amongst this lot - I certainly like them all a lot.

 Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore by Marlon Williams (with Aldous Harding)

This song is melodic with a vintage, 1950s and 1960s feel to it. The melancholic lyrics pair wonderfully with the soft, rounded vocals, delicate harmonies which provide an air of vulnerability. It also reminds me of those indie movies and short films that have incredible soundtracks as well as great characters and beautiful videography - I'm not sure if that makes much sense to anyone other than me, but if you understand what I mean, then yes, it's that. It is a gorgeous piece and I have decided its compulsory listening for November.

Lemon To A Knife Fight by The Wombats

The newest release from The Wombats has all of the key components of the band's signature sound but a more mature, perhaps slightly more restrained, finish compared to their previous work. The vocals and lyrics are almost conversational and combine realism with quirky wording in a show of how their signature style has developed and improved over the years. I found that musically it reminded me of older tracks like Moving to New York in places, but with a less brash sound and a more dance around than jump around quality. I'm excited to hear what their upcoming new releases are like because this is certainly very promising.

Alright by The Magic Gang

You may remember that back in August I mentioned The Magic Gang to you - in this post - and since then I have been listening to and enjoying more and more of their music. They have become one of my favourite bands of 2017 and 'Alright' is a perfect example of why. This song is rooted in indie rock with electric guitars and layered harmonies ready to elevate the piece. The lyrics are catchy and the overall effect of the music, lyrics and vocals is a cool and unique sound which I cannot stop listening to.

That brings me to the end of this post. I hope you enjoyed reading it and I hope you enjoy listening to these songs this week.

Which is your favourite? Do you have any other comments or perhaps suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment and let me know.

Thanks for reading!

I hope you're having a fantastic day!

GingerSnaps xxx

We Will Remember Them - Remembrance Sunday and The Poppy Appeal.

Hi!!!

Good morning. Today is Remembrance Sunday, and while I did do a post on similar themes yesterday, I wanted to post a very short post to honour today, as has become traditional for this blog.

Today, as there was yesterday, there will be a two minute silence to honour those who have died in conflicts worldwide since WW1. I strongly encourage you to participate in the silence, think of those who have been and are impacted by conflict as a mark of respect for them all.

I also wanted to remind you that it's not too late to donate to the Royal British Legion's 2017 Poppy Appeal, the money from which will go to supporting veterans through all sorts of issues from careers advice to rehabilitation courses and also on raising and maintaining the profile of Remembrance in our communities. You can find out more information (here).

Thank you so much for reading.

Do you have any comments or maybe suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

Speak soon.

Have a good Sunday!

GingerSnaps xxx

Lest We Forget - A Message on Armistice Day.

Hi!!!

Good morning, I hope you're all well. Today, as you probably know, is Armistice Day and I've written a post today to honour that.

Today is obviously Armistice Day and there will be a two minute silence at 11am to honour those who have died in conflicts around the world since WW1.

 Every year I write posts encouraging you to stop and think about those who have been and are impacted by wars, past and present and to remember what others have done for us. I do this because I truly believe that, regardless of our opinions about the conflicts they are involved in, service men and women, past and present, deserve our respect.

So treat this as your reminder to participate in the silence and take the opportunity to reflect. 

Thanks for reading.

Have you got any comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment to let me know.
I hope you're enjoying your weekend so far.

Have a lovely Saturday!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - My New Favourite Magazine.

Hi!!!

Hey gang! I wanted to have a chat with you about a new discovery and a new favourite of mine. I recently found myself on a long train journey and - silly me - I hadn't brought along a book. I decided that I should grab something to keep me occupied on the return journey, especially as getting home always seems to take approximately nine-hundred-billion years longer than the outbound journey. I had a flick through the magazine racks at WHSmith and here's some thoughts on magazines in general and on what I found.

On the whole, I don't like glossy magazines much. Those concoctions of 95% adverts mixed with unattainably expensive products that can be entertaining but never seem to have enough going on for what you've paid and don't ever seem to fill as much time as you hope they will.

I wanted a magazine though because I do inherently love them. I have a great fondness for magazines - as a child I collected Bratz magazines and Girl Talk magazines and GoGirl magazines and I still have a lot of them.
 I love the way magazines can contain so much - perhaps that's why I find it so frustrating when they are full of adverts. I love that they can include content on music and on fashion and some recipes and some lifestyle content and interviews, neatly packaged into one easy to digest bundle and with a fun to read format and style.

When I spotted Frankie magazine on the shelf and saw the beautiful cover, I thought it might be up my street. I saw some of the key featured topics written across the top - ranging from design, art and fashion to music, home and craft - and I knew I had to get it.

 

It's an Australian publication which is also sold in New Zeland and the UK.

I love the writing styles that feature in in - personable, warm and sometimes slightly cheeky prose written by a range of talented writers which gives the feeling of catching up with a group of friends.

The adverts featured in it are less frequent than in a glossy magazine and they actually advertise things that a typical person might be interested in which makes them far easier to get along with.

It's a beautiful publication with a minimalist layout, with pastel colours used to accent titles and gorgeous photography. A copy of Frankie is a really lovely thing to own.

At 128 pages, the majority of which are filled with words and photographs, I was able to continue reading it long after my hour and a half long journey home. I had plenty to keep me occupied on the train and I still had lots to read with a cup of tea in the mornings for a good while after.

It also came with a gorgeous photographic poster - which was 100% my aesthetic (colourful, a little bit kitsch, soft focus - 10 out of 10) - with a two month calendar on the back which made my day and looks delightful in my room.

Most importantly though, reading it really made me feel inspired. It made me feel inspired to produce content, the interviews inspired me and opened my eyes to the amount of opportunities there are and can be for creative people.
 I felt inspired to try new things, to be kinder and be more silly and more spontaneous and I felt inspired to seek new perspectives.
Reading Frankie has been a really positive and enjoyable part of October.

I'd urge you to go out and grab their November/December issue if you can - if September/October is anything to go by, it'll be great.

I hope you enjoyed this post and have found a new source of offline inspiration.

Do you have a favourite magazine? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

 

Have a spectacular day!

 

GingerSnaps xxx