The Week So Far (In Numbers)

The week so far has comprised (but has not been limited to)

1: iced coffee, pub quiz, new packet of polo mints, new blog post, picture of a dog sent by a friend, outfit that accidentally matched my best friend's, moment when I laughed out loud while walking down the street alone, bowl of rice crispies, mug of green tea
2: heart shaped biscuits, selfies, hours spent playing Bye Bye Love on guitar, boxes of blueberries eaten, conversations about blue smarties, Weetabix eaten
3: different nail polish colours worn on alternate nails, nights when it's taken an age to go to sleep, bowls of muesli
4: missed calls
5: pancakes, songs from David Bowie's Young Americans
20: cry-laughing emojis sent
25: pints of water consumed
45: minutes of v chill and jazz music played in a bid to help me sleep
75: minutes spent waiting for buses (over several days) (approx.)
90: minutes of yoga (over several days)
648382942 million: plays of The Boy Is Mine by Brandy and Monica (approx.)
978737272 million: plays of Say My Name by Destiny's Child (approx.)

I've Been Thinking... - Things For This Week.

Hi!!!

Here's a collection of things for this week - things to watch, do, read and listen to - which will make your week go from good to great (or at least, better). Enjoy.

WATCH: Derry Girls on Channel 4 (on Thursdays at 10pm) and All 4.

Derry Girls is an utterly hilarious portrayal of youth, set against the backdrop of 1990s Derry in Northern Ireland. Full of very real characters, genuinely funny jokes and the effort and energy of a great cast and crew, you'll be doing yourself a favour if you watch it. It's easily one of the best shows I have seen in ages and I am the biggest fangirl of it. You can see the first two episodes HERE.

LISTEN: Swimming Tapes on SoundCloud.

I recommended some bands that I have been enjoying on SoundCloud recently in THIS post and Swimming Tapes were one of them. They are the band to go to for soft, dreamy guitar tracks which are the perfect way to inject bright and fun feelings into your life this week. Find their SoundCloud page HERE.

READ: Star Wars, The Debate Wars: Jedi vs Sith on Chronicles of the Red Herring.

Even though we have both been blogging for ages, my best friend and I have never collaborated on a blog post (at least not on our current blogs), until now. It took us ages to find a topic we disagree on but eventually we found one - I'm on the side of the Jedi, she prefers the Sith. In the post we discuss everything from weapons to memes - and I took the memes very seriously. I'm really pleased with how it turned out, it was great to work on something together, and if you're a Star Wars fan, I think you'll like reading our Light Side vs Dark Side debate. It might be going up here soon, too, but just in case or if you'd just like to get on with it and read the thing I've been rambling about, we'd both really appreciate if you went over HERE and read it - and as always feel free to share your opinions in the comments - especially if you want to talk about memes.

DO: Sign petitions to help protect the homeless.

This will take all of five minutes to do but it is so worthwhile. The council for Windsor want the police to remove all homeless people and rough sleepers from the area by May (aka the month of the Royal Wedding). THIS petition asks for a long-term solution to help Windsor's homeless population rather than the dehumanising proposed short-term measure. THIS petition asks for the repeal of the 1824 Vagrancy Act which makes it an offence to rough-sleep or beg in England and Wales. This law, despite being two-hundred years old, has been used as recently as 2014 to arrest and charge people. Poverty is not a crime or an inevitability - rage against it.

Thanks for reading - I hope I've helped you find some ways to fill your time this week.
What are your recomendations for this week? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Feel free to leave a comment below if you do.
I hope you have a great week - you got this.

GingerSnaps xxx

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do - Music - The Bands I've Been Listening To On SoundCloud This Week.

Hi!!!

I love SoundCloud. It is easily one of my favourite platforms and, for any music obsessive, it is an essential to have bookmarked. I personally mostly use SoundCloud to find new artists and to listen to songs by said artists if I love what they do (especially those who are yet to release full EPs or albums). I thought I'd share three bands I've been listening to - and loving - on SoundCloud this week.

Swimming Tapes.

Swimming Tapes make dreamy guitar pop with soft sunshine vibes. The music they make is like Fanta - fizzy, orange, fun. There's an intricacy to the layering of their songs and a gentle, hazy quality to the vocals and to the overall sound of the songs. Everything feels fresh - even though there are some vintage influences I can here, absolutely nothing about their sound feels recycled or like I've heard it before.

Start with: Queen's Parade.

Husky Loops.

Specialising in oh so cool and super magnetic music, Husky Loops are the band to check out if you love smooth, slick rock. Making dynamic and seemingly effortless use of electronic elements and often taking the unexpected road whenever the opportunity arises, be it in the middle or at the end of a piece, moves their songs away from the standard and predictable, creating a sound that really stands out.

Start with: Fighting Myself.

TOUTS.

If you like bold sounds, blunt lyrics and punk music, you should definitely check out TOUTS. A three piece punk band from Derry who have managed to carve out a space for themselves in the genre which carries all of the fire and fight it should but is still listenable. It isn't noisy for the sake of being noisy, something that has always bothered me about certain punk groups - punk should have something to say and sometimes people turn their amps up to disguise when they don't. TOUTS have plenty to say and say it with Northern Irish vocals and a certainty that they are right, which is what makes them.

Start with: No Name.

Thanks for reading - I hope you enjoy exploring the recomendations in today's post.

Who have you been listening to recently (particularly on SoundCloud)? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment to let me know.

Speak soon.

I hope you have an utterly brilliant day!

• GingerSnaps xxx

5, 4, 3, 2, 1! - Happy New Year (2018 Edition).

Hi!!!

So, the last post of 2017 is here! I almost can't believe that we've arrived at the end of this year. Anyway, here's the annual review of the year and a message for you for 2018.

2017 has had some amazing moments for me. I've celebrated a milestone birthday, I've spent time with my friends and family and I left the kind of 'work place' I've known for most of my life. I've been to some great gigs, I've taken on big blog projects like Blogmas. I made some achievements in my 'work' life that I am still super proud of. I've watched my friends achieve and I truly could not be more proud of them than I am everyday. I worked harder than I actually knew I could but I've also taken plenty of time to play. I've danced and I've laughed. I've explored castles (and lived in one for a few days!). I conquered one of my biggest (although somewhat irrational fears) and had some dental work done that I'd been putting off for ages. I've passed on my knowledge of party dances and I've worn glitter all over my face and I finally got to go to London with my friends and I had the most amazing day. I went to Birmingham's MCM Comic Con in both March and November (and did some pretty cool cosplays). I dressed up as a fairy for Halloween and made jokes around a bonfire with friends. It snowed. And the snow settled. I got my Irish passport. I took ten million photos and am in the ten million other photos those around me took. I went bowling (and actually hit some of the pins!). I spent a day picking apples with my cousins. I watched a cake get set on fire and I ate candyfloss and we helped one of my friends build her first ever blanket fort. I got rained on while watching outoor Shakespeare and then later in the summer saw some far better and less rainy outdoor Shakespeare. I celebrated one of our closest family friends getting married and I ate pasta in Brighton and went on an Easter egg hunt and I sat on the grass and watched a Horrible Histories themed show and got lost in a maze with my best friend. I saw a fox in real life. I've carved pumpkins and sent an obnoxious amount of memes and played on a pinball machine and ate fries from a fake tree and and I reconnected with friends. I had really lovely and sometimes deep conversations. And looking back, I have loved so much of 2017 and I have learnt so much and done so much and I feel incredibly lucky.

If 2017 hasn't been a great year for you, for whatever reason, then I am really sorry. I hope that it at least has had some good moments and that you have smiled. Your story is so very significant and you really do matter.

I hope 2018 is an amazing year for you. I hope you get to make lots of lovely memories and spend time with the people who matter to you and I hope that when you get to this time next year and you're reflecting on what has gone before, you smile fondly and you realise that you've come a long way. I hope you and those who you love are happy and healthy and safe in 2018 and I hope you all love every second of the year. Thank you for your readership and support in 2017 and thank you for supporting me. Sending lots of love and good vibes for the New Year.

Thanks for reading.
What are your plans for the New Year? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know by leaving a comment.
I'll see you all next year.

Happy New Year!

GingerSnaps xxx

We Wish You A Merry Christmas! - Merry Christmas, Everyone.

Hi!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! and MERRY BLOGMAS DAY TWENTY FIVE! I'll stop shouting now, I promise, I'm just really happy. I have a few things I'd like to say - a Christmas message, if you will (like the Queen's speech but a bit more fun).

Merry Christmas.
I hope you have a wonderful day, full of laughter and love and happiness. I hope you get to have the kind of Christmas you love, whatever that involves. I hope you get to spend the day with people you care about and I hope that together you make precious memories. Even if your Christmas can't be quite what you'd like it to be, I hope you always remember that you are important and you are special.

I'd also like to say thank you. Today marks the end of Blogmas 2017. I hope you've enjoyed the twenty-five Blogmas posts and that they have filled you with festive cheer, that you have enjoyed them and that they have entertained you.

Thank you for your ongoing support and readership, not just during Blogmas but throughout 2017 so far. Thank you for reading and commenting and making blogging all the more special. I love doing this - I love writing and creating imagery and talking about the things I like and am passionate about. I love the idea that people like what I create. Thank you for being a part of this.

I'm sending all of you lovely people good vibes and lots of love this Christmas.

Thanks for reading.

What are your plans this Christmas? Do you have any other comments? Feel free to leave a comment and I'll be sure to get back to you.

Speak soon.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas...

GingerSnaps xxx

Oh My Life! - Tales of My Life and Times - Christmas at the Birmingham Botanic Gardens.

Hi!!!

It's Christmas Eve which means two things - 1) Christmas is tomorrow! and 2) it's Blogmas Day Twenty Four. Last night I met up with my friends for a Christmas outing. We went to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens to see their Christmas lights trail which I'm going to tell you all about today.

 

 

The lights are beautiful and they really make the best of the setting of the botanical gardens  - the trees are illuminated, the light reflects onto the ponds and every structure glitters.

 

The trail is about one kilometre in total but it takes a good hour or so (at least), especially if like us you'll be stopping for hot drinks, eating biscuits and posing for photos.

 

 

It was really lovely to go and see the lights and celebrate Christmas together and it was nice to do something a bit different, too. Now, not only do we have lots of lovely photos, we also have lots of lovely memories.

Thanks for reading Blogmas Day Twenty Four.
Where have you been recently? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.
There will be one more Blogmas post tomorrow, so I'll speak to you then.

Enjoy your Christmas Eve!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - 5 Things To Do In The Lull Between Christmas and the New Year.

Hi!!!

I know some of you will be rolling your eyes at the title of this post because we haven't even had Christmas yet but today is Blogmas Day Twenty Three, we're very close to Christmas and I thought it might be nice to be able to have this list handy whenever you might want some inspiration. Also, I am sorry to anyone who won't be enjoying the lull between Christmas and New Year because of work or any other reason - you got this.

Read a book.

I'm sure a lot of us are in the 'I wish I had the time to read more books' club - now's your chance! Whether it's the new book that somebody bought you for Christmas or one of the books on your existing 'to be read' pile, taking the time to sit with a cup of tea and actually enjoy a book and switch off is always worthwhile.

Play a board game.

I love a good board game and the space between Christmas and New Year is the perfect time to play them because you'll have plenty of time and you can actually sit down and play a full game start to finish. My favourites are Cludeo and Best of British (I'm also very interested in playing the Logo Board Game, especially since it's made by the same people who created Best of British). If you really want to make something of it, then you could invite some of your favourite people round and finish all the Quality Street chocolates you have left before everyone gets busy or goes back to their own corners of the country again.

Go to the cinema.

While lounging about on the sofa at home is lovely, you also might want to get out of the house for a few hours between now and New Year's Eve. I went to see Star Wars: The Last Jedi a few days ago with some of my family and I would highly recommend going to see it (I'm hoping to do a separate post on it soon, but if I don't get round to it, just know that I love it, I finally had my 'Star Wars Moment' that made the franchise something I really love rather than something I just enjoy and, while it's busy, every scene and character has agency). Aside from how great the film was, it was also lovely to spend some time with my family, to eat burgers and discuss film trailers and laugh at a spilled Tango Ice Blast - if you didn't already know, I can be very clumsy - together.

Do some exercise.

I know it's maybe not the most fun thing on the list, but I can't be the only one who gets to the twenty ninth and starts to wonder whether all of the cheese I've eaten over Christmas is going to catch up with me suddenly and if my internal organs will hate me for it? I'm not sure how much half an hour of yoga will help my internal organs post-Christmas, but I think it's something I'll feel better for. Oh, and obviously if you prefer running or swimming or paragliding, then you can do that.

Have a pamper evening.

Similarly to reading books, I feel like taking time for ourselves through things like pamper evenings often fall by the wayside when we get busy. If you've been given any bath and body care products over Christmas, this would be the perfect time to use them and you'll actually have enough time to let your nail polish dry properly so it won't smudge. If you want to know more about my routine or the products I like, then check out my Blogmas Day Nineteen post here.

Thanks for reading today's Blogmas post.

What are your plans for the rest of 2017? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment to let me know.

I'll be back tomorrow - which can I just remind you is Christmas Eve, how exciting! - with another Blogmas post.

I hope you have a truly fabulous day!

GingerSnaps xxx

Style It Out - Fashion, Style and Get Ready With Me's - Christmas Day OOTD.

Hi!!!

Good morning and happy Blogmas Day Twenty Two (Christmas Day is within touching distance now and that makes me so happy). I've got Wizzard's 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' playing in the background and I've got a big cup of tea and I'm feeling ready and inspired to write this post. Today I wanted to show you the outfit I'm planning to wear on Monday (or as it is otherwise known, Christmas Day, no big deal).

Everyone has different ideas of the ideal Christmas outfit. I know, for instance, that some people refuse to leave their pyjamas. I am someone who likes to get dressed up for Christmas. I always wear a dress and I take my time getting ready. After all, you can't get dolled up to celebrate Christmas, when can you?

This is my Christmas dress. It's Lindy Bop's 'Audrey' Swing Dress, and it does have a classic Audrey Hepburn quality to it with it's straight across neckline (which I am told is called a bateau neckline, but I think mine makes more sense), fitted natural waist and swishy circle skirt (yes, swishy is a technical fashion term, ask anyone). It has pockets (YAY!). It's a very festive shade of red - I love wearing a red dress for Christmas dinner, it just seems like the perfect piece for the occasion.

I like playing on the 1950s silhouette of the dress. I like wearing a short green cardigan, which is from The Collection at Debenhams, with the top button fastened which I think looks very 50s and very cute.

I think this would look amazing with a sparkly pair of heels and if I'm feeling super fancy and snazzy and supreme on Monday then I might pop those on. But if not then I have an alternative, and slightly more likely, option - my trusty red Converse high tops, which were actually a Christmas present a few years ago. They are that festive red, they are super comfy and easy to wear and I love the way Converse look when worn with dresses. I'll either have some white socks on with them or some super sassy Christmas socks - I am definitely one of those people who loves receiving socks as a Christmas present, they are a huge part of my #aesthetic.

Thanks for reading.

What are you going to wear on Christmas Day? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for posts you'd like to see in the future? Leave a comment to tell me.

I'll speak to you all tomorrow.

Have a brilliant day!

GingerSnaps xxx

It's Showtime!!! - Theatre Review - Cinderella.

Hi!!!

Today is Blogmas Day Twenty One! Sorry today's post is quite late - I had to venture out and do some last minute Christmas shopping and it took longer than expected. Anyway, I have a theatre review for you to read today - I haven't written a theatre review in ages and I thought it would be a really fun one to write. Last night I went to see Cinderella, the Birmingham Hippodrome's pantomime for this festive season. Here are my thoughts.

I love pantomimes. It's a tradition in our family to go every year - our group seems to get a bit bigger every year - and it's always a lot of fun and I cherish the chance to make such special memories with my loved ones each year.

The thing I love most about pantomimes is quite simply how much fun they are. Packed with audience participation, lots of jokes, much loved characters from fairytales and singing and dancing, pantomimes are a chance for us as an audience to really enjoy ourselves. There are silly things and romantic stories and there's always a lot going on. I always think that pantomimes are sort of like visiting an alternate universe. You go to a fairytale kingdom, you take some of your favourite people with you, and the world outside the theatre seems like another planet.

I like to think that I'm somewhat of an authority on pantomimes, having been fortunate enough to see quite a lot of them - I've seen various stories, casts and venues over the years. Put simply, I know a good pantomime when I see one.

I thought the Birmingham Hippodrome's production of Cinderella was fantastic. The costume designs this year were amazing, especially the outfits of the Ugly Stepsisters and of course Cinderella's ball gown. The performances were great. Beverly Knight was brilliant as the Fairy Godmother - she has such a fantastic voice! Matt Slack played Buttons - you'll be familiar with him if you've been to a pantomime at the Hippodrome within the last five years. He's become a signature of Birmingham Pantomime and I must say that I am always impressed with his knack for comedic timing, his facial expressions and what he brings to a performance and this year was no different. The Crumbleweeds - a classic comedy double act - brought even more laughs to the pantomime, making excellent use of physical, slapstick humour. They have that universally funny quality, making grown-ups, kids and grandma's laugh with ease. Ceri Dupree and David Dale made utterly fabulous as the Ugly Stepsisters, with great comedic timing, facial expressions and performances that paid attention to every mannerism their characters might have. Danny Mac brings his dance knowledge from his days on Strictly Come Dancing to the role - he really is a good dancer. The quality of the choreography, not just for Mac but for the Ensemble, really impressed me this year. A range of dance styles - including Latin and Tap - are featured and they were executed well. Suzanne Shaw was very good as Cinderella - and I must say I fangirled a little when I found out she was Cinderella because I was a big Hear'Say fan back in the day (Pure and Simple is still my favourite).

There are some dazzling moments where set design and 'special effects' meet - I won't tell you too much about it, in case you go to see the show but I will say that the Fairy Godmother is usually in charge when they do...

It's an all singing, all dancing, very pink and sparkly show and at the end the audience get the chance to show off their questionable best dance moves under a silver and pink glitterball while Beverly Knight sings, which, I must say, was a lot of fun.

I'd recommend going to see any pantomime but I would highly, highly recommend going to see Cinderella at the Birmingham Hippodrome this festive season - it's on until the 28th of January.

Find more information and tickets here.

Thanks for reading.

Have you been to see a pantomime yet this year? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment to let me know.

Speak tomorrow.

Have a fabulous day!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - A Super Easy (And Festive) Hairstyle.

Hi!!!

It's Blogmas Day Twenty (only five days to go till Christmas! I'm so excited!). Today I wanted to write something a bit different and show you how I create one of my current favourite hairstyles. I'm not one of those people who creates intricate braids or detailed up-dos, although I think they look amazing and I'd love to learn, but right now I think I'm a bit too clumsy for that! I also just like wearing my hair down. That being said, I often have some of my hair up so that I can still enjoy having my hair down but without having it in my eyes. With all these things in mind, here's a hairstyle for you to try today.

The first step for this is to curl your hair. I have worn this style with my natural hair (which is mostly straight) and I still really like the way it looks, but since it's Christmas, you might want to go a bit more 'all out'. If you have longer hair then I'd suggest sectioning your hair before curling it. You can go for a softer wave if that's your vibe, but I like to go for defined, bouncy ringlets if I've gone as far as to turn the curling iron on.

Then, once your hair is ready, be it straight or curly or wavy, the next thing you'll need to do is grab a hair tie. I would recommend using a thicker bobble because it's less likely to get stuck in your hair, especially if you have thick hair.
Anyway, you'll need to section some of your hair and tie it into a ponytail that sits 'up' and at the top of your head, leaving you with a half-up, half-down hairstyle.

Now the fun part, the bow! It's a bit of a fussy step but it is worth taking the time to do it. Grab a roll of ribbon. It can be any colour - I've used a super festive red here, but green would also be very Christmassy and you can't go wrong with black or white. Measure a length of it before you cut it - I used about _cm but you might need a bit less (or more) depending on the length of your hair. Place the ribbon so that the two ends are facing forward and the middle is at the back/the underside of the ponytail you've created. Grab a bobby pin and secure the middle of the ribbon to the bobble/your ponytail. Then tie the ribbon into a bow. Adjust the loops of the bow to create your ideal bow and then use another kirby grip and secure the knot of the bow to the ponytail.

If you did curl your hair then you might want to spritz some hairspray through your hair to hold them in place and then you are done. Yay!

Oh and if bows aren't your thing then you can still make a statement by using a velvet scrunchie (I have one in green and one in red and I love them). It will not only keep the half-up ponytail in place, but it will look great.

I hoped you liked today's Blogmas post - I had wanted to offer more guidance with photos but it was tricky to shoot so hopefully I've explained everything in enough detail (if you have a question though then ask in the comments).
What is your go-to hairstyle this Christmas? Do you have any other comments? Perhaps a suggestion for a future post? You can let me know by leaving a comment below.

Thanks for reading.

I hope you have a fabulous day!

GingerSnaps xxx

All Things Bright and Beauty-ful - Beauty Reviews - A Christmas Pamper Routine.

Hi!!!

It's Blogmas Day Nineteen and today I have a little Christmas pamper routine to share with you. You might want to save this for when you get home on Friday night, you might want to save it for Christmas Eve - there is nothing more dreamy than a pre-Christmas pamper that makes you feel like a sparkly star on Christmas Day. But also, you might want to take some time this evening, especially if 5pm on Friday seems a million miles away and you want to give yourself that sparkly feeling to get you ready for the home stretch to Christmas. Whenever you find time to do this, I would definitely recommend taking some time for yourself. Without further ado, here's what I recommend.

This is a pretty straightforward pamper routine, and it doesn't take up twelve hours of your time, which I like. This is my go-to at the moment, but sometimes I'm all about the long baths and Lush bath bombs so feel free to add to it or change things if you want. The above photo is sadly not from my bathroom but was taken at Chatsworth last year - it was a room based on the theme of the Sugar Plum Fairy's dressing room, and I think this festive pamper routine is one the Sugar Plum Fairy would be very happy with so I had to include it.



Before I get in the shower, I wash my face with my Aloe Calming Foaming Wash from The Body Shop. I don't wear makeup everyday, but if I do happen to be wearing it then I take it off using The Body Shop's Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover (if you're into cleansing balms or oils, there are also a few of those in the range). I remove my makeup with it, then wash it off with warm water and then I go back in with my Face Wash to get rid of any last dregs of makeup.

 

Then I'll hop into the shower. I use (and love) Herbal Essences Classic Silk n Shine Shampoo and Conditioner to wash my hair.

 Then, since it's Christmas, some festive body care products are in order. I'm using Lush's classic Snow Fairy Shower Gel. It has such a dreamy scent - it's super sweet, which it's bubblegum pink colour might suggest, and it definitely makes me feel like an actual fairy princess who lives in a castle made of candyfloss, so that's nice. If sugary smells aren't your thing, then check out Lord of Misrule, another one of my favourites from Lush's Christmas range which has a more earthy scent, and Vanilla Chai Shower Gel from The Body Shop which is one for those who like spicy, warmer fragrances. The shower gel featured is in a plastic bottle but Lush also make a 'naked' version of this shower gel (available here) which does the same job but without the plastic packaging and I would highly recommend checking that out and reducing your plastic consumption without sacrificing that sugary goodness.

 

To go with my shower gel, I have the Snow Fairy Body Conditioner (this is also available in a 'naked', plastic free version - here - yay and a million points to Lush for caring about the planet). This product works like a hair conditioner - you apply it to your skin in the shower (so while it's still damp), leave it for a few minutes so it can soak in, and then you wash it off. It does feel a bit weird if you're used to using typical body butters but it's a lovely product and concept and means you can just get straight into your pyjamas and get on with your evening.
 

 

I'd then paint my nails - to see my product recomendations, click here - and then either listen to some music, watch a Christmas film or read a book (but I'll definitely be drinking hot chocolate, no matter what).

Thanks for reading today's Blogmas post - I hope you find it useful. I also really hope you like the photos as much as I do.

What are your night in essentials at this time of year? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

I hope you enjoyed today's post. I'll speak to you all tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day!

GingerSnaps xxx 

Food Glorious Food - Recipes - Gingerbread Popcorn.

Hi!!!

Welcome to Blogmas Day Eighteen. Call me Jamie Oliver, because I'm back with another recipe and a questionable amount of skill (I hardly ever do posts like these but it is Christmas and Christmas is a time for food). Anyway, today I'm going to be sharing a recipe for the ultimate festive movie marathon snack - Gingerbread Popcorn. It does take a while to make, but it tastes great and so I think it's worth it if you have a bit of spare time.

This recipe will make two servings but feel free to scale up or down - you can never have too much popcorn, can you?

You Will Need:

50 grams of butter

40g of popcorn

70g of brown sugar

1 teaspoon of black treacle

2 and a half teaspoons of golden syrup

1 and a half teaspoons of ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons of ground ginger

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Here's How You Make It:

Preheat the over to 110°C or 90°C for fan ovens.

Grease a shallow roasting tin and a mixing bowl, so you have less of a battle on your hands later on.

Make the popcorn according to the instructions on the packet and allow to cool.

Heat the butter, sugar, treacle, syrup, spices and vanilla extract in a medium sized pan over a low heat until the butter melts.

Bring to the boil and cook for three minutes, stirring frequently.

Take the pan off the heat and pour the mixture over the popcorn.

Stir until the popcorn is coated in the mixture.

Spread the mixture over the prepared tray.

Bake for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and leave to cool before eating all of it in one go - it's in the instructions so you officially have permission to do so.

Thanks for joining me for Blogmas Day Eighteen.

What are your favourite Christmas treats? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for posts you'd like to see as part of Blogmas? Leave a comment and let me know.

See you tomorrow!

I hope you have a brilliant day!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - December Miscellany (Some Photos From The Month So Far...)

Hi!!!

Good afternoon, everyone.  Welcome to Blogmas Day Seventeen. I wasn't really sure what I wanted to post today, so here is December Miscellany, a random series of photos I have taken so far this month.

A lot of these photos have been taken on Christmas shopping trips at range of shopping centres including some taken in Selfridges at the Bullring in Birmingham (that's pictures three and four) and in Coventry  (picture number five). Then there's one from a pre-Christmas lunch with one side of my family - it was the loveliest day full of paper hats and laughter and some Brexit banter (it's laugh or cry, really, isn't it?) and presents and hot chocolate and ice cream. Massive thank you to everyone for a great day. 

Here are the photos, I hope you like them. Here's to all the little moments that make us happy, not just in December but all year round.

 

Thanks for reading today's post.
What have you been up to this month? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment and let me know.
See you all tomorrow for Blogmas Day Eighteen.

Have a great day!

GingerSnaps xxx

Makeup Your Mind - Makeup and Beauty Inspiration and Tips - Festive Makeup Menu.

Hi!!!

Blogmas Day Sixteen is one for the makeup fans - or for those trying to buy Christmas presents for the makeup fans (I get it, navigating beauty counters isn't as easy as it looks). Hopefully, whoever you are, you'll find some inspiration from this Christmas Makeup Menu, be it for creating new looks, buying gifts or treating yourself. There's a mix of high-end and high-street products, so there's something for everybody.

FACE:

Rimmel London Match Perfection Fix & Perfect Primer, £6.99

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation £30

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer £3.99

Sleek Blush in Rose Gold £4.99

Rimmel Match Perfection Powder, £6.99

Collection Glam Crystals Glitter Eyeliner £2.99

Urban Decay Chill Setting Spray £23.50 (currently reduced to £18.80)

These are, in many ways, the staple products in my collection. I don't always wear a full face of primer, foundation, etc. but when I do, I use all of these products. The foundation is amazing and is medium coverage (however it is buildable) so it's a good bet for most people. I swear by Collection concealers and Rimmel powders, and even when I'm not wearing the rest of the products, I will probably still be wearing those. The Sleek Blush is a great budget dupe for Nars' bestselling blush and it is really highly pigmented. I couldn't possibly post a Christmas makeup menu without encouraging you to wear glitter on as much of your face as is humanly possible. I love wearing glitter in the same way I'd wear a highlight - on the highpoints of my face - but I also love the glam rock inspired way of wearing it under the eyes (and I will sure as Santa's beard is white be sporting that look throughout December). I've recommended some glitter eyeliners which I'll elaborate on in the 'eyes' section but, in short, I think they're amazing. I also wanted to mention, for those looking for a more chunky glitter, that I've heard wonderful things about the glitters from The Gypsy Shrine (I haven't tried them so they aren't in the big official list but I certainly wouldn't mind finding some under the tree!). The setting spray boasts temperature control qualities and it does make a difference to how long my makeup lasts.

EYES:

Rimmel Undercover Eyeshadow Primer £4.99

Lancome Doll Eyes Eyeshadow Palette, £39.50

Sleek Eyeshadow Palette, £8.99

Maybelline 24 Hour Colour Tattoo Cream Eyeshadow, £5.99

Lancôme Doll Eyes Hypnose Mascara £24.50

Collection Glam Crystals Glitter Eyeliner £2.99

There are so many options for eye makeup that I have decided to stick to what I get the most wear out of.

There's more glitter - I advocate wearing glitter all year round, everyday if possible, and so of course I have squeezed more glitter onto this makeup menu. I swear by glitter eyeliners for making sure your glitter lasts and stays exactly where you want it to and Collection offer a great colour range and great quality glitter liners at a very reasonable price. There's also my all time favourite mascara, Lancôme Doll Eyes Hypnose, which would make a wonderful present for someone if you have a bit more to spend. It's formula is wonderful and it really is black (win). I've included Rimmel's eyeshadow primer because you hardly want your eyeshadow to melt off your face on Christmas Day. I'm also going to recommend two great eyeshadow pallettes. One is from Lancôme - it is their Hypnose Doll Eyes palette and it is gorgeous. The colours are well pigmented, the formulas are really lovely to work with and are buildable and if you're looking to create a more natural, neutral but enhanced and maybe smokey eye, I'd highly recommend this (maybe one to put on your Christmas list?). The other is a bit of a cheat but anything from Sleek - their mattes palette is amazing for creating more neutral looks and their brights are simply wonderful. Sleek offer great products with great colour selections, especially for the price. If cream eyeshadows are more your thing, or you're looking for a good coloured base for your powder eyeshadow, then check out the Maybelline Colour Tattoos (great value, last for ages as a product, last for ages on the face and are great for when you don' have loads of time or tools available to you).

LIPS:

MAC Lipstick in Ladybug £16.50

Max Factor Lipstick in Pink Brandy, £7.99

Lipstick is my favourite and so I could have listed at least ten different ones in every colour of the rainbow. I've picked out my all time favourite red lipstick, which you'll have spotted me writing about before if you've been here for a while, because I know December is truly a time for red lipstick to shine. MAC's Ladybug is a lovely blue-toned red in a lustre texture. It's comfortable to wear, has a great finish and is my idea of the ultimate red shade. I've also picked out Max Factor's Colour Elixir Lipstick in the shade Pink Brandy because I have worn it so much this year. It is a great formula and the colour is amazing - it's a peachy pink which is super wearable but doesn't just blend and become my normal lip colour, if that makes sense? You can tell I'm wearing lipstick and you can tell it's a lovely colour but it's on the more natural colour spectrum. It's definitely one of my favourites that is available on the high street. One bold lip, one more natural. One high end product, one high street product. I think I've handled this category well.

I hope you enjoyed this post and found it useful.

What are your favourite makeup products to wear at Christmas? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment to let me know.

Thanks for reading.

I hope you have a beautiful day!

GingerSnaps xxx



Style It Out - Fashion, Style and Get Ready With Me's - Christmas Jumper Day OOTD.

Hi!!!

It's Blogmas Day Fifteen and it's also Save The Children's Christmas Jumper Day! I thought I'd do something a little bit different than what I normally do here and show you my Christmas Jumper Day outfit because I haven't styled a Christmas Jumper like this before and I really like it.

If you read this post last year, you'll be familiar with this Christmas Jumper - I got it from New Look in Leeds a few years ago, and I fall more in love with it every time I look at it.

Last year I styled it with a black and white skirt, a white shirt underneath (that aesthetic collar) and a large 'vintage' denim jacket. I liked the mix of mod and 90s vibes.

This year, I've opted for a tailored, slightly grunge-y look (I love looks like these).
I played on the black of the jumper by styling it with some high waisted, belted, tapered trousers from Mango which can easily be styled up or down. I then decided that to toughen it up a little more I'd wear my Doc Martens. I have classic Cherry coloured Docs which add an accent of colour but maintain the structured, grunge feel of the rest of the outfit.

Depending on how cold it is, I'll either wear this with my leather jacket (this one - or nearly this one - from Wallis) or a long black coat (I have one from Next).

Whether your outfit has been planned as meticulously as this one or not, you can still donate to Save The Children's Christmas Jumper Day campaign HERE.

Thanks for joining me for today's Blogmas post.

Are you sporting a Christmas Jumper today? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Feel free to leave a comment below.

See you tomorrow,

Have a great day!

GingerSnaps xxx

 

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do - Music - All Is Calm: A Playlist.

Hi!!!

Welcome back. Today is Blogmas Day Fourteen and I have a music related post for you today and I am so excited to write and share this. As we get closer to Christmas and we become busier, I think it's important to take even a few minutes for ourselves to recharge so we can really make the most of the season. I've picked out a selection of songs with calm but also festive vibes and put them together in a short playlist for anyone looking for fifteen minutes of less full-on time.

'Golden Slumbers' by Elbow.

While 'Moz The Monster' isn't my all time favourite Christmas advert, the song used for it is certainly up my street - my all time favourite band covering a lovely song by The Beatles? Yes to that.

I love Guy Garvey's voice - it has a really soft quality and also a really comforting feel (perhaps this comes from the fact that he maintains his accent and so it seems more familiar?).
There is a richness to this song musically, with it growing and unfolding to become a sweeping (but not overwhelming) piece of production. This richness echoes the festive season, in many ways, and so grounds the listener in a sense of both familiarity and of hope for the future.
The lyrics are like that of a lullaby, too, which adds to the calming sound the song has.

'Real Love' by Tom Odell.

Another cover of a song by The Beatles that was featured in a John Lewis advert - I promise that is not the theme of this playlist.

I love Tom Odell - he's a wonderful pianist and a great singer. The orchestral instruments elevate the piece and the occasional note played on a glockenspiel adds a charming, playful quality that brings joy to it, too. The layered vocals in the last third of the song provide that soothing, festive, choral quality.

I actually prefer it to the original - don't @ me - because I think it sounds far more sincere and because I think the lyrics really get a chance to shine in this updated cover.

'Scarlet Ribbons' by Harry Belafonte.

This is an utterly wonderful song and one that gets played every Christmas in my house. The lyrics are the real highlight of this song - they create a narrative that carries the hopeful, festive spirit with ease and creates a sense of wonder for the listener. If you believe in Christmas miracles - and you should - then this will really put a smile on your face.
There are lots of recordings of this but the Harry Belafonte one is my go-to, partly because his voice reminds me of a storyteller (is this just me?) and because musically, it is very easy to listen to, but very pretty sounding and complimentary to the lyrics.
Even if things have gotten a bit stressful and none of your parcels look set to arrive before the 27th of December, this song will remind you why you love Christmas.

Thanks for reading!

Which songs are your go-to for a moment of calm at Christmas? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment to let me know.

See you tomorrow for Blogmas Day Fifteen!

I hope you feel happy today.

GingerSnaps xxx

Food Glorious Food - Food - Spiced Orange Pancakes.

Hi!!!

Welcome to Blogmas Day Thirteen. For today's post, I'm going to be sharing a recipe with you for the ideal Christmas-time brunch (or mid-afternoon snack) - Spiced Orange Pancakes.

These pancakes are so easy to make and taste lovely. Orange and cinnamon are two of my favourite festive flavours and they work so well in these pancakes.

This recipe makes at least 6 pancakes - although if you make smaller pancakes like I did, then it stretches rather a lot further.

You Will Need:

200g self raising flour, 300ml milk, 1 medium/large egg, 1 orange, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon.

(OPTIONAL - but totally recommended) orange segments/ice cream/cinnamon/sprinkles to serve.

You'll also need a large mixing bowl, a whisk (ideally an electric one) and a large spoon or small ladle.

You Will Need To:

Whisk together the flour, milk and egg in the large mixing bowl.

Finely grate the orange zest and add that to the bowl, followed by the cinnamon and the juice of the orange - I actually cut the segments into three and added the juice and the inside of the orange segment to the bowl which worked really well.

Whisk the mixture.

Let the mixture rest for at least 3-5 minutes (a boring step, but worth it).

Melt half a tablespoon of butter in a pan (I used a small pan because I wanted to keep the pancakes quite small).

Spoon or ladle some of the mixture into the pan, adding more depending on how big you want your pancakes to be.

Cook for 4 minutes on one side and then flip it and cook for another 4 minutes on the other side.

Keep going until you've made all your pancakes.

Serve warm with optional toppings of vanilla ice cream, orange segments, a sprinkle of cinnamon and/or some hundreds and thousands sprinkles.

Eat the pancakes, obviously.

Thanks for reading today's Blogmas post.

What are your favourite Christmas treats? Do you have any other comments or perhaps suggestions for future posts? Feel free to leave a comment to let me know.

I hope you enjoyed today's post - and that you enjoy the pancakes if you try them out.

I hope your day is delightful.

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - One of My Favourite Christmas Adverts.

Hi!!!

Good morning and welcome to Blogmas Day Twelve. Today I want to share one of my favourite Christmas adverts from this year's selection with you. I love a good advert, especially at Christmas. I know some of you might not pay that much attention to them (Sky Plus, am I right?), but I figure since most of us watched the John Lewis Christmas advert approximately ten minutes after we woke up on the day it appeared on YouTube, we're all interested enough to chat about the best ads.

I wasn't expecting the BBC to produce one of my favourite Christmas adverts of the year but they certainly have.

It features an always busy, workaholic single Dad and his daughter who loves dancing and is going to perform in her school's Christmas showcase. Every time she tries to show her new routine to him, her father is seemingly too busy with work to take notice - or is he? 

The advert also includes the much loved former number one song 'Symphony' by Clean Bandit and is in a very charming claymation medium.

It's lovely to see family at the heart of a Christmas advert and to see real life on display in amongst all of the fantastical adverts. 

It gives me the feeling that all the advertising companies strive to create at Christmas - it makes me happy and it makes me shed a few little tears and it makes me feel so festive. 

It's heartwarming and sweet and has, in my eyes, stolen the show.

You can watch it HERE.

Thanks for reading.

Which is your favourite Christmas advert this year? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future Blogmas posts? Let me know in the comments.

See you tomorrow for Blogmas Day Thirteen.

I hope you have a fantastic day!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - Snow.

Hi!!!

Good afternoon, everyone. I know today's Blogmas post is going up a little bit later than usual but I do have a very good reason - there's snow outside. I thought it would be nice to share some of the many photos I have taken of the snow - and a short piece of writing that I've done. If you haven't got any snow where you live at the moment or you just love snow as much as I do (which is a lot) then I think you'll like today's post. Happy Blogmas Day Eleven!

I've said it before but Winter is my favourite season. The cold temperatures, the frost, the soft blue or grey skies, the bracing winds and most of all, the snow. Snow is my favourite kind of weather. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe has always been one of my favourite stories and to see the world transformed into a Narnian landscape fills me with joy.

 

 

I love how serene the world looks when it is covered in snow. I love the excitement you can see in people's faces. I love how snowflakes feel when they fall on your face. I love having snowball fights and I love building snowmen and I love making snow angels and I love taking the sledges round to the park and slipping and sliding down the hills. I love how everyone becomes children again when it snows. I love how grown-ups and little ones and grandparents all laugh and play and make memories together. I love how people become happier and become more ready to pass it on. I love how people are eager to help push cars off snowy driveways and I love how people want to tell you they like the snowman you've built.

 

 

 

I can't stop looking out of the windows. I can't stop smiling when I see the trees in the park. I can't stop telling everyone how much I love snow. I can't stop laughing at videos of us trying to make our sledges perform in a Winter Olympics style. I can't stop singing Christmas songs with lyrics that mention snow and pointing as I sing because we actually have snow at Christmas-time like they do in the films. I can't stop thinking about how lucky I am to live in a world where there is snow.

I won't stop thinking about how lucky I am to live in a world where there is snow.

Because I am.

And I feel that with every fibre of my being.



 

I hope you enjoyed this post!
Has it snowed where you live yet? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment to let me know.
Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow for Blogmas Day Twelve!

 

I hope you have a wonderful, snow-filled day!

 

GingerSnaps xxx