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

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 

The Bare Necessities - Essentials - Winter Handbag Essentials.

Hi!!!

Welcome to Blogmas Day Seven! Today I wanted to talk you through some of my handbag essentials for the winter months. We all tend to be quite busy during December and the last thing you need is to get to someone's house or to a restaurant or to a Christmas market and realise you don't have any of the things you want or need in your handbag. This is sort of a checklist to make sure you're ready for anything and you can just get on with enjoying yourself. Also, I appreciate that these are very 'first world essentials' and I wanted to disclaim that before we began.

Phone/Money/Keys/ID.

These are all obvious so I'm counting them collectively, rather than as individual items - definitely make sure you have these, I don't need to tell you why these should be in your bag.

Sunglasses.

This might not seem obvious to some of you but I have quite sensitive eyes and with the sun being quite low in the sky in the winter months, I really appreciate having my sunglasses with me so I can look at all of the lovely seasonal surroundings rather than the ground with the hopes of saving my eyes. These are my prescription sunglasses - even more of an essential as they help me see everything with greater clarity, too - and they are from Joules via Vision Express.

 

Hand Cream.

Winter is my favourite season but I must admit that my skin does need some extra help in the winter months because of the changes from being out in the cold to being in shops and houses with central heating on full blast. I like having a small, travel sized hand cream in my bag in case I want or need to use it. The one I currently have is Hand Food from Soap and Glory, and I love it, but if you want something a little more festive then The Body Shop have their three Christmas scents (Vanilla Chai, Frosted Berry and Frosted Plum) available in hand creams.

Lip Balm.

I always have a lip balm with me - even if I'm not carrying a handbag, I'll probably have one in my pocket instead. Lip balm is always a must-have for me, but Winter is the time when it really becomes more of an essential because of the effects of the weather and central heating I mentioned earlier which can be quite uncomfortable. I swear by Vaseline Rosy Lips because it's moisturising and hydrating and has a really lovely soft pink tone - in the past I've been complimented on my lipstick when actually I'm just wearing this lip balm. 

A Book.

Whether I find myself on a train journey with nothing to do or in a coffee shop by myself while out Christmas shopping, I often find having a book with me useful. I don't really like sitting scrolling through my phone and I'd much rather sit and read a few pages or a chapter if I end up with some spare minutes. I'm currently reading 'A History of Britain in 21 Women' by Jenni Murray (it's amazing, highly readable and very interesting) and next on my list is something much more festive.

Tissues.

I'm sure we've all be caught out by a surprise cold at some point and there's nothing worse than being totally unprepared when the sneezes arrive. Having a packet of tissues is also super handy for all kinds of other things - should you find yourself in need of a napkin at a Christmas market or a cloth or something to wipe away your happy tears upon receiving a really thoughtful present, the possibilities are endless. I'm more than happy to sound like your Mom here and tell you to carry a little packet of tissues.

I hope you enjoyed this post.
What are your handbag essentials at this time of year? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment to let me know.
Thanks for reading Blogmas Day Seven. I'll see you tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - Summer Favourites.

Hi!!!

Good afternoon and happy September! It's officially Autumn, which makes me very happy. To round up Summer blog-wise, I thought I'd put together a post telling you about some of the things that I enjoyed the most throughout the season. Its also a chance for me to talk to you about the things that I normally would have reviewed - everything from books to theatre to music is here. Oh, and if you enjoy this post, then check out this one on my best friend's blog - it's very good.

Film - Spiderman: Homecoming

 I love Spiderman, he's one of my favourite Marvel characters (alongside Iron Man), and so I was really excited to see Homecoming. I won't deny that I was slightly unsure about another reboot when the others have been so recent but having seen the film, I think it is totally worth it. Homecoming might be my favourite Spiderman film of them all. I think Tom Holland is amazing as Spiderman, and the character seems truest to both life and the original spirit of the comics in this film. I loved Zendaya as MJ, and found the whole film engaging, funny and entertaining. I'm excited to see what's next for Tom Holland's Peter Parker.

Music - What Do You Think About The Car? by Declan McKenna.

This was the album I was most excited for this year, and I was not let down at all. It's riotous, colourful, experimental, inspiring, entertaining, chaotic, poetic and honestly you need to listen to it. It understands you, what you feel and hope for and if that's not worthy of a listen, I don't know what is. My favourite tracks are 'Why Do You Feel So Down', 'Listen To Your Friends', 'Humongous', 'The Kids Don't Want To Come Home' and 'Isombard'. Oh, and the lyric sheet folds out into this poster, which I thought was a really cool extra touch (and something I haven't seen for a while).
 

Makeup - Collection Glam Crystals Glitter Eyeliner

This summer, I decided to try out wearing glitter all over my face, but primarily as a highlight, something I'd wanted to do for ages because it looks so cool. Anyway, I've used glitter liners instead of loose glitter for years because it lasts better and stays put, and Collection's offerings are great quality and come in a number of lovely colours. I've been wearing Hustle a lot - it's a silver shot through with green, purple and black tones.

Books - Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding.

 

 

I've only read one book all summer. I'd hoped to read more but that didn't' work out. Thankfully, the one book I did read was one I found highly enjoyable. If you're looking for a funny, highly addictive, fun to read book, then I'd recommend the second book in the Bridget Jones series to you. There's plenty that differs from the film, so it's not predictable but there is a familiarity to it, which is nice. I read it within a few days, and picked it up whenever I got chance. Say what you want about 'Chick Lit' but when it's done well, like this, I don't think even it's worst critics could deny how fun it is to read.

TV - Strike: The Cuckoo's Calling

Having read The Cuckoo's Calling - and having raved about it online (here) and in real life to anyone who would listen - I was incredibly excited to watch the first instalment of the Strike series on BBC One. Strike: The Cuckoo's Calling consists of three episodes, each an hour long, which are all on BBC iPlayer, and follows private investigator Comoran Strike as he investigates the death of supermodel Lula Landry. I adored it. I think that Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger are perfect as Strike and Robin - I'm very invested in those two characters in particular. The plot is fast paced, intricate, and you simply must watch it. Major props to Michael Kellior for his fantastic direction and to Ben Richards for his amazing writing for this series - both of which maintain the intricacies of the book beautifully. Oh, and the opening title sequence is really up my street - aesthetically and musically. Weird thing to point out but yeah.
 

Theatre - Aladdin

 

To celebrate my birthday, my friends and I went to London for the day to see Aladdin at the Prince Edward Theatre and to spend some quality time together. The show was absolutely incredible. The sets are intricate and beautiful. The cast are one of the strongest I have seen.
It made me feel so much - I laughed and I cried and I was so overwhelmed with happiness and joy and excitement that my heart was beating at a million miles an hour and I couldn't stop smiling. If like me Aladdin is your favourite Disney film, you're a huge Alan Menken fan (Proud of Your Boy is sung!!!! And a medley of Menken/Ashman Disney songs!!!), or you just really love dazzling theatre productions with a ridiculously talented cast, get yourself there to see it.

Thanks for reading.

What were your favourite things from this summer? Let me know in the comments.

I hope your week is off to a good start. I'll speak to you all soon.

I hope your day is delightful.

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - 25 (More) Facts About Me

Hi!!!

I've been wanting to do another Facts About Me post for a really long time, and I'm finally getting round to it. I think it's such a nice way for you to find out more about me, so hopefully you're interested. Let's begin.

1. I love Italian food - hopefully one day I'll be able to go on a (food centred) trip to Italy.
2. I haven't worn Skinny jeans since 2015. I'm all about a straight leg, a boyfriend jean and so on.
3. My guitar is called Linda.
4. I watch an appalling amount a whole lot of reality television and to be honest, I have no shame. It brings me joy.
5. I have few talents but one is that I have Butlins Red Coat level skills at party dances. Saturday Night, the Macarena, the Cha-Cha Slide? I'm a pro at them all.
6. I used to take Irish Dance classes.
7. One of my favourite movie soundtracks is the soundtrack from The Theory of Everything - it's engaging and beautiful.
8. I don't take sugar in my tea.
9. I'm currently reading the second Peter Kay autobiography - Saturday Night Peter - and I laughed audibly at it at least three times a chapter.
10. I was born in Birmingham (in the UK).
11. In Year 10 and Year 11 I insisted on wearing my school blazer with the sleeves rolled up permanently.
12. I actually used to be really fussy about how I wore my school uniform - although, lol, not sure if anyone else would think that.
13. My favourite sweets are Parma Violets.
14. My favourite film is About Time - its funny, charming, full of love and feelings, it features time travel and the cinematography is beautiful.
15. I collect old (or vintage, if you're cool) children's books - Enid Blyton books in particular although I have one or two others.
16. I'm really determined to reach 25 facts...
17. I definitely have a sweet tooth.
18. My favourite musicals are Hairspray and Les Miserables.
19. I went to see Top Hat three times when it was on in the West End - it was a really great show. 
20. I once sat next to Adrian Scarborough in the Watford Palace Theatre and spent the whole play trying to work out who he was. I went home, turned on the TV and there he was, in Gavin and Stacey (which is one of my favourite shows). I've been kicking myself ever since.
21. I really like socks and own far too many pairs because I have a socks aesthetic. Not even joking.
22. I played the first Scouting for Girls album on repeat for approximately a year when it came out until one day the CD player in the car ate it. Still haven't got it back. Sad times.
23. I'm that person who always has their CDS and DVDs in the wrong cases - it annoys me to no end but I can't stop it, no matter how hard I try.
24. I'm an ENFP, for anyone as interested in the Myers-Briggs personalities as me.
25. I absolutely love ice cream.

I hope you enjoyed getting to know me a bit more today through this, it's funny how hard it is to come up with 25 facts but I did it.

Tell me something about yourself in the comments. Or maybe some other comments or suggestions for future posts. Let me know by leaving a comment.

Thanks for reading, speak soon.

Have a wonderfully brilliant day!

GingerSnaps xxx

Recent Reads - Books - Why It's OK Not To Finish Books.

Hi!!!

I've been wanting to write this post for quite a while but this is the first time I have actually sat down at my laptop to do it. I haven't written about books for some time and this is a bit different so hopefully you'll enjoy it.

I talk about books a lot. Lots of my friends and family like reading, and so its a natural topic of conversation. Sometimes, people tell me that they are ten chapters into a book and when I ask them about it they tell me they aren't all that keen on it but they don't want to stop reading it in case it gets better.

I personally see no point in persisting and powering through, reading books that honestly, you don't even like whether its Pride and Prejudice or Gok Wan's autobiography. Chances are it won't get any better if you really haven't been all that enamoured by it from the start. Its a waste of time. Its a waste of your energy. You could spend those things on something else, be it reading a different book that you actually like or something completely removed from literature.

If you don't like a book, that's up to you. It doesn't mean that you aren't intelligent enough to understand it. It doesn't mean that you don't have good taste in books. Books are subjective things. Just because the world and his wife think that a book is great, doesn't mean you have to. You are allowed to enjoy whatever you want to and so in turn are allowed to dislike whatever it is you dislike.

I've listed some examples of books that received critical acclaim and huge popularity that I didn't finish. I haven't listed them to bash them or turn you against them or discredit the authors or the views of those who enjoyed them. I just wanted to show you that just because hundreds of other people love them, it's fine to walk away from books.

Some Examples Of Books I Didn't Finish:

The Trouble With Goats and Sheep by Joanna Cannon

Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes

Curtain Call by Anthony Quinn

 Just like with anything in life, you are allowed to make your own opinions. Just because others like a book or anything else doesn't make it definitively good and likewise just because you or others dislike something, it doesn't mean it is 100% bad. It means that you have your own mind and that's a wonderful thing. So don't suffer through to the end of books or films or anything else that bores you or bothers you or makes you angry and so on. You are an individual with a life to lead - take the responsibility of filtering out the less wonderful things in all aspects of life into your own hands.

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed the post.

What are your thoughts like this? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts. Let me know in the comments.

Speak soon.

Have a spectacular day!

GingerSnaps xxx





Recent Reads - Books - 5 Books To Enjoy This Autumn/Winter By Genre.

Hi!!!

I love reading all year round as I'm sure many of you do. However, I know for lots of people it is an activity best enjoyed at home in autumn and winter, while sat under a blanket with a mug of tea. With that in mind, I've put together a little collection of books that I have read in the last 18 months or so and really enjoyed for you to consider reading. I've organised it into genres and picked one from each - I'm aware there are more genres but I wanted to keep these to things I've read recently so have chosen five. And excuse the fact that there are only three books in the photos - I couldn't locate some of them.

Award Winning General Fiction - Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey

Since Elizabeth Is Missing first came out, I'd been wanting to read it, and never got round to it. My lovely best friend Elf Girl included it in a blog post and when I mentioned it to her, she let me borrow and read her copy.

It is about an elderly woman called Maud, who suffers from dementia, and her efforts to find her friend Elizabeth, who she believes is missing and about her past, and in particular, her sister Sukey.

It is such a beautiful book, and is deserving of all the critical acclaim it has received.

Healey writes in a very descriptive and sometimes poetic way. The book is a character driven piece, which I loved.

It talks about dementia in a very eye-opening and honest way and it is emotional at times to witness through the first person narrative the struggles Maud experiences.

It's a must read.

General Fiction - Funny Girl by Nick Hornby

I read Funny Girl on holiday earlier this year and it was a very enjoyable book.
It follows a team working on a BBC sitcom in the 1960s and explores many themes and social issues within that, as well as having romantic and comical elements. It's very entertaining.
The book also features photographs at certain points which help you create a picture of the world the characters are living in as you go, which is really unique and something that I really liked about it.
 Its a fun read.
I have also reviewed this book in full, and you can  read that here.

Young Adult Fiction - Paper Towns by John Green

Paper Towns was a book that I never thought I would read, and yet it is one of my all time favourites and means a lot a to me.
It follows Q as he tries to find out where the girl he has loved silently for years has disappeared to, as he and his friends leave high school.
It is full of stunning language, it is incredibly meaningful and thought-provoking and yet so much fun.
There are so many elements to this book and so many things to take away and I love it.
I have reviewed it in full, and you can catch that here.

 

Sci-Fi/Fantasy - The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

My most recent post about books was about the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde and The Eyre Affair is the first in the series.
This is the book in which we first meet Thursday, and are introduced to life in the version of the 1980s that she lives in (which features dodos, time travel and literary detectives!)
It is a unique, dynamic, funny and imaginative book that I adore.

Crime - The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

The Cuckoo's Calling is the first in the Cormoran Strike series.
A supermodel called Lula falls from the balcony of her London apartment and to her death. Her brother asks Strike, a private detective, to look into it because he believes there was more to it than meets the eye.
It is a very good novel. I haven't read the others in the series yet, so can't comment on anything other than this one.
It was written by JK Rowling under a pseudonym, which she has decided to reveal, so if you like her writing then maybe this could be a good read for you.
I thought it was very detailed and descriptive, I liked the characters and thoroughly enjoyed the story. I will say that I wasn't completely keen on the way she writes dialogue sometimes (e.g writing out accents...) but other than that I loved it and have passed it on to several people.

That brings a end to this post, then. Thanks for reading.

What are your favourite books? Have you read any of these? Let me know by leaving a comment.

Speak to you all soon. Oh, and HAPPY BLOOMING NOVEMBER!!!

Have a terrific day!

GingerSnaps xxx

Recent Reads - Books - What's Happening, Thursday Next?

Hi!!!

 

Well, hey there everybody. Happy Friday! Today's post is about some of my favourite books, one of which I finished reading last weekend. This is a bit like a review but not, and you'll soon see why, but if you're looking for some ideas for what to read this weekend, then look no further.

 

 

Let me introduce you to Thursday Next, a smart and brave literary heroine, and the books you can find her in.

 

The Eyre Affair is the first in a series of books that follow Thursday Next and her adventures, and Lost In A Good Book (which I finished last week) is the second. At the time of writing there are seven books.

 

Thursday and co live in 1985, but not as we know it. It is a parallel 1985 in which the Crimean War is still going on, people have pet dodos, Wales is a Republic and the Goliath Corporation hold a scary amount of power and control. Thursday works for SpecOps (who are kind of like MI5) as a literary detective - other SpecOps divisions include the ChronoGuard (time-travelling police) and the Werewolves and Vampires Disposal unit.

 

The first story follows our heroine on the trail for a major player in the literary crime market, Acheron Hades, who has been kidnapping characters from fiction and holding them to ransom - including Jane Eyre. In order to stop him, Thursday must find a way into the books themselves.

 

And then, in the second story, Thursday finds herself jumping into fiction again in order to find the truth when the Goliath Corporation meddle with her personal life, and she finds that lost Shakespeare manuscripts, a few too many coincidences and impending Armageddon are all part of a bigger plan - but whose? With the addition of some wonderful 'new' characters - ever wanted to meet the Cheshire Cat? - as well as all our book one favourites, its an awesome adventure.

 

 The books are an amazing mix of science fiction, fantasy, comedy and references to a bucket load of books. The characters all have such clever, often pun filled, names like Paige Turner, Bowden Cable (like the things on bikes?), as well as a personal favourite, Landen Park-Laine, and of course Thursday Next. The plot is interesting and unique and full of surprises and sub-plots and the world Thursday lives in is so vividly described. I absolutely adore these books and can't wait to read the rest of the series.

 

Jasper Fforde gets two thumbs up and a round of applause from me.

 

I hope you enjoyed today's post - it was a lot of fun to write.

Have you read the Thursday Next books? Do you have any book recomendations for me? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading.

 

I hope your day is brilliant!

 

GingerSnaps xxx



 

Recent Reads - Books - 'Funny Girl' Review.

Hi!!!

Good evening people! How are you all on this fine Wednesday? I hope your week is going well. Today I have a book review for you. I'm going to be sharing my thoughts on Nick Hornby's most recent novel, 'Funny Girl', which was first published in 2014.



'Funny Girl' follows Barbara, a young woman from Blackpool who is determined to move to London and make it big as the next Lucille Ball. She becomes Sophie Straw, under the advice of her agent, and soon lands the leading role in a BBC sitcom, that evolves to showcase her. The book follows the different relationships of the cast and crew of the sitcom and how they change and develop as time goes on.

 

I enjoyed reading 'Funny Girl'. There are some funny lines in it, the storyline is quite easy to follow and yet it is also interesting.

 Its full of details about television production and London in the 60s which was both pleasing and also somewhat unexpected. There are photographs distributed throughout the book of various things, usually specific details that the reader may be unfamiliar with, which not only helps put the images of certain people and places into your mind, but makes sure you are kept in the loop, which I appreciated.

 

One thing that did bother me slightly about the book was the way the characters were described. Particularly the female characters. They were beautiful, and there were two types of beautiful if I remember rightly - either Marilyn Monroe types or a-kind-of-but-not-quite Audrey Hepburn type, if you know what I mean? And that's fine, but it just bothered me a little bit that they weren't all a bit more different and dynamically described.

I did find that I could connect with the characters - they are well constructed and have detailed lives, so even the less than loveable ones (looking at you Clive!) are still characters you want to find out more about.

 

I'd recommend this to people who enjoy character led books, to those who are interested in the 1960s and television comedy and so on. There were some minor details that I wasn't too keen on, like the previously mentioned descriptions issue, but I was so keen to find out what happened, I made everyone stay in the holiday apartment for an hour or so longer than they had intended to give me time to finish it before we went out.

Overall, I'd give 'Funny Girl' a solid and well deserved four stars. It's entertaining and engaging and made me chuckle. Maybe check it out during your lunch break tomorrow.

That's a wrap on today's post. I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading it.

Have you read 'Funny Girl' or any other novels by Nick Hornby? Do you have any book recomendations for me? What about suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

Thank you ever so much for reading.

Have a delightful day!

Gingersnaps xxx

Recent Reads - Books - 'Paper Towns' Review.

Hi!!!

Well, today's post is a first. I've never written a book review on my blog. But here I am today, writing one. I feel like such a momentous occasion should be marked by reviewing something like 'War and Peace' or 'Les Miserables' but alas, it is not and couldn't be, because I have read neither. I am instead reviewing a book I never thought I'd read - 'Paper Towns' by John Green.

So, why did I think I'd never read it? Let me explain.

I went to see the movie of 'The Fault in Our Stars' a few years ago for someone's birthday and I wasn't *quite* as amazed as everyone said I'd be.
 I came to two conclusions about John Green - I didn't like the way he named his characters (some of the names just seemed a bit pretentious) and I thought that some of the things they did were so far from what anyone would do, let alone teenagers (the cigarette metaphor, anyone?).

And, to be honest, I never thought I'd read it because it's young adult. Which I know is ridiculous of me, and snobby of me, and 'ooh I'm too cool' of me, isn't it? *hangs head in shame*.

However, I decided that this year I should actually read one of his books, rather than judge them by Hollywood or my own silly poorly founded opinions.

 

 

Paper Towns was recommended to me by my dear friend Elf Girl and as I trust her judgement in these things, I decided that it would be the one I would read.

 

The basic plot of 'Paper Towns' is as follows...

 Quentin Jacobsen (Q) has spent a lifetime loving Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. One night, she cracks open a window and climbs into his life - dressed like a ninja, summoning him to join her in a campaign of revenge - and he follows. Q arrives at school the next day to find that she has disappeared. Q soon learns that there are clues in her disappearance and that they have been left for him and he decides to follow them back to her.

 

Turns out, I actually love 'Paper Towns'. It is a great book.

The plot is really interesting and intelligent and filled with intricate details (Margo's clues for Q being the source of many). At times it is hilariously funny and I stopped to read some of the jokes again and again. And the names did bother me, but only for the first chapter or so, and yes, sometimes the dialogue was a little off base, but not by much.

 I really like the characters in 'Paper Towns', I like their friendships and their in-jokes and their craziness and their beer swords, and I like the many sides of them too. Q grows as a person in front of the readers eyes without them realising, and the lessons he learns are lessons carefully planted for the reader, too.

 

And yeah, maybe a name like Margo Roth Spiegelman is a lot to say all at once but, you know what? I've been looking at 'Paper Towns' merchandise since I finished it, and I've been talking to anyone that'll listen about it, and I think John Green is a very good author.

 

So, I like a John Green book. I love 'Paper Towns'. I'd give it a very enthusiastic and hearty four stars. And I'd recommend it to you, even if you think it won't be up your street.
 There's this part in the book where Q describes himself and his friends as "Young. Goofy. Infinite" and I love that because it fits so beautifully with their spirit, and it captures the spirit of the book as a whole.

 

Buy it here.

Thanks for reading my first ever book review. I hope you enjoyed it.
Have you read Paper Towns? Do you have any book recomendations for me? Would you like to see more book reviews? Any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments. Oh and do you have any opinions on the series title or suggestions for a new one?
Speak soon, lovely people.

I hope your day is glorious!

 

GingerSnaps xxx

Going Anywhere Nice On Your Holidays? - Travel - What's In My Suitcase? Cyprus 2016

Hi!!!

Hello, lovely people. I hope you're having a brilliant week so far (and also that you enjoy this post...). Today is a post all about the contents of my suitcase. This is the second draft that I've done of this, because figuring out how to do it well has been interesting. Anyway, let's begin.



I have a whole bunch of cosmetic/wash bags. The red one contains my sun protection - two bottles of Nivea Factor 50, a bottle of Factor 50 Vichy Velvety Cream, aftersun and an SPF 30 lip balm from Malibu. The floral one is from Cath Kidston and it has my cleanser, makeup remover, toothbrush and toothpaste and deodorant. The blue one with the owls has my makeup in and there isn't loads - I have mascara, some colourful lipsticks, bronzer, concealer, primer and Nars Sheer Glow foundation and some brushes. I also have a colour protect conditioner (because it has UV filters), my fave shampoo and shower gel, some hair bobbles and insect repellent.

 

Clothes wise, I have a variety of vest tops, several pairs of shorts and some cover-ups. I also have some smarter tops and blouses, linen trousers, maxi dresses and a maxi skirt. I've got some light scarves and a light cardigan for the evenings, too. I have a couple of bikinis and a tankini - they are a bunch of different colours and prints.

 

I packed two pairs of sandals - some chunky white ones and some with black strappy detailing. I wore pair of trainers on the plane so I also have those with me.

 

I have this super snazzy (and rather glamorous) floppy sun hat which I adore - it is huge so it'll certainly help protect me from the sun. I've also got a blue and white one which has a slightly smaller brim.

 

And then the books. I packed Funny Girl by Nick Hornby, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding, Paper Towns by John Green (on recommendation) and Brighton Rock by Graham Greene. Would you like me to review them when I get back? (Tell me in the comments).

 

And that, ladies and gents, is 'what's in my suitcase'. This was a bit of a different post for me, so I hope you liked it!

Have you been on holiday this year? Are you going anywhere? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading, speak soon.

 

I hope you day is going swimmingly!

 

GingerSnaps xxx

 

 

The Bare Necessities - Essentials - My Carry On Essentials.

Hi!!!

I don't know about you guys but when I'm going on holiday (even if its weeks away), I'll be looking at packing lists, airport outfits and carry on essentials posts on the blogosphere. These are my own carry on essentials - I'm talking short haul today, because I have no experience of twenty hour flights. Let's roll.



Passport, Boarding Pass, Phone and Purse. These are the real essentials for your flight so pack these first, preferably in a little side pocket in your bag (if there is one...) so that you can find them easily and you don't have a mini did-I-leave-it-at-home heart attack.

 

Camera. I like to keep my camera in my hand luggage so that I know where it is and that it isn't going to get damaged in transit (or, you know, when its taken on and off the plane...). If you have a little case for it, then pop it in that. Having it in my hand luggage also means that, should I want to use it when at the airport or when I arrive, I have it to hand. Obviously it isn't in the photos because I was using it.

 

Sunglasses. I keep my sunglasses in my bag for multiple reasons. One is the good old 'don't want them to get damaged in transit' thing. Another is that, if I want/need them on the plane for any reason, then I have them handy. Finally, I might need them when I arrive (obvs this is dependant on the time of year and where I'm going). Mine will be in their plastic case.

 

Books and magazines. As much as staring out the window is my favourite thing to do on a plane journey, sometimes you want some other options. Bring a book for longer flights or a bunch of magazines for longer and shorter flights.

 

Tissues. They're just handy to have and even if you don't need them, someone else might. Buy a little packet and pop them in amongst the rest of your things.

 

Lip balm and hand cream. While I love plane journeys, I do sometimes notice it can leave my skin a bit dry. I like to bring hand cream as this keeps me feeling fresh and lip balm to keep my lips from drying. Pop them in one of those little clear bags and make sure they're under 100ml.

Pocket Size Sun Cream. This is somewhat dependant on where I'm going but if I'm going to somewhere sunny, then I like to bring this with me. Nivea do pocket size sun lotions which are less than 50ml, so you can bring these on the plane in your clear bag. You can then pop some on when you arrive at your destination - that way, you won't start your break with lobster red skin.

Sweets. I like to have some with me because they help to stop my ears popping (*shudders*) and also because I like sweets. I get them at the airport once I'm through security at WHSmith or something.

Water. You can bring water on a plane if you buy it at the airport, just to let you know (because I didn't until recently). I don't bring a bottle of water on shorter flights - I just get a cup of tea from the trolley - but on a longer flight, it's good to have the option. Dehydration at 30,000ft is not the one.

So, those are my carry on essentials. Hope you're enjoying the 'holiday-y' content.

What do you bring in your carry on? Do you have any recommendations for other things I could take? Do you have any suggestions for future posts or any other comments? Feel free to leave a comment.

Thanks for reading. 

Have a sunny day! 

 

GingerSnaps xxx