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 

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... - Three Spooky (Not Scary) Movies To Watch This Halloween.

Hi!!!

Today I have some movie recomendations for you. Halloween is fast approaching, and while I'm certainly not a fan of the scary and gory stuff, I do love the spooky and silly sides of Halloween. I'm sure I'm not alone on this and so, with this in mind, I've put together a list of some super fun, spooky movies for you to watch if you're a bit of a wimp like me (nothing to be ashamed of) or if you want to watch something that will be fun for the whole family, because it's far more fun when everyone is involved, isn't it? I've scoured the internet to find out all of your options for viewing these films, from DVDs to streaming services to showings on television channels so you have no excuse for not watching at least one.

Hocus Pocus.

After three centuries, three witch sisters are brought back to life on Halloween night, and it is up to two teenagers, a little girl, and an immortal cat to put an end to their reign of terror once and for all - and they only have until sunrise to do so.

Would it even be October without Hocus Pocus? It is a favourite for many, and it is very easy to see why - a Disney made, spooky comedy with an all-star cast (Bette Midler is a total STAR). It's absolutely hilarious and just the right amount of silly. I think it is a particularly good one to watch with friends - there are so many great lines to giggle at and then quote to each other for the rest of the year.
 Other big selling points are as follows: it

was directed by Kenny Ortega, who later directed and choreographed High School Musical, and it's full of autumnal colours and Bette Midler sings some jazz. It's a must see.

Get it on DVD here - it is also available on Sky Store and Netflix and is on Channel 4 at 3.20pm on Sunday 29th.

Hotel Transylvania.

Hotel Transylvania is a resort built and run by Dracula as a place for monsters to holiday away from the humans that frighten them and as a safe place to raise his daughter Mavis. Mavis is celebrating her 118th birthday with a party at the Hotel, surrounded by all kinds of famous and fabulous monsters. However, a human called Johnathon stumbles upon the Hotel, and ends up disguised as a monster so he doesn't make a scene. Everyone seems to like the new arrival, especially Mavis - but could Dracula deal with his daughter falling for a human?

This is an animated movie - I love animation as a medium and it makes this a really fun Halloween film. It's a really charming movie, full of all kinds of odd-ball characters, and Mavis (voiced by Selena Gomez) has a really great sense of style.

Get it on DVD here - it is also available on Sky Store and Netflix and is on ITV at 9:25am on Saturday 28th and ITV2 at 4:20pm on Sunday 29th.

Halloweentown.

This is the first in a series of films following the adventures of three children Marnie, Dylan and Sophie. Their grandmother, Aggie, comes to visit them on Halloween - she wants Marnie to start her training as a witch before her 13th birthday because otherwise she'll lose her powers for life. There is a dark force in Halloweentown and Aggie needs help to defeat it. The children follow their grandmother to Halloweentown, where they meet all kinds of supernatural creatures and where the adventure and fight for good really begins.

I am a Disney Channel child through and through and I've spent a lot of my life glued to Disney Channel Original Movies. Halloweentown was one of the first I watched when I was younger and I have loved it ever since.
It has become a firm favourite for me - there are plenty of spooky goings on, a fight to save a town, loveable characters and adventure. It's fun, it's a very entertaining story and it reminds me of being younger - what's not to love?

Get it on DVD here (U.S.A only) - it is also available through Disney Life and is on the UK Disney Channel at 11:37am on Thursday 26th.

This was such a fun post to put together, so I really hope you enjoyed this post and I hope you enjoy these movies if you do give them a try - sit down with a huge mug of tea or hot chocolate and work your way through them for maximum spookiness. 

Do you have a favourite spooky movie that I should add to my watch-list? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment and let me know.

Have a wonderful day, I'll speak to you all soon.

I hope you have a spook-tacular day!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - Three Ealing Comedies to Watch This Autumn.

Hi!!!

Good afternoon! Today's post is slightly different from my usual content. I wanted to share some of my favourite films with you today, more specifically Ealing Comedies. I say today, but I've actually had about 80% of this post written since May... Anyway, I've picked three of the Ealing Comedies, most of which were made in the 1940s and 1950s, and came to define both the Ealing Studios and British Cinema. They are perfect for those who love character driven pieces and for those with a slightly dark sense of humour. If you'd like to know even more about the history of these movies, because like me you're a bit of a nerd, click here. Without further ado, let's begin.

Kind Hearts and Coronets.

One of the earlier Ealing comedies, 'Kind Hearts and Coronets' is a brilliant film. Dennis Price is Louis Mazzini, whose mother was disowned by her high class family, the D'Ascoyne's, when she married for love rather than money. When she dies, she is refused the right to be interred into the family vault and Louis decides that he will take matters into his own hands, killing the D'Ascoyne family one by one so he can take his place as Duke. His plans are complicated further when he finds himself torn between his childhood crush and the beautiful wife of one of his victims. Alec Guinness takes on the roles of the eight members of the D'Ascoyne family, from suffragettes to clergymen, and this film was an early, and now lasting, showcase of his amazing talent as a comedic actor. The characters are quirky and entertaining, the plot is filled with ironic and clever details, and each elimination is more inventive than the last. If you like crime shows, a good laugh and characters that are off-the-wall and delightfully despicable, you simply must watch this film.

The Lavender Hill Mob.

In 'The Lavender Hill Mob', Alec Guinness is Henry Holland, a timid, seemingly rather ordinary bank clerk. His job is to accompany gold bullion in the special van with armed security guards. He joins forces with his friend Pendlebury, played by Stanley Holloway, to steal the gold and smuggle it out of the country, but, as in any Ealing Comedy, things aren't as straightforward as the characters hope. This film has a much lighter tone overall than the other two on this list, I think, and packed to the rafters with laughs. It's such an entertaining film, and once again, the star of Ealing Comedies, Alec Guinness, shines in his performance. It's imaginative, the characters are hugely entertaining and the partnership of Guinness and Holloway, as well as of their characters Holland and Pendlebury, really elevates the film, keeping you invested from the get-go.

The Ladykillers.

'The Ladykillers' was the first Ealing Comedy I ever saw, and as a child, I found Alec Guinness slightly unnerving in this film - as I think I've mentioned before. I have, however, always loved this film, so much so that a few years ago, I went to see the stage production of it and I reviewed it here. Mrs Wilberforce, played wonderfully by Katie Johnson, likes to report suspicious behaviour to the police. Completely unaware of this, the seasoned thief Professor Marcus, played by Alec Guinness, rents rooms in her house for himself and his gang, who are posing as an string quintet. They complete a bank robbery but slip up in front of their landlord when they try to escape. They decide she has to be killed, but things don't go to plan when the gang begin to double cross and go after each other.  The characters are so quirky, the plot is so off-the-wall and yet it works so brilliantly and it is an essential in every film collection.

And that brings today's post to an end. I hope you liked it, and you enjoy spending some time watching these films.

What is your favourite Ealing Comedy? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading.

Have a brilliant day!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - What I Saw at the Cinema in January: Rogue One and La La land.

Hi!!!

I've said this a lot recently, but last year I really got back into going to the cinema. I really want to continue that this year, because I really enjoy it, and I made a good start by going twice in January. Here's my thoughts on the movies I saw last month, both of which are still running at most cinemas.

The first film I saw at the cinema in 2017 was Rogue One: A Star Wars Story which is set shortly before the events of ‘A New Hope’, ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ and reveals how the Rebellion got their hands on the designs for the Death Star with the help of former criminal Jyn Erso.
 I went with my Uncle B - we hadn't been to the cinema together in about a million years so it was lovely to spend that time together.

I love Star Wars, and this is one of my favourite films in the franchise.

I find that during most of the Star Wars films, I get bored for at least fifteen minutes or so in the middle, but that didn't happen with Rogue One. I found it engaging, entertaining and I really liked the plot and I think they have the pacing for this one spot on,

The characters were all interesting and individual and I'm really glad I went to see it. I was concerned it would take away from the actual main Star Wars films, but I think it just adds to them - its nice to see more of that universe.

When I first saw the trailer for La La Land, I very excitedly told my best friend Elf Girl about it because she loves musicals just as much as me. It follows the lives of Mia, an aspiring actress, and Sebastian, a jazz pianist, and the romance that begins between the two of them, which is threatened when they finally find success.

 I enjoyed the film a lot. I think the characters are great, I really like the songs and the score in general and I like that it features dance routines like those from old school Hollywood musicals. There are gorgeous moments in this movie.

 I wasn't keen on some elements of the cinematography -  namely the ridiculously fast, makes-your-eyes-go-out-of-focus panning - but other aspects of it I found to be really beautiful. I'm not mad about the structure - its split into seasons - and in some ways I don't think it is quite all that certain reviewers, critics and people in general say it is, but I did like it all the same and would recommend you go and see it.

There are links here and here to screening times for Rogue One and links here and here to screening times for La La Land.

I hope you enjoyed these mini reviews of two of January's biggest films.

Have you seen these movies? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future content? Please leave a comment below and I'll get back to you.

Thanks for reading, and if you go and see either of these films, I hope you enjoy them.

I hope you have an incredible day!

GingerSnaps xxx

So, To Sum It All Up - December in Photographs

Hi!!!

How are you guys today? I hope you're all doing well. I spent December doing lots of fun things and I took a lot of photos and I thought I would share those things with you today - I figured that sharing some Christmassy snaps with you in January would be fine so long as I'm still in the Twelve Days of Christmas right now. I hope you like it.

Obviously I started my month by opening the first window on my advent calender - this one is the Cadbury one.

 I also opened a tub of Celebrations because Christmas. 

I went to see Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them with Elf Girl and one of our friends.

Elf Girl and I spent the afternoon in Costa - I had a Black Forest Hot Chocolate (one of many many more festive Costa drinks) - and taking photobooth photos until our friend could meet us.

We went for a meal at Chimichanga which I would highly recommend, for both food and decor (I had sea bass in case you were wondering). I enjoyed the film - I thought it was funny and charming.

I spent quite a lot of time Christmas shopping last month and went to several shopping centres on my mission.

The Bull in Birmingham was dressed up like a Christmas pudding which brought me far too much joy, and Coventry had some super snazzy decorations, shown below.

The beautiful ceiling lights were in Hemel Hempstead - I went shopping there while staying with my Auntie the weekend before Christmas.

December was filled with delightfully wintery weather, as showcased in these shots. I was running late one morning and cut through an alley way, but then got distracted by the pretty mist and fog and took photos - I made it with about ten minutes to spare so it all worked out fine. I just thought it looked really cool.

Later on in the month, while staying with my Auntie, it was really foggy again - it took us about one hundred years to complete the drive down.

Then of course there have been frosty mornings which I love having a walk around in.

There have also been some occasions to break out the sunglasses - I love those days when it's sunny but freezing cold.

I went for a meal with my friends before we all began our Christmas breaks. We went to a local Pizza Express and swapped gifts, ate pizza, pulled crackers and posed for photos, which was great.

We also had a walk around a local Christmas market and some shops (with plenty of time spent in Waterstones) before a final stop at Costa and heading home. I did all of these things wearing the paper hat from my cracker because those little hats make me so happy, I don't even really know why.

As I've mentioned, we had a pre-Christmas meal with one side of my family the weekend before Christmas.

We had a full turkey dinner with an array of puddings available to us which was lovely.

We then spent the rest of the afternoon exchanging gifts - watching my little cousins open presents makes me so happy! - catching up and eating enough olives to sink a ship (that last one might just have been me, haha).

I made my nails look all festive too - you might remember this from here.

I saw these Shetland ponies while we were there.

They were so sweet, I just had to show you.

My parents and I went into London while staying at my Auntie's. We went to see Hamlet and also to have a walk around. We went for a stroll along Bond Street to admire the window displays. We also went to Selfridges (which was a bit overwhelming on that particular day, I'm not going to lie - really crowded, really loud music...) and to Liberty where we bought Christmas crackers and I swooned over the pretty clothes.

We saw all of the Christmas lights on display. My favourites were these gorgeous angels on Regent Street and Jermyn Street.

Later in the month I went to Stratford upon Avon where I saw these lovely lights.

I ate this snowman cupcake.

I went to see a pantomime at the Birmingham Hippodrome with my Mom, Elf Girl, my Uncle B and Auntie A and had such an amazing time.

I love pantomime and the Hippodrome outdid themselves this year. It was so fun, so well performed and visually fantastic.

Oh and I had my first Starbucks since 2015.

It was a Fudge Hot Chocolate. It was really nice.

Not shown in photos:

Two of my friends celebrated their birthdays in December and I had so much fun at both.

I received some wonderful and thoughtful Christmas presents from my family and friends which I am super grateful for.

A relaxed, and very enjoyable, New Year's Eve.

And that was what December looked like for me.
What did you get up to last month? Do you have any other comments or maybe some suggestions for posts you like to see? Let me know in the comments.
I hope you enjoyed this post. Thanks for reading!

I hope your day is marvellous!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - 7 Little Things To Get You Feeling Festive

Hi!!!

Hands up if you are excited for Christmas - I know I am! And to help get you feeling super duper excited too, I've made this list of seven little things you can do in the run up to the big day that will make you feel just like Buddy the Elf. Let's begin, shall we?

Swap your normal shower gel for a Christmas shower gel.

It's probably unlikley that you'll get chance to use your Christmas bath bombs everyday, but by treating yourself a festive shower gel (and maybe also a scrub/moisturiser/lip balm), you still get that feeling of being pampered and to use those lovely seasonal scents. Check out Lush's Snow Fairy, Lush's Lord of Misrule and The Body Shop's Vanilla Chai.

  Buy yourself some Christmas socks.

Never underestimate the power of a good pair of festive socks. Buy any with snowflakes or reindeer or snowmen or Father Christmas on, and feel that little sprinkle of joy when you get dressed everyday (and when you get home and take your shoes off). Its such a simple thing,  but so fun. Primark always do some cracking ones.

Treat yourself to a Christmas Costa.

Whether you stay in the café or get yours to go in one of their adorable Christmas jumper inspired take away cups, it'll put a smile on your face. There's something to suit all tastes - hot chocolate and coffee - so take a look next time you pass one. Or, y'know, just make yourself a really snazzy hot chocolate at home. Also, big thanks to Elf Girl for helping with the presentation in the above photo (and for reading the list of drinks for me each visit -#shortsightedproblems). Check out the menu here.

Have a movie night.

 Line up some of your favourite seasonal movies - see a list of mine here - get in your PJs, grab a blanket and a hot chocolate and work your way through all of them. Laugh, smile and enjoy them all at your own pace. Oh, and turn the big light off, and get the fairy lights going instead - it gives it all a much cosier vibe.

Play Your Favourite Christmas Songs At Top Volume.

 Normally on the way home from going to see a pantomime, we have a huge family sing-a-long in the car. Last year, we outdid ourselves - playing songs top volume, screeching along to them, dancing in the car and laughing at each other. We even had a dance off with another family at the traffic lights. So whether yours is part of a car journey or in your house, and whether you perform solo or with a group, go for it and have fun. Play all of your favourites and pretend you're on stage. All the fun. And FYI, I wrote a post about my playlist last year if you need some inspiration.

Paint your nails in a Christmassy way.

  Maybe a red, maybe some glitter, maybe if you're super fancy and talented some penguins or presents or something. Or get some pretty pre-designed false nails if you're lazy or don't have much time to spare like me - look at these cute Henry Holland ones!!! (they also have Christmas Tree and Candy Cane designs if that's more your style).

Get the Christmas jumpers out.

Wrap yourself up in the cosy, cheesy-ness of them and love every second. Every time you look down at the fair isle/gingerbread men/reindeer/etc  on your jumper, you'll be filled with joy. And, what better excuse than donating to Save The Children's annual Christmas Jumper Day campaign and being charitable in the process?

And those are some of the things you can do to reach peak Christmas.

What are your favourite things to do at Christmas time? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks so much for reading.

I hope your day is magical.

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - I Saw The Magnificent Seven... It Was Magnificent.

Hi!!!

Good morning, folks. This week I have been quite busy so when plans were made to fill yesterday afternoon with lunch, shops and a cinema trip, I was absolutely delighted. Elf Girl and I went to see The Magnificent Seven at our local cinema yesterday and I'm here to tell you all about it.





The Magnificent Seven is an excellent film. The cast are stellar and the characters they played were awesome (when we left the cinema, we tried to pick favourites and couldn't because they were all great). It has a great soundtrack, which features many elements of the original, the costumes were impressive and the director deserves a huge pat on the back because it was filmed wonderfully.

Plot wise, it is quite similar to the original in terms of essential components - bad guy taking money from people in a small town (except in this it is in America, not Mexico), and a team with various talents and backgrounds forms to try and stop him - with a little extra flair, which makes for very entertaining, and a uniquely familiar, viewing experience.
It has all of those classic elements that make a good Western film. It has hats and horses and guns, it has beautiful landscape shots, it has saloons and gun twirling and jokes every now and then. It has a sense of camaraderie and fun as well as tension.

I personally LOVED it and would recommend that you go and see it this weekend.

I hope you enjoyed this mini-review of The Magnificent Seven.

Have you seen it yet? Do you want to? What are your favourite Westerns? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading.

Have an awesome day!

GingerSnaps xxx



I've Been Thinking... - My Thoughts On The New Ghostbusters Film and The Public Response.

Hi!!!

If you've a movie fan, you've probably heard about the new 'Ghostbusters' film, a reboot of the classic from the 80s. The trailer for this film is one of the most disliked videos in all of YouTube's history. Its cast is lead by four women. Here are my views.



I am a huge fan of the original 'Ghostbusters' film, just for your information. I enjoy it, it's staple viewing at Halloween and it always makes me laugh.

 

I love the new 'Ghostbusters' movie.
It's funny, it's spooky, it features some great characters and it has a very strong plot. My favourite characters are Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) and Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon). They're interesting, unique, funny and smart. I mean, the other lead characters are, too, but Patty and Holtzmann are far more up my street.
 All the actresses are great with comedy and work as a group really well. The film kept me engaged throughout - sometimes at the cinema, I do have a sneaky look at my watch... - and it made me jump at times, too.
It shows the strength of female friendships like the original showed the strength of male friendships, which is so good to see.
I loved that the costumes for the film are like clothes that actual women wear - not everything is on show, not everything is ridiculously glamorous and they don't fight ghosts while wearing high heeled shoes.
 I think the character Kevin (Chris Hemsworth) could be improved, especially given the all-female group of Ghostbusters. I think its a shame that, in a film that makes a lot of progress in terms of casting and characterisation of female characters, Kevin is 'the stupid cute guy' who is 'hired because he's cute'.
Other than that, I personally think the film is great and would recommend it to you.

I'm sure at least some of you know about the criticism this movie faced before it was even released. The trailer is one of the most disliked videos on YouTube.
I appreciate that some people are not keen on the idea of the new film because they love the old one so much and don't want to see a film of less quality become part of its legacy. That, to me, is fine - I understand your worry (but I don't think you don't need to feel that way because it isn't a scene by scene remake and it is good).
However, there are some people who are totally against the film because of the all female cast, although these people often try to suggest that it is more to do with their love for the original. I think it's disgraceful.
  Let's get a few things straight, shall we? Women can be amazing actresses. Women can be hilarious. Women can inspire other women. Women deserve the opportunity to showcase their abilities and encourage others to do the same. Women have worth. Women deserve respect.

Another awfully shocking response to the film has been the racism Leslie Jones has had to face. Black actresses can be amazing and hilarious. They deserve the chance to show off their abilities and inspire people. Black people have worth. Black people deserve respect.

One thing I can say, is that the four women in this film have handled all of this so well, even though they should never have had to. I respect them all so much.
I don't mind at all if you don't like the film because you think it has a weak plot or poor characterisation or lacks development of key themes. I don't share those views but that's alright because you are entitled to an informed opinion. But for people to dislike a film, simply because the cast are mostly female and feature more than one ethnicity is absurd to me. That's just unfair to everyone involved.
Everyone has rights and talents, and I look forward to the day that everyone recognises this.

Thank you so much for reading.

Have you seen the new Ghostbusters film? What did you think? What are your thoughts on the public response? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Be sure to tell me in the comments.

I hope you have a great weekend. I'll be celebrating my birthday on Sunday, so I'll speak to you after that.

Have a totally marvellous day!

GingerSnaps xxx



I've Been Thinking... - Frankie, Tommy, Bob and Nick.

Hi!!!

We all know I love the 1960s - the music, the fashion, the everything, basically. I have always absolutely loved 60s music and one group I have loved for as long as I can remember would be The Four Seasons. Naturally, when the movie 'Jersey Boys' came out a while back, I knew I had to see it. I finally got round to watching it recently and I'd like to share my thoughts.

'Jersey Boys'. 

I am so, so in love with this movie.

I think that it is amazingly filmed and directed which produces a wonderful effect overall. I think the cast are excellent, worked really well together and who played their roles exceptionally. Obviously, the soundtrack features the legendary music of The Four Seasons and it is beautifully worked in with the movie. The sets, costumes and makeup (the last is particularly key as the band get older throughout the movie) are nothing short of brilliant.

The key with biopic movies or plays for me (and this is both, though I am yet to see this on stage) is 'doing them justice'. In my eyes, this movie does do the music, personalities and legendary status of Frankie, Tommy, Bob and Nick.

It's emotional, it's captivating, it's creative. I love it.

If you love the 60s, if you love music, if you love biopics, if you love The Four Seasons, if you love movies - you need to go watch this movie. 

 

I hope you enjoyed this - I do love sharing things I love with you guys, and I love this film.

Have you seen the film? Have you seen Jersey Boys on stage? What is your favourite song by The Four Seasons? Maybe you have a favourite of Frankie's solo records? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading, I hope you're having a lovely day.

 

I hope your day is epic.

 

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - Oxfords Not Brogues.

Hi!!!

Today, its quite a short and sweet post but I just wanted to write something and figured that this might be a nice little post for my fellow movie lovers. If you're looking for something to watch when you get home today then I have a suggestion.

Kingsman: The Secret Service.

 

Kingsman: The Secret Service is one of the best films I have seen in a really long time. It just has all of the best things wrapped up in one. It's hilarious, it's about spies, it features amazing actors, the plot is fantastic, it has a great soundtrack, the characters are literally amazing (Eggsy may be one of my favourite characters ever and all of the others are crazy awesome too), it's brilliantly filmed - I basically cannot say enough good things about this film. Like, seriously, just go and watch it. Promise? Good. Thank me later.

Watch the trailer (HERE).

(it is a spy movie, so there is some violence in the trailer, just to warn you if you feel sensitive to that...)

Thanks for reading - I know this was a short post but hopefully you enjoyed it and maybe discovered a new favourite film, like I have.

Have you seen Kingsman? What are your favourite films? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments section.

I'll see you soon.

 

Have an amazing day! (And remember, oxfords not brogues)

 

GingerSnaps xxx

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

Hi!!!

Good evening everyone, how are you all? Today is the third post in my "A Dash Of Ginger Festive Five" series and I'm really excited to write it. One of my favourite things to do at Christmas time is curling up and watching Christmas films with the Christmas lights on and a hot chocolate in hand as it always makes me feel so festive and happy. Since it is always such a huge part of my Christmas, I thought I'd share a few of my favourite Christmas films with you.

(Obviously, I haven't listed every single last one of my favourite Christmas films - as there are just so many - but these are some that I do really love and enjoy year in year out. These are my stand-outs.)

Some of My Favourite Christmas Movies.

 

One Christmas movie that has been a favourite of mine for many years is Miracle on 34th Street. I love both versions but my favourite is the one made in 1994. The story is absolutely beautiful and totally enchanting, I love all of the characters, and the cast and production of this film are wonderful. This film makes me feel all Christmassy and makes me smile every time I watch it.

 

Another fantastic Christmas movie is Nativity!. This film is hilarious and charming and I'm a huge fan of it. The characters are great (especially Mr Poppy - what a legend!) and the storyline is brilliant. This film is bound to put you in a good mood, the children in it are adorable and all of the characters are loveable. It's just a stroke of genius.

 

Elf. How could we get through a Christmas movie post without Elf? There is quite a bit of hype surrounding this film and I can say that, in my opinion, it is totally worth it. It's really funny and I quote it a ridiculous amount. I really like how it has just the right amount of classic Christmas-ness mixed with lots of laugh-out-loud moments.

If you know me, you'll know about my serious love for Love Actually. I just think it's brilliant - I'm a huge fan of Richard Curtis movies and of Christmas so this was always bound to be a favourite. It has lots of hilarious moments, some beautiful stories and the format of multiple intertwining stories is unique and works really well.

The Holiday is a really wonderful festive film and I've loved it since I first watched it. I think the story is beautiful, the characters are brilliant and I'm always left smiling and feeling really happy by the end. This was an instant favourite for me and I think it will be for you too - it is so sweet, so funny and so excellent. I also dressed in Iris (Kate Winslet's character in this) inspired outfits for a good year or so after seeing this film...

Saving Santa is a super fun animated Christmas film. It has a lovely storyline, it is really cute and the characters are very loveable. This has some really funny moments and it is a great feel good movie which is guaranteed to fill you full of Christmas cheer and joyfulness. I am a big fan of this one and I 100% think its worth a watch.

Arthur Christmas is a great one. I watched this the other night (I'd seen it before then but it reminded me how much I like it). There are some really touching moments in this as well as some funny and slightly crazy moments (it's not often that light up slippers can be used to calm down lions!) and the character of Arthur is really sweet.

The Polar Express has been a love of mine for many years and is a treasured part of Christmas for me. The storyline is wonderful and it takes you on an adventure with the characters. I think its a really lovely film and I enjoy it every time that I watch it. This is best enjoyed with a hot chocolate and pyjamas and I think you'll really like it.

For as long as I can remember, I've loved the Muppets so of course The Muppet Christmas Carol is on this list. I've seen it so many times but it never gets old and it always makes me feel festive and cheerful. There are songs, familiar Muppet faces and the classic and meaningful Charles Dickens storyline to look forward to so you should check it out.

Another favourite is Home Alone. This is such an out-there story but it works really well and makes all of the slapstick comedy more hilarious. I'll always want to ride a sledge down the stairs and I still admire the genius of the character Kevin for looking after himself so well and for his creativity when it comes to protecting his home. Classic Christmas comedy.

An undeniable seasonal classic is White Christmas. This has all the best bits of an old school musical - brilliant songs, great characters, memorable costumes and a fun story. This has a special place in my heart - I have lots of memories watching the film and last year my Mom and I went to see it at the Dominion Theatre.

I'm a big Disney fan so Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas/Mickey's Twice Upon A Christmas/Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse are some of my favourites. The little sketches and stories within the film are charming and it's lovely to see some familiar faces in the form of Mickey and Co.

That's all for today then, folks. I hope that you enjoyed this post and that it has inspired you to curl up with your favourite Christmas film. I hope you're enjoying the "A Dash Of Ginger Festive Five" series so far, I'll see you tomorrow for the next instalment.

What is your favourite Christmas film? Have I drawn your attention to one you haven't seen before? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments section.

Thank you for reading, I hope you're having a lovely week.

 

Have a terrific day!

 

GingerSnaps xxx



I've Been Thinking... - Reasons Why Lazy Days Are Awesome.

Hi!!!


So, I'm back after pretty much a months hiatus. I cannot apologise enough for this, I really feel as though I have let all of you guys down but I haven't had it in me for a while due to some very poopy life events (which I'm not here to moan about). I'm back now anyway, with this post and I hope you enjoy.

So, quite some time ago now (I started writing this in August), I had a slightly fabulous lazy day. In my own, very humble, opinion, lazy days are one of the greatest things in life. I feel as though, every now and then, a lazy day is highly required and I see nothing wrong with giving in to pyjamas, gallons of tea, movies and back to back TV shows.

Said lazy day involved sleeping in - I was in desperate need of catching up on that sleep thing - washing my hair and showering with some lovely products and getting into my uniform for the day - my long sleeved Supergirl top and some pyjama shorts.

I made myself a little brew and settled down for a day filled with TV, movies and, as you probably guessed knowing me, lots more tea.

So, now you know the basics of my lazy day a while back, and you have (THIS) post where I discuss another lazy day, here are just a few of the reasons I love them.

Five Reasons Why Lazy Days Are Awesome.

1. It gives you an opportunity to watch the films that you have bought on DVD or recorded on your Planner (if you are a Sky Customer like me - other TV doobrees available) that you have been meaning to watch for a long time. My choices often include Disney movies and Rom-Coms - particularly Richard Curtis ones. My choices on the lazy day in question included - The Jungle Book and Killers.
2. It gives you a chance to do the silly little things you might not have had time for otherwise like painting your nails with that pretty little nail polish that you bought the other day, or trying the body butter in the drawer of your bedside table, or read that blog you discovered the other day. They are some of the things I often like to do. On the lazy day of destiny, I tried some new bath and body care that I had bought and caught up on reading all of my favourite blogs.
3. As I said before, you have a chance to catch up on sleep, and I know that I certainly value that time as I tend to wear myself out till I am running on empty and need to recharge sometimes in a big way. On the lazy day this post concerns, I woke up fairly early, had a cup of tea and went back to bed for an hour or two which was perfect.
4. Pyjamas! You guys all know that I love pyjamas and often buy myself new tops or bottoms or sets of them - I went shopping the other day and the only thing that I liked happened to be some Jungle Book pyjamas from Topshop (which aren't in stock on the website anymore, but HERE is Topshop anyway). As I mentioned, on the fabulous lazy day that I'm banging on about, I wore a Supergirl long sleeved top and pyjama shorts.
5. The joy of just "being". It sounds incredibly cheesy, I know, but certain things really remind you how lucky you are. The way I believe lazy days do this by reminding you how lucky you are to be so busy that you need a lazy day, how lucky you are to be able to stop for a minute. Lazy days are a good opportunity to take stock of your life, and that is something we all need to do sometimes.

Did we enjoy? I know it was a short post, but its just nice to be back blogging! I promise that I will be posting as much as I used to from now on - I've got my head together again and so I feel happy to do so.
Do you enjoy lazy days? What do you get up to on yours? Do you agree with my reasons for them being awesome? Any comments or suggestions for future posts? Just fancy a chat? Let me know in the comments.
See you (very) soon for more posts (promise)...

Have a totally wonderful day!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking.... - I Have Big Plans Tonight...

Hi!!!


This is 100% not as exciting as the title suggests. I just wanted to do a quick post today and thought, what better than a peek into the kind of way I want to spend tonight? I have to say, I live a pretty wild life...

My Big "Plans" Are To...

1. Wash my hair, gently apply a light dose of salt spray and/or styling mousse, and plait my hair so that it is all wavy and curly in the morning.
2. Paint my nails in a fan-cay nail art way that will make me smile. I've had many an idea, so we'll see, and I might just share with you. Do you want a dedicated post?
3. Watch a movie. Don't know what movie, so if you have any suggestions, let me know.
4. Drink some Vanilla Coke - I have some massive life supply going on right now - I am literally finding cans of the stuff everywhere around the house! - and so I need to make some progress on that front!
5. Go to bed a little bit earlier than normal. I want to get up bright and (not too) early tomorrow morning, so I'm gunning for a good nights sleep tonight.

So, that's all for today, I hope that you have enjoyed. I know it has been a while since I have posted, but I hope that you don't mind too much!

Have you enjoyed this post? Do you ever make "plans" like mine? Do you have any suggestions for upcoming posts? Let me know in the comments.

I will speak to you all very soon.

I hope you have a wonderful days/nights everyone!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - Things That I Love... LOTS.

Hi!!!


So, for those of you who have been living under a rock/don't celebrate it, it's Valentines Day on Friday. Now, I know that some people love it, and some people hate it but I guess you are going to have to accept it.


I personally like Valentines Day. I spend it with family and friends. To me, it is some time spent with friends, and a meal with family before one of my beloved rom-com's in my pyjamas.
I don't think people should dwell on "couple status" when it is a day based upon love and love comes in many different ways (e.g family, friends, pets, shoes, handbags, food, coffee in the morning... whatever takes your fancy).
All love should be celebrated as far as I am concerned (even if it means putting a party hat on a kitten... that made more sense in my head... I'm so sorry...).

Therefore, to show how love can mean many a different thing, I have compiled a list of some things I LOVE... LOTS.

Films I LOVE...

My favourite film of all is About Time.

I cannot even put into words how much I LOVE it. It feels like it was made just for me - it wasn't, obviously, but hey. It could not be more perfect - in my eyes. I LOVE IT!

To see more films I LOVE, head on over to my Blogger Profile.

Music I LOVE...

The artists I LOVE includes Van Morrison, Elbow, and Jake Bugg.

To see more music I LOVE, see my Blogger Profile.

If you want to talk about the songs that I LOVE, then let me know in the comments and I can chat to you there, or update the post. It's no bother, I would LOVE to.

Models I LOVE...

I LOVE models like Lily Cole, Georgia May Jagger and Kate Moss and LOVE their work and creativity.

I LOVE quite a few other models, but will discuss them in my upcoming additions to the "It's So In Vogue!" series.

Places I LOVE...

To name but a few places I LOVE - Northern Ireland, the area I live in, London, St Albans/Watford, Leamington Spa, Leeds, York, Barcelona....

I could go on about the places which I LOVE all day, but I wouldn't want to bore you. If you want to I would LOVE a conversation in the comments about it!

Blogs I LOVE...

In no particular order... A Rosie Outlook (HERE), Charlottes Web (HERE), The London Project (HERE), Little Winter (HERE), Chronicles Of The Red Herring (HERE), I Get The Feeling (HERE) and Zero Reality (HERE).

To see a few more blogs I LOVE, click on my Blogger Profile.

People I LOVE...

I LOVE my amazing family.

I LOVE my wonderful friends.

I LOVE all the people who inspire me, whether it is through music, fashion, art, books, anything, and are all round good eggs.

I LOVE all of the people who read this blog, who hopefully LOVE it and who have supported me - whether you have read from June 2013 or 5 minutes ago.

So, just a short post today. I probably could have gotten through many a category, however I think "short and sweet" was a good approach for today. I just wanted to remind people to focus on the little things that matter to them in this week of love and stuff.
What do you love? Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments.
And, that, as they say is a wrap...

Have a marvellous day...

GingerSnaps xxx