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

Hi!!!

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

'Golden Slumbers' by Elbow.

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

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

'Real Love' by Tom Odell.

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

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

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

'Scarlet Ribbons' by Harry Belafonte.

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

Thanks for reading!

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

See you tomorrow for Blogmas Day Fifteen!

I hope you feel happy today.

GingerSnaps xxx

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

Hi!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a fantastic day!

GingerSnaps xxx

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

Hi!!!

If you read this post last week, then the title of this one may sound familiar. Yes indeed folks, I'm doing part two - now there are 14 ideas in total to get you in the holiday spirit. Hopefully the first installment was an enjoyable read, and this one will jingle your bells, too - see what I did there?



Download a Festive Background for Your Phone.

I was reading Wish Wish Wish the other day for the first time in weeks and saw that Carrie had uploaded these super cute Christmas phone backgrounds. I downloaded one straight away and I love it - so simple but so special. And it's free! There's an iPhone one and the iPhone Plus one fits my Samsung Galaxy S7, just FYI.

Burn A Christmas Candle.

I got out my number one bae of a candle (John Lewis Winter Spice) out the other day to burn while watching Christmas Films and have had it going since. The cosy glow and lovely smells of Christmas candles are so wonderful. Some of my other top picks include Yankee Candle Red Apple Wreath, Yankee Candle Christmas Cookie and Yankee Candle Candy Cane Lane. 

Bake Some Christmassy Treats.

If you find the time - and I appreciate that you might not have loads spare - then I'd definitely suggest getting into the kitchen and baking something seasonal and delightful be it gingerbread or sugar cookies or cupcakes. It's lots of fun, a good way to take a breather and you can eat the rewards- it's win/win isn't it? Here's some recipes to get you inspired.

Head To A Local Garden Centre.

Garden centres are always places I like being in but at Christmas they really are something else.  They always have cool decorations and displays and twinkly lights and things like that. Spend an hour or so at one near you and take your time looking at everything- and yes, it's totally OK to leave with a few new decorations, I fully support this.

Go To A Heritage Property.

 Two I'd recommend are the Victorian Christmas at my favourite, Charlecote Park, and then the theme decorations at Chatsworth, this year they are based on The Nutcracker, which you can see snippets of in this post (although tickets are more expensive for the latter, it is worth it 100%).

Buy Mince Pies.

Buy a box of mince pies next time you're in the supermarket and consider eating the whole box in one go. Seriously, even just seeing the box is like a little hit of festive cheer. And if you don't like mince pies, there are plenty of other festive foods to treat yourself to instead.

Watch Comedy Christmas Specials.

Keep an eye out for your favourite comedy Christmas specials on GOLD, online and in your DVD collection and any time you're stuck for something to watch, put one of those on and laugh yourself silly. You can find a list of my recommendations here.

Thank you ever such a lot for reading.

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

I hope you enjoyed the post.

Have a spectacular day!

GingerSnaps xxx



I've Been Thinking... - How Do You Do It, John Lewis?

Hi!!!

Oh hey there! Look at me being awesome and organised with my third post of the month. Today, I wanted to share something with you that has caught my attention.

OK, so if you don't know already, I really love John Lewis. It is one of my favourite places to shop. The store is 150 years old this year, and they have made one of their brilliant adverts to celebrate.

I have totally fallen in love with this advert - I never, ever wind it on during the ad breaks (we have Sky+ - other TV thingys are available).

The song that they have used for it is so, so lovely.
Obviously, the span of 150 years has vintage/retro theme, which I love, and I also like how it still works with the current themes.
I love the span of the decades and how they have blended it to show that no matter how much time passes and how many things change, the things that matter most to us and the things that we all need have and will remain the same.

To see the advert, click (HERE).

Alrighty then, that is all for today, it might seem strange to show off an advert, but I've done it before and I think that it is only fair for the good people of the company and advertising to receive credit for their work.

Do you like the advert? What's your favourite advert at the moment? Do you have a favourite John Lewis advert (I find it too tricky to choose!)? Any questions, suggestions for future posts or comments? Let me know in the comments below.

See you guys very soon!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

GingerSnaps xxx