Lest We Forget - Armistice Day 2015

Hi!!!

How are you all today? How has your week been so far? Since today is Armistice Day, I thought I'd put together a little post for you all to read.

On the 11th of November 1918, the First World War ended officially and with that came the end of years of conflict and casualties and deaths. Since that time, on the original Armistice Day, many other conflicts have taken place and they are all the reason (from the First World War to more recent conflicts) that we should participate in the two minute silence at 11am today - to commemorate the ending of conflicts, to remember the service men and women who died for their country or who were injured fighting for their country, who had to put their lives on hold to go and fight for their country, those who struggled to adjust to life after conflicts and of course the families and friends who were affected by war, too.

 

Thank you for reading, I will speak to you guys later in the week.

What do Remembrance celebrations mean to you? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments below.

See you soon!

 

Have a wonderful day!

 

GingerSnaps xxx

We Will Remember Them... - Remembrance Sunday 2015.

Hi!!!

While this post is quite serious one, it is also an important one. If you've been around for a while, you'll know how important I think Remembrance Celebrations are, and so I have written this.

Today is Remembrance Sunday (as I'm sure you know if you are in the UK). Today is a day for remembering the brave service men and women across the globe who have sacrificed their lives for their country in various conflicts all the way from the First World War right up to more recent conflicts. It is also a time to spare a thought for those still out there fighting, to think about the service men and women who have survived war and to think about the families who have supported and are supporting the service-people they care about as well as the families who haven't been so lucky as to see their loved ones return home.

We wear poppies every year throughout the months of October and November as a sign that the armed forces and their families are thought of and remembered by us as a nation, as individuals and as communities. By buying Poppies, you can donate to Royal British Legion so that they can continue their work to support service men and women and their families and friends during and after conflicts, no matter what happens to them. I will always wear a poppy with pride.

 I hope that today you are respectful and take part in the two minute silence at 11 o'clock, and make those two minutes count in whatever way it is you see fit (be it silent prayer or reflection or thought).

And so, to Service Men and Women everywhere in the world, alive or passed, who fought a century ago or this year, I salute you. We will never forget.

Find the Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal (HERE)

I'm going to write some more about Rememberance on Wednesday - and will be urging you to take part in the second two minute silence. Do check back then to see that, if you'd like to.

Do you have a poppy or maybe a pinbadge or wristband to wear? What does Rememberance Sunday mean to you? Do you have any stories you would like to share about this topic? Do have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Why not let me know in the comments below? Lets all be respectful there, please...
Thank you for reading, see you guys later.

Have a lovely day.

 

GingerSnaps xxx

The Night of The Sparkler - Bonfire Night 2015

Hi!!!

Today is the 5th of November which is Bonfire Night, as you may or may not know depending on where you are in the world. If you aren't quite sure what it is for whatever reason then do feel free to click the link to find out more (HERE).

Bonfire Night is one of my most favourite times of year - I love fireworks  (I mean *really* love fireworks) and bonfires and toffee apples and candyfloss and all of the other fun stuff that comes along with the celebration.
I know I've said this before, but to me, Bonfire Night is like the send off to all things Autumnal and the start of Christmas and Winter which makes it all the more fun and exciting.

 We go to an arranged display every year and this year is no exception. The display is on Saturday so I'm going to have to wait just a little bit longer for my Bonfire Night celebrations - I've been looking forward to it all week!

 

I hope that you enjoy your Bonfire Night this year whatever it is that you are doing - have fun and stay safe, everyone!

 

Thank you for reading, I hope you've enjoyed this post. I'll see you soon.
What is your favourite thing about Bonfire Night? Are you having fireworks at home or going to a display this year? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Be sure to tell me in the comments below.
Happy Bonfire Night!

I hope you have the most glittery and sparkly Bonfire Night ever!

 

GingerSnaps xxx

Spookly Dookly - Happy Halloween 2015!

Hi!!!

Somehow, we've already ended up at October 31st, and we all know what that means! Yes, that's right, it's Halloween! I for one am very excited as I do really enjoy Halloween and all the fun that goes along with it.
 

I for one love Halloween. I think that getting dressed up in costumes, carving pumpkins, seeing fireworks, watching Halloween-y films (I'm more your Addams Family kind of gal, than your horror and terror), catching up with friends and family and a whole host of other things, well, its just brilliant.

Whatever you are doing (if you celebrate Halloween) and whether or not you are more Team Spooky (with me) or Team Scary, I'd like to wish you a very Happy Halloween! and I hope you stay safe and have fun.

I hope that you liked this post and that you've got lots of lovely plans for a great Halloween.

Are you doing anything for Halloween? What are you going to dress up as? What is your favourite part of Halloween? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Be sure to let me know in the comments!

See you all soon! 

Have a scarily good day!

GingerSnaps xxx

Spookly Dookly - Halloween - Last Minute Essentials and Ideas.

Hi!!!

Good morning everyone! I hope you're all having a good week so far! Today is a bit of a Halloween post and its one for those amongst you who haven't quite organised themselves yet.

I know the struggle. You spend the whole of October planning just how awesome your Halloween costume is going to be or trying to think of ideas and then, before you know it, you've run out of time and it's October 30th - or October 31st (it happens to the best of us) - and you're running around the shops like a headless chicken and throwing clothes around your bedroom trying to find a way of making them Halloween-y. There is a plus side, however, to me having been so horrendously badly organised for many years and that is that I can help you. I know what you need to do to salvage some of the awesome you had planned. Need my advice? Keep reading.

Advice for the "I know what I want to be - I just haven't sorted it out" people.

1. Write down a quick list of things that you would like to have for your costume and makeup.
2. Look around to see if there is anything you already own that you could use - old costumes, dresses that would look good with a cape, any makeup you already have that could be used to make you look spooky. Is there anything you could give the DIY treatment to?
3. Head down to your local supermarket, pound shop or maybe a fancy dress store (if there is one near you) and see what you can find. Charity shops can also be good if there is a specific thing you need - like a long dress, for example. Do you see anything that could look more like you wanted if you did some DIY?
4. Put all of the things you've gathered together and see how it all looks.
5. Do any of the DIY type things you may have thought of - and, if you doubt your skills, have a back-up plan.
6. Bear in mind that it may not turn out exactly like you wanted it to, but you can make it work - I believe in you!
7. Tah Dah!

Advice for the "I have no clue what to go as - why do I always leave it so late? (its October 31st and I need to leave my house in a couple of hours!)" people.

1. I've been this person, I won't judge you. You won't always have a spectacular idea in your head. Remember that this will turn out fine in the end and you'll have loads of fun.
2. If you have no form of costume and no time to go looking for one in the shops, my first piece of advice is look in your makeup bag (or if you don't have one, look in someone else's - having asked them first, of course) and start doing your face. Think spooky, mystical and/or out of the ordinary and use a whole host of colours - dark colours, colours that you'd never normally dream of putting together or colours that wouldn't normally go where you put them (like my fluorescent pink eyebrows from years back). Essentially, let your creative streak come to the foreground and have fun with it!
3. If you do have some form of costume (like an old one) then pop that on and do some makeup that goes with it or, if you prefer, opt for Step 2 and shake it all up a bit - it's Halloween, it doesn't have to look perfect.
4. Back to those of you who have not got any form of costume at all, look in your wardrobe for some dark clothes (or whatever colours would correspond with your makeup - creepy dolls may want lighter colours etc.). Pull out whatever you've got and try things on together in front of the mirror at home to see what looks best.
5. If you want, accessorize with anything that goes with your look.
6. See, you did it, you look fabulous - I knew that this would all work in then end!
7. Tah Dah!

Advice for you all!

1. It's all about having fun - bear that in mind - and I'm sure you'll all look great whatever you chose to do.
2. Don't feel bad about not having been prepared and sorting things out before now - it happens to the best of us!
3. Stay safe, have fun whatever you're getting up to and have a Happy Halloween!!!

I really hope that this has helped some of you guys out in some way, I know what it's like to have left it to the last minute, I know the panic, but hopefully some of that has been avoided with my advice.

What are you doing this Halloween? Have you found this advice useful or helpful? What are you going as for Halloween? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Be sure to let me know in the comments!

Thank you for reading, Happy Halloween!

Have an spooktacular day!

 

GingerSnaps xxx

Let's Make a Change - Charity Telethons - Stand Up To Cancer

Hi!!!

How have your weeks been? Good, I hope. Today I would like to have a little chat with you about Stand Up To Cancer, the telethon for which is, of course, tonight.

Stand Up To Cancer aims to find a cure for all types of cancers and in a world were so many people whose lives are/have been affected by or know someone else whose life has been affected by cancer, I think they are doing some utterly amazing work.

Stand Up To Cancer is providing us all with lots of entertaining programming tonight on Channel 4 - I for one am really looking forward to the Gogglebox Celebrity special - so do be sure to tune in and show your support with me.

If you are able to and are interested in donating then (HERE) is a link to the Stand Up To Cancer website so you can donate directly or maybe have a browse at some of their merchandise.

 

I hope that you have enjoyed this post and that you've all had lovely weeks.

Are you planning on tuning in or donating to Stand Up To Cancer? What part of the show are you looking forward to the most? Any comments or suggestions for future posts? Be sure to let me know in the comments, I love hearing from you guys.

Thank you for reading, have a lovely weekend.

Have a totally beautiful day!

GingerSnaps xxx

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do! - Music - Let's Talk About... - Circa Waves.

Hi!!!

Oh, hey there! Happy October! So, I'm a big ol' music lover - as I am sure you know by now - and a something that always makes me happy are my newest musical discoveries. Sometimes they are artists that are just starting out, sometimes they are artists that I cannot believe I didn't know about before and have several albums to explore, sometimes they are current, sometimes from decades ago. Anyway, today I want to share a discovery I made a quite a few months ago now and that I am delighted I found.

Let's Talk About Circa Waves.

 

Circa Waves are relatively new (indie) kids on the block. They are a band from Liverpool with an incredibly cool sound.
They have that awesome indie disco thing going for them which means that their songs have the versatility to be danced to or to be sat and listened to which is always good.
If you are into fantastic, upbeat, guitar-heavy songs with a great music and lyrics (and who isn't?) and fancy listening to something new then I would highly recommend giving Circa Waves a listen.

Four of my favourite songs by Circa Waves:

• "T Shirt Weather" (LISTEN HERE)
• "Stuck In My Teeth" (LISTEN HERE)
• "My Love" (LISTEN HERE)
• "Fossils" (LISTEN HERE)

Three reasons to love Circa Waves:

• Their fantastic music and lyrics which make up their unique sound.
• I could honestly get lost in their songs and listen to them for ages which is always a good sign.
• The aesthetic of their music videos - might sound a bit odd, but for me, it can be make or break and in this case, it makes it.

 Two of things I would like:

• Their debut album, "Young Chasers", in actual CD form (FIND IT HERE)
• Tickets to their upcoming tour - who wants to join me? (FIND IT HERE)

One of my favourite interviews related to Circa Waves:

• This is one of the only ones I could find - Vevo Dscvr (WATCH IT HERE)

That is all I have to say to you today then, you lovely lot. I hope that you have enjoyed this and that maybe you've discovered something new through this post.

Are you a Circa Waves fan? Or have I brought them to your attention? What do you think of their music? Would you like to see more "Let's Talk About" posts? Any comments or suggestions for things in the future? Be sure to let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading, I'll see you soon!

 

Have the most fantastically brilliant day!

GingerSnaps xxx