I've Been Thinking... - Surprise, I'm Doing Blogmas!

Hi!!!

Happy December! I am so excited that December is here again. Christmas is my favourite time of year and Winter is my favourite season, so December is all kinds of wonderful in my eyes. I have some news about my plans for this blog in the run up to Christmas to share with you (which, as you may well have guessed from the title, is that I'm doing Blogmas). I thought I'd start this project by explaining what that will involve and what I hope to do so let's get started, shall we?

 First things first, for those of you who aren't familiar with it
Blogmas = uploading new posts every day from December 1st all the way to Christmas Day.
It is something I have watched other bloggers (and YouTubers - through the equivalent Vlogmas) do for years. I have wanted to participate for such a long time but this year seems the perfect time to commit to it because I have plenty of time to invest in this project and plenty of ideas for things to share.

I'm a little bit apprehensive but mostly very excited to create twenty-five posts for you to read (and hopefully enjoy) in the run-up to Christmas. I think it will really get me into the spirit of the season to be uploading Christmassy posts every day and hopefully I can pass it on to you when you read them.

As I mentioned earlier, I have got lots of ideas already in the pipeline. I think there's something for everyone with music and beauty and theatre and lifestyle posts all making appearances - put simply, it will be all of the things I usually share with you but with a Christmas twist.

Thanks for reading Blogmas Day 1!

What are your plans for December? Do you have any suggestions for posts that you'd like to see during Blogmas? I'm definitely open to your ideas, so feel free to let me know in the comments if you have any.

See you tomorrow for Blogmas Day 2!

I hope you have a wonderful day!

GingerSnaps xxx

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do - Music - New Music Picks.

Hi!!!

Good afternoon, lovely people. Today I have some new music to share with you. Most of the songs in this post are so new that they have only been released in the last week or so making them hot off the press tracks. There's everything from slow melodic songs to upbeat bops so hopefully you'll find something you like amongst this lot - I certainly like them all a lot.

 Nobody Gets What They Want Anymore by Marlon Williams (with Aldous Harding)

This song is melodic with a vintage, 1950s and 1960s feel to it. The melancholic lyrics pair wonderfully with the soft, rounded vocals, delicate harmonies which provide an air of vulnerability. It also reminds me of those indie movies and short films that have incredible soundtracks as well as great characters and beautiful videography - I'm not sure if that makes much sense to anyone other than me, but if you understand what I mean, then yes, it's that. It is a gorgeous piece and I have decided its compulsory listening for November.

Lemon To A Knife Fight by The Wombats

The newest release from The Wombats has all of the key components of the band's signature sound but a more mature, perhaps slightly more restrained, finish compared to their previous work. The vocals and lyrics are almost conversational and combine realism with quirky wording in a show of how their signature style has developed and improved over the years. I found that musically it reminded me of older tracks like Moving to New York in places, but with a less brash sound and a more dance around than jump around quality. I'm excited to hear what their upcoming new releases are like because this is certainly very promising.

Alright by The Magic Gang

You may remember that back in August I mentioned The Magic Gang to you - in this post - and since then I have been listening to and enjoying more and more of their music. They have become one of my favourite bands of 2017 and 'Alright' is a perfect example of why. This song is rooted in indie rock with electric guitars and layered harmonies ready to elevate the piece. The lyrics are catchy and the overall effect of the music, lyrics and vocals is a cool and unique sound which I cannot stop listening to.

That brings me to the end of this post. I hope you enjoyed reading it and I hope you enjoy listening to these songs this week.

Which is your favourite? Do you have any other comments or perhaps suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment and let me know.

Thanks for reading!

I hope you're having a fantastic day!

GingerSnaps xxx

We Will Remember Them - Remembrance Sunday and The Poppy Appeal.

Hi!!!

Good morning. Today is Remembrance Sunday, and while I did do a post on similar themes yesterday, I wanted to post a very short post to honour today, as has become traditional for this blog.

Today, as there was yesterday, there will be a two minute silence to honour those who have died in conflicts worldwide since WW1. I strongly encourage you to participate in the silence, think of those who have been and are impacted by conflict as a mark of respect for them all.

I also wanted to remind you that it's not too late to donate to the Royal British Legion's 2017 Poppy Appeal, the money from which will go to supporting veterans through all sorts of issues from careers advice to rehabilitation courses and also on raising and maintaining the profile of Remembrance in our communities. You can find out more information (here).

Thank you so much for reading.

Do you have any comments or maybe suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

Speak soon.

Have a good Sunday!

GingerSnaps xxx

Lest We Forget - A Message on Armistice Day.

Hi!!!

Good morning, I hope you're all well. Today, as you probably know, is Armistice Day and I've written a post today to honour that.

Today is obviously Armistice Day and there will be a two minute silence at 11am to honour those who have died in conflicts around the world since WW1.

 Every year I write posts encouraging you to stop and think about those who have been and are impacted by wars, past and present and to remember what others have done for us. I do this because I truly believe that, regardless of our opinions about the conflicts they are involved in, service men and women, past and present, deserve our respect.

So treat this as your reminder to participate in the silence and take the opportunity to reflect. 

Thanks for reading.

Have you got any comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment to let me know.
I hope you're enjoying your weekend so far.

Have a lovely Saturday!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - My New Favourite Magazine.

Hi!!!

Hey gang! I wanted to have a chat with you about a new discovery and a new favourite of mine. I recently found myself on a long train journey and - silly me - I hadn't brought along a book. I decided that I should grab something to keep me occupied on the return journey, especially as getting home always seems to take approximately nine-hundred-billion years longer than the outbound journey. I had a flick through the magazine racks at WHSmith and here's some thoughts on magazines in general and on what I found.

On the whole, I don't like glossy magazines much. Those concoctions of 95% adverts mixed with unattainably expensive products that can be entertaining but never seem to have enough going on for what you've paid and don't ever seem to fill as much time as you hope they will.

I wanted a magazine though because I do inherently love them. I have a great fondness for magazines - as a child I collected Bratz magazines and Girl Talk magazines and GoGirl magazines and I still have a lot of them.
 I love the way magazines can contain so much - perhaps that's why I find it so frustrating when they are full of adverts. I love that they can include content on music and on fashion and some recipes and some lifestyle content and interviews, neatly packaged into one easy to digest bundle and with a fun to read format and style.

When I spotted Frankie magazine on the shelf and saw the beautiful cover, I thought it might be up my street. I saw some of the key featured topics written across the top - ranging from design, art and fashion to music, home and craft - and I knew I had to get it.

 

It's an Australian publication which is also sold in New Zeland and the UK.

I love the writing styles that feature in in - personable, warm and sometimes slightly cheeky prose written by a range of talented writers which gives the feeling of catching up with a group of friends.

The adverts featured in it are less frequent than in a glossy magazine and they actually advertise things that a typical person might be interested in which makes them far easier to get along with.

It's a beautiful publication with a minimalist layout, with pastel colours used to accent titles and gorgeous photography. A copy of Frankie is a really lovely thing to own.

At 128 pages, the majority of which are filled with words and photographs, I was able to continue reading it long after my hour and a half long journey home. I had plenty to keep me occupied on the train and I still had lots to read with a cup of tea in the mornings for a good while after.

It also came with a gorgeous photographic poster - which was 100% my aesthetic (colourful, a little bit kitsch, soft focus - 10 out of 10) - with a two month calendar on the back which made my day and looks delightful in my room.

Most importantly though, reading it really made me feel inspired. It made me feel inspired to produce content, the interviews inspired me and opened my eyes to the amount of opportunities there are and can be for creative people.
 I felt inspired to try new things, to be kinder and be more silly and more spontaneous and I felt inspired to seek new perspectives.
Reading Frankie has been a really positive and enjoyable part of October.

I'd urge you to go out and grab their November/December issue if you can - if September/October is anything to go by, it'll be great.

I hope you enjoyed this post and have found a new source of offline inspiration.

Do you have a favourite magazine? Do you have any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

 

Have a spectacular 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

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do - Music - This Week's Playlist.

Hi!!!

I've got a post about music for you today - it feels like an age since I last wrote one but if nothing else it means I've had plenty of time to find songs for this one. I thought you might be in need of a few songs to refresh your playlists for this week, so I've compiled a list of the songs I've been playing most recently, including plenty of brand new music. Hope you guys like it.

Young, Dumb and Broke by Khalid.

This track comes with an incredibly relatable title (lol), a clear, husky, honest sounding vocal and such a strong vibe. It's chill, it's easy to listen to, it's youthful, it's catchy. It has been an instant favourite for me since I first heard it in late August and I've been waiting to put it in a post since. I think it is an absolute essential for your playlists.

Holy Mountain by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.

As many of you know, I'm a lifelong Noel Gallagher fan. This is the first release from the upcoming new album 'Who Built The Moon?' and I think it is fantastic. It is a different direction for the High Flying Birds, but I think it is energetic, it is upbeat, it really suits Noel's voice and it certainly has that stomping sit-up-and-listen quality that I love from the band's music.

Dear Life by Beck.

Dear Life, a single from Beck's new album Colours, is a really unique song. It has jazz and blues elements throughout thanks to a fabulous piano riff that guides the song. There are also some rock elements, particularly in the chorus when the electric guitar comes to the fore, but it isn't aggressive and it doesn't overpower the blues-y aspects. The lyrics are slightly melancholy, yet attention grabbing, and they have that meaningful, authenticity that draws a lot of people to Beck's music.

I hope you enjoyed reading this and that you get joy from adding these songs to your playlists.
What are your current favourite songs? Do you have any suggestions for future posts, or any comments in general? Leave a comment below to let me know.
I hope your week is off to a good start, I'll see you all very soon.

Have a marvellous day!

GingerSnaps xxx