Shopping For Treats - Hauls and Wishlists - Christmas Cards and Wrapping Haul.

Hi!!!

It's Blogmas Day Eight and today I wanted to show you the cards and wrapping paper that I have chosen to use this Christmas. I am a self-confessed stationery fan and so I put a lot of thought into my Christmas stationery - after all, cards on the mantelpiece and presents under the tree ought to look their best. Day Eight is definitely one for the stationery lovers (or those who would like some guidance when navigating the millions of cards and wrapping papers on offer).

It took a rather long internal debate, as there are so many lovely options available this year, but I've picked these Charity Christmas Cards from Paperchase.

They feature an intricate red and white, Scandinavian-inspired design which looks really Christmassy and 50 pence from the sale of this pack of cards has gone straight to Nordoff Robbins, a music therapy charity which has recently come to my attention and which, as a music-lover, I am delighted to support this Christmas. As I said on Day Six, there are loads of options for Charity Christmas Cards - click here if you'd like to find out more.

 I picked some wrapping paper up while I was in Paperchase yesterday - it has a white background, adorned with illustrations relating to London at Christmas time from Paperchase.

I also really love the look of these wrapping papers from WHSmith - one is dark blue with gold glitter stars and the other is white with gold glitter reindeer and they have such a magical look to them - so I might just buy those, too, when I'm next out shopping. I'm not finished buying all of my wrapping paper/wrapping accessories/cards but I've started and I wanted to show you what I'd got so far - I will almost certainly end up buying far more than anyone could possibly need.

I hope you enjoyed today's Blogmas post.

Have you bought your cards and wrapping paper yet? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment to let me know.

Thanks for reading.

Have a fabulous day!

GingerSnaps xxx 

The Bare Necessities - Essentials - Winter Handbag Essentials.

Hi!!!

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

Phone/Money/Keys/ID.

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

Sunglasses.

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

 

Hand Cream.

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

Lip Balm.

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

A Book.

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

Tissues.

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

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

Have a wonderful day!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - Easy Ways To Make The World A Better Place This Christmas.

Hi!!!

Welcome back, everyone. I hope you're all having a good week so far. It's Blogmas Day Six and today's post is all about some really simple ways to help others and make the world a better place this festive season (and beyond) - I think Christmas is definitely a time when we realise just how lucky we are and feel the urge to help those less fortunate than we are so hopefully you'll find some inspiration here.

Buy Charity Christmas Cards.

This is one of the simplest things because almost all of us will be sending Christmas cards this December. Buying Charity Christmas Cards means that some of the price that you'd already be paying goes to a charity to help them with the good work they do. They are also a great way to raise awareness for charities because all of  those who receive a card from you will also see the charity you have chosen to support. Paperchase offer twenty-four different designs which each see 50p go to one of twenty-four different charities - including Action on Addiction, Centre Point, the Alzheimer's Society, Autistica and Nordoff Robbins. Charity shops also sell their own cards - check out the British Heart Foundation, their cards are always beautiful.

Donate To Food Banks.

The Trussell Trust runs a network of more than 400 food banks, giving emergency food and support to people in crisis across the UK and with increasing disparities in wealth and the introduction of Universal Credit, more and more people are having to rely on them. There are collection points in Tesco stores up and down the country and their own collection points elsewhere - you can find your nearest collection points here. Something as simple as picking up an extra bag of rice or box of mince pies or tin of beans when you're doing your weekly shop could make the world of difference to a family that is struggling this Christmas.

Wear a Christmas Jumper.

I blogged about Save The Children's Christmas Jumper Day last year and I wanted to mention it again this year because it is such a fun way to make a difference this Christmas. This year, it takes place on the 15th of December. The idea is very simple - you wear a Christmas jumper and raise money and awareness for Save The Children. You could bring Christmas Jumper Day into your workplace, you could get all of your family to join you in sporting their best festive sweaters but even if you're a one man band, you can still proudly wear your jumper and donate (here).

Buy Gifts Mindfully.

Similarly to the Christmas cards, giving Christmas presents is something a lot of us will be doing this month. There are lots of ways that you can give mindful gifts which benefit more than just you and the person who receives it. Whether you choose to buy gifts from which a percentage of the profit goes to a good cause or buy from businesses that support small communities in developing countries or buy from businesses owned by women or PoC, there are plenty of options. I've listed some ideas below but there really are so many more options out there, too.

Feminist Apparel offer t-shirts (and more) which see a percentage of profit go to social justice causes (such as this pin which benefits Black Lives Matter and these lovely t-shirts for The Equality Institute).

 L'Occitane are offering this limited edition candle which sees all profits split between three charities - Rosa in the UK, Toutes a l'ecole in Cambodia and Entrepreneurs du Monde in Africa and would be a perfect and affordable gift for any fans of home-ware (it costs £9).

The entirety of the price of Lush's Charity Pot body lotion (minus taxes) goes to grassroots organisations which align with Lush's ethics in the areas of environmental conservation, human rights and animal welfare (and, as it is available in various sizes and at various price points, it has the potential to make a perfect Secret Santa gift or stocking filler).

There's also the option of buying items such as books, DVDs, board games and vinyl records in charity shops, too - I know Oxfam are particularly good for books, for instance, but there are plenty more options so it's worth keeping an eye out.

It's Not Just for Christmas, It's for Life.

As I said at the start of this post, I think we all feel a really strong desire to make the world a better place at Christmas because it is a time when we really see how fortunate we are. However, I think one of the best ways you can do this is, is to make a promise to yourself that you will try and take this spirit into the New Year and keep offering help in whatever way you can. Whether you decide to make a monthly donation to a charity or decide to donate to a food bank every fortnight or give spare change to homeless people on your way home from work or give blood - there are so many ways you can keep up the work you start doing this December. It really isn't that difficult and if we all do something, no matter how small it seems, we really do have the power to make a difference in our local and global communities.

I hope you liked this post and that you have found it helpful.

Do you have any ideas for how we can make a difference this 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 Seven!

Enjoy today and let your joy fill the world,

GingerSnaps xxx

Oh My Life! - Tales of My Life and Times - Birmingham German Christmas Market

Hi!!!

Good morning! For today's Blogmas post, I wanted to share what I got up to yesterday with you - expect plenty of festive photos to brighten up your Tuesday afternoon and fill you full of Christmas cheer.

My Auntie S and I went into Birmingham yesterday for a day of Christmas shopping and visiting the Christmas market. As someone who has always lived in Birmingham, the German Christmas Market will always have a special place in my heart as I've spent so many December days and evenings there. It does seem like there are less stalls than there usually are this year, but there are building works going on nearby which is probably why.

The first point of call was definitely to grab something to drink, especially since the cups that the drinks are served in are so photogenic - as are the tokens you are given to hand over when you give the cups back.

 

The German Market always look super festive with all of the fairy lights, Christmas trees, the carousel, the Santa Clause statuettes and Nutcracker dolls.

 

 

 

I also think that all of the stalls are super Christmassy, too. There's rows of colourful stalls selling everything from toys, tree ornaments and candles to jewellery and food. It's always a nice place to go for gift inspiration or just to look at all of the lovely things on offer.

 
 

My tips for visiting would be to go during the day if possible (as it will be a bit less crowded), to say yes to all of the food available (everything from pretzels to marshmallows to fried potatoes with garlic sauce and crêpes) and allow yourself to be present and take in all of the lovely Christmassy sights and sounds and smells.

Massive shout out to my Auntie S for letting me tag along on her Christmas shopping trip and for sharing fried potatoes and laughing at a singing moose with me.

Thanks so much for reading Blogmas Day Five.

Have you visited a Christmas Market yet? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment to let me know.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I'll see you tomorrow for Day Six.

I hope you have a great day!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - Decorating the Christmas Tree! (Photo Diary)

Hi!!!

Welcome back! Today is Blogmas Day 4 and I wanted to share some photos from my weekend. We decorated the Christmas tree on Saturday and I thought it would be nice to tell you what the day we decorate for the holidays is like and what our tree looks like (spoiler alert: it's absolutely magical). I love decorating the tree and I think it's something most of us can agree is a fun tradition and something we look forward to so I hope you enjoy this post.

We have an artificial Christmas tree. I know this outrages some people, but I've spent all of my Christmases round an artificial Christmas tree and I personally love it - if nothing else because I don't end up accidentally standing on pine needles while walking round barefoot and howling with pain (it's right up there with standing on Lego, isn't it?). Our tree is quite a big tree and I wouldn't have it any other way - Christmas isn't the time for half measures, in my opinion.

 

I put the lights on the tree this year, took them all off because I'd missed a few branches, put them all back on, and then had to sit down for a bit before I untangled the second set and put those on the tree because, as it turns out, putting up Christmas lights is a pretty taxing job.

 

We put quite a lot of lights on our Christmas tree, but we also put a lot of decorations on it, so it's necessary for you to actually see them.

 

I would describe myself as the Chief Decorator but I don't decorate all by myself because I love gathering round the tree and making memories with my family.

 

I dig out a Christmas CD (find my recommendation here) or put on a Christmas music channel on TV (I'd recommend Heart's TV channel for the best Christmas songs), we sing along and drink as many cups of tea as is humanly possible and end up covered in glitter. It is definitely one of my favourite parts of Christmas.

 

 

We're not minimalists when it comes to decorating the tree, and we don't have a theme for our decorations, but I can't imagine the Christmas tree looking any other way. We squeeze as many baubles as we possibly can onto the branches and I think it leaves us with a beautiful display, especially because there are so many different decorations from different times and different Christmases and different locations around the world and so it is brimming with all the sentimentality of a Christmas movie.

Thanks for joining me for Blogmas Day Four, I hope you enjoyed seeing some photos of our decorating process (which sounds very official, doesn't it?) and of our lovely Christmas tree.

How do you decorate for the festive season? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

See you tomorrow!

Have a spectacular day!

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

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do - Music - My Top Christmas Compilation Album.

Hi!!!

Welcome to Blogmas Day 2! Today I wanted to talk all things music and in particular Christmas music, now that it is finally acceptable for me to blast it at top volume throughout the house. I'm going to tell you about a wonderful Christmas compilation album that has become a staple of the festive season for me and might for you, too.

I bought this album last December because I decided the drive to visit some of my family - which takes a couple of hours - definitely required some guaranteed Christmas tunes (I always struggle to find the Christmas radio stations and then when I do I'm normally just in time for the adverts - not ideal).

Now (That's What I Call) Christmas is a three disc compilation album and I think it has everything you could want at Christmas - pop songs, nostalgic sing-a-long classics, traditional songs and carols and jazz.

I would say Disc One has more of a pop sing-a-long vibe, kicking off with Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You', moving through 70s and 80s Christmas essentials from the likes of Wizzard, Slade and Jona Lewie as well as some more recent instant classics from Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, Coldplay and more.

Disc Two is where most of those wonderful timeless jazz tracks are - think Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole singing songs like 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' and 'The Christmas Song'  - as well as some slightly more upbeat songs from the likes of Darlene Love and The Jackson 5.

I'd describe the overall feeling of CD Three as traditional and focussed on what Christmas means to people. It features a variety of traditional songs like 'Silent Night' (performed by Nat King Cole, which is, quite frankly, the stuff of dreams), 'Silver Bells' and 'In The Bleak Mid Winter'. It also features some less traditional - but just as meaningful - songs like 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)', 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' and 'The Power of Love' which are three of my favourites.

I think it is clear that the main reason I recommend 'Now (That's What I Call) Christmas' so highly - it has something for every mood, every festive occasion and for every taste. That and the fact that it is actually full of songs that you'll know - sometimes compilations end up with all sorts of odd songs on them that act like a weird sort of filler but not this one (except for maybe 'Senor Santa Claus'?).

At £11.99 for three discs and over 70 songs, I think it is an absolute bargin and the perfect album to treat yourself (and maybe your Christmas/music loving family and friends) to this Christmas.

You can buy it -here-.

Thanks for reading.

Do you have any Christmassy album reccomendations for me? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment below to tell me.

I hope you enjoyed today's post. See you tomorrow.

I hope you have a cracker of a day!

GingerSnaps xxx