Oh My Life! - Tales Of My Life and Times - My Birthday, Chicken, Photo Booths, Awesome Gifts and Cards and Cake... Lots of Cake.

Hi!!!


So, as some of you will know, my birthday was last Thursday and I thought that I would share with you all the wonderful things that I did.

I just want to make everyone aware of the fact that I do know how lucky I am to have family and friends like I do and who can/do treat me on my birthday. I am in no way posting this to make others feel bad or to flaunt how lucky I am, it is just because I like to give you guys an insight into my life and thought that this kind of post might be of interest as its the kind of post I enjoy reading. I hope you enjoy and we are all on the same page as to my appreciation.

My celebrations began on the Friday before last, when I spent my afternoon with Elf Girl (HERE), opening my birthday presents from her early.
She got me such wonderful things, all of which I love, and I'm really grateful to have such a brilliant best friend.
We proceeded to spend the rest of the afternoon eating Pot Noodles and discussing Oasis, singing Disney songs, Paint (HERE) songs and Bowling for Soup - otherwise known as our skill set in a nutshell.
These are always such brilliant times.

My "celebration" celebrations began last Sunday, when my friends and I all went out to Nando's (that place is like our mother-ship, and you can find it HERE) to eat our usual (definitely the mother-ship) chicken burgers - beanie burger for Elf Girl - and chips with Peri-Peri salt and Extra Hot, Hot Sauce.

My friends (including Lauren - HERE - and H - HERE) gave me some lovely cards and presents, we all took far too many selfies and sneaky off-guard shots, posed for group photos and hugged lots.

Later on in the evening, after one of our friends, Z, had left and after we'd nipped to the loo's, we found a Photo Booth and jumped in (there were only 4 of us but it was a bit of a squeeze since it was an ID Photo Booth for passports...) and took a photo from the set each (because it was the same photo printed 4 times). We then went in in pairs and me and Elf Girl went all 2.0 on the pictures we did at Morrison's last year (HERE).

Then the others left and myself and Elf Girl stayed outside for a while, singing a very poor rendition of Copacabana (HERE) and rolling down a hill... We are such children it is untrue.

Thanks to all of my lovely friends for an awesome evening out and for the cards and gifts. I'm very fortunate to have them.

Then, it was left until my actual birthday to celebrate. I got up in the morning and opened some bits and pieces from my parents and opened all the cards that were sent through the post or dropped at the house by the sender. 

My parents truly spoilt me with a pair of Docs (Dr Martens - HERE) which I have wanted since forever as well as a load of other wonderful things - thank you!

My cards are really beautiful, with lovely sentiments, details and colours. Elf Girl got me a Moon Pig (HERE) card which looked like a cover of Vogue and had all of our inside jokes as the surrounding article names which was cool. 

My Mom and I went out in the morning and had some lunch from Pret (HERE) and then headed off to get ready. I sat and did my face/hair/nails while watching some of my reality TV guilty pleasures and then I got dressed up to go and have a meal with the family at my Nan's house.

I wore an Ombre, white and blue, dipped hem dress and my new Docs, wore my hair curled and used some Soap and Glory (HERE) makeup - which Lauren got me for my birthday - creating a white and blue eye with a nude lip.

I went to my Nan's house and met up with all of our family for curry, presents, cakes (I had three...)and photos.

The food was delicious, the (mainly juice based) Bucks Fizz was a treat and a half, the presents I was given were absolutely amazing and I had such a wonderful time.

I also liked spending time getting a couple of family photos with everyone dressed up and I just really enjoyed myself. I feel like a good time was had by all, even though we were fit to burst upon going home.

Thank you to all of my family for the wonderful day and for my gifts and cards. I'm very lucky to have such a brilliant family and very lovely things.

The final celebration was going to Belton House (HERE) with Auntie S (HERE) for a day out, a catch up and some library envy. Would deffo recommend for a visit.

I had a great time - thanks S!

That's it for today then, and I guess for this month. I'll see you tomorrow for my July Summary - it should be a good un'.

When's your birthday? What do you think about what I got up to? What is your favourite part about birthdays? Any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading.

Have a very happy day!

GingerSnaps xxx





I've Been Thinking.... - The "Friendly Games" Have Begun... - The Commonwealth Games, Glasgow 2014

Hi!!!


So, since quite a few of you live within countries in the Commonwealth (or so my stats tell me) and I do too, I thought that I would do a wee post about the games this year.

The Commonwealth Games is known as the "friendly games", and if you've heard the humorous Radio One ads for the games, you'll know the "pleasantries" began today.

The opening ceremony, which I am watching now is quite simply brilliant, and one of the best opening ceremonies I have seen in a good while, and has me looking forward to the games.

I think Scotland is a brilliant country - it is very picturesque and pretty, it has amazing culture and traditions, its people are pretty cool as is its music scene (you know I love The Proclaimers) and I couldn't thin of better hosts for the games.

I also think its wonderful that UNICEF are working with the Commonwealth Games tonight - they are hoping to get as many people around the Commonwealth as possible to donate to helping children, simultaneously. I think it is a great cause, and that, if you are in a position to donate, and would like to, should donate and be a part of something great.

As you know, I think that sport is a great way of bringing people together (and I am by no means Sporty Spice) and I wish everyone lots of luck for the games (especially GB!).

Enjoy the games, get involved, feel the spirit of it all and if you can, donate to UNICEF tonight.

For a link to information on the Commonwealth Games, head on over (HERE).

Link to UNICEF's work with the Commonwealth Games, (HERE).

General UNICEF link, (HERE).

Link to Visit Scotland, for those who are heading there for the games, (HERE).

That's all for today then folks, and I will speak to you all very soon - watch this space.
Is the country you live in/are from in the Commonwealth? What do you think of the Opening Ceremony? Are you looking forward to the games? What sport are you most excited for? Any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.
Love you all!

Have a totally brilliant day!

GingerSnaps xxx

I've Been Thinking... - Things That Have Made Me Smile Lately...

Hi!!!


Hello there! How are you? Good I hope. There's been a few things that have made me smile recently, and I just thought it might be nice for me to share and maybe make you smile too.


So...

Things That Have Made Me Smile Lately...

1.  Finding Easter Eggs that I thought I had already eaten in my kitchen cupboards at home. It made me smile because I got the gifts again in a way, and I really like chocolate.
2. Raiding the draw full of Sharpie's (HERE), at work the other week - it was all above board, it was decided we needed to do a Sharpie clear-out (there were two very deep drawers full...). It made me smile because we all turned into little kids over the pretty colours and it made everyone smile.
3. The Chocolate Trolley (a selection of free chocolate for everyone to enjoy) at work a few Fridays ago. It made me smile because it made everyone happy and I like chocolate buttons a lot. Especially when they are free. This isn't just a post about chocolate... promise.
   
   
   
   

   
   

   

   
   
   
   
4. Doing Prom makeup for a family friend. It made me smile because she was really pleased with it, had a lovely prom, and looked beautiful (as always).
5. Eating Eggs and Soldiers with my Mom at the weekend. One of the children in the school my Mom works at brought them in for her, his Grandad owns chickens and he goes with his Grandad to collect them and they sing nursery rhymes as they do. This made me smile as the story behind the eggs made me all warm inside, and the food itself reminded me of when I was very little.
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
6. The beautiful flowers in the garden at my Nan's house. This made me smile because I love flowers (as does my Nan) and they look and smell gorgeous.
   
   
   
   
   
7. The thunder storm that happened in my neighbourhood over last weekend. This made me smile because I ran outside into the rain and it was really strong and it was an awesome storm to be in. It reminded me of the weather in Northern Ireland a number of years ago now, and Northern Ireland is one of, if not the most special place to me.
8. Watching Mary Poppins and eating chocolate digestives. This made me smile because I love the film very, very much (its one of my favourites), I love Disney films, I love singing all the songs (regrettably I'm not the best singer) and the biscuits were very yummy.
9. Watching Sunshine on Leith. This made me smile because it is another one of my favourite films, I love it, I love The Proclaimers (and their songs are the soundtrack) and it made me feel very happy!
10. Getting my nails done at a nail bar. This made me smile because the colour was lovely, the design on the accent nail was lovely and, as I always do my nails myself, I felt very special having them done for me.
    (Excuse the chipped polish in the photo below) 
    
    
    

    
    
    
    
11. Seeing fairy lights in a shopping trolley at work. This made me smile as it seemed so peculiar and yet it looked so pretty. I should point out that it was in the creative department, not in the lobby or anything...
12. Purchasing Ben & Jerry's (HERE) Strawberry Shortcake Frozen Yogurt. This made me smile because, although I haven't tried any yet, its nice to know its in the freezer, it looks so yummy and it reminded me of the time a few years ago where I literally just ate Ben & Jerry's...
13. 
    

    Watching Big Brother. This made me smile because, as uncultured as some people find such programs, I love Big Brother and this series is good.

    
    
14. Going to see Who's Afraid Of Virginia Wolfe at the Malvern Theatre (HERE) on Wednesday night. This made me smile because it was a great production and I had a wonderful evening! 
15. Eating miniature sticks of rock (like the ones from the seaside). This made me smile because it reminded me of holidays at the beach and because I love the colours too.

That's that for today then, hope you've enjoyed! I like writing posts like these because I can revisit things and get all smiley again!

What has been making you smile recently? Did this post make you smile? Do you have any suggestions or ideas for future posts? Maybe you have comment  on this one? Let me know in the comments below.

Speak soon lovely people.

Have a spectacular day!

GingerSnaps xxx

So, To Sum It All Up - June Summary.

Hi!!!

Welcome back, guys. Are you having a good day? Hope so. Anyway, yet another month over (where is time going?!) so another summary for you to read and possibly even enjoy.

I've had an enjoyable June this year and thought I'd share.

The World Cup's beginnings.

Yeah, even though we got knocked out before we'ven finished all our matches...
I love the sense of community that the World Cup brings to everyone and the way it allows us to show talents.
While some players made very silly mistakes (biting is not cool, OK?), I believe that everyone has done themselves proud so far, overall.
I'm looking forward to what the finishing stages bring.

To see my post on the World Cup, head on over (HERE).

Celebrating people's birthdays.

As you might know, Lauren 's birthday was this month and it was lovely to get to spend it with her and all of our friends.
I hope she had a lovely day, likes the gifts and cards everyone have her and enjoyed the extended celebrations (more on that later...)

To see a post about Lauren 's birthday, go (HERE).

Going out to spend time with friends.

This one is a kind of branch from Lauren 's birthday, so thanks to her.
A big group of us went out the other day to eat Nandos (it's the spiritual home of our friends, apparently, hehe) and watch The Fault in Our Stars.
Elf Girl and I went into (what we shall call) town early to shop (including giving money to a busker who we weren't convinced was singing in English - he was - and being nerds in Waterstones) and bumped into other people from the group and went around with them for a while before meeting the others to eat chicken (or the Beanie selection for Elf Girl) and get overly emotional in the cinema.

I had a great time and it was a standout of June for me.

Links to the last time we went to Nando's, go (HERE).

Links to Lauren are (HERE).

Links to Elf Girl, (HERE) and (HERE).

Keep an eye out for a potential "Oh My Life!" on this.

Celebrating the first birthday of my blog!!!

My little blog turned one this month and I couldn't be happier about that.

I'm so proud of this blog and I love all of the people who read it, comment on it and who follow it.


I'm very excited to see what happens on this slice of the internet, and I hope you'll stick around and see.

To see the celebratory post, mosey on over (HERE).

My Favourite Blog Posts Of June.

"Pink-Slippered Smudgeness" on Charlotte 's Web, (HERE)

It loved this post.
The poem ("Pink-Slippered Smudgeness") itself is beautiful and all of Charlotte 's notes on love are very open. Also, her housemates sound awesome.
Lovely post.

"Life Lately, another catchup" on A Rosie Outlook, (HERE)

This post had a bit of everything and was a great post.
The photography was good and the bits and pieces of wedding updates were interesting.
I enjoyed this one much my.

"The Lazy Day" on Little Winter, (HERE)

I myself am a massive fan of lazy days, probably because I'm a bit of a lazy person, so this post was right up my street.
I liked the friendliness of this post and the pictures in it.
Good read.

"Friday Round Up" on Made Up Of Little Things, (HERE)

I love the Friday Round Up's on Made Up Of Little.Things and this one was a good'un.
The story about the notebooks in TKMaxx was one I found very amusing (probably shouldn't have, but hey!) and it just made me smile.

"Poems" on Chronicles of the Red Herring, (HERE)

One of the many fabulous things you can find on this blog is poetry. There is a very cool selection of poems in this post and so you can get a bit of scope about the writing style.
A unique kind of post.

"The See-Saw Handhold" on The London Project, (HERE)

I do like this photograph very much and the short and sweet qualities of this post let it stand out.
It was a nice, unusual post with a good photographic content.

Hope you enjoyed this post guys. I look forward to posting during July and seeing what happens with my posts.

What did you get up during June? Anything similar to me? What do you think of what I did? Any questions/comments/suggestions? Let me know in the comments.

See you soon!

Have a fantastic day!

GingerSnaps xxx

Congratulations! - Blogging Milestones - Happy 1st Birthday Blog!

Hi!!!

How are we all today? I for one am mildly over excited because of today's post. In case you are a bit of a silly so and so and didn't read the title, my blog turned one this month.

My blog turned one year old on the 3rd of June (so some might say this post is belated but, umm, no) and I have a lot to say (this will probs be a bit cheesy!).

I started my blog just over a year ago with high hopes. In my first post, (HERE), I spoke of how a blog I had set up with a friend previously didn't work out and how I wanted A Dash Of Ginger to become a "constant creative space". I also set out the kinds of posts I wanted to write.

I proof read that first post into oblivion and checked with everyone within a kilometre radius that it was a good first post and what have you. Despite all this, I didn't feel nervous, more anticipation and curiosity for how this would all pan out.

One year on, here I am, typing up what will be my 88th post, feeling so many things on such high levels.

For every single one of the 2920 page views I have received so far, I am so incredibly grateful. You, my wonderful readers, make me so happy _
- even if this is the first post you have read on my blog. It makes me so happy to think that so many people from so many countries enjoy the things I write in my living room at home.

For the comments and follows, whether they be from people I know or not, I am very thankful. Again, it means a great deal to consider that people want to communicate with me about what I write and/or that people value what I write to the extent where they're seeking updates of my written activity.

 (I am fully aware that some people don't have the accounts in place to comment or follow - that was once me - but I still their support and readership).

You have no idea the pride I feel when I tell someone about my blog, or when someone tells me they liked one of my posts. You have no idea the pride I feel when I stop to "take a picture for my blog" - even though I seldom use them - or when I say "I'll put this in a post". You have no idea the pride I feel when I finish a post and hit publish.

The whole "pride" thing might come across self absorbed but I promise you it is not. I feel pride not just in "myself" but also in the fact that I have a bunch of lovely readers  who make all of these things possible.

I began my blog for a number of reasons but now I blog for even more reasons. I love how I have been able to watch my blog develop over this year.

I look forward to creating more content here and to seeing A Dash Of Ginger grow.  My readership and following might not be colossal but it means more to me to have you guys than millions of numbers on BlogLovin' ever could.

Who knows what this next year will bring this blog and its writer and readers? One thing's for sure, though, I would love you to stick around and find out with me.

So, here's to A Dash Of Ginger turning one and all the wonderful things that have come with it and will come from it.
I'll finish this in the way I finished my first post - I hope that you enjoy this little blog as much as I do/will.

P.S: feel free to have a look through the archives on the right as a celebration (I might)... but after you've read this of course.

I really hope that you have enjoyed this post, everyone. I love you guys so much and I can't wait to post more for you!

Any birthday messages for the blog? How long have you been a reader? What is your favourite post/type of post I have written? Do you have any suggestions or ideas for this blog or things you'd like to see? Anything else to say? Let me know in the comments. 

Thank you kindly for reading. 

Have a spectacular day!

GingerSnaps xxx

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do! - Music - Some Favourites From This Time Last Year...

Hi!!!


How are all of you lovely little people? I hope you are all OK and have been having a good week. I wanted to do a music-y post for you today and I've had this idea in mind for quite a while.


This time last year the music I was into was actually of an awesome standard and none of the songs here have ever really let go!

"Chocolate" by The 1975, (HERE).



 I adore the 1975 and I really love the album that this song is on (recommend for all the cool songs). This track was one of, if not the first from the album to be released and it is so good, so catchy and so awesome. Its music and lyrics are great and I just really love this song.

"Do I Wanna Know?" by the Artic Monkeys, (HERE).

The Artic Monkeys are brilliant and when they came out with AM last year I was chuffed. It is a fantastic album which has a really cool sound and this song was the first release from it, and what a good choice it was. This song is a complete beaut and I loves it.

"The Way I Tend To Be" by Frank Turner, (HERE).

This song is an absolute corker. I love this song, the lyrics are great and it is just a lovely listen. I remember playing this on the way to Cornbury Festival last year and singing along at the top of my lungs. It is a really strong summery indie track that I love.

"Let Her Go" by Passenger, (HERE).

Can I just take a minute for this song - I completely adore this. I think Passenger is/are pretty awesome anyway and this song is just so fantastic. It is so beautiful and I loves it very, very muchly. This one is a lovely one and I recommend it for a listen on everyone's part right now. Go on, I'll wait in this tab.

"Broken" by Jake Bugg, (HERE).

This song is beautiful. I love it such a ridiculous amount. Jake's voice is just beautiful and the music and lyrics of this song are awesome. I highly recommend this for a listen. I really do think this song is wonderful and I wouldn't mind you heading off and listening to this one right now because I probably will too.
I'd also just like to point out that some changes may have happened with music on YouTube between the time I wrote this with the links and whatever time it is that you are reading it because of (THIS) the links might be disrupted. If they are then please just do a quick search yourself. It might be a bit of an inconvenience, so I'm sorry but I can't do a lot about it and respect the choices of the record labels involved.

I loved piecing this post together. I love all of these songs and hold them all in such a high regard in my heart (that is quite possibly the most cheesy thing that I have said but its true). I also hope you enjoyed this post too and if you would like to see more like this then let me know.

What were your favourite songs this time last year? Do you like these songs? Did you like this post? Any suggestions or comments? Let me know the comments.

Speak soon you lovely people. Don't forget that you can follow me on BlogLovin with the little button on the side, if you so wish.

Have a brilliant day!

GingerSnaps xxx



Celebrate Good Times! - Happy Birthday To You... - Happy Birthday Lauren!

Hi!!!


Today's post will be a short and sweet one since its a celebratory post and what have you. So, today's post is for Lauren's birthday which is this week.


You might recognise Lauren from her blog which is over (HERE).

Lauren is a lovely friend to so many of people (myself included) and she has laughs, sing-a-longs, chats, hugs and just general goodness to spare to name but a few things.


So, Happy Birthday Lauren.


I hope you have a wonderful day today honey, I loves ya!

That's all for today then, everyone. I hope that you have found this post interesting. I like posting on peoples birthdays as an extended celebration so, um, yeah.

Is your birthday coming up? What are your favourite things about birthdays? Any comments or suggestions for future posts? Let me know in the comments.

Speak soon everyone, I've got quite a few posts lined up that I think you'll like.

Have a completely brilliant day!

GingerSnaps xxx