1/30/2013

Turning An Attitude Corner | Just Add Ginger



Just Add Ginger

Sometimes, particularly in Winter, it's hard to feel peppy and enthusiastic all the time. The weather is bad, we are feeling the pinch after Christmas and New Year, and things just seem a bit bleak. 

I know I was feeling that way. Around Christmas time, I was feeling really down in the dumps. I was feeling under the weather, and just overall felt a bit defeated and, well, jaded! It was not a good feeling. I didn't like it, and I knew that there was something wrong. 

Then, when NYE came, I decided to throw all of my negativity out the window (along with some VERY old clothes), and focus on the good stuff! 

Sometimes, I get so wrapped up in counting all the lemons that life throws me that I forget to throw them back and say "f*ck you!!" There is no way I want this post to be a "WOE IS ME" post. NO WAY! But I still want to be candid. 

Life can be rubbish sometimes! 

But it's important to look on the positive side and be thankful for what you do have, finding ways to make you claim back that warm fuzzy feeling inside when you feel all is right with the world. Grabbing life by the balls and saying "Right, you. Now we can work together, or you can be against me, but either way, I'm going to come out a winner!" 

So, because I feel like my attitude has turned a corner, I just wanted to share tips that I've found useful. I always try to remember these things, and if ever I'm feeling down, doing something on this list nearly always cheers me up.

Learn to love: I'm not talking about running out into the wilderness and hunting down Heathcliff. I'm talking about loving yourself. Finding something that you can't get enough of. If it helps, write a list of things you are good at. Use this as a go-to for pointers. Me- I love the fact that I've achieved so much. I never let anything get in my way of doing something...although one-handed shoelace tying I'm still working on! 

Make time: Don't get so caught up in life that you forget about the people who love you. I consider myself very lucky to have the people in my life that I do. I always see my friends as an extension of my family, and I know that I don't always make enough time for them in my life. Friends are there to listen to you and support you. Don't forget you can turn to them if you need them. And make time for them. Do something fun together, and just laugh. Laugh lots. Laugh until your stomach hurts and you can't laugh any more. Guaranteed that after that life will have regained its rosy tone!

Do It: Try something new. It could be a new hobby, or travelling to somewhere different...Plan to do something that scares you. You don't have to make extravagant plans. Even if it's just walking a different way to work, cooking a new recipe, writing a story, calling somebody you've been meaning to in ages but never got round to it...Just in the planning stages something can get you giddy and excited. This year, I'm going to visit more of my friends. I'm thinking of going to my first festival. I want to do a skydive and a zip-line for charity. I've booked a ticket to go to my first classical concert. Just thinking about all these plans makes me feel happy! 

Just Add Ginger

Pamper Yourself: Take some time out of every day for you to do something you love. An hour lying on the sofa watching your favourite TV show, listening to your favourite music, meeting up for coffee with somebody... Don't forget to treat yourself to something that makes you feel good. It may be hard to do, but the main person who's going to help you feel better is you. For me, it's bubble baths...lighting some candles, putting on my favourite relaxing music, and indulging in a hot chocolate or glass of wine in the bath. It's not much, but it makes me feel so much better. 

Flowers is another thing. I LOVE flowers. Roses are my absolute favourite, but if I bought myself roses all the time I'd look a bit weird. Bright flowers are the main thing. Bringing colour into your life I think can really help brighten your spirits. It doesn't even have to be flowers. Try wearing bright colours. I know I went through a stage in my life of wearing really dark clothes, all the time, and it really didn't help where I was at the time. Now, my wardrobe is a sea of rainbows, and wearing those clothes really makes me feel better. Even if it's just adding a pop with a scarf, earrings, or bag. Colour = Happy!! 

I hope I haven't blah-ed on too much in this post. I just really wanted to share my feelings and ideas on turning yourself around out of the January blues! 

Life, after all, is what you make it. 

1/18/2013

Alberto Balsam Coconut & Lychee Shampoo and Conditioner | Just Add Ginger


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My hair has always been a bit of a crazy situation! 

When I was really young, it was tight ringlets, then it dropped to being quite straight, then went wavy, then decided to be a mixture of the two (Wurly?!) 

Finding a shampoo/conditioner that is right for my hair is a bit of a conundrum. I don't like to stick to the same product for too long, and, as I have learnt, some products can cause build up on your hair! 
One day, whilst pottering around the supermarket, I saw that the large display of Alberto Balsam products were on special offer (a 2 for....) It was the range of "scents" that drew me in first....and I couldn't resist the idea of Coconut and Lychee (I have a thing about coconut at the moment.)  

At first, I was a bit dubious to try the products out...they were a fraction of the price I'd normally pay on shampoo and conditioner, and I really didn't want to make an even bigger hash of my hair! But, even just opening the bottles, I knew I'd made the right decision. 

I am absolutely in love with the scent. The hit of coconut you get is phenomenal! And combining the shampoo & conditioner mean the smell has staying power. I could literally sniff the bottles all day they smell that good, and I can only imagine the other scents in the range have the same impact! 

I also think the bottles look really pretty. A bit superficial when looking for a good shampoo/conditioner I know, but they look professional to me. I don't know if it's the typography, or the layout of the text and images, but I see them in my shower, and I'm not afraid for them to be on public display.

The shampoo consistency is nice and a little bit goes a long way. I find that just the right amount of product comes out on one squeeze of the bottle (and I have ridiculously thick hair!) After washing it out, my hair has that clean "squeak", and my hair just feels cleaner and fresher. 

The conditioner has a thicker consistency, and I think this makes it feel more luxurious. I leave this on for about 1-2 minutes to help de-tangle my hair. I have one clump of hair at the back of my head that ALWAYS knots....all the time...always! Granted, the conditioner doesn't get the knot out entirely, but it really does help. After using the conditioner, my hair feels super soft, even when it's still wet, and once it's dried, it feels so lovely, and is practically tangle free. 

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Because a little bit goes a long way, I've barely even gotten half way through the shampoo and conditioner, and I've been using them for a good few weeks now. Each bottle is 400ml, so I think these will last me until February at least. With money being a little bit tight after the festive period, this is just what I need to beat the budgeting blues. 

I cannot rave about this product enough at the moment. It's one of those things I look back on and say "I'm so glad I found you."

If you're looking to try a new shampoo or conditioner, and need something that clarifies and smooths your hair, I would definitely give the Alberto Balsam Coconut & Lychee range a look. For a bargainous price, I definitely got what my hair needed, and more, and my head smells great too! 

1/13/2013

A Lovely Birthday | Just Add Ginger


Just Add Ginger blog

Just Add Ginger blog

This week I turned 26. Ahhh! 

As scary as that number seemed to me, this year I had an absolutely amazing birthday, and wanted to share some of the photos I took to mark the occasion! 

I really am so lucky to have some really awesome people in my life, who really made me feel special and have a great birthday....well, birthday-week really.

Just Add Ginger blog

Just Add Ginger blog

Just Add Ginger blog
Thank you to everybody who made my birthday wonderful! 

New Year Resolutions 2013

Hello Everyone! 

And Happy New Year! 

I can't believe this is my first post in 2013!!! That's sooooo crazy! I would have liked to post right at the start of the year, but guess what?! 

I only went and got ill! How lame am I? 

For my first post back, it's Resolutions time. Sharing these, and writing them down means they are inescapable, and hopefully, I'll be more inclined to stick to them!

Resolutions 2013!!! 

Be healthier: I make this resolution EVERY year, and I don't get any better at sticking to it. But this year I am going to...but gradually. Being ill has made me realise that I really should care more about what I eat/how much water I drink/my exercise, and instead of doing EVERYTHING at once, I'm going to break myself in....slowly!! 

Stay in bed: I am notorious for being a person with a "waking up and getting up" mentality. It's almost like I don't know how to lie in. This year, I'm going to make sure I have lazy weekends lounging around in my onesie, mornings of mooching in bed watching a movie....my body deserves a break from my weekday early morning wake up call! 

Fashion Confidence: I don't know what quite happened towards the end of last year, but I decided that I was daring enough to want to wear red lipstick. The only time I've ever worn red is for dance shows, so this was a big step for me! 


I love the way wearing red lipstick made me feel. So this year, I'm going to be more confident and make more daring fashion choices. I've already invested in a mock-leather jacket, and a pair of killer spiked platforms (WITHOUT a strap!! Eeee!) Let's see what else I can accomplish!


What are your resolutions this year?

Ginger x