8/30/2017

Ten Thoughts You Have As A New Parent | Just Add Ginger



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If you're a new or first time parent, you just might have thought the same things.....


Just how did we make something so bloody adorable? 



He's been asleep for ages...I might prod him. 




*Prods baby. Baby stirs* Oh shit! Go back to sleep. Go back to sleep. 




How can someone so small create so much poo?!? 




Finally he's asleep. Now I can get XYZ done! *Sits and plays on phone*




Four hours sleep? I am winning at life right now




Oh you want to hold him? No no, don't worry about passing him back yet. Have him for as long as you want. 




*Baby has jabs and cries* OH GOD I'M SO SORRY!!!! 




*Baby doesn't want to be put down* It's okay baby. I didn't need to shower/clean my teeth/brush my hair anyway.




I can't wait to have a night out! *Has night out* Oh I just miss my baby so much!




8/27/2017

What I've Been Watching | Just Add Ginger


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If we can make it through watching one television programme a night uninterrupted nowadays, we know we are basically winning at life. The days where hours would pass by as I binge-watched show after show are a thing of the past. When I watch something now, it's something I have been really looking forward to seeing or something that I know requires minimal concentration.

Sex And The City | Now TV

We have a Now TV box so the entire Sex and The City boxset is always at my disposal. I've started right at the beginning again and plan to watch it all the way through. There are episodes that I've never seen all the way through and if hanging out with four kick-ass women for 25 minutes isn't one way to instantly pick you up I don't know what is.

Game Of Thrones | Sky Atlantic

Don't even get me started on this one! Game Of Thrones is something I have watched from the start and I am gutted that the latest season is coming to an end. If you love action, adventure and fantasy, then this is a must-watch. Brutal, tense, and sensual, you don't even realise that the time has flown and as soon as you tune in it feels like it's over. 

Friends | Comedy Central

A show of my teen years and now a definitive part of our evenings. Friends is a show that never gets old, and it's been on for so long that I feel like I know each character inside out. This is the show that you don't have to watch to know what's going on, and one that instantly puts a smile on my face (which when you've had a long day is something you really appreciate)!

Girl Boss | Netflix

I have to confess - although I shouldn't really have done this I did actually binge-watch this show throughout the course of an entire day. I just couldn't help myself. It was addictive and I got totally engrossed and completely lost all sense of time. I've heard that it won't be coming back for another series and to be honest I'm really gutted about that.

Bad Robots | Comedy Central 

Ryan and I stumbled across a total winner with this one. It's so difficult to find any film or TV show that makes me laugh but this has me in stitches all the time. It is silly, stupid, cringe-worthy. and absolutely genius (the photo booth and "bot" sketches are my favourite). 

Don't Tell The Bride | All 4

I'm so glad Don't Tell The Bride is back. I absolutely love this show and spend most of the time watching it feeling embarrassed, hiding behind a cushion or ranting at the screen. It does seem a little more 'put together' nowadays, with a tad more structure, but I can overlook this because it is just easy, breezy entertainment that is a must-see if you are planning a wedding, have been to a wedding, or have had a wedding. 

If you have any TV show recommendations, let me know in the comments.

8/23/2017

A Summer BBQ's Best Friend * | Just Add Ginger


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My taste in beer has changed dramatically over the past few years. The girl who used to crack open a bottle of Coors Light has been replaced by a woman who enjoys sampling all different kinds of beers, ales, IPas and Pils. A few weeks ago when the opportunity to try out some beers from UK importer Morgenrot arose, I was only too happy to get involved.

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And what better excuse to crack open a few cheeky beers than at a BBQ we were holding. Since early on this year Ryan has been really involved in lighting up the BBQ and trying out all sorts of different recipes for pulled belly pork, ribs, burnt ends and more. He is an awesome pitmaster, and knowing that we would have a selection of beers to pair with his latest offering really was the cherry on top of the (very delicious looking) cake. 

For me beers and BBQ food go hand in hand, so instead of writing just a straight up review, in celebration of the summer we have (kind if) had I'll be - with Ryan's guidance - recommending meats that have worked or would work well with each beer too.

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Cerveses La Pirata 
Spanish Brewery - First opened in 2015 

I went into this beer tasting deliberately not knowing anything about any one of them. I very much consider myself the voice of the every man when it comes to trying food or drink. I am not an expert. I don't know all the fancy terminology. I like to think I write the way most people think. Simple. Straight forward. Honest. 

So please believe me when I tell you that I completely fell in love with the two beers I received from Cerveses La Pirata. They were absolutely beautiful. Both with a really rich and interesting flavour without being too intense and overpowering for my palette. They also paired really well with the ribs that Ryan cooked. I tried the American IPA first and as soon as I had the first sip I knew I had to find out how I could get my hands on more. The flavour sung to all the senses and was the perfect blend of mellow citrus notes and well-bodied undertones.

The Amber Ale had a slightly more full-bodied flavour, but still went down a treat and was not too overwhelming. It complemented the meat really well with subtle hits of sweetness blending with the rub on the ribs and pulled pork and the tang of the accompanying sides. This one was slightly more malty and for my former self might have been too much. But for me, this was perfect. If I had to settle for a favourite it would be the IPA that took the edge, although the Amber cut a ridiculously close 2nd place.

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Beercat Brewery 
Spanish Brewery - Established in 2012 

To be frank I wasn't the biggest fan of the Siete Vidas from Beercat. The hints of coriander in the beer were somewhat reminiscent of Blue Moon, which has always had too intense a flavour for me. After a few sips it all became a bit too much and I had to move on. However Ryan enjoyed this one. This one didn't make an appearance at our BBQ but the cilantro would have worked well with the richness of the belly pork and balanced out the flavours, cutting through nicely and cleansing the palette. 

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Krombacher 
Germany Brewery - founded 1803 

I only wish I had known about Krombacher when I was pregnant. Both the Pils and the low-alcohol version were brewed so well that the flavour differences between the two were practically indistinguishable. These beers were unpretentious, light, crisp and a much more grown up version of the beers I used to drink. With a perfect balance of flavour that would make them ideal to crack open on a warm summer's day and sip with your more traditional BBQ food. 

For those who enjoy a cheeky tipple but are turned off by too intense a flavour, these are great. And for those out there who are expecting and have had to forgo their beer appreciation, if you get your hands on the low alcohol Pils for a once-in-a-while treat, you will not be disappointed at all

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Windhoek 
Namibian Brewery 

Just like the Krombacher, this lager from Windhoek was light, crisp, straight-forward and grown up. Ever just a touch more bitter than most lagers I have tried, this would have made a good choice at one of our BBQs where either more simplistic or complex flavours were on offer. However was it clearly distinguishable or memorable from the other beers I got to sample? No, not really. It wasn't stand-out to me, but maybe that it because I've worked so long on moulding my palette so am instinctively in search of something with a bit more individuality.

I'm so grateful to Hungry Communications for the opportunity to try out these beers. Everybody's tastes are different so naturally there were some that stood out more to me than others. However if you are planning a BBQ or a big beer fan I suggest giving any of these a try. You might just find yourself a new favourite.
* I was very kindly sent all these beers by Hungry Communications for review consideration, for which I a very grateful. This however does not influence my opinions. They are 100% honest and guided by my own personal experience of products. 

Please drink responsibly and only if you are above the legal age to do so!

8/21/2017

YouTubers You Should Be Following (3rd Edition) | Just Add Ginger


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For me being a mum has meant that I've had to make certain sacrifices relating to my daily routine. Before baby I would happily spend an hour or two going through my YouTube subscription box catching up on videos that I may have missed from the week. However now I need to be much more selective. With much less time to myself my subscription list is now neatly curated to include only those creators whose videos are a must-watch. 

Sharing YouTubers I'm loving how now become a bit of a series on my blog now. And I'm quite happy to have it as a feature. I know how much energy, time and motivation goes in to making videos, and I think we need to celebrate this more and praise those who we think are nailing it (especially given how negative things have gotten recently).

I'm sure you'll know all of these ladies, but if you don't, head over to their channels and check them out. You may just discover a new favourite yourself.


I've been a follower of Lydia's for quite a few years. Seeing her start off as a blogger and now watching her YouTube videos always fills me with awe. The style, quality and presentation of her content is just amazing. Plus she is simply stunning (can we say "hair goals") I love watching her vlogs the most at the moment because they provide me with the ultimate escapism from life when my anxiety decided to pay a visit. Ones to catch up on are her wedding dress shopping videos, lookbooks, and her trip to the Maldives.


From her vlogs to her makeup tutorials, Holly Samanthaa is just so personable a YouTuber to watch. She does so much and is so multi-talented that I feel so lazy in comparison (she bakes, is fab at nails and makeup, does YouTube, is a cheerleader and is a super-attentive mum)! There's so much variety on her channel that there is always a video to suit whatever mood I'm in. She doesn't sugarcoat things either, which I think can be quite rare in someone who shares so much of their life. Watching her videos is like sitting down and catching up with a friend.


Kate comes across so well on camera and makes everything seem so natural. Hers were some of my favourite pregnancy vlogs to watch when I was expecting Baby Ginger. Her vlogs of days spent with her beautiful family (she's recently had another baby) always make me smile. She's such an inspiration with how much she does, and her baby updates and mummy videos are definitely ones to catch if you are a new mum or have younger children. 


Fleur DeForce was one of the very first YouTubers I started watching religiously. And now even Ryan is a bit of a fan. She is just so personable a person to both watch and follow on Twitter ( her engagement is great) and comes across so well in every single one of her videos. There has never been one that I've not wanted to watch (which is rare, even with creators I really like). Currently expecting her first baby she is making pregnancy look so glamorous (Where were all these pretty maternity clothes when I was pregnant, eh?) She's another YouTuber I watch for absolute escapism which she never fails to deliver.


I went through a bit of a stage where Gabriella's videos were some of the ones I would scroll past and not really pay much attention. I think it's because I'm finding the age gap between myself and some of those I watch a bit too big sometimes and I can't relate to things they might be vlogging about. However she's now one of the YouTubers I keep up with the most again (I'm really enjoying her moving vlogs and haul videos). It's quite funny too because whenever one of her videos in on, Eric just smiles and smiles at the screen. It might be the tone of her voice, or maybe her face (she's nearly always is smiling and interacting directly to the camera in her vlogs) but either way it is just so cute to see.


Baby Names We Love But Won't Be Using | Just Add Ginger


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When it came to deciding if we wanted to know what sex our baby was, we were in a bit of a dilemma. On the one hand we wanted to be surprised. But on the other I had had such a rough time in the early stages of my pregnancy that I wanted something extra to be excited about and be able to do simple things like go baby clothes shopping and plan the nursery. 

So the first couple of months were spent deliberating, cooing and vetoing baby names. I'm definitely not a traditionalist (couldn't be with a name like mine) so was naturally drawn towards names with a unique twist. Although we made an initial list of our ideas, Ryan and I decided that if Baby Ginger was a boy he'd get a final say in his top names, and if Baby Ginger was a girl I in turn would get the same privilege. 

Which is why I had more girl names choices than boy names. I found baby boy names so hard to pick. Girl names seem to come into my head a lot easier (which is great for the future. Although I'm 99.9% convinced that if we have any more children they will all be boys). 

So without further ado, here are the baby names we loved but won't be using. If you want to know more about some of our choices and why they ended up on the list, please watch the video below (although this list includes a few more of mine / our ideas).

Girls
Erica
Persephone 
Hermione 
Lyra 
Ophelia 
Elsie
Erin
Lydia
Autumn 
Annalise

Boys 
Hugo
Alexander
Louix 
Thomas 

Unisex 
Everest


If you have some favourite baby names, let me know in the comments.