#AtoZChallenge / Quotes

Quotes often resonate a lot with me. I'm definitely not one for quoting (*bombomchush*) them off the top of my head, but often when I'm reading, or browsing the internet, there are certain one that stand out to me more than others. 

At the moment I'm really trying to work on building my self-confidence and courage. There are some things I've wanted to do for ages but have almost been to scared to take that first step out in to the unknown. And the quotes I wanted to share really resonate with me and empower me at the moment to just go for it. They are all quotes from A.A. Milne's Winnie the Pooh, (strange that) and I wanted to post them not only to maybe bring some empowerment to others, but also as a reminder to myself that with the power of self-belief, anything is possible!

#AtoZChallenge / Orange-Chocolate Loaf Cake

It doesn't happen very often, but from time-to-time, I really get the urge to bake. I'm not the best at ma,king cakes. They never really turn out that pretty, and I cannot improvise and make up new recipes to save my life. But when I have a lot of time on my hands, I find baking very therapeutic.

Stupidly, in between baking and typing this blog post I have deleted the recipe I used from my phone. But literally all I did was type in "Chocolate Orange Loaf Cake" in to my search engine and picked the one that looked the simplest to follow. No fanciness. No frills. Just a good hearty cake recipe. 

And here are my results. I didn't get to try much of the cake but I have it on good authority that it was delicious. 

Got any simple cake recipes you think I should try? Leave me a link in the comments! 

#AtoZChallenge / New Hair DO Care

Oh Yes. It's shameless selfie time! 

This year, I am growing my hair. Not only for my 2016 nuptials, but also because I want to donate some of my hair afterwards to the Little Princess Trust.

My hair is such a big part of who I am, and I rarely ever get it cut. But due to a little bit of blonde ombre that had overstayed it's welcome, it was time for the chop, and yesterday, I headed off to my hairdressers in the hope that they could get my hair healthy again.

New hair always reignites my confidence and makes me feel so sexy! It's not 100% back to how it was pre-blonde, but it feels so much better! I know I can handle starting the growing process again without those crunchy, crispy blonde ends driving me crazy, and when it's been the wedding, and I'm ready to donate my locks to an incredible cause, I'll be able to give more than I ever anticipated. 

I've had this thick hair for 28 years, it's time to do something with it that can bring hope and joy to someone very deserving. 

To find out more about the Little Princess Trust, head to: 

http://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/

#AtoZChallenge / Kick Ass Concealer (Soap & Glory)

Disclaimer: Before I get in to my review I must apologise for the state of the product photos. For reasons which will become clear in the review, I left taking them too late and now they look a bit messy! Eep!

When my beloved Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer started to run out, I was a bit at a loose end. Should I repurchase? Or should I bite the bullet and go for something different?

The lack of my concealer shade in my local drugstore made my mind up for me. Instead of despairing, my eyes fell upon the Soap & Glory Kick Ass Concealer. Having heard lots of promising things about the product, I decided to be brave, break my habit of a lifetime, and try a different beauty product. 

The S&G Kick Ass Concealer is a 3-step concealing product. Step 1 - an apricot tone colour-correcting concealer. Step 2 - a fleshy toned facial concealer. And Step 3 - a pressed setting powder. I had never seen a product like it, and was really excited to crack it open and give it a try. 

One of the reasons I love Soap & Glory is because their pretty packaging is always on point. And Kick Ass is no exception. The unmistakable pinks, and stand-out typography make it really stand out in your make up drawer, and instantly attract your eye. The packaging is plastic, with each step located in a separate tier, each of which can be opened separately to help keep everything clean and tidy.

The two concealer shades are rich and creamy, and apply to the skin beautifully. The apricot shade is perfect for counteracting those dreaded purple hues of tired under-eyes, and the skin-toned shade was an amazing match for my face. I picked up the concealer in Light, and it was one of the best- if not the best colour matches in a base and face product that I've ever found. Usually paler shades aren't pale enough, and leave my face a tad orange-looking. Or they just wash me out completely because they are a more brightening than concealing product. But Kick Ass Step 2 was perfect for me. 

I use the apricot shade of Step 1 religiously every time I'm applying make up. The minute I've patted the product on my dark circles they are instantly brightened, and I look so much more awake. It's been a God-send product for those early morning work wake-up calls. The Step 2 face concealer has been great for hiding any pesky blemishes that have snuck in around my time of the month, and really help neutralise any areas of redness on my skin.

The setting powder I haven't really used yet. Purely because I use my Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, but just the fact that a powder is included pleases me greatly. The concealer is such a compact, handy little size, that if you were away overnight and needed a multi-functioning product it is perfect. The powder did also come with a dinky little sponge, but mine has got lost in transit. 

The reason that my blog photos are so messy is because I literally haven't wanted to be parted from this product. I've been a bit too nervous to let it out my sight in case I misplace it. And you can see how much I've used it. Not even two months in and I'm touching pan. But I'm getting so much use out of the concealers I don't think I'll be running out any time soon. The 'blendability' (#newword) is so ridiculously good that you only need the smallest bit. It goes a long, long way. 

The only minor downside to the product is the packaging. As pretty as it is, it's not 100% as durable as I would like. If you are not really careful opening each tier, the plastic can become disjointed or snap. The lid is now broken on mine because it has been manhandled so much. If you're light-handed (unlike me) this isn't a problem, but if you are over-enthusiastic, just be careful!

There is no question as to whether I will be repurchasing. I seriously have found my dream product. Not only does it work to perk my complexion up, but it's the perfect make up bag sized multi-functional product For the £10.00 (approx) price tag you are getting so much bank for your buck!

#AtoZChallenge / Instagram Pictures

I love a bit of Instagram. I think it's a great platform to share photos and updates - like an online diary almost. 

Instagram for me is an extension of my blog and YouTube channel. It's a way for me to keep memories of things I've loved, experiences I've had, and moments that I want to last forever. 

Here are some of my most recent Instagram pictures. If you want a bit more insight in to the inner workings of my mind, Instagram is always the best place to go first. I post pictures nearly every day. 

To find me, search @GingerJaxx or head to https://instagram.com/GingerJaxx

On Instagram too? Let me know your handles in the comments.

#AtoZChallenge / How To Keep Positive & Be Happy

Sometimes. However hard we try, it can be really difficult to stay in a positive frame of mind. And it can suck. I am one of those people. I try to see the good in everyone. I try to see the cup half full. I try to drink tequila when life gives me lemons. But sometimes, it can all get a bit too much. 

So. For anybody out there who may be going through such a time, where light amidst the darkness is sparse and fading, here are some thoughts on how I try to stay positive, keep a healthy frame of mind, and regain some perspective. 

Embrace Your Emotions 

Never be afraid to express yourself. If you want to cry, cry. If you want to laugh, laugh. If you need to sit in silence and just hold someone you love, do it. It is really healthy to be in tune with your emotions and to express them. (As long as they are not emotions that through the expressing could hurt you more or those around you.) I know that when I cry, it's a huge catharsis afterwards. I am able to purge myself of any negativity. Sometimes I don't even know why I'm crying. But I let myself cry. Because bottling it up could be 10 times worse than keeping it inside. 

If you don't feel like you can express yourself in front of others, try keeping a journal of thought, writing your feelings on a piece of paper, or take yourself off to a place where you feel completely at ease. I have two places where I can be completely free...the bathroom or outside. When I am in either place, any remnants of fear or embarrassment melt away and I can just be.

It's Your life. Live It For YOU. 

Our time here on Earth is precious. So why go around living for anyone but yourself? Maybe you're the kind of person who likes to please others and make them happy. But if you are not happy with your life, how can you expect others around you to be happy? I can totally relate to this When I don't think people around me are happy, I'm not happy. But I am a firm believer that we all feed off each other's emotions more than we are aware off, so this unhappiness turns in to a viscous cycle. 

If you want to save up, leave your job and go travelling, make it happen. If you want to get a tattoo, do a bungee jump, or cut off all your hair, do it. We really shouldn't care what others think of us, as hard as it sounds. Mrs X or Mr Y wouldn't like it if we went up to them and started dictating what they should be doing and how their lives should be lived. People may think they know better, but our lives are completely unique. What is the right path for one of us may be the completely wrong path for the other. We can take advice and embrace other's opinions, but at the end of the day, we will find our own way, travel our own journey and carve our own destiny. And we WILL and CAN do that completely on our own. 

Forgive & Forget. 

This can be something that is really difficult to do. People can hurt us. People can lie, cheat, steal,  betray, and all of this can be really hard to forgive. But in order to move on with our own lives we have two options. To wallow in sadness, subconsciously dwelling on what has happened that has crushed us, and never moving on from the same place. Reliving events over and over again and living life in retrospect and regret.  Or we can choose to move forward. The power of forgiveness, either of ourselves or others, is incredibly strong. It sets us free. We don't have to engage with the subject of our sorrow ever again, but we can choose to forgive actions taken and words spoken and bury the hatchet once and for all. The choice is entirely ours, but once a decision has been made about the path that you want to take, you can unburden your mind and move on feeling lighter, stronger, and empowered. 

Treat Others As You Would Wish To Be Treated 

Treat others with the kindness, respect and grace that you would wish to receive. Embrace the differences of others and admire how beautifully unique we all are. We are not going to all share the same opinions, beliefs or talents, and we may not all agree with each other, but that does not mean that we should use these differences to hurt one another. Treat others with kindness and understanding. and you might just change a mood, ignite a spark, and just make someone's day. We all revel in joy and happiness, so try to spread some every single day. It could just be a look, a smile, or a gesture, but it could carry meaning that you never even realised. 

And if you are reading this, and still feel down, here's a song that never fails to bring a smile to my face: