Creators You Should Be Following | Just Add Ginger

As I have mentioned before in similar posts to this one - I think it is so important to give recognition to content creators you believe are doing a fantastic job. The blogosphere can be a place riddled with negativity, competition and drama that it is a good move to take a step back, remove yourself from that bad energy and spread a little kindness instead. 

This month I've made some new discoveries and rekindled some old interests. And not just blog or YouTube channel wise. So for this month at least, I'm sharing my current favourites from a range of different platforms.

Patricia Bright | YouTube 

Patricia's is a channel I used to watch quite a lot. However when Eric came along it was one of my subscriptions that got a bit forgotten about. Well now I am obsessed. Hers are the videos I will spend my time binge-watching whilst the baby is asleep (and when I should be cleaning). Her "I spent..." videos are currently my guilty pleasure. With an infectious personality, charisma and well-planned content, she is definitely worth a watch!

Caitlin Rose | YouTube 

Discovering Caitlin's channel was a sheer coincidence, but a very happy one. If you know me you will know that I have an active interest in mystery and unsolved crime videos and because of this Caitlin Rose's content just so happened to pop up under those that YouTube recommends. And now every time she posts a video covering one of those topics I have to instantly hit the play button. If you like Bella Fiori or Kendall Rae, then Caitlin's channel is worth investigating too.

Life of Pingkan | Blog & Instagram 

A fellow blogger from Liverpool and with a style that for me is just goals, Pingkan's blog and Instagram feed are both high on the list of places I constantly check for new content. A lot of fashion bloggers I find really difficult to relate to, often admiring from afar because my budget goes nowhere near the pieces they wear, but Pingkan posts photos and blog posts that cover affordable, accessible fashion and is so down-to-earth in the process. It is my dream to nab her as my personal stylist for a day to help rescue my wardrobe from the washed out dresses and t shirts set aside for the daily spit up situations.

Alice Catherine | Instagram 

Every single time Alice posts a new photo I find myself thinking "gah I wish I could wear that". Her style is just effortlessly chic and everything she wears just looks phenomenal. If Instagram has been around when Audrey Hepburn had been in her prime, this is what her feed would have looked like. Alice really does remind me of a modern day Audrey, with perfect winged liner and an easy style that oozes elegance. If you like to follow Instagrammers who post a mix of fashion, beauty and lifestyle shots, she's one I'd recommend you check out.

Peachie Pie Designs | Etsy

Slowly but surely Eric's nursery is turning into a bit of an art gallery. It first started with a few painting my grandfather had done, leading on to a piece or two I picked up from christmas markets, and now I want to fill his room with all kinds of pretty prints, paintings and illustrations. 

Deciding to forgo the wall art you can easily find at chain stores, I am always on the lookout for pieces created by small businesses. After stumbling across Peachie Pie Designs and checking out her work, I put in a double order instantly. Her illustrations were unique, sweet, and exactly what I was looking for. For the work that goes in to each print, I think they are really reasonably priced too.

Got a creator you've been loving? Why don't you let them know? 

Kindness is free, sprinkle that sh*t everywhere

#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.

#Blogtember Day Seven: Snapshots Of A Ginger Life

(Top L-R: A Sunny Summer Evening, Pretty Flowers, Homemade Cheesecake
Middle L-R: Sofa Time With Dave, Engagement Sparkle, Seeing Les Mis
Bottom L-R: A Magical Night, View From A Train, Champagne Flutes.)

Summer is starting to move over and leaving room for Autumn to arrive. Because this Summer has been so busy and amazing for me, I wanted to share some of my favourite photos from the past few months to look back, and reflect on all the blessings that came to me. 

Most of the photos are from my Instagram (my username is @Gingerjax if you want to follow me.)

What were your Summertime highlights? 

Ginger's Fashion: Turning Twenty Seven

Last week, I turned the big 2-7!

I am now officially in my late 20s.

I always have mixed feelings when I know my birthday is coming up. One half of me is really excited to be getting older. With each year I feel more mature, wise....like I can conquer the world that little bit more. But on the other hand, getting older means more responsibility and more having to act like a grown up.....

...Even though I think I am quite mature, there are times when I still act like a big kid!

I had already had my big birthday night out on the 3rd January with the Boy, Sarah, & her other half (you can see my OOTN/FOTN post here.) So on my birthday, the Boy & I went out for a romantical dinner for two at our new-discovery of a restaurant - Yukti.

But not before I was woken up in the morning to the sound of party poppers and several whoops of glee from the Boy as I jumped out of my skin!

Because we were going out shortly after I got in from work, I wanted to keep my outfit quite simple. I picked up this skater dress from Primark a few weeks ago. It was a bargain at £5, and the shape is really flattering. Whenever Primark bring out a new design of skater dress, I go and pick one up straight away because they are so versatile.

I didn't want to do heels, but decided on a pair of wedged furry ankle boots I'd picked up from New Look in the Autumn. They have unbelievable grip, and are super-snuggly and comfortable. I haven't had a chance to wear them loads yet, but I can see them being my go-to boot when I'm looking for a "casual-but-you-can-dress-them-up" shoe.

Instagram: Gingerjax

Floral Skater Dress: Primark 

Dogtooth Coat: Primark 

Leggings: Dorothy Perkins 

Stacking Rings: H&M

Furry Boots (out of photo): New Look

This birthday was so amazing and special that I didn't want it to end. I'm already planning to have a "Queen Birthday" in July....exactly 6 months after my January birthday....so that I can keep up this excitement. 

Thank you to everybody who made my birthday so fabulous! 

If you would like to do a What I Got For My Birthday post, let me know in the comments below.

Blogtember 2013: Musings over Chai

 Go to a coffee shop. Order a favorite drink. Write about what makes you happy and what makes you sad. Or write about anything you'd like! Bonus points for including a photo from the coffee shop. (I recommend downloading Ommwriter and bringing headphones along!) *if you can't make it to a coffee shop, at least leave your usual space and write someplace new.

Okay....I'll admit it. It is not in fact Thursday and I am not in fact sitting in a coffee shop. 

I'm posting my Blogtember  post for yesterday, today. 

Yesterday I was in too much of a fluster to post anything. I was so tired on Wednesday night that I had a really broken nights sleep (does anybody else get this?) On Thursday I was running on Empty, my Warning light flashing, and it was of course, the busiest day of the week at work! It was such a crazy day. 

In the evening. I popped into town though for a The Body Shop VIP event to celebrate the launch of the Honeymania collection. 

Afterwards, I went and sat in Caffe Nero and sat admiring my lovely new products over a steaming hot mug of Chai Latte. 

I'd never had a Chai Latte before, and to be honest, I don't really think it was my cup of tea *groan*! It tasted a little bit like I was drinking gingerbread dough..... And once I had that image in my head drinking the rest of the mug was difficult. 

I tried so hard to take a picture of my goodies in Caffe Nero, but the woman on the table next to me kept giving me odd looks, and I got shy. 

After I try out all of my shiny new beauty products I think I'm going to smell like a tropical, chocolatey, sweet milkshake. 

Yay for yummy-smelling products! 

Blogtember 2013: Life Lately

A "life lately" post. What you're up to, how you're feeling, how you're doing on your goals, etc. Bonus points for great photos!

I'm not going to lie....

I am SO happy right now. 

For a long time I felt really unsettled. I felt as though I was stuck in a bit of a rut, but lately, I have really gotten myself out of it. I feel like I don't stop now. I work Monday to Friday in a job that I absolutely love, I'm going to college to gain my Playwork Level 3, I'm really involved in my blogging, and I've been spending loads of time (probably too much time) re-organising, re-designing, and generally giving my house a bit of much needed TLC and sorting. 

Boyfriend has been & is super-busy at the moment, which means that we only really have been spending time together at the weekend. It makes it really special, and come Thursday, I start to get really excited that it's nearly the weekend and that I'll be seeing him. 

I'm not really one to usually get overly-gushy in public, but he is the main reason I am so content and at ease right now. I am one very lucky Ginger to have found him. 

I've also been spending lots more time with my friends. Because I don't live near my family, having a really strong circle of friends is really important to me because they are my family up here, and more recently, my Northern "family" have become so much stronger. Whether it's mine and Saloca's Pudding Clubs (which have recently become filled with excitable talk about blogging and decorating discussion,) spending time with Boyfriend's family, or going to visit Spotto, time I spend with my friends - which always was so important to me - has now become even more special!

I also feel that my style has really come in to its own. I have become a lot more experimental with fashions over the past year, and now I think I've found a style that I really like and works well for me. Stering away from jeans, which have a habit of not fitting me properly (I have a really hollow back,) I've been going for skater skirts, dresses, and fit and flare styles a lot. I've also not been buying so much, but instead, going for clothes I know I can wear for both day and night events. This means that I can save more money for the home improvements I'm planning....

....which has also been on my mind a lot lately. 

I've finally almost moved things in to my office. My DVDs are nicely arranged on a stand, all my stationary is collated in one place, as are my technological gear for blogging/vlogging, and my loft is empty of everything that isn't mine (finally!) I have a proper place to store all my beauty products and jewellery, and I've put all of my clothes into categories and they now have their own areas in my wardrobe/chest of drawers. My bedroom is almost unrecognisable! Here are the things on my "To-Do" List: 

• Buy wall sticker for bedroom.
• Find storage boxes to categorise my make up 
• Source wood to build bar in living room. 

Yes. That's right. I'm going to have a BAR downstairs. I really enjoy having people round, so a bar would be a perfect addition to my living space. It probably won't happen until the end of the year/next year, but I am so excited! I'm going to call it 

"The Ginger Bear" 

What do you think? 

Ginger Fashion: OOTD Update

Normally when summer comes around, I crack out the maxi skirts, linen trousers, and clothing that generally hides my legs from total view. 

Well.... this summer there is no way I intend to forgo my precious maxi style, but I am definitely embracing the fact that I am a young woman and I am really proud of who I am! I'm in a stupendously happy place in my life, so it's time to reflect that in my clothing choices! 

Here are some of the summer styles I have been working lately. All photos are taken from my Instagram account. 

My Username is: Gingerjax

I have quite a relaxed style, especially in the summer, and like pieces that I can mix and match and play around with

Print Scarf: Primark 

Black Maxi Dress: ASOS

Neon Kimono: H&M

Leaf Necklace: ASOS (Old)

Crop Top: New Look

High Waisted Shorts: River Island (Old)

Stackable Rings: H&M

Bracelets: A Present

White Shirt: River Island

Maxi Skirt: Primark 

Stackable Rings: H&M

Playsuit: River Island

I'm off to France next week with my parents. 14 days of soaking up the French sun and indulging in a glass of vino or two! I'll definitely be taking some of these pieces with me! 

Pssst: Don't forget to check out my JustaddGinger FB page for picture, post, and video updates

Ginger x

Beauty by Ginger: Skin Favourites

I have always been one of those types who has experimented with skincare products over the years. Growing up, I had the most horrendous spots you could imagine, and was realy self conscious about them. so the more products I could find to rid me of those CRATERS OF DOOM, the better. 

I tried them all. Lotions, potions, creams, cleansers, scrubs...the list goes on and on, but nothing really seemed to help. I was just one of those poor unfortunate souls (name that film) who was cursed with bad skin. 

As I came out of my teens, my skin cleared up a bit, but in place of spots were a few scars to remind me of the trauma, and the odd invasion of my skin by bouts of pimples (mostly on my chin!) 

Instagram: Gingerjax

Now that I'm in my mid-20s, I don't really mind the odd pimple appearing. I've becomes really comfortable in my skin, and especially lately, have really started paying attention to what my body is telling me.

I have combination skin. I have an oily T-zone, dry patches on my cheeks, and my skin is really sensitive. Basically, I have to be really picky on the products I use otherwise my skin cries! 

These are the products that work best for me at the moment. If you have a similar skin type, you could give these a go, but nobody knows your skin better than you. 

St Ives Naturally Clear Apricot Scrub - Blemish Fighting: A bit of a cult classic really. When I was a teenager, this was the product everyone talked about. And only now, at the tender age of 26, I have only just discovered it. I LOVE this scrub. It smells lovely and fresh, and isn't harsh on my skin at all. The exfoliating properties make my visage feel soft and smooth rather than dry and horrible, and with regular use, my scarring looks fainter and my spots look less angry. It's a great product to have in the shower because you can use it when you wash your hair (I'm big on multi-tasking, world-saving beauty tips!)  I use this 3-4 times a week, and my skin is left feeling gorgeous! 

St Ives Refreshing Facial Cleansing Wipes: These were a complete random purchase because I was in town and realised I was in need of face wipes. I picked these up because they were the only brand I recognised. (I haven't seen them in any other shop since.) These wipes are designed for Normal/Combination skin, which is perfect for me. They are also really handy as a cleanser. I don't wear much make up at all at work (mascara and concealer at a push,) so these wipes are good a removing just the grime and dirt that accumulates on my skin during the day. They don't have much of a scent either, which I like, because I don't really like having a facial... scent! 

Simple Kind to Skin Protecting Moisture Cream: I am a big fan of the Simple brand because they do not use harsh ingredients in their products. I use this moisturiser everyday as a base for my skin, and to give it a bit of love and TLC. The formula is lovely and light, and soaks into the skin quickly. The SPF is a great addition because at work, I spend 85-90% of my time outside, so need skin protection. I'm hoping this bottle lasts me on holiday, because it's the perfect size to fit in my wash bag. 

Witch Blemish Stick: You can't get a more natural a product for blemish-battling than witch hazel. I used to swear by this stick when I was younger, and now, I've rediscovered it. This stick is great to dab on any spots you may see/feel coming, or to put on any spots that have come out and you want to make disappear quickly. It dries out blemishes really quickly. This is great, but if you get dry areas of skin that are also susceptible to breakouts, make sure you use a moisturiser because it may make your skin a bit flakier than normal. But for me, it's perfect! 

Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream: This product was a recommendation from one of the lovely ladies who gave me a make up lesson a month or so ago. I work shifts everyday, and am up early in the morning, so when I'm tired, it shows. Plus, because I am a redhead, my skin is naturally thinner, and when I get dark circles, they look awful. But within about 3 weeks of using this eye cream twice a day, they started to disappear, and now, I don't really have them at all (yay!) It is a bit pricier than high street/drug store eye creams, but I think it's definitely worth it, and a little goes a long way! 

Milk Cut Down, Water Upgrade: I am an absolute milk FIEND. I can drink a pint of milk in one go like it's water. But with the weather getting warmer, I've been drinking less milk, and drinking more water, and the difference in my skin is ridiculous! At first, I thought it was just a weather-related thing that was making my skin clear up, but it's actually drinking less milk. Whenever I drink a lot of milk, or eat lots of dairy, my chin just erupts. I think a lot of my adolescent skin issues would have been resolved if I hadn't drunk so much milk. I'll still be drinking some and eating dairy (I need to get lots of calcium as my family has a history of osteoporosis,) but just cutting down a little every day, and increasing my water intake has really made a difference. 

What skincare tips do you have?

Ginger x

Sometimes, we have to change!

As you are probably aware by now....Soon (from July 1st) Google Reader will no longer exist, and this means that Google Friend Connect will be going soon! 

"Nooo!" you may cry. 

To be honest, when I first heard the news I did that too. Although I started JustAdd-Ginger as a hobby, and a means of self-expression and documentations of my ramblings, I've come across some amazing finds on my travels, and appreciate every single one of the post-reads my blog gets. 

As well as GFC, I am also on Bloglovin' (there's a huge button on the right hand side of my blog) if you click on that, it will take you to my JustAdd-Ginger page on there (although I believe I'm signed up as "Just Add Ginger".) Bloglovin' gives you updates on up-to-date blog posts from the blogs that you follow, and you can register your own blog on there too for others to find.

I would love it if you made the quick trip over to Bloglovin' and followed me there! All of the support I get from visitors, readers, and subscribers to JustAdd-Ginger really mean a lot to me!

If you are a blog owner, and not sure about where your followers can continue to get updates on your posts after Google Friend Connect goes, there are some helpful articles to read. 

And for blog readers, you can import blogs that you are subscribed to in to Bloglovin' so that you can keep updated with the latest posts from your favourite bloggers. (There's an article on how to do that too!) 

If you click here , it should take you through to my Bloglovin' page. It would mean the world to me if you continued to follow me over there. My posts usually appear at the end of the week, but as of the end of July,  I am on holiday from work until the beginning of September, so posts will become more frequent. 

And while we're talking of linky-plinkies, here is where else you can find me: 

Twitter: @GingerJaxx

Instagram: @gingerjax

YouTube: JustAddGinger

Do you think having no more GFC will make a difference to keeping track of blogs we follow?

Ginger x

I is for Instagram

I: Instagram

Username: @Gingerjax

I discovered Instagram around this time last year, just before I set off on my big adventure to Canada/USA, and I have been a huge fan ever since. It's a great little app that is perfect for instantaneous photo blogging on the go! I use it to upload OOTDs/ FOTDs, and just general bits and pieces in life that make me smile!

It's a great way to discover fellow "Instagrammers" with similar tastes/interests/styles to you (especially if you master that art of the hash tag), and is a great way of keeping people in your life up-to-date with what you are up to!

Yay for Instagram!!

Are you on Instagram? Put your username in the comments below. We can create a little community of fellow #igholics! (Hehe)

Ginger x

Ginger Vlogs: First YouTube Vlog Adventure

Finally, after months of indecision, one day of filming, and several hours coming to grips with Windows Movie Maker, here is my first ever vlog....

.....Drumroll........

I am very proud of myself for having the guts to put this out into the Universe, and I hope it's the start of many more vlogs to come. Some of my friends have been giving me feedback today, and it's quite encouraging, so I'll definitely he vlogging tomorrow when Mama Ginger is up.

I decided to keep my "Just Add Ginger" name, so that if anybody who has read my blog wants to find me on YouTube, then I'm easily identifiable. I've grown to really like having "Ginger" as my technological alias. It means when I blog/vlog I can completely detach myself from the "real world" and escape into a world of creativity and random imagination.

Please feel free to check out my channel. Now that I have overcome first day jitters, I'm hoping I will be able to upload most days during my time off work. If you like what I'm doing, give me a "Thumbs Up", leave a comment, or subscribe.

To start, I'll be doing mostly vlog/OOTD videos, but in time, I will venture onto more adventurous things!

Any feedback/comments/tips you have for me are also very welcome!

Ginger x

p.s: So that they all are banked together, here are all the places you can find me:

YouTube: JustAddGinger
Instagram: @gingerjax
Twitter: @GingerJaxx
Email: justaddginger@hotmail.co.uk