Be True. Be You. Bee Happy* | Just Add Ginger

As the years have gone by, where I once would pile on the jewellery left right and centre, unafraid to break out the bling and sparkle from sunrise to sunset, I have found myself really toning it down. In place of more colourful jewellery pieces, I am now drawn more towards classic pieces that go with everything, and will never go out of style. 

I have been a fan of the handmade jewellery from Teardrop Designs for a while now. Delicate, dainty, and so pretty, each piece carries a message, and evokes a feeling or emotion. As one who always tried to look on the sunnier side of things, walk with a spring in my step, and generally practise positivity, the "Bee Happy" necklace from instantly sang to me. 

Sitting on a silver chain, the bee charm is just beautiful. Not overbearing. or too large it rests just under my collarbone, and is the perfect piece to finish off any outfit, and the perfect pick for day or night time looks. The whimsy of the bee charm and the understated chic of the silver charm balance each other out beautiful, creating the most perfect quirky necklace that still feels elegant and grown up. Layer it with a longer pendant or let it stand in the limelight on its own, this pretty little piece is timeless, and carries with it a message that really resonates with me.

 It stands as a reminder to me the important place positivity has in my life, and how the best way to tap in to that happiness is to embrace who I am, and to not be ashamed to pursue the things that bring me joy. It may sound cheesy guys (I know it does,) but having that association with a piece of jewellery is something that is really powerful. 

It is so important to support up and coming brands, and Teardrop really deserves praise. With a selection of necklaces and bracelets that are just so beautiful and understated, each carrying an uplifting message, they have really crated something rather special, and something that feels incredibly personal. Each piece is "made with love and care" and Teardrop are kindly extending that love to JAG readers by offering you guys 20% off when ordering online with the code TEARDROP16. 

At a price that in no way breaks the bank, and with a range of jewellery that is pretty as it is positive, please go and check them out! And remember: 

Be True. Be You. Be Happy.

*This post is in collaboration with Teardrop Designs, who very kindly sent me the "Bee Happy" necklace to review. All my reviews are 100% honest, and are true to my thoughts, tastes, and feelings.

Father's Day Gift Guide

If you live in the UK, Father's Day is only just around the corner (next weekend) and if you're still trying to think about what you can get your dad for his special day, or lacking in an inspiration, I have compiled a few gift ideas for you to think about. 

I've always been a strong believer that buying gifts should be a really personalised experience for the recipient. You may have to think for a while about what they will appreciate the most, but there will always be something - no matter how big or small a gift - that will fill them full of joy. 

Papa Ginger, for example, has always been an appreciator of a fine beer. He scoffs all the time (along with Boyfriend) at my beers of choice. Treating him to a pint glass like the one above, particularly one with a funny message, would be something I think he'd really enjoy. 

If you are feeling in more a creative mood, making or customising a gift always adds a really personalised and meaningful touch. It doesn't have to be anything huge. How about selecting a few of your favourite photos of you and your dad and displaying them in a frame? Or if you like to express your creative side, find your sketching pencils, paints or pastels and create your own masterpiece. One of my sketches is up on the wall in PG's study, and knowing it's up there and he enjoys it so much really fills me with a warm fuzzy feeling. 

Does your dad always start the day with his hot drink of choice? How about an upgrade on his tea/coffee-making device? It can be a bit more of a pricey gift, but if you know it is something he will appreciate and use daily, you will definitely get bank for your buck. Before you know it, he'll be a barista in training!

They may seem like very traditional gifts, but I quite like the nostalgic-feel of giving the gift of a tie or dressing gown. Maybe it's because I love to lounge around in mine so much, or maybe it's because deep inside I'm a little Ginger Granny who loves to be cosy all the time. Either way, if your dad's dressing gown looks as though it's seen better days, or he works in a job where he needs to war a tie, treating him to some new apparel could be the perfect gift. There are some really, really lovely colours, styles and designs out there to suit all price ranges. Finding a luxurious looking tie or dressing gown will help your dad feel very much like the dapper superhero. 

Papa Ginger doesn't drive, but if your dad does, how about an experience day driving a fast car? He will feel like James Bond/ an F1 star in the making. I know that if you're in the UK, Red Letter Days & Buyagift offer a range of experiences to choose from (I've used Buyagift in the past.) From Supercars, to tanks, to adventure days gal;ore. If your dad is a bit of a daredevil, an experience day will definitely get that adrenalin pumping. And if it's something you can do together, it'll be a marvellous way to create new memories! 

If you are a GoT addict, please raise your hand. Yep. Me too. And I am not ashamed. If your papa is a Game of Thrones devotee too, then why not treat him to a series boxset or two. That way he can re-live his favourite episodes....Especially in the long wait that there usually is between seasons. They do like to keep us wanting more, don't they?

Personalised gifts are one of my most favourite things to shop for. Something that is quite an ordinary gift can be instantly given a sentimental touch by adding a special message, quote or date. Two of my favourite ideas for dads (aside from the beer glass) are a good watch, or a keyring. A lovely-looking timepiece with a little message personal to you and your dad will always have special meaning, and the keyring option he will see every time he goes open the car or unlock the house. With so many different choices, and price ranges out there, you can really go to town creating a very special gift.

What are you getting your dad this year/? Any other cool ideas, share them in the comments below.

Blogtember 2013: Fall Fashion Picks

"Share links to your favorite online shops, preferably with a few photos of your favorite items in each shop."

It's no secret....

I absolutely love clothes.....

...and shoes....and bags....and accessories... I love it all!

But when it comes to buying fashion pieces, I'm still a high street girl at heart. Nothing beats going to a shop and trying things on, rummaging through rails, and discovering that the shop has only one of your size left in that dress you love, and you've found it!

I do like a good browse online though. ASOS has been a favourite for years. I think their website is fantastic, and I love finding gems on there, and waiting for them to arrive in the post. It's the online store I religiously buy from every few months, because I am always so impressed with their collections and the quality of their clothing. The only time I have ever had to send anything back is when the sizing has been wrong.

I do also love looking on the H&M website. I was so happy when it launched, as I find that one H&M stores carry stock that sometimes I can't find in others. It's good to have all their clothing together in one place to look at so that I know what to look for when I go in to the shop itself!

These are my favourite online clothing stores, but I'm also a big fan of:

LUSH: https://www.lush.co.uk/
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.co.uk/
YANKEE CANDLE: http://www.yankeecandle.co.uk/

(I've yet to pop my Yankee Candle cherry, but I love looking on the website at all the amazing candles they sell and imagining what they smell like! *candle swoon*)

What are your favourite online stores?

W is for Wardrobe Organisation (Part I)

W: Wardrobe Organisation (Part I) 

Good Morning. 

My name is Ginger, and I am a clothes/shoes/accessories-o-holic! 

I'm not a shop-o-holic or anything, I just really, really, really like having lovely things in my wardrobe that make me feel amazing every time I wear them! Part of me feeling good about myself, is feeling that I look good too. So on days when I don't have work, I like to put in 110%. 

I don't do it for anybody else. I do it for me. 

If there are days when I want to stay in my pyjamas all day, I happily will, even with friends who are over. If I'm feeling confident about my skin, I'll go out with a small amount of make up on rather than a bucket-load! 

But clothes, accessories and shoes do make me happy. 

Sometimes, I just open my wardrobe and gaze....

Of course, having clothes comes at a price. You have to keep them organised. Now, I'm quite fortunate. I have my own house, and I live alone, so I have a fair amount of space to work with (2 wardrobes, a chest of drawers, and under-the-bed storage.) 

This is how I store my everyday wardrobe. I decided to do my wardrobe organisation in a few parts, as I have bits and pieces stored in different places. 

I usually keep clothes I'm planning to wear hung up outside my wardrobe to air

Here we go. This is my bigger wardrobe. It's on the side of the bed closest to me. Inside are my clothes and necklaces, and on top is where I store things I need to find a home for (it's a bit messy, so I kept it out of shot.) Even though I've lived by myself for nearly 3 years now, I'm still trying to sort things out and get used to having extra space!

I try to keep my clothes in a specific order so that when it comes to hanging clean clothes up, I know exactly where to put them. As you can probably tell, I do like to mix and match colourful and neutral pieces. I try to go for a colour palette that I know will suit my hair and skin tone, and items that I know I will wear time and time again (thank you to the Duchess of Cambridge for making this cool again!) 

On the inside of my wardrobe door I hang all of my necklaces. I bought a small row of coat hooks - which one of my handy friends put up for me - and just screwed it in to the door. This saves all my chains getting in to a tangle, and means I can just open my wardrobe and get what I need, instead of rummaging around for things. 

On the very far left of my wardrobe is where I hang up all of my jackets/jumpers/cardigans that I wear on a day-to-day basis. The things I hang here will depend on what time of the year it is, so, at the moment, I have lighter jackets and thinner cardigans, with a few thicker options just in case the weather turns colder unexpectedly. Most of my jackets are black, because it looks good with everything. I tend to be a little more colourful in my cardigan and jumper choices!

L-R: Blouses, Skirts, Dresses

In the middle, I keep all of my every day clothing pieces. Starting from the left I have blouses and tops that need to be hung up, then I move on to skirts, and then, on the right hand side, dresses. In a lot of my fashion choices, I look for things that can be worn from day through to night. Sometimes, if I'm out for the weekend with friends, we go out during the day and stay out until late, so it's good to have crossover pieces. Colourful items are a must, especially for Spring/Summer!

At the opposite end of the wardrobe to jackets, I hang all of my clothes solely dedicated to nights out....dresses, tops, playsuits and jumpsuits! I don't have a standard order in which I store things, but the things I wear most often tend to find themselves nearer the end that is closest to my other clothes.

There you have it for Part I of my wardrobe storage. 

Keep your eyes peeled for more parts to come.

How do you store your clothes? Any top tips for saving space?

Ginger x