Month: February 2018

The Ginger Thrift!

Hello everyone!

I am defying my Monday/Friday schedule to make a quick and exciting announcement! Today, I am making my first unassigned post on my new blog The Ginger Thrift!

This new venture is something that I have always been curious about doing. I’ve always been passionate about thrifting, and I’ve always wanted to write about it, but I’ve never felt like it fit well in The Ginger introvert. A project for a web writing and design class I am taking right now was the kick in the pants I needed to start The Ginger Thrift!

This new blog is entirely dedicated to all-things-thrifting, but it won’t take away from TGI! As you can tell with the title, I wanted to tie The Ginger Thrift to TGI as much as possible and make them go hand-in-hand. So, I have “Thrift” linked above in the main menu, which will take you to the new blog. I’m planning on making a post there every Wednesday!

So, if you love thrifting as much as I do, please head on over and give my baby blog a read! Let me know what you think, and if you have any requests for the blog please let me know! This project is still in the works, so any recommendations are much appreciated 🙂

XOXO

signature

Advertisement

Music Linked to Memories

I know I’m not the only one who associates certain memories with music. Read as I reminisce to the sounds of Adele and We The Kings.

Hello everyone!

Music is such a huge part of my life. I am constantly listening to music. When I’m walking, driving, and writing! There are also certain songs that are forever linked to memories, and whenever I hear them play, it reminds me of them. Here, I’ll share a couple with you!

// “In The Still of the Night” by the Five Satins //

This song makes me think of my first slow dance with Tanner. I had never slow danced with anybody before, and this song was on the playlist of doo-wop oldies that he put together for us. When this song came on I started to sing along, and then he did, too. So, while this song played we sang and danced together. It was the moment I knew I wanted to be with him forever.

// “Check Yes Juliet” We The Kings //

I went to Warped Tour over the summer in 2016 and saw We The Kings, a favorite band of mine. I love the band mostly because of the lead singer Travis and his wife Jenny’s vlogging channel on YouTube, which I watched all the time that summer. When I hear this song, I think about that hot summer afternoon when I danced my heart out to this song. And the strong scent of marijuana that is always so prevalent at any festival.

 

// Japanese House //

I listened to this band while on the plane on each of my three plane-trips in 2017. To Harry Potter World in Orlando, California, and Grand Cayman. My cousin Sarah introduced me to them, and I downloaded two of their EPs before I went on the trip to Orlando last spring break. Now, their songs “Sugar Pill” and “Sister” especially remind me of flying in a plane, looking out the window into an expanse of sky.

// “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele //

A 2011 oldie that I sang at a Coffe House performance way back in freshman year of high school with my friends. And every time I hear this song I cringe a little bit, but I’m taken back to that night where I was so excited and nervous to perform.

// Any Aly & AJ song //

Aly & Aj reminds me of literally my entire preteen existence, because I listened to both “Insomniatic” and “Into The Rush” obsessively for probably about five years. My best friend Sammie and I bonded over our mutual obsession over the sisters’ music. I nearly passed out with joy when I discovered that they came out with “Take Me” over the summer. I listened to that single song on repeat as I drove around my hometown, waiting for August to end.

//

Do you have any songs that bring back memories? If you do, please leave them in the comments! I would love to hear your stories, too!

XOXO

L

Updated Skincare Routine

I share with you my favorite skin care products that I have recently cobbled into a routine. Take a look!

Hello everyone!

I was thinking about it, and it’s been a while since I’ve shared my skincare routine! I change things up pretty frequently, since I like to try new products. However, I’ve found a balance with this routine over the past few months that I’ve really enjoyed. And coming from a girl who used to dread washing her face before bed, that’s a revolutionary change in attitude!

// Morning Routine //

Up first in the morning, depending on how lazy  I am, or how late I am, I use the ELF Daily Face Cleanser or this La Roche-Posay micellar water. A less expensive alternative that I love is from the Simple brand’s micellar water, or the Say Yes to Coconut brand (I’ve gotten all three at Target). In any case, I try to keep it simple. I use my all-time favorite Clinique moisturizer, and I’m off to start my day.

For my lips, I usually use this Burt’s Bees medicated lip balm. I love the texture, it’s almost exfoliating! I also keep the Dr. Bronner’s Naked Organic Lip Balm in my pencil pouch in my school bag to use when I’m in class or studying. I’m one of those people that needs a lip balm on me at all times. Either that, or I feel dry and cracked all day!

// Nighttime Routine //

In the evening, I take off my makeup (if I wore any) with my micellar water. Then I use this Elizabeth Arden 2-in-1 cleanser (which has been discontinued sadly!) and normal/dry skin alcohol-free toner. I wait for the toner to dry, and then I touch this Burt’s Bees blemish stick on any pimples I may have. I take a drop or two of this tea tree oil from The Body Shop and pat it all over my face. I also sometimes do in the morning, just because I love the refreshing tea tree smell! Finally, it’s time to put on my moisturizer and lip balm, and head to bed.

About once a week I try to use a face mask. I really like this exfoliating Ole Henriksen truth sugar glow polishing mask (similar is linked!). It smells like citrus which is so refreshing, and I always feel rejuvenated after I use it.

//

I change things up so frequently, my skincare routine is probably liable to change sooner or later. Especially since I found out my favorite Elizabeth Arden cleanser has been discontinued, which is a bummer! C’est la vie, I suppose. If you have any recommendations for my next product to try, leave it in the comments below!

XOXO

signature

Feast Your Eyes & Ears #1

Been looking for some new girl bosses to follow? Look no further! Learn more about the lady influencers, writers, and more that I’ve been watching/reading/listening to!

Hello everyone!

I’ve always been a lover of the internet, and over the years, I’ve collected publications, songwriters, podcasts, and writers that I love to follow and listen to. I especially try to support women who are trying to make their way as artists and influencers. In this man’s-man world it can be pretty difficult. So here are some girl bosses who have been producing fabulous work lately, that I’ve been loving… Each with a link to a specific piece of work that I’ve enjoyed recently 🙂

Influencers I want to be friends with // Lucy Moon

I’ve watched Lucy’s videos for years, and I’ve always appreciated her candor and honesty in her YouTube videos. She talks honestly about sexuality and birth control, mental illness, and her own battles with addiction. I’ve also recently started reading her blog, which is so well written and interesting, I’m more than a little jealous! I especially loved this article on self-care that she wrote.

Podcasts that I listen to at work // Ctrl-Alt-Delete

I discovered this podcast through, funnily enough, Lucy Moon’s blog. I’ve gotten into the habit of listening to podcasts while I’m at work. I like variation, too, so I love when I can find a new podcast. Crtl-Alt-Delete is hosted by Emma Gannon, and she interviews women who are working on amazing projects or own their own businesses. The interviews are always super interesting! Plus, Emma’s English accent is so soothing. I especially love the interview she did with Lena Dunham.

Tunes that I read along to // Jenny Hval

Jenny Hval is a songwriter who I discovered through the Rookie podcast. It is pure poetry, and it’s music that is so easy to lose yourself in. Her stuff is pretty eclectic and dream-like. I like looking up the lyrics and reading along with the songs, and I would recommend doing that as you listen to her songs, if you have the time! Her songs have so much meaning that it’s worth taking a beat and soaking in the message.

What I read before I go to bed // Brianna Weist

She is a fabulous and lauded author and freelance writer who is an alum from my college. She’s written for Forbes, Girls, and Thought Catalogue, and has published a collection of essays and a collection of poetry. Her writing is so full of wisdom and thoughtfulness, it’s incredibly hard to believe that she only graduated a few years ahead of me. And did I mention that her Instagram is the essence of aesthetic? (I just really want to be best friends). I’ve been reading her book 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think. I am in awe as I make my way through this book. Brianna is such a fantastic writer, and the wisdom that she portrays through these essays is extraordinary. If you want to have your mind blown with every word, I highly recommend this book!

//

I enjoyed putting this post together, I think that I’ll make this a regular post. I like the “Feast Your Eyes & Ears” title, but if you have any recommendations for a title, leave it in the comments below! Also, if you have any writers, influencers, or podcasts you’ve been loving recently, let me know! I would love to hear 🙂

XOXO

L

#Galentine’s Week: Days 3&4

On this combined #Galentine’s Day post, I talk about some of my closest friends from home and here at college!

Hello Everyone!

I took a day off on the actual day of Valentine’s Day to be with my fiance, which was fun! We ended up going to a restaurant called Isaac’s and had their pepper jack tomato soup, a famous recipe of theirs and a personal favorite of mine. I hope that everyone had fun Valentine’s Days, no matter if it was spent with your SO or Netflix.

It seemed appropriate to combine Galentine’s Days 3 and 4, because I’ll be featuring some of my closest friends, both from home and from college! So buckle up, it’s going to be a long one today.

Sammie

Sammie and I have been best friends since kindergarten. So, that makes it sixteen years that she has put up with me. And I’m so glad that she has! We’re way past best friends, and into the sister-zone. I mean, we’ve been close for longer than we haven’t. And also because she remembers more about my life than I do. I’m so proud of her, that I don’t even know where to start. Her dedication to her art and illustration design is so amazing. She changed her major from graphic design to illustration, and I know how hard that was for her. But she did what she had to do, and she persevered through the hardship that comes along with changing a major. She is a talented Cosplay costume designer and artist, and has been designing her own costumes since we were in elementary school. I’ve seen her grow in her design work and I swear that her costumes always come out looking professional. She’s shown such strength in hardship these last few years, too. She’s gone through things that I won’t detail here, but I know that if it were me I would have fallen apart. She’s supportive, loyal, funny, beautiful, and I am oh-so proud to call her my best friend for life. I know we’re going to be those best friends who are living next door to each other in the nursing home, torturing the staff together.

(Also, I love this picture of us from my 21st birthday, because we look like legit sisters!)

Cassie

I met Cassie my freshman year of high school, in girls’ chorus. We bonded over the Harry Potter series, and we’ve been close ever since. Her talent in singing and songwriting has always been something that has inspired me as I tried to develop my own writing and singing skills. Over the years, I’ve watched her grow from a teenage girl into a woman, even if it was from a distance. But Cassie is one of those friends where even if you haven’t talked in a while, it feels like no time has passed when you talk next. She’s dealt with loss and anxiety with grace. I feel like I’ve said this for every woman that I’ve mentioned in these posts, but I so admire her strength. Nothing has come easy to her, and she’s built a life for herself from pure hard work. I’m so glad to have her in my life, as a best friend as an example of the kind of hardworking woman I want to become.

Victoria

My best friend and roommate here at college. Victoria is another example of the kind of hardworking woman I want to become. She is also so supportive. No matter what, she’s there to listen and talk. Even if I’ve messed up. She is the constant listening ear, compassionate heart, shoulder to cry on, and forgiving soul. I am so indebted to her for putting up with my foolishness, and sticking with me even after a hard year for our friendship. But even after hardship, the fact that we’ve persevered together makes me that much more incredibly grateful to have her amazing self in my life. Her strength, courage, intelligence, and loyalty can’t be matched in her. And her beauty shines forth, on the outside and the inside.

Emily

Em was my first close friend on campus, because we had our very first college class together. That class was French 2, and we suffered through that first semester together. We had movie nights almost every week, and she was the one who showed me Mulan for the first time! Now, ever since that first semester, Em has been another one of those friends that no matter what, she’s always there for you. Even if you haven’t talked or gotten together for lunch in a while. She is so busy with earning her degree in Theater, and is so incredibly talented in what she does. She takes pride in her work, and I’m so proud of her for all she has accomplished, both academically and in life.

//

If I could list every friend from home and college saying how much I love them, without breaking the internet, I would. I am so incredibly fortunate to have these women and so many others in my life. And I want all of my friends to know, that even if you aren’t in this post, I love you and appreciate you. You are all so dear to me, and I wish that we could all just hang out all the time drinking coffee (or wine) and watching movies. I won’t get too mushy on all of you. But hey… February is the time of year to get mushy, after all!

Please leave your friend, sister, mother, and other inspirational women appreciation posts in the comments. Share the love!

XOXO

signature

#Galentine’s Week: Day 2

Honoring the cousins on day two of #Galentine’s Week! Here’s to Sarah, Bree, and Josie!

Happy Galentine’s, day two!

Today, I’ll be celebrating my cousins (on both sides of my family). As an only child, I was always close with Sarah and Bree growing up. And now, with my little cousin Josie, I hope to be a role model to her, like Sarah and Bree are to me.

Sarah

Sarah and me at the beach.

Sarah is the big sister that I never had. But she knows this already. Her ambition and drive to pursue and perfect her artwork is inspiring to me, and her skill has only gotten more and more impressive with each passing year. Her creativity is out of this world. This natural talent paired with her wisdom and maturity, produces artwork that is so rich with deep meaning, I’m always mind blown by her work and the quality of it. Sarah is a beautiful pillar of strength. Everyone who knows that she is a true force of nature. Little sisters have always imitated their big sisters, and I know that’s true for me. I’ve always been so in awe of Sarah, and I know I will continue to be, even into adulthood.

Bree

Bree and me in front of Gringotts Bank at Harry Potter World in Orlando.

Bree is another example of a force of nature. She is so dedicated to her work, which, as a Ferrier, takes a lot of physical strength. However, it also requires people skills and being able to connect with people, and that’s always been something I’ve admired in Bree. She can talk to anyone with a smile on her face. She has the best sense of humor, and can always make me smile. She also has a beautiful laugh and smile. Bree is a nurturer and is a mother hen for sure. She has the biggest heart, and even through heartbreak, has been able to persevere. Her strength over the last few years has not gone by unnoticed, and I admire her for it every time we talk.

Josie

My little cousin who is too young to have her picture on the blog. However, I still wanted to write a couple words for her, even if she won’t be able to read this (at least not right away). This little girl is in the second grade, and I’ve said for a while that she’ll be teaching my masters courses. I still stand by that statement. She is smart as a whip, and I know she’ll grow up to be extremely successful. Ever since she was a baby, she’s wanted to read or be read to, and now that she’s reading chapter books, she’s ripping through them all by herself. I’m so incredibly proud of her and how quickly she learns and grows.

//

Celebrate the women in your life with me! Leave a comment below and say something about a loved one who inspires you 🙂

XOXO

signature

#Galentine’s Week: Day 1

The women in our lives deserve all the love they can get. Here, I talk about the women who, without their very being, I would not exist. Enter Momma, Grandmom Angel, and Grandma Lil.

Hello everyone!

Since Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, I thought I would take a beat and appreciate the women in my life who I love and admire. A couple days this week, I’m going to be writing profiles on the badass women who have influenced and inspired me. They are all women that I am oh-so-glad to have in my life. And who better to start with than my mother and grandmothers?

Sharon (A.K.A. Mom)

The woman who gave birth to me and has put up with my moody self ever since. Believe me, this woman deserves to be sainted, or at least given an award. (See that picture of my parents with me as a baby? See me screaming? That’s basically all I did as a newborn. Scream.) My mother is possibly one of the most intelligent women I have ever met. Her artistic skill and her knowledge of science and math are both equal in brilliance, and I don’t think I’ve ever had a question for her that she didn’t know the answer to. She always knows exactly what to do in any situation, even if its just to listen and give hugs. Her compassionate heart is unmatched, and for that I am so incredibly thankful.

Picture of my grandmothers smiling, holding teddy bears with bibs on them.

Bernadette (A.K.A. Grandmom)

Grandmom Bernadette, who I always called Grandmom Angel as a kid. Her trust in God has always been incredible to me, and is so inspiring. I learned about the power of prayer from her, and also the power of faith and forgiveness as well. She is another perfect example of a compassionate, listening heart. Grandmom is the best listener, and I know she is always there to unconditionally love and support every member of our family. I will forever be in awe of her strength.

Lillie Dorothea (A.K.A. Grandma)

Grandma Lil is sassy, smart, clever, and is also an incredible woman of faith. Even in the face of sickness and sadness, she has always been a firm believer of God. Her musical ability has always inspired me as well, and my grandparents on my mom’s side are part of the reason why I love music so much. My grandparents met in their church choir, which they still participate in to this day. Grandma Lil has a beautiful Soprano singing I have always admired, as a Soprano 2 and Alto 1 myself. She brings our family together every birthday, holiday, and some weekends, with love, food, and music.

//

This Valentine’s Day, celebrate the women in your life who have inspired you! Do you have any stories you want to share? Leave them in the comments, I would love to see them!

XOXO

L