Where have all the fancy pictures gone????

Good morning fancy people.  This is going to be a short post.  I received my new school pictures this week, so I had originally wanted to write a retrospective on my past school pictures.....the evolution of a fancy ginger.  But alas, I cannot seem to locate my school pictures from kindergarten thru 11th grade (don't worry, I have a senior picture....it's a gem :/ ).

I basically ransacked my parents home, trying to find these pictures.  I cannot find neither mine nor my sister's school pictures.  I told Papa Norm that "we just had these out for my high school graduation party." To which he replied "Fancy Ginger, that was a long time ago (12 years ago)." Touché, Papa Norm, touché.

I am going to be honest, I am never a fan of my school pictures.  They're not like selfies, where I can take a billion selfies...until I get one that I look remotely decent in---and then I can filter/edit it to death via Instagram.  I am not a "one shot wonder" when it comes to taking a picture.  On the other hand, I think almost everyone has some sort of horrific reaction when they first see their school pictures. Not because the picture is awful (most likely, it's a very lovely/adorable picture), but because it's more "high definition" than we were mentally prepared for.

When I received my school picture this week..the first word out of my mouth was "yikes!"  Do I really have wrinkles/crinkles around my eyes when I smile now?  I didn't know I had that many freckles?  Oh boy...my hair.

Now looking at my school picture, I realize I do not look like the monster I first thought I did when it came in this week.  I am more accepting of the lines around my eyes (although, thank goodness I received an eye cream in my Birchbox ;)), and I am a ginger...so I am going to have freckles. Acceptance is growth....so sayeth the Fancy Ginger.

I was able to locate a kindergarten picture (a small pocket sized one)...so here is a brief evolution of the Fancy Ginger (Age 5 and Age 30):

 Beautemous.....

All grown up....

Until next time...be kind to yourself and one another....and always stay fancy!

The Fancy Colors of Autumn....

Good evening, beautiful people. I am currently listening to the beautiful, clear and haunting voice of Miss Eva Cassidy on Spotify.  LOVE HER!!!  It was finally sweater weather today...well sort of....I am forcing it to be sweater weather.  I feel like I am really forcing autumn to begin, but I can't help it.  I love the colors, the smells, and the warm clothing of autumn.

My dad (Papa Norm) and I had an in-depth conversation on what scents we like in autumn.  We both agreed that our scents have to be spicy and warm.  My current favorites are Bath and Body Works A Thousand Wishes and Helmut Lang's Cuiron.  Both are lovely and long-lasting scents.  I received Helmut Lang's scent in my most recent Birchbox....and now I am trying to figure out how to raise the money to buy the full-size ($165...yikes).  It is literally my new scent bff.

We also discussed our love of the Bath and Body Works 3-wick candles....the fall candles in particular. Yes, I really do have these conversations on a Saturday morning, with my dad...he's a fancy ginger too.  I LOVE MY CANDLES IN THE SCENTS' AUTUMN AND SALTED CARAMEL....WHY AM I SHOUTING.  Sorry...I am shouting because I have already burned the candles 3/4's of the way down, and autumn has not technically even started.  I am in desperate need of new candles already.  Such is the struggle of a fancy ginger.
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I have really enjoyed going through my wardrobe and picking out my fave pieces of autumnal clothing.  My favorite colors to wear in the fall (sorry...I mean autumn) are grey's, navy blues (let's be honest though, I wear this color all year round), khaki/goldenrod yellow colors, berry colors, and browns. I just find that these colors go the best with my skin coloring---and I really think they would go well with almost everybody's coloring.  They are classic fall colors.

I recently attended a good friend's CAbi party, and I purchased a few pieces that I thought would look fun and fancy for the fall.  This company is a wee-bit on the spendy side.  However, I do like their pieces and they have always lasted me a really long time.  But, I do really have to save up to buy these pieces of clothing (just FYI).  I purchased the Love Blouse (I really thought the collar was super cute, and the colors were fun),  the ZigZag Jacket (...because I like walking on the wild side...obviously), and the Pitch Super Skinny Jean (everyone should have a pair of nice black jeans in their clothing repertoire...that's how I justified that purchase).  I cannot wait until they all come in the mail. :)

I also made some purchases at Oldnavy.com today.   They have some really cute fall clothing this year.  I had kept some items in my shopping cart for awhile, and I was waiting until there was sale or I won the lottery (whichever came first), before I purchased them.  Well today was my lucky day!  No, I didn't win the lottery....but I found out I had $50 worth of rewards to use at Gap/Old Navy and Old Navy was having a sale for 30% off of all women's clothing....score!  I bought 6 or 7 pieces of clothing (including a fun plaid shirt...I cannot wait until that comes in!!)...for only $10.  So, basically I paid for the shipping.  So, not only did I only spend $10 total...but I should be good on clothing until spring (well....realistically speaking, anyways).
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You all know how much I love my high-end beauty products...and you know how much I lament at not having the funds to always get what I want. :(  Poor Fancy Ginger.  That's why I LOVE Birchbox.  This month I received Modelco's Ultra Long-Lasting Lipstick in Smitten (a cranberry red shade).  I had actually put this in my shopping cart...but was holding off because it came in a trio that is $20...and I didn't want the other shades.  It pays to be patient,and hopeful, because it came in my Birchbox. :)  I also received Tocca's body scrub in Green Tea and Lemon...which was another item I had in my shopping cart.  Score!

I have not actually purchased anything from Birchbox in quite a long time (we are going for a Fancy Ginger record).  I am hoping to save my points up for Christmas shopping.  I have been diligently writing reviews about my monthly subscription box (you get 10 points per review..up to 50 points), and sharing my monthly box on social media sites (10 points).  I am almost to $20 to spend in the Birchbox shop! :)

Anywho--since I am trying to be economical in my beauty purchases, I decided to go back to an old beauty favorite from my teen years, and I was pleasantly surprised.  When I was younger I loved Mark by Avon--a more trendy/youth-centered brand of Avon beauty products.  I recently ordered a few things from Mark.  Their makeup products are super affordable.  I am really into berry shades on my lips and colorful matte shades on my eyes, for autumn.  I picked up the Lipclick Matte Lipstick shade in Vixen (a dark wine/berry shade), and the On the Dot Matte Eye Compact (I love shade #3--a matte teal shade).  The lipstick was $11 and the eye compact was $16 (it has 9 eyeshadow shades).  I also bought some powder foundation, since I was out,  a liquid eye liner (just for funsies), a 3-way body wash in the scent Jasmine, and makeup remover wipes---all for under $50.  You can't even buy things that inexpensive at Walmart.  Check out Mark...they also sell super-cute clothing.
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Wow--what a long post.  I hope you found this post informative...or something.  Remember these are just my opinions.  I know when it comes to fall, a lot of people love really muted colors...but I think fall/autumn is a great time break out the rich colors like berry, teals, golds, browns.  I don't use as much shimmer-based makeup as I did in the summer or spring.  I love the matte look in all aspects of my full look.

Before I go,  here are some pictures on my favorite autumnal things.  Cheers and stay fancy....

Fancy Post...without a purpose.....

Happy Labor Day Weekend to my readers in the U.S.!  I love long weekends.....A LOT.  I have taken at least a dozen naps, reorganized my shoe collection (I got rid of a ton of boots), watched a lot of Disney movies....and the weekend isn't even over yet.  Who knows what sort of shenanigans I'll get up to tomorrow. I know, you can totally tell I am a single Fancy Ginger....don't be jelly.   

 Right now I am listening to "We Built This City" by Starship, on Spotify.  Such an epic 80's diddy, don't you think?  I love jamming out to 80's radio.  I was just watching Back To The Future II (nice segue there, Fancy Ginger)....you know...the one that actually went to the future...but the future is actually now?!?!  Who else is hoping Mattel comes out with a Hover Board on October, 21st this year---just for funsies???  

I am sorry this is such a random post.  I was going to write a post about fall colors to wear this year....but I was lazy....and forgot to take pictures.  I think I was on my 10th nap when I should have been taking lovely fall clothing and makeup pictures. I rarely do a random post.  I promise to make my next post epically fancy and full of fall colors.  But since I woke up and decided to wear my blue striped leggings with my old ratty Beatles' t-shirt....and NO MAKEUP (oh the horror), it just wasn't going to happen today.  

****Wham! just came on the radio.....dance break time.***

I went to yoga yesterday morning...and I only (gracefully) fell once!  Success!  I love yoga, because there is no judgment when you are practicing your poses....and it is so relaxing.....except when you fall on your bum. 

On another health note, I tried to make kale chips today.  They didn't quite crisp up the way the should have.  What am I doing wrong?  It was definitely a Pinterest fail for this Fancy Ginger.  Does anyone have a fool proof kale chip recipe they would like to share?  

I better end this fancy random post.  But before I go, here is one of my fave pictures from Chicago: 

Me being fancy in Chi-town...at one of the best Irish Restaurants I have ever been to.  

Until next time....cheers and stay fancy!