Gothic Ginger Spice

 

 

 

 

 Hi All!! So today I'm posting my very first outfit of the day... Exciting times here on RL;RH!!

I don't think I'm half as fashionable as the gorgeous fashion bloggers I count among my peers, but I was dying to have a go and I loved it!!!

 

I went with all black against my pale skin, because no matter how I try I can't deny my naturally gothic pigmentation and I wanted to play that up for this look. The lace detailing on the décolletage area adds a touch of glam to a very simple look. For my footwear I decided to clash a pair of chunky heeled booties with the girly dress. I took my usual rings and bling to this outfit and found it worked brilliantly. The little crossbody bag that I slung over one shoulder kept this look ladylike despite all the other elements.

 

Dress: H&M

Shoes: Motive Shoes Ilac

Bag: Penneys

Hobbit Hole Pendant: Birthday gift

Amythest Claw: Antique

Bracelet: Pandora

Sunnies: Penneys

 

Photos by Zoe Holman @ zoewithumlauts.com

 

What do you think, guys?

Be gentle, it's my first time!;)

 

Xo

Amy

 

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Lip Service: Ginger Nuts

It's absolutely no secret that I am an obnoxiously proud ginger, though that was not always the case. I dyed my hair all through my teenage years to get away from my true colors, as it were. However, in the recent past, from last October, I would say, there has been a wave of "pro ginger" publicity in the media, and I feel it started with the beautiful Angela Scanlons amazing documentary, Oi Ginger! 

Angela herself is a beautiful blogger and telly presenter, with the most amazing deep red locks, and her documentary was a fantastic look at the bullying, prejudice and ignorance there is surrounding the ginge. However, in my search to find the documentary in order to re-watch it, I came across a clip from The Saturday Night Show (above), wherein Brendan O'Conner mentions there being a hierarchy within the ginger culture... I have no idea why anyone would think that, to be perfectly honest. We're all ginger, and we've all been bullied. So, on we go, to look at the science and the misery... 

The Ginger Gene; The MC1R gene, is a form of Melanin with a mutation on the one of the chromosomes. This mutation has two different triggers which are responsible for the darker ginge and slightly sallower skin, which Angela has, and the lighter more flame-like red coupled with pasty, glow-in-the-dark levels of pale which I think I possess. Yeah! Science! What I'm trying to say, is that we all carry the MC1R gene, Gingers just carry a mutation, and that mutation is the same in all gingers, just presenting itself differently dependent on the individual. Therefore, there is no hierarchy, Brendan! 

ginger

A human, characterized by pale skin, freckles and bright red hair. "Gingers" are generally considered to be inferior to their more melanin-rich brethren, and thus deservingly discriminated against. Gingers are thought to have no souls. The condition, "gingervitis" is genetic and incurable. 

          The quote above is taken from Urban Dictionary.


As a kid, I was bullied quite badly for my ginger tresses and it was awful. "The roof is on fire" was a common slur during primary school, and the older I got, the worse and more vulgar the bullies got too... I was backed into corners and called such unintelligent and highly un-funny ditties as "ginger pubes" and "carrot top". The abuse did peeter out when I got past the Junior Cert, I continued to dye my noodle just to be safe, and dyed it for 2 years after I finished school. I'm not the only one who took this kind of flack, and I can prove this by sharing the Independent.ie article I was featured in, along with 4 other beautiful red-head ladies, who all have different shades of the ginge. 

We have all experienced bullying, prejudice and probably all have been afraid of people as a direct result of our hair color. We've all heard the jokes, the puns, we've seen memes on Facebook and Pinterest. 

For me, part of what helps me to be strong in the face of bigotry against the Ginge is looking at the amount of amazing, successful gingers there are in the public eye. Rupert Grint, all Potterheads favoite ginger, the Phelps twins, who played Fred and George, Christina Hendricks from Mad Men, Ed Sheeran, Tim Minchin, and my personal favorite, Karen Gillan. 

Source: Cheezburger

What I'm here to say is, screw the haters. Laugh with the people who try to belittle you. They wont continue if they don't get a reaction. Bullies want a reaction, a specific one. They want you to feel bad so they can feel good. Their power is in your pain. If you reclaim that power by laughing along with them so they don't get that powerful feeling, you will be left in peace pretty quickly. I laugh along with people when they try to make fun of my hair color, because they have no power over my self esteem anymore. Many of my friends make ginger jokes, much like "woman" jokes and I laugh because they're now funny to me.

Now, what I do want to say is there will be times you cant laugh it off. There will be times you are deeply hurt, but they won't be half as frequent if you can learn to laugh with them. 

After all, if you don't laugh, you'l cry. 

Drop me a comment, 

Let me know what you thought! 

Amy

xxx

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Self Improvement And A New Series...

"Self-improvement is masturbation," Tyler Durden, Fight Club. Thankfully, this opinion doesn't really resonate with me, because I believe that self improvement makes people better versions of themselves.

Since I'm 21 now, which means I'm older, and therefore apparently wiser, I've decided I need to dress a bit better, and put a bit more effort into myself. Not just for me, but I have a boyfriend of 2 years who I think deserves to not have his girlfriend live in baggy tracksuit bottoms and oversize jumpers (even if they are warm and fuzzy...and stolen from his wardrobe half the time!!) because, lets face it, when you do that, it gets boring. And I don't want to bore my lovely man!

So, I've made three decisions and I'm going to stick to them.

I've Had A Little "Me" Time...

...And now I feel much more capable of being there for everyone I love!

This week got off to a bad start but today seems to be making up for it. Its been a very long time since I've had to lock myself into the bathroom and cry. Incidentally, I hope its a long time until I need to again! It wasn't something I felt nostalgic about or anything of the sort, in fact, it gave me a headache that I had for hours later... So at least I am happy about being very level lately! Thanks to Kayliegh for reminding me I'm allowed to have a bad day, I appreciate the reminder.

So between yesterday and right now, things that have made me smile are as follows...

Draw Your Own Conclusions...

Some people say that red-heads have fiery tempers. That we are easily angered and cant control our tempers like other people (blondes, brunettes) can. 

Maybe that's true. Maybe it isn't. But I can say for myself, that I can find it hard at times to control my emotions. Jesus, I've spent the last 18 months in and out of psychiatrists and psychologists offices to help me with the things that hamper me. I used to live in perpetual sadness. I was always miserable, even when it would seem to the world that I was happy, happy, happy! I got good at lying to everyone around me. 

Lets Get Started!!

So, Um... Hi, Everyone!! *waves*

Lets start with the introductions, I suppose. I'm Amy, I'm 20, though nearer to 21 at this point, and I'm...well, I'm just me. Always have been. I'm the walking, talking, living embodiment of someone who is just themselves and no more.

I enjoy things, and I loathe things, as do most people, I guess. I love the little things, good tea, mature cheese, a catchy beat, expensive sports, and being in love. I also love the big things; Friends, family and the value of a smile.

But, for every good, there is a bad. I hate being made feel bad, I hate liars, bigots (and for both of those certain people spring to mind!) and people who seek to take away another persons right to do the things they want to do. Unless its illegal! I hate Barry's Tea. Hate. It. I cannot abide the stuff. I hate fighting with people, or people fighting with each other. Making people happy is something I strive to do.

So now, the random things. I am ginger, a clean freak, happy, sad, madly in love, an admirer of fashion, a worrier, a lover, a hugger, a giver of pet names, into music, a huge fan of HIM and generally an open book!

I will talk about almost anything, and that includes face to face. So, hopefully on this I will be able to do the same.

Look out for book reviews, movie reviews, fashion, make-up, life and everything else in between!

Oh! And here's a picture of me (and my boyfriend, Chris)!!

Le Grá,

Amy