Veganuary: Mini Vegan Chocolate + Cinnamon Rolls

Today's post is my first veganuary post of 2017 and it's also the first I've posted on my main blog (I did veganuary last year but I only posted on my food blog). Veganuary, if you didn't know, is where you stick to a vegan diet throughout January which isn't that difficult for me as I'm a vegetarian so I don't eat meat, fish or gelatine anyway (I've been a vegetarian for over 13 years now!) so cutting out dairy and eggs isn't as difficult for me as it would be for others.

Last year I did have a couple of slip ups but it was my first time trying to stick to a vegan diet and if you are doing veganuary then please don't be hard on yourself if you don't fully stick to it fully as it makes it more of a chore than it could be. Last year I discovered the amazing Isa Chandra Moskowitz who creates the most incredible vegan recipes which aren't all about superfoods or really difficult to find ingredients. I've bought two of her cookbooks and I can't recommend Isa Does It enough especially if you are a first time vegan or veganuary participant; I've made so many of her recipes and I adore her New England 'Clam' Chowder with I've made countless times since purchasing the book this time last year.

Another amazing vegan cook and recipe developer is Dana from the Minimalist Baker who is more of a recent find for me but I love the look of her recipes so I had to try one, hence this recipe post today. My recipe is based and inspired by hers but mine has a few changes including some ingredient substitutes and additions as well as measurement changes. Her cinnamon rolls look amazing and I definitely want to stick to her full recipe one day but in the meantime I really love my own take on her vegan cinnamon rolls!

Ingredients: to make approx. 16 mini rolls

- 1 1/2 cups of self raising flour
- 1/2 cup of oat milk or unsweetened almond milk (I used oat milk)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon of instant packet yeast
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of vegan margarine (extra teaspoon to melt and brush over before baking)
- 2 teaspoons of plain granulated sugar
- 2 to 3 teaspoons of cinnamon
- 2 to 3 teaspoons of light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons of vegan chocolate sauce or spread (I used the Choc Shot sauce)
- 1 or 2 teaspoons of warm water
- 1 or 2 teaspoons of olive oil or sunflower oil

Steps (takes approx: 1 hour 40 minutes)

1. Measure out the oat milk and vegan margarine and melt in a small pan until the margarine has melted but don't let it boil. Remove from the heat and let it cool until it is warm (approx. bath temperature).

2. Add the yeast and sugar to the margarine and oat milk, to activate the yeast. I placed the small pan in a bowl of warm water so that the yeast can activate quicker and remains at a constant warm temperature. At this stage you'll find out if your yeast if activate or not, if it is you'll see bubbles and foam after ten minutes but if you don't then your yeast might have expired, the temperature might not be warm enough to activate it fully or the temperature might be too hot and have killed the yeast. Mine had a few bubbles but it wasn't very active but I still used it, I just used self raising flour instead of plain to give it a boost when baking. If your yeast is foamy and active then just use plain flour instead of self raising flour.

3. To the foamy mixture add in the flour a little at a time as you might not need it all. My dough was quite dry so I kneaded with my hands to bring it together more but it was still a little dry so I added two teaspoons of water a little at a time as you might not need all of the warm water. Knead for a minute or two on a floured surface until it comes together and place in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a towel and leave in a warm place for an hour. I leave the bowl in a sink half full of warm water to help the dough develop and grow (I do this will all bread dough) but make sure the water don't go into the bowl.

4. After an hour the dough should be about double the size it was, don't worry if it isn't quite double. Roll out on a lightly floured surface to approx. the size of a chopping board and with a pound coin size thickness (don't make it too thin or it might rip when you're rolling it). When rolled out spread the vegan chocolate sauce or spread in a thin layer, when I make these again I'll add more chocolate spread. Sprinkle on a mixture of the light brown sugar and cinnamon all over and make sure you remember to add it to the edges of the dough - the chocolate spread/sauce helps the sugar and cinnamon adhere.

5. Roll up the dough from the longest side as you can see fro the first photo and make sure you gently pull as you are rolling so you get a tight roll (check out Paul Hollywood's video to see this method in action). When rolled, cut off the end and then cut out the rolls - I cut approx. 1 inch sections which left me with just enough dough for 16 mini rolls but you could cut them much bigger for bigger but fewer rolls. I used a very sharp knife to cut them in a sawing motion and moulded them slightly with my hands to make them into a more fully rounded shape.

6. Place a cm or two apart in a greased square baking tin (I used margarine to grease the tin and my tin was about 20cm by 20cm in size). Melt one teaspoon of margarine and brush onto the rolls. Set your oven to 180 degrees celcius (fan) and put the tin in while it's heating up and bake for between 20 to 30 minutes. Mine took just over 20 minutes to bake but all ovens will vary. Leave to cool slightly before removing from the tin; best served warm.

My vegan chocolate and cinnamon mini rolls turned out really well although when I make them again I think I'll make them a bit bigger so they are more fluffy and less cakey. I'd also add more cinnamon and chocolate spread! They are great snacks or morning rolls with a coffee and as they are mini you don't feel too naughty eating one or two...or five. They'll last in a air tight container for about four days and they should definitely be heated slightly in the microwave for 5-10 seconds so they are warm, soft and even more yummy!

My poll on Twitter was a landslide win for posting lots of vegan recipes on my blog this month so stay tuned for more including my amazing and moreish vegan mac 'n' cheese which is mouth wateringly delicious!

Will you be making these? Are you taking part in veganuary this month? Do you want to see more vegan posts on my blog this month? 

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Veganuary: My Vegan Essentials

Veganuary is almost over and while it hasn't been as successful for me this year as it was last year, I've still enjoyed trying healthier recipes and benefitting from not having dairy in my diet as it has definitely helped reduce bloating almost completely. I already don't eat meat, fish, gelatine or milk but I think from now on I'm going to stick to a vegan diet during the weekdays and a vegetarian diet over the weekends.

Veganuary can be a little difficult if you don't have any meat or dairy alternatives so here are some of my favourite ingredients for vegan meals as well as tools and pre-made vegan food that I've loved over the past month.

Nutribullet 

Now, this isn't necessarily feasible for everyone as the NutriBullet isn't cheap, mine was around £100 but I don't think I could enjoy vegan recipes without it. I use my NutriBullet to make smoothies, soup, sauces and dips. It helps to make any soup, sauce or smoothie as smoothie as it can possibly be which is why I love it! It's perfect for creamy vegan cheese sauce and smooth smoothies; I use it multiple times per week and I can't recommend it enough!

Cashew Nuts 

Related to the Nutribullet are cashew nuts which may seem like an unusual and uninteresting addition but hear me out - believe it or not, cashew nuts make the most creamy, smooth and perfect alternative to dairy sauces containing cream or cheese! I know it sounds too good to be true but 'cashew cream' as it is sometimes termed, is my biggest revelation when I came across it last year. To make a creamy, smooth cashew cream all you need is cashew nuts soaked overnight in water, unsweetened almond milk or vegetable stock, seasoning/herbs and a NutriBullet or another high powdered blender. Here's my basic and well loved cheesy vegan pasta sauce:

• Cashew nuts (approx. 25g per person)
• Water, vegetable stock, mushroom stock or unsweetened almond milk (approx. one cup)
• Salt, pepper, garlic granules 
• Nutritional yeast (two - three tablespoons)

First, soak the cashew nuts in your water or stock and leave for a couple of hours or overnight for the best results. When the cashew nuts are softened, add them along with the water/stock to your blender along with the nutritional yeast - blend until smooth. Then transfer the sauce to a pan and heat gently until it starts to thicken (keep stirring or it will stick or become too thick); it will only take a minute or two. Take off the heat and add in the salt, pepper, garlic or any other seasonings/herbs you want - parsley, basil, smoked paprika work really well and the more the better as the cashew sauce dilutes any flavouring added so taste as you go!

Fry's Family Meat Alternatives 

I discovered this brand via a lovely PR who sent me a range of the frozen products to review on my vegetarian food blog and I am now so grateful as it's the best meat alternative I've ever tried - forget Quorn, it's all about Fry's! Since trying the products I was sent, I have bought SO many more products from Fry's. I love the sausages, mince, chicken burgers, mushroom pies and stir-fry strips, all of which are vegan. I buy mine from Ocado, I've tried almost everything from them and I've loved every item apart from the 'prawns'. 

Ingredients: Seasonings, Liquid Smoke & Nutritional Yeast

Seasonings and herbs are essential for all delicious meals, it doesn't matter if they are vegan or vegetarian - if there aren't herbs, salt, pepper or spices then it will be very bland. I add far too much salt to my food but I feel like it's needed with vegan meals to enhance the subtle flavours. I love herbs, especially basil, parsley, dill, rosemary and spices such as cinnamon, smoked paprika and chilli flakes. Dill is perfect in vegan soup, rosemary is great for roasted vegetables and parsley or basil or essential pasta partners. Another seasoning that I love is Liquid Smoke which is a vegan BBQ flavouring liquid that is amazing when added to vegan meaty pasta sauce and dips - it makes anything have a BBQ smoked flavour which I adore. 

Nutritional yeast was something very new to me when I started exploring vegan food last year but it's now an essential for my vegan meals. First of all, what is it? Nutritional yeast is composed of inactive yeast (usually with some flavourings and additions) which is gluten free, vegan and great for adding a savoury and somewhat cheesy flavour to sauce and dips. I love the Bragg version which is a little pricy and harder to find so you can check out the Engevita nutritional yeast which can be found in Holland and Barrett. 

There you have my vegan essentials, I cannot recommend them enough and if you are taking part in veganuary them definitely check them out! I just wanted to mention a few pre-made vegan foods that I love; the Tesco free-from milk chocolate is heavenly and it melts really well so it's perfect for melting over raspberries, Alpro have a couple of vegan ice creams but I love the salted caramel flavour from Almond Dream and lastly, Tesco make a vegan white sauce which I've been using for lasagna. 

Have you tried any of these products? Do you have a NutriBullet? Are you taking part in Veganuary? 

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Veganuary 2019: Experience + Favourites

It is finally February, I didn't think we'd get there but we have managed to in the end, and that also means the end of Veganuary. I think that this is my fourth year taking part and while I definitely did have a rocky start, I have now decided that I'm going to be fully vegan from now on. Although everyone slips up at times so I'm not going to be too hard on myself if I make a mistake every now and then.

Veganuary this year, especially the second half of the month, has been incredibly quick and easy and apart from the few items I already had in my fridge that weren't vegan (and had to use up as I don't like wasting food), it's been extremely successful. One of my goals for the year was to potentially become fully vegan but I didn't know if I wanted to be completely vegan; however, after this month I'm going to be sticking to it as I personally feel as though it's the most environmentally friendly, compassionate, ethical and healthiest way to live.

*Benefit Chocolate (from £2 - £3.50)

Vegan chocolate, even cheap vegan chocolate, is pretty good and I'm been lucky enough to find quite a few that I like with one of my favourites being from Benefit Chocolate. Benefit Chocolate is unique in that it is a vegan chocolate range with lots of added benefits, hence the name, such as extra plant protein, extra vitamins and added caffeine, depending on the bar you choose. I was very kindly sent all three of their flavours in the larger size and the smaller size.

Firstly, I LOVE the packaging! The protein bar contains 19% plant protein which is a good source of fibre as well as protein. I wasn't sure how the additions would change the flavour or texture of the chocolate but the plant protein bar tastes like advent calendar chocolate to me which I actually love! I think it's fantastic that there are added benefits within the chocolate as I'm always trying to find new and healthier snacks.

*Herbalife Shake - Cafe Latte

I was very kindly sent a few products for veganuary as well as a huge box filled with activewear, fitness products and Herbalife items from the wonderful people at Herbalife but sadly as I was taking part in veganuary, I couldn't try a lot of the items I was sent. I did try the 'cafe latte' flavour of the shake which is one of the few vegan items available and I think it's probably my favourite flavour of the three I've tried so far.

I've also been loving the fitnesswear they sent recently as I bought a treadmill in January...If my PE teacher could see me now! I did everything I could to get out of PE lessons in school so to have bought, of my own free will, a treadmill is very out of character but I've put on a couple of pounds over Christmas and it needs to go. I'm loving my treadmill, even though I'm a little (read: very), terrified of it.

*Nature's Charm Banana Blossom in Brine (£1.25)

Wing Yip is an Asian grocery store which has stores over the country including one in Manchester - they also have an online store. I was sent a range of their items which are vegan and my favourite of the three has to be the banana blossom. Banana blossom is an item I haven't ever tried before but I've read that it can be used to make a vegan alternative to battered fish.

If you follow me on instagram (@ofbeautyand) then you'll have seen my experiments with banana blossom and batter...with mixed results but it turned out great in the end. The banana blossom itself does look very odd but don't be put off by it as it has a very neutral flavour so I soaked it in hot water with nori sheets and then I dipped it in batter and shallow fried it. If I made it again, I should have battered it more throughly with a thicker batter to help it stick and I would have deep fried it. Thankfully it isn't an expensive ingredient so it would be great to experiment with it you wanted to give it a go.

*Seed and Bean Vegan Chocolate (£2.69 each)

I've been lucky enough to try out a couple of new brands of vegan chocolate duding veganuary and I would recommend both but in terms of chocolate that you can use for baking, the Seed and Bean chocolate varieties are the options to go for. I used the gorgeous extra dark chocolate with Cornish sea salt in my first attempt at vegan cookies which tasted great but they had more of a soft cake texture rather than a hard, crumbly biscuit texture so I think it is back to the drawing board but the chocolate was the highlight!

Until I was sent a couple of bars, I hadn't tried this brand before but I've heard good things. I love the packaging and the extra dark Cornish sea salt flavour is so good! I've never been a huge fan of dark chocolate but this one is ideal for snacking on or baking with. When it melts in the cookies, it not only looks delicious but it tastes delicious too. I definitely want to try more from Seed and Bean, especially the espresso, lavender or Sicilian hazelnut flavour, all of which sound very unique.

*Weed and Wonderful Scottish Seaweed Oil (£9.99)

One of the most unusual items I was kindly sent in January is the Weed and Wonderful oil which contains seaweed within the bottle. I have the organic smoked Scottish seaweed infused rapeseed oil which comes in the nicest bottle. I haven't tried a seaweed infused oil before and it's surprisingly delicious especially because it is smoked which gives it a gorgeous flavour. I've been using it mainly within my BBQ vegan macaroni cheese sauce (the smoked flavours adds to it) and minimally as part of my salad dressings. My dad isn't a fan but I personally love it and I think if you like smoked flavours such as liquid smoke, then I think you'd love this oil. Don't worry, it isn't too seaweed flavoured, it is definitely more smoked in flavour which makes it much more adaptable.

*Leighton Denny Polishes (£12)

Now onto a few beauty products that I've been loving which are vegan and cruelty free including, Leighton Denny. I've tried this brand numerous times and I've always been impressed with their products and this new polish is no different. I have the Modern Bohemia collection shade in 'Bohemian Spirit' which is a beautiful cool dark grey. The shade is ideal for winter, it applies fairly smoothly and evenly and it dries pretty quickly too. I've been pairing it with the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Topcoat and the longevity has been great so I cannot recommend it enough.

*Dr Botanicals Limited Edition Moroccan Rose Superfood Facial Oil (£19.90)

Lastly is a product I've tried previously but the facial oil has recently been released in a cute new and limited edition bottle which I adore! Facial oils are an essential for me at this time of the year and this one has been working wonders on my perpetually dry skin, especially as the weather has turned even colder with snow and freezing temperatures.

The facial oil contains almond oil and vitamin C and A which combined deeply hydrate the skin, reduce signs of ageing and protects the skin. It comes with a pipette dispenser, it smells lovely and it doesn't leave a thick or greasy residue. It would be ideal for those with a skin type similar to mine such as dry, sensitive or dehydrated skin.

Have you tried any of these items? Did you take part in veganuary? 

*All of the items included in todays post were gifted #AD

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Veganuary: Cruelty-Free Cleanser Challenge

January is the month for veganuary and this is my third time taking part although it's not going 100% to plan, especially as I didn't stock up on vegan essentials beforehand but I'm back on track now with my diet. I love taking part in veganuary, even though my diet is almost completely vegan already and I'd definitely encourage you to take part or to switch to a vegetarian diet to try it out.

One aspect of becoming a vegetarian or vegan that I think most people overlook is their beauty collection as well as leather items they may buy. I don't personally buy leather and I'm pretty sure that I don't know anything that is fully made of leather either, thankfully. However my beauty collection still contains products that aren't cruelty free or 100% vegan but it's something I'm working on in 2018 - it will be a slow process as I want use up those products rather than wasting them by throwing them all away.

Green People have created the 'cruelty free cleanser' challenge to coincide with veganuary as they have lots of vegan products to choose from and all of their products are crudely free. I've used some of their products previously and I've loved them so I was excited to try this box of goodies when it arrived a couple of weeks ago!

*Green People Quinoa & Artichoke Hair Duo (£16.95, 100ml each)

Let's start with the products I've been using the most which include this gorgeous and very effective shampoo and conditioner duo. Both products contain spring water, artichoke, quinoa proteins, sweet orange peel oil, ginger root oil and many others. Their products are SLS free, fragrance, gluten, colourant, paraben and lanolin free which is amazing!

I've been using this duo on and off for the past couple of weeks and I've now used up both bottles (as my hair is SO long) and I've loved using them especially as the shampoo lathers so quickly and easily. Additionally, as my hair is so long, it can become a birds nest of tangles but this conditioner really helps to detangle and moisturise my hair.

*Green People Daily Aloe Shower Gel (£12.50, 200ml)

Another product from Green People that I've been loving this month is their Daily Aloe Shower Gel which is not only gently effective but it smells heavenly. It doesn't just contain aloe vera, it also contains spring water, olive fruit oil and lavender, the latter is a favourite of mine so I knew I'd love this shower gel! It's effective as well as being gentle on the skin and the scent is gorgeous.

*Green People Gentle Cleanse & Makeup Remover (£13, 50ml)

Last but not least is one of the most gentle, non-irritating cleansers I've ever used! I have tried the Neutral Scent Free Cleanser from Green People a few years ago which I loved but I definitely prefer this one. It contains sunflower seed oil, rosemary leaf extract, marigold flower extract and many more wonderful, natural ingredients that are perfect for my sensitive, eczema prone skin.

Admittedly it is a very basic, no frills cleanser but that's what I want! I need something that will remove even waterproof makeup easily without drying out my skin or irritating it and this product ticks all of the boxes! I also love the packaging of this cleanser!

Overall, Green People has been consistently one of my favourite natural brands and I've loved every item I've tried so far. If you are looking to add in some more natural cruelty free or vegan items into your beauty collection then look no further than Green People.

Have you tried anything from Green People? Are you taking part in Veganuary? 

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One Year Vegan Update #Veganuary

The start of the new year marks the start of Veganuary and, for me, the one year milestone of being vegan. As it is the month for Veganuary and all things vegan, I will be publishing more posts about my vegan favourites, recipes and vegan beauty products throughout the month so stay tuned. I thought I'd give you a little context before we begin with my thoughts on being vegan for a year. I have been vegetarian for around 15 years and I have been on/off vegan for the past three years but at the start of 2019 I decided to become fully vegan and I'm SO happy that I did!

No more eczema

There are many changes, both positive and negative, about a vegan diet and lifestyle but one of the main changes I've personally noticed is how much dairy affected my eczema. As I've mentioned, I have been on/off vegan for years but never for more than a month; however I wish I'd made the change so much sooner because since mid-febuary I haven't had any eczema at all on my face and only the smallest amount on one tiny section of my hand which is incredible.

If you personally have eczema, then you know how utterly upsetting and painful it can be especially if you have to keep going back to the doctors and having endless flare-ups. There's no 'cure' for eczema so I had resigned myself to a life of eczema management using steroid creams and anti-histamines (neither of which helped that much overall) so the lack of eczema for the entire year has been almost unbelievable.

For the first time in over ten years, I haven't had to use a single eczema product, I haven't had to go to the doctors regarding my eczema and I haven't had any eczema on my face...it's incredible and something I genuinely never thought would happen. I'm so grateful that I've found the trigger for my eczema and now I can avoid it so I don't have to have eczema at all anymore. It's such a relief, especially after having horrendous eczema on my face and eyes for so many years.

Vegan Food Favourites

2019 was the year of vegan food releases, from Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Sainsburys, Greggs and many more. Before 2019 I had trouble just finding vegetarian food, never mind vegan options but I'm so glad to have many more choice now. Whether you're vegan for health/moral reasons, if you are trying to reduce meat consumption or if you're just interested in trying new food, I think we can all appreciate the delicious new vegan options in major supermarkets, online and in restaurants.

Some of my favourites of the year have to include the Ben and Jerrys ice cream (chocolate fudge brownie), Pizza Hut vegan pizza, Greggs vegan sausage roll and the Marks and Spencers Plant Kitchen range and especially the Thai Green Curry and No Chic'n Nuggets. A more recent favourite from the range are their no duck spring roll which is incredibly delicious. Also I have to mention the incredible Beyond Meat burger which is the best burger I've ever had!

Tips

Lastly for today's post, I wanted to mention a few tips that might be helpful for those who are trying out veganuary for the first time. If you are vegan or vegetarian and you have any tips or advice then leave it in the comment below.

• I have been eating a vegetarian diet since I was a child and I think the process of becoming vegan was much easier for that reason so my first tip is to switch gradually. Starting by reducing meat and dairy consumption, switching to vegan meals throughout the week or switch to a vegetarian diet first. 
• Make small changes! Your switch doesn't have to be instantaneous or dramatic, just make small adjusts over time such as adding in meat and dairy free alternatives to your diet. Instead of using cows milk, use almond, for example. 
• It doesn't have to be all or nothing, you can just cut out eggs and fish or dairy and pork. You don't have to be fully vegan, it isn't a competition. Making ethical and environmentally friendly choices consistently is something we should all think about and strive to achieve but it doesn't have to happen instantly or in its entirety.

For more vegan recipes that promote good eye health, check out the Essilor blog!

Do you have any tips? Are you vegetarian or vegan? If not, why not? Are you trying veganuary?

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Valentines Day Gift Guide

Valentines Day is almost here so today's post is all about gifts for her, whether that's your girlfriend, friends or if you are lovely enough to treat your mum on this Hallmark holiday; also I just wanted to mention that self love and self care is SO important as well so why not treat yourself this Valentines Day...or Galentines Day? 

I would love to receive any of these gifts and I know all of my friends would too! I was very kindly sent these incredibly wonderful gifts from a range of super generous brands, so thank you! The gifts featured in today's post range from lifestyle options, homeware, vegan chocolate and indulgent, natural pampering products from two of my favourite brands, Tisserand and Dr Botanicals. 

*Kate Spade Thermal Mug (£16)

Kate Spade is one of those brands that I adore and have arm length wish lists for but I think of it as a treat brand, it's a brand that's not something you buy from everyday *although I wish it was*. I love Kate Spade designs, they are fun and colourful but still minimal and chic; this super practical thermal mug is no different. It's a 454ml or 16oz capacity mug which can be used for hot and cold drinks so it would make a perfect gift during the chilly weather we are still having in England. I also love the cute message of 'cold hands, warm heart' on the front! Although if you don't like this design then check out the others that are available on Amara. 

*Dr Botanicals Moroccan Rose & Shea Butter Body Repairing Cream (£24.99, SALE)

I recently became a Dr Botanicals ambassador so that means that I can provide a new Dr Botanicals review every month as well as including a discount code to use on the product I mention each month! The star product for the month of February is the Moroccan Rose and Shea Butter Body Cream which has been reduced from £99 to only £24.99 (100ml), it's an amazing saving and you can get an extra 20% off the reduced price so it's only £19.99 with the code: OFBEAUTYBLOG which ends at the end of February. 

The body cream comes in a luxe glass jar and it contains so many fantastic, natural ingredients (it's also vegan) such as Moroccan rose oil which is high in Omega 3 and 6, apricot kernel oil, cranberry fruit extract, patchouli leaf oil and many more. It smells heavenly but not overly floral and it feels so luxurious, indulgent and rich to use. Winter is awful on my skin but this cream has given my skin, especially my arms, post shaved legs and hands a blanket of comfort, moisture and smoothness which it really craves during the chilly winter months so with that in mind, I couldn't think of a better gift for yourself or someone else this winter...well, apart from a holiday! 

*Miller Harris Tangerine Vert EDP (£65, 5ml)

I personally love to receive fragrances for my birthday/christmas and I also love giving fragrances as gifts as they are not only practical presents but they are substantial and beautiful gifts. I've tried a few samples of Miller Harris fragrances but this is the first full size EDP I have...and I adore it. I know we still have a just over a month of winter left but in my mind, it's pretty much spring already so I am sorting out my beauty, makeup and fragrance collection for spring appropriate products and I realised that I don't really have many spring fragrances, they are all very woody, musky, deep or too intense for the upcoming spring months but this one is perfect!

It contains notes of grapefruit, lemon, geranium, orange, cedar, moss and sweet musk which is apparently appealing to both sexes but I personally think that it's a very fruity, floral and feminine fragrance but that's just my opinion. From the first spray, I was addicted and I have been using it so often even when I don't really need to, just because it is such an incredibly uplifting, happy fragrance that takes me back to spring days with blue skies, subtle sunshine, fruity lunches and fragrant flowers.  Also the packaging and bottle are stunning! 

*Tisserand Rose & Geranium Leaf Range (£7.95 - £9.95)

Tisserand is one of my favourite pampering and bodycare brands and I cannot recommend their products enough! I am currently using and loving the Tisserand Lavender & White Mint Hand Cream which is heavenly but I also adore the Rose & Geranium Leaf range. Some of my favourite products from Tisserand are their hand creams and the Rose & Geranium Leaf hand cream is no exception. The scent is floral, earthy and very spring like so it will be perfect for the *hopefully* upcoming warmer months. 

The shower gels lather so well, you only need a small amount and the hand washes are equally as effective but all three products are natural, gentle and they don't irritate my sensitive skin which is fantastic as eczema can be horrendous! I cannot recommend Tisserand products enough especially the hand creams, shower gels, hand washes and the indulgent bath oils. For more vegan beauty product recommendations, check out my recent Veganuary post. 

*Cosy Glow Handmade Soy Candle in Vanilla (£7.50 + £2.50 shipping) 

Candles are staple gifts for me; my sister and friends all adore candles so they are safe gifts and they'd be perfect for Valentine's Day. The candle is made of soy wax and essential oils and it claims to have an impressive 35+ hour burn time. Vanilla is one of my favourite scents, along with lavender, so I have tried my fair share of vanilla candles although most tend to be disappointing - they are either too sweet, too subtle or too strong and headache inducing but this is candle is just perfect. 

The vanilla scent isn't artificial or too sweet, it just has a musky and comforting vanilla scent that will surely appeal to so many gift recipients, myself included. It burns well and smells lovely! I love the cute jam jar style container and the simple packaging which might be a negative but it also means that it won't clash with your decor. If you don't like vanilla, there are a range of other scents to chose from including: bubblegum, lavender, gingerbread, apple pie and freshly baked bread - I need to try the latter! 

*Filofax iPad 2/3/4 Saffiano Gold Wrap Case (£41.99) 

I love giving and receiving practical gifts, as it means that you don't have to buy them yourself! I do love to change up my iPad and iPhone cases but I not only want a cute case but I also want my devices to be very protected and padded, in comes Filofax. Until a couple of weeks ago, I didn't know that Filofax had a wide range of tablet cases and they are all fantastic! 

My iPad case is pretty much worn away and a new one was definitely needed so it was great timing that this gorgeously gold case arrived! The case is suitable for an iPad 2/3 or 4 (you can google your iPad model number to find out which one you have) and it's extremely well padded so any device will be protected. It not only has a hard shell that the device fits into but it has two large pockets inside for cables, notes or stationery. My iPad looks so much better in it's new case, I know it will be protected on the go and it would be perfect for travelling with your iPad. This case would be a fantastic practical but pretty gift for the tech lover in your life. 

*Mr Nutcase Personalised Latte Mug (£6.50, 12oz)

Personalised gifts, as I always say, are fantastic and special gifts to give! I love personalised gifts, especially photograph gifts. Mr Nutcase has a wide range of personalised gifts to choose from including phone cases, towels, cushions, macbook covers, books and engraved gifts as well as mugs. I have the latte mug which is personalised with photographs from my trip last year to the amazingly magical Harry Potter studios - I think photographs of trips are perfect for personalised gifts as they are usually the best photographs particularly when compared to blurry selfies! Mr Nutcase have a 20% off code for their Valentine's Day sale, code: CUPID20. 

*Chocolate and Love Vegan Chocolate Bars (£2.99 each or £5.99 for a gift box set)

Last month was Veganuary and I did take part - you can check out my Veganuary experiences and recipes! One of the things I struggled with is the lack of chocolate that is suitable for vegans but there are some options available. Chocolate and Love have a fantastic range of delicious chocolate bars, some of which are suitable for vegans! The Panama (80%), the Rich Dark (71%) and the Orange are all suitable of vegans and so delicious. My favourite is the Dark Chocolate, Caramel and Sea Salt (55%) which is so moreish! The bars individually would be great little gifts (they can be bought from Sainsburys) but you can purchase a gift box set as well which contains four 40g bars in a really well made, beautifully designed gift box. 

Now for a little video of some of the Valentine's Day gifts I've featured in this post! I cannot recommend all of these gifts enough and I'm sure that the lucky recipient, whoever it may be, will be so happy with them! 

What do you think of the Valentine's Day gifts I've featured? Have you tried any of these products? 

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Samantha Clayton's 21 Day Challenge ft. Herbalife

One of my goals for the new year was to get back into exercising which I stuck to fully last year, up until the last three or so months of the year. I made a rather impulse purchase of a treadmill this month and I've been using it almost everyday alongside some of the exercise videos from Herbalife ft. ex olympic sprinter Samantha Clayton.

Before the end of the year I was challenged by Herbalife Nutrition to take part in their January 21 day challenge by using some of their products as well as taking part in the exercise videos created by Samantha Clayton that consisted of 7-10 minute exercise videos per day. The first two weeks were a beginner level and the last week was a little more difficult but considering the exercising on my treadmill that I was also doing, I decided to just stick to the beginner levels. Also, I've definitely lost a lot of my stamina so the beginner levels were the only ones I could fully stick to!

I was very kindly sent a range of their shakes, protein bars, water bottles, activewear, tea and more which I'm very grateful for. I have been wearing their activewear often throughout the month while on my treadmill, on my crosstrainer and while taking part in the videos when I could. The video are so easy to follow and you can as well by checking out the Herbalife blog! You'll see some of the Herbalife products in my Veganuary wrap-up too so stay tuned for that.

I have to admit that I did have a bit of a rocky start to the month in terms of a lack of motivation, the struggle to get back into my exercise routine and I've been switching to a vegan diet this month (you'll be able to read about my veganuary favourites and my experience in an upcoming post). Additionally some of the products from Herbalife weren't vegan but I have been using the *Herbalife Cafe Latte Shake consistently throughout the month and I've been loving it. I use the shake to replace one meal (usually my lunch or breakfast) once a day. If you've been following my blog for a while then you'll have seen my reviews of a couple of other flavours but this one is probably my favourite.

My experience has been a little bit rocky with some ups and a few downs this month but overall, I think I've made a good start to the year in terms of exercising and eating well after having a fairly treat heavy diet for a few months at the end of 2018. Due to the treats I did manage to put on 3lbs which doesn't sound like too much but on my tiny frame, it is quite noticeable to me so I did want to loose it and so far I've lost 2lbs which I'm very happy with, especially considering I haven't been able to stick to the exercises as fully as I aimed to. I do feel a little fitter, toned and healthier overall but I don't feel as though the results are very visible yet so I am going to stick to my healthy vegan diet and exercises for the rest of the year.

Thanks so much to Herbalife for the fantastic activewear, goodies and the videos with Samantha Clayton which have definitely given me the push to start 2019 in the right frame of mind and with more motivation to exercise consistently - I don't think I would have had that if it wasn't for this challenge.

Do you have any healthy eating or exercising goals for 2019? Will you be checking out Herbalife products or the exercise videos?

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2018 Goals + Wants

Image from Etsy via Pinterest

While I think it is a regularly mocked cliche of creating 'new year, new you' goals every January, I actually find having simple goals for the new year ahead helpful and motivating. My goals for this year are more general than last year so I don't put too much pressure on myself to reach everything on my list. For 2018 my goals are mainly building on my goals from last year and I have a couple of treatments that I'd like to finally get this year too.

Goal: Continue exercising, maintain my weight loss & eat well

In 2017 one of my goals was to exercise consistently, to lose weight and to eat better (and or become mostly vegan) and unlike every other year, I have actually reached all three of these goals. I've managed to stick to a 90% vegan lifestyle, I've been exercising consistently and almost daily since the start of summer and I have lost just over 20lbs (which is about 1.4 stone)!

For 2018 I want to continue my mostly vegan diet which isn't difficult for me especially as January is the month of veganuary. I also want to continue exercising consistently and to lose a little more weight in time for my bridesmaid duties in the spring. Are you taking part in veganuary?

Goal: Be more active & push myself more

I've never been one for exercising and throughout my time in primary school and secondary school, I did literally everything to avoid PE but now I am finding that I want to be more active in terms of hiking, yoga and cycling which I'm loving so I want to carry on with it in 2018. I also feel like I need to push myself more in terms of exercising and I'd love to try out rock climbing or kayaking, both of which I've done before.

Goal: Save money

Another goal of mine for 2018 is to save money rather than trying to spend it as soon as possible which has been my strategy so far...I'm lucky enough to earn money from my blog which is something I never thought would happen so I'd like to continue with that and save some of the money earned via my blog as well as putting some of it back into my blog.

Goal: Read more classics & read 100 books

In January 2016 I decided on a whim to start reading again after reading very little since primary school (apart from the books and articles I had to read for school, college and university) and I smashed my 2016 of 30 books then in 2017 I smashed my goal of 100 books by reading 143 which I'm so happy with.

For 2018 I've set my GoodReads reading goal to 100 books and I think I'll definitely reach it. Another reading goal of mine is to read longer books and to read more classics. I already have quite a few books lined up for these goals such as Les Miserable by Victor Hugo, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss and It by Stephen King among many others. Do you have any reading goals for 2018?

Want: Laser Eye Surgery

Less of a goal and more of a want for 2018 - laser eye surgery is something I've been thinking about for the past couple of years. I definitely want to start the process of laser eye surgery this year but it is a little daunting, not just because of the slightly terrifying procedure but because there are so many options and companies out there so I'm not sure where to start. Have you gone through laser eye surgery, if so, who did you go with?

Want: Professional Teeth Whitening

Lastly I'd love to have my teeth professionally whitened this year! I've tried quite a lot of at home teeth whitening products but most of which didn't work very well for me personally so I think that professional teeth whitening is the answer! The Harley Street Smile Clinic is one of the UK's most experienced cosmetic dentistry clinics which provides such peace of mind knowing that you are in safe hands!

They offer a range of services such as veneer application, gum shaping or a mini smile makeover. They've worked with various celebrities, olympic athletes and they've had so many rave reviews. If you're like me and don't live in or near London then their e-consultation might be a great option to get a quote and advice.

What are your goals for 2018? What are your wants for 2018?

*This is a sponsored post
*Image from Pinterest

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The Best Smoothies Ever?

Since starting veganuary I've been incorporating so much more fruits, veggies and smoothie powders into my diet which I'm loving and loving how it's making me feel - I'm feeling far better about what I'm eating compared to my vegetarian diet over the festive season! Smoothies have now become a regular lunch option for me and they've actually become a replacement of sweet treats too.

Today's post features two smoothies that I have been loving over the past few weeks and I wanted to share them as they're so quick, easy and healthy options. I use my NutriBullet to make all of my smoothies and if you have smoothies often then I cannot recommend it enough as it manages to make smoothies incredibly smooth.

Green Smoothie: Spinach, Apple, Orange Juice & Cucumber

This smoothie is one I make when I don't want a very fruity, citrusy smoothie and if I want something to fill me up as this one does that! I just put a large handful of washed spinach in my NutriBullet along with one small green apple, a small amount of cucumber and orange juice. Blend well then I add in a teaspoon of the *Indigo Nutrition Organic Supergreens Powder which contains wheatgrass, barleygrass, spirulina and other natural ingredients which are high in fibre as well as vitamins A, E, C, B2 and iron, zinc, magnesium.

Tropical Smoothie: Mango, Pineapple & Orange Juice 

Now, this is definitely my favourite smoothie! It's the best combination I've ever tried and even though it doesn't seem to fill me up, it is so delicious, refreshing and it will be perfect for the spring and summer months or as a pick me up during the dull winter weeks we have left. I use about one cup of pineapple chunks, one mango and orange juice to make this smoothie - both amounts listed usually makes one large smoothie.

Let me know if you try these smoothie combinations? What are your favourite smoothie flavours? Are you taking part in veganuary? 

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Veganuary 2018 + Cruelty Free Favourites

Last month was the third veganuary I have taken part in and to be honest, it was my worst attempt...in my defence, I couldn't prepare fully beforehand and my diet is 90% vegan already but enough of making excuses! Today's post is going to be a review of some of my favourite products from last month that are crueltry free or suitable for vegans.

*Antipodes Immortal Face & Body SPF 15 Moisturiser (£28.99, 60ml)

For the past three or so years Antipodes have been my favourite skincare brand! I've been using their products almost consistently for a while, through amazing skin days to horrendous fortnight long eczema flare-ups and I cannot recommend their products enough, especially if you have dry and sensitive skin as I do - they are heaven sent products!

For the majority of December and January I've been using their vanilla day cream which I adore but recently I've been trying their Immortal SPF 15 moisturiser which is perfect for this time of the year when my skin still needs nourishment and moisture (it's still snowing here as I'm typing this) but we are having lighter, sunny days so the SPF 15 is definitely needed. Unlike other Antipodes moisturisers, this one barely has a scent and it's very lightweight but it's still great for my dry, sensitive skin. I know I'll get so much use out of this moisturiser in the upcoming spring months.

*Antipodes Reincarnation Pure Facial Exfoliator (£21.99, 75ml)

I've tried so many of their serums, moisturisers and a couple of cleansers but this is the first exfoliator from Antipodes that I've tried and I love it! It contains wonderful ingredients as every Antipodes product does and both of these mentioned are suitable for vegans. The exfoliator is so gentle but very effective, it's one of the best exfoliators I've ever used as it leaves my skin so incredibly smooth, soft and clean without it feeling uncomfortable or harsh. I cannot recommend Antipodes as a brand enough, especially these two products which I've been loving recently.

*Beauty Blender Original - Powder (£16)

Last week I received an amazing package from no other than Beauty Blender UK as they are celebrating 15 years of perfectly blended foundation! I have had so many Beauty Blender dupes as well as the original pink Beauty Blender and none of the dupes compare to the original, in my opinion. The original is fluffy cloud compared to the other dupes as it's so incredibly soft, squishy and when damp, it's the most ideal tool to apply foundation over my dry, sometimes flaky skin.

Brushes tend to emphasise the dryness of my skin when applying foundation or concealer so the best option is a damp, soft Beauty Blender as it applies and blends my foundation and concealer perfectly providing a seamless finish, blended to perfection foundation and it's amazing for my dry skin. If you also have dry skin and find that brushes just emphasise the dryness then check out the original Beauty Blender. I have searched online and I think that they are cruelty free and suitable for vegans to use, let me know if this isn't correct!

*Perricone MD No Makeup Foundation (£45)

Last year I was very kindly sent the Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation and I adored it but it was a little too dark for my ghostly pale skin but thankfully they've just released a lighter shade. I have the lightest shade available (Fair, F) which is the most ideal match for my skin! I love the packaging, it contains SPF 30 which is amazing and for me it provides a radiant, skin-like finish, light coverage and it helps to even out my skin tone.

On New Years eve I finished up the last of my all time favourite foundation and I've been using all of my disappointing foundations since then which obviously results in awful looking skin but since I received this foundation, it's been the only foundation I've used and now I've had nothing but amazing foundation days! It makes my skin look radiant, even and provides the coverage I want on a daily basis, it doesn't irritate my skin and it claims to visibly improve the skin's appearance over time.

*Perricone MD No Makeup Concealer (£29, 9g)

As well as the foundation which I absolutely adore, I also received their new concealer (thank you!) which doesn't seem to be on the website yet but you can sign up to receive a notification when it is in the link above. I love the packaging for the concealer, the shade is another perfect match and it claims to provide instant coverage for imperfections, dark circles and discolouration. As well as the foundation, the concealer has amazing SPF which is ideal for the upcoming sunny spring days.

The coverage is fantastic (it's medium to buildable coverage) and as I have the lightest shade it adds so much brightness under the eyes which is definitely needed as my dark circles are stubbornly intense. I apply the foundation and concealer with my Beauty Blender and it's the most effective trio for my dry skin during the still chilly winter days.

My vegan meaty pizza!

Baconlicious Seasonings 

Last but not least is a food favourite! Baconlicious very kindly sent me a tonne of samples of their products all the way from sunny Australia. Their products are suitable for vegetarians and some are suitable for vegans, either way, they are all delicious.

The main product I've been using is the Maple Glazed Bacon Seasoning which is suitable for vegans! To me it tastes like bacon flavoured crisps and it's gorgeous within creamy smoky vegan sauces and dips or just sprinkled onto vegan pizza and salads. A little goes a long way so it will last a while and there are so many uses for the seasonings. They also make BBQ glazes and spray on seasonings, I have a few of them and I also love the garlic spray on seasoning. All of the products I've tried so far have been incredible, it's hard to believe that they are vegan as they taste amazing, smoky and moreish. Even though they are based in Australia, they offer world-wide shipping so definitely check them out. I will have a couple of recipes using these products on my blog over the next couple of weeks.

Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of the Baconlicious Bacon-Free Seasonings? 

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2019 Highlights + Favourites

Happy New Year! Today's post is going to be my yearly wrap-up of my favourite moments, memorable events and a run down of my monthly lifestyle favourites from 2019. I've already posed my reading review for the year and I will also be posting my beauty favourites post soon, along with my 2020 goals. 2019 has been a bit of a mixed year from reaching blog milestones, having eye surgery, visiting new cities and switching to a fully vegan diet to reading slumps, gaining weight, new tattoos and everything in-between.

January: Fully vegan & ONE MILLION blog views 

The first notable event for 2019 was switching to a fully vegan diet in January 2019. I have taken part in #veganuary each year for the past three or so years now but I decided to switch fully in 2019 and I'm so glad I did. There were some amazing vegan food releases in 2019 such as the rather irresistible Greggs vegan sausage roll, Papa Johns pizza, the M&S Plant Kitchen range and even more coming in 2020.

The second notable moment of January 2019 was that my little blog reached over one million page views. When I started my blog back in 2012, I never thought anything would come of it but I've been so lucky to work with a tonne of amazing brands and PRs, I've been invited to incredible events, I've received gorgeous products and its something I love to do.

January Favourites: Clean Reserve Rain and Blond Rose fragrances, Freshly Hand Treatment, Maybelline Total Temptation Brow Definer and the Nightrunner book series.

February: Visiting London, first class train & lots of sponsored posts 

February had a few milestones too including reaching over 9,000 followers on Twitter and having the most sponsored posts I've ever had in one month! I also visited London in February with my mum, thanks to gifted first class train tickets from Virgin Trains. We visited a couple of sights I've been to before (Harrods, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum) as well as the Victoria and Albert Museum and Kensington Palace which we hadn't visited before.

February Favourites: Grace by Lewis Capaldi, Caudalie Vinosource Sorbet, Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, Ink Master TV Show and Pizza Hut vegan pizza.

March: No eczema!

As a freelancer, money can be very inconsistent but thankfully my roll of sponsored posts continued into March. I also started loosing weight again and exercising more (ha, that didn't last). The biggest change that happened in March was that I hadn't had any eczema flareups on my hands or face for weeks. Since becoming fully vegan at the start of the year, after two months, I noticed that I didn't have any flareups (and the only thing I changed was to stop eating dairy) and thankfully I haven't had any eczema on my hands or face all year which is just incredible! I've suffered with eczema for over ten years, especially around my eyes, so to just not have to deal with it all year has been almost unbelievable!

March Favourites: Jenna Marbles Youtube channel, Parks and Recreation TV Show, Brooklyn 99, The Grand Tour TV Show, Holika Holika Moisturising BB Cream and Maybelline Brow Tattoo.

April: Visiting Edinburgh for the first time + best reading month ever

Edinburgh is a city I've wanted to visit for a while and back in April, the train tickets from Manchester to Edinburgh were really cheap so myself and my mum visited Edinburgh for a couple of days! We visited Holyrood Palace (which was amazing), Edinburgh Castle and the National Museum of Scotland (which sadly wasn't so amazing). I definitely want to visit Edinburgh again but maybe during the summer months when it isn't so cold!

I also visited the Manchester Art Gallery to see their Da Vinci exhibit, Tatton Park and Gardens and saw The King and I in the Manchester Palace Theatre in April. April was a quiet blogging month but it was a fantastic reading month as I managed to read 20 books.

April Favourites: Holika Holika BB Cream, Follow Your Heart Vegan Ranch, Cicaplast Baume B5, Operative Live TV Show and Soaper Duper Yuzufruit and Fig Body Butter.

May: Laser eye surgery consultation 

Laser eye surgery is something I've wanted to look into for years but naturally the idea of eye surgery, not to mention the cost, is a little daunting but I had a consultation at the Laser Vision clinic in the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital in May (it's a private clinic in an NHS hospital). Thankfully I was suitable for the surgery but as my eyes were incredible dry, I had to rectify that with antibiotics and drops for a couple of months beforehand. May also included the EU vote (I voted to remain in the EU) which we all know the results of (still not over it and I don't think I will be until we remain in the EU).

May Favourites: Sabrina Netflix Show, Game Of Thrones Season 8, Omorovicza skincare, Rimmel and Hatari (Iceland's Eurovision entry).

June: New tattoos + heatwave

June was another quiet month but I did go to the Summer Fare at my old primary school, visited the beautiful Quarry Bank Mill and had a tattoo consultation. I received two new tattoos in June and I don't know why but it seems to be a habit for me of getting tattoos in pairs. Most of mine were done by the lovely Zu at Flesh Tattoo in Manchester.

Favourites: Amazon Prime, The Grand Tour, Ben and Jerrys Vegan Fudge Brownie Ice Cream.

July: Laser eye surgery + highest paid blog post

After a couple of months of eye drops, I was finally booked to have another laser eye surgery consultation and at the end of July I had the surgery. I've already published an in-depth post about my experiences of the consultation, the surgery itself and the recovery, if you want to read that for more information. The laser eye surgery option I decided on was very expensive (£3,800!) so it was very timely that I was paid the highest amount I've ever received for a single blog post in July!

However, before the surgery I visited the MOSI and the roman ruins in Manchester with a friend and I visited Leeds which is a city I've only been to once before - we went to the Royal Armoury which was well worth a visit. Also July 2019 marked 500 books read since January 2017!

July Favourites: Tour De France, Wimbledon, BareMinerals Good Hydrations Primer, Daisy London Estee Lalonde necklaces and Helmans Vegan Mayonnaise.

August: Laser eye surgery recovery, appointments + my birthday 

August is my birthday month so I caught up with friends and visited the beautiful Tatton Park and Gardens and visited Dunham Massey. I reached my reading goal of 100 books and I was lucky enough to get more sponsored posts in August. However, the main focus of the month was my recovery from laser eye surgery as I had the surgery on the 31st July so August was filled with eye drops, eye appointments and recovery.

August Favourites: Daisy London x Estee Lalonde sunburst shield necklace, Viscotears, Neom x LookFantastic box and Nordgreen watch.

September: Christmas planning, visiting sights around Manchester + new camera 

Following on from August with another eye appointment and more recovery time but I was discharged from the clinic in September which was fantastic! I visited quite a few sites around Manchester in September including watching the final stage of the OVO Energy Tour Of Britain (which was very exciting and the first sporting event I've been to), visiting the Pankhurst Centre (which is right next to the hospital I went to for my eye surgery) and I also visited the Greater Manchester Fire Station Museum before it closed for refurbishment.

I also started planning my Christmas content and bought a new camera in September. I have wanted a new camera for a while and I finally settled on buying the Sony A7iii which I'm very happy with and I cannot recommend it enough. Lastly for September, I made vegan speatzle for the first time and fell in love - it's almost a cross between fresh pasta and dumplings and it's incredible.

September Favourites: Rugby World Cup, Rimmel Super Gel Polish, Lush Soak and Float Shampoo Bar and Lush Cork Pots.

October: visiting Glasgow for the first time, gifted hotel stay, new tattoos, exploring Manchester + hair salon review 

October, for me, usually focuses solely on halloween makeup but I didn't have time to create any halloween looks as October was an incredibly busy and a surprisingly amazing month. I was gifted a free hotel stay in Glasgow so myself and a friend visited the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art and went on a tour the next day including Stirling Castle, Lock Lomond, the Trossachs National Park and the Glengoyne Whisky Distillery - I hadn't been to any of those places before. I cannot recommend the Hallmark Hotel in Glasgow enough or Rabbies tours! Check out my instagram stories highlights for more photos.

As well as visiting a few new cities in Scotland, there were more firsts in October including being tattooed in a private studio by a tattoo artist I never thought I'd be tattooed by (as she lives and works in New York). I couldn't be happier with my two new tattoos by Rachel Hauer, check out her instagram - you'll want to be tattooed by her too. Another first was a free haircut as part of a salon review from Melissa Timperley Salon in Manchester which was amazing and I cannot recommend the salon enough.

I'm not finished with my October highlights, as I said, it was a busy but fantastic month...I published a couple of posts about sites to visit around Greater Manchester in October so I visited Quarry Bank Mill (again), Jodrell Bank and Manchester's China Town. I also started my christmas gift guides in October and loved watching the Rugby World Cup but sadly it wasn't all good news as October was my worst reading month in three years.

October Favourites: Rugby world cup, Barry M Brow Wand, Ark Skincare Age Defend Replenishing Moisturiser, Ink Master TV Show, Benefit Roller Lash Mascara and SportFX Mascara.

November & December: Christmas gift guides, christmas planning + new favourite music  

I'm grouping November and December together as they were both fairly quiet months but I did have a stall at a christmas fare, I visited the Manchester Christmas Markets twice and voted in the general election - this year has been horrendous in terms of politics in the UK. It's not all doom and gloom though as I discovered a few new music favourites in the past two months including BTS (yes, years behind everyone I know) and a few new to me songs from one of my favourite brands, Panic At The Disco. November and December were months of new food discoveries too such as vegan sushi and gochujang, both of which I cannot get enough of.

November & December Favourites: Hustle Butter, BTS, Panic At The Disco, ACDC, Latest In Beauty Boxes, Candy Kittens sweets, vegan sushi and gochujang.


Overall, 2019 was a pretty good year, with a few ups and downs but mostly positives and a lot of firsts, from having surgery for the first time and visiting new cities to blog milestones and becoming vegan. I was also able to work with a few new brands in 2019 including: Wing Yip, Daisy London, Scrivens, Yes To, Mitch's Kitchen, TJ Hughes, Hallmark Hotels, Melissa Timperley Salons, Megabus and many more which I'm very grateful for!

Stay tuned for more 2019 review posts, 2020 goals and my #veganuary content! 

What were your highlights of 2019? 

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