DegustaBox - January 2021

Today's post is all about the first DegustaBox for the new year! I had high hopes for the new box and it did not disappoint as it was filled with a plethora of vegan goodies from a range of new-to-me and well loved brands. You can use the code DTPL4 to get your box for only £9.99.

*DegustaBox - January 2021 

The theme for the January box is 'breakfast and on the go' which is a great theme for the new year; although I think a veganuary box would have been great too. There's a fantastic range of breakfast items, cooking ingredients and snacks in the box - so many of which are vegan friendly! 

Gregory's Tree Organic Strawberry Fruit Twists (89p each)

I'll start with the sweet treats from the box, the first are two fruit twists from Gregory's Tree which is brand that was included in the previous box. I love the fruit twists, they are a natural and healthier version of candy! I can't recommend them enough and I will be looking out for them in the future. 

Mallow Puffs Salted Caramel Mallow Bar (£1.59)

When I opened the box, I didn't think this item would be vegan but it is! It's a puffy vegan mallow with Belgian dark chocolate and natural flavours and colours. I haven't tried it yet but I'm excited to as it sounds delicious. 

Rowntree's Vegan Friendly Fruit Pastilles (£1.29)

I haven't tried a Rowntree's fruit pastille since I was a child as I haven't had any gelatine sweets since then but they are now vegan friendly which is amazing. Each sharing bag contains five flavours including blackcurrant, lemon, strawberry, lime and orange. I can't wait to try them!

Trek Power Millionaire Shortbread (£1.75)

I love snack bars, they are the perfect on the go snacks so I'm always happy to try more. This bar is naturally vegan, gluten free and it contains 15g of protein per bar. I've tried a few of their bars previously and loved them especially the cocoa flavour so I'm glad to have another one to try. 

St Pierre Millionaires Waffle and Brioche Waffle (£1 each)

Sadly, these items aren't vegan but they do look incredibly delicious! Within the January box, you would have received both the millionaires waffle and the brioche waffle; they'd make great on the go snacks. I tried this brand a couple of years ago and loved their products so I wish they make vegan versions of these yummy treats. 

Whitworths Shots Fruity Biscuits (£1.60)

Another ideal on the go snack are these shots from Whitworths which have also been included in a previous box. This flavour combines sultanas, cranberries and white chocolate coated shortcake biscuits which I passed onto my mum and she likes them. They are only 93 calories per pack so they're great healthy snacking options. 

Baker Street Rye and Wheat Bread (£1.69)

Moving onto a few of the more breakfast items including this loaf of rye and wheat bread which is low in fat, high in fibre and dairy free. It is made with a sourdough starter and it is stone baked so it has a lovely flavour! 

Lizi's Super Muesli (75p, 50g each)

Within the box, there's also a couple of flavours of muesli - you should receive both options. The first is 'boost' which contains mango, papaya and turmeric and the second is 'focus' which contains hazelnut, pecan and maca - the latter is definitely my favourite. 

Sun-Pat Peanut Butter (£1.50)

You can't have a box about breakfast without including peanut butter - I love peanut butter on toast. You should receive either the smooth or the crunchy option. I personally love smooth peanut butter on toast, on a bagel or added to porridge for breakfast. 

Nat Bears (£2.90)

The cutest item from the box has to be these adorable teddybear shaped baked oat cereal - so cute! They contain wholegrain oat and no artificial colours or flavourings. You just add the cute bear to your bowl of milk - they come in either honey or chocolate flavours. 

Barley Cup (£2.50)

I tried a sample of this natural drink a while ago as I wanted to try a caffeine free drink that would still have a nice flavour. It is made from cereal grains and chicory roots and is suitable for vegans. It has a rich flavour that I like and I think it is a great alternative to coffee, if you are looking to reduce your caffeine intake. 

Grey Poupon Vegan Dijon Mayo (£2.50)

Lastly a couple of savoury options, the first is a new range of vegan mustard flavoured mayos from Grey Poupon. I personally don't love mustard so this isn't really for me but I think so many would like it and it is great to see more brands bringing out vegan options. 

Mister Free'd Avocado Tortilla Chips (£1.59)

The final item from the January box is a pack of avocado tortilla chips that have a little spice to them. I haven't given them a go yet but I think they would make a great option for loaded nachos with vegan cheese, tomatoes and sweetcorn! 

Have you tried any of these products? 

* AD - gifted item sent to me, not paid

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Anxiety + Relaxation Helpers

The end of 2020 and start of 2021 was filled with anxiety for me, not just about the current pandemic but a few negative and anxiety inducing things happened that caused me to fall into an anxiety slump for the past couple of weeks. While I still have moments of anxiety every few days that cause me to pace constantly, worry and feel sick, it is definitely better than it was a couple of weeks ago so I wanted to share a few of the products and tips that helped me. 

Do Something 

The first tip if you have an anxious, racing mind is to do something, anything! I have personally found that organising and doing jobs around the house, talking to someone, reading a new book and going for a walk have all helped so much especially when my thoughts won't stop spiralling. Also make time to cook, eat and watch a comfort TV show!

Supplements or CBD

CBD claims to help many issues and have various benefits such as helping with overall wellbeing, sleep problems, anxiety and stress, the latter three I've definitely been struggling with recently. I have been sent this CBD oil and trying the *Natural Works 10% CBD Oil (£40) on and off for the past couple of weeks (always do your own research before taking any kind of supplement and if you are unsure, ask your doctor before taking anything). Their CBD oil is vegan friendly, 100% natural and is derived from organic Swiss grown hemp. Thankfully the oil doesn't have any flavour which is something I prefer for supplements and I haven't noticed any negative effects. 

Research into the effects of CBD is still currently taking place and more research is needed in the future. I personally feel as though it does help me feel a little bit less anxious and stressed but that is just my personal experience and I will definitely need to try it for a longer period of time to see if there are other results or benefits. If you are interested, they do have a code to get 25% off for veganuary on their website so you can check it out along with their very useful information about CBD. 

Deep Breathing and 3-3-3 Rule

A couple of other useful tips I've found recently is to try and focus on deep breathing and nothing else; although sometimes when my thoughts are too strong this doesn't work for me and I have to try and distract myself further. When these moments happen, I find that the 3-3-3 rule helps massively which involves noting three things around you, three things you can hear and three parts of your body - I find this process to be very grounding. 

Anxiety is such a personal struggle and everyone deals with it in different ways such as yoga, mediation, exercise, trying new hobbies and seeking help, whatever works for you. I have just listed a few tips and products that have been helping me recently although I know it will be something I will probably have to deal with on and off throughout my life, these tips have been very beneficial for me. If you have any tips, leave them in the comments below. 

Have you tried CBD? If you suffer with anxiety, do you have any tips? 

* AD - gifted item sent to me

Also please do your own research and ask your doctor before taking any kind of supplement 

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Honestly Good Smoothie Company

Today's post is a little late as I planned to publish it during Veganuary but I've been struggling with motivation so much recently; however I am excited about today's post as it's something I haven't tried before - smoothie deliveries! Since I purchased my Nutribullet about five years ago, I have been using it constantly and the first couple of years I used it mainly for making smoothies but I have fallen out of the habit. Thankfully The Honestly Good Smoothie Co have a great solution for those, like me, who struggle to think of interesting smoothie ingredient combinations or who prefer the convenience of frozen fruit and pre-prepared ingredients.

*Honestly Good Smoothie Co 

The Honestly Good Smoothie Company very kindly sent me a range of their smoothie selections to try out and I'm impressed! They have a range of box options to choose from all of which are 100% natural and organic. You can choose between the fruity box, veggie box, green box or the variety box, the latter would be great if you haven't tried many smoothies or if you want to sample their range. The delivery options vary from one week, fortnightly or monthly and you can choose the number of smoothies in the box, either five or ten. Additionally, you can choose the delivery day (delivery is free!).

All of the smoothie kits, as well as the glass and straw, came well packaged and protected within sustainable packaging. Their kits also only use seasonal ingredients making them better for the environment. The smoothies arrive frozen with dry ice (which is very fun to dissolve but be careful) and they are all pre-portioned which is ideal for someone like me as I do keep track of the protein, fat and calories I eat each day - it's always very handy to have something I can scan the barcode of instead of weighing each ingredient.

I love the packaging for all of the kits, especially as you can see all of the ingredients and I just love how convenient they are, particularly for a super healthy and quick lunch or breakfast. To use the kits, all you have to do is add them to a blender (I use my Nutribullet and I cannot recommend it enough for everything from soup and sauces to smoothies and dips) then add in the stated amount of liquid and blend. I have been using orange juice for the fruit smoothies and almond milk for the others which works well for me but you can experiment adding different juices and plant milks to your smoothies.

The first smoothie kit I tried was the 'Good Morning Sunshine' combination which contains banana, strawberries, oats, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds and almonds which is the closest combination to the smoothies I would make years ago. I love banana and strawberry smoothies and I liked the addition of the nuts and seeds, although it make the smoothie a little less smooth - it was still one of my favourites though!

My second favourite of the five I was sent has to be 'Cheer Me Up' which contains pineapple, apple, acai berry, cucumber, seeds, oats and dates as well as 'The Almond Tart One' which contains an unusual mix of pear, butternut squash, apple, avocado, prunes, almonds and cinnamon - it's surprisingly good. There are still two smoothies I have tried yet and those include: 'The Cacaonut One' (banana, sweet potato, courgette, blueberry, hazelnut, cacao nibs, pumpkin seeds and salt) and 'The Fitness Fuel One' (banana, apple, cannellini beans, dates, seeds, peanuts and tofu) which again is another very unusual combination. I'll be sure to update today's post when I've tried the last two.

Overall, from the packaging, unusual flavour combinations, convenience, organic ingredients and the option of a very nutritious breakfast or lunch, I cannot recommend The Honestly Good Smoothie Company enough. The kits are very convenient, handy for those who are always busy and ideal for quick and delicious smoothies within a couple of minutes.

Have you tried any of The Honestly Good Smoothie Company kits? 

*gifted

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Herbalife Tri Blend Mix + BoxxFresh

Today's post is a little late as I should have published it during January as it is one of my veganuary posts with Herbalife but I've been so busy and haven't had the time until now. I've been lucky enough to work with Herbalife a couple of times as I've reviewed some of their body care products and their shakes previously which you can read, here, for more information.

*Herbalife Tri Blend Select - Banana Flavour (£45.75)

I was very kindly sent the new Tri Blend shake which is the first clean wellness shake from Herbalife. It is suitable for vegans, it is gluten free and it contains natural ingredients. It contains pea, quinoa and organic flaxseed so it is high in protein and fibre which is essential for every diet. If you don't consume the recommend amount of protein or fibre in any diet or struggle to cook meals that include enough then a protein shake, like the new Tri Blend Select, might be a great addition to your diet as it's easy to make as a shake or add into other meals or snacks such as porridge.

I have both the banana flavour and the coffee caramel flavour (the latter I haven't tried yet). However even though both options sound sweet, they don't contain too much sugar! I've tried other protein shakes in the past and they haven't been sweet enough or they contained lots of sugar to compensate but thankfully these have the right balance between sweetness and less sugar/lower calories.

The traditional way to use protein shakes such as these is to combine the powder with water or milk (I've used almond milk with the other Herbalife shakes I've tried and it works much better than water) but I personally don't absolutely love shakes of any kind so I'm glad that I can use the Tri Blend Select in a few ways. You can use it as a shake, add it to baked goods (such as protein flapjacks - there's a recipe on the Herbalife website if you want to try it), it can be mixed into overnight oats for an easy breakfast or you can simply add it into your porridge.

I've been using the powder solely as an addition to my porridge since I was sent it last month as it's great for not only adding flavour and sweetness but also the added nutritional benefits as well which is something I am always keeping track of. I use the Lifesum app to track my daily calories, fat and protein intake - I've been using it for almost two years now and I cannot recommend it enough, especially if you're looking to lose weight or to make sure that you are eating enough protein.

I would definitely recommend trying a protein powder within porridge as it's such an easy way to add in extra nutrients, protein and fibre - as much as I love to cook, I'm not the best at creating healthy breakfasts so this porridge combination is ideal for me. I like the banana flavour although it isn't my favourite out of the Herbalife options I've tried so far and I think the coffee caramel flavour will be perfect.

Along with the Herbalife Tri Blend Select in the banana and coffee caramel flavours, I was also very kindly sent a huge box full of fresh fruit and veggies from Boxxfresh which is a produce delivery service in which you can select the size of box you receive as well as the fresh produce. I have tried many subscription boxes but never one like this and I think it is a great idea, especially for those who are busy or find it more convenient to have groceries delivered, as I do. I have the large box at £25 but there are others ranging from £15 to £30 per box; also you can add extras to your delivery after you've selected all of the fresh items. I found ordering a box very easy, I liked the choices, everything was well packed and I cannot recommend it enough.

Have you tried anything from Herbalife? Have you tried Boxxfresh? 

*Gifted

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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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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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Eczema + Me: Update 2019

Way back in 2013 which seems like a lifetime ago, I wrote a post titled 'Eczema and Me' which was all about the products I was using at that time for my eczema including Protopic which is the only product out of everything I mentioned in that post which I'm still using. If you want the full background information on my eczema then check out my first post but today's update only features two points as together they've almost completely banished my eczema which back in 2013, I never thought would be possible.

I've had eczema for over ten years and initially it started on my eye lids as a basic dry rash of sorts but it slowly spread over my eyes, eyebrows, cheeks and then onto my hands about six or so years ago. I tried a gluten free diet for over a month, I tried so many prescription steroid creams and lots of drugstore sensitive moisturisers, most of which didn't help in the slightest.

The only product that has helped my skin consistently for the past ten years has been Hydrocortisone which I definitely recommend as it dramatically reduces eczema flareups but it is a steroid cream and over time it can thin the skin which is a side effect I have noticed as I have been using it on/off for ten years. Thankfully I don't need to use it anymore and if I do need a prescription eczema cream, I use Protopic which is a non-steroid cream and I'd highly recommend it as well.

Vegan Diet Is A Miracle? 

I have been vegan on/off for the past four years or so (you can see some of my recipes and veganuary posts, here) but since the start of 2019, I have switched to a fully vegan diet which unlike many non-vegan assumptions, it isn't difficult and it isn't restrictive. For the first month of 2019 I didn't notice any difference in my eczema and it was only after about two to three months that I noticed the difference.

I noticed the difference first on my hands which have had a constant patch of eczema on both for years. I haven't ever shown the eczema on my hands or face on my blog as it makes me feel awful about my appearance but just to give you an idea of my eczema: it leaves my skin red, very irritated, incredibly dry, tight, very flaky, puffy and inflamed. Now imagine that all over your eye lids, in your tea ducts, over both of your hands and you have an idea of what I've had to deal with for ten years.

I was incredibly happy to see the difference in my skin as eczema is such a horrendous skin condition, not just in the way it makes the skin look (it looks like burnt, inflamed skin most of the time on me) but it has such an emotional affect too as for the past ten years I've felt incredibly self conscious of how unusual my hands and face looked - it can make me feel so deeply upset.

My hands have been 100% eczema free for a month or two now which I never thought would happen and I'm over the moon about it; conversely it has made me a little more anxious as I'm hoping it doesn't come back and I think that's the reason the eczema over my eyes hasn't completely disappeared because I know that stress/anxiety triggers the eczema on my face.

I personally haven't changed anything else about my lifestyle, the products I'm using or anything else, other than switching to a fully vegan diet so that's my only explanation of why my eczema has completely disappeared from my hands and 70% from my face. To those who haven't had eczema, especially on your face, I can't explain how painful, itchy, uncomfortable and horrendous it can look/feel and I would have given up anything to get rid of my eczema so being vegan isn't a challenge or sacrifice as it's a cruelty free lifestyle and an eczema eliminating diet in one - I couldn't be happier. I wish my dermatologist (or any doctor I've visited about my eczema) had suggested a change of diet instead of being given steroid creams, as I could have been spared ten years of painful and thoroughly upsetting eczema.

La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume 

One product that has been helping when I've had a mini eczema flareup over my eyes and also when the skin around my nose has just been really flaky and gross from hayfever symptoms is La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume which I've had in my skincare stash for years but I rediscovered after a sort out a month or two ago. I'm so glad that I rediscovered it as it's become an essential product in my current skincare routine.

Whether I have a cold and my nose is all dry and sore or if I have a mini eczema flareup due to anxiety, this cream when applied in the evening has my skin looking and feeling SO much better the next day, it's very impressive. If you have dry skin, irritated, sore or eczema prone skin then I'd definitely recommend checking out this amazing product from la Roche Posay.

Do you have eczema? Have you tried Cicaplast from La Roche Posay? Have you tried a vegan diet?

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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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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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Degustabox - December 2018

The festive and new year season has been so busy and I just wanted to take a little break from my blog, social media and taking photographs constantly (which is what I seemed to do in December) so my review of the December DegustaBox is a little late, sorry! The December box arrived in mid-December which is when I typically receive my box and it's always full of wonderful surprises.

*DegustaBox - December 2018

The December box contained lots of sharing products, drinks and easy snack items so it was perfect for the month of December and I did share quite a lot of the items in this box during Christmas and new year with friends and family. The brands in the December box range from Slush Puppy (which brings back lots of memories from the 90's), Green and Black's and Maggi, among others. To receive your box for only £7.99 which is amazing value for money, use the code: KVAA2.

*Maggi Fusian Noodle Pots (£1.15 each)

Sadly, there's quite a bit of controversy over Maggi noodles as to whether they are suitable for vegetarians or not. I couldn't find a clear answer so I passed these onto my dad and sister to try. There are three flavours included in the box such as chow mein, spiced curry and sweet chilli. I love noodle pots like these as they're just so quick and easy!

*Green and Black's Velvet Fruit (£3.29 each)

Another item that we received numerous flavours of within the box is the Green and Black's velvet fruit which seem to be a new item from the famous chocolate brand. Green and Black's is a brand I've loved for a while but I'm not actually a huge chocolate fan so it's only a very rare treat for me; however these are quite interesting. The 'velvet fruit' are chocolates with indulgent fruit centres. The two flavours included in the box feature blueberry and orange, the latter is the only one I've tried so far and I love it.

*Jack Daniel's Lemonade (£1.80 each)

Jack Daniel's is a brand that's been included in quite a few boxes in 2018 (I almost typed 'this year', I'm still not sure how it is 2019). It's a brand that I do enjoy so I'm glad that more of their items are included in the final box of the year. I haven't tried these but I did take them to my neighbours/friends house, which is where we always go for new year and they were enjoyed then!

*Delverde Pasta - Spaghetti (£1.99)

One item that I tried almost instantly was the pasta I received in my box as I adore pasta! You could have received one of a few varieties but I received the spaghetti option; the others were penne and festonati. The pasta is made using durum wheat and water from the Verde river in the Abruzzo area of Italy. I cannot recommend the spaghetti enough and I'll let you in on one of my pasta cooking secrets - add a couple of bay leaves to the pasta water as it's cooking.

*Slush Puppie Sour Cherry (£1.29)

The most nostalgic item has to be the Slush Puppie in the 'sour cherry' flavour which reminds me of going to the cinema or on holiday in the late 90's as I used to want a Slush Puppie every time - usually the blue flavour. It has the same amazing and nostalgic original flavour but with no added sugar!

*Funkin Cocktails - Passionfruit (£4)

For the most expensive item, the Funkin Cocktails passionfruit martini shaker takes that spot. I haven't tried a product like this before but it sounds like a great idea. You just add ice and the spirit of your choice. This is another product I bought with me for new year and again, it went down very well.

*Real Good Ketchup 

The leaflet that comes with each box is very informative and something I always look through for more information about each item but this ketchup isn't on the leaflet so I don't know anything about it or the price. It contains no added sugar which is great as we've been trying to cut back on sugar in the new year.

*Nature's Store Salted Caramel Bar (89p)

We all know by now that I love snack bars, they are snacks that are so quick and easy but they're usually healthy and convenient - I always have one in my desk drawer, car and handbag so I can snack on the go. I also love salted caramel as a flavour and popcorn so this snack seems as though it was made for me! I love it and I'll definitely be looking out for this in major supermarkets soon.

*Sleep Well Chocolate Milk (£1.25)

The penultimate item is one that we've received a variation of previously and I love this packaging just as much as the original - it's so cute and I'm a bit of a sucker for packaging, if I'm honest. The chocolate milk is composed of whole Jersey milk, honey and valerian, the latter is a herb that has been used for 2000 years as a sleep aid. I personally don't drink cows milk, especially as it is veganuary now so I'll pass this onto my sister as I think she'll love it!

*Shredded Wheat Honey & Nut (£1.99)

The final item is a combo that again, we've seen before in the DegustaBoxes but I think it's a great idea. The 'breakfast on the go' packs include a mini carton of milk and a pot of cereal so it's ideal for breakfast at your desk, at school or even on a road trip or camping as it's so convenient. I love this idea but I wish there was a vegan option! Overall, I'm so happy with the December box and I cannot wait to see what they January 2019 box has to offer - hopefully a few vegan items.

Have you tried any of these items? What do you think of the December DegustaBox (don't forget to use the code KVAA2 to get your box for £7.99)? 

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Take On 2019: Healthy Eating Goals

Image from Bojon Gourmet 

One of my goals of last year was to start eating healthily which is something most people assume I did anyway as I'm a vegetarian and sometimes vegan but my diet wasn't as good as it could have been. Thankfully I did stick to my healthy eating (for the most part) and continued my exercise routine to reach my weight loss goal of two stone, which I did back in the summer.

However, over the past couple of months my healthy eating plan, meal prepping and exercise routine has pretty much disappeared, oops. So one of my goals for 2019 is to get back on the healthy eating bandwagon and stop eating pizza a couple of times per week which is delicious but not so good when it comes to my health and maintaining my weight loss so here are some of my healthy eating goals for the new year: 

Reduce Processed Carbs

One of my favourite foods of all time, along with pizza, is pasta. Pasta is my go-to easy meal basis as it can be adapted in so many ways from a creamy vegan pasta salad, rich tomato and oregano pasta bake and creamy vegan macaroni cheese to adding it to soup, pesto pasta (this list is making me hungry already) or even a macaroni cheese pizza! However, it isn't the most nutritious food you could eat especially for the very high number of calories it contains for a Heather-sized portion (for reference, a Heather-sized portion is approximately half a bag of dry pasta).

I'll never cut out processed carbs as I love them too much but I definitely need to reduce the amount I eat. Switching pasta to rice is easy and rice is less processed - I love brown rice but it is a little more time consuming to prepare and cook. I won't even suggest that bulgur wheat, quinoa or courgette noodles are even remotely a good substitute for pasta as they aren't but they are healthier and more nutritious alternatives.

Make Healthy Snack Choices

Snacking is my down fall, along with the huge pasta portions, as I always tend to choose the least healthy options possible. Sandwiches are a staple in lunches around the UK but they're not something I reach for and they contain far more calories than you'd ever think! Recently I've started snacking at my desk as I've had so much work to do with the lead up to Christmas so healthy popcorn packets that are less than 100 calories each, fruit, warm protein rich salads and snack bars such as the Naked bars have been great healthier snack options for me and I definitely want to carry that on into the new year.

Switch To A Fully Vegan Diet?

Lastly is a 2019 healthy eating goal that I'm not 100% sure about right now as it's a fairly big step, although my diet is mostly vegan anyway. I fervently agree with all of the points that suggest that a vegan and plant based diet is one of the healthiest and the best for the environment so I should cut out the last few items in my diet that aren't vegan; however it is a little daunting. I will be taking part in Veganuary again for the fifth time so I think that will be my period to decide if switching to a fully plant based diet in 2019 will be right for me.

Do you have any healthy eating or healthy lifestyle goals for the new year? 

*In Collaboration with Dot Dot Loans
*This is a collaborative post

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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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