2018 Hopes & Goals

Now Christmas is over and the new year is just around the corner I have been reflecting on what I'd like to achieve in 2018. I don't really like to set myself any huge or unrealistic targets for the new year, but I certainly like to feel that I have some goals in mind to which I can aim towards. I personally find it quite motivating and I really relish the opportunity for a fresh start and to hit the reset button on life. I also love that this New Years Day happens to fall on a Monday - the perfect day of the week for a new beginning!

A Vegan Christmas Cake

I was determined to try my hand at making my own vegan friendly Christmas cake this year and I'm pleased to say that I have succeeded! I'm so pleased with how this cake turned out, I just had to share with you all on the blog and hopefully inspire some of you to get your aprons out and have a go at making one yourself. Considering I hadn't made a Christmas cake for about roughly twenty years since my Food Tech class at school, I found it pretty easy and straight forward to do. And that's coming from someone who really doesn't bake much!

A Scandi Inspired Christmas

Being in our new home this Christmas feels so exciting and I've been really looking forward to getting it ready for the festive season for quite some time now. I've had some different ideas floating around in my mind for months but one thing I knew was that I wanted to create a beautiful Scandi and minimal festive home which reflects our new homes aesthetic. 

DIY Minimal Christmas Wreath

There's definitely something about this time of year as I feel way more in the mood for crafting than I usually do. In fact I find myself wanting to try my hand at making everything! You may remember last year I posted a DIY Pom Pom Christmas Wreath which was so much fun to make and it really looked very impressive on my front door. I actually love to be able to show off and say that I made something myself when people ask me where I got something from!

My Winter Bucket List

Ok so Winter doesn't officially begin until December 21st, but in my mind it kind of starts around about now! So I've been thinking a bit lately about what I want to do this Winter and what I hope to achieve. As the seasons change I think it's a great time to reflect and make some new goals, even if it is just things you hope to see and do. I also find that by adding it to a bucket list it gives me some added motivation to follow through with my plans!

Festive Tea Picks

Christmas is a time of year when I really embrace seasonal teas and this year I feel as though I have gone all out to find some excellent tasting tea. If I am honest I have never been a big fan of the traditional herbal teas or some of the wild flavours that are out there, but, and in my opinion, festive teas are usually some of the best tasting teas around with the flavours often being liked by the majority of people rather than just the true tea enthusiasts.

The Vegan Kind Beauty Box November 2017

This month has felt like a real treat as not only was it The Vegan Kind's special 4 year anniversary lifestyle box, but it was also time for their final Beauty Box of 2017. Getting one of their boxes through my door is a big enough treat so when it's two boxes at the same time and in one month it really does feel like Christmas has come early! 

The Vegan Kind Box #TVK49

This month's Vegan Kind box was a special one as they celebrated their 4 year birthday - Happy Birthday Team TVK! It's so great to see a vegan business like TVK be such a huge success and go from strength to strength. If you didn't already know they have recently expanded and launched their own online vegan supermarket and things have been going so well they've even had to move into a bigger warehouse. Who knew veganism would be so popular!??  

Hayman's Mulled Sloe Gin Winter Warming Cocktail

Gin is most certainly the 'in' drink of the moment and I happened to try it for the first time this year as I wanted to see for myself what all the fuss was about. Nearly everyone I know chooses gin above any other drink so I was quite happy when I realised that I actually quite like it myself! I drink alcohol very rarely and I'm really not keen on the taste of strong spirits so gin works quite well for me as I don't think the taste is very noticeable at all. 

Five Easy House Plants

Since I've been posting more about my plant collection I've had quite a few people get in touch to tell me how much they struggle to keep house plants alive. I also think a lot of people get put off the idea of owning house plants because they've heard other peoples horror stories about trying to keep them alive. I've had a couple of my own hiccups since getting into house plants and I also feel that I'm now in a good position to perhaps recommend some plants which I believe are really easy to look after. So if you are looking to get into house plants yourself, this could be a good place to start!

The Diner

Last weekend I found myself in the West End of London for the evening and I was really in the mood for a burger so I decided to check out The Diner in Soho, just off Carnaby Street. I had heard through the powers of social media that they have some fairly impressive vegan options now so I was really looking forward to trying them out. The Diner also used to be a real favourite of mine back in the day when I ate meat so I was really looking forward to be able to make a return visit. 

How To Be A Minimalist At Christmas

I have to hold my hands up and admit that ever since Autumn came around I have been struggling with my minimalist journey. Autumn and Winter are a time of year when suddenly the shops are full of festive homeware and it's a time when I really love to embrace the seasons and everything that comes with it. It's also a time when I start to think about gift giving to others and how I want to show those around me that I love and appreciate them. 

A Festive Cocktail

A couple of weeks ago, and whilst at the John Lewis Christmas event, we learnt how to make the most gorgeous cocktail for the festive period and I really wanted to share the recipe with you all on my blog.

Momentum Planner

If you are a planner addict or stationery geek like myself it's probably that time of the year for you when you're wondering what planner to get for 2018. I have been in the same predicament myself over the past few weeks and if last year is anything to go by then I will no doubt end up with 3-4 different ones before the end of the year! What can I say other than I have a problem when it comes to stationery! 

The Battle Of The Vegan Christmas Sandwiches

It's that time of year when all the high street coffee shops and lunch outlets release their festive menus for the lead up to Christmas and this year there appears to be some really decent vegan offerings - hoorah! 

A Vegan Christmas Pudding With John Lewis

If you read my last post you will know that last week I attended a fantastic John Lewis Christmas event in London where we made our own vegan Christmas puddings from scratch. It really was so much fun and so easy to make them so I wanted to share the recipe with you all here on my blog so you can all have a go at making one yourself!

John Lewis Christmas Event

On Tuesday night I attended the #JohnLewisChristmas 'Stir Up Sunday' event and it was such an amazing event I just had to share all the details and pics with you in a blog post!

My 2018 Travel Bucket List

It's fast approaching the end of 2017 and it's always a time of year when I reflect on our travels and plans I want to make for the year ahead. 

Easy Vegan Meal Plan

As it is World Vegan Month this November I wanted to put together a blog post which new vegans or anyone transitioning may find useful. I have decided to write down all of my current favourite easy vegan meals and collate them together in one place. Anyone who knows me will already be aware that I like to keep things nice and simple when it comes to eating vegan. I am not hugely talented in the kitchen and more often than not I tend to go for what's the most easiest to put together. I am however fortunate to have a husband who is more talented when it comes to cooking though and every now and then we do eat more fancy meals!

Vegan Pizza Hut

A couple of weeks ago I learnt from one of my lovely followers that Pizza Hut are now serving vegan cheese for a limited trial run period at certain selected restaurants (*Update - now available in all Pizza Hut restaurants!). I have to say that I was really surprised when I first heard this as I hadn't seen any promotional ads anywhere for it, but maybe that was just me!? Either way there hasn't been much talk about it online from what I have seen so I decided to go and try it out for myself.

Cosy Candles For Autumn & Winter

Now we are in Autumn, and Winter is just around the corner, it's definitely time a time of year where I love being able to get cosy at home with the help of candles. At the moment I am lighting candles every evening when I sit down to watch TV and there's no denying that they really help me to feel relaxed and  cosy. When the evenings become more darker lighting a candle really is the perfect way to add some extra light and comfort to your room.

The Vegan Kind - #TVK48

This months Vegan Kind box really couldn't have arrived at a better time. I found myself at home on a dreary cold dark day with very little in the cupboards and then when the postman knocked and I saw what was in his arms I really could have hugged him! Sometimes you just really need a little pick me up and this is exactly what this box has become for me. It's the perfect treat for yourself!

My Roo

Until a few weeks ago I had never heard of the organic and free from skincare brand myroo but I am so glad to have been introduced to their products and I have been so looking forward to sharing them with you all too. 

Tibits Bankside

Last weekend we found ourselves in the South Bank area of London and it was the perfect opportunity to try out the new Tibits Bankside restaurant. As soon as I heard Tibits were opening another restaurant I was so happy because this is definitely my favourite place to eat out vegan when I am in London. 

My House Plant Collection

This month I have been taking part in the #myhouseofhouseplants Instagram competition and photo sharing event which has been so much fun! It's been great to be able to share more photos of my house plant collection and get to know some other plant enthusiasts online. It has meant posting a photo a day throughout October which relate to the following daily prompts....

Borough Market

When I lived in South London many moons ago and when I was a student at university, I used to love nothing more than a stroll down to Borough Market at the weekend to pick up some food and to admire the huge array of different delicacies available. I can't quite believe it's taken me so long to plan a return visit, especially as it's not even that far away from where I live in Essex. Anyway, return I did last weekend and it felt so good to be back! I was really curious to see what was available for vegans, especially from the hot street food section, and I couldn't wait to get exploring. 

Chia

Chia in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, has been on my hit list for quite a while so I was really pleased to be able to make the long awaited visit last week for lunch. If you didn't already know, Chia is a completely vegan cafe which has a focus on healthy and nutritious plant based foods. All the photos and reviews I had seen online had me really excited for what was in store!  

Advent Calendar Picks 2017

Yes it really is that time of year again! It's time to start thinking about what advent calendar you'd most like to kick off the festive season with and this year the choices really do seem better than ever. 

Five Documentaries That Will Change Your Life

As the colder weather and darker evenings start to draw in you will no doubt be looking for something decent to watch on your TV or Netflix. Personally I love a good documentary and something that will keep my attention and get me thinking.  

When the people at Panasonic recently got in touch and asked me to put together a post on my favourite and most life changing documentaries it presented itself as the perfect opportunity to share with you all some of the films that have really encouraged me to change my life for the better. They're currently promoting their new Panasonic 4k TV which joins the OLED revolution for a superior viewing experience. Perfect for viewing some of these amazing documentaries on!  

Earthlings

Ok, I'm going to go in with the film most vegans will tell you about - Earthlings. This film is, in it's simplest form, a collection of footage from hidden cameras which documents the practices of industries, and individuals, who depend on animals for financial gain. It's definitely not for the faint hearted and it's a film that haunted me for weeks after watching it. I think when I first saw it I had been dipping a toe into living a vegan lifestyle and it was this film that really pushed me into wanting to make a difference for all animals. This is also the film which made my husband give up meat for good. It's hard hitting, it will probably make you cry, it will certainly make you angry, but it's a film I believe everyone should watch at least once.  

Cowspiracy

Cowspiracy is a documentary that really opened my eyes up to how animal agriculture impacts on our environment. I gave up eating meat primarily for the animals but after watching this film I was truly shocked and amazed by how my diet choices were impacting on the environment we live in. It's a fascinating watch and it had me gripped from start to finish. I also know of a few people who turned vegan after watching this film which is quite something! And, for those who may be worried, there are only one or two very minor scenes of animal cruelty which are bearable to view and won't leave you traumatised. This documentary is in no way as intense as Earthlings but it still hits home and leaves you thinking about it for weeks, even months, afterwards. 

What The Health

If animal cruelty and the environment aren't your areas of concern then maybe your health is? I only watched What The Health quite recently and it left me very thankful for adopting a plant based diet when I did. Again, my health really wasn't linked in any way to my decision to go vegan but it's definitely now a huge plus point to it. This documentary focuses on how the consumption of animal products is linked to disease and what the healthcare, pharmaceutical and food industries don't want you to know. It will no doubt leave you feeling uneasy and with your jaw dropped.  

Black Fish 

I watched Black Fish many years ago, and well before I took the plunge into veganism, but I will always consider it to be a documentary that awoke something inside of me and it changed me forever. The film itself focuses on the life of Tilikum, a captive Orca involved in the deaths of three individuals at Sea World. Looking back now I can see how this film got me thinking deeper about humans relationships with animals and how we use them against their will for entertainment. I have never since stepped foot back inside a zoo or any business making a profit from the exploitation of animals. This is quite simply a must watch!  

Minimalism  

A documentary which recently changed my life for the better is Minimalism. I sat down to watch this film one evening last year with no expectations and I was completely unaware of how it was about to impact on my life. This documentary explores how material possessions ultimately do not bring us happiness and how we can lead a more meaningful life with less. 'Mind blown' are two words I often use to describe this film! I completely resonated with everything in it and it sparked off the beginning of my own journey into leading a more minimal lifestyle. In fact I started having a clear out immediately after watching it and instantly felt better.

It's actually quite interesting reflecting on the documentaries that have impacted so greatly on me and my life. I honestly do not think my life would look the same as it does today if it wasn't for these films which is quite a crazy thought. 

     

   What documentaries have been life changing for you?

* This post was created in collaboration with Panasonic.  All views & opinions expressed are my own. 

Wagamama Vegan Menu

You may have heard that Wagamama's have bought out a new vegan & vegetarian menu and when I caught wind of this I knew I had to pay a visit to find out what it's like. It had also been quite a while since my last Wagamama's visit so I was looking forward to seeing what's new on the menu. 

New Makeup For Autumn

Whenever Autumn arrives I always feel an overwhelming need to mix up my makeup and my usual routine. Rather than minimal makeup and the barely there lips I enjoyed in the Summer, I now find myself reaching for the more bolder colours and making more of a statement with my looks, especially when I am heading out somewhere. I find that with Halloween season also comes a need to let out my inner vampy-ness and what better way to do it than with makeup! 

My Autumn Bucket List

I feel like a real cliché blogger when I say I love Autumn but I really do! It's my favourite time of the year. I love that Summer is over and the anticipation of new beginnings in the air along with all of the changing colours of nature. I think everything from now until until the new year feels festive and, being my favourite time of year, I really like to make the most of everything. It's also when I feel my most creative and inspired. 

Autumn Fashion Picks

As we are now officially in Autumn (hooray!) I thought I'd share with you some of the new items of clothing I have bought recently for the new season. As I am trying to be more minimal in my lifestyle I now make much more conscious decisions about what I choose to buy and instead of buying loads of new things all at once I have instead thought long and hard about what it is I actually need and made more deliberate choices. I also try to buy more high quality items that I know will last the distance and not go out of fashion. I also obviously have to take into account that I only want to buy vegan friendly and cruelty free articles of clothing which means avoiding wool, fur etc, but there are plenty of great faux options available. 

Mildreds Kings Cross

Last weekend we popped into London again to go to the Design Junction exhibition in Kings Cross and as we were in the area I thought it would be the perfect time to make a first time visit to the new(ish) Mildreds restaurant there. Mildreds has always been a favourite restaurant of mine in London for vegan food and after having already checked out their Soho & Camden branches I was keen to see how this branch compared to the others. 

One of the best things about Mildreds is the variety and choice on their menu. There's a really great mix of different cuisines and dishes to suit all tastes. Although Mildreds isn't an exclusively vegan restaurant the vast majority of their food is vegan friendly, or can be made vegan. There are also an abundance of gluten free dishes for anyone interested. 

As I have previously tried their burger and pie I wanted to try something different this time and I was in the mood for something green and healthy so I went for their Soul Bowl and a side of guacamole with tortilla chips. This really hit the spot! The Soul Bowl was bursting with goodness and was so flavoursome. It also had a huge chunk of avocado in the middle with a cashew cheese dressing which really made it feel like a hearty and filling dish. 

I have had the guacamole side before and couldn't resist getting it again because it is seriously the best guac I've ever had! 

This Kings Cross branch is very similar to the Camden one in terms of size and style. It's worth noting that they don't accept bookings here for parties under 10 people but it was easy to walk in and get a table on a Saturday afternoon. 

It's so great to see this restaurant expanding into different areas as when I first visited they only had their Soho branch, which I think will always remain my favourite due to its cosy and homely vibes. I also discovered that they now have another restaurant in Dalston bringing their total to four restaurants in London. Clearly the demand for decent vegan and plant based food just keeps growing which is great as it means more options for us! 

Have you been to Mildreds yet? 

What's your favourite of their restaurants? 

Mooshies

If you find yourself in East London and in need of a great vegan burger I'd really recommend heading over to Brick Lane and checking out Mooshies. It's been on my hit list for a while so as soon as we had a spare Sunday available we headed into London to check it out. Now we live closer to London and a train station I am hoping to be able to get to visit more vegan eateries to review as it's something I really enjoy and have missed being able to do so easily. We decided to visit Mooshies on a Sunday as this is the day of the week when Brick Lane and the surrounding Spitalfields area really comes alive with markets and lots of amazing foodie stalls. 

#VEGANPROBLEMS

You may have noticed that I got my hands on the highly anticipated vegan Ben & Jerrys at the weekend and I couldn't wait to share with you all my thoughts on the two flavours I was able to track down in a nearby Tesco's. What I hadn't quite anticipated was the handful of people who crept out of the woodwork to attempt to argue with me on whether or not this is a brand I should be buying from, or promoting, due to the fact that they're owned by the unethical parent company Unilever. 

Cruelty Free & Vegan Bloggers Secret Santa

I don't know about you guys but I absolutely love getting some surprise happy mail in the post, it's one of my favourite things! So with Christmas fast approaching, this got me thinking that it would be fun to organise a Secret Santa happy mail event for fellow cruelty free and vegan bloggers. The idea being that we would post off festive packages to each other in December and spread some seasonal love within the  blogging community.

I've thought long and hard about the logistics of this and I believe I have come up with a suitable process for organising such an event.

The rules would be as follows...

To take part you would need to email me your name, address, blog link, social media handles and any allergies by the deadline of October 31st 2017 (*Your details will only be shared with your Secret Santa!).

You must be a cruelty free or vegan blogger / influencer / vlogger / YouTuber to take part. 

This time around, and due to costs involved, it is only open to UK residents. If there is a big demand for overseas exchanges this will be taken into consideration for next years event. (*This decision was made after conducting a Twitter poll where the majority voted for UK only). 

You will receive an email with your giftee's details on November 3rd 2017. (*If you're not already following your giftee then maybe hold off on the follow for a while so you don't give the game away!) 

Packages MUST be sent off in the post by no later than November 30th 2017.  

Secret Santa packages should be of a minimum value of £10, but you are of course welcome to go over this amount should you wish to. Please note that this value does not include the postage costs. 

Packages can contain any festive surprises as long as they are cruelty free and suitable for vegans. You will also be advised if your gift receiver has any allergies which you will need to take into consideration. 

Remember - it's called Secret Santa for a reason! No giving away who you're buying for before packages are received. Once you're certain your gift receiver has opened their package you are then welcome to reveal yourself if you wish to or stay secret - it's up to you! 

Have fun with it! And get creative! You may like to bake up some festive treats to include in your package, or if you have some crafty fingers why not include a handmade surprise!? You could include a letter with clues as to who you may be or even a postcard from your home town. Or you could add even more mystery by including a polaroid of yourself dressed up as Santa! Do some digging around on social media to find out what your giftee is into and make their package personal to them. And remember - the more festive the better!

You're free to open your package as soon as it arrives, or hold off until Christmas Day. The choice is yours! All I ask is that you announce on social media once your package has arrived so as to set your senders mind at rest. 

Don't forget to share your Secret Santa happy mail on social media and use the hashtag #CFVSECRETSANTA . If, like me, you do YouTube maybe do an unboxing video too! Or share on Insta Stories / Snap Chat. I am sure everyone will be excited to see what we have all received.  

In order for this to work we will need even numbers taking part and I will work on a first come basis. Therefore if you definitely want to take part please ensure you email in your details ASAP. If you are last in line, and the numbers aren't even by the cut off date, you will be notified that you're unable to take part this year.

Also please note that I will not be held responsible for any loss of packages. It is your responsibility to ensure that your package reaches the receiver and it would therefore be advisable to consider sending your package on a signed for delivery. Hopefully this won't be the case for anyone, and I would hate for anyone to be disappointed, but these things can happen. Please be mindful that I am only the organiser and if you are in anyway unhappy with your package it is not my fault!   

If you have any further questions then please email me and I shall get back to you ASAP. 

I am so excited for this and I can't wait to get making my own package up!

Let the festivities begin!

Pembrokeshire, Wales | Travel With Dogs

Last week we set off on the 5 hour car journey to Pembrokeshire in Wales for our annual doggie holiday. Every year we like to take the dogs away for a week somewhere in the UK and it makes such nice change to actually enjoy a holiday with them all in tow as we're usually spending our time missing them when we are away. 

My New Home Aesthetic

Ever since we decided to move house I have been mentally planning out what I wanted the new house to look like and it feels so good now, a few weeks into the new home, to sit back and see all my hard work has paid off!

Loving Your Life With Depression

I remember when I first got diagnosed with depression a few years ago and how unaccepting I was of seeing myself as someone who was depressed. As I saw things my life was everything I wanted it to be. I was, and still am, happily married. I had just moved into a new house in a new area and I was so excited for our life together there. I had a solid career and loved my job and the people I worked with. On paper there was literally no reason for me to feel unhappy or suffer with depression.