Back to reality...lets try and remember it could be worse...

So the Saturday gone to Tuesday I have been enjoying life in Ilfracombe, this consisted of eating lots of chips and playing pac-man bingo...

The holiday started with us having to take my car which Ollie wasn't best pleased about, the clutch on his went the day before... Not too sure why he hates my car so much, can you get any cooler that a black 4x4??... 

Maybe it's crap I have hanging inside and the vegan stickers on the back...

The day before going I actually had a x-ray on my foot because I managed to hurt it that bad at the Bristol Half Marathon the doctor thought I might have fractured (i hadn't, I'm a pussy) it so walking about in Ilfracombe was killer... it did get better but I was hurting most days after a while...yes I'm a wimp clearly!

Gutted really as I love walking, it's one of those things that shows your getting old... you love walking, home decor shops and growing your own herbs... LOL!

I still walked a lot though even though I was advised not to, hardcore I know!

Ilfracombe is very pretty and as we were there kind of out of season it was nice and quiet there too...I like quiet.

We went away for Ollie's birthday...29...getting very close to the big three ohhhh...

I spent a lot of time there playing on the pac-man bingo... Usually I am a serious 2p-er but these bingo games get me really going haha! But the pac-man one!! Woah... I did win a fair but but must have lost about £20... I have no shame admitting this, totally worth it!

As well as seriously abusing my bank account at the arcades we ate a lot too! Mainly chips for me as vegan eating most places isn't the easiest unless you venture to specific restaurants but most places were good to me and they have a Wetherspoons so I had a couple of avocado bagels baby!!

The best place we ate (to me) was in Barnstaple which isn't too far away from Ilfracombe, we went there for one of the days to look about and do some shopping.

We had lunch at the cutest cafe ever called Purity Petal, I think they only opened that week or the week before but it's owned by a 19 year old woman and her mum... Fair play, so jealous of this, makes me really question my life choices to be honest haha!

Food was yummy and they were lovely people, pics are below of the place!

It sucks to be home and the fact I am back at work next week kills my soul! Can't wait for the next trip!

Thanks for reading and here are some more photos! :-)

Aloha!

I've been weirdly lucky lately... As in I've somehow managed to win 2 competitions online... One of Facebook and one on Twitter... Just a share this post sort of thing so no actual knowledge or effort is needed and to be honest until now I've not always convinced these sort of competitions are even real... but they are!!!

This one I won on twitter during Tuesday's #veganhour, I'll share the other one in a later post, if you're that intrigued go check out my Instagram, it's on there!

So thanks to #veganhour and Good Full Stop I won the above and below treats!!

Good Full Stop bars are completely vegan and super good healthy snack, they're made in Devon here in the UK, not too far from me at all actually!

"Good Full Stop bars offer a perfect marriage of a tasty and satisfying snack bar, while being an excellent source of nutrition – all the pleasure and none of the pain. Using the finest natural, wholesome ingredients and only a ‘hint of naughtiness’, Good Full Stop bars are gluten-free, dairy-free and have a medium to low glycaemic index. All but one of the flavours even counts as one of your five-a-day – a fact we think is epic!

They are also a natural source of copper and fibre, essential for an overall healthy existence, while copper is also contributes to preventing premature aging and increasing energy production"

There are from I can tell 9 flavours currently which are:

Cherry Sweet and Cherry Good (Cherry & Maple)

Sun Kissed and Good (Choc & Orange)

Chocolate is Twice as Good (Double Choc)

Very Nutty and Very Good (Mixed Nuts)

Berry Berry Good (Raspberry)

Cool, Minty and Good (Choc & Mint)

Full of Beans and so Good (Mocha & Caffeine)

Devilishly Hot and Good (Double Choc & Chilli)

Red Hot and Very Good (Fiery Choc & Chilli)

I've only tried one so far and that's the Cherry one, it's all raw, squidgy and yummy! These snacks are the sort of things I have before and/or after a run or going to the gym!

I also pack them with me for long walks too, small but packed full of goodness to keep you going!

They are kind of similar to Nakd bars but...flatter shaped haha!

If you want to find out more about them follow the link below and thanks again Good Full Stop for picking me as the lucky winner!

www.goodfullstop.com

I really don't take photos like I used to, and I really miss it but today when I got back from work I really felt like taking some photos...

I skipped my spin class because I'm lazy and couldn't be bothered to do anything, even go out to take photos so I ambled around my garden getting a few shots.

It was also about time I got some "decent" photos of Bella bun.

It's pretty cool the photos you can get just from your garden, I was playing about with my zoom lens but normally I love just using my macro lens and getting some close ups of random things in the garden... Like super detailed shots of dirt on the floor or a some close up moss haha!!

Anyway here are some shots I got today simple from my garden!

Happy Sunday!

I thought I would post some easy reading, a little review on some sample products I've got my hands on, you can pick up 2 free samples with every purchase.

Botanicals are a natural, vegan, cruelty free brand that are all about plant based products and basically providing ethical products, if you'd like to find out more follow the link below:

www.botanicals.co.uk

The samples I've been using are:

Calming body lotion: Lavender & tea tree

"Botanicals pure and natural body lotion will help soothe and calm the skin after shaving, waxing or the use of depilatory products. And will support the skin’s natural elasticity by replenishing essential moisture lost during hair removal. Essential extracts of calming marigold and aloe-vera are blended with soothing lavender, and antiseptic tea tree, in this pure and natural body treatment."

This stuff smells amazing, lavender is my favourite scent in the whole world! I know some people aren't keen and it has that "old person" vibe but I don't care I love it!

I've been using this on my legs after shaving and yeah it's great, my legs usually go a little flaky after shaving when i guess I shave all the moisture off them haha! This stuff has bee keeping them nice and moisturised.

My boyfriend has also been using this stuff on some weird bites he's got on his legs... *eyeroll*

 Wild rose nourishing body balm

"A deeply conditioning natural balm to help soften and enhance the texture of your skin. Hand whipped with organic shea butter and infused with cold-pressed rosehip, wild rose and rose geranium, renowned for their nourishing and revitalising properties.

Botanicals balms are made entirely with active plant derived ingredients, which support the skin’s natural ability to heal and regenerate new skin cells. The perfect partner for dry skin."

All of Botanicals products smell amazing, this balm is super moisturising, some people may find it slightly oily and heavy but I don't mind that as I get really dry hands so I've been using this on my hands and also my elbows :)

Lemongrass revitalising body lotion

"Botanicals pure and natural body lotion supports the skin’s natural elasticity by replenishing essential moisture often lost through exposure to sunlight and detergents. Skin softening shea and cocoa butters, are blended with soothing aloe-vera and revitalising lemongrass, in this pure and natural body treatment."

*sniffs arms* mmmmmm

So I've used this moisturiser today actually and it smells so good, I SMELL SO GOOD!!

Not a scent I would normally go for but I really like it, I like the way the scent stays on you.

Well thanks for taking the time to read this little post, go check out Botanicals because their stuff is awesome and so are their ethics!

 *free sample but opinions are my own

Baking time!?

Just some super easy and super yummy blueberry muffins, what more can I say? Nothing so lets crack on :)

Ingredients:

1 and a half cups of plain flour 

Half a cup of sugar (I used caster)

2 teaspoons of baking powder

Half a teaspoon of salt

1 cup of dairy-free milk (I used oat)

Quarter cup of oil (I used coconut)

1 cup of  blueberries (frozen or fresh, mine were fresh ones)

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 200oC and line muffin tray with cupcake liners (I made 6 but you could make 8, I like big ones...thats what she said!!)

Whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together in a mixing bowl. 

Add the milk and oil.

Stir until combined and then fold in the blueberries (if they're fresh ones be delicate so you don't mush them).

Pour the mix into baking cups and bake for 25 to 30 minutes