Oatly Chocolate Milk Hot chocolate

Oatly chocolate milk is a nice drink on it's own. You can drink it chilled but it also makes a lovely hot chocolate. Simply heat up in a pan for a few minutes and you have a home made vegan hot chocolate. The perfect night time drink! 

Roasted Vegetables

For a quick option when roasting vegetables chop onions and carrots

Add carbohydrates- sweet potato and new potatoes 

Then add mushrooms. Add paprika, mixed herbs and roast using coconut oil. You will have healthy roasted vegetables that make a great accompaniment to any meal.  

Smoothie bowl

A smoothie bowl is the latest craze. It makes a healthy breakfast or a quick snack. It allows you to get nutrients and vitamins easily and helps you eat the recommended five a day portions of fruit and vegetables.  

I wanted to try this craze so using the basic ingredients that I had available I tried making my own version. I blended a banana with frozen mixed berries and rhubarb that I had bought frozen and keep in the freezer for adding to smoothies. Frozen fruit tends to be cheaper and is useful to have in. 

I added in a teaspoon of protein powder that I usually add to smoothies and mixed with water and oat milk. 

This was the result. Using mixed berries means you end up with a rich red coloured smoothie. The thicker the better as instead of drinking this you will be eating it in a bowl. 

The next step is to add extra toppings. The toppings really make the smoothie bowl and can change daily depending on what you feel like eating. Fruit is a great idea, maybe try cutting up a banana or apple, I added oats and sunflower seeds as these are what I had available. This really is something you can adapt seasonally or depending on what foods you have to hand. 

Oat milk makes the smoothie creamy and was a nice addition, I used my favourite brand Oatly, this organic version of the drink is the same price as the regular oat milk that they sell and they are a really ethical company that I like to support.

A smoothie bowl is a really healthy dish, it's sweet enough to seem like you are having dessert for breakfast but you know it's all healthy with natural sugars. I will definitely be trying this again with more toppings! 

M&S Tomato and Basil Soup

Good news M&S have a vegan tomato and basil soup. This is perfect to have in the cupboard for a quick lunch option. 

The soup is delicious, it tastes really natural and is full of flavour. The basil is a nice touch as most tomato soups can be plain, the added herbs makes it taste authentic and gives it a natural Italian taste. 

This is a perfect option for when you don't feel like making a big meal or need something to eat quickly. I had this for lunch after a 5 mile walk- it cooks quickly, tastes amazing and fills you up, eat it with bread or crackers for an easy lunch. And keep a can in your cupboards for those days when you don't want to cook. 

Crazy Rumors- Vegan lip balm

Christmas shopping was a struggle this year, it was my first Christmas being vegan and even though not everyone I was buying presents for is vegan I wanted to make sure all my gifts were. I did this so I could share my lifestyle and not accidentally buy something that was testing on animals or contained animal products as I avoid any products like this on a daily basis I obviously do it when buying presents. 

I was happy to find Crazy Rumors lip balms on sale in Holland and Barrett as they made the perfect stocking fillers. I picked flavours based on what I thought people would like, My sister has a sweet tooth so I got her bubble gum, my mum loves chocolate so I got her mint chocolate and my best friend is a coffee addict so the mocha was an obvious choice. The amaretto was a cheeky gift to me from me because I love amaretto and what's better than having the flavour of your favourite drink in a lip balm?

I have wanted to try this brand for a while so it was a chance to see if it lived up to the positive reviews. I am pleased to say it does! The lip balm is great especially in winter when my lips have felt constantly chapped and the flavours are amazing. They make your lips incredibly soft while the beautiful smell is a nice bonus. 

I can't wait to try some others! There are so many options everyone will find one to suit them. They also use all natural ingredients, are certified organic and vegan. I like how fun these lip balms are they will be a nice addition to your make up bag. They really are perfect presents as picking a lip balm that reminds you of someone is a nice touch to any gift. With mother's day coming up this could be a great little gift idea. 

Shop in style

Shop in style and save the planet with this gorgeous, reusable and stylish bag from Unicorn Grocery in Manchester. 

I received a gift in this one, it was filled with lots of vegan products- best present ever! Get yourself one to look great whilst buying your vegan snacks. Ethical never looked so good! 

Heavenly Organics- Vegan, Natural, Handmade Skincare

At the Northern Vegan festival last October I bought lots of random products to test and try. There were companies I had never heard of, brands that only sell on-line and lots of independent sellers. 

My favourite find was definitely Heavenly Organics. Bought on a whim because I needed a new lip balm I purchased the lip balm with a hint of orange and a solid hand balm in Lavender because I liked the smell. 

The products are organic, handmade and have minimal ingredients. 

I liked the smell of the lip balm, they come in different flavours such as mint and orange. The products also have the vegan logo and are made by a vegan. I like this as you support someone who also follows a vegan lifestyle and she will obviously know what ingredients are safe to use. 

The solid hand balm was by far the best purchase I made at the festival. Not only does it look amazing, it smells great is a handy size perfect for keeping with you at all times and is a lot more convenient that using a moisturiser that takes time to soak into your hands. 

The packaging is also lovely. Plus when you are finished with the balm you can -purchase re-fills rather than having to buy a new tin which is better for the environment and more cost effective. 

The solid balm looks great and the best part about it is after using it for a few weeks it has massively improved my eczema to the point where my hands which have been sore for years are nearly completely healed. I have never found a product which has cleared my skin so well! I had actually given up trying and this natural balm has helped so much I will definitely be buying again. 

I would recommend these products to anyone. They are organic and don't contain chemicals and ingredients you have never heard of meaning it is better for your skin and if you suffer from eczema give it a try and hopefully it will work for you too.   

Shop on-line at http://www.heavenly-organics.com/shop/4558241444