Is Greggs Vegan Stake Bake any Good?

January 16, 2020January 16, 2020 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / Leave a comment

The Bloke surprised me with this the other day and I HAD to share it with you!

First off, Id never know the flakey pastry was vegan, in fact it holds together much better so you don’t get covered in it. More importantly, it tastes EXACTLY like meat in a thick savoury gravy.

One thing to mention is The Bloke cheated on me and ate one without me! Seriously though, he said his was “…a bit more chunky, like proper little steak pieces.” My two bakes where more mince meaty; you could have had the filling in a (vegan) Cottage pie. Hmmm, not sure what to make of that inconsistency!?

I’m sure all three were vegan though, otherwise our tummies would have let us know very quickly!

Verdict Amazing! 5/5

🖤✨Chrissie✨🖤

Ohii Pure Stick Deodorant in Citrus Tea

January 13, 2020January 17, 2020 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 3 Comments

I started using natural deodorant ten years ago as I couldn’t find any others that were cruelty free at the time. The salt based ones didn’t really work but the solid cream ones worked really well, even in summer. I thought I’d try this charcoal-based one by Ohii in Citrus Tea £10 from Urban Outfitters to deodorise and care for my skin even more.

This has a fresh, mild scent and one swipe is all I need to stay fresh all day! It doesn’t make my skin dry or itchy either, like some other solid deodorants do by the evening.

Cruelty free
Vegan
Aluminium free
Baking soda free
Doesn’t leave white marks/dries clear
Soothing Aloe

It would have got five out of five if it was packaged in glass, rather than plastic or it was refillable. I also found the labelling extremely hard to make sense of to the point where I missed the brand name completely, ha!

Rating 4/5

**🖤✨Chrissie✨🖤**

Did I Get Quality ‘Basics’ in the Sales?

January 11, 2020January 11, 2020 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 2 Comments

Cotton Vest from White Stuff – Generous fit, soft, pretty colour/style. Too expensive at normal price, plus the stitching detail goes a bit wonky above the buttons. I actually bought this to wear as a breathable, loose pyjama top.

Maroon Tee from Newlook – Lovely rich colour and so soft! I bought this to wear under jumpers or zip through hoodies.

Mustard and Pink Jumpers from H&M – Accurate fit but they are shapeless and feel like cheap 1970’s school jumpers but thinner. I love the colours and the length though so I’ll be wearing them with a short-sleeve flannel shirt underneath.

Cotton Rich Joggers from M&S – Generous waste, medium leg length (I forgot to get some from the ‘tall section’ lol). I have thick thighs, and what I call an ‘arse-extension’ as all the fat is on the top and back, rather than the sides of my butt and these are still baggy at the back!? The material has a yoga pant feel not a traditional tracksuit bottom feel but they are quite light and soft. Perfect for chillin but still presentable enough to go out in with ankle boots.

Shaggy Hot Peach Jumper from M&S – Flattering colour and so snuggly soft! Unlike the too-big trousers, M&S think this jumper is XL but it fits like a 14! Shockingly the seam of the arm half unravelled after an hour but I’ve sown it back up as its the last one in stock. So cozy, I’m going to be living in this for the next few months.

Jazzin Jane Trainer from Rocket Dog – Most of Rocket Dogs shoes are naturally wide fitting. These are breathable, soft and light, even though they have protective rubber soles. The chunky buckle is so easy to fasten.

Faux Cowboy Boots from Nasty Gal – Rubber sole is much softer than traditional wooden soled cowboy boots. Easy to walk in and I can wiggle my toes but the fit is slightly snug across the width of them. I could do with a 7 and half these days really. Bought more for posing, than walking in though so I’m not bothered.

Conclusion

Although people leave reviews online about fit and quality, I always thought that it’s mainly items on rails in shops that get put in the sale because they are low quality. I’ve changed my mind, and next time I’ll read more than just a few reviews!

I think sales are a good way to try out basics from brands that you’ve not bought from before.

Overall, I think I did well to get such huge bargains on the items that I’ll get a lot of wear out of. I know that at 5’8 I’m a bit leggy and that a shoe size 7-1/2 or 8 is difficult to find in fashion shoes, so I’m chill with that too.

Basic Self-care List

January 7, 2020January 8, 2020 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / Leave a comment

Everyone needs a bit of motivation and simple reminders sometimes.

Get the feck up
Brush teeth
Wash
Apply deodorant
Cleanse/Exfoliate face
Add moisturiser/Facial oil
Get dressed
Comb hair
Very milky hot/iced coffee
. Have something (pretty much anything) to eat
Catch up on notifications on social media
Write or read blogs and comment
Order food shop?
Wash clothes/Vac up?
Make a nice meal
Bath/Shower?
Read a book/Watch telly
Hug/phone someone
Cleanse face/Brush teeth
Take a cup of water to bed

I wrote this for myself but if it helps you to function too, then great!

🖤✨Chrissie✨🖤

10 Positive Things My Disabilities Bring

January 4, 2020December 30, 2019 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 9 Comments

If this list serves as ‘inspiration porn’ for someone, then frickin fantastic!

(there’s a full list of my disabilities and chronic illnesses at the bottom of this post)

Being a very sensory person and also having a lot of extra movement in my hips and spine means I have natural rhythm to dance.
My legs are surprisingly strong through them having to correct my balance constantly when I stand and walk. The Amazons have nothing on me lol
I have a really fast metabolism which is great for never having to worry about getting overweight (just hangry) and it means I can totally justify ordering sides and desert.
Being tall is handy to see where I’m meant to be going in a crowd. 5’8 is usually the same height as online clothing models so I know how clothes will fit me too.
My immune system may attack me but cold and flu viruses beware, it’s effectively coming for you too!
I struggle to keep up academically but I’ve always had loads of emotional intelligence. It helps me navigate social situations as I pick up on the subtext of what people are saying and doing. Thank goodness as I was way to too trusting!
I have weirdly good balance and fine-motor skills if I really concentrate/hyperfocus
Being hypermobile is really handy when trying to reach past a load of clutter or when something has rolled under furniture or for painting my toenails.
I’ve gotten some interesting scars over the years from accidents but I also heal surprisingly quickly.
Feeling different to everyone for numerous physical, sensory, neurological and emotional reasons that you don’t understand, makes you feel like a total freak at first but later helps you to understand and love your true, individual bad-ass self.

❤ Chrissie ❤

Note: Incase you wondering, the disabilities chronic illnesses I have are: Demyelination (usually as a result of Multiple Soroses ), Dyspraxia (effecting mental and physical cognitive skills but not intelligence; Neurological in nature), Aspergers (again not a mental-health issue just Neurologically diverse), Sensory Processing Disorder (imagine most of your senses are dialled up to 11; relating to Aspergers and Dyspraxia), allergies/food intolerances, PCOS (suspected by GP’s), Hyperthyroidism, Hypermobilty Syndrome (too loose/stretchy joints, ligaments, soft tissue, digestive issues). These all have the symptoms of chronic fatigue/brain fog in common.

Make Your Existing Wardrobe Work for You in 12 Easy Steps

January 1, 2020January 1, 2020 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / Leave a comment

It’s so easy to automatically go to your old faithful items that you feel safe with or to keep on buying more of the same type of thing. By doing this, you are hiding the potential of the clothes you already have and possibly your own potential as well!

Put all of the clothes which you always wear out of site, this includes most often worn accessories.
Get out all of the items of clothing, accessories and shoes which are left and put them around your bed.
Try on all of these items.
For any items which don’t fit properly or have seen better days is there a way you can get them altered or fixed cheaply and quickly?
Have you kept these items for VERY nostalgic reasons and feel you could never part with them?
If the answer is ‘No’ to the above two questions they should go to charity or a friend or be throw away depending on quality. Label the charity/friend bag so you don’t get it mixed up – trust me.
Are there any clothes that are ‘alright’ but you never wear? Maybe they should work in theory but you don’t really like them, or your personal style has completely moved on? Put them aside for now.
Are there any statement items that you love but are very difficult to style? Try mixing these items with your everyday go-to items you put aside at the start or any other items left. Deal with one statement item at a time and build the outfit around that. Wether accessorising will help or hinder is at this point is up to you.
If there is any item still not working but you still love it, is there another item you can buy which will make it work? Such as boots (too cover cankles) or a little cardigan/shrug (too cover batwings) or a plain coloured vest/tee you could wear underneath (to cover up a bigger bra) or just a different style of underwear?
Will it go with any of the ‘alright’ clothes? If you are still drawing a blank then the lovely but unrealistic statement items and the ‘alright’ clothes should join the charity/friend bags so one else can enjoy them.
Now look at all of the clothes you have left. Try to shake off the usual rules you apply and look at each item as if it’s the first time you are seeing it. This is a god time to enlist the help of a family memeber or friend who’s style you like but is different to yours. Who knows, they might come up with an outfit you never would have thought which actually really suits you!
When you create realistic outfits that you will actually WANT to wear, take photo’s of them so you can remember your new discovery, even when you are tired or in a hurry.

Remember your clothes are there to fit in with you, not the other way around.

Enjoy your new outfits!

❤ Chrissie ❤

Old & New Years Eve

December 31, 2019January 1, 2020 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 4 Comments

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Ending/starting the decade wearing new & old clothes (The Mountain/Topshop), eating new options from one of my fave old veggie takeaways (mushroom, black olive & spinach pizza from Zad’s), playing a new extension to an old game (Elite Snipper), just starting watching Killing Eve and then (oh so loudly because the neighbours aren’t home) playing old school dance until 4.00am. 😊

Hope you are having a guddon!

🖤✨Chrissie✨🖤

Best Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Dairy Free Products & Places 2019

December 28, 2019December 28, 2019 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 8 Comments

Best Meat Free Options

Oumph! Kebab Spiced (soya based, gluten free) Incredible flavour, very filling, really easy to stir fry or grill, chunky and chewy!

Like Meat, Like BBQ Chicken (soy based, gluten free) Ah-maze-ing! Similar taste and texture to a BBQ thigh but nicer. Another very versatile replacement but this time not as chewy.

Quorn Fishless Fingers (Vegan, Not gluten free) Better than the fish fingers that I remember; these are lovely on a butty with citrusy or vinegar flavoured crisps or on a plate with beans and chips.

Aldi No Sausage Rolls (Vegan, Not gluten free) If I didn’t already know these were vegetarian I would never have guessed. My only complaint is that the filing only fills 2/3rds of the width.

Best Dairy Free Ice Cream

Perfect World, Caramel Pecan Ice Cream (Vegan, gluten free) This is full of flavour and vitamins and minerals. Personally, I’d have made the pecans chunkier but I’d still buy it again.

Cornetto Vegan (Vegan, gluten free) The only noticeable difference between these and the usual ones are that they’re quite a bit smaller.

Ben & Jerry’s, Coconutterly Caramel’d Ice Cream (vegan, gluten free) Gorgeous! As good as Chunky Monkey, almost as good as Cookie Dough :op

Bouja – Bouja, Caramel Pecan Praline Ice Cream (dairy free, gluten free, organic) Very strong – almost smokey – flavour, really creamy consistency but the pecans and pralines are too blended. I add broken up digestive biscuits for more texture.

Snacks and Treats

Manomasa, Tortillas (gluten free, dairy free) – Full of flavour and perfect for scooping up dips.

Bouja-Bouja Chocolate Truffle Collection (dairy and gluten free) – Vanilla and rhubarb, cherry, salted caramel, caramel, hazelnut, ginger, rum, Champaign, espresso are the flavours in these truffle selections. Possibly the best dairy free chocolate in the world.

KIND Snack Bars Caramel, Almond & Sea Salt (gluten free, NOT dairy free). Dark Chocolate, Nuts & Sea Salt (gluten free, dairy free). Peanut Butter & Dark Chocolate (gluten free, dairy free). These are expensive at £1.50 each (!) but they are full of complementary flavours and really substantial.

Genius Double Chocolate/Blueberry Muffins (gluten free, dairy free) Nommmmmm, that’s my breakfast and supper, right there.

The Coconut Collaborative, Banoffee Pots (dairy free, gluten free) If you are getting these teeny pots of joy for your kids, you’ll want to buy a second lot for yourself – believe! Similar to creme caramel that’s been stirred around but with the addition of banana.

Gu, Strawberry & Rhubarb/Lemon Cheescakes (gluten free, dairy free) Not quite as solid as traditional cheesecake but equally delicious, these two flavours are both sweet and refreshing.

Manchester Vegan Takeaway/Dinner

V Revolution This is the place for an incredibly creative take on traditional American junk food. Vegan mains, sides, milkshakes, cocktails and cake. The atmosphere is pop-culture with a twist. In the photo above my expression is a mix of excitement and wondering how the hell I’m going to fit this burger in my mouth!

Zad’s Vegan with very little gf options but incredibly well thought out food. The ZFC (rather than KFC) fried cauliflower is an utter revelation, the pizzas and burgers are well balanced and not too sweet and they sometimes give away free cupcakes. Hardly any remote customer service but lovely and friendly in person.

Vegan Shack This is the place to order from if you are either dairy free or vegan and gluten free as they have gf options of pizza (including the above topping) and one of their kebabs (on request). Their online customer service is fantastic and delivery times are reasonable. My only complaint is that the cheese is on the sweet side as is the sauce. More salt please!

Pizza Express They have many gf, df and veggie option for mains, sides and deserts and can be flexible (up to a point) with changing food to suit dietary needs. It will be such a shame when they cease trading late next year.

Bonus

Aside from the Gu, these are free-from items I like but don’t absolutely love. Clive’s gf pies are surprisingly good microwaved (like a chip shop Pudding); This Gosh! falafel is the best falafel I’ve tried; Dragon fly make small but substantial gf burgers; Soulful pots make two wonderful nut curries/meals that I would happily pay for in a restaurant. Their other options have the usual veggie/bean tangine flavours.

I hope you found this helpful and it gave you food for thought – sorry!

🍔Chrissie🍔

My Year in Style 2019

December 26, 2019December 27, 2019 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 4 Comments

Here are all of my style related posts from 2019. I hope they serve as inspiration if you are a little stuck for ideas or where to buy something.

80’s Alternative Urban Hoops – Claire’s; jumper EMP; Skirt EMP; Boots – Clark’s

Chillin Love Your Bones Tee – EMP.co.uk; Bootcut jeans – charity shop (originally Topshop); Dusky pink trainers (not shown) Nike custom Air Force 1’s

Pirate Wench Earrings – EMP; Blouse – Hell Bunny; Skirt – EMP; Leggings – Matalan; Boots – Ebay

Modern Vintage Blouse – Hell Bunny; Shrug – Joe Browns; Skirt – EMP; Boots – Joe BrownsSwing vests can create a more flattering shape than tucking in your tops, if you have narrow hips and/or a podge.

Urban Casual Vest – Boohoo; Utility pants – ASOS; Trainers – Zara

Tee Bloody Nora Pam

Autumn Smart Casual Shawl – Matalan; Leggings – Matalan; Boots – Lands End

Winter Smart Casual Jumper – Matalan; Jeans – ASOS; Over knee ridding boots (not shown) Shuh.

Alternative-Casual Tee – The Mountain; Arm warmers (worn under stripy top) – Forage; Boot cut jeans – Charity shop (previously Topshop); Chunky PVC ankle boots (not shown) Shuh

Pins Old English Company; Jenni Fairy W on Etsy; Punky Pins

Penguin Pin Kate Elford on Etsy

Christmas Tree Earrings Marks and Spencer

Tote Bag Tikea on Amazon

🖤✨Chrissie✨🖤

My Cruelty Free Beauty Awards 2019!

December 24, 2019December 26, 2019 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 3 Comments

Best Liquid Highlighter – The Body Shop Drops of Glow

This pearlised one is a little too light for me so I should have gotten the more golden option. Still a great product though!

Runner up Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Filter. Shite as BB cream or sheer foundation but amazing as a highlighter.

Best Hair Dye – Manic Panic (Pretty Flamingo)

The choice of colours are amazing, the consistency is nice and thick so easy to apply and it’s really conditioning. It can last up to six months if you gently wash your hair every 7 – 14 days or it can be nearly washed out after around 5 washes with stronger shampoo.

Runner up – Nature Tint. Lasts forever but too runny and messy to apply easily.

Best Lipstick/Gloss/Balm – The Body Shop, Colour Crush Lipstick (Luanda Peony)

This glides on easily, has a very subtle and flattering shimmer, huge colour payoff and it moisturises!

Runner up – Charlotte Tilbury Lip Plumping Gloss. Works almost too well!

Best Hair and Body Care Brand – Yaoh! (Coconut and Lime)

Affordable, natural (everything is based around hemp seed oil), it smells heavenly and every product delivers results.

Runner up – Neal’s Yard Remedies. Natural and pampering but too pricey for me.

Best Nail Polish/Care Brand – Ciate (Nail Super Hero)

Affordable, an astounding range of colours, textures and finishes, and nail treatments which actually work.

Runner up – Barry M for very similar reasons.

Best Facial Skincare – The Body Shop (Vitamin C)

This Range is strongly scented of oranges, which I find really refreshing. It’s affordable as a little goes a long way and leaves skin clean, smooth and moisturised immediately and clearer and glowier after around five days.

Runner up – Murad (Age Reform). Incredibly effective and a similar price bracket to TBS these days so this was a tough decision!

Best Everyday Facial Oil – Superdrug own brand

I would describe this as a dry oil as it’s non-greasy and works perfectly under primer and foundation (or at least the one’s I use), or on it’s own for a naturally healthy appearance on any skin type.

Runner up – Weleda. Their facial oils are rich and really nourishing. They all have a very strong (natural) scent and take a while to sink in so best for an overnight treatment.

I’ve covered all of the products and the brands that I have used in 2019. So if there is a category or product missing it’s because I didn’t need or use a new a one of those. Above are some products which I loved but didn’t quite make the ‘best of’.

Have you tried any of these?

Vamp It Up Manchester

The alternative blog. Cruelty free beauty, urban style, veggie & free-from food

Author: Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie)

Is Greggs Vegan Stake Bake any Good?

🖤✨Chrissie✨🖤