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Baity Palestinian Restaurant, Didsbury, Manchester (takeaway)

/ Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / Leave a comment

Hello lovely people!

I ordered takeaway from Palestinian restaurant Baity in Didsbury, Manchester. As soon as the weather gets this hot, this kind food of food is all I ever fancy.

I ordered…

Bata Hara (like tater tots),

Falafel

Halloumi (solid cheese) fries

Humus

Baclava (light pastry, layered with nuts and syrup).

Some of the portions were small for the price.

The humus was a tad lacking so I added more olive oil, smoked paprika and a tiny bit of garlic salt.

The sauce accompanying the falafel was heavenly!

I added salt to the halloumi fries, which were surprisingly bland!?

I’m not used to having sauce, instead of seasoning on Bata Hara. Delicious but makes them soggy, rather than crispy. Hmm, undecided…

The Baklava was desperately in need of more syrup.

Simple food, which would be fine, if the price reflected the small (takeaway) portion size. 💸

✨💙✨Chrissie✨💙✨

Gluten Free BBQ Burger from Wholesome Junkies

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Hello lovely people!

This is the gluten free double BBQ burger (with ‘cheese’ and ‘bacon’ from Wholesome Junkies. It’s got me thinking that burger buns should be replaced with a huge amount of crunchy (massively loaded) fries as standard!

The portion is so generous, this has been my tea and now my dinner. 😛😋

Also, how sweet is the vegan sweet gift?! 🍭💕

✨✨💙Chrissie💙✨✨

Disability Pride Month & Buying My First Wheelchair

/ Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 2 Comments

Hello lovely people!

It’s Disability Pride Month Which, I have to admit, I’ve only just discovered! I’m not ‘proud’ to be disabled but I’m certainly not ashamed or awkward about it either. I am proud of how I’ve learned to deal with being Dyspraxic and and having Hypermobilty Syndrome over the past 40 years (with an astounding amount of ignorance and attitudes bordering on ableism from Dr’s).

Here is the awesome super lightweight, fold-up chair (even the back folds down) which I bought for car travel. It’s sparkly electric blue ✨💙✨

To be independent I need to be given an electric wheelchair. Because of my disabilities I have muscle weakness and chronic fatigue, so the GP gave me a self propelled chair which I’m unable to use BECAUSE OF MY DISABILITIES. How’s that for sick irony? Apparently this is ‘a very common mistake if it’s a GP who’s made the referral’ the man told me as he was delivering it and taking it away again.

I’m having another phone consultation with a GP on Tuesday and (after arranging this myself) I’m being properly assessed by a Physio from Social Services Neuro Team soon. I must mention that Manchester and Thameside Social Services have been more understanding, knowledgable, kind and professional over my disabilities in just four months, than most Dr’s have been in four decades!

✨✨💙Chrissie💙✨✨

Chikn Burger (with ‘Bacon’ and ‘Cheese’) from Wholesome Junkies Manchester

/ Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 2 Comments

Hello lovely people!

I’ve managed to find another vegan-junk-food place which delivers to East Manchester via Uber Eats, Wholesome Junkies!

Treated myself to a Chikn burger with Facon, (vegan) cheese, a crazy amount of sauce and pickles. 🤤

All packaging is cardboard and it was delivered promptly (considering the dude was on a bike), warm and intact. ♻️👍🏽

Also available are Corndogs, Wings, Chikn Bites, Ribs and Mac n’ Cheese.

What would you order?

✨💙✨Chrissie✨💙✨

Vegan Chippy Tea from JJ’s Vish & Chips Manchester

/ Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / Leave a comment

Hello lovely people!

Treated myself to the Tofish from JJ’s Vish and Chips. After I added salt and a little vinegar the texture and taste was uncanny! The Fricken Nuggets where awesome too! I wasn’t that impressed with the tarter sauce as I thought it was a little bland but still nice.

They have an extensive chippy menu which I’m working my through. I loved the giant smokey Sossage which I happily drowned in ketchup and mustard.

Instagram @jjsvishandchipsmanchester

Available to order on Uber Eats. Manchester and Leeds based.

What do you miss getting for your chippy tea?

✨💙✨Chrissie✨💙✨

Wild Refillable Natural Deodorant

/ Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / Leave a comment

I’ve decided to try Wild refillable natural deodorant. I didn’t sign up for a renewable, letterbox subscription but instead, bought a one-off package with the metal case (I chose the Aqua shade) and 5 refills.

I chose 2 limited edition Lemon Meringue (you will smell like desert for hours) refills and 3 Coconut ones.

The case is recyclable and the refills are compostable!

I’ve been using natural stick deodorant for around three years now so I’ve not needed time to adjust and it’s working really well!

One thing I struggled with (possibly because of Dyspraxia and Hypermobilty) was pressing in the little buttons at the side to change the refill. Easier to get my carer to that as you do need some strength and it’s a bit fiddly.

Would you make the swap to a refillable natural deodorant?

🖤✨Chrissie✨🖤

How I Gained Weight and Got Healthier Over 10 Years

/ Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 2 Comments
Photos: Clockwise from Top left – At my thinnest, Top right – At least my arms are a bit stronger, Bottom right – Doing well but tummy bloated from gluten, Bottom left – Curvy, healthy and happy!

Hello lovely people! Someone suggested it might be a nice idea to share my weight gain and consequent health journey with you.

The reality of me being so thin and also unhealthy in my late 20’s early 30’s:

I was ALWAYS cold; if I got ill I’d become under weight and weak so easily; if I fell down (which I am prone to do when fatigued/not concentrating) I’d get really hurt because I had no padding over my bones; I struggled carrying my heavy boobs around on such a narrow frame and always had a bad back. I was so pale and not olive skinned like I should naturally be (which I covered up with fake tan).

BUT I was constantly told by people that I looked amazing and should feel grateful that I was ‘so skinny’.

I honestly thought through my 20’s and early 30’s that it was normal for young people to be over-worked, slightly stressed and to push their body to it’s limits and then prop it up with caffeine, sugar and beer/cocktails because that seemed the social norm at the time.

How I got healthy in my 30’s:

I mostly cut out foods containing gluten and dairy as I have an intolerance to them (meaning the body doesn’t absorb nutrients from those foods as it can’t digest them properly but it can, confusingly, make people look fat/bloated in places). I eat regular balanced meals with enough protein. I priorities sleep (even though that means saying no to morning invites). I don’t push myself to the limit of my strength and energy for fear of missing out (using up all of my body’s resources). I got a full blood work-up and found I was totally lacking in B12 and Vit D (no wonder I was so weak, brain fogged and grey!).

Even though I have MS now, I still feel healthier overall these days!

Has wanting to gain or loose weight prompted you to start a health journey? Let me know what you think in the comments!

✨🖤Chrissie🖤✨

On The Come Up by Angie Thomas review

/ Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / Leave a comment

I really enjoyed On The Come Up by Angie Thomas about a young female rapper named Bri.

The story covers the pressure to live up to a parents past reputation; love and friendship; institutionalised racism; taking a stand whilst simultaneously trying to keep out of trouble; drug dealing and past addiction and struggling to pay the bills and keep the refrigerator on.

A realistic description of life in a dangerous neighbourhood, which is also a place where Bri has grown up, where she has family and possibly the best chance of realising her dream.

There are a lot of light hearted, funny moments between Bri, her family and friends which balance out the struggle and worry of everyday life.

This novel really is brilliant at showing the confusing choices presented and the emotional strength it takes for a young woman to remain authentic and respected when coming up in the industry.

✨🖤Chrissie🖤✨

International Women’s Day 2021 Which Women Have Personally Inspired You?

/ Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 5 Comments

It’s been International Women’s Day today. Have you done anything nice or supportive for a special women or yourself today?

I’ve done lots of little selfcare things. 😌

Even if you don’t have any women in your life, you can support women’s charities or RT important feminist issues and news (both good and bad) on your social media to spread awareness.

I’m also looking to buy more auto-biographies by inspiring women with powerful and wonderful life stories. The last autobiography I read was by Tina Turner, who has had to deal with abuse and chronic illness but who has also had an amazing career and has found love later in life.

Any suggestions for autobiographies?

I have to give a shout out to the character of Tank Girl who, back in the day, was the only young woman (fictional or IRL) who’s style and attitude I could identify with. She taught me it was okay to not act ‘girly’ and look ‘pretty’ and that it was also okay to be confident, or blunt and to kick-ass sometimes!

Which strong women have inspired you in your life?

✨✨🖤Chrissie🖤✨✨

Vegan Hotdog Meal from Zad’s Manchester

/ Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 3 Comments

When it’s not possible to pile on anymore topping 😁

My tea from Zad’s Vegan Takeaway

Hotdog – odd little pieces of red stir-fried onion, okaaay 😐 but loads of spicy BBQ seitan pieces (to bulk up the skinny sausage), mayo and jalapeños, which tasted lush as a whole but I really missed having a big pile of soft, brown onions

Curly fries – who doesn’t love a curly fry!

ZFC – spicy fried cauliflower, so much like popcorn chicken

Lemon sheese cake – Delicious

Overall really creative and tasty! 😋

✨🖤Chrissie🖤✨