December in Photo’s

December 21, 2020December 21, 2020 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 2 Comments

Christmas fleece – Cotton Traders

Joggers – Hunkermoller

Ugg/Emu style boots – Dorothy Perkins

Making the most of the dark afternoons by making the living room feel all cozy.

Lots of natural skincare and lifestyle goodies in this Freedm Street advent calendar (items available to buy individually from heir online shop).

Making ‘special coffees’ by adding Baileys or Sailor Jerries Spiced Rum and throwing in pieces of salted caramel or hazelnut caramel choccy.

Jumper – Shein

Joggers – Cotton Traders

Bizarrely, for someone who has disabling arachnophobia when I see one, this was one of my favourite books as a child. It’s magical and a little creepy!

Little reindeer I found at the back of a cupboard!

Sparkly chocolate vegan brownie from Zad’s takeaway.

Dad decorated the whole downstairs in under 15 minutes. Secret festive ninja!

I’ve been watching His Dark Materials on BBC iPlayer and I am so impressed with this adaptation. Especially my favourite bad-ass actress, Ruth Wilson as Mrs Coulter.

I’ve developed quite a obsession with cute cartoon penguins so I was really happy to get this card from my Dad ^_^

Tee – Next

Christmas fleece – Cotton Traders

Joggers – Cotton Traders

At the Blokes flat we have our 22inch Christmas tree. I swear, after Christmas this is being packed away exactly as it is now – it was so fiddly to decorate!

Like most people in he UK we don’t have candy canes but we do have gelatine-free sweets!

This wonderful wreath gives me serious Narnia vibes. Unfortunately where we live, neither of us can put wreathes on our front door as they would get nicked and given to someone’s Mam or Missus.

MOOEY CHRISTMAS YOU LOVELY LOT

🎄✨Chrissie✨🎄

A Wonderful 2021 Diary by Pepper and Cute

December 8, 2020December 9, 2020 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / Leave a comment

This Pepper and Cute 2021 diary (£19.95) is a diary, organiser, planner and journal. With extra pages for TV, book and music lists, motivational illustrations, a zip-lock keepsake pocket, pretty post-it notes and stickers it’s a fun combination!

There are four different covers so I chose this one as it seems rather apt for someone living with disabilities and chronic illness like myself. I’m just that much of a diamond!

The lettering is rose gold, violet, sparkly rose gold or rainbow sparkly depending on how you tilt it. How clever is that!

Some of the Serious Bits

Some of the Fun Bits

My only complaint is that, even though this diary comes with several sheets per theme, you can’t buy extra refills so you have to be selective/frugal with how you use some parts of it.

This would make such a lovely, thoughtful present for someone. I’ve not been as excited to start a diary since my Smash Hits Magazine one which I got for ‘Crimbo’ as a teen in the 90’s, hehee!

🌟✨🖤Chrissie🖤✨🌟

Can This Jackfruit Ready-meal Really Work?

May 27, 2020May 28, 2020 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / Leave a comment

I decided to get this ready meal as an introduction to Jack Fruit. I’ve tried other things from Tescos Plant Chef range and been woefully underwhelmed so this was more of an experiment for me.

Cooked (supposedly) after only 35 minutes in a pre-heated oven…

It looks so watery! Lets poor some of that away and sprinkle some nutritional yeast on the top. I hope the sauce is a nice flavour and that there’s a load of jackfruit underneath the potatoes….

Oh shit, it’s stone cold in the middle!

After another 15 minutes in the oven…

This tastes really nice! The BBQ sauce has a strong flavour and isn’t overwhelmingly sweet. Some of the potato is crispy with a nice flavour and the red pepper works well, not sure where the onions are though. I wish there were more Jackfruit, although there are some big chunks underneath the potato.

The texture of the Jackfruit is like pulled pork and it’s really absorbed the flavour of the sauce. It cooks much better in big chunks as the smaller pieces are a bit mushy.

The answer to ‘Can this Jackfruit Ready-meal really work?’ is Not without a lot of faffing about!

Rating 2/5

🖤✨Chrissie✨🖤

Would You Rather tag (with bonus christmas questions)

December 18, 2019December 18, 2019 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 4 Comments

I came across this on the awesome Hunida’s blog. It originated with The Newbury Girl (I think) but I wanted to keep the chain going so I joined in!

1. Would you rather lose all of your money or all your sentimental items?

When I first read this question I immediately thought I’d want to keep sentimental items (I do have a giant shoe box as a ‘memory box’) but having no money would take away all of my independence and make me totally reliant on others. So it would have to be the items *sob*

2. Would you rather experience unrequited love or never love at all?

I don’t think I’d like to be incapable of love. The guys I’ve loved haven’t loved me back to the same extent and vice-versa. So to never be madly, intoxicatingly in love again would be okay with me!

3. Would you rather own your own business or work for someone else?

I don’t have the executive functioning to be my own executive (bad Aspie joke) and I’ve actually liked a lot of my bosses, so I’d work for someone else.

4. Would you rather give up television (including streaming/YouTube) or reading?

I get eye strain really easy when reading and I love that I can watch telly with people and chat about it.

5. Would you rather give up sushi or tacos for the rest of your life?

I’d give up tacos. The ones in the UK are really hard and crispy and just break in half as soon as you bight them. I love veggie sushi, it’s so refreshing but filing.

6. Would you rather live in your hometown and never travel anywhere, or live in another country but never visit home?

I have lived in my hometown all my life and love Manchester but it would be cool to live somewhere else and have my Dad visit me (he loves travelling btw).

7. Would you rather live in the desert or live in a frozen tundra?

Hmmm, extreme heat fatigue probs or terrible circulation probs. I’d be unconscious with the heat so frozen tundra it is.

8. Would you rather eat dessert (but never dinner) or dinner (but never dessert)?

I’m such a salty person – so to speak. I find a lot of deserts too sickly after a while.

9. Would you rather run a successful blog or a successful YouTube channel?

Blog! I hate the sound of my voice as my Dyspraxia means my pitch and tone can accidentally be a bit over the top (too dramatic) or really monotone (too sarcastic sounding), plus when I’m fatigued I sound a bit pissed, ha!

10. Would you rather give up all makeup/cosmetics products or give up “dressing fashionably”?

I need skincare but I actively try to avoid wearing anything that happens to be in fashion at the time. So I’d bin fashion (or the idea of things being in or out of fashion) in general actually.

5 Bonus Christmas Questions!

1. Christmas jumper or Christmas Jewellery?

These 5 are my questions so I can cheat and say both jumper and jewellery, and a Crimbo scrunchy and pin badges and socks and…

2. Classic or Contemporary Christmas Songs?

Contemporary as in Stay Now by East 17 and All I Want For Christmas by Mariah.

3. Christmas dinner with ALL of your family or dinner cooked by your fave chef in a restaurant?

Well seeing as my Dad is going on holiday and he’s my only family, it would have to be a restaurant in this scenario. There’s a really fit Asian chef that was on Celebrity Masterchef this year.

4. A big surprise present or five things off your wish list?

As I’m (just about) financially stable and can’t buy my own stuff, I’d love a big surprise! Maybe a trip to see The Northern Lights.

5. Snowball fight outside or ice skating at a rink?

I tried to ice skate once, for fifteen terrifying minutes. I’m ace at snowball fights though, tactical and ruthless!

________________________________

Please feel free to join in with this tag and include your own photos of your choices if you want, or just comment instead!

🎄Chrissie🎄

Tips For a Stress Free and Safe Night Out

December 11, 2019December 11, 2019 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 2 Comments

Learned from over 21 years of Friday and Saturday nights out, my realistic tips include prep, keeping track of your mates, getting there and back and keeping the fun going while you’re there.

1. If you’re unsure about the area, speak to friends or locals to find out about the streets or places to visit AND to avoid.

2. Phone a taxi company before hand a book a return cab for a realistic time (probably a little bit before the club/bar chucking out time) and agree where to be picked up. Have other local cab company numbers in case it doesn’t work out or find where the nearest base/office is.

3. Buy a stylish cross-body handbag bag that has a zip or solid clasp so your bad doesn’t get ‘dipped’ by thieves. Wear it inside your coat when out on the street.

4. Always store enough money for food and a taxi in a separate part of your purse, bag or (ideally pocket) so you don’t accidentally spend it.

5. Have a pair of fold up ballet flats in your bag. So no limping around on blistered feet at the end of the night. Practical and it doesn’t make you look like a target.

6. Always be friendly to the door and bar staff, you never know what they might be able to help you with.

7. If you are in a big club or area and go separate ways, agree on a place to meet back up.

8. If your good mates say you are too pissed, believe them and get them to escort you to the toilets to freshen (sober) up a bit. You do not want to get suddenly thrown out on your own by the doormen, making you vulnerable.

9. If you do end up worse for wear, it’s safer to trust groups of women rather than a man, no matter how charming they may seem.

10. Keep an eye on your drink at all times or ask someone you know and trust to watch them. Don’t accept physical drinks from strangers, instead go to the bar with them, order it and then let them pay.

11. Before leaving a place check you have everything (coat, bag, phone) and everyone. No one wants to get left behind because they went to the loo!

12. When walking to a place either walk the same speed as the slowest person or break into two groups (if there’s a lot of you), with clear agreement on where you are heading.

13. Same as when you are getting food. Everyone needs to make it clear where they are going and who they are going with or if they want someone to wait for them.

14. Don’t be that dick who just goes home without telling anyone. People will be worried if you just disappear.

15. Make sure you are getting into a registered taxi. Is the logo familiar? Do they have photo ID with their driver number on ? If you have booked it, they should know your name and address. Agree on a price first so they can’t inflate the fare.

16. When you’re at home, message each other to say you’ve had a top night and you’re home safe.

Happy partying people!

The Christmas Tag

December 21, 2017December 27, 2017 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 3 Comments

1. Do you start your Christmas shopping on Black Friday or wait until last minute?

I usually start having people’s presents in mind around November and then somehow realise close to christmas that I’ve still not got them, they won’t be delivered in time so now I have to go to the bloody shops. Why do I do this to myself!?

2. If you could be in any Christmas movie, what would it be?

One set in the US where they have their beautiful big house all decorated with christmas lights, a giant real tree and glittering topiary on the lawn, maybe a little frozen lake for ice skating….

3. Which do you like better: Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Used to be crimbo eve when I’d go clubbing but now it’s crimbo day.

4. When does your family (or you) put up your Christmas tree and who decorates it?

It always used to be me and Mum with a six ft tree, but now it’s me and my Bloke trying to make this little 1ft tree look grand. As you can see we need some practice lol We wait until December.

5. White lights or colored lights?

I love that yellow and red phase on modern lights as it’s so warm and inviting.

6. Are you guilty of peeking at your presents or do you like the surprise?

I usually know what I’m getting but I love it when someone throws in a little surprise.

7. Would you rather live in a gingerbread house or in Santa’s workshop?

The gingerbread house would end up decreasing in size as I ate it, ha! Santa’s workshop would be too noisy. So I’ll go with the tasty gingerbread house and be minimal.

8. Tell us your Christmas Eve traditions!

It used to be getting drunk tbh. Now it’s going out and having Christmas meals lots of different places.

9. If you could be under the mistletoe with anyone who would it be?

Tom Hidleston, Xzibit, Gaten Matarazzo but he’s only 15 – maybe in five years! Jeffrey Dean Morgan or Idris Elba. I swear, I’d forget my own name if facing the latter two, or it would come out as “Chris…mas? Agh, ahahaa”.

10. What tops your Christmas tree?

A little wooden star at the moment but I’m holding out for a tiny angel or fairy.

11. Can you name the 12 days of Christmas?

Five gold rings! A French hen and Turtle Doves are in there somewhere.

12. Have you ever gone Christmas caroling?

I’ve sung in a non-religious choir at christmas in a church.

13. Do you countdown to Christmas? If so, how many days left?

Sometimes I’ll get a dairy free choccy advent calendar but was too slow this year and they sold out :o( OMG three days!

14. What are some foods and treats you can count on having every holiday season?

Forerro Rocher or Roses at some point right? Gluten free mince pies if I can find any, Yorkshire puds, onion gravy, Quorn turkey which tastes really gamey!

15. How has Christmas kept it’s magic for you as you’ve grown older?

I’m not gonna lie – food. No, just all of it, the tree/lights, christmas cards, snow if we’re lucky, the prezzies, the christmas films, the whole festive vibe.

I have no clue who started this and there aren’t any rules so just join in!

❤Chrissie❤

Cute Christmas Jumpers

December 11, 2017December 16, 2017 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 6 Comments

Not So Cringey Christmas Jumpers by vamp-it-up-manchester featuring xmas sweaters
Miss Selfridge glitter top, £37 / Xmas sweater, £34 / Boohoo xmas sweater, £13 / Brown top, £24 / M Co sequined sweater / WearAll long sleeve sweater, £20 / JDY christmas jumper / Xmas sweater / Xmas sweater / George xmas sweater / Sweater

LUSH Plum Snow Bubble Bar – Christmas collection

November 14, 2017 / Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 2 Comments

Plum Snow (£5.95) is a weighty Bubble Bar which you can easily use in two goes if you wish. I’ve never thought of combining plum and mandarin together before but the sharp sweetness works really well. It has a very strong scent so it might be worth using it fairly quickly, unless you want your whole bathroom to smell like a LUSH shop!

It turns the water a beautiful dark purple colour with lots of bubbles and leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated.

This really did make my bath feel like a luxurious treat.

❤ Chrissie ❤