lifestyle

e.l.f Hydrating Coconut Mist

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Hello lovely people!

Today I’m sharing e.l.f Hydrating Coconut Mist (£8) with you. It really is saving my skin and my mood on these absolutely roasting days that we are having in England.

It contains hyaluronic acid, coconut oil, Vit E and B5 to hydrate, soften and sooth.

The mist has kept my skin cool around the house and hydrated even though I’ve been sitting in front of a (surprisingly drying) fan a lot of the time. It also soothes my skin which is prone to redness as a result of mild allergies.

Bonus use as a moisturising setting spray

Earlier I moisturised with e.l.f. day moisturiser and applied their matte foundation (necessary in this heat) which made me look quite flat and meh, so I sprayed the Hydrating mist over the top and still I look fresh faced (with my foundation intact) three hours later!

💙 free from phthalates, parabens, nonylphenol ethoxylates, triclosan, triclocarban, hydroquinone and sulfates

💙 Vegan

Rating 💙💙💙💙💙

✨💙✨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💙✨✨

My Tiny Urban Garden

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Hello lovely people!

This is how my tiny backyard looks at the moment.

I’m chuffed to bits that these are all still alive and thriving, several weeks after planting. I’m doing my best to water but not over-water them. Difficult when I’m only awake for around twelve hours a day so I don’t know how sunny or shaded it’s been earlier on.

Any tips, greatly appreciated!

✨💙✨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✨💙✨

Using an Online Personal Stylist from Stitch Fix – 2nd Try

/ Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 2 Comments

Hi lovely people!

Remember in my first post I told you I wasn’t happy with my first ‘fix’ and so Stitch Fix said they would try again for free? Well, prompted by the site asking ‘Is there anything your wardrobe is missing?’ this time I left a note saying that I’d been trying to find tapered cargo pants and joggers that were long enough but not baggy for ages! 34” to be exact.

A Note from Molly the Stylist

What Was in the Box

CROPPED JOGGERS NOT PICTURED

Keeping

I absolutely love these shorts because they can be dressed up or down but more importantly, they are the first shorts I’ve worn in decade which don’t cut into my chunky thighs when I sit down! Hurrah!

The two long joggers/cargo pants are exactly what I’ve been searching for, comfortable and luxurious, the perfect street style!

Returning

I liked the idea of simple black lacy top but I already have quite a few similar items so I returned it, along with the cropped (mid-calf) cargo pants as the cuffs were too tight and there wasn’t a zip.

Result

I’m so pleased with this fix as it did everything I needed.

If you have been looking all over for particular items (one’s that are either basic or in fashion and not too alternative – long sleeve mesh top – ahem), then it’s a lot easier to let a stylist pick out different ones for you to try on.

Easier than paying for delivery from different websites and if the items aren’t suitable, having to retrieve return labels online and if, like me, you don’t have a printer, having to print them out at the library/a friends/work. Plus, everything is packaged in paper and card so no endless chain of plastic bags either.

You could also be pleasantly surprised by an item you might not have considered, like I did with those awesome shorts!

What would you wear these items with?

✨💙✨Chrissie✨💙✨

18 Tips for a Sustainable Lifestyle for Earth Day and Everyday!

/ Vamp It Up Mcr (Chrissie) / 3 Comments

Happy Earth Day! I pretend it’s ‘earth year’ and that it’s every year. 🤗

Ways to help our home:

💚Recycle

💚Buy things in easily recycled packaging

💚Repurpose things you’d normally throw away

💚Give things to charity

💚Shop from charity shops

💚Rescue bigger items from skips

💚Bring your own bags (even if you are reusing a plastic bag for life)

💚Use takeaways which don’t use plastic boxes or use them as draw dividers or planters (make holes for drainage).

💚Try to buy organic food and skincare

💚Grow your own veg

💚Plant wild flowers which insects and bees love

💚Cycle, walk or take public transport or buy an electric car

💚Buy locally grown produce (to reduce air miles/shipping)

💚Buy from your own country when shopping online (same reason)

💚Cut down on meat and dairy (to reduce CO2)

💚Replace fast fashion with sustainable fashion or buy things you know will last and you will wear for years to come.

💚Buy a metal water bottle as the plastic one’s de-laminate and go funky after a while anyway.

💚Use skincare and cleaning products which are as natural as possible.

Do you have any other ideas?

✨💙✨Chrissie✨💙✨

Wild Refillable Natural Deodorant

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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

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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🖤✨