Hobby Love: Allotment Life.. Give it a Go.

I'm not your typical veg grower some might say, with it being a stereo-typically older gentleman's past-time maybe. Although I guess that's how I got into it. You may remember we turned our back garden into a veg plot earlier this year after my lovely dad and sister got their first plot, which then turned in to two plots.

Their enthusiasm for it was infectious. 

Seeing the fresh veg they grew from what started as a patch of mud was inspiring.

Now i am not green fingered in the slightest, but with some time and patience i think anyone can grow veggies.

Despite getting the keys late October almost two years ago, they spent the long winter months double digging the plot and come January they started eagerly planning what they were going to plant.

What i love about allotment life is that its a great chance for us all to come together as a family, we get the kids out from watching TV or playing xbox and get them stuck in with some mini tools for them to dig and help. And let me tell you, they absolutely love it.
Picking strawberries fresh from the bush and eating them, digging up the potatoes and seeing what the seeds they planted develop in to. 
Its soul satisfying for all.

My Niece and Son getting stuck in

Keen to get involved with allotment life my sister soon became part of the allotment committee and was elected Secretary and became involved with a project to use part of their site as a communal area where plant sales could take place and barbeque for the plot holders at the end of the summer.  Equipment was hired from SGS to clear the area, strim the waste high weeds and the ground is now ready to have wood chipping laid and the benches to be delivered. All very exciting and will bring an added sense of community to the site I'm sure.
Which is another point of allotment life i never anticipated... Community.
People are genuinely helpful, its a place to come to while away the time, come in a bad mood and always leave feeling good.
There's something rewarding about messing around in the dirt, maybe its the back to nature feeling. 
Something raw and kind about it.
And being Vegan we grow our meal.. which in itself is extremely rewarding. Seeing a plate full of home grown goodness is both delicious and satisfying for the tummy and the mind.

Mum and dad loving allotment life

Reaping the crop rewards happily

So i guess what i'm trying to say is, give a new hobby a go, remove your self from the normal routine and stresses and pressures of modern life. I know for us as a family it has been thoroughly rewarding and if anything brought us all together more.

Do you have an hobbies that you love and that leave you feeling happy?

Trying Something New: Turning my Garden in to a Vegetable Patch

If you come here for the fashion and style and the pretties of beauty and makeup you may want to look away for this post ;) Normal programming will resume I promise, but sometimes, just sometimes i get an itch that needs scratching. And this particular itch has been itchy for a long time.
I have wanted an allotment for years. I actually had one for a very short time about 4 years ago when i first moved to the town i now live in, but with work commitments and a 2 and a half year old at the time, i just couldn't get in to it as much as i wanted. Plus it was massively neglected and needed SO much prep work before i could even consider planting and using it for what was intended.
Fast forward 3 and a half years and i still want to grow my own vegetables. There's no greater pleasure (for someone who loves to cook) than cooking with veg you've grown yourself.
Fresh, organic and and super healthy, it doesn't get any better. And as a vegan (myself and the husband, and 2 out of the 3 of our kids are vegetarian too) we eat A LOT of veg, as you can imagine.

Two years ago my ever green thumbed dad and my super keen sister took on 2 allotment plots in their town, but I live 40 minutes away so don't get to join in the growing fun as much as i would like.

After a few discussions with the husband we realised we may as well turn our small garden with its naff tufty grass in to a vegetable plot. The kids all play out the front of our house as we live in a quiet cul-de-sac and they prefer the room to ride bikes, scoot and play football. The back garden had become a redundant space and whats worse, a dumping ground for all our crap.

So what does a self respecting girl do when she wants to grow veggies on her doorstep?
She ropes her green thumbed dad in of course. Well actually i got mum, dad and my sister all down to help.
Under my dads watchful eye we set off to our local Travis Perkins and bought all the supplies i needed.
We've bought supplies for a couple of raised beds, canes, borders and all the gardening paraphernalia a girl could need.
Move over new shoes, Rachel needs a trowel, LOL!
Within 2 days Dad had gotten rid of our nasty tufty grass and found we had really good soil beneath.
Fab!
It was on to the fun bit.. Planting!
With two seasons under their belts I had my families guidance of what to plant and when. Its still early doors on the planting front but I'm already super excited about planting more. There is something absolutely satisfying about watching something you've planted grow in to something you can use.
I've definitely got the Grow Your Own bug!
So far we have broad beans planted, then we've started in my conservatory courgettes and cucumbers, then in a dark area some seeding potatoes.
I'll be completely honest and say I haven't got a clue, but i'm excited to be learning on the job and i really love doing something completely different, not only am i thinking about new things, but it gets me outdoors in the fresh air, which i absolutely love.
Its so fulfilling!
The plan is for spinach, tomatoes, cauliflower and lettuces this season.
Neo's requested carrots too.
The plot is small, but perfect for starting me off on this journey. Plus there are things to grow in pots and on the patio.
I can't wait to give you an update soon!

not a scrap of makeup and in my skivvies, but couldn't be happier

Have you thought about trying anything new? 

For me Spring is when i feel most inspired, January is still too dark, cold and wet, where as Spring i feel full of energy and buzzing with new ideas.
Let me know if you're turning your hand to anything new! I'd love to hear all about it.

Vegetable & Lentil Stew with Mash & Greens

'Tis the season for delicious stews and comfort food isn't it? I enjoy a good stew at any time of year if I'm honest, but there's nothing nicer than having a tasty moreish winter stew in the cold nights to warm you through.
This vegetable  stew is absolutely delicious, add in the green infused mash and you have comfort food at it's absolute finest.
And yes vegetables, lentils and chickpeas, super healthy but are also absolutely delicious, I promise you won't be disappointed with this super tasty dish. You're tummy will be full and very happy.
Another couple of excellent points with this meal:

• You will find most of the items are store cupboard or things you may already have to hand.
• The cost per mouth fed is super low. A big pot like this would feed 5 comfortably i'd say.
• Its a one pot stew.. no need for lots of washing up. Another pan for your potato mash, and you're done!
• It is Gluten/Wheat free, Dairy Free, Low fat, Vegan and full of great vegetables packed with vitamins and goodness. It would also be free on Slimming World ( I know this from doing S/W in the past.. your milk may have to come out of your daily allowance, or of course omit it)

Ingredients:

For the Root Veg Stew

2 medium Carrots
1 Medium to large Parsnip
Half a swede if you have it
1 Leek
1 White onion
3 Large Garlic Cloves
150grams of Frozen Peas
1 Tin of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 Tin of Green Lentils, drained and rinsed
1.2 Litre of Vegetable stock
12 Sprigs of Thyme (little leaves removed)
2 Bay Leaves
3 generous tablespoons of Tamari (Or regular Soy Sauce if you're not Gluten free)
Glug of Olive Oil

For The Mash

1Kg of white potatoes
150ml Soya milk
Table spoon of Dairy free margarine
100 grams (or two good handfuls) of Spinach
2 Spring Onions
2 Teaspoons of Cumin
Salt & Pepper

Method:

• Heat a glug of oil in your pan on a medium heat
• Whilst the oil warms chop your onion and crush your garlic
• Add your onion first and let this cook through for 5 minutes before adding your garlic, stiring and making sure they don't burn or stick.
• Chop your root veg: Carrots, Parsnip and swede in to small pieces and add to your pan, stirring it together, cook through for 5 minutes
• Chop your leek all the way to the top and add to the pan
• Add your bay leaves and thyme leaves. As well as the leaves you can leave a spring in the pan to infuse, but remember to take this out at the end to avoid a twiggy mouthful.
• Add your chickpeas and lentils
• Add your hot 1.1 ltre of stock and bring to the boil
• Add you frozen peas
• Then add your Tamari (or Soy sauce if you're not Gluten free)
• Leave to simmer for 30 minutes

Whilst this is now bubbling away you can get cracking on your mash

• Peel and chop your potatoes, place them in cold water with a pinch of salt and bring to the boil
• Turn down to a vigorous simmer and let them cook till soft
• Chop your Spring onions in to rounds, including  the green
• Once  the potatoes are done, drain and return to the pan. Add in your Milk ( I use soya, but feel free to use whatever milk you prefer) and margarine, mix thoroughly and mash till your potatoes are smooth
• Mix in your spring onions and spinach and cumin. The spinach will start to wilt with the heat of the mash.
• Season as you require

Once the vegetables in your stew are soft you're ready to assemble a lovely bed of mash topped with your delicious stew!

My husband loves a side of crunchy bread with this to soak the juices up. I'm happy with an extra serving of mash ;)

Dig in and Enjoy!

5 Cruelty Free & Vegan Deodorants Tried & Tested

Not a glamours topic I admit, but a vital part of every women's daily hygiene and cosmetics routine is of course a deodorant. When I first started on my Vegan, Cruelty Free journey one of the first things i switched over was my deodorant. Now, I'll be totally honest (and slightly gross) with you: I am quite a sweaty person. Yup, i just wanted to put that out there. I am generally a very sweaty person and perspire quite a lot. Always have, i'm sure i always will. So it goes without saying that a good deodorant is very important to me. I have tried SO many products over the years, but this time I'm trying out vegan, cruelty free and some all natural products to see if any of these will actually work on this sweaty Betty.

Glamours this may not be, but practical (and very honest!!) it is!

 So lets get started...

5 Vegan, Cruelty Free Deodrants:

1. Salt of the Earth Pure Aura natural Deodorant
Starting with one of the best, this deodorant is quite simply fantastic.
The spray application gives a liberal spritz, which can be quite wet at first, but does dry quite quickly. The scent of lavender and vanilla is strong and a nice presence without being over powering.
Durability of this deodorant is what I really liked. It works really, really well. I used this recently when i went on a huge zip wire and to say i was a little bit sweaty would be an understatement. Extreme sports will do that to you. But what a test to put this deodorant under. I left that day still feeling and smelling fresh.

2. Marks & Spencer Nature's Ingredients Peach & Almond Antiperspirant 

At just £1.50 this carries the smallest price tag out of all the deodorizers and is in the roll on format that is fairly common.

Again, an absolute brilliant little product, it smells beautiful ( I actually went on to buy the matching body spray as well as they had a buy one get one half price, making them both a mere few pound!), but it also works tremendously well. I wore this through the hot days of summer and by the end of each day I would still be fairly fresh and not whiffy. 

The roll on applicator is great if you're in a hurry, it dries quickly and doesn't leave any white marks. The only downside is when left for a day or so, even with the lid on, the roller ball dries up and you have to shake it vigorously and rub it quite hard to activate the ball again. 

That being said, it doesn't put me off this product at all, it's a great little buy and I will definitely re purchase (perhaps in the water lillies scent to give that a go)

3. Jason Natural Lavender Deodorant Stick
The first day I wore this, in the height of summer, I was disappointed in its performance. By mid afternoon I no longer felt fresh and like it was working with me. Every body is different and for me it didn't protect me from sweating and smelling at all (delightful, i know.. Just be glad you weren't with me that day)
The smell of lavender is strong, which i like a lot as its a beautiful scent, but the product didn't seem to help me. I've worn it again since and it's been OK, but I don't think i would rely on it. If i have a shower at night time, I will pop some of this on and it seems to keep me fairly fresh when I'm not overly active. Plus the lavender scent is rather lovely.
The application is good. A firm deo-stick, making application easy and no white marks left.

 4. Crystal Stick Body Deodorant
If you've never used one of these before you will at first think it totally bizarre. How can a rock work as a deodorant? Well I'm not 100% sure on how, but I do know that it does!
To apply the Crystal rock you have to run it under a tap to dampen it, you then roll on your under arms as you would a roll on. Its completely smooth and easy enough to do after you've just taken a shower, but not so easy if like me, you often shower the night before. It means standing in the bathroom in your bra with wet armpits for a little bit, BUT it does work. It keeps any scent away for the day. If you are a heavy sweater (like me) then you will notice you may still get a little damp but no smell.
Plus this thing will last you years! I think I've had this over 6 years and it still works as well as they day I bought it. If you're in to minimalism, this would be a great buy.

5. Nature Love Natural Deodrant
I picked this up in TK Maxx as it was a new to me brand (It's an America brand) but liked the idea that it was an all natural deodorant. The scent is Lemongrass, which is not my personal favourite, but not too overpowering thankfully. The product again is a solid stick and is easy to apply. No white marks were left afterwards and it did last well through the day. The scent wore off fairly quickly but the effect still seemed to be there as I worked my way through the day. For an all natural product I would say this offers a real decent amount of protection, but the scent is just not for me (just personal preference)


So there we have it, some absolutely great discoveries for me! I will most certainly be making some re-purchases when the time comes.

What deodorant do you use? 
Would you consider switching to A Cruelty free Vegan variety?

5 Reasons I Became Vegan

Now this post isn't going to be for everyone, and i totally and utterly accept that. But i wanted to write it for me and for you, as i felt like i was kinda keeping a secret and skirting around the subject rather than just talking about it. So bear with me, normal programming shall resume.. But i would honestly love for you to read this and just have a little ponder to yourself (Who knows you may consider something like meat free monday), and thank you in advance for your continued support in making this a happy environment!

I've wanted to approach this topic for some time, so here goes.
I'm Rachel and I am Vegan *waves*
Now this statement normally generates the same responses.. "Why?" "What on earth do you eat?" "How can you give up ice-cream/cheeseburgers/pizza?" "But its not healthy surely?" "Nah, not me.. Top of the food chain we are"

Yep i've heard it all.

Sometimes people are interested and sometimes people get shitty with me. Its true, I've had all ends of the spectrum.

I hope that this blog is a happy supportive place, where people feel free to encourage one another, comment and love, instead of judgement, disrespect or ridicule.
I am not here to force veganism to you all, hoping to change the masses. But i wanted to share my positive happy experience as much as i would share something else happy, like my capsule wardrobe, or a family outing.
Becoming vegan is a huge part of my life and something I am really happy and impassioned by.
So share i shall :D

1. Morality

Eating animals is just plain wrong. Firstly.. why eat a defenceless animal when as humans we simply were not made to eat meat (check out your teeth, we are made for veggies, fruit and nuts), plus the alternatives to meat in this day and age really are fantastic and excellent for you (hello no cholesterol!). We've come to see pieces of meat as a detachment from the animal, desensitising it to make it easier for consumption.

Vegans save over 100 animals per year by not eating meat. If more people did that think of all the lovely animals that would be saved. Its been said before, but it's something that started me off on this road: "You wouldn't eat your pet dog, why eat a pig?" Pigs are in-fact more intelligent than dogs, yet we deem it perfectly viable to eat them.

2. Major Health benefits. 

We've all heard that we need to eat meat for the protein, and without it we would all shrivel up and diieeee. Well that's as outmoded as bootcut jeans.
Beans, greens, chicpeas, quinoa and soya are all fantastic sources of protein. Kale is also phenomenal it is one of the most densely packed plants with vitamins and minerals on the planet.

Plant-based diets have been proven to lengthen life spans, cut out major diseases and improve general health. I'm no good at relaying scientific facts (my mind is way to airy fairy for that), but I know that anything that helps lengthen and improve a lifespan can only be good.
I also never became vegan to loose weight, but it was an advantageous side point. My weight has yoyo'ed most of my adult life, but since becoming vegan I lost weight and have now plateaued to my bodies natural comfortable weight. And i can honestly say i have never felt better!

Power to the Plants!

3. Environmental factors

By having showers instead of baths, by that hosepipe ban, by turning off the water whilst you brush your teeth all sound like major brownie points in the environmental stakes, but the fact is by doing those things it is just a drop in the ocean (pah, excuse the pun) It takes TONS of water and crops to raise cattle (and then kill them), this is the biggest reason behind climate change and yet the meat industry grows larger and larger, producing more and more and taking over even more land to produce more meat. By going meat free you are helping save your home.. planet earth.

4. Mental Happiness

There's something wonderfully rewarding about going without eating animals. With it I found a strange calmness transcend in my mind that i hadn't expected. It seems on a sub conscious level maybe i felt guilt, without even voicing it to myself.  I then realised how happy I was, infact it would seem according to sources (i.e The husband) that i am the happiest I've been in years. Happy and healthy is not to be ignored. It could also be scientific as the animal fatty acids can create mood disturbing brain activity, such a stress and anxiety. A life with out stress and anxiety sounds dreamy doesn't it? Well I for one am up for doing anything that will help be journey down that road.

5. Believing the world can be a better place

Veganism opens your eyes to the world. I started to research all kinds of topics such as environmental impacts, animal welfare, ethical and fair trade. It made me realise that there IS a better way. Consumer driven western society has room for improvement. We all do (heck I've only recently gotten on board with proper recycling, so I have A LOT of room for improvement), and like i mentioned above, surely if we can help our fellow inhabitants, whether that be man or animal, and just *try* to do our bit, well the world would be a damn site better off, and I sure as hell know I would love my children to grow up in a loving caring environment, which extends out from our front door in to the world around them.

(And a Bonus)

6. .. Vegan food is absolutely delicious

When I took out all the things I could no longer eat , i sat down and started to cook again. I previously loved cooking, but lost my way to the ease of convenience food. I cook all our meals from scratch with all plant based ingredients, and I have never tasted such amazing food in all my life. Vegan food is full of flavour, once you remove meat an animal by-products you have to start thinking about how to make this dish utterly scrumptious. Herbs are now my best friend, and finding the perfect pairing between vegetable and seasoning is thrilling (FYI Mash potatoes, olive oil and cumin equals HEAVENLY... just sayin')
Getting inventive with my food has made me have a much better relationship with food also.
Lots of meat-eater friends say to me (mostly men i might add..) "I could never quit meat, I don't like vegetables" My answer simply is " You just haven't tried the right ones yet"
Since quitting meat altogether i have not missed it once. When the taste is so phenomenal without it, why would you miss it?

When i first turned plant based and then Vegan it was about the animals, and what food i consumed. But as time went on its stemmed out in to all parts of my life.
This past weekend I went through (my quite frankly ridiculously) huge makeup collection. 98% of the products came from brands that still test on animals.
I packed them all up and gave them to friends and family (those are meat eaters and are happy as they are.. again no judgement here).
I looked closer at the ingredients in my shampoos and started researching vegan and cruelty free alternatives.
My household products are now switched over too.
It literally stems out in to all parts of my life.

But strangely, I have never felt more grounded or more happy. Its liberating.

Here on the blog you will see things will change, I will start writing about Vegan beauty finds, i will no longer be purchasing leather and suede etc, but I really hope it won't effect you reading. This will never be a place where i bash you over the head with my vegan rule book.
This is me just offering up alternatives (variety is a good thing after all) and things that vegans and non vegans can all enjoy!

But I am set on living my life the most authentic happy way i can, and that excites me.


Thanks so much for reading and coming here, I can't wait to share some positivity with you all!

Big Love

Rxxx

Food Talk: Plant Based Life, Veganism & Intolerances

I wanted to talk today about food and the switch I have made over the past 9 months and how i feel the best I have in years. When something feels so right, to the point of seeing amazing results I think its only nice to pass on that knowledge and hope that maybe it can help someone else.

Ok.. Where to start with my story..
I have suffered IBS and flare ups most of my adult life. I could go for some time being absolutely fine, then like a switch had flicked I would be really poorly for a cycle of 3 days where my body would just go in to melt-down. This would include, the mother of all stomach-cramps, severe bloating, feeling lethargic, then light-headed and on occasions passing out, then my body would evacuate everything in it, meaning multiple, multiple trips to the bathroom. After that I would be left feeling pretty weak, have mouth ulcers and a really tender tummy.
It was awful.
I had tried IBS over the counter meds but they ended up blocking things up so to speak, but making me feel equally crappy.

I had a pretty unhealthy lifestyle through my twenties. A life of running a stressful business meant long hours, lots of takeaways and convenience foods. I had constant sugar dips which would have me reaching for another can of Coke every time.
Looking back, I can't believe I was so unhealthy. But you live you learn.

I made a switch to a pecastarian(no meat just fish) diet about 9 months ago, I didn't like consuming animals, but yet wasn't quite ready to make the switch completely.
I was plodding on, still eating wheat and dairy, still having some pretty bad flare up's and wondering what the hell I needed to do to just feel normal again.

My husband had been a Vegetarian for years, feeling something still wasn't quite sitting right with us we started to do some research. We sat down and watched some documentaries on the farming of animals and the effect on both the animals and the environment.
We started with Cowspiracy on Netflix then this by Erin Janus  literally made me cry (and I'm not being dramatic here , or emoji inserting for the hell of it, I'm completely serious, I cried and had to pause it to compose myself.. that is my polite warning.. its graphic but true) And Bite Size Vegan were excellent and in many cases disturbingly painful sources of reality.

From then we quit meat and dairy and haven't looked back.
When people talk about vegans it has a real negative stigma attached to it, with Vegans being deamed as extremists and OTT. I think passion is often confused for extremity.

I'm not true vegan, I still use honey and do consume a small amount of free range eggs (which I am currently researching and looking to also quit).  I also still wear wool and currently leather. But I want to be better. The point of change is always a hard one, but surely its worth it?

I am Plant Based
Eating a Plant based lifestyle has left me feeling pretty darn good. My skin is cleare than its been in years, and i feel healthier from the inside.
Here's a great piece I found on why plant based eating is simply fantastic

So, already starting to feel a lot better physically and mentally I then decided to go have an Intolerance test to find out what the route cause of all my troubles over the years has been.


I've made a rambly little vlog about it here, no editing, just rambling and even a big pile of stuff in the background.. #RealLife ;)

I booked in for an Intolerance Test with Nutritionalist Vicky Perkins at Beanfreaks in Cardiff. Really helpful, lovely and assisting.
The test was pain-free and took about an hour with chatting along the way.

It was conclusive that I have a High intolerance to Wheat, aspartame, Coke, Coffee (wahh!) and Wine.
After the results we chatted and it revealed that my body has a hard time with fatty foods. It doesn't break them down well and can send me in to a bad cycle.

All this made complete sense.
It confirmed everything and more, that had been on my mind. Thankfully I had already made tracks in to conquering my food demons and had been eating Plant based for the past couple of months, which had already shown fantastic results for me.
The confirmation has just spurred me on even more to live a healthy clean-eating lifestyle.
I refuse to call it a diet as diet implies weight loss and that's not why I've ventured down this road ,although I have lost a stone and now my weight is sitting in exactly the same place week in week out, its like its found its happy ground, I started this to feel better, to feel like my insides weren't hating me any more.
But along the way I also found an ethical grounding too. No longer consuming animals has become a huge part of my life.

I'm going to follow this post up with a 'What I Eat In A Day' post next week, as its the main thing people often ask.. When I explain that I'm Plant-Based Wheat intolerant I get utter looks of confusion and expressions of "Well.. what do you eat then?" To which I always reply.. "Fantastic food!"

I know this sounds cheesy but I have honestly never felt better. I feel the happiest and healthiest I ever have, and that's a huge statement to make.

Have you ever thought about what you put in to your body and how it effects you?