Christmas in Leeds

I visited Leeds last weekend on a birthday day trip for my lovely sister and I was really impressed with how beautiful and Christmassy it was. I really love the shopping in Leeds anyway, I already think it's a great city but they have really made an effort for Christmas!

I love the cute little shopping arcades in Leeds. They have really lovely shops but also look so beautiful and classy with their decorations.

I also really loved the Continental market in the main square. I particularly liked the huge German style beer hall which had been constructed. Unfortunately we had to go for our trains or we would have stop for a drink!

Dress: Independent Boutique, Tights: American Apparel, Bag: Vintage.

For me, it was a brilliant day! It was great just to get to see my sister and get into a half decent city where I could eat at Wagamama and shop at nice places! I really struggle with how boring my hometown is!

This is my lovely little sister Vicky! As we've got older we've become closer and closer and she means the world to me! I miss her so much with her off at uni! Vic's now started her own blog: Girl About Scarborough so please check it out!!

A Beautiful Easter Weekend

Have you had a wonderful Easter Weekend? I have! I don't know about elsewhere but England has had some absolutely beautiful weather this weekend, really sunny and warm, the sort of weather that makes you happy.

I had a great Good Friday! RB and I went on a glorious bluebell walk, his Mum had been talking about it the past few weeks and it was so pretty. I put us together a picnic, yes everything was shop bought, but it was lovely. It had some of my picnic favourites including: bread, cheese, salad, olives, crisps, danishes and a little glass of cider (it was a grown ups picnic after all).

The Beautiful Bluebell Walk

It was so warm, and we walked in shorts and vests, which is not the sort of weather you'd usually expect for an English April. The weather on Good Friday continued into the evening, staying warm enough late in the evening to have a BBQ. As it was Good Friday (and you apparently can't eat meat) RB, I and his family had a solely vegetarian BBQ (usually we have a meat and a veggie one). This is the first solely veggie BBQ I have ever been to, I left RB in charge of it and he did such a great job, no-one missed having meat (and I was the only veggie) and people commented on new things that they liked and would have again.

The Perfect Veggie BBQ: Quorn Burgers, Mushroom Burgers, Linda McCartney Sausages, Quorn Sausages, Quorn Fillets in Hot Sauce, Peppers, Portobello Mushrooms & Corn on the Cob. This was just the BBQ food that we had along with salad, potatoes, bread, onions and homemade coleslaw- yummy!

Easter wouldn't be complete without over-indulging on chocolate eggs. RB made an egg hunt for my all around his house with different clues and eggs. I still get eggs off my family so I had loads! I feel pretty sick now... I feel a May detox so I feel all fit, healthy and radiant for going to New York.

The rest of Easter was pretty good, meals with family, sitting in the sun and that kind of thing. I unfortunately broke my toe, but it didn't spoil the Easter fun!

Did you have a great Easter?

Burns Night Bake!

This evening is Burns Night, more about Burns Night and Supper. I have made my own variation of a Burns Night Supper with a Burns Night Bake! An idea I came up with on Monday during my lectures!

Traditionally on Burns Night you would have Haggis (you can get vegetarian recipes) with Tatties (potatoes) and Neeps (swede or turnip- depending on where you live). Instead of Haggis, I decided to make savoury mince. Its rather like a Vegetarian Shepherds Pie, however, there is a layer of swede between the mince and potato.

I didn't follow all the traditions, no sherry or whisky, no trifle or cheese, perhaps next year, as I am a bit of a novice at celebrating Burns Night but I am rather impressed with my bake for this year!

H's AMAZING homemade apron!!

As I mentioned before I put together a baking kit for V's Christmas gift with silicone bake-ware, a frame by frame baking book and this great homemade apron that my friend H made for me. Isn't it great?! It is so beautiful, the heart on the front is even a pocket. V is going to keep it forever and if it went all the way around she'd wear it as a dress!

Homemade Christmas Cards

Glitter glue pens + plain cards/envelopes = great homemade Christmas cards for family and friends!!

For RB's parents!

For RB's sister and brother-in-law!
For my Mum & Dad!
For RB's brother!

For my sister!

VG Gift Idea #3

Vegetarian Girl Gift Idea #3- Charitable Gifts!!

Christmas can be very commersialised and sometimes we can forget to think about others less fortunate than overselves. A thoughtful gift idea this Christmas would be to give to others with the money you would spend on a special someone's gift.

Oxfam Unwrapped have a great range of practical solutions for people in the developing world. For example: you can buy a family a goat, help give safe drinking water to a village, or send a child to school. You receive a gift card for your donation which you can then give to your loved one. Oxfam also have an gift shop where you can also buy fairtrade gifts for others!

Alternatively, for animal lovers, you could adopt an endangered animal for them from WWF. They will receive a cuddly toy version of their animal, leaflets about the animal and updates on how the animal is doing 3 times a year. I think this is especially a lovely gift for children.

There are so many options for you to give to a charity that you support! At Charity Gifts UK there is huge number of charity gifts to choose from: a letter from Santa from the NSPCC, memberships to the National Trust, gifts from Cancer Research UK, sponsor a puppy to become a guide dog and many more!

VG Gift Idea #2

Vegetarian Gift Idea #2- Animal Friendly Cosmetic Gift Set

(aka Smellys)

All of the the gift sets here are available on the UK high street and are cruelty free!!
They are available from Superdrug (own brand range), Lush (the one below is also Vegan friendly!) and Body Shop!

Bonfire Night!

Remember Remember the Fifth of November. Gunpowder, Treason and Plot!!!

As some of you may be aware, it was Bonfire Night last Friday (5th November) so I thought I would share with you my festivities. Don't get me wrong, I like Halloween but I LOVE Bonfire Night and always have.

I love the story of Guy Fawkes. He was born in York do you know?

When I was younger we used to go to fireworks at local pubs and have parties at home which was really fun. Last year, I had no plans as I was in York and did not know of any displays so I wanted to make this year special and that means going back to my hometown!

I didn't actually celebrate on Bonfire Night, but on the two following nights. On the Saturday I celebrated with my two closest girly friends, H & L. We had a bonfire, fireworks and traditional food (chili on baked potatoes, toffee apples).

This is the bonfire that L's Dad made, pretty impressive? We didn't have a guy to burn, but I definitely will be making one next year!

These are some of L's fireworks. Not very big but very pretty. I love fireworks!

On the Sunday I went to Markeaton Park which has a FREE firework display every year, however I got no photos :( but they were good!! And I went on the fair afterwards, I got to go on the waltzers and dodgems!!

Also, thought I would add a picture of some abstract toast S, H's boyfriend, made for me after L's firework gathering!

VG Gift Idea #1

It is fast approaching Christmas and this is the time of year that everyone is starting their Christmas shopping, or if you're my friend, H, finishing it. I love Christmas and I am starting to put some bits together so I thought from now on I will share my finds and Christmassy loveliness with you!!

So my Vegetarian Girl Gift Idea #1 for a Veggie/Ethical Christmas is!!

Urban Decay Vegan Palette

This great palette includes an eyeshadow primer and 6 eyeshadows, all vegan! Also, all of Urban Decay's products are BUAV approved. I saw it while flicking through the Boots gift catalogue and thought: 'what a great idea for a veggie girl's Christmas present!' I am going to write a letter to Santa asking for one myself!

They are available to buy from: Boots, Debenhams and House of Fraser!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! (For Yesterday!!)

I love Halloween even though it isn't hugely celebrated in the UK. As a child, me and my sister always used to dress up and go Trick or Treat-ing with my Mum. This year I celebrated with my friend L in York.

I carved a pumpkin on Saturday when RB was around. I didn't want a scary looking lantern, I think he looks rather sweet.

I also made some spiced ghost cookies which I then iced. Unfortuantely Asda delivered the wrong icing kit and they had to have glittery eyes and mouths instead of black, which would have been more Halloweeny.

I then went over to L's flat with my goodys and also some dress up stuff so that we could get dressed up and go out in York for Halloween!!

What did you do for Halloween?

Cake Creations

The Joys of Baking

I have never really cared for baking and until a few weeks ago I had only ever made 2 cakes. One for a leaving school party when I was 16 and one with my friend when I was 14 which turned out to be more of a birthday chocolate biscuit.

In the last 2 weeks though there have been 3 special occasions: two close friends birthdays and my sister passed her GCSE's and as I have had the time I decided I'd have a go at making them cakes rather than getting them a shop-bought one.

I struggled a little with the first cake that I made (a chocolate cake with white chocolate icing) but after that I really got into it and realised it was actually really simple, cheap and fun! I made 13 little fairy cakes (one for each GCSE) for my sister with her grades on and then a jam and butter cream cake with icing. I will now never revert back to buying cake again. They may not be as perfect looking but they are just as tasty and I feel that it is so much more special when you've put a bit of effort in!