The Vegan Kind

The Vegan Kind #TVK16 February 2015 Review

February 17, 2015

Yes it’s here, it’s here. This month’s #TVK16 box which I have to say, had me squealing with delight! For those unfamiliar with this box, I’ll start with my usual spiel – The Vegan Kind is a Vegan (obviously!) lifestyle box that contains between 5-6 products, one of which is usually a non edible item. Each month they donate 10p from every box sold to a charity chosen by subscriber’s. This month it is the Mino Valley Farm Sanctuary, run by two vegan’s.

So zero rambling and on with the most exciting contents;

FitBites – 50g (RRP £2.30)

Let’s start with my most disliked – the one with the dates and raisins in. I say that, but these two little balls (giggle) actually look incredible delcious (double giggle).Another raw treat containing raisins, date paste, prunes, almonds, figs, coconut, sunflower seed and maca. This is what I would usually call the “post workout snack”, the one that is slightly better for you than all the other stuff in the box. Funnily enough Fit Bites seem’s to have been started by two fitness fanatics too. I’m looking forward to having a nibble on these though, and I’ll definitely share it with my other half, who always end’s up having to eat all the raising filled products from this box. (Which I can assure you he doesn’t mind one bit!)

You can check out the other “balls” available here.

White Rabbit Skincare – Toning Eye Cream – 15ml (RRP £8.00)

I’ve been meaning to take a look at White Rabbit Skin care and see what delights they have for a few weeks now. I’ve been using their cleansing lotion for some time which smells good enough to eat so I’m ecstatic to have received another of their products in this month’s box. Packed with lot’s of natural ingredients and promising to tighten and firm the eye area as well as reducing circles and puffiness, the generous 15ml will be going a long way.

Check out the White Rabbit shop here.

Eat Real – Quinoa Chips Sour Cream & Chive Flavour – 30g (RRP£0.79)

Quinoa crisps? What next? In fairness I love quinoa and I tend to enjoy most sour cream and chive flavoured products. My only problem with all these delicious alternative crisps such as sweet potato or quinoa, is that they have such a high calorific and fat content compared to other crisps that I feel a surge of guilt when eating them. This can be somewhat rectified however by only eating half a bag at a time though!

For lot’s of waist line expanding muches you can visit their site here.

Supernutrients Banana Powder – 150g (RRP £4.00)

I am definitely one to start the day off with a strawberry, banana and soya milk smoothie. I’ve never tried banana powder but I really like how there are no added ingredients to this, other than banana powder. Good for sprinkling over deserts or putting into milkshakes and smoothies I’m looking forward to giving this a go. I reckon it’s great for adding a little sweetness to some Vegan Oat pancakes too. Perhaps I’ll make a mental note to do some experimenting so I can share some recipes.

Freedom Mallows Choc Dip – 62g (RRP £2.49)

If you’re Vegan or Vegetarian, you’ll know that there are lot’s of yummy things we can’t eat because they have revolting things such as pork and beef gelatine in. For those of you who don’t know, gelatine is made up of skin, bones and connective tissue from animals. Marshmallows are one of those that contain this ingredient, which is so sad because I bloody loved marshmallows in my pre Veggie/Vegan days. My first taste of Freedom Mallows was a pretty long time ago and they are absolutely amazing. They are the best Vegan alternative I have ever tasted so when I pulled this out of my box, I squealed with delight and even had to put a cheeky pic on instagram for fear that I may eat the contents before I had time to photograph the box. Much to my own disbelief, I still haven’t eaten these but I will be savoring them with every bite and scoop of dipping chocolate.

This month’s recipe card is again from Fresh Heather – if you haven’t checked out her site yet, you must. Each time I pop on there, my mouth salivates and I basically wan’t to eat the whole world. I haven’t decided which one of her recipes I’m going to try first as there are so many, but this month’s #TVK16 recipe features a scrumptious looking super green smoothie. Perfect for practicing your smoothie making ready for summer (or all year round if you’re anything like me.)

We were also treated to a Beyond Skin Discount Voucher in this box, which entitled us to 25% off our first order. Beyond skin are an ethical footwear brand, which are currently for women only, but it looks like there is a men’s line in the works! If you’d like to check out some of their products you can do so here.

I know last month I mentioned that most of the products weren’t new to me and I’d had them in different boxes in the past, but this month has more than made up for that. (I really don’t mind the return of Freedom Mallows or White Rabbit at all!) #TVK16 however is fantastic and I can’t wait to clock up some exercise points so I can stuff my face.

If you would like to get your hands on a Vegan Kind box, you can do so here for just £10 a month plus p & p. They also have a beauty box which is available quarterly here.

Have you had this month’s #TVK16 yet? Are you thinking of subscribing, or just hoping to make a few changes to your life that are more cruelty free? If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Totally hellbent for VEGAN MARSHMALLOWS WITH CHOCOLATE DIP ZOMFG

-Pants

Vegan, Vegetarian

The Vegan Kind #TVK15 January 2015 Review

January 20, 2015

Both Gem and I have had a pretty terrible lead up to Christmas and New Year in terms of subscription boxes. From hoards of products we can’t use because they aren’t cruelty free and contain animal products to terrible customer service. One box I haven’t lost my lust over yet though is The Vegan Kind. I’ve been looking forward to the first box of the year landing on my doorstep for a good few weeks now and it finally arrive a few days ago – albeit a little late than usual.

This month’s box donated to Veganuary – a worthy cause. You may have friends and family who have taken the pledge to try Veganism for this month which I have to admit has been pretty inspiring to see on various social networks as some of my friends have attempted this. Although we are coming to the end of January now, it’s not too late to give it a try. You can head over the the Veganuary website where they have loads of tips and recipes to help you on your way.

Here’s whats in the box this month;

Hectares Sweet Potato Crisps – Sea Salt and Black Pepper Flavour – 35g (RRP £1)

Whoever said all Vegan’s are skinny was a very stupid person. These are so yummy, yet so full of things that make me fat! (Albeit natural things). I’ve had Hectares crisps in a past Vegan Kind box, and as yummy as they are I have to admit the guilt of my post Christmas gut set in as I munched my way through this packet – which incidentally I had to spread across two days because they are verge on 200 calories per pack! Great for snacking on though, providing you’ve been to the gym beforehand!

Hectares Sweet Potato Crisps

Power of … Superfoods Cereal Pots – Sreawberry, Goji & Beetroot Flavour – 65g (RRP £2.29)

This is actually the only new product for me in this month’s box. It’s a breakfast pot that just so happens to be gluten free. You simply add hot or cold water, pop the lid back on and wait for your delicious cereal to, well, erm, become even tastier? Pots like these are a brilliant little convenience food, especially when on the go (and something I must remember to put on the “on tour” supply list) and I always find something wholly satisfying about having hot cereal on a cold winter’s morning. With 265 calories, 7g of fat and 38g of carbs, this is pretty similar to most leading porridge oat brands however there is zero cruelty and all the ingredients are mostly super foods as opposed to the usual preservatives and sweetener so despite it’s slightly pricier tag, is definitely worth it.

Of The Earth Superfoods

Greenfrog Soap Nuts – 250g (RRP £3.99)

Greenfrog is yet another brand I’ve experienced through The Vegan Kind. I’ve previously tried the washing up liquid and have literally just finished a packet of soapnut detergent tablets from another box so I’m more than happy to receive more. This time though, instead of tablets, there is a bag of actualy soap nuts and instructions on how to use them. It contains enough shells for around 25 family washes – and for £3.99 that’s pretty barganous when you compare it to the likes of Bold and Persil. Soapnuts are an environmentally friendly way to power through your washing an they are 100% biodegradable. I can’t wait to try these out.

Greenfrog

Pulsin Raspberry & Goji Raw Choc Brownie – 50g (RRP £1.79)

Another treat I’ve had in a past box – these are absolutely delicious though and great for breakfast on the go. The bar I’ve tried previously was an oat based bar, so I’m intrigued as to how the choc brownie will taste. Definitely another snack to be had on gym days though at 200 calories per bar. But as I said above, although high in sugars and pretty calorific for such a small snack, it’s packed full of zero nasties.

Pulsin

Clearspring 100% Organic Fruit on the Go – Pear – 100g (RRP £0.89)

I really like pears, and I’ve also had the pleasure of trying a few Clearspring products out too and have yet to be disapointed. I’m already planning on turning this little packet into some adorable singular Vegan crumbles, so I’ll be sure to post that up when I get round to it! My favorite thing about this product though, is it’s ingredient list – “Pears” – that’s all. 100% pears, with no added anything. Perfect.

Clearspring

Creative Nature Tropical Treat Bar – 38g (RRP £0.99)

Wow! It’s happened! After a year and a month or two, I’ve finally received a product I’m not bothered about. That’s only because this is yet another product I’ve received in a past box and wasn’t really that keen on it. I’m sure my other half will be delighted though as unwanted Vegan snacks are always given a welcome home in his tummy.These bars are kind of like, pressed flapjack and fruit bars, something I’ve never really enjoyed. Especially as they tend to have more of a raisin texture and flavour to it (eurgh), still I don’t mind having one snack I’m not that interested in as it’s probably far better for my waist line.

Creative Nature

This month’s recipe card is from Fresh Heather over at Big City Dreamer. It features the most scrumptious looking homemade almond milk and brownies. Definitely one I’ll be trying out once I’ve lost some Christmas belly! You should definitely check out more stuff on their blog though, including their amazing Mcapple Fries!

This month’s box has been full of some great products. Despite this I can’t help but feel a little underwhelmed for once, but only because almost all the products are ones I’ve already had in previous boxes. I guess though, having been subscribed for so long now, I’m bound to revisit some old products, which I really don’t mind. Another thing I’ve reminded myself of, is the sheer work that the guys at The Vegan Kind are faced with when it comes to finding suitable products to go in their monthly boxes.

Have you been trying out Veganism for Veganuary? Are you thinking of making changes to your diet to incorporate a more crulety free lifestyle? Let us know how you’re getting on below, and of course to discover a great range of Vegan products, you can sign up to The Vegan Kind box here for just £10 a month plus p&p.

Totally hellbent for eco friendly housework and delicious Vegan blogs

– Pants

Vegan, Vegetarian

The Vegan Kind #TVK14 December 2014 Review

December 15, 2014

It’s feels like such a long time since I put pen to paper – or rather mouse and keyboard to WordPress backend but as always life has a funny way of stopping you in your tracks and forcing you to take an unwanted break. The past few weeks have been absolutely crazy, from personal problems to a mountain or work I just haven’t had any time to blog at all. To top things off, we had a huge problem with our server as of late which meant we have been unable to upload any images to Hellbent for Lipstick because we are greedy and stole all of the server space. Unfortunately we ran the risk of the server going down if we did post which would result in all our our client’s websites going bye bye’s too. Definitely not something you want three weeks before Christmas. Alas we’ve finally sorted out a much bigger server which means I can now share with you all this month’s The Vegan Kind Box – and boy did it come at the right time when I needed a little pick me up after being stuck in the middle of an office refurb surrounded by paperwork, flat pack instructions and unorganised stationary. So rambling aside, here is this month’s box;

Harper’s Bizarre Jingle Bells Christmas Candle – (RRP £5 full size) My heart sang the most beautiful song when I opened the box and was greeted with this. In fact it took me at least ten minutes to even look at the rest of the contents because I was so content to sit in my chair and smell the most Christmas candle ever. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of discovering Harper’s Bizarre yet, well you simply must head over to their website and pick up an array of items. We were lucky enough to meet the brains behind the operation at this year’s Vegan festival in Wolverhampton and each candle is lovingly hand crafted from soy wax – each label has also been hand drawn and designed by Harper’s Bizarre themselves and they support the Jerry Green Dog Rescue with the candles from their charity range. I already have a Cinnamon candle, which is un-burnt but I leave the lid off and it fills the room with such a beautiful scent. I already had a list of things to by from their online store.

Please head over to Harper’s Bizarre and feast your eyes upon their range of amazing candles.

Wholeplus Gingerbread Toppers 100g – (RRP £2.20) Cue obligatory grumble about dates … Actually no, this looks really nice and something I’m definitely going to be sprinkling over my porridge now that it’s far too cold for iced smoothies in the morning and to make things even more festive, I may add a dash to a few Chai Latte’s and Hot Chocolates (Vegan of course).

Visit Wholeplus online here.

Olive Branch Gluten Free Sweet Biscuits 130g – (RRP£2.79) Mmm biscuits. I do love a good biscuit to go with a decaf earl grey or english breakfast. There were three flavours available in this box; Cinnamon, Almond & Clove and Orange. Although I would have preferred the Cinnamon, I’m happy with these. After taking my photographs I had a sneaky nibble and they are sickly sweet, but very nice. They are currently sat on Brain’s desk as we work late, taunting him to have another nibble.

View more of their range here.

Teatonics Mind Awakening Yerba & Laid Back Botanical Tea – (RRP £1) I have to admit, I do enjoy receiving tea samples as I am somewhat of a tea fiend. Although I’m not massively into herbal tea and I can’t really stand the taste of green tea I do at least give new flavours a try. Laid back is green rooibos (red bush tea I believe) blended with hops, elderflower, chamomile and lavender – I do love all of those ingredients and this is a perfect wind down for the end of the day readying you for bed. Yerba is blended with grapefruit, citrust peel, peppermint and rosehips – probably a concoction I would usually steer clear of but I’ve found most herbal tea can be made a little better with a teaspoon of honey. This blend contains three lots of feel good compounds and lots of antioxidants, great for kick starting your morning.

www.teatonics.co.uk

Green People Toothpaste 50ml – (RRP £3.50) Now I’m a little ashamed to admit, that although almost every aspect of my goods purchasing life is plagued by label checking, toothpaste isn’t something I’ve ever thought about! I’m always as careful as can be with cosmetics, Shampoo, Condition you name it, but when it comes to the weekly shop, a tube of Colgate is tossed into the trolley without a second though. What I love about this box is how it has opened me up to the variety of cruelty free brands, from body wash, to washing tablets and now toothpaste. I’ll certainly be thinking more carefully about which brands I take home with me in future. Take a peek at the Green People site here.

This month’s recipe card was for a red lentil and cashew nut loaf. What a perfectly festive dish to finish the box off – courtesy of “Bit of the Good Stuff.”

I know you are all probably sick to death of hearing about me talk about how amazing The Vegan Kind but this is yet another great box filled with lot’s of new and exciting brands and bringing a little Christmas cheer with it. Each box bought donates 10p to a charity chosen by subscribers and this month it was the Soi dogs foundation. If you’d like to subscribe you can do so for just £10 a month plus postage and packaging by visiting their website here. You should also keep an eye out for their quarterly beauty box. If you subscribe or are thinking of doing so, or just liked reading the post I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment below.

Totally hellbent for a Vegan festive period with not a Turkey in sight.

– Pants

Vegan, Vegetarian

The Vegan Kind #TVK13 November 2014 Box Review

November 13, 2014

So this month is officially The Vegan Kinds birthday and after catching up with the lovely people behind it at the West Midlands Vegan Festival a few weeks ago, it looks like there is no sign of them stopping yet! A massive Happy Birthday to them and all the best cruelty free wishes for their future! For those unfamiliar, The Vegan Kind is a monthly cruelty 100% Vegan box filled with yummy edible goodies and at least one lifestyle product. Each month a donation from each box is given to a charity chosen by subscribers. They’ve also recently launched The Vegan Kind beauty box which will run quarterly so keep your eyes peeled for my review of the latest TVKBB since the postman was kind enough to deliver my boxes together!

This month’s box:

Considerit Salted Caramel – 65g (RRP £2.50)

My eyes lit up when I lifted this out of the box. I’m a massive fan of caramel and although i’m fully aware of the dangers of consuming too much sugar, I really couldn’t give a monkeys when it comes to having a whole pot full of the lovely gooey stuff! This month’s recipe card also features this as an ingredient and The Vegan Kind chaps recommend drizzling over vegan ice cream, spooning into hot chocolate or straight out of the tub (erm, yes please!). Despite my overwhelming urge to shot this pot, I’m going to get into the festive spirit and share this with my Vegan friends during Christmas time!

Go to www.consideritchocolate.com for oodles of caramel (and chocolate lots of chocolate).

The Primal Kitchen Coconut & Macadamia Paleo Bar – 45g (RRP £1.59)

I’m a fan of Coconut & Macadamia, but a little less into raisins and dates (those of you who read my TVK reviews regularly, will already know my loathing for these ingredients). Having said that I have a collection of friends who are very ethical in what they choose to put in their mouth so I’m pretty sure this will find a well deserved home after I’ve had a little nibble to make extra sure I won’t like it!

For more paleo products visit The Primal Kitchen.

Rebel Kitchen Orange Choc Mylk – 200ml (RRP £0.90)

The chocolate version of this was featured some boxes ago so I was pretty excited when I saw this month had brought us the Orange Chocolate flavour! The last Choco Mylk I indulged in was gorgeous so I have high hopes for this one and probably won’t be sharing this one!

Vist The Rebel Kitchen Website here.

Organic Surge Awakening Shower Gel – 250ml (RRP £5.99)

Organic Surge Shower Gel is another previously featured product from one of my first boxes I think. It was truly amazing though so I imagine this will be no exception. When I last used this I felt so fresh and invigorated with zero skin irritations which is a huge bonus. This will take pride of place in my epic shower gel stash (yup, still going from last Christmas!)

There are lots more products over at Organic Surge.

Ten Acre How Chicken Soup Saved the Day Crisps – 40g (RRP £0.80)

Yet another brand that’s been previously featured, but I have to say, Chicken soup really did save the day. Usually I don’t indulge in any goodies from my box until after I’ve posted my blog, but on Monday evening Gem and I went to meet a friend in Birmingham City Centre (it’s best pointing out that Gem and I mostly live on the internet and rarely leave the house except to go to the gym/gigs these days). We had a few wines (9 glasses each in total … oops) and Tuesday morning I woke up with literally the worst hangover in the world. Everything I did … blinking, breathing, peeing, showering … made me very sick and I got to the point around mid day where my stomach was so empty, that my hunger pains were also making me feel sick. I called Brains from the bedroom to find the ten acre crisps in my latest TVK box stashed in the office and even though it took me about four hours to finish the packet, I managed to keep them down and they definitely helped me feel a bit better!

To stock up on some great hangover fixes, visit Ten Acre Crisps here.

Quinola Mothergrain Express Quinoa – 250g (RRP £2.55)

Quinoa seems to be quite a popular thing at the moment and I do enjoy switching up my usual rice and Bulgar wheat for this if I can pick up a good deal. (It’s expensive!) This is a very welcome addition to my kitchen cupboards as I’m always looking for quick things to throw together that aren’t ready meals. Theres quite a lot in this packet so I’ll be sharing it out and cooking up something adventurous.

Visit Quinola for your healthy Quinoa fix!

#TVK13 Recipe Card

This month’s card is from The Vegan Cookie Fairy with a pumpkin spiced salted caramel hot chocolate. A wonderful recipe to test out the Considerit Salted Caramel. Subscribers also receive a lovely recipe binder to hold all their cards once they have subscribed for 6 month’s.

Despite this month’s box having a lot of products I’ve previously received, I really don’t mind. They are all different flavours/varieties and it’s nice to see some of these make a come back. Yet again another great box and a great way to kick off the end of their first year and start of hopefully many more to come. As I regularly say in my reviews, I think this is probably my favourite box, because it opens me up to so many different cruelty free products which is such a huge part of my life. No only does it give smaller brands to opportunity to showcase their glorious products it also gives subscribers the chance to open their minds to all sorts of possibilities (hello Vegan marshmallows!). A great year of boxes and I’m even more excited to see what the future holds for these guys. If you’d like to subscribe, hop on over to The Vegan Kind, subscriptions are £10 + postage and packaging a month.

If you subscribe to this box, let me know what you thought of this month’s goodies, if you aren’t yet a subscriber I’d still love to know what your thoughts are from my post!

Totally hellbent for The Vegan Kind

– Pants

Hauls, Lifestyle, Vegan, Vegetarian

West Midlands Vegan Festival

November 3, 2014

A week on Saturday we pried ourselves away from the internet and our home offices to go to Vegan Fest 2014 in Wolverhampton. We took our trusty carnivorous band mates Adam and Matt along so they could sample some delights. This event had been in our calendar for a few months since we couldn’t get down to London (next year maybe!) but having such an event almost on our door steps really couldn’t be missed. We met many lovely people including the brains and beauty behind The Vegan Kind Box and discovered many delicious treats and shinies to take home as treasured spoils.

Here are some of the delights we brought home:

Round Up Hand Crafted Gourmet Wagon Wheel Cake

I definitely miss marshmallows as a non meat eater. Unfortunately they are in a lot of nice foods – wagon wheels, rocky road cake, luxurious hot chocolates from the German Market. When we saw these, we’d almost convinced ourselves that we didn’t need them. Unfortunately second time round the stalls, we didn’t get away and ended up buying one each. Since I knew I was going for an hour long power walk that evening, I had mine immediately after taking a few snaps and it was absolutely divine! Much better than the “real thing” and something I’ll be on the look out for again.

£2.50 from Ananda Foods

Vege Bears – Slightly Sour

Another thing I miss is sour sweets – Haribo Tangfastic Cherry’s and fizzy cola bottles if I had to pinpoint them specifically. These were found on the way in and were the first purchase of the day. Surprisingly, they’ve lasted me all week and although they aren’t quite Haribo they come a close second.

£12.39 for 8 packs from Amazon

Harper’s Bizarres Soya Candle in Cinnamon Dreams

I’m a huge candle lover, so finding Vegan scented candles that are animal friendly was like a dream come true. If the array of deliciously scented candles wasn’t enough to fuel our need to buy things, the lady behind it all was an absolute pleasure to talk to and made the whole experience of sniffing candles a thousand times more exciting. This candle was an experimental one and I really hope they decide to make more because it is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve already got a list of the other candles I’m going to pick up from her online store next payday as well.

£5.00 from Harper’s Bizarres

Dairy-Free Bellissimo Parmesan

As a child we would always have grated Parmesan in the cupboard reserved strictly for “Spag Bol” nights, after discussing this at the Harper’s Bizarres stand, we were kindly pointed into the direction of Ananda foods where they had an ample supply of Vegan Parmesan. I’ve tried it since on a few pasta dishes and it’s absolutely perfect as well as reunited me with a few childhood memories.

£3.49 from Ananda Foods

Lush Snow Fairy

I wish they had pop up Lush stands everywhere! I can maybe manage to stand in a store for about 10 seconds before I’m hit in the face with a massive migraine, so being able to browse a few bits without this was amazing. Gem spotted the snow fairy first and after I’d given it a sniff I was hooked. I bought this and ended up with a free sample of beard wax and a badge too.

£3.75 from Lush

Banana Choc Drizzle Marshmallows

As I mentioned above, I miss marshmallows so much and recently thrived off having a taste of “Freedom Mallows” in a recent Vegan Kind box. When I saw these I just had to try them. I’m a bit of a sucker for Banana flavored things, so I was pretty excited about munching my way through these, even if my inner self was frowning at the potential calorie count. Despite my excitement though, they weren’t that nice which was a little disappointing. Having been spoiled with Freedom Mallows I think I ruined the future of Vegan mallows for myself. Still they won’t go to waste as my other half will be sinking his teeth into them.

£3.75 from Ananda Foods

Vegan Kind #TVK12 Box

Amie has been a subscriber to the amazing Vegan Kind box for nearly a year now, but I’ve never quite talked myself into it on the basis that I’m a really fussy eater (and anytime there is something I would enjoy inside Amie shares hers with me anyway!) but after meeting the lovely masterminds behind the box I just had to pick on up from their stand. You can see the full contents and read Amie’s thoughts on TVK12 here.

£7.00 (full price £10 + P&P) from The Vegan Kind

Harper’s Bizarres Soya Candle in Waffles

I really had to talk myself out of buying one of everything from the Harper’s Bizarres stand, but finally settled on “Waffles” a one-off experiment fragrance that completely satisfied all my sugary cravings! All the candles are handmade from vegan-friendly soy wax and are completely animal friendly, and with so many gorgeous scents on offer I’m sure to be placing another order online soon!

£5.00 from Harper’s Bizarres

Dairy-Free Bellissimo Parmesan

I am one of those terrible vegetarians who tries to go vegan every other week but ultimately fails because of cheese. This however might just be my savoir! It’s not too heavy on the calories and does have a lovely nutty cheesy flavour.

£3.49 from Ananda Foods

Round Up Hand Crafted Gourmet Wagon Wheel Cake

The thing I miss most from my omnivore days is probably a toss-up between jelly sweets and marshmallows, so seeing a whole stand full of fluffy white nommy-ness, I knew I had to have something. I settled for a vegan wagon wheel and oh my god – it’s the best thing ever! Way nicer than I remember it being even!

£2.50 from Ananda Foods

Lush Snow Fairy

I’ve always wanted to try Snow Fairy, but much like Amie I find that going into the Lush stores gives me a headache. Seeing it on the Lush stand meant I had to have a quick sniff and it was purchased mere moments later! The lovely Lush ladies also gave me a free beard wax that has been put aside for Roode, and a badge.

£3.75 from Lush

Miso On The Go Soup

I’m not actually a fan of miso soup as I find it far too fishy, but my other half adores all things that taste of the ocean so he will be receiving the many many free samples I picked up along the trip!

£0.90 from Clearspring

We had an amazing time and already can’t wait for our next Vegan adventures. It definitely makes us feel more comfortable knowing that we can still eat all the (naughty) nice things whilst keeping up our cruelty free lifestyle. Have you been to any Vegan/Veggie related events recently? If so, let us know which ones and what spoils you picked up!

Totally hellbent for not having to check labels when we shop

Gem & Pants

Vegan, Vegetarian

The Vegan Kind #TVK12 October Box Review

October 19, 2014

I have a slight confession to make in that I actually received this box about a week and a half ago and I’m afraid that I can’t keep using the “puppy” as a good enough excuse for not blogging more frequently! (Although that is totally the truth) I’ve had a busy month so far in terms of work which is great, but unfortunately this means a few late nights and my inability to want to sit in front of the computer for a minute longer once I’m done, favoring sitting in bed with an early grey and a biscuit. Still, it’s the weekend and I’m so enthused by this month’s box that I have to get this blog out so I devour whats left of the contents!

It’s hard to believe that this is the 12th box and The Vegan Kind have corrected me in saying their official birthday is actually November, but this is still my favorite monthly box and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Each month I receive delicious Vegan treats and a lifestyle extra and not to mention the 10p donation to a good animal charity from each box. This month’s is the Manchester and Cheshire dogs home which is a very worthy cause and I’d already donated a little something a few months ago after the horrific tragedy. So here’s to the twelfth box and many many more and since next month is apparently the official birthday, I hope they have something special planned!

#TVK12:

Angelic Gluten Free Double Chocolate Cookies – 125g (RRP £2.60)

What’s that you say? Reduced fat, gluten free, dairy free, wheat free and 75 calories per cookie? YES!!! I’ll admit, after I took my photos (which were pretty rushed due to the bad weather/lighting/work commitments and my inability to contain my hunger) I indulged in one of these. Now we aren’t talking a Millies scrumptiously gooey, warm cookie here, but my gods this is pretty darn good. I would have no qualms eating these for the rest of eternity and by passing all other cookies if I had to. I’ve also been following weight watchers the past four weeks (preemptive Christmas strategy is probably something to do with that too) and I can confirm that each cookie is only 2 Pro Points for those that are interested.

You can get down with some guilt free face stuffing cookies here.

Howdah Onion Bhajis – 100g (RRP £2.39)

Another delicious snack on this month’s menu are these “Onion Bhaji” snacks. Packing quite a punch with each bite, they are a wonderful bit of savory style nom when you are in the mood for … well … “something”. My only downside is the pretty high calories and fat content per 25g serving. (3 Pro Points per 25g serving) so not a packet to devour all in one go and definitely one to measure out in the kitchen instead of taking the whole thing with you.

Check out their range here.

Premae Skincare Triumph Creme Balm – 10ml sample (RRP £33.66)

I am a fan of no nonsense moisturisers, so a cruelty free moisturiser is right up my street. With added anti-ageing Vitamin A, C and K, I couldn’t ask for more. The sample is a pretty decent size too although I’m not sure I would spend £51 on the full size 15ml version. It feels quite luxurious on the skin and I didn’t react to it at all which is a good thing, so I guess I’ll see how it holds when used on a regular basis.

For more of the premae skin care range, visit their website.

Landgarten Organic Dark Chocolate Covered Raspberries – 90g (RRP £1.99)

I’ve tried some of Landgarten products before – chocolate covered soya beans to be exact and they were very scrummy. I’m therefore holding high hopes for these chocolate covered raspberries. Another snack bound for a workout day but exciting none the less!

To see their yummy chocolate covered treats, visit their site here.

Nom Organic Oat Bar – 52g (RRP £1.49)

This seems a perfect breakfast substitute (pre gym of course again due to the high calories!). Being vegan, organic and having a low GI I’m going to enjoy nibbling on this before a intensive workout – although I may indulge in only half of the bar! You can pick these up in a few places including Ocado so I’m bound to see these around.

As always with each month’s box, you get a recipe card for your beautiful Vegan Kind ring binder which you now receive on month 6 of your subscription. This month is from Little Miss Meat Free and is a scrumptious looking Ombre Vanilla Dream Cake – definitely something I’ll be making nearer the festive season.

The Vegan Kind #TVK11 September Box

September 17, 2014

First things first – how are we on the 11th Vegan Kind Box already! Have I really been subscribed to a box for almost an entire year and not been disappointed once? I can assure you that this month is definitely no exception and as amazing as the previous boxes. Not to mention my great one of Vegan Kind Beauty Box which you can read about here.

So anyway, for those that don’t know and haven’t heard me singing the praises of this box, The Vegan Kind is a monthly subscription box which features 5-7 Vegan items and usually one beauty/lifestyle product. Despite my love for this box I can assure you I am not affiliated with them in any way! Anyway, I took my treats outside to to frolic with them in the sunshine. I know most professional photographers will frown, but I’m absolutely loving the beautiful shadows that natural sunlight has been casting on my photos recently and have really enjoyed my zero editing challenge!

Alas here is #TVK11

Ombar Organic Coco Mylk Bar – 35g – (RRP £1.99)

Yes! First out the box is some delicious Vegan chocolate. I’m not sure I need to say much more on this. After savouring my Vega bar a few boxes back for a good few weeks, I doubt this one is going to last as long. None the less I’ll enjoy every morsel of it and then worry about 208 calories I’ve digested later.

For some guilt free chocolate scoffing, brush Green & Blacks aside and check out Ombar.

Hoots Snacks Pickled Onion Flavour – 85g (RRP £0.60)

Ah, salty Vegan snacks how I savour you. Unfortunately these days I try to limit my intake of salty and sugary snacks, but these are a welcome treat. A little on the high calorie side of things so they will be eaten on a gym day but I’m loving the flavour and the low price! Now to just convince all of the shops that Vegan is the way forward.

You can visit their website here.

Bear Paws Raspberry & Blueberry – 20g – (RRP £2.95)

I am a huge fan of Bear snacks. So much so that this packet has now been demolished. The great thing about these though is they count towards 1 of your 5 a day and contain no nasty ingredients. I usually buy the little rolls they do but from not on I’ll be swapping to these bite size little nibbles.

You can see their site here or look out for their range in your local Holland & Barrett or supermarket.

Taste Spice Magic BBQ Dust – 40g – (RRP £2.95)

Another favorite thing of mine about this box is the variety of flavors I get introduced to. I love receiving the herbs and spices that are usually incorporated into the recipe card and this magical BBQ dust is perfect. It’s also sizable enough to last for a little while and I’ll definitely be repurchasing once I’ve run out.

Check out the taste spice website here.

Skin Likes Natural Deodorant – 70ml – (RRP £4.95)

I’m really enjoying this deodorant – 100% natural with a beautiful jasmine-esque fragrance it’s definitely different to the more chemically smelling under arm “smell be gones” that I tend to go for. The only thing that puts me off here though is the price – at nearly £5 this is quite steep and since I get through so much deodorant anyway, it’s bound to be a bit of a sting in my already stung bank balance. You can get a triple pack for just under £10 on their site, but even still this is quite a lot for someone who is used to spending only £1 on theirs. I guess the proof is in the pudding though and I’ll have to see whether this does me justice after 2 hours in the gym.

You can purchase these as well as Skin Likes for men via their website here.

Creative Nature Blissful Berry Snack Bar – 38g – (RRP £1.20)

This is actually a little different from the usual bars we get in this box, it’s more of a flapjack bar. (Unfortunately it’s riddled with sultanas) But I do like the concept of this. I’m going to give this a go and if all else fails, then Brains will happily finish it off for me. Another great post gym snack though and if you’re into super foods then check out their website for lots of other delightful treats.

Creative Nature Website

Nothing But Fruit Pineapple & Grape Snack – 11g – (RRP 1.20)

Last month I received a savory bag of noms from Nothing But – admittedly still in my “treat” cupboard and by treat cupboard, I mean full of raw, vegan protein goodies for a post gym fix. Since this was their new product launch it’s quite nice to try something else from their range. I love pineapple and grape so I’m sure I will enjoy these a lot!

Nothing But Website

TVK Recipe Card

Each month we receive a recipe card, usually featuring an ingredient received in our box. These fit nicely in the ring binder that you used to receive on the third month of your subscription, but by the looks of the welcome letter this has now changed to month 6. Alas this month’s recipe was from The Vegan Kind themselves and featured a fajita mix with home made sides. I love fajitas and I’ll be testing this out over the next few weeks!

As I usually mention, each month 10p from every box is donated to an animal charity chosen by the subscribers. This month’ it’s Serbia’s forgotten paws – a fantastic charity campaigning for better conditions for the stray dogs of Serbia.

Another great box from The Vegan Kind, if you’d like to get your paws on one then head over to their website here and subscribe for just £10 a month plus p & p. Next year should mark their first birthday so I’m really intrigued as to whether they will be doing anything special! Stay tuned for next month’s.

Totally hellbent for nommy Vegan treats always!

-Pants

Lifestyle, Vegan, Vegetarian

The Vegan Kind July Box #TVK9

July 5, 2014

I’ve been having a beauty box meltdown the past few months and have really had to get my priorities right with which boxes I want to keep – trying to save money isn’t quite as easy when you realise exactly how much you are spending on boxes!

One box that I had no doubt in my mind I’d continue to subscribe to is The Vegan Kind. I’ve not had one box that has disappointed me and although my completely inconvenient sense of taste has let me down on a number of occasions when trying some of the superficially looking delicious treats they provided, I have in fact had my eyes opened to a whole host of Vegan brands that have lots of things I -will- eat (no raisins at all!!!). (Also, notice my complete lack of full stops and commas in that previous sentence to emphasise my disdain for my taste buds disliking raisins – dangerous or what?)

And now my spiel for those who have not encountered The Vegan Kind yet – it’s a monthly subscription box costing just £10 a month plus p&p. Each month you are sent a variety of tasty treats and a lifestyle/beauty product that are all completely Vegan and cruelty free. You also get a recipe card and a cute ring binder once you’ve subscribed to three boxes to keep them in.

Each month 10p of every box is donated to the featured animal charity chosen and this month is Blind Dog Rescue UK.

So now all the important info is out the way, we can move on to the exciting contents!

Heavenly Organics – ‘Just Add Water’ Shampoo 30g (RRP £2.40)

First of all, I’m just going to share with you the ingredients of this mighty pot;

Sodium Bicarbonate
Sapindus Mukorossi fruit extract organic (Soapnt) powder

Yup, that’s it. Simply tip a small amount of the powder into your hand, add a little water to form a paste and massage into hair. I’m usually one to avoid using Shampoo when I can – when I do give in to freshen my hair a little, I probably use no more than a pea sized amount because it strips the colour from my hair thanks to all the ingredients. I’m definitely well excited about trying this out though and I can see myself switching to this as an alternative if I enjoy it.

If you are into your Vegan and Cruelty Free products, I’d seriously recommend checking out more from Heavenly Organics, they have a great range of products and I’m already fearful of my bank balance since I’ve picked out a whole host of things I want.

Frank Bar – Strawberry and Chocolate Flavour (RRP £1)

Ah, the dreaded good source of protein bar! They look so tasty, but my brain just can’t handle the whole dried fruit/date situation. I’m pretty sure the Strawberry and Chocolate flavour will help convince me that this is tasty though and if all else fails, these will never go to waste because my partner Brains is more than happy to gobble up the rest of it. Seriously though, for those of you who don’t mind the texture of dates, these are gluten and nut free and is probably a nice little pick me up after a workout session!

The Vegan Kind June Box

June 7, 2014

I had completely forgotten that my #TVK8 box was on it’s way, so I was pleasantly surprised when I answered the door to the postman to be greeted by this month’s box. If you haven’t seen any of my other Vegan Kind posts, it’s a monthly subscription box that has 4-5 Vegan and cruelty free products in, usually snacks and nibbles with at least one lifestyle and beauty product. Each month, 10p of each box is also donated to a charity and this month they have chosen The Fox Project, which you can read more about here.

Inside #TVK8

Ten Acre ‘The Story of when the Cheese met the Onion’ Crisps (RRP £0.85)

I do enjoy discovering gluten free Vegan crisps, and what better way to kick the box off than with a packet something that ticks both of these boxes. Although the best thing of all is that there was only one packet in the box, because the calorie content at a wopping 201 calories per 40g bag is enough to last me a week in terms of snacking! Having said that, the ingredients are fairly minimal, the packaging is adorable and so is the Ten Acre website. After a heavy gym session, I am defo tucking into these bad boys.

If you fancy passing some time and checking out their story and adventure filled website amongst some of their yummy Vegan crisp flavours, head on over to www.tenacrecrisps.co.uk

Sativa Shakes Strawberry and Banana Protein Powder (RRP £2.99)

Gem and I may have mentioned in some of our posts a) we are currently on a massive fitness drive and b) we are trying our hardest to overcome the last few Cheese hurdles in becoming 100% Vegan. One of the downsides for us of leading a 98% Vegan lifestyle, is our lack of Protein and Iron, but the past few months we have been switching to raw smoothies and juices, cramming in as many fruit and vegetables as our breakfast cups will hold to get out 10 a day. We’ve also been experimenting with Hemp powder, Chia Seeds and a few other super foods to try and boost our protein pre and post workout. I’m quite sure that this little packet will come in handy, it says to mix the contents with 200ml of water or preferred beverage, but I will probably add this to a smoothie and only use a quarter of a packet at a time. If you are looking for Vegan Protein powder, I would definitely recommend taking a look at Sativa, their prices are competitive to the average protein powder provider, and they have a lot more information on their products if you are unsure on what to purchase.

For more products, visit the Sativa website here.

Mr Organic Sun Dried Tomato Pesto (RRP £2.99)

I’m very much a “DIY” person when it comes to cooking and try to avoid the use of jars or processed food if I can help it, so I may have judged just a little when this little jar was lifted from the box. Having said that, it’s gluten free, Vegan (obviously) and only has natural ingredients, of which there are only 8. I can definitely live with this and will probably enjoy drizzing this over some Zero Pasta or adding it to some home made Tortilla Pizza’s. This is also an ingredient for this month’s recipe card. A little pricier than I would usually pay, but probably justifiable if you are trying to lead more of an eco-friendly lifestyle.

Click to view the Mr Organic Website

inSpiral Raw Chocolatey Superfood Bites (RRP £1.30)

I first tried some of the inSpiral kale crisps which came in an earlier Vegan Kind crisps, and although the flavour was a little too salty for me Gem really enjoyed finishing off the packet. These are little granola bites packed full of fruits, seeds, nuts and whole grains, described as the “ultimate organic fitness food” with seven vegan protein sources, I really hope we get on. In theory, I should thrive off these and even though I love fruit and nuts, there is something about the texture and taste of sultana’s and dates that I absolutely despise, which is a bit rubbish since most Vegan and Organic food is packed full of these ingredients. Alas I’m going to dive in feet first with an open mind. They also have banana granola bites which seem a lot more up my street so perchance I’ll be making a ‘superfood’ purchase from their website soon. Did I forget to mention that the packaging is biodegradable and can be composted at home? Love it!

Get composting with their product range here

Peppy Galore Diva Toner/ Refreshing Facial Spray (RRP£4.95)

Hello there natural organic facial toner/cooling spray for sensitive skin. Where have you been hiding all this time? I absolutely love finding cruelty free beauty products and it’s also a big part of my subscription to The Vegan Kind, amazing products like this really do make it worthwhile. As I am someone who’s skin is more temperamental than a pubescent incoming teen, I really do have to be careful when applying products, because if my skin has decided that actually it’s Monday, I don’t really fancy the moisturiser you’ve been using for the past three weeks today – I generally end up with inflamed and irritated skin and with a face that could probably pass for an intimate picture of a variety of STDs. (Thanks skin, I really love you too). The less alcohol and nasty ingredients, usually the better for me and I can apply safely, knowing I’m not going to be mistaken for a tomato half way through the day. This contained rose water which gives it a beautifully refreshing fragrance and feels so delicate on my skin. Not forgetting the fact this can be used as a facial mist too! Kerching … hello extreme festival heat, meet my new friend!

Check out the Peppy Galore site for a range of no nonsense, no nasty products.

Finally, this month’s recipe card is for a “Pineapple Sunshine Deep Crust Pizza” which looks delicious and includes “cashew Parmesan” – a nice Vegan way for me to put my nutritional yeast to use. Of course this will be living in my Vegan Kind folder which is sent to you on your third box.

I’ve really loved this month’s selection and I genuinely can’t wait to tuck into all of these delights and mostly, enjoy the facial toner at some upcoming festivals. To subscribe to The Vegan Kind, simple head over to their website here, each box is £10 + £2.99 p&p and is absolutely fantastic for discovering some hidden Vegan gems!

Have you subscribed to this box? Do you have any particular Vegan fav’s?

Totally hellbent for Vegan facial care just in time for festival season

-Pants

Lifestyle, Vegan, Vegetarian

The Vegan Kind May Box

May 9, 2014

I had high hopes and the biggest of plans for blogging this week whilst Gem was away in Rotterdam, but after coming down with the flu, I’ve conserved most of my energy for getting through the day job (perks of being self-employed!). Unfortunately this has meant the blog has taken a bit of a back seat whilst I’ve been indulging in a pre-school-esque 8pm bedtime.

Although I’m still under the weather, today I opened the door in my dressing gown, with my eyes half closed and clutching a tissue to the postman, who rewarded my efforts of making it down the stairs with this months The Vegan Kind #TVK7 box.

Those that usually read my Vegan Kind reviews will know that it’s a monthly box with 5-8 Vegan and cruelty free products in. They also donate 10p of each box to a charity of which this month is “Give a dog a bone or an animal a home” you can check out their website here.

I have to say I’m delighted with this month’s treats and can’t wait until my body has learnt how to taste again so I can indulge like an ethical piggy. I’ve also noticed that they have ditched the brown shredded paper that my carpet is oh so familiar with – as much as I enjoyed tipping it into the paper recycling bin, I haven’t missed picking up all the bits I dropped on the floor!

Hectares Sweet Potato Crisps in “Piri-Piri flavour” (RRP £1.00)

This was first out the box and I was super pleased. I’ve recently ditched the potatoes altogether (despite having a batch growing in the garden) in favour of the Sweet Potato, which counts as a portion of veg, despite the starcy and carby white potato. I’m also a fan of savoury snacks and am currently into Popcorn and oatcakes to get my snacking fix and keep the calorie intake down. These look delicious and are Gluten Free which is an added bonus. The downside to this 35g packet is the 172 calories and 16.4g carbohydrates, but for a little treat once in a while, I’m willing to forgo the counting and enjoy some delicious Sweet Potato crisps. I nearly always share my Vegan Kind goodies with my other half Brains, so it’s not all bad!

Check out their range here.

Wholeplus Hot Pot in “Vanilla Spice” (RRP £1.80)

I am a fan of Porridge, but since giving up milk I don’t eat cereal which includes Oats because I find the taste of Soy Milk a little too bitter when it’s not in a nice cup of tea. I was glad to see that that this little packet was indeed wheat free, dairy free and soy free though. Packed with scrummy natural ingredients like Oats, Dates, Coconut, Goji berries, Vanilla bean and mixed spice you simply add boiling water. Although I hate raisins, I can just about deal with dates when they are in food and am looking forward to testing this out. If I like it, I reckon it will be a lovely treat to take along to festivals instead of the usual boring breakfast biscuits we end up with. (Perks of being Veggie at a festival!)

Wholeplus seem to have a great range of snacks, including “Toppers” which are naturally sweet toppings that can be added to food for a bit of a boost – it seems to me I may have just found some new ingredients to add to my morning smoothies!

See the Wholeplus products here

BIO D Concentrated Non Bio Laundry Samplee (RRP £4.45 for 1L)

I can’t say that I get excited over the prospect of laundry detergent, but it’s something I have to buy regularly so it’s nice to see the options available when trying to buy things a little more ethically. This liquid looks enough for one wash, and the price per litre if roughly the same that I’d pay for my good old Tesco laundry gel. My favourite thing about this though, is that the packaging is recycled and can be recycled again and the detergent itself has a minimum impact on the eco system. If it cleans my clothes, then I am all in! I’ll be trying this out when I feel up to doing the washing this weekend.

See some of Bio-D Company’s other products

Scoff Sweets Chocolate Fudge (RRP £3.50)

I am a fan of fudge, and I’m even more of a fan of people that make Vegan and Vegetarian friendly sweet treats. (Long live the Haribo) Yummy looking dairy free dark chocolate fudge a delicacy to be savoured for when my taste buds work. Who said being a Vegan was hard?

To see all the cakes, truffles and fudge you can get your Vegan chops around, check out their website.

Dormouse Tea Company Loose Leaf Tea and Tea Bags (RRP£1.60)

I’m English and I thrive off tea. Therefore I always get super excited when I receive tea samples. I’ve not had loose tea for years and I was given a packet of Jasmine Tea Leaves with some DIY tea bags that look like the most fun thing to play with ever! They have a beautiful range of loose tea’s on their site and although they don’t have any of these adorable DIY tea bags, they do have adorable tea strainers and tea pots. I’m all up for supporting small business’, especially when it’s something like tea! I’m definitely going to pick up a few of their other teas to carry on the leaf tradition.

If you fancy a different kind of brew, head on over to their site

Golden Apple Hazelnut sand Peppermint Raw Biscuits (RRP £3.95)

A savoury biscuit and a perfect addition to a salad. This is the accompaniment to this months Vegan Kind recipe card which is a Gluten Free SCD and Veggie Roasted Butternut Squash Dip. I’m certainly intrigued by the “Hazelnut and Peppermint” flavour of these biscuits which are made from seeds and spices and dried without the use of preservatives or additives. The ingredients list is probably one of the simplest I’ve seen, with only natural ingredients and although I probably wont be pairing these with a Roasted Butternut Squash dip, I may invest in a few other flavours to add to my salads and dip to my hearts content.

Check out their range of raw biscuits here

I’m really pleased with my box this month and there are lots of delicious things for me to try out as usual. If you want to try out The Vegan Kind box, they are just £10 per month and £2.95 p&p, simply visit their website.

Totally hellbent for all the Vegan sweet treats

-Pants