Time to invest in a Winter coat

I'm off to London at the end of the month and I wanted a winter coat that was warm but would also look nice and go with whatever outfits I decided to take on the trip. I've wanted a shearling look-alike biker coat since seeing this amazing outfit on Pinterest and I finally decided to treat myself.

The hunt began and ended in Topshop after stumbling across this beauty. I wanted an oversized style and after initially trying on the size 12 I decided to go all out and pick up the 14. The coat isn't as thick as you might expect but it is fluffy on the inside and if you size up there will be plenty of room to wear a jumper beneath on those really cold winter days. 

The suede effect is so cosy, soft and of course cruelty free! I spotted a similar version in Warehouse that was a leather effect but I decided to go with something different from the biker I already have.

I'm so happy with the purchase and I'm excited to try styling it in different ways!

Coat - Topshop

Dress - Primark

Socks - Adidas

Boots - New Look

Instagram @wolvesandflames

OOTD Vegan leather jacket

I have been wanting a faux leather jacket since going vegan and I seriously don't know how I went so long without one! Initially I was going to buy one of the pastel jackets from Zara that every one has been wearing, but after it came out that Zara had been stealing peoples artwork I was so glad that I hadn't!

I was torn between buying a plain black leather or getting a colourful version. After a few days deliberating I decided to get the more versatile and classic black jacket and I'm so happy with it!
I went for a size up from my usual to get more of a relaxed fit and I'll easily be able to layer a hoody underneath in the winter. The only problem is that the back is a bit tight if I lift my arms up or stretch (rock climber probs).

The sun was shining so I wore my trusty Vans pool sliders. You can't go wrong with checkerboard and I like how they dress down an outfit and make it a bit more casual. I've lived in them this summer.

 

Jacket - New Look
Satin cami - Charity shop
Earrings - Claires
Leggings - Select
Pool siders - Vans
Bag - Primark

Thanks for reading! I hope you're not too traumatised by my toes.

Instagram @wolvesandflames

Cruelty free perfume for under £20!

Finding cruelty free perfumes that smell amazing can be quite a difficult task. I'm certain that in the future all perfumes and cosmetics will be cruelty free, but for now we have to do some shopping around to find what we want without hurting any animals.
I've been seeing a lot of people posting about M&S becoming cruelty free and I was excited to go in to town and pick one up.

I was surprised to see just how much choice there was, almost a full wall was dedicated to perfume and I knew that deciding on just one was going to be a hard task!
I smelt each and every perfume and there is a huge selection, something for everyone. I narrowed it down to a few choices and I eventually decided on Azure Breeze. The fragrance immediately took me back in time and the nostalgia was enough to make me buy it.

When I got home I looked through the reviews to see if anyone knew what perfume it was similar too, I saw that it's a dupe of Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue and that's why it was reminding me of being thirteen years old and the summertime!

The M&S dupe is £16 per 100ml compared to Light Blue which is £100 per 100ml! It's shocking to see the difference in price and Azure Breeze is genuinely the same fragrance.

I have used the perfume for a few days now and it lasts extremely well all day. I have already had several compliments and the product is such a bargain that you can afford to be indulgent and reapply throughout the day if you choose to.

I reccomend going to M&S and trying out all of the perfumes for yourself, I've seen people say that there are several dupes in the collection so maybe you will find some other fragrances that take you back!

Azure Breeze Eau de toilette 100ml - M&S

Instagram @wolvesandflames

Vegan tattoo aftercare review... "El Gato Negro"

I recently visited the Liverpool tattoo convention and I was lucky enough to have my sternum tattooed by the incredible Scott Move. I've wanted a dagger on my sternum for about 6 years and I'm so glad that I waited for the perfect artist to do it.
It was extremely painful and even though Scott had the tattoo finished in no time, it was still tough, especially on my ribs and above my belly button!
As much as it sucked, I couldn't be happier and I feel so beautiful.

Whilst I was getting tattooed I sent my boyfriend Mike to buy some Vegan tattoo aftercare from a stand we had seen at the convention. I've become a lot more aware of what I put in my body, on my skin and what products I use in general. The tattoo healing balm is "El Gato Negro" a 100% organic product made with natural ingredients.

Only a small amount of balm is needed to moisturise the fresh tattoo, when rubbed in it will melt and glide in to the skin. The product uses cocoa butter which means that it has an amazing smell like chocolate and it feels extremely moisturising when it becomes a thin layer of oil.
I was washing the tattoo with soap and warm water and then reapplying the balm about three or four times every day. I was bruised and sensitive for over a week of the healing process and so it was great to have a balm that melts so easily, it meant I wasn't pressing too hard as I mousturised. 

"El Gato Negro" is known to speed up the healing process and I certainly experienced that with my tattoo. I was surprised that it was completely healed in two weeks and it looked and felt amazing.

I'm so glad that I found a Vegan, organic product and I definitely reccomend it to anyone who is planning on getting tattooed. Considering my sternum tattoo is fairly large, I have only used about a third of the product, meaning it will last me for several tattoos and be great value for money.

Check out their Instagram and website.

Thanks for reading this quick review and please let me know what method you use when healing your tattoos!

Instagram @wolvesandflames

Spring OOTD... 90's inspired

I'm starting to get quite a collection of cropped vests, they're so comfortable and I literally want to wear them every day. Luckily the sun is finally shining and I can live in vests and even ditch the tights and show off my pale, sun deprived legs.

Apologies for yet another monochrome outfit, I really do wish I gravitated towards colour more! I'm just so predictable.

I'm so excited about these platform shoes. Every time I went in to Urban Outfitters I was picking up the Vagabond platforms and swooning over them until I looked at the label and realised they are real leather (not cool). I found these dupes for £20 and they make me feel like I'm in high school in the 90'sand who doesn't want that.

I've decided I'm going to start growing my hair out now, shaving my head has been one of the most amazing, eye opening experiences for me and I'm so glad that I trusted my instincts! My plan is to have a short blunt bob with a short fringe (like this or this) and it will be my natural hair colour! So that will be crazy since I haven't seen my natural hair in almost eight years! I honestly don't even know what the colour will be or if it will be straight or wavy, so I'm excited to find out!

Sorry for not writing a blog post in a while, I've been rather uninspired and lazy! I have a few ideas for rambly posts and they are my favourite to write so hopefully I can get my act together. As always I have some controversial topics playing on my mind and so I'm eager to sit down and aggressively type and share all of my moody opinions.

Vest - Primark
Flannel - Primark
Skirt - Charity shop
Boots - Similar here

Thanks for reading! 

Instagram @wolvesandflames

Before and after pics... My current fitness routine

This is probably the scariest post I've ever put together, but since the photo's are hilarious it's making me feel a little less vulnerable!

Although I haven't completely reached my goals in terms of strength, I'm at a point where I'm excited with my progress and finally happy with my body and my fitness.

I feel the need to add that I have not starved myself for the "after" pics, or gone crazy hard in the gym for the past week. In fact I visited a Vegan fair today before we took the photo's and stuffed my face with a Cajun BBQ soy burger, a fake meat filled bagel, a samosa, onion bhaji's, NY baked cheesecake and a chocolate orange doughnut (haha, go Vegan for minimal bloating!) This is how I look consistently and have done for some time now, I believe that it is my ideal weight.

These "before" pictures were taken way back in 2013, I had no idea about fitness or nutrition and I resorted to eating at most 1200 calories a day and getting in as much cardio as possible. One month in and my abs looked amazing, but I was absolutely starving and the tuna salad's just weren't cutting it anymore *vomit emoji*

Needless to say the low cal diet failed and I ended up going back to my old eating patterns and regaining what had been lost. Society has programmed us to believe that a pattern of dieting followed by a binge is normal and I was in that mindset up until I found Veganism and discovered the high carb, low fat lifestyle.

I know a lot of the HCLF Vegans swear by cycling, but personally I am uncoordinated on my bike and where I live there are no exciting hills to ride nearby.

For me, I have found the perfect exercise in bouldering (rock climbing but without the ropes). It combines cardio and strength for an all over body workout and it is so much fun, meaning going the climbing gym is never a chore or a boring task!

The reason I have mentioned being Vegan is because I was eating the standard Western diet for my first year of bouldering and it wasn't until I dropped the meat, dairy and eggs that my body started to reap the benefits. Of course I'm just speaking from personal experience, but that's what I'm supposed to do on here!

Almost immediately I dropped a stone and since then I have maintained the same weight whilst toning up and building muscle.

 Over the last few years I have gone from climbing once a week, to around three or four times. I've never lost motivation or become bored of my routine, I've only become more psyched and excited to improve.

What I'm trying to get across is that bouldering and Veganism combined have meant that I have reached my ideal body without even trying, no difficulty at all, just fun (and alignment of my morals).

In the "before" pic I was tensing my bicep (or lack of) I literally used to have no strength!

Although I've mentioned the HCLF lifestyle, I don't follow it religiously. I eat the odd avocado, have a handful of nuts here and there and sometimes cook using olive oil. However, the majority of the time I am sensible and I dine on bananas, rice, potatoes, rice pasta, beans and all of the other delicious staples of HCLF. I try to hit at least 2200 cals a day, but I don't usually keep track, I'll just eat as much as I want until I'm nice and full.

I'm so happy that I discovered what works best for me and it really is amazing being fit, healthy and strong!

Also I give permission for you to laugh at how miserable I look in the "before" pics and how I used to have the posture of an old woman!

No matter where you are on your fitness journey, I reccomend you try bouldering! If you are in Liverpool come visit The Climbing Hangar and find out for yourself how addictive this sport really is and how awesome the people who climb there are!

Instagram @wolvesandflames

Crust... Eating Vegan in Liverpool

Sorry that I haven't written a post for the "Eating Vegan in Liverpool" series in a while. I've been getting serious about saving money and that has sadly meant less dining out!

However, I had no choice but to take a trip to Crust when recently they shared that vegan cheese is now available to be added to their amazing pizza's!

Bold Street is fast becoming the hub of world cuisine in Liverpool and I was excited when Crust opened and an authentic Italian restaurant was set to join the offerings.

We visited early in the evening and yet the restaurant was already filled with energy from the diners and there was a steady stream of people coming and going with takeaway boxes of pizza.

The decor is modern and cool, there is an intimate feel in the place with the chefs being on full view in the beautiful open kitchen tucked away in the back.

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We were seated by our bubbly waitress and she was extremely helpful and knowledgeable when we mentioned being Vegan. We were told how most of the menu can be easily adapted to our dietary requirements and considering that mentioning the word Vegan doesn't often go down well, it was a nice relief.

We ordered the classic bruschetta to start, traditionally wood fired bread, topped with cherry tomatoes, oregano, garlic and extra virgin olive oil. Such a simple dish, but so much flavour!

I found the same with all of Crust's dishes, they take simple fresh ingredients and it allows you to experience the flavours with such intensity!

For our main we both ordered the marinara pizza with the addition of vegan cheese. As the name suggests, Crust stands out from other pizza places because of their exciting selection of pizza bases. They have original, five grain, organic and what we opted for, black dough! Our pizza's arrived promptly, fresh from the wood fired oven.
The tomato sauce is seriously incredible and mixed with the garlic and oregano, I was blown away!

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I was so glad that I chose the black dough base, I wasn't expecting it to have so much flavour but it was delicious! Also, it is made from a healthy vegetable charcoal that helps with digestion and detoxifies the body (so it's a win win)!

Having the option for vegan cheese was a nice change, in most restaurants it can feel like you're burdening staff by being vegan, but at Crust they are  passionate about catering for everyone, including gluten free! There are also vegan ice cream options, sadly we were too full so next time I will make sure I have room for dessert! 

I absolutely loved the food and my boyfriend even said that Crust is his new favourite place to eat! Considering how impressive the food is, the prices are reasonable and I highly reccomend visiting Crust to try it for yourself!

I hope you enjoyed the post, let me know if you have any suggestions of places that I should eat at and review next!

Instagram @wolvesandflames