The Naked Vegan in Cardiff Market

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I had some annual leave to take before the end of the year so chucked in a few days at the end of last week for an extra long weekend. I made my way into Cardiff City Centre (which was ridiculously busy at 10:30 in the morning) and took a stroll.

A place that’s been regularly mentioned on the Cardiff Vegans Facebook group is The Naked Vegan in Cardiff Market.

We arrived quite early in the morning before popping to Simply V to stock up on vegan goodies, and I might have gone a bit overboard on the treats!

When you walk in through the main entrance of Cardiff Market, you need to take the right hand side stairs up to the first level and you will find The Naked Vegan at the back.

They had so many options of cookies, muffins and doughnuts, and on the particular day I went last week, they had Alex Gooch Bakery pastries in. I’ve written about Alex Gooch on a previous blog post which you can read here.

I treated myself to an almond croissant (by Alex Gooch Baker), a lemon rose and pistachio doughnut and a peanut butter cookie. I treated Tom and his mum to a chocolate chip cookie each.

  • Chocolate Chip Cookie
  • Alex Gooch Almond Croissant
  • Lemon Rose and
    Pistachio Doughnut

Everything was lovely. I had the almond croissant for breakfast and as always, Alex Gooch Baker has done an outstanding job on vegan bakes. I haven’t had a croissant for so long. In my pre-vegan days, I used to treat myself to a Starbucks Almond Croissant and this blew it out of the water.

Tom and his mum enjoyed their cookies. As you can tell by the image ago, the cookie was huge. My peanut butter cookie was amazing. I preferred it to the doughnut.

The Naked Vegan was delicious and those of you in Cardiff should definitely treat yourselves to some delicious cake. They also offer a bespoke service and I saw on their back wall that they are selling Christmas cakes, so get in there early!

It’s so amazing to see so many vegan businesses coming up and settling down, especially somewhere as local to me as Cardiff. I hope that Cardiff will become a vegan hub for South Wales with plenty of choice and independent business, flying the flag for veganism.

November Skincare Favourites

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Winter is the season for chapped lips and can aggravate skin. Here have been my November saviours that have become a staple in my evening skin routine.

Facial Oils

There’s a lot of stigma around facial oils and what they do for you. It’s a topic that you’d need to research for your skin type as everyone is different.

For me, I am loving them as part of my night time routine. Here are my 2 picks.

The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalene

I actually bought this oil a long time ago and it became disused when I got out of my skin routine and it was hidden in a drawer for a few months.

I’ve picked it back up again and apply a few drops and apply all over my face. There’s no fragrance but it does leave my skin feeling very soft.

Retinol is renowned for keeping wrinkles at bay by encouraging cell regeneration. I may only be 28 but it’s better to start early!

All I know, is that my skin is left silky smooth and even Tom has commented on the improvement of my frown wrinkle that he’s given me!

If you’re thinking about picking this up, make sure you start off with the lowest percentage of retinol to allow your skin to become accustomed to it. You eventually work your way to the higher percentages when your skin needs it.

Dr Botanicals Moroccan Rose Superfood Facial Oil

I’ve had this oil for a while too as it came in a beauty box that I received a long time ago.

Rosehip oil supposedly reduces skins natural oiliness (which I am a terrible sufferer of) and helps to even out skin tone.

The jury’s out on both at the moment as I haven’t noticed much difference but it does smell really lovely and the tiny difference I’ve seen is encouraging.

BAO Skincare NOURISH URSELF Treatment Balm

Again, this beauty secret was in one of the delightful beauty boxes that I’ve received from The Cruelty Free Beauty Box.

This balm is multi-purpose and can be used for so many different things, but I’ve been using it as a night time lip balm.

It’s done absolute wonders for my usually chapped winter lips. My lips feel soft and they’re not as dry as they normally would be. I do, of course, still have to apply lip balm during the day, but I no longer have to do a lip scrub every evening to do away with the dead skin cells.

I absolutely recommend this product. It will become a staple in your beauty routine.

Give the Gift of Sustainability

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Sustainability is very much in fashion at the moment, and I hope it’s not a phase. A lot of us have made small switches to reduce our waste and lessen our impact on the environment. The biggest change we should be making is moving to a plant based diet, but you can’t gift that!

With the approach to Christmas, many of you may have read some of my gift guide posts. On this post, I’m going to include a few swap and gift ideas that you can give this Christmas!

None of us are perfect, but we can all do our best to make swaps in our lives to help improve things.

Face Halo

I switched to the Face Halo last year and it is still one of my favourite purchases!

For those of you that don’t know, the Face Halo is a make up remover pad. You can visit the website for more details, but it’s so easy to use and has yet to fail at removing my make up! I don’t buy disposable make up wipes anymore as I have no need for them!

I bought a pack of 3 straight away and so far I’ve only used 2 of them, alternating when 1 goes in the wash.

They currently have limited edition cherry ones which look absolutely fabulous and would make an excellent Christmas gift!

Chilly’s Bottles

My brother bought a Chilly’s reusable bottle and it encouraged me to buy my own. There are other insulated bottles out there that are cheaper, however the quality doesn’t match Chilly’s.

I bought both a coffee cup and a water bottle and I love them both. The coffee cup keeps my hot drinks warm for a few hours and I’ve been really impressed with it. The durability of the bottles is amazing and I highly recommend them.

Vegetable Shopping Bags

This may sound like a weird one, but it’s made a big difference for us in our home!

When we pop to the supermarket to buy our fruit and veg, we try and avoid buying the pre-packaged items and pick up the individual fruit/veg that we need for that day/week.

We used to use the plastic bags that the supermarket provide you. We stopped doing that and were placing the bar code stickers directly onto our fruit and veg so we didn’t have to pick up a bag.

I found these bags on Amazon, that have been so handy. We keep them in our shopping bags and now we can keep our fruit and veg separate from the rest of our shopping.

They might not be the most exciting gift to give, but for anyone who is looking to make these swaps, it’ll make a great addition to their lives.

Ripple on Albany Road, Cardiff

On my final note, we walked along Albany Road back to the car from Luna’s Vegan Corner last week and finally popped into Ripple. They are currently working on an expansion project which I think is going to be really exciting.

I wasn’t fully prepared for this visit so didn’t have any containers with me, but everything is amazing. You can buy containers there, but there are also donated containers which you can pick up for free. The range of products is amazing from cleaning products, to tea, to granola and to pasta.

For those of you in Cardiff looking for zero waste shops, Ripple is where you need to be. I was so impressed and I’ll definitely be making another visit with all my containers soon!

Luna’s Vegan Corner on Wellfield Road, Cardiff

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Last Sunday, we took a trip to Wellfield Road to try Luna’s Vegan Corner. It’s always a bit of a nightmare to park around that area but we managed to find space on Albany Road and we made the short walk to the restaurant.

We walked in around 11:20am and as they’d just opened, there was plenty of room in the restaurant. A few tables were already taken up by a few families and a lovely Dalmatian. We seated ourselves and someone swiftly came over with menus!

There was so much to choose from, it was difficult to decide! I browsed Instagram to have a look at what others had eaten and that didn’t really help matters!

I settled on eating from the main menu instead of the brunch menu and chose the Arancini to start and the mushroom fettuccine as my main.

The arancini was delicious! Cheesy flavours and tastes and fried to perfection. I absolutely loved it. The fettuccine was lovely, with a mix of different mushrooms and very creamy.

Tom decided on the grilled tofu and asparagus to start and the tomato fettuccine as his main.

Tom said the tofu and asparagus was lovely but was a little bit oily due to the amount of oil drizzled on the dish and the bed of pesto that the tofu was sat on. His pasta was also lovely, but was lacking in additional vegetables as it was simply fettuccine in a tomato sauce.

My sister decided on the mushroom bruschetta to start and the burger and chips as her main.

Kirsty adored her bruschetta. It was a risky order as she hadn’t seen any pictures online but she loved it. I tried some and thought it was delicious. I think the crispy, toasted bread was amazing. The burger was a veggie patty sandwiched between 2 onion rings and lettuce. However, unexpectedly, there was a slice of cheese on both the top and the bottom which isn’t listed on the menu and as Kirsty isn’t a fan of cheese, it took her by surprise. She enjoyed it all the same.

As the restaurant started to fill up a bit more, we noticed that people had been ordered Sunday Roasts! We were a little disappointed as if we had known it was on the menu, we definitely would have ordered it. I’ve seen pictures on Instagram since and am filled with envy!

At least if nothing else, it gives us an excuse to go back and I’d urge you all to do the same!

by CHLOE. in Covent Garden, London

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As mentioned in some of my previous posts, we went to London recently to see Lizzo at the O2 in Brixton.

On our way to the hotel, we made a stop off at Covent Garden to go to by CHLOE. We’ve heard about them before from my sister so we thought we’d look at the menu and give it a try.

It’s a casual dining place, similar to pret (but with better food), where you can take a seat anywhere and you go up and order at the bar. The menu is up on the wall and there are so much food! Here is the menu, and everything is vegan!

  • Cakes
  • Fish & Chips, Meatball Sub, Mac & Cheese

I ordered the Fish & Chips, Tom ordered the Pesto Meatball Sub and we ordered a large Mac & Cheese to share.

I enjoyed my fish and chips. The chips were lovely and the fish was a classic tofu and seaweed but was delicious. The tartare sauce was a great addition too.

Tom loved his meatball sub and said it was delicious. With Subway planning to release their Meatless Meatball Sub and Tom has already made the statement that he will not try it as it will not be as enjoyable. Mac & Cheese was lovely too! The flavours and the mushroom bacon were great and I recommend ordering a portion for yourself.

It started getting really busy at dinner time. Fortunately, Tom and I arrived quite early so we didn’t struggle to find anywhere to sit.

by CHLOE. is definitely worth a visit. It’s nice to go somewhere knowing that I don’t have to filter through the menu because everything there is vegan! It makes such a difference.

Pho in Cardiff City Centre

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A few months ago, the well known chain Pho came to Cardiff on Church Street in the city centre.

My siblings have been before and Tom’s sister said the food was great when she visited the Bristol branch so we decided to go visit Pho in Cardiff.

We went on a Wednesday early evening and it was quiet with plenty of room. It started filling out by 6pm. We were greeted at the door and given menus. I asked if there was a specific vegan menu and was told that there isn’t a specific one but everything labelled vegetarian can be made vegan.

There is plenty to choose from on the menu which was really great to see. I recommend checking it out online, here!

I ordered the Chả giò (crispy spring rolls) and the Bún chay Huế noodle soup (hot & spicy tofu & mushroom) with pho noodles instead of bún noodles. Tom ordered the tofu and mushroom Phở Xào. He also ordered the Spicy Lemonade for his drink!

  • Spicy Lemonade
  • Chả giò
  • Bún chay Huế

Tom said his noodles were nice, but the tofu was salty. I tried some and he wasn’t wrong! For some reason, the tofu in his phở xào were unbearably salty and not enjoyable at all.

The spicy lemonade was nice, but I think it’s likely to be an acquired taste so be prepared not to like it. The spring rolls were lovely and the peanut sauce was delicious. It was really nostalgic for me as they tasted similar to the ones that my mum makes us. The hot and spicy noodles were lovely but not as spicy as I had anticipated. Luckily, there is chilli paste and sriracha sauce on the table to be added.

I really enjoyed my food and the atmosphere and service was good. We spent around £30 in total for our drinks, mains and shared starter (ordered as a side) which I thought was reasonable. I’ll definitely be making another visit in the near future, or maybe a Deliveroo order to the office…!

Crosstown Doughnuts in Hammersmith Broadway Shopping Centre, London

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Tom and I recently went to London to see Lizzo at the O2 in Brixton (FYI, she was incredible!). We always leave our travel planning till the last minute and train prices increase exponentially.

We’ve taken to driving to the outskirts of London and parking somewhere for a few days using JustPark (which I highly recommend). We parked at the Novotel in Hammersmith which was a short walk from the underground. Inside Hammersmith Broadway Shopping Centre is now Crosstown Doughnuts!

I’ve seen Crosstown Doughnuts in Camden before but they used to only do vegan doughnuts on specific days and specific stores so we never tried them.

It appears now that the demand for them has made them change tact and vegan options are now available!

Everything is clearly labelled and they have a premium range of doughnuts that is slightly more expensive. On our way into London, I chose the strawberry and smoked coconut and Tom chose the dark chocolate truffle.

We held onto the doughnuts and ate them when we got back to the hotel after the gig as a treat to ourselves.

I don’t even know where to begin. The doughnut was so pretty and delicious! The dough wasn’t heavy and the jam in middle was more like a jelly which was ideal and a lot less messy than a standard doughnut. The flavours were amazing.

Tom enjoyed his dark chocolate truffle one also and has since raved about the quality of the doughnut.

  • Strawberry and smoked coconut
  • Strawberry and English sparkling rose

I enjoyed my strawberry and smoked coconut doughnut so much that on our way back, I bought another doughnut to take back and enjoy in the comfort of my own home!

Again, it did not disappoint. The dough was perfect and the jelly filling was still delicious. My only criticism of the strawberry and English sparking rose doughnut is that the biscuit crumbs on top should have been more engrained into the icing as much of it fell off and ended up in my lap. It did not however hinder my enjoyment of eating it.

Crosstown Doughnuts have branches all over London, but they also have a specific vegan branch in Marylebone. If you’re visiting London (or living there) make sure you stop off for a doughnut. You won’t be disappointed!

Adopt, Don’t Shop

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It’s approaching Christmas time, and we all know how popular pets are to be given as gifts. I don’t often do serious posts but I feel this topic is important to write about.

Animals are amazing, and I’m sure my vegan readers out there will be agreeing with me. Pets bring life into your home. They become one of you with their personalities being known to you and the love you have for one another. They become a member of the family.

I never had pets when I was growing up as I was never allowed them, but when Tom and I moved in together, we took in his childhood dog, Max, from the family home. Max was not adopted by his parents but was a cheap buy back in the day! He was a gorgeous long haired border collie with a speckled ear and one eye patch. We sadly lost him 2 years ago, and my heart was in pieces. I still miss him terribly to this day.

Dog breeding is becoming a serious problem in the world. They’re being so heavily bred that they are starting to have serious genetic health problems, all just so that designer breeds such as pugs and frenchies exist for people to buy.

Every Christmas, numerous dogs are left on the streets and abandoned due to families not being able to take care of them or their expectations not being met. For me, this is no different to abandoning a child. It is not acceptable to bring someone into your home, only to leave them when it doesn’t suit you anymore.

Some shelters will euthanise animals due to the unmanageable numbers they receive which is horrendous and unfair. An animals life is not the decision of others which is why I urge you to re-home an animal instead of buying.

Sami

Sami was adopted by Tom’s mum and dad a few years ago after they found her roaming around Greece looking for scraps. She was a stray dog with fleas and matted fur. They took her to the local dog home, Animal Rescue Kefalonia, but couldn’t bare to leave her so started the adoption process. Sami joined us back in the UK only a few short weeks after and has slotted into the family.

Sami has so much love for everyone and has such a gentle demeanour. She’s well behaved with the backyard chickens, and has even been known to pick up their eggs gently without cracking them! She’s cheeky but soft and loving and we all love her unconditionally.

Ned

Ned is a feral cat that Tom’s sister, Hannah, adopted from a local rehoming centre. Like all cats, he’s incredibly independent but has had no issues settling into the family home. He’s a cheeky cat who snuck into his first pack of Dreamies and ate the entire bag! He gets along well with their Alsatian, Shadow, and is now an integral part to their family.

  • Ned and Shadow

Even Lucy Watson, reality TV star from Made In Chelsea, has said previously that she regrets not rehoming her first 2 pets and has since re-homed a kitten.

Before you go out and search for pets, please strongly consider adopting and rehoming one. There are so many different homes and kennels where there are plenty of animals who require forever homes.

Here are just a few well known re-homing centres, but make sure you put in the research as there are plenty of them all over the UK!

Men’s Vegan Grooming Gifts

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As a woman, it can be difficult trying to find good gift sets for men. The market is definitely catered more for women than it is for men. I did a spot of shopping a few weeks ago and was inspired to write this post based on what I saw!

Here’s just a few recommend brands and products and if I come up with some more ideas, I’ll make sure I write another post.

Superdrug

So when I was wandering around my local Superdrug the other day, I was enticed by their Christmas section and also pleasantly surprised. I found a few of their own brand men’s gift sets which were lovely and also very reasonably priced!

If you’re unsure what to buy for someone, a gift set like this is a great alternative as they usually contain useful things that they are likely to use.

What’s also great about Superdrug is that their items are clearly labelled vegan which makes it much easier to shop.

Browsing online with Superdrug has also become so much easier as they have a vegan Christmas section which you can find here!

Manmane

Manmane are a completely vegan brand that sells male grooming products. We’ve seen them at vegan events around the country before, and being welsh myself, it’s nice to support local business!

Tom loves their products. They’re high quality and there are so many different options.

I highly recommend taking a visit to their website to have a look at the products. A few include: bread oils and balms, soaps, perfumes and candles.

If you have a bearded loved one in your life, you should absolutely check out Manmane for their products! They make wonderful gifts and they’ll be hooked going forward.

Maria Nila

This one will be a short one but I do have to rave about it. Maria Nila sell vegan wax grooming products that are perfect gifts!

Tom has always really struggled to find good hair product for his hair type. He’s got fine hair but a lot of volume.

I took a punt and bought him the Maria Nila Gneiss Moulding Paste. He absolutely loves it and can now style his hair properly without the unnecessary gunk of product all over his hair. And an added bonus is that it smells great too!

The Cruelty Free Beauty Box Deluxe [October 2019]

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Another 2 months has passed us by so it’s time for another run through of my latest delivery of the Deluxe Cruelty Free Beauty Box! I was lucky enough to win this box this month in their usual sharing giveaway. I was so chuffed.

If you want to read about the box before this, click here for the post. Previous posts can be found under the Beauty section.

As always, the box did not disappoint and had so many goodies that I cannot wait to try!

This months box contained the following:

  • My HairCare Rescue My Hair Hydrate Shampoo Bar (RRP £14)
  • Natura Pumpkin Sheet Mask (RRP £5.95)
  • Fairypants perfume (RRP £1.50)
  • Palm Bar Body Butter Bar (RRP £5)
  • Bellapierre Liquid Gold 24k (RRP £30)
  • Niu Body Glow Facial Serum (RRP £27.95)
  • Gardner’s Halloween Cookie (RRP £2)
  • Vegan Bunny Chai Latte Soy Candle (RRP £13)
  • Jeavon’s Rizo (RRP £2.75)

The total value of the Deluxe box comes in at £102.15 but will only cost you £39.95.

I’ve eaten the cookie and Rizo bar already and both were a dream. I haven’t had shortbread for a long time and the Gardner’s cookie was a delicious shortbread.

I’ve written about Natura products in various other blog posts I’ve written and I love the sheet masks. They’re a really lovely treat so I’m looking forward to using this pumpkin one.

My final favourite is the Vegan Bunny Chai Latte candle. I’ve actually bought Vegan Bunny candles off Etsy before, but not for myself! I’ve bought Christmas scented candles as stocking fillers for my family members and regretted not buying one for myself. The Chai Latte smell is incredible! I haven’t lit the candle yet but I can’t wait till I do!

I absolutely cannot recommend The Cruelty Free Beauty Box enough. They only send every 2 months which is more than enough for me, and every month is full of new and interesting treats. I adore The Deluxe box with the lifestyle treats. It’s so nice to receive new things that I’d never normally buy for myself or want to try.