Category: Lifestyle

#TooManyWomen

A few days ago, I posted a tweet on Twitter that went viral with the hashtag #TooManyWomen.

I wrote the tweet in light of the tragic news of Sarah Everard who went missing in London on March 3rd and whose body was found in woodland in Kent. For more information, please read this BBC news article.

Sarah’s tragic story has highlighted how vulnerable we as women are even with the extra precautions we’ve been taught to take such as covering up, walking on well lit roads and keeping our phones on us which are just a few among many more.

What really drives it home for me in particular is that Sarah was walking back to her home in Brixton through Clapham. My youngest sister and one of my closest friends both live in the Brixton area and this could easily have been them. It could have been any of us.

After seeing the statistic that 97% of women have experienced sexual assault, I wanted to share one of my experiences from my youth that really stood out in my mind.

There are many trolls who have replied to my tweet, trying to diminish my experience by telling me that people couldn’t have possibly seen him grab my breast, that ‘this is just what happens in night clubs’ or that I’m just lying altogether. I don’t owe any of them any explanation but I will say that people definitely did see it happen, and I was not dancing with him nor even close to him to justify ‘leading him on’.

The #TooManyWomen hashtag is not being used to diminish the experiences of men. The aim is to highlight that these experiences are happening to a lot of women (97% of them to reiterate the statistic). When I have spoken to any of my friends about this, not a single woman hasn’t had a story to share.

Never did I expect in my wildest dreams that this tweet would go viral, but more importantly, empower others to share their experiences also. The number of women who have spoken out and shared their stories proves how normalised this behaviour is across the world.

If you are one of the many women who has experienced sexual assault, we stand by you and we support you.

It’s more important, now than ever, to read these stories, support us and pave the way for change. Education is absolutely essential and victim blaming needs to stop. I hope that with the continued sharing of these stories that people’s eyes will open and we will start to see change happen.

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Freedm Street Deluxe Box [August 2020]

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I recently received my Freedm Street Deluxe Box in the post! For those of you that may not be aware, The Cruelty Free Beauty Box have recently changed their name to Freedm Street! For more details, check out their instagram posts.

Let’s move swiftly onto the contents of the box!

Again, nothing in this box disappoints! As always, there are various beauty products and snacks which I’m very much looking forward to digging into. Inside the box is:

  • Flawless Hydrating Toner (RRP £3.95)
  • Love Absolute Mulberry Milk Jelly Cleanser (RRP £24)
  • Pura Cosmetics Lip Scrub (RRP £4.99)
  • Lola Makeup Lash Extension Mascara (RRP £11.95)
  • Jorgobe Black Peel Off Mask (RRP £26)
  • UpCircle Gentle Exfoliating Soap Bar (RRP £6.99)
  • The British Crisp Co Handcooked Crisps (RRP 89p)
  • Brave Roasted Peas (RRP £1.39)
  • Beevive – The Bee Revival Kit (RRP £10.99)
  • Nourished Inner Beauty Stack Trial Box (RRP £29.99)

The contents of the box totals at £121.14 but only cost £39.95 as part of their subscription box!

I’ve yet to make a dent into yet as it only arrived this week but I’m looking forward to it already!

The Nourished vitamins appear interesting. I’m not sure how much benefit you’d be able to see with a 7 day trial but I can’t complain when it’s included as part of my subscription box! Each vitamin is individually wrapped and without opening it directly, I believe they’re gummy ones!

  • Beevive Revival Kit
  • Lola Lash Extension Mascara

The other more interesting product in the box was the Beevive Bee Revival Kit! It’s a little keyring with a little vial of sugar water which can be used to save the bees when they’re in need of a little bit of energy! I love the idea behind it but whether I’ll find good use for it is a different matter.

I also love the Lola Lash Extension Mascara. I didn’t take a picture of my lashes, but I loved it. The brush is great and leaves lashes well separated without any clumps for a nice wide eyed look.

There are so many other goodies included in the box with some wonderful brands that I’m currently using such as UpCircle and Love Absolute. I’m so excited to try them all out.

With the company rebrand, I highly recommend taking another look at the website to see what new products have been added!

Saalt Menstrual Cup

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If you’re someone who doesn’t want to read about menstruation, then please look away now and stop reading.

For those of you who are more than happy to read about it and are also interested in changing to a more sustainable solution, keep reading!

My menstruation back story is a long one, but to summarise, I had the implant for a few years and my periods had stopped. I recently had my implant removed and my menstruation has returned to my version of normal which is very regular.

I was fed up of using disposable sanitary products. I had switched to Natracare and the products were amazing and I still rate them over any other sanitary products on the market but the menstrual cup just seemed like a sensible economic and sustainable option.

I did a little bit of research around a menstrual cup, but luckily my sisters already had their own and were able to give me all the information I required. I recommend having a quick read at articles online to find out if a menstrual cup is more suited to you.

I chose Saalt as this was the only brand I found online that were clearer on the guides on cup capacity. What I mean by this is that all the other companies simply said ‘Small’ or ‘Large’. For someone who has no idea what they’re doing, this is incredibly daunting! Saalt did this perfectly by describing capacity based on numbers of tampons and flow type.

  • Size Small: 2 to 3 tampons capacity
  • Size Regular: 3 to 4 tampons capacity

It came with a carry pouch and general and instructions on how to use the cup as well as how to sterilise it.

It’s been a few months now and I can safely say that it has been an investment worth making. I track my period using the ‘Flo’ app from the App Store and I don’t dread when I’m about to start. I simply have my cup handy and it’s never been so easy.

The first attempt was a bit of an experience. I wasn’t sure if it had done it right but I remained calm and managed it after a bit of fiddling. I found it very comfortable to wear. Since the first go, it’s been a breeze every time.

If you’re thinking about making this sustainable swap, I do recommend looking at what Saalt have to offer. They have multiple packages available and even have a ‘soft’ version for those who may find it uncomfortable. Have a browse and make sure you do your research to see if it’s a right fit for you.

Harper’s Candles August Box

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For those of you that may not know, Harper’s Candles are a vegan business that make vegan friendly scented candles. I discovered them when they were travelling for vegan events up and down the country and their scented candles stood out from anything I’d ever smelt before.

Recently, I found out they offer a subscription box! They offer different levels of subscription boxes at different prices, but I decided to opt for the regular subscription box. They are delivered every 2 months.

The regular box contains a mix of goodies as you can see from the picture above. There are different sized candles, tea lights and a wax melt.

First impressions, I was ecstatic. The box was a little brown parcel filled with beautifully personalised labels and amazing scents. I was like a kid at Christmas. Scented candles make me unnecessarily happy!

They all smell amazing, but my personal favourite is the Hygge wax melt. Ever since it arrived, it is always melting in my living room. It’s a gorgeous, soft, sweet smell that fills the room with subtle fragrance.

I have Karma in my office which is a really musky scent which is really nice and calming when I’m working.

I honestly couldn’t recommend these subscription boxes enough. This is only my first one but I already can’t wait for the second one in October. The scents are so lovely and they’re so different to what you normally see on the shelves.

If you’re after something different or even a special gift for someone you know, I highly recommend Harper’s Candles!

SMUG Sleep Mask

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I am a huge fan of naps. I know not everyone can manage it, but I am big on the napping and try to get away with as many naps as possible.

I’ve seen adverts for SMUG pop up all over my social media accounts. Their main product is a 3D sleep mask which is advertised to protect those with eyelash extensions.

I don’t have eyelash extensions, but I do regularly get my lashes lifted so I’m hoping the contour will help protect that too and make them last longer.

When I saw that the mask was on sale at ASOS, I thought I’d buy it to see what it was like. If it arrived and I didn’t think it was suitable, I could always return it.

The mask arrived the following day and packaged as pictured above. I liked the look of the mask. The cute little eyelashes on the front amuse me and the bright pink is bright and distinctive.

The sleep mask has an elasticated but adjustable strap which is really good. Other sleep masks I’ve owned previously have only had elasticated straps which have stretched overtime and then don’t stay in position very well at all.

The contour of the mask is very deep. As I’m Asian, I have quite a flat face so I was concerned that it wouldn’t fit right but it was actually perfect.

I had a nap and used the sleep mask and it was great. It was the perfect shape for my face and blacked out all the light which is exactly as advertised. The depth of the eye mask even fit my flat face and my eyelashes were well protected underneath the sleep mask.

I paid £8 for the sleep mask on ASOS which I think is reasonable. There are a lot of perks to this sleep mask and it was very comfortable. I’m so glad that I can bin off my old sleep mask that no longer fits!

Finding Your Dream Wedding Dress

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Some of you may be aware that Tom and I got engaged last year and we’re now planning our wedding! It’s onto one of the big decisions… the wedding dress!

Where do you start?

For all you brides out there, it is recommended that you buy your wedding gown 12 – 18 months before the wedding. As I’m in that time frame, I started my search.

I had already started following gown designers and local shops on Instagram for inspiration. I didn’t have any expectations as I just loved everything out there.

Visiting Bridal Boutiques

I would never dream of just casually walking into a bridal boutique with a group of friends but I’ve walked by many a window and admired from a far. This attitude played a big part in my nervousness surrounding the idea of trying on dresses.

One of the small boutiques I was following on Facebook and Instagram, Willow In White, put a poll up on Instagram about having an open evening. I thought this was a great idea. It was an opportunity for new brides, such as myself, to go into a boutique without feeling the pressure of any commitment to buy and for her to meet us too. The poll was a resounding success and an opening evening was organised.

I popped along to the open evening on a Thursday evening, was greeted by Mel (the owner) with a glass of bubbly and I felt at ease. There were other brides there and I was able to look at all the gowns and accessories available at the boutique. I booked my gown trial appointment for the Saturday immediately after and I was very excited.

Who do you take with you?

Don’t be shocked… I went on my own and when people have found this out, I’ve had the most peculiar reactions…

My sisters no longer live local and my mum works on the weekends, and due to my last minute appointment decision, they wouldn’t have been available to attend.

I was absolutely fine on my own. Arguably, it was better as the fewer opinions I had the better! Even though I am quite a decisive person, I am easily swayed by other people’s opinions, especially when they’re my family as I value their opinion the most. Without them there, it forced me to think about my own opinions!

By going by myself, I picked a dress that I fell in love with, not anyone else. For those who are more strong minded than I am, take a few of your nearest and dearest!

How do you know if you’ve found the one?

I asked this question to everyone and I got the same answer from almost everyone… When you know, you know. And it’s true.

There were so many dresses that I loved and was even surprised by, but when the one was on, I knew.

I couldn’t stop looking at it in the mirror and I didn’t want to take it off. It made me feel so special and I didn’t even want to put on any of the other gowns again because I was just so in love with it.

My Experience Summarised

I was nervous going into my gown trial. I was worried that I wouldn’t suit anything and that I wouldn’t like anything. But after the first gown went on, everything shifted and I was so excited.

A big part of my amazing experience was meeting Mel. As I went on my own, she was a massive help and a big part of my experience. I valued her opinion and she asked all the right questions to get the one.

As much as I loved the experience, I’m glad I found the one with Mel at Willow In White because I wouldn’t want to traipse around town trying on all sorts of gowns in different boutiques.

For some top tips, follow Willow In White on Instagram and watch their Top Tips highlights!

BeYou: Period Patches

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WARNING: this blog post talks about lady bits and menstruation, so look away if you’re not prepared for the realities.

Since having my implant removed last month, all possible hormone change symptoms have come flooding my way all at once.

Irritability, discharge, headaches and what this post will focus on… cramps!

A few weeks ago, I had debilitating cramps and I could barely get off the sofa. I haven’t suffered from cramps since I was a teenager, and even as a teen, it wasn’t this bad!

I messaged my lovely friend Emily, and she told me to go get myself a hot water bottle and have a lie down. I had forgotten how soothing a hot water bottle could be and I was glad I messaged her complaining!

Shortly after, she sent me over a picture of BeYou‘s Period Patches which she recommended to me! She described them as ‘4Head for cramps’. If any of you have used 4Head before, you’d have been as impressed as I was… so I took the plunge and bought some.

The pack comes with 5 patch strips. I bought mine on Amazon but I believe you can also purchase them at Boots and on the BeYou website.

I finally got the use them for the first time this month, and they are genuinely life changing. My cramps sort of just appeared out of no where, and although not as a bad as last time, still uncomfortable and tiring. I applied a patch underneath my belly and it made so much difference.

It felt calming and I felt comfortable so quickly after application. The product claims to last 12 hours but to be honest, I wasn’t keeping time. By the time I took it off, my cramps had gone and I was back to normal.

These patches are perfect for use at home, at school or at work. I’ve been lucky enough so far to have only suffered from my cramps at home, but I suspect in the future I may be at work so I’ll make sure these patches aren’t far! What’s better is that they are vegan and cruelty-free (although waiting accreditation)!

Planning a Vegan Wedding: Issue 3

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Wedding websites… Do or don’t?

A wedding website isn’t for everyone, but I think they’re a good idea. It’s nice to have one place to collate important information for your guests. I know not everyone is tech savvy, but at least it’s there for those who are.

Building your Website

I decided to build mine using Wix.com which I would absolutely recommend. There are a lot of website builders similar to Wix out there so the world is your oyster. I used Wix upon recommendation from a friend of mine who built her wedding website on Wix too.

The great thing about Wix is that they give you the option to build your website from a template or to start completely from scratch. I built our wedding website using a template and it actually gave me loads of ideas on what to put on there.

It’s a drag and drop style website but there is a Dev Mode option that allows those who are code savvy to make custom code changes and hook into any external APIs (if they so wish).

Wix at its most basic level is free so it’s good just to play around first if you’re not sure as it won’t cost you anything.

Another bonus is that you can lock your website down with a password. This means that you can limit those who can see your website and the content to your guests (as long as you give them the password!).

Domain Names

For those of you who don’t know, a domain name is simply just a website name. The Wix free domain name isn’t always very meaningful, so for your wedding website, you might want to opt for something your guests will remember.

We went for http://www.annabelandtom.com which I thought would be a nice and easy one, and fortunately it was still available.

You can purchase domain names from various registrars online, but I went on GoDaddy. I was able to purchase my domain name for 2 years (which is more than enough) for about £20. GoDaddy was one of the cheaper options across all the registrars but I recommend shopping around in case you find better deals.

Linking GoDaddy with my Wix website was really easy. GoDaddy provided clear instructions on what details to put in, and it only took a few hours for the domain name to take affect which was much quicker than I anticipated.

The only thing is that you have to pay for a premium plan with Wix to be able to link your domain name to the site but there are lots of different options, including ad-free ones at a higher price.

Website Content

It is entirely up to you what information you put on your website, and there’s plenty of other sites and posts that will tell you what kind of helpful information you can include.

  • Your couple origin story
  • Accommodation options in the area of your venue
  • Registry information (in our case, we’ve asked for no gifts)
  • Information about the wedding venue and it’s location
  • Local Transport company information

We also included a little snippet on ‘traditions’ as we won’t be taking each others names, and we also reminded our guests that our wedding will be entirely vegan!

As the plans get more settled over the next year, I plan to add more to the website, even pages for day guests and evening guests to give them specific information about the day.

I included the website details on my Save The Date cards, and I’ve had a few compliments so far so I think the effort has paid off.

Planning a Vegan Wedding: Issue 2

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So you have your venue sorted… What do you do next?

The Wedding Planning list is absolutely endless and is also completely dependent on what you want from your wedding day!

It was a little easier for us as Tom’s sisters had either just had their wedding day or were getting married very shortly so they had experienced everything they already could!

We decided to try a Wedding Fayre as Tom’s sisters had been to a few and enjoyed them. We booked and paid for tickets to The Big Welsh Wedding Show in October 2019 which was held in The Depot in Cardiff. I asked for a list of exhibitors from the organisers and I was interested in seeing what was there.

I found the whole thing incredibly overwhelming. As someone who’s just started planning a wedding, the event seemed a bit much and very ‘pushy’. We arrived and I had to fill out a form with my personal details. I remember specifically opting out of marketing e-mails, and yet somehow I ended up on the marketing list and receiving e-mails from various exhibitors as a few weeks went by.

There were A LOT of exhibitors which was great for window shopping. However, I felt a bit bored as I wandered around as I found that exhibitors were either too pushy and keen to talk to you, or couldn’t be bothered to make an effort with you at all.

I would like to take the time now though to rave about one company I saw there, Pretty Little Pictures. They are a lovely couple that run a photo booth company and they were so nice! They demo’d their photo booth box and back drop and we walked away with a cute little photo strip. I highly recommend dropping them a message if you’re interested in having a photo booth for any occasion.

Other exhibitors included:

  • Various venues, including Oldwalls
  • QuirkIt – A styling, rental company with the loveliest owners!
  • Paperdate Stationery
  • Photoboth companies with included PLP (as mentioned above) and Ultrabooth
  • And many more that I don’t remember the names of but included cakes, celebrants, car services, accessories and a string quartet.

We started talking to exhibitors just as the first catwalk of the day started. The catwalk was just models walking up and down in wedding attire, which is all well and good, but none of them had the same body shape or size as me so didn’t really encourage me . Additionally, the music was blasting so loud in the venue, it made it impossible for me to talk to any exhibitors at a reasonable volume.

As much as I would like to recommend everyone to go to a wedding fayre, from my first experience, I wouldn’t go again. I didn’t enjoy it, and you can usually find what you’re looking for online anyway!!

Saying that, I’m sure that there are plenty of you who would find it beneficial so don’t write it off just yet. I recommend checking the list of exhibitors and checking to see if any of them interest you. Go prepared with questions for those you do want to see!

Planning a Vegan Wedding: Issue 1

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So for those of you who follow my blog more closely, you’ll know that Tom and I are planning our wedding! With it only being 18 months away now, I thought I’d start the Wedding Planning blog issues.

Issue 1, we’ll start with our venue hunt!

Tom has always had his heart set on getting married in the Gower, or at least close to the water. We find the water so calming and it’s the perfect back drop for us.

Ocean View Gower

In October 2019, the first venue we went to see was Ocean View Gower. The views here were absolutely breathtaking and it was a lovely venue. It was Emma who showed us around the venue and she was really nice and so helpful. You could do so much with the venue and it gives that lovely rustic feel.

They took us on a golf cart round the corner to their little camping village where they had a few pods where wedding guests could stay. The Bridal Suite was a gorgeous, larger version of the other pods.

The only thing that really deterred me from this venue (besides the dates available) was that it was on a working farm. As a vegan, I can’t support the industry and knowing that’s where my money would be going.

Oldwalls Gower

We went on a tour of Oldwalls directly after our visit to Ocean View and we fell in love with it. We put a deposit down there and then and we haven’t looked back since. Oldwalls was a little more polished that Ocean View and as a dedicated wedding venue, the services they provide were exactly what we were looking for.

It was a more polished version of Ocean View, but the price does reflect that. They have a lot of onsite accommodation which is really helpful for us as we’ll have a lot of guests who’ll want to stay. In addition to this, they have a gorgeous glamping village with lots of glamping pods for even more guests to stay in! All the guests that stay will also have breakfast included so it’ll be nice the following morning to have breakfast with our overnight guests.

Tom’s sister got married at Fairyhill last month which is the sister venue of Oldwalls. You can read my blog post about it here. The most important thing to us was having a vegan wedding. Oldwalls were more than happy to accommodate that with no problems. This included all the food, as well as the drinks.

Oldwalls hold showcases throughout the year so I recommend following them on social media to keep an eye out for them. Fairyhill will usually hold showcases on the same day so as you’re in the area, you may as well go and see both!

We’re really excited to keep moving with the planning. We should be invited for a food tasting this year, approximately a year before the wedding. Keep an eye out for that blog post in the future!