Vegan butternut, Brussels sprout and chestnut pie - https://www.homemadebyyou.co.uk/recipes/main-courses/vegan-butternut-brussels-sprout-and-chestnut-pie

Cashew Nut Roast with Sage and Onion Stuffing - http://whyveg.com/recipes/make_this.php?recipe=45

The perfect nut roast (vegetarian) - https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2011/dec/15/how-cook-perfect-nut-roast

Double Stuffed Savoury Christmas Log - http://mouthwateringvegan.com/2013/12/03/double-stuffed-savoury-christmas-log/

Individual Christmas Pies - http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1799642/individual-christmas-pies

Cranberry & pistachio nut roast - http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/uncategorised-recipes/best-ever-cranberry-pistachio-nut-roast/

Roasted Vegetable Strudel  - http://www.prouditaliancook.com/2011/09/roasted-vegetable-strudel-and-farewell.html

Vegan Yorkshire Puddings - http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/vegan-yorkshire-puddings

Onion and red wine gravy - https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2005/nov/05/foodanddrink.shopping5

Sicilian roasted cauliflower & Brussels sprouts - http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/sicilian-roasted-cauliflower-brussels-sprouts/

Mixed mushroom stuffing - http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/mixed-mushroom-stuffing/

Smashed celeriac - http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/smashed-celeriac/

Mini jacket potatoes - http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1993651/mini-jacket-potatoes

Lentil Mushroom Walnut Balls with Cranberry-Pear Sauce - http://ohsheglows.com/2013/11/13/lentil-mushroom-walnut-balls-with-cranberry-pear-sauce/

High Protein Garlic smashed Potatoes - http://ohsheglows.com/2010/09/08/high-protein-garlic-mashed-potatoes/

Sweet potatoes stuffed with apples, cranberries, and pecans - http://www.foodista.com/blog/2011/11/22/heavenly-hasselback-sweet-potatoes

Vegan Eggnog - http://tasty-yummies.com/vegan-eggnog/ 

Gingerbread Bellinni - http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/gingerbread-bellini

Mulled Cider - http://www.thelondoner.me/2015/11/quick-n-easy-epic-mulled-cider.html

Mulled Wine - https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2010/dec/09/how-to-make-perfect-mulled-wine

Mulled Tea - http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/mulled-tea

Barnivore to check what brands are vegan friendly!

Sheffield is honestly somewhere I've not ever paid much attention to. Growing up I knew it as the place The Full Monty had been filmed, and where the Harris/Nelson family on Coronation Street had original hailed from (my mid-00s pop culture knowledge is just that good). Aside from that, it has never been on my radar. 

The only reason I recently took a trip to Sheffield is because one of my best friends moved there to study for her Masters. Naturally I Googled local vegan-friendly restaurants, because that's exactly the kind of fun thing I do. And I was pleasantly surprised. It's not somewhere that gets hailed as a vegan mecca in online circles, so you can imagine my excitement when I ended up having one of the best vegan burgers of my life while in the city. 

The vegan burger I am referring to is Drop Dead Twisted BBQ Burger at The Harley. Not just a small patty that some restaurants 'create' to tick some box that allows them to claim they are vegan friendly. Nope, this burger puts out the stops. It boasts a double patty, vegan cheese slices, BBQ jackfruit and BBQ sauce. It was one of the most extravagant burgers I've ever had - and let's be honest, extravagant burgers aren't hard to come by, but extravagant vegan burgers are.

The patties are supplied by the local Twisted Burger Company. I'll be honest, I'm not exactly sure what the burger is made from (that is the one fault of the service - people need to know this for allergens or preferences) but the burger is a mock meat. You might already be aware but I usually prefer burgers that are clearly made up from vegetables (mushrooms are my personal favourite) so for me to stand here (or type here?) and say this is one of the best burgers I've had is a bit of an accolade. 

The venue itself is definitely of the indie rock persuasion (got to love a 10 Things I Hate About You quote) and not for the conservative. Their website states that the staff personally create the playlist to suit the venue and the particular even that is taking place. The bar was also very well-stocked with a wide range of spirits to choose from - as well as a modest cocktail menu! 

If you're ever in Sheffield (or perhaps you live there already) I would definitely recommend a trip to The Harley. It's located at 334 Glossop Road, but the Twist Burger Company also sells their food in The Yard (Ilkley), Vintage Bar (Doncaster) and various music festivals around the UK. 

Website / Facebook / Twitter 

Website / Facebook / Twitter

There are two types of people in the world: those who read this blog title and thought I was genuinely asking what their favourite scary movie is and those who knew this blog would be about the Scream franchise. If you're the latter: can we be friends, please? I have friends I can speak incessantly to about Batman, but no one I can chat Scream theories to.  

In all honestly though, sometimes people try to argue when I say Scream is one of my favourite franchises of all time. 

It's the same argument: "the first one was great, but the 2nd and 3rd ones were okay and they really shouldn't have bothered with the 4th". We're all entitled to our opinions, but for me all the Scream films were brilliant and have went down in history as some of my personal favourites (in fact, my favourite Scream film is the third one - so suck on that!). 

As you will (hopefully) know by now (and probably do know if you follow me on Twitter) is that Scream has recently been made into a TV series by MTV. I was cynical when it was first announced - because even though I loved the films, there have been other franchises I've loved that really should have bowed out gracefully (Sex and the City - are you listening? Sabrina, also looking at you). But they've not long finished the second season and I'm eagerly awaiting the third season to find out who the other killer is. 

As an addendum, this is the final point where my love letter remains spoiler free. I don't know why you'd be reading a post about a film and tv show you've not fully seen yet and expecting no spoilers - but here's me spoon feeding it. If, like me, you don't mind spoilers (or have seen both the TV show and films) then read on.  

One of the reasons I didn't think it would work, is the inevitable passing of time. Sure Scream did stay away from hideous 90s fashion so it does have a timeless look about it - but it still has been 20 years since the first one was released. Aren't the actors old now? Does the same set still exist? How can they aim a show at teenagers who weren't even born yet when the original film was released? 

But the makers of the TV show didn't make all the same mistakes that other re-boots do. They aren't taking us back to Woodsboro again and again and again. They're not still trying to pass Neve Campbell off as a high school student (tbh, she didn't even pass as a high school student back then). And they're not taking Billy Loomis back from the dead.

The Scream writers were smart and kept what made Scream iconic: the killer who has watched one too many scary movies, the high school setting, the pop culture references, the whodunit, the creepy phone call, the voice. Those were the important parts - there's not a rule somewhere that Neve Campbell has to play Sidney Prescott until the day she dies (can someone let Hugh Jackman know this? I love Wolverine but it's time to let another character get centre stage). Other successful franchises go this route too. Think about James Bond - it has survived because they've switched up the actors and moved with the times.

In the Scream television series we are taken to Lakewood (not Woodsboro), the main character is Emma Duvall (not Sidney Prescott), the film geek is Noah Foster (not Randy Meeks), the original killer prior to the film is Brandon James (not Cotton Weary), and we even get a different mask! Oh and the killer doesn't just use phone calls anymore - there's text messaging and killer selfies! (This was a bit cringey at first, but you get used to it)

However, the references do have a negative drawback - I was able to guess the killers because I've seen the films. I didn't pre-emptively identify Piper as the killer, but once it was revealed she was actually the half-sibling of Emma and her killing spree was an act of jealousy - I got a sense of dejavu. If you've seen the films you'll know that in Scream 3 it was revealed that Sidney had a half-sibling through her mum, who had been given up for adoption - and killed out of jealousy. So when season 2 started it didn't take long for my suspicions of Emma's boyfriend Kieran to grow because Sidney's boyfriend in Scream 1, Billy Loomis, had turned out to be the killer.

You might be reading this and thinking I'm an old codger who rants about the youth of today. If you are good at maths and know my exact date of birth - you might have noted that I was only 6 when the first film came out. I do actually have responsible parents who kept me away from age-inappropriate media, and I didn't watch Scream until I was roughly 15. The fact that I watched it almost a decade after its first release (and loved it) is a testament to its timelessness. Okay, there are a few things that give away its 90s-ness (covered in this funny YouTube video) but it has stood its test of time. 

It wasn't until recently, however, that I discovered how important Scream was to the horror genre. Scary movies weren't having a good time in the early to mid 90s and Scream revitalised it. It was both a critical and financial success - due to its smart humour and cultural importance. The debate about whether slasher films encourage real-world killers is one that society still has today - and is actively discussed in the film. As Stu said "Movies don't make killers, they just make them more creative". The second film even comments on a lack of racial diversity in horror films: 

The revelation that they're had been two killers made it stand out as well. Think about it: how many slasher films have two killers. Two killers makes it harder for the audience to identify the culprit (I managed to guess Kieran, but I spent a lot of series convinced there would be a second killer - my money was on Brooke, which I know will annoy a lot of fans). 

Also, am I just old or is it really cool that the TV show includes a caption letting audiences know what song is currently playing? Is that new, or are all the cool shows doing it now?

To all that doubt Scream's brilliance and my love for it: 1) mind your own business and get back to whatever franchise is your favourite and 2) it saved the horror genre, managed to successfully launch a tv show two decades after the original and is full of pop culture references. 

And I don't know what else you could want in a film. 

When people ask me in a frenzied state if I have all my Christmas shopping done, I almost feel bad saying yes. You see I'm a single, only child with no living grandparents and friends who only switch birthday presents...so my parents are the only people who are consistently on my list. 

Saying that, I think we're all in agreement that parents are the worst to buy for. You firstly have the pressure of getting them something great to make up for all the generous presents they bought you over the years (and everything else they paid for!). Then there's the added pressure of getting them something they don't already own. I mean, my parents have been around since the 1950s and I'm not entirely sure if there's any material goods they haven't purchase themselves over the years (the temptation get them something gimmicky is high). 

Whether you parents are the only people you buy for, or they're just two of twenty, then here's my guide to what you could get them (or any other older relative that you might buy for). 

Jamie Oliver Pasta Machine. Kitchen gadgets are always a great fail-safe for parents, especially when they're kitchen gadgets that they probably don't already have (but would be nice to have!). I also like the Master Pan, and the SMART Breakfast. 

Lapdesk. If your parents are anything like mine (or fit the stereotype of parents) they love to show off how good they are with technology *cough* and own every gadget ever (even if they struggle to work them). Give them a helping hand with a lapdesk so they can browse "The Facebook" while watching Corrie. 

Autoseal Travel Mug. Erm, it's practical? My parents love travel and anything travel related always ends up on my short list. 

Robot Mop. Just look at this gif!

This will totally make up for all the chores you didn't do as a kid. (Firebox)

A bottle of their favourite tipple. Whenever I get really stuck for ideas with my parents, it's a bottle of high-end single malt whiskey for my dad and gin for my mum. 

High-end candles. Stay out of the Yankee Candles shop. There's a range of luxury candles you can pick up for your parents, and my top pick is The Isle of Skye Candle Company. 

A boxset. Your parents grew up during a time when DVDs didn't exist and they had to tape everything off the TV (my mum will groan at me for saying that). But technology has caught up and their favourite films as a teenager have now been digital re-mastered.  

Gillian Kyle anything. The epitome of  mum/dad/gran friendly (if they're Scottish).

Family Crest and Surname History. If your parents are proud of their family ancestry, this is the perfect thing to get them. From: Getting Personal

The gift of experience. Whenever you're buying for someone who seems to have everything, look at  an experience. Helicopter rides, skiing lessons, or tickets to an upcoming show. There's a wide range from Getting Personal, but there's a lot of these on the market. 

Donate to a charity in their name. Gifts in Action have a large collection, but almost all big charities have a Christmas gift option.

Because I know not everyone's mum wants perfume for Christmas, and not everyone's dad wants gardening shears, I'm going to plug my wishlists based on personality types from previous years. Gift sets from small, cruelty-free brands, online shopping for ethical Christmas presents, gift guide for a Scottish fashionista,  Stocking fillers for a kitschy gardener, gifts for the well-groomed cruelty-free male, stocking fillers for a foodie who loves a drink,  AND (my favourite!) stocking fillers for redheads and gingers. Happy shopping!

Manchester has long been on my list of places to visit (you could argue I'm easily pleased). Growing up it was a pop culture hub with a famous soap and an even more famous football club. In my adult years it came onto my radar even more as a vegan hotspot, and the adopted home of one of my veggie blogging bffs Louise. 

So while heading out to Old Trafford Football Stadium was on my to-do list, so was meeting up with Louise for some vegan grub. Now, we had a bit of drama with this one. V Revolution is closed for renovations, Dough is closed due to storm damage and so many other vegan cafés were outwith the city centre boundary - and since I only had 24 hours in the city I didn't want to wander too far out. 

Then Louise suggested heading to one of the restaurants in the Old Trafford Shopping Centre. Originally I was a bit hesitant because I assumed they would all be chains that are available in Scotland, and I didn't exactly want to eat in the same-old while exploring a new city. Thankfully, there were two vegan friendly restaurants to choose from that were not available in Glasgow. 

We settled on Tampopo - an Asian fusion restaurant with clearly marked vegan dishes. If you live south of the border, this restaurant might be more familiar to you. There's three in Manchester and one in Soho, London. It had a very Wagamamas-esque feel to it - so even if you haven't been before, you'll know what to expect. 

The menu itself is large but when you narrow down the vegan dishes you're only left with a few choices - but I will never fault a restaurant for trying. (Also to note: the menu online is slightly out-of-date and is not the same as the one we were handed). This was also one of those nights where I could hear my stomach rumbling: I had had a busy day of travelling and walking round the Manchester United Museum, while Louise had been at work. So between us we ordered a starter and main each, plus a side and a dessert to share. It was one of those days.

We  each chose the same starter of vegetable tempura, and this honestly the best tempura I have ever eaten. Weirdly they included a tempura pepper, which was a bit random but the soy sauce was perfectly salty and we got a good amount of vegetables for our money.

For mains I chose the Singaporean Curry. I'll hold my hands up right now and say I'm not sure the differences between a Singaporean Curry and other Asian cuisines - but this was a good damn curry. The sauce is a mix of coconut milk and turmeric, while the vegetables were sweet potato and cherry tomatoes. I also came across a few little pieces of tofu - which cheekily weren't mentioned on the menu but I love tofu so I'm not personally complaining (though I know it could be a deal-breaker for some).

Me  and Louise also shared some Wok Fried Greens as a side. This was the only part of the meal I felt let down by. The spinach had been left too long to soak and had that horrible soggy texture that I can't stomach the taste of (the same happens when I order the Pizza Express Pianta off Deliveroo). The marinade was also no way near as flavoursome as some restaurants' take on this dish.

Remember that I mentioned that I was hungry? I was hungry enough to add in a dessert - even though I'm usually not a dessert person. There were two vegan options on the menu: mango sorbet or a banana split. The banana split would have probably been a bit more original, but I fell for my old favourite of sorbet. I know a lot of vegans groan at sorbet, but I personally really like it and this was a very creamy take on it.

Afterwards, we had a wander round the Trafford Shopping Centre itself. It's the second-biggest in the UK, and is styled after the malls you find in America. It certainly looked a lot different to other British shopping malls, with it's marble floor and water fountains. However, a lot of the shops were the same as you would find in Glasgow - with the only exception being Selfridges. And don't get me wrong - I had a massive rummage through it (it was my first time in a Selfridges). I didn't buy anything but was tempted by the Kate Spade stationery (but put it back down when I realised how expensive Kate Spade is!).

All in all, I would recommend Tampopo. There's two more in Manchester city itself so you don't need to go out to the Trafford Centre in order to try it. I love fushion Asian cuisine and it's just the trick if you're looking for something Wagamama-esque (but not quite Wagamamas).

Orange is one of the lipstick shades I'm sure a lot of us have a love-hate relationship with. I mean, it looks great when models wear it - but us regular people who can't afford a professional make-up artist to steer us away from shades that downright don't suite us. Nah. 

But last year I did find myself caught up in the orange lipstick trend. I am lucky that my skin generally has neutral undertones. It leans slightly towards warmer shades but I mostly do suit all lipstick shades (aside from nudes, I'm one of those typical pale people who looks dead without some colour on my lips). 

If your own lipstick collection is still lacking some orange hues, here are my top 3. Okay they're the only 3 I own because I'm not a super-star blogger who can afford everything. But I would wholeheartedly recommend all of them.

L-R: Son of a Brick, Flirty Orange and Boss Lady. 

I reviewed this lipstick in full last year and it remains my favourite for when I'm feeling a subtle orange. An earthy shade that is orange meets brown but is subdue enough to wear during the day. 

Quite clearly, this is the orange lipstick you wear when you are looking to stand out. An almost-fluorescent shade, this is one of the many lipsticks I own from Gosh. I've spoken praises for Gosh's lipsticks before, but they honestly are my favourite and I own an array of them (a Gosh swatch blog-post has been on my to-do list for a long time). Here's an outfit post from last year of me wearing this shade. 

This is a very recent addition to my collection and I am happy to report that the LippyGirl formula is still divine. Like the Son of a Brick Shade mentioned earlier, Boss Lady is also an earthy and warm shade. However, unlike Son of a Brick, it's a mix between red and orange - and it can look a bit red on the lips (here's an Instagram of myself wearing it). 

Do you have a favourite orange lipstick? Let me know in the comments. 

Phil Smith is a haircare brand that has been featured a few times on my blog. However, in these posts there has been comments regarding confusion as to what products are vegan. I actually discovered Phil Smith when I was simply just cruelty-free. But when I began stricter with ingredients I myself moved the brand to the side, because I was unsure as to what was vegan. 

However, recently the PR company who look after Phil Smith got in contact and provided me with a run down as to what products are vegan (and which are not). 

BOMBSHELL Radiance Shampoo

BLONDE BOMBSHELL Radiance Conditioner

BLONDE BOMBSHELL Radiance Intensive Treatment

RESCUE SOS Iron Hot Mist

COCO LICIOUS Coconut Oil Shampoo

COCO LICIOUS Coconut Oil Conditioner

GLAM SHINE Gloss Finishing Spray

GLAM SHINE Glossing Serum

BIG IT UP! Volume Boosting Shampoo

BIG IT UP! Volume Boosting Conditioner 

BIG IT UP! Volume Boosting Spray

BIG IT UP! Thickening Volume Cream

BIG IT UP! Volume Boosting Moose

GENTLY DOES IT Ultra Soothing Shampoo

GENTLY DOES IT Ultra Soothing Conditioner

HELLO MOISTURE Nourishing Repair Shampoo

HELLO MOISTURE Nourishing Repair Conditioner

HELLO MOISTURE Intensive Conditioning Treatment

DRY CLEANERS Volumising Dry Shampoo

DRY CLEANERS Revitalising Dry Shampoo

HOLD ON Firm Hold Hairspray 

TOTAL TREAT Argan Oil Cream

TOTAL TREAT Transforming Argan Oil

CURLY LOCKS Curl Perfecting Shampoo

CURLY LOCKS Curl Perfecting Conditioner

CURLY LOCKS Curl Perfecting Spray

CURLY LOCKS Curl Control Cream

WOW! BRUNETTE Colour Illuminating Shampoo

WOW! BRUNETTE Colour Illuminating Conditioner

SOS RESCUE Damage-Protection Shampoo

SOS RESCUE Damage-Protection Conditioner

GLAM SHINE Ultimate Glossing Shampoo

GLAM SHINE Ultimate Glossing Conditioner

SUPER SMOOTH Luminous Smoothing Shampoo

SUPER SMOOTH Luminous Smoothing Conditioner

SUPER SMOOTH Luminous Protein Spray

What product will you try next?

Well, what do we have here? A Linkables? If you've been with my blog pre-2016 you'll know that I would post a round-up of my favourite links every Friday (and without blowing my own trumpet it was always a generously big round-up). I changed these posts to monthly at the start of the year due to changes in blogging schedules and life priorities and then, well, I actually just kind of forgot to do one ever again. 

Life and stuff has changed in 2016 (in a good way, but blogging is not as high up my priority list as it once had been - but again, in a good way) so some schedules just got thrown to the side. What I'm trying to say is that Linkables is not necessarily 'back' - I just found myself with some downtime (and some energy) to wind one up. Because I'm still reading just as many articles as I have before. 

So here we go...

I've never really 'came out' as non-monogamous on the internet (until, erm, now for anyone who never picked up on my passive comments) so I've never received criticism on my personal choice. But here's a personal essay from someone who did a coming out article. It's not 100% pretty. 

Keeping to the theme of polyamory, here are 5 mistakes not to make. 

If you've recently been through a break-up 1) I send you my love and 2) here are some helpful reminders you deserve to hear (but might not hear enough).

One reason I don't think parenthood for me is that I'm introverted and relish alone time. If however you are an introverted parent, here are some tips on staying sane.  

As someone who has been officially single for almost six years I can assure you, you can move on without finding someone new. 

"Imagine if your best friend moved in with you, trashed your place, refused to get a job or pay rent, demanded you cook dinner for them, and got angry and yelled at you any time you complained. That friendship would be over faster than Paris Hilton’s acting career." - If you wouldn't tolerate this kind of behaviour in a friendship, why tolerate it in a relationship? 

Looking for a new table top dice? Try some of these funky ones. 

Despite not being from Christchurch or holding the title of housewive, this was so much more relatable than most of the Real Housewives of spin-offs. 

I was avid reader of Bliss Magazine during my early teens and I still can't put into words how much it meant to my teenage self. A former feature writers pens her thoughts after it closes its doors. 

When you get to write about Game of Thrones filming locations for work. 

I spent a bit too long laughing at Alanis Morisette and James Corden's Ironic duet updated to reflect modern times. 

Green Match has named their top Vegan Bloggers of 2016, with a mention for yours truly. 

Snapchat's appeal explained. Haha! 

One for marketer's trying to reach the millennial market: it's more complicated than you think. 

I've always been able to take or leave Fashion Week, but I'm well up for a Transatlantic Fashion Week on board a Cunard cruise ship.  

I've used AirBnB once, thankfully none of this happened to me. 

5 reasons you should switch to reusable sanitary towels. 

This is a dinner party theme I can get behind: the 'crappy' dinner party (aka making it about the company and not whatever fancy something you slaved away for). 

I find it difficult to tolerate whiny people, so should probably print this article out and keep it in my handbag. 

Some advice for shopping smart at vintage fairs from the ever stylish Kimberley of Wardrobe Conversations. 

A public reminder that men get breast cancer too. 

Finally, you should check out Cat Cosplay. You can thank me later.

My writing elsewhere

Welcome to another episode of "Morag doesn't stay on top of her reviews and has been meaning to write this for years". I'm not exaggerating when I say years. Somewhere in 2015 I attended one of the many Vegan Fetes at The Flying Duck and came across the cleaning brand Humble Stuff. This was back when I began switching up my cleaning cupboard to eco and animal friendly products, so this was a no-brainer purchase for me. 

I'm not going to lie, even now, I'm still not sold on the whole 'natural' cleaning thing (I'm not even sold on it for beauty products either tbh). Like, this is the hygiene of my house we are talking about here - not some lipstick that I'm unlikely to get E.coli off of. I want something that kills bacteria. So I'm a lot more fussy about what I purchase and I'm a bit sceptical of cleaning my work surfaces with something grown in a garden somewhere (or paying money for something I could probably make myself).

Humble Stuff has three products in its range: Soft Cleaning Paste, Toilet Freshener, and a Multi-Surface Spray. All three come in simple packaging and are all made using a small list of ingredients (and I can pronounce every single one). There products are all cruelty-free and vegan, plus the packaging is recyclable. The products are also handmade and made-to-order so you know they're fresh. 

I'll start with my favourite: the soft cleaning paste. At the fete I was told I could use this as an oven cleaner, work-surface cleaner or drop some in my hand basin and use as a soap for my dishes. It's only the third I use it for and it is excellent for cleaning dishes. I still use regular washing up liquid, but this is great to add in with when you're cleaning something stubborn like a burnt pan. I used it for my work surface once, but white marks were left when it dried up. And it's just not strong enough for hobs and ovens. 

The next product is one that I like, but it's not amazing, and that's the Multi-Surface Spray. As I reiterated above, I don't like to put the hygiene of my house in the hands of natural products so this isn't the only cleaning spray I use (once hospitals start using natural cleaning products, I'll become sold). What I use this for is a quick spritz after I've been making my dinner to get rid of the worst of it. But for my weekly deep-clean I prefer something a bit stronger. Saying that major plus is that it smells gorgeous (I have spritzed it around my living room in place of an actual air freshener a couple of times!). 

Finally, we have the product I have no intention of re-purchasing: the Toilet Freshener. This isn't a bleach or one of those gel things you put in the cistern that turns the water blue. The best way to describe this is 'a bath bomb for your loo'. Except this bath bomb doesn't have glitter or leaves a beautiful smell that swirls round your bathroom for days. Nope. It's white in colour and you pop it in your loo and watch it fizz. There's also no strong smell. So your guests aren't going to lift the lid of your toilet and promptly compliment you on your great smelling toilet. I don't like slating brands but this is honestly one of the pointless things I've reviewed. I've fused them up because I hate waste, but that's all else I have to say. 

Toilet bath bombs aside, I would seriously consider re-purchasing the spray and the paste. But only for helping my cleaning routine - none of the products clean thoroughly enough to become a holy grail product. 

Obviously, this is only my own opinion. The lovely Mica wrote a glowing review of the Multi-Use Spray and the fabulous Sarah rates the paste and spray highly. 

Have you ever tried Humble Stuff cleaning?

One of the reason I love working about brands is the opportunity to discover new ones. One of these brands is DECIEM - an umbrella company for some exciting new products hailing from the stunning Canada. 

Marketing itself as 'The Abnormal Beauty Company' this is a not a company who do things by half measures. Already they have launched 10 stand alone brands but also have another three on the way. And not just content with beauty, these brands are also players in the health and fitness markets. Not bad for a company that only started in 2013. 

As quite a lot of the blogosphere will already know, the lovely PR team from DECIEM UK were in Glasgow recently meeting up with bloggers to give them chance to hand try the products before deciding what products in particular they would like to review. 

I've never actually had a brand sit down with me before and run over everything, and this was the perfect opportunity for me to find out more. Their big flagship brand is Hylamide, and it's no surprise that four products from this range were carted out to Glasgow. An extensive skin-care range that splits its products into three categories: Core, Booster and Finisher. The core range focuses on everyday skincare and covers anti-ageing as well as normal skin categories. The Booster is a range of serums designed for when you skin needs an extra, well, boost. Then finally there is the finisher range which includes primers and their Photography Foundation.

One of their other flagship brands is Hand Chemistry. As the name implies this is the hand cream section of their company - but they also produce body creams. More excitingly this brand is also award-winning and available on the UK high street. 

And we can't talk about beauty without mentioning hair. Hair is Fabric is their dedicated hair care range, who's tagline asks the important question: you wouldn't put couture clothing in the washer, so why is your hair any less important?

Their range has a whopping 15 products (this is probably the largest collection) covering all hair concerns. Need something to brighten up blonde locks? Yup. Black, red, silver or brunette hair? Got a top up for that too. Looking for some anti-ageing hair care? Sorted. Need an intensive detox? Yep, yep, yep.

Finally, there was a nutritional product from their Fountain range. There are 11 liquid supplements to choose from, each with their own unique purpose. Deciem call them molecules, and they range from supplements designed to improve your hair, through to supplements designed to give you more energy.

The products I've been trying 

After our first meeting, Laura kindly agreed to send me three of their products to try: Hand Chemistry Anti-Ageing Hand Cream, Hylamide HA Blur and Hylamide Low-Molecular HA. After finding out so much about the brand I was very excited to try the products for mysel.

I'm going to kick off with my favourite product: the Hylamide Low-Molecular HA. Weirdly, this was the product I was most unsure of when I opened it. It's a skincare product that comes with a 'dropper' and is designed to hydrate the skincare. Packaging choices aside, what I love about this product was its ability to add moisture to my skin without overdoing it. Other owners of oily/combination skin will know how fickle face creams can be and the struggle of buying one that is just right. Thankfully this isn't a cream (its almost an oil, but not quite either - I can't explain it) and it hits just the correct balance. I've been using this daily and will consider a re-purchase.

Also in the Hylamide range is the HA Blur, a primer with moisturising properties. As the previous paragraph suggests it's not moisture I look for in a primer. Therefore this primer was probably not the correct choice - and I'm probably not the best person to review it. On one plus note however I can report that it was a velvety soft formula. There is a matte primer aimed at oily skin which I will definitely consider trying at a later date.

Finally, I was lucky enough to try a product from Hand Chemistry. this is an award-winning product that can be found in Boots. I'll be honest, I find hand creams difficult to review as I've never been disappointed by a hand cream to date (how difficult is it to get hand cream right?). I also have naturally soft skin on my body so this may also be a factor.

Vegan Products

Obviously I'm not going to meet up with a brand rep without asking about animal testing and veganism. I've been assured that Deciem is cruelty-free and only one of their products is non-vegan (it's the FOUNTAIN's Phyto-Collagen Molecule). Everything else is bunny friendly!

What I might try next

I have my eye on a few more of the products in the range, which might just make it into my shopping basket in the near future. As mentioned I'm keen on trying the Finisher Matte 12, but I'm also looking at the Booster Pore Control, several products from the Hair is Fabric range, and the Photography Foundation.

Have you tried anything from the DECIEM range? 

You know how I've been saying for the past few months that I'm ridiculously behind on restaurant reviews? If you thought I was exaggerating, this is the post where you discover I wasn't. Because I'm finally sitting down to review an Edinburgh restaurant I visited...in February. 

And you know what makes this length of time ridiculous? That night I demolished what was the best vegan pizza I have possibly ever tasted. If you haven't yet been to Novapizza Vegetarian Kitchen then you're not living life properly. 

Located on Howe Street (a little bit away from the centre, but still within walking distance) this small Italian is just the place if you're wanting a quiet catch-up with a friend. 100% vegetarian the menu is actually very expansive, given how niche - and tiny - the restaurant is. 

If you look on their website the menu isn't that impressive, but the one you're handed inside is (and I'm not just out-of-date, I have checked with an Edinburgh based friend who has been by recently and assures me they just need to update their website). Their Deliveroo page is actually the best place to familiarise yourself with their menu. 

I honestly cannot remember what pizza I ordered that night. But I can assure you I was left stunned and wanting more. And the vegan cheese that was on my pizza? No idea what the brand was, but if you fed that to a non-vegan - they would never guess. *cackles*

We all know I'm a savoury gal and there's not much that can take me away from pizza. However, if you're not all that much of a pizza person - Nova Pizza has plenty more on offer. They have a 'cheesecake of the day', pasta dishes and a range of starters including bruschetta, focaccia and minestrone.

They only slightly negative comment I have is that it is quite small so I'd recommend booking a table. 

So seriously, get down. If you live in Edinburgh you have no excuse. And if you live elsewhere? Honestly, you don't have much excuse either. 

While I was visiting my parents in Aberdeenshire, it gave me a good opportunity to hunt though the relics of my childhood room. I've already blogged about rediscovering my Amy Studt album, but another gem I found was my Dictionary of Dreams book. I can remember having some pretty out there dreams as a teenager and it began to fascinate my younger self.

However, I don't actually dream that much as I an adult, which makes looking back on some of these dreams peculiar. I'm unsure if kids and teenagers just have more active brains as they sleep? But one potential theory I have is that of food. I noted that I would dream more if I ate before bed (and, my dream obsessed teenage self would purposefully eat late so I would dream), but my diet was quite different back then. I went vegetarian when I was 20 and vegan at 23 and I'm not sure if maybe this could have had an effect on the activity of my sleeping brain.

I don't have a solid answer to that question - or what the meanings of my dreams were. But the recent #DreamsExplained campaign launched by Ajustamatic and dream expert Ian Wallace aims to answer some of those questions. In the new video Ian explains why it is kids dream and what they tend to dream about, depending on their age. The video is also embedded at the end of my post so you can have a nosey.

But first I thought I would share a selection of some my own childhood dreams that have stood out. 

As a child I had a recurring dream that a dinosaur came back to life. Just one. The news would follow the creature and warn certain parts of the country that it was coming near them so they had time to hide. I remember the map of the UK from one dream and it was identical to the TV weather map.

Potential Meaning: I was one of the kids who loved dinosaurs and wanted to be a paleontologist (Ross Geller, I hear ya). Which is probably the only reasonable explanation for this. 

Not long before my thirteenth birthday, my childhood dog was put to sleep. This was the first time I had to deal with the feelings that accompany death, and a recurring dream occurred for the next year. My beloved Maggie would stop by and pay us a visit. I was aware in the dream that it was nothing more than a visit and that she would be gone again soon. And even though it was just a dream it was nice to hold her again (or have her try and steal my food).

Potential Meaning: grief, especially because it was the first loss I ever went through. 

This was a one off dream and a bizarre one. When I was, say, 14 (?) I had a dream I was pregnant but had never had sex. Most of the dream was spent convincing people it was a legitimate virgin pregnancy.

Potential Meaning: I've always attributed this to teenage pressures to have sex

4. Teeth falling out (or returning to pre-braces smile)

I had braces for three years between the ages of 16 and 19. Ever since then I am still occasionally plagued by a dream where my now-straight teeth fall out or move back to where they were. To make something clear: my teeth were horrid. My baby teeth were relentlessly stubborn about falling out and it caused all sorts of problems (I even had two rows of incisors for a bit).

Potential Meaning: Teeth falling out is a common dream, but for me it was likely due to the insecurities my teeth caused during my teenage years. 

5. Hunger Games participant

I was late to the party with The Hunger Games but became hooked. So much that I dreamt I was a participant in the games. And won. Not because of my non-existent combat skills, but because I'm a strong swimmer (and also because I ran away to hide it out).

When I read the second book/watched the second film I realised I could survive that particular arena due to my strong swimming skills. Even if that was my only skill. In my dream there was plenty of water (and a boat?) which I was able to jump off from and run off into hiding. And wait it out.

Potential Meaning: watching the Hunger Games one too many times.

6. My stress dream

My final dream is however a recurring one that popped up in adulthood and says hello when I'm stressed - but in it I'm transported back to high school. I find myself back in my old high school, a couple of weeks into 5th or 6th year and I'm yet to make sense of my timetable. I've been unintentionally missing classes and haven't been doing my homework - not due to slacking, just because my brain hasn't settled into routine. My school shared senior classes with a nearby school, so I had to sometimes catch a shuttle bus between classes. And in the dream I just can't figure out what school I need to be in!

Potential Meaning: This dream only occurs when I'm stressed. But why I'm back to school I have no idea - I was good at keeping on top of my timetable (and knowing what school each class was in).

If you're still wondering what some of your own childhood dreams meant, Ian and Adjustamatic have created this video that discusses common childhood dreams. My dinosaur dream is half-explained by Ian sharing with us that 5-7 year-olds dreams about fantastical creatures.


What's your take on my dreams? Can you remember your childhood dreams?

About Adjustamatic
Adjustamtic specialise in adjustable beds. They have been making beds for over 50 years and are a British company who manufacture in the UK. There are nearly 30 papers written by doctors and medical professionals about the health benefits and are registered with the UK Government’s Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority.

Miso soup is one of these dishes that sounds fancy, but is actually very easy to make. Which is a good thing, as miso soup isn't usually vegan and is not a safe option at a Japanese restaurant. It contains fish stock, and even when it's marked with a V I don't order it - 'cause, you know, a lot of people still think vegetarians eat fish.

Luckily the fish isn't an essential part of miso soup. The essential part is the miso paste - and that comes from a plant! When picking your miso paste, the paler the colour the lighter the taste so if you've never tried it, that's my best advice. Miso is delicious but it can be an acquired taste and better in smaller portions (miso soup is always a side or starter). 

Below is the recipe I follow when making it at home. Chinese Supermarkets are the best place to pick up most of the ingredients. Much, much cheaper than an average health food store.

1/4 block of Morinaga firm silken tofu*, cut into cubes

5 shiitake mushrooms, sliced

handful endoi mushrooms

10 brown bunashime mushrooms

2 dessert spoons miso

4-5 strips wakame

one green onion, sliced

1. Start by adding the seaweed to a pan of boiling water. Leave to simmer for about 10 minutes. 

2. While that's simmering, prepare the tofu. You're working with firm tofu here but it's always a good idea to remove excess moisture to make sure it keeps its shape. To do this drain the liquid from the packet and wrap tofu in kitchen roll. You might have to repeat this step a few times. 

3. Taste the water to ensure it now has a flavour to it. Some people like to leave the seaweed in, but I hate the texture of cooked seaweed so at this point I take it out and discard.
4. Prepare the miso by mixing with some water until it is a thick paste. 

5. Add the green onion and mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes.
6. Add the miso last. 

7. Pour into the separate bowls and gently add tofu cubes on top

If you're a fan of miso soup, what is your preferred way of cooking it? 

I've said this before about the place I grew up: Aberdeen, well, I don't live as an adult for a reason - but Aberdeenshire? Stunning scenery and quaint towns with beautiful independent stores. That's why even though I grew up on the border of the city/shire I prefer to say I'm from the latter. 

In the past fortnight I've visiting at my parents' house in their village located not far outside of the Granite City. During this time me and my mum went on a drive starting in Cults and ending in Inverurie - if you're familiar with the geography of North-East Scotland it won't surprise you that this drive took five hours (including stops to explore). Along the way I re-visited childhood haunts, and discovered small settlements I didn't even realise existed. 

We started off in Cults. Cults is an upmarket suburb of Aberdeen that sticks out to the west of the city and while it is mainly a residential area there are a few gems on the main road. I reviewed the Terrior Deli two years ago (and it's still there) but this time I took more notice of the Chest Heart & Stroke charity shop a few doors down. I've been here a few times and it usually has some nicer pieces than other charity shops. This time I picked up Fault in Our Stars for £1 and a blazer/cardigan (that was originally H&M) for £10. Charity shops can be hit or miss, but this store is definitely a hit. 

Moving on to Bieldside. A while ago through the Vegan Aberdeen Facebook Group I became aware of a health food store located in the Newtown Dee Village. This is a tranquil community with assisted-living for individuals with learning disabilities. I had always been aware of it but had never known about the café and shop open to the public. I'm glad I stopped by because this is a big shop and contains some brands I've only been able to buy online, and less common vegetables. The coffee shop also has soya milk for any vegans wanting a caffeine fix.

After this we headed out of the Aberdeen City boundaries and sped onto the countryside. 

First stop was somewhere my mum rates highly but I didn't know about, Milton of Crathes. This is just outside of Banchory where independent shoppers will find homewares, pieces of original art and independent jewellery among beautiful views of the River Dee. Now while my childhood had closer links to the River Don (Aberdeen actually means the "mouth of the Dee and the Don") I think the River Dee is just so much more scenic: it remains wider for longer and more has been done to pave dedicated walking paths along its banks.

After this we headed into the nearby town of Banchory for...a trip the garden centre. While gardening isn't a hobby I've managed to fully embrace because, well, I don't have a garden; I do still love making a mental checklist for that future 40-acres I'm planning to own. 

However, we weren't just there to look at water fountains and decide on next spring's flowerbed, we were here to try the vegan food. A while back I heard a rumour that a garden centre in Banchory were offering gluten free and vegan food in their restaurant. I didn't actually catch the name of the garden centre so we were driving out to Banchory with our fingers crossed. Luckily they had some Mediterranean Quinoa marked out as vegan. I know this isn't the most original vegan dish in the world but I'll never fault a restaurant for at least acknowledging alternative diets - especially when they're not located in a major city. My review is positive as the quinoa was perfectly done and contained enough extra ingredients to give it flavour and the ability to fill a stomach.

When we got in the car my mum announced she was taking me into the centre of Banchory to a place that would definitely stir childhood memories. As we drove up the main street I recognised a park we used to stop while I was young - I had completely forgotten where it was. Bellfield Park is right in the middle of Banchory and has a small 'amusement centre' and traditional play park. I seem to remember a giant slide at some point, however my mum thinks I'm imagining somewhere else - does anyone else remember this park in the 90s and able to clear that up?

To close our trip we looped round to Inverurie which is to the north of the city. Inverurie was somewhere I was spent time as a child and teenager - it's one of the largest towns and some well-known brands have opened stores, so sometimes we'd go shopping there instead of heading into Aberdeen. But I don't think I've been in the town since I stopped permanently living in Aberdeenshire (which was 2008!). Since it was just after 4pm we had to make the most of our time and immediately head to the shop that had been the entire point of including Inverurie on our drive.

That shop was Butterfly Fabrics on West High Street. As you know I've recently gotten in sewing and I'm always looking for fabrics no one else will have, so an independent store seemed like the best bet. Here I picked up this beautiful Scottie Dog/tartan fabric that you can see below.



I also used this opportunity to do some Pokemon hunting. There's a square in Inverurie with a few stops and the lures got turned on at roughly 5pm. While the city of Aberdeen proved better (read my post on that!) if you're living near Inverurie it shouldn't be overlooked.

Do you know of any other hidden Aberdeenshire gems?