Things I Loved this Month, November 2014.

This month I loved...

* Binge watching Torchwood * doing lots of grown up house buying things (buy my flat, anyone?) * Wetherspoons currys * my boy walking all the way to Matalan (about a mile and a half each way) to buy me an owl biscuit barrel, filling it with vegan biscuits and leaving it for me to find in my kitchen <3 * naps on the sofa * watching Doctor Who, Made in Chelsea, Melissa and Joey * Cuddles with both my nieces, the littlest baby is so cute and calm and sleepy and the biggest baby is so cute and runs everywhere!  She has started saying 'oh peeee-eeeeeeese' in an irresistible manner whenever she wants something! * family dinner * pizza night * having a major declutter, I've sent at least 10 carrier bags of stuff to the charity shops and sold some bits on Ebay too * having a lie in * seeing 'The Book of Life' at the cinema, soo pretty * nice work chums * chocolate reindeers * jammy dodgers * proper, wintery cold weather * Birmingham German Market * pigs in blankets crisps * geese flying by in formation * 

Hope you've had a lovely month too! 

Home Grown Harvest, November 2014.

I harvested this little pepper this month! 

I don't think there are many other people in the UK who have eaten a fresh, home grown pepper in November!

Have you harvested anything this month?

What do Vegans Eat? November 2014.

People always ask me 'What do you eat?', so here are a few of the vegan meals I've eaten this month.

Cinnamon raisin bagels, spread with Pure vegan margarine, with OJ for my breakfast.  These bagels are from the brand New York Bakery Co and are really yummy.

My boyfriend invented this vegan wellington, it's made from Linda McCartney Sausages, blended with herbs, shaped into a little loaf shape, covered in mushrooms, vegan pate and puff pastry.  He made roast potatoes and peas to go with it.

Morrisons own brand breaded garlic mushrooms are vegan (as far as I can tell), they're in a purple bag in the freezer section.  You can cook them in the oven or deep fry them, but I've found cooking in the oven makes them go too soft and get stuck to the baking tray.  As I was deep frying anyway, I made homemade chips too.  Yum.

My mum's recipe for potato, leek and lentil bake.  I add in some chopped frozen spinach too, for extra healthiness. 

Vegan pizza! I make my own vegan pizza dough, top with a mixture of tomato ketchup and tomato puree, then whatever veg I fancy.  The top pizza is mushroom, garlic and spring onion, the bottom one is Linda McCartney sausage and red onion.  Both pizzas are topped with a homemade vegan 'cheese' topping made from ground up pine nuts, breadcrumbs, nutritional yeast flakes and onion powder. 

VBites Fish-Free Fish Fingers, with a baked potato and sweetcorn.  I really like these vegan fishless fingers, they're yummy.

What have you been eating?

Make One Small Change - Use a Reusable Stainless Steel Drinking Straw.

Adopting eco friendly habits, for me, is easier taken one small step at a time.  Lots of small changes add up to a big difference.

I have bought myself some stainless steel drinking straws.  I avoid single use plastics if possible, so I haven't had a drink with a straw for a long time.

 

But now I can have a drink with a straw again!  I know it's a bit sad, but I find drinking from a straw so much more fun, and it means I drink more over the day (bonus, my skin is looking soo nice!).  These stainless steel straws can be washed and reused over and over again.  

And the best part is, they cost just over a pound each on Ebay.

Have you made any eco friendly changes lately? 

My Little Flat.

I wanted to share a few corners of my home with you.  

I bought my flat two and a half years ago, gave it a bit of a makeover, and have proceeded to fill it with the contents of the local charity shops!

The reason for these photos?  All my clutter has been tidied away, my flat is going on the market and I will (all going well) be moving somewhere new with my lovely boyfriend.  

You may have spotted my ever so subtle subliminal message on the whiteboard ...

Now, anybody want to buy a flat?

Charity Shopping, Miserable Worm Toy and Hornsea Green Heirloom Jar.

Here are some of my recent charity shop finds,

I love the expression on this worms face.  I'm told he should have a shell, that rotates, and he's actually a tortoise.  Whatever, I prefer him as a worm.  Perfect for my 'Aunty bag' (I find having a bag full of new or different toys to play with my niece when I look after her really useful if we need a distraction!).  25p, charity shop.

This green Hornsea Heirloom jar is cool because it doesn't say 'tea' or 'coffee' on it, it's blank so I can keep what I want in it.  £1.50, charity shop.

The fabric in the background was from the charity shop too, 75p.

Have you bought anything thrifty or second hand recently?

Owl Earrings. Twit Twooo.

I've been playing with jewellery making for a while and I wanted to show off these cute little owl earrings I made for myself.

I bought the ceramic owl beads from Ebay a while ago, so I'm glad to finally put them to good use.

What have you been making?

Simple Pleasures #20.

I bought some fabric to make myself a Christmas skirt!

from here

Legoland Windsor, Miniland.

I spent a few days last week in Windsor, the main point of the trip was to go to Legoland, to celebrate my and my boyfriends birthdays (mine's in September and his is in October).  

My favourite part of Legolandis definitely 'Miniland' where famous landmarks from all over the world are recreated in lego.

 

 

Have you ever been to Legoland?

Easy Eco Actions, November 2014.

 

Here's this months round up of easy, eco friendly actions,

Sign this petition to support a protest against Coca-cola using too much water and violating pollution regulations in their plant in an Indian village.

Sign this petition against fracking.

Friends of the earth are campaigning to keep some wild beavers in Devon free.  Send an email here.

38 Degrees are running a petition to ask that all political parties are involved in TV pre-election debates (not just the big 3 and the new addition of UKip).  Sign here.

If you have any causes or actions to add then let me know in the comments and if I like it I'll add it in.  And feel free to share any of this info (or the whole post) wherever and with whoever you like - if you sign any of the petitions and use social media then please consider using the share on facebook or twitter options that pop up, it increases the reach of these actions and awareness of these issues even further. 

 

Simple Pleasures #19.

Pinky-purple roses.

Things I Loved this Month, October 2014.

This month I've loved,

* lie ins * sitting on the sofa in the sunshine * lovely work people * having time at work to actually tidy some books up and make some displays * chocolate fridge cake * ordering photos online and sticking them in my photo album * soft pretzels * my heating breaking but my mum knowing how to fix it! * watching Doctor Who, Torchwood, Awkward, Downton Abbey * butter pasta * my friend who I visited in Brazil being here for 6 months! * finding interesting things in the bins * seeing Pride at the cinema - sooo good!! * buying a crochet trolley * croissants * crocheting a mustard coloured shawl and a cupcake hat * a belated housewarming present from my friend * tea at mums * charity shopping * wetherspoons chips * tidy flat * putting the lovely fluffy 10 tog duvet on our bed ready for chilly weather * lush baths * holiday in Windsor with my boyfriend, we went to Windsor Castle and LEGOLAND, which was awesome, and we ate yummy stuff and did a bit of charity shopping too, even our 4-changes each way train journeys went ok.  It was our first holiday together and it was lovely! * my new niece was born, she is beautiful and soo teeny.  I've seen loads of my other niece this month too, she is getting so big now.  New words this month are 'narna' 'bum' and 'done' and I still love it when she says 'iya zizzeeeeeee' * autumnal walk with crunchy leaves * carving a pumpkin * bonfire *

It's been a great month in Susie-land, I hope you've had a lovely one too!