The Magic Flower Company

We know you might not want to hear this, but, winter is well and truly coming. Although this resonates with dark early evenings, and dreary and grey days, we at The Amazing Blog try to marry up the cosiness of hygge, and brightness of limited daylight. When we came upon the Magic Flower Company, you can’t imagine our excitement at discovering that their fresh flowers last for up to one year! What better way to brighten up your home than with freshly cut flowers that don’t require water, remaining hassle-free all year round. We were more than rather impressed with their Magic Roses, Magic Foliage and Magic Flower Arrangements.

Based in a small village in Suffolk, The Magic Flower Company was founded by entrepeneur Jack Hinshelwood. His company harvests flowers at their peak, preserving them with a unique biodegradable preservation formula. On the website, there is a plethora of floral arrangements which are regularly updated on a seasonal basis. We received 12 Antique Cream Premium Magic Roses, which were delivered in a stylish black box through the post. As you can see from the photo (above), they are the perfect ‘winter white’ and 9 months on, still have pride of place in our office. We cannot urge you strongly enough to invest in these beautiful long-lasting roses - frankly for us, gone are the days of receiving half dead and wilted flowers from a florist’s delivery van!

The designs come in different sizes and prices, which are adapted to meet popular trends and styles, and we rather like the statement flowers of the Cream Hatbox Design. Furthermore, on their website, they offer different gifting options, such as the Mini Present Box or Presentation Rose, which offer more simplistic arrangements. The flowers are available here in different styles, all of which are updated on a monthly basis. To purchase your own Antique Cream Magic Rose, then click here. A single rose is £8.95, or treat yourself to a magic 12 for £94.95.

Dark Stag Shaving Set

There is nothing quite as satisfying as a REALLY good shave - ask any chap who has just been under the blade, and if the results of the daily beard blitz aren’t up to scratch, the whole day ahead runs the risk of being tinged with negativity. Few of us boys at The Amazing Blog have the diary space to indulge in the unashamed pampering that’s enjoyed within the trusted walls of our favourite barbershop each and every day. Oh the joy of shutting out the world for 45 minutes and revelling in the solitude and peace of ‘me time’, whilst having the experts lavish their grooming attentions on us. 

However, Dark Stag is a company based in Worthing, West Sussex giving us all the chance to recreate the authenticity of our hallowed barbershop ground, in the confines of our own bathroom, with a plethora of quality barbering products for us to enjoy. The complete Dark Stag range can be found on their comprehensive website, with everything you could ever need. From combs through to scissors, you will also find the required hardware for a truly exquisite shave. We were sent the Dark Stag Shaving Set, compromising of a doubled edged safety razor, shaving brush and stainless steel shaving bowl. Each product has the feeling of true craftsmanship and quality, which of course always helps in the final result. And that isn’t just important to those of us undertaking the task of shearing our whiskers, but it is of course always of huge concern to anyone who may be getting up, close and personal during the course of the day or evening.

Where Dark Stag have been particularly clever, is in offering a set of products to suit varying price points - particularly useful as we approach the season of tinsel and gift giving. The Dark Stag Shaving Set would make an excellent gift for a loved one, available for £65.00, but as each item from Dark Stag is exquisitely packaged, other products would make fantastic stocking fillers too.

Friday Favourites: Healthier Sweet Snacks

Snacking, often the cause of many a failed healthy eating attempt, is something we can't live without at The Amazing Blog. Fortunately, the expansion of the health food market has unearthed a vast selection of new and healthier alternatives, so we can snack healthily, without cutting out our favourite snacking foods. Below are a few of our latest discoveries, which have encouraged us to snack more mindfully in recent months!

Firstly, we came across The Nu Company, a German brand, with the vision of providing cutting-edge health products, that don't cut out flavour. As a company, they aim to change our perceptions, not only about healthier foods but also about the way in which we consume. This includes the desire to enable large-scale reforestation, planting a tree for every product sold. While eating their raw cacao bars, we have already helped to plant eight trees - what better way to help the environment?

Made only from "ingredients you are able to pronounce", these raw cacao bars come in a variety of different flavours that do not contain artificial additives. Instead, each bar contains raw cacao, hemp seeds, coconut blossom nectar, almonds, lucuma and acerola - flavoured with natural flavourings for a delicious pop of Espresso, Barberry, Hazlenut and Coconut. This combination of natural and organic ingredients provides a vast array of health benefits, from adding plant-based protein, to providing a new method of incorporating your daily vitamins and minerals. They also contain omega-3-fatty-acids, and we can confirm that the Espresso bar proved popular on a Monday morning! The Nu Company endeavour to push environmental awareness further - their bars are wrapped in home-compostable foil and are encased in recyclable cardboard boxes, ensuring their packaging is plastic free. What more could you ask from a chocolatey snack? To try a Nu+cao bar for yourself, purchase from a wholesaler (The Health Store, Tree of Life or CLF) or click here to order a 40g bar for £2.79.

For a non-chocolate based sweet treat, we came across Abakus, founded by Helen Wang, who wanted to introduce the lesser know Jujube Fruit into the UK market. If you're unsure of what Jujube is, then you're not alone - perhaps it is fair to insinuate it as the forgotten member of the date family! That said, we didn't know what we were missing, and the naturally sweet and caramel like flavour has encouraged us to become more adventurous with our snacking.

Jujube has a host of health benefits, it is packed with nutrients and essential amino acids, and is a known adaptogen (proven to help the body adapt to stress). We tried three different variations of Jujube fruit, the first being the original Red Dates. Pitted and dried, they work well as a snack on their own, but we also found them equally delicious when added to our favourite brownie recipes - not so healthy but they say it’s all about balance! They have a chewy texture, and like all of the products in the Abakus range, are gluten and dairy free, and count as one of your five a day. Secondly, we tried the Crunchy Crisps, which, as the name suggests, are sliced into smaller pieces, giving them a crunchy yet chewy texture. These proved delicious when sprinkled over porridge, adding a bit of texture to our regular oats.

Finally, we also tried the Red Dates Stuffed with Almonds, perfect for a post-workout snack thanks to the additional energy and healthy fats of almonds. As with the other variations, these Jujube pieces are vegan, paleo, sugar and sulphate free, making them an excellent snack for anyone with a sweet tooth. To try Jujube Fruit for yourself, visit the Abakus website (here), where you can purchase a range of different multipacks from £13.00.

Thirdly we came across Elements for Life, a brand founded by husband and wife, Dan and Paula Knowlson. After embarking on a health, nutrition and diet journey, through which they discovered raw chocolate, Paula suggested making their own, and the rest is history! What has emerged is a company that is committed to creating products suitable for a wide range of people, with products suitable for vegans, diabetics and coeliacs, as well as those with lactose intolerances. This popularity is proven through the recent celebration of their 8th birthday, and so we couldn’t wait to try their offerings.

We tried their Yummy Scrummy Raw Chocolate Brownie, a delectable and rich product made with Criollo raw cacao, dates, walnuts, raisins, goji berries, brazil nuts and fruit extracts. These ingredients not only taste scrumptious, but they are free from refined sugar, dairy, gluten and soya, meaning we can indulge in a chocolately afternoon treat without feeling too guilty. We found that the use of goji berries provides a welcome pop of flavour to lift the rich nature of cacao, and it’s safe to say that these brownies didn’t last long in the office. To try a Yummy Scrummy Raw Chocolate Brownie for £2.79 per bar, click here. 

If you’re more of a pudding lover, then Pudology may well be the brand for you. Founder Lucy Wager took to the kitchen after realising there were few puddings suitable for her dairy and egg intolerance. This emerged a brand that is vegan, suitable for coeliacs and free from gluten and wheat. The real winner here is the creamy and decedant consistency of the puddings, often expected to be lacking in vegan desserts.

Pudology offer a range of seven puddings, we tried their Bannoffee Puds previously, and were excited to try the newly launched ‘Skinny’ versions: Skinny Chocolate and Raspberry Puds and Skinny Lemon and Yuzu Puds, which contain under 60 calories. The Skinny Chocolate and Raspberry Puds contain coconut cream, dark chocolate and raspberry compote, which together give a hit of intense chocolate while remaining light with the zing of fruit - a classic flavour combination that is most certainly a winner here. What’s better, is that despite the creamy texture, the calorific content is much lower than other chocolate puddings. The Lemon and Yuzu Puds were lighter and fruitier, ideal for people with less of a love for chocolate. That said, they proved equally popular with the biggest chocolate fiends at The Amazing Blog. We loved the use of yuzu, which adds a grapefruit like zing without an overly tangy aftertaste, and again were pleased to discover the low calorie content. To purchase two Chocolate Orange Puds for £2.25, click here, or for the Lemon and Yuzu Puds for £2.25 click here.

Last, but not least, we were fortunate to try Nibble Protein Bites once again. Founder Erin Moroney formulated a range of high protein snacks after discovering a distinct lack of low sugar snacks on the market. We tried Nibble Protein’s offerings last year (see here), and as avid runners at The Amazing Blog, we were keen to find more protein snacks that do not contain counterproductive added sugars. All ingredients in Nibble Protein Bites are dairy, gluten and soy free, instead favouring pea protein and dried plum purée for natural fibre and antioxidants.

Firstly we tried the classic flavour combo of Choc Orange Brownie, made with dark chocolate chips and packed with natural orange flavouring. These scrumptious nibbles contain coconut nectar and gluten-free oats, providing a low GI and fibre simultaneously. They were certainly a welcome treat to power us through our to-do lists. Equally delicious, the Choc Walnut Brownie was a hit with the nut lovers of the office. We particularly enjoyed the pop of vanilla and found this flavour a perfect mid-morning snack to accompany a coffee (or two!) Finally, we tried the Mint Choc Brownie flavour which was subsequently our favourite. Made with cacao nibs and enriched with peppermint oil, we found it hard to believe that these decadant packets could be regarded as ‘healthy’.

To add some scrumptious protein into your diet, visit the Nibble Protein Bites website where you can purchase a 12 pack of your favourite flavour for £16.00

As you can see, swapping to healthier snacks doesn’t always call for bland and boring choices. We hope to have opened your eyes to a new way of adding sweetness to your diet, we are certainly loving it!

Cherokee Rose Balms

Here at The Amazing Blog, we’re always looking for natural products that boost our beauty and wellbeing at the same time. This week we present you Cherokee Rose, a brand with 100% natural healing balms made from traditional Native American Recipes. Recently launched in the UK, they bring us a solution for swollen legs, bruises and cuts, as well as sleeplessness and a lack of concentration.

Created by Caroline Biggs, whose late Great Grandmother was a Cherokee Native American, the four different balms have been formulated with love and dedication to their heritage. The Cherokee Rose Pow Wow Concentration Lip Balm gives a sleepy head a full boost of concentration in the morning, with less need for a caffeine fix. Compounded of rosemary oil, which is known for its brain clarifying properties, peppermint oil which boosts memory and Yarrow Oil which releases tension, it’s the ultimate energy source to keep your lips and mind running smoothly.

Furthermore, if you feel your legs don’t work like they used to before, the Cherokee Rose Rain Dance Aching Leg Balm is your friend in need, (alongside Ed Sheeran of course). It helps to soothe swollen, aching or varicose legs with enriched basil oil, lavender oil, yarrow oil and ginger oil. All of these ingredients have anti-inflammatory properties, and therefore work anti rheumatic wonders on your legs. The balm helps to increase the blood circulation, reducing swelling. A quick run to the tube isn’t a problem anymore!

The third balm is the Cherokee Rose Dream Catcher Balm, for night owls that are in desperate need of a good night's sleep. Containing lavender, chamomile and yarrow oils, it calms body and mind, and lets you sink into a sweet dream, making you feel energised the next day. For it to work its magic, you should apply it to the temples 30 minutes before sleeping.

The fourth balm in the group, Chereokee Rose Medicine Man, helps to heal cuts and burns with healing ingredients like jojoba oil, coconut oil and arnica oil. It also contains tea tree, cypress and yarrow oil; helping to soothe the trials of athlete's foot. This product makes your sore feet smell like a rose bed, and the highly antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties make it a true medicine cabinet worthy balm.

The four balms come in a 30ml package and are 100% cruelty-free and natural. At £5.50 each, they're a bargain made by the gods. Click here to check them out!

Purepotions - Skin Salving Bath and Body Oil

Here at The Amazing Blog we are extremely fortunate to be testing lots of different beauty and lifestyle products on a daily basis. However, as one of us in the office has particularly sensitive skin, we tend to veer towards natural and organic products. One of our trusted go-to skincare brands is Purepotions. In fact, you can read our recent reviews on their Intensive Moisturising Ointment and Daily Moisturising Cream here; and their Hair & Scalp Natural Shampoo & Conditioner here.

Today we are reviewing their great little multitasker, the Bath and Body Emollient Oil . Already an award winner with Natural Health for Best Eczema Range in 2017, it doesn’t only work as a Skin Salving Bath and Body Oil but combines different benefits all in one. This completely natural emollient oil is made from a unique and gentle blend of nutritious botanicals, and can be used anywhere and on anyone. It is suitable for all skin types and ages, and the naturally versatile blend can be used as a massage or shaving oil, and as a moisturising oil after showering, to hydrate our skin. If that isn’t enough, then it can also be used as a facial cleanser.

The wonderful part about this 100% natural product, apart from the obvious, is that it is free from parabens, preservatives or perfumes, making it suitable for dry and sensitive skin. Furthermore, it nourishes deeply due to essential vitamins that are blended into its unique formulas. It contains organic calendula, with its soothing abilities, and both lavender & camomile essential oils which calm and protect. There is also the use of organic hemp seed oil which keeps the cell membranes flexible, and retains moisture. As it is the dehydrated cells which cause the skin to be irritated, we are thankful for this product - itchy skin doesn’t stand a chance against this powerful moisturising oil!

All products from Purepotions are handmade using natural ingredients in order to heal our bodies and our planet at the same time. Purepotions is also so natural, that it can be used on pets. However, they do not recommend Rescue Salves, as they have a high concentration of tea tree and lavender essential oils which are not good for cats and dogs. We think that this Bath and Body Oil would work as a great travel companion, so if you can only pack one body/bath/massage/shaving product - make it this one. This Skin Salving Bath and Body oil is available here for £12.99 per 200ml or £19.00 per 300 ml.