Christmas Special - For Him

We don’t know why but all the amazing girls at The Amazing Blog find it tough picking the perfect gift for a man. We might have found the way that can save you from buying your boyfriend just a pair of socks this Christmas due to last minute struggles.

Let’s start from the inner artist that every man masks in his core. If in the past months he’s been bagging you to visit Dismaland, Banksy’s theme park, or his main talent is drawing on walls, L&S Prints Banksy cushions will keep his creativity alive and satisfied.

Signature pictures and Banksy’s quotes replicated on a black, white and red base collection. Young choice on a not too serious sofa, these cushions are the extra touch of folly a stylish house always needs. The fabric is so indulgent and soft it can easily be considered as the best company for sweet dreams. they’re all completely machine washable, the colour won’t fade and will stay bright and vibrant as the day you bought it. Available in two sizes here for £10.99 and £12.99.

From Ross&Ross Food arrives something that – we still cannot believe it – has never seen before: The Homemade Curing Kit. Imagine having for breakfast free range eggs and bacon? Not so difficult, is it; but what if we say that for your bacon you can go better than your local grocery shop?

Finally awakening the farmer in you, curing and producing your own personal bacon becomes possible with this kit. Everything you need is inside, included gloves, a little hook and mixes for smoked, sweet and original flavour. The instructions are pretty clear but some extra help can be found on their YouTube video. The entire kit is available here for only £20, just improve it with your favourite piece of pork!

Question. What’s men best ally and personal pride? Not his car as many could think but his beard. For Christmas you can show him how much you care about it with Annabel James  Shaving Gift Set.

It contains all the essentials for an impeccable shave. After using the pre-shave treatment, one of the famous Edwin Jagger brushes, made with natural badger hair, not too rigid and soft enough to caress his skin, will evenly spread the shaving cream. Indispensable to avoid redness and dry skin, the aftershave lotion also included. All the products are in a practical sample size and wrapped up with an elegant Edwin Jagger ribbon. Let him feel like the groomed king of the manor every day, this fantastic set is available at £18.50 here.

We all love a man that takes care of himself, however, when they take longer than you to perfect their hair, it becomes a bit of an issue. Which is why Jamie Stevens has created the MR collection designed to combat hair loss, grooming for men couldn’t be easier.

We tried the Thicker, Fuller, Stronger collection and within days, the girls were envy of the men in the office’s new hair locks. The MR Collection features three categories, Thicken, Style and Disguise and can be bought here individually from £10- £18.

We have the right gift if your Mr. Right thinks that a perfect Christmas night means sitting around the fireplace and the taste of great whisky in his hand

Formahouse  selected from SPARQ Home the newest and most unusual whisky rocks; the collections we love the most are the Holiday Set and the Man’s set, of course, keeping your whisky cold enough, for the perfect drink.

They are all made by recycled soapstone and will keep your drink nice and cold without water. They can also be used with hot drinks as they’re microwave-proof. The Holiday Set (snowflake, Christmas tree and ginger-man) is available here  for only £15; same price for the Man’s set available here.​ 

Christmas Candles

Glitters and sparkles are only half of the path to a perfect Christmas. We need colours but the smell of Christmas is half the appeal. With this in mind, we love a good festive candle around the holidays, so we’ve compiled a list of our favourites for those of you looking for some inspiration.

We are thrilled to introduce this little gem from  Sandy Bay , the Nutmeg & Ginger Candle that will make your house fragrant like a biscuit. The black opaque glass contains a good size candle that already smells really Christmassy once you open it.

The spicy nutmeg will catch your sense at first, quickly followed by the gently piercing ginger - a mix of scents that bring to mind family, Christmas pudding and custard.  Buy your 75g Nutmeg & Ginger Candle here for £9.99 and enjoy it during more than 15 hours. 

Something that looks like something out of a fairy tale is the Midwinter Candle from Kenneth Turner. This is the perfect item if you’re dreaming of a candle that doesn’t only have a great scent but also a chic design. We decided to go for Midwinter fragrance because it tells us stories about enchanted forests and frosty villages. But from Kenneth Turner Christmas collection you can also find Winter Berries and Masquerade.

The candle is housed in a delicate vase revealing all its crispy and minty fragrance. The whole product has such a delicate design, from the box to the silver, metal tag around the vase. The candles are in different size; the 200gr at £42 is available here.

Next on our wishlist is the rather art deco style Noel Candle from Annick Goutal. Luxuriously scented with pine and mandarin, this would make a decadent gift for any candle lover, and gives of an aroma of the more sophisticated style of Christmas.

We love the gold striped packaging, and thinks that it looks perfectly Christmassy in the most subtle way.  Treat yourself or a loved one to this decadent looking candle here for £39.

Another positively lovely candle offering is from Voluspa. Looking like they’ve come straight from the Three Wise Men, these cute little decorated tins would look wonderful on a coffee table, to fill the air with the scent of Christmas.

Part of the Maison Holiday range, we love the Spruce Cuttings scent, which has already got us excited about buying this year’s Christmas tree. The subtle scent isn’t as sweet as most holiday candles, but smells every bit as Christmassy! It’s perfect for adding a scent that isn’t too overpowering come Christmas Day. Grab these beautifully packaged candles here for £13.00.

If you are looking for something different, Pure Quality Temerity Jones Bourbon Oak Smoked Candle is right up your street. A perfect gift for your Father, Brother or Grandad this whisky infused candle has a manly twist, great to put in their man cave.

Presented in a whisky style glass, this hot ginger scent will remind you Christmas has arrived.Purchase yours here for only £8.95 and smell the Christmas Spirit.

Christmas Decoration Special

It’s that time of the year again and The Amazing Blog is thrilled to be surrounded by festive wreaths and decorations galore! Whether you still need to buy the last of your presents or just need a bit more inspiration to win the annual “best Christmas home”, this is the post for you.

We don’t know if you live in a compact flat or a huge mansion, all we know is that there is always space for that extra little decoration. And what screams Christmas more than little sprigs of holly adorning your front door? We’re talking about Anjo Home Wreaths and our favourite of the collection is Light up White Christmas.

A stunning and classic wreath to hang on the doorstep, it gives a warm and welcoming arrival for all of your guests. You can buy it here for £34.99.

We have fallen in love with Melody Maison Christmas Decorations and as soon as we saw Glitter Pine Cone Christmas Heart Wreath we just knew we had to share it. It's perfect to hang up in your living room to give your home a Christmas cosy touch.

Made with real pine cones sprinkled with a touch of glitter and snow, we feel this is a must have to complete your festive pad. Grab yourself a jolly bargain here for only £9.99.

For some family fun, The Christmas Rag Wreath Kit is perfect to get everyone involved in the decorations. Christmas is all about spending time with your loved ones and Clare Love has created a variety of decorations kits to do just that.

Simple and easy to make, all you have to do is knot the pre-cut fabric strips onto the willow wreath to create a gorgeous embellishment to hang on your door ready for Santa Claus to arrive. We adore the traditional colours. Join in with the festivities here for only £17.50.

Now we know that Christmas is not all about the presents, but we just can’t help but get excited when we get to open them! Scentered has come up with the great idea of bauble packaging for Christmas, a perfect way to hide your Scentered gift you got for your loved one.

The beautiful packaging comes in all different colours so you can decorate your tree colour coordinating whilst hiding little treats inside. That way no one will be able to find them – The perfect hiding spot! Grab your hidden treat here for £14.50.

If you are patriotic at heart, these are the perfect decorations to be hanging on your Christmas tree. A reminder of all the British icons, Rigby and Mac have made these unique decors, to give you the perfect British traditional Christmas.

Made of blown glass, these fragile decorations are beautifully detailed replicas of the red post box and Big Ben.  Also available are the red London bus and iconic telephone box. Purchase these beautiful decorations here ranging from £3.95-£4.95.

For something a little more traditional to hang on your Christmas tree, Black By Design has introduced a new set of Christmas Baubles to give your tree some extra personality.

The decorations all comprise of Nativity Christmas characters such as Jesus, Mary, Donkey and The Three Wise Men, these will definitely get you and your family in the Christmas spirit. Made of blown glass and hand painted with great detail, why wouldn’t you want these for your home? Get the collection here for £120 or individually for £14.50.

If you want to stray away from tradition this year, why not grab yourself a colourful tree from Acorn & Will. Available in a number of lurid colours, these innovative firs are made from recycled tinsel! Mix and match the colours, or get a few of the same to go with your colour scheme – either way, we think these are a fantastic addition for a more modern Christmas.

The trees come in three different sizes, so they’re perfect as a centerpiece, or sat on the mantelpiece. Add some bright festive cheer to your house, and pick up one of these tinsel treats here. Prices vary from £4.95 to £6.95.

It’s not Christmas without a Snow Globe to shake around. At Lime Lace, we have found the perfect cosy globe to give the final touch to your home.

The Eskimo Snow Globe features two little girls all wrapped up, shielding from the freezing snow that glistens around them, creating a nostalgic feel to your home. To add this little décor to your winter wonderland, purchase here for £11.95.

As much as we love receiving Christmas cards from friends and family it can be hard finding them a home. This is where Red Lily has come up with the perfect idea. The Reindeer Card Holder will help you organise all your cards whilst having them on show for everyone to see.

Easy to mount on the wall, this metal Reindeer comes accompanied with twelve pegs to hang your cards. In the dark and cold evenings, light it up for the ultimate Merry Christmas. Get yours here for £33.85 or without the fairy lights for £24.90. 

These decorations will be sure to give you that festive feeling in your own home. 

Christmas Special - Hampers

It is the season for giving, so here at the Amazing Blog we have compiled our favourite Christmas hampers. These indulgent and useful festive hampers will wow your friends and family, and even make the perfect treat for yourself.

Stuck for a thoughtful Christmas gift? Look no further. Family and friends will be unable to resist the Festive Warmer Hamper from Spicers, a willow basket full to the brim with enticing sweet and savoury snacks. This perfect mix and match will come in handy right before and after you Xmas dinner. With the whole family reunited, watching festive movies, dreaming about Santa, kids will be happy to share mince pies, small bites of fudge, smoked almonds and toffee popcorn while the adults can enjoy a nice glass of merlot.

If you think you can handle all these special treats what you need to do is click here and this basket full of goodness will be yours for £42.30.

We don’t know why but the first thing that comes in mind when someone talks about Christmas is chocolate and wine. Let us prove it different with The Regency Hamper Real Ale. For sure not a common one and definitely for grown up only. A fine selection of ale and bitter accompanied by smoked beef, game terrine, cheese, oatcakes and sweets.

What makes this gift set not ordinary is that you’ll have the option to customise and personalise the ribbon with a dedicated message. Buy it online to get a 10% discount; this tasty fest is available here at £73.55

Need a boost of energy after too many nights out and dinners not so light? If your body is asking for some post Xmas detox treatments, spoil yourself and friends with a healthy hamper from Twinings.

The Twinings Taste Experience includes all the natural herbs and ingredients to purify your body after festivities gluts. It contains so many varieties of tea, we’re sure it’ll be a gift that will accompany you until New Year’s Eve. From the more traditional breakfast, earl grey and Darjeeling tea, without forgetting that is still holiday time; indeed in the basket Twinings incorporated selection of sweet options like chocolate, caramelised apple and Moroccan mint flavoured tea.
Do not suffer from Christmas pudding nostalgia and click right here to get your tea box for £80, plus a tea filter, a cup  with wooden rest and a tea tidy.

If you’re looking for something a little less decadent, but equally delicious, then the Milly Green Embossed Christmas Tin of Biscuits is the perfect way to say Merry Christmas. The sweet tin is adorned with all sorts of cute British illustrations, and would make a great keepsake box when the holiday season is over. The biscuits inside probably won’t last past Christmas Day, so once they’ve all been scoffed, you can pop all your special Christmas trinkets inside.

The moreish Double Chocolate Chip and delectable Stem Ginger and Lemon Biscuits are so delicious, we can’t think of a better gift to show you care. This would be ideal as an office gift, or one to pop in the stocking. Grab a tin of these delectable Christmas cookies here for £11.99.

We think having one of these hampers will transform you Xmas 2015 in a unique experience; having the 4 of theme will just make it the best of your life!

Frederique's Christmas Wish List

I’m the type of girl who loves to experiment with different kinds products and gadgets and companies. This is why I find working with the girls at The Amazing Blog so fun… who doesn’t love trying something new? My Christmas wish list consists of a unique bundle of a different kinds of products, ranging from as far as chargers to liquor. So without further ado, let the shopping begin!

The first thing on my Christmas list is The Kissable Charger. Nowadays, hardly anybody is able to live without their phone, myself included. I always thought to myself, why can't I have cute charger that is a little girly or that will add some sparkle? Then I came across FBG: an innovative technology company with the newest chargers, including my new love; The Kissable Charger. This charger is both cute and creative for it looks like a real Coco Chanel Lipstick. Both chic and functional, the charger is able to charge your phone for 2 to 3 hours. Buy your charger here for only £29.99, and be charged all day long.

As I’ve said before, I’m definitely a girly girl. In order to make my girly look complete, I love to wear some cute bracelets along with a watch. So you can guess how excited I was when I came across these Birambi bracelets made by two enthusiastic Dutch Girls. Being from Holland, I obviously have a soft spot for this company. Not only are they Dutch, but they’ve made a great ‘Make-your-own-bracelet’ concept that is fit for any girl like me who loves to accessorise on a regular basis. Here’s how it works: You choose a card. You select a bracelet, colour and write a personal message. And that's it. That's really all there is to it. What better gift is there than one that is personally made from the heart? Starting at €4 they are affordable as well. Visit the website to take these bracelets for a spin! 

Besides my hand jewellery, I wanted to add a little bit of sparkle to my eyebrows. So I came across the Bling Brow Kit created by Benefit Cosmetics. With the Bling Brow Kit, you can decorate your brows and light up the room with a sparkling set of Swarovski crystals. Each set comes with 52 crystals and a pair of mini tweezers. They also come in different colours including my favourites, Rose Gold and Greige. Just pull the black backing sheet off and pick up the crystals with tweezers to place them either on the skin near the brow or directly on the brow. Although I’m not one to decorate my body with jewellery, the brow crystals really enhance the appearance of your eyebrows and show off your edgy side.

You can purchase the artsy Bling Brow Kit for £19.50 at selected Benefit Brow Bars and wear them on a fun night out with the girls. All eyes will definitely be on yours. 

Not only do I love to dress up, but I also enjoy going out and grabbing a drink with my girlfriends. Recently I came across Snow Leopard Vodka, which I’ve slowly but surely fallen in love with. For starters, the bottle looks absolutely great. Additionally, 15% of the profits made go to the ‘save the leopard' charity. When I saw this stunning looking bottle of vodka, I could not resist putting it on my Christmas wish list. Cheers, take a shot and donate to a cause! You can by purchase a 70cl bottle of vodka for £36.00 RRP  at Waitrose, Harvey Nichols and Ocado.com, as well as all good independent drinks retailers OR on their website.

I've also discovered a delicious selection of chocolates from Sweet Dreams Ltd. called Choc Nibbles. We received two different flavours: Original Choc Nibbles and Toffee Crumble. The one I really loved was the Original Choc Nibbles. The taste of these tiny chocolates was just divine, and you could taste that they were made with quality chocolate. It's almost like eating real chocolate milk! Purchase chocolate at your local confectionery, convenience or discount stores, and share these delicious chocolates as a treat after your Christmas Dinner.