Friday Favourites: Think Pink for Breast Cancer Research

As you might already know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and with breast cancer being the most common form of cancer in the UK currently it has never been so important to raise awareness of the symptoms of this horrible disease. Here at The Amazing Blog, we have been collecting a range of our favourite products that are currently raising money for this wonderful cause by donating a portion of their profits to breast cancer charities. Bodhi are an eco-luxury skincare brand based on the philosophy that a good natural skincare routine will not only boost your skin, but also your wellbeing. The Bodhi products use traditional botanical remedies as the basis of their skincare range, using only 100% natural essences. To support the cause of Breast Cancer Research, Bodhi have created the Desert Rose Rejuvenating Face Oil Limited Pink Edition. This is a luxurious facial oil is based on the Bulgarian Damask Rose and features Argan Oil, which has skin renewal qualities and Rose Hip Oil which has anti-aging properties. Bodhi founder, Elijah Choo says “Our aim is to empower and inspire women to support this tremendous cause by helping to reinforce body confidence during breast cancer.” To support the work of this fantastic charity, Bodhi are donating £10 to Breast Cancer Research from every sale. You can purchase the Desert Rose Rejuvenating Face Oil for £38 from the Bodhi website.

Dell’Ugo have created a very special pasta to raise money for Breast Cancer Research this October. The new edition to their fresh pasta line is the exciting Beetroot and Goat's Cheese Fiorelli, which not only sounds delicious, but looks it too as this pasta is pink! We think that this would be a very quirky choice to serve up at a dinner party as the pasta offers up complex flavour combinations because the beetroot has been tenderly marinated in a relish consisting of pomegranate and mint. You are in safe hands with Dell’Ugo as they have been creating delicious new recipes in the UK since 1929. You can try the special pink pasta yourself as it is available now from Waitrose where it is retailing for £3.49. Dell’Ugo will be donating 10 pence from every pack that is purchased to Breast Cancer Research.

This October, OPI has launched its seventh annual Special Edition Pink of Hearts 2013 nail duo to promote breast cancer charity Look Good Feel Better. The set contains a gorgeous baby pink polish 'Pink-ing of You' and a Limited Edition glitter polish 'More than a Glimmer' that can be worn over the top of the pink shade. As an added bonus, OPI are giving away free nail decals within the set so you can add crystals and pink ribbon embellishments to complete your look. For every Limited Edition Pink of Hearts kit sold, OPI will donate £2 to Look Good Feel Better. You can purchase your own kit from the OPI website for £18.80.

 To support the work of the Pink Ribbon Foundation, haircare brand Paul Mitchell have created a limited edition collection: 'The Girls are Alright'. The collection includes the Super Skinny Serum, the Super Strong Daily Shampoo and the Super Strong Daily Conditioner, which are all presented in limited edition packaging to raise awareness of breast cancer. The range aims to improve the appearance and quality of your hair by strengthening and conditioning it. We love the colourful and fun packaging of these lovely hair goodies. You can get your hands on these special products from the Paul Mitchell website where the Super Skinny Serum is available for £17.25 for 150mls, the Super Strong Daily Shampoo is £11.50 for 300ml and the Super Strong Daily Conditioner is £14.25 for 300ml. Clinique have released a special edition Pink With a Purpose lipstick in the shade 'Pink Ribbon Honey'. The lipstick is a lovely pink colour that will give you a sheer coverage so it will enhance your natural lips without being too heavy. The lipstick also comes with a limited edition pink ribbon case which is perfect for storing makeup essentials in your handbag for reapplication on the go. We love the sleek and luxurious packaging and think it is the perfect size for girls who are always on the move. For every purchase of the Pink With a Purpose Lipstick, Clinique will be donating £2 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and you can show your support now by getting your own from the Clinique website where it retails for £16.

Move PopUp Gym

If you are anything like us here at The Amazing Blog, the prospect of dragging ourselves to the gym is not at all appealing! So when we heard all about Move Popup Gym, we left all our exercise reservations at the door and found ourselves reaching for the gym kit in the deep, dark corners of our wardrobes.

You’ve heard of popup stores and restaurants, but Move Popup Gym is set to be the next big thing in the fitness world. Instead of staring at a wall on the treadmill you can now find yourself doing the downward facing dog on top of a rooftop overlooking the London skyline…yeah you heard me right! Past and present locations include a rooftop overlooking St. Paul’s Cathedral, a raised garden at Cardinal Place and Battersea Power Station.

Unlike most traditional gyms, there are no hefty fees to pay, or even a contract to sign. You can turn up to classes as and when you feel motivated – great for our bank balance. Classes include Zumba, Body Conditioning, Balletsculpt, Pilates, Stiletto Work Outs (I know, we think this sounds great too!), Tabata, Yoga and ‘Look Good Naked’. So there is really a class to meet all needs whether you are a beginner or a fitness fanatic.

Prices for classes start at just £10 and you can find out more about where their next class will be popping up by following them on Twitter and liking their Facebook page or visit the Move Popup Gym website for more information.

Gift Fripery Workshops

We have all been in that position where we have spent ages carefully selecting a gift for a loved one, only to gift wrap it and find that it looks anything other than special! At The Amazing Blog, we believe that appearance matters, and so we think every pressie should look perfect. If, like us, you struggle with your gift wrapping skills, don’t panic, because professional gift wrapper, Amanda White, from Gift Frippery, is on hand to teach you everything you need to know. Amanda hosts regular gift wrapping workshops that can turn even the most novice of gift wrappers amongst us into a wrapping extraordinaire.

Amanda offers two or five hour gift wrapping courses that can teach you all the basics from how to create bespoke gift tags to the wrapping techniques to master awkward shaped gifts – we are all thinking of wine bottles! Her course also involves teaching different styles of gift wrapping – including upcycling techniques to recycle old materials and transform them into beautiful gift wrapping.

Don’t worry if, like me, you are a useless wrapper, Amanda believes that, ‘what most people lack is inspiration, but I think I’m quite good at unlocking that creativity, then there’s no stopping them!’ So there is hope for us all. With Christmas approaching faster than we would like to think about, now is the best time to improve your gift wrapping skills.

 If you would like to find out more about attending one of Amanda’s workshops than visit the Gift Frippery website for more information, a five hour workshop will cost you only £50 per person and includes all the materials you will need. Gift Frippery also hold DIY Wedding crafts workshops to teach you how to create beautiful, personal touches for your special day.

The Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair

As you know, here at The Amazing Blog, we LOVE fashion! If you do too, then there is only one place to be this weekend. The Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair. The fair specialises in vintage pieces, including fashion, accessories and collectible textiles. The collections will consist of key iconic pieces from various eras so there will be something for all lovers of vintage whatever you era of preference. So you are bound to come across something that will spice up your wardrobe.

Over the last four years, the fair has become a key fashion event for not just lovers of vintage, but also leading figures in the fashion industry. Alongside the vintage collections you will be able to find numerous vintage lifestyle brands selling everything from brooches to teacups.

Onsite will be a fabulous vintage salon run by Nata­sha Hall, the founder of Lip­stick & Curls who will be there all day to help add a touch of glamour to your look whether you want the look of a Gatsby-esque flapper girl or a sixties go go dancer. And to top it all off, when you are all shopped out you can take a break in the Tea Salon, which will be serving all the traditional English favourites from vintage china. Between 12 and 3pm you will find a wealth of entertainment here. You can try your hand at some etiquette training or relax and take in a range of performer showcases.

If you would love to attend this fabulously vintage event then get down to Old Finsbury Town Hall on the 15th September between 11am - 5pm. Entry will cost you just £4 and if you are a student with an NUS card, just £2! For more information about the fair visit the Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair website.

The Karen Gilbert Perfumery Masterclass

 

It probably comes as no surprise that we absolutely love perfume here at The Amazing Blog. Everyone has their ‘signature scents’ and favourite fragrance notes. I love to have a variety of perfumes so that I can switch from day to night and summer to winter. But have you ever wondered how perfumes are created and what goes into them? We have found the most wonderful events that can answer all of our fragrance related questions. Karen Gilbert is an author and natural beauty expert who offers perfumery classes and workshops so that you can get an inside look at the world of perfumes.

Karen is offering a 5 day intensive perfumery masterclass from the 9th-13th of September, perfect for perfume enthusiasts. Each day is devoted to a different fragrance family: Citrus, Floral, Chypre, Fougere, Oriental, and Modern Abstracts. You will look at an iconic selection of fragrances from each family, and learn exactly what ingredients create these scents. You will also learn about how to play up the base notes and end up creating your very own fragrance each day! This course is perfect for anyone deeply interested in the world of fragrance, as it is a bit of an investment at £800, but you will have the skill and the knowledge for life. Karen also offers one day and weekend workshops that are less in depth, but more of an overview of the world of perfumes. They cover topics like ‘training your nose’ and ‘practical blending techniques’. These day and weekend courses range between £150 and £350.

If you are interested in booking one of these perfumery classes with Karen Gilbert, visit her website for all related information and booking. These classes will make a perfect gift for a loved one, or if you are perfume fanatic, this is a lovely treat for yourself.

If you are inspired by Karen to learn more about perfumes, Harrods are currently running masterclasses, talks and consultations with famous perfumers. Christine Nagel will be revealing her new perfume for Jo Malone on Tuesday 3^rd September 3pm-5pm, entry will cost £50. Linda Pilkington will be running a perfume making competition where she will pick the best fragrance( winning you a bottle of champagne) on Wednesday 4^th September 3pm-5pm, costing £40. On Thursday 5^th September at 8pm, Thierry Wasser will be conducting a Q&A session for Guerlain, entry is £40. Finally on Friday 6^th September 12pm-4.30pm, Michel Almairac will be giving a talk about the creation of the signature scent for Chloé, entry is £20. If you would like more information about these events and to book, please call 020 7730 1234.