Dress the halls!

There I was, innocently watching Saturday night TV when it happened. As soon as the beloved jingle of ‘Holidays are coming’ sounded, and the Coca-Cola truck danced across my screen, it became official – ‘tis the season to be jolly! And while there are lists a-plenty to be ticking off to make the festive season one to remember, where better to start, than with the tree. With December just over a week away, the time is nigh to be buying one’s tree, and Amazing PR has come across a fantastic company who sell everything you need to really deck the halls this year.

Scottish Christmas Trees is an online emporium selling a fantastic selection of real Christmas trees, decorations and lighting, and there’ll be no more struggling to get the tree onto the roof of the car this year, as they deliver direct to their customers all over the UK.

At Amazing PR we love championing small set-ups, and Scottish Christmas Trees is a friendly, family run business, growing over a whopping 25,000 trees on its Dumfries farm. The family’s concept is to grow high-grade, excellent quality trees which are only cut when ordered and are delivered fresh to festive families nationwide. In addition they pride themselves on their sustainability credentials and for every tree cut for sale, another one is planted in its place. They also offer decorations and a comprehensive range of lighting and accessories including tree stands and beautiful, handmade wreaths.

So this year, save yourself a trip to the local garden centre, pour yourself a glass of hot mulled wine and wait for the sleigh bells to ring… and the tree to arrive!

Lifestream Bioactive Blackcurrent Capsules

These days the average person spends about six to eight hours each day at their computer and after a long workday we have all felt the effects of spending our day staring at a screen (not to mention the time spent on phones and watching TV). Eye strain and fatigue are common side effects of the close relationship we share with our computers and, coupled with the natural process of eye ageing, all this time with our technology can be very problematic for our vision.  Luckily, here at Amazing PR we have just discovered the Bioactive Blackcurrant supplements from Lifestream, a New Zealand based company who has harnessed the natural benefits of blackcurrants to improve vision (along with many others).  Blackcurrants contain anthocyanins which have been shown to increase eye health and good vision, especially in regards to working with computers.

Lifestream’s Bioactive Blackcurrant supplements also support microcapillary circulation, creating the healthy blood flow to the brain that is crucial for full mental function, focus, and mental awareness- in other words the basic necessities of getting through a testing day at the office!  If this isn’t enough to make you a huge fan of these super-supplements (each of which contain the equivalent of 12 blackcurrant fruits), blackcurrants have been shown to have protective effects on our cells, fighting off the potentially harming effects of cell toxicity.  These powerful little fruits also contain anti-oxidants which fight the effects of free-radicals and help to keep the cells in our bodies looking and feeling youthful!  What more could we ask for in one little pill?

For anyone who may have allergies or dietary restrictions, these supplements are 100% vegetarian and contain no GMO’s, artificial coloring, flavoring, preservatives, gluten, yeast, or sugar, making them safe for everyone.  Bioactive Blackcurrant dietary supplements are available to buy online here and will be available for sale in stores throughout the UK in January 2012.

Colour for a Cause

Ok so we’ve all heard about naming a star after a loved one and adopting an endangered Panda, but if you fancy doing something a bit more original, with a worthy cause thrown in for good measure, you can now own a colour. UNICEF, the children’s charity, is the driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized, and they have teamed up with Dulux to raise as much money as possible to continue their life-changing work. Own A Colour is a fantastic movement started by a small group of individuals – passionate in their belief that small acts can combine collectively to save the lives of many children one child at a time.

In a world where the average computer, Blackberry and iPhone can display an incredible 16.7 million colours, there’s more than enough to go round and every colour sold will make a huge difference to a lot of children in need.  UNICEF is hoping that each and every colour will be named and they are asking for minimum donations starting at £1. All the money raised will go directly to help transform children’s lives and buying a colour makes a quirky alternative to your candy-cane stocking fillers.

Even donating as little as little as £1 can have a profound effect on those in need. UNICEF was founded in 1946 and has spent over six decades campaigning tirelessly to give children the best possible start in life. Their work includes promoting girls’ education, providing immunisation against childhood diseases and working to prevent the spread of HIV and Aids among young people. Such is their dedication to the cause that UNICEF is active in more than 190 countries is part of the Global Movement for Children.

So, whether you fancy yourself as a dusky pink, an opulent purple hue or an emerald green, dig deep and get colouring.

Something for Every 'Body'

To be frank, regular aerobic exercise is not a first priority in my life,  I used to be a ‘gym bunny’  but nowadays I’m more of ‘dog walker’, so  I’m somewhat of  an unlikely candidate to trial these aroma therapy based ‘sports’ lotions and potions. However, when Pepperfit  samples landed on our doorstep at Amazing PR  and we unwrapped and smelt them – I decided to have first dibs.  Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am very chemical-phobic and will only consider putting organic or natural products on my skin. What we all liked about these Pepperfit products is their texture and aroma i.e. not an overpowering aroma-pong or gloopy and greasy – both a classic mistake made by quite a few small producers of aromatherapy based skincare.

There are four ranges which are all rather appropriately named for each of their active properties: Rescue, Relax, Boost  and Zest.    I particularly liked the Relax Body & Massage Oil  (RRP £16.80) as I have a fondness for its key ingredients of Geranium and Ylang Ylang. It was quickly absorbed making my skin soft and left a subtle fragrance.  I also tried the Zest Multi Balm  (RRP £10.80) which is very fresh and uplifting with Tangerine, Lavender and Chamomile Roman – an unlikely mix of aromas but when combined actually smell amazing! It’s particularly good for chapped lips, so I’ve adopted it as my winter lip balm.

What we love about these ‘aroma sport’ is that the products bringing together both modern scientific sports knowledge and respected traditions derived from ancient and global cultures, where they use plants for their medicinal and healing properties. The Pepperfit rangeis suitable for both the regular consumer as well as the sports professional.  London 2012 athletes  if you’re reading this, we suggest that you stock up on Pepperfit for your Olympics sports regime – it’ll certainly add a bit of aroma ‘zing’ to your step.

Pick a Potion

Many a-Sunday morning I awake with the pain of a crazy night out as well as the drowsiness of a bad nights sleep. I assumed my body’s reactions were part of the consequences of an exciting night on the town and that the remedies would either not work or would be too exhausting to go through the process of making. That was until Faust’s Potions for Discerning Night Owls was called to my attention. Faust’s Potions was created with the intention to naturally and effectively remedy the most common 21^st century lifestyle ailments, the hangover. Two potions were formed to support this common party-animal lifestyle: Awake and Asleep. The potions are completely natural and made of a unique blend of vitamins, minerals and herbal extracts that assist in the recovery from ailments related to the sociable lifestyle. There are no pills and no mixing, just shake and drink!

The Orange Awake Potion has two uses for all night owls. You can either use it before a big night out to get your body ready for a fun night or the day after as the not so pleasant effects of alcohol hit you. Personally, I love it in the morning after a night out because it acts like a cup of orange juice and gives me the boost of energy I need for a big day.

The Red Berries Asleep Potion works after you have had that big night on the town and cannot spend the next full day lying in bed trying to get some quality sleep. It is the best night cap that will actually help your quality of sleep. After a vile of this potion I am out like a light and wake with the energy I would after a full 8 hours of sleep.

So whether you’re a discerning night owl yourself, or just need that extra boost to keep your energy at its best, Faust’s Potion will help get you up and running in the right direction!