Alastair Sawday's Special Places Pubs & Inns of England & Wales

There's nothing as typical of Britain as pubs and bars - whenever I hang out with my friends and family we all gather around a table in our favourite pub drinking beer and cider and having fun catching up. The atmosphere is warm and relaxing - there's something about pubs; that something you can't quite explain, that makes you feel at home and stay there for hours without realising you've spent the whole evening drinking. I have a few favourites on my list, however, new places are always welcome when it comes to having fun with my friends. A few weeks ago, we received Alastair Sawday's Special Places Pubs & Inns of England & Wales at The Amazing Blog - an exquisite selection of 900 pubs and inns that has helped us with many great evenings in lovely new pubs.

The book is written in a personal and laid-back style without being too informal and is neatly laid-out. Each pub or inn suggested is shown on a picture or two; opening times, contact numbers, prices, addresses, and even tube stations are provided and broken down geographically. One of the things we love the most about this guide is the fact that the information is concise and brief - they even specify which places are pet and children-friendly!

Alastair Sawday's Special Places Pubs & Inns of England & Wales is a fantastic guide that has received really good reviews from the most well-known newspapers and magazines; and at The Amazing Blog we understand why. Their suggestions and the detailed and useful tips and information have never let us down. If there is something negative to point out about this fantastic guide, that should be the lack of time to visit all of these promising places in England and to a lesser extent in Wales.

You can purchase Alastairs Sawday's fantastic guides here.

Breast Cancer Awareness

As many of you will know October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and here at the The Amazing Blog we have been busy finding our favourite products that help support the fight against breast cancer during this important month. Everyone has been touched in some way by this horrible disease, so why not treat a friend or even yourself to one of these six items. From Essie’s pink nail polish line, to delicious bra cupcakes, we wanted to share these items we love with you. First off, nail brand Essie has launched four new pink nail polish colours this month with each colour representing a different aspect of battling breast cancer. Whether you prefer a baby pink like ‘good morning hope’ or want to be a tad more adventurous with a darker shade of pink, ‘I am strong,’ the entire collection helps unite women together with pink power. Essie’s motto signifies everything that they stand for and why they take this line for breast cancer so seriously. “We can beat this, because we are in it together.” All four shades can be found in spas and salons and sell for £9.95 each. A portion of the proceeds will go to the UK based breast cancer charity, Future Dreams…So why not throw on a coat of this fun polish, while also supporting a good cause!

This fun and vibrant scarf was created in conjunction with Lily and Lionel and My-Wardrobe to support Breakthrough Breast Cancer during the month of October. The scarf is Lily and Lionel’s classic oversized silk O’Hara print in limited edition coral. With winter right around the corner, what better way to accessorize your outfit and bundle up with a pop of pink around your neck? We loved this scarf’s soft texture and coral design. The scarf retails at £95 with 20% going to the charity. You can find the scarf for purchase on their website here or at My-Wardrobe.

Timothy Dunn decided to join the fight against breast cancer this season, by launching a limited edition London Blue Rose pink candle. Touching close to home, many of the Dunn’s family and friends have been affected by this awful disease. The candle’s scent is beautifully feminine and can appeal to all. It is a floral bouquet of roses, peonies, forget-me-nots, gentian, heartsease, hollyhocks, and jasmine. Not only is the candle pink, but so is the delicate glass holder it comes in. This candle is the perfect gift idea for any women in your life, or even the perfect gift to yourself to enhance the feminine scent throughout your home. All profits from each candle will be donated to Breast Cancer Awareness. The candle sells for £42 each and is available here.Tateossian recently revealed a new colour of its signature silver Pop Scoubidou leather bracelet in support of Breast Cancer Care. The bracelet is an exquisite combination of pink and magenta Italian leather set off with a sterling silver clasp. This stylish bracelet will be sure to add a touch of arm candy for any occasion. We thought this trendy, timeless bracelet would look great on any wrist while complimenting the idea of strength and stability during the intense battle one endures with breast cancer. The bracelet is available online here and in Tateossian stores for £110 with 20% of all proceeds going to Breast Cancer Care.

Rejuvenate your skin with GLAMGLOW’s Super Mask. This mud mask helps revitalize with the use of volcanic minerals, French sea clay, and TEAOXI and is perfect for any skin type. It is quite literally a ’10-minute facial in a jar.’ Why not skip the expensive spa treatments and treat yourself at home! This exfoliating mud mask leaves your skin feeling radiant after a long day at work or even after a night out on the town with friends. The mask retails for £49.99 for a 50ml container. The product will be sold in Selfridges nationwide and can also be found on GLAMGLOW’s website. 25% of profits from the sales of GLAMGLOW’s Super Mask will be donated to the Pink Ribbon Foundation from October to December.

Craving a sweet treat, or need a delicious gift idea? Pick up  Lola’s B-Cup (Cake). This breast cancer inspired cupcake is handcrafted and uses only the finest ingredients including Belgian chocolate, pure vanilla, and free-range eggs- and you can really taste the difference. £1.50 of every cupcake goes to Breast Cancer Care. The cupcakes can be found at all Lola’s counters in Selfridges, Topshop, Brent Cross and Mayfair. Go out today and pick up one of these cupcakes to satisfy your sweet tooth!

So why not treat yourself, a loved one, or even a friend to one of these amazing items that supports such a great cause. We at the The Amazing Blog love them and know you will too.

Soda Crystals

Due to the current economic climate we have all felt the pressure to adjust our spending and make steps to tighten the purse strings in some way or other. Here at The Amazing Blog, we have been looking for thrifty ways to make savings in the home and find any useful alternatives to pass on to you, our readers. During the Second World War posters urged the British to ‘make do and mend’ as luxuries were rare and basic supplies such as soap were rationed. As a result, alternative products such as Soda Crystals became a favourite for laundry and cleaning along with other traditional products such as White Vinegar.

We recently channelled our inner 'Kim and Aggie' and came across Dri-Pak, who offer traditional cleaning products including Soda Crystals, White Vinegar and Liquid Soap Flakes which have been used for generations thanks to their effective cleaning properties. Not only are they multi-purpose (and contain less chemicals than modern washing powders and detergents), but they are also extremely simple to use, not to mention economical. For under a pound for a 1kg bag, Soda Crystals have hundreds of uses around the home, from unblocking slow-draining sinks to clearing a driveway of moss, removing laundry stains like grease, ink and blood and removing burnt on residue in pots and pans. On top of that, Soda Crystals don’t damage the environment like modern household detergents and leave the unpleasant smell of bleach around your home. For tougher tasks such as cooker tops and sinks, Dri-Pak offer Liquid Soda Crystals which are available in a handy trigger spray bottle for easy application and also contain added biodegradable detergents.

Soda Crystals are available in all major supermarkets and hardware stores, with a RRP of 93p. For further information on the full range of Dri-Pak go to their website or call 01159 325 165.

Spin Collective Wall Stickers

Since moving into my first flat six months ago I’ve been slowly attempting to transform my basic but spacious room into somewhere that feels like home. However, whilst I have photo frames, mementos and ornaments from my travels adorning my dressing tables, chest of drawers and bedside table I’m still left with large vacant walls which are in desperate need of filling. As I’m renting my options are fairly limited as wallpaper or anything too permanent (or requiring DIY skills)  are out of the question, which is why I was extremely interested to come across Spin Collective's range of unique vinyl wall stickers. Spin Collective specialise in designing and producing original vinyl wall stickers, graphics and decals for interior design and home improvement.They are dedicated to designing original contemporary wall stickers that are easy to apply and are a cost effective way to make a design statement.Made from high quality matt vinyl, the stickers are an easy alternative to paint and wallpaper and the unique range has recently been expanded to include fully functioning mirrors, chalkboards and clocks.

I was especially attracted to the new range of wall clock stickers which are functional as well as decorative and come complete with a high quality working clock mechanism. Available in a number of styles including the intricate Antique clock, retro School Clock or statement piece Time Zone clocks, these fully functioning clocks are certain to get attention and make a unique addition to any room.  Spin Collective have also introduced a range of bathroom and kitchen tile stickers which are available in 16 vibrant colours to suit any existing design and are a great and unique way of perking up plain tiles without the need to retile! As with all of Spin Collective’s stickers they are extremely easy to apply and can be removed and replaced if you fancy a change and don’t want to damage the paint underneath.

Spin Collective Wall Clocks are available to buy online here from £35.00

Kew Diffusers and Candles

As one of London’s lushest settings (and a personal favourite destination to spend summer weekends), The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew are a not so Secret Garden and one of the world’s leading botanic gardens. Luckily for us,  we can now capture our lazy walks around Kews beautiful gardens thanks to these Luxury diffusers and candles which have been created by Kews's botanical team to recreate the natural and exotic scents of the garden for people to enjoy in their homes.

With a whole host of authentic scents including Orange Blossom, Sweet Pea, Lemongrass and Watermelon the diffusers  are able to fragrance your home for up to 12 weeks. Simply open the bottle, insert the wooden wicks and the scented oil will slowly evaporate into the atmosphere to give a natural, lasting scent. Alternatively, try one of their naturally derived, pure soya wax candles which have Royal Botanic Gardens approval and allow for up 60 hours of fragrance. All of the candles are hand-poured into a recycled glass holder decorated in a Kew Gardens Jacquard Pattern, so would make a great housewarming gift. Alternatively, pair them with one of the diffusers to create your very own personalised aroma for your home.

The Diffusers and Candles are available to buy online here. Luxury Kew Diffusers - £19.50 Luxury Kew Scented Candles- £12.75