Affordable Festive Finds

We are almost done with the first week of December, so if you haven’t already started helping Santa out with filling stockings then you best get cracking. Our day five of Festive Finds is inspired by the most exciting part of Christmas for a lot of children…opening stockings at 4am and leaving all the wrapping paper for Mum and Dad to clear up. The Amazing Blog knows how tricky it can be to get that stocking (or pillowcase) filled to the brim with lots of little goodies, so here are some suggestions that will go down a treat with the kids.

Fickle Tattoos are perfect for adding even more entertainment into Christmas morning and will keep the young ones quiet for a while. There are hundreds of designs of temporary tattoos, ranging in colours, size and theme so that you can choose something tailored to the personality and interests of your child. Something I find more special about these temporary tattoos than others is how they are designed by a handful of unique and creative illustrators who regularly create new drawings. You can read about each of them on the webpage, it makes the tattoo gift a little more personal and sweet. It’s a great little stocking filler to keep the kids happy whilst breakfast is being prepared, so have a browse here and discover their variety of quirky designs.

Another low-priced, petite stocking filler which also has the benefit of engaging kids for hours is the In a Matchbox White Christmas. Every year there is anticipation over whether there will be snow or not. There are kids lining up at the door or peering out the window with hats and gloves on ready to enjoy the snow. However, recently nature hasn’t been so reliable and snow either melts right away or doesn’t fall at all. White Christmas in a match box will help avoid disappointment in case we are left snowless this year because…it’s fake snow! All you need to do is freeze the snow for a few hours and then you’re ready to decorate your house and garden with snow that is guaranteed to stay put. I’ll be covering plants indoors and window stills to add a little festivity into my home this month. Maybe you have teenagers and need to fill their stockings with more grown-up gifts which can sometimes be a bit trickier as a sparkly pencil or toy car just won’t cut it this year. We suggest the Save the Blow Dry Cap for young ladies to enjoy. Did you know we spend over two hours a week blow-drying our hair? Save the Blow Dry has come up with a solution to do just that, save your blow dry! The cap is waterproof and made with absorbent micro-weave towelling so that it leaves your hair fabulously soft and bouncy. It’s a smart gift for girls as I’m sure lots of Christmas and New Year parties have been planned. We all want to say goodbye to 2013 looking our best. This gift is guaranteed to please your teen and leave them without reason to moan or complain on the special festive day. It’s only £14.95 and can be found here.

This gift is the epitome of ‘best of both worlds’ in terms of presents. Which two gifts are always a safe choice for everyone and will never be a let down? Chocolate and Flowers... However, flowers don’t make the best stocking filler as they are fragile and demand a lot of attention, and well, we guess you’ve probably bought a fair bit of chocolate already. So, these Chocolate Scented Grow Your Own Flowers found on Prezzybox and in Tesco, combine both the two to make charming stocking fillers. The flowers are for you to grow, so no squashing goes on in the stocking. Everybody loves growing flowers, and there is always a huge excitement when they completely develop, especially as these are daisies which are always lovely. You are given chocolate daisy seeds and lovely looking coconut husk starter pots to begin with, so move aside Alan Titchmarsh, because we have chocolate scented flowers.

All stockings need something edible amongst the wrapping paper, be it chocolate coins or tangerines, it’s a crucial part because there is no better guilty pleasure than stuffing your face in the early hours of the day when you should really be sleeping. If your children are messy with chocolate and leave wrapper trails as if they are re-enacting Hansel and Gretel, then worry no more... Pots & Co has a tasty selection of desserts in wonderfully designed pots to make things a little less untidy. Some of our favourite flavours are the Chocolate & Orange Pot, Caramelised Apple Crumble and the Sticky Toffee Pudding but there are also lots more to choose from. We do realise that this may not be the classic stocking filler food, but we also know lots of families like to do something a little different to surprise their children. These gorgeously creamy puddings will do just that. Even the photographs of them look edible, so that must be a good thing!  Have a look here at the delicious collection of puds for your nearest stockist.

A more familiar brand at Christmas is Lush as they always have beautiful bath and shower gifts to give away. Some items come out every year and we get to look forward to seeing them on the shelves. However, other products are new and exciting and never disappoint those loyal Lush users because they always put the same passion into all the products. The Lush Christmas Fun is made up of Red Fun, Green Fun and Gold Fun, too much ‘fun’ in one sentence? These are a lovely blend of four products in one which you can use as a soap, bubble bath, shampoo and play. There is a refreshing citrus included in the ingredients for the Red Fun and Green Fun and a comforting honey in the Gold Fun. I know I would definitely be happy to receive this for Christmas! Lush are a great brand that have a huge amount of reliable and wonderful products for everyone to enjoy.This little multipurpose trio is £6.50 and found here.

Tweezers are always a good shout if you’re stuck on present ideas. It’s the kind of thing everyone needs, male or female, so is a safe idea to fill that stocking a bit more. The Vintage Cosmetic Company have a sweet selection of tweezers which includes their festive pair, the Limited Edition Christmas Tweezers. These £8 tweezers are very cute and inspired by the 1950’s. The colour makes them look a bit more attractive than your every day tweezers, so definitely something you will find yourself keeping for a long time. Usually we want to keep our tweezers tucked away in our wash bag but with these they will be out on display for all to see. The colour is lovely and you can have a look here.

Last but not least, the most colourful and practical present for The Amazing Blog stocking suggestions, the Happy Jackson Lovely Things Wash Bag. It’s so simple and endearing, and the sort of present you can’t wait to start filling with all the cosmetics you accumulate over Christmas. It’s the perfect material to prevent stains and water damage and is also sized just right for travel. Depending on the age of your children though it could be anything, maybe even a pencil case? There is no use specification so would suit any age and gender as a stocking filler. I would have loved to get one of these in my stocking when I was younger, especially because you gather a lot of extra wash stuff across the season so end up buying a new one anyway. It’s bought for £11.66 here, there are lots of other stunning gifts from Happy Jackson worth taking a look at too.

 

Home Festive Finds

Day four of our Festive Finds is dedicated to our homes this Christmas and filling them with fun for your family and any guests you have popping round to celebrate with. I’m sure it’s not only the girls at The Amazing Blog who have started thinking about buying little extras to have around the house. We have some items here to suit a variety of people so I’m sure there will be something for you to enjoy.

The Nature Magpie is a book written by Daniel Allen and is basically an abundance of facts, anecdotes, folklore and literature from the natural world. This is the perfect book to have lying around in your home for when you have a bit of spare time to relax. Although Christmas is a busy period, you need to make time in your day to do something other than cook roast chicken and pick tinsel up off the floor. This book is full of interesting information and will be a tempting read for guests when they come over. It’s not an antisocial book, for example if you’re waiting for your go in a Christmas game of scrabble then you can pick it up for a quick scan of the pages, and learn something at the same time!  You will find anything from a bird nest soup recipe to the largest sum ever paid for a single truffle. If you’re heading to a pub quiz anytime soon then quickly get your hands on this, you will storm ahead when it comes to the animal and nature section. You can purchase this lovely and easy read from Waterstones and Amazon.

The Harlequin Diffuser is a gorgeous addition to your home that you definitely won’t regret buying, especially if you’re hosting any Christmas parties and want to keep that cosy Christmas ambience. We have the Rosella diffuser dispensing a beautiful, soft aroma of Tuberose and White Rose Petals. They last for up to 18 weeks, so you can forget about them for a while and get used to your house smelling scrumptious all the time. We all pay attention to the way our houses look because we want to enjoy living in it but we also want others to appreciate it. These Harlequin Diffusers are perfect for getting a great smelling room which lasts a long time. They are £35 and you can find them here.

 Something that  also compliments a diffuser in your home is a candle, and there are so many to choose from, which means with a little searching you can find the perfect one for you and your home. I think every home needs a candle and especially at this time of the year and I especially like scented candles which induce a calming effect into your home. The Neal & Wolfe Indulgence Scented Candle is £17.95 and can be found here. It is a lovely candle full of beautiful scents to fill your room. If you’re looking for a relaxing candle to be enjoyed by the whole family and really cosy up your home, then this is ideal.  Neal & Wolfe fill it with calming scents such as orange blossom, lily, ylang-ylang and orchid, all of which are used in indulgence products.  To get the most out of this candle and its fragrance, allow the wax surface to melt and keep the wick trimmed to 1.5cm. Something special about this candle is its super long-lasting burner which lasts up to 45 hours.

The Spa Fabulous Organic Natural Scented Candle is perfect if you are looking for a more subtle scent to grace your home. It’s available in Vintage Rose, Fresh Lillies, Fresh Strawberries and Chocolate. Vintage Rose and Fresh Strawberries ventilate the room with a fruity and refreshing smell. I would definitely recommend these for day time use to give your home a light and uplifting feel, before possibly switching to something a bit heavier in the evening like the Chocolate candle. They have a more sophisticated scent than a lot of cheaper candles that you find on the highstreet. The look of the candle fits well with the elegant and simple scent that is released. For £28 and a promised burning period of at least 40 hours, this candle will be a popular feature in your home, or gift for your loved ones this Christmas. If you want to have a browse of the different candles then you can do so here.

 The Custom Name Chalkboard by Spin Collective is something we picked out for homes as it’s a lot of fun to have in a family household and can be enjoyed by the younger members who might not be so interested in ‘grown-up’ home items. You can personalise whatever names you like on the board, even a ‘Mum’ and ‘Dad’ board so everyone can remember what they need to do, add a little order into the household. They are designed not to take up much space so will look good anywhere. They can be scattered across the house in bedrooms, or I prefer the idea of having them all together somewhere like in the kitchen. They are good for job lists. So, we are calling all mums to get hold of one of these so the kids know to help you out with the chores. In the build up to Christmas they can be helpful to keep track of who you have and haven’t bought presents for. They are £20 and can be found on Spin Collective.

 

When I was growing up, Christmas tree decorations were something the whole family got involved with and with lots of siblings we would fight over who put which decoration up. In the end we had to divide up the decorations and were only allowed to put our own up each year… The Ellie Ellie Christmas Tree Initial Decorations can help avoid any bitterness like we had amongst young siblings. There is nothing unfair about who gets these decorations as each one is personalised with an initial to represent each member of the family. They are printed on a segment of a vintage dictionary and are unlike your usual Christmas tree decorations. They are not as bright and loud, but that is what we think makes them look special and almost handmade. Once you have the whole families initials you can use them every year, and keep adding to them as your family grows. This is a very sentimental Christmas tree decoration to please the whole family.  You can have a look at the decorations here, and they are priced at £9.50.

Tomorrow we have our final Festive Finds, and it’s the all important stocking fillers! A Christmas must, so be sure to come back tomorrow and have a read.

Friday Favourites - Christmas Alcohol

The end of November has arrived and the festive season is upon us. Glittery decorations are taking over the streets and various Santa Claus impersonators can be spotted walking around your local town. We have put together some of our favourite Christmassy alcohol treats so that everyone can enjoy them this month. We girls at The Amazing Blog won't deny that we do like to indulge in various flavoursome alcoholic beverages at Christmas so have some exciting drinks to tell you about. We have treats from BrewDog, Ophir, Baileys, Stoli,  Dows, and Demijohn.

First up on our alcohol likes this month is BrewDog, and their Watt Dickie. This is available in BrewDog Bars and Ales By Mail. Described as a ‘liquid science fiction’, this is definitely an interesting new beverage worth paying attention to. It’s also a great gift for any friends with an interest in weird and wonderful inventions. This is a faux spirit, originating as an India Pale Ale. Watt Dickie has undergone a secret transformation, turning into an abundance of extravagant and unusual flavours. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the Watt Dickie, be it as a spirit or blended into a mysterious cocktail. Christmas is filled with resolution and promise, we often tell ourselves to try new things and become a ‘yes man’ for a bit. Don’t be afraid of this curious drink this Christmas, you may be surprised by how much you enjoy it.

The Ophir Oriental Spiced Gin is one of the most Christmassy sounding drinks we have in our collection. The spice in the gin induces an immediate excitement for Christmas as all the smells remind you of those that come out this time of year. I find it inspires a sense of nostalgia, thinking about parties and previous Christmas festivities. The bottle is great for display with its oriental design, there are no holiday season restrictions with this drink as the smell, taste and design are perfect for holidays throughout the year. This is one of our favourite bottles as you want it on your shelf so that its displayed for the world to see. The gin encorporates flavours from around the globe to add something a bit different to this December. Why not welcome in the New Year by treating your tastebuds to a flavour inspired by global spices. This drink is great for cocktails and showing off at those Christmas parties you've fallen into hosting. You can buy the gin in Harvey Nichols for £30.

Now, Baileys is a household treat at Christmas for a lot of you I’m sure, but what about Chocolate Baileys? This beauty is the new addition to the family. Luckily, it doesn’t wander away from Baileys established ingredients, because that is after all, what we love about the brand. It merely blends an additional complimentary ingredient that we Brits just can’t seem to get enough of this time of the year, Chocolate. Irish Whiskey, Cream and Chocolate, is there really anything not to enjoy about that perfect union of flavours?  Lead scientist Anthony Wilson has travelled the world to discover the finest chocolates, as Baileys deserves only the finest of ingredients of course. You can buy this drink at all your local big supermarkets and prices start from as little as £15.

Something a little different but just as sweet is the Stoli Salted Karamel Vodka. This is a great drink for making creative and flavoursome blends and ideal for impressing your friends and family at parties. The sweet and savoury mix makes it a very enjoyable treat. A gorgeous combination of sweet caramelised sugar and English toffee, levelled out with a light saltines. Delicious! It's always nice to have a more interesting drink at Christmas because the bog standard choices are available to you all year which makes them a bit dull. This Salted Karamel Vodka would make a great little extra to your chocolate selection whilst you're playing charades after that big roast dinner. You can find this vodka for around £20 and from many online stockists so have a read on Stoli to find out more.

Now for something which may appeal more to mature taste buds, Dows Port. The name Dow has been associated with the finest ports for over 200 years. They have a stunning collection of Port including a selection of luxury vintage ports. Along with this they have also won two of the most prestigious wine competitions around and this is due to the company’s genuine passion for creating excellent tastes. You can visit Dows website to read about the wine and the family history which just adds heritage and more interest to the brand. The inspirational journey surrounding the development of these ports is told here where you can also browse their variety of products.

Last but not least is a drink that comes in an attractive and unique bottle which is further complimented by the exciting and modern liquor flavouring. It’s the DemiJohn Brandy Tower, in which you can choose from a delightful selection of liquors. We have been spoilt with Butterscotch Cream, Apricot Brandy, and Somerset Pomona. The blend of different colours stacked upon one another is very stylish and creates a beautiful display piece for your home this Christmas. This alcohol would definitely be a conversation starter for dinners and parties this month.  The choice of liquors means that you can fill the tower with flavours to suit the whole family. There’s nothing to fault as this alcohol both looks and tastes great so is a welcomed addition to the drinks cabinet. We might as well treat ourselves this year to an alcohol tower tailored specifically to our likes, right? If you visit the DemiJohn website, you can explore the different mixtures and create your own invention for the brandy tower.

Cook Like A Man

Movember has officially passed its halfway point so if you were wondering why lots of men have considerably large amounts of facial hair at the moment, it’s all to raise awareness for men’s health.  In fact, I am growing my own moustache and beard this month, much to the delight of the girls in the office. As a tribute to this creative, money-raising month, The Amazing Blog has a very male orientated book to introduce you to, the Cook Like a Man recipe book published by Boxtree for £9.99.

This book is inspired by everything traditional, i.e by a time when microwaves didn’t exist. Yes, believe it or not we loved cooking our meals from scratch using real hearty ingredients, none of that preservative malarkey. Entirely natural produce, you grow it you cook it. Cook Like a Man emphasises the importance of what’s in your diet and all the meals are specifically tailored to make sure you are getting everything you need from you meal to better your health. Something that sets this book ahead from your average cookbook is the list of essential tools as you start the book. Seeing as it includes a Blow Torch and Meat Thermometer, it’s pretty telling that a group of very serious, food loving men wrote this book.

If you are looking to become more adventurous with your cooking then this book will be perfect for you, it’s also a great Christmas present if you're stuck for ideas. With recipes like Rabbit with Snails and Chocolate, or Pigeon Terrine, you have to be quite brave but if you’re up for getting stuck in then you will definitely expose your taste buds to a whole new flavour filled experience. For those of you who really want to go back to basics and cook from scratch then a slight advantage would be living in the countryside. The photography throughout the book is done brilliantly and incorporates some subtle male humour, giving it a bit of personality. Everything in this book is done well, from the layout to the serving suggestions. We are excited to try the variety of recipes, especially at Christmas when big family meals become a regular occurrence and we want to impress with beautiful cuisine.

To support Movember and get your imagination flaring in the kitchen, then you can purchase this book on Amazon.

You Aren't What You Eat: Fed Up With Gastroculture - Steven Poole

At The Amazing Blog HQ we live for cooking books. We are just amazed by the way the steps of a recipe are presented to us: quite performance-like. Give us books on sandwiches, on how to cook the perfect hot dog, on the now in vogue raw food, on cheesecakes… the titles and subjects seem to be endless; and if you ask us, if it’s wrapped and signed by a celebrity chef, even better. Marketing suckers? Check. The world seems to be obsessed by food, where it comes from, where to buy it, how to cook it –and most weirdly of all– how to eat it. Our local supermarkets' aisles are also full chef-owned brands offering us easy and balanced ready-made meals; all so we get that 'this tasted sophisticated and expensive' kind of feeling after eating it...

In 'You Aren't What You Eat', Steven Poole writes about this overwhelming ‘food era’ we’re living in where “food bibles” tell you what you have to eat and some nutritionists also claim that having a good diet can even beat cancer. Poole stands back and looks at this scenario with clever humour and criticism; and it's quite eye opening.

Although we really do care about what we eat and try to do so as healthily as possible; we sometimes find it hard to put our feet on the ground and simply enjoy the pleasure of eating. So frankly let’s all be less snobbish about it and go back to basics!

You can purchase Steven Poole’s ‘You Aren’t What You Eat’ from Amazon.