Lifestyle

CLIF Bars

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No matter what activity you have planned, whether it’s just another day at work or a long exercise, you always need good food to keep your energy up throughout the day. We here at The Amazing Blog are always on the move and constantly needing a quick, filling meal. The CLIF Bar is everything you need and more, including a great taste! Their equation is simple: put good food in and get good performance out. And let’s face it, we all need good performance on a regular basis. The CLIF Bars supply working muscles with the energy they need for extended periods of activity. Although they can be eaten on a regular basis, they are really great for exercising, and in that case, they should be eaten before the exercise begins. CLIF Bars’ ingredients are wholesome. They are made with organic rolled oats and vitamins B6 and B12, which contribute to the normal release of energy. There is a high source of protein and fibre, and no fructose corn syrup, which gives you energy to be in it to your limit. The CLIF Bar is the original bar that the company made, and it still embodies what their company stands for. We loved the Oatmeal Raisin Walnut the best of all the flavours because it fulfilled our craving for sweets without the guilt we might feel for binge eating in the afternoons.

CLIF Bars are available in six different flavours, including Oatmeal Raisin Walnut, Chocolate Chip, Blueberry Crisp, Crunchy Peanut Butter, Chocolate Almond Fudge, and White Chocolate Macadamia Nut. Get your own box of 12 CLIF Bars from their UK distributor here  for £13.99.

Silicol Gel

Here at The Amazing Blog, we understand how upsetting it can be when you aren't feeling yourself. Problems such as indigestion and stomach pains can affect your whole day leaving you a bit down in the dumps. So when we received samples from SilicolGel, we knew it would come in useful when discomfort decided to strike.

The gel, which is easily taken as an oral dose, has a reactive surface of colloidal silicic acid. It acts as an absorbent in the stomach to soothe irritation and restore calm and serenity to the digestive system. Although Silicol is designed to ease the symptoms of IBS, it’s also useful in treating other gastrointestinal disorders. A single tablespoonful of Silicol gel taken three times a day has been shown to normalise the function of the stomach and bowel quickly and without side effects. Some of us girls in the office gave it a go (no names to be mentioned!) and we found that it swiftly restored harmony, taking pride of place in our medicine cabinet. So, if you’re a long time sufferer, struggle only occasionally with discomfort or want to use Silicol as an emergency remedy, it’s guaranteed to soothe and restore balance in no time.

Silicol is widely available through a range of outlets and in the UK it is available hereat £8.29 for 200ml.

Effitan - Insect Repellent

I'm sure we are all familiar with insect bitesand how annoying they are - particularly at this time of year. We at The Amazing Blog are always on the look out for good quality and natural insect repellents, to keep the bugs at bay! So when we stumbled on Effitan Insect Repellent we were intrigued to see if it was the one for us. Effitan is just that - a spray that helps prevent bites from mosquitoes, ticks, and horse flies.

 Effitan Insect Repellent protects effectively against mosquitoes for up to 8 hours, and against ticks for up to 6 hours. This is 2 hours longer than the best selling market competitor, and being DEET free, it is suitable for use when pregnant or on infants and children. It is ideal for any climate and it delivers natural, but highly effective protection. We were also pleased to note that Effitan did not leave a sticky or uncomfortable feeling our skin, which is rare in insect repellent. The citrus fragrance it has was fresh, pleasant, and light enough to not clash with cologne or your chosen fragrance. Now that we have found a great insect repellent we can start planning our next holiday to warmer climes!

 You can get a 100 ml bottle of Effitan Insect Repellent for just £10.75 from their UK distributor here.

Friday Favourites: Our Lazy Summer Weekend Reads

With the summer season comes summer holidays, and with all of that free time, we here at The Amazing Blog plan to settle down with a good book. Being the good Samaritans that we are, we thought we’d take the legwork out of finding the good reads for you, and list the best reads for a long weekend of relaxation.

So you love writing, you may even have a blog where you spend your spare time posting away. Sounds familiar? Well have you ever thought about writing a book? The mere thought of it is intimidating, but here at The Amazing Blog, we have discovered it is easier than you might think. The talented British author and entrepreneur, Lisa Newton, has written a book which can be used as a guide to create your first literary success. The book is filled with handy tips to help you reach your goals and this easy step by step guide allows you to write down your notes, organise your ideas and get writing. Lisa wrote ‘How to write a book in two weeks’ to answer the questions of prospective writers out there. If you want to start your writing journey, Lisa Newton’s book is available here from £3.99.

If you feel that writing a book in 14 days is too far into the deep end for you, Lisa Newton’s other literary creation ‘Cosmic Ordering With Vision Boards’  may be a better place for you to start. This book is designed to banish those dusty to-do lists and replace them with boards depicting what you want, ‘vision boards’ to help bring you closer to your desires. ‘Cosmic Ordering With Vision Boards’ can be ordered from Amazon here for £6.02.

For the beauty buffs among us, we’re sure that you’ll be more than familiar with cosmetic store, Lush. Renowned for their cruelty free, aromatic beauty products, and their friendly, hands on approach to retail, they’re now expanding into the world of publishing. Their book, Danger: Cosmetics To Go, tells of the rise and fall of Cosmetics To Go, the company that came before Lush. Filled with the most wonderful retro photography, interesting insights into the ranges and products provided by the postal order service, I really enjoyed flicking through its pages. I particularly enjoyed exploring the origins of much loved products like bath bombs and massage bars, and seeing how the packaging has evolved throughout the years, but has never lost its eccentric essence. It’s exactly how you would imagine Lush to be in book form, and is a must read for any fans of the quirky store. You can get your hands on the book in store at Lush, or on their website, here for £19.95.

For any of our younger readers looking to get into the fashion industry, keep your eye out for From Intern to Stylist by Celebrity Stylist and presenter, Charlene Campbell. A short, simple exploration into one girl’s journey up the fashion ladder, it’s a great beginner’s guide for anybody considering a career in clothes when their school days are over. With everything from the working order of season shows, to a handy list of references and agencies in it’s final pages, it’s the ideal starter, giving you the contacts you will need to explore the industry further and get your stylishly adorned foot in the door. The book is newly available to buy in appropriately fashionable Topshop, or online, here for £9.99.

Finally, for anybody who is concerned with the price of beauty, we’d highly recommend that you check out No More Dirty Looks. An in-depth expose into the dangers of our everyday beauty products, and their ill, this book will have you determined to detox your collection and embark on a new clean routine immediately. Casually written, and structurally sound, it breaks down into chapters those nasty ingredients that are actually making us look worse, and recommends friendly alternatives. Initially it’s quite scary to read about how little regulation there is in the cosmetics industry, particularly in the US. An excellent read, I’d proceed with caution if on a budget, as we had a shopping list as long as our arm when we put it down, ready to cull our cabinet in favour of healthier options. Purify your prettiness by buying the book online, here , for £6.29.

Soft Sage - Doughballs

Here at The Amazing Blog we know everyone loves nibbles and do you know what everyone loves even more? Doughballs and cheese, mustn't forget the cheese! We've all been in the situation when there is one left on the plate and everyone wants it. Now, imagine that pressure and awkwardness times 10 because these dough balls are extra special AND we have a packed office... Oh my goodness we were just in heaven withSoft Sage‘s beautifully delicious gluten free dough balls and unlike others, these contain no added sugar, yeast, wheat corn, codex wheat starch or xanthan gum.

We were really impressed with the entire operation that Soft Sage is running. Not only are they able to get frozen products which then need to be baked safely through the post, they also offered to come cook them for us. Luckily for us we can operate an oven with some flair, so we declined this gracious offer. Hot out of the oven, these little balls of gluten free dough (VIP to mention!) and potato are just divine. We tried the Tomato, Basil & Cheese, Original Cheese, Garlic & Cheese, and Rosemary & Cheese flavours which were all delicious and perfectly sized for normal snacking or party hors d'oeuvres. We particularly liked the Rosemary & Cheese doughballs, as the infusion of the two flavours worked so well together and they were definitely the most popular here in the office. They are fast, tasty and easy to cook and you can serve these little bites of heaven in the happy knowledge that they’re free from preservatives, flavourings and gluten. We highly recommend getting a stash of theses and keeping them in your freezer for when you have some unexpected guests - they'll soon be inviting themselves back for more!

Soft SageDoughballs are available here for £3.50 for a pack of 10.