Lifestyle

Friday Favourites - Healthy Living Cookbooks

Here at The Amazing Blog, we do our best to live the healthiest lifestyles possible. Since a large part of doing so involves our eating habits, it’s important to fuel your body with nutritious foods. We have chosen our favourite healthy eating cookbooks from Ryland Peters & Small so you can join us on the journey of healthy eating.

When you eat fermented foods, you help to increase the health of your digestive and immune systems. With the help of the Fermented Foods for Vitality and Health cookbook by Dunja Gulin, you can learn how to incorporate more of these types of foods into your daily diet to benefit your body from the inside out. These types of food contain healthy probiotics, boost your energy and improve the natural radiance of your complexion. You most likely have enjoyed a few fermented foods in your lifetime, such as pickled cucumbers or sauerkraut. The book is divided into various sections so you can make foods according to the meal you’re preparing, such as breakfast, lunch and dinner, side salads and snacks, breads, sweets and drinks. Each recipe includes beautiful food photographs taken by Toby Scott, all of the proper ingredients and a small introduction of the recipe with its health benefits included. Our favourite recipes from the book are the Beet and Quinoa bowl, Vegan Greek Salad with Tofu Feta and the Probiotic Pumpkin Popsicles. Pick up your own copy here for £14.99.

Models and celebrities alike have been seen professing their love for kale and healthy eating on social media recently, so it’s no surprise that green drinks have been all the rage as part of this movement. With so many different bases to choose from – spinach, kale, basil, parsley and mint to name a few – there are endless possibilities for juice and smoothie creations. To get us started on our own green drinks, we got the Green Drinks recipe book by Nicola Graimes for inspiration and ideas for our juicing adventures. The book features smoothies, juices, shakes and lemonades including the benefits of greens, plus additional fruits and vegetables for extra flavour and taste. The beginning section even includes information about green superfood powders which can be added to smoothies and juices for added nutrients, including spirulina, chlorella and wheatgrass. The rest of the book is divided into sections of smoothie and juice recipes based on your health concerns or needs, such as detoxifiers, weight loss aiders, energisers and beauty boosters. A few of our favourite drink recipes from the book were the Super Green Detox, Mint Lemonade, Skin Detox, Green Goddess and Basil Limeade. We’ve never been so happy to have our greens! Pick up the book here for £9.99.

Paleo is the newest fad in healthful dieting, and a great way to get started is with Plant-Based Paleo by Jenna Zoe. She is the founder of Foods to Love, an online health food supplier specializing in products free from wheat, gluten, refined sugar, dairy and eggs. She believes that fresh plant foods – fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds – are the optimal health foods. This book is a must-read for those who want to understand the paleo approach to living and eating healthy. The book is full of great recipes featuring vibrant and colourful photos by Clare Winfield. The beginning of the book features an incredibly helpful list of essential ingredients, including chia seeds, spirulina, and coconut oil. The book features recipes for every meal, and with so many pages of recipes, you won’t know where to start. We loved trying the Green-A-Colada recipe, since it was healthy and yummy. Check out the book for yourself here and get it for £14.99.

We all love our sweet treats, but many people have been concerned about the health hazards of white sugar. Thankfully, there are many natural alternatives to sugar that are much better for our bodies. Sugar-Free Snacks & Treats by Ryland Peters & Small is full of recipes you can enjoy without worrying about the negative health effects associated with white sugar. The natural alternatives to sugar the book recommends include agave syrup, xylitol, coconut palm sugar, dark chocolate, brown rice syrup and honey. Even though alternative sweeteners have been criticized for not being as healthy as they claim, when eaten in moderation they are far better for your health than traditional sugar. It’s important to remember that a treat is a treat! The book offers loads of recipes, including everything from salsa to mini doughnuts. Everyone is sure to find something delightful to suit their taste. We can’t wait to try these sweet and savoury recipes! Pick up your own copy here for £14.99.

 

Produce Natural Soy Wax Candles - Wildflower

Here at The Amazing Blog, we know that an easy way to make a house feel like a home is to burn a freshly scented candle to make the whole home smell great. We recently discovered Produce Candles at Cotswold Trading,  who have a range of wonderful, somewhat quirky scents, perfect for adding a sense of homeliness to a place.

Presented in a stylish glass jar with a screw-top lid, these candles are as visually appealing as they are effective. Each candle is made with natural soy wax and is crafted with care with scents that correspond perfectly with their names. The produce-inspired scents bring the farmer’s market experience to your table in seconds, and the brand has a wonderful collection of fragrances, including Kale, Coriander, Carrot, Honey, Melon and Radish. We played it safe and tried out the Wildflower candle and we really loved how clean and fragrant the scent was. It wasn’t too overpowering, but still left the office smelling subtly floral and beautifully fresh. It certainly is the perfect way to bring the refreshing aromas of the market place into your home.

Head to the Cotswold Trading website here and get your own Produce Candles for £22.50. each.

OhLaLa Macarons - "Macarons and Martinis" Event

Here at The Amazing Blog, we absolutely love having a fun girl’s day out. What’s better than spending quality time with your girlfriends over drinks and yummy food? When we heard about the Macaron and Martinis Events from OhLaLa-Macarons, we knew it would be the perfect venue for our next girl’s day.

The Macaron and Martinis Events are designed by the talented team at OhLaLa, where you’ll be delighted with culinary excellence in a gorgeous venue with amazing people. Each event lasts for two and a half hours, and includes unlimited macarons and martinis. The company hosts public events, as well as hen parties for soon-to-be brides.

During the class, you’ll learn how to make your own macarons, since you’ll be able to take home a box of 12 designed by you. After you’ve had your fair share of sweet treats, you’ll get to go behind the bar for a lesson in martini making. You can even make your own recipe with the ingredients provided, and the bartender will name it after you and will give you a card with the recipe on it to take home. Talk about fabulous!

The next public event is on 28th March, and you can book your spot for it here. Ticket prices are £65 each. If you’d rather have your own private event with your friends, you can email the staff directly via the email provided on the bookings page of the site.


"Pollyhester- The Footballer and the Lure of Brands" Book Review

Here at The Amazing Blog, we are always on the lookout for new and exciting products. This week, we have found a fun new book for children and adults alike, called Pollyhester the Footballer and the Lure of Brands.

This is the second book in the Pollyhester series.  The author, Louise Verity, is an artist and fashion designer who has been illustrating and writing children’s stories for years. She now lives in France and Ireland with her husband and four dogs. 

This morality tale has illustrations which are incredibly intricate, incorporating fabric photos amongst the pencil drawings, adding depth and dimension to the pages. It's a fun read with a strong ethical sentiment behind the colorful characters; support your local community's economy and don’t become a slave to brands. The message is bold while still remaining suitable for children. It's quite the page-turner. There is even a character in the book named after Edwina, our Executive Editor!

The book is a perfect representation of the author’s quirky style and motto, “Be a bird of paradise amongst all the pigeons.” Verity's first book is available on Amazon and both books in the Pollyhester series can be ordered at any local bookshop.

Tisserand - Citrus Escape Room Spray

Here at The Amazing Blog we love making our homes places of relaxation, friendship and comfort. When the rooms in our homes smell beautiful, they turn into welcoming environments worthy of hosting guests. With room sprays from Tisserand we are able to do just that in such an effortless manner. A better smelling home is only a spray away!

We personally recommend the citrus escape room spray scent, but we love the other two scents as well: lavender walk and rose garden. Each scent smells so elegant and fresh that we want to use the sprays all day long.

Tisserand is a company specialising in aromatherapy products, so in addition to the room sprays they sell hair and skincare treatments, essential oils and speciality lotions. Each one is crafted with care and is inspired by founder Robert Tisserand’s years of expertise in the massage therapy and aromatherapy fields.

Get your own Tisserand room spray here for £11 in the scent of your choice, and you may never want to leave your wonderfully scented home!