Lifestyle

The Perfect Christmas Decorations

At The Amazing Blog, we don’t start getting into the Christmas spirit until the decorations up! We think that it’s practically impossible to picture yourself doing something Christmassy, without some twinkly fairy lights or a wreath perched on the mantle. Today we have put together a collection of exciting, fun and different Christmas decorations that we have found. We hope it helps to inspire and get you into the Christmas mood. 

First on our list is something a little special and very different from Melody Maison. They have launched a stunning gold antler wreath, which is perfect for anyone seeking to create a sophisticated Christmas theme. Not only does this gold wreath work as a great statement accessory, it is fabulously versatile and will look stunning on a front door or will add a certain je ne sais quoi as a table centrepiece. The wreath is made from resin sculpted to look like stag antlers it is available in silver. This is one decoration that is certain to wow your guests. Purchase it here for £39.95

If you are a planning a more fun and quirky Christmas, then we recommend Gillian Kyle’s new Christmas coasters, which are more than effective in bringing a bit of cheer and merriness to the dining table. Gillian Kyle has created two new and limited edition coasters that are bound to jazz up any table they sit on. The first collection features a fun, beautiful and whimsical Tunnocks Christmas Pudding.  For this range, she combined her two favourite treats, Tunnocks Teacakes and Christmas pudding to create the ultimate Christmas treat as well as a delightful design that will remind your guests to save room for dessert.  The second collection,  titled the Scandi Stag, features a noble stag with intricate baubles decorating his antlers. Both collections contain four coasters, and there are also matching placemats which are sold separately. You can purchase the Tunnocks Christmas Pudding Coasters here for £12.95 and the Scandi Stag Coasters here for £12.95


What would Christmas be without Christmas crackers? A travesty - we say! Christmas is incomplete without a table strewn with crackers. And yet how often are they a disappointment, featuring the same ‘presents,’ bad jokes, with a fizzled pop noise instead of a bang!  Of course, it is all a part of the charm, but it doesn’t exactly scream sophistication. If you feel this way too, but don’t want to ditch the tradition then why not try Yately Papers who offer a the game changer.  Yateley Papers are a brand that loves all things that look and feel luxurious. As such they've channeled this passion into their new crackers which are generous in every way.  The crackers come in an oversized barrel with hand tied bows on each end, as well as hand lined contrasting cuffs and extravagant contents. Each cracker is filled with a luxury chocolate, and every one contains a different flavour which has been carefully selected. This is of course alongside the hat, fortune fish and Christmas joke. Their crackers will elevate any Christmas gathering while retaining the fun and charm that we hold in our hearts. They can be purchased as a set of 6 here for £125. 

Last but by no means least, we present to you Lime Lace and their fabulous Christmas card holder. Each year we receive a whole host of Christmas cards from family and friends, and while we want to display them all so we can be surrounded by happy sentiments, we don’t always have space. In fact, traditionally cards are meant to be kept on the mantelpiece, but given modern living and renovations, not everyone has this feature in their homes. If these are also your issues then you are bound to love the Lime Lace card holder. The holder is a chic geometric reindeer. Just clip the cards you receive on the bar, and have a truly unique accessory. The frame is 78cm tall and is incredibly cute which means even if you don’t receive many cards you still have a stunning feature.  NB: Due to popularity, they may have already sold out if this is so, please log on and see their other Christmas accessories here.

Lime Oil Power Cleaner by Sodasan

There is nothing more agreeable than coming home after a very long day. The adage “there is no place like home” says it all and we at The Amazing Blog cherish our homes too. Like you we want to make sure our homes are comfortable, safe and clean. Natural cleaning products are particularly important to us and  Sodasan’s Lime Oil Power Cleaner is a great new products that will help to keep your home clean and fresh.

Sodasan’s Lime Oil Power Cleaner is a not only a vegan surfaces cleaner but an intensive stain remover too. It's a concentrated cleaner that works efficiently by removing stains in textiles, carpets and all wipeable surfaces. You can expect a deeply cleansed surface free from dirt, grease and bacteria leaving a fresh citrus scent. The Lime Oil Power Cleaner is made with environmentally friendly ingredients, where production occurs on a CO2-neutral basis.  Sodasan also only use electricity from Greenpeace Energy and therefore work 100% free of nuclear power. The product is certified in accordance with the guidelines from Ecogarantie and the Vegan Society. The key ingredients include potassium soap, alcohol, water, orange terpenes and natural perfume oil. By combining all these ingredients, Sodasan have made a powerful and highly efficient cleaning product.

The Sodasan’s cleaner is a must-have, it is great multi-tasker for household cleaner and as mentioned can be used in myriad of ways. We adored the fresh lemon fragrance that stayed in the office after using it, plus it made everything sparkle and shine adding an extra zesty zing. For us, it's a winner and we'll certainly be buying more especially as Sodasan's Lime Oil Cleaner is free from synthetic dyes and preservatives. To purchase Sodasan's Lime Oil Cleaner for £7.95 click here

The Scottish Fine Soap Company- Au Lait Hand & Nail Cream

Hands are probably one of the most exposed, over-worked and forgotten about parts of the body; but here at The Amazing Blog we like to take great care of them! Hand creams are always visible on our desks and as a team we're all in agreement that it's our office essential. We like to ensure that our hard working hands have the hydration they need throughout our busy day. The Scottish Fine Soaps Au Lait Hand and Nail Cream, we discovered recently and think it's a must-try product for our fellow beauty enthusiasts.

Scottish Fine Soaps is a family business company that was created over 40 years ago. They specialise in producing bath and body products with the highest-quality ingredients. Their Au Lait collection has a key ingredient of organic milk is to date their best-selling range. The Au Lait Hand & Nail Cream's unique formula contains water, cocoa seed butter and non-fat dry milk. Cocoa seed butter is well known for its deep nourishing and healing properties which provides the hands with deep hydration whilst improving their appearance.

This Hand & Nail Cream did everything it promised, it kept our hands feeling smootherhealthier and softer. Despite its rich consistency this Hand & Nail Cream is not at all sticky, it is easily applied and quickly absorbed. The product is long-lasting, smells good and leaves hands delicately fragranced. In our view, this is the ideal cream for rewarding any hard-working hands. Purchase the Au Lait Hand & Nail  Cream here for £8.99.

Supreme Cell Vitality Rejuvenating Mask by Elizabeth Grant

The Amazing Blog is a huge believer in using masks to try and achieve that all elusive perfect complexion. We keep being told by the media that it is imperative to use an effective face mask at least once a week. So, we have been testing out quite a few to see which ones seem to be the most effective.  We received the Supreme Cell Vitality Rejuvenating Mask from the American skincare range  Elizabeth Grant. This product claims to "Provide protection and revitalise the skin making it appear more radiant" We couldn't wait to try! 

The Supreme Cell Vitality Rejuvenating Mask is formulated to purify the skin and boost its natural luminosity. A plethora of good ingredients: Kaolin, Canadian glacial oceanic clay, blue green algae extract, eryngium maritimum extract, aloe vera juice; as well as  chamomille, tea-oil camellia, sage flower and cucumber extracts are all incorporated in this mask formula. Kaolin clay and Canadian clay not only act as a gentle exfoliator but also remove excess oil and draw out impurities. Eryngium Maritimum extract stimulates skin regeneration by increasing elastin and collagen in the epidermis. Blue Green algae the brand star ingredient works for a suppler and more luminous skin.

This mask is a performer. It is perfect for those looking for an immediate glow and youthful-looking skin. After one application our skin looked clearer, smoother (and firmer for the older members of the team!) We think that this mask makes it both a wonderful anti-ageing and rejuvenating mask. Suitable for almost anyone. Easy to use just smooth it on with your fingertips gently applying to all areas of the face (avoiding the area  the eye), leave it for 5-10 minutes and then rinse it with warm water -  et voilàThe mask is available at IdealWorldtv for £49.99.

Red Love Apple Juice by Biddenden

Classic, refreshing, delicious; three words that come to our minds here at The Amazing Blog when we think about The Biddenden Red Love Apple Juice.  Biddenden is a family run vineyard based in the garden of England, Kent. They have gained their experience over generations from producing award winning wines and by using this expertise in viticulture, they launched in 2015 their non-alcoholic drink made from pure red apple juice. Biddenden Vineyards are the first to create a naturally red apple juice in the UK.

The Red Love Apple Juice is a freshly pressed with a rosy coloured hue, sweet and zesty unlike any other apple juice that we've tasted! Red Love apples are a variety originally grown in Switzerland which are distinctive with their sweet, crisp and delicious rounded flavour. The apples are cultivated in East Malling and bottled at the Biddenden vineyards. The juice is a refreshing and fruity beverage with no added colourants, chemicals or sugars, it is just sweetened naturally by the Red Love apple themselves.

The Red Love Apple Juice is simply delicious and was gulped down greedily when it first arrived. We think that it makes a great key ingredient for Chritstmas cocktails, think an Appletini: Red Love Apple Juice (1 part), Vodka ( 3 parts) and Cointreau (1 part) all shaken, not stirred and  served in chilled martini glasses, garnished with a single red apple slice. Perfect! The Red Love Apple juice is a very light and fruity drink with a balanced acidity and sweetness  giving it versatility and making it the a great partner for lots of different food pairings. We are not the only ones to be won over by this apple juice, as it has also been awarded a two star Great Taste award in 2016. The Red Love Apple Juice is a non-alcoholic drink and is suitable for anyone who enjoys a high-quality fruit juice. However, let's not forget that this apple juice also come with the added benefits of high levels of anti-oxidants and lots of health benefits. Purchase this delicious apple juice here for £3.70 for a 1 litre bottle.