Friday Favourites- Holiday Reads

All we want to do in this cold weather is snuggle up on the sofa in our pyjamas with a mug of tea and a great book. The Amazing Blog understands that there comes a time when a novel seems a bit too heavy for unwinding, so we have selected three very different easy reads to browse when you’re taking some time off. These are How to Draw Like a Fashion Designer, Peruvian Kitchen, and The Book.

There’s no denying that at some stage in our lives, we have all had career ambitions which were a little far fetched. When I was growing up it was either a princess or fashion designer… By about 8 I realised the former dream was a little unrealistic so I began to focus on fashion. I would draw stick women and drown them in horrible floods of colour, clothes that nobody would ever wear, but it was fun. The How to Draw like a Fashion Designer book written by Celia Joicey and Dennis Nothdruft would have been perfect for that phase of my life and would have helped make my stick people look less like…sticks. It’s a beautiful book filled with vibrant colours and step by step guides. Valentino and Zadra Rhodes are just two of the many designers who have contributed to the book, adding their own individual personality. There are interviews, drawing guides, intricate images and much more to set you on your path to become the next big name in fashion. I think this book is wonderful for a light read when you have five minutes to yourself. Its only £12.95, and definitely a book which will look lovely on a shelf or table in the lounge for everyone to enjoy. You can purchase the book here.

 

From one of our favourite ‘F’s, fashion, to another, which is food! The Ceviche Peruvian Kitchen by Martin Morales is filled with over 100 recipes and photos of the most celebrated Peruvian food. Restaurateur and cook, Martin Morales opened his restaurant Ceviche in 2012 and has since had huge success. This book shows you how to makes hundreds of dishes including the famous Ceviche. He traveled the country in search of the best flavours and recipes to share with his readers, and we agree he’s done just that. They are simple yet delicious and unusual, and we are interested by every one. The dishes are fusions of cultural essences from Africa, Spain, Italy, China and Japan. If you haven’t tried Peruvian food before then you need to, it’s definitely not one to disappoint as there are so many different spices and textures to choose from. We trust everything about these recipes as Martin Morales has been cooking since the mere age of 11!  His passion for food is displayed throughout the book and seen in the beautiful photographs which compliment each recipe. The book is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson and you can purchase it on Amazon here.

There is a particular genre of book that appears to be trending and increasing in popularity. These are self help books, ways to better your life and achieve greater happiness. If you visit book stores or use the internet you will probably be exposed to a large amount of these book titles, but The Amazing Blog can make it a little easier for you to choose. We have just read Linde’s life manual which goes by the name, The Book. It opens your eyes to different ways to maintain perfect health, wealth, happiness and longevity. It’s a guide to changing the way you perceive things to ultimately give you a happier and more positive outlook on life. As you journey through the chapters you learn how to understand how your body and mind function, and how to deal with them depending on your surroundings and environment. This book is full of optimism and is definitely one that I will keep referring back to as the years go on. It’s a bit like a support mechanism to guide you in the direction which will make you happiest. The hardback version is £30 and presented beautifully, it’ll be something to stay with you for years so definitely worth every penny. You can buy a kindle edition, or if you want, a hardback copy from here. 

Friday Favourites- Skincare

During December, the cold weather tends to bring lots of unwanted insecurities like dry and chapped skin or blemishes. The Amazing Blog has been testing some products to help better the condition of our skin a little. We looked at Anne De Jeunesse, Senzimi, Pure Chimp, Amie and Spa Fabulous.

If you’re a loyal follower of this blog then you will probably know that we like to products with ‘multifunctional’ claims to see if there really is anything that can do everything. The Anne De Jeunesse Multifunction Facial Cream claims to reverse the signs of aging with 11 exclusive properties. At £26 it would be a miracle if we could turn back our image clock and look a bit younger. The smell and texture of the cream are definitely great features of this cream. It glides onto the skin lightly and with ease and doesn’t leave an unwanted layer sitting there. You can feel that it really is a good product for sensitive skin, there are no rough qualities to cause irritation and the application is very moisturising and gentle . I did find it very calming for the areas I usually suffer from blemishes so would recommend it for that. You can find the cream on gorgeous shop, or their website here.

Everyone loves a cleanser as it’s an essential part of our cleaning routine on a daily basis. There are however, plenty of them out there which can make it hard to tell which really the best is for you. Senzimi have the Sensitive Cleanser for irritated, dry skin. It’s made with natural ingredients tailored to tackle problems which arise when you’re more reactive to products. The smell is not too dissimilar to clay, which to me is a good thing because clay has a good reputation in the beauty industry. The compact formula makes it look more like a moisturiser as it’s thick and builds a layer that sits on your skin. Although this may not sound like what you want from a cleanser, it does work the same way and leaves you with hydrated skin throughout the day, even after applying your make-up. It’s £13.99 and can be found here.

 

Pure Chimp Natural Super Cream is the number one cream in world containing hemp seed wax and blends omega 3 & 6 to nourish and repair your skin. A team member at The Amazing Blog applied the cream to some dry skin she had on her hand as soon as it arrived in the office, after using it a couple of times saw the patch disappear. It may not work as well for everyone but it was a definite success this time. Being able to use a product on all parts of your body including your face is always an attractive selling point for creams, and often means it’s good with sensitive skin. The smell is natural and not overpowering, and the ingredients leave a subtle shine, which shows us that it’s working on those dry patches. It is £10 for a 60ml pot and £15 for a 120ml pot, and you can get it from here.

Keeping moisturised is very important throughout the year, but especially so in these icier months as we become a bit chapped in places. The Amie Mattifying Moisturiser is oil free which means no extra build up if you have already oily skin. You only need a small amount as it's quite hydrating, this also means the bottle will last you a good amount of time. This moisturiser also helps make-up sit better throughout the day which is a pleasant little bonus. The Amie Purifying Facial Wash has a creamy consistency and is soap free. We hear a lot about soap being quite irritable for your skin so if you’re worried about that then this facial wash is worth trying out. I found my skin cleared up quite well after using the wash, I would also recommend it for teenagers if you are suffering from outbreaks and want something gentle to calm it down. The Moisturiser is £5.95 and the Facial Wash is £4.95 and found on their website.

The Spa Fabulous Little Pot of Heaven name gives it a lot to live up to. This is a gorgeous smelling blend of organic ingredients which has natural sunscreen protectors against UV rays. It’s good for keeping in your bag for moisturising emergencies. I sometimes get dry skin patches on my forehead so carry this around to make them vanish as soon as I notice them. The cream was a recent runner up in the Beauty Shortlist Awards and received a special mention. Its benefits include Q10 to combat wrinkles, Pure Rose to moisturise, Rosehip Oil to heal imperfections, and Liquorice to balance pigmentation. There are also many other ingredients in the formula to help target specific skin issues. You can buy a 50ml pot for £55.00 here.

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.

 

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.

Friday Favourites - Nails

The girls here in The Amazing Blog office are always thinking about what colour we paint our nails next. We are always trying out different polishes and nail art accessories to compliment our outfits. Therefore, we wanted to share with our readers some of our favourite nail products that we have been experimenting with recently to get the best looking nails possible.Nailberry is a popular nail polish brand because they always have a colour selection bang on seasonal trend. Every shade is very wearable and the ranges are a perfect mix of neutrals and eye-popping brights so there is a shade to suit everybody. We are loving the colours ‘Raspberry’ and ‘Grosille’, two gorgeous pink based berry shades that are perfectly on trend for Autumn/Winter 2013. The Nailberry Lacquers are also 4 Free, meaning they do not contain toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl or camphor, which are potentially harmful chemicals added to many other well known nail brands. They are also cruelty free, and contain UV filters. We found the polishes to be super glossy and very wearable. We just don’t want to take them off! Nailberry 4 Free Lacquers are available for £13.50 each from the Nailberry website. 

The Ultimate Fix is a nail drying, protecting and shine spray. The spray can be used to prolong the lifetime of your manicure by keeping it chip free for two weeks. It also reduces the drying time of your nail polish meaning no more scuffing, smudges or dents when your nails appear to be dry! The spray should be applied after every layer of polish, including the base and top coat to aid the drying process and protect each and every layer. The spray works by filtering into each layer of polish and changing its chemical properties to make the key ingredients in the nail polish evaporate at a faster rate so it dries quicker. With The Ultimate Fix, I found that my manicure lasted me a full week with no chipping at all, and 10 days before I had a major chip, which for me, is a miracle. The Ultimate Fix now comes in a 50ml can which retails at £9.50 and this is enough for 12 manicures. This size is perfect for popping in your makeup bag and very suitable for travelling. The Ultimate Fix can be purchased from the Beauty Narcotix website.

Frequent use of nail polishes and subsequently nail polish remover damages your nails by dehydrating them, which leads to dry and brittle nails. Thankfully, you can nourish your nails and cuticles with oils to repair any damage done. We have been trying out Kernow Spa’s Nail and Cuticle Oil, a completely natural product containing jojoba and sweet almond oil to condition the nails and cuticles. The oil smells wonderful due to the added lemon peel oil and it absorbs quickly into the nail and skin. I have used this religiously as I frequently have gel manicures, and the chemicals used in the process can be very harmful. After a week with no nail polish and repeated use of this oil, my nails were in the best condition I have ever seen them. Kernow Spa are currently setting up their online shop, but in the mean time, you can purchase this fantastic natural Nail and Cuticle Oil from Objects d’Amour for £5.Models Own have recently teamed up with Midori, famous for their Melon Liqueur, and they have created a melon-scented nail trio in Midori green inspired shades. The limited edition set features a bright neon green, a blue and green tone glitter polish and a duo-chrome beetlejuice polish with green and brown hues. We think these gorgeous shades are a perfect way to bring a splash of colour to Autumn. The whole collection smells like melons so now you can smell and look as gorgeous as your favourite Midori cocktails. We particularly like the glitter polish ‘Dancing Queen’ because of the chunky flecks of glitter. We layered the glitter polish over the other shades to create stand-out nails that are perfect for a night out. This limited edition collection is available from the Models Own website for £15.

The Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique range has recently been extended, and we have been trying out the gorgeous Glitterati Nail collection. The collection consists of four beautiful and very wearable shades of glitter, blue, white, pink and purple. The innovative Glitterati tubes come with a ‘puff’ applicator to literally puff the glitter onto the nails allowing for easy and precise application. You can create a whole range of nail art designs with this beautiful collection including full glitter nails, glitter tips and half-moons, so be creative and experiment. The glitter used in this collection if finely milled and so looks very delicate and almost fairy dust like. The Glitterati Nail collection is perfect for the upcoming party season to add a touch of Christmas sparkle to any outfit. If you’d like to add a hint of glamour to your nails, you can get your hands on the Andrea Fulerton Nail Boutique Glitterati Nail Collection from Superdrug for £6.66.