Gluten Free Baking and Living - Gluten Free Baking Courses

The entire nation seems to be engrossed in The Great British Bake Off at present, and we here at The Amazing Blog are no exception. Week after week, we tune in to marvel at the delicious doughy creations, but it strikes us that it must be near torture for those intolerant to gluten, who cannot join in with the delectable delights. With this in mind, we were delighted to discover these Gluten Free Baking Courses, offered by Gluten Free Baking and Living.

We all know that gluten isn’t the healthiest of ingredients, but often find it hard to resist the pull of those mouthwatering cakes. Thankfully, married team, Ian and Deborah Thackeray are here to teach us how to produce scrumptious bakes, with none of the gluten. With a range of cookery classes throughout the autumn and winter months, Deborah and coeliac, Ian instruct on how to make a range of sumptuous treats like cinnamon buns and baguettes. As well as their beginners, patisserie and bread making courses, they also teach a hotly anticipated Christmas class, where you can master the art of Christmas cakes, Christmas pudding and delicious stuffing. And if you ask us, there's nothing like getting an early start on your Christmas checklist. If you’re desperate to get baking, but can’t make it to the courses, not to worry, as Ian and Deborah also offer ‘at home’ courses. Presented in a novel comic book style, you can teach yourself how to bake gluten free products like a pro in the comfort of your own kitchen. Speaking for ourselves, we can't wait to get adding to our baking repertoire.

The one-day courses run from the 7th of September to the 30th November in 3 different locations – London, Wirral and Harrogate. Priced between £75 and £110, depending on the course and location, courses include all the ingredients, tuition, refreshments and lunch. Book your place on a range of courses here, and perfect your gluten free baking skills. Alternatively, you can 'try before you buy' and sample the 'at home' cheesy scones course for free here. You'll be creating bakes to rival Mary Berry's in no time.

Divine Herbal - Facial Treatment Serum

As the colder months are slowly creeping up on us, here at The Amazing Blog, we are beginning to retire our light summer moisturisers, and the search is now on for rich, hydrating products to keep that dreaded dry skin at bay. So when natural skincare brand, Divine Herbal got in touch, we thought that their Facial Treatment Serum would be just the thing we were looking for.

A British born company, Divine Herbal strive to create botanical based, chemical free products, using a range of plant oils and extracts. Ever a fan of all things natural, we couldn’t wait to try out the intense serum, which claims to ‘correct pigmentation, dark circles and uneven skin tone.’ Although we don't think we've used it for long enough to support these lofty claims, we can certainly speak for its hydrating and nourishing abilities. After smoothing a couple of drops onto our face and neck in the evening, as per the instructions, we felt our tired skin breathe a sigh of relief as it drank in the nurturing oil. We definitely agree with Divine Herbal’s evening oil prognosis, as this is not an oil that absorbs quickly into the skin. Usually not a quality we value in our products, as a treatment serum, we were happy to leave it overnight to work its oily magic. A potent combination of Rosehip Seed Oil, Hazelnut Oil and Grapeseed Oil, among other naturally derived ingredients, it left us with an enviable complexion, allowing us to greet the day with a radiant, silky and supple visage.

If you’re looking to revive your skin in a natural caring way, the Divine Herbal Facial Treatment Serum is available here for £22.99.

Crabtree & Evelyn - Verbena & Lavender de Provence Shampoo & Conditioner

Here at The Amazing Blog, we’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for Crabtree & Evelyn.  Having featured many of their wonderful offerings in the past, we were delighted when they sent over their Verbena & Lavender de Provence Shampoo & Conditioner for us to try.  Following the success of their Verbena & Lavender Bath and Body Collection, we knew we were in for a treat, and these freshly scented products had us itching for our next shower.

Being such seasoned shampoo testers, we are aware that it’s often difficult to find a shampoo that doesn’t leave your locks feeling a little parched. Thankfully, both the shampoo and conditioner are formulated with moisturising glycerin, as well as lavender and lemon extract, helping to gently nourish the hair. The shampoo lathers to produce a wonderfully light and easy to wear fragrance, reminiscent of the idyllic French countryside. Those familiar with the popular perfume of their Bath & Body Collection will recognise two of the region's iconic natural scents, with French lemon verbena and lavender essential oils offering a beautifully fresh and uplifting aroma. The conditioner provided the perfect follow up to its cleaning counterpart, helping to detangle those stubborn knots, delivering the perfect dose of moisture without adding any weight to our delicate tresses.

Crabtree & Evelyn are definitely onto a winner with their new Verbena & Lavender de Provence Shampoo & Conditioner, which you can purchase for £12.00 each. You can also browse all of Crabtree & Evelyn’s products here. We’re also pleased to report that for every Verbena & Lavender product sold during September, Crabtree & Evelyn will donate at least £1 to Macmillan Cancer Support!

Mel Millis - Phytonutri Qi Range

As you all know, we here at The Amazing Blog are huge advocates for organic skincare. In honour of Organic Beauty Week, we thought we’d pay homage to a wonderful English organic brand, Mel Millis, who were kind enough to send us their Phytonutri Qi collection to sample. With such a wide selection of skincare essentials in the range, we were spoilt for choice.

Of their beautifully packaged Phytonutri Qi range, we were lucky enough to sample the Energising MM Facial Peel, Plankton Skin Remedy, Enriching Sea Plant Jelly and Enhancing Arctic Essence. Containing their namesake ingredient, Mel Millis (honey), along with natural exfoliant, muscovado sugar, we were most enamoured with the Energising MM Face Peel. With its range of delicious sounding components, we did have to resist the urge to grab a spoon, but once the product had made it from our fingers to our face, we loved the invigorating effect it had on our complexions. We often find that exfoliators are either so abrasive it’s like washing your face with gravel, or they’re at the opposite end of the spectrum, making no difference at all, but this naturally enzymatic formula felt so satisfying to use. The mild granules of glycolic acid producing brown sugar made the perfect consistency for a face peel. After leaving on for 10 minutes and gently massaging off with the included Mel Millis Organic Muslin Cloth, we felt wonderfully refreshed, plumped and smoothed. We also love that Mel Millis pay just as much loving attention to what they put on the outside as what goes into the products. Impregnated with British Wildflower seeds, the packaging is so natural that you can literally plant it and watch it bloom. Now, if that’s not organic enough for you, then we’re not sure what is!

The entire PhytoNutri Qi range is available to buy here, and you can purchase the Energising MM Face Peel here for £48.00, as well as extra Organic Muslin Cloths for £9.95.

Blockhead - Compressed Energy Gum

Here at The Amazing Blog, we frequently find ourselves juggling a jam packed schedule. As a result, we’re constantly running on fumes and often long for a quick pick-me-up. Although we know we can always rely on a trusty cup of coffee in a pinch, we were excited to discover Blockhead Energy Gum. An innovative chewing gum designed to work in a similar way to energy drinks, it certainly saw us through the week with a pep in our step.

Sugar free and filled with caffeine and B Vitamins galore, this minty treat is designed to release energy five times faster than the average energy boosting beverage. The active agents are absorbed orally, reaching the bloodstream much faster, allowing us to get to work at record speed. Importantly, the power packed chews have a great taste. With two flavours to choose from, the Original gum has a berry like taste to it, delicious for chomping at your desk. The more traditional Mint flavour has everything you would expect from a stick of gum, making it a pleasure to chew, instead of a last ditch attempt to stay awake.

Marketed in blister packaging, Blockhead Gum certainly delivered the dose of energy that we craved. You can buy a single pack of 10 pieces here for £1.95. Alternatively, a box of 18 packs is available here for £26.00.