Christmas Wish List for Our Lovely Men

With Christmas right around the corner, we at The Amazing Blog have been frantically trying to gather the perfect gifts for our loved ones. Needless to say, we have found shopping for the men in our lives particularly difficult. We’ve looked long and hard for products that men will both enjoy and actually use. Fortunately for us, we received samples from companies such as Marvling Bros, Ted Baker, Below The Belt and Luscombe. The stress of shopping for our men has finally come to an end.

Instead of the usual stocking stuffer, we decided to turn it up a notch by buying a gift with a manly kick. Marvling Bros World’s Hottest Chocolate Bars are the perfect fiery gift for men. Unlike most tasty treats, this chocolate bar presents them with a challenge rather than a chance to indulge in more Christmas chocolate. In other words, the chocolate is so hot that the company actually has to send safety instructions with it.

Paired with a bottle of the world champion hottest chilli powder, Carolina Reaper, together with two bars of extreme heat chilli chocolate, this little bar of dynamite, in a very clever mini matchbox, is sure to leave you begging for a glass (or gallon) of milk.

We feel this product is perfect for boys because, let’s face it, what man doesn’t love a challenge? World’s Hottest is available from the In-a-Matchbox website, priced at £5.99. For chilli lovers, Marvling Bros Ltd have also produced ‘Hot Stuff In A Matchbox’, four bottles of the hottest chilli powders in the world, priced at £5.99.

Looking for more than a stocking filler or gag gift? We’ve found the perfect package deal of essentials that will last long, put your shopping stress to rest and smack a smile on your man’s face. The Ted Baker Personal Best Wash Bag Gift Set includes an array of men’s grooming products, including a hair and body wash, body spray, and wrapped soap. If your man is always on the go, this is an ideal travel set - chic, affordable and actually effective. You can purchase this gift at your local Boots Store or at any Ted Baker location for £22.00. Browse the Ted Baker website to and take a look at this gift set or anything else your man desires.

We want the men in our lives to feel fresh and exude total confidence every day. Below the Belt Grooming has created skincare products that celebrate, cherish and protect all aspects of a man’s body, especially below the belt, leaving him confident and comfortable in his skin. For the athlete, check out the Sports Lubricant for £7.95. Whether your guy runs, plays golf or plays football, this product will prevent chafing or any unnecessary discomfort.

Do you ever feel like your boyfriend is just lazy and you are constantly nagging him to take a shower? Or, is your man just busy and always on the go? Buy them the Waterless Shower Groin Cleanser for £6.95; he doesn’t even have to take his trousers off to use it. He just has to rub it around the groin and crotch area before heading out and he’s all good to go.

For any man that just wants to make sure he stays fresh at all hours of the day, you can buy Fresh & Dry Balls for £6.95. All he has to do is apply it after a shower and he should smell clean all day long.

These products can only enhance the every day life for all the men out there. You can purchase the products here and even buy a trio of the products for £19.60. 

If your man has decided to go teetotal this Christmas, we've also discovered a delicious selection of soft drinks from Luscombe Organic Drinks. With flavours like Cranberry Crush and Wild Elderflower Bubbly to choose from, the bottled beverage company have a great variety to spice up your Christmas. Our favourite is Hot Ginger Beer; a spicy drink with a hint of lime, this leaves a slightly peppery feeling after you take a sip, perfect for keeping you toasty warm this Christmas. You can get a pack of 4 here for £5.99, as well as variety packs, if you can't quite decide.

Who needs Santa when the men in your life have you to shop for them?

Friday Favourites - Nail Feature

We at The Amazing Blog always pay close attention to detail. We just insist on feeling fabulous from head to toe. This is why we love nail products, and Nailmatic, HJmanicure, butterLondon and The Ultimate Fix have left our fingertips looking flawless.

Nail polish has taken the search for your perfect nail shade to an entirely different level. Nailmatic has created the world’s first vending machine for nail polishes. All you have to do is choose your colour and press a button; it’s as simple as that. In addition to this creative idea, the product is made in France, making the quality beyond compare. Nailmatic nail colours can be purchased at vending machines for an affordable £6. Add some color to your event and find your nearest stockist at the website.

Another nail product we have grown to love it the new HJ Manicure range. This luxurious brand is inspired by the most essential aspects of the fashion industry, and creator Helen J. takes pride in providing a beautiful colour selection for your nails. Additionally, this product is cruelty free and vegan friendly. To find out more about Helen and this special product, please visit SixtyOne or Helen J.'s website for manicure work. 

If you are looking for a great gift for your loved ones this holiday, search no more. The brand butterLondon is offering a special Brick Lane Lacquer Set, featuring six unique shades. What’s so special about this set is that the nail colours East End and Chocka are set exclusives; you can’t get them anywhere else! Purchase this perfect gift and take a look at other butterLondon Lacquer collections on their website.

Now that you’ve got your colour selection set, The Ultimate Fix will act as a spectacular finishing touch to your manicure. The Ultimate Fix is a high-speed polish fixer. This product will provide just what you need to dry your nails quickly and maintain your mani. To use, spray lightly from around 30cms over each layer of base coat, enamel and top coat. Overall, the product truly sets your polish, allowing enamel to resist all chips and marks. It will also give your nails extra shine…what more could we ask for?

The Ultimate Fix is available at Selfridges London (Beauty Workshop Ground Floor), Urban Outfitters (Oxford Street),  BeautyNarcotix  and Sally Express. The Ultimate Fix (50ml) will treat approximately 12 manicures or pedicures, and retails at £9.50. It is also available in 200ml size, treating approximately 50 manicures or pedicures for £17.

My Relationship With Food by Lisa Roukin

Here at The Amazing Blog we are always down to test out and discover new and delicious recipes, which is why we were ecstatic when Lisa Roukin invited us to her launch party for her newly released cookbook, My Relationship with Food.

On November 25, we sat at work watching the clock slowly tick away as we thought about the launch party (and the food) that evening.

We arrived at Opso Restaurant for the launch party, and as soon as we entered, Lisa was right there and ready to give us her cookbook and a goody bag for each of us.

This goody bag might just the best one I have ever received. It had products from The Groovy Food Company, Chi London, The Foods of Athenry and Revolution Tea. I use the gluten-free honey in my tea every evening and the coconut oil on my face at night. Definitely check out these companies and their products if you have the time!

We made our way to the food table with delicious crackers, spreads and salads. While we cleaned our plates, Lisa sat down with us to explain the process of her cookbook. She made this entire cookbook in 3 months, working about 17 hours a day. Can you imagine? She even had to hire a food stylist. Just sitting there and listening to Lisa talk about her book, I could sense her passion for food and her hope that people will buy her book and develop a healthy relationship with food like she has.

My Relationship with Food features 100 recipes, each mirrored by beautiful photography. All of the dishes featured in the cookbook are virtually gluten-free and see minimal use of dairy and refined sugars. Plus, the recipes are organized by season. It also features the personal story of Lisa and her own journey to developing a better relationship with food, discussing her bad food habits and the ways in which she overcame them.

With recipes like Chicken Satay Skewers with Spicy Peanut Sauce, Raw Blueberry Cheesecake and Sweet Potato Hummus, you can find something both you and your entire family will enjoy. I tried the Sweet Potato Hummus at the launch party and I couldn’t get enough of it! This would be the perfect thing to serve at a family or friend gathering.

After getting the chance to sit down with Lisa and hear her story, we wish her the very best as she officially becomes a cookbook author. She has so much passion and she knows how to make healthy food delicious. We can’t wait to try the recipes in the cookbook and we hope all of our lovely readers try it too.

In the words of Lisa, “Eat what nourishes your body, do what nourishes your soul, think what nourishes your mind.” Now go online and purchase the cookbook here for £22.00 and you can start your healthy relationship with food today!

The Great Gift Company - Smartphone Projector

Ever wish your life was like a movie? Well, we here at The Amazing Blog discovered a way to make this dream come true! Say hello to the Smartphone Projector from The Great Gift Company.

Nowadays, everyone takes pictures on their phones and they cannot wait to share them with family and friends through social media. But what if we told you there was a cooler way to share your memories? The Smartphone Projector is a light and easily portable box that allows you to project images onto a blank wall or background. With a magnification of 8x, you can now share your memories on-the-go or in the comfort of your own home. There are no wires or batteries to worry about. You simply invite your friends and family to gather around, indulge in some popcorn, and watch your life on the big screen.

The Smartphone Projector can be used with iOS and Android compatible smartphones. For the best results, the phone brightness needs to be turned up to 100% and you need to be in a dark room with a blank, white surface.

You can purchase this incredible gift here for £15.50. You will need to assemble the projector yourself, but don’t worry, full instructions will be included; however, you will need to purchase your own superglue. Get ready for your 15 minutes of fame on the big screen!

Vandotsch - Speculaas Spice Mix

Who doesn’t love biscuits, especially around Christmas time? Here at The Amazing Blog our Dutch colleague introduced us to The Speculaas Spice Company and its Vandotsch Speculaas Spice Mix, and we may never look at Christmas biscuits the same way again.

Steven Dotsch, director of The Speculaas Spice Company, was inspired to launch the company using his Dutch grandmother’s recipe of delicious, warm and sweet tasting speculaas, because he missed the flavour and scent after moving to the UK. And we're so glad that Britain can now get a taste of the delicious Dutch delicacy.

The company prides itself in supplying people with only the finest spices in their speculaas spice mix, which does not include any artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. The spices are either organic, Fairtrade sourced or both.

The Vandotsch Speculaas spice mix consists of a perfectly balanced mixture of nine spices, including real, high grade, cinnamon from Sri Lanka, cloves, ginger and six other spices that give the mix a unique kick. The spice mix can be used in most recipes where regular cinnamon is used as a main flavouring ingredient.

Traditionally, speculaas biscuits come in the shape of a windmill or male or female figurine, known as ‘lovers.’ However, these days they can take any shape. If you’re going to order the mix, you should definitely consider ordering the mould, because speculaas biscuits are supposed to be the mirror image of the carved wooden moulds they are baked in. Plus, we always find it more fun to bake in shapes.

You can discover a variety of recipes that use the mix here. Check out the website and order the Vandotsch Speculaas Spice Mix and a mould for £9.99. It’s the perfect time of the year to chow down on some delicious Christmas biscuits.