Carlee's Christmas Wish List

I can't believe it's already Christmas Eve! Christmas is my favourite time of the year, especially because I love getting the opportunity to spoil my friends and family with gifts. Of course, I have a Christmas wish list of my own, and I'm hoping to see these gifts under the Christmas Tree tomorrow morning!

Depending on what time I fall asleep, waking up in the morning can be a major struggle. I just don’t have the energy (or the time if I snooze my alarm) to properly get ready. That’s where The Library of Fragrance Pure Soap comes into play. The company creates fragrances inspired by life, capturing over 300 scents that surround us every day. What better way to celebrate Christmas than to celebrate the under-appreciated sense of Ivory soap! Let me tell you, this perfume will come in handy. Whether you spray it as you quickly head out the door or in the bathroom at work, the Pure Soap fragrance will provide you with a fresh-from-the-shower scent anytime and anywhere. If you’re always in a hurry like I am or just too lazy like I also am, this might just be the best way to freshen up your day. You can buy a bottle of Pure Soap here at £15.00 for 30 ml.

After a very unfortunate incident at the airport, I lost my all-time favourite moisturiser. For years, I could never pin down the perfect product. No matter what I tried, my face, within a matter of 2 hours, would produce enough oil to fill a bottle. Somehow, I managed to stumble upon Clinique’s Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief. I have worshipped this product ever since. The light cream sinks right into my skin and provides it with hydration all day long. The oil on my face was finally under control and it even helped with my acne. It’s crazy, but I feel so much happier when I use it because I know that it’s the only product that has had perfect results on my face. I cannot wait to receive this for Christmas. It will make my morning and night so much better! You can be just as happy by purchasing the moisturiser here at £34.00 for 50ml.  

I have to have lip gloss on me at all times; otherwise, I panic. As soon as my lips begin to feel dry, I have to moisturise. Even if they don't feel dry, I still have to touch-up my lips. Some might even call it an addiction. Any way, when I heard about Heathcote & Ivory’s new Secret Paradise collection, I knew I had to try something. As soon as I laid my eyes on the Secret Paradise Lip Gloss Tin, I had to put it on my Christmas list. It contains beeswax, which soothes and softens your lips. Not only is it peach flavoured (one of my favourite fruits), but it comes in the most adorable heart-shaped tin. The delicate heart features Madagascan violets and lilies and cute little hummingbirds. With this lip gloss, I will no longer be just a lip gloss freak. I’ll be a lip gloss freak with style. If you share my addiction, you can purchase the Secret Paradise Lip Gloss tin here at £4.00 for 14g.  

If I die, it will be death by chocolate. I can't live without it. If I was stranded on an island with nothing else but chocolate, that would be okay.

Since chocolate is part of my daily food intake, I had to find the perfect balance, which is why I love indulging in Doisy & Dam chocolate. Not only is it delicious, but it's healthy for you too! Each 74% chocolate bar is packed with delicious, health-giving superfoods. Each superfood ingredient brings high levels of vitamins, minerals, fibre, protein and Omega 3. The cholesterol-lowering and antioxidant properties of the dark chocolate almost make these bars guilt-free! There are currently four products in the range and I just love the Mulberries, Chia Seeds & Spirulina chocolate bar. After devouring it within minutes, I knew I would want more for the holidays.

For all of you chocoholics out there, Doisy & Dam chocolate bars are available in 40g (RRP £1.65) and 100g (RRP £3.99) and they are available from the website and selected retailers including Ocado, Whole Foods and Planet Organic.

I hope all of you lovely readers have a Merry Christmas and enjoy your gifts! 

Frederique's Christmas Wish List

I’m the type of girl who loves to experiment with different kinds products and gadgets and companies. This is why I find working with the girls at The Amazing Blog so fun… who doesn’t love trying something new? My Christmas wish list consists of a unique bundle of a different kinds of products, ranging from as far as chargers to liquor. So without further ado, let the shopping begin!

The first thing on my Christmas list is The Kissable Charger. Nowadays, hardly anybody is able to live without their phone, myself included. I always thought to myself, why can't I have cute charger that is a little girly or that will add some sparkle? Then I came across FBG: an innovative technology company with the newest chargers, including my new love; The Kissable Charger. This charger is both cute and creative for it looks like a real Coco Chanel Lipstick. Both chic and functional, the charger is able to charge your phone for 2 to 3 hours. Buy your charger here for only £29.99, and be charged all day long.

As I’ve said before, I’m definitely a girly girl. In order to make my girly look complete, I love to wear some cute bracelets along with a watch. So you can guess how excited I was when I came across these Birambi bracelets made by two enthusiastic Dutch Girls. Being from Holland, I obviously have a soft spot for this company. Not only are they Dutch, but they’ve made a great ‘Make-your-own-bracelet’ concept that is fit for any girl like me who loves to accessorise on a regular basis. Here’s how it works: You choose a card. You select a bracelet, colour and write a personal message. And that's it. That's really all there is to it. What better gift is there than one that is personally made from the heart? Starting at €4 they are affordable as well. Visit the website to take these bracelets for a spin! 

Besides my hand jewellery, I wanted to add a little bit of sparkle to my eyebrows. So I came across the Bling Brow Kit created by Benefit Cosmetics. With the Bling Brow Kit, you can decorate your brows and light up the room with a sparkling set of Swarovski crystals. Each set comes with 52 crystals and a pair of mini tweezers. They also come in different colours including my favourites, Rose Gold and Greige. Just pull the black backing sheet off and pick up the crystals with tweezers to place them either on the skin near the brow or directly on the brow. Although I’m not one to decorate my body with jewellery, the brow crystals really enhance the appearance of your eyebrows and show off your edgy side.

You can purchase the artsy Bling Brow Kit for £19.50 at selected Benefit Brow Bars and wear them on a fun night out with the girls. All eyes will definitely be on yours. 

Not only do I love to dress up, but I also enjoy going out and grabbing a drink with my girlfriends. Recently I came across Snow Leopard Vodka, which I’ve slowly but surely fallen in love with. For starters, the bottle looks absolutely great. Additionally, 15% of the profits made go to the ‘save the leopard' charity. When I saw this stunning looking bottle of vodka, I could not resist putting it on my Christmas wish list. Cheers, take a shot and donate to a cause! You can by purchase a 70cl bottle of vodka for £36.00 RRP  at Waitrose, Harvey Nichols and Ocado.com, as well as all good independent drinks retailers OR on their website.

I've also discovered a delicious selection of chocolates from Sweet Dreams Ltd. called Choc Nibbles. We received two different flavours: Original Choc Nibbles and Toffee Crumble. The one I really loved was the Original Choc Nibbles. The taste of these tiny chocolates was just divine, and you could taste that they were made with quality chocolate. It's almost like eating real chocolate milk! Purchase chocolate at your local confectionery, convenience or discount stores, and share these delicious chocolates as a treat after your Christmas Dinner. 

Sarah's Christmas Wish List

It’s the most wonderful time of the year here at The Amazing Blog and I for one am having a fantastic time putting together Christmas lists for myself and my loved ones. Aside from the mouth watering food, gift giving is my favourite part of the holiday season. I love the feeling that finding the perfect present brings, and the excitement of handing it over to be opened on Christmas Day! With this in mind, here’s my list of the best gifts for friends and family this Christmas.

As soon as I set eyes on Nanshy's beautiful make-up brush collection, they shot straight to the top of my Christmas list. My particular favourite was the Large Shader Brush. Densly packed bristles make it easy to pile on the pigment, giving the power to create effortless shadow looks. I’m a huge fan of a smoky eye, so I praise any tool that will make the job easier. The PETA approved brushes have super soft synthetic bristles that feel like heaven on your skin!  The brushes are available to buy here, along with the rest of the wonderful brush range, with the shader brush costing £5.95. They would make the perfect gift for any make-up lover this Christmas.

If make-up isn’t your cup of tea, then maybe skincare will be at the top of your list. Sensational skincare brand Spiezia Organics has a great range of products, and I think that skincare fanatics would be super pleased to see their Body Softening Oil tucked under the Christmas tree. The beautiful blend of almond oil, Mandarin and Geranium essential oils is certainly a great way to maintain velvety, glowing skin come Christmas Day. Spiezia Organics also recommends this as a massage oil, perfect for relaxing over the holiday break! You can buy the oil here for £23.95.

Less about under the Christmas tree, and more about the beauty buys amongst its branches. I love the recent trend for tree trinkets from well known beauty brands. Decorating your tree with all manner of beauty products seems like a wonderful idea to me, with the added bonus of a few little treats when it’s time for the tree to come down! As fragrance is always a fail-safe gift, one of my favourite decorative presents this year is this adorable selection of perfumes from Ted Baker. The collection of mini fragrances includes 960, W, Woman and K20. All the beautiful scents look delightful on the tree, and are great for popping in your handbag for freshening up on the go once Christmas is over. The Hanging Treats are available to buy here for £23.

Of course, chocolate is always a welcome treat come Christmas time, and The Chicken Shed offer a scrumptious range of raw chocolate treats, the perfect snack to peck at during the season of overindulgence. Organic, and with no added sugar (it’s sweetened with raw forest honey), it’s a healthy alternative to your Cadbury’s morsels, taking away a little of the Christmas guilt! The flavour we really loved was Persian Blue Salt; the perfect blend of sweet and salty, but I’d be delighted if the Double Orange flavour turned up in my Christmas stocking. You can buy the bars here for £3.25, or from their high street stockists here.   

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?

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.