Trapped in a Prison Van

If like us at The Amazing Blog you prefer your challenges to be slightly more hardcore and with a greater sense of jeopardy, then Trapped in a Prison Van could be just the ticket for you … You must be a group of at least 4 (maximum 8), and your mission, should you wish to accept it, is to escape from the prison van which is taking you for sentencing (likelihood of life imprisonment) and head for freedom somewhere warm and away from all those pesky law abiders who would do you down!

This is the latest offering from Trapped - the team who have brought various immersive escape adventure games, from fleeing the clutches of a zombie, to the potential horrors of a 90s club, but each with the authenticity of staging and props to give each player a true sense of the drama. The premise we have here is that you and your gang have been found guilty and are en route to your final moments of freedom before being 'sent down' … for good. Can you work together and escape, or do you prepare for handing everything over for a less than flattering outfit, gruel for nosh and a mattress of straw?

You can book tickets from £30 here but it is worth keeping an eye open on the website for possible discounts on offer and the relevant codes. Timings run from Monday through Saturday. It’s also worth checking on the terms and conditions, as they do offer the option of joining a larger group if you are a total of 4 - perhaps an interesting way of making new friends or indeed cellmates, should you fail in the whole point of the mission!

The Caribbean Collection by All That Jazz

Here at The Amazing Blog, our current 'go-to' brand for all things nail care is All That Jazz. We're also happy to report that the only independent and international beauty awards, The Beauty Shortlist certainly seems to agree with us too. In March this year,  they awarded All That Jazz the much sought after title of ‘Best Nail Brand 2018’. Recently we have written about some of our favourite products from the brand like their Cuticle Oil, Cuticle Balm & Bee Bar Lotion here; as well as their Hand and Foot Scrub, Effervescent Soak and Hand and Foot Cream here. However, we were thrilled to be able to try out their latest Spring/Summer range, a set of four coloured professional nail lacquers from the Caribbean Collection. We're happy to say that they absolutely lived up to the other high quality products, that we already know and love from All That Jazz.

With our much anticipated summer just around the corner (ahem, well the clocks did go forward!) We wanted to give our nails a pop of colour to remind us that summer warmth is coming soon. The colours in the Caribbean Collection allow you to take your nails on their own mini tropical break with these four vibrantly coloured lacquers. The ‘Don’t be a Jerky’ shade is a blazing orange that gives nails a fiery passion. The ‘Caribbean Queen’ shade is a rich magenta that will make you feel like royalty. The ‘Patty Cake' shade is a lovely turquoise that reminds us of the ocean. And finally, the ‘Jamaican Me Crazy’ shade is a sparkling pink/orange colour that is sure to turn heads.

These lacquers offer full coverage with only two coats. When applied to the nail, they are quick drying and leave a smooth glossy finish. What sets this brand apart is that as these nail lacquers are specifically formulated for nail technicians and professionals, with top quality formulas which last. We  were so happy to find that it stayed on for over 7 days without chipping! We just can't wait to use these hard-wearing lacquers to flaunt our colourful toes and walk barefoot on a sandy beach. However, before application, we highly recommend using their Base Line (base coat) to aid and protect the natural nail from peeling and discolouration. And to finish by using the fast drying Top Note (top coat) which will give the final touches to your super shiny and long-lasting mani-pedi.  

Whether you are actually heading to the tropics on holiday or like us can only day dream… You can purchase the Caribbean Collection here for £29.98.  

Winky Lux Mini Lip Pill Kit

We here at The Amazing Blog don’t know why, but we adore something much more when it’s mini. So if you’re anything like us, you’ll absolutely love the Mini Lip Pill Kit from Winky Lux. This New York City-based brand is all about creating luxurious, on-trend makeup at an affordable price, so we can all feel like the 'Queens' that we are; their motto which we can surely get behind. 

Winky Lux has put together their best-selling Demi-Matte Lip Velours, so with 5 shades, you are bound to find your signature shade. From the essential nude shades and a classic red to the more adventurous bright and dark purple shades, this kit gives you a perfect matte colour for any and every occasion. The mini size also makes these lipsticks easy to travel with or it can make the perfect gift for any makeup lover in your life.

The shades come in Meow, Pippy, City, Royal, and Heart and are incredibly creamy and long-lasting. Of course, we love that they are cruelty, paraben, and gluten-free. Our favourite shade that we often sport has to be Meow because it suits so many skin tones and is really the perfect everyday shade. Though we do love to rock the shade City, a beautiful dark purple, on those nights out when we want a pop of something just a little bit different and totally glamorous.

The Mini Lip Pill Kit from Winky Lux is available here for £11.39, but we’re sure you’ll be going back for a full size of at least one shade soon after. Winky Lux is also available from Asos, Feelunique and Harvey Nichols.

Bnifty - Hatching Raptor Candle

Easter is one of our favourite holidays here at The Amazing Blog. We spent Easter weekend catching up with friends and family, just enjoying each other’s company. Normally, this would include a lot of chocolate eggs being eaten, but this Easter we decided to go for a zero-calorie egg option… and here it is, a Hatching Raptor Candle from the online shop bNifty. Based in London, bNifty is a shop where you can find unique and quirky gifts (like this hatching candle) for everyone on your list. So no matter the time of year, whether you are looking for a birthday gift or a Christmas present, bNifty will have you covered.

The Hatching Raptor Candle comes in a clever box designed to look like a wooden crate. The crate has ‘WARNING’ written in all capital letters across the front, warning users about the ‘dangerous’ dinosaur contents inside. When you open the box you find a highly texturized tan coloured egg that is approximately 16cm tall and 14cm wide. We couldn’t wait to see how the candle burned so we lit it right away. As the odourless candle slowly burns, a porcelain baby velociraptor hatches out of the egg candle.

The baby raptor is approximately 11 cm tall and 4cm wide and looks like it is straight out of Jurassic Park. We learned that as the candle burns the dinosaur turns slightly black due to the candle flame. But the black colouration wipes off with a damp cloth without a problem. This candle is a joy to watch burn. And how cool is it even after the candle is done burning you have a baby velociraptor to keep? This is unlike any candle we have ever burned before, so much fun. While dinosaurs haven’t been around for millions of years, you can be the proud parent of your own baby velociraptor thanks to this candle. You can purchase the Hatching Dinosaur Candle here for £29.99.

Ancienne Ambiance Colonia VIII

Everyone needs a signature scent— period. Finding a personal fragrance that can transition from day to night or season to season can be quite a mission, but we at The Amazing Blog think we have got you covered. And as much as we love discovering new brands to fall in love with, there are some things, like a signature scent, that have us reaching back to brands we already know and trust. We keep returning to Ancienne Ambiance because we adore how luxurious their products are, like the Goddess Argan Hand and Body Wash and Beauty Oil. They are an artisan brand inspired by the ancient world and winner of the Beauty Shortlist Awards 2017, and we know that the unisex sweet fig blend of the Colonia VIII Perfume EDP will hit every note on your must-have list. 

The fig tree has a long, sacred past. With roots in Greek and Roman mythology to a symbol of enlightenment in Buddhism, this little fruit has made its mark on history. Ancienne Ambiance specialises in crafting niche fragrances inspired by the ancient cultures that started it all. The Colonia VIII scent honours the art of perfumery, as each perfume is bottled with the finest ingredients in limited quantities in France, all in a stunning 100ml glass column bottle that is sure to make you feel as lavish as Cleopatra. The fragrance has its base notes rooted in the warmth of sandalwood, its heart notes rounded in coconut, and the top notes have light, natural green notes that will follow you around throughout your busy day. Everyone will stop you just to ask what you're wearing: trust us, we know from experience. 

Want to make sure your scent lasts all day? Apply it to your pulse points or the inner wrist and elbow, behind your ears and knees, and at the base of the neck. Mist it on your clothes and hair as well and avoid rubbing the scent into your skin, as it makes the fragrance fade faster.
You can purchase the Colonia VIII Perfume here for £60.