Soft Sage - Doughballs

Here at The Amazing Blog we know everyone loves nibbles and do you know what everyone loves even more? Doughballs and cheese, mustn't forget the cheese! We've all been in the situation when there is one left on the plate and everyone wants it. Now, imagine that pressure and awkwardness times 10 because these dough balls are extra special AND we have a packed office... Oh my goodness we were just in heaven withSoft Sage‘s beautifully delicious gluten free dough balls and unlike others, these contain no added sugar, yeast, wheat corn, codex wheat starch or xanthan gum.

We were really impressed with the entire operation that Soft Sage is running. Not only are they able to get frozen products which then need to be baked safely through the post, they also offered to come cook them for us. Luckily for us we can operate an oven with some flair, so we declined this gracious offer. Hot out of the oven, these little balls of gluten free dough (VIP to mention!) and potato are just divine. We tried the Tomato, Basil & Cheese, Original Cheese, Garlic & Cheese, and Rosemary & Cheese flavours which were all delicious and perfectly sized for normal snacking or party hors d'oeuvres. We particularly liked the Rosemary & Cheese doughballs, as the infusion of the two flavours worked so well together and they were definitely the most popular here in the office. They are fast, tasty and easy to cook and you can serve these little bites of heaven in the happy knowledge that they’re free from preservatives, flavourings and gluten. We highly recommend getting a stash of theses and keeping them in your freezer for when you have some unexpected guests - they'll soon be inviting themselves back for more!

Soft SageDoughballs are available here for £3.50 for a pack of 10.

FTN - Natural Energy Drinks

At times the work week can feel never-ending, especially on Mondays. Sometimes, here at The Amazing Blog we need a pick-me-up in our energy levels. We like to keep things awake in our office and when that is hard to do, we now reach for FTN’s Natural Energy Drinks. FTN sent us their tasty Natural Energy Drinks in Super Berry and Citrus flavours. The natural drinks contain a whole food blend of green tea, wild blueberry extract, vitamin d, amino acids, and organic blue-green micro-algae. These ingredients are combined into a refreshing little shot that helps in maintaining a healthy metabolism, promoting body maintenance and repair, as well as giving us needed proteins and micro-nutrients for overall well-being. Both flavours were good, as they both tasted like fruit juice and provided an energy boost soon after drinking, and didn't have any sort of after taste or strange flavours which always put us off other energy drinks. Their mini size meant we could all keep one in our bags to battle lack of energy on the go. They are also fully FDA and WADA approved, so we can all drink up without the fear of chemicals or unsafe stimulants.

For a subtle and delicious energy boost during your busy day stop by the FTN site and pick up a 1 month supply of the Citrus or the  Super Berry for £39.99.

Nourish Kefir

Here at The Amazing Blog we love trying out new and exciting products. So when Nourish Kefir sent us some of their ‘miracle milk drink’ we couldn't wait to try it and start reaping the benefits.

Our first question, as I am sure is yours, was ‘what is Nourish Kefir?’ Nourish kefir is a milky/ yogurt type drink made from fermented milk that contains all types of amazing health benefits. When we tried the kefir, it had a slightly sour, yet creamy taste which was still refreshing. Kefir is full of natural positive bacteria that has many health benefits which develop during the fermentation process. I decided to try Nourish kefir after having depleted my immune system with a course of debilitating antibiotics used to treat a lingering chest infection.  Personally, I am not a cow's milk drinker so I used a sachet in a litre of goats’ milk, left it for a day to ferment and then returned to enjoy it. We all shared it as a plain drink (although its perfect for smoothies) however you can purchase flavoured kefir, or even flavour your own batch. It may seem strange and unusual but the extensive health benefits mean that kefir is worth getting to grips with. It boosts the immune system, offers 20% of the recommended days calcium,  is full of B vitamins and is 100% organic and sugar free. So, whether you’re big on organic products or looking to make a switch, kefir is a relatively new idea which can be added easily into the diet. We also like the fact that it can be tailored to individual lifestyles. Nourish kefir is a unique 'living food' that really does look after you from the inside out!

Nourish kefir is available here, from the only UK outlet with prices starting from £15.00 for 6 sachets of Nourish Kefir Starter Cultures.

.

HayMax – Allergy Balms

It’s that time of the year again, and the allergies are in full force! We at the Amazing Blog were struggling with our allergies this season until HayMax sent us their awesome allergy balms! HayMax is a natural organic balm that is applied to the rim of the nostrils. It has been proven to reduce dust and pet allergens, and more than a third of pollen from entering the body. You can choose from four varieties of HayMax: Pure, Aloe Vera, Lavender and Frankincense. It is made from a blend of beeswax and seed oils, to which they add essential oils or aloe vera leaf juice extracts to create three additional varieties from original version.

HayMax is 100% natural, organic and drug free, so it’s safe for children and pregnant and breastfeeding women to use. It supports 3 different charities related to allergies including Allergy UK, Anaphylaxis Campaign, and Action Against Allergy (AAA). Also, HayMax’s website, which can be accessed here (http://haymax.biz/), has a great Allergy Guide which gives more information about different kinds of allergies and how to manage them.

Get your own HayMax here and keep those allergies away! Each balm is £6.99 for a 5 ml tub.

Friday Favourites - Sun Products with SPF

With yet another unpredictable English summer upon us, here at The Amazing Blog we were anxious to find something to protect our skin from the sun, should it choose to come out! So, we decided to give some of the newest and most exciting products with SPF on the market a test run.

First off was the Green People Sun Lotion. A Beauty Bible award winner for ultimate natural product, Green People never use no harsh chemicals (82% of ingredients are organic) and 10 per cent of profit is donated to the Marine Conservation Society charity, making them an ethical role model.  Although it only has a 25 SPF factor and a medium coverage rating, it is designed to be kind to sensitive skin, so could be perfect for olive skin individuals who still suffer from sensitivity from time to time, like myself. This product is an environmental triumph, as well as being good to skin. At only £18.95 from the Green People website, it’s a reasonable price compared to some alternatives and does a whole lot of good at the same time.

Another unique product we tried was The Sun Mousse. A unique brand, they have products for both adults and children. We sampled the 30 SPF, 6 hour protection, water resistant product and were amazed. I was originally apprehensive about how much to use but the mousse comes out moderately slowly so don’t panic about explosions of fast foaming mousse! It rubs in quickly and feels so light on the skin; the oily thick feel that most creams have is a thing of the past.  So the fact that The Sun Mousse, goes on quickly, easily and without fuss or frills, helps to remove all moaning from small people  desperate to get into the pool or sea. The six hour protection also means children (and adults) can run, jump and play in the sun without worry. If maximum protection is your biggest worry then this mousse is perfect. Easy application, maximum protection. It’s available here, from the Sun Mousse website for £19.99.

For some variation, we also tried the Resultime CC Cream from Collin Paris. CC creams or colour corrector creams are a relatively new concept to the make-up world. They are designed to even out skin pigmentation and leave a flawless finish. Unlike the other products we tried, this CC cream also has anti-aging elements. The vitamin E also helps to improve skin moisture and the SPF 30 rating ensures you’re protected from the sun all day long. The product is light and goes onto the skin beautifully. It comes in two skin shades, natural and golden they blend so well that they are suitable for almost any skin tone. If you’re searching for something lighter than foundation for the summer months this CC cream could be the perfect product. The Resultime CC creams are available here £35.50 each.

We also tried one of the hero products from Murad, Essential C Sun Balm is a stick application sun cream with an SPF of 35. Although this isn’t the maximum protection it still offers adequate cover, as well as hydrating the skin. The roll-on stick nature of the product is definitely its unique selling point. The quality and versatility is demonstrated by its 2013 Shape Sun Award. It makes it super easy to apply, especially to the face, with no worries of using too much or staining clothes like some liquid creams. With extracts of broccoli for UV protection and tangerine butter for moisture as well as being anti-animal testing, Murad’s Essential C Sun Balm ticks all the boxes for the perfect face and neck sun cream. The cream is available here for £19.50.

The final product in our sun feature is the Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 45. This unique product comes in the form of a brush on sun protector for immediate, any time UVA/UVB sun-protection. This product is so versatile, acting as a bronzer/powder concealer as it creates the illusion of smooth radiant skin, whilst also offering a level of sun cream protection. So, if you still keep up your make-up routine on holiday, this touch up powder is perfect. It also helps prevent sunburn, skin damage, freckling and uneven discoloration, leaving you flawless but protected. The Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 45 is available through Salon Skincare here in the UK for £17.60