ChicP - Houmous

Houmous. It’s a food that dates back to as early as the 13thcentury in Egypt and something we at The Amazing Blog have devoured since it became a trend with the likes of Whole Foods. What we adore about this food is it makes a hearty and healthy snack that leaves you satisfied for hours unlike a bag of crisps. With our tastes for houmous in mind, we were interested to try two flavours from ChicP 

The company was founded by Hannah McCollum, who worked predominantly as a private chef, on the‘passionate commitment to reducing food waste’. All of ChicP’s five colourful houmous flavours are made with raw vegetables that were discarded due to their irregular shape or size. Supermarkets reject approximately 40 per cent of produce because of these qualities and nearly 1/3 of UK produce goes to waste because people don’t eat it. McCollum wanted to combat this with ‘houmous made from imperfect veggies’ to promote better choices for your health and the environment. 

We were drawn to not only the company’s ethos, but also the delicious taste of its houmous. This houmous is much lighter than any others we’ve tried and is creamy, satisfying, and flavourful. The first flavour we tried was the Carrot, Ginger & Turmeric  The spread immediately tastes like you’ve dipped a carrot into an ordinary blend of chickpeas, saving you the extra step of doing it yourself. While the carrot taste is evident, the ginger and turmeric follow after and linger yet don’t overpower. This flavour works splendidly as a dip, but we liked putting it over baked chicken and pasta. We felt the second one we tasted would be more suitable as a midday snack or sandwich spread. Herby is true to its name and has a strong veggie taste, as 16 per cent of the recipe is spinach and parsley. However, lemon juice concentrate, vinegar, and garlic purée increase the flavour’s depth and tastiness. 

The houmous here is vegan and contains no additives or added sugars. Carrot, Ginger & Tumeric and Herby also only have 113 calories (469 kJ) and 127 calories (526 kJ) per quarter pot, respectively, and are reasonably priced at £3 for 170g. Additionally, there are three other flavours available in ChicP’s collection: Beetroot, Horseradish & Sage, Chilli Pumpkin, and Banana Chocolate. You can purchase their houmous here, or at one of the retailers listed here.

Handmade Oxford- The International Contemporary Arts Festival

With summer in full bloom, we think it’s the perfect time of the year to be outside basking in the sun.  At The Amazing Blog we try to enjoy any good weather and get out of London. So when we heard about Handmade Oxford- The International Contemporary Arts Festival we knew this was a perfect event to join our love for art and the sun for a weekend.

Also the Bison - Leopard face & tail prints on velvet slinky cat cushions

For over 40 years, Waterperry Gardens was the proud host of the renowned Art in Action event and has now continued to build on that legacy with a new four-day event. From Thursday 27th June to Sunday 30 June, the Ashmolean Museum alongside Waterperry Gardens will host the Handmade Oxford- International Contemporary Arts Festival to celebrate all things art, design, slow living and artisanal food.

Morag Macpherson Silk Kimono Trio

In addition to 250 exhibitors demonstrating their artisan work, the weekend will include a variety of workshops, demonstrations and talks from invited speakers. Attendees will be able to meet and shop while roaming around the gardens beautiful greenery and flora. To join us that weekend with other fellow art connoisseurs you can purchase an adult Single Day (£18.70), an adult Two-Day (£28.60) or a Full Festival (£38.50) entry ticket for the festival here.

Dabbers Social Bingo

With the warm weather and excitement of summer fast approaching, we at The Amazing Blog are always on the lookout for new activities and we have found the perfect hangout spot: Dabbers Social Bingo. Gone are the days of tea, corny hosts, and boring prizes. Dabbers Social Bingo has reinvigorated the classic British game and is open every day of the week in East London (18-22 Houndsditch).

As the UK’s first contemporary bingo hall, Dabbers Social Bingo combines elements of the beloved game with a modern twist. The bingo hall has pyrotechnics, bright lights, and a high-quality sound system to create an atmosphere that makes you feel energetic and ready to play for prizes, one of which includes an exclusive weekend getaway. Founder and entrepreneur Ed Wethered — in partnership with the creators of Musical Bingo, Gospeloke, and Comedy House Party — opened the hall in December 2018 to celebrate the classic game with friends or new acquaintances.

Guests are greeted at the bar with delicious cocktails, craft beers, and select wine as well as a diverse food menu that includes vegetarian and vegan options. The bar also features live DJ sets to add to the Dabbers Social Bingo experience and entertainment. The hall offers three unique bingo options during your visit: social bingo tables, intimate banquette tables, or exclusive Baller Booths. Regardless of your bingo style, the interactive game show elements and one-of-a-kind light and sound production produce an electric ambiance that you should not miss. Dabbers Social Bingo offers the perfect summer escape to have fun, reminisce with the lobby memorabilia, and compete against old and new friends.

The hall is open seven days a week with a different theme every night from Disco Bingo on Saturdays to Dabbers Social Bingo Club on Mondays. Tickets are available here from £12 and be quick as they are  often a sell-out.

KIERIN NYC – Santal Sky

Although The Amazing Blog loves London and we will likely never leave, New York City is one of our favourite cities in the world. Walking through the streets of Manhattan amidst the American hustle and bustle make you feel alive and young. Yet within the city that never sleeps, there are moments of ultimate peace and serenity. Flights to New York are expensive, but the next best option is to bring the atmosphere of the city to you with KIERIN NYC’s Santal Sky fragrance.

Inspired by the vibrant and metropolitan lifestyle of New Yorkers, KIERIN NYC has also embodied New York’s inclusive nature by creating perfumes that can appeal to all ages, genders, ethnicities, and nationalities. The company invites people ‘to be inspired, not defined or confined, by fragrance’. This ethos produced Santal Sky’s clean and unique scent designed for the modern urban individual. For this perfume, French perfumer Mathieu Nardin combined sandalwood, vetiver plant, and cardamom and saffron spices. The scent has a very strong earth and woodsy aroma from the sandalwood. However, what makes you think twice about Santal Sky are its spicy after notes. This fragrance is completely its own in this regard, and the spiciness leaves you mesmerised by the smell long after you’ve sprayed it. The overall ambience of Santal Sky is a sexy and mature scent that lasts all night while you’re getting fancy cocktails at a bar with the city lights behind you.

Despite this, it doesn’t smell too old to use in your 20’s and comes in a sturdy, stylish matte white bottle that is recyclable. KIERIN NYC has a ‘clean & conscious’ model for its brand, so all of its products are made with sustainable packaging and ethically sourced ingredients to help other communities as well as our own. Santal Sky is also cruelty-free, vegan, paraben and phthalate free, and hypoallergenic. This perfume not only has an eco-friendly mindset but smells exceptional and will bring some of the ‘New York State of Mind’ to London.

You can purchase Santal Sky (50ml) here for £65

Good Gym

Do good, get fit. This is the mantra of GoodGym, an organisation with the goal of combining fitness and community activities, with encouraging runners to spend time helping others. As we sometimes struggle with the motivation to exercise at The Amazing Blog, we think this is an excellent solution.

In a nutshell, GoodGym’s concept is to make the most out of the time spent running. This is in the form of running to and from activities, whether that be to help an elderly person who need’s a lightbulb changing, or running to a group gardening activity at a community centre. The motto of Good Gym? Why waste your energy at the gym when you could use it to improve other people’s lives?

Winning first prize in 2008 at the Social Innovation Camp, GoodGym was formed as a non-profit organisation in 2009. The company itself is commissioned by local authorities and the NHS, testamant to the benefits of getting involved. Over 1 million people aged 65 and over admit to always, or often feeling lonely, and recruiting volunteers has become increasingly difficult as a result of busy work and private lives. This is where GoodGym noticed a niche, focusing on creating an easy method of committing to a long-term project.

GoodGym provides three different types of runs. On Mission Runs, you run to help older people with every-day tasks, such as gardening, or changing a lightbulb. It gives you the chance to run different routes each week, while having a significant effect on someone’s life. On Coach Runs, you see an isolated person on a regular basis. This only claims about 20 minutes of your week, and besides giving someone something to look forward to, having a commitment can also increase your likelihood of completing exercise. On Group Runs, you get the chance to run with other people from your community, completing tasks such as planting trees for your local park, running back together to stretch with a qualified trainer. All this is completed within 90 minutes, fitting easily into your daily routine.

In terms of commitment, there is no specific pressure, GoodGym aims to achieve your fitness goals, while helping the community. How often, and where you do this is, is up to you, but if you sign up to visit an older person, then it is understandable that this commits you to at least one run per week. Mission and group runs are more flexible, and can be attended whenever you like. There really is a solution for everyone here, with support available from qualified trainers at all times. Signing up is easily achieved online, and although membership is free, there is a voluntary donation of £9.95 per month if you so wish. Visit the GoodGym website for frequently asked questions, here.

Currently operating in 47 areas, with a futher 73 in proposal, you’ll be sure to find a local group (especially in London). Check out the availability in your area on the GoodGym website here.