Healthy Drinks – Friday Favourites

Here at The Amazing Blog, we love to stay healthy and fit... but sometimes it can be a bit of a challenge. One of the biggest health tips is to drink a lot of water; however, it can be so boring to drink the same thing every day! That is why we have formed a list of drinks that are good for your diet while leaving your taste buds craving more:

Our office fridge has recently welcomed a new natural ingredient: birch sap! It has been brought to us by Buddha Water, a refreshing drink that contains organic birch sap tapped from the forests of Finland.  This special ingredient is traditionally known for its detoxifying and cleansing properties.

So it’s time to forget about miraculous creams, pills, and expensive treatments. A can of Buddha Water give you everything you need to feel healthy and look great. The drink claims to work against cellulite, encourage weight loss, and lower cholesterol. It comes in a variety of flavours that are so subtle and delicious that we couldn’t really choose our favourite. It’s also perfect for office environments because birch sap promotes relaxation.

It’s time to embrace a healthier lifestyle! Try out one of the six flavours, you won’t regret it. Buddha Water is available in cases of 24 cans here for £32.99.

In April 2015, Mighty Bee, a brand known for certified organic products, launched a new line of coconut waters. Now we can easily absorb all of the health benefits that coconut naturally contains. Mighty Bee sources their green Nam Ham coconuts from Ratchaburi, Thailand, where they’re expertly picked at their peak ripeness to capture the natural aroma and sweetness.

The coconut waters are packed with complex B-vitamins, essential minerals, and amino acids that are retained by going from tree to bottle in 24 hours. The drinks are also never heat processed, and come either cold pressure processed (Raw) or completely untouched (Virgin) varieties.
 

Because the raw version is so fresh, it is sold fresh frozen and must be defrosted to enjoy. The Raw coconut water can be stored for up to 45 days thanks to the revolutionary processing method. To purchase, check out your local organic food store or shop here for Mighty Bee coconut water.

Next up we have Ojamin Herb & Fruit, a natural lifestyle and wellbeing tonic made from 15 different herbs and fruit that will help you feel and live better. The herbs are sourced specifically from pristine forests and are free from fertilisers, pesticides, and GMOs. Only the purest of spring water is used to make a drink that helps fight off diabetes, manage blood sugars, boost immunity, cleanse your body, and revitalise your skin.

To receive all of the benefits, all you have to do is mix one teaspoon of Ojamin with water, soup, juice or tea 2-4 times per day. Whilst being suitable for vegans, it is also gluten free, cholesterol free, sugar free, salt free, fat free, dairy free and aspartame free. Ojamin is the perfect way to start your morning with a boost.

After a week of trying Ojamin, we feel more energised and lifted. We cannot recommend it enough if you’re feeling fatigued throughout the day.

Take the next step towards a healthier lifestyle with Ojamin here for £34.99, and get ready to feel and live better.

TreeVitalise Organic Birch Water is 100% natural and that is exactly what we like to hear. All of the nutrients are naturally brewed within a tree and tapped into a bottle of TreeVitalise without any added sweetener.

Sourced from the Carpathian Mountains, known to be ecologically clean and natural, the organic birch water is made by tapping into birch trees that have absorbed the nutrients from the spring thaw. Only a small amount of the water is tapped, so the trees stay entirely unharmed! Birch water will help strengthen the immune system whilst purifying your body and assisting with weight loss. While the original flavour has the silky taste of the spring forest, TreeVitalise also produce versions that are infused with organic Lemon or Mint. We personally love the lemon flavour because of its zingy taste.

For a refreshing and healthy drink full of benefits, grab your TreeVitalise Birch water here for £2.75 a bottle.

Friday Favourites - Nails for Spring

At The Amazing Blog, we can never have enough nail polishes to share in the office! Whether it’s to coordinate with our latest outfits or to pack into our travel bags for a holidays, we cannot resist adding yet another polish to our collection. So today we thought we would share some of our favourite colours and brands for this season.

Starting with Only Fingers and Toes ‘Understated Chic’ Trilogy Set. When these arrived,  we instantly fell in love with the elegantly embossed recyclable packaging that sets off the nail polishes, giving a very luxurious feel. Inside there are three gorgeous shades that are on-trend but also versatile enough to be worn all year round. The polishes are all DBP, Toluene, formaldehyde and formaldehyde resin, camphor and ophthalmic acid free;  and what we particularly like is the Only Fingers and Toes supports charity ventures like Dollis Hill Dolls Nail Bar (London) Polished Girlz (US) and Shine Nail Bar (Leeds).

‘Sweet like Candy’ a pale pink shade which made the nails look glossy, perfect for daytime wear. ‘Manganese’ a khaki colour, perfect for the up and coming military trend. Our favourite of the collection was ‘Ciao’ is a pastel purple shade gorgeous for the upcoming spring season. If you want to have gorgeous and chic nails grab your Trilogy Set here for £42.

One nail polish brand you cannot go wrong with the fashion-led FNUG and we were so excited to get our hands on these.  FNUG uses the holographic nail lacquer to get your nails looking sparkly as ever. Starting off with a Aqua fix base coat, apply one layer and let it dry to enhance the holographic effect. We were sent 'Fnuglista', a pink shade that sparkles, great for a girly night out and for our futuristic fashionistas, 'Futurista' a blue sparkly shade, whilst moving ours fingers it gave a prism effect of light reflecting peacock shades. Both delicious shades for that Balmain style. Get all 'Psychedelic' with their silver holographic nail polish, giving the wearer a playful and ice cool style. These cool and vibrant trio of nail polishes are great for creating a dramatic effect. We rocked the 'Futurista' blue polish - our favourite, which worked well with both denim and our little black dresses.  

If the holographic nails aren’t your thing, then FNUG also has a coral ‘A Lister' and deep purple ‘After Party’ in regular nail polish, letting you create a more subtle look for the upcoming spring season. Get the nail polishes individually here for £12.00 each.

We couldn’t contain our excitement when Kiss sent us some of their 'Everlasting Range' which included an LED Gel Lamp, French Manicure Everlasting Gel; plus three great shades of gel polish.  'Sweet', a sea green colour which is lovely for the spring months ahead, 'Smoky', a dark grey shade which complements your smokey eye look for nights on the town and 'Lush', a bright shade of pink which is bursting full of vibrant colour.

The 'French Manicure Everlasting Gel Polish' includes french wraps, brush-on gel glue, colour gel 'Petal', base gel, top gel, gel cleanser, lint-free wipes, a buff block, manicure stick , a mini file and an instruction sheet to help you along the way. This kit provides you with everything you need for a really professional looking French Manicure.

Accompanying both kits, is the LED Gel Lamp to cure the gel evenly for chip free nails with a high gloss effect. Only 30 second drying time so perfect for when we are in a rush. When we tested out the 'Everlasting Gel Polish' we were pleasantly surprised by the simplicity of the application.  For everlasting and beautiful nails get your kit here ranging from £14.99 to £38.99.

Deborah Lippman is a celebrity and fashion manicurist who has designed opulent nail polishes for top celebs like Lady GaGa, Scarlett Johansson, Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow, Just to name a few, and we were pleased to find out that Deborah has now graced us with her new limited edition spring collection of 8ml mini bottles, ‘Sweets for My Sweets’ which include six pastel shades from soft yellow to baby pink and we just couldn't wait to give them all a try.

Our favourite nail polish was ‘Sugar Sugar’ a pastel baby pink, an effortlessly chic shade which matches any outfit of your choice. The formula of the polish allows you to apply thinly onto your nail for a long lasting colour effect topped with a high gloss finish, completely gloop free. Like the above two brands FNUG and Only Fingers and Toes, Deborah Lippman is a 'five free' polish and is also not tested on animals.

Presented in a colourful gift box, these sets of polishes will make the perfect treat for you or your nail enthuastic pals. Add a splash of pastel to your hands with Deborah Lippman’s must-have shades for the spring here for only £27.

Anti-Valentines Day Events

Valentine’s Day is approaching and love is in the air. We at The Amazing Blog, however, are boycotting the romantic holiday and planning to have some fun with the true loves of our lives; friends and wine. We have planned the weekend around our own holiday, Anti-Valentine’s, and we want to share it with you.

For those of us looking for love, Tinder has become a phenomenon on the dating scene. It's no surprise that they're not about to have a day off on the most romantic day of the year. Get your dancing shoes on and round up a group of your single friends and head on out to One Big Night Out’s Tinder’s Live Pub Crawl – the first game of live Tinder! Whilst dancing through five different bars on the London scene, pick up new players along the way, you will be accompanied by a giant Tinder screen, making sure you meet that perfect match by the end of the night. But the night doesn’t finish there. At the end of the bar crawl you’ll get exclusive free entry to one of London’s top super clubs partying on till early hours of the morning.

If you weren’t already purchasing those tickets, the night will also include five free shots, drink discounts in all bars, unlimited ‘likes’ on the Tinder game, professional wingmen/women to get everyone into the game and last but not least, guaranteed fun.

Join in on the all the single fun and get your ticket here for only £15. Starting 7.30pm until 3am on Saturday 13th February it'll certainly make this Valentine's a night to remember.

If you're looking for something slightly more demure, whether you are single or taken, we have the perfect way to celebrate the romantic evening ahead. Xclusiv Touch presents Valentine's Boat Party, a three-floored boat party sailing across London on the Thames. Setting sail at 7pm from Tower Bridge, you can take in all the famous landmarks and the breathtaking views that London has to offer with the one's you love the most.

With a fully stocked bar on board, a three level party and an Xclusive resident, DJ Suave, spinning the hottest tracks, you’ll be sure to get in that partying mood. To catch the memorable night, a live photo area will be available so you can pose with your friends or loved one. To top the night off, every girl will be made to feel special with free roses upon arrival.

Have a Valentine’s to remember and set sail for only £20 here on Sunday 14th February.

Christmas Special - Hampers

It is the season for giving, so here at the Amazing Blog we have compiled our favourite Christmas hampers. These indulgent and useful festive hampers will wow your friends and family, and even make the perfect treat for yourself.

Stuck for a thoughtful Christmas gift? Look no further. Family and friends will be unable to resist the Festive Warmer Hamper from Spicers, a willow basket full to the brim with enticing sweet and savoury snacks. This perfect mix and match will come in handy right before and after you Xmas dinner. With the whole family reunited, watching festive movies, dreaming about Santa, kids will be happy to share mince pies, small bites of fudge, smoked almonds and toffee popcorn while the adults can enjoy a nice glass of merlot.

If you think you can handle all these special treats what you need to do is click here and this basket full of goodness will be yours for £42.30.

We don’t know why but the first thing that comes in mind when someone talks about Christmas is chocolate and wine. Let us prove it different with The Regency Hamper Real Ale. For sure not a common one and definitely for grown up only. A fine selection of ale and bitter accompanied by smoked beef, game terrine, cheese, oatcakes and sweets.

What makes this gift set not ordinary is that you’ll have the option to customise and personalise the ribbon with a dedicated message. Buy it online to get a 10% discount; this tasty fest is available here at £73.55

Need a boost of energy after too many nights out and dinners not so light? If your body is asking for some post Xmas detox treatments, spoil yourself and friends with a healthy hamper from Twinings.

The Twinings Taste Experience includes all the natural herbs and ingredients to purify your body after festivities gluts. It contains so many varieties of tea, we’re sure it’ll be a gift that will accompany you until New Year’s Eve. From the more traditional breakfast, earl grey and Darjeeling tea, without forgetting that is still holiday time; indeed in the basket Twinings incorporated selection of sweet options like chocolate, caramelised apple and Moroccan mint flavoured tea.
Do not suffer from Christmas pudding nostalgia and click right here to get your tea box for £80, plus a tea filter, a cup  with wooden rest and a tea tidy.

If you’re looking for something a little less decadent, but equally delicious, then the Milly Green Embossed Christmas Tin of Biscuits is the perfect way to say Merry Christmas. The sweet tin is adorned with all sorts of cute British illustrations, and would make a great keepsake box when the holiday season is over. The biscuits inside probably won’t last past Christmas Day, so once they’ve all been scoffed, you can pop all your special Christmas trinkets inside.

The moreish Double Chocolate Chip and delectable Stem Ginger and Lemon Biscuits are so delicious, we can’t think of a better gift to show you care. This would be ideal as an office gift, or one to pop in the stocking. Grab a tin of these delectable Christmas cookies here for £11.99.

We think having one of these hampers will transform you Xmas 2015 in a unique experience; having the 4 of theme will just make it the best of your life!

English Wine Tasting Tours

Here at The Amazing Blog, we love a nice glass of wine at the end of the week, but as the Christmas season is upon us, we felt it was appropriate to kick it up a notch in the tipple department. English Wine Tasting Tours makes the perfect gift for a loved one who appreciates a good grape. And with next year’s tours starting in May, it’s sure to give them something to look forward to when those post-Christmas blues inevitably set in.

We all have someone near and dear who probably considers themselves a bit of a wine connoisseur, so why not treat them to a tour next year, where they can opt for a jaunt in either the Kent or Sussex countryside. They’ll be able to taste some delicious, authentic English wines and ciders whilst eating gastronomic treats, away from the city smog and traffic, on a unique and authentic day out that I’m sure they’ll wish to repeat every single year.

Leaving from London Bridge, the Kent tasting tour has two main stops: the Hush Heath Estate, producer of the Balfour Brut Rose’ and the Chapel Down Winery, which specialises in sparkling wines and Curious beers & cider, much appreciated by the likes of Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver. With 18 different wine and cider samples to sip on, and a pitstop at the Goudhurst Inn for a tasty lunch and a selection of English cheeses, they’ll feel spoilt rotten.  Of course, no two grapes are the same, so they may prefer to taste what Sussex has to offer. The Sussex tour journeys to the Bolney Estate vineyard, famous for it’s environmentally friendly ethos, where not only great grapes are welcome but even butterflies, rabbits and dragonflies. Not too far from Bolney, they will get to know the Bluebell Vineyard and its love for traditional English sparkling wines as well as tasting delicious hand harvested grapes, nurtured with as little herbicide as possible. The day finishes in a nice gastro pub for a hearty meal that perfectly pairs with a newfound favourite wine. As an added perk, English Wine Tasting Tours offer a 10% discount to customers, so they can grab a bottle of the best wine England has to offer for a little less.

Give the gift of wine this Christmas, with Sussex and Kent tours costing £89 each, from here. Or take the stress out of guessing and grab a gift voucher, here, and your loved one can pick the perfect date for them.  And if you can’t wait until May, check out these videos from the tour to tide you over in the meantime!