TGIF

Hot Drinks Feature - Friday Favourites

Struggling to make it through this winter? Here at the Amazing Blog we have been trying to combat the gloominess with some warming hot drinks. We are sure you'll agree that when it's as wet and grey outside as it is today, there is nothing better than curling up with a tasty and comforting hot drink. So, we thought we would round up some fun and unusual winter warmers, that are guaranteed to make you feel cozy and comfortable.

Akesson’s is a brand that passionate about cacao. Today Akesson’s has grown from a single plantation to haveing buisness with plantations based in Madagascar, Brazil, and Indonesia. The company produces undoubtedly one of the finest forms of cocoa, which they supply globally to famous chocolatiers and chefs.

We loved trying Akesson’s exclusive line of chocolate and we particularly enjoyed the Choco-Tea Cacao Infusion. The tea is a natural product made from cacao nibs and their shells, producing a rich and warm flavour that lifted our spirits after exposure to the damp weather. The cacao in this comes from the Sambirano Valley, in the North-West of Madagascar, and has a wonderfully expressive chocolate aroma, with subtle fruit and citrus notes. The tea is organic and rich in polyphenols, antioxidants, iron, magnesium and Vitamin D, making it a very healthy and natural drink.

We infused half of one large teaspoon for five minutes in hot water. We liked the fact the tea is not overly sweet, but of course, if you like your tea sweeter adding a teaspoon of honey or sugar can help round out the flavour to match your cravings.

Try Akesson’s sumptuous Choco-Tea here for £6.95.

 

 

 

Pure Chimp’s Super Tea specialises in matcha green tea, a nutritional powerhouse produced in Japan. This tea is different to regular green tea, as it's partially grown under cover helping to fill it with extra goodness. Equally, matcha tea also differs from normal green tea as it has higher levels of theanine and chlorophyll. Theanine offers a wonderful energy boost without the crash that usually follows after a cup of regular caffeinated tea. The higher chlorophyll gives this tea a lovely soft and smooth flavour that we can’t get enough of. 

We love the versatility of this product. You can add it to hot water, juice, smoothies and even bake with it. Our favourite combination was to simply add hot milk and drink it as a matcha latte! The product is also suitable for vegans so everyone can enjoy the health benefits of Pure Chimp Super Tea.

Try Pure Chimp’s Super Tea here for £4.95.

Next is PHROOTI, a UK based brand which has created the perfect product for those of us who don't like tea but still enjoy the tradition and comfort that a good hot drink can give. The founders of PHROOTI were frustrated with conventional flavoured teas that smell incredibly fruity but lack any real and discernable flavour. The brand thus decided to reinvent fruit tea to give the people what they want, and we can't thank them enough as the result is delicious. PHROOTI consists of 95-97% natural and dried fruit powder and contains no traces of tea. This gives the product an intense fruity flavour that is guaranteed to tantalise your taste buds!

The faux-tea is caffeine-free, low calorie, and free from added sugar, making it a delicious and guilt-free treat. PHROOTI currently comes in three fabulous flavours, including Sour Cherry and Cranberry, Blackcurrant, Blackberry and Blueberry. Our favourite was Raspberry and Strawberry. This is the perfect option for those who don’t enjoy tea but love fruity flavour infusions.

Try PHROOTI here, you can buy 6 packs for £17.70.

We thought we would end today’s feature on a more traditional and classic note, simply, tea. Here at The Amazing Blog, we love tea and love to try out new and exciting flavours. Tea Shirt is a new UK brand founded by a tea-obsessed couple with a passion for discovering high-quality teas and unearthing original flavours.

After the endless office tea runs we've all done, you know how hard it is to find two people who enjoy their tea the same way. Whether it's an argument over when the milk goes in or type of tea, it can be a nightmare filling out those tea orders! But this isn't a problem with Tea Shirts, as not only are all their teas delicious but they have an extensive selection to choose from; ranging from the typical ‘Irish Breakfast’ to unusual flavours such as ‘Barbados Rum’ and ‘Marshmallow’ there is definitely a flavour for everyone. We personally loved the ‘Apple and Grapefruit’ tea blended with its fresh and citrus flavours, we felt completely revitalised and refreshed after a cup.

The teas are packaged in “Tea Shirts” - labels which mimic traditional textiles and embroidery from the areas where they originated. We think Tea Shirts makes a perfect gift for tea lovers or just a winter warmer by the fire.

You can buy Tea Shirts here from £1.79.

 

 

 

 

 

Women of the World Festival

Here at the Amazing Blog, we love to hear about the powerful things women can do and advocate for women to become their strongest selves. Therefore we are delighted for the return of WOW - the Women of the World Festival at the Southbank Centre in London.

The festival is designed to champion gender equality, celebrating the wonderful achievements of women all over the world. The event started in 2010 and has since grown into a global gathering of people who come together to inspire women and girls everywhere. Although its base is in London, the festival will be hosting events in other locations such as Cambridge, Hong Kong, Ethiopia, Australia, Iceland, New York, Sydney, and Egypt.

Over these next few days, you will be able to hear from influential and diverse speakers, take part in mentoring and workshop sessions, and see some of the greatest female comedians, musicians, performers, and writers around.

We know that this year's WOW Festival will be fantastic, and past incarnations of the festival have included speakers such as Annie Lennox, Caitlin Moran, Vivienne Westwood, Sandi Toksvig, Grayson Perry, and Gordon Brown. There are various events that you can buy tickets for, such as 'Louder Voices', a project where women over 60 can take part in a singing course, and 'Polari', celebrating LGBT women's writing.

We are sure that you'll be able to find something special to take part in at this year's Women of the World Festival. It is taking place from the 7th - 12th of March, and you can buy day and weekend passes, as well as one-off events here.

 

Eye Feature - Friday Favourites

Now we don't know if eyes really are windows to the soul, but at The Amazing Blog, we do know that eyes can be very telling! Puffy eyes reveal a lack of sleep, bright eyes allude to healthiness, and panda eyes say that maybe you had a little too much fun last night! As such, we have decided to dedicate this Friday to some of our favourite products and all of them are items that we believe really help our eyes tell the story we want!

 

The first miracle product is Skinshop's Dry Eye Concealer. If you have any pesky little imperfections you want to hide then this is the concealer for you. While it easily conceals any dry, red and flaky areas around the eye, it also helps to treat them!

The concealer is able to treat these issues because of two key ingredients; Cardiospermum and Biolin. Cardiospermum is a natural ingredient that helps calm dry and irritated skin. Whereas Biolin, which is a skin prebiotic, helps repair damaged skin by feeding it healthy skin flora, so it injects and traps a much-needed boost of moisture to your under-eyes.

This concealer comes in a natural skin tint that will brighten the under eyes. To use this product, apply dots under the eye using either a finger or the silky brush applicator and blend to achieve the best results.

Concealer is a great trick to keep the area around your eyes looking youthful. You can purchase the Dry Eye Concealer here for £11.95.

Eye serums can give fantastic results if you incorporate them into your daily skincare routine, and we think that NCN is producing one of the best we've ever seen. Their Eye Fix is a fantastic product for producing more youthful looking skin in the surrounding areas, which helps to make your eyes seem brighter and clearer. The roller-ball serum is a combination multiple peptides and actives, full of antioxidants that help protect and repair the delicate surrounding skin. Eye-Fix contains a lot of ingredients that work to moisturise and smooth the skin without making it too heavy. The stars in this product are Regu-Age and Eyeliss, ingredients that contain an abundance of Vitamin E and antioxidants that help protect and rejuvenate the collagen in the skin and increases the oxygen levels in the eyes delicate tissues.

This product is so easy to use and will quickly become a part of your routine.To apply, simply sweep the roller-ball around the eye and lightly pat into the skin with your finger. For best results and to start feeling the benefits straight away, we suggest using this twice a day. NCN’s Eye-Fix is suitable for all skin types and ages, and we think the earlier you start looking after your skin the better the results will be as you age. So if you are looking to delay the effects of ageing, then this is the product for you. It truly is brilliant for long-lasting hydration.

You can buy NCN’s Eye-Fix here for £17.99.

Last on our list is the Prickly Pear Eye and Face Elixir from URB Apothecary. The elixir is comprised of three oils; pomegranate seed oil, rosehip oil, and cold-pressed organic prickly pear seed oil. The prickly pear seed oil is a super ingredient as it contains 150% more vitamin E than argan oil. We loved that the oil absorbs quickly, and the fatty acids and antioxidants penetrate deep into the skin.

This product is excellent at brightening dark spots, fading hyperpigmentation, and reducing the appearance of wrinkles. It can be used by people of ages, as well as to address a multitude of issues. It's excellent for problem skin especially as the rose, clary sage, geranium and helichrysum essential oils help balance the skin's natural oils while encouraging new cell growth. You only need a few drops to cover the face so the elixir lasts a long time, which is always a plus in our books! To apply simply tap the oil gently onto the skin under the eyes and use your ring finger to blend in upward strokes.

You can get the Prickly Pear Eye and Face Elixir by URB Apothecary here for £69.03.

Valentine's Day Events - Friday Favourites

Here at the Amazing Blog,

we know that the routineness of Valentine’s Day can really drain the romance from what should be an exciting and different experience. Afterall, it's a day to tell and show someone what they mean to you! So with that in mind, we gathered some of the most interesting and unusual Valentine’s Day events in London to help you create some long-lasting and treasured memories with your loved one.

First of all we have a twist on the typical, and dare we say dated, dinner date at the same old restaurant. For a truly unique evening, swimming in romance, why not try switching up the location to beautiful evening on the thames. Bateaux London Cruises are offering some remarkable dinner packages that we instantly fell in love with!

Bateaux's Valentine's Day Symphony Tower Suite  package pulls out every stop, giving you an intimate dining experience as you enjoy the London sights. Spend time with your partner in a quiet suite, where a four-course dinner is served with drinks throughout the evening. To top off your romantic meal you can go and enjoy the live band that will be playing throughout the night. The City at night is, arguably, when it’s at its most beautiful and romantic, and with this cruise you are certain to get unparalleled views, and an unparalleled experience.

Bateaux London Cruises combine high quality dining, entertainment, and the beautiful London skyline to give you a wonderful evening whether you are celebrating a special occasion or simply treating yourself. They daily offer cruises that create unforgettable experiences for their guests, so you know that their Valentine’s day will be even more spectacular than usual! So go and book your night here from £145 a person!

For a more cultural and regal Valentine's Day, visit Queen's House in Greenwich, part of the Royal Museums of Greenwich. The museum, which is an architectural masterpiece boasting 400 years of royal history, is putting on a Valentine's Day special called 'Making Love in the Queen's House.' The day will be full of talks and courses both inside the Queen's House and in it's elegant surroundings.

You and your valentine can enjoy a Prosecco afternoon tea while hearing from experts who will be discussing love stories of the royals who lived in the celebrated 'House of Delight.' Learn more about the house's beginnings as a 'pleasure palace' and gift from King James I to his wife Anne of Denmark, while soaking up the regal environment.

For a historical and romance-filled day out, visit 'Making Love in the Queens House.' You can purchase tickets for the event here for £25.00.

If you are looking for something a little different, try surprising your loved one by visiting Sea Life London Aquarium for their 'Sea Life After Dark' evening. Home to one of Europe's largest collections of global marine life, Sea Life London Aquarium has some amazing creatures to see, from rare sea turtles to penguins. After picking up your complimentary glass of prosecco, you and your valentine can experience the Shark Walk - a glass walkway with sharks and other marine life swimming just inches away from you!

This after-hours event is adult-only and allows you to explore the aquarium at your own pace, while enjoying the pop up bars scattered throughout. Guest Experience Advisors will additionally be on hand so you can learn all about the creatures and conservation work that Sea Life Aquarium does.

It's certainly not every day that you get to spend your evening with friends surrounded by marine life, so buy tickets for Sea Life After Dark here from £29.00.

Finally on our list is a twist on the classic night of drinks. The Charming Christabel's completely drew us in with their exciting and vibrant cocktail workshops. This Valentines Day, the company are hosting a Bejewelled Cocktail Masterclass. For a fun and flirty evening with your valentine, or even just a group of friends, join Christabel's to create your own cocktail creations.

The vibrant sessions will include a masterclass on mixing and shaking their classic 'Flirt' and 'Zinger' cocktails, we personally love their 'Flirt' cocktail which sends us back to those sultry summer evenings! If that doesn't sway you though, there is also a chance to get creative and transform your drinks by jazzing them up with glitter, sequins, rose petals and much more. We think it might be fun at this stage to create a drink that reflects your partner's personality! Your evening will also be accompanied by canapes that you can construct yourself. This is a really hands on DIY evening that has the potential to be wholly unique to you and your loved one, leaving you with memories of an experience that no one else will have.

The event is in a secret location in N1, so keep your eyes peeled and buy tickets here for £45 per person.

 

Face Masks - Friday Favourites

In the middle of our busy schedules, it is important to have some 'me-time' and finally get to pamper ourselves a little bit and what could be more perfect for the weekend ahead. Here at The Amazing Blog we've got it covered with these fabulous face masks taking their ingredients from around the world.

The first face masks we recommend are from Oh K. The brand is known for its cute and quirky packaging and this product is no exception. Their Coconut Water Face Masks take inspiration from Korean sheet masks, and provides intense hydration.

This particular mask feels really cool and soothing on the skin, and after a long week this is the perfect thing to just stop and relax. Cleanse the skin and apply the mask over the face, making sure to align the eye and mouth holes correctly. We recommend leaving the mask on for 15-20 minutes, this way you will really feel the added moisture in your skin. With any residue left on the face, simply massage into the skin until absorbed or remove with a cotton pad.

You can get three Oh K. Coconut Water Masks here for £8.00.

Acne, dryness, and dullness can all be improved with a quick intensive mask. To this end, we loved the selection from the brand Vitamasques. They have designed their face mask products to ensure they benefit and improve the skin, using their innovative Korean technology. 

In their Korean Collection we received a Hydro Face Mask that claims to give 120 hours of hydration.  It is recommended that you cleanse and tone your face before applying the mask, and leave on for 20-30 minutes. The Hydro Face mask will enhance the skin's ability to retain moisture, plus it has extracts from the rose of Jericho which will improve the clarity of the skin.

In their fruit range, each mask has a tailored purpose, and we really liked the Pomegranate face mask. The texture of the mask felt ultra soothing on the skin and felt like it was benefiting the skin. This pomegranate face mask works by firming and lifting the skin whilst adding moisture to the face. An added bonus is the triple layer-sheet technology; this will enhance the moisture and will increase the absorption rate too.

Keep your skin moisturised and soothed with the Hydro Face Mask here for £7.99 and you can get the Pomegranate Face Mask box of 4 here for £12.99.

When it comes to anti ageing, Time Less Truth Mask has the solution for “ageless beauty”. They created the award winning TT Glacial Snow Algae & Hyaluronic Acid Bio Cellulose Mask using plant extract derived from the snowy mountains of Switzerland. The Snow Algae is an anti-ageing solution that optimises the skin's collagen production to restore youthfulness to the skin cells. Apply the mask after cleansing and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. The blue serum contained in the bio cellulose cloth is absorbed easily by the skin and helps diminish fine lines and wrinkles

Treat your skin with TT Glacial Snow Algae & Hyaluronic Acid Bio Cellulose Mask regularly for a younger complexion here for £7.90.

 

Finally, we love fruity masks and their scents, they remind us of warm weather and Summers in the sun. It’s never too early to start getting ready for Spring/Summer and we did it with the British brand Ooharr.

The range includes Fruity Magic, a rejuvenating mask and Juicy Burst, a nourishing cream mask. Fruity Magic uses Pomegranate along with ingredients such as Green Tea, Aloe, Honey, Vitamin A, C and E to soothe, regenerate and detoxify your skin. Juicy Burst utilises Orange, Lime, Cucumber and Calendula to refresh, soothe and create a clear complexion. Our complexions felt soft and flawless after leaving these masks on for 10 to 15 minutes.

Give your skin an antioxidant boost with Ooharr, and try the Fruity Magic or the Juicy Burst masks for £1.20 here each.