Friday Feature - Breadren Cooking Classes

Bread. It’s perhaps one of our favourite comfort carbs not only at The Amazing Blog but for most of us, and the Breadren Cooking Class will teach you how to make it but with an artisan twist. You can learn how to make artisan bread from the comfort of your own home, which sounds fantastic to us. You will be taught by the bread-master Baker Max Tobias at the London-based artisan bakery, Breadren. Breadren, is holding cooking classes with dietary restrictions in mind. They understand the daily struggle if you’re gluten-free, vegan or even vegetarian, and they’re here to broaden your horizons. Their ethos is to promote natural, unpretentious food. You won't learn just how to bake, however, as some of their star recipes include roasted cauliflower with tahini, quinoa with roasted brussel sprouts, crispy kale & fresh pomegranate, Vietnamese-style summer rolls, charred sprouting broccoli with harissa, and matcha and coconut mochi cake.

We’ve often pined for the baking abilities of those we see on the British Bake Off, and now the abilty to shape round loaves, rolls and batards, to knead and proof dough, and manipulating temperatures for the ultimate loaf is at our fingertips. Both sweet and savoury baked goods are incorporated into the classes, and both naughty and nice recipes! You needn’t be trapped by trendy food fads and uninspired ‘free from’ diets. Their recipes naturally forego ingredients like eggs, sugar, wheat or dairy so you can keep to your diet restrictions if necessary, whilst cooking and eating some tasty food.

Vegan Cornbread

There are classes once a month throughout the year, ranging from ‘Vegan Seasonal Cooking and Baking’ to ‘Seasoning & Spice’ classes. However, if you prefer cooking around your loved ones you can book a private cooking class on everyday cooking or a themed cooking class for you and your friends and enjoy the experience. Breadren uses local and seasonal ingredients wherever possible, sourcing primarily from London and the South East, an added bonus.

You can book a cooking class here from £55, and book a private cooking tutorial here for a small group of 2-5 persons for £60 per person.

Friday Favourites LAPADA Arts and Antiques Fair- 2017

The annual LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair is the leading showcase for art and antiquities on an international level and has grown to become one of the most prestigious events in the London social calendar. The Amazing Blog has been a huge fan of the fair since its inception in 2009, as it brings 100 exhibitors together to present work from across the art, antiques, design, and decorative arts spectrum. The authenticity of all these exhibitors is assured by the 70-member specialist committee who approve each item before the show begin. 

We love the variety of what is featured at the fair, from ornate furniture, to delicate jewels, to eye-catching pieces of art, the fair has it all. It is an entirely unique London event that brings together a vast collection of sought-after pieces that are bound to appeal to all; whether you are a first-time buyer or a collector, or a hoarder of the finer things. With prices varying from an affordable £500 to a more eyebrow raising £500,000 the fair is filled with goodies certain to please you and have a place in your home. 

LAPADA will be held at Berkeley Square between the 15th and 20th of September. A ticket will cost you £20 for entry during between the 15th and 20th, whereas a collectors ticket will get you in the day before and only costs £65.00.

Friday Favourites: Tipples With a Twist

Whether you are a cider lover, live only for gins, or a wine aficionado, here are some flavourful and delicious must-have drinks to have in your possession. If you're bored of the usual drinks on offer, we at The Amazing Blog have a selection of some traditional drinks with a unique and interesting twist. 

The Fifty Pounds Gin is produced by a family owned distillery located in London. It is traditionally made with the finest grains spirit distilled four times. The gin is produced using a method that is centuries old, known as Batch Process Distillation, which Fifty Pounds Gin hark as the best way to get the purest gin possible. It is thrice filtered, making sure all impurities are removed. It is self-proclaimed as the 'smoothest gin ever' and we have to agree. The method they adopt is delicate and painstaking; however, we reckon it is worth it. The botanicals selection, a combination of herbs, spices, fruits and flowers, makes it extremely delicious and nuanced in flavour. Where most gins focus on the juniper berries (the ingredient that makes gin a gin, and which can be a bit heavy or resinous), Fifty Pounds Gin have made the more mellow coriander seed their hero ingredient. Angelica root then contributes a lovely earthy and spicy flavour.

It is a classic, smooth, rich and fresh drink that goes well with a good tonic and a lemon zest. A special mention should be made for the design of the bottle that is inspired by the first ever gin bottles, giving them a beautiful vintage appearance. 

You can purchase the Fifty Pounds Gin 70cl bottle here at £34.99.

Cider Lovers are going to love the Cranes Cranberry Cider. When twin brothers Ben and Dan decided to go into the business they thought that cranberries should be the key ingredient of their drinks and they thought well!

Cranes cranberry ciders are a mixture of the finest cranberries and apples which makes them very refreshing, light and tasteful. The ciders are naturally light as the sweetness comes from the fruits used during the production rather than additional sugars, and therefore they have 30% fewer calories than brand leaders. You can enjoy these sweet ciders guilt-free! These delicious cranberry ciders are available in three sublime flavours.

The Cranberry & Lime is one of our favourites; it is crisp, light and ideal for an afternoon refreshment. The second flavour is Blueberry & Apple; a perfectly sweet pairing. The third flavour is the Raspberry & Pomegranate, which is as fresh and invigorating as the first two but with that little delightful fruity taste that makes all the difference. 

A case of 12 Cranes Cranberry Cider can be purchased here at £27.60.

Famous for its alcoholic drinks, the Republic of Ireland will be soon renowned for its fruit wines. Móinéir wines are luxurious artisan fruit wines made in Wicklow Way Wines, the first ever Irish fruit winery. The wines are made from 100% Irish fruits.

The Blackberry Wine is a delicious blend of blackberries and wild elderberries; an Irish plant that was foraged in the Wicklow Mountains. The wine is intensely flavourful and fruity but with a light body making it easy to drink.  The Móinéir Blackberry Wine is a perfect choice for a light aperitif and goes wonderfully well with red meats.

The brand’s Irish Strawberry Wine is created with juicy, delicious handpicked Irish strawberries gently pressed to capture the most of their flavour. It is an aromatic, slightly sweet and crisp wine that will satisfy the palate of wine lovers. Here at The Amazing Blog, we love combining it with some dark chocolate, a real treat! We love that these are a little taste of Ireland captured in a bottle.                                                

Both wines are suitable for vegans and are unique gifts to offer to your loved ones.

You can purchase the Strawberry Wine here at 21.99€ and The Blackberry Wine here at 24.99€. Fortunately, you can buy the products in GBP by using PayPal.   

Sloane Home has found the way to our hearts with the Lone Stag Spirits: the LONE STAG SPIRIT Raspberry and Lime Gin Infusion and the LONE STAG ZESTY Clementine, Lemon and Lime Vodka Infusion.The drinks are traditionally produced in the heart of the British countryside with only the finest ingredients. Bottled, packaged and labelled by hand they are more delicious and savoury than any spirit made by machines. 

The spirits offer an excellent tasting experience; you can taste and identify all the ingredients used during the production. The sweetness and acidity are well balanced making the drinks taste natural, delicate and aromatic. The Lone Stag Spirits come in a fabulous case with cocktail ideas, transforming you into the new cocktails master. It is also a great gift for your friends and family.

We are very fond of these flavourful spirits, and we are not the only ones. Indeed, the LONE STAG SPIRIT Raspberry & Lime Gin infusion was awarded a Great Taste Award by the Guild of fine food August 2017 and the LONE STAG ZESTY Clementine, Lemon & Lime Vodka infusion won the same award in 2016.

If you want a taste of these delicious spirits, you can purchase a Sloane Hamper including both bottles here at £45.00.

We here at the blog can no longer have a dinner or go to a party without one of these drinks. This great selection of diverse and unique drinks will be a show-stopper at any dinner party.

Friday Favourites for Effortlessly Perfect Eyes

Eye make-up was, for many of us, the first exploration into the world of beauty. Looking at advertisements and movie stars with the perfect smokey eye, or lashes that fluttered coyly, we realized that we wanted to look like that. Before all the other little tricks such as contouring, highlighters and lip-liners entered our world, it was eye makeup that made a statement and had the power to transform your identity for the day. While our tastes may have grown more subtle, definitely an improvement from the over lined lids of our youth, we still find a well done eye can lift an entire look. Therefore, The Amazing Blog has pooled it's collective knowledge to create a step by step guide for the perfect day to day look with minimal effort. After all, just because you are in a rush doesn't mean you can't look your best!

The first step for perfect eyes is to create a smooth and dark circle free surface to begin working with. To achieve this, we would recommend using Orphica's Pure Advanced Eye Renewal Serum which moderates wrinkle formation, banishes dark circles and puffiness, and nourishes the delicate under-eye area. The skin under your eyes is especially sensitive, which is why it needs special protection from external stressors, such as oxidative stress. Key ingredients such as Abyssinian oil, Vitamins A and E and snail secretion leave skin soft, smooth and soothed.

We are big fans of Orphica, which is why they feature again in the final step of this look. The reason we like this brand so much is that they draw inspiration from nature, incorporating the wonderful properties of plant extracts and the natural processes of the human body to create remarkable and effective products. 

Just apply the serum once daily before applying makeup. Purchase it here for £62.

The second step is a quick way to create long term effects. if you are like us then you have probably longed for longer lashes most of your life. Well, the people at Eye Care Cosmetics have granted us our wish with their Infini-Cils Mascara & Liner. It is an innovative lash growth activator which consists of a unique blend of nutritional ingredients to nourish the hairs. The active ingredient TDC (Tetrasodium Disuccinoyl Cystine) stimulates keratin which is the key composit for stronger, longer lashes. Biotinyl nourishes the lashes, promoting faster growth. Last, but not least, is organic Silicum and Panthenol, which are moisturising and strengthening ingredients. Importantly, the serum is hypo-allergenic and so those of you with sensitive skin and eyes are still able to use this wonder-product. It seems we're not the only ones who think this, as it was 'highly commended' at the 2016 Pure Beauty Awards.

This is an easy way to improve your lashes, you simply apply to makeup free eyes using the dual applicator. A fine liner applies product along the root of lashes and a mascara brush coats the length of the lashes.

Purchase the Infini-Cils Mascara & Liner from this UK stockist here, for £18.

Now you have prepared the skin we are ready to move on to cosmetics. We firmly believe that eye Shadow is the best way to make eyes stand out, look bigger and help enhance your natural eye colour. We would recommend one of Lin & Lo's Mineral Eyeshadow Sets. They come as perfectly matched trios in an array of natural or vibrant colours. We were able to try the Natural trio and the Plum trio, the latter being ideal for green and hazel eyes. We recommend the Sahara trio, with the amber and rust hues to help blue eyes shine. Play up brown eyes with bronze tones to bring out their depth and dimension using the Mordore trio. 

The formula of the shadows are made of pure pigments with a silky touch that are easy to blend and only need only a single layer for maximum impact. Lin & Lo is a brand focused on using natural ingredients in their makeup line. They offer professional-quality makeup that acts as a skin care treatment at the same time, containing vitamins (C and E), antioxidants and natural ingredients such as Jojoba Oil, Roman Chamomile and Shea Butter. This eye shadow will leave your delicate skin left healthy and beautiful. The line consists of anything from foundations to lip pencils. What's more, the products are great for sensitive skin. They are hypoallergenic and free from synthetic preservatives, chemical dyes, artificial fragrances. Lin & Lo want women to feel confident and safe which is an ethos we can get behind.

If you have time, a flick of your favourite eye liner pairs beautifully with all Lin & Lo eye shadow. You can buy the Mineral Eye Shadow Sets here for £35.50 each.

Bookending our routine is Orphica's Up Mascara which gives instantly longer lashes. The ergonomic wand effectively works to separate the lashes and coat each lash evenly, adding the much-desired volume. The mascara was designed to give you that seductive look, and so you are left with natural but fluttery lashes. The formula is top-notch; it is highly-pigmented and pitch-black, it doesn't flake, smudge, clump or weigh down the lashes. the mascara remains in place through out the day and finishes off the look. This mascara is so good, in fact, that we forego the eye lash curlers making it a time-saving and effective product. 

Purchase the mascara here for £30.00, with free delivery on all orders.

With these three products in your makeup bag you are guaranteed to finally have the eyes you dreamed of as a child. All of the products are easy to use and are the perfect accompaniment to the girl on the go. 

Friday Favourite's Sun Protection

Whether you are jetting off for a week of sun or heading to the park with friends to soak in some rays, The Amazing Blog certainly hopes that you are prepared and take sun protection with you. As we have often said before, and definitely will again, sun damage is the nemesis of youthful looking skin. Now to protect you skin, until the fountain of youth is discovered, we have put together a little list of a few of the best sun protectors we know of; from sprays, to lotions, to after sun care and hair care – we’ve got your back. So have a little read, see what’s right for you and tan in style.

Now, we know that for some of us, summer and sun protection is an unwanted annoyance which gets in the way of more immediate fun, gets all over clothes or can be a fiasco that you seek to avoid. Well, if this sounds like you and the idea of spending time covering yourself in sun cream, lotion or oil seems inconvenient or unpleasant then we have the perfect product for you. Giilnea Organic Sun Care 30+ is an amazing and easy to use spray, the product is easily massaged into skin leaving no pesky residue. Should skin go a bit white after applying, it’s probably just a little dry, so apply a little moisturiser and watch it disappear. The extraordinary recipe of the product means that not only are the ingredients all organic, but there are no harmful UV filters such as Aluminium. 

The product smells amazing and minutes after applying, our skin felt wonderfully soft. To purchase your effective and no fuss sun care product here for £26

For those of us who maybe need something a little stronger, or enjoy a summer kit to throw in a suitcase then you cannot go wrong with Nuxe’s Sun Travel Kit. Inside the handy little see through plastic bag are three of Nuxe’s best summer products, the Melting Cream with a 50spf factor, the After Sun Hair and Body Shampoo and the Refreshing After Sun Lotion.

The melting cream is a sun protector that, with a delightful summery fragrance almost like honey, ensures a 100% glamourous tan. The cream helps to protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays, preventing signs of sun-induced premature ageing. However, if you don’t like using creams, then it is available to purchase on its own as a spray. The After Sun Hair and Body Shampoo gently cleanses and removes all residue of UV filters, Salt, Chlorine and Sand. Thus leaving skin cleansed and refreshed, and hair feeling strong and soft. The Refreshing After-Sun Lotion has an almost addictive scent of Sweet Orange, Tahitian Gardenia and Vanilla. The lotion perfectly hydrates skin and is able to prolong your tan by two weeks.

For a perfect tan, healthy skin and hair purchase Nuxe’s Sun Travel Set here for £19.00 and the sun protection spray is available here for £17.00

Now, for all you men out there looking for a powerful sun lotion but one with a more masculine scent then L:A BRUKET have the perfect product for you; No 169 Solkräm SPF 30 200 ML Patchouli/mint. Made with natural ingredients such as organic sunflower oil and avocado oil, the lotion is filled with Vitamin E and D, Omega 6-7 and 9 all of which helps to nourish the skin, as well as to help reinforce the skins protective barrier. What’s more the combination of ingredients in the lotion helps stimulate cell renewal. The essential oils of mint, patchouli and lavender help give it a cooling effect as well as give it its delicious woody floral aroma.

Male skin may be made of tougher stuff, but is also at the mercy of the sun. So having this lotion in your holiday bag is the best step you can take to keep male skin looking as great as it can. Purchase the lotion here for £36

That'so Pure Sun All in One is an innovative 5 action SPF spray is perfect for every skin type for sun protection. If you're never sure which SPF level to get, why not buy a sunscreen which gives you the ability to increase the SPF level simply by layering the product. One layer gives SPF20, two layers gives SPF30 and three layers gives SPF50. MELANUP+, stimulates the melanin production to get a natural tan with no exposition to UV ray. It is quite rare to have a patent pending tan product with a multi functional use to all skin types. To give an authentic tanning look, a component named TYR-EXCEL, a tanning activator creates the best tanning look.  Diffusion is continuous in order to make the application easier, even in less reachable areas.This perfect protective oil spray priced at £24.95; has a limited availability on the website for £24.95. 

We can't wait to see your glamorous tans. So what are you waiting for? Go and purchase any of these fantastic products to safeguard your skin from damage, pain and wrinkles - we'll see you at the beach.