Cities at Dawn by Anthony Epes

 

The Amazing Blog team is based in London, but luckily our working hours are pretty normal which means we don’t venture out at dawn that often. We have however, just been introduced to the splendid sight of London at Dawn by photographer Anthony Epes and we're now planning on paying more attention to this beautiful time of day.  He also photographs Paris, and consequently created the book Paris at Dawn, both filled with stunning and surprisingly emotional images.

Paris at Dawn is filled with exquisite photographs, some of which are quite moving as they show the city as if it were still asleep itself, just like most of us are at dawn. It’s very still and there are hues that we aren't exposed to on an average day so these photos allow you time to appreciate it. I love seeing Paris at this peaceful time, there’s no human disturbances like traffic or loud children, it’s literally just land before we make our mark and I find that very tranquil to see. Each image does just what brilliant photography should do, it tells a story or presents us with a journey. I feel like it makes you consider how everything in the image got there. If there is an old man sat outside his little shop then you take the time to think about him and why he sits outside at this time of day.

The London at Dawn book is just as intriguing, and may be more interesting for some of you as you can really compare it to the way you see London every single day. The photos are simple, with some beautiful, vibrant colours. For me, flicking through this book gives me the same kind of secret satisfaction as when you can see through a home window at night time and they have their lights on, it provokes a sense of curiosity in you. You will find yourself amazed at how involved you can become in these photos and seeing somewhere you think you know so well, from a wholly different perspective.

It doesn’t stop at these lovely books either. Between the 18^th and 29^th of November there is an exhibit of the project, and this takes place at The Gallery & Café, Foyles Bookshop, 113-119 Charing Cross, London, WC2H 0EB. The books are available to buy here  and at Foyles Bookshops.

The Spirit of Christmas Fair

 

It’s already nearing the time to start filling your diary (and children’s stockings) with wonderful Christmassy things, and we have the perfect day trip suggestion for you guys to enjoy between the 5^th and 10^th of November. The Spirit of Christmas Fair is an event The Amazing Blog team loves to explore every year in preparation for Christmas. Located in London’s Olympia, this fair is filled with beautiful gifts, boutiques, workshops, foods and so much more to encourage your Christmas creativity. The date is placed perfectly in the calendar to make sure can enjoy some peaceful Christmas shopping without the stress of having to buy everyone’s presents in a rush. Keep reading to find out how to win a ticket to the fair.

During the day there are plenty workshops held, tailored to the interests of a variety of shoppers, which means you are bound to find something for you and your friends to enjoy. This year there is the opportunity to learn of the Champagnes and Vineyards of Louis Roederer with Mark Bingley, master of wine at Louis Roederer. There are Flower Arranging Workshops with Phil Hammond, and Festive Beauty experiences with Graziella Vella, Space NK. Cowshed will be making an appearance with their holistic range and treatments. If Cowshed’s exciting variety of botanical products is something of interest to you then this year you can purchase the Cowshed gift ticket, which includes entry and some goodies from the collection. You can read about the different ticket offers here.

For those of you with more of an admiration for fine foods than gifts, then The Spirit of Christmas Fair will not disappoint. With an exciting collection of food and drink, the fair brings together a delicious mix of flavours from around the globe. You will find leading Artisans, Independent Producers, Royal Warrant holders and Great Taste Award-Winners, all at the fair to help inspire some fabulously creative Christmas feasts and gifts. Not only does the fair help with Christmassy ideas to prepare you for next month, but there are also restaurants and bars to stop off at whilst you are there. The Mossiman’s Winter Restaurant will be at the fair for when your taste buds need a little attention after browsing so many wonderful food stalls.  Sit back and take a well deserved break from shopping for other peoples Christmas presents, it’s only fair you dine in style if you’ve been thinking of others all day…

The Luxury Travel Fair takes place between the 7^th and 10^th of November. It’s always good to multitask, with two fairs for the price of one, you have no excuse not to pay a visit. Conde Nast Traveller has bought together a collection of holiday and high end travel experiences for you to discover. There is plenty to do and lots of time to mingle with experts from the travel industry. Leading brands bring incredible destinations and experiences with them to the show, and they are more than happy to chat with and advise you on adventures you’d never even thought of venturing on before.

If you’re looking to treat your friends and family with gifts this year that they wouldn’t normally find on the high street then take a stroll down to the London Olympia between the 5^th and 10^th of November. With tickets for adults beginning at £18, and for children (13-16) at £10.50, there’s no reason not to. If you think you will need more than one of the days to explore; which you might because there is so much there, then for £29.50 you can buy an unlimited ticket. All tickets and information can be found on their website. 

TWO FREE TICKETS TO BE WON FOR THE FAIR. EMAIL US WITH YOUR NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS TO BE ENTERED INTO OUR DRAW TOMORROW. WINNERS REVEALED TUESDAY 5TH NOVEMBER. Email press@amazingpr.co.uk

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream

It is a common misconception that skincare treatments, like eye creams, are solely for mature skin. However, here at The Amazing Blog, we know better. A good eye cream can be helpful to users of any age. Eye Creams are not just brilliant for smoothing the appearance of wrinkles, but they can really help to improve dark shadows that people of any age can suffer from, particularly in contemporary culture where we all work far too much and sleep too little.

Us girls at The Amazing Blog are no strangers to late nights and we do worry about our skin aging prematurely, so we are always very interested to try our new products to help improve problem areas of our skin. We were very excited when we found out about Balance Me’s Wonder Eye Cream, and needless to say, we couldn’t wait to try it out.

Balance Me, are very concerned with using natural ingredients to create their product formulas. Every product boasts a stamp indicating the percentage of natural ingredients within it. The Wonder Eye Cream contains 99% natural ingredients, including Roman camomile, lemon, cucumber oil, and witch hazel. The eye cream has three fantastic benefits, it can revitalise weary eyes, improve dark shadows and reduce the appearance of lines.

I really liked the smell of the Wonder Eye Cream, the scent of the natural oils is fresh and citrus based. The cream has a lovely soft light texture that absorbs into the skin without being greasy. This is a great eye cream for morning and nightly use, and really helps brighten up the eyes.  We patted it gently around our eyes and immediately felt the cooling and soothing effects.

If you’re interested in a lovely new eye cream or want to find out more about the range of products that Balance Me has to offer, you can find them on their website. You can now purchase their products on their website, Debenhams Online and from mid-September in Debenhams stores. The Wonder Eye Cream retails at £20.00 for 15ml.

The Amazing Blog's Bank Holiday Essentials!

It is with heavy hearts that we note Autumn is now looming and Summer now drawing to a close.  This weekend we're all preparing for the bank holiday which is only a week away! This is the perfect break away for us all to get some ‘me-time’ and take in the last bursts of sunshine (we hope) getting away for a long  weekend with friends and family.  In anticipation, here at The Amazing Blog we have compiled a special collection of products that we think are absolute essentials for your bank holiday travel adventures.  Enjoy... Oh-lief is one of our greatest  discoveries - it hails  all the way from  South African. Thecompany was born ‘out of the desire to use products that would not harm the skin or the environment’. Their products are made from locally sourced, 100% natural, organic and raw ingredients. We've all been blown-away by what we can only describe as their 'miracle cream' it's the Oh-lief's Natural Aqueous Cream. Originallyformulated for babies’ skin (but perfectly fine for adults too).  It is a brilliant multi-tasker - i.e.  as a  great cleansing wash or a highly moisturising body and face butter. Basically it's fantastic 'all-in-one'.  The product is a very thick, soft, hydrating cream and as we mentioned, 100% natural . The Natural Aqueous Cream retails at £6.83 and can be purchased from the Savant Health websitefrom the 1st September. It's perfect for everyone from baby to granny and will be ideal for any family who travel.

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Vegesentials is another one of our new finds. With no  pre-packaged or GMI ingredients their new range of combined fruit and vegetable drinks are not only unusual but delicious and good for you too.  Absolutely perfect for the whole family to enjoy, they come in five different blended flavours. Our favourites were the Carrot, Mango, and Parsnip and the Celery, Apple, and Kale varieties. They are cleverly blended, and do not taste like a salad as some of you might think. They're great way to get part of your five-a-day and  for also putting into your rucksack or the car for the long journey ahead. They are available for £1.59 from the Vegesentials website as well as Whole Foods stores and Waitrose.

Vegesentials Full Range 2

Another interesting product that we found is the healing Cardiospermum Gel. It is a clear to green-ish gel created from the Cardiospermum Plant (as name suggests). This is a wonderful remedy for people with sensitive skin as this plant extract and aloe extract in the formula are very soothing for sensitive and dry skin. We think that this would be good for anyone who over-suns themselves and needs some instant skin-cooling relief. The only thing you might want to be a little careful about is not to use this gel on broken skin - it stings! Again,  it's perfect for people who are travelling and who are spending time outdoors where we know skin irritations often happen. The Cardiospermum Gel is available from The Skin Shop website for £9.95.

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For those of you heading off to the beach for the bank holiday weekend, you might like to think about a very special sunscreen. We stumbled upon a unique formula called Safe Sea by Lifesystems and Nidaria Technology which has an amazing Jellyfish Sting Protection. We have the 15, 30 and 50 SPF and are looking forward to taking this with us to the seaside as this is the year for record breaking shoals of Jellyfish on our UK shores -  therefore we think it most appropriate!  Safe Sea Sunscreen with Jellyfish Sting Protection was developed to help protect against the stinging mechansim of most Jellyfish, Sea Nettle, Sea Lice and Coral. It contains unique, patented ingredients that deactivate the stinging mechanism, leaving you safe and sound. Jellyfish and the like are becoming increasingly common both at home and abroad, but Safe Sea will help to take the sting out of any chance encounter. A truly amazing formula that you can purchase the sunscreen on the Purple Turtlewebsite for £9.95.

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Packing snacks for weekends away is a must, as we all know there's always someone who will be moaning about being hungry on the journey. Pre-made granola is a perfect snack to bring along on these occasions, and we have found one that is sure to please everyone - even those  with dietary restriction. Nature’s Path Organic Gluten Free Nice & Nobbly Granola this is delicious and gluten-free, so it is perfect for those who cannot have the usual cracker type snacks. We tried their Pumpkin Seeds, Almond & Raisins with a Dash of Cinnamon  and their Blueberries, Raspberries, Strawberries & Yoghurt Chunks varieties.  Both of which we highly recommend, they were extremely moreish on the taste buds and we found ourselves continually nibbling straight from the packets - so also perfect for in between phone calls in the office! Plus, this granola will be brilliant to help fill any hunger pangs and keep you and your companions bolstered up for the trip. Visit the Nature's Path website for information on their stockists.

pumpkin seeds image

And finally for all those chatter-boxes on your journey, we've  found something to help you compete (after all you'll need something to keep your lips moist to respond to all their banter); its the wonderful Kukui & Shea Butter Natural Lip balm fromPure Thoughts This lip balm helps to soothe and protect with its unusual Kukui nut oil (well-known for its ability to heal dry skin). It's unscented and can also be used anywhere on the body to treat dry skin.  Pure Thoughts is a 100% natural skincare company that we have recently discovered. They do lots of other products too (watch out for our review on their Whipped Shea Body Butter). But we think that this lip balm is a real winner it smells lovely, the feel is just perfect - silky instead of sticky. It retails for £3.95 on the Pure Thoughts website.

Kukui Shea Butter Balm Group 2

Get Festival Ready This Summer: Glam Style!

Whether you went to Glastonbury or Isle of Wight, summer in the UK means Festivals! There are many good ones to attend that happen through the summer months, so plan away! Here at The Amazing Blog HQ, we all love a good bit of music. And we know our readers love music, summer, and festivals, so we thought this was  the perfect time to introduce some wonderful new products that are perfect for taking with you to a festival.

 

A company called Wacky Practicals really caught our eye in terms of unique, special products that serve a purpose when the original version just won’t do. Their Collapsible Tea Kettle is perfect for taking with you to any festival or even a camping trip. It is made of silicone and stainless steel, which means it is a very durable kettle and the fact that it is collapsible means packing it away is a breeze. It is available to purchase from their website for £29.99. You definitely won’t miss your next cup of tea with this perfect kettle.

 

Ever heard of Glamping? Yes, that’s right: Glam Camping. A new phenomenon that we at the Amazing Blog think is absolutely wonderful. You are going to a festival or camping, but don’t want to sacrifice being a girly girl? Well, now you don’t have to. Boutique Camping offers festival and camping products that are chic, fashionable, and portable! One product we thought you wouldn’t want to miss out on: the Quilt/Sleeping Bag in Rosa. Absolutely Adorable and sure to keep you warm and snugly on those chilly summer nights. Available on their website for £90.00.

 

 We were so excited when we received Ickle Bockle’s Festival Kit here at The Amazing Blog. It is the perfect travel accessory kit for any festival goer. The Kit is packed full of perfect items: two ickle bockles (travel-sized bottles), one ickle pot, a waterproof poncho, eye mask, ear plugs, toothbrush and toothpaste, compact mirror, tissues, plasters, antibacterial hand sanitiser, and lip balm. Absolutely everything you need in one handy little bag! Can be purchased on the website for £16.95. I know I won’t be heading away without mine!

 

Fox & Pepper’s After Welly Gelly is perfect for those tired festival feet! We all know how your feet can feel after a day of wearing our favourite rubber boots, and this soothing gel takes care of the problem. Best part? It’s Paraben Free, so no nasties there. Available for £7.99 from Made In Heaven.

 

Another product we thought was most interesting. Bloom.fm, a downloadable music app has created Bloom Boots, which are Musical Wellington Boots! There is a speaker actually placed into the boot itself, so you can attach your IPod or MP3 and crank up bloom.fm! Unfortunately, there were only 10 pairs created originally, but a thought for next summer! However, you can still tune into Bloom.fm when you download the app! Check out their website for more info.

One last thing: when you're feeling tired and worn out during the day, you're going to need a pick me up. We have found the perfect way to get it, naturally of course, with Scheckter's Organic Energy Drinks! We were so excited when they arrived at the office, and needless to say, they are everything you want in an energy drink, with none of the nasty additives! They taste great, and are 100% Natural and Organic. Perfect for stowing in your rucksack for the trip, you can get the drinks from Ocado starting at £1.29 or on www.amazon.co.uk. Take a look at the Scheckter's website for more information on the drinks.