Contigo - Travel Mugs

Given that we live in a time where everything is fast and on-the-go, even the most practical items were bound to jump on board. Currently, you may not pay much attention to your coffee mug, but we at The Amazing Blog have found a company that makes simple yet elegant hassle-free mugs to keep your drinks hot or cold during the busiest days.  Contigo has taken the art of mug making and has formed it into a business, a business that is steadily booming here in the UK as well as other countries around the world. Contigo offers a wide array of products ranging from travel mugs, water bottles, kids cups and coffee mugs. We were lucky enough to try two of their travel mugs, the Morgan and their best-seller West Loop, both of which were a big-hit here in the office.

The Morgan AUTOSEAL Thermo Cup is stylish and easyt to carry throughout your busy day. The cup is made of soft-touch plastic and comes in four bright colours. Their design was praised by Red Dot, especially the AUTOSEAL feature that allows you to open the mug with the press of a button and seals upon release, making it 100% spill proof. I have been using this mug and have no problem with leaks considering I just throw it into my handbag on the way to work. I also enjoy the reservoir feature that keeps some of your drink a bit cooler for your next sip, eliminating those ever annoying scalds of the tongue. Though it helps protect you from burning your mouth, this cup keeps drinks hot for an hour and drinks cold for up to four.

If you are a bit more adventurous and need more from your thermo cup, you may need to try the West Loop. West Loop is a Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Mug which also features the AUTOSEAL making it 100% spill proof. The double insulated walls will keep your drinks hot for up to 4 hours or cold for up to 12, making it ideal for those long business trips or weekend hikes. West Loop comes available in 9 colours and is top-rack dishwasher safe (just like the Morgan), making the clean up as easy as the sip.

To get your hands on these lovely, hassle-free mugs visit the Contigo online shop here!  Next time you are trying to enjoy your drink while lugging your groceries, handbag, your child or all three at once, know that your drink is safe in your hands and only a press of a button away.

Friday Favourites - Travel Kits

Travelling is a beautiful way to experience new places, people and cultures but often takes a toll on your body. It is easy to forget about skincare regime while travelling, therefore making the trip a bit more exhausting than it should be. We at The Amazing Blog have found products to keep you refreshed and healthy while on-the go.  We hope these travel kits make your adventures even more delightful!

Ayurveda Pura has introduced these wonderful Natural Wellbeing Survival Kits which include natural remedies to support everyday needs.  There are various kits available for individual needs such as Daily Detox, Calm Your Mind, Anti Hangover and the kit we sampled, Rise and Shine. Each kit comes with a variety of products including herbal teas, food supplements and organic skincare products. The company is named after the 5000 year-old Ayurveda practice, which is a holistic Indian health system creating harmony in the body while strengthening the body both physically and mentally.  The Rise and Shine Kit is perfect for travel as it kick-starts the body with a boost of energy. Sipping the De-Tox Herbal Tea made of ginger, lemon, orange and lemon grass is the first step of the natural routine. Following this relaxing step, wash your face with the Daily Face Wash followed by the Rejuvenating Skin Toner.  Last, finish the regimen with the Daily Replenish Face Cream. These skincare products are filled with all natural ingredients like Neem Tree Oil consisting of antibacterial and rejuvenating properties in addition to lavender, aloe vera and lemon, grapefruit, and mandarin essential oils.  The Rise and Shine Kit is available for £58.45 here.  The kits range in price, depending upon needs.

Face it ladies, some of us can’t ‘face the day’ without make up, so why not carry around a kit with all the essentials?  Jane Iredale has just introduced the Starter Kit which includes their most popular products like the Smooth Affair primer, Amazing Base Loose Powder, PurePressed Powder, Mini Powder Brush, Pom Mist Facial Spritz and a Cosmetic bag.  The starter kit offers samples of the basics, allowing you to pick from five shades.  We love that Jane Iredale products include UVA and UVB protection to protect skin in the sun-filled holidays to come!  Their products, including this kit, are vegan and gluten-free.  You can find the Starter Kit online here for £35.96 or find a store close to you here.

Travelling with Gatineau Paris’ Collagene Expert Discovery Collection is another great way to keep from falling behind on your beauty regimen.  With 81 years of history and research behind the brand, they continue to introduce new formulas to help combat the appearance of ageing. Given that collagen production starts to decrease after 25, why not be proactive!  Helping to restore and boost the body’s natural collagen production, this collection will have you feeling young and fresh at any destination!  The kit includes three of our favourites from Gatineau Paris such as the Collagene Expert Ultimate Smoothing Cream.  The cream is new to the line but is a combination of two popular salon treatments including the award winning Force Collagene Anit-wrinkle Concentrate. The Collagene Expert Targeted Wrinkle Corrector is for specific trouble spots and helps flatten out wrinkles leaving a fuller and smoother appearance.  The Collagene Expert Smoothing Eye Concentrate not only helps fill out the fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes but also evens the skin tone giving the appearance of younger and healthier skin.  All three products are simple to use!  Apply after cleansing, during your morning and evening routine, making your travel skincare regimen simple! To get your hands on this kit you can go here.

Lastly, if you want to invest in a multipurpose kit to keep clean and rejuvenated on the go, try Hunter and Heath Forever Young Luxury Hamper.  The hamper includes eight products from both the One Love and Frezyderm lines featured on the Hunter and Heath website. This hamper allows you to take your everyday skincare routine and turn it into a luxury spa treatment.  These One Love items are multipurpose products which fit easily into any carry-on. One of our favourites is the Easy Does It Foaming Cleanser because it doubles as face wash, body wash and shampoo, therefore eliminating excess bottles during packing. The cleanser is made with Chilean soap bark, apple oil and vegetable glycerin leaving skin soft and hydrated. The One Love Skin Saviour is also great because it can be used with the Skin Shammy for cleansing or used alone for general moisturising.  The lovely thing about this hamper is it also includes Frezyderm Creams for a touch of luxury. The Frezyderm Rich Moisturising and Neck Contouring creams are aimed at treating ageing, dry skin. The creams have properties that help improve the dermal structure and synthesis of collagen production to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. If you would like to treat yourself to this hamper click here.

We hope these kits help you feel refreshed, rejuvenated and beautiful during your travels!

Lumie Body Clock

We find that waking up to a hideously loud alarm can not only 'jolt' us awake but also set us off in bad mood for the rest of the day.  Happily we at The Amazing Blog have discovered that there are ways to prevent this by allowing the natural body clock to take over. Want to know more? Well, if you studied psychology, then the workings of your body clock might be a familiar concept for you, if not then don’t worry, all will be explained.

For instance, did you know that our natural body clock instructs us when to fall asleep and when to wake up?  Apparently this to let us know that we have had a sufficient amount of sleep and to keep our brains or body functioning correctly throughout the day. Of course, life in general tends to dictate the disruption of this natural routine with our social and environmental influences (i.e. for many of us going work at 6.30am in the morning - sigh). I have certainly noticed a change in my mood if I wake up naturally with the daylight streaming in through my curtains. The Lumie Bodyclock ACTIVE 250  has a wake-up light also known as a dawn stimulator. It works by gradually increasing a mimicked natural light that slowly wakes you up over a chosen period of 15 to 90 minutes. The light you are exposed to is a signal for your body to ease the production of sleep hormones like melatonin, and increase those that help you get up and go like cortisol. Waking up to a light like this can help keep your sleep cycle on track and boost your mood and energy levels for the whole day. See here for how it works.

Our Exec Ed, Edwina, has been using the Lumie Bodyclock ACTIVE 250 as her new morning alarm. She is notoriously bad at getting up in the mornings (by her own admission) and counts herself as an owl not a lark. Her theory on the matter is that one's body clock is adjusted to the time when we're born to define one as either a night or morning person.  She tells us that she has begun to feel a difference using the Lumie Bodyclock and when waking feels more energised.  There are also settings for adding 'sounds' when you wake, these are a great addition to the clock and ensure you don't just snooze-on. There are some calmer ones for those who are lighter sleepers, where they can be woken up by Bird Song (Edwina's preference!)  Or the Big Ben bell for anyone who needs a more dramatic sound to be nudged out of their sleep. The sounds are all chosen specifically so they complement the light produced. We think that this is great for putting you in a good mood for the day and setting your body clock to run in a harmonious pattern. There is also a snooze feature which is good for anyone who always needs that extra 10 minutes...We also really like the look of the Lumie Bodyclock Zest which is their latest addition, it's fantastic compact version of the other Lumie Bodyclocks so brilliant for traveling and can also be used as a light therapy unit. We think this is the business, particularly for those of us that suffer from SAD Syndrome. we'd really love to test this out...

There are different clocks to chose from depending on what it is you're looking for and how you sleep. The Lumie Bodyclock ACTIVE 250 is £99.95 and with its technologies in our view is money well-spent. So take a look at their website here to see which looks like it is right for you. There is also a great range of other products all of which are designed to help start your day right and put a 'zing' in your step ☺

Friday Favourites- Holiday Reads

All we want to do in this cold weather is snuggle up on the sofa in our pyjamas with a mug of tea and a great book. The Amazing Blog understands that there comes a time when a novel seems a bit too heavy for unwinding, so we have selected three very different easy reads to browse when you’re taking some time off. These are How to Draw Like a Fashion Designer, Peruvian Kitchen, and The Book.

There’s no denying that at some stage in our lives, we have all had career ambitions which were a little far fetched. When I was growing up it was either a princess or fashion designer… By about 8 I realised the former dream was a little unrealistic so I began to focus on fashion. I would draw stick women and drown them in horrible floods of colour, clothes that nobody would ever wear, but it was fun. The How to Draw like a Fashion Designer book written by Celia Joicey and Dennis Nothdruft would have been perfect for that phase of my life and would have helped make my stick people look less like…sticks. It’s a beautiful book filled with vibrant colours and step by step guides. Valentino and Zadra Rhodes are just two of the many designers who have contributed to the book, adding their own individual personality. There are interviews, drawing guides, intricate images and much more to set you on your path to become the next big name in fashion. I think this book is wonderful for a light read when you have five minutes to yourself. Its only £12.95, and definitely a book which will look lovely on a shelf or table in the lounge for everyone to enjoy. You can purchase the book here.

 

From one of our favourite ‘F’s, fashion, to another, which is food! The Ceviche Peruvian Kitchen by Martin Morales is filled with over 100 recipes and photos of the most celebrated Peruvian food. Restaurateur and cook, Martin Morales opened his restaurant Ceviche in 2012 and has since had huge success. This book shows you how to makes hundreds of dishes including the famous Ceviche. He traveled the country in search of the best flavours and recipes to share with his readers, and we agree he’s done just that. They are simple yet delicious and unusual, and we are interested by every one. The dishes are fusions of cultural essences from Africa, Spain, Italy, China and Japan. If you haven’t tried Peruvian food before then you need to, it’s definitely not one to disappoint as there are so many different spices and textures to choose from. We trust everything about these recipes as Martin Morales has been cooking since the mere age of 11!  His passion for food is displayed throughout the book and seen in the beautiful photographs which compliment each recipe. The book is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson and you can purchase it on Amazon here.

There is a particular genre of book that appears to be trending and increasing in popularity. These are self help books, ways to better your life and achieve greater happiness. If you visit book stores or use the internet you will probably be exposed to a large amount of these book titles, but The Amazing Blog can make it a little easier for you to choose. We have just read Linde’s life manual which goes by the name, The Book. It opens your eyes to different ways to maintain perfect health, wealth, happiness and longevity. It’s a guide to changing the way you perceive things to ultimately give you a happier and more positive outlook on life. As you journey through the chapters you learn how to understand how your body and mind function, and how to deal with them depending on your surroundings and environment. This book is full of optimism and is definitely one that I will keep referring back to as the years go on. It’s a bit like a support mechanism to guide you in the direction which will make you happiest. The hardback version is £30 and presented beautifully, it’ll be something to stay with you for years so definitely worth every penny. You can buy a kindle edition, or if you want, a hardback copy from here. 

Affordable Festive Finds

We are almost done with the first week of December, so if you haven’t already started helping Santa out with filling stockings then you best get cracking. Our day five of Festive Finds is inspired by the most exciting part of Christmas for a lot of children…opening stockings at 4am and leaving all the wrapping paper for Mum and Dad to clear up. The Amazing Blog knows how tricky it can be to get that stocking (or pillowcase) filled to the brim with lots of little goodies, so here are some suggestions that will go down a treat with the kids.

Fickle Tattoos are perfect for adding even more entertainment into Christmas morning and will keep the young ones quiet for a while. There are hundreds of designs of temporary tattoos, ranging in colours, size and theme so that you can choose something tailored to the personality and interests of your child. Something I find more special about these temporary tattoos than others is how they are designed by a handful of unique and creative illustrators who regularly create new drawings. You can read about each of them on the webpage, it makes the tattoo gift a little more personal and sweet. It’s a great little stocking filler to keep the kids happy whilst breakfast is being prepared, so have a browse here and discover their variety of quirky designs.

Another low-priced, petite stocking filler which also has the benefit of engaging kids for hours is the In a Matchbox White Christmas. Every year there is anticipation over whether there will be snow or not. There are kids lining up at the door or peering out the window with hats and gloves on ready to enjoy the snow. However, recently nature hasn’t been so reliable and snow either melts right away or doesn’t fall at all. White Christmas in a match box will help avoid disappointment in case we are left snowless this year because…it’s fake snow! All you need to do is freeze the snow for a few hours and then you’re ready to decorate your house and garden with snow that is guaranteed to stay put. I’ll be covering plants indoors and window stills to add a little festivity into my home this month. Maybe you have teenagers and need to fill their stockings with more grown-up gifts which can sometimes be a bit trickier as a sparkly pencil or toy car just won’t cut it this year. We suggest the Save the Blow Dry Cap for young ladies to enjoy. Did you know we spend over two hours a week blow-drying our hair? Save the Blow Dry has come up with a solution to do just that, save your blow dry! The cap is waterproof and made with absorbent micro-weave towelling so that it leaves your hair fabulously soft and bouncy. It’s a smart gift for girls as I’m sure lots of Christmas and New Year parties have been planned. We all want to say goodbye to 2013 looking our best. This gift is guaranteed to please your teen and leave them without reason to moan or complain on the special festive day. It’s only £14.95 and can be found here.

This gift is the epitome of ‘best of both worlds’ in terms of presents. Which two gifts are always a safe choice for everyone and will never be a let down? Chocolate and Flowers... However, flowers don’t make the best stocking filler as they are fragile and demand a lot of attention, and well, we guess you’ve probably bought a fair bit of chocolate already. So, these Chocolate Scented Grow Your Own Flowers found on Prezzybox and in Tesco, combine both the two to make charming stocking fillers. The flowers are for you to grow, so no squashing goes on in the stocking. Everybody loves growing flowers, and there is always a huge excitement when they completely develop, especially as these are daisies which are always lovely. You are given chocolate daisy seeds and lovely looking coconut husk starter pots to begin with, so move aside Alan Titchmarsh, because we have chocolate scented flowers.

All stockings need something edible amongst the wrapping paper, be it chocolate coins or tangerines, it’s a crucial part because there is no better guilty pleasure than stuffing your face in the early hours of the day when you should really be sleeping. If your children are messy with chocolate and leave wrapper trails as if they are re-enacting Hansel and Gretel, then worry no more... Pots & Co has a tasty selection of desserts in wonderfully designed pots to make things a little less untidy. Some of our favourite flavours are the Chocolate & Orange Pot, Caramelised Apple Crumble and the Sticky Toffee Pudding but there are also lots more to choose from. We do realise that this may not be the classic stocking filler food, but we also know lots of families like to do something a little different to surprise their children. These gorgeously creamy puddings will do just that. Even the photographs of them look edible, so that must be a good thing!  Have a look here at the delicious collection of puds for your nearest stockist.

A more familiar brand at Christmas is Lush as they always have beautiful bath and shower gifts to give away. Some items come out every year and we get to look forward to seeing them on the shelves. However, other products are new and exciting and never disappoint those loyal Lush users because they always put the same passion into all the products. The Lush Christmas Fun is made up of Red Fun, Green Fun and Gold Fun, too much ‘fun’ in one sentence? These are a lovely blend of four products in one which you can use as a soap, bubble bath, shampoo and play. There is a refreshing citrus included in the ingredients for the Red Fun and Green Fun and a comforting honey in the Gold Fun. I know I would definitely be happy to receive this for Christmas! Lush are a great brand that have a huge amount of reliable and wonderful products for everyone to enjoy.This little multipurpose trio is £6.50 and found here.

Tweezers are always a good shout if you’re stuck on present ideas. It’s the kind of thing everyone needs, male or female, so is a safe idea to fill that stocking a bit more. The Vintage Cosmetic Company have a sweet selection of tweezers which includes their festive pair, the Limited Edition Christmas Tweezers. These £8 tweezers are very cute and inspired by the 1950’s. The colour makes them look a bit more attractive than your every day tweezers, so definitely something you will find yourself keeping for a long time. Usually we want to keep our tweezers tucked away in our wash bag but with these they will be out on display for all to see. The colour is lovely and you can have a look here.

Last but not least, the most colourful and practical present for The Amazing Blog stocking suggestions, the Happy Jackson Lovely Things Wash Bag. It’s so simple and endearing, and the sort of present you can’t wait to start filling with all the cosmetics you accumulate over Christmas. It’s the perfect material to prevent stains and water damage and is also sized just right for travel. Depending on the age of your children though it could be anything, maybe even a pencil case? There is no use specification so would suit any age and gender as a stocking filler. I would have loved to get one of these in my stocking when I was younger, especially because you gather a lot of extra wash stuff across the season so end up buying a new one anyway. It’s bought for £11.66 here, there are lots of other stunning gifts from Happy Jackson worth taking a look at too.