Stylish and Family Friendly festivals and Camping tips

I took these photos back in the day the The Workhouse festival, 2006 Before we had the little man we were both in our own ways festival goers, John going to Reading and me rocking out year on year at Glastonbury, Lovebox, Beach Break Live and Guilfest to name a few and why should having children stop the festival spirit and fun? Yes it will make things at times harder and it will change the experience but that doesn't mean it won't be as enjoyable and fulfilling. The key is in the planning, pick a festival that has family facilities and is keen for children to be involved and has some sort of entertainment for them. Another very important tip is to have good camping equipment, I will go into more detail about this later in the post. We are hoping to attend at least one overnight festival this year, with the little man in tow and we are really looking forward to it, come rain or shine. Me a few years back at a festival with my trusty two-man  tent. 5 UK Family Frien......

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Exploring new ground

Mr A saying thank-you to the Green Man for all the trees. So the weather has still been a bit hit and miss here in South Wales but we have had a few patches of glorious sun and tried to make the most of those moments. Since we are on the look out for our next new home, me and the little man have started to explore parks and outdoor areas we have driven past many times but never stopped to have a better look and learn more about the surrounding area. This week we decided to have a good wander around the small but beautiful formed Thompson park in Canton - a lovely little place with a duck pond, wild flowers and some wonderful wooded areas and a lovely green man carving in an old tree. Mr A found a "perfect for toddlers" tree to climb in and called it his castle, I was relegated to a tree stump as my castle but we had a great fun. I feel that it's very important for Mr A to realise that nature needs to be looked after and respected, he did me proud but pointing out som......

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Instaloving

Another little instagram roundup of our week, what we have been doing, wearing and whose hair John has been cutting. The weather has been quite good the past few days so had some great outdoor fun, as well as coming across some old CD's and my nineties flashback. From Left to right starting from the top 1. Mr A rocking my new shades - he wore them the whole of bath time 2. John and mr A on a little train adventure 3. We went to a friends wedding last week and we both went for a sort of vintage style with John rocking a tweed jacket and me with a polka dot tea dress 4. Mr A having fun climbing trees in Thompson Park 5. The amazing green man in Thompson Park, Cardiff 6. My vintage gap shirt with Levi skinnies and creepers 7. A blast from the past - No Doubt and Green day albums 8. John rocking his Edwin jeans, Burlington socks and Clarks originals. 9. Johns favourite haircut of the week on Kris from Frontier Tattoo Parlour Follow Laura on Instagram Follow John on ......

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Anisnap watch review and giveaway

Mr A is a little monkey, so it seemed only fitting when Anisnap watches asked if we would review a monkey watch for them. They are fun, innotive and simply snap onto the wrist, even Mr A who is not yet three enjoyed snapping the watch and got the concept almost instantly. It is a little big for his tiny wrist but in another few months it will be perfect and the way the snap strap has been designed means it can grow with your child which is great. The watch and strap are made with a very soft but robust rubber and don't have any sharp edges, even the crown of the watch is hidden so they are really child friendly. They are made by Eternally U which was established in 2011 and it's aims are to make bold and fun watches and these anisnap's for kids are exactly that. Mr A was really taken with the cartoon style monkey character and I think it's a fun way to introduce a first watch and the learning of telling the time. There are three designs - The Monkey, The Rabbi......

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Let in the light and Pin to win

As you may know we are in the middle of houses at the moment, having sold our old house just before Christmas and we are now renting a little cottage just outside of Cardiff, and are currently on the lookout for our next "home". I am dreamer when it comes to these things, I mean why not aspire to live somewhere inspiring! Perhaps this is because the flat I lived in with a friend in Cape Town had the most amazing view of the mountain and city with a large balcony and windows that would let in the light, and it rarely failed to take my breath away every morning. I am in love with floor to ceiling windows and would love to live in a Victorian bay fronted house or an old warehouse or parisian apartment. I like rooms to have little nooks and crannies but also to be bright and airy and I love the idea of the outside coming in and the warmth of natural light. However I am not a huge fan or early morning sun every morning (anything before 7am is a bit of a no no) so I would hang......

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Stella and Dot trunk show

First of all, what I wore to the Trunk show - I was going to be on my feet for a while so I wanted something casual but also very me, so went for a vintage high street mashup. The jacket is Braemar velvet jacket I picked up from a charity shop a few years back, the T-shirt is from H&M, Next Skinny Jeans, Doc Marten shoes paired with a lovely vintage bag my mother picked up from a market in Italy. My accessories include a peace necklace from Topshop, a ring from Joe Browns and my watch from Guess I had heard of Stella and Dot before but had never actually seen the jewellery in person so it was great to go along to a Stella and Dot trunk show that was happening in Cardiff. The event was organised by a fellow Cardiff based blogger Chantele from Daisy Dayz  so it's always great to support something local. The turnout was not as everyone had hoped but that didn't distract from very stylish and beautifully made jewellery. Louise , the Stella and Dot stylist from Swans......

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Wooden toys and what he wore

Melissa and Doug Play Barn In our household we have a real love and appreciation for wooden toys and if you follow the blog you probably would of guessed that by now. We believe that children should play with all different kinds of things, with different textures to them, plastic feels all the same but wooden and natural products have more character to them and warmth and often provide more space for the imagination. So I was really happy when the Wooden Toy shop as us to review a product from their amazing little shop and when the box arrived at the door little Mr A couldn't wait to open the beautiful Melissa and Doug play barn. It's perfect for any children who have an interest in animals or farms and can appeal to both boys and girls as in a way it's almost like a dolls house but for horses and sheep and Mr A was taken by it straight away and was enthralled for hours, which believe me is rare as his mind races from one thing to another at the speed of lightning......

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Fun on the farm and other adventures

So we had a really bumper week this week with regards to the weather, which in the South of Wales is prone to be wet and raining regardless of the time of the year. our main adventure this week was the Vintage Tractor Show at St Fagans which really was the highlight of the week as the little man is obsessed with Tractors and big machines at the moment. He literally couldn't contain his excitement, running for tractor to tractor asking what each one was called and examining it in detail. It was great to see so many types and there was an array of vintage machines and engines being run. We of course then had to find the "Tractor Train" that St Fagans runs on the weekend and which Mr A loves to go on, it's only 50p a stop and they don't charge for the little man so it's really worth it. Another great thing about St Fagans is that is also has a little farm house which houses some chikens, ducks, turkeys and depending on what time of the year pigle......

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