Swans, bikes and outdoor fun before 2014

So we managed to squeeze some more outdoor fun this week, even with the on/off rain showers. In fact we have a pretty action packed week, with bowling, games, feeding swans and discovering a new cycle path we have not let the weather stop us. We managed to borrow my mothers car and scooted over to Roath Park, which we have not been to in a while and is always a treat. This time round Mr A was not at all fazed by the huge swans and kept putting out his hand for them to peck (he had thick mitts on so found this very amusing) It was one of those beautiful wintery days, very cold but we were wrapped up well and Mr A has been putting his Scandi Ocean waterproof suit through the run - I cannot recommend having one of these suits enough, the kindergarten Mr A goes to spend time outdoors no matter hat the weather and recommend getting one of these from waterproof world . It comes with fisherman style dungarees which adds extra warmth and fits over trousers and unlike snowboarding jac......

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Classic Style for Your Home: Rustic Hardwood Flooring

With a head full of ideas for the new house, I want to share some of my inspiration with you, this week I am loving floors, especially wood floors, I grew up in a house that had beautiful wooden flooring throughout and the natural warmth you get from wooden floors is lovely under foot and something I miss and aspired to have in my home Style isn’t about current trends, it’s about classics that are timeless, attractive and guaranteed to never fade. From clothing, music and cinema to even the types of flooring we have in our homes, style is everywhere. If you’re considering a room remodel, and want to achieve a stylish and timeless aesthetic, consider sticking with a rustic theme. Rustic hardwood flooring is growing at a consistent pace in room design, and for very good reason. The rustic aesthetic is warm, timeless and just overall beautiful. Hardwood flooring is the perfect flooring option when hoping to piece together a rustic themed room. When deciding on the perfect rusti......

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Home and style at Christmas

So we have a new home and this is our first Christmas in it which has been very exciting. Everything was somewhat of a rush, having only moved in less than 3 weeks ago but we managed to get our tree up, decorated the house, make a gingerbread house and some homemade gingerbread cookie gift tags and get a very excited little toddler to sleep in time for the big day. It was a magical morning spent opening our stockings and gifts, we opted for less is more and picked some lovely natural toys for the little man. We had a champagne breakfast, which always goes down well especially on a lazy chilled out morning before walking over to spend the day at Mr A's grandmothers house. I have also been keeping my beautiful East jumper aside for a special occasion and there is none more special than christmas day, I think my lovely doggy jumper beats any novelty one and captures winter and the Christmas feel while still being stylish and warm. I feel like such a lucky girl as John sur......

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Boys Club - 5 Ways to Keep Your Style Interesting

Many sartorially challenged men aren't even aware that they’ve entered a style stall. If you’ve fallen into a fashion rut, there’s no need to toss everything into the junk heap and start from scratch. These simple style tips rev up your creative engine and get the wardrobe wheels spinning. The result? Fresh, fearless fashion sure to make a winning impression. 1. Access(orize) Hollywood If it’s good enough for Johnny Depp, it’s good enough for you. Captain Jack Sparrow is joined by countless other fashion icons, including David Beckham, Brad Pitt and the whole hip hop community, in embracing the power of the scarf. It doesn’t stop there, though. From belts to wristwatches, the right details have the unique ability to take any outfit from dull to dapper. And don’t underestimate the impact of the right pair of eyeglasses. Make a distinctive first impression in a pair of fashionable horn rimmed or classic tortoiseshell spectacles. it's easy to accessories your ou......

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The Simple pleasures of outdoor fun

So we are avid believers in spending time outdoors, even when it's cold and overcast , going outdoors and breathing in fresh air really lifts the spirits and best of all it's can be a great way to keep active and entertain a toddler in a natural, inspiring and often free or frugal way. Children need very little encouragement to enjoy the wonders of nature and even a short stroll to a local park or a bike ride can become a real adventure. Our outdoor pursuits have slightly changed in routine since we have been without a car for nearly 3 months now, so we have been staying fairly local more than ever and relying on public transport which is really fun in it's own right. We have also been spending time exploring and playing around in our new garden, we have discovered that we have a bit of cat problem, don't get us wrong, we love cats, just not when they are using our garden at there own personal litter box, so every time we have spied them through our kitchen window......

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Date night at the Sherman Theatre

With the whole house move, Christmas, work as well as juggling parenthood, it's not left as much time to spend as a couple of late so when we were given the opportunity to have a night out at The Sherman Theatre in Cardiff we couldn't wait. With tickets in hand to watch the wintery themed " The Sleeping Beauties " and a little tipple from the bar on our way in, we really didn't know what to expect, especially when at least half of the audience was pre-teens in age we wondered if it was going to be like watching a children's performance, but we couldn't of been more wrong. The show started with a smokey stage, the witch of the forest singing in the corner and an eerie and enchanting atmosphere, any concerns we had drifted away immediately as we became mesmerised by the beautiful stage set and talented cast. It was one of those productions that had many levels to it and dealt with some serious subject matters such as the wheel of life and death, ......

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Swimming - the perfect family activity

Mr A enjoying running through the water at the seaside As a family we love to keep fit and active, not only does it make you feel better about yourself but it's also a great way to bond as a family. We go out nearly every day except when it's really throwing down cats and dogs and for those days the pool is our place of sanctuary and it's an activity that truly is perfect for all ages from toddlers to grandparents. Have you tried... ...spending a day at the pool by spending points with Nectar Swim? We all know the health benefits associated with a few regular lengths, and making a splash at the local pool can be brilliant fun too! Now Nectar cardholders can redeem their Nectar points on a swimming session at hundreds of participating pools across the UK, whether you feel like some family fun or want a good underwater workout. To help you enjoy Nectar Swim to its fullest, we've put together a few of our favourite pool based activities, perfec......

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Our little gingerbread house

So normally around the festive season we either make gingerbread men, ginger tree decorations or a gingerbread house but with the whole house move and a lot of our things still in boxes and being somewhat disorganised at the moment, we still wanted to have the joy of making a house but in a more stress-free kind of way so when we were asked to take part in a fun competition to decorate and put together a gingerbread house for Sykes Cottages we couldn't wait. We got off a little bit late with our efforts due to our kit getting a little bit lost in the postal system and as mentioned before still unpacking/sorting out internet, but we got there in the end. This traditional gingerbread house kit is perfect for toddlers and if you don't want the hassle of cooking from scratch - which is equally as fun but can be stressful when dealing with delicate wall panels and a child with a penchant for sweet gingerbread. Basically you build the house using icing to stick everything ......

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Next season’s trends now: My top 5 transitional pieces

Well before we were plunged into the depths of winter, the world’s best-loved designers sent their models down the London, New York, Milan and Paris catwalks wearing what we’ll all be wearing when spring and summer arrive. But there’s no need to wait until then. Already, there are key pieces which are bang on trend for 2014, but you can already pick up now. Katie the window shopping loving blogger behind delightso.me shares her favourite trends to invest in now and wear through winter, spring AND summer: Collarless coats While this winter, it’s all been about either a furry coat which looks a little bit like a teddy bear or an oversized pink duster coat, come spring, we’ll be switching to a lighter weight collarless cover-up. Rachel Zoe’s streamlined monochrome piece is stunning. But, I’ve slightly fallen in love with this completely kitsch number from Karl Donoghue’s eponymous label. It cleverly incorporates all of this winter’s trends with next spring’s – so, it has a clea......

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Easy party planning tips

John enjoying a drink last year So there is no party season like the festive season, with so much to celebrate, Christmas, New Years and for us a house warming party, now is the season to be organised and on your game, although if your like me, super busy trying to sort out Christmas decorations, the house, being a mother and attempting look like an acceptable human being in the mornings (lots of unintentional late nights recently) I think everyone could do with a little bit of help. Having organised many a party in the past from gig nights to charity events to house parties and more recently birthday parties I wanted to put together my top tips for staying sane and organising a festival celebration to remember. Enjoying a house party in our old house 1. Always have a pen and paper to hand for when you have a light bulb moment or simple need to remind yourself to pick up the mistletoe to hang over the door - this is a must when organising any event. 2. Enlist hel......

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Vauxhall Motors: presenting the British youth culture

The Vauxhall “Made in England” film, connects the industry of designing and producing cars with the British youth culture. The movie, directed by Katy England shows the car as the personal space of a lone driver, who becomes nostalgic while getting in touch with a confused and lonely boy. The kid who runs away from home and sits in the middle of a countryside road reminds our driver of himself, when he was young. The same man meets with a gang of boys chasing another one, on their BMX bikes, showing strength and drive. There are 2 beautiful and young girls in the back of his car who show him the excitement and the anticipation, filled with the innocence of the young age. At the end of the movie, the nostalgia is up to a higher point as the driver looks at a group of young friends, who bring together a wild essence to the city. The Vauxhall Made in England is a collaboration which comes as the car company celebrates its 110 year anniversary of producing cars that are commi......

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