Our 2016 travel Wish List

The boys running free in Tenby earlier this year Well 2015 was pretty action packed, not only did we introduce Baby G into the world but we also took him on his first overseas trip to the Netherlands when he was just shy of 4 months old, a trip which involved many trains, trams, underground, buses and an over night ferry from Harwick to the Hoek of Holland as we embraced slow travel . We also spent some time on a beautiful organic farm in Somerset and enjoyed a fair few city breaks with our favourites being London (we do a big tip there each year) and Bath  as well as spending some much needed relaxing time in West Wales mainly around Tenby , Narberth and exploring  Bluestone . We also crammed some camping and festivals in over the summer and glamping in Sussex this Autumn. Our time was spent discovered castles, exploring National trust properties and embraced us changing from a family of 3 to a family of four. Mr A in Cannes  A New year means a whol......

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My design pick of 2015

I was recently asked by Feathr what my favourite design piece of 2015, which was a really interesting question as I had not thought to pinpoint one product or idea I had seen, especially as independent stores, products, art and creativity had boomed during 2015 it meant it was a pretty hard choice. I had recently came across these beautiful British Made Barometer weather clocks from Bramwell and Brown , their simply but eye catching design immediately caught my eye paired up with the beautiful mechanical moving art work which visual tells the weather. Feathr put a really interesting article together with the help of 28 interior experts, bloggers and journalists, each sharing their favourite design piece and I have to say I love them all and I cannot wait to see what 2016 has install. ...

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Summer highlight 2015 - Just So Festival

I have mentioned our summer jaunt to the Just So Festival on the blog but at the end of each year I go through all my photos and reflect on the highlights of the year and realised due to being so busy over the summer with travels, adventures and a new baby that I never did a full and much deserved review post about this amazing family friendly festival.    Over the summer we paired up with Mamas and Papas who had some super cool festival inspired clothing and accessories and they asked us which festival we would like to try, we always do one or two each year and had only heard positive things about Just So so it seemed like the obvious choice. We are so glad we picked it as even though it was further away than expected it was well worth the drive and cannot wait until August 2016 which we can go back, in fact Mr A refuses to take his wrist band off until we go again. First of all the setting is perfect with lots of free range fun to be had runn......

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Big stories, little writers + giveaway

I love anything a bit different, creative and offers a different perspective so when the people at Lost My Name decided to had the reins over to more than 1000 children aged 4-7yrs to write the Amazing Fantastic Year in review newspaper I thought it was a brilliant idea. Covering some of the years major topics but also what popping into their mind such as their opinion on a zombie apocalypse or Princess Charlotte weighing the same as a hedgehog it's guaranteed to be some entertaining reading. The printed newspaper is being distributed to commuters in 4 major cities - London, New York, Sydney and Toronto meaning it's go international but don't worry you can see the digital version here So why exactly did they do it? Basically because children and their imagination should inspire us all and should be given a platform to share their thoughts in a productive and creative way. When Lost my Name is not creating kids newspapers they are making personalised story bo......

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5 Reasons to take a family cruise in 2016

This year we decided to visit one of our favourite cities – Amsterdam by taking an overnight ferry from the UK instead of flying with two young kids. We really enjoyed the slower travel aspect of it and found it an extremely enjoyable and stress-free way to take kids overseas and in 2016 would love to take a longer cruise, not only take in some amazing sights, visit some stunning locations but also enjoy a laid-back holiday. Before I had children I took a cargo ship from South Africa to the UK which took 28 days so a cruise ship would be absolutely luxury in comparison. I thought I would put together 5 reasons why we should all consider a cruise in 2016 Good Value – most cruises are all inclusive and cover food, accommodation and all the fun extras such as on-board cinemas, swimming pools and entertainment and transport between destinations, taking out a lot of stress and allowing you to budget easier for on-land excursions. Nearly all ships are also equipped with Wifi,......

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Wintery picks for a cosy home

It may have been a very mild start to winter but today sure did feel colder with that fresh snap in the air. It's such a special time of the year, almost Christmas, fireplaces dressed up, the throws out on the sofas and time to make the home nice and cosy. There is something so comforting about going for a wintery walk to come back home to warm house, a cup of hot chocolate and some relaxing time with the family so I thought I would put together a few little things I have my eye on to bring in the cosy feel from now throughout the New year 1. Haden orange throw - Habitat £12 2. Hearthwick Cedar 16oz Candle - Fishpools £22 3. Thermosoft Prisma Red Throw - Fishpools £29 4. Glencoe pillow - Made.com £25 5. Knot Natural knitted Pouf - Habitat £75 This time of the year is all about those simple pleasures, nature fibres, big knits and warming fabrics, with the main aim of being a sense of comfort to these long evenings. I love these two throws with autum......

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Final Christmas touches for the home

With it being the most wonderful time of the year, here are some Christmas must haves to get your home looking, feeling and smelling festive! A tree Whether you like a pine-coned sweet-smelling fir, or a non-dropping vacuum-friendly artificial tree, you can make it look extra special by choosing a colour theme . Red, gold, silver and green are traditional colours, but blue and purple are popular modern alternatives. Choose two colours and stick with them throughout the house. It’s a good idea to pick up decorations in the January sales and pack them away for next year, but for now you can make it special with your children’s decorations or family baubles that your granny treasured. However you choose to decorate your tree, it should be special to you. Shedding pine needles are a never-ending Christmas battle! To keep real trees alive buy a stand that holds water. You wouldn’t put cut flowers in a dry vase and expect them to live, so extend your tree’s life by positionin......

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Last Minute must-have Christmas kitchen items

Christmas is the time of the year that everyone in the family looks forward to. It’s a season of happiness, indulging in treats that we usually wouldn’t allow ourselves to and giving presents to those we care about the most. Certain things cause the Christmas cheer to rise in people, and quickly the whole area becomes covered in decorations, as if Santa did them all overnight himself. Here’s some seasonal-themed items that will look fantastic in your kitchen this Christmas, and be worth keeping all year round. Christmas cookie cutters Not the most technological item on this list, but everyone will love it when you make cookies in the shape of Santa Claus, snowmen and Christmas trees this season. The Good cook shop has lots of offers on cookie cutters , meaning that you can replace the delicate cutting with stencils, which do all the work but take none of the reward. Vintage inspired kitchen scales Despite all the food having multiple pinches of love......

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Like father like son

When we found out we were expecting our son many moons ago now John was so excited to be having a boy to pass down his passion for films, books, music and clothes. He wanted to instil that less is more, that a good quality suit will serve you for years to come and plans to pass down his Red Wing boots which are already more than 10yrs old yet the soles are going as strong as the day he bought them. Mr A is now coming into his own in terms of what he likes and what is comfortable for him to wear. He loves outdoor clothing, hard wearing boots as well as warm winter jumpers. John thought he would share a little wisdom when it comes to essential mens wear tips and must haves. Every stylish father and son's closet should include a list of wardrobe essentials that range from casual Friday staples to special occasion basics. The list isn’t very long, but the pieces are definite must-haves. Here’s a breakdown of those quintessential items that every dude needs to have i......

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Must See shows at The Sherman

If you live in or around Cardiff you will more than likely have heard about The Sherman Theatre - a fantastic place that helps develop and nurture Welsh and Wales based artists and provides a platform for them to showcase their productions in a professional and high production manner. We have been to this Theatre many times and have never been disappointed as it has something for everyone - amazing kids shows that are engaging and interactive to more serious dramatic and inspiring plays for a more adult audience. This month we have been lucky enough to come along and review two very different productions that are currently running at The Sherman, the first being The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and the second  being The Princess and the Pea. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe I have always loved CS Lewis fantastical stories of Narnia and other far flung lands so I was very excited to see this well known story adapted for the stage. The age recommendation fo......

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Styling the Christmas table for Kids

So this year we have one more plate to add to the table as this time last year I was heavily pregnant with Baby G and now he is here and gobbling down food with much enthusiasm. It's made me think how we can make the Christmas table a fun and interesting as well as a really child friendly place to sit and enjoy the festivities.  I mentioned these super cute wooden kids plates from Blue Brontide in my Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide and cannot get enough of them and both the boys are going to have a surprise this Christmas day when they see them for the first time. We really want to make them both feel comfortable and a part of the day so I thought I would share a few tips on how to make your Christmas table baby and child friendly. 1. Have fun with the table decorations, add lots of colour and don't put anything too precious within arms reach as you don't want any breakages dampening the day. 2. Make their seating area extra special by adding......

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