Friday Interior Finds - Call Me

We have been meaning to get a "proper" phone for a longtime, especially since our Juno hamburger phone was too tempting as a toy for Mr A and really I had had it for years and needed or a more grownup replacement. As some of you may already know we are huge fans of retro and vintage interiors and we did actually have a phone from the 60's for a while but they don't have touch dial and if your calling anytime of number that requires you to "press one" it simply does not work so this Wild and Wolf phone from Red Candy has all the retro features but is as practical as any modern phone today. I thought I would also put a few of my favourite interior picks for Friday Finds from Red Candy as they have such a great selection of chic, quirky and unique products and I absolutely love this round light fitting and sorbet bowls and as soon as we move later this year I have my eye on a few pieces I would like to pick up for the new home. 1. Umbra Tr......

Read more »

Don't Fear the Mess

Babies make mess, it's a fact of life, from the moment they arrive they throw our homes into a happy state of chaos but as long as you make sure they are well fed, loved and changed than you really don't need to get to hung up on the mess in the early months, just enjoy your time with your little one. If you have those key basis covered then generally babies are jolly little things although of course when teething or nappy rash or any kind of skin irritation appears it can cause a normally happy smiley child to become grumpy and miserable. We try and keep our routines simple and use as many nature products as possible although when Pampers asked us to take the #PampersPooFace challenge and to show that their new sensitive baby wipes are milder and more PH balanced that cotton wool and water as well as being dermatologically accredited by the Skin Health Alliance I was at first both apprehensive and curious and was keen to know more and take the challenge. So watch......

Read more »

The 7 Coolest Things About Los Angeles

There are few cities in the world that can match Los Angeles' entertainment options. No matter where your interests lie, the City of Angels can satisfy them. In a city with limitless possibilities, the following are the seven coolest things about LA. 1. Rooftop Bars Many hotels in Los Angeles have rooftop bars that feature pools, music and great people watching. There are few things more Hollywood than enjoying a poolside cocktail while overlooking the city at The Standard Downtown LA or Petit Ermitage in West Hollywood. You might even spot a celebrity! 2. Great Sports If you love sports, you'll enjoy Los Angeles. Basketball fans flock downtown to watch the Lakers and Clippers while baseball fans love seeing the Dodgers and Angels. The temperate climate hasn't tempered the excitement of local hockey fans either; fans of the sport can enjoy the LA Kings and the Anaheim Ducks. If your feeling particularly lucky you could even put a bet down on your favourite ......

Read more »

Let's shake it up

It might not be the hottest start to summer but it's not over yet and next months forecast is meant to bring the heat (fingers crossed) so we are going to make sure to make the most of it and enjoy each and every day day to the maximum. We plan to have as many picnics, bbq's and al fresco feasts and with any such event having a refreshing drink to accompany good food is a must. So when thebar.com  asked us to be apart of their Shake it Up movement we couldn't say now and as soon as we had a mild night earlier this month John and I whipped out the Gin and Captain Morgans for a spot of delicious summer inspired cocktails that are super easy to make and taste great as well. Summer is a time to kick back and rejoice in the good times, break free from tradition and try something new so why just stick with beer or wine and throw caution to the wind and have a hand a making some cocktails? You don't need to be a master mixologist to whip up something tasty and im......

Read more »

Guest Post: When in Cuba swing to the music

Cuban music is a dynamic, percussive, electric, colorful thing. It’s a hum, something that floats through the eaves and spills out of windows and infects all aspects of the culture. Its roots are deep and stretch across oceans, borrowing its guitar from the Spanish, its driving drums from West Africa, its lilt from Latin America. It is a breathing testament to the great diversity of the island; therefore, any true understanding of Cuba and its people must also involve an understanding of its music. The earliest forms of popular music in Cuba were the Spanish Zarzuela, a bright operetta; the Bufo, comedic and satirical; the Guaracha, comedic with a rapid tempo; and the Trova, which was performed by traveling rovers who moved through Havana in the 19th century. As Cuban music evolved, it became more focused on dance: the Waltz, the Zapateo, the Criolla, the elegant and European Danzón and the Son, the most popular of Cuba’s traditional dances, most closely related to the Brazilia......

Read more »

Monday interiors - lighting inspiration

The one thing you should never overlook in your home is lighting as it can make such a massive difference to your room. We have pretty low ceilings in our house otherwise I would love to hang some pendant lights in the living room and kitchen but for now we have two large floor lights in our living room to brighten things up and spot lights for the kitchen. In fact one of the first things we changed about our house was the hallway light - well florescent strip the last owners left behind (which was so ugly). Of course in the dream world we would all have floor to ceiling windows and summer would actually mean long days of sunshine and natural light would pour into our homes but alas this is not the case so making sure you have invest in some decent lighting is important no only to bring in some style into your interior space but also for your emotional wellbeing. I have put together my four favourites from Lighting Majestic which have a huge selection and where we recently ......

Read more »

Exploring Fyne Court, Somerset

Earlier this month we headed down to Somerset for three blissful days, taking in as much of the beautiful countryside and connecting with nature as much as possible. On our last day after checking out of our self catering loft at Huntstile organic farm we decided to first visit a Fyne Court , a National Trust site a few miles away, before heading back home to Wales and we are so glad we did. Before leaving the farm we did a last minute check over of the car as we were in a rural location to start with and Fyne Court was also located in the countryside and both were a few hours drive from home. Making sure the car is in tip top condition during our road trips is always a must and taking basic autocare precautions such as checking the oil and water is something we always do Set in a rural hamlet, Fyne Court is a stunning and free National trust estate with a courtyard that houses a cosy little cafe, lots of walks and woodland to explore, a folly, boathouse and la......

Read more »

Street Style Sunday - McArthurGlen

Laura wears Denim dress from Next, Clarks sandals, Firmoo sunglasses, Paul Costello bag So I was recently invited to go and explore my local designer outlet McArthurGlen in Bridgend to see what they had to offer, not only for me but the whole family. We have been before but not for a while and were excited to see the redeveloped play area as well as new stores. First stop though was to hire a car for Mr A, they are ingenious really as the centre quite big and I know without these push cars Mr A would get bore pretty quickly but they have planned the centre with kids in mind. We picked up a variety of things including this denim t-shirt dress from Next which is perfect for summer and have paired it up with some Clarks Original sandals, Firmoo sunglasses and a Paul Costello bag. At McArthurGlen I also picked up two vintage style tops from M&S and Fatface while Mr A loved the Vans store and Mountain Warehouse while John went for a little something from Timberland an......

Read more »

Stylish London Apartment Stay with FG

We always try and spend a little bit of time in London each summer and decided to squeeze in a few days before we headed to Holland earlier this month and were lucky enough to have 3 days to explore the capital as well as being the first people to stay in this brand new one bedroom apartment from FG Property Management in the heart of Earls Court. It was pretty exciting being asked to come and stay and see what we think of this new building, part of which is still under construction and will be open to the public near the end of summer, because of this we didn't actually know what to expect but once we opened the door to this large and airy apartment we were impressed by how spacious and stylish it felt. The flat consisted of a large lounge/kitchen room with two beautiful windows, a sofa bed, TV, dining table and modern kitchen space with everything you need to rustle up a good meal, although with so many great bars and restaurants within walking distance you m......

Read more »

Stylish Storage & woven baskets

I am a huge fan of well designed spaces, rooms thats are not only stylish but also are practical and use the space in the best way, especially with savvy storage options. My mother recently had a bench/storage box made for her passage way (similar to the one above), its just under her stairs and it's not only created a place were you can sit down, put your wellies on before heading out but also a clever solution to being able to put away shoes, umbrellas or any outdoor equipment in a neat way. As most of you already know we love products made out of natural fibres and I have a real soft spot for woven goods and have been working on getting our bedroom ready for the move later this year, so after setting up our new bed we have been on the lookout for some kind of storage trunk to go under the bed and I love these beautiful ones from The Basket Company . I love this picnic basket They have such a lovely collection of woven baskets perfect for any storage needs from u......

Read more »

Huntstile Organic Farm Part 1

As some of you may already know, breakfast is our not only our favourite meal but also favourite time of the day. Its like the calm before the store when we all sit down as a family before the business of the day starts and John heads off to work. Then the weekend comes and either pancakes or homemade waffles is a tradition on a lazy Sunday morning along with fresh banana, apple, some seeds and a dash of maple syrup and your off to a winner. So when Dorset Cereals who have recently teamed up with Sawdays asked us to not only celebrate Breakfast but also the best British B&B's serving them up we couldn't wait to be apart of it. Each month 12 shortlisted B&Bs will be posted on Dorset Cereals website where fans can nominate their favourites for the first Dorset Cereals B&B Awards . One of the B&B's up for the award is Huntstile Organic Farm in Somerset and I honestly have to say if your ever looking for a truly stunning and peaceful getaway that is al......

Read more »