Dreaming of Utah

I have only been to America once when I was 9 and it was the colourful and sugar coated Disney dream of a trip, a trip that will always hold magical memories, but now I want to go back for an experience that is somewhat different. Both John and I would love an extended stay in the US, an adventure through this huge country as well as taking in Canada as well, perhaps driving across the Canadian highway from Montreal to Vancouver then down into the States and driving back from San Fran to New York. We want to be inspired by the vast never ending landscape, the cultures, accents, all the different style of properties from high-rises in New York City to the ranches in Texas and everything in between by hopefully taking in all the States. I have slowly been researching different areas and even if we never get to do the mammoth road-trip we envisage there are a few places we would still like to visit if even on for a weeks holiday. One of them being Park City in Utah and especia......

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Room for change

We are finally nearing the end of our current property journey - the house we bought two years ago was always going to be an interim project, not a full renovation like our last home but a project none the less. To be honest even though the proportions of the house are good it's never been our taste of property and we have done what needs to be done to sell and get the best price we can and have managed to detach ourselves from getting to personally involved.  Being an interior lover this has been at times hard to do as I am now really looking forward to moving onto a more long-term project and home that will see our personal tastes come into full effect and my mind is already racing with ideas. In the ideal world we will be able to purchase a bay fronted Victorian property with exposed wooden floors and original features that we can inject some Scandi style and simplicity into as well as our love of travel and have taken inspiration from various places we have stayed ov......

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Christmas classic baking fun

Growing up I have really fond memories of watching The Snowman in the run up to Christmas - is there really any other animation that captures the Christmas feeling as much as The Snowman? Well not until 2012 when they followed up the classic with Snowman and the Snowdog - an equally enchanting and magical animation which will be shown on channel 4 this Christmas. I was asked if I would like to take part in a fun Christmas style bake-off inspired by the short film. Firstly please not the beautiful baked cookies above are the product of the talent crew from Biscuiteers in London and you can pick up this exquisite box of treats for £22.50 We really enjoy baking in our house and Mr A especially loves cutting out cookies, this time however was a little bit more difficult than usual as the baby has been really under the weather this week and waking up constantly or as expected being a bit of a grump - we opted to make this in the evening once I had put him down but at the crucial m......

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Precious Moments with Ty Hafan

Even when the world seems like a mad place, full or rushing, lack of time or that one is being thrust into a hectic lifestyle, I am always very aware of how the smaller moments are what count and help to put everything into perspective. I am continually grateful for being blessed with two healthy boys, a warm home and good food to eat as there are many in this world who are not as lucky. As a family each year we choose a charity to support in what way we can so when the local welsh children charity Ty Hafan got in touch asking us to become one of their ambassadors we were extremely touched, especially as it does such amazing work for terminally ill children and of course said yes. Ty Hafan have launched a campaign called #PreciousMoments which encourages people to share their precious moments with the rest of the world. Each Monday throughout November and December they share a new theme for the week across twitter  and this week it was all about "Cwtches" the We......

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Wild and Free lately

A few weeks ago we got sent an amazing Den Kit from Wild and Wonderfu l and Mr A was over the moon as he is counting down the days to when he will be old enough to join Beavers and start his Scouting journey, although over the past few weeks at one point or another at least two of us have been under the weather which has made our normal ventures a little bit trickier than usual. It seemed like we were all on the mend and enjoyed a short break in the countryside of Sussex but on our return it was clear both boys had bad coughs and I was coming down with something, luckily we are all remerging again fit and healthy. We plan to take this kit up the forest for a winter warming activity alongside a flask of hot chocolate and now that we are on the mend hopefully we can do this very soon. John and Mr A however have done a little dry run in the garden which they both really enjoyed especially as the kit includes camo face paint and a camping mug for a warming drink. We all ......

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Street Style Sunday - Cosy Jumpers

Wow suddenly there is a real bite in the air this week as we come to the end of Autumn and say hello to winter. I thought I would take a moment to get cosy in this knitted Poncho I picked up two seasons ago from the Pure Collection. We have been a bit under the weather this week so have been keeping things fairly simple and low key and indulging in comfy fabrics such as wool and denim. This striped tee is from Next, jeans from Wallis and shoes from Esska. The great thing about this time of the year is being able to layer which has also made me realise I am really in need of a few new cosy jumpers and knits this season that add a bit of pop to my outfits while still keeping me warm under a jacket on our outdoor adventures. They really are a season essential which is also the perfect excuse to have an array of options in your wardrobe. 1. Fair Isle jumper from Boden £99 2. Mother sweatshirt £45 3. Fine knit DUH! jumper from H&M £14.99 4. Eau De Nil Cable jumper......

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Never regret your style choices again

Picking the right style for your home is a huge decision. Many of us will have felt this pressure as we flick through home magazines or scroll through Pinterest. There are just too many different styles and, if you’re like me, so many of them stand out. The fear is that you’ll choose one of these beautiful styles, create your room based on this idea, add all the finishing touches and then another, better style will catch your eye. You really don’t want to be redecorating every month, so it’s so important to pick a style that you’ll still love in a year or so. Not to mention picking products that will last as long as your love. So don’t stress, take a few moments to really think about your style and the look you want, using these tips to help you out. Start small Don’t back yourself into a corner with no way out. By this we mean, don’t go into overdrive and decorate the entire house without giving yourself time to reflect on your design choices. This could mean just d......

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Lets go skateboarding

I was always into alternative sports when I was growing up spending lots of weekends at the beach, surfing for hours on end and when the surf was flat then you could find me cruising around on a skateboard in the summer sun. A few years ago I damaged my knee, had surgery, recovered and shortly after had my eldest son which has not left me that much time to get back on the board although with Mr A now showing an interest in learning it's really exciting to get back on a board and encourage him to do the same.  So when Plain Lazy got in touch asking if we would like a go at one of their super cool and colourful retro boards we literally couldn't wait for it to arrive. Penny boards as they are more commonly known are great for learning the basics and with large wheels and Abec 7 bearings for a smoother and faster ride they are great fun speeding along a promenade. You can also choose your colour combination of wheels and deck, we went for yellow and blue. ......

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On Silence, Gratitude and Perspective

Not many things stop me in my tracks but the recent events in Paris did just that and before you say anything yes I am completely aware that such tragic, awful and equally senseless events like this happen more often then we realise all around the world, saying that it doesn't make what happen in Paris any less relevant and certainly does not lessen the pain felt by those who have lost loved ones, as with anyone in this situation despite where you live. Perhaps personally it feels more poignant as I spent a few months living in France before having Mr A or perhaps just due to the fact it was normal young people going about their business. John and I as well as the boys have all been under the weather recently and before Saturday I could feel the lack of sleep, being run down and rushed off my feet build up and stress was certainly starting to get the better of us. Then after a busy week, while relaxing watching a film I saw the first tweets, one of our favourite cities coming......

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Win an HP Printer & a year's supply of Ink with HP Instant Ink

As some of you already know I have been working with HP Instant Ink on a book project where around 9 bloggers contribute a two page spread towards the book creating the  collaborative and fantastical story of Harrison and Hugo's Imaginary Zoo, something which I am really excited about and cannot wait to show you the final story very soon although you can keep up to date with the latest instalment of the story here As part of my partnership with them I am pleased to announce that one of our readers is in the chance with win an HP Envy  5644 All-inOne Inkjet Printer worth £99 and a one year HP Instant Ink subscription which will provide 100 pages of ink for 12 months worth more than £40 It's super easy to enter and the giveaway ends on the 20th November 2015 a Rafflecopter giveaway ...

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How to supersize your bathroom

How stunning is this freestanding bath, in a treehouse no less If you aren’t happy with your bathroom you can always make some subtle changes that make it more functional as well as more attractive. One of the first problems that you should address is the size of your bath. Making your bathroom look larger can help make it a more comfortable room in your home, so make sure your budget allows you to add some features that can dramatically impact the use of the space in your bathroom. Here’s how to supersize your bathroom on any budget so that you can get the most from a small space that isn’t currently working effectively for you, whether you are looking to do a full-scale  bathroom redesign , or just make a few small changes that can have a big impact, here are some ideas.  Begin with the Tub The bathtub is typically the most expensive part of any bathroom upgrade, so make sure that the one you choose works well in the space you have. If your bath is too large, it ......

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Safe and stylish travel with Cybex

We love to travel and are actually enjoying a little road trip this week down to Sussex and knowing that the boys are safe in the car is extremely important to us. Mr A has recently outgrow his car seat and finding one for his age that would grow with him was little bit more tricky than we thought so when Cybex got in touch to ask if we would like to review the Cybex Pallas M we couldn't wait. The Cybex Pallas M is perfect for those moving up in size as it is a 2 in 1 seat that can see your child from 3yrs old all the way to 11years old. It also has some really impressive design features that make it stand out from the rest of the carseats on the market such as a one-hand adjustable impact shield which also reduces the risk of neck injuries without confining the child and a 3-position reclining headrest which also prevents the child's head from falling forward while asleep. From a parents point of view what I really love about this carseat is how ......

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Street Style Sunday - roundup

Its that time of the week again to share some family fashion inspiration, what we have been wearing or loving and as we are off on a mini adventure to a farm in Sussex today I thought it would be nice to do a little round up of some of the style post we have shared over the past few weeks instagram and the blog. 1. We had a lovely day last week cruising on this Plain Lazy Penny board - full post coming soon 2. Wearing a two piece from Luxemme  3. Baby G in his snowsuit from LittleChickie 4. John is his Patagonia jacket and Vera shoes 5. The boy and I rocking some stripes 6. Last weeks outfit and my favourite Jumpsuit 7. Some new trainers from Bodens 8. Mr A in his Yeap tee from Melijoe 9. John treating himself to a new Ralph Lauren winter shirt What has been inspiring you this week? Come and join in with you and your families outfits, style, wish lists of anything fashion related, also make sure to take yourself with #StreetStyleSunday on instagram An I......

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5 Tips for Buying the Perfect Sofa

It's that time of the year when you want to curl up on a comfy sofa with a big mug of coco and some warm throws, arms around the kids or with a book in hand and wind down the day. The thing is both of our sofas are getting on a bit, they are well used but are like a Chesterfield which get's better with age, rather with our two the legs on both are starting to go, mainly do to an overexcited 5yr old who thinks it's very funny to jump from one to other, turned into a den or simply form just being used daily by a family of four, so we are on the hunt for some new sofas. Could these two look more comfy? It's surprising how important and central a sofa is to a room as they need to be inviting, comfortable as well as fit into the space rather than consuming it. You want your sofa to make your room feel spacious rather than small or cluttered with furniture that is too bulky. As buying a sofa is a rather large investment you need to do some pre-planning when i......

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Win Exclusive cookery class in Cardiff with Spanish Chef Omar Allibhoy

I am very excited to say I have a brilliant giveaway for all you lovely readers and you are in for a real treat. If any of you follow me on twitter you have probably seen me mention my love of Olives which is one of my favourite foods and the wonderful people at Olive it! have paired up with Spanish chef Omar Allibhoy and Italian hotspot Giovanni's in the heart of Cardiff to bring you an afternoon of hands-on cookery tuition in a variety of tapas inspired recipes using olives. Best of all is I have a pair of tickets to giveaway to attend this exclusive cooking class which is taking place on the 12 November 12:30-3:30pm at Giovannis Cookery School, Cardiff, UK. Once you have cooked up a variety of exciting dishes you get to set down and enjoy sampling the feast accompanied by carefully selected wines. It's super easy to enter and the giveaway ends on the 10th November 2015 a Rafflecopter giveaway ...

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This Homeschooling life

Wow how did a whole month fly by so quickly? We have been so busy with the changing of the seasons and have been celebrating everything that Autumn has to offer with most days being spent outside. Half term also happened which means we also have a bit of a break and any "formal" learning went out the window and we did a whole lot more hands on activities during the dry weather We enjoyed pumpkin carving in the Park, worm charming and apple pressing at Forest Farm Nature Reserve as well as Autumn crafts, wild art and being apart of a Spider survey which involved recording all our spider finds as well as coming across some earwigs and snails. Mr A has also shown a big interest in Bird watching and we actually spotted two beautiful Kingfishers over the weekend which was a real highlight Another thing we have enjoyed lately is cooking together, something which Mr A seems to have a love hate relationship with, he is not a big eater and rather fussy and a......

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