London City Break with Kids - The Highlights

Every year we spend a few days in London as a family, it's my eldest's favourite city and we are lucky enough to live just over 2hrs away making weekend city breaks a great option when your looking for somewhere full of culture and heritage. Our first 2 nights we stayed in the amazing London Hilton on Park lane - do read my review about it as it's a perfect base for those travelling with kids to the capital. The great thing about London is that you really are spoilt for choice when it comes to family friendly activities and we often try and see and do something new every time we visit and this weekend was no exception. We didn't know what to expect however as we travelled to London only a few days after the devastating Westminster Bridge attacks but we found the city as safe and welcoming as always. Our first proper day in the city consisted of having the amazing opportunity to be one of the first people to watch the new Peppa Pig film Media Premier at Picture......

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7 Tips On Throwing The Perfect Birthday Party

If you’ve been to birthday parties before (of course you have!), regardless of age wether it be for you celebrating a milestone of for your children then you know they can either be rather boring or incredibly fun and memorable. Hosting a boring birthday party is definitely the last thing you want to do and since we are heading half way into this year already and starting to think about my eldest sons birthday later this year I thought I would share seven tips on how to throw an entertaining and unforgettable birthday party. 1. First thing - The Guest List Before you plan anything you need to have a rough idea of numbers because that will dictate what kind of location you will need, food etc. Also you will have a clearer picture of how big or small your gathering is going to be as well as making sure all you don't forget anyone. 2. Pick A Fun Theme The theme can make or break any party because it can help decide whether the party will feel fun or a bit of a no......

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Summer the perfect time to go green in the home

Summer is nearly here, and that means everyone will be out and about enjoying the beautiful weather.  It's also the perfect time to take advantage of the warmer weather and ease those utility bills, turn off the heating and enjoy all the positives that come with this time of the year. So what can you do to be more energy efficient this summer and cut down on what you pay your energy company? Ditch your tumble dryer If you have a garden or small outdoor space Summer is the perfect time to challenge yourself to a minimum of 3 months of tumble dryer-free time and really start using your clothing line and let your clothes dry naturally. Not only is this a fantastic and easy way to save money but also it's better for your clothes. Opt for LED Lighting Changing out your existing bulbs for LED bulbs isn’t something that can help you reduce your energy usage just in summer. It’s a great year-round idea. LED bulbs work at a lower wattage than their incandescent counte......

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London Hilton on Park Lane - Luxury Family Stay

 When you become parents a lot of things change, from your daily life to planning trips away it's simply not the same anymore, for the better of course. Those quick city breaks in luxury hotels can often feel like they are suddenly out of reach but really this doesn't have to be the case if you find the right place. This is certainly the case with London Hilton on Park Lane where we recently stayed for two nights and offered that great balance of catering for both the needs of adults and kids without the compromise. Firstly it's location is perfect with Hyde park literally right on it's door step as well as Green Park and short stroll over to Buckingham palace, it's also a fairly quick taxi ride from Paddington if your coming into the City by train and you are met with a warm welcome from the moment you arrive at the doors of the hotel. The check in was extremely easy and our room was ready on arrival with our luggage being sent up by concierge.......

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Tips for moving abroad & finding a new home

Now some of you may already know I am originally from South Africa and lived in Cape Town for almost 20 years although moved over to the Europe/UK permanently in 2006 and have been lucky enough to live in more than one city since. I spent some time living in Edinburgh (for around 18 months) as well as Falmouth, Amsterdam and the South of France but have now settled in Wales. Moving home let alone another country can be stressful and finding a place to call home in a new city can be daunting. I really loved my flat I shared with a friend near Leith in Edinburgh as well as the fun shared house in Falmouth and tiny studio in Amsterdam, learning about new places, navigating your way, building friendships, I wouldn't of changed my nomadic ways at all, in fact I still feel like there could be another big move but this time as a family. Having rented many places, opened new bank accounts, had things shipped, posted and moved a variety of times I thought I would share a few times......

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Tips on starting your own business

While the recession was not a pretty sight at all and many people were put under a lot of stress, some losing their livelihood, income and way of life in other respects society has certainly seen a rise in people starting their own businesses, being creative and pursuing their entrepreneurial pursuits. I'm self-employed and I work from home and predominately online and while I don't need an office per se it's nice to have a separate space in the home, where I can really focus on my work.  If you have an idea, the will and are willing to take a calculated risk now really is the time to capitalise on a new and original idea and with so many platforms such as etsy and Instagram to take your business to new heights it's really opened the door to small businesses.  If you have a physical product or service starting small is best and selling online can be a great start but at some point you many want to expand on that and open a real-life store which of cour......

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Smart Sleep even when your kids don't

If you have read my blog before or follow me on my social channels you may already know that this little man above doesn't sleep fantastically well and is up every night at some point meaning I'm on tired mama. We have tried everything to get him to sleep through but nothing has worked as of yet which means the hours I do get need in between wakes need to be quality sleep so that I can be a functional member of society which is not always the easiest of tasks when sleep deprived. Of course the more tired you are throughout the day due to lack of sleep, the easier it will be for you to make mistakes, lack energy or feel overwhelmed. While it is true that getting the right amount of sleep is important in my case right now that is harder said than done but still there are things I can do to improve the sleep I do get and hopefully these tips can also be useful for you to achieve better sleep at home. Taking a look at a Brooklinen review  will give you enough information to ......

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Brunch and Blooms - Spring Style

Between the mine and kids wardrobes I have recently dropped of no less than 8 full bags of clothes to charity shops as part of my minimalist challenge. This has made my closet look rather sparse and in need of a few items for spring. Clothes are one of those items that do need to be replaced and fashion is also about individuality and having fun with fabric and colours. It's just about curbing excess and loving what you purchase. Lately I have been picking up a few things here and there mainly with ethical and independent stores and brands and have not looked at the high street in a few months and I think thats a really good thing as I was pleasantly surprised when walking through New Look the other day and come across this super cute blue shirt with embroidered flowers. It's really light and perfect for these warmer days and I love the floral theme. I have paired it up with some skinny jeans and my black Sperry shoes for a easy casual weekend look. This spr......

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A Guide to buying kids beachwear

Everyone needs a vacation, even if it's just a night away and a seaside getaway can be really good for the soul as it's known that the ocean has a real calming effect on people. If you are planning to escape to the beach sometime soon with your little ones for complete unwinding and relaxation, you have reasons to choose proper kids' beachwear. The beachwear will not only make your child stylish but also it will make him/her comfortable and with most offering UV protection it's also saving your kid's skin from sun damage. What is beachwear for kids ?   Children and baby swimwear is actually the mini version of an adult’s swimwear. There is no difference besides the print and slight change in the design. But this doesn't make it an easy decision, choosing beachwear for a child is much more difficult and challenging than choosing for an adult, due to the wide range of prints available. So when deciding on the swimwear for your kids, make sure you have the......

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Flowers in Bloom at the RHS Cardiff Flower Show

I love this time of the year, when the earth appears to wake up again after the long winter sleep to a colourful and beautiful world as flowers start to blooms. Last year was the first time I attended the RHS Flower show and loved it so I was equally excited to go again this year with my friend and local blogger Laura from Cardboard Cities . For the second year in a row the sun shone for the whole weekend meaning making it the perfect day out for all ages and this year seemed to have even more features for children than the last with a hungry caterpillar to climb and lots of wicker sculptures to spot as well as the very popular floral wheel (Ferris wheel). As you enter through the gates you are immediately faced with a giant willow bee sculpture towering over everyone at 16ft high. Also one of my favourite displays is the creative wheelbarrow gardens designed  and planted by different local schools, each one different and unique. We then made our way through ......

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