How to bring some Parisian style into your Wardrobe

I think that it is impossible to deny that when it comes to fashion the French get it right. With their effortless style that while remains fairly casual is also very chic and the classic Parisian look never seems dated or out of touch. If your heading to the continent this year and what to capture that European look or perhaps your just embracing all that the UK has to offer but feel your wardrobe needs a bit of a refresh or update than I have put a few key points and tips together on how to bring a little bit of Paris into your home and wardrobe 1. The Essential Breton The Breton top has been a staple since Coco Chanel introduced it into her nautical collection in 1917 and it needs to be in every wardrobe and has been worn by many a fashion icon over the years. It simply oozes French style while still being practical and is great paired up with some jeans or high waisted trousers. 2. Back to Black In my book black and monochrome is always a good idea and it reall......

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Start your own adventure with Great Western Railway and Win

Cardiff Castle, just one of the fantastic sites in the Welsh Capital  As a family we love nothing more than exploring what is on our doorstep here in Wales and the UK as there is simply so much to see and do and plenty of adventures waiting to be had from beach breaks and countryside hideaways to vibrant cities we have it all. Great Western Railway has fantastic routes across the UK taking you from Swansea to London, Penzance to Oxford and many more. We love trips by train and have taken many over the years as a family, it's such a relaxing way to travel as appose to driving, you can sit back and watch the world go by while the kids colour in, no stressful petrol stops or taking the wrong exit on the motorway and that is why I am promoting the #GWRAdventures competition which gives you the chance to win a pair of First Class tickets to any destination on their route.  Castle Coch, another beautiful castle to explore if ......

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Pink Parcel - Celebrating that time of the month

So today I'm talking about periods, for some reason this topic is somehow still a little taboo yet as woman we all share this experience month in and month out and I think open dialogue about issues like this is really important as well as supporting your fellow lady especially as everyones experience is a little different. Since having children mine have certainly changed, are heavier, more painful and I find my moods go up and down like a yo yo faster than before and talking to other mothers a similar age to myself (early thirties) they seem to have also seen a different before and after children. Saying that no matter if your a teenager or an adult it's not exactly the most pleasant or convenient time of the month as besides our moods it can often play havoc with our skin, we can feel bloated, it can affect our confidence and the list goes on. So when Pink Parcel got in touch asking if I wanted to touch out their fantastic period subscription boxes not only ......

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Lion & Pheasant Townhouse Hotel Review - Shrewsbury

If your a regular reader of my blog you may already know we recently spent a weekend in the beautiful medieval English town of Shrewsbury and stayed at the wonderful boutique style hotel Lion & Pheasant located on the Wyle Cop right next to the English bridge in a 16th building full with original features combined with a tasteful modern refresh. The location couldn't of been better as we could walk to all the main sites as well as being only moments away from the River Severn and is perfect for a weekend break. I wanted to share more about this place as it's personally somewhere we would recommend. In the main building they have selection of single and double rooms, some with roll top baths and all with breakfast. Just outside is a converted stable block which has been turned into a two bedroom self catering accommodation and was to be our home and is perfect for a family or group looking for a little sanctuary right in the heart of the town. The two large bedrooms......

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A Weekend in Shrewsbury

We were recently invited by Original Shrewsbury to come and spend a weekend exploring this quaint English town on the River Severn, I was really excited as it's been somewhere I have passed through many times on our travels from Cardiff up north but had never had the chance to stop and explore. Even more exciting was that our visit was during the Darwin Festival , with so many fantastic pop-up events happening across this town as Charles Darwin is one of the most notable residents of Shrewsbury and one of the most important thinkers of our time, it made the visit that much more interesting. The drive from South Wales was smooth and we made good time arriving well before our planned river cruise on The Sabrina which takes you along the River Severn and gives you the chance to see Shrewsbury from a different perspective and is great for families as my boys throughly enjoyed the experience. The staff on the boats were fantastic and ran a simple table service of hot drinks,......

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Tips for keeping on top of home repairs

When you buy a home, you mainly think about keeping up with the mortgage payments, paying your bills and ensuring that your home is neat, clean, and organised. However, there is another aspect that you should not forget—the time, labor, and cost necessary to stay on top of different home maintenance and repair projects, some of which should be done in certain seasons. Unless something breaks down, it's easy enough to postpone maintenance issues. Since these tasks can often be done later, you end up either forgetting about them or procrastinating, waiting for a more convenient time to get around to doing them, especially if the thought causes financial stress. Besides tending to forget or postpone home repairs, another mistake homeowners often make is trying to save costs by tackling projects themselves that should be done by experts. Take window replacement, for example. If you need to install new windows, this is always something that is better done by experts rather tha......

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Choosing a home to fit your needs.

Whether you have been living in your home for years or are doing up a project or even building your own home you will have a finish product in mind. We naturally tailor our homes to fit our current needs and having lived with room mates, on my own, in a relationship and as a mother to two young boys the types of homes I've lived in have certainly changed over the years and here are a few Twenties Whether your studying at University or have your first proper job an apartment is usually the best bet especially when your busy working and socialising. While a house may seem like a good idea it can often be more work than you bargain for so an apartment means less stress and more time to do the things you enjoy, plus they also make great investments should you decided to buy instead of rent. The great thing about apartments is that they can also adapt with your needs, while you may share as a student, later on you may decided to live on your own or its might be your first h......

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Style - Putting Your Best Foot Forward

When you're attending a special event or social gathering most of us want to look and feel good in what we are wearing no matter what our personal style is. Putting together an outfit together that makes you feel comfortable and positive about yourself whether for a night on the town, a get-together with friends or even a nice couple's dinner date often helps to improve the whole experience. While like most people wearing sweats and trainers at home is great it's possibly not the way we want to present ourselves when we are out and about at a social gathering or even networking event. One of my favourite accessories when it comes to putting an outfit together is a good pair of shoes as they often set the tone for what you are trying to accomplish with your personal style choices. Whether you are going for fun and playful, classic and elegant, or even making the best choices for work, shoes make the ensemble. In this post, I will discuss the importance of shoes in co......

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Oddsocks Bar & Kitchen Lunch review

I had the chance to visit the recently opened Oddsocks Bar and Kitchen , a part of the Jurys Inn just off Queen street. It's always great seeing new eateries pop up in Cardiff and the first thing that stood out when walking in, besides the friendly welcome was the stylish and refreshed interior with wood panelling and variety of different seating areas and full of natural light making it the perfect spot to sit, relax and people watch through the large windows. I really like the unfussy and fairly simple menu that offers something for both vegetarians and meat-eaters and even though I didn't have the kids with me, they also have a Little Socks menu for the younger diner. We decided to share a starter to get things going and went for some cheese Nachos with sour-cream, jalapeños and salsa and the portion was surprisingly big and perfect for sharing, you could also add Chilli to them and make it more of a meal than a snack. The presentation was really good too wit......

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