My Ultimate Pre-Holiday checklist for families

A relaxing and enjoyable family vacation can be one of the most rewarding experiences anyone could ever hope to share with loved ones. Or it can prove an unmitigated disaster that you almost immediately regret. Often, whether your vacation is a success or sinks depends largely on your preparation for it. So, to make sure your next family vacation gets off on the right foot, check out this definitive list of everything you need to do –– before you hit the road: Get the Papers in Order If you’re taking your family on an international adventure, then you’ll need to ensure you all have the proper paperwork first. Visas, identification forms, and/or passports all need to be up-to-date and correct, otherwise your dream holiday could get stalled at the starting gate and it's surprising how many people don't check the expiry on their passport and especially with children's passports which need to be renewed more often than adults. Take some time a few months before to get ......

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Müller Anniversary Games - The Family Sporting event of the Summer

I don't know about you but I am really looking forward to the summer holidays and making is as action packed as possible and making the most of every single day. After what has felt like a really long winter and spring it's so nice to feel the sunshine and get outdoors for hours on end and it's als the perfect time to encourage kids to get active and into sport. Having done a lot of sport growing up it's something that I am pretty passionate about and want to get my eldest enthusiastic about too so when Mumsnet and the Muller Anniversary Games go in touch to see if my family and I would be interested in coming along for an action-packed day of world-class athletics. They recently had a launch event at Park Primary in Stratford for an extra special sports class for some of the pupils with two leading British stars the 100m British champion Reece Prescod and para-Olympic gold winner in long jump Stef Reid. For those who don't know the Muller Anniversary Gam......

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5 fashion staples from the 90's I'm happy are making a comeback

Having been a teenager in the nineties means that of course its one of my fondest decades and holds some of my favorite memories growing up, the longest summers, friendships and discovering fashion and experimenting with style. We all know that trends come around again at some point so it's been exciting seeing some of my favorites from the nineties come back into style (although bum bags and scrunchies we could still do without). Here are 5 trends I am happy about making a comeback Dungarees and Overalls This one I am really happy about, while dungarees technically never really went out of style they have certainly seen a rise in popularity of late especially after a whole bunch of celebs have been spotted in them. Long or short, skinny or wide leg they are all on trend this summer, which is good news as they are not only stylish but comfy and practical too. Denim Jacket Double denim is definitely a thing as more and more people are pairing up the 90'......

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How to Pick the Perfect Villa for a Family Holiday

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will probably already know that we love to travel and we are also a big fan of self-catering because with children being able to cook for yourself whenever you want is a major plus as it's less restrictive and more flexible for kids which is what you want when you're on a break away from the day to day routine and hustle bustle of daily life. What we also love about a Villa property is that you can opt for ones that accommodated extended family members as well or even friends, that way you can travel and stay together as a group and also share the cost between more people but not compromise on facilities and location. Why a Villa ? So I have already shared a few good reasons above but personally, the major pluses of a Villa is that it's self-catering and the perfect option for larger groups but it also makes a great home base when you're traveling somewhere new and provides a level of privacy you dont get in a hotel......

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Afternoon Tea at Marco Pierre White, Cardiff

I have to say I do love a spot of Afternoon tea as it's such a British quintessential past time and even though we do have an equivalent in South Africa, aptly named High Tea, I love to indulge in this traditional British afternoon delight, I mean let's get honest who doesn't love cake? So when the recently opened Indigo Hotel in Cardiff  got in touch to see if I would like to try out their version of this classic treat at their in-house Marco Pierre White Restaurant of course we jumped at the opportunity.  The Restaurant and Bar is located on the top floor of the hotel in the Dominion's Arcade building just off the high street and offers a rare rooftop terrace with views right across central Cardiff. The interior is stylish but laidback and has lots of natural light flooding and is a great place for date lunch or a quiet refuge from the busy streets below. As I sat down and waited for our tea to arrive we toasted over a glass of prosecco sa......

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Experiencing the Volvo Ocean Race, Cardiff

I love nothing more when people take on incredible challenges, when they put themselves to the test both physically and mentally and this is reflected in the documentaries I watch (currently obsessed with ones about Mount Everest) and the books I read which are usually autobiographies about those who decided to walk a different path, adventurers, sportsmen, trailblazing women. So when we heard that the around the world sailing race that is the Volvo Ocean Race was coming to Cardiff I was really excited. The Volvo Ocean Race only happens every three years and only the best of the best compete against each other in what is one of the most grueling around the world sails. The route changes every race to accommodate new ports of call and this year they were arriving in Cardiff (as well as my hometown of Cape Town). Its' really fantastic seeing and being apart of world-class events that come to the Welsh Capital and actually seeing the Bay Barrage being used properly as it'......

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Scandi and Minimalism - my favourite Interior Trends

Like many people, my interior tastes do change over time, as do the trends but currently I love a mixture of Minimalism and Scandi inspirations with a touch of Industrial (in the right settings). It's been a bit tricky to fully indulge in these with our current home as we always bought our current property as an investment to work and then sell and therefore the choices we have made when it's come to the design have been more neutral as it's not been for us but with view to sell. The one thing I am really looking forward too with our next house is being settled for longer and actually making it a home which would of course be reflected in our choices when it came to interior design. Over the past year or so I have really worked on cutting back on clutter and getting rid of anything I don't need and the one thing I have learned during my minimalist challenge is that it takes time (especially when you have kids). If your truly looking to cut down, minimal......

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What I've learnt from being a homeowner

John and I are finally coming to the end of our second home improvement project and aim to sell before the end of the year. This will be the second time we have done this although our current home is the first one I have also been on the mortgage and deeds. Like many I spent years renting both in the UK, Europe and in South Africa and while renting can be exhausting in many different ways there are certain things you are not responsible for such as major repairs or mortgage payments and there are certainly some differences you notice when becoming a homeowner and knowing the buck stops with you should something go wrong. Owning a home can be expensive so you need to be on top of things While our mortgage is a lot lower than rent the general upkeep of a home can really add up. You have to become savvy when it comes to bills and providers and I know a lot of people mention this but do shop around for the best deal especially when you come to the end of a contract. ......

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Ready for Adventure with Start-Rite

If your a parent you will probably already be familiar with Start-Rite shoes , they are one of the oldest shoe companies in the UK and have graced the feet of Royals since 1955 when a young Prince Charles and his siblings wore them. Over the years some of their styles have had somewhat of a modern upgrade but their reputation for quality well-made shoes hasn't changed so I was really excited when they got in touch to see if my two very active boys would put them to the test.  As a family we always like to be ready for what the day will hold as we are very active and always doing something whether that's a day trip to a National Trust property or walking up through the forest or heading further afield on a road trip and exploring somewhere completely new to us so the kids footwear has to be able to withstand all of that.  My eldest has become pickier over the last year, which is understandable as he is developing his own likes and dislikes when it comes to......

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5 reasons why Tuscany is at the top of our family bucket list

Italy, one of the most culturally rich countries in the world with breathtaking countryside and you will find few who would argue that fact. The last time I visited Italy was before having kids, traveling around by train, exploring the narrow streets of Venice, lying on the beach in Rimini and learning about local delicacies in Bologna. But the one place I have had a longing to explore is Tuscany, the name alone conjures up scenes of miles of golden sunflower fields, long warm evenings eating al fresco with exceptional local wine in hand while the children run around without a care in the world. So if that doesn't sell Tuscany for you then here are 5 reasons why it should also be at the top of your family bucket list. 1. Be inspired by art If you read my blog you know will know we love to visit Art galleries and seek one out on nearly every holiday we go on. Tuscany is recognised as the home of the Renaissance-era movement and was also the birthplace of many ......

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Una St Ives, Cornwall - a Luxury Family Getaway

We were recently invited to spend a few days in St Ives courtesy of Vist St Ives to immerse ourselves in the laid back Cornish lifestyle and explore this popular seaside destination. After a smooth but longer than expected drive down (always surprised by how many times kids need toilet stops) it was with much excitement that we pulled into Una St Ives , a rural and relaxing retreat only stone's throw away from the bustle harbor town of St Ives. Despite it being quite late in the day at this point, in true Cornish fashion the sun was out and shone over the beautifully crafted wood clad self-catering homes. We had been left with an access code to our 4 bedroom property which we would call home for 3 nights and from the moment we stepped through the front door it became somewhat of a sanctuary for us. If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know we love self-catering when it comes to family trips as it offers more flexibility especially when your trav......

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