The Ultimate Autumn Family Camping Bucket list - 7 places to go

We love camping and have done a lot of it over the years, we have camped from early spring through summer into autumn and each season requires different things and as long as you are prepared there isn't any reason why you cannot go camping in the autumn as a family. If you’re looking for a way to travel that allows you to disconnect from the fast pace of modern day life and spend time in nature, connecting with your family, whilst the weather’s still reasonably temperate, then now is the time to do it before winter really sets in. Not only does camping provide a cheap family holiday , but it’s also environmentally friendly and easy to organise as a family… indeed, it’s as simple as packing a few things in the boot and heading off into nature! Many people are noticing that life has become much more distracting in recent years, especially when it comes to family time and connecting with each other - due to smartphones, tablets, computers and video games it’s necessary to c......

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A Day in London with Microsoft Surface

We were recently invited to London for the launch of the new Microsoft Surface , a piece of technology neither my son or I had tried out before and didn't really know what to expect but we always enjoy a good adventure to the big smoke and trying out something new so were really excited to find out more about what makes the new Microsoft Surface Go so special.  I'm always really grateful that Cardiff has a high speed service direct to London meaning we can go from the Capital of Wales to the Capital of England in 2hrs! As we arrived a little early we headed to Westminster to spot the houses of Parliament and the rather covered up Big Ben as well as stand in awe of the London Eye. We always like to soak up as much of the vibrant atmosphere London has to offer even if we are only there for a few hours. The event was held at The White Space near Covent Garden and offered creative and interactive sessions for both adults and children. While the adults listened......

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Amsterdam - the perfect child-free weekend destination

When you’ve got young kids, nothing beats a family holiday . Getting away together is a fantastic way to spend quality time, keep the youngsters engaged, and even teach them a thing or two. One thing’s sure getting them used to flying and new cultures when they’re young is always a bonus. What’s more, there are plenty of family-friendly vacation spots to make the most of when travelling together and some Kid-focused hotels even host fun clubs should you want to mix culture and travel with also the odd break for an hour or two. However, a short child-free break can be a really positive experience. I recently went to Durham for two nights, it was the first time I had ever left our kids for more than a night, that's over 7yrs of not one proper child-free weekend away and you know what it went really well. Then kids loved having fun with their grandparents and we had a fantastic time exploring the historical northern town of Durham we all felt renewed and refreshed from our week......

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Small Bedroom? You can still go big on style

Having a small bedroom, for some, is a deal-breaker when it comes to buying a house or looking for apartments for rent in Miami . There’s nothing easy about designing a bedroom smaller than the rest of the rooms in the house, particularly when the biggest focal point of a bedroom is, of course, the bed. The bed base, the mattress, the duvets and pillows – they all make a statement. Whenever you walk into your bedroom , you want to feel calm and at ease, not overwhelmed by the clutter and mess because the bedroom is smaller, and so doesn’t have a good solution for storage. It’s for this reason that you need to consider how to design your small bedroom so that it works well for you. In my house our living spaces are much larger than our bedroom which is one of the smaller rooms but we have made it work. Modern downsizing , new builds and apartment living have decreased bedroom size over the years, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a functional, comfortable and beautiful......

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4 Easy ways to save money on Family Travel

When you love to travel as a family, it can sometimes seem like all your spare money gets spent on your adventures. In fact, you may even be holding off on doing some things and visiting particular places because you are worried about the cost involved. Happily, if you put the tactics below into action, family holidays don't have to cost a fortune. Something that means you and your brood can get away, and still have plenty of money in the bank. Read on to find out more. Explore the UK One way to get away on a regular basis without breaking the bank is to explore the UK instead of always heading abroad. After all, UK breaks usually mean that you don't need to pay for flights, or if you do they will be cheaper. You can also choose to travel there under your own steam in your own vehicle as well, something that can help save a fortune on public transport. Lastly, you have the option of choosing a short break, of one or two nights, something that can make your travel as a ......

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Paddleboarding on the River Wye with Inspire2Adventure

Having had my first taste of Stand-up Paddleboarding (SUP) earlier this year in Swansea and then again on the River Avon in Bath and enjoying both thoroughly I was super excited to come down and spend the day on the River Wye with Inspire2Adventure who plan an array of activities in the area from kayaking to mountain biking and everything in between. Over the past few years there has been a big rise in popularity of learning to SUP mainly do to how accessible it is, you don't need any real skills, it's suitable from children to grandparents and it's much easier than you think. Having grown up surfing I have always felt fairly comfortable in the water and on a board but even if your not I can assure you they are very buoyant and easy to balance on. What was especially exciting about our day on the river was having the chance to go on the mega sup with 3 other bloggers (and two children) which was so much fun! We met at a large field only a few minutes awa......

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6 ways to create the earthy minimalist look in your home

More and more people are turning their backs on stuff, decluttering their homes and minds to create a more relaxed and calm space and getting back to more natural inspired living spaces. This is something I personally have been working on and having travelled a lot over the past few years and I've noticed this trend follow through in many hotels and Airbnb's we have stayed in as creating a place that both looks and feels good and becomes a haven is really key. As the world seems to be more and more manic than ever by simplifying your home you can detach yourself from that a little and can have a positive impact on your wellbeing. Reminding ourselves of your earthly connect with nature is important as we live in an increasing digital world is really important. Here are 6 tips on simplifying your home as well as bring more earthing, organic and natural elements into your home 1. Set aside time to do a big declutter The best way to have a quick impact on your home is ......

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A weekend guide to Historical Durham

Following on from my review of Hotel Indigo Durham I thought I would put together a little weekend guide to the beautiful and historical town of Durham as we had such a fantastic time and I was really surprised at how much there was to see and do and all very accessible by walking making it a great weekend destination. Firstly Durham is well connected by rail and road and we arrived into Durham by train from Cardiff and with it being a small station you don't have to pull luggage very far, in fact within about 2 minutes we were into a taxi and on our way. Yes you can walk down into the town but with the station on quite a steep hill we decided to take the easy route to the hotel via taxi (only cost £4). As Durham isn't the biggest city is the perfect place for a weekend break so here are a few ideas of what to do if your planning on visiting. What to See 1. Durham Cathedral The UNESCO world heritage sight that is Durham Cathedral simply cannot be left out, even if......

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Going on a Road Trip? 5 Essential Car & Tyre Checks you need to do

I love a good road trip, we have been on many which I have documented on this blog as well as growing up in South Africa and driving extensively across that country. Over the years we have had very smooth trips to equally disasters ones such as breaking down near Exeter on the way to the Isles of Scilly in the middle of the summer holidays and having to wait on a hard shoulder with two small children for more than 2hrs, which is no fun believe me. With a rise in staycations more and more of us are hitting the roads in the UK and exploring what is on our doorstep, as well as some taking the step further and driving across Europe. Of course you cannot foresee every unexpected mishap along the way but you can prepare and make sure that your vehicle is in the best condition it can be to hopefully prevent any issues as well as being organised in the event you do breakdown. Here are 5 essential car and tyre checks you need to do before heading off on a road trip. 1. Check Fluids ......

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7 things every Freelancer needs to do

I have touched a few times on the pros and cons of working freelance, for yourself and from home and while it really suits my lifestyle it can be a bit of a balancing act especially when you throw in kids, travelling a lot, running a home and all the life admin that goes along with it. With more and more people working in the digital landscape as well as those deciding to start up their own business and taking the leap into opening a store, hairdresser, garage etc its always going to be a bit of leap of faith but being prepared is so important. If you are like me and a working freelance mum then do check out my post about how to succeed as a work from home parent . If you are thinking about going on your own, becoming a freelancer or starting your own business then you need to consider the following. 1. Timing Make sure it's the right time to take the leap. I decided to not go back to may place of work after I had my first child, I had a couple of months with maternity......

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