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Monica

Hi, I'm Monica! This is my family lifestyle blog where I share posts about motherhood and microadventures.

Have you heard about the #Take12Trips Challenge? If you haven’t you can read all about #Take12Trips here but, basically, it’s a challenge to take 12 trips in a year – one for each month. These trips don’t need to be epic, life-changing experiences. They can be a weekend break just an hour from home or …

Read More about 12 places to get on your 2018 bucket list for each month of the year #Take12Trips

Our latest contributor, Eppie Shepherd from Eppie.me.uk, recently took a cosy staycation at The Runnymede on Thames Hotel and Spa in Windsor. Here's how she got on...   Sometimes you just need a break away; to relax, to explore and to recuperate. That’s exactly what I did on a recent trip to Windsor for a …

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I'm really excited to feature Alice from Teacake Travels in today's 'What's in my Cabin Case?' Alice is a solo adventure blogger and Teacake Travels is one of those inspiring travel blogs that just makes you want to pack your bags and jet off on an adventure. Alice's enthusiasm is contagious and I love her …

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Today's post comes from Marie Pottiez as she shares her top things to do in Bangkok if you're a first-time visitor. Bangkok is a crazy, hectic but incredible city so big thanks to Marie for simplifying what a first-time visitor to Bangkok should see and do! Marie is a blogger and an artist and she's shared a …

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It’s a travel dilemma we all have. You’re packing your suitcase and you’re managing to keep it pretty light when it comes to clothes. But now it’s time to pack your shoes and you feel like you need a whole extra case just for your footwear. You want heels for nights out, sandals if it’s …

Read More about Teva Arrowood Lux Review: The perfect travel shoe compromise

Loneliness. It’s not something we often talk about but it’s tough topic a few of my blogger friends have discussed recently so I thought I’d jump on the bandwagon and share my experience. Even in our constantly connected society, a lot of people are suffering from loneliness. Why is it that we’re always messaging, always …

Read More about Loneliness and the real reason I got a dog

Today's What's in your Cabin Case is a little bit different because I'm not chatting to travel bloggers for a change, I'm talking to Amy who, along with her partner John, founded UNLEASH. UNLEASH is a remote-working and travel experience for surfers and people who want to surf more. Next year, they're taking people to …

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Budapest is one of my favourite cities for a weekend break and there are so many cheap places to stay in Budapest. It seems I'm not alone as it's quickly becoming one of the world’s most popular cities as everyone discovers what an incredible place this is. Not only is Budapest a beautiful city with loads to …

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After planning and booking countless holidays I’ve got this process down to a fine art – but it’s taken me a long, long time to finally feel confident planning and booking holidays, especially city breaks! City breaks can be complicated to book because there are so many individual things to book, research, reserve and pay …

Read More about My holiday planning routine for city breaks

It was Coco Channel who originally said, ‘A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life’. It might not always be true but cutting your hair is a big thing for a woman! I feel a bit sorry for short haired men who will never experience the feeling of a ‘big hair …

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As promised, I’m blogging about my favourite travel inspired gifts you can give to travel lovers this Christmas. But today’s gift is so lovely you’re probably going to want it for yourself, so you might want to send someone this link to give them a gentle nudge…   Refuge Nightsky Flannel Pyjama Set - £60 …

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We all know we should look after ourselves – both our minds and our bodies – but how many of us actually do? Now more than ever we’re bombarded with messages encouraging us to live a healthier lifestyle. The rise of ‘clean eating Instagrammers’ prove how much we love the concept of living a healthy …

Read More about Azulfit Yoga and Pilates Retreat: My second detox retreat in Fuerteventura

The third bloggers in this new series to celebrate the launch of The Travel Hack Cabin Case are Laura and Claire, the brains behind Twins That Travel. Twins That Travel is all about the travels and adventures of identical twins who run an awesome blog but might be best known for their incredible Instagram account …

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66 days until Christmas! I don’t know about you but I’m getting ridiculously excited. Too soon? Maybe, but I don’t care. I love the build up to Christmas so I’m happy to indulge in the excitement of the festive season as early as possible. Over the next few weeks I’m going to be featuring some …

Read More about Explorer’s Atlas: For the Incurably Curious A perfect gift for the travel and map lover in your life!

This week we're snooping inside the cabin case of Jayne Gorman, the fabulous blogger behind Girl Tweets World. This new series sees me snooping inside the hand luggage of my favourite travel bloggers and it's to celebrate the launch of the new Travel Hack Cabin Case (and just because I'm nosy too!) Last week I …

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Amberlair  You may remember back in 2015 I introduced you guys to a really cool boutique hotel concept called Amberlair? At that point Amberlair was just an idea, but a very exciting idea and the first of its kind, as the founders were planning the first ever crowdfunded boutique hotel. Yes, a crowdfunded hotel! Everything …

Read More about Amberlair is here! The world's first crowdsourced boutique hotel

Today I’d like to introduce you to an awesome audiobook app I’m addicted to. It’s called BookBeat and is like Netflix for audiobooks and is a total game-changer for bookworms who don’t have time to read. I know I’m not the only person who’s yearly resolutions include ‘read more books’. Each year I promise myself …

Read More about BookBeat Review: The audiobook app that's a game-changer for book lovers!

If you’re subscribed to my newsletter you will have read the news that Sam and I recently bought a caravan. Gulp. Yea, we’ve become those people. I actually LOVE our caravan but if I’m honest I would have preferred something cooler. Something sleeker and with a bit more street cred. Something shinier, flashier and a …

Read More about Our family weekend in Anglesey in an Airstream trailer

When anyone asks me what my favourite travel app is I have to say Google Maps. There are times when I genuinely don’t know how I’d find anything without Google Maps! But it isn’t just great for finding out how to get from A to B, there are actually lots of other functions that can …

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I’ve got to admit, it had never crossed my mind to visit Tenerife for 3 days before! It’s the kind of place you go for a week or two, not for a long weekend, right? 3 days in Tenerife isn't long enough, surely? I recently spent 3 days in Tenerife with my good friend and …

Read More about 3 days in Tenerife: A perfect Tenerife 3 day itinerary!

I'm so excited to finally say that The Travel Hack Pro Cabin Case is ready!! Please note that this suitcase now has a light pink interior which has replaced the original hot pink. I've designed the perfect women's cabin case in partnership with a company called Cabin Max. I’m so proud of this case as it’s …

Read More about The Travel Hack Pro Cabin Case - Is this the best ladies cabin luggage?

Someone once said to me, ‘What’s the point in going away for a weekend, you don’t get chance to do anything’. This blog post is for that person, the person who thought two days wasn’t long enough to have an adventure. I hope this post shows you that in just 24 hours you can do …

Read More about A perfectly adventurous day up North: Coasteering, Cycling, Betty’s Tea Rooms and a night out in Manchester

You want to look great while you’re travelling but you can’t really be bothered taking a billion beauty products and spending an hour each morning getting ready. Right? I hear you! Here are some of the best travel beauty hacks I’ve picked up after years of travelling. HAIR: For beachy waves without salt or heat …

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Our family had the pleasure of staying at Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds, an idyllic holiday setting with stunning holiday properties. Holiday homes are dotted around Lower Mill Estate across 300 acres of nature reserve and many of them surround the gorgeous lake. We stayed in a lovely little cottage booked through Manor Cottages. …

Read More about Lower Mill Estate Review: A perfect family weekend in the Cotswolds

Driving up to Brandy House Farm was like driving into a scene from an old fashioned story book. A single track lane ran through a field filled with lambs who leapt about in the long grass to signal my arrival. I came to an enormous, ramshackle farm house framed by colourful flowers, happy daisies and …

Read More about Staying at Wales’ first luxury Glampotel at Brandy House Farm, Wales

Driving through the Lake District is tough. Not because the roads are narrow and windy but because I wanted to stop approximately every 100 metres to admire the view and take photos. How can you drive past a lake like this where the low clouds are reflected in the smooth, glassy surface and look so …

Read More about Adventures at Honister Slate Mine in the Lake District: Via Feratta Xtreme

One of my favourite things about travelling in Britain is discovering absolutely stunningly gorgeous places that make me question why I’d ever go abroad. I love travelling abroad, of course I do, I’m a travel blogger! But I also love travelling closer to home and finding incredible gems to share with you all. I’m always …

Read More about An epic adventure in the North of England: Visiting Bamburgh Castle

When you’re on holiday, do you ever think about the impact your trip is having on the world? Whether you’re thinking globally in terms of air pollution or more locally and thinking about the small businesses and individuals who are affected, both positively and negatively, by your holiday. I love going on holiday and I …

Read More about Making holidays greener + win a GoPro in the process!

“It’s weird but I feel really at home here,” I told the general manager of Palé Hall Hotel as I sipped champagne on a luxuriously grand sofa. I looked around at my surroundings – the antique furniture, the ornate paintings, the enormous chandelier, the marble fireplace and the masses of white lilies that were perfectly …

Read More about Pale Hall Hotel: Is this Wales' BEST hotel?

I’ve just returned from a weekend in Timisoara in Romania and found it to be such a perfect destination for a weekend break. It really ticks all the boxes and here are just 10 reasons why I think you’ll love it too! If you haven’t seen it yet, check out my travel journal from Timisoara …

Read More about 10 reasons to add Timisoara in Romania to your weekend bucket list

A weekend break to Timisoara is cheap. So cheap! And while I don’t think that cost alone should be a major influencer when it comes to choosing a city break destination, we’ve got to be honest here, it is going to affect your decision a little. I’ve estimated that if you visited Timisoara for a …

Read More about How much does it cost for a weekend in Timisoara, Romania?

I arrived in Timisoara, Romania with no pre-conceived ideas about the city so I really didn’t know what to expect. This was a new destination for me and I didn't know anyone else who had visiting Timisoara. In fact, most people I spoke to had never heard of it! Of course, I’d searched through Google …

Read More about Things to do in Timisoara, Romania: A perfect 3 day guide