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Monica

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

I’ve been using a beach trolley for nearly two years now to cart the ridiculous amount of stuff we take to the beach. When my kids were little, I loved having a double pushchair to load up with beach paraphernalia but we, stupidly, got rid of it when they got bigger and had to invest …

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Are you looking for the perfect 45x36x20cm cabin bag? Maybe you’re looking for the ‘free underseat luggage’ you can take on easyJet flights. It’s the bag that fits under the seat in front of you and you don’t need to pay any extra to take it onboard. You might be surprised to find how spacious …

Read More about easyJet hand luggage: 5 best 45x36x20 Cabin Bag

We all love a day at the beach but please tell me I’m not alone in forgetting HOW MUCH STUFF you need!? There are so many things to take to the beach to make sure everyone is happy all day. Beach packing is an underrated art form! You think you can just grab a bag, …

Read More about 47 things to take to the beach: Your ultimate beach day packing list

Llangollen is the prettiest little town in Denbighshire in North Wales, UK. I live about 20 minutes from Llangollen (often shortened to ‘Llan’ by locals) and it’s one of my favourite places to visit on a sunny day. The town is situated on the River Dee so many of the things to do in Llangollen …

Read More about 30 things to do in Llangollen, North Wales

Here are 12 Abersoch beaches you’ll want to visit on your next visit to Abersoch. The most popular thing to do in Abersoch is visit the beach. And rightly so! The beaches in and around Abersoch are stunning and, thanks to that famous Llyn Peninsula microclimate, you often get sunshine when the rest of the …

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Would you stay in a shipping container? Probably not, that’s a silly question really isn’t it! What about if the shipping container looked like this…. I’ve just returned from a gorgeous glamping break and this time I had the pleasure of staying in a converted shipping container at The Box BNB in North Yorkshire. It’s …

Read More about The Box BNB review: Glamping in a shipping container in North Yorkshire

The Hand Hotel in Llanarmon is possibly the cosiest place I’ve ever stayed. It’s all roaring fires and low beams, snug corners with comfy chairs, welcoming smiles and friendly chit chat over large glasses of red wine. I arrived on a snowy Thursday afternoon to find the excitable yet tranquil atmosphere that can only be …

Read More about Review: The Hand Hotel in Llanarmon, Wrexham, the cosiest country hotel

You don’t need me to tell you there are so many famous buildings to see in Barcelona! But to make it a bit easier to plan your trip, I’ve got 10 of Barcelona’s most famous buildings to see when you visit Barcelona! There really is nowhere else in Europe that does architecture like Barcelona. Some …

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As you probably know, I like to go big on family days out! Whether it’s the weekend or school holidays, I like to have a busy schedule filled with activities to keep the whole family happy and entertained.  I have three energetic kids and, if I’m totally honest, they just drive me mad when we …

Read More about Cheap family days out: 15 hacks to save money on family activities

Are you looking for a relaxing spa weekend in the Lake District? In today’s blog I’m sharing the details from my recent spa break to the Lakes. It was perfect and included a gorgeous spa hotel on Lake Windermere, amazing food, country pubs, pretty villages and an easy but adventurous hike nearby. I’m not going …

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If you follow me on Instagram you’ll know I’m obsessed with my standing desk from Flexispot. So I’m really excited to be giving one away! All you need to do is like this post on Instagram and a winner will be selected at midday on Monday 27th March 2023. I will contact winners via Instagram …

Read More about Win a standing desk from Flexispot worth up to £439.99

Mollie’s Motel Bristol Review & Summary: Mollie’s Motel is a gorgeous, stylish and affordable motel just off the M5. It’s perfect for an overnight break from driving and it’s WAY better than your standard motorway hotel! My stay at Mollie’s was a complimentary press stay in exchange for an honest review. Mollie’s Motel is a …

Read More about Mollie’s Motel and Diner Review in Bristol

If you’re thinking Tenerife is just all about package holidays and resorts then think again. The island has a striking volcanic landscape (did you know there are 300 volcanoes on the island?!) packed with hiking trails, gorges, unique plant life and fine-dining restaurants.  If you’re planning a trip to Tenerife or would normally write it …

Read More about 50 things to do in Tenerife

Are you looking for a quick and easy way to backup your iPhone without spending a fortune on iCloud storage? Today I’m sharing the simplest way to backup your iPhone. It doesn’t take hours You don’t need to pay for online storage You can access files without Wifi You can easily backup your files while …

Read More about How do I backup my iPhone? Quickly transfer photos and videos from your iPhone

Twixmas.  It’s a funny time of year. It’s that week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Each year I picture that week to be cosy and festive. I plan to spend time with loved ones and relax with my family. I picture cosy days watching films by the fire, family walks in the snow …

Read More about Dylan Coastal Resort Review: My stay at Luxury Lodges

I’m sharing my honest review from our family holiday to Domaine des Ormes campsite in Brittany, France. We’ve stayed at lots of campsites in France and Domaine des Ormes was, without a doubt, the biggest and best we’ve visited. But there are some things you need to be aware of and I’m sharing some great …

Read More about Domaine des Ormes: The incredible French campsite you need to visit

I’m here to share some of the best hotels near Siam Park. There isn’t an official Siam Park Tenerife Hotel but there are lots nearby that are walking distance to the waterpark (10-25 minute walk). Siam Park is in Costa Adeje in Tenerife, a popular area so there are lots of accommodation options. Below I’ve …

Read More about 18 hotels and villas near Siam Park: The best Siam Park Tenerife Hotels

If you’re looking for Siam Park Beach, I’m here to let you in on a little secret. There are two ‘beaches’ at Siam Park and the second one I’m sharing is the one you need to know about. I say ‘beach’ in inverted commas because they’re not real beaches. They’re gorgeous swimming pools with wave …

Read More about Siam Park Beach: The secret Siam Park area you need to know about!

If you’re travelling with toiletries in your hand luggage there are a few things you need to know. Remember, these rules are all enforced and if you don’t follow the rules you’ll have your toiletries taken away and you’ll probably be delayed. Sometimes the delay at security will be a few minutes but sometimes it …

Read More about 10 things you need to know about travelling with toiletries in your hand luggage (2023 UK version)

Transylvania is an incredible area to visit and it’s home to so many beautiful castle hotels. I fell in love with the area during a 4-day Transylvania holiday that took me to Brasov, Bucharest, Bran Castle and an Ice Hotel. It was amazing! I’ve put together a list of the best castle hotels in Transylvania, …

Read More about 8 incredible castle hotels in Transylvania

Fuerteventura may only be 100 km in length but this Canary island is home to hiking trails, picture-perfect villages, cultural sites, diverse natural landscapes, and more. There are so many things to do in Fuerteventura and there’s the added bonus of having year-round sunshine, making it a perfect (and affordable!) destination for us Brits searching …

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Can you take hair straighteners in hand luggage? Yes, you can! You just need to remove your hair straighteners from your hand luggage when you go through airport security, so keep them somewhere you can quickly remove them from your bag. You’ll also need to remove your hair straighteners from any kind of protective pouch …

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Here’s what I pack in my kid’s hand luggage: I’m using The Travel Hack backpack for each of them. In this video I’ve used different coloured Travel Hack Backpacks but these won’t be available until next year. Different colours and patterns will be available but these are not the final colours. The black one is …

Read More about Here’s what I pack in my kid’s hand luggage for a mid-length flight