I’m a little unorthodox when it comes to how I write a blog post. I started blogging as a journaler back in 2009 and the rules on how to write a blog post were very different back then! I was more of a creative writer and writing stories came to me easily. I write for …
Monica
This post was created in collaboration with bonusprint. It would be easy to write-off 2020 as an awful year we all want to forget, but it was still special and there were many moments I want to remember forever. It was a smaller year in many ways and the big adventures were replaced with microadventures. …
If you’re a travel lover then I’ve got no doubt you’ll be feeling like you’ve had your wings clipped right now. I know some people are optimistically booking holidays abroad for this year and I’m sure many of those holidays will go ahead, but I’m also sure many of them won’t! I haven’t booked any …
Do you have a blogging editorial calendar? It’s one of those things that some bloggers swear by to help them stay on track, plan ahead, get organised and grow their online presence. While other bloggers will reject the idea of a blogging editorial calendar because it goes against their creative nature. It’s lovely to write …
I’m the first to admit that our lockdown routine isn’t always perfect. Some days it doesn’t go to plan and it’s absolute carnage in our house! But some days we do stick to this rough routine and it works really well. It isn’t a lockdown routine I ever sat down and made a formal schedule …
New Year’s Resolutions have had a bad rep for the past few years. The message that we’re all ‘perfect as we are’ is a wonderful and uplifting message that we all need reminding of at times! It’s an especially important message because a lot of the New Year’s resolutions messaging comes from the diet industry …
I think we can all agree that 2020 was an absolute shitter of a year and we’re all sat at home optimistically hoping for bigger and better things for 2021. I wrote a blog post this time last year, ‘20 things I want to do in 2020‘, and I actually did do most of them! …
I’ve had my Danner Boots for three years now and I thought it was finally time to write a Danner Boots review! A lot of you guys ask if they’re worth it because they’re so nice…but so expensive. Danner boots also look a bit different to your modern hiking boots so I get a lot …
This is the first year we’ve made homemade damson gin using the damsons that grow in our garden. We’ve lived here for five summers now and I can’t believe we hadn’t done it sooner because damson gin is so delicious! Our first batch of homemade damson gin is rich and fruity and sweet. It’s so …
Are you travelling to the USA and wondering if you need an ESTA? You’ve come to the right place because I’m going to answer all your ESTA for the USA questions! The first time I travelled to the USA I had no idea what an ESTA was and I turned up at the airport without …
If you’re looking for sustainable Christmas gift ideas for your loved ones this year then you’ve come to the right place! I love Christmas and, if I’m totally honest, I love all the excess and abundance of presents that comes with it! But what I don’t love is the waste and the cheap tat and …
Christmas Eve boxes are a fairly new trend in the UK so if you’re after Christmas Eve box ideas then I’ve got a load for you! I think we’ve adopted Christmas Eve traditions from a few different countries and made our own new tradition which is a lovely little box filled with goodies on Christmas …
This self care Sunday post has been created in partnership with WeDrifters and their gorgeous loungewear with anti-insect technology. There’s more info about WeDrifters at the end of the post plus a 20% discount code. Self care is a real buzzword at the moment. It seems that for years we’ve all been taking care of …
Today I’m reviewing the Micralite ProFold, a compact stroller perfect for both travelling and everyday adventures. As the name suggests, it’s the fold of this pushchair that is a real selling point and one of my favourite features! This pushchair was gifted in exchange for an honest review. We’ve had a few compact strollers over …
If you want to know how to get your baby to sleep through the night and in their own bed then you’ve come to the right place! Today I’m sharing what we did to get our baby to sleep through the night and some tips to help you transition your baby into their own bed …
If you’re trying to cut down on the amount of single use plastic you use then I can’t recommend beeswax wraps enough. I’ve been using beeswax wraps for about six weeks now and my first reaction was, ‘Why haven’t we always used these!?’ What are beeswax wraps? Beeswax wraps are simply cotton sheets infused with …
I’m fairly new to using natural beauty products but I’ve had loads of questions from you guys about what I’m using, how I’m using them and what I think. Before we go any further, can I just say – wow. Wow, wow, wow. I LOVE using these natural beauty products and now I’ve discovered them …
Today’s post about how I lost my baby weight was a requested post from a fair few Instagram followers. Now before I begin, I want to acknowledge that postpartum weight loss is a really sensitive subject. The majority of women gain weight during pregnancy and we all know this is totally normal and totally fine. …
We’re almost two weeks into our second lockdown in Wales and as England are going into their second lockdown, I thought I’d share some tips that have really helped me this time. I’m sure we’ve all seen lots of tips by now suggesting we go for a daily walk, FaceTime our friends, bake a banana …
COVID-19 has affected us all in one way or another but small businesses have really felt the impact of lockdown. Being closed for weeks on end combined with the nation’s financial uncertainty means they’ve been hit hard. Lots of my friends run small businesses and it’s been heartbreaking to see the struggles they face. Even …
I asked if you had any blogging related questions on Instagram stories last night and when the questions started coming in I realised they all required much longer answers than what I could give on a quick story! Many of the same questions came up a few times, such as if it’s worth starting a …
I’ve recently turned 33 and I’m finally getting to an age where I don’t feel like a kid anymore – yes, at the age of 33! For the past 10 years or so I’ve felt like I’ve been playing grown-ups, not like I actually was one. But after the birth of our third child and …
Today I want to talk about creating a capsule wardrobe because since I discovered this way of organising my clothes it has totally changed my life. OK, ‘changed my life’ might be a bit dramatic but it has made my life a lot easier and it brings me a lot of joy. I have to …
Oh it’s the big dilemma isn’t it. You’ve had one child and you’re starting to think about having a second but how long do you leave it? What is the best age gap between children? Too big a gap and will they ever be friends and play together? Too small an age gap and life …
Today I’m sharing my Magical Woodland review, a music and lights experience in a Cheshire woodland. If you’ve enjoyed The Lanterns at Chester Zoo, you’ll LOVE this!
Have yourself a merry little Fishmas… Hang on, that’s not right. Or is it? Today I want to tell you about Fishmas and my posh, homemade fish and chips which is approximately eight billion times better than the fish and chips you’ll find at your local chippy! Sam and I had it last night for …
It was hard to pick just 11 but here are 11 highlights from my time as a travel blogger!
There’s something magical about Anglesey that gives me tingles whenever I cross the bridge. The beautiful island on the northwest coast of Wales is one of my special places where I instantly feel happy. We all have our special places; we have countries that hold our hearts, cities filled with special memories, towns we return …
Ahhh honey. Runny honey and cloudy honey, grainy honey and smooth honey, honey like silk and honey like treacle. I love honey and, as a consequence of my honey addiction, I also have a soft spot for honeybees. I thought I knew a lot about honeybees. I have seen Bee Movie after all, so I …
Alton Towers is a place of childhood dreams so we were really excited to take our kids there last week. After a long and difficult summer, it was the perfect treat before our kids went back to school! But, like many of you, we did have some reservations about visiting Alton Towers during the COVID-19 …
Today’s Hidden Gem has been sent in by Jessica Friend from The Weekend Tourist as she’d like to share more about The Rollright Stones, a hidden gem in Oxfordshire and the county’s answer to Stonehenge! The Rollright Stones are always the first place that I take anyone who might be visiting us – …
Have you heard the theory that it takes 21 days to form a new habit? There’s evidence to support the theory that you can form a new habit by doing it consistently for 21 days but, to be honest, there’s just as much evidence to say it takes longer. Some studies suggest …
Three kids. Wow, that’s a lot isn’t it! Today I’d like to share what life is like having 3 kids! We’re nearly nine months into having 3 kids now so I thought it was time for an update to tell you what life with three is like. In the UK, the average woman currently has …
Today’s hidden gem about Chee Dale in the Peak District is by Rob Haggan from The Outdoor Adventure Blog. Rob thinks Chee Dale is the perfect alternative to the busy Monsal Trail. The Monsal Trail is an undoubtedly gorgeous trail to walk or cycle along but it does become extremely busy during these beautiful summer …
Have you heard about Blue Zones? Blue Zones are areas in the world where people live considerably longer than average. A few years ago I had to do a lot of research into the world’s Blue Zones for a project I was working on for a client. After that I became a …
Today’s blog comes from Sophie, the blogger behind Sophie’s Suitcase. Sophie wants to share more about the gorgeous Newburgh ‘seal’ Beach in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where you can spot seals all year round! I’ve been asking bloggers to share their favourite hidden gems around the UK and, while this beach might not be hidden, I’m sure …
Welcome to the first in a series of blog posts about the UK’s hidden gems. I don’t know about you, but since lockdown began I’ve discovered so many local hidden gems. My local area has even more to offer than I imagined! I’ve asked some top bloggers to share some of their favourite hidden gems …
This post about tips for planning your holiday to Kerala has been sponsored by Kerala Tourism. If you’re planning a holiday to Kerala, or you’re still in the early stages of deciding whether Kerala is the holiday destination for you, then this is the blog for you! Today I’d like to share why Kerala …
If you’re expecting your first baby and you’re starting to think about the products you need to buy then I’m sure you’ve already realised what a minefield it is! There’s so much stuff! And so many products that are almost the same but just a little bit different. Tiny babies surely don’t need all this …
Now is a great time to be organising your travel photos and finding some kind of storage and display solution for all those gorgeous travel memories. So many people have memory cards, hard drives and phones filled with photos that will never see the light of day again because they’re hidden away in a chaotic …