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Monica

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

We’ve had a few family camping holidays abroad and we always find them to be one of the easiest and most affordable types of family holiday. We’re getting to that time of year when everyone is starting to think about their annual summer holiday and I’d like to make a case for the glamping holiday. …

Read More about Glamping abroad: 12 reasons to take a luxury family camping holiday abroad

Next week I’ll be going into hospital for my third elective cesarean. I’ve written a lot of packing posts for The Travel Hack but, unsurprisingly, this is my first packing post for going into hospital! Despite it being my third cesarean I’ve still loved reading blog posts, watching YouTube videos and trawling the internet looking …

Read More about What to pack in your hospital bag for an elective cesarean

If I mention an island escape you’re probably going to be thinking of idyllic Caribbean beaches with white sands and swaying palms. Yes, these are gorgeous but don’t dismiss the islands we have on our very own doorstep here in Britain. You’d be pressed to find an array of islands anywhere in the world that are as …

Read More about 10 British Islands to get on your Weekender Bucket List

If you’re keen to try glamping but you don’t want to leave the luxuries at home then I know just the place for you. Let me introduce you to North Star Club, a magical woodland hideaway in Yorkshire. If you’ve ever wanted to run away from reality and escape to a cabin in the woods …

Read More about North Star Club Review: Luxury glamping in Yorkshire for a magical woodland hideaway

I was going to write a 36 week pregnancy update today. Yes, that’s right – 36 weeks! But then I realised not a lot has changed since my 27 week pregnancy update which, weirdly, feels like about 3 days ago. One update I do have is that I’m all booked in for my cesarean. I’ve …

Read More about 36 weeks pregnant: Why it’s different having a third baby and how I’ll cope

Are you planning to visit Rome this autumn? I think it’s the perfect time to visit because the weather in Rome in October is PERFECT! Today’s post is all about an autumnal trip to Rome and what to wear and pack while you’re there. Autumn is my absolutely favourite time of year to take a …

Read More about Weather in Rome in October and what to wear and pack while you’re there

If you’re expecting a baby then I’m sure you’ll feel a little overwhelmed at some point when you start thinking about all the things you need to do, buy, read, prepare and learn! I’m expecting my third baby and I’m having moments of panic when I think about it! It’s an absolute minefield trying to …

Read More about My newborn baby essentials: Newborn baby must-haves for baby and mum + all the things I didn’t use

Is there anything better than waking up in the morning and having nothing to do? No plans, no work, no commitments. Nothing but a gloriously long day ahead of you, waiting to be filled with an adventure. Oh the possibilities. Oh the excitement! Sounds great, doesn’t it? But how many of us actually embrace these …

Read More about Playing Sat Nav Roulette with the AA and a day at Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire

Today’s post about fun things to do in The Hague with kids is by Jasmine Buckley. If you’ll be visiting for the first time then be sure to check out her post about things to do in the Hague as it’s a great intro to the city. But, right now, we’re talking about things to …

Read More about Holland Family Holiday – Fun Things to do in The Hague with Kids

Today’s post with my travel hacks to help you sleep better while travelling in sponsored by Tempur. I’m one of those people who generally feels like they can do pretty much anything …provided I’ve had a good night’s sleep. When I’ve slept well I’m up for climbing mountains, skydiving from planes, scuba diving around shipwrecks …

Read More about Travel Hacks: How to sleep better while you’re travelling

For some people, a 27 week pregnancy update might seem like a random week to choose but the 27 week mark has always been a momentous milestone for me. I don’t want to be morbid here but the survival rate for babies born at 27 weeks suddenly increases (I think it’s due to lung development). …

Read More about My 27 week pregnancy update with Baby #3!

This blog about things you need to know before visiting Marrakesh was created in collaboration with Admiral Travel Insurance. Travel insurance is something you should never travel without no matter where you’re going! Marrakesh is one of those cities that keeps drawing me back in. It’s the exotic excitement of visiting somewhere completely different to …

Read More about 11 things you need to know before visiting Marrakesh

My favourite thing about staying at Lazure Marina and Hotel was going down to breakfast each morning. I’d sweep down the staircase and head towards the breakfast room where two enormous double doors would be propped open to let in the morning sunshine. Through the doors I could see the marina where the water was …

Read More about Lazure Marina and Hotel Review: My boutique hotel stay in Herceg Novi, Montenegro

I’ve just returned from a Montenegro holiday and wow, just wow. I cannot believe how gorgeous Montenegro is but, mostly, I cannot believe what a little-known and underrated destination it is. While I was there I was based in Herceg Novi, a lovely coastal town close to the Croatian border and at the entrance to …

Read More about A perfect Montenegro Holiday: The Travel Hack’s Guide to Herceg Novi

Portia Jones from Pip and the City recently took a trip to Ravenna, the beautiful Italian city in Emilia-Romagna. Ravenna isn’t always our first choice for an Italian city break so Portia is sharing 9 reasons why it should be on your travel radar. If authentic (and not too touristy!) Italian cities, great food, history, …

Read More about Reasons to visit Ravenna, Italy + 9 things to do in Ravenna when you get there!

I’ve just returned from my first visit to Oxford and as soon as I arrived my immediate reaction was, ‘Why haven’t I been here before!?’ Oxford is one of those beautiful cities I knew I’d visit ‘one day’ but it took me far too long to make ‘one day’ a reality. I knew all about …

Read More about My mini guide to Oxford + things to do in Oxford during your first visit

If you’re a frequent traveller you probably already know about the new baggage restrictions from Ryanair. The new rules, introduced in November 2018, mean the only bag you get included in the price of your ticket is a small bag which will fit under the seat in front of you. I know we all love …

Read More about How to pack an underseat carry-on bag for a weekend away: Yes you can travel with just an underseat bag!

When I was contacted and asked if I’d like to review some special new glasses from Citroen which claim to stop travel sickness, I was very excited. I was told these glasses can stop you feeling motion sick in a matter of minutes so I jumped at the chance to get a pair on loan. …

Read More about Seetroen Glasses Review: Can these glasses cure travel sickness?

I’ve just returned from an incredible 5 day holiday to Montenegro and, as you probably already know, I totally fell in love with this gorgeously underrated country. I was based in Herceg Novi for all five nights. For British visitors to Montenegro, Herceg Novi isn’t usually the first choice to stay for their Montenegro holidays …

Read More about 10 reasons to stay in Herceg Novi during your Montenegro holidays

This Seatfrog review has been created in collaboration with Seatfrog and, as always, all thoughts about the app and over-excitement about travelling First Class are all my own! Today I’d like to share a new app I’ve discovered called Seatfrog. Prepare to have your Virgin Train journeys in the UK changed forever! This is my …

Read More about Seatfrog Review: Is this the cheapest and easiest way to upgrade to First Class train tickets?

If you want to plan a family holiday I’ve got 10 great tips for planning and booking that dream vacation. Travel planning can be really overwhelming, with so many things to consider and so much money at stake. It’s even more overwhelming when you’re doing it for the whole family and you have so many …

Read More about How to plan a family holiday: 10 steps to plan and book that trip!

We all know the Amalfi Coast is one of the most gorgeously scenic areas in the world. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has been inspired to visit the Amalfi Coast after drooling over gorgeous Instagram photos showing colourful hillsides dotted with beautiful little buildings and dazzling blue seas below. Yes, the Amalfi …

Read More about The Amalfi Coast’s most Instagrammable spots

It wasn’t long ago that the very thought of travelling to London with kids was pretty much my idea of hell. I knew there were loads of things to do in London with kids but I still thought of it as an ‘adult only kind of place’. I lived in London for 3 years and …

Read More about Travelling to London with a 4 year old + 14 fun things to do in London with kids

This post has been written in collaboration with FOREO LUNA Mini 2.   Do you want to know the secret to perfect skin? I ask a beautician at a fancy London spa once and she actually told me! I was reviewing a spa hotel and had an incredible facial during my stay. After my treatment …

Read More about FOREO LUNA Mini 2 Review and the secret to perfect skin

In October I’m expecting my third baby and my mind is already turning to my self-employed maternity leave. It isn’t easy to manage maternity leave when you work for yourself but I did OK with my first two babies and plan to do something similar again. I took my maternity leave the opposite way around …

Read More about My plan for my self-employed maternity leave + why I’ll be taking maternity leave 6 months late!

This post about flying with a toddler what to pack for toddlers on a plane was created in collaboration with Admiral Travel Insurance. I’ve taken so many flights with kids so I’m sharing all my tips to make your flight as easy as possible! Travelling with toddlers and young children can be….let’s call it challenging! …

Read More about What to pack for a toddler on a plane: Your packing list for flying with a toddler

In just a matter of months I’ll be having my third baby so it’s only natural I’m beginning to think about giving birth and birth stories! During my first two pregnancies I loved reading other women’s birth stories and relished in the gory details – both positive and negative. I’m a firm believer that the …

Read More about My birth stories: Two positive caesareans, emotional anger and discharging myself from hospital

This post about visiting Komodo National Park has been updated from my backpacking trip through Asia and is all about my unforgettable trip to Komodo Island. You may have heard that they’re stopping tours to Komodo National Park in 2020 for one year to help boost the number of Komodo Dragons and to help stop …

Read More about Visiting Komodo National Park, my trip to see the Komodo Dragons in Indonesia

We’re going a bit off-topic today as I’d like to share our cheap conservatory makeover! I wasn’t going to post this because the conservatory is actually the one room of the house I don’t like but, as it’s where I take many of my photos on Instagram stories, I’m often asked about the (cheap!) flooring, …

Read More about Our cheap conservatory makeover