• cycling at the park
    holidays - mindfulness

    Monday Happy List – Week 89

    June 6, 2016 - By 

    Sometimes it feels that I’m always writing this post. My Monday Happy List feels a little like Groundhog Day – thankfully this is a nice post to write and a lovely way to mark the days which pass far too quickly. We spent the first half of the week on the Isle of Wight which was lovely. When I asked the children what their favourite part of the holiday was, they said paddling in the pool shaped like the Isle of Wight. For once I was totally unprepared and, despite my pleas to the children paddle, of course they just jumped…

  • Flakey McFlake Face ice cream van
    days out - holidays - vintage

    Monday Happy List – Week 88

    May 30, 2016 - By 

    Not only are we celebrating our second Bank Holiday in May but it’s also half term! We’re so happy to be enjoying a few days away from home. The weather has been beautiful so we’ve made the most of being out all day long. I love re-visiting places I enjoyed as a child and we had a great day at Carisbrooke Castle. Due to the school holidays they were celebrating the Cavaliers and Roundheads all week and there were loads of events we could join in with. Our favourites were taking part in the Pike Drill and learning about the Battle of…

  • collecting sea glass in teignmouth
    Cath Kidston - holidays - sewing

    Monday Happy List – week 80

    April 4, 2016 - By 

    We’ve just got back from a wonderful holiday in Devon. It was a typical week by the sea and there was mini golf, ice creams, swimming in grandad’s pool, walks along the beach, a trip on the steam train and spending spare pennies on the pier. I could get used to spending so much time outdoors and I think it’s safe to say we tired the kids out every day. Thanks Matalan for supplying some of the toys and games we took along with us. Whilst we were in Devon we spent a day in Exeter to escape the rain.…

  • DIY sandcastle flags
    die cutting - holidays - Paper craft - Sizzix crafts

    DIY sandcastle flags

    April 1, 2016 - By 

    We’re currently away enjoying a week at the seaside and we’ve been having so much fun thinking of ways to explore and craft with our new surroundings. Our little cottage  is on the beach which makes it super quick and easy to get the children dressed and out playing on the beach every morning! We’ve been on a boat out on the water, walked along the tide lines and watched boats come and go. We’ve tried to remember how far the tide comes up and watched it disappear back down the beach again. There’s something very soothing about looking out…

  • holidays - mindfulness

    Monday Happy List – week 79

    March 28, 2016 - By 

    I’ve really struggled with what to post today. I love my weekly feature of writing about my 5 favourite things from the previous week. However for once I felt stuck. We’re currently away on holiday in Devon and I’ve been enjoying relaxing so much more than writing on my blog. We usually stay in an amazing little fisherman’s cottage on the beach. We all love it and it’s come to feel like a second home (how I wish it was!). So this week’s Monday Happy List is all about the things we’re enjoying whilst we’re away from home. I love how…

  • holidays

    7 fun things to see and do in Antwerp

    September 23, 2015 - By 

    At the beginning of the school holidays my husband and I spent a few days in Antwerp. I love Belgium and this was one city we hadn’t visited before. We’re still eating the delicious biscuits we brought back with us so I thought I would share some of our favourite sites in the city. 7 fun things to see and do in Antwerp On our first day in Antwerp we checked into our hotel, the Hilton Antwerp Old Town hotel on Groenplaats, Antwerp’s most famous town square. After stopping for a beer in one of the many bars on the…

  • exploring Utrecht with Miffy
    days out - exploring - holidays - the Netherlands

    Exploring Utrecht with Miffy

    August 23, 2015 - By 

    As a mum of two small children we love Miffy, the little white rabbit drawn by Dick Bruna. This year Miffy celebrates her 60th birthday with, amongst other things, a special exhibition called Celebrating 60 years of Miffy! at the Centraal Museum Utrecht. Exploring Utrecht with Miffy Dick Bruna was born and lives in Utrecht and created Miffy there so it is great to see such a huge exhibition dedicated to Miffy. The exhibition runs from 20 June 2015 until 20 September 2015 and earlier in the summer holidays my husband and I enjoyed a weekend away and found ourselves…

  • holidays - Peppa Pig Holiday Blogger - swimming

    Swimming with Peppa and George

    August 22, 2015 - By 

    This year we have really enjoyed being a Peppa Pig Holiday Blogger. Both my children love Peppa and she plays a large part in our lives, as I’m sure she does in many other families. A few weeks ago we received our final Peppa Pig parcel of goodies and it was packed with lovely toys and products to see us through the holidays. The parcel contained lots of items which were perfect for my daughter who was really looking forward to swimming in Grandad’s pool this summer. The last time we put her in a pool 12 months ago just…

  • baking - eating - holidays

    Eating Belgian waffles

    August 16, 2015 - By 

    It’s a little known fact that I’m a Belgophile. I adore Belgium and have visited many Belgium cities including Brussels, Ghent, Ypres, Ostend, Bruges and this month Antwerp. I have a long list of more Belgian cities I want to visit, much to my family’s dismay. Obviously travelling at home and abroad can be expensive. According to some recent research by the Santander 123 credit card team the average daily spend while ON holiday (excluding flights and accommodation) in Barbados is a massive £109! Belgium is £88 and Poland and India came out cheapest with an average daily spend of…