Experience the Magic: Best European Christmas Markets to Visit in 2023 The festive season in Europe is synonymous with twinkling lights, the sweet scent of mulled wine, and the joyful laughter of families and friends. European Christmas markets offer a unique and enchanting experience that draws travellers from around the world. If you’re planning a winter getaway, here are some of the best European Christmas markets to visit in 2023, complete with opening dates and average temperatures to help make up your mind. Keep eye for flight sales Strasbourg, France Opening Date: November 25, 2023, to ..read more

Chasing the Northern Lights: Where to Witness the Aurora Borealis The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are one of Mother Nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles. These dancing lights in the night sky are caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. There has been a lot in the media here in Ireland with the Northern Lights seen as far away as Dublin and even Dingle in Kerry! That is a very rate occurrence. I have always been so interested in seeing the Northern Lights ever since I was a kid they fascinated me.   I caught my ..read more

Smooth Sailing Adventures: 7 Irresistible Reasons to Cruise with Kids Pic Credit: Pixabay Are you ready to embark on a family holiday that combines relaxation, adventure, and entertainment? Look no further than a cruise tailored to families with kids! While cruising may conjure images of romantic getaways and tropical sunsets,  or a holiday more suited to retirees, do not be fooled it’s also an excellent option for families seeking a fun-filled, hassle-free getaway. Buckle up (or should we say, anchor down?) as we explore the seven irresistible reasons why going on a cruise with kids sh ..read more

Top 10 reasons for traveling with kids Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog Trip: Tromso Traveling with kids can be an enriching and rewarding experience that not only creates lasting memories but also offers numerous developmental and educational benefits. While it might seem daunting at first, the advantages of embarking on adventures with your little ones far outweigh any challenges. So far my 8 and 11 year old have been to 33 countries and counting, they really do love to travel like their parents! From fostering family bonding to promoting cultural awareness, here’s why traveling with kids ..read more

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get Braces? Orthodontic treatment can perfect your child’s smile. As long as they have a few adult teeth, braces are a viable option, but orthodontists have some age preferences. Teenage teeth are more responsive to correction and less prone to de-calcification than adults’. That doesn’t always mean it’s best to wait for your children to reach their adolescent years, though. Dental corrections can address misalignment in children as young as seven when the mouth is malleable and has plenty of room for movement. There’s no rule of thumb for every patient. A good ort ..read more

6 Ways to Manage Money Understanding and managing money is a vital life skill, whether you’ve got it by the bucket-load or you’re on a tight budget. We’ve rounded up six sound tips for managing money that work whether you’re just starting out or simply looking for ways to get better. 1/ Create a Budget With a written budget, you can see where every penny is going and work out ways to juggle, trim or expand savings. You can use pen and paper or an app on your phone to help you keep track of income and expenses, including things like rent or mortgage, utilities, loan repayments or credit cards a ..read more

Tips for visiting Malaga with kids Malaga is a city we visited many times before we had kids however shamefully we have not been back since. This summer we aim to remedy that. Malaga is the perfect place to base yourself in Southern Spain.  It is a really family friendly location with lots to see and do as well as good food, good wines and really friendly people. It is also very close to another vibrant Spanish city – Marbella. Spain is one of those holiday designation that keeps drawing you back in, from its temperate climate to its food to its warm and welcoming local people, you really ..read more

5 Tips for Tallinn with kids I was so excited to visit Tallinn, I was fascinated by the Medieval architecture and the fairy tale like streets.  However I hadn’t seen many posts on tips for Tallinn with kids so I vowed to do this post when I get back to help other families visit this stunning city.  Below are my top tips for getting the most out of your trip to Tallinn with kids. 1 – Get the Tallinn Card We have used city attraction type cards in many countries around the world.  The Tallinn Card is available on-line or in person over in Tallinn and can be purchased for different ..read more

Tips for visiting New York with kids  Pic Credit: Pixabay New York is one of those cities I will never tire of visiting, I am lucky to have visited over 10 times and even more lucky to have spent time living and working there. However despite many requests from the kids who are 10 and 7 now we have never taken them. 2023 will be the year we change that. We are considering combining it with a return trip to Canada. With that in mind, I have spent the last few weeks doing some research on tips for visiting New York with kids so I thought I would share the learnings as it might help other ..read more

Pic Credit: Pixabay One of the best ways to teach kids about money, it’s value and relevance in everyday life, is to include them in daily money activities, starting as early as possible. Children often have a hard time understanding money, including the concept of earning it and paying for things. Our modern, cashless society makes money even more abstract.  Make it Fun Playing games with or about money makes learning lots of fun, and few kids dislike games. You could go for familiar board games such as Monopoly or introduce them to online games with money as the theme. Alternatively ..read more