Side Street Style

When it comes to exotic destinations we often thinks of places like Thailand, Costa Rica or far-flung Caribbean islands but you really don't have to hop onto a long haul flight to find those white sands and crystal blue seas as there are plenty of short haul exotic destinations right here in Europe, making them a great for a mini-escape when you have had frankly enough of the unpredictable British weather. This list could easily be doubled what I am going to share but I thought I would put together a mix of places I have either been to or want to visit and certainly capture that exotic far-flung feeling.

1. Isles of Scilly

Less than a 10-minute flight from Lands End and you are instantly transported to somewhere so unique and special you will wonder why you have never visited before. We spent a week exploring the Isles of Scilly in 2016 and have been dreaming of going back ever since. Every morning we woke up to the most beautiful views and would take barefoot strolls on the beach after breakfast, the Isles move to its own slower time and you easily fall into that relaxing feeling while embracing all the simple pleasures. Despite it being the height of summer while we were there it wasn't busy at all, often finding ourselves alone on our beach walks on St Martins. The Isles are certainly up there with any other isolated beach destination and I highly recommend it.

Enjoying St Martins, Isles of Scilly

2. Kotor, Montenegro

Ever since I went backpacking and inter-railing through Europe (before kids) I would hear so many fantastic things about Montenegro and actually headed down that way but detoured up through Croatia and Hungary and ever since have always wanted to go back visit. For those who don't know Kotor is a fortified town on the Adriatic coast and has long been a hot spot for the yachting set but now with easily available flights, it has opened the way to move people being able to visit this secluded bay. Despite it being frequented by the rich and famous there is also a simplicity here as well as four National Parks. stunning lakes and beautiful beaches there is plenty of outdoor fun to be had.

3. Antibes, South of France

If you already read my blog regularly you will know I have a real soft spot for the South of France, having worked and lived there for a few months just before settling down it's somewhere that is very close to my heart, so much so that it was the natural choice for where I wanted to celebrate my 30th Birthday. What I love about Antibes is it's so creative, colorful but slower and more quaint than Nice and less pretentious than Cannes. It has wonderful beaches that are safe for families to swim in as well as plenty of Gelato shops, museums and that laid back vibe that harks ever so gently to years gone by when Hollywood starlets would visit this region to retreat from it all. I've also written a family friendly guide to The South Of France so do check it out.




4. Capri, Italy

This Italian island in the Gulf of Naples is famed for it's natural beauty and youthful hednomism that has been attracting visitors since Roman times and it somewhere that is very high up on my bucket list. There is so much to see and do on this small island including the famous Blue Grotto, a beautiful sea cave with a tiny opening that attracts a lot of tourists. You could also hire your own motorboat and explore the island or go hiking on one of many trails.

5. El Hierro, Spain

Most will not have heard of the island of El Hierro, the smallest of the Canary Islands, as well as the most natural and rugged and is completely self-sufficient using only renewable energy. It has a small airport that connects with Tenerife and is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve which means it has limited construction and while there are hotels and Villas and I recommend you book in advance, Interhome have some on their website, it's an Island very rich in natural wonders including rich forest, lava features and sea cliffs as well as a stunning coastline.

If you follow me on instagram you may already know that we recently spent a fantastic weekend exploring Swansea Bay and the Gower and wow what a weekend it was. Even though technically we don't live that far from Swansea as Cardiff is only an hour away we didn't actually realise how much of the Swansea peninsular we hadn't seen, despite having visited Swansea city centre and Mumbles before there is just so much more to this part of South Wales. It was a long overdue trip especially as I am very keen on watersports having grown up surfing in South Africa and the first activity of the weekend was Standup Paddleboarding with Matt from SUP Gower on the beautiful Swansea Canal at the Cyldach Heritage Centre.




Having not put my wetsuit on since before having my youngest 3yrs ago I was a little worried it was going to be on the tight side but luckily it was okay and I didnt even need to breath in too much to zip it up. Once all suited and booted Matt took me through the basics on land, showing me the differences in some of the boards, as well as basic health and safety. Luckily the sun was out and it had turned into a glorious morning on the canal as it's such a tranquil spot with plenty of walkers and birdwatchers and a great place for an introduction in to Standup Paddleboarding.

As it was my first time Sup'ing at they call it I spent the first few minutes paddling on my knees and getting to grips with all the equipment although with perfect conditions and a nice calm canal we were up and away in no time, meandering down the canal taking in the relaxing atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the city.



If your looking for a truly fun activity that is perfect for all ages and fitness levels than I highly recommend trying out Stand Up Paddleboarding and Matt is a fantastic teacher and a very experienced one having competed in Sup'ing internationally. If your looking for a more a bit more of an adrenaline hit then you can have lessons in the surf or head out to sea on a guided sup'ing season, all in and around Swansea so whatever takes for fancy from fast to slow that offer it all. 

After about an hour on the canal, smiles all round, we headed back and I have to say I have totally caught the bug and will be Sup'ing again sometime soon. After squeezing myself back out of my wetsuits we were back on the road and heading to The Mumbles, one of the prettiest little harbor towns in Wales and the perfect place to take the kids to fun some energy off. As it was lunchtime we went on the search for food, we had been recommended Verdis which looked fantastic but was full to the brim and impossible to get a table, which only serves to solidify the fact it's very good and we will have to return at some point to give it a try. Instead we decided to head further down towards the pier to see what we could find. 






We came across The Beach Hut which was perfect pitstops as it was welcoming, family friendly and offered some really great views of the coastline while digging into pizza and ice cream (I mean if you can't eat that at the seaside then when can you?). The interior is fun and colourful and the ice-cream parlor was certainly popular but with so many flavours I can see why. We then had a relaxing walk around the pier and down to the pebble beach, where the kids found some nice seashells and managed to have a quick dip of the toes in the water.

When it arrived I was really excited to see what it looked like as well as watch my sons reaction when he opened the bag to see his vision come to life. Both of us were so impressed with how exact the soft toy was to his drawing, down to every whisker, colourful detail and slightly off balance wings, it's perfect and has immediately become his favourite soft toy and something he dearly loves. Of course this doesn't replace Sam our much missed family dog but its been a wonderful creative project and have been happy to have the chance to be apart of it.

Ever since I was a young girl we have always had a variety of pets and they have always been treated as equals in our house. If they are sick we would take them to the vet straightaway, care for them, love them the same as any other member of our family. Which is why we don't take things lightly when considering getting another one, for us it's for life and therefore all things need to be considered. One of the most important things firstly is making sure we have the right Pet Insurance because just like people animals get ill, face old age and need extra support which is why if you are considering getting a pet than do check out PetPlan insurance plans so you know you can offer your new member the safe and secure home they need.




This post has been possible thanks to Petplan, but all thoughts are my own

As my children are now a little older the one activity we love to do as a family is hitting the cycle track near our home which runs all the way along the River Taff from the Brecon Beacons to Cardiff and has become one of our favourite weekend past times that we can do all together as a family because lets be honest it can be pretty tricky to find a physical activity that crosses the age divide as much as cycling does. Both John and I have struggled up to this point to fit in consistent physical activities and exercise since having kids, before we started a family we both visited the gym regularly but while we still aim to do as much as we can the fact of the matter is it is hard around kids, work and keeping the house semi-organised. Which is why activities we can do altogether are the best and since my eldest has taken to cycling so much it's become something we really look forward to on weekends and we even have a trailer so our toddler can come along for the ride.




As our fitness and passion for cycling increases, we are always looking for little challenges, whether that be to do longer stretches of our local cycle track or see how long we can stay out on our bikes it's good to have a goal. This summer we have been looking at different ways to keep it interesting and the spark going especially with our 7yr old and I am really excited to tell you about the family friendly Cyclefest, organised by Experience Freedom which is happening across two different venues over summer. Cyclefest involves either a sporting route for the more serious cyclists as well as an 8 mile family bike ride suitable for young and old.



 Cyclefest is happening at Sledmere, Yorkshire on the 27th May and also in Monmouth on the 26th August and your Cyclefest entry also allows access to the National hosted by the Caravan and Motorhome Club so if you're really looking for an adventure why not grab a pitch, camp and make a weekend of it. Both events are to be action packed days out with craft areas, street food, bike demos and finisher medals for everyone that crosses the line of the family bike ride.

What we really love about cycling is being able to see parts of the UK from a different perspective, cycle track often take a more scenic route and it's a great way to get outdoors and have some downtime that is also quality family time. I also love the community that comes with exploring this beautiful country on two wheels so I love the idea of coming together with other like-minded families. If you sign up for the event you will also be automatically be entered into a competition to win a 6-night holiday in the Loire region of France. If your looking for an outdoor, cycle friendly adventure Experience Freedom the organiser of Cyclefest has an array of cool glamping and camping pods as well as yurts at over 40 sites in the UK.

Good news I actually have one set of family tickets (2 adults and 2 children) to giveaway to one lucky reader. The winner chooses which event they want to attend and the giveaway ends on the 20th May 2018

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Sponsored post in collaboration with Cyclefest

Christmas and Valentine’s Day might be behind us for another year, but with many international gift-giving celebrations yet to come, you have plenty more opportunities to show your loved ones around the world how much you care.

Choosing a gift for a friend or family member is already tricky enough when you only have to account for personal tastes. When that loved one is living abroad, you then have to factor in the peculiar customs restrictions of that country, cost, as well as local traditions and superstitions that can make present-picking even trickier! For information about international parcel restrictions for over 50 countries, click here.

How many of the following superstitions had you heard of before?

Wine

Can you ever go wrong when picking up a bottle of wine to give someone as a present? In many parts of Europe, it’s an appropriate gift for most occasions, and especially when you’re attending a dinner party. It’s the complete opposite in France, where the host will usually have taken special care to choose a wine that complements their meal. Bringing your own bottle can be perceived as rude and you certainly shouldn’t expect it to be opened during the evening.

I have always been a big herbal tea drinker, coming from South Africa I was brought up on Rooibos from a very early age as it's caffeine free and high in antioxidants and is common place in most homes in South Africa. I also love drinking tea in its most natural form as loose leaf so when Adagio Teas got in touch asking if I would like to review their large range of loose leaf teas I of course said yes.

With so many health benefits drinking a daily cup of herbal tea can be a very positive thing as well as your morning ritual and a calm way to start the day. Loose leaf tea is often in general higher quality and I love that Adagio offer sample boxes which give you the chance to try four different kinds of tea to find of for yourself which one you like best and each sample box has enough loose leaf tea for around 40 cups.





I really enjoyed trying out their Honeybush tea which is a sibling of Rooibos, also cultivated in South Africa and naturally caffeine free and subtly sweet with a gentle honey fragrance. Any tea you have in mind Adagio stocks from Chai teas to Oolong, green and Matcha teas and they also have an array of teaware, including their easy-to-use IngeuniTea mug making drinking loose leaf tea a breeze.

What I like about Adagio is that it's artisan teas and blends come directly from the farmers around the world and I have to say I am genuinely impressed with the quality of their tea as well as the variety in choice.




Best of all is I have a fantastic giveaway giving one lucky reader the chance to win a Glass teapot (worth £30), Glass Mug and 6 sampler sets with the winner being able to pick the flavors they would prefer. This giveaway has a value of more than £70 and is a great way to get into loose leaf tea drinking. It's super easy to enter and the giveaway ends on the 21st May 2018



a Rafflecopter giveaway

What keeps bringing us back year after year is how family friendly it is and as soon as we passed through the gates we were asked if the kids would like to do a treasure hunt with a prize to everyone who finishes it, of course they jumped at the opportunity. Each year they also have an array of sculptures up and this year was no exception with an unmissable giant crochet wheelbarrow right next to the entrance. Another highlight is the Schools wheelbarrow competition where Schools across South Wales designed and decorated wheelbarrows in cool and creative ways and you get given a token to vote for your favorite.

This year they also had a specifically designed area just for kids where they could play games, get music playing by cycling a bike, make crafts and basically a safe area for parents to sit and relax for a moment while being able to easily supervise their children. I think a space like this is a really good idea as the flower show can become extremely busy around midday.





Of course we also made sure to check out all the award-winning designed gardens as well as taking in all the bright blooms in the flower tents and picking up a succulent or two along the way. When it comes to gardening and flowers this show has everything you need with tons of talks, demonstrations, stall holders and plenty of flowers and products on sale. As you proceed further into the fair you come to the bandstand which a constant stream of talented musicians taking the stage throughout the day. The Ferris wheel also cannot be missed as well as the smaller independent craft market and a huge variety of street food and market stands.





As with every year we had a great time and the sun even came out later on making it one of the warmest days we have seen this year. As it gets closer to closing things start to slow down a little and become less busy which is great when you have kids. I highly recommend visiting the RHS show when it comes back to Cardiff next year and plan to stay the whole day or at least 2-3hrs because there is simply so much to see and do. I would also recommend taking a reusable bottle of water as there are refilling stations as well as some snacks as food with most events like this is on the pricey side.

We have always been big believers of their being plenty to see and do right here in the UK and love a good staycation, plus with the value of pound looking fairly weak in 2018, many people have found that going abroad for holidays is getting very expensive. But there is some good news in the fact that we have a huge wealth of brilliant places to visit so there is no need to travel far for you to enjoy a truly memorable time. If you are thinking of holidaying with your family in 2018, here are five very different locations that are all perfect for adventure and fun this year.

Camber Sands

If you’re looking for a truly classic holiday destination that gives you the chance to visit somewhere brand new, why not visit Camber Sands? Found in East Sussex, the town of Camber is famous for this beautiful beach that stretches for miles. With lifeguards over the summer months, Camber Sands is also surprisingly quiet during the majority of the year so you can enjoy a very relaxed atmosphere.
Only a little way down the road from Hastings, there are a range of great attractions nearby including the Miniature Steam Railway and the Drusillas Park zoo.

Over the past few years we have had the odd occasion where the opportunity to go away at the last mintue has popped up, in fact that happened this month. We have now learnt how to pack very quickly for a family of four and getting this skill down to a tee means you can take advantage of those last minute travel deals in which time is the essence.