The Green Gathering Festival, Chepstow

The Green Gathering festival has been on my bucket list for a long time although with the pandemic cancelling most festivals for 2yrs we haven't been able to attend until now. I had considered staying for the whole weekend as we love to camp and love a long festival weekend, although as we are planning a big trip to Europe soon, I decided as the festival is in Chepstow which is less than an hour away from our house, that the most budget-friendly option was to get a day pass, especially as under 11's go free, which meant I only had to pay for myself and for £40 for a whole day at a festival that felt like a really good deal.  We made sure to get there early so we could enjoy the whole day and really get a feel for what the festival is all about. Unlike other festivals, the Green Gathering is the original off-grid low impact festival, powered by sun, wind and people and is non-profit without any mainstream commercial sponsorships. This however doesn't impact the amazing perf......

Read more »

How to reduce your carbon footprint while travelling

*This post contains affiliate links  We’re all excited by the prospect of leaving the local area we’ve been more or less bound to for the past 12 months and heading away to explore the world again.But one important lesson that’s been confirmed to us since the pandemic struck is that when people don’t travel, the world is a cleaner place. So how can we continue to see and love our planet without creating a huge carbon footprint? Here are some tips... Use green transport Obviously, there are times when avoiding taking to the air is impossible, such as travelling from the UK to New Zealand. But for shorter journeys to other European destinations consider taking the bus or train. After all, why the rush? You’re on holiday! The easiest way to minimise the carbon footprint from the transport you use is to holiday within the UK and take public transport to your destination . It can be a much more relaxing way to travel than by car, and you tend to see more of the landscape through which y......

Read more »

Why Small Weddings are the new trend for 2021

*Contains affiliate links  We all know that Covid has caused chaos for a variety of reasons this year, with many of us feeling like our lives are on hold. Many events and celebrations have been cancelled and everything from shopping to visiting friends has changed. For many of us, we have reduced or travel, stayed local, shopped local and avoided large gatherings, the environment has also benefitted from society slowing down and that really has been a good thing. I have never been one that feels like bigger is better so it's good to hear that the trend of less is more and going small is the new thing, including weddings. If you needed convincing on why a small wedding is a great choice then here are a few non-covid reasons to help persuade you (as well as save you money).  The Benefits of a Small Wedding The more you consider what a small wedding will be like, the more you'll come to the realization that this should have been your first choice in the first place. Here are all ......

Read more »

5 simple ways to make your home more eco friendly

*This post contains affiliate links  As we move into 2020 there are more and more people who are keen to make positive eco-friendly changes not only to their lifestyle but also to their home to ensure they lower their carbon footprint. With so much advice out there is can often feel a bit overwhelming so I am keeping it very simple and straight forward with 5 ways to make your home more eco-friendly this year. 1. Change to an ethical energy provider I put off doing this for years until my bill with one of the big six became unmanageable & their billing system was way too complicated to understand. I wasn't actually looking for an ethical provider at the time, just a provider that offered a more competitive rate. I came across Bulb energy which not only was a lot more reasonable (I've saved a considerable amount switching to them) but also they provide 100% renewable electricity from solar, wind and hydro and their gas is 100% carbon neutral. Such an easy money-sa......

Read more »

Little Freddie paving the way with Recyclable Food Pouches

As you already may know I am working with a fantastic small family driven organic food company called Little Freddie. It's a dream partnership for me as I am passionate about providing my kids with healthy and nutritious food and being really busy and on the go Little Freddies Food pouches are just a great option for me as they are packed with the best ingredient with no preservatives, additives or any hidden nasties at all. I also feel reassured by their passion as a small company who have researched every flavour combination, have visited the growers of the fruit and vegetable included and have poured their hearts and souls into making the best pouches on the market. I have also been lucky enough to have attended a focus group earlier this year, try out some of their products right at the early stages and meet the founders and be able to put a face to a name and I am over the moon that they have been taking on board feedback from their customers, especially with regards to ......

Read more »

6 stylish hotels for Interior lovers

Rooms At The Chapel When we travel we are pretty happy go lucky although it's always a treat to stay somewhere a little bit special, that sends those senses tingling with inspiration and creates a space that is unique, stylish and comfortable. I thought I would share some hotels I have come across while researching family trips and put a little wish list together of places that combine travel and my love of interiors together. 1. At the Chapel , Bruton Somerset - as soon as you step into this multi-use Grade 2 listed former chapel with it's in-house bakery, wine store, restaurant and luxury rooms you will be bowled over by the stunning church windows and natural light flowing in. The rooms are modern and contemporary yet still make full use of the original features. The marble-wrapped bathrooms are a visual treat as well as having breakfast brought to your room each morning. This would be a fantastic spot for treating the lady in your life this Valentines or Mothers D......

Read more »

Eco friendly family fashion with Natureshop

We are actively trying to reduce our carbon foot print as well as be more eco conscious in our household in a variety of ways. Immediately one thinks of energy saving ideas such as turning off all the appliances from standby as well as making sure we recycle as much as possible and being less wasteful, all of which we do but you can also look beyond that to what one wears or purchases.  When it comes to food we try and eat as much organic or local produce as we can afford and we are aiming to do the same with the clothing we buy. I often pick up things from Charity shops as they are the perfect place to find something a bit different, at a very good price as well as upcycling an item but you cannot always find what you need, especially when it comes to children who are constantly growing.  So I was very excited when NatureShop got in touch as they have such a fantastic array of eco friendly clothes and accessories for the whole family. A lot of the brands they s......

Read more »

Street Style Sunday - Organic Baby

So this winter is going to be Baby G's first real taste of biting cold weather as he was born right at the end of Feb and I only started taking him out and about Mid-March when it was already starting to get a little milder so this has meant shopping for something to see him through the winter months and keep him all nice and toasty I really do think children have the best choice of clothes, I mean I would love to be wrapped up in a soft super cosy winter fleece all in one especially one as beautiful as this eco-friendly organic Kite snowsuit from Little Chickie  which stock an array of cute baby and kids clothing (wish they made some of the stuff in adult sizes too) and this starry suit has got to be one of my favourite things Baby G has worn so far. The soft cotton jersey lining and detachable mitts make it perfect for winter and the small touches such as the little ears on the hood are just too cute and best of all is Baby G seemed to be very comfortable in it, smili......

Read more »

Pregnancy update and Essentials for the Home

Once again I can't believe I am already 35 weeks pregnant although I have to say physically I certainly feel it a bit more now. Keeping active and fit is still very important and we have a few outings planned over the next 2-3 weeks, I just hope we don't run out of time. It's strange but certainly true that each and every pregnancy is different, this time round I don't have the sciatica that I suffered with Mr A but I do have really bad rib pain as well as leg cramps every now and then. Luckily as with the first time I have managed to stay stretch mark free (fingers crossed) although I do swear by using creams throughout the pregnancy - they certainly do seem to help. Nesting has certainly set in and making sure we have everything ready. We kept pretty much all of Mr A's clothing and bedding so thats one less thing to worry about, although we did get rid of some things during the two house moves since having him, including a very useful but simple bouncer. T......

Read more »