Packing Lunch on the Go

Packing a lunch is not just a trend for school-aged children anymore. More adults are now packing a lunch for work as well and for a number of reasons, from making healthier choices to saving money on lunches out. Many are making this switch and the trend has caught on throughout the country. However, this does not mean that you have to carry your lunch in a plain paper sack. There are many fashionable lunch totes available today, in all sizes and colors, and carrying one comes with a few surprising benefits.     Artic Zone make some amazing and stylish lunch bag totes which are all designed with built-in thermal insulation meaning you can pack a wider variety of foods that you would not be able to take with you all day in a plain brown bag. The thermal qualities of a line tote bag means colder and fresher food for longer. Their handbag-type lunch totes for women are designed to be leak-proof and have liners that wipe clean which means if you do happen to spill ......

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Autumn Style and October Beauty Essentials

I have been giving my wardrobe a little overhaul lately and rediscovered these Autumn brown chinos I picked up from the Oxfam Boutique store in Cardiff city centre about two years ago and totally forgot about them, perhaps because not long after getting them I feel pregnant and let's just say they have no give in them so quickly were made redundant but I'm really enjoying wearing them now and thats the fantastic thing about putting clothes away during the summer to be welcomes again at the change of the season. I also find Autumn not only the time for jumpers but also long sleeved shirts and this Vero Moda one has always been a bit of a favourite as I am huge fan of monochrome and love the white with the black edges. I've paired it up with my Ralph Lauren bag and Bronx Brogues for a simple and causal look perfect for a spot of lunch in the city. I don't know about you but I certainly find this time of the year really starts to take a toll on my ski......

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Lunch at Babylon, Kensington

Earlier this week we jumped on the train from Cardiff for a much needed day out in London, it feels like it's been forever since both John and I have had the chance to be back in the Capital together, in fact when you have a family it can be a bit of a struggle having any quality time together. We think it's very important to make time for yourself as an individual as well as a couple so when Virgin Experience Days  asked me to choose an experience I thought would be perfect for treating the man in my life in the run up to Fathers day I couldn't wait to surprise John. I am fully aware of how much John does, he works long hours and happily gives any of his free time to spend with our sons and very rarely complains, he is in all honesty a very dedicated father so it was wonderful to raise a toast to him over a three course lunch in the beautiful surroundings that is Babylon , a Roof Terrace on the 7th floor overlooking Kensington. The entrance to Bab......

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My Saver Story

Thank goodness for saving as if we had not been putting a little away each month we would of been hit really hard over Christmas with various things going wrong in the house as well as expecting our second child. In our family I am far more cautious and tend to think ahead while John is a bit more spontaneous with regards to purchases and yet we are the opposite when it comes to travel and adventures. Although since becoming parents we have over the years tried to hit a middle ground as when you have a household to run and kids to clothe, feed and entertain, too many unfortunate expenses can suddenly put a lot of strain on you and it's been one of those times when everything has come at once but we have been able to ride it out due to making sure we put something aside each month. As you grow as a person you of course change and so does the way you do things. Looking back and reflecting on that here is what our saving story has been in the past, present and our dreams for the ......

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Style in your City - Apple Jacks

A little lunch date maternity outfit - wearing Bibee Dress and M&S jacket  So the lovely Fritha and Lori have started up a new lovely linkup called Style in the City that highlights the best parts of the place you live. As some of you may already know we are based in the Welsh Capital of Cardiff. I am not sure if this will be our home base forever but for now we are enjoying what this little city has to offer. As I get nearer to the end of this pregnancy both John and I are venturing out slightly less although we still managed to enjoy a rare child free date lunch to Apple Jacks a few weeks ago and thought this was the perfect time to share our mini adventure. Apple Jacks has a great interior Apple Jacks is a recently opened independent american style diner and coffee house located in the heart of the city, just of St Marys Street. We decided to try it out mainly because it caters for both veggies and meat eaters and has the option of serving it's burgers in Gl......

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Dreaming of a Christmas in Kefalonia, Greece

Myrtos Beach in Kefalonia I have been to Greece a few times with my parents - we generally avoided large resorts and enjoyed Island hoping to some of the smaller islands such as Poros and Hydra being two of my favourite and I have some very fond memories of our times there, including coming across a beautiful secluded restaurant 2 miles up a hill through a lemon grove, no other customers were there and the owner made us feel so welcome and cooked us a real feast, he then showed us a nearby waterfall, it was one of those magical days. I would love to return to Greece with John and the little man as there are so many places to visit and with such friendly locals, warm weather, blue sea and wonderful food what more could you ask for in a holiday destination. I am particularly drawn to Kefalonia as even though it's one of the larger Ionia Islands it's actually one of the less inhabited and is great for a quiet, relaxed and outdoor filled holiday, which is something I reall......

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Bringing the Coffee Home

I was recently invited to amazing little coffee workshop event at one of my favourite places to grab a cuppa - Wyndham Tea (part of the home-grown Waterloo Tea houses) in the Arcades in Cardiff. The event was being put on my Currys and I really didn't know what to expect but there was a fantastic turnout and it's always really exciting to see something like this come to Cardiff with a few bloggers travelling from Bristol and further afield. It started at midday and as soon as I arrived I was greeted with a delicious de-caff iced coffee which I really need to learn how to recreate at home. The room was setup into Stations and we were all split into smaller groups to allow us to get as much out of the day as possible, First up was Latte Art and I have to say even though my attempts were unsuccessful I had a lot of fun in the process as well as learning more about how important a good Coffee grinder is, the process of making coffee decaffeinated and how temperamental soy......

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30th Birthday lunch at Ralph's in Paris

So before heading down to the South of France to celebrate my 30th we spent two days in Paris and I knew John had something up his sleeve and even though it was 2 days before my 30th John wanted to take me out somewhere special for lunch, so off we headed to the Left Bank and to the wonderfully stylish Ralph's in St Germaine. As some of you may already know John go to label is Ralph Lauren as their tailored shirts and chinos have never let him down and their home wear is simply stunning. It felt almost surreal sitting outside this beautiful building in the garden terrace with the sun shinning down, surrounded by many a fashionable Parisian (the place was fully booked) in the heart of Paris, it couldn't of been more perfect, except for the fact that if I had know I probably would of worn something else but it was a lovely surprise. Luckily John had made a reservation otherwise there would be no way you would be able to get a seat. Ralph's is all about "An Am......

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Street Style Sunday - Trainer trend

It's that time of the week again where I join up with the lovely Natalie at Style me Sunday for the weekly Street Style Sunday linky - remember you can link up anything fashion and style related even if it's an outfit of your partner, child or fashion inspired. This week I am really loving the trainer trend. After these lovely Nike Roshe trainers from JD Sports arrived I have not stopped wearing them, not only are the super comfy (I literally feel like I am walking on air) but I love the pop of colour and that I can dress them up or down - so I thought I would share two outfits with you this week  The first outfit I paired the Nike Roshe trainers up with a simple linen dress and orange Radley bag a little lunch date with John and the second one was paired with some shorts and a relaxed tee for a family adventure in Cardiff Bay. If your going to be running around a city all day or simply enjoying some the outdoors and fresh air  I cannot put into words how comfor......

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