My Ultimate Pre-Holiday checklist for families

A relaxing and enjoyable family vacation can be one of the most rewarding experiences anyone could ever hope to share with loved ones. Or it can prove an unmitigated disaster that you almost immediately regret. Often, whether your vacation is a success or sinks depends largely on your preparation for it. So, to make sure your next family vacation gets off on the right foot, check out this definitive list of everything you need to do –– before you hit the road: Get the Papers in Order If you’re taking your family on an international adventure, then you’ll need to ensure you all have the proper paperwork first. Visas, identification forms, and/or passports all need to be up-to-date and correct, otherwise your dream holiday could get stalled at the starting gate and it's surprising how many people don't check the expiry on their passport and especially with children's passports which need to be renewed more often than adults. Take some time a few months before to get ......

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Embracing Autumn adventures with Ecco

We love getting outdoors all year round but as we move through Autumn into Winter there is something particularly wonderful about this time of the year, the light, the fallen leaves, the biting freshness that makes you feel awake. The thing is as it starts to get colder more preparation is needed for outdoor adventures so that you are comfortable and cosy and don't have to retreat back indoors simply due to being under dressed.  Over this half term we decided to head to one of our favourite National Trust Properties, Dyffryn Gardens to enjoy all the Autumn activities such as scare-crow making and pumpkin carving. We love this place as it also allows for all those simple pleasures such as climbing trees, getting muddy and walking through acres of woodland and I often struggle to get the boys to leave even when it's late afternoon.   We easily spend a couple of hours here as there is always something new to discover, even on weekends it feels quiet and......

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Getting school ready with Debenhams

 I seriously cannot believe how quick the summer holidays have flown by and school is starting next week! My son has shot up and of course nothing from last year fits him this year, plus on top of that he is changing schools, which we are all really excited about. His new school doesn't have a strict uniform as it's fairly small but they still ask all clothes be practical, durable and long wearing which Debenhams does really well. We stopped into our local store to check out their back to school range which has a fantastic price point as well as quality When it comes to clothes my eldest simply won't wear anything that is not comfortable but he has been wearing this navy jumper for two days straight so I know that is a hit plus its tumble and machine washable and easy to iron making mornings less stressful. Their Uniform collection has been designed to make things as quick as possible, all the shirts are easy care and iron, plus the jackets are shower-proof ......

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Stylish Storage & woven baskets

I am a huge fan of well designed spaces, rooms thats are not only stylish but also are practical and use the space in the best way, especially with savvy storage options. My mother recently had a bench/storage box made for her passage way (similar to the one above), its just under her stairs and it's not only created a place were you can sit down, put your wellies on before heading out but also a clever solution to being able to put away shoes, umbrellas or any outdoor equipment in a neat way. As most of you already know we love products made out of natural fibres and I have a real soft spot for woven goods and have been working on getting our bedroom ready for the move later this year, so after setting up our new bed we have been on the lookout for some kind of storage trunk to go under the bed and I love these beautiful ones from The Basket Company . I love this picnic basket They have such a lovely collection of woven baskets perfect for any storage needs from u......

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Sporty Summer Style

I am really happy that the trainer trend and sporty style seems to be sticking around for a while as it's not both stylish but also very comfortable and perfect for when your spending a whole day running around a city centre or city park. The great thing about sportswear is that in generally they are very well made and robust which means they can last season after season and you can also mix and match trainers with more formal dress which was seen at London Fashion Week this year as well as popping up a lot in Street Style. Mixing up trainers and designer fashion ( image ) The thing about sportswear is that is doesn't come cheap, although like I said as long as you go for better brands they should last a couple of seasons, although saying that there are still bargains to be found and I have recently come across a site called Stylzz  which allows you to search hundreds of brands and then does a online price comparison and finds the best deal for that particular......

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Stylish Gifts for Him, Her and the Home

The women's Bixby bike which I am in love with  First of all how beautiful is this bike above...oh how I would love to have this standing in our hallway waiting to be taken out each day on adventures along the riverside. Is there really anything better than when aesthetics, design and practicality come together in seamless harmony - I think not! This is the running theme of the small but perfectly formed collection of products from the high end Detroit based retailer Shinola who opened up a London store in 2013. Instead of out-sourcing their goods to be made in cheaper countries nearly everything is handcrafted in America which to be honest is a bit of a rarity so it's pretty exciting to see it pop up in the UK, including being able to buy all their products online. Large hard linen journal £17.50 Shinola started life out as a shoe polish company which saw some investment a few years ago and with an initial focus on handcrafted watches made in Detroit, it th......

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Funky Giraffe Giveaway

I love this starry bib from Funky Giraffe bibs  So I am officially 36 weeks and things are really starting to gear up towards the new arrival and I was super excited to received these wonderful soft and beautiful designed bibs from Funky Giraffe - I love the patterns and prints and the easy bandana style which adds a little element of baby fashion in a useful and practical way. What is more exciting is I get to offer one lucky reader an assorted 5 pack of bandana bibs, with there lovely 100% cotton front and fleece back to keep your baby dry they are the perfect stylish accessory. So it's super easy to enter and 5 beautiful designed bibs will be sent out to the lucky winner. a Rafflecopter giveaway ...

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Sweet Dreams - Bed perfection

I think this is a good quote to live by ( image ) It's surprising how many of us sleep on uncomfortable, old and basically unsuitable beds, especially when you think how many hours we spend on this one piece of furniture. Surely it should be one of the most important purchases we make, yet we often overlook, even John and I can put our hands up and say that we have gone for way to long without replacing our bed and it's now being put to the top of the list of must have things for the house, especially since sleep and the quality of your sleep is so important to your physical and mental wellbeing. \ How beautiful and cosy does this bed look? ( image ) Personally I find lack of sleep really does affect my mood and makes me less attentive and when you have a toddler running around if your not on your game it can be easy to feel overwhelmed or get a little short with them, which is not fair on them. Also you are more likely to eat more when you are tired whic......

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Five extreme DIY jobs to perform in your home

When you need work done on your home it can be a pain not to mention expensive to get someone out to do it for you. If you have the time and patience, it can sometimes be way more beneficial to do it yourself, even if you have never done that kind of work before; from big jobs requiring hired equipment from someone to little fix ups guided by an internet tutorial, you can take control of your repairs without losing your grasp on the family finances. Here is a list of five extreme DIY jobs to perform in your home that will hopefully help you to pre-empt some common household problems before they get to a point where you need to hire a professional to fix it.  Faucets The main cause of leaky faucets is worn out washers. The washers inside of the faucet handles are rubber and tend to wear out quickly. If left for too long without replacing the washer it can lead to more serious plumbing issues. Replace them by turning off the main water supply, unscrewing the leaky h......

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