Is It Time Your Kids Had A Little More Freedom?

I eldest is going to be turning 9 this year and I am starting to feel a real shift in how he perceives his place in the world, our family unit and himself. He is not old enough to do things unsupervised as of yet but I can see the beginnings of wanting a little bit more independence. While I actively encourage my boys to take calculated risks such as climbing trees, making dams in rivers, exploring the outdoor world and their surroundings, I am always in close reach, in fact nearly all playdates with the except of one or two when I've known the parents for a substantial time, I have been present, even birthday parties are mostly with parents present. Although the change is slowly starting to happen, for example, he has yet to do a sleepover but I can imagine that it will be the first request of the small step to independence and it's made me think about the future.    One of the hardest thing for a lot of parents to come to terms with is just how fast their kids grow up......

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You don't need deep pockets to buy designer or ethical goods

It feels like everything is costing more and more and the idea of buying a nice outfit for summer is enough to cause me to break out in a sweat. I don't want to compromise on quality, style or ethics but having kids means I am like most people on a tight budget. There are however plenty of options that allow you to purchase those wanted threads but at an affordable price which means less compromise. Here are my top tips on being able to dress with style as half the price. 1. Charity Shop Finds There is absolutely nothing wrong with shopping at charity shops in the run-up to the seasons changing, in fact it;s incredibly ethical way to purchase clothes as you can find lots of never worn or hardly worn clothes for a massively discounted price as well as stop them going to landfill and give them a new lease of life. I come across some amazing finds over the years from high street and designer brands that would otherwise be out of my price range and I, in fact, have a jacket f......

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Amsterdam - the perfect child-free weekend destination

When you’ve got young kids, nothing beats a family holiday . Getting away together is a fantastic way to spend quality time, keep the youngsters engaged, and even teach them a thing or two. One thing’s sure getting them used to flying and new cultures when they’re young is always a bonus. What’s more, there are plenty of family-friendly vacation spots to make the most of when travelling together and some Kid-focused hotels even host fun clubs should you want to mix culture and travel with also the odd break for an hour or two. However, a short child-free break can be a really positive experience. I recently went to Durham for two nights, it was the first time I had ever left our kids for more than a night, that's over 7yrs of not one proper child-free weekend away and you know what it went really well. Then kids loved having fun with their grandparents and we had a fantastic time exploring the historical northern town of Durham we all felt renewed and refreshed from our week......

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Give back with the Toy Appeal at St Davids

As they say the festive season is just as much about giving as it is receiving and the Toy Appeal in St Davids Shopping Centre in Cardiff makes it so easy to give a little back, even when your in the throws of Christmas Shopping. They are simply asking shoppers to pick up an extra toy to donate, that will ensure every child in South Wales receives something special this Christmas. The Toy Appeal is supporting 20 key charities across South Wales including Sparkle, Ty Hafan, Llamau, George Thomas Hospice, Home-Start and Valley Kids. This is the third year we are making a donation to the Toy appeal and I also think this is a great chance to educate children on how important it is to give back and think of others especially as this time of the year and my youngest was very proud to hand over the toy we picked up from Hamleys.  The Donation Station is open until the 22nd December and is located on the lower level near the lego store. When you donate you are g......

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Cardiff goes Pop with Bricks at Home and Ushi's

I love pop-up shops and I love that Cardiff is finally embracing them so much. It means that smaller independent stores that are usually only found online or outside the city centre get a chance to be more accessible to a larger audience for a short period of time as well as adding something new to the more established shops in the city centre.  Recently St Davids Cardiff got in touch to let me know about two Pop Up Shops currently making themselves at home in the centre and I made sure to check them out. The first shop I stopped off at was Bricks At Home - a art and interior design concept store based on Pop Art and Lego. I loved it! In my mind Cardiff does not have enough diversity when it comes to accessible art in comparisons to larger cities like Bristol and London.  I got to spend some time talking to the owner Andy Morris who believes in bringing playful design to modern life and Bricks at Home was the perfect combination of a gallery space to hel......

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Styling the perfect White Shirt

When it comes to classic style that never fades you really can't beat a well tailored white shirt, it literally goes with everything and can be styled up or down. They really are a staple for any wardrobe and investing in a few quality shirts is an investment well spent. So when I was recently invited by McArthur Glen in Bridgend to come and check out the American Heritage brand Brooks Brothers pop-up vintage truck store I couldn't wait. For those who have been hiding under a rock and have not heard of the Brooks Brothers, it happens to be one of the oldest clothiers in the US and was the first to introduce the concept of the button down shirt. I was set the White Shirt Challenge to put an outfit together around the white shirt from some of the amazing shops in McArthur Glen. With so much choice it wasn't a quick decision, in fact I walked around the centre first, weighing up all the option and then decided to go back with fresh eyes after a delicious m......

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The Coolest Fictional Shopping Destinations

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology and the one-touch purchasing culture brought about by sites like Amazon, these days it’s possible to get your fix of retail therapy without even leaving the comfort of your own home. At just the click of a button, you can conjure up almost anything into your possession… almost anything. Though internet retail does inject a great deal of convenience into the shopping experience, there are a few shopping locales which are only accessible through the power of imagination. Books, TV and cinema have helped to create an irresistible world of stores and boutiques which unfortunately don’t exist in real life… but we sure wish they did. Here are our pick of the bunch. Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium Even if you haven’t seen this film starring Dustin Hoffman, Jason Bateman and Natalie Portman, the name of the store alone should give you a good idea of the rich treasures inside. A kid’s paradise, where any toy can be magicked int......

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What fashion catalogues cater for all ages

Rocking the Monochrome look with some boots from H&M I have talked before about how to stay stylish after having kids and how useful things like online shopping as well as picking up a few key pieces from catalogues can be - it really does help you stay on top of key pieces and essentials. You can pretty much find everything from children's clothing to gifts for your grandparents, you'll find everything you're looking for in UK catalogues. Ever wondered what catalogues cater for all ages? Here are two that you need to check out. 1. H&M  A amount of people probably don't know that H&M actually do a catalogue - to receive it you need to be signed up online and it's really worth doing as they send out some amazing deals through the post. It's also really easy to order and they have pretty much their whole collection available, plus easy ways to pay and spread the payment. 2. Freemans Even though I have yet to shop from Freemans, I d......

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3 Best Online Fashion Catalogues

I have always lived by the rule of purchasing things upfront but occasionally things crop up, life happens and staggering the cost of things over a few months is actually the least stressful option. When I was pregnant both times I went on a personal spending ban - meaning I didn't purchase anything for myself for about a year, instead putting aside what I had for the new arrival. This however did mean that once I was getting back into my pre-maternity wear that I was pretty low on seasonal clothes and replying on classics, which I made work for a while but everyone likes to look so souring th ebest discounts and coupons online is essential.  It provides consumers with more flexibility and choice than retail outlets on the high street as well as being less stressful if you have a new baby at home to look after or simply very busy as everything is brought to you plus you can pay for your order in installments and choose from a wide range of products from the comfort of ......

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The 7 Coolest Things About Los Angeles

There are few cities in the world that can match Los Angeles' entertainment options. No matter where your interests lie, the City of Angels can satisfy them. In a city with limitless possibilities, the following are the seven coolest things about LA. 1. Rooftop Bars Many hotels in Los Angeles have rooftop bars that feature pools, music and great people watching. There are few things more Hollywood than enjoying a poolside cocktail while overlooking the city at The Standard Downtown LA or Petit Ermitage in West Hollywood. You might even spot a celebrity! 2. Great Sports If you love sports, you'll enjoy Los Angeles. Basketball fans flock downtown to watch the Lakers and Clippers while baseball fans love seeing the Dodgers and Angels. The temperate climate hasn't tempered the excitement of local hockey fans either; fans of the sport can enjoy the LA Kings and the Anaheim Ducks. If your feeling particularly lucky you could even put a bet down on your favourite ......

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Street Style Sunday - Family style

So we have had a really fun action packed week, making the most of the sunny days and on the rainy ones we have been trying to sort out all of Mr A & Baby G's clothes for what is officially summer, as well as my own. As they are both growing so fast we decided to pop down to McArthur Glen  in Bridgend (which I will tell you more about soon) to pick up a few goodies for the family and see what Vans had in store for kids as Mr A thinks Vans and skateboarding is possibly the coolest thing ever and who am I to say anything different. Mr A in a cute Paul Smith tee from Melijoe  We have also been embracing shorts the past few weeks as well as the fact Mr A has gone up another shoe size - he has suddenly had a bit of a growth spirt and his Blue Canvas Nike trainers we got from Brantano two months ago finally fit, they are having a huge sale at the moment so it's really worth checking out as these were down from £32 to £16 Mr A wears - Paul Smith T-shirt, Gap k......

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How To Do Luxury For Less

By mixing High Street and thrifty finds you can create a luxury inspired outfit Everyone needs to treat themselves to something a little bit luxurious every now and then, but it needn’t always cost a bomb. There are clever ways to bring opulence closer to earth at a more reasonable price. Here are a few of our favourite hacks to help live out your extravagant side without breaking the bank! I love finding vintage and thrifted jewellery at a fraction of the price Interior Lover - Big Spender I don't know about you but we love Eames chairs, which started with the stylish Eames Lounge chair and Ottoman which ranges into the thousands and is produced by The Herman Miller Furniture company For the Savvy Shopper Luckily you can get a lot of high quality inspired pieces that capture the same sense of style without the huge price tag. Places like John Lewis or Vertigo Interiors are a good place to start which looking for a price point product. Eame ......

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A Guide to a Weekend in Cardiff

Enjoying a lazy weekend in the city with the family  There are various cities in the UK which provide the perfect place for a weekend break. With the country’s rich history, excellent cultural resources and the fact it is finally catching up with the rest of Europe in the food stakes, Britain’s cities have a broad range of things to see and do for everyone. Cardiff, the newest capital is up there with the best with it’s regeneration, wealth of sports and places of historic interest. A weekend in Cardiff can be spent enjoying a range of fulfilling pursuits while holiday providers like UK Breakaways run mid-week murder mystery trips which are also a lot of fun. Here’s a suggested guide to what you could do with a weekend in Cardiff. Street Food Sundays on St Mary's street during the summer Friday Friday afternoon and evening is best spent exploring Cardiff Bay, said to be the largest waterfront development in Europe. There’s a broad range of things to see in thi......

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