Relaxing at the DoubleTree in Chester with Buyagift

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Relaxing at the DoubleTree in Chester with Buyagift

A few weeks ago, Hywel and I got to spend a rare day together during the week. Buyagift had kindly gifted me a Premium Spa Day voucher, and it was the perfect chance for us to spend some quality time together, unwind and indulge in some treatments and food.

We decided to visit the DoubleTree Hotel in Chester, which is around 20 minutes from where we live. We have experienced the spa there before, but this time we were booked in for treatments and afternoon tea. We were both really … Continue reading

The benefits of meeting locals when you travel

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The benefits of meeting locals when you travel

If you are planning on travelling, it could be a good idea to try and mix with the locals whilst you are away. In most places they are friendly, informative and very welcoming to visitors. Connecting with them in local bars, shops and villages will enhance your experience as it has many advantages.

The benefits of meeting locals when you travel

Some travel companies offer tours to the areas away from tourism, and these are well worth doing. In other places, local guides will operate tours and these can be very enlightening too.

Interacting with locals

The world needs more … Continue reading

A range of gifts to suit all mums this Mother’s Day

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*Disclosure – I was sent the following items to be included in this post*

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and if you are like me and totally unorganised for the 31st March, the following gift guide could come in handy. Featuring a range of gifts to suit all mums this Mother’s Day, or maybe you are looking for the perfect present for yourself.

A range of gifts to suit all mums this Mother's Day

The mum who likes to cook

How many times have you been on holiday, fallen in love with the local cuisine, and then wished you could recreate those wonderful recipes back home. This deluxe paella set from … Continue reading

What I am focusing on this month – March and April goals

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What I am focusing on this month – March and April goals

I know it’s the middle of March already, and I promise that one month I will be posting my goals on the 1st, but I guess they are better late than never.

What I am focusing on this month - March and April goals

You would have noticed from the title that I am combining my March and April goals. Next month is a busy one for us with a holiday, Easter, and of course the children being off school for 2 weeks, so I thought it made sense to combine the 2 months.  I have also replaced the home … Continue reading

A midweek catch up

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A midweek catch up

I realised the other day that I haven’t done a catch up post for a few weeks, so today is the day that I sit down, open my laptop, and have a think about what we have been up to the past few weeks. It’s hard to think back to those few days of Spring we were blessed with, when the wind is currently blowing a gale outside. On the upside we are on serious countdown to our holiday, and 4 weeks today I will be sipping a Pina Colada in Greece.

A midweek catch up

Good old Netflix and … Continue reading

Creating the ideal study area for a Teenager

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Creating the ideal study area for a Teenager 

There remains a growing desire to reform Secondary education in the UK, after the chairman of the Education Select Committee Robert Halfon suggested that both GCSEs and A-Levels should be scrapped in the near-future.

Creating the ideal study area for your Teenager

For now, GCSEs remain a key staple of Secondary education in the UK, with hundreds and thousands of students nationwide preparing for their exams. It was only 12 months ago that my own teenager was in the midst of revision for his GCSEs, and preparing to sit 24 exams during May and June.

Given the importance of a … Continue reading

February Goals – What I achieved this month

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February Goals – What I achieved this month

I think we can all agree that February was a ‘blink and miss it’ kind of a month, and I honestly don’t know where the time went. I know it’s the shortest month, but it felt like it passed in a complete blur, and I think I overestimated some of my goals. Whilst it may have gone in a flash, February was a pretty good month. We went away for a midweek break to review the beautiful Sandybrook Park, and we were blessed with a few spring-like days.

February Goals - What I achieved

So how did I … Continue reading

(Review) A half term break at Sandybrook Park in the Peak District

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(REVIEW) A half term break at Sandybrook Park in the Peak District

During February half term, we were invited to spend 4 nights at Sandybrook Park. The luxury lodge park is located just outside the small market town of Ashbourne in Derbyshire, and took us just 90 minutes to drive from our home in Cheshire. We checked in at 4pm, and we’re handed an information folder, our keys to our lodge, and also a complimentary pint of milk. What a lovely touch from Sandybrook.

Hot tub at Sandybrook Park

Our lodge at Sandybrook Park – 3 bedroom Classic Vogue Lodge with Hot tub

We quickly … Continue reading

Half term and hot tubs

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Half term and hot tubs

Well that’s a wrap on our February half term, and the kids are back at school and 6th form tomorrow. It seems strange that the majority of the UK are just beginning their half term break, as we are going back. But the upside to a different half term is going away, and it being really quiet. If you follow me on social media, you will know that we were invited to spend 4 nights at Sandybrook Luxury Lodges in the Peak District. I have written a full review of our stay here, and below … Continue reading

Instilling good study habits early on

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Instilling good study habits early on

When it comes to studying for exams, good study habits often have to be learnt. No matter what age your child is, or at what stage of school they are at, it’s never too late to start getting into good study habits. Then when the important exams come around, it will be second nature to them. My teenager took 24 exams last summer, so it was important for us to ensure he had good study habits. 

Instilling good study habits early on

In school no one teaches you how to revise, just told to do what is best for … Continue reading