City To Countryside In 2 Hours: 3 On Trend Weekend Getaways

At the end of the week, why not buckle up your seatbelts and head straight to the countryside for a weekend retreat? Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire, as well as sharing their Shire titles, also boast a conveniently close proximity to London. This, combined with their stunning scenery, makes these spots the ideal counties to escape to.

Below is a roundup of the most idyllic hotels to stay in for a weekend away from the city.

The Mews at Sopwell House, Hertfordshire: 1 hour drive from London

Sopwell House

 Originally an old stable block, the newly renovated Hertfordshire oasis comprises 16 Mews set within the 12-acre grounds of the stunning Georgian manor house, Sopwell House.

With the choice of studio, one bedroom and duplex mews houses, each of the properties is styled in a quintessentially British manner. The glamorous retreats benefit from full use of the Sopwell House Hotel’s elegant restaurants and award-winning spa.

The Mews surround a stunning communal botanical garden with a hydrotherapy pool, designed by Chelsea Flower Show gold medallist Ann-Marie Powell. Many have their own private terraces with sunken hot tubs.

Sopwell House

The Mews at Sopwell House is at Cottonmill Lane, St Albans, AL1 2HQ.  For reservations, please call: 01727 864477.

Soho Farmhouse, Oxfordshire: 2 hour drive from London

This escape needs no introduction. Belonging to one of the most exclusive group of members clubs in the world, there’s no wonder why Soho Farmhouse has been frequented by the likes of Henry Holland, Princess Eugenie and Alexa Chung. The charming seven-bedroom farmhouse is set in 100 acres of Oxfordshire countryside and the retreat boasts a four-bedroom cottage as well as 40 additional cabins. Activities on offer include pony hacks across the fields, tennis on the all-weather courts, boating from the boathouse pontoon and football on the five-a-side grass pitch.

Soho Farmhouse is at Great Tew, Chipping Norton, OX7 4JS.  For reservations, please call: 01608 691000.

Coworth Park, Berkshire: 1 hour drive from London.

Located in acres of picturesque parkland– this luxurious country house hotel on the borders of Windsor Great Park boasts high-end style coupled with a countryside ambience. As part of the prestigious Dorchester collection of hotels, the retreat comprises a Georgian style Mansion House and self-contained converted Stables and Cottages. An understated palette of subtle colours lends an air of calm to the spacious rooms and suites. The hotel also offers a spa as well as equestrian and polo facilities.

Coworth Park is at Blacknest Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7SE.  For reservations, please call 01344 876600.

Read more

Preparing For Your Daughter's Prom

I'm sure you've seen photos and Facebook statuses of beautifully dressed teenagers attending their prom recently. I know my niece, Georgia, looked gorgeous. If it's your daughter's turn next year, here's how you can help her to prepare for her milestone event now.

As parents we understand that our daughters like to have a say in their life decisions! From the time when she ate her first candy floss, to the time she learned to park the car, the bond between you has only grown stronger over the years. It's great to have those special times when you can grow even closer to your children, and prom time is surely one of those. Your daughter will be nervous, excited and will also want your help to make this moment a special one. You can help her by starting to plan as early as possible to give you both all the time you need to prepare and budget.

Spring next year will herald the arrival of prom time in high school. She will soon enter into the world of 'grown-ups’. She will soon take her first step towards adulthood. So, what should you do to make her at ease? How should you help her? Will she need your assistance or not? Well, the answer is yes for, apart from calming her and giving her confidence that she will look beautiful during her prom, you should also help her to choose the best on-trend dress to suit her figure.

Finding the right dress is crucial as it is an integral part of your daughter’s prom experience and it's something you can do together. Last minute shopping is never advised as your daughter will need plenty of time to select her special gown. Your daughter will love it if you can help her to select from the stylish collection of 2016 prom dresses. Give her advice while she’s checking some dresses; make sure she is confident that the dress fits perfectly too.

You could also check the latest trends and also what the celebrities wore at the red carpet. Ask about your daughter’s preferences and advise her on dresses based on her body type. Don’t forget to ask about their school’s prom dress code, too. Is there a theme? Does she want a royal, a mermaid or a princess look? Select a dress based on her preferred color; maybe she wants to wear her favorite aqua, coral or ivory. Also ask whether she wants to wear a gown, two-piece dress or perhaps a ball gown.

Before you choose any dress, check relevant social media pages and read reviews about prom dress stores. You can check out Prom Dress Shop to view their collection and read tips and reviews when you visit their Facebook page.

Here are other items to keep in your checklist:

• Accessories: Choose accessories that complement with her dress
• Shoes: Should be comfortable and must go well with her dress
• Hairdo: Check whether she will require a professional to do her hairdo
• Nails: Manicure and Pedicure
• Gloves
• Intimates
• Purse
• Boutonniere
• Essential makeup products

Whether you are looking for Sherry Hill or Jovani dresses, you will get all major designer dresses at PromDressshop.com. You will also find all your queries answered in their FAQ’s section.

A prom holds a special place in a family's memories. It is a moment where beauty, anxiety and confidence are felt all at once in your daughter’s life. She should feel flawless, gorgeous and confident after the hard work she has done to make her prom the best time of her life.

Make sure you take care of this moment and cherish it with her. By supporting her and sharing your views from your own experience of approaching womanhood, she will understand that you are as excited as she is for her and her new life.

Read more

Confessions Of A Summer Parent - It's A Wild Life

I must confess that I always view the approaching long summer school holiday with a mixture of relief (no more school runs) and dread (endless Harry Potter reruns).

Generally by about 10:15 am on Day 1 the kids are already bored and, having exhausted the huge and completely random stock of craft materials lurking in our dining room, are demanding ice lollies and entertainment.



Telling them that, in their parents' youth entertainment was a day spent running amok in a quarry, a woodland or a field cuts no ice with them. We'd take packed lunches of crisps and cheese sandwiches which would keep us going until tea.

My friends and I made our own adventures without anything digital in sight.



I remember returning home from a day on my bike warmed with sunshine, pleasantly tired and ready to fall into bed.

Falling asleep in the summer was a lengthy process because it was the 70's and mum had installed day-go orange curtains which meant my bedroom was lit up like a disco until the sun had long set.  Black-out curtains were for wimps.



So what do we parents do?  Although there are loads of places to go, things to see and local summer activities, the whole 'keeping your kids from killing each other' thing can be rather stressful.

Unless you have unlimited time and money, you can't take them out every single day so you have to box clever.

We are firm believers in, er, developing a love of nature.



It worked for David Attenborough, didn't it?  Who knows what previously undiscovered species Ieuan is about to find... eventually.

This post is an entry for the BritMums Confessions of a Summer Parent Challenge, sponsored by Anchor.

Read more

It’s The End Of The Academic Year – Parents, How Are You Managing YOUR Money?

It’s the end of the academic year and amongst the celebrations of degrees and diplomas comes the realisation that, despite the financial burden of student loans, the spending hasn’t stopped quite yet.

I’m sure that loads of students fail to realise that trying to get a job can be a costly process. There’s the cost of an interview outfit , new shoes and haircuts. There’s train and bus fares or fuel for cars.

Flickr:  Archie Campbell

And if our graduates do get a job there’s the cost of actually being employed – again transport, clothing, lunches, office socialising. Or even the costs of further education and vocational training which they may be expected to fund themselves in order to secure a promotion.

I have been quite shocked to find that it is seemingly the norm for companies in certain industries to offer positions to new graduates on the basis which are unpaid on the basis that they are offering ‘valuable experience’. The word ‘exploitation’ springs to mind.

However, we must remain positive, encouraging and upbeat, despite most of us being hard-nosed veterans of the work arena. All we can do is offer our advice quietly and consistently in the background. I specialise in ‘nagging aunt’ – can you tell?

My niece, Emily has recently graduated with First Class Honours in Film Production and has a small runaround car which, typically now she really needs it, has developed a fault with the breaks when most of her interviews are easily reached by car. This is an expense she neither wants nor can afford.

I remember my dad shelling out for two return tickets to London to take me to visit IPC Magazines. In those days I was convinced journalism was my calling and after 20 years in marketing, I’m now a blogger so perhaps dad was right after all.

For parents, at such a critical time for their young adult children, the ability to help them is very important. Very few of our youngsters leave college and walk straight into a well paying job that allows them to pay their way – however much we may feel it is time for them to stand on their own two feet!

But the ‘Bank of Mum & Dad’ can only take so much and there may be times when a small cash injection in the form of a short term loan would be very welcome.

Flickr:  Blatant World

You can bet that extra bills will appear exactly when you don’t need them. I have mentioned in one of my previous posts that I really need to be more organised and diarise my insurance renewal dates!

How many of us breathe a sigh of relief once we have paid for the family holiday (and let’s not even start talking about the price hikes we parents have to put up with from day 1 of every single school holiday!), only to find we’ve forgotten about the MOT, the insurance or the fact that we really need a safer set of tyres.

It’s a bit like that film with Tom Hanks “The Money Pit” – everywhere you turn, there’s a new expense.

My nieces and nephew are in their late teens and early twenties whereas my two are just 8 and 7. For us this means a double set of new school uniform for September and then Caitlin’s birthday in November, her cousins’ birthdays in November, December and January and then Christmas!

As you know we have been trying to save for Christmas but inevitably there will be something that ‘appears’ out of the ether when we least expect it.

For example, our boiler has decided to develop a fault with one of its sensors. It has ‘moods’ in the morning. I know how it feels. And what about if you are also caring for your elderly parents? You may find yourself chipping in for cleaning, garden services, extra food or medical supplies.

It’s so important to make a budget and review it regularly. July is a great time to do a little financial housekeeping and check that you are on course to cope with the expenditure you know about and to put in place contingency plans for those costs you don’t!

If we want to really help our youngsters, teaching them to budget and cope with unexpected bills is worth its weight in gold.

Read more

Family Holidays In The Italian Riviera

The Italian Riviera on the coast of Liguria is one of the most spectacular places to take a family vacation.

From the breathtaking scenery, the warm blue water, and pristine beaches, this area has everything to make the kids and parents equally happy.

A perfect way to explore the Italian region is to rent a luxury car with kid and family-friendly features through popular European luxury car hire companies like Primerent for example and discover the ocean villas and glamorous towns with space and comfort.

There are many options for your family on a trip around the Ligurian coast.

A great place to start is in Genoa. This city has stunning architecture and museums dotting the port city. The palaces along Via Garibaldi will be sure to even astonish the kids because of their beauty. The covered market place is a great place for everyone to try different foods and enjoy a bit of the lifestyle.

Portofino, a fishing village turned escape for the rich and famous, is an incredible place to visit. The pink buildings perched on the cliffs are a site to see and it is a perfect walking city where kids can explore old castles and parents can enjoy cocktails with one of the best views in the world.

For a more beach atmosphere and sun soaked vacation, be sure to stay in Alassio. This is a beach town with incredible beaches and a water park that will keep kids entertained for hours.

Finale Ligure is another beach resort and medieval town all in one. There is an amazing 12th century abbey and charming seaside neighborhoods. This is a recurring theme for Liguria, mixing the historical beauty with natural views.

There are so many places which make it perfect for a family holiday and a memorable time. Your children will love exploring a beautiful beach lined landscape and the parents will enjoy some of the best food and views in the whole world.

There are no words that do justice to the beauty of this Italian region, you will have to see it for yourself!

Read more

How To Master Holidays With Kids In 4 Simple Ways

Just because you have a family, it shouldn't limit your travel options. In fact, there are loads of families that constantly travel the world, and it seems to work just fine for them. Here is what I've learnt from them and my own travelling experiences with kids.

Habit

The first step is to get them in the habit of travel. The more that the little ones get used to travelling, the easier it will be for them. If you can't afford to travel abroad all the time, go on day trips. Stay with friends or family so they get used to not sleeping in their own bed.

Picture source

Cook dishes from the country you will be visiting so they get into the habit of eating the local style food. If you expose them to all these new experiences when they are young, they will grow up with wanderlust and find travelling a breeze.

Get them involved

The next step to getting your kids ready for their holidays is to get them involved from the beginning. Children learn about all sorts of places at school, so they may even have an idea of where they would like to go. Even if you pick the location, show them the types of activities on offer there and ask them what they would like to do. You could even make it into an arts and crafts activity. Get some travel brochures of the place that you are going to and getting the kids to cut and paste the things they like the look of.

Prepare for the expected and the unexpected

An essential step when taking the kids on holiday is to prepare for both the expected and unexpected. For example, if you know that your little ones get car sick, make sure that you have their bands and medication. Schedule in frequent stops too, so they are as comfortable as possible.

Image credit

Preparing for the unexpected is not so easy, but there are a few things you can do. Firstly make sure that you have your euro health card with you. Whilst the UK is still a member of the EU this will entitle you, as UK citizens, to free or discounted emergency medical care in the EU.

Of course, when the UK leaves the EU following Brexit, the validity of these may be in doubt but travel expert Simon Calder advises that before joining the EEC, the UK had reciprocal health agreements with many European nations and it is likely that a similar range of deals will be put in place.  You need to check before you go.

Its also useful to take an emergency first aid kit for less serious incidents. This should contain plasters, antiseptic and ibuprofen, as well as after sun and diarrhoea powders. It's always better to have this stuff and not need it, rather than need it and not have it. You don't want to spend your time away trying to find a chemist in an unfamiliar place.

Stay in their routine

Image credit

The next step to successful travel with kids is to help them to stay in their routine as much as possible. Children can become cranky easier if they don't eat and sleep at their normal times. Try and keep to their regular schedule as much as you can. Or if you know you will want to stay out later in the evenings, get them into the routine of having a longer, later nap for a few weeks before you go.

What tips would you add for a stress free holiday with the kids?

Read more

Have A Fresh New Diary Any Time Of Year With Toad® Diaries & Giveaway

I have always loved diaries.  They offer the chance to start all over again, to renew and change whatever you're not happy with.  Just the act of writing things down helps to make them happen, so they say.

Up till now, there's been the rather stark choice of either waiting for Christmas to buy a diary for the next calendar year, or waiting until July when the academic diaries start to appear.

Now I don't know about you, but it's been a long time since I needed to make a note of my lecture times and I have often wished for a diary which would start when I wanted to.  There are undated diaries of course but, for some reason, I've never found these quite as exciting.

I have recently discovered TOAD® Diaries who will not only personalise your diary or notebook (on the front and back covers) but will allow you to choose what month and even what day of the week you would like it to start.  Sadly you will still need to include Mondays ....

You can spend happy hours on their website indulging your inner diary-geek (or should that be fiend - anyway ..) playing around with lay-outs, covers, sizes, formats. You can have week view, appointments, mid year, academic, family - there are far too many formats to describe here.

There is a range of cool themes such as Molten (which I chose), Retro, Cities and some rather cute Monsters.

Not only is the site's designer tool really easy to use but the diaries and notebooks are reasonably priced and come spiral bound with an extra plastic cover on the front and back to protect them.  Happily, they will lie flat when opened making them really easy to write in.  You can also choose between yellow and white paper.

Once you have checked your personalised text is OK and that you have chosen the right format, your diary will take approximately 3-4 days to reach you.

TOAD® also do a range of notebooks to complement your diary and again you can choose the format that most appeals. I was gifted a diary and a notebook by TOAD®.

I chose Molten- Rose from the Molten Theme for my diary which starts in August with weeks starting on Monday. It is wiro-bound, covers 12 months and is Quarto size (midway between A4 and A5).  I also chose yellow paper.

For my notebook I chose a wiro-bound 120 page A5 journal in Molten-Halycon with lined pages (medium spacing).

Your notebooks can be lined, gridded, blank - again lots of choices.

I really likes TOAD products because they have the odd quirky touch - like how to make an Origami toad and infuse humour into the world of stationery.  Apparently not everyone gets as excited about diaries as I do.  Weird, eh?

TOAD® Diaries have given me a £25 gift code to give away to one lucky winner so that if you really can't wait till December for a fresh new diary (and let's face it, some of us will want to write 2016 off as a bad job so far), then you can.

Entry is via the Rafflecopter and terms and conditions apply.  UK entrants only.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 29th July.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Read more