TRAVEL: A review of our stay at Green Knowe Cottage in North Devon with Rural Retreats

As the school summer holidays draw to a close, everywhere gets that bit quieter and the sun is still shining (if you're lucky), September is one of our favourite times of year to go away as a family. This year we headed to North Devon to stay at Green Knowe Cottage, which we booked through Rural Retreats. If you're looking for places to stay that are luxurious, have those extra touches and are in stunning locations then Rural Retreats is the website you want to lose hours browsing. We usually head all the way down to Cornwall, but this year fancied discovering somewhere new. North Devon has the benefits of being a lot more accessible (cutting the journey there down from six hours to three), lots of child-friendly attractions and a beautiful contrast of moorland and coastline. 

MOTHERHOOD: How I am Financially Preparing to become a Stay at Home Mum

When we made the decision for me to become a SAHM/Blogger we knew that it would have an impact on our lives further than that of me just not going to work. Our combined family income would obviously take a hit, which is something I worried about for a long time and still do to be honest. While making the decision we sat down to look at the numbers, did endless calculations, possibilities, went through all scenarios we could think of and worked out what we thought we'd be able to afford. Like a lot of families our biggest outgoings are the mortgage, bills, childcare and food shopping, most of which aren't negotiable. We had to add those up, look at our monthly income and work out what was possible with regards to childcare and the disposable income left. Our family lifestyle would have to change slightly, which is a sacrifice we were all happy to take in exchange for me being able to be home with our children.

TRAVEL: An Autumn Family Getaway in North Norfolk

Autumn is now upon us and I for one am very excited about it. The crisp mornings, stunning sunsets and all those crunchy leaves under foot make it the perfect time of year to escape somewhere new. We recently joined my husband's family for a long weekend in Norfolk, which was just the perfect place to spend quality time together, eat good food and enjoy all of the seaside towns. As someone who live in the Midlands, it is always very exciting and such a novelty being by the seaside. This was our first time visiting the north of Norfolk and we fell in love with the area. There is so much to see, explore and discover for the whole family.

LIFE: Do we ever really know what happens behind closed doors?

Do we ever really know what happens behind closed doors? The simple answer is no, not even the start of it. Miscarriage, the breakdown of a marriage, abuse, mental health issues...the list could go on, which is both heartbreaking and reality. Our friends, loved ones and those we follow, even admire, on social media. Any of these things could be happening to them and we could be completely oblivious. Blissfully wittering on about holiday plans, what they did at their Grandma's last week, watching the children play and commenting on how quickly they are growing up, how the weather has been etc., without a thought that something may not be quite right. That actually inside, behind closed doors, their heart is breaking, they are experiencing yet another loss, they are being subjected to physical/ emotional/ domestic/ sexual abuse, mental health issues that see them hiding away crying silent tears for hours on end. In reality, how well do we know those we are about? Do we know everything about their lives or do we only know what they choose to share?

PARENTHOOD: Making life with two children more affordable

Life as a family is expensive, if it isn't the seemingly endless nappies for babies then its the bottomless pit of food children grow up to become. However there are many ways you can adapt your family life to make life with children that bit more affordable. As I have recently become a stay at home mum/blogger we are really keeping an eye on our finances at the moment, so I thought I'd share some of the ways we can all make family life more affordable without losing the fun, meals out or exciting adventures.

PARENTHOOD: All the Emotions about my First Child starting School

I've lost count how many tears I've already cried about Isabella going to school and it's not for another year yet. The thought of her spending more time with someone else honestly breaks my heart at the moment; I just can't imagine what it will be like. As Isabella is our first child she is always the one we experience milestones with first, which makes each and every one so much more emotional. By Christmas this year we will have applied for her primary school place and by her fourth birthday we will know where she is going to be spending the next seven years of primary school life. Just typing that makes my heart beat faster and brings a lump to my throat; how are we already here?