Things to do in Herefordshire with a Toddler

Earlier this month we took Lara on a self-catering holiday to Herefordshire. We stayed at Hareley Farm, a converted 16th century barn on a working, rare-breeds farm. The barn had its own playground where Lara could play, and some beautiful views across the countryside.

On our first full day we went for a long, leisurely walk around the grounds of Brockhampton Estate which is managed by the National Trust. Lara loved seeing the trees, mushrooms, berries and wildlife that I pointed out to her. It was a long walk (we did about 3 miles) but we broke it up with a picnic in the woods and. After lunch we walked through a field of sheep (much to Lara's excitement) and when Lara began to tire, we used our new Kiddy Carry System to carry her back to the car.

On the Monday, the winds were really high so we drove into the centre of Hereford for a look at some of the black and white buildings and a wander around the grounds of the Cathedral. In the afternoon we took Lara ten-pin bowling in a groovy tiny bowling alley next to Hereford station. Lara absolutely loved it (two weeks later if you ask her what she wants to do now, she will tell you , 'bowling'). On our way home we stopped in the picturesque town of Ledbury to buy strawberries for pudding!

The following day we visited a rare breeds farm and owl centre near Kington where, if she hadn't been scared to death, Lara could have fed and cuddled all of the farm animals. In the afternoon we went for a walk at Queenswood country park which has lots of flat footpaths suitable for buggies and a brilliant playground that we had all to ourselves.

On Wednesday we visited Hampton Court Castle and Gardens and we were really surprised at how much Lara loved it. She had great fun exploring the formal gardens, especially the fruit and vegetables. We took a tour of the castle (the stuffed animals and swords on the wall freaked her out) and got lost in the maze. We had our picnic on the lawn and played on the small playground before a small walk along the river where there was a children's nature trail.

On Thursday we all walked to the top of the Herefordshire Beacon (video coming soon!) which is the second highest of the Malvern hills. Lara enjoyed the view and found it very entertaining that Daddy had to carry her most of the way. We had a picnic in a disused quarry before spending the afternoon at Westons Cider Mill. We saw the cider apples arriving on trucks and being chopped and squashed into juice before being matured in vats. Lara got to try some apple juice and then she spent some time looking at the horses and sheep before playing on the tractors and adventure playground.

On the last day of our holiday Lara wasn't too well and so we chilled out at the Barn with the toys and videos that the owners had provided for us.

A very fun holiday with a relaxing conclusion.

My Secrets To A Great Holiday Tan

Last month I spent a week in the mellow sunshine of the Cote D'Azur and lapped up the spring sunshine (I know that's a bit depressing given the current weather conditions... but don't give up hope). I don't consider myself a sunseeker but I am definitely a sunshine person. Sunshine makes me happy (and makes my skin happy too). Half way through the trip my Mum asked me if I'd had a spray tan before the trip – err no , this is all me. I just seem to have got the hang of keeping my skin healthy while building up a nice mellow glow. I'm going to share my secrets for how I do it!



Exfoliate
I know its a cliché but its true. If you exfoliate your skin before (and during) your holiday it will be much better prepared for the sun (so long as you moisturise along the way). I like to use a body scrub two or three times a week when I bath or shower and despite having tried one or two organic, natural alternatives I am still totally in love with the Clarins Smoothing Body Scrub with Bamboo which is by far the most effective I've tried.

Drink Lots of Water
Another cliché I'm afraid but it is one I swear by, especially on holiday. Drink loads and loads of water to keep your face and body well hydrated and if you're indulging in a little bit of the local tipple... drink MORE water to compensate.



Start With a High SPF, Then Work Down
I swear by suncream for a great tan. I love being out in the sun – it makes me mellow but I know that burning in the sun is not only bad for the skin in the short term, but can have lasting effects in the long term. A burnt skin is not a sexy look. I always start my holiday with about 24 hours of really high factor sun scream (factor 50+) and then work down. By the end of a two week holiday my body's own sun-protection has kicked in a little so I will have worked down to a lower factor (mind you, I still never go lower than factor 15). And, as the Boots advert says, it is important to choose a sun cream that also offers UVA protection as well.

Apply Regularly
Top your suncream up regularly throughout the day to keep your moisture levels high – sun lotion can be a very effective moisturiser in addition to the sun protection they offer. Regular top-ups also mean that you get the highest level of protection from the drying, ageing rays of the sun.



MOISTURISE
When you're on holiday in the sun, don't let a single day go by without applying two tonnes of body lotion or moisturiser. Always end the day with a body lotion of some sort and don't hold back. You don't have to invest in an expensive aftersun lotion (although they are made to smell summery and leave you feeling cool they are often packed full of chemicals). A very simple but effective moisturiser will be fine – I'm currently in love with Eternal Skincare’s Aloe Super Hydrating Moisturiser which soothes the skin with aloe vera but is totally unscented and can be used all over the body. I like it because it is thick and feels like it is giving my skin a protective layer and unlike many aftersun creams it isn't packed full or water or parabens.



Bronzer
Add a little sparkle or a summery glow to a light tan with a bronzer. Don't use too much – just enough to add a little glow and really highlight your natural colour. I tend to use a mixture of a liquid facial or body bronzer (something along the lines of Estee Lauder's Daywear Sheer Tint Moisturiser which has SPF protection too) and a powdered bronzer which can add a hint of pink and a little sparkle. If people hadn't noticed your tan before, they will now.



Choose the Right Nail Varnish
You can make a light tan look several shades darker by wearing the right make up. The most effective trick is to choose the right colour of nail varnish on fingers and toes. A perfectly finished light french manicure (or a simple light pink) works really well but I currently swear by a deep Shimmering Bronze pure color nail varnish from Estee Lauder which makes me feel far more tanned than I really am.

Images courtesy of Estee Lauder (except Boots Soltan courtesy of Boots and Aloe Vera moisturiser by Eternal Skincare).

Flying With Toddlers – My Tips

People who have been following me on twitter and my blog recently will know that I wasn't feeling entirely mellow about the prospect of a flight with my very-nearly-2-year-old sitting on my lap. I've flown with Lara on my lap on several occasions; I've even been transatlantic with her and yet this time, the idea of an hour and a half with a wriggly, heavy, angry toddler on the verge of the terrible twos just filled me with dread.

So what are my top tips for surviving flights with toddlers?



Tip #1 – Tire Them Out
On the way out to France we managed to keep Lara awake all the way through the airport despite having had an extremely early start by offering her food and by taking our Trunki pull-along suitcase with us so that Lara walked all morning rather than being pushed in the buggy. She fell alseep about 2 minutes after take-off and woke up about 10 minutes before we landed. Genius.



Tip #2 – Take Lots of Food
We packed loads of food to last us through each flight. I've learned that it is one of the best ways to distract Lara on a plane. We literally filled Lara's suitcase with crisps, dried fruit and biscuits on the way there and on the way home, we tried the bribery of a packet of chocolate fingers (very messy, but they certainly helped to achieve a level of calm).

Tip #3 – Take Books and Apps
It is tempting to travel as light as possible when travelling with kids because you know you HAVE to take the essentials such as nappies, wipes and drinks. This time, for the first time, I decided to take 'entertainment' for Lara on the flight. A handful of books bought us a few minutes of peace, a plain notepad and crayons seemed like a good idea but the crayons fell on the floor and it was tricky to recover them. We also took a couple of Ipod apps to play which ate up a little time in the airport but didn't seem to hold much interest for Lara once we were in the air.



Tip #4 – Bury Your Head and Hope For The Best
In the past I used to be really embarrassed when Lara screamed and cried on a plane but now I think I've resigned myself to the reality of travel with young children. It's life. It can be hard and the likelihood of ever meeting any of the other passengers again in your life is low so relax, and if it bothers other people... so what?

Tip #5 – Distract Yourself
My final survival tip is not one I'd recommend but it certainly took my mind off Lara screaming “naaaaappppppyyy change” at the top of her voice despite having just had her nappy changed by Daddy.

On the flight home to London, my Mum had breathing difficulties and the entire staff were scrambled to help her out with oxygen cylinders and whatnot. For half of the flight we were surrounded by panicking staff with clipboards; Somehow Lara's whining pailed into insignificance. Lara fell asleep halfway though a wail of “naaaaapppppy chaaa...” as we touched down at Heathrow airport.

Note: This is a sponsored post, but that doesn't stop it being fun to read.

The Sunday Review - Butlins, Bognor Regis

Last month, I went to Butlins in Bognor Regis for the MADs award ceremony.

I'll admit it, going to Butlins had never before been something I'd planned on doing. Pre-Lara, it wouldn't have appeared on my list of fun things to do in my spare time at all, and even since becoming a parent, I can't say that I had envisaged Butlins being my cup of tea. I must say, that in my short couple of days at the Bognor Regis Butlins resort I was really pleasantly surprised and now, having seen the quality of what they have on offer, it has been bumped right up my list. As a place to take an excitable toddler outside school holidays, I think it is spot on.

I've never been one for 'fun' holidays. Peaceful countryside and stunning landscapes are much more my kind of thing but I've realised now that after a mad run around a playground and a swim in a pool Lara is far more satisfied (and as such, far more manageable) than she is after a gentle stroll along a mountaintop and a quiet drink in a cafe. And, as much as it pains me to admit it, Lara enjoys watching puppet shows and is fascinated by people dressed up in bright outfits singing silly songs. This, I suppose, is childhood!



My first impressions were good. Check-in was fast and efficient. The Ocean Hotel I was staying in was smart, clean and inviting; it had bright colours and clean lines throughout and seemed a lot more grown-up than I had imagined, without being mundane! Every member of staff I encountered was friendly and wanted to engage in conversation to ensure you were enjoying your stay – I even noticed staff going the extra mile to help visitors find their way around.

My room in the Ocean hotel was compact, but extremely comfortable, extremely well-equipped and had good quality fittings. A TV with integrated DVD player meant I could listen to my own CDs and the bathroom with coloured lights was a great place for chilling out. I found the hotel breakfast restaurant to be well set-up to make life easy for families with small children. The buffet breakfast seemed like good value for money but elsewhere on the resort I found the drinks to be expensive and the food quality poor for the prices being charged.





One of the centre pieces of Butlins is the indoor entertainment pavillion. This was always a hive of activity. At times, I found it a little too noisy but with a whole host of things for children of all ages there is no way you will run out of things to do, whatever the weather. Just before the main shows there were long queues of parents waiting to go in.



Outside, all of the fairground rides were open throughout the day. Out of season I had expected the park to be shut in places but this wasn't the case. The rides looked well-maintained and fun for children of a wide range of ages. But Butlins isn't just about the kids! There are plenty of places for adults to chill out with a coffee (or something stronger). And who says adults can't have fun? Here's Sandy from Baby Baby enjoying the interactive floor in the hotel!



The other centre piece of any Butlins resort is the swimming pool. There were lots of flumes and slides but also shallow play areas for little ones. I felt that the facilities seemed fun, yet a little dated compared to the rest of the park.

I think I was a little spoiled staying in the hotel for my visit. Exploring the resort, I found the chalets to be a little grim-looking, especially towards the sea front which at this time of year is grey and windy. Looking at the prices, the hotel rooms don't seem an enormous amount more expensive for the guarantee of a little luxury – but maybe I'm just too used to life's little comforts?

The conference centre where The MADs awards took place is a great addition with good (but by no means 5* catering). I can imagine the conference centre as a wonderful place for an off-site training course venue. Maybe I should drop some hints at work?

At the end of the day, it was the Ocean Spa that won me over to Butlins! I am after all a health & beauty blogger, not just a mummy blogger. I like to be pampered. The Ocean spa was my opportunity to wash away all of the stress of the soft-play area and play at being a grown-up. At £19 for a 2-hour spa session it is an affordable treat for parents. The spa is compact but has a good range of facilities including both indoor and outdoor spa pools, a snow cave (!), steam room, sauna and incredible monsoon disco showers! The Ocean Spa also offers an impressive range of beauty treatments.

I was impressed by Butlins, I consider myself converted!

Center Parcs – A Magical Christmas Wonderland

Last week Mellow Mummy & Daddy took Mellow Lara for a midweek break at Center Parcs, Longleat. We had never been on a holiday quite like it before, and having been in the resort no more than 10 minutes, Mr. B. pointed out to me that we “really have entered the world of FAMILY holidays now”. So long relaxing beer by the pool, farewell wine-fuelled lazy evenings watching Mediterranean sunsets... Hello hoards of screaming children, crowds of pushchairs and enforced family “FUN”.

The 4-night trip to Center Parcs cost us just as much as a week self-catering in the sun (including flights)! We resisted the temptation to book loads of activities knowing that it would probably bankrupt us, and decided to take all the food we needed for the week, making the most of the self-catering facilities.

When we arrived, the place was heaving. Although the brass band playing carols, and the twinkly penguins were very atmospheric, I was beginning to wonder whether we had made a big mistake. We timed it so that we were in the swimming pool when everyone else was queuing in the car park, waiting to go to their chalets – this turned out to be a genius idea, the indoor 'subtropical swimming paradise' was quiet, perfect for Lara to show off her swimming skills to her Daddy!

When we finally did leave the pool and head to our 'executive villa' it was dark and the true enchantment of the forest was revealed. A wintry mist descended over the valley, great plumes of steam rose from the floodlit outdoor swimming pool and rapids, and holly wreathed lamps lit up paths to guide us. As we made the short, half-mile walk back to our villa from the car-park, I felt a pang of guilt for having brought Lara along at 6 months, before she was old enough to appreciate the magical Christmas wonderland we had brought her to.

The villa, although a little dated, was certainly spacious, perfectly comfortable and wonderfully placed at the top of a hill next to a small pond that was home to plenty of wildlife. Ducks and squirrels regularly came right up to the window (much to Lara's delight) and as we ate our breakfast we saw birds and deer making their way through the forest. The villa had all the kit we needed, but as with most self-catering accommodation, the kitchen gear left a lot to be desired – maybe they expect people to eat out in the on-site restaurants every night?

Center Parcs is wholly geared towards families. Each villa is equipped with a cot and a high chair (and more are available if needed). Footpaths are all buggy-friendly and buggy parks are provided everywhere that pushchairs can't reasonably be taken (such as the side of the pool!). There are plenty of baby-changing areas throughout the resort and the swimming pool has a large number of family changing cubicles designed to accommodate the whole clan! At peak swimming times though, we found these to be VERY much in demand. The best thing about the park is that you never have to worry about whether it is “done” to take your little one with you; one evening we went ten-pin bowling and while we waited for our lane, we sat in the bar – there was never any question that a baby wouldn't be welcome in either the bar or the bowling alley.

On the one day when we did fancy doing something where Lara wouldn't be welcome, we booked her into the 'Time Out Club' for the afternoon. Lara settled immediately and I (being the mellow soul that I am) had no worries leaving her with the enthusiastic staff. The hubbie and I spent the afternoon at the 'Aqua Sana Spa' having pampering treatments and generally chilling out. When we went to pick up Lara, she'd had the time of her life and had even made me her first piece of art work which now graces the kitchen wall!

All of our travelling around the resort was on foot, despite the bitter cold. The paths and boardwalks went everywhere we needed and nothing was more than a 20 minute walk from our villa. The steep hills meant that we got plenty of exercise and that Lara got plenty of fresh air. Before we went, I had images of us being the only guests who weren't riding bicycles (based upon the sheer volume of emails that Center Parcs sent me reminding me to hire a bike) – but we were pleasantly surprised to find out that the cyclist/pedestrian mix was about 50/50.

The booking mechanism that Center Parcs uses for most of the activities doesn't breed spontaneity. You are encouraged to book your activities online or over the phone before you arrive, meaning that many of the things get booked up quickly, offering less choice once you get there. We fancied using the spa facilities one afternoon but when we went to one of the booking points, we found it was fully-booked for the week. Additionally, if you want to go to one of the many restaurants you need to decide well in advance; we saw people being turned away so decided to book a slot for later in the week, only to find out that there was nothing available. Luckily we were able to stock up at the supermarket which was surprisingly reasonably priced and had an enormous range of products, including any baby bits you may have forgotten to take with you.

I know that Center Parcs has been criticised for being too expensive and I agree – it is blimin' pricey and if I want to take my toddler(s) or teenager(s) there in the future, I think I am going to need to start saving now for all the activities they will want to do. I don't feel like it was poor value for money, but likewise, it wasn't good value for money – it was the just the same price as if you chose to do all of the activities at your local leisure/activity centre/spa (which, to be honest, you probably wouldn't attempt to do in the space of just 5 days). The difference is that on holiday, you expect at least something thrown in for free – if you were on a package tour to sunny Europe, you'd get some of the activities included in the price of the accommodation. I think that's why I feel a little cheated; the accommodation wasn't anything special, but it was expensive.

All in all, I would DEFINITELY recommend Center Parcs as a great break for parents of young children; its quiet, clean, enclosed and full of things to do. I think it would be perfect for parents with one toddler and one baby – giving you a chance to spend some quality time with your older child. As for a trip for older kids or teenagers? Well, you'll have to stay tuned and ask me that in another 10-15 years time!

A Tale About The Indispensability of Baby Wipes

You may have noticed that I've been a bit quiet on the twitter, and blog front this week. I was enjoying some deserved time off – a short break with the munchkin to Center Parcs, which I shall review, in good time. For the time being though, I want to tell you a story about our return, and a lesson in ensuring you are prepared for anything!

So, I'm at the cattery ready to pick up munchkin number two from his holiday (he seems to enjoy himself at the cattery as much as we do on holiday, so I have no guilt leaving him there). I'm stressed because the blimin' credit card machine has rejected my card twice already (apparently there was a technical fault due to inclement weather... what???), I have no cash so I've been rushing in and out of the cattery trying to secure some form of payment from the husband who is sitting patiently in the car park. Finally, after coming to some sort of IOU arrangement with the proprietor I head in to pick up my cat who doesn't seem that thrilled to see me, and who I practically have to drag out of his cage (this may have something to do with the endless supply of biscuits, the staff who drool over him, the tortoises and budgies placed temptingly in front of his cubicle, and the soft heated blanket in his bed).

I trek back into the snow-covered car park and manage to squeeze myself in to the car with the cat carrier perched precariously on my lap. Just as the car engine starts, both me and the hubbie notice a very unpleasant smell, far worse than any nappy Lara has previously managed to produce! To our utter disgust, the cat has gone to the toilet in his basket between leaving his cage inside the cattery, and making it out to the car. There, at the far end of his basket, is the biggest poo known to man. The stench is overpowering; there is no way we are going to make it home. Argh.

I jump out of the car, cat basket in hand, and grab the nappy changing bag as I go. Armed with a nappy sack and a handful of baby wipes I feel prepared to take on the challenge! Goodness only knows what I'd have done pre-baby, back in the days before I kept a stash of baby wipes on me at all times! The smell is obscene! I've spent the last 6 months cleaning up someone else's poo (Lara's, not my husband's!) but nothing has prepared me for this.

With my hands covered in a protective layer of baby-wipe, I tentatively open up the top of the cat basket in an attempt to reach the offending article (mysteriously the cat is sitting at the opposite end of his carrier, totally oblivious to the stress he is causing me at this time). Before I know it, the cat has rocketed out of the basket like a jack-in-the-box and is legging it across the car park, back towards the door of the cattery.

At this point, the hubbie steps out of the car, offering to help. You should see his face when he notices that not only is the poo still in situ, but that the cat basket is devoid of cat, and that I am now sprinting, like a white, overweight Usain Bolt, across the car park, wildly waving a nappy bag. I set the hubbie to work dealing with the poo, while I chase after the stowaway cat. I finally manage to isolate the cat under someone else's car. He's sat there, just out of reach, miaowing with a vengeance.

By now, there are other customers arriving and the sight of me, on all-fours, up to the elbows in snow, peering mysteriously under a stranger's car has obviously started people talking! Members of staff now appear bearing cat treats and blankets. We have the car surrounded.

At this point, it's probably worth saying that my cat is a rescue cat; he's nervous and distrustful of most human beings. Being surrounded by anxious humans in the snow probably isn't his idea of fun. I know it isn't mine. After a few (increasingly freezing) minutes sitting in the melting snow with no gloves and no jacket, calling his name and shaking the cat treats tantalisingly, the cat finally plucks up courage to show his face. I make a grab for him (by now I'm practically face-first in the snow) and physically haul him, limbs flailing everywhere, from beneath the car.

With the crisis averted, we get back into the car... I retrieve the nappy sack from the ground but we are both too embarrassed to head back into the cattery to get rid of it, so we end up driving off with the evil-smelling stench-bag still in tow. Once we are far enough away that we think no-one will notice, we find a bin to put it in!

The cat has forgiven us now and has remembered that home is just as much fun as the cattery. He is currently sitting on the hubby's lap, getting hugs. So, let that be a lesson to you – take baby wipes with you EVERYWHERE.

On a totally unrelated theme, stay tuned for Lesson 3 in my series on 'Free baby stuff', coming as soon as I find time to write it!