A SUMMERS DAY OUT WITH THE ALL-NEW MAZDA3

Since watching Extraordinary Homes on Netflix, The Optical Glass House in Japan seems to have captured Felix’s imagination and left him wanting to learn more about Japanese architecture and design. Mix this with his love of cars, seeing his face light up when the All-New Mazda3 was delivered to our front door was nothing short of explosive excitement.

As a family we love travel and good design, and always jump at the chance of adventure, whether it’s local or further afield. So when we were asked take the All-New Mazda3 for a test drive to a Japanese twinned town of our choice, we couldn’t resist a fun summers day out.

Twinned with Beppu, Japan’s most spectacular ONSEN natural hot spring city nestled between the mountains and the sea, Bath made the ideal location for us to experience the engineering that goes into the sleek and sporty design of the All-New Mazda3. Loading the kiddos into the car, made easy with the ISOFIX anchorage as standard, we took the scenic route using the cruise control, while Felix excitedly navigated from the back seat and asking whether he could sit in the ‘cockpit’.

We headed into the historic city of Bath, a UNESCO heritage site known for its Roman Baths and honey coloured Georgian architecture and although there are many links between the popular tourist destinations of Beppo and Bath, including thermal springs, a love of rugby and Saki festivals, it is always the open spaces and parks that Felix and Romi make a beeline for.

More than a car and a simple need to get from A to B, I love learning the stories behind great design and every Mazda is designed around one thing, you. Each car isn’t just engineered to move you literally, but to do so emotionally. This is called Jinba Ittai, meaning a sense of oneness between car and driver. Inspired by Japanese tradition, it symbolises the oneness between horse and rider, something entirely natural, like a true extension of your being that brings pure driving pleasure. Pretty cool ay and to be honest it does feel like the car is designed with joy in mind.

We drove past the Bath Holborne Museum in the hopes of cheering out the new Lauren Child: The Art of Illustration exhibition as it was a staple book when Felix was little, but unfortunately they were filming that day so we made mental note to head back next week and drove a little further on to Royal Victoria park.

Apart from the epic playground, this holds a warm and fuzzy place in my heart as we often go Ice Skating here at Christmas and it’s become a bit of a family tradition with hot chocolate, Christmas Markets and looking for a Christmas Eve book for the stockings. Romi got straight into the drivers seat on the wooden toddler playhouse, while her and Felix squabbled over who would ‘drive’ especially as he was keen to pretend he was in the new car using the heads up display, projecting the speed limit, actual speed and next navigation instruction onto the window when driving.

After the kiddos had covered themselves in sand we headed for a quick coffee and nose in our fave two haunts, Toppings bookshop and Mr B’s Emporium. After Paul and I met in a bookshop in London we can’t help but wander around stacked shelves and reminisce with family in tow.

As a surprise addition to our day out, we were gifted a picnic hamper stacked with Japanese goodies from sushi and seaweed to Lychee soft drinks to really immerse ourselves in the experience, before driving up through the narrow streets for a stroll along the infamous the Royal Crescent. Being conscious of driving through the heritage site and trying to be a more eco-conscious I was pleased to learn about the All-New Mazda3 innovative Skyactiv-X engine and its low CO2 emissions, it burns less fuel than a conventional petrol engine but provides better performance. Plus I can confirm that the Petrol needle didn’t seem to move even after a full day out so it’s economical too!

We eventually headed to the perfect shaded picnic spot, as the weather was being temperamental, threatening rain and got stuck in! Sometimes relaxing together outside as a family is just what the doctor ordered and it was sweet to hear Felix’s giggles as Romi gave the sushi experience a suspicious stare!

I wondered whether the car would feel cramped with two children, a 6ft4 husband and pushchair all in a hatchback when we were used to our estate, but in all honesty it didn't feel like that, and even though the boot space is very different compared to an estate it was such a treat to drive the All-New Mazda3. As well as all the cool tech details such as Bose 12 speaker sound system, Apple play and best parking assist I’ve ever seen (I would so need this), it very much felt that this sleek car has been designed and engineered to the enjoyment of the drivers experience.

Note to Father Christmas, Felix is now wondering how he can wangle one of these on his Christmas list or at least visit Japan for the architecture AND the cars. What can I say the kids knows good design!

*This is a collaborative paid post with Mazda. 

We test drove the All-New Mazda3 for five days to get a true feel for the car as part of this review. 

All words and opinions are my own. 

A SPECIAL STAY AT THE BEDRUTHAN HOTEL & SPA CORNWALL

Just over a week ago I waved goodbye to Bristol and the kiddos, for a much needed night away and headed to the beautiful Bedruthen Hotel & Spa Cornwall. It’s not often us mamas take time to recuperate, let alone use the bathroom alone (*toddler alert! if you know, you know) so when I was invited to enjoy the Sensory Spa Garden experience sans children, I jumped at the chance to treat my mam to the beautiful beach views and the outdoor hot tubs Bedruthen Hotel & Spa has to offer.

TRIED & TESTED GLUTEN FREE GUIDE TO PARIS

It's feels like an age since we were last in Paris, exploring the city and getting our fill of our favourite hang outs. Ah the beautiful City of Lights, this time I was on a mission to not only to live like a local but to find the best gluten free eats in Paris. Like most things, when the French decide to do something, they do it right! There are soooooo many great places to eat and oh the Gluten free bread was just dreamy, as it can be hard to find gluten free places abroad I thought I would share our gluten free guide to Paris and a few snaps from our last visit.

COOL KIDS GUIDE TO CARDIFF // 24 HOUR CITY GUIDE

Do you love making last minute travel plans plans? I’ve never been one to book in advance, which can be expensive when it comes to travel! Since Romi’s birth, Felix has been craving some one on one time with me *oh so tricky with a newborn in the house,* so being able to book a last minute day trip with National Express really gave us some much needed quality time.

FORAGING IN THE FOREST OF DEAN

The closest I've been to foraging was picking blackberries as a child with my grandad and trying to eat them before I got back home. So when I was invited to experience a six course taster menu and stay at the award winning Tudor Farmhouse Hotel with the bounty of my finds from Foraging in the Forest of Dean, I was up for the challenge!

MY FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO IN BRISTOL // CITY GUIDE

It seems like a lifetime ago now that we left the dizzy heights of London for a different pace of life in the South West but oh Bristol you are a city that captured my heart and now the longest place I've lived! *eek* There are so many things to do in Bristol that it never really feels like ten years have passed.

From the twinkling harbourside and maritime history to the rows of candy coloured houses, vibrant creative quarters and wealth of foodie delights to discover, there is so much this city has to offer! I was super excited to be asked to collaborate on a mini film with the lovely Victoria from Bridges and Balloons and Expedia to showcase some of my favourite things to do in Bristol and give you an insight as to why we chose to make this our home.

THINGS TO DO IN BRISTOL

MY MUST HAVE GLAMPING LUXURIES

If you asked me whether I was a camping girl I’ll probably say not so much, growing up in a city then thrown into the midst of the countryside as a teen, my parents were more partial to hotel stays then canvas shelters and so we never really did the whole great outdoors thing. However give me glamping and some little luxuries and I’m all ears.

GO GLAMPING IN THE UK? WE DID WITH READY CAMP

Fancy a night sleeping under the stars? Ever wondered what it would be like to go glamping in the UK? We decided to put it to the test with a weekend away with Ready Camp in Tamworth. 

We arrived on site to be welcomed by the coolest safari style canvas tents kitted with everything but the kitchen sink! Perfect for a quick weekend getaway. Felix’s face lit up when he saw where we were staying and charged ahead to explore our home for the night, getting stuck into making a den out of the bunk beds with the bedding we brought.

A FABULOUS NIGHT AT ELMORE COURT

Swooning back to last weekend when I had the absolute pleasure of being invited to Elmore Court for a rather intriguing Moon Party! Now like you I didn't really have a clue what a moon party was  – or what to wear – but the evening was such good fun and the historic mansion was utterly gorgeous that I had to share it with you.

A FUN FAMILY STAY IN OUR AIRBNB PARIS APARTMENT

Those of you who follow me on Instagram probably know we decided to spend Easter half term with a family stay in our Airbnb Paris *sigh take me back* and I've been dying to show you around the cutest Parisian apartment that we got to call home.
In a spur of the moment, escape the routine and stresses of daily life sort of way, we decided to hot foot it over to Paris on the Eurostar and live like a native for a week. I LOVE Paris, everything about it oozes a special je ne sais quoi, from its architecture to the perfect for people watching outdoor cafes, this city holds a dear place in my heart.

COOL URBAN KAFFEBAR IN KREUZBERG BERLIN // TRAVEL

My wanderlust and caffiene cravings are taking me back to Kreuzberg Berlin and some of my favourite coffee shop corners that I never got around to sharing over here. Ah those sunny days exploring new cities has always been one of favourte pastimes, so to compliment my #stylemycoffee hashtag and my love of social spaces I wanted to introduce you to this cool city spot.

BOOK A STUNNING ADVENTURE THIS SUMMER

Finally, spring is here! This marks the countdown towards the long-awaited summer holiday season and I, for one, cannot wait to book my next adventure! I’ve been on the hunt for somewhere adventurous, picturesque and most importantly, family-friendly.

If, like me, you haven’t yet decided on this year’s holiday destination, I’ll share with you three of the places that are topping my travel bucket list for this summer:

MY TOP FIVE SPRING TRAVEL BUCKET LIST

Whoops after an unintentional break for half term, I'm back. Yep I'm back to the normal routine of being woken by a small excited face at silly o'clock and have to somehow organise ourselves to get out the door on time for the school run *this never happens* before trying to cram in as much of my to do list in before heading back out to pick up my boy and repeat, so it's no surprise I'm already lusting for a mini break to a destination off my top five travel bucket list.

I'm not really one for routine and although I can admit it certainly has its benefits, it really seems to be my Achilles heel, I even have 'be more organised' on my list of things to do *Ha* well I can dream ay!

As we've had a hint of spring, I am suddenly craving ALL the sunshine and vitamin D so I thought I'd share with you the places that I'm longing to visit/revisit for a mini break.

PARIS

Springtime in Paris *sigh* after all the song says it all. What's not to love about the city of lights, wandering along the Seine ready for an impromptu picnic, catching some culture at the Palais de Tokyo or checking out the hidden side streets of Marais for a crepe or two washed down by a coffee. You could always head to the Molitor for some champagne luxury and a swim, or if you fancy something more low key you can channel your inner Amelie and skim stones along the Canal St Martin *swoon* You can check out some of my favourite Parisian spots right here.

NYC

Oh the Big Apple! So many of my friends have been across the pond to the crazy delights this city has to offer, with its iconic yellow taxis, Brooklyn Bridge and oh so many things, this is definitely on my list of places to visit. I would love to stroll through Central Park, pick up a rainbow bagel or two, grab a slice of pizza in Greenwich Village. Just imagine sipping cocktails on a roof top pool with the city bustling below or heading out to the Lido on Staten Island, it would feel like you've stepped into a Sex in the City episode! 

PALM SPRINGS

Home of the iconic Modernist Architecture and THAT famous pink door, this corner of the desert has been on my wish list FOREVER! With the likes of the Ace Hotel or the colourful Saguaro Hotel to rest your head you know you'd be in for a good stay. I often wonder whether I would be suited to desert living, although I would have to decide between split and ducted air conditioning as I do not handle the heat well! I'm probably more suited to a relaxing vacay with a drive out into the Joshua Tree National Park or Salvation Mountain.

BERLIN

This city totally stole my heart with its cool coffee culture, laid back attitude and creative vibes. I spent a few days here in the spring and spent the entire time exploring the city on foot, tasting the culinary delights it had to offer, especially the best steamed dumplings I've ever had. I would head back in a heartbeat and could even imagine owning a flat here one day *a girl can dream ay* You can check out a few more pics from my Berlin trip here!

AMSTERDAM

Now here's a city who knows its way to a girls heart. Sunshine, endless canals, cute bicycles and cool architecture, Amsterdam in Spring is the perfect weekend getaway. We loved wandering off the beaten track, finding great places to eat and enjoyed the stylish design hotels the city had to offer. I would recommend a stay at the Loft in the Hotel V Fredericksplein.

Have you got a favourite place for Spring? What's on your bucket list?

* Image source 1 2 3/ 4

WER-HAUS BARCELONA, THE PERFECT CONCEPT STORE // TRAVEL

Oh take me back to warm sunny days. Now it's not that I don't like winter but I really struggle without actual sunshine and with this blanket of grey Bristol has been living under the last few weeks, I've been daydreaming about the afternoon we spent in Wer-Haus Barcelona, the perfect concept store and coffee pit-stop. I love discovering hidden gems like these when exploring new cities and always look out for stylish design and interiors, plus they do the best hot chocolate too!

A FAMILY ROAD TRIP TO SPAIN WITH THE MERCEDES-BENZ MARCO POLO

As a child I would daydream about life on the road, adventures on Route 66 and other TV induced rose tinted fantasies. In reality I think I can recall a weekend trip to the Lake District and an epic journey to the South of France, three generations squished into a car with luggage bursting at the seams as we tried to navigate the Ordnance Survey map...oh the nostalgia.

BEST BAR & RESTAURANT DESIGN // No 197 CHISWICK FIRE STATION

I've been super excited to share this gorgeous interior space with you because quite frankly it's totally swoon worthy, has been on my list of places to visit for an age and it's an instagrammers dream, oh the food is pretty awesome too. I would go as far to say that No 197 Chiswick Fire Station is up there on my best bar & restaurant design list, with its beautiful stripped back interior and utilitarian style keeping it true to its Fire Station heritage.

24 HOURS IN LONDON WITH NOVOTEL BLACKFRIARS

With the new school year beginning we thought it would be fun to squeeze in a mini adventure and soak up the last of the summer by spending a 24 hours in London with Novotel. We were invited to stay in one of my favourite locations along the River Thames, at Novotel Blackfriars hotel, just a few minutes walk along Southbank.

A CITY STAY IN BRUSSELS WITH ACCOR ADAGIO APARTHOTEL

Where has the time gone! It's been quite a few months since I hopped over for a city stay in Brussels with Accor Adagio Aparthotels but I'm finally catching up with myself and I couldn't wait to share our little adventure with you. Way back in March I was invited to explore the city with F and as a treat I thought it would be fun to bring my Mum too.

HOW TO CREATE A HOLIDAY CAPSULE WARDROBE WITH LYST

Beautiful blue skies, sparkling seas and dappled light, toes sinking into white sand, sun kissed skin wrapped in warmth *sigh* Yep I'm definitely itching for an island getaway, something to soothe the soul and enjoy a little R&R. In fact I've been practically stalking my friends IG feeds as they head off to Greece and other Mediterranean getaways, so I thought it would be fun to create a holiday capsule wardrobe wish list using Lyst to appease my wanderlust and give me some style inspiration.

If you're anything like me when it comes to packing, then you'll probably find youself taking five pairs of shoes and a gazillion outfit choices 'just incase' and wondering why your getting extra luggage charge when taking a short haul mini break. As I'm longing for some actual sun *erm hello British summer?!* and keep getting distracted with the likes of pinterest, I've decided to plan a hypothetical four day adventure to a sunny Greek Isle and see whether the holiday gods send me some cosmic love ;)

The concept of a capsule wardrobe is to create a small collection of versatile clothes that you can use like a pic 'n' mix to achieve great style without packing everything-but-the-kitchen-sink, but how on earth do you know what to choose? I mean how many bikini's and shoes could a girl need? * lots apparently* but there is a way around it. I decided to use the Lyst, online shopping site that allows you to follow brands, watch trends and create wish 'lysts' in one place all for free and follow these five simple rules:

Capsule Wardrobe Top Five Tips

1. The first rule of fight club a capsule wardrobe is plan your outfits – yep this fills me with dread – how on earth can I predict what I'm going to feel like wearing?! Apparently the best way to do this is two fold: One, pick a colour palette making it easy to mix and match your outfits and limiting the amount you take, and two, for every one pair of bottoms two/three tops. OK so the last point might need some tweaking to work for me but in theory it sounds like a good idea.

2. Pack light, which means wear your heaviest clothes to travel in. So that bulky jacket and heavy pair of shoes you love so much, they going to be your new best plane buddy! Wear them and store above the locker if you get hot on your flight.

3. Shoes...oh how I love you! Ideally you want one pair of chunky wedge sandals that can dress up or down, one pair of cute pumps for running around in and a pair of flip flops for the pool/beach. Easy! Keeping them neutral maximises how many outfits you can wear them with too.

4. One a day keeps the over packing at bay! Before you reach for your passport and lotion, pull all your holiday clothes onto the bed and start creating a look for each day. By planning your daily go-to style you can save on suitcase space and also precious adventure time by eliminating morning choices.

5. If in doubt leave it out. Does every outfit choice make you feel yay or ney? Try on all your options packing them, if they don't feel great at home or you're not sure how they look then leave them in the no pile. Adding in hot sun and copious amounts of gelato isn't going to make those jeans feel cosier. It's time to say yay to good style days.

As I've been living in one denim skirt and the same three t-shirts I really need to update my summer wardrobe, and what better way to plan my purchases/adventure packed suitcase than a personal shopper in my back pocket. The app is super easy to use and within minutes Lyst allows you create your own collections full of you favourite brands and with alerts to let you know when your faves hit the sales. Better yet it creates suggestions based on your preferred style and previous loves, showcasing new labels and trends that you might miss otherwise. I used it here to pull together this Island capsule style and give me inspiration for my holiday.

I love this holiday capsule wardrobe especially the the oversized floppy straw hat from asos! The pastel colours would be great in the hot sun and by choosing similar tones I can create lots of outfit options from only a few clothes. The heavy coral cord shirt doubles up as a jacket and can be used as a shirt for cooler days, and choosing a metallic swimsuit means you can look stylish by the pool or wear it with jeans to create a fun nigh vibe.

Have you ever created a capsule wardrobe for holidays or even day to day seasonal wear? I'd love to hear what styles work for you when packing.

*In collaboration with Lyst 

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CANOPY & STARS GETAWAY AT KNEPP WILDLAND SAFARI

Just like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as soon as the golden ticket dropped through the letter box I was excited, I mean what do you pack for wild adventure? As part of the CS Collective – you might remember my day at Harptree Court or us trying our hand at winter glamping but this was something special – I had been invited by Canopy & Stars for getaway at Knepp Wildland Safari with some lovely bloggers, and channel my inner girl scout by collecting badges as part of their Year of Wild.