Seven Tips To Get Kids Active

In this day and age it's harder than ever to get kids active.  Many pastimes involve technology, so if your little darling is a Minecraft addict or Facebook fiend, it might be very difficult to get them off the computer or games console. Also kids who are more physically active are more likely to be academically motivated and alert in school according to the The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE),  a US organisation, so the mental benefits of physical activity are significant too. 

 For 5 to 18 year olds the recommended level of physical activity is at least one hour a day, but what do you do to encourage your children to get active if they prefer more sedentary activities? 

Here are seven top tips on getting kids to be active and keeping them that way. 

 1. Don't take the car

Wherever possible encourage your kids to walk or cycle to school, the local shops or a friend's house. It's never to early to learn the rules of the road so if your child is little and you need to walk with them, help them learn the green cross code and how to be sensible crossing the road. If your child wants to cycle to school, enquire about cycling proficiency courses such as the one run by Bikeability Wales. 

 2. Exercise with them

 Set aside time every week to do something active with your children.  This is great for bonding and you could even teach them a new skill such as how to use a hula hoop, how to throw a frisbee, or how to skateboard. 

 3. Buy active toys for your kids

 Bikes, skipping ropes, skateboards, footballs and all manner of toys encourage kids to be active. If you buy a new computer game for birthday or Christmas, then buy them something active to balance it out like a new football or scooter.

 4. Encourage their interest

If they have an interest in a sport, encourage the enthusiasm by signing them up to a sports club. Many schools work in collaboration with companies as well to run school sport tours where football, rugby, skiing and netball tours can be enjoyed and skills honed. 

 5. Encourage a love of nature and walking

 The UK has many beautiful national parks, beautiful waterfalls and lovely beaches. On holidays and weekends go out, take a picnic and explore the beautiful countryside and coastline around us.

 6. Try something different

 Now and again try something different. Trampolining and roller blading have become popular in recent years for example. Check out local listings for places that run courses and classes.

 7. Consider a beach holiday

There are lots of fun activities kids can play on the beach such as beach volleyball. They can also learn new skills such as paddle boarding, surfing and even windsurfing. 

 So these are 7 tips to get your kids active, feel free to share your tips below.

 *Pr collaboration 
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The North East’s Famous Faces

The North East of the UK is a beautiful area and well worth visiting. As well as the urban areas of Teeside, Tyneside and Wearside it also is known for its coastline, part of the Northumberland National Park and it's World heritage sites of Durham Cathedral, Durham Castle and Hadrian's Wall.

With so much history and beauty, it's no wonder that many of the UK's well loved and favourite faces choose to spend a large portion of their lives here, even if they’re not North East born and bred.

The Cairn Group has created the following guide to the North East's famous faces and where to check out their connections. Have a look at the star-studded tour below and then book up one of the premium hotel group’s hotels in Jesmond so that you’re in the perfect location to begin your own self-drive excursion.

Cheryl 



Key facts:
  • Shot to fame on the TV reality show Popstars The Rivals 
  • Sold millions of records as a member of Girl's Aloud 
  • Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief in 2009 
  • Became the first British female solo artist to have five number one singles

Cheryl is an English singer, dancer, and television personality. Born as Cheryl Tweedy and raised in Tyneside, she rose to fame in late 2002 upon winning a place in girl group Girls Aloud after participating in ITV's Popstar's The Rivals. She is now a solo singer, style icon and face of L'Oreal. She grew up in Heaton in Newcastle and also lived in the Walker area.

Rowan Atkinson



Key facts:

  • Played major roles in TV series Black Adder and Mr. Bean
  • Played major roles in the movies The Lion King and Johnny English. 
  • Won the 1982 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Comedy Performance in the 1981 season

Rowan Atkinson grew up on a farm owned by his father in Consett, County Durham, and studied at the Cathedral Chorister School. It is the latter where you should visit to gain an extraordinary glimpse into the actor’s early life — part of Durham Cathedral, the establishment also has former Prime Minister Tony Blair as a famous past student.

 Sir Bobby Charlton



Key facts: 
  • Was a member of the 1966 World Cup-winning England football squad. 
  • Was a member of the Manchester United football squad that won three Football League First Division titles. 
  • Winner of the 1966 Ballon d’Or. 

A statue of Sir Bobby Charlton may be found alongside his former teammates George Best and Denis Law at Old Trafford, but you don’t need to travel all the way to Manchester to celebrate the legend.

Sir Bobby was born in Ashington, with football fans who head to one of Northumberland’s largest towns encouraged to visit the football pitch on Woodhorn Lane to witness some grassroots football being played by Ebac Northern League Division One club Ashington Football Club.

Steve Cram




Key facts: 
  • Won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games. 
  • Won a gold medal at the 1983 World Championships. 
  • Won a gold medal at the 1982 Commonwealth Games, as well as double gold at the 1986 Commonwealth Games. 
  • Won a gold medal at the 1982 European Championships, as well as both gold and bronze medals at the 1986 European Championships. 
  • Won the 1983 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award

The origins of Steve Cram’s illustrious athletics career can be traced back to North-East athletics club Jarrow & Hebburn AC, which he joined when he was only 12 years old. The club’s athletes can be found training as well as regularly competing against many other teams from across the North East at Monkton Stadium.

As you can see there are many famous people with connections to the North East of England. Tell me have you ever been to this area?
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Ted Baker Jewellery Roll Review And £50 Voucher Competition With Amara Ends 30/04

Sometimes you come across a website and you think WOW, where have you been all my life? This is what happened when I first came across Amara. 

Amara is a company that focuses on chic and stylish living. Created by husband and wife team Andrew and Sam Hood in 2005, the company have gone from strength to strength in this time and have built up a collection of coveted luxury brands, such as Missoni Home, Orla Kiely, Georg Jensen and Ted Baker.

I was recently asked if I would like to review my choice of item from their website and run a competition for my lovely readers. Of course, I said yes.

The item I choose to review from Amara was the Ted Baker black citrus bloom jewellery roll. 


I've had my eye on this jewellery roll since I spied it online. The first thing you notice is the vivid gorgeous flower print in a beautiful pink and yellow. I'm such a fan of the Ted Baker prints and this one is no exception. It also has a rose gold coloured gilt edging to the roll, giving it a classy look.


 Inside the jewellery roll, everything is well laid out. 


In the top section is a zipped compartment which is really handy to keep your precious items in.


 In the middle, there is a section "Hooked on you " where you can store earrings and another section "Wrapped around your finger". Both sections have poppers so you can detach these sections for ease of use. To store your rings just slide them over the band.


The bottom zipped compartment is detachable and has the words "Made to Treasure".  

 What I love about this jewellery roll is that it is the perfect travel companion, to keep all your jewellery organised and safe. It's also well designed and exceptionally pretty too. I would have liked to have had a section for necklaces but you can't have it all. It's a quality item, everything is finished well with no loose stitching and the gold coloured plate on the front and the studs are marked with the Ted Baker logo.

 It's the little touches that make this jewellery roll extra special, like the rose gold coloured zip and the rose gold writing in an elegant script on the jewellery roll.

 This jewellery roll from Ted Baker combines practicality with beauty and I am sure I will use it a lot on my travels. Priced at £47, this luxury jewellery roll really is a thing of beauty to keep your treasured jewellery safe.

 Today on my blog you can win a gift voucher for £50 for spend on the Amara website. While you are here don't forget to check out my other competitions too, including win Rombouts coffee and a Lee Stafford hair dryer. Good luck!

 Win a £50 Amara voucher


SuperLucky Blog Giveaway Linky

As seen on The Prize Finder  and Loquax  
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Why You Should Visit Wales And What I Would Miss If I Left

I've lived in Wales all my life and it's a beautiful yet underrated country. It has amazing beaches, so much interesting history and is featured in a number of films and TV series from The Dark Knight Rises to Dr Who, Da Vinci Demons to Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows.

 When I was asked to write a post about what I would miss if I left Wales here was my response.

 The beaches
Tenby 

Wales has the most amazing beaches in the whole wide world, with miles of golden sand, interesting rock pools to explore and beautiful seas to surf, it's a beach lovers paradise. 

 Over 44 beaches in Wales also have the Blue Flag award for safety, cleanliness and amenities.  My favourites are the beaches in Tenby, Rest Bay in Porthcawl my hometown and Barafundle Bay in West Wales which was voted one of the best beaches in the World by Passport Magazine.

 The waterfalls
Sgwd Gwladys waterfall

There is something ethereal about waterfalls, and Wales has an abundance of these. My favourites are in the area of the Brecon Beacons, known as the 'Waterfall Country' and included Henryhd Falls. Henryhd Falls is a stunning waterfall but did you know its claim to fame? It's the Bat Cave from The Dark Knight Rises!

The castles
Carew castle

Wales has more castles than any other country in Europe, over 640. From the impressive Cardiff Castle to the romantic Castle Coch wherever you go in Wales you are never far from a castle and the amazing history that goes with it.

 We have visited Carew Castle and Cardiff Castle in the last year and whilst both are different they are both equally worth exploring.

The museums

Techniquest

Wales has an abundance of museums. Techniquest in Cardiff is an excellent hands-on science museum for children whilst the National Roman Legion Museum in Caerleon has an impressively intact amphitheatre.

 Every school child in Wales visits St Fagan's the museum of Welsh life, and it's an interesting day out. Also and this is important, many museums are free in Wales, so you have no excuse not to explore!

The capital city
The Norweigan Church 

 Cardiff, the capital city of Wales is a brilliant city, not too big, not too small, it's almost like a large town. It has fabulous shopping in St David's 2 with all the big brands as well as independent shopping in the Victorian arcades which has the best deli called Wally's and a fab home store called Rossiter's. There are so many things to do in Cardiff you will never get bored. 

 Also don't forget to check out Cardiff Bay and all it's attractions too like the Millenium Centre, the Norweigan Church and The Dr Who Exhibition.
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 The people

 So these are my reasons why you should visit Wales but I have missed out the most important one. The people. Wales has the most friendly people who love a cwtch (hug) and will call you butt (mate) and I would miss the people of Wales dearly if I left.

This post is in collaboration with Flogas and the I Would Miss campaign #IWouldMiss. This campaign looks at what you would miss if you went off the grid, and headed off into the wild for a new adventure. 

 Tell me, have you ever been to Wales? What's your favourite Welsh attraction?

* PR collaboration 
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The Top 5 Polka Dot Design Tablecloths For Summer 2017

With summer just around the corner, it's time to redecorate your home with bright colours. One of the easiest ways to do this and change your colour scheme is by adding bright accessories to your lounge such as cushions and throws, and in the dining room, table mats and tablecloths. 



If you want your dining table to radiate the warm colours of the summer season, then what would be better than tablecloths with polka dot designs? Not only are they colourful, polka dots also bring a fun and lively style to your dining room.

With that in mind, here are 5 of the best polka dot design tablecloths for you to brighten up your dining room this summer.

1. Comet green dots Teflon tablecloth

Green and its many shades are popular in summer as the forest and leaf-like serenity, complements the rich colours of the summer season well. It gives you an imaginary vision of a cool breeze despite the scorching heat from the sun. This Teflon made tablecloth comes will protect your table and is designed to shrug off stains.

2. Candy spots vinyl tablecloth


Enjoy the sweetness of summer with the colourful candy-themed vinyl tablecloth. With its colourful spots, it's a fun design that all the kids will love. It also comes in different shapes; rectangular, square, round and oval.

3. Red polka dot vinyl tablecloth

Red adds a little heat to your dining room. Flaunt the edges and curves of your dining table with this sexy and sizzling hot polka dot vinyl tablecloth. You can choose from different sizes and even ask for a custom fit.

4. Polka dot fudge oilcloth tablecloth

Make your dining experience a seaside feast with this beach inspired polka dot oilcloth. With its sandy colour scheme, your family will certainly enjoy the “indoor beach dining” feel. Oilcloth tablecloths are beautiful and practical and you can choose from all sizes to suit your table’s specifications.

5. Big spot lime vinyl tablecloth

This tablecloth features large spots and a vibrant lime colour. Like the other 4 tablecloths, you can also order this tablecloth in different sizes for the perfect fit; rectangle, round, square and oval.

With all these polka dot designs, whatever you choose will guarantee a perfect summer theme for the dining area in your home. Invite your friends and relatives for a meal or drink to show off your newly decorated dining table while enjoying the hot weather and warm breeze that the season brings to your property.

 What designs do you use to brighten up your home? 

 *guest post
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How You Can Grow Your Garden In Six Months

Creating a beautiful garden takes no more than a sprinkling of know-how. It doesn’t mean spending hours labouring and weeding, pruning and lopping.

With the right design and mix of plants, Rattan Direct show how with minimal effort and time, your garden can blossom from an empty landscape into a bountiful landscape in six months or less.



The Seasons – Start in Spring

Winter is the time that the garden and most things in it naturally slumber. It is no fun trying to dig over frozen earth or cajoling frost-bitten plants back to life which is why any big changes to your garden should be left until the warmth of spring.

Even in spring, the garden is still at the mercy of the occasional night frost but you can start the ground work preparation until the danger of frost has passed.

Consider the Garden’s Aspect

Once spring has arrived, before you start digging and planting you must consider the aspect of the garden. This refers to the travel of the sun across the garden.

In other words, which parts of the garden are in full sun all day, which are partial shade and which are in complete shade? It is important to understand this as plants that enjoy full sun will not thrive in shady corners and vice versa.

Soil Type

It may seem too scientific for an amateur gardener but even if you are creating a minimal maintenance garden, you want it to look stunning as long as possible with minimal effort.

Know you have an idea of shady and, full sun and partial sun areas, you need to have an idea of the type of soil you have.

Is it acidic, lime, neutral, sandy, loam or clay soil? You can find this out by investing in an inexpensive soil testing kit, available online or from high-quality plant nurseries. Once you have an idea of your soil, you can look out for plants that will thrive in the soil.

Look out for plants that require specific soil types. It is a waste of time, money and effort if you plant an acid soil loving plant in a sandy, dry patch – it will wither and fail to thrive.

Existing Borders



If you have an existing border and intend on starting from scratch, you will need to empty the bed of all bulbs, shrubs and plants.

Again, this is a gardening job best done in spring, although you can also get a head start by clearing the border in autumn.

Once you have removed all the plants etc., dig over the soil to aerate it and add a high-quality fertiliser or, better still add well-rotted compost from your composting bins. This adds much-needed nutrients as well as encouraging gardening-friendly bugs and insects such as ladybirds and worms.

New Borders

If you are starting a new border from scratch, like other tasks, it pays to spend time and effort in preparation before you start the exciting task of adding plants.

This means adding a mix of top soil and compost, and/or fertiliser. It means ensuring that all weeds are removed as well as stones and other detritus that could prevent plants from establishing and flourishing.

TOP GARDENING HACK: on borders full of weeds, cover the ground with black plastic and leave for a week or two. This forces any remaining perennial weeds to grow looking for like. When you peel back the plastic, you will see the bleached stems of the weeds – simply dig up and remove.

Planting



Now you have prepared the border, you need to start designing the border for a lush, colourful display:
  • Year-Round Interest 

These are evergreen and deciduous shrubs that form the shape and character of a flowering border. Choose shrubs and trees that give all round colour, from lush green leaves in spring and summer, to colourful stems in autumn and winter.

TOP GARDENING HACK – use the height of plants as the backdrop of a border, then middle-sized plants the fill the centre and bedding plants for colour and interest around edging.
  • Summer-Time Colour 

Bulbs in spring are the first sign that warmer weather is arriving and is the opportune time to add colourful bedding plants. Many of these plants will keep on giving throughout the summer and into autumn providing you dead-head dead flowers. This means the plants puts energy into producing flowers and not seeds.

TOP GARDENING HACK: water your garden well, especially during dry spells thus catching rainwater for use in summer is a fantastic solution.

And finally, sit back and enjoy the colours, sounds and pleasant scents of the garden. 
pin for later

Rattan Direct supply a range of garden furniture and accessories. Order online or visit their showroom for fantastic offers.

* Guest post
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A Honeymoon In Ireland On a Motorbike

A guest post by Cath from Passports and Adventures. Cath is a mum, a biker and a scientist.

Travelling the West Coast of Ireland on a motorbike is probably not what you would call a traditional honeymoon but it was exactly what my hubby and I wanted. Keen bikers, him the rider and me the pillion, we decided it was right up our street as a honeymoon after our wedding in 2010. Don’t get me wrong, we still wanted the whole lie-on-a-beach-with-a-book type honeymoon but not straight after our wedding. We postponed that one.


My husband rode the bike over to Ireland a week before our wedding and I drove our car crammed with wedding things a few days later. Two days after our wedding we gave my sister-in-law the car to take to her house and off we set from Dublin destined for the West Coast of Ireland. Both of us are from Dublin and had holidayed in Galway and Mayo with our families as kids but had only briefly visited Mayo as a couple some years before. We had plotted out our route to ensure we took in as much of the West Coast of Ireland as we could in the 5 days we would be on the bike before returning to the UK. We also made sure we had the correct insurance policy which allowed us to take our bike out of the UK just in case we crossed the Irish border. After using sites like onesureinsurance.co.uk to determine what insurance we actually needed, we were ready for our motorbiking adventure!

The first stop was going to be my father’s second house in Tuam, Galway via Achill Island in County Mayo. My husband had spent many a summer holiday near Achill Island with his family as a young boy and he brought me there on a day trip a few years before the wedding for the first time. So we knew our tour of the West Coast of Ireland had to start there.

Achill Island lies just off the coast of Mayo and is connected to the mainland via the Michael Davitt Bridge. A rugged island with mountains and peat bogs, the main reason we visited was to see Keem Bay, the beautiful sandy beach enclosed in a beautiful bay and the westernmost accessible part of the island.

Achill Island also forms part of the Wild Atlantic Way, a tourism trail that stretches from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal all the way to Kinsale in County Cork. We had ridden part of the Wild Atlantic Way on the bike in previous years from Mallaranny to Achill Island before and it was worth it but unfortunately, we didn’t have time on this visit as we had to get to Tuam before nightfall.

We had planned to stay in Tuam for two nights before heading for Killarney via the Cliffs of Moher so that we could visit Galway City and Salthill but my sister-in-law surprised us with an overnight stay and Medieval Banquet in Bunratty Castle so we only had one night in Tuam before starting our journey south.

As we headed south we detoured off the main road from Galway to Bunratty to visit the Cliffs of Moher and what a sight they were. Neither of us had ever visited the Cliffs of Moher before and we were both glad we made the trip. Although the weather was a bit cloudy I still got a few pictures of them as memories. 

The Cliffs of Moher are located in County Clare and also form part of the Wild Atlantic Way. They rise 120 meters above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag’s Head and reach a maximum height of 214 meters near O’Brien’s Tower, 8 kilometres north. They are one of the top tourist attractions in Ireland and it is easy to see why.

There is a visitors centre and walkway along the top of the Cliffs and stunning views out to the Atlantic Ocean. We will definitely be returning once our son is a bit older to appreciate them.

Two hours after arriving we were back on the road heading for Bunratty and an unexpected overnight stay in the Bunratty Castle Hotel. The hotel is situated across the road from the Castle and is a really nice hotel. There is a spa, a restaurant and lovely grounds. We didn’t eat in the restaurant as my sister-in-law treated us to the Medieval Banquet where, as we were the honeymooners, we acted as Lord and Lady of the Manor during the banquet.

It was an amazing experience and one I would highly recommend if you ever visit and stay at Bunratty. We sat in the Banquet Hall of Bunratty Castle, were served a medieval-style 4-course dinner, drank mead and enjoyed medieval music and songs. It was a delightful surprise for our honeymoon.


From Bunratty, our honeymoon took us south to Killarney and the Ring of Kerry. Ever since he passed his bike licence my husband has wanted to ride a bike around the Ring of Kerry. Another area of Ireland that was to be a first for us, the Ring of Kerry is a 110-mile circular route in County Kerry and is one of the most picturesque places in Ireland I’ve ever been to.

We arrived at our hotel in Killarney, the Gleneagles Hotel, not to be mistaken with the golf one, and headed for the pool. It was a welcome break for sore bums I can tell you. At the time the hotel was looking a bit jaded but the pool was lovely and the food in the restaurant was tasty.

After a good night’s sleep, we set off after breakfast to take on the Ring of Kerry. We rode clockwise from Killarney to Dingle, taking in towns like Cahersiveen and Killorglin. During our day 1 ride, we stopped at the famous Ladies View which has stunning views across the Killarney Lakes. I had my husband driven mad asking him to stop here and there for photographs.


From Ladies View, we continued clockwise until we hit the coast and we were met with some incredible scenery. Once again the light wasn’t brilliant for photographs on the coast but this didn’t stop me from taking some. My only criticism of the Ring of Kerry is that the roads are very unforgiving as a passenger on a bike. The potholes were many and unavoidable.

Although Dingle is not part of the Ring of Kerry it is a town I have always wanted to visit so we decided to have lunch there before heading back to Killarney. It is a beautiful little fishing village that is a tourist destination in County Kerry and has a famous bottlenose dolphin called Fungie in its bay. It’s extremely picturesque and was definitely worth the detour. Plus, there’s nothing nicer than fish and chips by the sea.

Day 2 of our Ring of Kerry adventure saw us pass through the centre of the area that the Ring of Kerry surrounds so that we could ride through the Gap of Dunloe. This is a narrow mountain pass between the MacGillycuddy Reeks and the Purple Mountain. It stretches for 6.8 miles and passes no less than 5 lakes, which are connected by the River Lee.


It is very narrow and winding so is difficult for larger vehicles. The most popular way of visiting it is via horse and cart but it was no problem for a motorbike. Again my breath was taken away by how stunning the scenery was. And to think it had been within arm’s reach for most of my life and this was the first time I was seeing it.

Once we’d passed through we headed back to Killarney via Muckross Lake, for yet more pictures, before changing and walking into town for a well-deserved drink and some food.

Killarney is a great town with plenty of pubs and cafes for food and drink. We even managed a small bit of shopping on our last afternoon. It’s a great town to use as a base for exploring the Ring of Kerry and places like Dingle too and will definitely be somewhere we return to on another holiday to tour Ireland.
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Our last stop on our honeymoon tour of Ireland was my sister-in-law's house for a day’s rest before driving the car home via the ferry. We had an absolutely brilliant time during our bike tour of Ireland despite the sore bums from all the potholes and we got to see so many places we’d never visited before. We can’t wait to take our son back to let him discover hidden gems of Ireland when he’s older.

If you are ever considering visiting Ireland I urge you to forgo Dublin, my hometown, and head West. You really will not be disappointed if you visit any of these places!

 Thanks to Cath for this post! There are so many lovely areas to visit in Ireland, why not spend longer and explore this amazing country. For more scenic drives in Ireland check out this post from Mom Of Two Little Girls.
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Rombouts One Cup Filter Coffee Review And Giveaway Ends 20/04

Making coffee has become a bit of art these days. You take the best coffee seeds that have been nurtured by coffee farmers then selected and picked. These coffee cherries as they are called are selectively picked then dried, milled, roasted then ground. The process is called from seed to cup. 

Luckily Rombouts have done that all for you. Then packaged it in a one-cup filter. I am sure you have heard of Rombouts. The family-owned and run coffee company was founded in Belgium in 1896 and in 1958 they founded the One Cup Filter product

The magic of the One Cup Filter is that it is simple and easy to use with no coffee mess, as the coffee is contained in the sealed filter.


I was sent a selection of Rombouts One Cup Filters to review, and a prize of a selection of products to give away on my blog. Before I tell you how to enter let's have a look at the products.


The One Cup filters come in a packet of 10 with a lid. So simple to use, first you boil the water then you sit the filter on the cup. When the water has boiled you carefully pour the water onto the filter up to the level which will only take a few seconds. To keep the water hot you pop the lid on the filter and wait for it to drip. Less than 20 seconds later your coffee is made, all you have to do is add milk and sugar to taste and voila!

So I must admit I was a little dubious about the quality of the coffee. How could something so quick taste good? 

Original Filters
These filters are a medium strength filters which they say are suitable for any time of day. The coffee tasted well rounded, with no bitter aftertaste, which delighted me. I particularly hate getting bitter coffee when I go to a cafe.  It wasn't too strong for me, or too weak. It was as Goldilocks would say 'just right'. 

Italian Style Filters
These filters give a rich dark coffee with a full-bodied flavour. Perfect for after an evening meal these filters are for the real coffee connoisseurs, those that take their coffee seriously. Personally, I wouldn't drink these after 10 pm as they are a stronger coffee.

Columbian Filters
The Columbian filters are a medium roast filter. The coffee tastes rich, flavourful with a hint of sweetness. A coffee you can drink at any time and a coffee that I thought was particularly delicious. One up from the original filters in my opinion.

Decaf Filters
The Decaf filters are an interesting product. I was intrigued to see how they would taste. The coffee is a medium roast and comes with a blue filter. It didn't smell as rich and robust as the other coffee and wasn't as smooth but if you want a coffee before bedtime it was perfectly acceptable. I think it is a good idea to have these in the cupboard to indulge in your coffee fix if you want to reduce your caffeine intake. 

All these filters cost £2.69 for a pack of ten. Great value I think you will agree. They also come packaged in foil to keep fresh. 


Today on my blog you can win a selection of Rombouts products including some one cup filter coffees. Whilst you are here don't forget to check out the rest of the competitions I have running too and this coffee box review. Good luck!

 Win a selection of Rombouts products

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Why You Will Love Iceland

I've got a secret. I've fallen in love... with a country called Iceland. There are many places I have been in the world, that have not lived up to my expectations but Iceland exceeded them. The amazing landscape has inspired many films and TV shows, such as Game Of Thrones, Interstellar, Prometheus and many more. Here I will tell you why I fell in love with Iceland and why you will too.  

The Waterfalls
Gullfoss

Iceland has many beautiful waterfalls all over the country. Gullfoss is one of the most beautiful and well known as it's on the Golden Circle route. A route that covers some of the most well-known waterfalls and geysers in the Thingvellir National park.

 Another stunning waterfall is Seljalandsfoss in south Iceland not far from Vik. This waterfall is popular as you can walk behind it and see the majesty of the water and power of the water from a different angle. Just be sure to wear sturdy walking boots as it can be slippery underfoot and waterproof clothing as you will get wet.

The Volcanoes
Eyjafjallajökull 

Iceland has a number of active volcanoes, including mount Hekla who has erupted 18 times since 2000 and Eyjafjallajökull, the volcano which erupted in 2010 and caused havoc due to the ash cloud over Europe and flight cancellations. 

 This gives Iceland it's unique and different landscape, after all, it is known as the land of fire and ice. You can even go inside Þríhnúkagígur volcano which has been dormant for 4000 years.

The Geysers
Strokkur Geyser

As Iceland is a volcanic island with active volcanoes with that comes the geysers. The word geyser comes from geysier which means 'to gush' and the original geyser, The Great Geyser is in Iceland. Unfortunately, it doesn't erupt very often but next to it is Strokkur Geyser that goes off every 5-8 minutes.

 An easy 90-minute drive on the Golden Circle route, it really is a thing of joy to see these eruptions and realise the power of the earth.

The Black Sand Beaches

Vik

With volcanoes come black sand beaches. The black sand beaches around Vik in the south of Iceland are striking and memorable. The sand originated from the basalt lava that covers much of the area. One of the beaches here has basalt columns that look like a pyramid and is interesting to see.

 To look out onto the black sand beach in Vik is a serene but surreal experience, just be careful as the waves are known to be unpredictable and particularly dangerous in this area.

The Glaciers
Myrdalsjokull 

Glaciers and ice caps cover over 11% of the land area of Iceland. This contributes to the economy as tourists flock to go on snowmobiles and go glacier hiking.  

Iceland is losing ice due to climate change and many of these glaciers will be gone before we know it. Myrdalsjokull, for example, the glacier above, will be gone in about 50 years. To see this huge but amazing glacier is awe inspiring.

The Geothermal Spas
The Blue Lagoon

Geothermal spas are an Icelandic tradition and many locals spend their days off or catch up with friends after work relaxing in the warm waters. The poster boy for Visit Iceland is the Blue Lagoon located on a lava field not far from Reykjavik and close to the airport. 

 Whilst the Blue Lagoon is in a beautiful setting it is also expensive so do like the locals do and go for one of the other hot pools, and enjoy a more rustic but equally enjoyable experience at the fraction of the price.

 The Northern Lights
The Northern Lights

The phenomenon known as the northern lights or Aurora Borealis can be seen in Iceland from October to March. This beautiful light display which can be made up of many colours including blue, green, and red are a result of electrically charged particles in the Earth's atmosphere. You do need favourable conditions to see the northern lights though, mainly darkness with little light pollutions and no cloud cover. 

 To see the northern lights spectacular is so amazing that is it on many people's bucket list.

The Food
Apotek 

Iceland is known for its traditional unusual food think boiled and singed sheep's head, 'Black Death' schnapps and fermented shark but it also has amazing fish and seafood as well as excellent lamb. 

We went on a food tour which was an excellent way to orientate you to the city as well as giving you a taste of local Icelandic food.  We enjoyed seafood soup, Skyr - an Icelandic dessert similar to yoghurt as well as the famous Icelandic hot dog amongst other things. The dessert we ended the meal with at Apotek was outstanding. 

The Museums
Skogar folk museum

The culture and history of Iceland can be examined through one of their many museums. From the Settlement Centre in Borgarnes with a state of the art multimedia exhibits to the Whale museum, Aurora Borealis museum and the quirky Phallic museum there is a museum for every taste!

We liked Skogar museum near Vik. It was interesting to see the turf houses in the open-air museum as well as visit the folk museum and there is also a museum of transport.

 The Street Art
Street art

If you are ending your Iceland trip in the capital Reykjavik or making this your base, be sure to check out the amazing street art. It really adds to this vibrant and colourful city. While you are here check out the fabulous restaurants and the buzzing bar culture for which Reykjavik is known. Read more on what to do in Reykjavik in a day.

If you’ve got a chance to see Iceland, go for it. Iceland is as otherworldly as you’ve heard and even more. You will also love how Iceland can appeal to your style and preference, like a camping road trip to save money and get as much of the Icelandic outdoors. For hand-designed campervans in Iceland, consider family-run Cozy Campers.


For places to stay in Iceland check out this post by Travelling King.

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Tell me, have you been to Iceland? Would you like to visit?
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