Your destination for local reviews, recommendations and real-life stories from women just like you.
A year to the day and myself, my husband and our two children were midway through our 10th Wedding Anniversary trip of a lifetime to Sri Lanka and now this incredibly beautiful and captivating little country is in mourning.
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My mental health has had a good bashing over the years. I've suffered with post-natal-depression, panic attacks, addiction, anxiety and a serious lack of self love and self worth. And then of course there's the meds and the side effects that come with them.
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To support the #HaveAHeart campaign I asked the beautiful blog squad ladies some their thoughts on what wellbeing means to them, why they are supporting this campaign, who they are gifting their yellow hearts to and how they look after their own wellbeing.
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The Devonshire Arms at picture-perfect Bolton Abbey on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales is one of Yorkshire’s most fabulous and intimate places to stay. It's old school, luxurious, and a proper treat for anyone looking for a romantic 24 hours.For me, the hotel's location always congers up scenes from the original hit musical; Mary Poppins, where Dick-Van-Dyke chalks a perfect picture of the English countryside and they all dive in for a day out in the country.
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Set in the most picturesque location in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, The Devonshire Fell sits proudly overlooking Burnsall. This hotel offers the perfect retreat for a variety of occasions, be it an intimate weekend with the other half in one of Yorkshires Best Beds or a suite with the girls for a spa weekend. It is the perfect location for walks from the door and the perfect environment to look forward to returning for a fantastically executed meal in the evening.
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Children’s Wellbeing | Kids these days – they’ve got it made – or have they? – I’m a primary school teacher and I’m a mum to a beautiful, bright and bubbly six-year-old. I witness the ups and downs of wellbeing in children every day. Every parent faces the same dilemma – how to ensure the wellbeing of our children – particularly from a mental health perspective in a world that is more pressured than ever in more ways than one. 
REVIEW | Cannon Hall Farm Barnsley – South Yorkshire – It’s a fun filled day out for the whole family. There are stacks of outdoor play areas, which the kids cannot get bored of, but also some really good indoor/sheltered activities that means even on your typical autumnal Yorkshire day you can have a really good day out.
RECOMMENDATION | Darkhorse Stratford, East Village – East London – Hidden in the heart of the East Village, part of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and just a stones throw from Stratford station, are a handful of restaurants and bars. And right in the middle is Darkhorse bar and restaurant. It’s described on their website as a ‘modern European restaurant with Italian and Spanish influenced food wrapped in a British attitude’.
RECIPE | Turkish Menemen Omelette – 200 calorie meals! – Whilst on holiday in Turkey, menemen omelette was one of my favourite meals to have at lunch. I’ve recreated a healthy alternative with only 200 calories per serving and Evelyn loves it too! It’s a perfect lunch that you can make the night before and warm at work- or a quick, easy and delicious tea! 
REVIEW |The Garden Secret Spa at Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa, Chesterfield – I love a spa. I love everything about it: the unashamed decadence of spending time doing very little other than unwinding, I love the treatments and most of all I love lounging about in a dressing gown. I would happily travel a few hours to a decent spa. But let’s face it, it’s better to spend as much time RELAXING as possible (rather than schlepping up and down a motorway) so when Ringwood Hall Hotel opened a luxe looking spa practically on my doorstep it was very much on my Girl About radar. 
Wellbeing in Business | Struggling to fit in & the power of corporate giving by Paige Henderson – “Never burn bridges. Today’s junior prick is tomorrow’s senior partner.” Although the film Working Girl has now delighted an audience spanning three decades, it appears the office is still rife with trust issues. For those of us trying to get onto the career ladder, the effort to establish mutual understanding and dependability is so important. Children’s Wellbeing | Kids these days – they’ve got it made – or have they? – I’m a primary school teacher and I’m a mum to a beautiful, bright and bubbly six-year-old. I witness the ups and downs of wellbeing in children every day. Every parent faces the same dilemma – how to ensure the wellbeing of our children – particularly from a mental health perspective in a world that is more pressured than ever in more ways than one. 
Kids Party Ideas – A birthday bonanza at Billy Bobs Diner in The Yorkshire Dales – Those of you who have a 5-year-old know how big-a-deal turning five is – it’s their first year at school and the pressure is on for every parent to pull something pretty awesome out of the party-planning hat. I decided on Billy Bob’s Ice Cream Parlour in Skipton on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales as the venue for Ferne’s 5th Birthday Party.
TRAVEL | 7 sizzling September sun spots & holiday offers for pre-school families – If – and it’s a big if – you’re not yet tied to school holidays, September is the month to get some summer sun in the Northern Hemisphere. If you are, click away now; if you’re not, you’re in for a treat. The seas are warmer than earlier in the year, the peak holiday crowds have gone home and you’re more likely to find a bargain hotel room or villa than in July or August. 
REVIEW | Afternoon Tea – A proper luxury affair at The Hotel Du Vin in Harrogate – Now, I may well be a Harrogate girl, but I am not overly accustomed to the phenomenon that is afternoon tea. Tiny sandwiches, pretty fondant fancies and posh tea have always seemed a bit Miss Marple to me. So, I was keen to see what all the fuss was about…
RECOMMENDATION | The Tickled Trout in Barlow – Chesterfield – We’ve been coming to the Tickled Trout fairly regularly ever since moving to Chesterfield three years ago. It’s consistently great in every way – the food, the service, the ambience. The Tickled Trout is definitely one of my favourite places to eat in the Chesterfield area – whether for a casual family lunch or a more decadent date night. 
RECOMMENDATION | Baby Groups Birmingham – Baby Glow Bugs – The reasonably priced group is a 45-60 minute long session divided into three parts. Set in a dark room lit with stunning light features, flashing toys and twinkling stars it’s a baby sensory haven. The divine smell of lavender just adds to the relaxing environment, far from the screaming anxiety-inducing mayhem I expected from these groups.