Places To Visit On An Overnight Trip To Paris

As a family, Tilly and I absolutely love to travel! We are lucky because we live on the Kent coast and it means we literally live on the gateway to Europe. It is so easy for us to pop over and take an overnight trip to a major European city like Amsterdam or Paris. Last Spring, I took Tilly for her first overnight trip to Paris. It's so easy to take a break to Paris by booking through the Voyage Privé website. 

But once you have booked your trip to Paris, you need some things to do whilst you are there. There is so much more to Paris than theme parks like Disneyland Paris and Parc Asterix. There are culture and shopping! Today we have a variety of things for you to do on your weekend away. The best thing is Paris has a really good metro system so you can get around the city, really easily. But they also have a good bus network and you can reach a lot of things in the city centre on foot. So what are our top things to do in Paris?

4 Wonderful Reasons Why You Should Start Your Own Blog

When I started this blog, I never dreamed it would become the success that it is today. My own little corner of the internet now plays such a big role in my life and the lives of those I love! Have you ever considered starting a blog? There are lots of reasons why people try, whether they want an outlet; somewhere to express their emotions and opinions unchallenged or they want to offer advice on a particular subject. 

You might have your own reason, but just in case you were looking for a little more inspiration, check out my 4 wonderful reasons why you should start your own blog.

5 Free/Low Cost Weekend Ideas For Families In Autumn

5 Free/Low Cost Weekend Ideas For Families In Autumn

My name is Rachael and these are just a few of my favourite family things to do in autumn which are either free, or cost very little money. For more ideas, you can head over to my blog, Lukeosaurus and Me. I blog about all things family and lifestyle related, from finance, recipes and crafts to days out with the children and fitness. You can follow me on social media too, where I share snippets of our family life featuring my 6 year old and my 1 year old boys. Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.



Autumn is my favourite time of the year! There is always so much to see and do, from adventures to be had to organised seasonal events to attend. In fact, there's often so much on that it's hard to pick and choose what you want to do, and as a family, things can start to get expensive.

With Christmas a month away now, it's time for us to start saving some money. I love going to all the exciting autumn events, but from now on we are going to be relying on our favourite tried and tested free/low cost autumn activities to get us through until Christmas.

Here are 5 of our favourite free or low cost activities that are perfect for busy families to fit in at the weekends. It can be hard to fit in quality family time, especially with homework and other commitments, but these ideas are perfect for slotting into your weekend as and when you have the time.

1. Make your own chocolate apples. This is one of our favorite autumn treats and one that dates right back to my own childhood. I'm not such a fan of toffee apples and it just so happens that chocolate apples are a lot easier and more child friendly to make. I'd recommend that your child be ages at least 6+ to help out in the kitchen with this one, purely based on the melted chocolate, however decorating with sprinkles is a free for all when it comes to age groups!
2. Create pinecone bird feeders. Autumn is a time for glutton and tasty treats for many of us, but it is a tricky time for our wildlife. Why not help the birds in your area by creating some pinecone bird feeders? They are easy to do and something the whole family can get involved in. There are lots of websites detailing the process and you really don’t need much to make a huge difference to the birds in your area.
3. Go on a nature walk and create an autumn wreath for your front door. Collect some interesting leaves, twigs and berries (make sure you know what you're picking and that you wash your hands after handling them) and design a beautiful wreath for your front door. You can pick up any extras or fake berries cheaply from shops like The Range and Hobbycraft.
4. Have a picnic and watch the sun set. If there's one good thing about the evenings getting darker sooner, it's that the sunsets are amazing! And, what's more, the kids will still be awake to see them. Why not wrap up warm and put a picnic tea together, along with a flask of hot chocolate and find a nice hill to climb with an epic view of the sunset? The kids can burn off any extra energy they may have before bed, the adults can enjoy a spectacular sunset and the hot chocolate keeps everyone warm and happy.
5. Have a family movie night. There are some brilliant films that are great for autumn viewing, especially all the child friendly Halloween ones! We love Hocus Pocus and Coco - we’ve watched these both so many times over the autumn period. Or, if it floats your boat, there’s nothing wrong with getting into the Christmas spirit a little early and watching some classic family Christmas films like Arthur Christmas! There are loads of great films on Netflix, Amazon Prime and Now TV. Don’t forget the movie snacks and blankets

Advent activities to get you in the Christmas mood

Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation, and we love this build up to Christmas. Whether you’re Team Elf or Team Grinch, Christmas is coming, and there’s no denying that our little ones love it. Get all the family involved with our favourite Advent activities and enjoy all the festive feels.

How Can I Get Fertility Advice And Help?

When I was younger I conceived three beautiful children with no problem, but having three children in three years was hard work and as much as I loved them all, I wondered what it would be like to have a child later on in life. I always said that I would have one more child when I was older.

So that time came and I was 36 years old. The older kids were 17,15 and 14, and I knew it was time for a new baby. What I didn't take into consideration was that I was older now and it was going to be harder to conceive. I guess my time was running out! I was in a new relationship and we talked about having a baby and it meant a lot to both of us.

The Benefits of an International School

What are the benefits of an international school?

There are lots of advantages to sending your child to an international school, including exposure to a range of different people with unique cultural backgrounds and spoken languages. This represents a far more realistic environment for children, thus preparing them sufficiently for their future outside of education, improving their social and communication skills, as well as their job prospects. Read on for some more information on the benefits of international schools from one of the best primary schools in Cambridge.

Best Tips How to Clean the White Sofa or Couch

A white sofa can be fitted into any interior, therefore, only subject to impeccable cleanliness; otherwise, the visual effect will be exactly the opposite. It is not always possible to keep the upholstery snow-white for a long time, light fabrics most often need upholstery cleaning and special care. To do this, you only need to know how to do it correctly.

Helping Your Child Reach their Creative Potential

How Can You help your child reach their creative potential?

Cultivating your child’s creative spark from a young age is very important for lots of reasons. Creative children often channel their emotions in a healthier way, they develop self-confidence and they have excellent problem-solving skills. I always encourage Tilly to be creative as it is a great way to express herself. Essentially, creativity is a quality important to social, emotional and professional development so child experts urge parents to foster their child’s creativity as much as possible. If you’re unsure where to start, here are some tips from an independent primary school in Spain.

Encouraging Your Child to Resist Peer Pressure

Encouraging Your Child to Resist Peer Pressure 

Peer groups can have so much influence because belonging to a group really does offer something significant to a child or a young person. While most people associate peer pressure with teenagers there is a whole other side to peer pressure that is often overlooked: peer pressure among children. Even at 9 years old I find Tilly is influenced by her friends and wants to do the same things as them and have the same things as them too. 

Should I Let My Child Have a Smart Phone

When Do You Let Your Child Have A Smart Phone?

Mobile phones can be great when used in the right way! You can keep in touch with anyone, anytime and anywhere! They can help you find out information while you are on the move, plan your journey, take photos of your adventures, keep track of appointments, watch TV or listen to an audiobook - the list is literally endless! Tilly has a phone and she has it to keep in touch with her brother, who lives in Holland as well as some of her friends. I want her to be able to phone her brother or her Nanny if there is a problem that she can't tell me about. Her phone doesn't have a sim in it and is used purely over the WIFI at home and if we get WIFI out of the house.