THE MAMMA FAIRY

The Greenway is a former towpath for barges featuring 90 bridges, 33 locks, 17 harbours and four aqueducts. Greenway users can choose to complete the entire 130km flat, off-road trail in one visit or explore the shorter designated routes — ranging from 6km to 15km — between the 14 connecting access points and towns. ROYAL CANAL GREENWAY OPENS Royal Canal Greenway. The Royal Canal Greenway, is a scenic 130km walking and cycling amenity stretching alongside the historic 225-year-old canal, officially launched on 24 March 2021. The €12 million project co-ordinated by Waterways Ireland is the country’s longest Greenway, traversing through Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and

Longford.

FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY IDEAS TO DO AS A GROUP Take A Trip. One fun family activity idea for what you can do as a group is to travel to a new destination. Pack up and go someplace exciting that you can explore and have some time away from your daily responsibilities. Schedule fun excursions and outings such as hiking or checking out a NZ rugby match that may be going on in the area. EXPLORING GRATITUDE WITH YOUR CHILD Learning how to appreciate the things you’re given, be it a gift or food on your table, can motivate children to learn to be grateful. Building respect and an awareness to be thankful will motivate and inspire children to be better behaved, improving positive attitudes and levels of respect towards friends and adults. UPGRADING AND UPDATING YOUR HOME Kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms and entrance hallways all get their fair share of use. Keeping these rooms looking fresh, clean and well maintained is important as these are key rooms within your home that get more than their fair share of wear and tear. WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GOOD AFTER-SCHOOL CLUB After-school clubs were once few and far between. They were primarily somewhere for a child to stay for a couple of hours until a parent could pick them up after finishing their working day. Now, a whole range of schools, both community and private schools, provide after-school clubs with a whole lot to offer. THE TRUE STORY OF DR DEATH: SPINAL INJURY, BRAIN DAMAGE Floella Brown’s Brain Damage, Stroke, and Death. During Dr Duntsch’s time as a surgeon, there were two fatal surgeries which left the victims in severe pain, and soon dying of their injuries. The first of these women was Floella Brown. After going into surgery at his hands, Floella’s vertebral artery was slit. HOW TO FURNISH YOUR HOME WITH UPCYCLED FURNITURE It’s also possible to turn old furniture into entirely new items for your home. For instance, many people are using old bedframes to make benches or converting cribs into a tepee. There are also hundreds of hacks for altering Ikea furniture into new things. When it comes to upcycled furniture, it might seem like more work than simply buying

new.

WHITE COLLAR CRIME

A little know fact about me is that my area of specialism is white collar crime, more specifically prevention and detection. According to wikipedia white collar crime is defined as “financially motivated, nonviolent crime committed by businesses and government professionals. It was first defined by the sociologist Edwin Sutherland in 1939 as “a crime committed by a person of respectability WILL HEAVY SNOW ON TREES CAUSE DAMAGE? Winter is the perfect settin g for cozying up in a warm blanket to watch movies and drink hot chocolate. Snow gives a magical tinge to the freezing cold weather and provides the backdrop for beautiful Instagram-worthy pictures. However, this comes at a price, and as the snow gets more intense, severe side effects start to appear. From frostbite to slippery roads, heavy snow can escalate into

THE MAMMA FAIRY

The Greenway is a former towpath for barges featuring 90 bridges, 33 locks, 17 harbours and four aqueducts. Greenway users can choose to complete the entire 130km flat, off-road trail in one visit or explore the shorter designated routes — ranging from 6km to 15km — between the 14 connecting access points and towns. ROYAL CANAL GREENWAY OPENS Royal Canal Greenway. The Royal Canal Greenway, is a scenic 130km walking and cycling amenity stretching alongside the historic 225-year-old canal, officially launched on 24 March 2021. The €12 million project co-ordinated by Waterways Ireland is the country’s longest Greenway, traversing through Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and

Longford.

FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY IDEAS TO DO AS A GROUP Take A Trip. One fun family activity idea for what you can do as a group is to travel to a new destination. Pack up and go someplace exciting that you can explore and have some time away from your daily responsibilities. Schedule fun excursions and outings such as hiking or checking out a NZ rugby match that may be going on in the area. EXPLORING GRATITUDE WITH YOUR CHILD Learning how to appreciate the things you’re given, be it a gift or food on your table, can motivate children to learn to be grateful. Building respect and an awareness to be thankful will motivate and inspire children to be better behaved, improving positive attitudes and levels of respect towards friends and adults. UPGRADING AND UPDATING YOUR HOME Kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms and entrance hallways all get their fair share of use. Keeping these rooms looking fresh, clean and well maintained is important as these are key rooms within your home that get more than their fair share of wear and tear. WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GOOD AFTER-SCHOOL CLUB After-school clubs were once few and far between. They were primarily somewhere for a child to stay for a couple of hours until a parent could pick them up after finishing their working day. Now, a whole range of schools, both community and private schools, provide after-school clubs with a whole lot to offer. THE TRUE STORY OF DR DEATH: SPINAL INJURY, BRAIN DAMAGE Floella Brown’s Brain Damage, Stroke, and Death. During Dr Duntsch’s time as a surgeon, there were two fatal surgeries which left the victims in severe pain, and soon dying of their injuries. The first of these women was Floella Brown. After going into surgery at his hands, Floella’s vertebral artery was slit. HOW TO FURNISH YOUR HOME WITH UPCYCLED FURNITURE It’s also possible to turn old furniture into entirely new items for your home. For instance, many people are using old bedframes to make benches or converting cribs into a tepee. There are also hundreds of hacks for altering Ikea furniture into new things. When it comes to upcycled furniture, it might seem like more work than simply buying

new.

WHITE COLLAR CRIME

A little know fact about me is that my area of specialism is white collar crime, more specifically prevention and detection. According to wikipedia white collar crime is defined as “financially motivated, nonviolent crime committed by businesses and government professionals. It was first defined by the sociologist Edwin Sutherland in 1939 as “a crime committed by a person of respectability WILL HEAVY SNOW ON TREES CAUSE DAMAGE? Winter is the perfect settin g for cozying up in a warm blanket to watch movies and drink hot chocolate. Snow gives a magical tinge to the freezing cold weather and provides the backdrop for beautiful Instagram-worthy pictures. However, this comes at a price, and as the snow gets more intense, severe side effects start to appear. From frostbite to slippery roads, heavy snow can escalate into FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY IDEAS TO DO AS A GROUP Take A Trip. One fun family activity idea for what you can do as a group is to travel to a new destination. Pack up and go someplace exciting that you can explore and have some time away from your daily responsibilities. Schedule fun excursions and outings such as hiking or checking out a NZ rugby match that may be going on in the area. HOW TO WORK EFFECTIVELY FROM HOME Make an effort to establish a workday routine. Set a scheduled time that you must wake up and start work each day, and an absolute cut off point to stop working in the afternoon. Although it may seem like an effort to put clothes on, changing out of your pyjamas will put you in THE CANARY ISLANDS WITH KIDS Forestal Park, Tenerife, offers a truly unique adventure for kids, both big and small! The park is surrounded by canary pines as well as a landscape full of biodiversity in the protected area of Las Lagunetas. Forestal Park consists of three different modules ranging in difficulty to suit all ages. UPGRADING AND UPDATING YOUR HOME Kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms and entrance hallways all get their fair share of use. Keeping these rooms looking fresh, clean and well maintained is important as these are key rooms within your home that get more than their fair share of wear and tear. HOMESCHOOLING RESOURCES WE LOVE Particular favourites are The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child. The above link is a treasure trove of themed material so if you have a fan in your house this is a fantastic resource for printing themed worksheets. We have downloaded The Gruffalos 20th Anniversary worksheets to work on this week. THE BENEFITS OF ARTS & CRAFTS FOR CHILDREN Travel obsessed working mum of two boys, a 6 year old mini superhero and a football mad 3 year old, who writes about the trials and tribulations of being a mum from randoms ramblings to guest articles in parenting publications both within Ireland and overseas. MAMMA REVIEWS ARCHIVES One of the most expensive times while owning a dog is the initial period, especially if you are purchasing a puppy. While you might be overwhelmed with excitement about your new addition to the family, it’s important to keep in mind the expenses so that you can budget

properly.

TIPS FOR BREASTFEEDING AFTER BIRTH The best way to keep your baby awake while breastfeeding is to work with a sleeping and breastfeeding schedule. You can also massage the baby’s back and feet to keep them going. Get Your Baby a Good Breastfeeding Latch. Latching is the way your baby takes on the breast nipple into their mouth for suckling. FIXING UP THE FAMILY HOME OR MAKE THE MOVE Remember, if you can make positive changes, the value of the home will rise. But it may be worth considering if moving house would give you the requirements at a lower cost. People are often surprised that the cost of moving can often be cheaper than undertaking major renovation work. One thing you could do is take a real estate education course. 3 UNIQUE HOBBIES YOUR KID WILL LOVE Baking. If you have a child that always loves watching you in the kitchen, teaching them how to bake is a great way to introduce them to some important life skills. Baking requires a lot of science, measurements, and accuracy. So, your child will be learning a lot, but it will be disguised as something they enjoy doing!

THE MAMMA FAIRY

The Greenway is a former towpath for barges featuring 90 bridges, 33 locks, 17 harbours and four aqueducts. Greenway users can choose to complete the entire 130km flat, off-road trail in one visit or explore the shorter designated routes — ranging from 6km to 15km — between the 14 connecting access points and towns. ROYAL CANAL GREENWAY OPENS Royal Canal Greenway. The Royal Canal Greenway, is a scenic 130km walking and cycling amenity stretching alongside the historic 225-year-old canal, officially launched on 24 March 2021. The €12 million project co-ordinated by Waterways Ireland is the country’s longest Greenway, traversing through Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and

Longford.

FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY IDEAS TO DO AS A GROUP Take A Trip. One fun family activity idea for what you can do as a group is to travel to a new destination. Pack up and go someplace exciting that you can explore and have some time away from your daily responsibilities. Schedule fun excursions and outings such as hiking or checking out a NZ rugby match that may be going on in the area. UPGRADING AND UPDATING YOUR HOME Kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms and entrance hallways all get their fair share of use. Keeping these rooms looking fresh, clean and well maintained is important as these are key rooms within your home that get more than their fair share of wear and tear. WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GOOD AFTER-SCHOOL CLUB After-school clubs were once few and far between. They were primarily somewhere for a child to stay for a couple of hours until a parent could pick them up after finishing their working day. Now, a whole range of schools, both community and private schools, provide after-school clubs with a whole lot to offer. THE TRUE STORY OF DR DEATH: SPINAL INJURY, BRAIN DAMAGE Floella Brown’s Brain Damage, Stroke, and Death. During Dr Duntsch’s time as a surgeon, there were two fatal surgeries which left the victims in severe pain, and soon dying of their injuries. The first of these women was Floella Brown. After going into surgery at his hands, Floella’s vertebral artery was slit.

WHITE COLLAR CRIME

A little know fact about me is that my area of specialism is white collar crime, more specifically prevention and detection. According to wikipedia white collar crime is defined as “financially motivated, nonviolent crime committed by businesses and government professionals. It was first defined by the sociologist Edwin Sutherland in 1939 as “a crime committed by a person of respectability TOP TIPS WHEN TRAVELLING BY CAR WITH CHILDREN 9 Have fun. The most important thing about travelling by car with children is to try and have fun. Yes, it can get stressful at times, but the good times will far outweigh the bad, especially after you get home. Play games, have sing-songs and laugh together from the comfort

of the car.

HOW TO FURNISH YOUR HOME WITH UPCYCLED FURNITURE It’s also possible to turn old furniture into entirely new items for your home. For instance, many people are using old bedframes to make benches or converting cribs into a tepee. There are also hundreds of hacks for altering Ikea furniture into new things. When it comes to upcycled furniture, it might seem like more work than simply buying

new.

WILL HEAVY SNOW ON TREES CAUSE DAMAGE? Winter is the perfect settin g for cozying up in a warm blanket to watch movies and drink hot chocolate. Snow gives a magical tinge to the freezing cold weather and provides the backdrop for beautiful Instagram-worthy pictures. However, this comes at a price, and as the snow gets more intense, severe side effects start to appear. From frostbite to slippery roads, heavy snow can escalate into

THE MAMMA FAIRY

The Greenway is a former towpath for barges featuring 90 bridges, 33 locks, 17 harbours and four aqueducts. Greenway users can choose to complete the entire 130km flat, off-road trail in one visit or explore the shorter designated routes — ranging from 6km to 15km — between the 14 connecting access points and towns. ROYAL CANAL GREENWAY OPENS Royal Canal Greenway. The Royal Canal Greenway, is a scenic 130km walking and cycling amenity stretching alongside the historic 225-year-old canal, officially launched on 24 March 2021. The €12 million project co-ordinated by Waterways Ireland is the country’s longest Greenway, traversing through Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and

Longford.

FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY IDEAS TO DO AS A GROUP Take A Trip. One fun family activity idea for what you can do as a group is to travel to a new destination. Pack up and go someplace exciting that you can explore and have some time away from your daily responsibilities. Schedule fun excursions and outings such as hiking or checking out a NZ rugby match that may be going on in the area. UPGRADING AND UPDATING YOUR HOME Kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms and entrance hallways all get their fair share of use. Keeping these rooms looking fresh, clean and well maintained is important as these are key rooms within your home that get more than their fair share of wear and tear. WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GOOD AFTER-SCHOOL CLUB After-school clubs were once few and far between. They were primarily somewhere for a child to stay for a couple of hours until a parent could pick them up after finishing their working day. Now, a whole range of schools, both community and private schools, provide after-school clubs with a whole lot to offer. THE TRUE STORY OF DR DEATH: SPINAL INJURY, BRAIN DAMAGE Floella Brown’s Brain Damage, Stroke, and Death. During Dr Duntsch’s time as a surgeon, there were two fatal surgeries which left the victims in severe pain, and soon dying of their injuries. The first of these women was Floella Brown. After going into surgery at his hands, Floella’s vertebral artery was slit.

WHITE COLLAR CRIME

A little know fact about me is that my area of specialism is white collar crime, more specifically prevention and detection. According to wikipedia white collar crime is defined as “financially motivated, nonviolent crime committed by businesses and government professionals. It was first defined by the sociologist Edwin Sutherland in 1939 as “a crime committed by a person of respectability TOP TIPS WHEN TRAVELLING BY CAR WITH CHILDREN 9 Have fun. The most important thing about travelling by car with children is to try and have fun. Yes, it can get stressful at times, but the good times will far outweigh the bad, especially after you get home. Play games, have sing-songs and laugh together from the comfort

of the car.

HOW TO FURNISH YOUR HOME WITH UPCYCLED FURNITURE It’s also possible to turn old furniture into entirely new items for your home. For instance, many people are using old bedframes to make benches or converting cribs into a tepee. There are also hundreds of hacks for altering Ikea furniture into new things. When it comes to upcycled furniture, it might seem like more work than simply buying

new.

WILL HEAVY SNOW ON TREES CAUSE DAMAGE? Winter is the perfect settin g for cozying up in a warm blanket to watch movies and drink hot chocolate. Snow gives a magical tinge to the freezing cold weather and provides the backdrop for beautiful Instagram-worthy pictures. However, this comes at a price, and as the snow gets more intense, severe side effects start to appear. From frostbite to slippery roads, heavy snow can escalate into HOW COVID GAVE ME TIME TO UPDATE MY HOUSE On a personal level, COVID has given me the perfect opportunity to upgrade my home. Growing up, I always bought stuff, filled my house with clothes and accessories, and loved to flaunt them. Having kids has greatly added to the clutter too. Today the family is embracing

minimalism.

FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY IDEAS TO DO AS A GROUP Take A Trip. One fun family activity idea for what you can do as a group is to travel to a new destination. Pack up and go someplace exciting that you can explore and have some time away from your daily responsibilities. Schedule fun excursions and outings such as hiking or checking out a NZ rugby match that may be going on in the area. HOW TO WORK EFFECTIVELY FROM HOME Make an effort to establish a workday routine. Set a scheduled time that you must wake up and start work each day, and an absolute cut off point to stop working in the afternoon. Although it may seem like an effort to put clothes on, changing out of your pyjamas will put you in THE CANARY ISLANDS WITH KIDS Forestal Park, Tenerife, offers a truly unique adventure for kids, both big and small! The park is surrounded by canary pines as well as a landscape full of biodiversity in the protected area of Las Lagunetas. Forestal Park consists of three different modules ranging in difficulty to suit all ages. TOP 10 RESORTS FOR WINTER SUN Riu Palace Meloneras, Gran Canaria. Located in Gran Canaria, Spain, the Hotel Riu Palace Meloneras combines top-quality style, service and comfort. This luxurious Palace is perfect for relaxing holidays and soaking up the island’s winter sun, featuring freshwater swimming pools, a gym, jacuzzis and more. You can spend your days lounging by EXPLORING GRATITUDE WITH YOUR CHILD Learning how to appreciate the things you’re given, be it a gift or food on your table, can motivate children to learn to be grateful. Building respect and an awareness to be thankful will motivate and inspire children to be better behaved, improving positive attitudes and levels of respect towards friends and adults. ALASKA - A 2021 BUCKET LIST DESTINATION - THE MAMMA FAIRY Famed for its jaw-dropping landscapes, unspoiled natural beauty and incredible wildlife, a holiday to Alaska truly is a once in a lifetime experience. Boasting a longer coastline than all other US states combined, what better way to experience the breath-taking scenery of Alaska than with American Holidays on a Royal Caribbean cruise. 3 WAYS TO EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS IN 2021 Expanding a business is a pretty challenging, and often daunting, experience – but of course, the upshot is that you can gain further financial growth and pursue bigger goals for your company. In this blog we will explore how to expand your business in the corporate environment of 2021! MY FAVOURITE TRAVEL APPS Kayak. Kayak allows users to filter flight airlines, departure times, hotels, and car rentals, while also allowing you to change locations and dates. After booking your vacation, the app alerts and updates you on your flight’s status, security wait times, and where your airport terminal is. For these perks, Kayak wins the best app for IMPORTANCE OF GOOD QUALITY DATA I have been pretty quiet here of late, however I have a very good reason for it. I may have ever so slightly neglected the blog however it has been totally worth it! I have been consulting on a fascinating project on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the corporate world particularly for accountants.

THE MAMMA FAIRY

The Greenway is a former towpath for barges featuring 90 bridges, 33 locks, 17 harbours and four aqueducts. Greenway users can choose to complete the entire 130km flat, off-road trail in one visit or explore the shorter designated routes — ranging from 6km to 15km — between the 14 connecting access points and towns. ROYAL CANAL GREENWAY OPENS Royal Canal Greenway. The Royal Canal Greenway, is a scenic 130km walking and cycling amenity stretching alongside the historic 225-year-old canal, officially launched on 24 March 2021. The €12 million project co-ordinated by Waterways Ireland is the country’s longest Greenway, traversing through Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and

Longford.

FEATURES ARCHIVES

In the current environment we find ourselves in with the ongoing covid situation, for many of us it has been a very stressful time either missing family or loosing income, stress unfortunately has become a feature of our daily lives. The word stress tends to be bandied about a lot but what does it actually mean, according to Mental Health.org stress is “Stress is the feeling of being EXPLORING GRATITUDE WITH YOUR CHILD Learning how to appreciate the things you’re given, be it a gift or food on your table, can motivate children to learn to be grateful. Building respect and an awareness to be thankful will motivate and inspire children to be better behaved, improving positive attitudes and levels of respect towards friends and adults. WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GOOD AFTER-SCHOOL CLUB After-school clubs were once few and far between. They were primarily somewhere for a child to stay for a couple of hours until a parent could pick them up after finishing their working day. Now, a whole range of schools, both community and private schools, provide after-school clubs with a whole lot to offer. HOW TO FURNISH YOUR HOME WITH UPCYCLED FURNITURE It’s also possible to turn old furniture into entirely new items for your home. For instance, many people are using old bedframes to make benches or converting cribs into a tepee. There are also hundreds of hacks for altering Ikea furniture into new things. When it comes to upcycled furniture, it might seem like more work than simply buying

new.

TOP TIPS WHEN TRAVELLING BY CAR WITH CHILDREN 9 Have fun. The most important thing about travelling by car with children is to try and have fun. Yes, it can get stressful at times, but the good times will far outweigh the bad, especially after you get home. Play games, have sing-songs and laugh together from the comfort

of the car.

THE TRUE STORY OF DR DEATH: SPINAL INJURY, BRAIN DAMAGE Floella Brown’s Brain Damage, Stroke, and Death. During Dr Duntsch’s time as a surgeon, there were two fatal surgeries which left the victims in severe pain, and soon dying of their injuries. The first of these women was Floella Brown. After going into surgery at his hands, Floella’s vertebral artery was slit.

WHITE COLLAR CRIME

A little know fact about me is that my area of specialism is white collar crime, more specifically prevention and detection. According to wikipedia white collar crime is defined as “financially motivated, nonviolent crime committed by businesses and government professionals. It was first defined by the sociologist Edwin Sutherland in 1939 as “a crime committed by a person of respectability WILL HEAVY SNOW ON TREES CAUSE DAMAGE? Winter is the perfect settin g for cozying up in a warm blanket to watch movies and drink hot chocolate. Snow gives a magical tinge to the freezing cold weather and provides the backdrop for beautiful Instagram-worthy pictures. However, this comes at a price, and as the snow gets more intense, severe side effects start to appear. From frostbite to slippery roads, heavy snow can escalate into

THE MAMMA FAIRY

The Greenway is a former towpath for barges featuring 90 bridges, 33 locks, 17 harbours and four aqueducts. Greenway users can choose to complete the entire 130km flat, off-road trail in one visit or explore the shorter designated routes — ranging from 6km to 15km — between the 14 connecting access points and towns. ROYAL CANAL GREENWAY OPENS Royal Canal Greenway. The Royal Canal Greenway, is a scenic 130km walking and cycling amenity stretching alongside the historic 225-year-old canal, officially launched on 24 March 2021. The €12 million project co-ordinated by Waterways Ireland is the country’s longest Greenway, traversing through Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and

Longford.

FEATURES ARCHIVES

In the current environment we find ourselves in with the ongoing covid situation, for many of us it has been a very stressful time either missing family or loosing income, stress unfortunately has become a feature of our daily lives. The word stress tends to be bandied about a lot but what does it actually mean, according to Mental Health.org stress is “Stress is the feeling of being EXPLORING GRATITUDE WITH YOUR CHILD Learning how to appreciate the things you’re given, be it a gift or food on your table, can motivate children to learn to be grateful. Building respect and an awareness to be thankful will motivate and inspire children to be better behaved, improving positive attitudes and levels of respect towards friends and adults. WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GOOD AFTER-SCHOOL CLUB After-school clubs were once few and far between. They were primarily somewhere for a child to stay for a couple of hours until a parent could pick them up after finishing their working day. Now, a whole range of schools, both community and private schools, provide after-school clubs with a whole lot to offer. HOW TO FURNISH YOUR HOME WITH UPCYCLED FURNITURE It’s also possible to turn old furniture into entirely new items for your home. For instance, many people are using old bedframes to make benches or converting cribs into a tepee. There are also hundreds of hacks for altering Ikea furniture into new things. When it comes to upcycled furniture, it might seem like more work than simply buying

new.

TOP TIPS WHEN TRAVELLING BY CAR WITH CHILDREN 9 Have fun. The most important thing about travelling by car with children is to try and have fun. Yes, it can get stressful at times, but the good times will far outweigh the bad, especially after you get home. Play games, have sing-songs and laugh together from the comfort

of the car.

THE TRUE STORY OF DR DEATH: SPINAL INJURY, BRAIN DAMAGE Floella Brown’s Brain Damage, Stroke, and Death. During Dr Duntsch’s time as a surgeon, there were two fatal surgeries which left the victims in severe pain, and soon dying of their injuries. The first of these women was Floella Brown. After going into surgery at his hands, Floella’s vertebral artery was slit.

WHITE COLLAR CRIME

A little know fact about me is that my area of specialism is white collar crime, more specifically prevention and detection. According to wikipedia white collar crime is defined as “financially motivated, nonviolent crime committed by businesses and government professionals. It was first defined by the sociologist Edwin Sutherland in 1939 as “a crime committed by a person of respectability WILL HEAVY SNOW ON TREES CAUSE DAMAGE? Winter is the perfect settin g for cozying up in a warm blanket to watch movies and drink hot chocolate. Snow gives a magical tinge to the freezing cold weather and provides the backdrop for beautiful Instagram-worthy pictures. However, this comes at a price, and as the snow gets more intense, severe side effects start to appear. From frostbite to slippery roads, heavy snow can escalate into HOW COVID GAVE ME TIME TO UPDATE MY HOUSE On a personal level, COVID has given me the perfect opportunity to upgrade my home. Growing up, I always bought stuff, filled my house with clothes and accessories, and loved to flaunt them. Having kids has greatly added to the clutter too. Today the family is embracing

minimalism.

FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY IDEAS TO DO AS A GROUP Take A Trip. One fun family activity idea for what you can do as a group is to travel to a new destination. Pack up and go someplace exciting that you can explore and have some time away from your daily responsibilities. Schedule fun excursions and outings such as hiking or checking out a NZ rugby match that may be going on in the area. EXPLORING GRATITUDE WITH YOUR CHILD Learning how to appreciate the things you’re given, be it a gift or food on your table, can motivate children to learn to be grateful. Building respect and an awareness to be thankful will motivate and inspire children to be better behaved, improving positive attitudes and levels of respect towards friends and adults. THE CANARY ISLANDS WITH KIDS Forestal Park, Tenerife, offers a truly unique adventure for kids, both big and small! The park is surrounded by canary pines as well as a landscape full of biodiversity in the protected area of Las Lagunetas. Forestal Park consists of three different modules ranging in difficulty to suit all ages. TOP 10 RESORTS FOR WINTER SUN Riu Palace Meloneras, Gran Canaria. Located in Gran Canaria, Spain, the Hotel Riu Palace Meloneras combines top-quality style, service and comfort. This luxurious Palace is perfect for relaxing holidays and soaking up the island’s winter sun, featuring freshwater swimming pools, a gym, jacuzzis and more. You can spend your days lounging by HOW TO MAKE PHYSICAL LESSONS SAFE IN POST-PANDEMIC SCHOOLS Music is a crucial element of a child’s education. Indeed, music supports brain plasticity, encouraging creativity, memory, concentration, and stress-relief.Children who receive music education are more likely to improve their performance in other subjects, including maths and English. MY FAVOURITE TRAVEL APPS Kayak. Kayak allows users to filter flight airlines, departure times, hotels, and car rentals, while also allowing you to change locations and dates. After booking your vacation, the app alerts and updates you on your flight’s status, security wait times, and where your airport terminal is. For these perks, Kayak wins the best app for

EINDHOVEN WITH KIDS

When we started researching Eindhoven there were lots of accommodation options from chain hotels to boutique hotels to B&B’s. I used booking.com and got an excellent deal at NH Collection. it’s a five star hotel, in the centre of the city with stunning views from the breakfast room an another floor up again for Vane Sky Bar.. The room itself was plenty big for the four of us an spotlessly

ORS HAIR PRODUCTS

ORS hair humidity serum is a hair care product that comes in liquid form and is somehow thicker inconsistency. The hair serum helps prevent hair from breaking and becoming brittle. You can easily design them in a plethora of modern hairstyles. Hair serum contains amino acids that help protect your hair from colour or style. IS BUYING GOLD NUGGETS A GOOD INVESTMENT FOR YOUR FAMILY’S Print. Gold nuggets are widely considered to be excellent investments for the future, so the short and simple answer to the question as to whether they are a good investment for your family would be yes. Investing is a minefield and unless its an area you are very familiar while the potential for returns is high so is the potential for huge

losses.

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Fairy Travels

GRAND OPENING OF CHRISTMAS 2019 – LAPLAND Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog When I was a child I dreamed of going to Lapland, as an adult I always assumed such a trip would be so far out of reach so I pushed it to the back of my head. Fast froward 2018 when my childhood dream came true, we visited the stunning city of Rovaniemi, Lapland

it was

everything we hoped and more. I learned so much from our first visit and really only scratched the surface of this beautiful place that we have decided to go back for 2019. We are all super excited and going for longer this time to experience all that Rovaniemi has to offer. I recently saw on Visit Rovaniemi that the Grand Opening and start of the Christmas season is scheduled for 10 November at 4pm.  Per their website, Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog the Grand Opening of the Christmas Season is an annual and traditional event  that starts the Christmas season in Rovaniemi. The event begins at 4 pm at the central square of Santa Claus Village. The elves and local artists put on a festive concert that culminates in Santa Claus’ speech which officials opens the Christmas Season. The event is free of charge. The celebration is organized by Visit Rovaniemi. Its also live streamed on their Facebook page so whether your going, planning a trip or even just a Christmas lover its well worth checking it out. For anybody thinking of going ive pulled all my post below and im always happy to answer questions via comments below, DM or across

social.

* Lapland on a budget – our how to guide – here * Dressing for Lapland – here

Fairy Travels

SUNDAY FUN AT TAYTO PARK Sunday before the school started back we hit Tayto Park for a day of family fun. We had never been before and really didn’t know what to expect. The boys are 7 and 4 so a bit mixed in terms of what interests them. The older is the ultimate thrilled seeker and my youngest man is a bit like myself, pretty much afraid of everything. Having spoke to friends who had been the advice was get there early. We arrive about 15 mins after opening and I was glad to have taken their advice, the car park was busy but there was no queue to get in.

We

were kindly gifted admission for our family to Tayto Park, we got our tickets, arm bands and off we went.  It was lovely and quiet inside so we took our time to get or bearings and decide what rides we wanted to do. The first ride in our eyeline was Viking Voyage. My little man was  under the height requirement so I stayed behind with him which to be honest I didn’t mind too much when i caught sight of the dryer machines!! I won’t ruin the rides for anybody going as part of this post however suffice to say this was a mega hit! so much so it was done 3 times…..(and none of those was me!). Given the little man was under 1.1 which tended to be the height requirement for a lot of the rides in whats known as the Eagle Zone, the youngest and I decided to head for the Zoo part to see the animals. I knew this would be a hit with my animal loving wee man.  I was really surprised with the eclectic collection of animals on show here from vultures, to lions to pygmy goats. It was still nice and quiet so we took our time and observed the animals free from the crowds.  My little man was really enthralled with the owls and the alpacas although he kept telling everybody who would listen that alpacas spit to stand back!!! We regrouped at the Eagle’s Nest Adventure Zone which was more suited to my younger mans age and height.  It was heading towards the afternoon now and it was getting visibly busier but we didn’t queue long for any of the rides. Staff were efficient loading and reloading the rides each time. We pretty much sampled all the rides here from the honey pots, to the steam train, the rocking tug, pony rail, the Ferris wheel, the climbing wall, the shot tower and my favourite the

carousel.

There

is something of an old school magic about a carousel. Also in this zone is the vortex tunnel, a playground and the Nissan Driving School which my oldest really loved. The height requirement for this one 1.1 which was meant a very disappointed 4 year old here. This was a busy activity which is probably the only place we queued for any length of

time.

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Home & Interiors

SMART TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP YOUR HOME SECURE Pic Credit: Liberty Insurance Liberty Insurance knows advances in technology mean that it’s never been easier or more affordable to secure your home, that’s why they’ve brought you these tips on how to use smart technology to improve home security. The devices remain pretty much the same but now alarms, locks, sensors and cameras are connected by Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, can be monitored and controlled remotely by apps and any data like audio or video can be stored in the cloud to be viewed later. And now with the internet of things, they can all be controlled from an automated hub like Amazon Echo, Google Home or Hive. With a little DIY know-how, you can protect your home and not break the bank doing it.

CAMERAS

Camera technology has advanced at an unbridled pace since the introduction of the smartphone and that affordable tech can be found in the home security camera. Even some of the most basic camera kits come with High-Definition and night-vision capability and can record onto a hard drive or to the cloud via Wi-Fi. And with an app, you can even check in on your home when you’re lying on a beach in the

Costas.

Cameras can be mounted externally, internally and even on out buildings. However, there is one obvious weakness to a Wi-Fi only set up and that is your Wi-Fi itself. If the Wi-Fi goes down and the modem is not rebooted, then your cameras won’t have anywhere to send their video. Hard-wiring your cameras into a hard-drive is an obvious solution but would almost certainly require a professional to install

the system.

VIDEO DOORBELLS & SMART LOCKS

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Once the preserve of the very wealthy, video door-bells are becoming more and more commonplace as they become more affordable. With Wi-Fi and an app, you can now see who is calling at your front door without having to leave the comfort of your armchair. Indeed, you can instruct delivery drivers to leave parcels at your door while you are in work through the face-time function on the app. They come with HD and night vision and recording also. Some video-doorbells connect to a smart lock which allows you to remotely open the lock so a child or workman can enter your house while you are not at home. Smart locks not connected to a video doorbell use a variety of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that connect with your phone to lock and unlock, but you can also choose from a wide range of touch screen and fingerprint

locks also.

WINDOW & DOOR SENSORS A smart window or door sensor will send a notification to your phone of when the window or door is opened. They also come with alarms and can be programmed to suit your needs and some even come with small

tiny cameras.

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Features

***WIN, WIN WIN*** TICKETS TO SEAWORLD, AQUATICA & BUSCH GARDENS ENTER TO WIN TICKETS TO SEAWORLD, AQUATICA AND BUSCH GARDENS Florida is renowned world over for its theme parks which are a class apart. From rollercoasters that are sure to give you goose bumps, to free falling jaw-dropping rides, from an array of marine life and animal experiences to educational shows and more. There is something for all age groups in these parks. Today, I am super excited to host a giveaway in association with Ocean Florida , for my readers.  Drumroll please……………. a chance to win a pair of tickets to not one but three top parks in Florida namely Aquatica, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens. The 3 for 2 Tickets to the SeaWorld Parks gives you 14 days unlimited access and FREE parking. SeaWorld is famous for its rides and shows, Aquatica is a mega impressive water park and Busch Gardens for its hair-raising roller

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Features

ARE YOU EVER #DRIVENTODISTRACTION Our recent Iceland road trip Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog We love to travel and that’s both locally and overseas

and

often favouring ferry travel

so w can

take our own car when we can. On a recent road trip we were trying to guestimate our yearly road miles! Anecdotally it is believed this figure to be around 10,000 a year for us id say multiply that by at least 5 or 6. One thing I will say and I’m very proud to say is how safety conscious my husband is. It is a lot of responsibility for him opting to be the driver the vast majority of the time. I’m not ashamed to say he is the better driver. Recently I happened upon a game by Kwik-fit

which I thought was

really interesting. Entitled #driventodistraction it gives you the chance to test your reaction times by answering the questions on the phone whilst concentrating on the road and looking out for the STOP sign and it records how long it takes for you to stop! Sounds easy?? I urge anybody who is on the road to give this a go, you will honestly

be so surprised.

As part of their research Kwik fit found that 19% of the surveyed drivers admitted that they sometimes take calls while driving, 17% admit that they read texts off of their phone, and 12% send texts. Aside from the obvious breaking the rules of the road, clearly any of the below can serious diminish your reaction times and even worse still be the time needed to react in an emergency situation. GPS/ SAT NAV ON PHONES

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Many of us are guilty of using the sat navs/ GPS on our phones to help us find the location we need however using your phone to type into the map function is no different to txting etc – you still are utilising the phone and the possibility of being #driventodistraction is still there irrespective of how you are using your phone. If you need to use your sat nav feature/ gps on your phone – delegate! Life is precious and we all owe a duty of care to our own passengers and other road users. There is no txt no call worth it. Pull over when safe or wait until you get there. As an aside do have a nosey on the Kwik fit webpage for some further information on other safety matter like tyre wear and tear and brakes. NOTE: THIS IS A COLLABORATIVE POST

Fairy Travels

THE GASTRONOMY OF THE CANARY ISLANDS: WHERE EUROPE, AFRICA AND AMERICA

MEET

TO KNOW THE GASTRONOMY OF THE CANARY ISLANDS IS TO SAVOUR THEIR ESSENCE. ARE YOU READY FOR A CULINARY JOURNEY? Having spent many a happy summer as a child in the Canary Island and happily continuing the trend with my own kids one of the lesser mentioned highlights I find is the food which hand on heart I can tell us exceptional. Part of a holiday for me is trying new foods, new wines, new flavours. Its about experiencing a destination and its offerings. When the below food guide popped into my inbox I couldn’t wait to share it with kind permission from Travel Media .    It’s often said that the Canary

Islands

are

a continent in miniature. This is not only because of the sheer variety of landscapes you find here – from pristine beaches to majestic volcanoes – but also the rich cuisine that each of the islands has to offer. From the north, with its freshly caught seafood, to the south, where the best modern fusion restaurants are located, the Canary Islands offers a sensorial gastronomic journey.

A WORLD OF FLAVOURS

Tradition and modernity collide in Canarian gastronomy. It even boasts some outstanding emerging young chefs, like Juan Santiago, World’s Best Young Chef 2015 Finalist. He is known for his experimentation based on tradition, the fruit of which are the liquid croquette or the croquette foam among others. As Santiago puts it, with 15 million tourists visiting the Canary Islands every year, it’s inevitable that new tastes and concepts keep emerging. Flavours of Spain, Latin America and Africa cross paths in this archipelago, shaping a very

unique identity.

Tenerife for example, the largest of the Canary Islands, is home of the famous papas negras (‘black’ potatoes) and known for guachinches; humble, family-run restaurants where you experience local dishes at affordable prices. Haute cuisine and destination dining also has its place on the island. Five of the six Michelin star restaurants of the Canary Islands are situated on Tenerife. In modern Canarian cuisine, foams and other methods associated with molecular cookery coexist with traditional fish dishes, the ubiquitous mojo sauces, award -winning cheeses and bananas and pineapples famed throughout

Europe.

FROM THE NET TO TABLE The Atlantic Ocean wraps the Canary Islands, and traditional fishing, regulated by legislation that preserves stocks and marine ecosystems, is a way of life. The waters around the islands are home to an astonishing variety of fish, such as cherne, Atlantic croaker, salema, and sea bream. Whether grilled, baked, marinated or fried, they give a true taste of the Atlantic. Sancocho is a popular, dish of South American origins that consists of salted fish served with potatoes, sweet potatoes, and mojo – the famous sauce of the islands made with olive oil, peppers and assorted spices. On the island of Gran Canaria, make your way over to the neighbourhood of San Cristóbal and Bar Zurita, a local institution where you can enjoy fresh-off-the-boat octopus and calamari overlooking the sea. Also recommended is La Bahía del Pajar at Arguineguín, or any of the eateries at El Medáno, without doubt the most beautiful beach on Tenerife. If you find yourself on Lanzarote or La Graciosa – the smallest of the Canary Islands – tuck into a plate of tiny, tasty ‘La Santa’ prawns accompanied with nothing but a slice of lemon

and a cold beer.

KM CUISINE

Santiago is a strong advocate of the principles of 0 KM; that is to say, “Buying and eating what is local, shortening distances between land or sea and the kitchen and importing as little as possible.” This philosophy has yielded formidable results; for the environment, for producers and most of all our taste buds. The philosophy of 0 KM has always influenced eating habits on the Canary Islands. The most popular meat is not beef, but pork, rabbit and goat. Goat meat has a strong flavour, and is eaten with your hands. Accompanied with papas arrugadas (small potatoes with a salty crust), it’s perfection. No meal on the Canary Islands is complete without local bread (essential for mopping up any mojo sauce left on the plate); a good wine, such as dry white from La Gomera, one of the world’s most unique wine regions and above all, cheese. Canarian cheeses, especially those of the islands of Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, are among the best in the world. In the 2018 edition of the World Cheese Awards, no less than 35 cheeses made on the Canary Islands received awards. Standout farmhouse cheeses include Maxorata; a semi cured goat’s cheese spice with smoky paprika, and Majorero, a firm goat’s milk cheese similar to Manchego. Perhaps the most original cheese is Flor de Guía; a creamy, slightly salty cheese made with an exact combination of cow’s and goat’s milk and liquid extracted from thistle flowers (flors de guía) for the curdling

process.

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Fairy Travels

SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE -A VIEW FROM THE INSIDE Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog Ever since our visit to Lapland

in

November/ December 2018 we have quite literally been obsessed about returning. We have been fortunate to have travelled to many countries all over the world but none capturing our hearts in the way Lapland did. If you asked me exactly what it is about Lapland, honestly id struggle to put it into words. There is a magic about it, being in the home town of Santa Claus. Perhaps its seeing the magic of Christmas through my kids eyes.  Last year we stayed at Santa Claus Village and despite my intention of it being a “once in a lifetime” trip we have booked to go back this year later in December. Since our return, I have shared my trip report

and some

tips and advice on dressing for lapland

and I

have got tonnes of emails and DM’s with questions. I am always happy to chat about my favourite place and happy to answer any questions or queries people planning to visit this wonderful destination have. The concluding comment of one email I received via my trip report really resonated with me. The query itself was about Santa Claus Village and the email concluded with “_can you just imagine working there? How amazing would that

be_?”.

Santa Claus Holiday Village is run by Marko and Inga and they very kindly took the time to answer some of the questions that I (and many other!) have about running and working in what is probably one of the best known, most magical places in the world.

OUR Q & A

TELL US ABOUT A TYPICAL DAY AT SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE Pic Credit: Marko @ Santa Claus Holiday Village _Well, typical day at Santa Claus Village. I guess we must concentrate on the winter season because that`s our high season. Weather might be little bit chilly, very unusually too cold but plenty of snow. Everything is covered pure white snow, trees are like frosted piece of art statues.  Guests wake up in cosy n warm cottages and go hurried for breakfast, to Christmas House restaurant or Three Elves restaurant, depends on accommodation type which they have booked. After they have enjoyed typical Scandinavian buffet breakfast, many of them will be waiting booked safaris in the lobby. Some goes for Reindeer Sleigh ride safari and some for Husky Sleigh ride safari or Snowmobiling or some other from our famous excursions.   During the day time we used to have quite a lot day visitors in the Village from other accommodations of Rovaniemi and from around Lapland. They come to meet Mr. Santa Claus and send Christmas greeting cards from Santa Claus Main Post Office and for sure making shopping of very special gifts and souvenirs which we have great selections in the shops of

village._

_In the afternoon, our guests start to return from safaris and excursions. Many of them go to enjoy in the private sauna in the own cottage and that`s really pleasure after spend chilly day in the winter activities.   In the evening we have delicious dinners available in our restaurants. For coming winter season we will have third restaurant. Restaurant Santa Claus Village, it has 140 seats and

shape of teepee._

_If the weather looks to be clear for coming night, lot of our guests will be going for different kind of Northern Lights search programs, like Aurora Reindeer safari, Northern Light search in private wilderness or Northern Light search and dinner._ CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE _We can think about that story begins from 1950 when city of Rovaniemi built a cottage for Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt when she came to visit in

the Arctic Circle._

_All the way until 80th  century, tourism was here more or less only summer tourism. Guests from Europe come to visit in the Arctic Circle and was going to North cape, northern most point of Europe. At 80th century Mr. Santa Claus decided that he need a place to greet guests from all over the world and he chose Arctic Circle._ DOES SANTA EVER GET A HOLIDAY OR DOES HE MEET GUESTS ALL YEAR ROUND? _He meet guests here every day for the whole year. In the Christmas Eve he starts he`s journey around world to delivery gifts but he have his magic things in his office, he can stop time for a night and that`s how he have time to make a trip around whole world and Christmas Day morning he will be back in the village greeting his

guests._

WHERE DO MOST OF YOUR VISITORS COME FROM? EUROPE? OR FURTHER AFIELD? _Our guests are definitely really from all over the world, I would say that there is not any continental in the earth that we wouldn’t have had guests. It happened some years ago the that we had in the same time in house, without knowing each other, 3 families from New Caledonia. Further than that you can`t come if someone does’t live in the moon. But a lot comes from Europe because it`s not so far

away._

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STENA LINE – FERRY TRAVEL WITH KIDS Departing Dublin Port Pic Credit: The MammaFairy Blog Long before kids arrived into the Mamma Fairy house we used to travel quite a bit to Holyhead from Dublin. My sister attended University in Bangor in North Wales so we loved popping over for the weekend.  We hadn’t taken the kids on a ferry so there was mega excitement when I told them Stena Line were very kindly taking us and our car to Wales. One of the things that stresses me most about holidays is the airport, the volume of people, the queues, getting myself and the kids through security! The stress levels until we are sitting at the gate are usually pretty high!! Having taken our car on the ferry many times I knew what to expect! Much less stress – literally drive on drive off! OUR FERRY JOURNEY WITH KIDS Boarding time!! Pic Credit: The MammaFairy Blog We were on the 8.10 Stena Adventurer heading over from Dublin to Holyhead on a lovely bright Friday morning in June. Being a Dublin resident I knew how bad Dublin traffic could be so we allowed ourselves extra time just to be sure and I am very glad we did. An incident at Port Tunnel saw the tunnel temporarily closed so thankfully we had time to go the alternative route. Check in closed 30 mins before departure but my advice is to get there early especially if you are travelling in peak work day traffic. Check in was smooth, we had our boarding passes printed off, we were told which number queue to join and there we were in line to board the Stena Line Adventurer. The absolute squeals out of the kids as we drove onto the boat!!! Once we boarded we were guided into position, we parked up and took the hyper gang up to the passenger decks. Another tip is to make sure you take everything you need with you as you can’t return to your vehicle when the ferry departs until the

ferry docks again.

ON BOARD

Good bye Dublin Pic Credit: The MammaFairy Blog I think one of the first thing you will notice is just how big the ferry is! We had taken the Superfast ferry in the past and the Adventurer is noticeably bigger.  On board the Adventurer there are: * En-suite cabins available from €30, might be handy if you have very young kids, for us with older (hyper with excitement) kids it really wasn’t necessary for the short 3 hour crossing. I believe the cabins go up to 4 berth which could be very handy for families. * A Hygge Lounge which is a relaxing, peaceful environment if you want a total chill in a large comfy reclining chair as you gaze over the Irish Sea. The cost is €9 per person but you must be over 16 years. If we didn’t have the kids id be in there in a heartbeat. Right up my street!!! * There was a restaurant, bar and coffee dock on each passenger deck serving hot and cold snacks and the usual beers and spirits. It was really busy initially on both legs of our trip but the staff were very efficient and the waiting time was short and a lot less busy once the initial rush was finished. * There is also the Stena Plus Lounge where for €20 you can avail of complimentary drinks, snacks, newspapers & magazines as well as free wifi, waiter service and comfy seating. We didn’t do it this trip but in the pre kids days we always frequented the lounge, it is really good value and nice and relaxing, a good option for the 3 hours ferry. The was a ‘Family Meal Deal’ on board 2 adults and 2 kids for £23 really good value and you can pay in either € or £. * For kids there really is plenty to do; located on each passenger deck is a small play space, for older kids there is “Teen Town” with some arcade games. Much to the kids excitement there is a cinema with free entry. This is a really good option to pass an hour or so especially with younger kids.

OUR CROSSING

Our ship departed on time, boarding was smooth, the sail itself was smooth and the disembarkation was efficient.  What more could you ask for?! To keep the kids entertained I took sketch pads and their trusty twistables! While there is plenty on board to keep them entertained the play centres can get busy so worth having a few of their favourites to keep them occupied.  We took some of their own snacks with us while we ordered coffees, toast and scrambled egg to go with them. Thumbs up for Stena’s scrambled egg.

OUR PLANS

As our trip was so short I had done lots of research before hand to maximise the time we had in North Wales. Full blog post on our activities but for now a very sneak peak….. DAY 1 -We drove to the picturesque town of Llanberis were we stayed on night after our journey on the Snowdon Mountain Railway. We reached the top of Snowdown Mountain literally surrounded by clouds which they kids thought was “epic” the last bit  is a little steep but oh so worth it. Be warned even in summer it can get cold up there so our trusty Reima winter gear

came in

useful again.

*

Slate Mines

*

Climbing Snowdon

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Copper Mines

DAY 2 – We drove further into Snowdonia to Llechwedd near Blaenau Ffestiniog. Llechwedd is an old slate mine where you can go 50o metres below ground into a deep mine.  I’ll keep you in suspense a little longer for my full review but suffice to say this place left a lasting impression on both us and the kids. Rich our guide a 7th generation miner himself was what made this tour for us. His unique insights, his respect for the heritage of the area and the contribution to mining brought a tear to my eye more than once. DAY 3 – Before heading back to Holyhead we spent a day and night in Llandudno, an old school sea side holiday resort.  While here we also took a quick visit to the Copper mines for a unique self guided tour of 4000 year old mines!!!  We loved our chilled out day here, kids will forever remember playing football at the beach at 10pm then running back to the b&b soaked, tired but happy.

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ITINERARY IDEAS FOR ICELAND Since our trip last September to Iceland lots of people have asked for tips and advice on what to do to Iceland, sample itineraries, “must see” attractions.   I knew a few of my fellow blog buddies had been to Iceland I thought i’d reach out and get a variety of ideas on their top picks. Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog For many people and particularly given just how expensive Iceland is, their preference would be to book via website who can help you book the entire trip in one place.  With WowAir now defunct, there are less flight options for getting to this wonderful destination therefore I can really see how using the services of a site to assist you to book the entire package would be very appealing.  One option im aware of is the Voyage Prive website

where

they describe themselves as  “_a members only luxury travel club, offering unforgettable getaways, at unbelievable prices_“.  I love a deal and I know a lot of people like the security of having a packages as opposed to DIY, so well worth checking out and not just for Iceland, there cover worldwide holidays from ski trip to luxury resorts to city breaks. ICELAND “THINGS TO DO” The over riding thing I will say about Iceland is that it totally lives up to its reputation as being magical – the scenery is breathtaking, the people friendly and the thermal spas well……you just have to try them. And before you ask……yes it is expensive but to me, and my husband will agree it is totally worth it. It was a bucket list trip for us – a once in a lifetime – but I left a bit of my heart there and I have to go back. We loved it so much Pic Credit: The Mamma Fairy Blog Our visit was short and we had young kids (6 and 3 at the time of travel) so we carefully planned out itinerary, for a sneak peak of what we did see our Golden Circle trip here my  kids are still asking to go back to that wonderful Ice cream place before Gullfoss. I really do love looking back at our pics, really does make me want to go and book it again. We also did Fontana as we booked last minute, the Blue Lagoon was booked out. A top tip if the Blue Lagoon is top of your list is to book early. Please also respect the cultural (and hygienic) advice to shower before entering the thermal pools. It was definitely one of the highlights as it was quiet when we were there, we had loads of time and space and the kids were made very welcome. And try the bread – drooling as I type. Quite  honestly the nicest I have ever tasted. It is known as  Geothermal bakery and the break is cooked in the ground for 24 hours!!

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TOP THINGS TO DO IN THE CANARY ISLANDS Many moons ago in our pre kid days we spent some wonderful long weekends in Lanzarote with a couple who we are great friends with. With 6 kids between us and an ongoing vow to return en masse we just haven’t had the change. Skimming my inbox last week a press release from Travel Media really caught my eye “_Top ten things to do in the Canaries_“.  With kind permission I have included their fantastic guide below. Given holiday season is almost upon it, I thought the timing perfect to share this as no doubt a good percentage of you will be heading this direction over the coming weeks. If there is anything you think missed of the list do send on or comment below. GET TO THE TOP OF THE TEIDE VOLCANO IN GRAN CANARIA Just after Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea in Hawaii, Mount Teide is the third highest volcano in the world. Located in Gran Canaria, it’s tone of the most visited natural parks in Europe and the 8th most visited in the world!  If you opt to take the cable car which travels within 500 meters of the summit – prepare yourself for some simply breathtaking

views.

Climbing Mount Teide is also an option as well as a dream for many; ascending the crater and smelling the sulphur emitted from volcanic fumaroles is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  There’s a bar and restaurant area, and even a hotel and a refuge at 3.270 meters. As the highest peak in Spain, it has been a World Heritage Site since 2007, and the park encourages visitors not stray from the marked paths, enjoy the native flora and fauna of this geological treasure, and not to take stones as a souvenir of the National Park. SUNBATHE AT MASPALOMAS BEACH IN GRAN CANARIA With wind-sculpted dunes with golden sand and clear, crisp ocean – Maspalomas truly is one of the most beautiful beaches on the Canary Islands.   Stretching just over 3km, the beach makes for the perfect place to sunbathe, to take a relaxing stroll or to simply soak up the sunset in the evenings. One of the best spots to see the sunset is the first set of dunes by the Charco de Maspalomas lagoon. The beach stretches from the beautiful lighthouse to La Punta, the most southern point of the Island. But, it doesn’t end there! It then transforms into the Playa del Inglés, another 4 km of the finest

sand in the east.

VISIT THE FASCINATING ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY OF CÉSAR MANRIQUE IN

LANZAROTE

César Manrique was an artist, architect and environmental activist from Lanzarote. He did not create in nature but rather with it, and his relationship with the landscape was not simply aesthetic but also a commitment to defending the environment. Jameos del Agua is a volcanic tube opened on the surface where you can admire a natural lagoon of transparent emerald waters which is home to a native species of the island – a minuscule, albino, blind and gleaming little crab of unknown origin. Mirador del Rio is a building located at 500 meters in altitude at the top of the Risco cliff, hidden beneath the rock and barely visible from the outside, with large windows and exterior balconies that provide a stunning view of Lanzarote. Visitors can see traditional ceramics and a range of sculptures. The domed main room and cupolas are not to be missed. TASTE VOLCANIC WINE IN LANZAROTE The Canary Islands have become an exceptional wine-producing region due to the volcanic nature of their soils and almost desert-like climate. The ash coating retains moisture, protects buried soils from erosion, inhibits evaporation, and traps solar input. Partially ringed by almond shaped stone walls on tar dark soils, the vine arrays appear hauntingly gorgeous, and many of them are included within Timanfaya National Park in the southwest. White wines are predominant in the Canaries and are often opulent and full, sometimes with a citric precision. Whereas red wines often have a Burgundian heft of pepper and complex darkness-leather, mocha, black fruit, caramel and even diesel. Several wineries across Lanzarote offer both wine tastings and visits. TRY AN ALOE VERA WELLNESS TREATMENT IN A CANARIAN SPA IN TENERIFE The spa centres in the Canary Islands are well-known and make full use of all the natural resources provided by the Canary environment. Plenty of unique treatments are offered such as thalassotherapy, geotherapy, wine therapy or aloe therapy. The spa of the Iberostar Grand Mencey in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is set over 4500 square meters, and facilities include everything from a dynamic heated pool with bubble beds, whirlpool sections, and aqua-massage swan necks, to saunas, a foot spa, and a steam room. Sounds like my ideal kind of holiday! WATCH THE STARS FROM A WORLD CLASS OBSERVATORY IN LA PALMA The sky of La Palma is one of the best places to observe the stars, and the Roque de los Muchachos observatory at 2.396 m. above sea level is home to one of the most extensive fleets of telescopes to be found anywhere in the world. It boasts a breath-taking view of a giant volcanic crater 1,500 metres deep, covered in trees and with volcanic rocks in amazing formations. The observatory organises visits to its facilities, and there are stargazing tours by La Palma Astronomy Tours which even include a ‘Tapas and Stars’ experience. The experience combines tapas and a glass of red and/or white local wine with an introduction to the astronomy and the orientation of the sky through constellations as well as insider information from guides. EAT AT A MICHELIN STAR RESTAURANT IN TENERIFE The stars in the Canary Islands are not just in the sky: Tenerife has six Michelin stars spread across five restaurants. One starred NUB occupies a beautifully restored colonial building and the tasting menu fuses Italian, Chilean and traditional Canarian flavours.

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ABOUT ME

Travel obsessed working mum of two boys, a 6 year old mini superhero and a football mad 3 year old, who writes about the trials and tribulations of being a mum from randoms ramblings to guest articles in parenting publications both within Ireland and overseas. The Mamma Fairy Blog covers a whole range of parenting topics and issues but mostly our adventures of travelling with young kids. Please keep in touch, love hearing your views and comments. Don’t forget we are on Twitter, Insta and Facebook too. ~ The Mamma F BEST PARENTING BLOG – BRONZE WINNER TOP 25 IRISH PARENTING BLOGGER V BY VERY BLOG AWARDS FINALIST “BEST PARENTING BLOG” 2017 THE BABY SPOT – TOP 100 MOMMY BLOGGER 2016 OUR RECENT ADVENTURES

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LATEST POSTS

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GRAND OPENING OF CHRISTMAS 2019 – LAPLAND

October 3, 2019

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SUNDAY FUN AT TAYTO PARK

September 16, 2019

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SMART TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP YOUR HOME SECURE

September 11, 2019

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***WIN, WIN WIN*** TICKETS TO SEAWORLD, AQUATICA & BUSCH GARDENS

September 4, 2019

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ARE YOU EVER #DRIVENTODISTRACTION

August 6, 2019

GRAB OUR BADGE – THE MAMMA FAIRY