3 Popular Festivals in Spain

I don't know about you but when visiting another country I love to know about their culture and traditions. I've yet to visit mainland Spain however its a popular destination. I'll certainly check prices at holiday gems. There are many popular festivals in spain and I'd certainly love to experiance going to at least one of them in the future. 

 La Tomatina, Buñol, Spain

A crazy tradition that started 70 years ago and held for fun on the last Wednesday of August. Every year thousands of people throw tomatoes at each other.  It's so popular that people are just visiting Spain to join in and tickets sell out fast!

Running of the Bulls — Pamplona, Spain

Celebrated every year between 6th and 14th July the Running of the bulls is a famous festival where the bulls are lead through the streets as far as the bull ring by runners.Celebrated in honor of San Fermin, patron saint of Navarra, the festival is  seen as a gathering from all the corners of the world.

The Fallas of Valencia, Valencia,Spain 

In March a big festival takes part in Valencia city all day for an entire week. There are gigantic, colourful statues and figures that fill the city's squares and streets. Every day at 2 pm, you can enjoy spectacular shows with music and then the evening's firework displays. The festival finishes on the last day with the statues burnt during a live show which many people feel is the highlight of the event.

Win : £20 Amazon Voucher

Happy Fathers Day! Today also happens to be my birthday so I thought to celebrate I'll  run a competition for a £20 Amazon E-Voucher for one lucky person. 

With Amazon being one of my favourite places to buy near enough anything I wanted to share the love.

Terms and conditions

-To enter you must be 16 and over 

- This competition will close on 1st July  2018 at 12.00am GMT 

- The winner will be chosen at random and notified via email, twitter or facebook

- If the winner doesn't reply within 30 days another winner will be drawn

- The prize will be sent by email directly from myself

-Please have a look at my privacy policy on how how I collect, store and use data and please do contact me if you have any questions. 

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5 Things Pet Parents Should Expect When Camping with Dogs

Going camping with your dog can be a surreal experience. It allows you to connectwith nature and it enables your dog to indulge in many off-leash activities. Whetheryour idea of camping is renting a luxury RV for the entire family or hiking for miles with basic gears, deciding to bring along your four-legged friend requires a certain degree of preparation. Heading out impulsively may sound exciting but it can lead you and your dog to trouble. One of the best ways to prepare for a camping trip with your dog is to know what to expect. The only way to do that is by learning from the experiences of seasoned campers. Without further ado, following are 5 things experienced campers expect when camping with dogs.

Dogs Being Denied Entry at National Parks: Not knowing whether the national park authorities grant entry to pet animals is a rookie mistake. It has caused several families to cancel their trips and head back. Veteran campers usually have a list of pet-friendly campgrounds and parks they can visit with their dogs. If you are planning to go to a particular destination, it’s best to dig up some information and find out before heading off.  

No Available Campsite: Being stranded in the middle of nowhere with a dog is not an ideal scenario. This is why it always makes sense to book a campsite well in advance. Depending on the season and location, some camping areas fill up pretty quickly. Assuming you will always have space is a rookie mistake that can leave you high and dry. Also, when booking a campsite find out all the amenities it comes with. Now, because you are traveling with your dog you would appreciate a few basic features such as fire pits, toilet, and a grilling station.

Invasion of Ticks and Fleas: Fleas and ticks are a major threat when traveling with your dogs. These parasites are not only more common in the wild, but they also carry deadly diseases. For example, the Rocky Mountain wood tick can cause Colorado fever and are often found in woody areas. Under no circumstances would you want these parasites to come near your dog. The best defence is to use a high-quality flea collar and ensure your dog’s spot-on treatment is up to date.

Their Dog Getting Sick or Hurt: While no one likes to see their dog getting sick or hurt, the probabilities of that happening is pretty high when camping. Dogs often try to chase wild animals or get hurt while running around in an unfamiliar territory. There is no way to predict or prevent what’s going to happen. The only thing you can do is prepare a first aid kit to deal with possible eventualities. Human first aid kits are not suitable for dogs. Stock up on pets medical supplies for dogs and create a kit that’s appropriate for your pet.

Dogs Facing Trouble Sleeping at Night: Dogs often face trouble when sleeping in an area they are not accustomed to. The best way to make them feel secure is by creating a sleeping space for them inside the tent. Lying next to their favorite human should help calm the nerves and allow them to get undisturbed sleep.

Our Holiday Essentials

I'm so excited to be getting on the train and traveling down to Hayling Island in Hampshire, this weekend for a week. We're staying with Park Dean Resorts and have never been before. I'm hoping we get plenty of sunshine as we plan to go to the beach and enjoy swimming plus visit other places that are around the area.

Going on holiday as a family can be hard work, but it doesn't have to be if you plan in advance. I like to write a list of all the things we need to take with us and tick them off as they are packed. This makes me feel less anxious and I can relax a bit more.

Here is a list of Holiday essentials. There are a mixture of must haves for me, for Blake and for the 3 of us as a family. Don't forget to follow me on social media where you will be able to see some of these items being used whilst we are away.

Before going and whilst on holiday an essential for me is great hair removal products. Nair sell a wide range of products to help you get rid of that unwanted hair. The cleanse and shave triple action cream is quick and easy to use. The cream is ideal for using in the shower as you can shave, cleanse and go! The cream aims to reduce shaving bumps and sooth irritation. Leaving your skin soft, smooth and moistureised.

The Nair Norish Glide on is a must have product for removing hair from small areas such as under your arms or your bikini line. It's mess free, simple to use and quick too. Containing argon oil to moisturise and exfoliate while removing hair the glide on is kind to skin so suitable for both dry and sensitive skin types.

Femfresh sell a range of wipes, washes and sprays for intimate areas. The wipes are a must have for on the go to help me feel fresh and clean down there. The wipes come in a 25 pack and a handy 10 pack. The 10 pack is ideal for popping in your handbag when out and about. The gentle pH-balanced formula with calendula & soothing aloe extracts is perfect for busy lifestyles and on the go freshness.

If you like to come home with a tan and sometimes struggle you can fake it with the St Moriz Gradual Tan not my usual cup of tea but I know a few people who would give this a go and count it as a must have.This gorgeous cream glides on the skin, giving a gradual tan and a beautiful glow. The velvety soft formulation offers sun protection at SPF30 to make it a perfect solution for both sunny and non sunny days.  

Hair wise I like to pack a dry shampoo with me just in case. Batiste is my go to brand of dry shampoo and I found it a life saver in hospital after having Blake. This is why I always like to have a can on me when I am away from home. It's the perfect companion for in between washes, it removes  grease making hair feel clean and fresh.

When on holiday minis are my friend! Arm and Hammer mini toothpastes are the ideal size for when going on holiday, saving you space for other must have items in your suitcase.The charcoal white toothpaste gently removes impurities from the tooth’s enamel surface that can cause daily stains, removing 100% more surface stains.. While the Active Calcium™ works to rebuild and restore enamel surface giving you twice the enamel strength compared to your regular toothpaste.

The  Arm and Hammer Simply Natural toothpaste contains 96% ingredients from natural origins; combining the deep cleaning qualities of pure baking soda to break down & help remove stains whilst encouraging your own saliva to work immediately on enamel damaging acids, reaching parts of the mouth that normal brushing alone cannot reach. 

Keeping your teeth happy and healthy during the holidays can be challenging, but DenTek helps you with its handy travel case that perfectly fits in every handbag, backpack or piece of luggage. The travel pack has 6 floss picks per case and the pack has 2 cases although a pack of 4 cases is available. The DenTek floss picks are ideal for tight teeth and sensitive gums.

Make cleaning your teeth fun with Humble brushes for the whole family.

These 100% biodegradable and colourful toothbrushes come in an adult and kids version.The Humble Co. develops reliable health/wellness products, that are eco-friendly and socially responsible, with an innovative twist.The health professionals at The Humble Co. translate evidence-based innovations into eco-friendly consumer products that are beneficial and fun for everyone to use, including underprivileged people living in remote communities.

I still have some essential minis I need to purchase such as shampoo, shower gel and deodorant.

The 3 of us are sensitive to the sun meaning we burn easily so it's important that the 3 of us use an excellent quality suncream. Frezyderm offer a large range of sunscreens so you will find one's suitable for the whole family. 

The sun lotion for kids have an SPF50+ and are high factor sunscreen which provides effective, water resistant protection and is ideal for children with sensitive skin or skin conditions.

The seaside dry mist is suitable for all ages so will be handy for us to take to the beach.This sunscreen mist combines ease of use with very high protection (SPF50+) . It  offers effective protection against ageing and free radicals caused by sun exposure and UVR. The spray is water resistant, making it ideal for the beach where there is intense sun radiation and high humidity. 

The Velvet Face Sunscreen is an innovative, transparent sun protection face cream with unique cosmetic behaviour that spreads evenly with one touch. It offers a matte appearance for 6 hours and its clear, non-oily texture leaves no white tint and makes an excellent makeup foundation with no white tint. The Velvet Face sunscreen in colour The cream provides very high protection from the sun and an even colour tone. The tint covers discolouration, scars and skin imperfections. 

Swimming is one of Blake's favourite things to do when on holiday. The place we are staying at is meant to have an outdoor pool as well as an indoor one so we can swim no matter the weather. Both Stuart and I have swimming gear from last year we will be wearing however Blake has grown out of his and Splash About came to the rescue. 

Splash About are a brand we go to for buying Blake's swim wear and I fell in love with the board shorts and rash top in the surf's up design. The top covers those easy burn areas with its UV protection and the shorts have been hand crafted from luxurious materials that block out the sun’s harmful rays.

I love taking photos and as I'm also online quite a bit I need to make sure my devices are fully charged. The same goes for Stuart and Blake's devices. This is why the Varta Slim Power bank is a must have the power bank comes in 6,000, 12,000 and 18,000 mAh options. Power banks act as an additional external battery for mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, cameras and other mobile devices. The Power Bank delivers fast charging speed via 2 Out ports at the same time. 

I love using a bright and colourful beach towel when on holiday. When I came across this  charming poppy design from Amara I fell in love with its gorgeous print. The Amor Coral Beach Towel by Olivier Desforges is Adorned with a spray of poppies, this beach towel is in shades of red and pink with an orange border. Made from velvety soft cotton velour, it reverses to a complementing pale blue and boasts a 450gsm.

Feeling hot at the beach or even just when out and about on holiday? This Stay Cool Ice towel from Find Me A Gift is just what you need.Just get it wet and it’ll keep you cool for up to 2 hours at a time. It’s perfect for gym sessions. Great for soothing temperatures. And superb for hot summer days. Just wet it, squeeze it, and shake it – it’s as simple as that.

Last of all when on holiday you need to have a good sized bag to pop all your beach essentails in. Find Me Gift have a great Seaside Tote that comes in 4 Grecian shades, these beachy bags can hold everything you need. There’s space for a towel, books,  prescription sunglasses, sun cream and all the bits you’ll be asked if you can carry for someone else too! I'm sure I'll be carrying bucket and spades for Blake around with me.

e'lifexir ACTIDREN revitalising leg gel

Recently a friend and I decided we wanted to get more exercise into our week. We both aren't keen on the gym or going to classes, so we decided Thursday evenings are our time to meet up and go for a walk for an hour. We've even started to use some of the exercise equipment in the park and feel more confident doing so in the evening's since there are less people around. When I get home from our walk my legs feel tight and achy so I was excited to try out the e'lifexir ACTIDREN revitalising leg gel.

About e’lifexir natural beauty

 The e’lifexir natural beauty body care range consists of 7 products, technically developed to support and perfect different parts of the body. Each product combines natural and organic ingredients clinically researched to target specific needs and deliver specific results across various body zones. The range is vegan and cruelty free along with being hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested.

The seven products in the range are:

- Anti-stretch mark

- Bodylift 

- Actidren

- Fitness

- Push up buttocks 

- Push up breast

- Flat tummy

As I have mentioned above I've been trying out the Actidren revitalising leg gel.
The leg cream soothes and relaxes legs making them feel lighter, relaxed and soft.
I have to admit I have found that for me it does really work as it should do and my legs certainly feel more lighter and relaxed and definitely more softer since using. 

I've been using the leg cream most days especially before bed after a long day and my legs have definitely felt different.  So how does it work?

Actidren Revitalising Leg Cream soothes and relaxes legs in 3 steps:

Fluid and toxin reduction: Black elder extract helps to improve microcirculation and decongestion of the skin tissue, which will help to relieve the feeling of tired, heavy legs.

Anti-redness: Sore, tired legs can often appear red and blotchy. To help reduce this, Rutin, a citrus flavonoid found in a wide variety of plants, together with olive oil are used to reduce the symptoms of heavy legs. Natural fruit waters including cherry, cranberry and grape which are all rich in antioxidants, are used to protect the skin from free radicals, preventing further redness from occurring.

Calms and refreshes: Acticire®, a natural, multifunctional active ingredient based on jojoba, mimosa, and sunflower waxes, provides skin with lasting comfort, making legs more relaxed and intensely moisturised.

Personalised Stationery with Ryman

I love stationery and having a fresh note book to jot all my ideas down. I have a selection of pens too which are a must especially for filling in my many journals, diaries and planners.

Ryman got in touch to ask if I was interested in choosing a bundle from their personalised stationery range, so I said yes as I could do with adding some new items to my stationery collection. 

 One of the items in the bundle I got to chose is a personalised mug. I thought it would be great to put away for Blake for when he is older. I have many personalised mugs myself so felt it was fair for Blake to have his own too. The mug is white ceramic with black font where you can customise with an initial and name. I love the style of the font used on the mug.


The second item is a engraved ballpoint Parker pen. I've never owned a Parker pen before however I love the high quality design. The pen features a retractable medium point and blue ink. You can choose the colour of the pen ( not the ink) from the range on their website. I chose the blue with it being my favourite colour however it comes in purple, red, orange and black too. The pen arrived personalised with my name as you can see in one of the below photos and was also in a gift box.

Last of all from the bundle is this gorgeous personalised notebook. The notebook has a soft cover and features an elastic clouser. The notebook is personalised with your choice of text up to 20 characters which is in foil copper. There are 96 sheets of ivory lined paper and a ribbon bookmark which is a great added touch.

There are many other personalised notebooks, pens and mug designs from Ryman and other personalised items are available such as prints/frames and diaries. There is also the chance to purchase personalised gift wrap/ bags. The bundle I was sent retails at £46.97

I think the personalised range from Ryman make great gifts for writers and stationery lovers. They are the ideal gift for a specific occasion such as birthdays to make someone feel special. If you are on the look out for gift inspiration than check out Ryman's full range of personalised items. 

Do you love stationery?  

*I was sent the bundle to review all thoughts and opinions are my own