Fairy Travels

Best Christmas Markets in the UK

Its so hard to believe its almost Christmas this year just flew!  Only another few days until im popping up the Christmas tree  and cleaning up the mess made by our devilish elf-on-the-shelf aptly known as Mischief!  (My husband enforces an embargo until 1 December 🙂 )Sometimes Christmas isn’t Christmas until you attend some markets, although sometimes it can be a struggle to find the best ones.  Most people think you have to travel far afield to find great markets and the authentic experience however with the help of Stagecoach, who offer cheap bus fares, we look to find some of the most Christmassy markets in Britain.  Ryanair are currently offering some seriously good value flights to the UK.  Remember to wrap up warm when venturing out to some of our top picks! You’ll be singing some of your favourite carols in no time!

Newcastle upon Tyne

Christmas markets

Christmas Markets – Pic Credit Pixabay

Newcastle transforms into a winter wonderland at Christmas time, with decorations travelling down the long and narrow street to create that festive feeling for the people of the city. The market is located at the top of Grey Street, just under Grey’s Monument where you can find wooden huts that are built and decorated specially for the Christmas period.

But what does the market have on offer? What makes it different? The Newcastle Christmas Market brings cultures together and celebrates differences, perfect for small children wanting to experience a big world. Tradesmen and women from across Europe come to bring a touch of their country to Newcastle – you’ll get to witness one of the best atmospheres in the country during this festive time. From foods to ornamental items, you’ll be spoilt for choice with what you can purchase. You might even find the perfect gift for that special person. If you’re into Ice Skating, head down to the Centre for Life to show off your skills in Times Square!

Open: 11th December – 17th December

Birmingham

For 12 years now, the German Christmas Market in Birmingham has been a top attraction to those wanting to venture outside of their own city and travel to a spectacular Christmas market. Located in Victoria Square, it makes a beautiful setting for any family photograph – lights descend down the centred fountain and the iconic carousel is at the top of the steps creating an uncanny version of Santa Claus’ Village.

With a collected 180 stalls, you’re bound to see something unconventional. You might even be able to snatch up a unique gift for your little one, whether this is a piece of jewellery or a handmade toy. Grab a hot chocolate with marshmallows and have a stroll around the village.

Open: 17th November – 29th December

Exeter

Christmas markets

Pic Credit – Pixabay

Take a trip to Exeter this year to discover the magnificent Christmas market on the West Front of the Cathedral – creating an enchanted atmosphere. With the Cathedral towering over, you will be able to take a long walk around the different wooden huts and experience something from each continent of the world – perfect for introducing your kids to different cultures.

Unlike previous years, the Exeter Christmas Market will now have a bandstand which will host the entertainment for the evening – with local bands, singers and choirs spreading the magical spirit by singing some of our favourite Christmas carols that allow the kids to get involved. If you can’t get enough of Christmas markets in Exeter, there’s two more – one on Castle Street and Fore Street – don’t be afraid to pop down and indulge yourself in more Christmassy treats and I’m sure your little ones would be more than up for it.

Open: 16th November – 17th December

Lincoln

Indulge yourself in the historic culture of Lincoln by attending their Xmas market or over 280 stalls surrounded by the iconic castle and cathedral – allowing your little ones to have a real sense of magic on your family trip out. From freshly cooked food to some of the most exceptional gifts, you’ll be able to experience something different from this market that will make you want to return the next year.

Not only are new stalls put up outside, but shops along the cobbled streets come outdoors to sell their products too! Creating the perfect atmosphere up the steep bank. Not only can you shop in the market, whether this is for hot food or baked treats, you can also take a trip on the big wheel and other fairground rides – once you get high enough, you might be able to spot one of Santa Claus’ elf in the crowd – so make sure you’re on your best behaviour to remain on this year’s good list. Although the duration of this market isn’t long, it’s worth going!

Open: 7th December – 10th December

London

If you’re heading to the London this Christmas for some shopping, why not take a trip to the Winter Wonderland situated in Hyde Park. Full of festivity, there’s nothing that you and your family can’t do at this market, from ice skating, to circus’ and even Cinderella on Ice, whatever your family desires is available here – although booking is strongly advised as there is a high demand of certain activities and attractions.

There’s no excuse not to attend this Winter Wonderland as it remains open after Christmas has ended! Remember to take your camera and capture plenty of selfies, you don’t want to miss the moment where your littles one’s face light up when meeting Santa Claus himself. Once you’ve tackled the magical kingdom of Winter Wonderland, why not take a stroll to Buckingham Palace to take photographs outside of the iconic landmark – you might even see the Queen if you’re lucky!    

Open: 17th November – 1st January

So, what Christmas market will you be heading to this year? Do let us know. Alternatively for the more adventurous among us there are lots of other options both indoor and outdoors including for example indoor skiing and snowboarding.

And if there isn’t enough inspiration above check out some other fab event ideas here.

Note: This is a collaborative post.

 

Fairy Travels

Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo – Our Review

Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo

You have to picture the scene for this one….its 2002, your in college and you have met this great guy…you decide on a holiday (from a brochure!! Yes I am old!) you randomly select Denmark, Copenhagen to be precise. The highlight of the trip was our evenings spent in the Tivoli Gardens. Roll forward to 2007, newly qualified as an Accountant I decide that id love a wow holiday, something memorable to mark the milestone. Same great guy is still on the scene off we flew to China and there began my love affair will all things Chinese culture.

Said great guy above became husband and a further couple of years later and we added two little men to our crew. Why the waffle!! Well, the Wild Lights experience at Dublin Zoo was quite simply magical.  It evoked wonderful memories of milestones in my life and made me feel all warm and fuzzy.  I feel I am doing it a disservice calling it an attraction, it is so much more it is an experience. It is the perfect fusion of cultures.

The setting, the twinkly lights, the ambient Chinese music…..I honestly cant convey in words just how magical it is.  Its the kind of attraction that will awe all age groups.  The highlights are billed as the 16-metre high porcelain elephant tower and a 30-metre long Chinese dragon however I can honestly say it is all pretty magical.

Rather then me waffle on here is a selection of pictures from our visit.

          

        

Wild Lights opens until the 7 January, weekend for November and every evening in December.

Honestly do it, you will not be disappointed.

Top Tips for your visit 

We have been for the last 4 years so thought it might be useful to include some tips from our own experiences over the years visiting Wild Lights with our children.

  • Book Early: Tickets sell out quickly, especially for weekends and holiday periods. All tickets must be pre-booked online, so do secure your spot in advance​ as walk ins aren’t possible.
  • Dress Warmly: The event takes place outdoors in winter, so wear layers, warm clothing, and comfortable shoes. It can get chilly in the evening.
  • Timing is Key: Arrive early to avoid crowds and give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the displays. Visiting on weekdays is usually less crowded than weekends.
  • Parking and Transport: Parking at Dublin Zoo can fill up fast, so consider using public transport or arriving early to secure a spot​
  • Stay for the Full Experience: Plan to spend at least 1.5 to 2 hours exploring the magical light displays, and don’t rush through. Even do the loop a second time to really savour the experience
  • Check the Weather: Since the event is outdoors, check the weather forecast and be prepared with umbrellas or waterproof clothing if rain is expected. The event goes ahead regardless of weather
  • Plan for Food and Drinks: Refreshments are available, but you can bring some snacks, especially if visiting with children if they are anything like mine!

2024 – Wild Lights at Dublin zoo update

I got a google alert to tell my I had a post with a lot of traffic so I wasn’t surprised when I saw Wild Lights in the media with the details of their 2024 event. I thought it would be helpful if I popped an update in this post for 2024’s details. The theme for this years display is “A Journey Through Time,” which is a dazzling spectacle that spans Earth’s creation, the age of dinosaurs, and human civilization.

Opening details

This year Wild Lights runs from October 24, 2024, to January 5, 2025. The event opens nightly from 5 PM to 9 PM, except for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and St. Stephen’s Day.

Tickets

Ticket prices range from €24.50 to €25.50 for adults and €20 to €21 for children, with discounted rates for annual pass holders and free entry for children under three. All tickets must be pre-booked online

 

Note: We were invited to the preview of Wild Lights, we were not asked to write this review, i just absolutely loved it!

 

Fairy Travels

Helpful hints if your flight is delayed

When travelling none of us like to see that dreaded seven letter word, usually in blue, nearly always in bold – DELAYED. 

row of seat aircraft

Pic Credit: Pixabay

We travel quite a bit and thankfully have only had a few episodes of problematic delayed flights,  most recent being 3 hours on the runway after leaving Niagara Falls .  I don’t mind it as much on my own while travelling with work but when the kids are with us it can  be a little more tricky. Hopefully this handy guide will help make those delayed flights a little less stressful.

  1. Technology – Sounds simple but use the technology at your disposal. Have all the trip information saved on your phone including the airline helpline numbers.  Most airlines will have email/ text alerts so make sure your details are correct when you book so you can be informed if there is a delay to the flight.  There are multiple apps out there for airline alerts, airport alerts, weather alerts or even apps to help you book on the next available flight. We have access to so  much information at our finger tips so use all available resources to minimise disruption in so far as is possible. 
  2. Insurance – I am big proponent of importance of being insured and knowing what you are insured for in the event of unforeseen events. I think this is especially important when travelling with kids.
  3. Know your rights – As the old adage says – “knowledge is power” and to be honest this can be a minefield as airlines often have different policies for the same scenario. The best advice here is consult the experts for example companies  like Flight Delay Claims 4 U can talk you through your rights and whether or not you might be entitled to some form of compensation. While on Honeymoon in Australia via Bangkok we were delayed for many hours due to a weather situation elsewhere. At the time the airline offered us £75 card each which we happily accepted. However having spoken to a travel agent friend roll forward a couple of months and we received £400 back.  As said in 1 above save this number in your phone too as you never know when you might need it.
  4. Be nice and make some friends 🙂 – There is little point in shouting and screaming at the airline or airport staff, there is little they can do to change what has happened. If the delay is going to take some time you might even make some new friends to explore the local area with!

 

Note: This collaboration is with thanks to Flight Delay Claims 4 U however I retain full editorial control

 

You Baby Me Mummy
Home & Interiors

Hanging Abstract Wall Art and Making It Work in Your Home

Abstract art is a particularly sensitive style of wall art in your home. While there are some brilliant pieces out there from both emerging and established artists, you need to get the right one so that it doesn’t end up looking pretentious or out of place. When it does work though, it can make a room look so much better and different at the same time. In case you have an interest in the abstract, but can’t quite decide how to go about using it in your home for wall decoration, here are a few tips which should help with that.

Matching and Complementing

interiors picture abstract

Pic Credit: Pixabay

There are many ways to go about it, but we will deal with the matching approach first. This is when you are trying to match the wall art with the overall theme of the room; for example, a room designed in the minimalist color palette and theme will benefit from a piece of abstract art that isn’t too heavy on the hues. It can still have some color in it of course, but they should not be too vibrant or the piece will stand out, looking out of place. The key is to remember that we are trying to complement the décor of the room and enhance it with wall art here.

The Focal Point

A colorful room with a dominant hue or bold highlights usually needs at least one focal point and your next wall art could be exactly that. For example, imagine a dining room themed in orange, which has an orange-themed abstract piece hanging on the wall right next to the dining table. Not only will the art be complementing the décor of the room but it will also turn into a focal point for your guests to marvel at during dinner. The best part about using this approach is the fact that you can show off your wall art without looking like you are trying to.

Contrasting Approach

If you are particularly fond of the abstract and would not mind if it stood out like the clear and obvious focal point which you want it to be, then feel free to contrast your room’s general décor with the art on the wall, especially if you’re considering an interior design makeover. Vibrant colours in a minimalist, black and white room or an oversized, hypnotic piece covering almost the entire wall of the drawing room are good examples of the contrast approach. The role of the piece is simple here; catch the attention of the onlooker instantly and constantly.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that art has a way of calling to its patrons. It’s an expression of the human soul painted on a canvas, so the appeal is definitely the most important factor here. At websites such as FineArtAmerica.com which is the world’s largest online marketplace for art, you will find an extensive selection of pieces from contemporary artists around the world.

Just by taking a look through the different artists and their works, you will not only find what you are looking for but may even be spoilt for choice.

Note: this is a collaborative post
Features

Surviving Cold and Flus – Some more advice!

Last weeks post on surviving colds and flu’s received a lot of interest and I had lots of lovely messages from readers sharing their own tips and advice. One emails caught my eye and I though it was a really useful infographic that was worth sharing with you.

See below for a wonderful list of Natural things that you can do right from the comfort of home to help your family members make it through a bad cold or flu and ease all their symptoms with this list of Natural Home Remedies.

Source: http://homeremediesforlife.com.

10 Powerful Doctor Approved Flu Remedies To Help Loved Ones

In summary:

  • Hydration: Flu dehydrates us. Doctors suggest that drinking plenty of water and liquids improves the immune system and flushes out the infection.
  • Vitamin D: Sunshine is a great source of natural warmth and vitamin D, sunshine boosts the fighting capacity of the body, drives away the sick feeling and rejuvenates the body.
  • Garlic: Rich in organic sulfur (an antimicrobial), try including garlic in your diet. According to doctors, raw garlic not only alleviates the cold but erases any chances of new infections.
  • Chicken Soup: There is nothing more comforting than a hot chicken broth. To make it tastier and more effective, sprinkle some black pepper, lemon juice and your favorite herbs like thyme and oregano.
  • Ginger: When crushed and mixed with honey, ginger has a soothing effect on the throat. You can also consume it as a tea by dicing some slices into the water along with salt and honey and simmering it for a few minutes.
  • Cinnamon: Cinnamon is more than just a tasty fall season spice. With its warm nature, the spice provides relief in congestion and inflammation of the respiratory system. Sprinkle some on your oatmeal or simply add it to your tea or coffee.
  • Vapour Steam: A really powerful doctor approved home-remedy is to cover your head with a towel and take steam from hot water infused with herbs or your favourite vapour rub.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: Natural and effective, ACV works best in flu remedies when a teaspoon is taken with warm water and honey.
  • Yogurt: The probiotics in yogurt kill the bad bacteria causing flu. Including it in your daily diet can do wonders.
  • Salt Water: Simply mix a teaspoon of sea salt to warm water and gargle with it frequently to get immediate relief in throat infection.

 

Above all, remember love is the best medicine! So, love them more when they are sick and need it the most and when it’s your turn enjoy the same kind of pampering. (Let’s Hope anyways)

Mamma Reviews

More2Explore Adventure belt

More2Explore Adventure Belt Review

Before I had kids I used to say id never use any of those reins type product for my kids. Roll forward five years and two kids and I have a different view. My oldest is the epitome of sensible from the day he was born my second man well……he is a whole different ball game! Wild with a capital W. At 2 and a half he is not quite out of the buggy but also not quite ready to grasp that he needs to hold our hands as little Houdini can vanish very quickly. And yes I’m speaking from experience!

adventure belt in use

Adventure belt in action

Back in September we were sent the Adventure belt to review by More2Explore and I though bingo….ideal for our upcoming trip to Alvor.  We were about 1 km from the village and we decided to walk down for breakfast one morning and rather than usual buggy battle followed by “I no need hold your hand” we used the Adventure Belt, well my husband did! He is incredibly safety conscious when it comes to the kids and he thought it was fantastic compared to the traditional style reins.

Mamma Fairy Verdict

I approached this product with an open mind and ended up loving it and that’s both myself and my husband giving it a thumbs up. Littlest man used it with no complaints. Its more discreet with it being the belt type so no backpack or wrist type reins. There is a clever safety clip that little Houdini cant escape from and most of all it give the kids the sense of freedom and the parents the sense of security that they aren’t far away.  For the next few years I see this as being  suitcase staple for us.

 

 

 

 

Reviews for Mama & Babas

kiddiewinkles personalised toy basket

Peronalised Toy Basket Review

As I have mentioned previously on the blog we have been renovating the house of the last number of years.  The last big task was the boys play room.  When Kiddiewinkles asked if wanted to review a personalised toy basket, I thought it would be an ideal addition to the boys room and hopefully clear away the toys which never seem to make it back to presses!!

toy basket full of toys

Personalised Toy basket from Kiddiewinkles

We personalised the basket with their surnames which they totally loved. We choose the blue gingham design as it complemented the room colour scheme perfectly. Have a look on their site above, there is a huge selection of fabulous colours and patterns.

 

The personalisation is the big thing for my pair. They adore anything with their names on it!!

What we thought:

  • Quality –  amazing, its durable, hard wearing and survived being used as a boat by my pair!
  • Size – the basket is deceptively large, it holds a huge amount more that a first glance when this neatly folded package landed at my door (see opposite – spot our much used Spider Catcher !!)
  • Value – at £25 plus extra for personalisation this product in my view is excellent value and would make an ideal Christmas present and with the huge number of options of patterns there is definitely something for everybody.

Overall its a thumbs up from my pair who just love seeing their name in lights!

 

Thanks to Kidiewinkles for sending it to us however this in my way influences mine or the boys views.

 

 

 

Mamma Musings

Emerging from Cold and flu season – survival tips!

I actually think I can see the light! Slowly but surely the haze is lifting and I am not chasing after the kids with tissues, the kids are no longer waking every five minutes as their cough is bothering them. We had our first foray into the primary school system this year and as predicated the notes home (and the colds!) just kept coming, from chicken pox to scarlet fever.  I’d open his school bag each day with trepidation wondering what weird and wonderful childhood illness could I expect next!! We got there and fingers crossed the run up to Christmas will be snot and cough free!

Some survival tips:

While I am by no means a medical expert some of the things that worked for us were:

  • Get the right medication – sounds simple but its critical. My oldest has a terrible chesty cough and I was able to get the required diagnosis and recommendation for Benylin without having to leave the house.  Add to that Vicks on thier feet back and chest. I have no idea why the Vicks works on their feet but it really does. I did it myself when struck with colds.
  • Baths and more baths  – while I don”t believe they get rid of the colds, they really helped relax the boys. I used a few drops of tea tree and lavender in bath as well as my current favourite Mustela products.  My pair still love to be massaged and the bath oil is divine, if like me you have kids who hate getting their hair washed check out their foam shampoo makes the hair wash battle so much easier.  My mother swears by he steam from the bath being great for those chesty coughs and she is right, before bed time it works great.

    row-juices

    Pic Credit: Pixabay

  • Bedroom set up – When they are bunged up with head colds, elevating the pillow a little really helps. My own father suffers with coughs regularly and he insisted we try his Dyson hot and cold air purifier in the boys room for a while.  While I just couldn’t justify the spending on it, it really is fantastic – it removes 99& of allergens and pollutants from the air and keeps the room at a lovely warm consistent temperature. We are just finished building our extension and I was attributing the cough to dust etc so I was keen to use this is in their room as a preventative measure. Not only that I think the gently hum of the fan and the consistent temperature sent them off into a deep sleep!
  • Food – I am a firm believer in food aiding all ills and when any of us grown ups or the kids are struck down with the dreaded cold, my go to recipe for the Vit C laded soup is One Yummy Mummy’s Carrot and Orange soup.  Seriously tasty and good for you too. I am also a firm believer in juicing however it takes a little more coaxing to get the juices into them!   Not forgetting water and ,more water. Thankfully the boys like drinking it so this one isn’t to much hassle.
  • Hygiene – I am a tad freaky about this. I am forever preaching to the boys about hand hygiene – keep those germs contained!!!

 

Note: this is collaborative post

 

You Baby Me Mummy
Fairy Travels

Honeymoon stopover in Bangkok

bangkok-temple

Photo Credit: Baked by Mummy Iris

We spent a wonderful couple of weeks on our honeymoon in Australia however one of the surprise highlights was a 48 hour stop off in Thailand. We booked our trip through an agency and the lovely lady who assisted us asked where did we want to stop over and our reply “surprise us” and that she did. We were off for a whirlwind trip to Bangkok.  I didn’t have any expectations of what to expect, we were on honeymoon so we were totally chilled.

We did book a central five star hotel, we were honeymooners after all! Recently I have seen Destination2 offering similar package breaks with great selections of hotels from 3 stars up.  I like the security of package trips for long haul travel.

 

What we did – Day 1

photo-bangkok-temple

Photo with thanks to the lovely http://www.bakedbymummyiris.com/ for more great travel photos check our her insta @bakedbymummyiris

We arrived mid afternoon and one of the first things we had booked was the Bangkok Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya River.  One word – INCREDIBLE, it really was. It gave us a brilliant chance to get our bearings and have some nice chilled out time, food was good and the local beer was flowing. There was live entertainment on board too.  The atmosphere was great on board, the staff were fantastic and we saw the beautiful  Grand Palace and Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) lit up at night amongst many other beautiful illuminated sights.

Bangkok- MBK- Shopping

Bangkoks MBK

Following that we wandered around sampling the local food stalls at the night markets, I can still feel the buzz of it, was late into the night and the place was very much alive. Bangkok lives up to its reputation, it is bustling, vibrant and very much alive day and night.

What we did – Day 2

After some well needed rest, the following morning we headed for the world famous MBK Center. I was like a kid at Christmas with excitement, over 2000 shops all under the one roof!! Whats not to love! We took the Sky train there which was an experience in itself . Its a high speed train that’s elevated over the roads. So efficient and it was spotless!

The second evening we went back to sample the endless options being served up by the street vendors – I can still taste the pork satay! Seriously yum.  We ended up wandering towards Chinatown. This has to been seen to be believed a stunning fusion of the two cultures with food so divine, it would be rude not to sample and we thoroughly enjoyed sampling the variety of foods on offer. We made our way back to our hotel (on a Tuk Tuk!!), the hotel had got wind of our wedding and presented us with 2 cocktails served in Tuk Tuk shaped glasses which they gave us to keep. A lovely end to a memorable few days in an action packed city.

We have vowed to return and I really think we will some day when the kids are a bit older.

Note: This is a collaborative post and special thanks to Iris who writes at www.bakedbymummyiris.com and shares her own travel journeys on her instagram @bakedbymummyiris

 

 

 

Cuddle Fairy
Features

Car seat safety checks

Car Seat Safety

**Note – this is a sponsored post**

There is no more precious cargo that you can transport than your little people.  You only have to look at the latest statistics released by the RSA to see the importance of not only the right car seat but the right car seat fitted correctly.

Quite alarmingly 262 children lost their lives on the roads between 1996 and 2012 and in a third of these cases no restraint or seat was used.  Disappointingly also was the statistic that twice as many children were killed on the roads in 2014 than in 2013. Its so very sad.  I have written a number of times about car safety and it importance and it is something I feel very very passionate about.

car seat safety tip

Image Credit: cars.com

While this by no means purports to be a extensive list some of the things I do include:

  • I do my research using sites such cars.com which provide information on the types of car seats which suit different models of cars.
  • I cant emphasis enough how important choosing the right seat for the model of car you have is. One size does  not fit all – make use of clinics such as those provided by the RSA to check it fits.  Its a free and invaluable service
  • Check with the manufacturer re air bag usage and the seat
  • Follow all legal regulations and never ever travel without the proper restraints.
  • Always check the seat when you get in to make a journey and make sure nothing has come loose, such a the clipped in seat belt. Give it a good jiggle to ensure no movement
  • Be very careful buying second hand seats, you need to be sure they have never been in accidents before
  • In my experience most manufacturers will have helplines if you have any queries at all
  • I am a rear facing proponent but as said above do your research and make the best decision for yourself
  • Given the imminent arrive of winter, best advice is no coat or heavy jackets when in the car seat. The risk here is that there is or could be a significant gap in the distance between the child and the seat belt

Our little people will always be our biggest VIP and ensuring their safety as best we can is paramount.

Note: This is a sponsored post