A few years ago, I bought a CRIMPiT and completely fell in love with it. I loved it so much that I actually dedicated a whole blog post to the wonders of this little kitchen gadget (which you can still read if you fancy it). But for the quick version: a CRIMPiT is a simple tool that seals the filling inside a sandwich, which instantly makes it more versatile. Once it’s sealed, you can toast it, grill it, or crisp it up into a toastie filled with pretty much anything your heart desires. I used it loads when I was doing Slimming World. It worked brilliantly with those sandwich thins you can … [Read more...]

I’ll be honest, for a long time I thought VPNs were one of those things that only people who work in IT or wear headsets for a living needed. It sounded complicated, a bit intimidating, and definitely not aimed at normal family life.  But it turns out, I was wrong.  A VPN is actually one of those quiet, behind-the-scenes things that just makes being online a bit easier and a bit safer, especially when you’ve got kids, multiple devices and everyone doing different things at the same time. I have used VPN mobile for years now and have only ever used a company called Surfshark but … [Read more...]

There’s something genuinely magical about the first time a child sees a wild animal properly wild. Not behind glass. Not in an enclosure. Just out there, living its life. Of course there’s excitement in spotting a lion or an elephant, but what really lingers are the quieter moments. Watching how animals behave when no one’s directing them. Beginning to notice how everything fits together. Realising, maybe for the first time, that humans are only one small part of a much bigger world. It’s something no textbook can quite capture. This is where Tanzania safaris really shine. From that very … [Read more...]

We had an amazing week away in Iceland last month and aside from the beauty of the country, I finally learned a really important lesson that I've been needing to understand and learn for a long time.  I learned the value of being at home.  Our hotel had a bar that was used by locals and one night, while waiting for the Iceland vs Ukraine football match to start, we got talking to a local man. We asked him for recommendations in the area for places to eat out and he told us that most Icelendic people rarely eat out. He said that when they do, it's generally to celebrate an … [Read more...]

If there’s ever a time of year to start meal planning, it’s January. December is always a mad month and I feel like my usual meal planning goes out of the window so by the time January rolls around, I find myself craving a bit of routine again and getting back into meal planning is one of the simplest ways to feel more organised, save money, and cut down on waste — and once you get into the habit, it honestly becomes second nature. This post is part of my Back to Basics series this week, where I’m sharing small changes that make a big difference when it comes to saving money and simplifying … [Read more...]