I had quite a few people comment on my post about our family ski holiday in the French Alps with Snowbizz and say that they’ve never really fancied skiing, so not considered a ski holiday before. Now this might seem like an obvious thing to say, but actually there is potentially a lot more to a ski holiday than just skiing. It might be a little bit silly to book a ski holiday if you have no intention of skiing whatsoever, but if you are married to a skier for instance and aren’t so keen yourself, there is no reason why you can’t take the kids away for a ski holiday and enjoy all the benefits of being away from home whilst your other family members take to the slopes. I have a friend and fellow blogger who regularly does just that – her husband and children ski and she enjoys the time to herself, reading, relaxing and drinking hot chocolate. Sounds like a pretty decent holiday to me. Here are some of the things that Belle and I recommend on our Snowbizz ski holiday: Go out for breakfast There is something about eating breakfast out that is much more exciting than any other meal. I don’t know if it’s because you have things that you would never normally eat at home, but breakfast is always one of the best bits of going away for me. I love hotel breakfast buffets and the challenge of eating as much as the possibly can (not really the point I know, but it’s included in the price, so you have to do your best) and in Puy we loved going down to one of the cafes for crepes. You can’t go to the French Alps and not eat crepes can you? Go sledging…

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Well. Skiing hey? Me, the woman who sometimes loses her balance standing at the stove stirring a pan of beans. You might think that I’d be a bit hopeless at skiing. You’d be right. When we set off to the French Alps with Snowbizz on March 9th is was with high hopes that by the end of the week I would be the next Eddie the Eagle, but unfortunately my natural cackhandedness won through and it was not to be. When I stepped out on to the snow that first day in my ski boots and immediately fell flat on my back it was a sign of things to come. You’ll notice that there aren’t any pictures in this post with actual skis in – this is because I didn’t trust myself to carry a camera or phone of any kind whilst my skis were within a 100 yard radius. Fortunately, my lack of natural skiing ability definitely didn’t stop Belle and I enjoying the stunning scenery, beautiful weather and copious amounts of meat and cheese. Seriously, it was gorgeous – 17 degrees every day by 10.30am and stunning deep blue skies as far as you could see. I came home with an entire suitcase full of clothes I didn’t wear at all because it was so hot. If, like me you’re a newbie to skiing and want to compare destinations, you can always check out Bluehouse Skis for help picking your ideal ski holiday. We were met at the airports by two ‘Pink Ladies’ – the name given to the girls working with Snowbizz, running the crèche, and supervising our activities. They were all absolutely adorable – so sweet and enthusiastic that you felt you could ask them anything at all. When I dropped Belle off at ski school…

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As you know, Belle and I are off on a ski adventure in a few weeks with family run ski company Snowbizz.  Snowbizz prides themself on being welcoming and friendly, especially for families, and the Snowbizz team are always at the end of the phone happy to answer any questions, to make sure that everyone has a fantastic time on their ski holiday. To prove this point, I wanted to share with you a letter sent from Wendy, founder of Snowbizz, to Belle. Belle likes to know the details about things, and so Wendy took the time to let Belle know exactly what was going to happen on the trip. Wendy didn’t just write this because she wanted to impress us – this level of personal care is absolutely genuine and is what keeps people coming back to Snowbizz for their family ski holiday year after year.

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When families come together at the end of a day after spending an eventful time on the slopes and share their experiences, it has to be one of the most magical ways for generations to create memories together. The key, however, is to do research and plan ahead. Preparing for a ski vacation with a young family and older adults can feel like a challenge, especially if you have never done it earlier. The good news is this family winter holiday can run smoothly without any stress providing you keep these seven tricks of the trade in mind. Book everything in advance From rental ski equipment, boots, ski passes and ski lessons try and book everything in advance. Alternatively, look for a ski operator who will offer these services and other rented essentials, directly to your accommodation upon your arrival. This will eliminate time spent queuing up once you reach and ensure extra peace of mind for the whole family. Additionally, if you so wish, you will be able to hit the ground running as soon as you get there. Booking your holiday earlier in the year ensures that not only you get the right flight, accommodation and resort of your choice, but also the best deals as well. Many companies offer early bird incentives like free child equipment, cheap lift passes and big discount on accommodation, with children under a certain age getting to stay free. While booking, you must ensure you use reputed tour operators. For example, if you book Family ski holidays with Ski Famille, you can be assured of a hassle free trip.  Carry the right gear Young children heading out to alpine envy will need protection from the sun, cold, and reflection from the snow. Clothes are a critical element to be considered before heading…

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Feeling cozy and warm in your bed during a cold winter day is arguably one of the most satisfying sensations in the world. Imagine it. You’re lying on your bed, face buried against a fresh-smelling pillow. It’s snowing outside, and the early morning skies are dark. You pull the comforter in tighter and let your body snuggle against its softness. Indeed, few things can compare. Unfortunately, getting a cozy wintry night’s sleep could be difficult for some people. They sometimes feel too cold, too hot, or simply uncomfortable. If you’re one of them, you’re in luck. There are many things that you can do to sleep snugly throughout a cold night. Here are some tips to help you get started. Adjust Room Temperature Before seeking out duvets and layering on clothes, you need to check the temperature inside your bedroom first. The right room temperature is vital in ensuring a good rest under the covers. If there’s any way you can adjust indoor temperature, it should be on the top of your checklist. Try to set the room temperature between 15 or 19 degrees Celsius for a cozy night. If your house has a thermostat, adjust the temperature an hour before going to bed. If you don’t have temperature control options, preserve the warmth in your room by ensuring that windows are shut and sealed, putting thick curtains, or using a heater with a timer. Wear Comfortable Pajamas Everyone has a go-to set of sleeping clothes. It could be an old favorite shirt or a pair of sweatpants you’ve had since high school. That said, there’s something comforting about having a proper set of pajamas in your wardrobe. If you’re keen on buying women’s pajama tops, there are plenty of options available in different designs, styles, and fabrics. In terms…

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Fancy yourself swooshing down the slopes? Like the idea of sipping a little something in the evening, feet warming by a fire, admiring the snowy views? Well, good news – all you need is a child aged between 6 and 11, and a packet of felt tips. It’s couldn’t be simpler! The competition is being run by Goodyear, the tire people, and is all about reinventing the wheel. Yes, yes, I know the idea is that you don’t reinvent the wheel, but Goodyear is all about innovation – cars wouldn’t be much use in the snow if they still used solid wood cart wheels would they? In the case of tires, progress is definitely a good thing. The competition is to celebrate the launch of the new Goodyear winter tire – the UltraGrip Performance Gen-1 – and to enter, Goodyear are inviting children aged 6 – 11 to design the tires of the future, using their favourite Goodyear template. The tires should be practical for snowy weather, but funky too – let your imagination run wild.

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2014 has been a funny one, and not in an especially haha sort of way. It has been a bit of a year of change – saying goodbye to old relationships, moving away from Bristol, new homes, new schools, new boyfriends; all good fun. At the end of the year then I thought I’d pick out some of my favourite posts from each month so that you can catch up on everything that’s gone on. If you like the format then let me know; I can do the same again next year and then you won’t need to read anything in between. I seemed to be pretty angry in January. I chased a bin man who didn’t collect my Christmas tree, fumed over the Overuse Of Capital Letters and got cross when the Co-op wouldn’t let me buy some out of date potatoes. I also made up my own infographic about fussy eating, which I thought was pretty cool, and had a bit of a crisis of confidence about whether I was funny enough.

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Today my blog is five years old. Can you even believe it? In internet years that makes it about 27. Five years ago today* I was living in Bridgwater, a single mummy to a 14 and a 7 year old, having recently quit a full-time job I hated to work for myself. It was pretty scary but I had a desk I had bought on ebay for ten pounds and a nice little office space at home, so as far as I was concerned I was good to go. Who needs relevant experience or qualifications when you have a nice white desk and a wall full of inspirational postcards? A lot has happened in the last five years including three house moves, one child leaving home, becoming gay and changing her mind again, various men putting in appearances, including one with an unsightly mole, a trip to Ethiopia, attempts at skiing, a milkshake in a diner in Arkansas, over 35,000 tweets and very nearly 1,000 blog posts. This one is number 979 I think. That’s a lot of words. I really can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am for you continuing to read; sometimes I feel I’ve been suitably witty and entertaining, sometimes I’m a bit melancholy and often times just a bit boring. That’s a probably a pretty fair reflection of life as a working single parent though. As a thank you for hanging on in there I thought I’d hold a little giveaway and what better prize than something that has remained a constant in my life during these five years of change – gin and chocolate. Hoorah! *refills ice tray expectantly* The chocolate for your prize has been kindly donated by Mackie’s and the gin comes to you courtesy of ME as I couldn’t get any…

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With actual skis on real life snow! I have never ever been skiing before, but in around six weeks Belle and I will be jetting off to Puy St Vincent in France as the very grateful (if not slightly clumsy) guests of Snowbizz. Snowbizz are family ski specialists and pride themselves on their very own kids’ ski school and fantastic personal service. I can vouch for the fact that ever since we were invited to go on a family ski holiday with them, Wendy and the team have bent over backwards to make sure all of our questions are answered and that we feel totally prepared for our very first adventure on the slopes. It’s a good job, as Belle has a lot of questions. “What will happen when we get there?” “Well, after we land we will be met by a coach,” I reassure her. “How big will the coach be? How long will it take to get there? When we arrive, where do we need to pick up our ski boots from?” “I don’t know,” I say, “I’ve not been there before.” “What’s the adult to child ratio in the kids’ club?” “I’m not sure, but I can find out.” She’s big on details.

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