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Lux Belle Mare, Mauritius … Celebrating 60 Years of Life With the Family | Review

I’m currently sat on the flight back from what was absolute paradise. Usually by the end of a holiday, we’re all ready to come home but something was different this time. This was the first time we’ve been away for longer than 7 nights, 9 nights in total and even then, we didn’t feel ready to come home. Perhaps it was having uninterrupted quality time with the whole family … all 9 of us. Perhaps it was mother nature’s infinity pool that boasted miles of crystal clear still waters. Perhaps it was the hospitality of the resort where we were so warmly welcomed. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was, but I wish every holiday felt this way. Finding a holiday during half term was a pain to say the least – I’m definitely not cut out for the extortionate prices you pay for over packed hotels. We searched low and high for hotels to ensure we had the right balance of the hotel being family friendly but also luxurious. We wanted it to be extra special given we were going away to celebrate my mum’s upcoming 60th birthday. The Lux Belle Mare seemed to fit the bill for what we were after. Prior to our arrival, I liaised with Sheila to discuss our needs and she put me in touch with Jennifer and Elvis to ensure we had a pleasant stay and my mother’s celebrations were perfect. Upon our arrival, we were welcomed with lots of warm genuine smiles – it was just what we needed after a long travel time. We were greeted by Sheila, Hema, Sueena and a few other members of staff who were quick to offer us a cold towel and a refreshing Mauritian drink while checking us in. Check in is a pretty relaxed process where you sit in the lobby as opposed to queuing in a formal reception type sitting. The gorgeous high ceilings, stylish thatched roofs with open air sides with the gorgeous backdrop of the pool and ocean scream paradise. The contemporary décor of the hotel was really refreshing.
As well as the usual process of check in, we were also met by a member of staff from the Kids Club, Play, who gifted the boys a white sack which included crayons, juice and a note pad and the Kids club schedule. The lady kindly explained how Kids club worked. We were also greeted by Jennifer, the events coordinator at the hotel. We had discussed via email that we’d plan a surprise beach dinner for my mum so I met with her several times during our stay to discuss the finer details. Jennifer was more than just an events planner for us – she also took care of a few other things outside of her remit such as arranging late check out for us on our departure. In addition, Sheila had arranged for Sous Chef Randir to meet us on our arrival knowing our dietary requirements (vegetarian). Randir got to know our likes and dislikes so he could suggest meals for us throughout our stay to ensure we were catered for. It was a really nice way to be welcomed – we literally had no questions unanswered by the end of our check in. Their check in process most definitely made us feel extra special!  All three rooms were booked as junior suites and we were kindly located a stone’s throw from the swimming pool and a few metres away from the beach which was fantastic. We resided in rooms 1008, 1009 and 3008. The rooms are decorated with a bit of a Santorini feel with refreshing white and light shades of grey and a splash of orange. Upon first impressions, the rooms weren’t as spacious as we’d assumed they’d be though they were sufficient. The bedroom/lounge area was probably one of the smallest suites we’ve stayed in and with four of us, it didn’t feel like we had much room to store all our belongings. There is a walk in wardrobe area however there wasn’t enough storage for all of our clothes.
The bathroom has a bath tub, a double sink and a large wet room style shower. It’s super spacious and the shower was without a doubt the best shower I’ve had in my life!! The power was amazing! The cot, stool and bath jug were all in our room on arrival for the boys. They’d also tailored the room to include two kids bath robes and a small toiletries pack for the boys which was a lovely attentive bit of detail.
Though the room is perfectly located for the pool and beach, pre warning, the evening entertainment which goes on from 9-11pm is quite loud if staying in these rooms but we would pick these rooms again purely based on ease of location.
The property itself didn’t feel too large which was a positive thing for the purpose of our stay. It was quite easy to find where any member of the family was without the use of a phone as everything was really close by. We loved this about the Lux. The swimming pool is spread across two levels and is the largest pool in Mauritius. It was ok but generally it was difficult to get sunbeds (we were a party of 9 though!) and to be honest, we didn’t enjoy it as much as the sea. There were a few loose tiles in the pool which were quite quickly fixed when I alerted reception and there also wasn’t enough stretch of depth for a decent swim.
There are literally no words to describe the beach. We’d heard that Belle Mare boasted some of the most stunning beaches but we weren’t prepared for our holiday pretty much consisting of full days in the ocean. Where the Lux is located, the sea at the beach is a lagoon making it very still water with the odd super gentle wave. It was like an infinity pool where the ocean met the sky. The water was so clear – we were able to spot the beautiful white silvery fish darting around by our feet. The water was also a really good depth for the entire area – it was at the most shoulder height for me. There honestly aren’t enough words to describe how much we enjoyed our long days at the beach – building sandcastles, paddling in the water and just relaxing. We didn’t struggle to find 9 sunbeds as long as we were by the sea by about 11am after breakfast.
The view from the beach was honestly like a postcard picture. Another brilliant thing about the Lux was that they offer free water activities at the Boat House such as peddle boats and kayaking which were lots of fun! Arjun had a blast in the glass bottom kayak counting fish! The hotel also offers free hour long glass bottom boat trips on a speedboat which we had the pleasure of going on – it was fascinating to see. 
There was the odd bout of jellyfish which you need to watch out for after the rain but it didn’t stop us from enjoying the sea! Our room being a stone’s throw away from the beach made it really easy for us to go for a walk after dinner. The beautiful breeze made the temperature (even at 35 degrees!) bearable. At night, you get an incredible view of the stars and the moon glistening on the still water.
There was a really lovely garden area featuring the tree of wishes. The large swing was perfect to lay on to see the fruit bats at night – another fascinating thing to watch! The Kids club is for children over the age of 3. It’s a parent free zone and offers some of the best kid’s activities I’ve seen at a kids club. For example cake baking from scratch, t shirt painting, making your own aquarium and crab hunting. Arjun didn’t end up using the kids club much as he was too absorbed and thrilled by the prospect of being on holiday with his whole family! If we were to leave Saajan at kids club, we’d need to pay for a babysitter for a block of a minimum of 3 hours. We didn’t end up needing the service. The hotel isn’t only equipped with amazing activities for children, they also offer such unique experiences for adults and families. I attended the Photo Fanatics course by Kritz which covered how to take pictures using your phone and also editing them. It’s a free course and I took up the offer one rainy morning. It was great fun and definitely something different. There is also an option to pay for a course on how to use the different features on your camera for the keen photographers! As an environmentally friendly hotel, they also offer a Junk Art experience in their studio dedicated to creating beautiful works of art using recycled items. We spent a family afternoon creating our unique pieces of art – my sister and I a photo frame, Preetam a keepsake bottle that will be housed in our living room, my mum a bag and Arjun a monster! It was a wonderful and unique experience allowing us to exercise our creativity – it was nice to do something so different.
The hotel also offers a chocolate workshop which I didn’t get the chance to attend as there simply wasn’t enough time! One of my most memorable things about this trip and probably for ever was that the spa here offers a kids massage (and facial, and manicure / pedicure!) and it meant that Arjun and I could have a mother and son afternoon. It was the cutest thing him having a massage and he enjoyed it so much that he fell asleep!! Children are massaged using chocolate oil and he had a full 60 minute massage while I had an energising massage which was equally as relaxing!
Hotel guests have access to the spa facilities without having to book a spa treatment including the Jacuzzi, hammam and spa pool. As much as we had grand plans before we got to Mauritius to do several excursions, once we got there and the prospect of spending even a few hours away from the sea definitely squashed any grand plans. We literally couldn’t get enough! Belinda (Belinda’s boat tours) introduced herself on the beach and showed us a few water type excursions. She wasn’t the pushy sort and was such a happy soul. An excursion in the sea sounded like our kinda excursion! We decided to do a private speed boat tour. We set off the following day at 9am where we went on a quick 10 minute taxi drive to the speedboat location. The speedboat came with a cover which was important and they were armed with lots of water and soft drinks for us. Our hosts for the day were Jean Paul and Sebastian and honestly I don’t think I’ve met two nicer, such down to earth guys before. They were so friendly and were great at giving us highlights of the places we visited. We visited several stops including several spots in the middle of the ocean, snorkelled, visited the oldest light house in Mauritius which sits on top of a dried coral bed, met monkeys, encountered dolphins in their natural habitat, saw a gorgeous waterfall and topped it off with an authentic home cooked vegetarian Mauritian meal which was absolutely delicious! Watching Arjun snorkel for the first time and watching the joy on Saajan’s face from the excitement of the speed of the boat are memories that are forever etched in my heart. We returned back at about 4pm. It was well worth it at £450.
Being vegetarian, you never quite know what options will be available. Some countries absolutely nail it while others are lagging behind in their thought that vegetarians live off just vegetables. Chef Randir ensured our food was exquisite and made sure we had a good mix including tofu. The hotel includes several restaurants – many which are included in the half board/full board options. We didn’t end up having dinner at Amari by Vineet or at Duck Laundry (not included in our half board option) as the food at the main buffet restaurant, Mixe, served us so well. We were fortunate and super spoilt in being asked daily what we’d like for dinner the following day from stir fries to lasagne to vegetable pie! Mixe is the same restaurant where breakfast is served. At both breakfast and dinner the food selection is really good even for vegetarians – their Indian food for me in particular was absolutely delicious. Waiter Vik was really friendly especially towards the kids. Purran always ensured we had the best breakfasts from making us pronteh to masala dosas and tailoring them to my taste buds especially! There is a dedicated kids food area in the dinner buffet and the kids ate really well as there was something for them every night.   We visited K Bar which has outdoor seating overlooking the ocean. It has a really lovely ambience and chilled vibe however the service was pretty slow. We didn’t eat at K Bar but did go on a few occasions for a drink. This is also where the evening entertainment takes place which is full of colour and music!
The beach truck restaurant was our favourite lunch time spot – they had such a fabulous and tasty vegetarian menu – my personal favourite was the quinoa burger and the vegetable heaven wrap. We enjoyed our lunches there most days. We found the food to be of a high standard and really tasty. Beach Rouge is an Italian restaurant also located on the beach with a refreshing vibe. We dined here for dinner and were particularly impressed with their children’s facilities – the boys were offered crayons and a colouring menu on arrival and their food arrived really fast too. We really enjoyed the creamy vegetable pasta along with the stone baked pizza with a breath-taking view of the sea.
As mentioned, we went to Mauritius to celebrate my mum’s year of birth. I worked closely with Chef Randir and Jennifer the events planner to plan my mother’s special family beach dinner. From arranging a photographer for some portraits beforehand with Kirtz to carefully selecting the menu with all my mums favourite foods to discussing how we should serve the food to discussing the little details. It truly was a magical experience and we were so grateful to Jennifer for making it so special, to Chef Randir for making the meal so exquisite and to Kritz for the beautiful family portraits he was able to capture for us.
ICE an ice cream parlour resides by the swimming pool and it was a part of our daily routine to indulge!!  I was a little apprehensive about how our trip would turn out based on reviews I’d read about the resort being super busy during school holidays but we didn’t feel like it impacted our stay much at all. If you’re a couple looking for a romantic break then perhaps yes but otherwise, we’d go back in a heartbeat! The staff truly make this resort what it is, that coupled with Mother Nature – it’s a the perfect recipe for a relaxing and memorable holiday in paradise! Our belly’s have grown, our hearts are full and our tans show we made the most of the beautiful beach! Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in exchange for complimentary spa treatments, portrait images and the surprise beach dinner however all views expressed are my own.
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Saajan’s 2nd Space Themed Birthday by The Mini Maniacs | Review

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know I’m no stranger to party planning – it’s definitely my forte and what makes me tick! From Arjun’s first jungle themed party, to his second birthday construction themed party (which was inspired by our building work and his love for building!), his third birthday Paw Patrol party to his fourth birthday PJ masks and superhero party to Saajan’s first birthday Winter Onderland party, it’s fair to say it’s something that I absolutely love doing! As much as I love the creativity that comes with party planning, being back at work, managing the boys and life in general, coupled with the bursting storage room that houses all of the items from the above parties, I knew teaming up with a company that has the same intricate attention to detail which manifests in to a beautiful overall masterpiece, would be the solution to not creating even more work for myself (and having to find hidden pockets of potential storage space in the house!)! Mini Maniacs specialise in organising bespoke magical parties and events for children of all ages. You only have to have a quick glimpse of their Instagram page which looks like an immaculate display of the various parties that they’ve themed to know that this was absolutely the right company for me to team up with! They are a one stop shop for parents looking to organise the dreamiest birthday party for their children however do not have the time to do so – just what I need. Given it’s my passion, I wouldn’t settle for anything other than the very best and I was definitely not disappointed! Mini Maniacs work together with their clients to provide an end to end party planning service from venue sourcing right to the very end – party bags! They carefully help select a theme according to the age. Rav sent me several options for Saajan’s birthday based on the feedback I’d provided her on his interests. We decided on a space theme as a far greater meaning than just bright coloured rockets…

I want Saajan to know that the entire universe is his oyster …

He can achieve whatever he puts his mind to despite the challenges he may face on the way! Plus, he made such an adorable little astronaut! When deciding on the décor, Rav sent me several options to get a feel for what I had in mind. Rav and I met up twice before the party to discuss our ideas and for her to see the space we had to work with – so that we could visualise. Rav really took the time to understand my likes and dislikes and to figure out what really makes me tick and what I look for when hosting a party. I think I’m probably one of her most challenging clients to date – not because I was a partyzilla, more because I have the same passion for party planning as her and that in itself I know she found nerve wracking! We worked together and bounced our ideas off of each other. One thing that I adore about Rav is how down to earth she is – she’s so willing to listen to her client’s needs with patience and her love for what she does really shines through. Rav sent me a few invitation mock ups for me to select my preference – something that I really loved, having options! She provided me with both an e-invite option and also a few hard copies.
I must admit, the night before the party where I’d usually have the entire backdrop done (because it’s my own house!), I was feeling slightly panicked at the thought of most things being done the morning before the party forgetting that actually Rav is a pro at this and her team usually only have about 2 hours to set up when doing so at an outside venue! The end product was absolutely breath taking – from the star cloth backdrop, to the epic rocket and planet balloons, to the table styling and the cake table set up, I truly was blown away. We also ended up deciding on a fabulous starry backdrop for the entertainment area which really made the theme come to life and provided a gorgeous backdrop for the images.
It felt so amazing to not have to worry about preparing decorations weeks and months in advance, or worrying about storing them or how I’d manage the children while putting it all together but STILL having an amazing outcome without all the hard work! It meant I wasn’t as stressed on the day as I’d usually be. It meant I went to bed on time the night before. The food table styling, balloons, cake plinths and backdrop would cost approximately £650 (excluding delivery and setup). As well as the décor and party styling, Mini Maniacs also provide children’s entertainment ranging from an entertainer in a costume to crafts tables to science parties! Rav and I discussed Saajan’s love for lights, music and bubbles and the entertainment was so beautifully created for him in mind. To see Saajan having the absolute time of his life is something we will never forget – Leanne and Rav were so attentive in ensuring he was the focus of the entertainment and he sure did lap it up! Leanne dressed up as an astronaut and the entertainment included dancing, music, sensory, a light show, story time, parachute and of course, baby shark! I literally can’t express in to words how beautiful it was for us to see Saajan enjoying himself so much – I received so many messages from our guests commenting on how heart-warming it was to see him having so much fun! Their entertainment packages with a character/princess start from £179 for 1 hour and go up to £279 for 2 hours.
Rav was also able to source the kiddies tables and chairs which the team styled and also these incredible cake pops which looked like a work of art! She was able to fulfil any request I had for the party!
Although Mini Maniacs also offer a party bag service, I’d spotted these “paint your own” rocket and star shaped money boxes and decided to go with those. I made the colourful rockets filled with goodies for the younger guests.
A huge thank you to Sonal of Photography by Sonal S for donating her time to photograph the event – a wonderful soul who was non-stop behind the lens that day to capture our special moments. Sonal contacted me in advance of the event to discuss the layout of the day, key things I’d like captured and the type of photography I like. She arrived on the day an hour earlier than the event to get to know the children and also to get a feel for the space. Thank you so much Sonal. All the images I’ve shared, were taken by Sonal. The main birthday cake was by Rozay Cakes who never fails to impress – the rainbow sponge wowed Arjun especially and everyone commented on how delicious the cake tasted! Tranam always ensures she tailors our cakes to be personalised – I’ll always find a cloud in ours!
A huge thank you to Kelly’s Occasions for the crepe stall – it always goes down a treat especially when it’s nippy outside! I got my Nutella fix and they were also kind enough to make us savoury crepes! We’ve used them so many times and they never fail to impress!
“We believe every child is unique, and their birthday should be personal and magical to encourage their wildest worlds of make believe.” … We were over joyed with the outcome and it was an absolute pleasure to work with Rav and her team … Thank you Rav and all at Mini Maniacs for throwing such a magical party for Saajan’s second birthday and for bringing my vision to life and leaving us with memories of a life time! We are so grateful!
Disclosure: The party décor and entertainment was gifted by The Mini Maniacs in exchange for an honest and open blog post – all opinions stated above are my own. The photography and images was gifted by Sonal Photography in exchange for social media coverage. The crepe stall was provided at a discounted rate in exchange for social media coverage by Kelly’s Occasions.
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2019: The Year I Want To Get My Life Back

Recently, I openly and honestly shared on my insta stories that I’ve really struggled with the whole social media addiction. I had so many messages from you guys saying you felt the same so I thought I would share a little more … I hope you find it helpful. I often find myself scrolling endlessly and before I know it a good hour that I had to myself has now passed. It’s like a sneaky affair – while the kids may be busy for a few moments playing, I’ll use it as an opportunity to scroll. Why? What am I looking for? I have absolutely NO idea. But somewhere, somehow, it’s become like an addiction, a habit. Instead of nurturing my body, mind and soul when I’m free, I choose to scroll on social media which has the opposite effect of what I should be spending my time doing! Instead of enjoying quality time with my husband when in bed before we sleep, I’m having a quick check again – why?! Instead of getting high on the joy of motherhood by sitting on the floor and playing with my children, I’ve chosen to sit on the sofa “monitoring” them from behind my phone screen. I don’t think we are really aware of just how damaging social media can be. My new iPhone update now tells me my social media usage in a week. 5.5 hours a week? That’s almost an entire 24 hours a month. How can I complain that I don’t have enough time for other things?! We are the first generation to have so much access to so much technology and information but sometimes we don’t always use our tools correctly. Suicide is at its highest, I’m not suggesting that there is a direct correlation but I do believe there’s something in it. I don’t believe that too much of anything can be good for us – even too much information. Especially when the opportunity cost is so ridiculously high. The end to the scroll feature on all social media channels doesn’t exist – it’s infinite. You could spend your whole life doing it. For what? Don’t get me wrong, I’m so grateful for social media – it has enabled me to connect with all of you, it has given me a support network through my toughest times, I’ve been able to support others, I’ve been able to raise awareness for my son, it’s given me food inspiration, clothing inspiration, travel inspiration, but somewhere, the lines got blurred. To me, it’s unnecessary to share every single waking moment on social media – for what? But at times, I caught myself doing it. It began to creep in to my children’s space, my family’s space. I felt like I was imposing this addiction on them. So many times Arjun would say “mummy please no more” – a 4 year old asking me to just put my phone away. I’ve had a long hard reflection on my unhealthy relationship with social media and have made a commitment which I WILL stick to in order to improve my life and get it back to the monster that I’ve created – because it is ME that has created that unhealthy relationship. It wasn’t imposed on me. I just want to live a normal, simple life, with my family. My phone and social media will always be there, my kids won’t be. You often end up seeing things that you don’t really need to see, that play on your mind for ages. I really had to dig deep and really challenge my behaviour and question why I do certain things. Our phones have become such a useful tool encompassing a camera, email, online banking, social media (to name a few) in one place and it’s so easy to open your phone for one reason but end up using it for another (for me – social media!). I wish I could go back to having an old school Nokia that only did what a phone was designed to do – make calls and send the odd text message (that had a cap of 160 characters!!). Here are a few things I’ve implemented: What I choose to share: Many of you have noticed that I no longer share face on pictures of the boys (unless it’s a throwback). This is a conscious decision I made towards the end of 2018. I realised that actually, as Arjun gets older, one day he’ll be venturing out on the streets alone – something doesn’t sit right with me knowing that people will know who they are without the boys even realising. I don’t regret for a second sharing the boys on social media but I know that I don’t need to share their faces for me to be able to continue raising awareness while respecting their privacy. It’s a catch 22 for me especially with Saajan as part of sharing his milestones to raise awareness does mean that at times his little face may make an appearance! If he’s ever involved in any campaigns relating to raising awareness, I’ll be sure to share. Manual diary: historically for years, I used the note section in my phone to manage my to do lists. Any time I’d go to update my list, it was an opportunity to use my phone for other things that weren’t productive. That’s changed. I now use a pocket diary and I absolutely love it. The limited number of rows for each day also limits how much you allocate yourself to do in a day, forcing me to manage my time better while also keeping away from the phone. Also, it means I can physically see how much I’ve achieved as I can’t delete anything – I can appreciate my efforts. On my phone, I’d simply delete a task once completed. Social media cap: after being enlightened on how much time I’m actually spending scrolling, I decided to use the iPhone reminder setting to tell me when I’ve reached an hour of scrolling a day. The first day I did this, by 11am, I had used up my cap!  it was shocking. I do sometimes still go over, but I’m working on it! Notifications off: I’ve turned off whats app notifications. Again, my phone would go off so frequently and I’d end up spending so much time looking at forwards or memes and then I’d end up scrolling social media. It was just another opportunity to waste time. Pictures: Previously, I’d place a lot of emphasis (leading to a lot of frustration) on getting a “perfect picture”. It was really unfair to almost ruin a moment by requesting that picture. Last year, during Arjun’s 4th birthday party, I didn’t have my phone on me and I really realised how much more I enjoyed the party compared to when I’d have it with me to try and capture every single moment. Some moments can’t be captured though – because with those moments come feelings and emotions and they’re better to be lived in real life as opposed to behind a camera. The “perfect picture” has become quite boring to me now. I quite like the candid crazy shots we have and I like not putting so much pressure on myself and my family to get an Instagram perfect picture. I love capturing memories to look back on, but instead of needing 100 pictures from the night, I limit it to a few now. This then limits my opportunity to scroll too! I’d love to carry a camera instead of a phone, but the inconvenience of it puts me off! Out of site, out of mind: I invested in some silicone pads that can stick to most surfaces to hold your phone. I have placed one in our living room on the side of one of the large speakers we have. After school, (mostly) I try and place my phone there and continue with the dinner and playing with the boys. I’ve noticed that if my phone isn’t in my site, I’m not actually tempted. Focus: I did at one point wonder I wanted to pack the blog and all my social media channels in, and to be honest, if it wasn’t for my Saajy, it would be a no brainer, but anytime I feel like packing it in, someone messages me a really deep message and I know that I need to be here. So instead of throwing in the towel, I decided to focus on just one social media channel – that will be Instagram. I still have a long way to go, but I feel like I’m on the right track and I’ve really found myself. I want to enjoy my life in an enriching way and I am so excited to make it happen! … Here’s to a 2019 full of happy memories that I view without the filter of a camera lens, more face to face interaction and a simpler life!
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Baby Brain Tea n Talk Event 2018

When I first started blogging, never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine some of the crazy things I’d be doing because of it – like hosting an event that so many likeminded women would choose to attend! I’m so thankful to you guys for embarking on my journey of motherhood with me and for encouraging me to push myself out of my comfort zone while cheering me on. I didn’t know where life was taking me when I first fell pregnant – it’s crazy how things have unfolded and your support has grown as we’ve faced challenges. My forte is planning children’s parties, definitely not taking centre stage so throwing together an event that would involve me speaking for the first time about one of the toughest periods of my life was definitely a little daunting. It was incredibly emotional for me and I spoke directly from the heart. I didn’t realise just how pivotal that event would be for me for my healing journey. The stunning setting of the Newbury Suite (which screams Harps on the decor front!) at the Radisson Edwardian Heathrow hotel was definitely the perfect setting for the day. The sound of the beautiful waterfall behind me gave me comfort and provided a soothing sound to calm my nerves. Thank you to the staff and management at the Radisson Edwardian for supporting our cause and collaborating with us on the event! I was super conscious that my slot was going to be pretty emotionally charged and I wanted to keep the day balanced so we also had a few group activities and reflection sessions which led to an open discussion. We were fortunate enough to be joined by two mental health midwives, Marianne and Christine, who provided an insight in to the avenues available to expectant and new mums to support with their mental health. I teamed up with Sparties to provide the lovely ladies that attended the opportunity to receive a complimentary massage as a special little treat as it isn’t often we’re able to invest in ourselves at times! I love the whole concept of Sparties – bringing pamper sessions to you! A big thank you  to Amarjit for getting me ready for the event – I loved my look and it stayed intact all day! One of my favourite make up artists for her work and her banter! A warm thank you to Pam from Print by Pam for donating the art work – the quality of the banners was second to none and Pam really went out of her way for the event. And to Rav from Mini Maniacs for the gorgeous balloon cloud for the Baby Brain Apparel stall as well as the flower wall which provided the perfect backdrop for a quick pic! Thank you to Amar Panesar photography for donating your time and services by photographing the event itself. Amar and his team did an amazing job at capturing the event so beautifully and were so easy to work with. Amar took the time to understand my vision for capturing the event and is such a down to earth guy! Thank you to RWS for donating the centrepieces and to Ritzy roadshow for donating the PA system. A huge heartfelt thank you to Kiran – my personal event planner who managed the event beforehand and ensured every single thing went to plan on the day. I am so grateful for everything that you did and for supporting me and believing in me. Kiran offers personal event management services and has a breadth of experience. Thank you to my constants – my sisters, Bhav and Chon for doing the running around the day before and on the day and ensuring things went smoothly and for ALWAYS being by my side! A big thank you to all the businesses that contributed to the goodie bags that were gifted to every one that attended (tagged in the images they donated below). The biggest thank you to the wonderful ladies that attended – the event wouldn’t have been possible without you. Thank you to EVERYONE for supporting raising awareness for mental health and also a charity so dear to my heart – Sparkles! We managed to raise a whopping £1,050 in total! Enjoy the snaps! x
A huge thank you to our goodie bag contributors! Gorgeous handmade mental health awareness cards by Sijara Designs Cloud shaped inspirational quote keyrings by Jay Krish Arts Mini sweet jars by Woohoo Parties Wooden handmade bookmarks by Chan’s Glorious Gifts Thank you to Diddi Dance, Moo Music Watford, Steel Magnolia, Mamazou for the vouchers and postcard Our own tote bags! Hand decorated tea lights by Chambailee Mendhi Evil eye charm by Jewels by Karishma Gorgeous handmade greeting cards made by Something Flora Baby Brain Memoirs Branded cloud shaped cookies by Cake Couture London Teddy bear leggings in our signature fabric handmade by yours truly Baby Brain Apparel Yummy macaroons by My Candy London Evil eye necklace and bracelet by Jewels by Karishma Wrap it by Tina for the gorgeous chocolate bouquet Yummy cupcakes by Bake it Boutique
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Saajan’s First Birthday Winter Onederland Themed Party

I’ve been meaning to share pictures of Saajan’s first birthday – a Winter Onederland themed party for a while now, but we had so many images that it’s taken a while to sift through them!

I wanted to celebrate Saajan’s first year of life big as we are so grateful to have him after his open heart surgery. He really is our special little champ!

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know how much I love decorating the house for Christmas, given Saajan’s birthday falls quite soon after, we decided to do his first birthday as an extension of that! We even managed a little 1st birthday cake smash – cake provided by Bake It Boutique.

We hope you love it!

We hired Mini Maniacs for our entertainment and they certainly kept the kids entertained!

Our gorgeous custom made cake was by Rozay Cakes – our go to girl who incorporated the theme with Saajan’s love for motorbikes!

 

 

  

   

 

    

 

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Our First Half Term Break to Rhodes at The Atrium Palace | Review

After searching the internet for reasonably priced half term breaks and really struggling with it, I turned to those that follow the blog to ask for suggestions. I was quickly swayed towards Rhodes as it was the most recommended suggestion! After doing a quick google image search of Rhodes coupled with a quick glance of prices on the British Airways website, we decided it was definitely worth a trip!

We decided somewhere in Europe would be best given Arjun would be back at school quite soon after we arrive back and we didn’t want to have to battle with jet lag. Greece only has a 2 hour difference.

We decided on the Atrium Palace hotel as it looked gorgeous and the reviews on Trip Advisor were really good – they mainly spoke of the brilliant customer service offered. The hotel is situated on a shingle beach and I knew Arj would want to build sandcastles – it was a short car ride away from Lindos where they have a sandy beach. I opted for a hotel that was located in a quieter part of the island.

The hotel management were brilliant with responding to our queries and arranging for the bits we needed for the kids beforehand over email. Their customer service was fantastic and they really wanted to go over and beyond to make our stay a good one and we felt very welcome!

On arrival at the airport, we whizzed through security – courtesy of the brilliant family route they have at Gatwick airport. After a spot of lunch we boarded the plane. This was our first experience of a half term holiday and to be honest I was quite nervous about how chaotic it would be – although the plane was pretty full of kids, it was a relief as I didn’t feel as anxious about how the boys would be on the flight. It was actually pretty nice having lots of other kids on the plane – oh how times have changed from our pre kids time!

Arjun kept himself pretty entertained with a crafts magazine we picked up for him – he made lots of monster crafts and used every bit of recycling he could find to create more crafts! We always find craft items a winner on a plane.

Saaj on the other hand was quite restless but managed to sleep and play with Arjuns Lego for a little while.

We hired a mini van from the airport as there were 6 of us travelling in total from Sixt which we picked up from the airport.

The airport is about a 45 minute car journey from the hotel with no traffic. We landed at 9.30pm and got to the hotel by 11.30pm. Quite late for the kids but the odd flight times seem to be popular with most UK flights to Rhodes. The departure time from Rhodes was 10.30pm!

We’d visited Rhodes the last week before it became off season. The weather was pleasant for 4/7 of the days but very windy for the remaining 3. We didn’t let it hold us back from making the most of our trip though! Travelling at this time to this hotel also meant it wasn’t as packed as I’d thought it would be for half term.

The Hotel

Upon arriving at the hotel, the lobby area has beautiful marble and stone work reflecting ancient Greek art.

We were quickly checked in and had a quick spot of dinner before heading to the room. If you land late, the menu options in the bar are limited however they’re really tasty. We opted for a Greek pizza.

Superior Villa

We were fortunate to be kindly upgraded to the superior villa. It boasts a spacious dining and lounge area, a very large bedroom with an adjoining huge bathroom and an extra bathroom. The private pool area has 4 leather cushioned sun beds with a seating area making it perfect to escape from the hustle and bustle of the main pool and was perfect for a quick dip while the boys napped. Our outdoor area offered an uninterrupted stunning view of the mountains and sea – it was very peaceful.

The main bathroom had a huge Jacuzzi bath tub – perfect to relax in! The sheer size was really appealing especially with children. The bathroom also featured two sinks and a vanity stool which Arjun used to stand on when brushing his teeth or washing his hands! The power in both showers was phenomenal.

The storage in the villa was ample – we even had a few cupboards empty!

Coffee pods are replenished daily however water is not provided in the room on a daily basis which was disappointing.

I especially loved the decor of our villa. It was a beautiful blend of classical Italian and Greek styles. It was very different to what we’d usually go for but we loved it. The furniture comprised of mahogany and dark oak. My favourite part was the floral mural details on the ceiling and the beautiful art work which was spread over dual canvases differing in sizes. I’ve not seen anything like that before.

 

Breakfast

The breakfast selection is good. They were very accommodating to our vegetarian diet and told us to let them know if we fancied anything and they’d try and source it from outside if they didn’t have it inside. However we didn’t require it as there was more than enough vegetarian options! The fruit and fresh orange juice was absolutely amazing and I’d highly recommend their own brand Nutella!

Restaurants

Symposium

We had dinner buffet a couple of times at the main hotel restaurant – Symposium. The selection was really good for vegetarians such as a leak and cheese pie, enchiladas and lasagne and the desserts were especially delicious! The kids enjoyed trying new things such as the traditional Greek feta and spinach pastries.

Asterias & Vista Mare

The restaurant offers Greek and Italian food. This gorgeous up market slightly formal setting restaurant offers a stunning panoramic view of the sea and mountains nestled behind the hotel grounds. It’s really peaceful and so tranquil. As well as having dinner a few times here, I often sat here for hours while writing and enjoying a coffee. The staff were so generous and friendly and again, went over and beyond for example placing a shawl over my shoulders when cold! Dimitris, the manager, was so attentive and a pleasure to be around. The food was really lovely – I’d recommend their pizza and Greek salad. We didn’t get the chance to try their pasta dishes!

Swimming Pools

The hotel offers several swimming pools and we were lucky enough to have our own private pool as part of our villa.

The main pool was really cold during our stay so we didn’t end up using it more than once. The hotel does have an indoor heated pool which we didn’t get around to using! The pool bar offered a great selection of food and drinks and staff often go around providing free fruit for guests.

Spa

On one of our colder days, my sister and I decided to go to the spa for some relaxation. We spent an hour or two by the spa pool and enjoyed a dip in the warm water. I enjoyed relaxing on the water beds.

I went for a deep tissue massage and it was one of the best I’ve had. It was a high pressure but it felt really good to knock out some of the tension that had built up in my back and shoulders!

Beach

We were pleasantly surprised by the beach behind the hotel. I wasn’t particularly excited by a non sand beach but actually it was stunning. It was really quiet and as this hotel was the only one located on the stretch, you had a clear view for miles. Preetam and my dad enjoyed the sea water and actually it was nice to not have to worry about shaking wet sand off after a swim!

Mini Club

Mini Club is open from 10-6pm daily and children above 4 years are allowed to go without parent supervision. Kids younger are welcome but require supervision. Both the boys loved kids club so much so that Arjun cried the last day we left as he didn’t want to leave the girls. Celine, Debbie and Fally were all brilliant with the boys and so super friendly. It was really quiet as it was heading towards off season.

They offer several classes for children throughout the week. Arjun really enjoyed the Master Chef Junior class where he made his own pizza and received a certificate at the end! He enjoyed eating it after too!

The hotel also offers Mini Golf which we didn’t get the chance to try and also have two play areas for kids which the boys enjoyed!

Mini Market

There is a mini market shop on the hotel premises which proved really useful. I’d forgotten our travel adapter at home and managed to pick one up for 3 euros here. It was probably a little more expensive than usual but the convenience was fab. It was also a great place to pick up pool side snacks and souvenirs.

The thing that stood out to me about this stay was just how friendly and accommodating ALL the staff were at the hotel. We didn’t come across a single person that wasn’t polite, helpful or friendly – especially towards the kids. The staff really are a credit to this hotel.

As we’d hired a car, we wanted to explore the island and we had such a fab time doing so! Here are some of the places we visited.

Rhodes Old Town

This was about an hour away from our hotel but so worth the trip. It’s a Medieval town with lots of shops where they sell local items such as handmade leather sandals, t shirts and souvenirs. There are lots of restaurants and we’d highly recommend Da Vinci for the most epic milkshakes and gelato!

We enjoyed walking through the castle and exploring the grounds. The castle itself was breathtaking and it was so nice to be able to walk through it. I really loved Rhodes old town – I think it was my favourite place I’ve ever visited in Europe while on holiday!

Butterfly Valley

We decided to venture out to Butterfly Valley but just a heads up – there are no butterflies from September onwards. Arj was disappointed but the view was beautiful none the less! There’s also a restaurant located here which we enjoyed our lunch at.

Seven Springs

This was a bit of an anticlimax as the main waterfall is man made and not very impressive at all. The seven springs were dried out due to the weather. The tunnel lake that takes you to the main waterfall is quite narrow and low so watch out if you’re tall like my husband! Also look out for the little crabs rushing past.

Olive Factory

We visited two olive factories on our journeys. It was nice to try different olive oils – my favourite was rosemary and garlic. However it was a little disappointing not being able to see how it’s actually proceed. More than factories, they are shops and museums showcasing historic production machinery. It was a nice little stop off en route to our destination.

Local Honey Stop

It was our mission to locate a local honey production source and try their honey. We were fortunate enough to stumble upon one on our way back from Agathi Beach and it did not disappoint! The hand written labelled jars made it feel all the more authentic! We purchased a few jars of Erika honey and chestnut honey as well as beez wax which is meant to be a brilliant ointment. I’d highly recommend stopping off at one of these side street pop up stalls and honey tasting

Beaches

Lindos

This is a pretty popular beach in Rhodes. The beach itself is a beautiful sandy beach with still crystal clear blue water – perfect for the children. By the beach, there are also lovely restaurants and local shops – similar to those at Rhodes Old Town but pricier.

Agathi

This beach feels a lot less commercial than Lindos. The access from the car to the beach is a lot easier too. It’s less of a town than Lindos but offers the same crystal clear blue still water which stays shallow for a while. The view is simply breathtaking. It’s hard to believe we were in Europe and not in the middle of the Caribbean! There were two tavernas located on this beach – perfect for a spot of lunch.

We enjoyed building sandcastles and paddling in the sea as well as absorbing the breathtaking view.

Restaurants

Panchos Mexican

This restaurant has a lovely ambiance with its beautiful Mexican decor. The staff were friendly and accommodating to our dietary requirements. The food was tasty but the fajitas were a little spicy – even for me! We enjoyed the meal overall.

Sartaj Indian Restaurant

Just past mid week, we all fancied Indian food. Especially as it was a particularly windy day we wanted something warming! I searched for the best Indian restaurant in Rhodes and was drawn to Sartaj purely based on its 5 star rating (with over 500 reviews!) – it had to be good! Had I not seen the review, I’m not sure we would have even noticed the place if we’d driven past as it’s quite modestly placed and isn’t huge.

We had high hopes and it’s safe to say we were not disappointed. So much so that I’d rate it one of the best Indian restaurants I’ve been to in the world – and we’ve travelled a lot! The family that own the restaurant were really lovely and the food reflected their love for what they do. It tasted authentic, not too greasy and you could tell that everything was fresh. Their delicious homemade paneer and dehi were also impressive.

We’d highly recommend this place for a lovely authentic Indian meal and what’s even better – it has a direct sea view!

We had a really lovely half term break with lots of high quality food, scenic views and meeting such lovely friendly people! We’d recommend Rhodes and this hotel most definitely.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in the form of remuneration or a gifted product or service. However all opinions and views expressed above are my own.

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Little Tikes Summer Fun

As you have probably gathered, we’re big Little Tikes fans in this house! Their fabulous range of products has filled our summer with so much fun!

Sizzle & Serve Grill

Arjun absolutely loves role play and is a little obsessed with BBQs – the Little Tikes BBQ set is perfect for him to play alongside us and have hours of fun playing make believe! It comes equipped all the perfect accessories to make for a fun filled BBQ including food, tongs and condiments.

Fun Zone Splash Face 

With the scorcher of a summer we had, Arj really got to enjoy this pull and tug water toy – his competitive side definitely comes out!

5 in 1 Deluxe Ride & Relax Trike

This has almost replaced the buggy for us. It’s opened Saajan up to a whole new world where he’s able to sit upright with the appropriate support – oh and there’s a perfect little space for mummy’s coffee! The extra storage at the bottom is perfect for carrying the essentials too. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed long walks and even school drop offs in our trike! This particular model allows for the seat to be fully reclined enabling a comfortable nap.

Disclosure: all items were gifted however all opinions stated are my own.

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Chilli Garlic Mogo Recipe

This is definitely one of my favourite foods. It’s always a big hit at Indian weddings but having Kenyan roots, I often crave chilli garlic mogo even outside of wedding season! I hope you love my recipe as much as I love eating it!

Cooking time: 45 minutes

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:

Oil

Lemon juice

1 kg cassava, mogo

1½ teaspoon salt

4 spring onions

3 tablespoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon of masala

3 tomatoes blitzed

1 tablespoon tamarind

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon Maggie seasoning

4 tablespoons tomato ketchup

1 -2 teaspoon red chilli powder

1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)

6 green chillis sliced

1 dried red chilli

Coriander

Method:

1. Boil the cassava with a dash of lemon juice and salt till you can comfortably piece with a knife

2. Once boiled, drain and cool with cold water and set aside.

3. Cut in to chunks or preferred size

4. In a pan, cook the garlic and chilli for 2 minutes till browned

5. Add in the blitzed tomato’s, tomato purée, tamarind, Maggie seasoning, soy sauce, tomato ketchup and mix well.

6. Add the salt, masala and red chilli powder and cook for a further few minutes till the mixture becomes well bound. Crush the dried red chilli and also add.

7. Mix in the cassava pieces till well coated and garnish with spring onion and generous helpings of coriander.

8. Serve hot

 

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My Emotional Rollercoaster On My Biggest Baby’s First Day at School …

As I sit here having dropped my beautiful first born to school for the first time, I’m lost for words. My heart feels broken. I’m torn between guilt, excitement, sadness, anxiety and joy. How is that even possible?

Recently, I’ve been working really hard at managing my anxiety better but to be completely honest, the last few days have knocked me for 6. I’ve not been able to sleep during the night, which has reduced my mood further during the day and has heightened my feelings of sadness. I associate school with the beginning of the end of my little boy being my little boy. I associate it with him suddenly growing up – making more friends, learning a new found independence, which in turn means he’ll drift from me. I feel incredibly selfish for feeling this way but I can’t seem to shake it.

I’ve never hidden just how much Arjun has unknowingly been there for me. Through my own mental battles, he’s been my biggest source of strength and when Saajan was born, he was the person that literally saved my life. I don’t know where I would be without him. He’s such a caring and intuitive little person. For me, the thought of him drifting away from me, sets off alarm bells and my separation anxiety kicks in. I don’t let him in on how I’m feeling – I’ve been psyching him up for school even though deep down my heart has felt so heavy.

I’ve been used to having him by my side at least every Tuesday and Friday since he started nursery and I can’t imagine what I’ll do on the days that he used to be off with me. I know I have Saajan, but that in itself doesn’t replace my time with Arjun. I feel lost, sad and empty. I wish I could slow time down!

The truth is, we’ve dealt with change in the past – nursery, having another baby, having to move house temporarily. But all of those still meant we had an element of control. School feels different. Now our lives are regimented by the rules and regulations of the system. Now I can’t keep my baby home for the day if we feel like spending time with together, now I can’t sneak him out of school early for a quick ice cream like I could at nursery … things are going to be so different.

I feel sad that the boys are now apart. They are literally each other’s heart beat. They saw each other every single day when at nursery together and more than Saajan, I worry about how Arjun will cope without a little burst of love during his day from Saajan. Who will be Saajan’s little voice and advocate at nursery now?

Arjun isn’t your average 4 year old – he’s been through things that I wish he hadn’t had to – seeing his parents struggle with their mental health when Saajan was born, having to witness Saajan undergo open heart surgery and generally adjusting to a life that has become normal to him and includes regular therapy sessions for his baby brother. In turn, he’s become such a patient, compassionate and supportive well rounded little boy. But I can’t under play that sometimes he struggles to process his emotions and make sense of the situation. He’s 4.

The emotional rollercoaster we’ve embarked on since applying for schools for Arjun has been a tiring one. We’ve had to make some difficult decisions recently and it’s been a mental battle. It’s been exhausting and so confusing! Originally, we’d applied for a school that we really loved, but we’d also hoped that Arjun’s best friend would get in too (many of their neighbours attend and we didn’t think there’d be a problem). We were ecstatic when Arjun got his first place but it was short lived when I found out his best friend didn’t. I know children are resilient, I know children adapt … I’ve heard it ALL before which is why I decided to keep our decision private till now. You see, we know our child best, and we know that sometimes he can become quite an introvert when he’s feeling sad or worried. There have been times where Saajan may have had a temperature before bedtime and is feeling under the weather and Arjun will wake up crying in the middle of the night panicking to see his brother – it breaks my
heart.

He often speaks to his best friend at nursery about Saajan or about things at home and I’ve always valued that so much – that he has an outlet and feels he can share his feelings and worries with someone else. I was devastated that his best friend didn’t get in.

After weighing up the pros and cons and speaking to Arjun, we decided to put in a late application for the same school as his best friend as a) it was closer to home b) his mental health is more important to us than any amount of education and we felt the transition would be easier if he had his friends with him c) both schools had the same ofsted rating and we were happy with both. After applying, I decided to leave it in God’s hands.

When judgement day came, we had the upsetting news that he didn’t get in and had been placed on the waiting list at number 1. I was hopeful. When I called back a few weeks later, he’d slipped to place 4. My anxiety kicked in again but i decided to try and squash it and just focus on our holiday to Punta Cana that was near approaching.

The day before we were due to fly out, we received the letter – he’d been offered a place! I was beside myself, I was so happy, so grateful and everything felt like it had fallen in to place. Arjun was over the moon and couldn’t wait!

Although his first settling in session didn’t quite go to plan – he was a wreck, I knew we’d made the right decision as it would have been even harder had he not have had any familiar faces. We were also delighted to learn that by the time Saajan starts school, there will be another 4 pupils with Down Syndrome which means the school will hopefully be well equipped.

I’m so excited for Arjun to start this new chapter in his life despite my own selfish worries. I’m so incredibly proud of the little boy that he’s become – he has the most beautiful foundation through his life experiences and I can’t wait to see how he flourishes in a new environment!

He’s been challenging recently but I think it’s a sign that he’s ready for the next phase in his life – he’s ready to learn, he’s ready to grow and I need to let go …

This morning was pretty eventful! I’d prepared a home made morning reward chart for Arjun and had hoped it would help get him going … oh how wrong I was! He STILL dragged his feet and didn’t really understand the urgency of having to be somewhere by a certain time. He didn’t want to brush his teeth when I’d asked, or change his clothes, instead he wanted to lie down for “5 minutes with my family” but his 5 minutes seemed to have no end! As sweet as it was, it was also incredibly frustrating – I’m hoping he forms a routine quickly.

Anyway, we managed to get him dressed and out on time (with a pair of green pants that he insisted on wearing as thats his favourite colour lol) and he even managed a quick play session with his toys while he wolfed down his rice crispies. We managed to get in a few first day of school pictures – even that was a theatrical performance with him! Haha! He looked so stinkin cute but so grown up!

We’d made a card for his new teacher and got her a small gift – I think it’s easy to forget that it’s also a journey for teachers too. Not only do they arm out little heroes with a wealth of knowledge, but they’re also there to support them during the biggest transition of their lives to date. We wanted to show our gratitude.

He was so excited to see his friends and took to his new surroundings like a fish to water much to our surprise! He just about managed to say bye to us as he excitedly sat at the desk with his friends and began colouring in …

And so it begins …

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Going Organic with Organix

In light of Organic Month, Organix invited us to speak about what being organic meant to us as a family.

To be entirely honest, we’ve not done much in the way of organic shopping until quite recently courtesy of an online shop swap item which introduced us to the most scrumptious organic strawberries from Tesco!

Though “organic” to me, has always meant no pesticides, no added chemicals and that the contents are literally just what the packet says, I’ve always been a little skeptical of whether this is completely true. I’ve always assumed that organic food is also more expensive – the premium you pay for a better quality product but my belief in it has always been questionable.

I’ve always felt uncomfortable about the taste of general fruit and vegetables in the UK – they never really taste that amazing and are generally lacking in flavour (we travel a lot and we’ve probably been quite spoilt!) unless locally sourced. It led to us creating our own vegetable patch and growing our own produce including courgettes, marrows, onions and potatoes.

After the Tesco swap incident and being introduced to organic strawberries that are now religiously on our weekly shop, I decided to take a closer look at what exactly “organic” means and whether my judgement was clouded.

By definition “Organizations regulating organic products may restrict the use of certain pesticides and fertilizers in farming. In general, organic foods are also usually not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents or synthetic food additives”. However in the UK, any food companies claiming to be “organic”, selling food with an organic label, are regulated by governmental food safety authorities.

I was wrong in assuming that organic food contained no added chemicals and I think it’s fair to say that I’ve definitely learnt a lot while scouring the internet researching. More so learning about just how bad non organic produce may be for the environment and for our general health. Chemicals such as copper sulfate, hydrogen peroxide and synthetic pesticides used in conventional farming can have serious harmful effects on our health – many of which I was alarmed to read about. It made me question whether that’s why there seem to have been a rise in the last decade or so of serious illnesses – is it what we are eating? I think so.

The thought of our non organic produce being laced with harmful pesticides and fertilizers doesn’t sit well with me at all. Especially the thought of my kids consuming that food. As a vegetarian, i also feel a sense of responsibility towards the animals and environment that these pesticides and fertilizers are also harming – I must admit, till now, I didn’t realise the impact that some of these toxic chemicals had on animals.

As a family, we have made a switch to organic produce where possible to limit the amount we pollute our bodies and also to protect the environment. Thankfully, our go to snacks for the boys by Organix, are all made of organic produce.

What are your thoughts on organic produce? Do you have any tips?

 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in the form of remuneration however all views expressed above are our own.