Friday, July 29, 2016

My 7 Top Money Saving Tips ♥

These days, saving money is something that I'm becoming really good at. I've always been quite thrifty but I've never managed to save much, but now that I'm a mother of two, saving is something which I've had to become serious about. 
 
I have made some changes to how I spend my money and have put plans into effect to help me be a better saver. I have learned to stop wasting money on unnecessary items or bills (although resisting gorgeous clothes for the boys is still something I struggle with!) Below are my seven top money saving tips, all of which I'm following in order to save my money and set myself and my family up for the future.

1. Use discount vouchers and codes to reduce the cost of what you want/need to buy

When shopping online I always look up discount codes for websites before making a purchase because if one is available then I'd rather use it and not have to pay full price for something. There have been many times when I've looked for a code on a whim and found one, so you never know when there's a discount to be had - always look! One site I use for codes and savings offers is Promo Vouchers - they have offers available for lots of well known sites and high-streets shops including John Lewis, Boots, etc. They also have an app available for checking offers when on the go.

I purchase from Etsy a lot too (I can never resist the vintage loveliness on there) and always check the shop bio for any discount codes as sellers usually pop one up to clear stock.

2. Manage your money sensibly and budget, budget, budget!
This is something which a lot of people struggle with and I'm one of them. I always feel so in over my head when people talk about different bank account options, interest rates, etc. but once you sit down and look into them it's actually not that complicated.

Setting up a savings account and having a direct debit taken from your current account for a portion of your wages to go into it every week is a great way of saving up for those rainy days aand big purchases in life. Regular saving like this is also a positive for you if you go about getting a mortgage. We've just begun saving for our mortgage and it's great to see the pot building up and being one step closer to the dream of owning our own house.

Budgeting for everything is a great way of ensuring that you don't overspend, therefore saving money and not spending money allocated for other things. Nevertheless, there will be times in life when an unexpected bill or situation crops up that you may not have the money for right away or available in your savings and it can be stressful - we've had one of these moments this week with Jacek's car breaking down and now we've decided to just get a new one because the cost of repairing would be too much.

Availing of a loan from a reputable lender such as UK Credit can be a good way of getting the money you need and as long as you budget in the repayments into your finances there should be no problem paying it back. They offer guarantor loans for both homeowners and tenants and I've actually had to take a loan such as this in the past and I was able to pay back the loan before time. However, I would only ever consider taking out a loan if you really are in need of it and are one-hundred per cent sure that you can manage the repayments. UK Credit also have a great blog called Money Life, where you will find, in their own words "stories, musings and tidbits about the weird and wonderful world of money".

3. Be more energy efficient
As a family, we are probably overly conscious of how much electricity we use in our house due to Jacek having a bit of a thing about having too many things on at once. You can save a lot of money on my monthly electricity bills by simply taking more care about what appliances and lights you're using at one time. I no longer use the big lights in our house unless I really have to, the table lamp gives sufficient light. I unplug and switch off sockets when I am done using them and I try not to have the television on whilst I'm on the laptop because I know I can't focus on both at once. These simple changes have really helped keep our energy bills down and it's great to know we're being energy efficient too.

4. Follow a saving money plan and stick to it
This year I am doing the 52-week money saving challenge (or at least I'm trying to!) and although it can be hard to stick to it when I have so many outgoings, I am determined to put away money each week to save up for trips that Jacek and I want to take next year. Having a plan to follow can really help to focus on what you need to save every week and it's great to tick off the weeks as they go by and see your saving stash getting larger each week. If the 52-week money saving challenge isn't for you there are other templates which you could follow to be found on Pinterest.

5. Set up a savings account and contribute to it weekly/monthly
I used to never have a savings account and I'm kicking myself about this because I know that if I had had one sooner I would have actually contributed to it and would have had a bit saved up by now. Last month I opened credit union accounts for my boys and I and plan on contributing to them on a month basis. It was actually a bit of a thrill depositing money into the accounts and seeing the savings figure on our books - money that I know I won't touch because it's not readily available. I've already begun thinking about how much I'll be depositing into the accounts this month and I know it'll be great seeing the savings stack up - especially the boys ones as I don't plan on letting them touch those savings until they're eighteen.

6. Sell unwanted/unused items
This is something I've been doing the past few months to try and save up for some things which I've been wanting and needing for some time now. I've begun selling the clothes Beau has already outgrown, as well as some things we never used and I've already made €100. I'll be honest, it can be hard letting things go, I thought long and hard about selling the Peter Rabbit photo prop I featured him in for his one month old photos, but he hated wearing it so what was the point in holding onto something that will never be used again? Seeing the money build up to put towards things I really want has been great - as has seeing the house get a decluttering too.

7. If you need to shop, shop in the sales
This is a relatively easy way to save money and if I'm honest, I usually wait until there's a sale to buy something as I hate paying full price for things. Some places seem to have a permanent sale on, particularly Debenhams and Mothercare, and I always pick up clothes for the boys in the sale. I've even seen some of my fellow bloggers shop in the recent sales for Christmas gifts and just this week I purchased some of Beau's Christmas gifts as they were discounted on Amazon - being super organised and saving savvy this year. 
*This is a collaborate post.
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Date Nights | A Guide To Planning A Great Romantic Evening ♥

Whether you’ve been with your other half for just a couple of months or for many years, it’s likely you always look forward to your next date night. After all, if you're busy parents like myself and my other half, it may be your only weekly or monthly (the latter in our case) child-free night and one where you can do what you want to do - even if you do end up talking about the kids a lot (always happens to us!). Planning the perfect evening out with your partner can be quite tricky though - the biggest obstacle being actually trying to allocate a night for a date night - so if you’re stuck for some date inspiration the ideas below may give you some to plan a great romantic evening with the one you love.

Make a dinner reservation
Since there’s nothing quite as romantic as a scrumptious, candle-lit dinner, make sure you book a table at your favourite eatery for your next date night. Sitting opposite your loved one in a calm, serene setting could be just what you’ve been yearning for, especially if a typical meal at home involves you rustling up a meal for your little ones (who probably won't appreciate or eat your efforts!) followed by cleaning up the mess. By making a dinner reservation, you can sit back and relax as you’re wined and dined into the evening.

You may have a preferred spot that you’d like to visit. However, if you’re open to trying something new, why not go somewhere you’ve never been before? Instead of sticking to your usual local hangouts, you may find that by venturing further afield, you can discover a wide selection of restaurants to choose from. For example, if you’re from Liverpool or the surrounding area, you could travel into the city centre and check out the range of restaurants located at Liverpool One. Whether you fancy a burger, a bowl of pasta or some spicy fajitas, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Do something fun
Aside from chowing down on some delicious grub, why not make the most of your evening with your other half and do something fun? There are a whole host of activities you can take part in late into the evening, so instead of restricting your evening to just dinner, why not just keep going? For example, you could take to the lanes at your local arcade for a game of bowling, or you could schedule in a visit to the cinema to watch the latest flick. If you’re able to plan your date night in advance, you could even get tickets to see a play or concert - Jacek and I love going to gigs so anytime the chance crops up to see one of our favourite bands we're there!

Kick back and relax
Especially if you’re a busy parent, getting the chance to go out with your other half may be an opportunity that doesn’t come up often. You may even feel a slight twinge of guilt at the thought of leaving your kids behind. However, if your little ones are being taken care of for the evening by a friend or relative, there’s no reason why you can’t kick back and relax. Time alone with your significant other is a crucial part of a healthy, happy relationship, so make sure you don’t feel bad for taking an evening off every once in a while to reconnect. Jacek and I recently had a night away at Killashee Hotel and Spa and had a lovely, relaxing time in their hydrotherapy suite - something I'd highly recommend for a couple in need of relaxation!

If you're looking for something completely different, fun and romantic to a normal date night, I've shared a list of twenty fun and alternative date night ideas on the blog before, which you can read here.

Regardless of what you get up to on your next date night, you’re guaranteed to have a great time if you’ve got your partner in tow. Afterall, they're not just the ones we love but our best friends too and you can never not have a laugh with your bestie.

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Healthy Homemade Snacks For When The Urge For Sugar Is Strong ♥


Between the early nights, the interrupted sleep and the never-ending demand for attention, it’s no surprise that we all experience the odd craving (or 2…3…you get my point). By now, we all know the dangerous effect that sugar can have on our bodies and that so many of the ‘healthy’ snacks that are pre-packaged are so full of artificial sweeteners, additives and preservatives that they are usually far from any resembling healthy!

When you are running a family, or having rings run around YOU by your family you need to have some pretty exceptional energy levels to keep up! So creating some simple homemade snacks that will give you the sweet hit you need without the unavoidable guilt afterwards. It also gives you peace of mind that they aren’t going to result in a hyper child - if you are gracious enough to share them with your little love of course!
Talking to children about the foods that they are eating and creating an awareness about fresh and wholesome food will set them up to make smarter choices as they grow older and start to make choices for themselves. You don’t have to be the next Ella Woodward (aka Deliously Ella) to create these nutritional snacks, just a bit of time and some simple fresh ingredients; and perhaps a little human for the all-important taste test!

Sweet Potato Crisps
Even though they are cooked in oil and smothered in salt, the UK consumes over 6 billion packets of crisps each year! This snack is not one that is contusive to long term health or even short term satisfaction and its hold almost no nutritional value.
On the other hand, the sweet potato is rich in vitamin A and super high in fibre. Thanks to its unique tastes, it lends itself to both sweet and savoury dishes, and while this recipe is savoury, you could certainly have a play with sweet flavours too.

• 2 Large (organic if possible) Sweet Potatoes
• 1-2 tablespoons coconut oil
• Teaspoon Paprika
1. Preheat the oven to 250
2. Using a vegetable peeler, thinly slice the potatoes
3. Mix all of the ingredients together with your hands (one for the children!) and makes sure all of the potato slices are covered with the oil and seasoning.
4. Lay the slices on a baking tray, lined with greaseproof paper in a single layer and bake for 90-120 minutes, turning half way through for even cooking.

There are other vegetables that you can bake in the same way – take a look at this Good Food tutorial for some inspiration.

Covered Fruit
Although it presents many benefits, fruit can be as high in sugar as some sweets, and when it comes to our 5 a day – fruit should only be 1 or 2 of the portions, the others made up by vegetables.
To make a little portion go a long way in terms of hunger stakes, you could add a coating of Greek Yoghurt. Greek Yoghurt with honey is an absolute all time favourite in our household! The positive being that it’s much lower in sugar that most adult or children’s brands (a Petit Filous has 12.1 grams of sugar per 100g!) it’s also high in protein – keeping us fuller for longer!

• Soft Fruit of your choice (strawberries, raspberries and grapes work well)
• Greek Yoghurt/Greek Yoghurt with Honey
1. I find the best way is to empty both the yoghurt and the fruit into a bowl to ensure everything is covered
2. Spoon the fruit out onto a tray lined with greaseproof paper
3. Pop into the fridge or freezer for 30 minutes to set

If you want to explore different flavours; there is always the dark chocolate classic or you could opt for a variety of nut butters such as these – why stop at peanut butter??

Flapjacks
Soft, oaty, chewy deliciousness – I challenge anyone to resist a flapjack! Filled with oats, they are high in fibre and protein as well as Vitamin b1 and Magnesium they will certainly give your energy levels a boost!
They are perfect for making with the little ones as there is no baking required. If you wanted to make the recipe even higher in the nutritional stakes then you could swap out some of the oats for puffed brown rice, puffed quinoa, pumpkin seeds or even a little chopped dried fruit. Many flapjack recipes are filled with lashings of golden syrup, treacle and butter wiping out any of the good stuff from the oats, however with a few adjustments you can create something that Jamie Oliver would be proud to serve in a school dinner!

• 2 cups of Oats
• 1-2 tablespoons coconut oil
• ¼ -1/2 cup honey (depending on consistency)
1. Line a baking dish with greaseproof paper
2. Mix all ingredients together so everything is coated in that glorious honey
3. Spoon into the dish and press down firmly with your hands so that everything is nice and compact
4. Pop into the fridge to set before slicing into bars

If you wanted to add a little extra ‘treat’ to your healthy flapjacks, you could always pick an indulgent topping to drizzle over the top!

And there you have it! Some nutritious snacks that will break neither the monetary or time bank and will leave you feeling satisfied and guilt free! Enjoy!

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Wednesday, July 27, 2016

The Rock of Cashel | Guide Of Ireland ♥

I'm continuing with my Guide of Ireland today as I love sharing beautiful places right here in my own country. Ireland is a very historic place, with lots of castles, abbeys, churches and forts dotted around it's lush, green landscape. One of the most historic places in Ireland, and one which Jacek and I visited again this month, is The Rock of Cashel.

The site dates back to the 12th century and considering this it's actually quite well preserved, especially it's round tower. They're currently doing maintenance on the site - something we've they've been doing for quite some years now - so there's scaffolding covering a lot of the site, which isn't very appealing to look at (or photograph!) but these sites need to be preserved for future generations.


The Rock of Cashel is situated in Co. Tipperary and is surround by lush, green fields with the town of Cashel right by it too. For me it's such a traditional little Irish town, with cottages and old buildings dotted around the place, it's quite charming really.
I just wanted to share some pictures of this very majestic and historic place for anyone who's curious about Irish history or who'd like to visit the rock for themselves one day. Jacek and I love visiting historic sites and I actually have a degree in history so places like this really fascinate me. History has always captivated me, I just find some aspects of it so completely unbelievable and I think it's that sense of awe that keeps me wanting to learn more about the past.
Walking around The Rock of Cashel you begin to think about the people who walked around and who used the building all those years ago when it was first built. How different their lives were and you wonder what they were like. It's quite a surreal place in that sense and I'd definitely recommend a visit if you're interested in Irish history. I've been there twice now and Jacek has been their numerous times and it still hasn't gotten old for us - pardon the pun!

Before we continued on the long drive back home to Cork we stopped by this beautiful little cafe 'Granny's Kitchen' for a coffee and some homemade Madeira cake. The cafe is so kitsch with lots of different notes of currency on the wall and little knick-knacks dotted around the place. It really does have the atmosphere of being an old Irish Nana's house. I love all the flowers at the side of the little lane too overlooking the Irish countryside, it's just such a pretty place.

This little cottage was also on the lane and I was quite taken with it, it's got such a charm. Look at the little horseshoe on the door for luck and the window boxes , isn't it just lovely?

To enter The Rock of Cashel it's €7 for adults and €3 for children and students. I do think that children should be free but hey ho, if the money is going towards the conservation of the site then I personally don't mind paying for my little ones to see it.


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Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Easy Ways To Grow Your Business Online (And Offline) ♥

When you’re looking to expand your customer base and your market reach, you have literally thousands of tricks at your disposal. Some are aimed at the long game and some take more than a smidgen of techy know-how and expertise to use properly. Others, however, are quite easy and user-friendly, so here, in no particular order, are eight of the most effective ways to get your name out there. I use a lot of these in relation to growing my blog so I can definitely vouch for how well they work when used correctly.

Use free embeds and widgets on your website
Dead simple, this! By embedding a tool, button or widget on your site, your visitors can share your content with their friends on social media, save and like your pages for later perusal (don’t forget, folk are always on the move and it’s easy to lose track of the content you want to look at). Use a wide variety of embeddables, like video, audio, live feeds and so on.

Bring your visitors on board
If you have a lot of fans and likers, ask them to contribute ideas, content, photos and even short videos. They’ll want their friends to see their handiwork, of course, so these chums will end up seeing you.


Have contests and competitions
These are brilliant ways for getting your brand out there. Customers and participants will do half of your marketing for you as they’ll mention the contest, especially if they win! If you have a big event coming up – opening a new office, or a milestone business birthday, then a generous giveaway competition is in order!


Perform the occasional survey
Doing surveys helps you to understand your audience and customer base more and it also makes your customers view you as an authority in the industry. It also gives them a say in how you do things, especially if you listen to and act visibly on the feedback. 


Never stop SEO-ing
You can never do enough SEO, especially as it’s always changing! Research your customer base – what do they do while on your site, where do they go when they leave? Always be looking at and tweaking your keywords. 


Use your landing page
Don’t focus just on your homepage – your landing page is part of your online real estate and it should be working for you too. Grab people’s attention, make them fill out some details or enter a prize draw, or sign up for emails – something to keep them on the page so your chances of conversion go up.


Watch the competition
You don’t exist in a bubble, so look at what your rivals are doing and see how you can do it better. You can also learn from their mistakes without having to make them yourself, which is always a bonus!


In real life, now…
Reach out to your physical community in some way – have a happy hour, give 10% of your profits to a local homeless shelter, donate leftover food if you’re a cafe, or sponsor a school footie team. There’s so many ways to raise your profile without breaking a sweat.


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Friday, July 22, 2016

My Love Of Nature ♥

It's no secret that I love flowers, being outside and being surrounded by nature. It seems the older I get, the more I enjoy spending time outside and I particularly love photographing flowers - I can never resist stopping to snap a picture of a pretty bloom. I think it's so important to get some fresh air every day, especially for the little ones and as I'm now a mother of two, having a lovely garden space for the little ones to enjoy and getting them to love nature just as much as I do is something that's very important to me.

I've loved nature ever since I was a child and was always adamant that I would one day live in a cottage in the countryside, with a lovely garden full of wild flowers and ivy growing up the wall. I haven't gotten my dream cottage yet but I still hold that love for wild flowers and if I'm ever out in the car or for a walk, I can't help flower spotting and remembering where the most beautiful ones are so I can go back and photograph them - I must have thousands of pictures of wild roses but I can never help taking some more. I even began a new blog, Fawns and Fables, to share all my nature photography. I also have an Instagram to go with this too which is full of my flower captures.

I like gardens with a bit of chaos to them and love seeing a carpet of wild flowers with splashes of different colours in flowerbeds is just awe-inspiring to me. My dream garden would have lots of poppies, giant daisies, lavender, crocuses, daffodils and hyacinths, all of which make for perfect photo opportunities as well as being pretty to look at. I think this is why I love meadows too, so many beautiful wildflowers in one place and they always make the perfect backdrop for photos.

I'd really love to begin gardening more and creating some nature of my own. It's been on my 'to-do' list to plant some window boxes, pots outside the front door and a hanging basket ever since we moved to our house over three years ago, yet I still haven't gotten round to it, disgraceful really.

If we ever did move to our cottage in the country though I could totally envision myself being one of those women with the big straw hats, who has all the gardening tools - these shabby chic ones would be perfect for me, with her gardening clothes - such as the workwear from Engelbert Strauss, lovingly tending to her garden and then being able to photograph all the pretty blooms - a girl can dream, right?

I'd really love a seating area in my garden, with potted plants in my pastel coloured pots and some hanging bird feeders would be lovely too, after all, it's no use loving nature if you don't look after the wildlife and I love the ones I found not long ago that resemble teacups and teapots, they're very sweet and so whimsical, perfect for a cottage inspired garden. It'd be the perfect place to sit outside and just enjoy some fresh air. Also, anytime I'm out in the garden butterflies flutter by and they're another part of nature that I love capturing on camera.

For now we'll have to enjoy the delights of my parents garden, which is pictured above. Isn't it beautiful? All of those purple flowers make for a lot of butterflies in the summer and I think it's this garden that sparked my love of flowers. I'll keep loving the nature around me though, I'm always looking for new places to explore, new flowers to discover and new moments to capture in the great outdoors. I just hope my boys will love nature just as much as I do. A family of nature lovers, that's my dream.

Do you love nature too?

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Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Afternoon Tea At Killashee House Hotel and Spa ♥

On Friday Jacek and I went to stay at the beautiful, four star, Killashee House Hotel and Spa in Naas, Co. Kildare - you can read about our experience here. Whilst we were there we enjoyed lots of delicious food and one culinary experience we particularly enjoyed at the hotel was the afternoon tea.

I love going for afternoon tea, I think it's a real treat and it's something I always enjoy - I mean, who doesn't like cakes?! The afternoon tea is served in the hotel's Bistro restaurant and we were seated by a window overlooking the front grounds of the hotel. All of the staff in the Bistro were so friendly and accommodating. One girl in particular, I sadly didn't get her name, was very helpful and made sure that we had everything we needed for a happy and enjoyable afternoon tea experience.

Upon seeing the afternoon tea menu I was delighted to see lots of different flavours and things to try out. Then Jacek and I did our negotiating as I don't eat fish or like coffee so he had to have the Oak Smoked Irish Salmon sandwiches while I had both Egg, Parsley and Lemon Mayonnaise. He also had to have both Coffee Mocha Cup pastries while I had the Coconut Walnut Whip - which were absolutely delicious, I'd love to be able to buy them somewhere!

There are two afternoon tea options available at the hotel, traditional or sparkling - the sparkling option is €5 more and naturally we went for that, after all, we were away for the night and decided we deserved a drink after our long drive from Cork to Kildare.

The afternoon tea arrived quite quickly and everything looked fab. I loved that each tier had some colour to it, it made it look even more appetising. It was all presented really well and we couldn't wait to dig in.

The fruit scones were very fresh and were delicious with the cream and raspberry jam - my favourite combo when it comes to a scone.

The sandwiches were all fresh and oh so delicious too. I really liked the tomato chutney with the honey backed ham and Old Dubliner cheese and that was definitely my favourite sandwich.

The pastries were fab, the Coconut Walnut Whips and the Raspberry and Mango Battenburgs were definitely my favourite from all that was on offer. Everything was fresh and made just as they should be. Nothing tasted dry - a bug bear of mine when it comes to cake, and it was great to have such a variety of flavours to sample in one sitting.

The Lemon Meringue Macaroons were also a favourite of mine and I think lemon flavoured treats are a great addition to a summers afternoon tea. The Strawberry Shortcakes were 'melt in the mouth delicious' and I had never seen milkshakes as part of an afternoon tea menu before but the Strawberry and Lime Milkshakes were very refreshing after all the pastries and cakes. The Red Velvet Cake Pops were a really fun addition to the menu too. I think it's always great when a restaurant puts their own quirk to an afternoon tea and I think Killashee's afternoon tea menu is definitely original.

Overall, we were very impressed with Killashee's afternoon tea offerings. As I said above, I loved how colourful everything looked when it was presented to us, the food was all fresh tasting and I loved that there were so many different flavours for us to try too. The afternoon tea menu seemed really well thought out and done in a way to provide the best culinary experience possible for guests.

I think Killashee's afternoon tea is very reasonably priced at €25 per person (€30 if you want the sparkling option) and if you ever find yourself in the vicinity of Co. Kildare I think it's the perfect treat to enjoy and spoil yourself a bit with.

*We were guests of Killashee House Hotel and Spa and afternoon tea was complimentary for us, however, as always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. 

 
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Sunday, July 17, 2016

Killashee House Hotel & Spa | Review ♥

On Friday Jacek and myself went on our first post-baby getaway to the beautiful and utterly charming Killashee House Hotel and Spa. The four star hotel, located in Naas, Co. Kildare has an enchanting, old-world feel and with it's traditional decor and picturesque gardens, it was like stepping into something from a classic novel.

The hotel offers a perfect getaway for those seeking romance, however, it's also a great destination for families, boasting a playroom, fairy woods and playground to keep little ones busy and entertained too.

When we got to our room were were immediately struck by just how spacious it was. The room boasted traditional decor, a crystal chandelier, a huge bed and a jacuzzi bath, all which gave it a sense of luxuriousness. Jacek even told me he was in awe of it all, bless him. Can you tell we don't get away together much?

Our room offered plenty of space for us to relax in, having a two-seater couch to sit on to watch television, a desk and seperate table and chairs also. There is 100MB free internet throughout the hotel too, perfect for people like me who can't survive too long without a wi-fi connection.

There was also plenty of space to hang clothes and place belongings, a safe to keep them all secure and travel essentials such as a hairdryer (there were two, one in the bathroom and one in the room itself), iron and ironing board and coffee/tea making facilities in the room also.

The bathroom was also quite spacious and I just loved the decor in there - I can never resist a floral patterned wallpaper! It had the previously mentioned jacuzzi bath but also a separate walk-in shower too and his and hers sinks. The bathroom was also equipped with Paul Costello toiletries.

For us, it was the grounds that made Killashee a real treat, they are absolutely beautiful and feature lots of different areas and flowers. We visited the Butterfly Garden, which offers a peaceful place to sit and look at all the beautiful butterfly-attracting flowers growing there, as well as some stunning views of the green Irish countryside and the lovely hotel building itself.

The Butterfly Garden also had lots of archways, a fountain and a beautiful stone bench, all of which would make a beautiful backdrop for wedding pictures. It was such a lovely place to sit in and to soak up the peaceful, tranquil atmosphere.

You can watch my little video, taken on my phone, of the Butterfly Garden below.

The rest of the grounds were just as beautiful and made for a lovely walk after our delicious afternoon tea in the hotel's bistro, more about this in a separate post. It was lovely spotting all the nature in the gardens too - we saw several bunnies and rescued a bird whch had flown into a little house in the garden and couldn't find it's way out.

There were so many different areas to explore in the gardens and as nature lovers we had a great time finding all the different things the gardens had to offer. There was a little round house decorated with all different patches of wallpaper inside, some fountains, the nuns graveyard, the fairy woods and lots of seating areas to sit and rest along the way too. I only wish the weather would have been sunnier so that we could have seen it all in it's full glory.

During our stay at Killashee we also enjoyed lots of gorgeous food too. A continental breakfast was included with our stay and a huge selection of food was on offer - there was definitely something to satisfy all tastes. As I mentioned above, we also enjoyed afternoon tea in the hotel and I'll be sharing that in more detail in a separate post - I just love afternoon tea!

On Friday night we enjoyed a delicious dinner in the Turner's Restaurant, one of the two restaurants the hotel offers - the other being the Bistro. The staff in the restaurant were so helpful and very friendly too. They kept coming over to check if all was okay and if we needed anything and this was very appreciated.

The food in the restaurant was delicious too. I had the warm chicken and wild mushroom tart for starters while Jacek went for the salmon. He then had the sea bass for his main while I went for the orzo pasta. For dessert I had the chocolate fondant and he had the baked Alaska - something which I've never seen on a menu before but which we both loved. The only downfall about the menu for me was the lack of a chicken dish as a main. I don't eat steak or fish and can't eat pork so the pasta was the only thing I could have from the main dishes, but other than that everything was fantastic and at €45 per person, €55 if you order the steak, I think dinner was very reasonably priced too.

Image courtesy of Killashee House Hotel and Spa

Killashee House Hotel also has a leisure centre and a spa. During our stay Jacek and I visited the hydrotherapy suite, which was such a relaxing place and somewhere we really enjoyed. There were lots of jets and two powerful shower curtains which help to massage the body - the shower curtains were my favourite. The pool in the hydrotherapy suite was great for relaxing in too and having a gentle swim around. Just by the pool of the hydrotherapy suite is an eco sauna, so it really is a great, relaxing area to enjoy. The hydrotherapy suite has a charge of 10 euro for all spa and hotel guests.

 Image courtesy of Killashee House Hotel and Spa
During my stay at the hotel I also enjoyed one of the lovely massage treatments the Villa Spa has to offer - the Mamma Mio Nurturing Massage For Mum-to-be, which is €90 per person. Now I'm obviously not expecting anymore, but this massage is also perfect for new mums and is a great healing experience after birth. All of the Mamma Mio products used during the massage are specially formulated to contain ingredients and essential oils that are safe for pregnant women and their unborn babies. The massage is also very comfortable for pregnant women, with pillows placed where the bump will be protected and comfy during the 55 minutes the massage takes to complete.

I had a lovely massage therapist called Jessie who was very knowledgeable about all of the products she was using and she was so friendly too. This was my first ever massage and I was quite shy, what with my post-pregnancy body and all, but she  really did help to put me at ease and we had a great chat. She also advised me on products that would benefit my skin.

 Image courtesy of Killashee House Hotel and Spa
After the massage I was invited to spend some time in the spa's relaxation room, which has six beds that you can simply chill out on and prolong your relaxation experience in the spa. My skin was super soft from the products used during the massage and it really felt as if it had had some nourishment. This massage would be perfect for a pregnant lady as it's so gentle, relaxing and helps to relieve swelling in the hands and feet.

I didn't take any pictures within the spa as, being a Saturday, the spa was quite busy and I didn't want to intrude on anyone's relaxation time or privacy, but hopefully the above pictures from the hotel's website will give you a glimpse at just how calming and beautiful the spa really is.

Jacek and I really enjoyed our stay at Killashee House Hotel and Spa. It really is the perfect place to just get away from it all and enjoy some peaceful relaxation. The location is absolutely beautiful and the hotel itself cannot be faulted. We'll definitely return again in the future when we're in need of some peace and some quality time with each other without the little ones.

Below are just a few more pictures from our stay at the hotel and hopefully they show just how special, tranquil and beautiful this place really is.


*We were guests of Killashee House Hotel and Spa, however, as always, all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

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