Sometimes you are blessed with a weekend to yourself without the little darlings. As much as it’s great fun for you all to go away as a family, occasionally it’s really special to plan something for just the two of you. If that’s the case, why not think about a trip to Lille France? It’s so easy from London, just hop on the Eurostar. It takes about an hour and a half, which is exactly the right amount of time to enjoy a pastry, a coffee and maybe a glass of fizz - perfect.

When it's just the adults that get to escape for the weekend, then my favourite way to start is with a thorough pampering. It can be tricky to find a truly relaxing spa in a city, but the Barierre Ribeauville resort is out of this world. Encompassing a state of the art spa, several classy restaurants and a world-renowned Casino, home to the PokerStars Festival, this resort was the perfect way to while away a dreamy couple of hours.

Feeling preened and pampered, your next port of call should be an easy lunch - save the fancy reservations for dinner time. La Cave aux Fioles is gorgeous, find it tucked away in the old town. The restaurant itself is ‘traditional’ in style with knick-knacks and antiques decorating the small dining rooms. There’s a small but well-chosen wine menu and the duck confit is a great way to properly fill up for an afternoon of shopping. The beef carbonnade is also rich and warm and wonderful (and a Flemish speciality, so one to tick off the list!)


If, like me, you’re also a shopaholic then, after lunch, you’re perfectly situated for a little retail therapy. The old town is home to all of the big retailers, but the charming little side streets have plenty of independent boutiques - as well as the top luxury brands. If you stumble into Hermès, try the perfume

After an afternoon of mostly window shopping its time to get ready for dinner. Stay at L’Hermitage Gantois, which is a little bit naughty money wise, but so worth it. The hotel is absolutely stunning and decorated in a simple and elegant style, with marble bathrooms and sumptuous Persian rugs. If you can, try to book a room with a courtyard view, it costs a little bit more, but it is such a beautiful way to wake up.


After a quick freshen up, back out for dinner - I recommend making the most of every opportunity to eat, the food in Lille is fantastic! Try La Royale, a classic French bistro which uses only the freshest seasonal produce. Of course, only using very fresh produce means that the menu is small and constantly changing - a good sign, but difficult when it comes to recommending particular dishes! The highlights are the simple terrine, with crusty french bread and pickles. Following that try the cod cooked en papillote with leeks and a white wine sauce. A simple dish where the quality of the ingredients shine. Finish with a Merveilleux, a light whipped cream and biscuit concoction - scrumptious.

The next day should be dedicated to culture. We visited the Palais des Beaux Arts, which is often called the second museum of France, owing to its enormous size and incredible collection. Most pieces are from the 17th to 19th century and whilst a true art lover could easily spend days getting lost amongst the pieces in this collection, we spent just a couple of hours before moving on to more modern art. The ‘Lam’ as it's known, is home to an enormous collection of contemporary pieces and a sculpture park, which must be beautiful in warm weather. They always have events and exhibitions scheduled, with a particularly grand exposition of Alberto Giacometti’s work planned for later this year.

All of that art ought to more than fill up your final day, but please don’t board the Eurostar just yet, there is one more very important stop: Benoit’s Chocolate Shop. This cornucopia of sweets and chocolates is just incredible. Even if you just pop your head in to inhale the smells then it’s worth it, but of course, if you’ve left the children behind for the weekend, then a little box of goodies from here will certainly see you right back into their good books!

A weekend in Lille is full of great activities, shopping and culture, would you like to visit?

* Guest Post

There is nothing quite as classic, timeless and chic as a simple string of pearls or a pair of pearl drop earrings. They enhance any outfit and suit any occasion, from a professional business presentation to a sophisticated dinner party. They’re also a great traditional wedding gift or anniversary present, especially for a 1st, 12th or 30th wedding anniversary. But where do pearls come from, and why have we been so in awe of them for so long?

Ancient beauty



Pearls have been captivating men and women for thousands of years. The Ancient Greeks believed that they were the tears of their gods. The Chinese once thought that they fell from the sky during dragon fights, or that pearls were moonlight trapped in dewdrops. Julius Ceasar was even said to have invaded Britain to find them (though he didn’t go quite far enough north to Britain’s pearl beds on the River Tay).

The oldest pearl jewellery dates back to around 350BC, in what was then known as Persia. Known as the Susa pearls, the piece comprises a three string choker carrying 238 pearls. It was found in 1901 and has been on display in the Louvre ever since.

So just what is it about pearls that has cast such a spell for so long? Is it the unique lustre of the surface? Is it the rarity of these natural gems? Or is it the sense of adventure of finding a pearl in an oyster against all the odds? Perhaps it is the combination of all of these things that makes pearls the must-have adornment for royalty, the rich and the stars of Hollywood.

True Grit



Unlike gemstones and precious metal that must be mined from the ground, pearls can be found in both saltwater and freshwater lakes, seas and oceans all around the world. They are formed when grit gets into the shell of a mollusc. The creature then excretes a substance called nacre to protect itself from this irritant, which hardens in layers to form the pearl. The common misconception is that pearls grow from grains of sand, but they can be the result of a huge variety of debris, from tiny sea creatures to particles of shell. In cultured pearls, the irritant is usually a piece of shell from another oyster. This is introduced artificially into the recipient mollusc by hand. Cultured pearl shells can grow up to 20 pearls at a time, significantly reducing the rarity, and therefore the cost, of cultured pearl jewellery.

Rare gems

Most pearls on the market these days are cultured or farmed, but historically, finding pearls took dedication, patience and more than a little luck. In theory, any oyster can hold a pearl, but the odds are really stacked against you at a massive 12,000 to 1. To put that in perspective, you are nine times more likely to get the same number twice on the run when spinning the wheel at roulette, than you are to find a pearl in your shell.

That said, if you do find the right shell, it can be well worth the effort. The world’s largest pearl sold for a cool $62million in 2006. Known as the Pearl of Allah, it weighs in at over 6kg and is a quarter of a metre across. The largest so-called perfect pearl, La Peregrina, not only has a price tag of $11million but also has a fascinating history of owners, including Napoleon, Mary Tudor and Elizabeth Taylor.

South Sea pearls

The rarer and more exotic a pearl, the higher its value. White and gold South Sea pearls are known for their exceptional lustre and their remarkable size, measuring up to 20mm or more. Black South Sea pearls, known as Tahitian Pearls, are also highly prized, although their name belies the huge range of mesmerising dark green and purple shades and tones that are available. Their unique colours and oily shine come from the volcanic chemicals in the Polynesian waters.

However, finding your pearls in the first place is only half the battle. Pearls have a huge natural variation in size and shape, lustre and colour and many carry natural flaws in their surface nacre. This means that you need to compare around 10,000 pearls just to find fifty that match. So if it wasn’t for cultured pearls, you would have to open a mind-boggling 120million molluscs just to make one perfect necklace. No wonder they have been held in such high esteem for so long.


* Guest Post

Premarital counselling is becoming more popular in this day and age, but what exactly is premarital counselling and should you consider premarital counselling therapy?


What is premarital counselling therapy?

Premarital counselling therapy is suitable for anyone that is in a relationship that is not yet married but thinking of getting engaged or has become engaged. Premarital counselling gives you the chance to talk over issues that have come up or may come up in a relationship, the big important questions, and the smaller less so ones too. It is especially good where you have differing views. 

What sort of things can you discuss?

There usually are important questions you need to discuss especially so when you are thinking of getting married. You may have already discussed some of these but clarifying where you stand is a great idea.  These questions can relate to having children, religion, finances and careers for example. 

Some big questions




It's important to know where you and your partner stand on some of the big questions in life.

• If you don't have children, do you want children? If you can't have children would you adopt or foster?
• Do you share the same religion? If not could it be a problem and what will you do about it?
• Who is financially responsible for certain bills? Will you have a shared bank account? Is the other person in any debt? If they are in debt, what are they doing about it?
• Do you have any issues with the other persons family or friends? If so, can you look at ways to resolve this?
• Are you happy in your jobs, would you move if you had to for work?
• Where do you stand on politics and if you support different parties can you agree to disagree?

These questions are useful as a starting point.  Being open and honest at this important point in your relationship will lay the ground for a healthy relationship longterm. Premarital counselling can help resolve issues before they become a problem.

What does it cost?




Costs are per session and vary according to the practitioner. Often weekly sessions are agreed and 8 weeks is a typical plan, however, this varies according to need.  Typical costs in the UK can be £40-£60 a session.  

However, if you do not discuss these issues prior to marriage that the premarital counselling cost can be more than the monetary value and can impact on the relationship. Couples who do not talk, and work out their problems are less likely to stay together. In counselling therapy, you have the opportunity to talk and really listen to your partner, with the counsellor providing support and using appropriate questioning to help you come to resolutions together,  and that can only be a good thing.

Online counselling can be a cost-effective way of having premarital counselling but don't forget to check the qualifications of the counsellor. In the UK, look for someone that has had the relevant training and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or the National Counselling Society (NCS).

Would you use premarital counselling? What do you think of talking therapies?

*Collaborative post

Today I have a guest post from Emma who blogs at EmmaDrew.Info all about ways to make money, save money and live the life you want. Emma loves to visit Orlando and today wants to share some money saving tips with you. You can also find Emma on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Youtube. Over to Emma.....

Emma Drew

If you have an upcoming trip to Orlando on the cards, did you know there are loads of websites to sign up to get amazing discounts? Today, I have a fantastic list to share with you full of lots of Orlando coupons! These can range from free food to money off at your favourite shopping attractions.

Before I share my 10 coupons recommendations, I have a small list of tips to consider before signing up!

Sign up for the discounts in advance

Signing up for these discounts in advance will save you a lot of time. Also while some vouchers arrive instantly via email, some take a couple of days to arrive so my personal recommendation is signing up around 2-4 days before you leave. This will allow time for you to receive all your coupons on time but before they’ll expire.

Sign up using a new free email address

If you don’t, you will be bombarded with promotional emails after your visit!

Mention birthdays in your signup

A lot of these companies I’ll be sharing have some fantastic birthday freebies so be sure to use the details of anyone visiting who will be celebrating their birthday during your trip. (You’ll see further on in this blog post about Landry's Select Club to get your free $25 in your birthday month!)

Plan out your spending money
Deciding on how much spending money to take to Florida can be difficult to figure out. Orlando and travelling can be very expensive but using the following coupons will really help you to save money during your trip!

Now here’s my list of 10 coupons to get you saving up lots of dollars! These are a variety of apps and websites that offer great coupons and offers.

1. Landry’s Select Club - The Landry's Select Club is amazing, and I strongly recommend signing up. They have a physical card as well as an app you can use if the card doesn't arrive in time, or doesn't quite make it from America.
2. Groupon Orlando 
3. Living Social Orlando - A browse through Groupon Orlando and Living Social Orlando before your visit is a great idea if you are looking to save money on your tip. You can find all sorts from activities to meals out.
4. The Coupons App
5. Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores - Coupon booklet (free coupons worth $400)
6. Premium Outlets - (become a VIP member for your voucher for a free Savings Passport)
7. Orlando Deals - The Visit Orlando website has a long list of discounts available across a range of activities and restaurants. Whether you want an Off Road experience or a relaxing spa experience, they have a lot of coupons.
8. SavingStar
9. SnipSnap
10. GasBuddy - find the cheapest petrol

Be sure to share this post with anyone heading to Orlando!

Driving can be stressful, it's a complex tax and requires lots of concentration to drive safely. However, there are lots of environmental distractions plotting against you when you drive.  Keeping calm is important and trying to minimise your distractions is essential.