I Just Made My Travel Posts a Whole Lot More Useful (And Here's What's Coming)

If you've been around here for a while, you know I don't do things by halves.

So when I decided to properly invest in the travel content on this blog, I didn't just fire up a new notebook and start scribbling destination ideas. I went and overhauled the whole experience.

If you know me, you know my sister & I have been travelling and sharing those trips online for years, but I always felt like the blog travel posts could work harder for you. Reading about a hotel or a hidden beach is grand, but what if you could actually book it, map it, or find somewhere to stay nearby, all from the one page? Without seventeen tabs open and a minor breakdown?

That's exactly what I've just made possible.

I've installed Stay22 across the blog. It's a tool that embeds interactive maps and accommodation options directly into my travel posts, so when I'm telling you about a corner of the Algarve that will genuinely reset your nervous system, or a weekend city break that's worth every cent, you can actually act on it there and then. No faff. No disappearing down a booking rabbit hole. Just useful, joined-up travel content that respects your time. Given the vast majority of you are already Mums (HELLO Mums on the Run!) I know your time is in short supply & stretched thin as is. 

Here's a taste of what's coming to the blog in the next while:

Solo travel for women who have arrived at themselves and want holidays that match that energy. Weekend escapes that are genuinely worth leaving the house for. US Road Trips with the low down on how you too can follow in our footsteps for sheckles. And the kind of practical, honest travel tips that only come from someone who has actually done it, with and without children, on budgets big and small.

This is travel content with a bit of lived wisdom behind it. Not a press trip puff piece (would I ever?!) The real thing.

If there's somewhere you'd love to see covered, drop it in the comments below. I'm all ears, and the pipeline is filling up fast.

Watch this space. 

Sue x🍒

Boston Fly Drive: Mums on the Run! The Best Bits of Boston!

If you’re following along our series of posts about our Mums on the Run Fly Drive to Boston you’ll have seen, how we flew WOW Air with ease picked the right car hire and Airbnb for us and told you about SIX different awesome day trips from Boston, 3 HERE and 3 MORE HERE. This week it’s all about the best bits of Boston.

Boston Fly Drive: Mums on the Run! Three MORE Awesome Day Trips: Cape Ann, Manchester by the Sea & Salem!

Last week I told you about three awesome day trips from Boston, you can catch up on that post HERE. This week I’ll tell you about the day we spent in Cape Ann whale watching, spooky goings on in Salem and a last minute road trip to Manchester by the Sea. One of these trips was the highlight of my trip I’d go so far as to say it far outstripped NYC in my books. Can you guess WITCH before I tell you? 

Boston Fly Drive: Three Awesome Day Trips from Boston for Mums on the Run!

In my last post about our Boston Fly Drive I told you about how WOW air made our transatlantic journey from Dublin to Boston effortless, catch up on that post here. This week I’ll tell about three of the awesome day trips we took from Boston, with all of the details so you can do it too!

Boston Fly Drive: Mums on the Run!

A lot of you will remember that Cherry Sue & I were literally Mums on the Run when WOW air flew us to Boston in October. While Sue left her two sons to fend for themselves (they’re grown men!) I left my 5 little ones with my husband while we ran away for a much needed break. You might think that travel to the US is expensive but with the arrival of airlines like WOW air, that’s all changed. Flights start at just €159.99, making a stateside escape well within your grasp. Stick with us over the next couple of weeks and I’ll share how you too can have a bargain road trip in Massachusetts.

Mums on the Run ~ Your New Favourite, NO BS Groups!

That's us, literally being Mums on the Run on our US fly drive with thanks to WOW Air last month. There'll be a WHOLE lot more about that imminently but I'm here today to chat to you about our newest loves, probably the most rewarding thing we've done online to date, our Mums on the Run Facebook groups! 

Santa's Cove at Liffey Valley ~ Magical Enough for the Price Tag?

Last night we were invited to Santa's Cove in Liffey Valley for their preview, it would have cost us €137.50 for 1 adult & 5 kids, which is an exceptional amount of money to spend on the run up to Christmas, so did we think it was worth it? Unfortunately no and here's why...

Brilliant Instant Bronzers ft He-Shi Luminous Shimmer, Clarins Splendours Shimmer Body Oil & Pixy Glowing Body Butter

I'm all for beauty on the run, because I'm mostly on the run but what with us knowing now what we do about harmful UV rays, bronzing on the run is also an essential part of my readying up for a night out or just in the quest to appear less dead. 

Three of my ultimate instant bronzers have to be He - Shi Luminous Shimmer, Clarins new Splendours Shimmer Body Oil and Pixy's Glowing Body Butter. Read on to find out for why: 

He-Shi Luminous Tanner: €12.50

The winner of the Image 2013 Best for Shimmer Beauty Award, He-Shi's Quick & Easy Luminous Shimmer is exactly that. Quick, easy and shimmery. 

This deep mahogany brown gel, crammed full of gold and rose gold shimmer was a little off putting with it's stunning shimmery ways in the tub but the effect on the skin is instant, light catching, bronzed gorgeousness. 

With the staying ability of bronzers three times its price, apply this beauty with a mitt to your decolletage, and arms for an instant, lasting sun kiss. 

Clarins Splendours Body Oil: €37 (Limited Edition)

This limited edition super sparkly body oil is probably the least oiliest oil you can find. It applies like a dream, scented like holidays and it's infusion of golden micro particles blend seamlessly with your skin to give you a subtle, summery shimmer. 

Hazelnut oil nourishes your skin beautifully and the scents of mandarin, grapefruit, Tonka bean and ylang ylang work to give this oil it's stunning scent.
As with all things Clarins, Splendours oil is a little bit of luxury for a reasonable price. This is the one I've been reaching for most of the instant bronzing helpers so I'd advise if you'd like to sample it that you hot foot it to your nearest Clarins counter before it goes bye-bye. 

Pixy Glowing Body Butter: €12.99

You'd be mistaken for thinking you'd been duped when first reaching for Pixy's Glowing Body Butter. The whipped up bronzing souffle inside is light as air and smells incredible. 

Crammed to the brim with Shea butter, cocoa butter, sweet apricot oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, vitamin E, fragranced with jasmine and laced with mica to give your skin an instant shimmer, this is the most nourishing of the three when it comes to getting your glow on. 

Such is my grá for this little whipped pot of wonder that it made it into my May faves with ease. 

And that's them, my top three for getting your instant glow on. 

Have you tried any/all of these? I'd love to know what you use when bronzing on the run. 

The Five Minute Face: Simple Make Up for Mums on the Run

I know, I know when you've hair full of Weetabix and a shoulder full of formula spit up make up is usually the last thing on your mind. I'm going to to as far as saying that if, in the early days you even manage to get moisturiser onto your overtired visage then, girlfriend you're winning at life. 

There are times though, whether they be the school run melee or just greeting the post man that you'd like a lil' suhim suhim to make you look like you have a pulse. These four handy products tick all the boxes and have helped me out consistently when darting about (even though my youngest is almost 16). 

BB creams have come a long way from their first incarnations last year. They're the perfect hybrid between full on foundation and a sheer tinted moisturiser - if you get a good one that is. This iteration from Kiehl's boasts Vitamin C and a whopping SPF of 50. Promising to actively correct skin tone, you'll get a good 6-8 hours wear without the need to reapply. Excellent. 

Dear Eyes Mascara Full Review

Trusty mascara is invaluable to widen the eyes and give people the illusion that you're not in fact asleep with your eyes open (again). This rose scented Dear Eyes mascara from Dr Hauschka is a beaut for fuss free application. Refusing to clump or smudge, lashes are separated, lifted and held in place for the duration of the day (and night too if need be). 

Fine One One Full Review

It's all about time saving when you have literally five minutes to do your face. This little beauty from Benefit is a threefer for twofer, blush, highlighter and contour for lips AND cheeks. Time saving genius. 

Again products that will do two things at once are a boon for mums on the run. These new Appleicious Glossy Lip Balms from brilliant budget brand NYC give the most beautiful swatch of colour to lips and their trio of Shea Butter, Jojoba and Avocado Oil hydrate and protect lips for up to 4 hours at a time. (The weenchy price tag of €2.49 is not to be sneezed at either). 

Tell me, have you a go to product that can used when time is of the essence? Have you tried any of these beauts? I'd love to know.