Candyfloss & Dreams

Author: Kat Candyfloss

Our Stay at Withyslade Farm Cottages, Tisbury

Accomodation in Tisbury – Withyslade Cottages

Withyslade Farm Cottages in Tisbury offer three lovely self catering cottages suitable for families or small groups of friends to enjoy a peaceful break in beautiful surroundings. We booked our weekend away as a result of needing to get out of town, have a bit of a refresh and just enjoy some peace and quiet. Withyslade Cottages offered all of this. We made our booking through booking.com a couple of weeks ago and have been so excited in the run up to ourweek away.

Our Luxury Cottage at Withyslade

It really was a beautiful and luxury cottage situated on the beautiful Withyslade Farm in Tisbury, Wiltshire. It is located close to Salisbury and Stone henge so a fantastic choice for those looking for accomodation in the South. Our cottage could very comfortably sleep five with the two bedrooms, spacious kitchen and comfortable sitting area. I was so impressed with the cleanliness, space and fresh decor available. WiFi is complimentary and available in each cottage. Complimentary bottles of water were by each bedside.

The luxury Wiltshire cottage was self catering and had all the amenities of a kitchen you’d expect including an electric oven, hob, fridge, toaster and lots of storage space. There were plenty of lovely big mugs, glasses and plates for all of us and a few cooking utensils. Plenty of tea, coffee and hot chocolate is available with a nice big kettle. It was lovely waking up in the morning, enjoying the view and having a big mug of hot coffee. Our cottage didn’t have a microwave but this didn’t affect our cooking.

The sitting area has two comfortable sofas and a chair. The television is flat screen and has a great range of freeview channels available. We found the cottage to be comfortable, light and airy. We didn’t use the heating throughout our stay because it was a very comfortable temperature and opening up a few windows cooled the place down quickly.

We had two large bedrooms, one with a twin set up and another with a double and single bed. This would be an ideal family room. There are plenty of places to store clothes, mirrors, chairs and dressing tables upstairs. The beds were very comfy and cosy with fresh linen, extra pillows and curtains that kept out the daylight.

The lighting throughout the cottage is just right for the size and very modern.

The bathroom features a bath and lovely hot shower with complimentary toiletries. There is only one toilet in this particular property but we didn’t see this to be an issue.

Our Stay at Withyslade Cottage

We had a fantastic time. We were greeted upon arrival around 8.30pm by the owners who were welcoming and friendly. We were shown to our cottage and told we were welcome to walk around the farm and which of the animals to avoid. Being on a farm there are horses, sheep and dogs around so pets are not welcome and children might wish to be warned prior to visiting if they are scared of any animals.

My daughter would have absolutely loved this stay. There was a cute yet cheeky little dog named Daisy that came in to see us a few times during our stay for a good stroke and I know Evie would have loved her.

We did take the chance to walk around the grounds and say hello to some of the horses. We walked up into the forest at the top which was full of gorgeous bluebells. We also had a walk through a large field and found an abandoned building which was a little spooky.

There are no shops on site so it’s easier to take everything with you if you do not intend on leaving. We wanted to make the most of being a bit out of the way and in the country so we didn’t feel the need to leave. It truly was a beautiful visit and a place I would happily visit time and time again. What’s really great about staying out in the country is how it can make a great base for walking holidays. Travelling around on foot is a great way to see a bit more of our gorgeous countryside. I loved this post from Birds and Lillies about walking holidays and some fabulous recommendations.

Our trip has made me so excited for our next holiday in July!

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May 21, 2017
Horizon: Zero Dawn: Review

Horizon: Zero Dawn is right up there amongst the best video games I’ve ever played. It is phenomenal. I remember seeing an E3 or such trailer a fair while ago now and since then eagerly anticipated it’s arrival. I couldn’t get it when it first came out in the UK but I’ve now had it a couple of weeks and I have loved every moment of it. Usuaully I stick to what I know with things like Final Fantasy. Assassins Creed was a step up for me and it took me a while to get it but I loved it. I am also hugely into the Lego video games which are great fun! Horizon: Zero Dawn is such an enjoyable, fun and exciting game, I’m really glad I got into it.

When it comes to video games my skills are pretty limited. I have been known to rage quit after losing too many times, dying too many times and complex controls baffle me. I was a little apprehensive of this game because I really wanted to play it but worried the controls would get the better of me. They didn’t. Thankfully. And I’ve really enjoyed playing through the gorgeous landscape of what used to be the USA.

Horizon: Zero Dawn takes place many, many years in the future where the world is segregated and over run by machines. You play as Aloy, a young tribal woman that was outcasted at birth for reasons she is yet to discover. She is raised by another outcast, Rost, who is very much a father figure to her. Through the prologue you learn how to hunt, how to stealth avoid beasts and a little bit of the world that was. Throughout the game you go through an unexpected and incredible journey through mountains, deserts and jungles.

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The gameplay is fairly simple and the tutorials make it easy to pick up and understand – I was thankful for this. Throughout the game you can develop character skills, modify weapons and outfits, learn to use the environment around you and create strong ammo for the tougher machines you will set out to kill. Through Aloy’s quest you find out more about the world that was and how it came to be how it is now.

The graphics are simply stunning in Horizon and the amount of detail in the smallest things is incredible. Nothing has been left out and it’s so easy to see why the game has been so well received. The characters you meet along the way are intriguing and likeable. The enemies pose tough battles. The player has an amount of control over the responses Aloy gives which gives it an interactive feel. I have nothing negative to say about this game. It’s amazing and I am really loving it.

It’s given me a bit more confidence in my gameplay abilities and the courage to try newer games that might be a little different. I’m currently enjoying tying up lose ends with some of the side quests and exploring more of Horizon’s world. If you enjoy open world adventure games with thrilling action based and stealth combat then I think you might just love this.

May 18, 2017
Fitting Your Child’s Needs Around Your Hectic Lifestyle

This is a collaborative post.

Life is pretty intense when you’re a parent. You’re juggling a job, a household, a relationship, and trying to be a parent all at the same time. It’s not easy by anyone’s standards. While parents can keep everything more or less together, there’s always the chance that they’re overlooking a key part of their child’s development, purely through a lack of time and too much stuff going on. But there are ways to streamline the essential aspects of being a parent, building them around your hectic lifestyle.

Source: Pexels.com

Managing Playtime

All children love to play, but when a parent gets home from work, they’re usually too tired to play with them. The key here is to essentially make your child do all the work. If you don’t have the energy to match theirs, simply lie on the floor next to them; they’ll provide all the energy necessary. They might just be climbing over you, but it’ll be fun to them. This of course only really works with small children – you don’t want a grown child jumping on top of you!

Keeping Their Health in Check

We think of children as naturally healthy because they’re always playing, but they still need to be educated about diet and lifestyle, and they also pick up a fair few bugs and illnesses just through the course of school life. If you’re always busy, you won’t have always have the time to take them to the doctor to get these illnesses taken care of. Instead, streamline the process by having an online GP at hand; they’ll get the medical advice they need, and you’ll have peace of mind without losing some of your precious time. You can also ensure they eat correctly by learning to cook a few simple, healthy meals. It doesn’t take as much time as you might think to prepare healthy meals for the family!

Keeping Things Simple

Your child has plenty of needs that come naturally; they don’t always need new ones invented more for them. While it’s a good idea for them to have extracurricular activities, if they’re learning to play the violin, learning Spanish, and joining a sports team then they’re probably doing too much. These things are usually enforced by the parent; instead, ask them to select one or two activities that they really enjoy. They’ll develop a stronger connection to that activity, and you won’t have to run them around to a host of different lessons multiple nights a week.

Being a Relaxed Parent

Your life is hectic; you do not need to be. Children learn a lot from the way their parents act, and if you’re constantly on edge, acting frantically, then your child might too. This will only make the problem worse if you’re trying to keep everything under control, but both you and your child are not relaxed. Instead, try to maintain a calm demeanor in life. You can’t always control one happens to you, but you can control how you react – and it’ll make life much more enjoyable.

May 17, 2017
Stylish Homewears – Coppi Bowl

Coppi Bowl from Banbayu

I’ve recently got into crystal healing a bit. I’m still learning so I probably don’t actually know anything but I know I am trying to declutter and create a positive home space for us all. Living in a two bedroom flat we don’t really have much space, especially for storage, so everything looks a bit cluttered. I’ve been looking for something to hold my crystals and incense in while not in use and something that would fit in with my home. This Coppi Bowl is working really nicely.

I like having nice furnishings and I especially like items that serve more than one purpose. I received this gorgeous Coppi bowl from Banbayu which is sitting quite nicely on my end table in my living room. I selected this bowl because I wanted something to hold my crystals in that I’m collecting at the moment and this looked stylish and large enough for them.

I love it, it’s gorgeous, stylish and a really nice size. I can see this holding many uses in the home from keeping belongings, keys, fruit, decorative items…whatever you wish really. I think it’s always really useful to have something like the Coppi bowl in the home. Storage space is always needed and it’s even better if it looks good. The size of the bowl is great and what makes it so functional. It can easily be used for many different things and would suit any home and decor style.

Banyubu feature sustainable, authentic and luxury homewears and jewellery on their site. They have a fantastic ethical policy and with every piece being handmade, you know you have something special. The Coppi bowl is exactly that for me. I really love it and I love that it’s from a place that cares about the people and cultures that make the products.

Disclaimer: I received this Coppi bowl in exchange for this feature. All opinions made are my own.

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May 16, 2017
7 Tips to Help You Create a Welcoming Guest Room
This is a collaborative post.

Not every house has a guest room, but those who do have a guest room often find it hard to try and make their guest room welcoming enough to be able to invite people around. When you pick up the phone and speak to a distant relative, the last thing on your mind is going to be inviting them over to stay a week. However, with a fantastic guest room that’s full of comforts, you’re more likely to invite them over and it could help you build long-lasting relationships and friendships with people. So to give you a hand, here are 7 tips to help you create a wonderful guest room that you can be proud of.

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1. Let them know the WiFi password
Simply telling them “oh, by the way, the WiFi password is…” isn’t going to cut it. For starters, they probably won’t remember it and secondly, you can’t expect them to get out every single device as soon as you tell them so they can input your password. This is an easy fix; just simply get a card or a framed sign on a table in your guest room and keep the WiFi password displayed. It means they can do it in their own time after they’ve put their luggage down and they don’t need to ask you for each device they have.
1. Empty power outlets
Don’t hide your power outlets behind furniture or underneath tables and force your guests to crouch down just to reach a power source. If your power outlets are in awkward locations, then do your guests a favour and buy a surge protected power strip and place it in an easy to spot location. Now your guests can charge their devices, use their laptop and other electronic devices they may have brought with them.

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1. Comfortable bedding
Ensure that you have an extra blanket for your guests regardless of what season it is. Some people prefer to sleep a little more comfortably, others like to have a blanket to wrap themselves in while they do a bit of work on the laptop. A duvet insert is a great way to add extra comfort to your bedding as well without costing too much. If your guest bedroom mattress is a bit worn out, then consider replacing it as well. If you’re unsure how comfortable the bed is, then sleep it in for a few nights and make your own judgement.
1. Storage space
From empty hangers to a bedside table, make sure there’s plenty of storage for your guests to use. You want to make them feel at home, so allow them to use your cupboards and storage like they would at home. They’ll hang their clothes, keep their glasses and other small items on your bedside table, and they’ll make use of your hangers to keep their clothes crease-free and fresh for when they need it.
1. Fitting decor
Don’t make your guest room stand out too much from the rest of your home. You want to focus on function over form, so don’t add too many things to the guest room that the rest of your home doesn’t have. Use the same lighting, the same carpet or flooring, the same wallpaper and so on. You don’t want to try too hard to make your guest room look better than it actually is, just focus on making it comfortable enough to sleep in without looking like you’re trying too hard.

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1. A tray or cart of essentials
A guest cart is a fantastic way to pamper your guests. On the cart, you could put things like drinks, a pot of flowers to add a bit of style, fruit, additional towels or blankets, slippers, and so on. You can even include additional toiletries, reading material or tea and drinks. It also helps to have a small kettle in the guest room so that your guests can make their own tea and coffee if needed. However, if they’re close guests such as family members, then you don’t want to alienate them by giving them too many essentials that they could get by coming down to the kitchen. If you don’t have a cart or you don’t have enough things to put on the cart, then a tray serves the same purpose.
1. Bathroom additions
If you have an en-suite bathroom for your guest bedroom, then you don’t really need to worry about this. However, if you have a shared bathroom then you might want to consider giving your guests their own place to hang towels, store toothbrushes and so on.
May 9, 2017