I’m back with the main events from our Boston and New York trip.

Lunch

The food courts in America are amazing, so we didn’t mind making a quick pit stop at one while shopping. We went to Panda Express and had orange chicken and kung po with rice. The best orange chicken ever might I add.

In New York we hit it lucky and found that our hotel was attached to Tick Tock Diner. After travelling on Amtrak from Boston to New York we arrived just in time for some lunch. Alex had a ‘Monte Cristo’- turkey, ham and cheese between two wodges of french toast. I dread to think how many calories! My Southern Chicken Sandwich was equally indulgent, but man it tasted gooood.

Our other lunch highlight came just around the corner from Ground Zero. It was the day with the severe snow storms and we were absolutely drenched. For the first time ever I caved in and put one of those god awful rain mate things on. We didn’t so much choose Au Bon Pain rather than dive in to take cover. I had a warming bowl of butternut squash and apple soup with a cheese breadstick and Alex had oatmeal with cinammon and apple. It was just what we needed before a *very* wet and snowy open top bus tour.

Dinner

About two months before our holiday Alex started researching places to eat and things to see and Whiskey’s was one of the places we had earmarked from way before we jumped on the first plane. It’s a barbecue pit restaurant where they cook ribs and brisket for 14 hrs! The pulled pork was to die for.

On our second night we went to Max Brenner: Chocolate by the bald man (sorry pic came out really dark). Most menu items had chocolate in them (even the game chips were cocoa dusted!) and the deserts.. they had all types of fondue including a table top flame to toast marshmallows. We didn’t have dessert (I’m not sure why either!) but we ransacked the shop on the way out. One of the things we bought was a ‘chocolate syringe’ that we created our own fondue with at home, the quality of the chocolate was amazing. Nom.

I’ve read about The Cheesecake Factory on some American blogs so I was pretty confident it would be ok. Alex and I both ordered the ‘Memphis Burger’ – a quarter pounder topped with barbecued pulled pork, cheese and coleslaw. It was the best burger either of us have ever eaten. To be honest it was a miracle we managed to choose anything, the menu is the largest I think I’ve ever seen anywhere. There was no space for desert but we did take away a huge wodge of key lime pie to share

My final food highlight was at the California Kitchen. We stopped for a late lunch or early dinner, depends which way you look at it. There was alcohol so I think an early dinner! I had pork taco and Alex had barbecued chicken and pineapple pizza. We stumbled off a little tipsy and ended up treating ourselves to Uggs and Oakleys, remind me never to go ‘drunk shopping’ again!

We’re lucky to have family to stay with in Wales when we visit, but check out these cottages in Wales if you don’t have a base.

And when you’re there this is what I recommend.

1. Dan yr Ogof Caves

We took Erin to the caves last year. The ticket includes a number of other attractions which includes a small petting off so a great place to take a picnic and stay all day.

2. LC2

LC2 is the newly refurbished leisure centre in Swansea. The waterpark is a must visit, you can learn to indoor surf! Perfect for a rainy day which you have plenty of in Wales!

3. Techniquest

I visted Techniquest when it was first opened, which was, ummm..well quite a lot of years ago. If you’re kids like science and pressing buttons and seeing how things work then definitely pay a visit.

4. Tenby

Tenby’s a lovely seaside town, perfect for a pub lunch and a wander.

5. Plantasia

I have fond memories of visiting Plantasia, which is an indoor botanical centre with plants from around the world. They also have fish, reptiles and insects.

6. Mumbles

You can’t beat a wander around the seaside town of Mumbles if the weather’s nice. Wander up to the pier past the crazy golf but don’t forget to walk all the way back and far enough to get a Joe’s ice cream. Delish!

7. See The Swans Play

Go and see the newly promoted premiership team play at their home ground The Liberty Stadium. Only premiership side in Wales, sorry Cardiff.

8. The Gower Heritage Centre

There’s always lots on to do at the Gower heritage centre including daily puppet shows, crafts and pottery.

9. Margam Park

If you’re into outdoor pursuits then visit Margam Park where they have tons of stuff including a Go Ape! Highwire Adventure

10. Treasure Trails

Never done this one but was recommended on Twitter – Treasure Trails – over 900 trails around the UK!

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I wrote this post for English Mum, but the first weeks in January are always a bit dull so a good time to remind myself what a fab time we had

I’ve been eating my way around Boston and I thought I’d share my highlights with you. The trip was a two-legged trip, first few days were spent in Boston and the last two in New York. The food in America is pretty good depending on what you like, we went for standard American fare during this trip but there were plenty of fine dining options along the way. Here’s my food lover’s guide to Boston (and a wee bit of NYC) then..

Breakfast

Thornton’s is one of those places that you imagine the actual Bostonian’s eat, not touristy at all but with amazing food. Alex went for a breakfast bagel which was huge and I had poached eggs with rye bread and home fries (spicy potatoes). I love the Kitsch plates!

Boston loves Dunkin’ Donuts, in fact they have more Dunkin’ Donuts outlets per square metre than any other American city, 77 in total. They are literally everywhere. And their slogan? ‘America runs on Dunkin’, and they aren’t even being ironic. We went once as a treat!

My final breakfast highlight in Boston, and please don’t judge me was at the train station (we travelled to New York by amtrak). You know when you’re up early, cold and starving and you just want ‘dirty’ food. You know what I mean, right? Well Cosi delivered with this breakfast quiche. It was like quiche lorraine in a pastry cup, totally random but it hit the spot! The picture doesn’t do it justice. Honest.

The best breakfast I had, in fact it probably tied with Thornton’s, was at Tick Tock Diner in New York. French toast, bacon and maple syrup. Possibly the best food combination ever. Ridiculously huge portion that was made even more ridiculous with the serving of THREE milk jugs of maple syrup. Only in America.

Elevenses

Also known as second breakfast, ahem. We didn’t partake much. Honest.

Starbucks, they are everywhere, including a full size outlet inside our hotel as well as starbucks perculator in the room! It was a little bit Starbucks overload if I’m honest and I’m now caffeine detox-ing.

I couldn’t write a post on Englishmum without mentioning cupcakes. I don’t really eat cupcakes, apart from Englishmum’s Lime and Pistachio variety. I’m very discerning when it comes to my cupcakes dontcha know. I couldn’t not take a picture (my picture was rubbish so I picked one up from their site instead) of Johnny Cupcakes, which isn’t actually a cupcake store at all but a t-shirt shop, so there we are.

Slight departure from food there, but we’re back on it with Sugar Heaven, possibly the greatest sweet shop in the world. Loved it. Spent an absolute fortune. The pic n mix spans two full walls, that’s serious pic n mix people.

We spent $35 (just over £20) and bought everything from american skittles to a ‘blood bag’ filled with liquid candy for halloween.

Next time…Lunch and Dinner!

It will be the most magical and exciting holiday you will take as a family and making sure you plan and book everything right is essential to ensure you and your family get the most out of your once in a lifetime holiday.

But this can be hard, especially if you have never visited Disney World Resort Florida before. So how can you as a family maximise the experience whilst on your dream holiday?

Disney World Resort Florida have just what you need, fantastic webinar’s designed to cover everything you will need to consider when planning your trip. Join Jenny Powell and Emma, a UK mum who regularly visits the resort, to find out their top tips on how to plan your trip covering:

• Easy steps to plan your trip
• Where to stay
• Disney Dining Plan
• Planning your days at the park
• Disney Cruise Line

So if you have booked or are considering booking your once in a lifetime trip to Walt Disney World Resort Florida then these webinars are a great way to plan and see how to maximise the memories you will have from this most magical holiday.

As a great added bonus you will receive a free Walt Disney World Guide Book (t&c’s apply) to help with planning your trip. So what are you waiting for? To book onto the webinars visit http://mydisneyworldplanner.co.uk/.

For more tips check out my 26 Tips for Parents visiting Disney World

Normally when you fly, the meals can be pretty boring but not anymore on the KLM Economy Class flights. They have now introduced  ’A La Carte’, a delightful range of meals which cost 12 to 15 euros.

There are four different types of meals available giving you lots of choice and there is something for everyone. Whether you are vegetarian, like it hot and spicy or love sushi, the great range of choices will cater for all your needs. The meal choices are Veggie Favourite, Japanese Delight, Bella Italia and Indonesian Rice Dishes.

Watch the video to find out exactly what each meal includes, I love the chef’s they are all very funny! The meal which I would choose would be the Japanese Delight, I love sushi and the noodle salad looks very tasty! I really like the idea that you can choose exactly what meal you want and no matter what your taste they have cater for everyone.

KLM are running a competition on their Facebook page giving you the chance to win a trip to New York. For your chance to win the trip please head over to http://facebook.com/KLM and tell them what your favourite airline meal is.

On our final day in Boston we took the underground to Harvard. I’d been going on about visiting Harvard since we first booked our trip, I have a bit of a fascination with educational establishments. Look, I’ll admit it, I’m pretty weird! After seeing Boston College, Berklee College of Music and MIT I only had to get Harvard to complete my collection

We had the worst weather that day (well apart from the snow storms in NYC!) but that didn’t deter us from taking the extra subway trip, and it was so worth it. You know when you visit somewhere or see something that almost gives you goosebumps? It was that. There’s something special about the place and it wasn’t just my weirdness, Alex said exactly the same thing.

For a start the place literally oozes history, you get that sense of longevity, the thousands of people that have come to be educated. We wandered round and saw a few frat type buildings, halls of residence and the dining halls. We took cover from the weather in the Harvard Book Store which is the coolest book store I’ve ever been in. We walked by the tux and top hat shop – gives you a clue to the wealthy types that can afford a Harvard education. We wandered around Harvard Square where there were loads of cool shops.

It was just the most perfect day. I’m so glad we went as it was the stand out experience of our entire trip (which included getting upgraded to Club Class on the way back!).

Back in Back Bay we went for some dinner at the California Kitchen before splashing out on Oakleys and Uggs.

Our time in Boston ended up like this

With the cold, crisp autumn breeze steadily upon us, there’s no better way to relax than to eat a traditional Sunday roast by a warm open fire. Any food lover will tell you, that when it comes to roast dinners, the Welsh do it best. With crispy roast potatoes, luscious leaks, a golden roast leg of lamb and crunchy vegetables all coated in a lovely layer of mouth-watering gravy, you can’t go wrong. So, here are five of the best places in Wales to have the ultimate Sunday Roast accompanied by the perfect afternoon stroll. Enjoy.

Y Polyn
Nantgaredig, Carmarthenshire

One of the best places I have ever had a Sunday Roast in, would have to be this little hidden treasure. This rustic, traditional pub serves some of the most mouth-watering lamb I have ever tasted in my life. The Sunday food menu offers a selection of up to five delicious starters including their famous potted shrimp and locally caught fish soup. For the roast they serve Gower salt-marsh lamb with dauphin Oise buttery potatoes, or alternatively they rustle up fresh fish pie that melts in the mouth. The pub is surrounded by beautiful green hills and a lovely old fashioned church for those of you who want to catch a late mass.

Plas Bodegroes

Pwllheli, Gwynedd

It’s not often that I get the chance to sample guinea fowl cooked to such perfection, but at Plas Bodegroes they do just that. A Sunday roast of guinea fowl marinated in its own juices and stuffed with lemon and pistachios is cuisine at its finest. For those of you with a sweet disposition why not sample their famous sticky toffee pudding while the open log fire toasts your toes. After such a meal I highly recommend you to take a stroll across the unspoilt natural walkways and fields that surround a picturesque coastline.

The Pelican In Her Piety

Ogmore-by-Sea, Mid Glamorgan

It’s not just the curious name that draws diners in to this little pub. The fresh and honest cuisine juxtaposed with its local ales make this traditional country pub a perfect place for a roast dinner. “What’s on the menu?” I hear you cry. Well for the meat eaters there’s their succulent shoulder of Welsh beef accompanied with a towering pile of crunchy vegetables. Then there is a list of old-fashioned sweets and puddings to choose from that blow your mind. After a warm brandy or local ale to warm your boots why not take a gentle walk around the beautiful countryside where horse riders and fisherman make themselves known just 100 yards from the pub. As a treat the owner always makes a bowl of left over scraps for my border collie to enjoy and those of you with dogs will be happy to know that there are many cottages to rent in the area overlooking the pub.

The Lobster Pot Restaurant Anglesey

Situated on one of the most stunning parts of the island, The Lobster Pot does a seafood twist on your traditional Sunday roast. The gorgeously wooden carved seats and dimly lit bistro overlooks a beautiful sea view where your freshly caught lobster, scallops, mussels and crabs once roamed. For those of you that crave a bit of red meat then don’t panic as serve a sizzling steak with gravy and onion rings followed by a warm sticky pudding that sticks to the roof of your mouth. Once you have filled your bellies, a beautiful walk around the coast is recommended followed by a whiskey back at the restaurant.

Penhelig Arms Hotel
Aberdyfi, Gwynedd

Just thinking about the delicious, freshly caught menu at this hotel, is enough to make me salivate. Traditionally, an elegant seafront pub and bistro that has gone from strength to strength the Sunday Roast here is top quality. The friendly and passionate staff care greatly about their locally sourced produce and will recommend their famous seafood dishes, especially the garlic muscles and organic Welsh Black beef for you to sample. To walk off the dish I would highly recommend that you venture outside and walk across the sandy beaches and lanes, a pebbles throw away from the hotel and cosy coastal cottages

Did you like these suggestions? Is the list missing a pub and place in Wales that does the ultimate Sunday Roast?

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On our second day in Boston we decided to go shopping. First stop a hearty breakfast at Thornton’s. Alex had a breakfast bagel, I had poached eggs with home fries (spicy potatoes) and rye bread. We loved the Kitsch plates!

After breakfast we walked to the start of Newbury Street, one of the main shopping streets in Boston which had been likened to ‘fifth avenue’ to us. We were a bit early for the shops as I’ve been waking up at ungodly hours (still on British time!). We hovered outside the Converse shopping waiting for the doors to open!

We did the whole of Newbury Street before heading back out in the evening to check out the Apple store.

Dinner was at Max Brenner, a crazy chocolate restaurant where you can make s’mores at your table (including toasting the marshmallows) and you can have any sort of chocolate desert, fondue, milkshake or sundae that you can think of. We couldn’t manage desert (!) but the shop took a hammering on our way out. Might have to head back for fondue!

Finally our Boston and NYC trip is here! The trip is for Alex’s 30th which is in December. We left the house at 5am and arrived in Boston at 1.30pm, losing five hours on the way. We flew via London Heathrow which was eventful as the gate printed on our boarding card ended up being totally different to the ‘actual’ boarding gate which was at the other end of the terminal. This led to us having to jog the shuttle transit route below ground (the plane was already boarding!) as taking the shuttle back would have ended up with us having to redo security and would have caused us to miss our flight!

Drama over, the flight was pretty relaxed. This was our first time flying longhaul with BA and we were both impressed. I get pretty excited about plane food and it was the nicest I’ve ever had (chicken with leeks and yummy mash). A good start!

The approach into Boston was pretty spectacular too. You fly in over a bit of coastline with big New England style houses and moored boats, very pretty indeed (I could totally live here!)

After being completely BLOWN AWAY (not really doing it justice here with my iPhone!) with the view from our room – 18th floor with floor to ceiling panaromic view over the whole of Boston (best. view. ever) we freshened up for a wander. We headed down Boylston Street and then onto trendy Newbury Street before heading to a restaurant that Alex had already earmarked for us (about a month ago).
Whiskey’s is a traditional American bar with a barbecue pit so the only real option was to order meat, and lots of it! I had St Louis Ribs and pulled pork with smokey beans, it was seriously tasty.

After eating as much as I could of all of that (about two thirds!) I was absolutely shattered and we walked back to the hotel via the prudential centre and I think I passed out at around 7.45pm!

Obviously now I’m wide awake at 4am and can’t get back to sleep so catching up on the blogging!

Erin’s been after us taking her camping for a while and with the summer drawing to a close I fancied getting away for another weekend myself.

We decided on ‘glamping’ and since we wanted to take Daisy (the dog) we chose a wig wam on Loch Tay. These little wooden cabins come with heating, a fridge, microwave and kettle and are the perfect compromise between full on camping (which I’ve done plenty of as a cadet and TA soldier) and staying in a cabin. Erin definitely still felt the ‘adventure’ as we had to barbecue all our food and take late night walks to the toilet and shower block.

While we were there we walked and played swingball. Swingball being our new favourite family activity. The tournaments have become highly competitive recently with many a game almost ending in injury (just when Alex and I play!).

Erin sat on the deck and played us a few ‘tunes’ on her ukelele.

In the evening we barbecued and toasted marshmallows before tucking up into one giant bed to watch tv, did I mention there was a tv?! At ?100 for two nights we’ll definitely be going back, in fact I think we’ve roped friends into going next time

Disclosure: Swingball provided for review