When the weather is delightful there is no where better in the world than beautiful Britain.

If you want dreamy blue seas, picturesque lagoons and happy family snaps on the beach then just jump in the car and head for an adventure!

Yesterday, we should have been sorting a hot stuffy garage, but we decided to abandon the sensible plans and whizz off to Salcombe in Devon. A beautiful part of the world that's teaming with bunting, festival cheer all year round and the most stunning coast line, with rivers and seas peppered with bright shiny yachts and weathered coloured sailing boats, bobbing in the breeze.

We packed a car picnic and headed off at 12.30, getting to the town for the post lunchtime rush and missing all the traffic. The boys had a snooze in the car, Sammy made us all a loom band (THE BEST TRAVEL TOY IDEA ON THE PLANET) and we stopped at the first beach we saw opposite The Winking Prawn beach restaurant at North Sands beach. The restaurant has been at the beach for over 17 years and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Bright pink umbrellas shelter happy tourists and locals from the sunshine and spots of Salcombe Dairy ice cream splatter the route from the ice cream truck to the beach steps, as little ones struggle to lick their ice creams fast enough!

We hadn't planned for a full day on a beach so without towels or swimming shorts we rolled up the shorts and paddled amongst the families on holiday playing beach cricket in the low tide. I loved people watching as the boys climbed on the rocks to get a better view of the swimmers. Older couples reading papers, groups of teenagers on post exam celebrations, children making new friends.

After getting our toes properly wet in a English sea for the first time this Summer (Friday night's beach trip to Weston super Mare was more mud than sea!) we jumped back in the car and found a parking space on one of the steep side streets and headed for a wander into the town.

The brightly coloured bunting makes everyday feel like the Queen is coming to visit and there are scores of "boaty" boutiques and brands to entice you to embrace the nautical look! 

I heard a voice shout Lucy and turned around to see a work contact of mine from my property job, who is lucky enough to have a house walking distance from the town centre. We had a lovely catch up, met each other's families and picked up some recommendations for our final few of hours exploring.

We walked the length of the town, stopped in Cranch's Sweet Shop for treats and then mooched up to the Ferry Inn where we hopped on the small ferry boat to the beach on the other side of the harbour. 

It's surreal lying on a golden sandy beach with scores of yachts sailing by with rolling hills and cows as a backdrop. Salcombe has the best of everything!

We couldn't say no to the boys who were desperate to play in the sea so we stripped them to their pants and let them get wet! It was s snapshot of our holiday to Spain in 10 days. This year I can see those two getting lost in their own little world together, making up games on the shore line and gaining confidence in the water. This is the Summer Sammy is desperate to lose the armbands and learn to swim. He's almost there, it's wonderful to watch.

The Venus beach cafe at the top of the hill sells drinks and snacks and a small selections of beach toys and with a toilet block next door we and a quick pit stop before heading back to the jetty and catching the ferry back before they stop at 6.30pm.

As the boys were worn out and a little sandy (as well as pant less) we decided to jump back in the car and head a little closer to home for dinner. We drove through Kingsbridge and spotted The Crabshell Inn, a family friendly beach house come pub on the quayside. There's an adults terrace upstairs and an abundance of wooden picnic tables over looking the water as well as a beautifully decorated inside restaurant for wet days.

The children's food was freshly cooked, a portion large enough for a teenager and not a nugget in sight. There were so many delicious things on the menu and I couldn't resist the Devon crab cocktail and a gigantic salad to balance out the rosé and ice cream!

We left as the sun was still warm, as scores of families with older children arrived for an evening with friends and drove through Totnes to find the only little store open for an ice cream on the way home. There were lots of vintage shops I'd definitely like to visit during opening hours!

The boys slept on the way home and we all collapsed into bed, still a little sandy, full and happy just after 9.30pm. Don't you just love throwing school routines out of the window?!

Have you been to Salcombe? Where would you recommended we go next time we visit?

Linking up with #theordinarymoments and #CountryKids

When it comes to Bento, the Yumbox bento boxes are the bees knees, so when the lovely company got in touch and asked me to try out their new boxes I jumped at the chance. 

I love using silicone baking cups but it does get sticky and definitely messy on a bumpy ride in a school bag on the way home from pick up. So the pre divided plastic insert is a life saver! And it goes in the dishwasher. I've tested the Yumbox and even after shaking the fruit smoothies do not leak!

I like to make bento simple and fun. I have exactly 5 minutes to put the boys lunches together in the morning so easy ideas are always winners for me. 

I raid their little figures instead of cutting out intricate designs and have lost a fight numerous times with alphabet cutters that I prefer to use the little coloured picks instead! 

So here are a few ideas to get your bento juices going. I snap these on my iPhone just before we race out of the door on scrapbook paper. 

The Yumbox is actually sizeable enough for an adult's portion so I tend to half fill the containers for Ollie's smaller appetite.  

There are labels on the divided sections to encourage you to control the portions of different food groups but I tend to fill them up with all sorts being mindful of one portion of protein, dairy, grains, vegetables and fruit. I love the mini sauce container in the middle but often use that for a treat. That way I limit the naughtier element like a sweet dessert to a small portion.

I steer away from chocolate or crisps in their packed lunches and have found loads of alternatives instead. It helps me not find making lunches so boring! 

I find fillers ideas everywhere. In the £1 shop, at the supermarket and from other Bento enthusiasts. 

Protein Ideas:

• Slices of ham, chorizo, pepperoni, chicken, beef, corned beef, rolled up into wraps
• Pepperami, cocktail sausages, hot dogs, little pasties (Mine love the pork ones in the chilled aisle in Sainsburys)
• Boiled eggs

Carbohydrate Ideas:

• Wraps, scotch pancakes, brioche buns, bagels, croissants
• Crackers, rice cakes, I love the new Ella's Organic range of mini cracker biscuits, bread sticks, cheese straws, cereal

Fruit ideas:

• Dried fruit bars and sticks (Humzingers are ace) Fruit hearts, fruit stars, fruit roll ups
• Dried fruit like mayo, pineapple, apple crisps
• All fresh fruit - blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, strawberries, kiwi

Vegetable Ideas:

• Beetroot crisps, carrot crisps, sweetcorn
• Raw broccoli and cauliflower, carrot sticks, sliced peppers, cucumber, edamame beans

Dairy Ideas:

• Cubed Edam, Cheddar, Red Leicester, soft cheese triangles
• Squeeze or spoon a yoghurt into one of the compartments and add sprinkles as a special treat

Snack Ideas:

• Nuts (My boys both had nuts from one and love them.) 
• Cereal bars, carrot puff type crisps you can get in various flavours in the baby aisle of the supermarket
• Fortune cookies, raisins, yoghurt covered seeds, granola, popcorn

I rotate ideas so none of us get bored. Sammy has even stared asking me not to show him what's inside his Yumbox as he loves the surprise!

I sometimes have to try new foods a few times before they learn to love them, but by presenting them in a creative and imaginative way they are definitely persuaded to try something different.

I'd love you to link up your ideas, there are some fab lunches and teas being shared on the internet and it would be great to inspire others to try new ways of presenting food to get our children eating more and more of what's good for them! You can search on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook using #bentobabies.

The best way to be inspired is to bounce ideas off each other. So help me! We will be using our Yumboxes all through the Summer holidays for snack lunches and teas and days out on adventures.

You can buy your Yumbox here. Think how much you've spent on character lunch boxes and bags. I have at least 3 or 4 that sit unloved in the kitchen cupboard after the initial love for a new craze has worn off. I love that the Yumbox is bright and cheerful rather than plastered in an in the moment favourite cartoon. Well worth the money. Plus I can borrow them too :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Oh my favourite week of all so far!

A while ago my blog had a little refresh, out with the turquoise and in with the gold! I love the matt gold I have for my logo and when I saw it printed on the sample backdrops I have had made (HEY - yes that's right - I am making backdrops for bloggers, makers and crafters to take awesome photos at home - WATCH THIS SPACE) it looked better than I imagined.

I love a little sparkle in our home, flashes of gold dotted around and often wear gold polish on my toes. I am desperate to move to our forever house in September and one of the first things I am unpacking is my shimmery Happy Day garland! 

My week of gold looked something like this.

Flashes here and there and golden sunshiny weather that meant my favourite gold and lace dress had it's first Summer outing. 

I loved Instagram being painted with golden hues. Here are some of my favourites from the week that was all about shimmer and sparkle.

L to R: @thebeautifulsavages, @letstalkmommy, @misiupaperie, @myfussyeater, @pj_and_boo, @beebiesbabystore, @essexkate, @elenabuil.

L to R: @vanillalemoncake, @3yearsandhome, @bluebearwood, @ladyfarleyb, @lovethelittlethings, @mygoldenpear, @thestylistsplash, @bibliophile90, @anniep84.

Join in and tag your photos on Instagram #capturingcolour. Visit the hashtag and check out the other people loving colour. You can also follow @capturing_colour to see if your images are featured through the week.

Let's share our love of colour. You can find me on Instagram here.

#capturingcolour is a weekly Instagram hashtag hosted by My Two Mums, Maybush Studio, Sorry About The Mess, Real Housewife of Suffolk and Shutterflies head over to their blogs to see what they have captured this week. 

This week we are all going to turn into magpies on the hunt for shiny SILVER! ready steady go!