Our Honeymoon: Top Tips for Romance in Rome

The first few days of our Italian honeymoon seem like a very long time ago now. Every now and again I think back to the balmy nights spent as newly-weds in the Gran Melia, and the blissful days spent wandering hand in hand through the streets of Rome.

There isn't a better city on earth for lovers to explore together, if you know where to go and what to do. Here are my top tips for a truly rome-antic getaway.

Take in the view from the Gianicolo

Just west of the Tiber, on the outskirts of the ancient city, a winding road meanders its way up the hillside of the Gianicolo. The serene and beautiful panarama of the rooftops of Rome which can be viewed from the top will take your breath away.

(As did my new husband when he climbed onto this rather tall wall in order to get a better photo!)

Dress: Missguided (last season). Similar shape, here. Bag: Primark (last season). Similar here.

 

Take a wander around historic Trastevere

 

Make sure you stop for a bowl of authentic hand-pulled Spaghetti Carbonara in one of the locality's numerous Osterias. This gorgeous bowl came from Osteria Der Belli in Piazza di Sant'Apollonia.

Afterwards, it would be criminal to walk past one of the area's tiny cubby-hole Gelaterias without stopping for a gelato or lemon granita. Our favourite is Gelateria Alla Scala on Via Della Scala.

Finally, have a nose around any one of the beautiful old churches / basilicas in the area. They might not look like much from the outside, but inside they are brimming with treasures and beauty. Convento di San Maria Della Scala was a particular surprise. Don't forget to be respectful and cover shoulders and knees!

 See the sights on foot

Take a walk around the Vatican city, enjoying the history and grandeur of St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.

Throw a Euro into the iconic 18th Century sculpted Trevi Fountain. They say if you do this as a couple, the next time you return to Rome you will have had your first child. It worked for us!

Hang out with the Roman elite at the Piazza di Spagna, and climb the ancient baroque staircase of the Spanish steps.

Escape the crowds, and have a little snoop around the Pantheon.

Dress: Pepe Jeans; sunglasses: Tiffany.

Take a guided tour around the Colosseum and Roman Forum, soaking up the history as you go.

Most importantly, don't forget to return to all of these places again after sunset, when the romance really comes alive with the beautiful lighting, and a special kind of buzzy atmosphere which is completely unique to Rome.

Eat, eat and eat some more

You all know that Mr Sunshine and I love our food, and therefore it doesn't get more romantic than sampling the local delights of some of Rome's best restaurants.

Top choice for us was the famous Antica Pesa, where you can celebrity-spot while enjoying delectable traditional Roman fayre cooked in an ancient, family-run setting. For a full review, head here. 

If you are looking for something a little more casual, then the ancient Trattoria del Pantheon di Fortunato on Via del Pantheon is our pick of the Trattorias; a bustling, family-run restaurant selling delicious homemade pasta, a good range of local beer and wine, and showcasing a killer view.

When in Rome, you must sample some truffle, so a visit to Ad Hoc Restaurant is a must. For a full review head here.

Finally, when all of that strolling around catches up with you, stop at one of the Angelina Ristorantes in Testaccio or Trevi for service with a smile and a slice of traditional Crostata di Marmellata - or jam tart to you or me.

Take a stroll through one of the city's beautiful parks

Are you beginning to notice a theme here? Rome is a city that is best seen by foot. It's the only way that you are able to stop for long enough to soak up the city's unique atmosphere and to truly enjoy the romance of the moment.

There are numerous green spaces to choose from, but we took a winding path through Villa Doria Pamphilli.

There are 445 acres of beautiful parkland here, including a splendid villa, manicured gardens and a walking trail.

For a long time in the hot, July sun we got absolutely, irrevocably lost. I don't think we saw another person for at least two hours.

And there is nothing on this earth more romantic than that!

Have you visited Rome with a loved one? What romantic tips do you have that I've missed?

Guest Post: Mr Sunshine on Becoming a First Time Dad

Hi, Rich (a.k.a. Mr Sunshine) here. I asked Polly if I could write a guest post as a follow up to her excellent pregnancy posts and her response was surprisingly an emphatic “YES!”, followed by a rather suspicious “….what are you going to write about??”. My answer was brief and went thus: “Basically, I’m shitting myself at the prospect of being a new father. Maybe if I write down my thoughts, I can make sense of it all” (spoiler for those who can’t be bothered to read to the end...I can’t).

               Mr S getting some practice in with our friends Sarah and Sam's baby Sophie over Christmas

It’s been an incredible 6 months, from our wedding to the honeymoon and finally the news that Polly was pregnant. These 6 months have been the happiest of my life and up to now I have kind of lived in a state of ignorant bliss. However, in the last few weeks the prospect that I will be a new father has come into sharp focus. I’ve read that this stage slowly creeps up on all expectant fathers, perfectly articulated in one book as “a stage when the future comes too quickly and the present always feels like the past” (granted, that phrase does sound sensationally dramatic!)

Like many soon-to-be-dads, I have been asking myself the following questions: Will I be a good dad? Am I mentally ready for this? Will I be able to change a nappy on my own? How long will it take before I stop holding the baby like a bomb? And most importantly, will I still have the time to stick to my strict hair-coiffeuring regimen???

Pertinent questions I’m sure you’ll agree readers.

It’s comforting to know I’m not alone though in this sudden rush of self-doubt. If you type in “scared of being a father” into Google, you will get nearly 52,000,000 results. In one article I found, one father’s biggest worry is that he might “bring home the wrong baby from daycare”. I mean, wow. Even I can’t be that bad (please no one bookmark this though!).



What I’ve learnt so far about being a new father is that the only way to deal with all this upcoming uncertainty is to simply embrace it, even if I do not fully understand it. I’m finally coming round to accepting the chaos…I’m just not sure whether it will accept me!

20 Ways to Cope With Pregnancy in Your Third Trimester

In preparing for motherhood in your third trimester, your whole world is turned upside down and inside out. The things you do, eat, talk about and think about change in the blink of an eye. You notice new things about yourself, and about others. Some days you worry that you might be slowly morphing into your mother. It's a fabulous journey, but it's full of uncertainty. The only thing that's certain is that you will never be the same again.

But it's OK, you can get through every little thing that pregnancy throws at you in your final weeks before the birth. Here are a few observations I've noted as I've entered the third trimester, and how I've learned to cope:

1. Everyone will have a comment on your bump, and all of these comments will be different. "It's still so small!"; "Look how big you are!"; "It's sitting low, it must be a boy"; "I can tell by the shape it's a girl"; "You can't tell you're pregnant at all"; "OMG your bump is huge!". Quieten the commentary by quickly saying, "Yeah, everyone says that!".

2. Some people won't be able to fight the urge to touch the bump, sometimes without even asking. This includes strangers in lifts, at the supermarket, and in line to check in at the airport. When this happens, return the same little smile they are giving you and quietly stroke their stomach back.

3. Nobody else cares about your blurry 4D scan photo as much as you do. They're actually more freaked out by the clear view of the umbilical cord in the top right-hand corner than taken with how cute your baby's button nose is. Try to stop yourself from plastering this image all over social media, sending it via Whatsapp to your next door neighbour and bringing it up on the big screen at the start a presentation to your boss; you might put them off their lunch. Reserve this photo for the closest people to you, and only bring it out if other people ask.

4. Your Whatsapp conversations which used to revolve around nights out, outfits and man-related gossip start to become more focused on the best bargains in the latest Mothercare sale, how many sleep bags the baby will need and the pros and cons of scratch mittens. Try to limit these conversations to your pool of friends who are actually mothers or mothers-to-be themselves. Others might think that pregnancy has sent you slightly bonkers.

5. You will soon learn which of your friends you can call from the office toilet asking what amniotic fluid looks like because you aren't sure but you think your waters might have broken. See above.

6. Your appetite and food preferences will change beyond recognition. Cue someone telling you a story about their aunt, friend or neighbour's dog who ate coal on toast when they were pregnant or couldn't get through the day without licking a Pritt Stick. Make up a story about a craving you have that's even more gruesome, and try to keep a straight face.

7. In the final stages of pregnancy, you won't be able to get comfortable at night, and will spend hours tossing and turning. Try not to wake your partner more than twice a night to complain about how difficult it is for you. If you really feel you have to, try to spread these times throughout the night to correlate with the upcoming feed times for your baby, thereby obtaining comfort from them and establishing a routine at the same time. Clever.

8. Scary pregnancy symptom and labour stories are everywhere. Every time you have an urge to Google, search 'cute kittens' instead. Every time someone starts to tell you a negative story, put your fingers in your ears and hum as loudly as you can. DON'T whatever you do watch One Born Every Minute.

9. Unless you seriously believe that pregnancy leggings, bump bands and your husband's extra large t-shirts are the height of couture, you will not be able to be the fashion goddess you once believed you were. Embrace this by starting a new Instagram account showcasing the best of your pregnancy loungewear range.

10. Everyone, even those without children of their own will have an opinion on your pregnancy, upcoming labour and how to be a good mother. Return the favour by sharing your strong views on their political persuasion, choice of career or hairstyle.

11. You will become far more sensible...dare I say it, even a little bit...boring? Increase your daily dose of excitement by living vicariously through others. You will be doing this for the next 18 years anyway.

12. You will worry like you've never worried before, about whether you're doing all of the right things in your pregnancy and to prepare for the birth, whether you know enough and are going to be a good mummy to your baby. Reassure yourself that every single woman that has ever been pregnant feels exactly like this, that you're doing a great job and everything will turn out OK. Then eat another brownie.

13. You will no longer recognise your reflection. Move all of the mirrors in your house higher by 6 inches so you can only see your face.

14. You won't be able to bend over enough to shave your legs. And forget putting on your shoes. Embrace your inner shoeless, hairy hippy. Include photos of said look on your pregnancy fashion Instagram page.

15. Heartburn and acid reflux will attack with a vengeance. Usually at night, the minute you announce that it's time to go to bed. I'd love to say that drinking a glass of cold milk, swallowing half a tub of baking soda or not eating anything after 8pm works, but nothing really does. Sleep propped up on six pillows and wake up in the morning with a cricked neck.

16. You will get a sudden urge to clean the house from top to bottom. Make sure you bend your knees when you need to move something low down, and don't lift anything heavy. Even better, sit on the sofa with a cup of tea and instruct your other half on what needs doing.

17. You might get a little bit hormonal. Not all the time, just when you see a cute puppy or someone tells you what it felt like to hold their baby for the first time. Let the tears flow, as a reserved Brit it's probably the only time in your life that you have a valid excuse to wear your heart on your sleeve without people making excuses and moving away.

18. Those little kicks will be getting stronger and firmer. You might even be able to make out whole body parts as they press against your now very taught stomach. Freak everyone else out by showing them when this happens. Inside, relish that special glow-y feeling that comes with knowing that the thing growing inside you is an actual, real human.

19. You will grow closer to those people who have been through what you're going through. You will develop a new bond with all of those other mums and dads you know. Lean on them, they are going to be your lifeline in the weeks to come. Hell, they might even become the people you call in a panic from the toilet cubicle at work when your waters actually do break.

20. You will grow closer to your partner too. You will respect and cherish each other in a way you never have before. Make sure you're open and honest with one another about everything you're feeling. You are both new to this, and you're in it together.

The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers

Anyone who writes a blog knows that the best thing about creating your space on the internet is the opportunities it opens up for meeting new people and making new friends. Since Follow Your Sunshine came into being in 2014, I have got to know and been inspired by some of the most interesting, motivated and talented ladies I have ever met, all of whom are creatively writing, designing, and snapping away, and shaping their own blogging niche. What's more, nearly all of them have turned out to be lovely people and excellent friends too. I love this 'sisterhood' and wouldn't change it for the world now I've found it.

To celebrate this special and kind of unique group of ladies, two of my favourite bloggers, Anna from Penelope & Parker's Travels and Angie from Silverspoon London nominated me to answer some questions in a little ode to the sisterhood! {UPDATE: I later found out that I had been put forward a third time by the lovely Sara from Big World Small Me and had missed it. Thank you so much!} Here goes...

Where is your all-time favourite destination?

This is an easy one. Italy's Amalfi Coast wins hands down.

Jaw-dropping coastlines, great weather, stunning food, some of the world's best luxury hotels (and swimming pools!!), friendly and welcoming people and gorgeous hillside towns combine to create a region which is as close to perfection as I think you can get. Mr Sunshine and I spent a large part of our honeymoon exploring this coastline. I promised to tell you all about this time in a bit more detail and I'm a woman of my word so look out for these posts in the next few weeks before the baby arrives (sorry it has taken me so long...you know, pregnancy...).

Which post are you most proud of?

This one. I wrote it in less than half an hour, but it is the most honest, emotional and 'real' post I think I'll ever write.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party, alive or dead?

I was so devastated to hear the news about Alan Rickman earlier. I love him in every role he's ever played (particularly Colonel Brandon in Sense & Sensibility), and I think he'd be really interesting and witty, so I have to say him. Jane Austen for her stories. Gary Lineker for his dad jokes (and because he's a Leicester City legend). Taylor Swift to bring the party and give us some entertainment. Ryan Reynolds, because, well, Ryan Reynolds. {UPDATE: I missed out Ryan Gosling. He would have to be there because he's probably my biggest celebrity crush ever after Steven Gately from Boyzone}.

Do you have a favourite travel app? 

I don't tend to use apps to plan my travels, instead preferring to rely on the internet and blogs for information. Like Angie, I am obsessed with Instagram though, and love nothing more than sifting through hotel and blogger pages for ideas, and ogling at beautiful pictures of the world for inspiration.

What's your favourite and least favourite thing about blogging?

Other than the friends and community that I've already mentioned, it's definitely the opportunities it opens up for trying new things - traveling to new places, visiting new hotels and sampling new restaurants. I also love having an excuse for another creative outlet outside of my job, and it's given me something positive to focus my time and energy on when Mr Sunshine is working long hours, or when I'm really missing my friends and family back home in the UK.

It also makes me look out for good photo opportunities that I'd otherwise miss so my collection is now huge!

(Yup, this also involves quite a lot of posing!!)

My least favourite thing is the time and energy it consumes. If you want to be a successful blogger, it takes hours of work a week. It's not just about attending events, taking photos and writing & editing posts. You need to engage with readers and other bloggers, promote what you do across social media channels, build relationships with PRs...if blogging not your full time job, and if you are also pregnant at the same time, this can be really bloody exhausting. But if you love it like I do, then it is still completely worth it.

Is there anything you like to do any time you visit somewhere new?

I love to get out and about and do something that feels a bit adventurous if I can. I have never been one of those people that could spend a whole week in the grounds of an all-inclusive hotel, or just lying on a beach.  Whether it's dolphin-watching in Oman, exploring wine country in California or spending a day boat-tripping, swimming and exploring the caves around Capri, I am never more happy than when I am exploring. Especially when Mr Sunshine's by my side.

Where is somewhere you've been or something you did that you didn't expect much of but ended up loving?

It's got to be moving to Doha. It was terrifying, and I wasn't sure I'd made the right decision for a while. This post sums up why I quickly changed my mind.

What is your pet peeve?

Elitist or snobby people. I think a true mark of a man/woman is how they speak to waiters and receptionists. If someone's as polite and kind to them as they would be to a CEO, celebrity or respected politician then I think you're onto a winner.

What is your most treasured possession? 

My little girl.

Now I have to hand the chain over to four more of my blogging sisters! I choose:

Rosalyn from Dream Days, a truly lovely human being and one of the best friends I have made through blogging thus far.
Noemi from Pinay Flying High, a fellow Doha blogger as well as foodie and world traveller. 
Kirsty from Life In Excess, just down the road in the UAE, who makes me laugh on a regular basis with her sharp wit and ability to write it like it is.
Shikha from Why Waste Annual Leave, one of the most talented travel bloggers I know, and a thoroughly lovely lass to boot.

The questions are:

Where is your all-time favourite destination?
Which post are you most proud of?
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party, alive or dead?
Do you have a favourite travel app?
What’s your favourite and least favourite thing about blogging?
Is anything you like to do any time you visit somewhere new?
Where is somewhere you’ve been or something you did that you didn’t expect much of, but ended up loving?
What’s you pet peeve?
What’s your most treasured possession?

Over to you ladies!

6 of the Best London Hotels for a Short Stay in 2016

When it comes to choosing top notch hotels in London, Mr Sunshine and I have a little experience under our belts. As busy expats that love nothing more than a quick trip home at least twice a year, we've flown in and out of Heathrow on numerous occasions since we moved to Qatar. In order to break up journey times to and from friends and family and to help us to relax before and after a long-haul flight, these trips to England are almost always accompanied by a short stay in a luxury hotel at either end of our visit.

Accumulating all of our knowledge and experience, I've put together a handy summary of my top 6 hotel picks for short stays in England's capital in 2016.

1. The Kensington

No hotel represents traditional English hospitality more perfectly than The Kensington Hotel. Part of the luxury boutique hotel chain, 'The Doyle Group' which includes The Bloomsbury and The Marylebone, the hotel is situated just a few steps from South Kensington station, and it oozes historic charm and a deliciously homely feel.

The hotel's restaurant, Town House, along with the Town House Bar is actually a series of interconnected drawing rooms, with large bay windows and ancient fireplaces. A very special space from which to enjoy afternoon tea.

Address:

109-113 Queensgate, South Kensington
SW7 5LR

2. The Montcalm at the Brewery

An old favourite of Mr Sunshine's and mine, we have stayed at this converted brewery on countless occasions. We love it for it's interesting features and cosy bedrooms, as well as the big discounts that you can often find on a room if you're booking out of season.

An extra selling point is the excellent gastro-pub, The Jugged Hare which is situated just downstairs - very handy when you have just stepped off a flight and you're craving a roast dinner with all the trimmings, and a glass of prosecco or two.

For a full review, head here.

Address:

52 Chiswell Street,
EC1Y 4SA

3. Cheval Phoenix House at Sloane Square

These apartments and suites were the location of Mr Sunshine's and my most recent stay in London just after Christmas, and we had a brilliant time! We were kindly upgraded to a loft suite which comprises of two floors, with a generous bedroom and bathroom at ground level, and stairs that lead up to a mezzanine level and a spacious living room and kitchenette.

What really made our stay were a few small but generous touches that helped us to settle in quickly, such as a welcome pack comprising of bread, jam, tea bags, crisps, biscuits and muesli (and a Christmas cracker!) - something we really appreciated given that we have become accustomed to hotel living and room service! We also enjoyed the fact that we were a two minute walk from Sloane Square and The Kings Road, arguably our favourite place for shopping and dining in the whole of London.

Address:

1 Wilbraham Place, Chelsea
SW1X 9AE

4. The Ampersand

I would really struggle to find a single fault with The Ampersand. It has everything that I look for in a hotel: beautiful architecture and modern, bright and clean interiors; quirky decor and friendly staff; great location and beautiful food.

It's one of those hotels that I would return to 'just for a coffee', which I think is a very good sign. Its pretty corridors have won over my heart, and with it my life-long custom and loyalty.

For a full review, head here.

Address:

10 Harrington Road, South Kensington,
SW7 3ER

5. The Conrad

Conrad Hotels and Resorts are a luxury hotel brand that are owned by the Hilton Group, with properties spread across 5 continents in some of the world's most sought-after locations. The Conrad London St James is no exception. It sits on the doorstep of Westminster, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace, just a stone's throw from the Royal Parks in one direction, and the meandering Thames in the other.

If luxury is what you're after, then this hotel really delivers, particularly if you're lucky enough to be able to afford an executive floor room, and access to the Executive Lounge. If not, then the Blue Boar Restaurant and Emmeline's Lounge are very special spaces in which to dine, serving regional British produce and an excellent selection of wines.

Address:

22-28 Broadway, Westminster,
London

6. The Mondrian

Although this list is in no particular order, I think I might have inadvertently saved the best for last. The Mondrian is housed in the quirky converted Sea Containers building on the Southbank, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. It was in the bathroom of our hotel room here that I took the pregnancy test that told me that I was 3 weeks pregnant with our little girl right at the end of our honeymoon last year. Because I was shattered from the early stages of pregnancy, we mainly enjoyed this hotel for its enormous fluffy beds, and the view of the beautiful sunsets that spread out across London's rooftops from our window.

 
However, I think you will enjoy it for it's proximity to the eclectic and cosmopolitan vibe of the Southbank, the 1920s glamour of the building which is punctuated by unusual art and installations, and the plethora of excellent (and award winning) eating and drinking options that will take you from sumptuous breakfasts through to late night parties on the roof of the hotel.

Address:

20 Upper Ground, Southbank,
SE1 9PD

Which hotels have I missed? Where would you choose for a short stay in London in 2016?

Pregnancy Update: My Second Trimester

Can you believe that tomorrow marks the end of my second trimester and the beginning of the third and final leg of my pregnancy? Nope, me neither! The past six months have gone by in a blur, and it has been difficult to keep up!

Here's my latest bumpdate for those of you that have been following along with my progress to date. I am getting to the point where I don't just feel like my body looks different, but I also feel pretty cumbersome as I try to get around the place these days!

I wasn't quite prepared for how different the second trimester would feel to the first. When my sickness eventually tailed off around week 16 and my appetite and energy returned a few weeks later, I actually felt fitter and healthier than I was before the pregnancy began!

Despite this, I have recently been diagnosed with mild hypothyroidism, which basically means that my thyroid gland isn't producing enough hormone to sustain both me and the baby, and I'm having to take hormone supplements to make up for it. I have suffered with this issue in the past, but it seemed to correct itself at the beginning of my pregnancy, before slowly declining again - something which I'm told is all too common. Nevertheless, I'm still feeling fit and healthy and with consistent monitoring between now and the end of the pregnancy, everything should be fine.

With a matter of weeks left to go until our little girl joins us, there is so much we still have left to do. Therefore, in the spirit of new year, I thought I would share some of my pregnancy-related new years' resolutions with you, with everything I am aiming to achieve over the final semester.

1. Attend some classes. Qatar doesn't have an equivalent to the NCT, which provides antenatal classes as standard for all expectant mothers that are interested in gaining more information and support. Therefore, we had to do a little bit of research to seek out our own. In January and February we're booked onto two courses: one at our maternity clinic, which will teach us the basics of everything from labour to feeding and baby care, and one at Yama Yoga Studios, which will impart some techniques for natural childbirth.

2. Learn the basics of hypnobirth. After speaking to Mr Sunshine's sister Lisa about her positive birth experience (which involved absolutely no interventions at all!) over the Christmas break, I was inspired and I am keen to learn more about how I can use positive affirmations and calming music to achieve a comfortable and natural birth. This might sound a little bit hippy to a lot of you, but I am keen to try anything that will reduce the pain and result in an easier and happier experience for us all! Lisa's kindly leant me a book on the subject and burned some CDs for me, and I'll keep you updated on how I get on.

3. Finish furnishing the nursery. We have all the basics now including a cot, bassinet, daybed and hopefully a nappy changing unit as of this evening, but in order to make the room perfect I am busy scouting out soft furnishings and pictures to complete the look and feel. I've really enjoyed this little project so far and can't wait to share it with you all in due course! Here is a tiny sneak peek to whet your appetite until then.

For anybody worried about our use of bedding in this picture, these are just a couple of blankets I've bought - we won't actually be using them in this way!

4. Buy all of our final bits and bobs. From scratch mittens to baby nail clippers, gripe water to nappies, I want to make sure that we have everything bought and stashed away ready for the baby's arrival. No mum wants to head down to the city to stock up on provisions 4 days after giving birth on 2 hours sleep.

5. Read, read and read some more. I've been gifted some truly excellent baby-related reading material over the Christmas period, which I have been absorbing at a rate of knots. I would like to get to March knowing that even though I will feel as clueless as every other first time mum when our baby joins us, at least I have prepared as much as I can for the basics!! Mr Sunshine also has a book targeted at dads, and has been receiving updates on all of my reading too - something which is really important to both of us so that we feel like we're in this together. Some book reviews to follow once we have read them all.

So there's quite a lot to accomplish in a short space of time, but it's really important to me that I get organised. Only when I've completed all of the above and finished all of the necessary life admin that comes along with giving birth outside of your home country will I feel like I am truly ready for this to happen!

For any of you Doha-based mums-to-be that are interested in the classes I've mentioned above, please do drop me a comment below or get in contact with me via my Facebook page and I'll provide you with all the details. Also, for those of you that have already given birth, check out my friend Hannah's post-natal yoga classes which start on 10th January. Hannah's a qualified teacher and yogi, and a lovely lady to boot, and these classes are going to popular so book yourself in quick!

Happy new year to all you yummy mummies across the world. I hope that 2016 brings lots of happiness to you and your little ones.

FYS x