As some of you already know I got to be part of something special last week dear reader, I got to go to the Capture Ibis Styles event at the Ibis Styles hotel, Edinburgh Centre which is located in St Andrews Square, Edinburgh.  If you're not sure where that is then let me tell you that it's the square which runs just behind Princes Street right at the top near Waverley Station.

The Historic Scott Monument sits just a short walk from the hotel

Now I don't know about you but for the longest time whenever I arrive in Edinburgh and hear the piper who stands on the street corner just outside of the station my genetic code clicks into gear and tells me that I'm home, there's something quite special about the bagpipes, well I think so anyway.

So a short walk to my hotel and as I'd never stayed at an Ibis Styles before I wasn't really sure what to expect.

An easy check in and the most friendly welcome and up I went in the lift to my spacious room on the 5th floor, to find a tray of chocolates and a gift by my bed was not at all what I expected but what a lovely surprise.  Later when I was speaking with the manager I found out that Ibis Styles has a policy of a present for every child and coming soon, it will be a present for every guest, what a lovely touch, I don't know about you but those are the things that make you want to stay at a hotel repeatedly, going the extra mile is such an important thing.

The view from my window on the 5th floor, so pretty!

I noticed when I was checking in that they had a note about if you were travelling with your pet, it seems the whole Ibis chain is dog friendly and I can't wait to try out more of their hotels with Holly the Beagle, obviously I'm going to give you all a full review of the experience.

Back to last week though and one of the first things you notice about Ibis Styles is the styling, all of the hotels have a theme and are completely individual, something you don't expect to find in a hotel chain, especially one which still sells itself as being at the budget travel end of the spectrum.  The theme of the St Andrews Square Ibis Styles is, well I would personally call it Highland chic, I absolutely loved it because of course I am a huge fan of Scotland and my own house has lots of similar things.

Let me show you some of the things I loved - 

Being located in St Andrews square puts you right in the heart of the thriving bustling city that is Edinburgh and while I was there I was lucky to be able to do a lot of sight seeing including climbing to the top of Calton Hill, something despite visiting Edinburgh on lots of occasions I'd never done.  If you get a chance on your next visit to Edinburgh you must take an hour to climb Calton Hill, Edinburghs first public park has some of the best views of the city you've ever seen.

The thing is, that you don't need to go very far to discover all that is wonderful about Edinburgh, it's a bustling, energetic city and the streets are filled with entertainment.

So lets talk about the important things, firstly the food and drinks (always an important factor when I'm choosing to stay in a hotel), the chef at the Ibis Styles St Andrews Square really knows his stuff, I sampled local produce including Oysters, steak, cinnamon ice-cream with dry ice, I've never been quite so full up and even lunch the next day was a visual delight.

I perused their regular menus and along with a great selection of foods which would even keep fussy old, sugar free me happy I also noticed that food was very reasonable, expect to pay around £10 per main course or less!  The barman certainly also knows his stuff and though I only looked longingly at the cocktails I did sample a strawberry mojito at lunch on Friday and it tasted as good as it looked.

The bedrooms as I've already said are spacious, clean, modern and have lots of quirky design features and if you want to book something really special you can book a suite up on the 6th floor, beautiful, ultra spacious and wow, just look at the view.

A couple of the points of note about the hotel - 

Your stay is all inclusive, you pay one charge and you not only get your breakfast but they have a machine downstairs where you can get complimentary tea and coffee whenever you want and it's good coffee, I know, I sampled it!  You can even get it in a takeaway cup and what's better than saving you the cost of a trip to the local coffee house when you're on your way to sightsee!

Also included in the price is access to the internet in the lounge area and an all you can eat buffet breakfast which contained such delights as cereals, toast, danish pastries, continental meats and cheeses, you could quite easily have a big breakfast, take a coffee to go and be quite full until much later in the day leaving you more time for that all important trip to Edinburgh Castle or a climb up those 284 steps of the Scott Monument (and let me tell you, I've done that climb, it's epic, it hurts but the views at the top are totally worth it).

In conclusion, would I stay at the hotel again?  It's a huge yes from me, I am definitely going to go back with daughter Looby and Holly the beagle because I believe that any hotel who makes a fuss of my daughter and my dog is a hotel chain I would want to stay in again and again.

#captureibisstyles

I must make the disclaimer that I received my room and all meals in exchange for this review but this is still my absolute and honest opinion.

Whilst there I was part of an event to Capture the quirky furniture of the Ibis Styles Edinburgh Central and I have a favour to ask... If I can get enough likes (on Instagram) I could win this amazing stool, so go click on it and you'll be able to give me a like and I'll send you a big squishy cyber hug.

Oh and 1 last thing, Ibis Styles don't have staff, they have Happy Mood Makers, that says it all really!

Big Adventures and New Friendships in Edinburgh

I finally climbed up Calton Hill in Edinburgh, amazing views.

It's Friday evening dear reader (although you're probably reading this on Saturday morning) and I've just got back from 2 days in Edinburgh for the #CaptureIbisStyles event, I have been wined and dined to within an inch of my life and I can't speak highly enough of the Ibis Styles brand or indeed the people who run it.

I've spent time with some seriously inspirational ladies, all bloggers and some photographers, I thought I would give a couple a mention so that you can add their blogs to your reading list so please go and check out the very lovely and beautiful Zoe at Simply Ruby and the simply gorgeous Lucy over at and Capture by Lucy both have the most beautiful blogs and utterly amazing Instagram feeds, I'm quite envious, it does remind me that I need to start using Instagram in a more productive way instead of just posting bazillions of images of Holly the beagle.

I'll be posting a full review of the event and my stay at Ibis Styles St Andrews Square over the next few days.

I am reminded by being in the company of inspirational focused women just how much I sometimes lack focus and I'm ever so slightly easily distracted as well as being the Queen of procrastination land although I blame that on Holly.

Over the next few months I am resolute that I am going to concentrate on Instagram as my chosen form of social media rather than Facebook which lets be fair, currently only shows 7% of my likers my posts unless I pay.  How is it going to go?  Well who knows but you can always follow me on Instagram and then you can enjoy the journey with me.

And so after some hours of hopefully peaceful slumber I shall be back out in the world bright and early tomorrow to go and visit some favourite clients and their precious new baby daughter and then I am literally whizzing across the other side of Newcastle to catch up with a  lovely bride and groom for some lunch at As You Like It where they're getting married and then it's off down to Jesmond Dene for their pre-wedding photo shoot.  After the days in Edinburgh I've just had I am sincerely hoping I can find something without refined sugars, and white flour in. I just managed my 10k steps today and I am definitely back to no sugars tomorrow, I can't quite describe how awful a sugar hangover is but it's not the way I am used to feeling and now that I'm only 13lb from my target weight and 3 dress sizes smaller than when I started my weight loss journey I really don't want to jeopardise that.

and 1 final note, I still have 2 available sessions for next weeks Mothers Day sessions on the beach at Tynemouth on Saturday, if you would like to book one they're just £30 for a 30 minute session, 12x8 complimentary print of your favourite image, web gallery for 30 days and 15% off the first week your gallery is live.  The remaining sessions are 10.30am and 1.30pm and if they're anything like last year they'll be utterly fabulous.