Raithwaite Estate is one of our all-time favourite places to escape to, by the Yorkshire coast, in Whitby, just an hour and a half away from where we live.
Oh Wales-it seems so long ago now that we were there but it was literally only a week ago! Luckily, I treated myself to yet another notebook (I have a REAL and pretty consuming obsession with notebooks-and stationery in general)! but this one was a necessity- and meant I could scribble down notes during our lush week away making it easier to reflect back and write this post.
As much as I love family holidays together, travelling with kids can be, well...a bit of a nightmare!
Packing for the whole family can become a full blown military operation ( I start 2 weeks before the holiday, yes really)- while flying with young kids (my own are worse on short than long haul-go figure?) can frankly, induce fine lines and grey hair by arrival.
Thank goodness for Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream pre and during flights, and in-seat yoga (and breathe)!
Seriously though, to avoid the headache, travelling by Eurostar with kids is far less hassle than flying when travelling to mainland Europe.
My brother and his fiancée have recently had a beautiful bouncing baby boy Zachary, and we've been excitingly chatting about his first holiday next year.
Setting off from Leeds to Newcastle on a grey and drizzly day on Saturday to celebrate the launch of Esso's Synergy Fuels, the rain surprisingly and much to the awe of my kids, soon turned to snow on the motorway mid-journey.
We certainly didn't expect it. And certainly not as much.
As all you parents will know, it's rare to get 'couple time' when kids come along, and the last time Peter and I got a night away together was way back in June. A whole season ago then
Two weekends ago saw this family head to the Yorkshire Coast for a relaxing break to celebrate the launch of Esso Synergy Fuels at the breathtaking 100-acre Raithwaite Estate, a place we'd never visited before, but instantly fell in love with.
I want to start by writing how incredibly grateful I am that this blog means wonderful travel opportunities for my family and I which allows us to see and experience parts of the world we've not visited before, both near and far.
Tomorrow, 3 generations of the family - myself, my husband Peter, our 2 sons: Oliver and Alexander and my parents - will be heading Alicante staying in a villa kindly c/o of James Villas.
I have been incredibly fortunate to work with the wonderful swimwear and beachwear brand heidi klein for sometime now and I was over the moon when they asked me to take part in a swimwear shoot on a recent vacation to Jamaica to the magical Beaches Resort (read my full review here).
It was my Dad, George's birthday on Friday so I wanted to arrange something a little bit special for the big man this weekend, and Gorgeous Cottages were just the company to call.
I've recently returned from a incredibly relaxing and restorative break at the Martinhal Beach Resort and Hotel in Sagres, Portugal, where I spent 5 lush days with my favourite lady, my Mum, Vasoulla.
Now summer is nearing it's hopefully gloriously hot head, I'm plotting picnics in the sunshine, ice lollies in the paddling pool, football in the park, barbecues and alfresco summer parties : super fun times for my little family, retracing my own happy steps as a child in Yorkshire.
I honestly don't know where to start when writing about our Beaches Resorts' Ocho Rios family holiday because it's literally blown this little family's minds.
