My Top 5 Holiday Essentials, and Top 5 For Everyone Else #MarkWarnerMum

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t going to enter the #MarkWarnerMum competition. I knew the quality of posts would be off the scale, and recently my anxiety has put blogging on the back burner. Not only that, but I’m a Virgo, a creative Virgo, which means my creative freedom fights my need for perfection on a daily basis. This isn’t good for my mood. A lot of projects are usually left unfinished. Hence why I didn’t want to put the pressure on myself to enter this competition.

Having said that, this weekend we took a drive to Yorkshire to visit my family. My husband took a couple of days off work and we spent a few days relaxing and spending quality time as a family. We got home last night and something changed. I decided going for this opportunity of a lifetime; allowing my children to go on a holiday we could never provide, was worth the stress and rush of putting together my entry in 24 hours. Because the deadline is tonight.

So here you go, my top 10 holiday essentials with a twist. 5 are my holiday essentials and 5 and everyone else’s. And just for fun, I let me creative freedom take over and design a couple of Mark Warner souvenirs!

Beach Body

Right now I don’t have a beach body. I have a postnatal body. My belly still looks pregnant (at 9 month postpartum) and my butt is the size of a Kardashian’s (which I don’t mind if the rest of my body is skinny 🙂 ) My goal is to lose 2 stone in the next 3 months. Then I’ll have my beach body (or a least one I’m comfortable wearing a bikini in).

Sunset Cocktails

Is it me or do sun holidays = plenty of cocktails? I’m not much of a drinker, but on holiday it’s all about a Sex On The Beach or Cosmo or Pornstar Martini…

Or just a cider.

Shade

Shade is literally one of my most sought after holiday essentials. I’m blonde, I’m fair and I burn. If I don’t get shade I get moody. And before you ask, no I’m not by the pool at 6am to save our sunbeds. I’m desperate for shade, but not desperate enough to get out of bed at 6am. If I have to read my copy of 50 Shades of Grey indoors, I will.

Of course sunglasses are essential, and for the kids a Snoozeshade is literally amazing.

Sun, Sea and Sand

Family holidays are the best when they have these key 3 ingredients. Sun, sea and sand. Well, that’s what I believe anyway. Their first paddle in the sea, first sandcastle, first hole to fill with water. So precious.

Sunbed & Umbrella

I suppose this is the same as shade which I mentioned above. However, shade comes in many forms. A hat, sunglasses, under a tree, being indoors.

The sunbed and umbrella is for relaxing. For me. While the boys splash around in the pool.

I absolutely love reading on holiday. Laying out in the sun (with a cocktail of course) and getting lost in a book. I think my record is 4 novels in one holiday.

There you have my top 5 holiday essentials. Now the top 5 for the whole family.

Activities

Family holidays couldn’t possibly happen without some sort of activity. Or so I’m told. You see, I’m not really into sports anymore (I was super sporty at school). I’m a bit overweight and lazy and would happily sit by the pool sipping cocktails everyday (did I mention I like cocktails?)

But, Mark Warner holidays are all about family activities, so I need to get off my Kardashian butt and get involved.

Family Fun

We just have to accept our holidays will be filled with family entertainment from now on (unless we’re on a Mark Warner holiday and make use of the babysitting service!) To be honest, I don’t mind a bit of resort entertainment if it’s suitable for the WHOLE family and not just the little ones. You know, a tribute act or something.

Amazing Views

There’s nothing better than opening your curtains and being hit with an amazing view of the ocean. Totally beats a car park or building site.

An amazing view from your balcony should be an essential on everyones list.

Swim Stuff

We are a swimming family. I take Bear to swimming lessons once a week and he can’t get enough. Lamb is also a water baby.

A good selection of swimming stuff is really important to us. Swimwear, swimming aids, floats and toys. Everything you need to make a day by the pool super fun.

 

 

Holiday Essentials

Finally there are holiday essentials that you just can’t love without. You know, the sensible stuff, the novelty stuff, the fun stuff.

Baby powder is vital for the removal of sand from your feet (and anywhere else it might be). I always have a huge bottle with me on any hot holiday. Of course there’s things like SPF and nappy cream which I’ve always got in the changing bag.

A novelty holiday outfit with the whole family matching isn’t really an essential, but hey it’s a lot of fun!

We all know twinning is winning, right?

Well there you go. I did it. My top 10 holiday essentials. Of course we need the perfect holiday to take these essentials on, and that’s where Mark Warner come in…

Wouldn’t it be amazing if Bear’s first holiday abroad was a Mark Warner one??!

*This is my entry into the Mark Warner #MarkWarnerMum family ambassador’s programme.

Wish me luck!