2018 is well and truly here.  It’s February already, how on Earth did that happen?  I can’t quite cope if this year is any faster than the last.  I’d only just got into the swing of the year and boom – it was Christmas and New Year and we have started all over again with another fresh year.  Blink and you missed it.  Well, at least if you have children you would have.  Time speeds up tenfold once you have kids and hundredfold once they start school.  It’s insane.

2018, however, is a year I’ve been counting down to since last Easter.  That’s because we booked a holiday almost one year in advance!  The longest wait ever.  As we haven’t been on a family holiday abroad ever (only trips abroad to visit family) and me and Ben only had one holiday abroad together six years ago, I wanted to spoil us rotten.  So I did.  I booked a 5 star hotel all-inclusive which was way more than I’d ever usually spend on a holiday, hence why I’ve had to spread the cost over an entire year!  We may never do it so extravagantly again, so hopefully it’ll be worth the wait and the cost.

Impress Me Dress

In a couple of months we are jetting off to Jandia, Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands.  Did I already mention I CANNOT WAIT?!  The kids are going to be ecstatic to be on a beach every day and a beautiful beach at that.  They’ve seen a couple in Cornwall, but they’ve mostly had to put up with Weston-Super-Mare which is not the best.  As for me I cannot wait to not have to cook or clean or do the school run for an entire week.  We can explore the beautiful island and relax without having to lift a finger!  It sounds like a dream. 

Our last and only family holiday in Cornwall was self-catering so I still cooked, cleaned, went food shopping every day.  It never felt like much of a holiday.  Plus it rained every day.  So I’m looking forward to this even more as our last holiday was quite a disappointment.  We do have a couple of UK holidays booked this year too, but based on our last holiday we’ve picked a couple that have lots of indoor entertainment and indoor pools in case the weather is terrible!  We’re off to Center Parcs in Longleat in the summer and over Christmas we’ll head to Bluestone in Wales.  They both have amazing looking indoor pools which we’ll make use of every day.

Abrianna Dress

The best thing about our upcoming abroad holiday is thinking about wearing summer clothes.  I’m not a winter person at all and hate dressing for the cold.  I feel so uncomfortable in layers of clothes and can’t move as freely.  It makes me miserable.  I’m certain I suffer with SAD as I am a different person for half the year.  I just want to hibernate and resurface when it’s warmer!  I’m so ready to whip out my summer wardrobe, relax and feel like me again.

Lovely fashion website TOBI have kindly started me on my summer holiday clothes journey.  They have sent me these three beautiful dresses which are so perfect for the beach, pool and wondering around a warm volcanic island.  The zig zag maxi dress is my absolute favourite.  You can’t see but the thin straps crisscross at the back and it’s pretty open.  I’ll have to search for a strapless bra or wear it over a bikini so it looks even more amazing. 

Sun Daze Shift Dress

I’m pretty set with clothes now for my holiday.  I still have some flip flops from last year and I recently purchased a new pair of TOMS.  They’re my go to summer shoes.  I used to buy cheap versions, but last year had my very first pair of actual TOMS and they’re amazing.  They lasted all summer with daily wear, so I’ll be treating myself to a pair once a year.

I’m also on the hunt for a couple of bikinis.  I have a few swimming costumes which I wear at aqua aerobics and the gym pool, but I’m more comfortable in a bikini.  My last one I’d had for a few years but it was faded and saggy so time for an upgrade.

Then, we’re ready to go!