our spring and summer manifesto

It is now officially Spring, even if it doesn't quite feel like it yet. We are now entering into my favourite six months of the year, and I can practically smell the possibilities... and the sunshine. I'm such a sunshine girl, and nothing makes me happier than when the calendar turns over to March and Spring is finally here (except when the calendar flips over into June and SUMMER is here - because summer really, truly holds my heart!)

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farewell to the summer

Just because its summer. And because there is simply no such thing as too much beach spam if you ask me. I bring you yet another beachy adventure. This time lady luck was seriously on our side, because we booked our 'farewell summer' beach hut day back in the winter and while the days either side of our little trip were overcast, wet and a bit cold, the day of the trip dawned with blue sky, bright sunshine and it was so hot that I think we were definitely in the best place; enjoying the coastal breeze with natures paddling pool a few feet away.

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a 'just us' weekend

We are a seaside family. It's our happy place. And I say it all the time, but it just makes us all smile to have sand between our toes and a nice salty breeze in our hair. 

At the moment we are in that strange limbo stage while you wait for a new baby to arrive, where it feels like an era is ending; and while we are all so excited to become a five, it also makes us desperate  to cling onto these memories of life as a four. And where better for a beach loving family to make some lovely simple memories, than a weekend at the seaside.

So we borrowed my Nan's static caravan on Mersea Island and we had the loveliest time together. Mersea has to be one of our favourite places; we just love spending time together there. It is the quintessential seaside town, but so unspoiled and so beautiful, with the added touch that it gets cut off from the mainland during high tides. It really was the best kind of weekend. We played, we ate ice cream, we paddled our feet, we saw crabs, we hunted for shells, we took lots of sunshiny walks, we counted boats, we spotted jellyfish, we went out for breakfast, we met a friendly seal, we rode on a boat... and we came home with that sun kissed skin, windswept hair, sandy toes and suncream smell that tells you you've had a perfect weekend.

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a favourite place

I love that we live where we do. Not necessarily our specific home or street, but the area. Because we are utterly spoiled with being surrounded by some beautiful parks and gardens and pretty spots, as well as being equidistant to the bright lights of London, and the calming air of the coast. We can be at either with 45 minutes, and I think it gives us the very best of both worlds.

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a beach hut birthday {52 adventures}

When you are seaside and beach hut obsessive like me, there isn't really a better way of spending your birthday than enjoying those two things. Add to that the fact that the sun came along to play (which practically never ever happens on my birthday) and you have a recipe for a lovely adventure.

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beach hut days

After a very big and exciting eleventh adventure, I knew that we were going to need something to cheer us up on our post Disney holiday come down. So a little while back I booked us a day at a beach hut for the week after our holiday, I thought it would be a nice little kick start to the Easter break, I crossed my fingers that some nice Spring weather might come our way, and figured that whatever happened at least we'd get some fresh air and I could feed my beach hut obsession a bit.

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a stroll along the prom {52 adventures}

It's been at least a few weeks now since we last had an adventure involving a nice bit of sea air and water and boats, so with the sunshine coming out to play we went on a lovely adventure to walk along the prom at Maldon.

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windy walk {52 adventures}

We aren't a family to be kept indoors by the winter months. During the summer months it feels like we live outdoors, but in colder times of year we still try to get outside whenever we can... even if those moments tend to be a little more brief.

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fresh air {52 adventures}

Every year, between Christmas and New Year, there is this strange piece of time, where you are calming down after the excitement of one celebration and getting ready for the next. No work or preschool or clubs to dictate our time, the children have new toys to entertain them, we lose track of the days and just enjoy time together. And every year it always ends up being my favourite part of the whole festive season. A time with no commitments apart from fun and family; which lets be honest are the best kind of commitments around.

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farewell to the summer

It's been an amazing summer,

full of sunshine and adventures,

and generally enjoying each other and the great outdoors.

Just thinking about what an amazing few months we've had,

makes me smile from ear to ear.

It's been beautiful.

And we finished it in style!

If you've followed any of our summer fun,

you'll know that the seaside has played a big part,

and that being at a beach is our happy place.

You'll also know I'm a teeny bit in love with a beach hut.

So we rented one,

a perfectly pink beach hut,

all ours,

for the entire day.

The sun came out to play,

and we said goodbye to an amazing summer

in the very best way possible.

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life is better at the beach

There is a quote that goes something like:

"Memories made at the beach last a lifetime".

I know for a fact that some of my best memories are from seasidy days.

And I can say with my hand on my heart

that I won't ever forget this perfect day at the beach.

At one point I watched my beautiful children and my lovely husband,

as the sea lapped around my ankles,

with the warm sun on my skin

and a sea breeze ruffling my hair,

while the sand crept up between my toes,

and I thought to myself

"Never forget this moment, this day,

and how you feel right this second"

because I genuinely could not have been happier anywhere else in the entire world.

I stood and breathed it all in,

and I've locked it up tight in my memory,

never to be forgotten.

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blue sky and sandy toes

music credit: Next To Me by Sleeping At Last

I've said it before,

but I just love the seaside.

My husband and I met and fell in love at the seaside,

and something about being near the sea just feels so right somehow.

So a sunny day

and our first quiet weekend in a month,

and the coast was calling us,

with it's promise of feeling warm sand between our toes,

getting to paddle in the sea,

and maybe a sneaky ice cream too.

We had a lovely time,

it was just beautiful.

The beautiful boy told us repeatedly that he had had a lovely time,

and asked at bedtime if he could go again tomorrow.

And the hubby and I spent the drive home 

talking and dreaming about a home looking out at the sea.

The beautiful girl isn't keen on paddling in the sea as it turns out,

so we've found a water that this water baby isn't a fan of.

She loved playing in the sand,

although not quite as much as she loved the ice creams.

But her brother more than made up for her water hesitance,

by diving head first, fully clothed into a wave.

(And at a moment when Mummy didn't have the camera rolling

which we think was rather inconsiderate of him!)

Who needs fancy foreign holidays,

when you have these beautiful spots in your very own county?

We've got a list of lovely summer days out the list of our arms

and we're starting early with ticking them off.

But after such a beautiful blue sky beachy day,

I think we'll be adding a few more seaside trips to that list.

…Well we need to convince this little girly of ours that the sea is fun!

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seasidy days

music credit: Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine

I've always loved being at the coast,

there is something about the air,

the fact the sky always seems so big,

the sound of water,

and the feel of sand;

it's just good for the soul.

Especially on spring days,

when a very blustery day by the water,

can quite literally blow the cobwebs away

and leave you with muddy clothes,

windswept hair

and a really big smile.


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