What makes the perfect family holiday?
Even though the boys will be 3 years old, in less than a month’s time, I don’t have much to reference in terms of our ‘perfect family holiday’ as we haven’t actually had one yet.
And don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a pity party, we’ve had some lovely, lovely weekends away and done some amazing things, together as a family.
We’ve been on camping adventures, to festivals and on day trips.
We’ve played on a beach.
The boys haven’t been in the sea yet but we were lucky enough to go to to Bluestone in Wales , for four days last year, and they went in an amazing wave pool.
They’ve even played in the snow and built a snowmen (albeit, in our back garden and not on the slopes of Tignes).
But as I look at all of these pictures it strikes me that, even though they mark exciting little milestones in my son’s lives, they’re just a little bit *flat*.
The scenery is more ‘turgid’ than technicolor. And on closer inspection, it dawned on me that they’re all lacking in a couple of vital ingredients.
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Colour And Sunshine.
Now I’m a sucker for colour in all it’s guises.
From the sunniest, happy inducing yellows, to soft and delicate shell pinks. I love every colour of the rainbow and all the shades in between.
I work with colour — in my day job — and write about it constantly, here on my blog, in the form of my Pantone series.
Colour surrounds us. Although very often, in our everyday lives, we don’t stop to pay it any attention.
We’re all so busy — trying to get to somewhere on time, making supper, shopping — just living life in general, that we sometimes forget to take a step back and admire the scenery.
Then we go abroad and the pace slows down. And glorious colour fills our eyes, like an assault on the senses.
Cobalt blue skies, clear aquamarine seas or mountains topped with heathery purple and violet. Vibrant markets, colourful stuccoed buildings and lustrous fruits and vegetables.
The Perfect Family Holiday
Overseas holidays seem to treat us to a kaleidoscope of colour, that seems to be lacking, here a home.
I think sunshine has a big part to play. That magical star, that radiates it’s warmth on our planet, changing flat grey skies to blue.
Adding light to everything and bathing all it touches in a golden glow.
Sunshine gives the sea it’s sparkle, makes the grass seem a little greener, the sky bluer, sand yellower. Gives the snow a sprinkling of glitter and just makes everything a little bit more colourful.
So on reflection, that’s what would make our perfect family holiday.
Sunshine and colour.
Perfect partners, they go hand in hand.
A bit like my beautiful boys.
To illustrate this even further, I’ve made a little film.
This is our family’s entry for the #MarkWarnerMum 2016 Family Ambassador programme in the ‘Craft’ Category! For more info on their fabulous ski and sunshine holidays visit Mark Warner.
Wish us luck!
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
Caro, your video is so beautiful and I’d love to see your family be picked by Mark Warner, you’d be the perfect ambassadors! Good luck my colourful friend xxx
Aww thanks so much chickie :)
I loved this post but the video you’ve done is amazing, you should be so proud its fantastic! I’m so craving a holiday after writing my own and reading everyones entries and holiday posts! Good luck it would be totally deserved xxx
Aah thanks so much Alice, that’s so lovely of you. A wise friend had said stick to your strengths, so that’s what I tried to do :) I would LOVE to take the boys on a proper holiday — I’d love to see them on a sunny beach. Fingers crossed :)
Caro this is gorgeous, good luck my beautiful friend, you would make the most amazing ambassador, I love the whole concept of you beautiful creative video xx
Aww thank you SO much lovely. Am keeping my fingers crossed for you too. I think your family would be awesome ambassadors! I bet MW are thrilled with the applicants they’ve had this year. So many lovely bloggers xx
Such a lovely post and a beautiful video Caro. I really hope you get an ambassador spot, it is totally well deserved and your boys will love it! xxx
Aww thanks so much gorgeous — fingers crossed xxx
Gorgeous post lovely! I really love your descriptions in particular. Beautiful writing! Best of luck to you all Xx
Thanks SO much Emma!! That means such a lot :) xx
This video is beautiful. A fabulous entry. Good luck xx
Aah thanks ever so much Laura — that’s really lovely of you xx
Oh Caro. I knew your entry would be fantastic but this is pure class. Your post and video is amazing…utterly mesmerising and totally you. You’ve captured the essence of you and your family and it’s beautiful. Good luck and I hope SO much that you become an ambassador xx
Thanks so much darling — that means such a lot. I really, really struggled with the categories — I didn’t really fit into any of them — so hopefully the little film is considered craft!!
What a wonderful post. I think the family make a holiday perfect. Good luck lovely #twinklytuesday xx
Thanks so much pet :) And I agree — I’m happy as long as I have my three boys with me :)
Good luck in the competition – and wishing you a lovely first family holiday when you get one – I always find as long as the kids are entertained we all have a lovely time – and that is exactly what companies like Mark Warner do so well.
Aah thanks so much Sonya — keeping everything crossed!! :) xx
Such an inspiring post, it is so easy to miss out on the beautiful scenery all around. This post is specially for those of us who live in London and are always on the fast lane. From today, I will work on enjoying the moment, it is something I rarely do as you rightly said, just because we are busy doing a whole lot of stuff.
Aah thanks so much Esther. We all lead such busy lives but trying to be a little bit mindful is a good thing isn’t it? I daresay, we can’t slow down but taking a bit more notice while we’re on the journey, is something I’m trying a little harder to do, these days :)