JUST a few weeks ago I was sat on a beach in beautiful Cornwall, listening to the waves and thinking, this is the life.

Our little break definitely did us all the world of good and weather wise, well folks, we got pretty lucky. Not quite Carribean temperatures but perfectly pleasant indeed.

For Elsie it was a week of firsts – her first touch of sand, her first ‘swim’ in a pool, the first time she’s seen the sea, her first taste of icecream!

And for us? Well as two exhausted parents, it was a chance to enjoy a much needed change of scene, a few lie-ins (thank you big sister and niece!) and to relax a little.

In honour of our first family holiday, here are five things I did on holiday that I absolutely loved, including a few of my favourite holiday snaps. Afterall, a holiday isn’t a holiday without sharing a few pics!

Swam with Elsie 

The pool at our holiday let may have been too cold for Elsie but that didn’t stop us going for a splash! On one of the not so pleasant weather days, we ventured to the local swimming baths in Launceston and took Elsie for her first dip in a pool.

Any reservations I had about her being ok disappeared almost as quickly as we went in. She was – as I’d hoped – as happy as a fish in water and completely in her element. (Perhaps no surprise as she is a water sign!)

For me it was the first time I’ve been in a swimsuit since being pregnant and although I can’t say I was completely looking forward to the experience, a few weeks of sensible eating beforehand and my amazing swimwear, *the Oceanus black swimming costume by Miraclesuit, meant it wasn’t nowhere near as painful as I thought!

(*Seriously, this swimsuit is genuis. If you feel insecure about your figure or need a little help, invest in one of these. It flatters, tightens and lifts in all the right places.)

Ate fish & chips on the beach

A British holiday just would not be complete without tucking into some fish & chips on the beach. Joined by my sister, brother-in-law, two nephews and niece, it was one of the loveliest moments of the holiday.

Yes the sand got everywhere but boy did the food taste good! There’s nothing quite like eating fish and chips on the beach in the sunshine. Bude beach, our fish & chip destination, was pretty damn marvellous too. Well worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Visited an otter park

I love animals. Always have, always will. So I was more than a little excited when I discovered that there was an otter park in our vicinity.

As well as cooing over the ridiculously cute otters (they really do make the cutest sounds!) we fed deer with our hands, saw the most beautiful peacocks including white ones (I kid you not) admired many birds of prey and got up close and personal with wallabys lurking in the bluebells.

Tamar Otter & Wildlife Centre is a great and relatively cheap tourist place to visit and spend a day, especially if you’ve got little ones. Just don’t expect quick service from the cafe!

Bought a vintage teapot

When it comes to vintage crockery, I just can’t get enough. So when I spotted a fabulous little antique shop in the pretty town of Launceston with an even more fabulous teapot in it’s window, I could have jumped for joy.

This teapot is the perfect finishing touch to my vintage china collection and I can’t wait to get it out for my next vintage tea party.

On a side note, Launceston is a charming little Cornish town. Featuring a medieval church, Norman castle, antique goodies and plenty of impressive charity shops, it’s just the place to while away a few leisurely hours.

My top tip? If you do go, just make sure you pay the ‘Cornish Delicacies’ cafe a visit, opposite the church. It’s one of the best cafes I’ve ever eaten in, with an authentic charm all of it’s own. Truly brilliant.

Spent time with loved ones

Our first family holiday was spent with some of my extended family. As my family don’t live local to me, it was such a treat to spend quality time with everyone.

Spending time with the people I love the most was a reminder that the many stresses and strains of modern life can often get in the way of us catching up with our nearest and dearest.

I miss them all so much already that it’s making me more determined than ever to get dates set in the diary for many more lovely occasions. Afterall, creating special memories is what life is all about.

Till the next time, never underestimate the power of a ‘change of scene’!

Mwah,

Katie

x

Disclaimer – the swimsuit was kindly gifted to me, but as always, has only been given a mention because it deserves one for it’s brilliance. Yes, it really is that good.