Recently the boys and I went for a little weekend get away by the sea. It was just the sort of thing the three of us needed, as we've been working a lot lately and the days just feel like they're flying. Weeks are turning into months before we've even had a second to sit down and just breathe. So when FatFace offered to whisk us away on a weekend of happiness, we jumped at the chance.
So last Friday, we packed up our bags and headed towards the sleepy town of Sandwich, not too far away from our home in Kent, but just far enough to feel like we were somewhere completely removed from our every day life. When we pulled into the gravelled driveway of The Butlery where we would be staying for the next 3 nights, I felt instantly calm and peaceful. After we got the keys, we headed inside to explore our new little home for the weekend. This is always my favourite part of staying somewhere, and it didn't disappoint. The Butlery is a quaint little cottage attached to the main house. It's walls are lined with brightly coloured books and the duck egg blue kitchen is like something out of a magazine. It felt cosy and inviting and I just felt so at home. There was also the added surprise of a playroom just across the drive which Archie adored. He had so much fun going in and out of the little tents and playing with the vintage toys.
Our Outfits:
Kate:
Joanne Coins Jumpsuit // Shoes - Primary
Rikki:
Thurston Shirt // Trousers - Next
Archie: Jumper - Next // Jeans - Next
Not long after we arrived we were surprised with a food delivery, full of some of our favourite treats, including ice cream and chocolate! And some ingredients to make some delicious home cooked meals. That evening once Archie was fast asleep, we cracked open the Prosecco and found a trunk full of classic board games, so we played a bit of Monopoly! We haven't played it, (or any board game for that matter) since we were teenagers, and it really made me think about how busy our lives have become, and that we would usually feel guilty for taking time out like this as we always know there's something more important we could be doing. But I have realised you need to be kind to yourself. Take time out and enjoy the simple things, so you can return to life's stresses with a clear mind and more determined attitude.
The following day, we explored the pretty, medieval town of Sandwich, and also headed into Canterbury which isn't too far away, just for a little bit of lunch and a quick browse around the shops. I wore my
Saunton Cami, a beautiful cream piece with a lace trim and
Haywood Cardigan which is one of the softest things I own, and it just goes with so many things! I teamed them with a pair of grey skinny jeans, which was the perfect mix of stylish and comfortable.
When we arrived back at The Butlery, we spent a bit of time letting Archie explore the gardens and play in the playroom, and Rikki cooked us a lovely dinner. And so we settled down for our second night.
The following morning, we decided we would have a real lazy, relaxed day, and just stayed in and around the cottage all day. I think my hands down favourite part of The Butlery was the master bedroom. It was just my style with it's shabby chic bed, delicate furnishings and even little bunny door handles on the wardrobe were just so sweet (I wanted to take them home but I restrained myself!) Our sweet little boy loved playing on the bed, getting lost in what must have felt like a mountain of pillows to him.
I loved lounging around in my
Sudbury Top which, to me is a grown up take on wearing broderie anglise, it's easy to wear with so many things, and I'm sure I'll be wearing it a lot this summer. It was still a bit too cold to wear this and the
Ripped Denim Jeans outside, but the cottage was toasty warm, so I made the most of that!
Archie did the cutest thing ever on the Sunday. He fell asleep in his high chair whilst having lunch! This might sound like the norm for a toddler, but our energetic little man has never done this before, so it was so funny for us to watch! We got it on camera too, so make sure you watch the vlog to see ultimate Archie cuteness! He slept really well at night whilst we were away, but I think he was so excited to play and run around that he wasn't napping in the day like he normally does, so by Sunday lunch time he was exhausted! We put him into our bed, crumbs still covering his face, and I took the rare opportunity to snuggle up with him for half an hour. It was pretty amazing. I just looked out at the view and felt so happy and blessed. A bit cheesy I know but true!
Once Archie had, had his nap, we decided to go and check out the beach. The property we stayed in had 5 miles of private beach just outside it's front gates which was incredible. It was just such a shame it was so, so windy! We couldn't stay out there for long as I thought we might all get blown away, but Archie made the most of his brief trip to the beach and filled my pockets with pebbles which he found very amusing. His Daddy took him down to the sea, he hasn't been to the beach since he was quite a bit younger and I can tell he will absolutely love visiting places like this when he's a a little older. I wore the
Waterfall Jersey Cardigan to keep the chill off. We all know I love me some stripes! And again it was just so super soft and comfortable. I also wore this
Pretty Lace Trilby which helped to keep my hair under control! I love the little tan trim detail which will go with so many of my bags and shoes. Rikki Wears:
Marden Check Shirt and a White
Slub V Neck Tee I love him in check shirts and this one really suits him.
After our quick visit to the beach, we decided to drive a few minutes back down the road so that Archie could see the sheep and baby lambs in the fields leading up to the house. The road is lined with hundreds of daffodils at the moment and with the backdrop of the lambs, I've really never seen anything that screams Spring more in my life! It was so pretty as it was late afternoon by this point, but it had got a bit warmer, so I put on my Zara top and
Pale Wash Super Skinny Jeans. I was actually so surprised with how much I liked them as I'm very fussy about jeans and stick to just a few brands that I know fit me as so many seem to be a bit baggy. But these were definitely skinny jeans, and just the right length too! Archie loved looking at the lambs, and we knew we could just take our time, knowing we didn't have to rush back for anything.
On Monday morning, it was sadly time to pack up and leave. With a little sigh, we said goodbye to The Butlery after another little run around in the grounds of the house. I wore the
Durington Kimono, and the
Saunton Cami to go home in, with a pair of skinny jeans and plimsolls. It didn't take too long to get home, only about an hour and a half, but it was nice to snuggle up in the knitted kimono whilst Rikki drove us all home.
We can't thank FatFace enough for this little weekend we got to spend together. It felt like we were in our own little world and we got the chance to really switch off and enjoy just being a family. I will treasure the memories forever, and it's taught me the importance of taking a break every now and again, to re-evaluate, to stop and notice the little things and special moments.
The charms That adorn my Sweetie bracelet today reflect who I am now, And Links have a range of charms to help make your bracelet one of a kind and personal to you. I love the beautiful, ornate feather charm. I chose it as a reminder of loved ones that are no longer with me. I always feel close to my Nan whenever I see a robin and believe that it means she's watching over me. My other Nan who I'm very close too has always told me that when you find a feather, it means a loved one has sent it as a sign to say they're looking after you, so feathers hold a special place in my heart. The wishbone is of course to help bring me luck. I have always been drawn to lucky symbols, especially on jewellery pieces and I find there's something fascinating about wishbones. Finally, I chose a sterling silver heart locket. Since becoming a Mum, anything that can be made personal has taken on a whole new level of meaning, and I love that once the new baby arrives, I'll be able to put two tiny little photos of my tiny little babes inside the locket, to keep them with me wherever I go. You can also get this charm engraved, so I think I'll have their initials put on the front to make it ever more meaningful. I paired my Sweetie bracelet with the stunning Narrative 18K Rose Gold Bracelet and the Timeless Sterling Silver bracelet to create a gorgeous stack.
I love the fact that my bracelet nods towards nostalgia and reminds me of my teenage years, but also now takes on a new meaning as a women, someone with different priorities and values. I don't think there are many brands that could achieve that.
This post is in collaboration with Links of London
