A holiday abroad with a baby – what to pack

August 7, 2017August 6, 20173 Comments

Following from my “flying for the first time with a baby” (historically one of my all time most commented, clicked and shared posts – THANK YOU!), it taught me that perhaps more of those kind of informative posts could be of help and interest to fellow newish mothers like me, especially when it come to travel.

For that reason I want to share with you my baby packing check list when going on a (summer) overseas holiday with a baby. I’ve shared this list already with a few friends (who know I have a spreadsheet for everything in life!) and I also received DMs on Instagram from those replying to my Instastories with questions during our recent (and first family summer) holiday to Menorca.

I hope you or a friend/relative find this useful and please let me know if you have any suggestions to add. I’ve linked to some of the products (not sponsored!) for ease for you to click/browse/purchase.

So here goes, my checklist for going on a summer holiday with a baby…

Me and Henry on our first summer holiday recently to Menorca

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Don’t worry be hippie!

July 24, 2017Leave a comment

As mentioned in a recent blog post, my 6-months post partum update, I was “en route” to Ibiza to spend 36 hours on the White Isle with one of my best friends. Becoming a new mummy can limit one’s social life and QT with besties in those first few months of motherhood, so when the opportunity came about, how could I say no! Especially when I found a return flight from Southend airport on my doorstep for just £45 return!

Having “been there and done that” regarding big club nights out in Ibiza in my 20s, this trip was all about the R&R (okay maybe with one or two vodka and limon drinks).

I was invited by renowned beach club brand Nikki Beach to enjoy a day at their Ibiza location – at their “Don’t Worry Be Hippie” weekly Wednesday event. I’d been to Nikki Beach in Miami a couple of years ago, which I loved, thus I was sooooo excited to experience their Ibiza haunt.

Here’s my review and photo diary of our day at Nikki Beach Ibiza…

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A mommy’s morning in the West Village

June 29, 2017June 28, 2017Leave a comment

When I took Henry to NYC, I HAD to take him to one of my favourite parts of the city – the West Village. Not that he was going to remember it, being just 5 months old at the time, but as I was an avid fan of the TV series Sex and the City and F.R.I.E.N.D.S during my teenage years, I simply had to document our morning in the West Village and beyond…

The infamous exterior of Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment (exclude the political poster top right!)

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Flying with a baby for the first time

June 8, 2017June 7, 20173 Comments

I recently took Henry on his first flight and to the Big Apple – yes a 5-month old on a long haul flight, 7 hours 50 minutes no less. A few people quoted I was “brave” and/or “mad”, others said “go for it” and some simply said “good luck”!

Me and my little lad on the Brooklyn Bridge

Since my trip, many have asked me questions about travelling with a baby. Can you take baby milk in hand luggage? What’s the deal with pushchairs on board?

So I thought I’d blog about my learnings and tips which I hope will be of interest to anyone looking to take a little one on their first flight – long or short haul….

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A Center Parcs getaway with a baby

May 15, 2017May 29, 20172 Comments

As a new parent, holiday shopping can seem daunting. You want accommodation that offers the facilities you want, to maintain some level of normality with your routine (happy baby + happy mummy + happy daddy = happy days) and a resort that is family friendly and makes life as easy as possible for (new-ish) parents. Especially when you’re spending a hard earned wage.

For a relative’s landmark birthday, a small group of us recently stayed at Center Parcs, in their Elveden Forest resort in Suffolk. This was Henry’s first holiday and the first time we have taken him away from home overnight and in this instance 3 nights. As a first time mother, naturally the planning involved lists galore, lots of questions (thank you Center Parcs for being so responsive on Twitter!) and about a week to get ready and packed…

Home for the weekend? Sure!

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My biggest learnings and tips from blogging so far

July 31, 2016August 1, 2016Leave a comment

Flamingo Monroe is two years old! I can’t believe I’ve been blogging for two years already. Where does time go?! To celebrate my blog’s 2nd birthday I have decided to write up my biggest learnings and lessons, which hopefully will help fellow aspiring bloggers out there.

Writing this has made me realise that I really should put a lot of my words in to practise…