Claudia Sylvester chats about her summer holidays

Hello! Hope you're enjoying the summer!

This is a pic of my daughter Bella and I on holiday in Cyprus recently. We had such a lovely time.

Before the holiday
I love going on family holidays. Before I go I always get a spray tan at my local salon so I'm not too pale. That way I'm not tempted to sunbathe, not that I get much chance with three active children! I'm always on the move - swimming, chasing them along the beach, going on treasure hunts.

I always clean my house from top to bottom before going away. I wash ALL of the clothes, put everything away and leave the house immaculate for when we get back. Coming back to a clean house is the best thing after a holiday. As far back as I can remember my mum has always brought round bread, milk and other essentials the day before we get back so we don't have to pop to the shops. I do the same for her and Dad too - it's our little thing.

Flying
I never travel without a bottle of water and snacks for the kids as I don't like airplane food and I don't 'do' coloured drinks - I've worn too many of them in the past! I simply have to buy something at the airport and I make sure I run out of perfume just before my holiday! I still love the feeling of choosing a new one at the airport and taking it away with me.

Suitcase essentials
I always pack Elemis Liquid Layer for my face and put it on every day. I also love Decleor System Corps for my legs and body to hydrate my skin - great when you've had too much sun.

I'm a bikini kind of girl and pack a different one for each day. I love shopping for them before going away. I always treat myself to a new one and then take my older ones away too. I've got so many at home now! But it means that when one is ruined by the sea or chlorine I can throw it away without missing it too much.

I've got my more 'industrial' bikinis for playing with the children and a couple of 'bling' ones for being a little more elegant and doing a spot of sunbathing - you know the sort, with the little side ties and jewels - totally impractical for swimming! I wear little summer dresses over the top of them to go to the bar or restaurant.

I have a pair of glitzy Louis Vuitton sandals that I think add a touch of glamour to my beachwear! Sunglasses are a must and they never leave my face on holiday.

I don't like to wear two pieces in the hot weather, I hate anything around my waist, like a belt or tight waistband.  I love short swingy dresses and my Birkenstock sandals. I was in Cyprus recently and there was a shop that sold ONLY Birkenstock shoes and I did'nt realise just how many styles there are! Some are decorated with jewels and sequins and others in really bright colours - I wanted to buy them all! But I didn't get any because I thought it would be greedy - I bought three pairs from QVC last summer.

Once I'm on holiday I always make a point of taking my watch off and enjoying the time with my family.

Coming home
As soon as we come home our children always run straight up to their bedrooms, it's really funny. I remember once we were away for five weeks and Bella and Zak went straight to their rooms and stayed there for an hour just playing with their toys and telling everything how much they missed them 'Teddy I missed you...'

I hope you enjoyed my holiday chatter!

Love Claudia x

Comments

[Tracy Frewin]

Hi Claudia, reading your holiday blog, brought back some warm memories, as I was there the same time as you and your family which is where myself and husband Geoff and son Jordie met you. It truly was a great holiday and at least when it is raining outside (like today!) I have some good photos to look at to remind me what the sun looks like!! Hope you are all keeping well love Tracy

[jean]

hi claudia it sounds like you had a lovely hoilday in cyprus my husband and i lived there for two and half years from 1982-1985, it was heaven my son was born there 25 years ago, we lived in larnaca quite near to ayia napa which at that time was still a fishing villiage, we would love to go back and shown him where he was born

[claire stevens]

your holiday looked amazing where abouts in cyprus did you go and
what hotel did you stay at

[violet]

thoroughly enjoyed reading about your holidays and time spent with the children mine are grown now but I did and still clean the house before going away ..nothing nicer than opening the door on a lovely fresh clean house without having loads of jobs to do!! great. and cyprus is where I had my honeymoon and it was gorgeous (as you know) bye violet