The very first vacation

Oooh, last week it finally happened: our first family vacation abroad. While Otis had already visited five countries in his first year, this was the first flight for one-and-a-half-year-old Elias. Destination: Portugal. Last year we were already busy booking a week away to Martinhal: a fantastic resort that is completely geared towards children. The nice thing is that the resort is not extremely large, which makes it feel not crowded at all. There are four swimming pools where the children can swim and play happily, three top restaurants with supervised kids corners (Otis didn't even want to sit with us anymore, read: a WHOLE evening of conversations to be had!) and the staff is completely geared towards all the running little ones. Especially now that we are traveling with two children, a spacious hotel room is really very nice. But now we even had an apartment with two floors! Specially designed for families, so that as parents you can still sit comfortably in the upper part in the evening while the children can already sleep downstairs. Oh yes, and did I mention that there is a fantastic kids club? Jon and I even got to enjoy a lovely massage in the spa. You hear it: we are fans and will definitely come back again.

I have been away for a week and the entire magazine landscape has been turned upside down. I was/am quite in shock. Titles like Glamour, Vogue, and Viva that are such a steady part of the Dutch magazines are disappearing like snow in the sun. Is everything going to be online soon? I think and especially hope that print never disappears, because I can enjoy physically reading a magazine so intensely, folding corners, tearing out pieces to keep... But I am sure: for some magazines this is definitely not a final goodbye.

In the past year, I have mostly bought fashion through preloved designer sites and I can tell you that the amount of joy is so much greater than with a new purchase. The search, the bidding, and waiting also ensure that you make much more conscious and considered choices for items that you really want to have. For example, I had been eyeing a pair of Balenciaga Track sneakers for months and then I found them: in this limited violet color, exactly my size and only worn three times. Every time I wear them, I also think about the journey to get them and that makes them even more special. If you also want to browse and consume fashion in a much greener way: my favorite sites are Vinted, Vestiaire, Designer-Vintage, and The Next Closet.