My highlights of 2018!!!

Oh 2018 you absolute dream boat!!!!

I honestly thought nothing could ever top 2017. It was the year that I had my magical wedding of dreams and married my bestie, honeymooned in the Maldives (did you know I went there I hardly mention it?!) and celebrated the hubs 30th bday by living my best Lizzie McGuire/ Mary Kate and Ashley life in the dazzling city of Rome.

But 2018 you have been totally on par. So I thought I would share with you my top highlights of the year. Are you ready?….

My little sister’s wedding of dreams

I still always look at my sister likes she’s six years old despite there only being 2 years between us. Being the big sister I’ve always just felt fiercely protective of her. Oh don’t get me wrong we fight daily, mostly about clothes. But she’s my bestest friend in this world and seeing her marry my new bro in law was honestly the hightlight of 2018. It was the perfect countryside wedding, that took place in a magical ballroom. And she just looked so exquisite and beautiful it took my breath away. For the first time ever she stopped being my little sister and became a classy grown up woman.

Now let’s all just take a minute to appreciate the beautiful detail of this Pronovias Dress. SIMPLY STUNNING. And I got the honour of doing up her dress.

I want to do a proper blog on this day as there is so much to show and tell you, so I’ll get this up for you early next year promise. But for now here are a few spoiler pics.

Sis and bro you truly pulled off the most magical perfect day that I’ll remember forever.

Speaking of weddings, I’ve had about 12 these last two years, ridiculous right! But it really has been so special watching my closest friends marry their Prince Charming’s. Also lots of my close friends have recently had babies, with a few more on the way next year and it’s just so amazing seeing all my friends so happy. In-fact next year is the first year I have no weddings planned, which is weird as the last few years have been a whirlwind of hens, engagements and the big days itself. But this just means I’ll have to book more holidays instead, which I can definitely live with.

Here Come The Girls- Marbs baby!!

Speaking of hens let’s rewind back to that girls’ weekend of dreams for my sister’s hen in Marbs this July. We honestly lived our bestest life’s. We danced on tables and laughed until we cried and made memories for a lifetime. You can read all about my girls trip here. Same time next year girlies?

Celebrating our first anniversary in the city of dreams New York!

I can’t even put into words how magical and special this holiday was. As a pressie to the hubs for his 30th last year I surprised him with a trip to the big Apple, which would fall over our first anni. It was hands down the best five days of my life. New York is honesty my favourite place in the word as there is something so ridiculously magical about it.  I have SO much to say about this trip so I am currently planning the biggest ever New York City guide which will be coming your way early next year.

X0X0 Gossip Girl.

Holidaying in the Giant Barbie Dream House- The Atlantis Dubai

Every year I love to do a big city break with a jam packed itinerary and then a holiday where I became a beach bum where the only activities to complete are drinking endless cocktails, reading piles of books whilst sizzling under the sun and eating myself into a shamu oblivion. So that’s exactly what we did this June- and in the best location of them all-  the giant version of Barbies dream house at The Atlantis Dubai!

It was our second time back there and it was even more magical and special than we could have ever hoped for. And you have guessed what’s coming next – yep a v detailed review is coming soon. But if you’re looking for a summer holiday that is fun, fabulous and luxurious with divine food and drink, then this is the palace for you.

Lights Camera Action

I’ve worked in the television world for eight years and 2018 has been the best most exciting year yet. I’ve been incredibly lucky to work as a Producer for some of my favourite ever entertainment shows this year, including two Celebrity Big Brothers, the final ever Big Brother (sob love you forever),The Crystal Maze and development for the upcoming series of Shipwrecked.

Working in TV can be extremely hard, the hours can be relentless and usually last minute changes can throw months of hard work out the window. And lots of the time you have to work away on location away from your loved ones and home for weeks on end. In this job you have to expect the unexpected. But hey that’s why we all secretly love it, because no day is the same, it’s so exciting and for all the long tiring days I am surrounded by the bestest people, who I am lucky to call some of them my closest besties. And my goodness have we made the silliest of memories.

Because I work as part of the task game and challenge world we are the brains behind all the ‘editorial’, so as an example all the tasks and challenges you see on Big Brother and all the games played on The Crystal Maze. It’s the most incredible thing developing ideas in a meeting room to then seeing them created and coming to life on the most incredible sets by the design team. Turning dreams into a reality is such an exciting part of my job and I’m very lucky to be a part of this world.

The launch of Summersholiyay!!!!!

2018 saw Summersholiyay come to life -and whilst I still have so much to learn and improve on, I’m still so proud I took the plunge and finally started what I’ve been desperate to do for the last three years! I can’t even count the amount of times I’ve said to the hubs that I wanted to create this blog, but always made up another excuse as to why I would postpone starting it. So I finally took the plunge this August and I’m not going to look back.

Ultimately this blog started because of my absolute love of writing (and talking rubbish 24/7) but I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or if it would ever take off. And I was PETRIFED.

It was always my dream to tell people about the exciting adventures I had been on around the world so far and hopefully inspire people when making their travel plans. My head has been filled with so many ideas the last few years as I’m constantly on wanderlust mode and I was just bursting to get them out of my head and onto paper.

But I was just so nervous what people would think, especially those closest to me. Would they judge me and think I was being silly? And most importantly was I being ridiculous to think that anyone would even care about what I had to say?

But as it turns out this was the best decision I ever made. And although for now this is just a ridiculously fun hobby on top of my telly job, I have already been lucky to work with some great companies already and I’m excited to see where next year will take me.

But what has really shocked me the most is the kind and amazing people I have connected with on Instagram this year. It’s the most supportive and heart-warming industry to be a part of and I’m so ready for what’s to come.

So there we have it, my 2018 squeezed into one page.

And I am now getting very excited for 2019 and all the adventures it may bring. I already have two exciting holidays booked, and am working on an extremely exciting TV Show (all will be revealed soon I promise) It’s also the last year of my twenties as I turn 30 next Christmas eek! I’m hoping to spruce this website up in Jan and already have a number of blog posts planned including a review of The Atlantis Dubai and my HUGE New York Guide.

But for now I’m going to spend the next few weeks celebrating my bday with loved ones and eating myself into a food coma. (BRB whilst I become the roast potato version of Violet from Charlie and the choc factory)

I hope you all have the most magical Christmas and I can’t thank you enough for all the support this year! I’ll see you in 2019- have a good one darlings.

 Lots of love Sammy xxx