An Unforgettable Anniversary Escape at Hillcrest, Canopy Escapes

 

Eleven years of marriage is something worth celebrating, and each year we make a point of getting away together to slow down, reconnect, and create new memories. Over the years, we’ve stayed in quite a few glamping spots around New Zealand, but this year, for our 11th wedding anniversary, we found something truly special: Hillcrest at Canopy Escapes in Martinborough.

From the moment we arrived, we knew this was going to be one of the most memorable stays yet. Nestled on a secluded hilltop, Hillcrest offers breathtaking panoramic views, complete privacy, and a sense of tranquillity that instantly melts away the stress of everyday life.

YEARLY RECAP: 2024 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

2024 was such a wonderful year for us—a year filled with sweetness and unforgettable memories. The most beautiful gift of all, our girl Alba, arrived and made us a family of five!

Every year, I like to reflect on the year that was by sharing a little roundup on my blog, along with our family photos taken at this special time of year. These photos bring me so much joy and serve as a beautiful reminder of all that we’ve experienced. I’m incredibly proud of my little family.

J&J in Wellington

What better way to celebrate a birthday than a weekend getaway! Each year we take Arlo & Belle away for their birthdays. Last year we did Taupo which you can read about here. We love to spend time as a family and much prefer experiences than presents. This year we decided to take them just over the hill to the coolest little capital in the world, Wellington. I love capturing our holidays together as a family and finding family friendly accommodation, activities and eateries to share with you all.

Meet Alba

These photos bring me so much joy. We did family photos with Light by Nika last year and absolutely loved them so much, that we knew we wanted to do it again this year, especially since we recently became a family of 5! She manages to capture our kids' personalities so perfectly.

We would like to officially introduce you to our newest member, Alba Atarita Ngahuia Carlson, weighing 7.6 pounds and born at 3.14am on the 19th of April.

Letter to my second daughter

 

Dear baby girl #2!

J&J Babymoon & Sprinkle

We had the ultimate weekend celebrating not only our Babymoon but also our Baby Sprinkle in the same weekend! We booked The Shearer's Shed through Canopy Escapes which is a converted wool-shed that is rustic, stylish, and perfect for families or friends.

J&J Drovers Lookout

 

I wanted to do something special for our ten year wedding anniversary and managed to pull off a surprise getaway for Jake!

Surprising Jake was no easy feat, however, with a little help from his EA at work I managed to block out a few days in his work calendar secretly. Being pregnant and in my third trimester meant that our trip to the Maldives would have to wait until another year. But I had managed to book us something rather special…

Osaka ~ Japan

Next stop in Japan was Osaka, otherwise known as “Japan’s Kitchen”. Osaka is a city filled with street markets, food experiences and restaurants galore, all of which make it a great destination, especially if you happen to be foodies like us!

YEARLY RECAP: 2023 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

It's that time of year where I share a little round up of the year that was. We also use this time of year to do some family photos. I adore looking back over the years and looking at photos we take to see how much the family has grown. This year we headed down to Henley Lake park here in the Wairarapa, and found a cute little spot under the trees. It's a great park where you can take a walk, feed the ducks or even take a picnic.

Kyoto ~ Japan

Early in the morning we caught the Hikari Bullet Train to Kyoto.  Kyoto is like Japan in perfection. No other place on our entire journey through Japan made us feel as immersed in Japanese culture as Kyoto. You can be sure that a trip to Kyoto will result in days of being amazed by geishas and gardens, temples and shrines, history and tradition.

Hakone ~ Japan

 

It was time to catch the train and make our way to our next destination in Japan, Hakone! We caught the Romance car which was super cool and an experience in itself. Hakone is a mountain town located just a few hours from Tokyo. You can enjoy a view of Mount Fuji, many nature walks, visit shrines, and of course – the crisp mountain air. You can also enjoy Japan’s favourite pastime – bathing in an onsen!

Cherry Blossom Bohemian Nights Picnic

Spring is here!! Which means, picnic season has arrived! Picnics are seriously one of my favourite things to do, whether it’s catching up with your besties, a romantic date, a family picnic… or in this case to celebrate my birthday! Picnics are the perfect way to spend time catching up while digging into some great food, vino, and making new memories! And what better way to do so than with Bohemian Nights, Wairarapa’s luxury picnic event stylist!

Tokyo ~ Japan

Ahhh, Japan! What an incredible place. Japan has been on my bucket list for a long time and I can 100% say the food was a major reason. Is Japan also on your travel list? Then you're in luck my matcha-loving, sushi-searching friend. I’m sharing all my favourites that we visited on our recent trip. Funny story is that we actually already planned and had booked flights and hotels back in 2020 before Covid hit the world. So finally 3 years later we rebooked our trip! This trip would be especially special as it was also my travel partner (mum’s) birthday while we were there!

J&J Black Bivvy

It wouldn't be a birthday trip away without some glamping! Nestled in the mature native bush in the King Country region, you'll find this off the grid wooden cabin called Black Bivvy. This is a peaceful paradise like no other.

As soon as we stepped out of the car, we found ourselves immersed in nature, with a constant backdrop of bird song and playful Piwakawaka dancing amongst the trees. I knew right away that I wouldn’t want to leave, and I hadn't even explored inside yet! During our stay we also spotted a few Tui.

J&J in Taupo

Keen for a Winter getaway? We decided to get our Winter fix and headed to Taupo for a family holiday and to celebrate Arlo’s and Belle’s birthdays. Our kid's birthdays are only two days apart! Haha! It means I have to be super organised! We are not big on presents and much prefer to celebrate with experiences.

Located in the centre of the North Island, Taupo is a great place for a family vacation…and we would know, because we just got back! Lake Taupo is the largest lake in New Zealand and one of the coolest facts is that it’s actually a crater lake as this whole area was a big volcano. How cool is that?

Paris ~ Part two

With umbrellas in hand the next day we made our way to Montmartre, a lovely area of Paris perched up on a hill. This neighbourhood looks like a village within the capital city. It’s one of the most charming areas of Paris and it’s full of photogenic corners. Rue de l’Abreuvior is the prettiest street in Paris. Here you will also find La Maison Rose, one of the most iconic spots of Montmartre and one of the prettiest cafes in Paris with its pink walls and green shutters.

Paris ~ Part one

I'll never forget my first time in Paris. Strolling the streets, marvelling at the beautiful buildings, and eating the most delicious food. The smell of freshly baked croissants drifting through the air, cobbled streets. Parks filled with people having picnics and kids playing with toy boats in fountains. It's magical! Paris is a feeling. I get chills thinking about it. I would move to Paris in a heartbeat!

And then there were FOUR!

Life has been jam packed since having little Belle! I’m so glad that we managed to take some time out for some new family photos with Light By Nika. I'm always so passionate about taking family photos especially because children just grow so damn quickly! They are constantly changing and I'm forever trying to slow down and take it all in and capture the moment. One of my favourite things is looking back at photos and remembering those captured magical moments. If you've ever been to my house the walls are covered in memories close to my heart.

Singapore

Singapore may be small, but it definitely packs in a lot of things to see and do.  A melting pot of cultures in a picture-perfect setting, Singapore has it all.  Situated beside Malaysia, it has become one of the most visited cities in the world, and it’s easy to see why!

Even after my fourth visit here I’m still surprised by how much the city has to offer!  Out of all the Asian cities I have visited so far, Singapore is my favurite.  Most travellers choose to spend a few days exploring the city during a stopover, since the Changi Airport is a big hub for travel destinations.  We used it as a stop over on the way to Europe but it also makes a great holiday stop! 

Here is a list of some of my favourite places in Singapore, which you simply can not miss during your trip, including secret spots and restaurant tips!

Ready to fall in love with this one-of-a-kind destination?

Yearly recap: 2022 Happy New Year!

Finally getting around to doing our yearly recap! I love to look back on all our adventures and I’m always so surprised at how much we actually fit into one year.

We also use this time of year to do some family photos. This year we headed down to one of our favourite spots here in the Wairarapa, Uruti Point which is nestled in the Wairarapa coastline and only a short drive from Riversdale beach. It also makes the perfect backdrop for family photos. During Summer, you can find us here a lot, swimming or having a picnic or having lunch at our local favourite and recently opened Homewood Storeroom Cafe.