Anybody who knows me knows that my hubby and I LOVE to ski. In fact we love skiing so much our eldest is named after a famous skier (and he’s not called Herman…).
I’ve also blogged before about how for me, being in the mountains and skiing too, help me be more mindful. In essence, it’s my way of ‘rebooting’ and enjoying the wonders of the present moment. 
So when I read Amy Treasure’s post about her festive holiday in Val d’Isere (and saw her gorgeous Instagram feed) I felt lots of admiration for her getting stuck into the skiing lessons, mixed with a fairly large dollop of envy on the side. You see, pre-twins, we would always go skiing over the festive period and I was definitely missing the mountains sat in grey and drizzly South-East London. I even went as far as to put a little montage together of some old skiing photos as my ‘happy new year’ message to ‘virtually’ immerse myself in the mountains instead of really being there.
Amy and the other Mark Warner Blogger Ambassadors are now passing on the the baton and as we are beginning to think about our up-coming ski holiday to the ultra child-friendly Flaine in the northern French Alps, the Mark Warner ’10 Travel Must Haves’ challenge caught my eye.
So I’ve taken up the challenge and here are my ‘must-haves’ for a family skiing holiday:
Must-have #1: An Intention. Go with a strong intention to have a blast in a ski resort…and you will. This is the ‘hoodie’ that I live in when I’m ‘loafing’ around the ski apartments and it always reminds me that the holiday is as much for me as it is for the kids. 
Must-have #2: Warm Stuff. Obvious right? Well I’ll also add that is FUN and EYE-CATCHING. Firstly, no one wants to be battling with the little ones to get their kit on so some fun and comfy outdoor wear is a must. Secondly, if you are trying to do a ‘ski-by’ of a class to check how the children are getting on, it helps if they stand out from the crowd.
Must-have #3: Sun protection. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking this is a winter holiday so sun protection won’t be needed. The mountains are a fabulous place to enjoy some bright and beautiful sunny days.
Must-have #4: The mountain version of the Mum bag aka a ‘changing bag’. A rucksack like this is a must on the mountains – practical – and a little bit bling. To pack the usual bits and a few more added extras besides.
Must-have #5: Last year’s lift pass. If you are returning to a familiar resort take your old lift pass so that it can be reused – it’s good for the environment (and the pocket!).
Must-have #6: Some family games for a bad weather afternoon or a cosy evening in front of the fire. We love playing card games and other ‘old school’ games on our hols. Uno is also a firm favourite for a family break.
Must-have #7: Some reading material. Remember I mentioned a cosy night in front of the fire? Well don’t forget something to read when you’re curling up. It’s a good opportunity to catch up on some Mindfulness reading for me :-). Also a chance to fill out your ‘gratitude log’ which also ties in very nicely with the #MWmoment principle of capturing a special moment to commit to memory.
Must-have #8: Entertainment if people have weary legs from skiing. If you’re self-driving chuck a sledge in. Flying? Sneak in a bumboard or two. Or just hire in resort. For afternoons when the kids still want to play outside but are too tired to ski anymore.
Must-have #9: Something for the evening. Ever since living and working in a sk
i resort I have loved the laid back ski resort vibe. Warm knits and lots of layers are the order of the day. This has been my go to evening cardigan for a couple of seasons now as it adds a bit of sparkle but is also very relaxed too.
Must-have #10: And for a good night’s sleep? Don’t forget the little ones’ fave cuddly toys too!
Have fun if you are about to embark on your first family ski trip or are planning one for next season.
If you are a seasoned skiing family is there anything you would add to the list?
Mission: Mindfulness - the blog 