I can’t quite believe it, but it’s true! We have won the Millie’s Beach Huts Spirit of Summer competition 2016.
Thanks a million to everyone who voted for us, and then again to those of you who kept coming back each day to keep us in the top 10. We ended up with 4 of our photos in the final leader board which you can see here. I really can’t thank you enough *virtual cake and fizz all round –hurrah!
I found out on Saturday night that we had won, and had to fight back the tears because this competition has meant so much to me. It wasn’t about the prizes (which are completely amazing, and I am so, so thrilled and honoured to have won them), but it was all about this photo, the beach, and Millie’s Beach Huts.
Many of you will already know that Little Button wants to be a mermaid when she grows up. Yup… an actual mermaid. She’s a total beach babe, and I can see that her passion of all things sun, sand and sea are here to stay.
It’s like watching a mirror image of myself, we throw off our sandals, jump into the sand and we are free… peaceful and just plain goofy happy.
The winning photo is one of my all-time favourite moments of Little Button captured at the beach so far. She’s got a half built sand castle in front of her, but something caught her eye out to sea, and she was ever so sure that it was a mermaid. ‘When I grow up, I want to be a mermaid’ she mused, eager to catch another sighting. It felt like such a significant moment and I can remember it as clear as if it had only just happened.
I am so honoured to have this particular photo put up in the fabulous Millie’s Beach Huts.
It’s hard to put into words what the beach has come to mean to me this year. I have always been mad about it, but somehow, it’s woven itself into our lives much deeper than ever before and I just can’t shake the sand out of my shoes (in all senses of the word).
No matter the weather, the beach feels like home. Which will sound very strange considering we live in London. But something happened last month to make it so.
Millie’s Beach Huts and the beautiful Walton-On-The-Naze coastline are new finds for us this year. And, as if by fate, we managed to bag an August booking with Vicky, as she was about to open a brand new beach hut. Our experience of Harley, a gorgeous yellow beauty right on the front row of the promenade, was amazing, and I remember telling everyone that visiting the beach will never be the same again.
Indeed, visiting the Essex coastline will never be the same again, now that we know about Millie’s Beach Huts – I can’t recommend them enough. Wherever possible, we will be booking, and I expect we will be around the area quite a bit. Because…. well…. I have a new dream. A dream of a little beach hut of our own!
A huge thank you again to Millie’s Beach Huts, the judges and everyone that voted for us!
Ah congratulations!! I love that your daughter wants to be a mermaid! Your post makes me want to go to the beach #Dreamteam
Big Congrats !!! Little buttons does look pretty happy on the beach! Well Done. #DreamTeam
Yay!!!!!!!!! Congratulations – such lovely happy family pictures and you truly deserved the win xx #dreamteam
Congratulations hun!!! I liked your photo the most out of the final few as well #DreamTeam
Fantastic congratulations! And well done little button #dreamteam
Oh how wonderful – congratulations! Your photos are so gorgeous and totally capture the spirit of summer! #DreamTeam
Congratulations lovely! It is such a beautiful picture and captures the magic of childhood perfectly. You very much deserved to win. I can totally see why you would like a beach hut of your own. I read yesterday that you can “wash the sand out of your hair but never out of your heart”. Sums up beach life really well I think. 😉 Thank you for hosting #dreamteam xx
Yay congratulations!! I love the beach too. That picture is gorgeous and I love that your daughter wants to be a mermaid xx #dreamteam
Yay! Congratulations! I’m so pleased for you 🙂 #dreamteam
Hiya, just popping back from #DreamTeam, as j read your post the other day but only commented on Facebook / Twitter! Yay again! Many congrats on winning! It’s a fab prize and you totally deserve it! xxx
That’s fabulous well done and very well deserved too. Thanks for hosting #dreamteam
Congratulations! Photo evidence of when Little Button saw the little mermaid. Well done. Xx
Congrats! I love your photos. looking at them, I start to remember our summer vacation. Sad it is over 🙁 #DreamTeam
Congratulations! It really is a fab photo, and the story behind it is adorable! Alfie is a huge beach fan too, and I can’t wait for next year when he is old enough to run around himself! A truly deserving winner #DreamTeam
Oh wow! Congratulations that is amazing 🙂 #dreamteam
Aww congrats lovely! So well deserved, such a beautiful photo. I bet you are all so pleased with the win. What a way to end a marvellous summer on the beach 🙂 What a dream to own a beach hut of your own, see it, believe it, achieve it 😉 Emily #DreamTeam
Congratulations! I too have always wanted a beach hut. Many years ago I looked into buying one with a friend, but even then it was way too expensive. I still have that dream though 🙂 Alison x #DreamTeam
Congratulations! Loevely beach photos!
#dreamteam
Congratulations. It’s been lovely hearing updates of your progress and now you’ve actually won! Well done! And what lovely, happy pictures they are! #DreamTeam
Congrats lady!
#dreamteam
Well done! #dreamteam
CONGRATULATIONS!! What a gorgeous photo and such a worthy winner!! #dreamteam
Wow congratulations. I feel so lucky to live by the beach and get to see the sea everyday. My daughter is a total beach lover too. #DreamTeam
Aw what a lovely post! Well done and let’s hope Little Button realises her dream one day 🙂 Thanks for hosting #DreamTeam
Congrats on your win – I hope you get your hut! #DreamTeam
Congratulations these are stunning photos! Utterly lovely. I want to be a mermaid too, or at least get one of those knitted mermaid tail blankets!#dreamteam xx
Congratulations, and very well deserved! I love the beautiful description of how the beach has become part of your life this year. #DreamTeam
Congratulations, how wonderful, lovely pictures x #DreamTeam
Woo hoo Annette well done!! I’m so glad you guys won. We have spent some wonderful days on UK beaches this year and I agree, they can be magical places. Simple and free family fun away from devices and electronics 🙂 Hope you’ve had fun celebrating! Tor xx #dreamteam
Congratulations the beach huts do look gorgeous. So sweet that little button wants to be a mermaid #DreamTeam
Congratulations to you all especially little button. What a cute mermaid! Great photos and well deserved winners #DreamTeam
Massive congratulations for winning! What beautiful photos.
This summer seems to have gone on and on and on… I nearly got excited about dragging out my old faithful boots last week, only for the temp gauge to hit 25 degrees again! Haha.
big love, L
xxx
#Dreamteam
Yay so pleased for you that your dream came true. It definitely is a lovely photo. #DREAMTEAM
I’m so happy that you won! Yours was such a gorgeous picture 🙂 Love all your beach shots, such happy family time together…how gorgeous that Little Button wants to be a mermaid too aww…thank you for hosting #dreamteam with me xx
Congratulations Ann. Well deserved. The photo is great. Hope you have many more fun adventures at the beach #dreamteam
Oh my goodness I could just squish you…thanks for introducing me to this concept…beach huts that you can book?! Wow…I really do live on a little rock in the Med as I knew nothing of such things! Your excitement and happiness at winning is so utterly adorable and just pours out of this post Annette, bless you. Huge congrats and now I know you’re a beach lover, I have to ask…what are you waiting for? Come see us in Malta! #dreamteam
Whoop whoop well done you that’s brilliant it’s a gorgeous photo and the story behind it had brought a little tear to my eye too. Good luck with your hunt! Thanks so much for hosting #dreamteam xx
Congratulations on winning. This photos are great and really represent summer well x #pointshoot
Well done! Keep dreaming little one I could see you being a mermaid! Just gorgeous xx
Well done. So glad you won. Thanks for linking up to #PointShoot x
Congratulations – lovely photos. Your daughter is so precious, aw. I think I want to be a mermaid now too… x