Hi, Lucy here...

I’ve just spoken to Baukjen and she’s arrived safely in New York City – just in time for New York Fashion Week, one of the most important events in the style calendar. A manic day awaits, with back-to-back appointments and vital preparations for the show tomorrow. Isabella Oliver will be participating in the Red Dress Collection, a catwalk show featuring 25 designers and a host of celebrities to help support The Heart Truth. Baukjen is currently struggling to even get a cab (see below) in the snowy New York weather. We wish her the best of luck for today!

Happy New Year and I hope it's a healthy and happy one for you and your family.

We've just arrived back from a lovely Christmas and New Years at my in laws in the Dutch countryside. They live in a beautiful village where all the houses have thatched roofs and it's very peaceful. This year, the countryside was white, covered in snow which was refreshed every few days with a new snow fall. Below are photos of the view from our bedroom and also a picture of a walk outside with the kids.

It was a very calm holiday which was lovely after such a hectic year. We spent hours by the the log fires, playing with the kids, walking in the snow, visiting gorgeous neighbouring villages, delicious dinners cooked by both my father in law and mother in law, reading books (I especially enjoyed "Audacity to Win" by David Plouffe - though sometimes a bit tricky if you're not familiar with all the ins and outs of the US presidential campaigns). All in all a wonderful way to end 2009 and begin 2010. Hope you had a relaxing holiday too, Baukjen

View from our bedroom:

On one of the walks:

Amsterdam is so gorgeous to look at from the canals. We picked Geoff up with Froukje and Andre's boat (see below for the boat).

The sun was setting and it was gorgeous. We then 'sailed' to a bar which we used to go to when we lived in Amsterdam (Cafe de Prins) and parked the boat to have a drink and some 'bitterballen'.

We then took the boat back to Froukje and Andre's house as Andre was going to cook dinner (again. lucky us - he is a fantastic cook). The sun had set and the lights in everyone's houses makes it look magical at night. My photos are all blurry. Once we arrived back home (well, Froukje and Andre's home) the usual takes place: fireplace on, candles lit, music on, wine bottle uncorked, andre cooking, us sitting at the table chatting (we of course do offer to help cook but all four us prefer to work solo when we cook). Followed by great food, hours of talking, the perfect evening again.

On the boat going through Amsterdam canals with Froukje and Andre.

One of the things I love about Amsterdam is how you can look into each other's houses and it always looks so cosy. While it would be rude to peer in to one another's homes in London, in Holland it's perfectly normal. I asked the woman who lived in this house whether I could take a picture of her kitchen/living room. She was totally happy with it, waving at us through the window. It's a former shop and you see this quite a lot in Amsterdam. I love it.

Hi, Baukjen here. Have taken a few days off and am in Amsterdam with Geoff staying with my cousin and her husband (Froukje and Andre). Last night we had a gorgeous traditional Dutch dinner cooked by Andre who loves to cook and is very good at it. Another cousin joined us and it was a perfect evening. This morning after Geoff left for a meeting, Froukje came in to the bed with two enormous cups of tea, her lap top and we exchanged our favourite websites. Here's a picture Andre took of us.

By the way, they have one of the most gorgeous houses in Amsterdam and now that the eldest child has left, they've started a little bed and breakfast. To book, visit their website www.TheHouseOfFiner.com

Hi Baukjen here. At the airport now on my way to Amsterdam. Just bumped in to Aimee (one of the designer sisters behind Sara Berman) whom is off to Athens. Just emailed Sara this picture....

Hi, it's been 5.5 years since we launched Isabella Oliver. Before that Geoff and I (Baukjen) worked in corporate environments (Vanessa always in fashion). Anyway, you would sign off an email with "Regards". If you got on with someone really well, you'd perhaps sign off with "Kind regards" or "Warm regards". When we launched IO, we'd sometimes get emails signed off with "name x". It was always people in the media or pr. Then you would feel cold emailing back and signing off with warm regards, so sometimes you'd sign with a x too. Fast forward to now, lots of people sign off with x whether you know them well or not and it's become all confusing. No idea what it's going to be like in 5 years but at the rate it's going it will probably be xoxoxo. My mother and mother in law would be horrified!

Hi, Baukjen here.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about an upcoming "glamping trip" with friends. Quite a few people emailed me to say they loved the look of the set up. Also many at Isabella Oliver loved it and I think there are a few bookings being made by the team here.

However, one reply came rather unexpected. It was from my mother in law who reads this blog (hello!). She, and my father-in-law, live in the country in the Netherlands in a place I never knew existed until I met my husband's family. It is very picturesque and remote. Of course in the past 10 years, I have been there many many times. Anyway, after reading the blog entry about the upcoming glamping trip in the UK, she emailed me to say that there is a Feather Down Farm 10 minutes from their house! I can't believe how of all places in the world, there is one just around the corner from my in laws... And we never knew or came across it.

Hi, Baukjen here. This summer we are going camping for the first time in a couple of decades! A friend has organised for a bunch of friends and kids to go for a long weekend. She calls it Glamping. If you're in the UK, have a look, it looks amazing and I think we will have loads of fun. Click here to visit the website.

Hi,

We have just arrived back from a few weeks in Egypt where we stayed at the Four Seasons in Sharm El Sheikh. We absolutely loved it, the children did too. The resort is beautiful but the people that work there make it exceptional. Fantastic service, food, location and of course people. We also met quite a few people whom we knew via others in London which was nice. One of the kids became ill with a middle ear infection but recovered well and was spoilt rotten. Every day we swam for hours, played ball games with the kids, admired all the fishes around the beautiful coral reef and read books. We also did a few cooking courses with Chef Ahmed (thank you!). We will be practising all the recipes he taught us. We have been to many hotels with the kids but this was without doubt the best experience, a really relaxing holiday for the kids and for us. Back in London now, tomorrow the first day in the office again, looking forward to seeing everyone again. Happy New Year!

We headed off to Istanbul for the weekend to celebrate Geoff's birthday. On the plane I read lots of magazines and then started to watch a film on my laptop called The Notebook. Not a good idea. Tears streaming down my face. I didnt have enough time to finish the film so in the taxi to the hotel I watched the rest, again tears. Geoff was handing me tissues. What a beautiful film but do make sure you have tissues at hand. Istanbul is a fabulous city to visit. Lots to see, fantastic restaurants, friendly people, a weekend is really too short.

FedEx very kindly invited us to Edinburgh for a weekend. Geoff has been as an 8 year old, I had never been. What an absolutely fantastic and beautiful city! I felt a bit ashamed that every weekend and holiday that we have outside of London entails a flight out of the country (or a trip to Babington House) when cities such as Edinburgh are relatively close. We took the train as it was only an hour longer door to door than going via airplane. Very relaxing with lovely views. A man in a kilt was awaiting us on the platform when we arrived. What a reception. In Edinburgh, FedEx had organised dinners in fabulous restaurants and visits to Edinburgh hot spots. We also had lots of time to spend how we wished, Geoff and I walked for hours through the old town. On Friday we spent the day at Gleneagles. Again, absolutely beautiful. We met some very interesting people from lots of different industries and not to forget the people from FedEx whom were very hospitable and friendly (as they are in business too). On Sunday we headed back to London but felt sad to leave the city. A big thank you to FedEx. And a big recommendation for Edinburgh. I hope we will be back at some point.

Today we heard that Silverjet has entered in to administration. We were so sorry to hear this as the service was absolutely wonderful. We fly to New York every couple of months and very much enjoyed their fabulous service. The surge in the fuel prices did them no favours and we are very sorry they did not manage to secure the financing they needed. Many people can not afford business, let alone first class service of airlines and Silverjet had achieved an excellent compromise. We saw many dedicated travellers of other carriers slowly switch to Silverjet and after rave about the experience from beginning to end. We were huge fans while they were around and hope that somehow they secure the funding they need to resume operations as we think they were only at the start of innovating the flying experience. Whether they pull it off or not, our hats off to them for trying to bring a very welcome change to travel. Fingers crossed they will be back.

Hi, Baukjen here. Vanessa, Geoff and I spent nearly a week in New York. Lots of meetings, a great PR event and fun evenings with family, friends and business contacts. Everytime we are in New York we are amazed at all the entrepreneurial concepts from restaurants and bars to goods and services. New York must be one of the cities with the most entrepreneurial spirits. Everyone has some business ideas, we love it.

Another thing we love about New York is the people. Wherever we go, everyone talks to you, whether it be to help us find a location on a map, just strike up a conversation while we sit at tables next to each other, recommend a restaurant etc. It's really nice. We were happy to go back to our kids in London but sad to leave NYC.

Hi, Baukjen here. As everyone is one by one heading off on holiday, we just returned last night from ours. We went to Egypt where we stayed at the Four Seasons in Sharm El Sheikh. It was absolutely lovely - gorgeous weather, lovely resort, excellent service, nice food etc. At the Four Seasons they dont like kids - they love them, so our kids had a wonderful time. It's a bit of a shock coming back to London where the temperature has plummeted but it's great to see everyone else again. Tonight Vanessa and her husband are throwing a party before heading off for their family holiday in the snow. However you will be spending your holidays, we hope you will have a lovely time.

Hello, we have just arrived back from New York where we held a press event to launch our Spring Summer collection to the US fashion editors, stylists and journalists. We arrived last Tuesday and spent the week doing various meetings and of course our launch event. Everything went really well. Friday evening the work part of our trip was done, Vanessa flew back to London but Baukjen and Geoff stayed for the weekend. There was so much to enjoy and we walked around for hours every day and enjoyed fabulous restaurants in the evenings. We were also amazed how many people we bumped in to that we knew from London. All in all it was a great trip and we absolutely loved New York. Here's a picture Geoff took just after our launch event when we got back to our rooms and put our feet up before going to a meeting.

Hi, Baukjen here. We went to Babington House for the Easter Weeekend with the kids and friends. Geoff and I married there nearly 6 years ago and we met Vanessa and her husband there a few years later. Needless to say it is a special place for us. We arrived Friday lunchtime and left Tuesday. It was absolutely the best weekend we have had in ages. The staff had loads of fun things organised for the kids from pizza making lessons, pony riding, holding a rabbit to an easter egg hunt. It wasnt bad for us either, great food, great company, great weather, happy kids... All in all it was as close to perfect as we've ever experienced. Back in the office now and a huge shipment has arrived with all the styles in the crinkle fabric. We have had loads of orders for these styles and we know it must be annoying to wait for these to come in. Our apologies for the wait!!! The customer services team is working flat out to get the orders out as soon as they can but it's a big job. Hope we get them out for you to enjoy soon (its gorgeous weather here in London at the moment and I will absolutely be wearing the maxi dress this weekend.) P.s. Vanessa is off skiing this week but will be back next week.

At Isabella Oliver we have always had lots of people working here who are from Australia and New Zealand. The sad thing is when they have to go back home because their Visa runs out. We've recently said goodbye to a few people who we were really sorry to see leave. Susan, head of Customer Services, is on holiday at the moment in New Zealand and flew to Sydney, Australia to meet up with some of our old team members - Kristy and Honi. Here they are pictured having a nice reunion. Wish we were there. We hope Susan comes back!!

Pepita, a friend of Baukjen, is an entrepreneur and runs one of the top wedding gift registries in the UK. Pepita is involved in an exciting project and has asked for help. Below is what she writes:

"I have been invited to participate in an extraordinary project which is being filmed for Channel 4 and goes to air later this year. The objective is to see if business people can deliver sustainable development programs in Africa more effectively than the existing arrangements. The project is supported by World Vision, one of the biggest charities working out there.

The program will be called The Mission. The cameras will follow eight 'successful entrepreneurs' (of which I'm apparently one) as we apply our entrepreneurial flair to finding and implementing businesses or programs which will improve the lot of the low income communities near the war-ravaged Rwandan border.

Although we will be working with World Vision, our projects will be entirely new and must be self-funded. Which is where your help comes in. Each entrepreneur has to raise £15,000 to bring to the project. This will give us a total of £120,000 to try and transform the economy of a small part of south-west Uganda. I need your help to get to that £15,000 target. Every penny raised will go directly to helping communities find a route out of poverty. And you'll be able to see exactly how we do it on television! It's the most transparent donation you'll ever make.

To find out more or to help me make a difference in Uganda, please visit www.wrapit.co.uk and pretend you're a guest buying a wedding gift. The bride's name is mine, Pepita Diamand. My lucky groom is Uganda Mission. I'll be extremely grateful for any contribution you can make."

Hi, Baukjen here. Geoff and I arrived back from India last night. We'd gone to Goa for a friends wedding which was wonderful. After the wedding we stayed on and enjoyed the sea, sun, friendly people and absolutely amazing food. I can't count how many pictures I've taken of the sunset on the Goan beaches! Here's one from the beach of our hotel. We travelled back via Bombay where we had an overnight stay in one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever stayed. It was a pity to only experience Bombay for an evening as it looks like an extremely vibrant city with lots to see. Geoff says we should come back and I agree, hope it will happen one day!

Hi, Baukjen here. Last night my mother and step father threw a party to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Hampstead Village Guesthouse. It was our family home while I grew up here in London and their business has grown from strength to strength and even won best London Bed and Breakfast several times. So last night, to celebrate, they invited friends and local clients for an evening at the theatre followed by drinks. It was a wonderful evening. To the next 25 years!

Geoff and I are off to Mallorca with the family for a week of sun, sea, food & wine and all other good things. Can't wait. It's been a busy time getting everything ready for the Autumn Winter launch. We launched it yesterday and its great to see how well the new pieces are doing already. A good mood to go on holiday with!

For valentines day, Geoff had booked a few nights at our favourite UK hotel, Babington House. We've had a fabulous time. We swam, read books, sat by the fireplace, had delicious dinners (the chef asked geoff if he was a cook as geoff had so many questions), had afternoon naps. It was bliss.

Hi,

Its Amy here. Last weekend I went on a short mini break to county Cork in Ireland with a couple of friends. It was beautiful and I plan on visiting again in the summer. This is a photo of me at Blarney Castle just after I kissed the Blarney stone!

Hi Rose here, last weekend my boyfriend and I flew over to Prague for a weekend break. Coming from New Zealand where Christmas means time spent on the beach having bbq's and enjoying the late setting sun, the Northern Hemisphere festive season is very different (and cold!)

However, Prague is absolutely gorgeous and definitely more like how a traditional Christmas should be- twinkling fairy lights in the trees, markets in the old town square, mulled wine in hand. The streets and buildings are so old and beautiful and I often felt like I was walking through a fairytale.

We had a great time, walked miles and miles, saw some amazing sites and ate and drank far too much! I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Here is a picture of me in Wenceslas Square in front of the illuminated markets, wearing my winter woolies.

Hi, Baukjen here. Geoff and I spent the weekend at Babington House a favourite hotel of ours where we married 4 years ago. It was the first time in months that we were kids free, we enjoyed it but I missed Pippa immensely.

At Babington House we spent hours reading newspapers, watching dvd's in bed in the middle of the afternoon, having a snooze after lunch with wine... all the things we dont get a chance to do in daily life.

We had some laughs too. On the first day a woman walked in to the bar who I immediately recognised but couldnt place. I said hello, enquired how she was etc etc.. all the while racking my brains where I knew her from. Finally I asked her only to be suprised that she didnt have a clue. Bewildered I asked her what she did for a living as maybe then I would remember where I had met her. She said she was an actress. Oh. From the telly (great show by the way). Poor woman was being polite but didnt know me at all.

The next day a man walked in to the hotel whom I immediately recognised but couldnt place. I avoided eye contact while I gave myself a chance to remember whose friend he was. After a minute I turned to Geoff who said he also recognised him but didnt know where from. Keen to make sure we didnt repeat the incident of the day before, Geoff asked Steffi the manager. Thank god we did as he is a famous chef and Geoff and I have never met the man!

Hi Susan here...
Mel one of my Customer Services girls has not long returned from a four week holiday (lucky her!) in Perth, Australia to see family, friends and be bridesmaid for her best friend.

This is Mel on Sentosa Island in Singapore on her way back to London. Mel said the birds weren't particularly friendly and one even tried to bite her! But we are certainly glad to have her back!

We just read about the Baby Me package at the W hotels in New York. It sounds like a perfect treat before the baby comes. We wish we had known about this when we were pregnant and in New York! If anyone goes or has been, please let us know how it was.

Hi, Baukjen here. A friend has set up a fab spa with her sister in Amsterdam a few months ago. It has taken off really well and has received lots of great press. So, if you're in Amsterdam.... pop by the Soap Company.

Isabella Oliver's stylist, Froukje (right), and photographer Martine (left) sent us this picture of them on holiday in Formentera. Maybe we can go there for the spring summer photoshoot? We wouldn't mind... The babe in the middle is Marit, Froukje's 13 year old daughter.