From the hotly anticipated follow-up to the TikTok sensation It Ends With Us to a genre-defying meditation on forbidden love, and a feel-good romance that’s bound to get you in the festive spirit, here’s what Zoella Book Club reads we’ll be hibernating with this winter, no doubt with a mountain of Quality Street in tow. 

September – Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield 

In this sweeping debut, Riverdale and Locke and Key star Asha Bromfield takes readers to the heart of Jamaica, and into the soul of a girl coming to terms with her family, and herself, set against the backdrop of a hurricane. 

Tilla has spent her entire life trying to make her father love her. But every six months, he leaves their family and returns to his true home: the island of Jamaica. 

When Tilla’s mother tells her she’ll be spending the summer on the island, Tilla dreads the idea of seeing him again, but longs to discover what life in Jamaica has always held for him. In an unexpected turn of events, Tilla is forced to face the storm that unravels in her own life as she learns about the dark secrets that lie beyond the veil of paradise – all in the midst of an impending hurricane. 

October’s Pick – That Green Eyed Girl, by Julie Owen Moylan

Be transported to mid-century New York in this evocative page-turning debut about forbidden love, loss and deceit. Part historical thriller, part coming-of-age tale, the beautiful sense of place, city heat and complicated women at the heart of this novel will have you gripped from the first page. Told through two alternative timelines spanning 20 years, That Green Eyed Girl is a skilfully constructed must-read for 2022! 

1955: In an apartment on the Lower East Side, school teachers Dovie and Gillian live as lodgers. Dancing behind closed curtains, mixing cocktails for two, they guard their private lives fiercely. Until someone guesses the truth…

1975: Twenty years later in the same apartment, Ava Winters is keeping her own secret. Her mother has become erratic, haunted by something Ava doesn’t understand – until one sweltering July morning, she disappears.

Soon after her mother’s departure, Ava receives a parcel. Addressed simply to ‘Apartment 3B’, it contains a photo of a woman with the word ‘LIAR’ scrawled across it. Ava does not know what it means or who sent it. But if she can find out then perhaps she’ll discover the answers she is seeking – and meet the woman at the heart of it all…

November’s Pick – It Starts With Us, by Colleen Hoover

CoHo is back with another unputdownable read with this hotly anticipated sequel to It Ends With Us, and this time, we get a whole book dedicated to Atlas. As we should. Yasss to Colleen giving the people what they want. Will we ever recover? Unlikely. 

Before It Ends with Us, it started with Atlas. Colleen Hoover tells fan favourite Atlas’s side of the story and shares what comes next in this long-anticipated sequel to the #1 Sunday Times bestseller It Ends with Us.

Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, have just settled into a civil co-parenting rhythm when she suddenly bumps into her first love, Atlas, again. After nearly two years separated, she is elated that for once, time is on their side, and she immediately says yes when Atlas asks her on a date.

But her excitement is quickly hampered by the knowledge that, though they are no longer married, Ryle is still very much a part of her life—and Atlas Corrigan is the one man he will hate being in his ex-wife and daughter’s life.

Prepare to be emotionally unavailable for approx. 8-10 business days. 

December’s Pick – Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, by Jenny Bayliss 

Don’t miss the Christmas wedding of the year, in Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, by the bestselling author of The Twelve Dates of Christmas, Jenny Bayliss.

Perfect for fans of Beth O’Leary and Josie Silver, the novel is filled with romance and humour and makes for a fantastic Christmas treat if you’re looking for a festive rom-com fix. Featuring an eccentric cast of characters coupled with Jenny’s signature sparkle and warmth, it’s the quintessential cosy winter read we all crave at this time of year. 

A city bookshop owner heads to the English countryside for a holiday reunion- only to face her childhood enemy…

A winter wedding of school friends should be the highlight of Nory Noel’s festive calendar. But that group has long since drifted apart, and Nory is dreading the lavish, week-long affair. Still, she supposes, being the only single person means she gets a king-size bed in the idyllic castle venue all to herself.

As the champagne flows, the years roll back and soon the air is alive with old sparks and old tensions. Desperate for a moment of peace, Nory escapes and crashes into Isaac, the castle’s gardener – and her former school rival.

Nory and Isaac have more in common these days than they could ever have imagined. But as she steals more time away to spend with him, Isaac reveals an astonishing secret about his past. Nory is in a unique position to help right this wrong – but uncovering the truth might mean pushing Isaac away once more. 

From the author of The Summer Job comes a laugh-out-loud rom-com about a woman’s impulsive fib that starts a summer of reinvention and learning about love, life, and what it means to accept yourself. 

We auto-buy anything by Lizzy Dent and The Setup was no exception. Featuring a love triangle of sorts, a chaotic but loveable horoscope-obsessed protagonist (the seagull scene is everything), and a heart-warming cast of supporting characters, it was the perfect beach read to see us through the heatwave. 

Before we get into the team reviews, here’s the back cover blurb!

Mara Williams reads her horoscope every day but she wasn’t expecting to be in a whole other country when destiny finally found her. Just as a fortune teller reveals that her true love is just around the corner for her, a gorgeous stranger literally walks into her life in the meet-cute of all meet-cutes. And now Mara is determined to bring them together again… Surely even fate needs a nudge in the right direction sometimes?

But while Mara is getting ready for ‘the one’, the universe intervenes. Her new flatmate Ash is funny, and kind, and sexy as hell… There was no predicting this: it’s as if her destiny just arrived on her doorstep. 

So will Mara put her destiny in fate’s hands – and finally trust herself to reach for the stars? 

Lareese’s Review…

Hello holiday read! I took The Set Up with me on a recent trip to Tulum and I have to say it made for peak poolside reading. I loved Lizzy Dent’s debut novel The Summer Job last year so was super excited for this release and raced through it on my holiday!

Although I didn’t love it quite as much as TSJ, I still found myself invested in Mara’s quest to find The One and the tumultuous journey that comes with first, second and even third guessing your intuition. Although there were certainly cliche elements of the story, Mara’s experience of heartbreak, drifting from a once ride-or-die bestie and feeling inadequate about her career choices encapsulated the highs and lows that so many will be able to relate to in their twenties.

Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend it? Yes! Especially for a beachy or poolside holiday.

Lily’s Review…

This was such an easy fun read! I really enjoyed some parts and I was interested in main characters and their romance!

After The Summer Job and now The Setup, Lizzy Dent will hold a place on my author TBR. I really enjoy the niche she has carved out with these two publications.

Rating out of 5: 3.5/5
Would you recommend it? Beach PLEASE – it’s a yes from me!

Charlotte’s Review…

Hello holiday read! I took The Set Up with me on a recent trip to Tulum and I have to say it made for peak poolside reading. I loved Lizzy Dent’s debut novel The Summer Job last year so was super excited for this release and raced through it on my holiday!

Lizzy does a great job of vividly building a picture of Mara’s life in Broadgate and those that surround her, and I found myself drawn to pick it up whenever I had a free moment on my trip. The Set Up is the definition of an easy read, and makes for a great escape from reality if you’re looking to step out of your own world for a little while- especially for those who are partial to making decisions based on their horoscope reading…

Rating: 4/5
Would you recommend it? Yes! Especially for a beachy or poolside holiday.

Danielle’s Review…

Lizzy Dent has done it again with The Setup, I adored this book! Performed by Anna Gilthorpe I listened to this one whilst I was away this summer and enjoyed every second of it. Similar to her last novel The Summer Job, there are definitely points where you want to give the main character Mara a kick up the ass, but don’t we all have friends like that?!

Rating out of 5: 4.5/5
Would you recommend it? Absolutely, a fun easy read!

The days of the heatwave may be behind us, but maintaining your summer glow need not be something to abandon now that September is upon us, that is, according to the beauty brands at the top of the game…

Powder products are out, and cream is seriously in, and from VIEVE to Glossier, Rare Beauty to Stila the choice of blush, bronzer, highlighter and primers to create that lit-from-within glow are never ending. Offering a softer and more natural finish, cream products melt into the skin in a way that powder could never (facts only), creating a glow that is buildable, easier to blend and more likely to wear better from AM-PM. What more could you ask for?!

The likes of Selena Gomez, Addison Rae and Rhianna are but a few A-listers that have be seen shouting about the beauty of a cream product, and the good news is you don’t need to break the bank to get a slice of their effortless look.

From base products that deliver on the glow, to liquid eyeshadows that truly dazzle, the era or easy-blend-everything is now.

For Luscious Lips …

For Glowy Skin …

For Incredible Eyes …

*This post contains ad-affiliate links

With the arrival of Virgo season and the first of the affectionately named ‘ber’ months comes a new laidback energy that leaves us all hankering for hibernation, unadorned social calendars and Gilmore Girls on repeat. 

Whilst we might still be waiting to unleash our trench coats and turtlenecks, the JOMO in September is definitely in the air. Come forth full-length PJs, roast dinners and Harry Potter marathons. Here’s 20 things to do in your equinox era aka September. 

1. Desperately cling onto the last remnants of summer. RIP ice cream with every meal.

2. Go on a wild goose chase to hunt down a sunflower field. 

3. And pray your BeReal goes off whilst you’re there.  

4. Buy a new planner (Papier? Obviously) only to ruin it with your feral handwriting.

5. Watch the spellbinding Beauty and the Beast at the London Palladium. 

6. Prepare for autumn to become your entire personality. Little Miss PSL, it’s your time to shine. 

7. Experience mild panic when you realise Christmas is a mere three months away. Whaddayaknow, time flies when you’re skint and freezing your tits off. 

8. Soft launch your autumn feed, even if Instagram won’t bother showing it to anyone *melting face emoji*

9. Hit up Homesense for 108 candles you don’t need. Cost of living crisis who?!

10. Celebrate your Equinox era. First sign of fall and you’re basically Meg Ryan. 

11. Watch Blonde – A look at the rise to fame and the epic demise of actress Marilyn Monroe. Landing on 28 September. 

12. Commemorate cuffing season. The love drought is over besties. 

13. Plonk yourself in nature and soak up the fall foliage, ideally whilst listening to ‘Cardigan’. 

14. Get on the pumpkin hype, starting with Zoe’s signature pumpkin spice cake. It really slaps. 

15. Cosy up with September’s book club pick, Hurricane Summer.

16. Panic buy an electric blanket ready for Autumn. Central heating? We don’t know her. 

17. Reunite with your slow cooker. Romanticise your life. 

18. Count down the days till to Bake Off…

19. And Noel Fielding’s forever iconic knitwear debut. 

20. Trade in your daily meal deal for soup and a bread roll. It’s officially Heinz Tomato season!

This article is part of a paid collaboration with Carrie Elizabeth Jewellery

We’re super excited to unveil the brand-new exclusive jewellery collaboration between Zoella Founder, Zoë Sugg, and Carrie Elizabeth Jewellery – the female-founded online jewellery retailer specialising in affordable luxury.

Co-designed by Zoë and Carrie Elizabeth Founder, Carrie Dennahy; the 14-piece collection features ten rings, two styles of hoop earrings and two necklaces – crafted in both gold vermeil and sterling silver, so there’s a piece for every mood and occasion. 

With inspiration drawn from Zoë’s own personal style, which is also true to the Carrie Elizabeth signature look; the collection has been created to stack and layer, encouraging wearers to build their own curated combinations and express their individuality.

With a focus on semi-precious stone stacking rings and celestial motifs, the Beautiful Moments collection takes its inspiration from nature and the beauty in the world around us, inviting those who wear the pieces to delight in the small joys and simple pleasures of life. From reading a book to romanticising your morning coffee or phone-free walks, it’s a celebration of all the subtle magnificence that surrounds us. 

Jewellery is very special to me. I am a very sentimental person, so I have a lot of jewellery that is very meaningful. I love how it can take you back to a moment. I think that’s really powerful.

Zoë Sugg

The collaboration of two jewellery devotees was a natural pairing, following Zoë’s personal love for the brand – and Carrie’s fondness for Zoë’s creativity and style.

Three of Zoë’s personal influences formed the foundations of the wider range; including the ocean, two meaningful stones and an existing piece of jewellery from Zoë’s personal collection gifted by her partner, Alfie Deyes.

Carrie adds, “A few things inspired us when we first started talking about collaborating. Number one; Zoë really loves the beach so we wanted to incorporate some waves within the styles. Number two; Zoë loves moonstone and peridot especially – as this is Zoë’s daughter’s birthstone – so they are the two gemstones we’ve focused on. And number three; a little ring that Alfie made for Zoë, which I spotted during our consultation meeting. So we’ve done our take on that which I love so much.”

The Birthstone Stacking Ring is the piece which draws inspiration from Alfie’s special gift to Zoë, and forms a significant piece in the collection. Available for all twelve months of the year, the rings are perfect for collecting and stacking the meaningful birthstones in your life.

Additionally, the Peridot Duo Ring, which has a large baguette-cut peridot stone sat closely alongside a smaller stone, symbolises the strong mother and daughter bond that Zoë holds with both Ottilie and her own mother.

Zoë continues, “I really love the Peridot Duo Ring. This is my daughter Ottie’s birthstone, so it was quite special to get that into the collection and I love that it is a double stone ring, with one of them bigger and one smaller – a bit like me and her, which I really like!”.

The collaboration campaign inspires you to ‘collect beautiful moments’ –  the little, seemingly insignificant moments that make life special; including some of Zoë and Carrie’s personal favourites, such as sunset coastal walks, moments of calm in the countryside when no-one is around, or the aroma of freshly brewed coffee in the morning.

The collection was inspired by the sea and I just love it, walking on the seafront and being near the sea – that’s a beautiful moment for me.

Zoë Sugg

Being based in Brighton, Zoë’s beautiful moments are often inspired by the beach which is her favourite place. With a love for nature and the ocean, she was motivated by the greens and blues of the waves, finding them reminiscent of moonstones. The brand has also incorporated a water-colour wave print within the jewellery packaging, to give that extra special finishing touch Carrie Elizabeth is known for.

‘Beautiful Moments’ by Carrie Elizabeth x Zoë Sugg is available to purchase NOW! The capsule collection starts from £60.00 and will be available to shop throughout the rest of the year.

All the products on this page have been selected by our editorial team however some are ad-affiliate links.

Cosy girlies rejoice, September is upon us and the season for hibernation is near. Think darker evenings, cool mornings, hot coffees over iced and the return of the jackets that have been stowed at the back of your wardrobe for, well, forever now.

As we prepare to hunker down and adjust our self-care routines to include rest, recuperation and a healthy dose of pumpkin spice, your wardrobe is likely in need of a similar shakeup as it finally cools down enough to wear more than linen and linen alone.

Today Team Zoella are sharing their favourite high-street fashion picks as we welcome the new term feeling that comes with the month of September, as we prepare to fully enter our hygge eras.

Lareese’s Picks…

I LOVE this time of year. As soon as there’s a slight bite in the air, I’m ready for trench coats and layers. I just feel so much more put together (read: grown up) when there’s an outer layer involved! True to form, I’ve picked out a structured trench from NA-KD to pair with white jeans, a tank top – so I can peel off the layers if the sun makes an appearance, and flats for the perfect low-key, between-the-seasons outfit. All in 50 shades of beige of course…

Arket, Wool Tank Top, £35
H&M, Wide High Jeans, £24.99
Na-Kd, Structured Trenchcoat, £111
Na-Kd, Basic Squared Sunglasses, £11.95
Birkenstock, Boston Soft Footbed, £120

Liv’s Picks…

Give me all the layers!! This is honestly my favourite time of year for fashion. I love layering oversized shirts with a classic trench (this one has a little bit of a twist) and a chunky boot so I don’t have to worry about puddles. Sunglasses are always needed for those end-of-summer golden hours.

ASOS, ASOS DESIGN check trench coat in stone, £66
H&M, Oversized cotton shirt, £17.99
& Other Stories, Elasticated Leather Chelsea Boots, £135
River Island, ORANGE TORTOISESHELL SUNGLASSES, £16

Charlotte’s Picks…

It’s no secret that I’m a summer girly through and through and the prospect of the cooler weather is not exactly filling me with joy, but whilst it’s still warm enough to not be wearing tights I can cope! I love a bit of layering as a way to keep my summer items wearable but warm as the seasons change and this plisse top from Warehouse is perfect for popping under oversized t-shirts and dresses. I’ve also wanted a trench coat forever but have never been able to find the perfect one so it’s my mission for this upcoming A/W! Add in a few staples like neutral jumpers and skirts and I’ll mentally start saying goodbye to summer beach days, Aperol and Crocs weather. Cries

Weekday, Blue Printed Plisse Long Sleeve Top, £32
Stradivarius, Long flowing trench coat, £49.99
Nasty Gal, Colour Block Satin Long Sleeve Shirt, £35
& Other Stories, Mock Neck Knit Jumper, £85
H&M, Mini skirt, £17.99

Danielle’s Picks…

My top transitional piece right now would have to be a blazer. Great to throw on if it’s feeling a little chilly and one with this tweed kind of texture will see you right through to the end of Winter (with a coat added of course!). I pretty much live in knitwear until May and I love the shape of this one, I think it would look great with skirts/jeans/trousers too. This little leather skirt can be worn now and will look so nice with thick black tights and a jumper. And as for the boots, who doesn’t need to invest in some cowboy boots right now?!

H&M, Single-breasted blazer, £34.99
H&M, Oversized jacquard-knit jumper, £24.99
H&M, Mini skirt, £17.99
Mango, Leather cowboy ankle boots, £129

Lily’s Picks…

Cosy, casual and transitional weather-ready! Absolutely obsessed with this time of year – I’m an autumn lover through and through! This look is my usual transitional staple. I love a brown blazer/coat with some white jeans and a t-shirt. Featuring golden accents from the chain sunglasses to dress the look up a little. With this outfit, I would also pair some golden jewellery – specifically, ring stacking and necklace layering. To get even cosier, pop in a long woolly scarf!

Weekday, Luciana Wool Blazer, £85
Nasty Gal, Round Tinted Sunglasses, £8
H&M, Wide High Jeans, £24.99
Arket, Heavyweight T-Shirt, £25
Arket, New Balance 327 Trainers, £105

Darcey’s Picks…

I love transitional pieces, Autumn fashion is my calling! Black jeans are a go-to when the cold weather starts to come in, Weekday jeans are such good quality and reasonably priced. I love a big cardigan for Autumn too when it’s not quite cold enough for a coat but you need a little extra layer. Gilets are also perfect for this kind of weather too, run don’t walk for this black gilet from H&M! Black trousers and a baggy sweatshirt are also great transitional pieces and work interchangeably with each other and all the other pieces I’ve linked above.

Weekday, Leyla Oversized Cardigan, £55
Weekday, Rowe Extra High Straight Jeans, £40
H&M, Puffer gilet, £29.99
H&M, Wide trousers, £14.99
Future Self, Capsule Sweatshirt in Forest Green, £55

All the products on this page have been selected by our editorial team however some are ad-affiliate links.

The heatwave might be over, but keep reading and you’ll be feeling the heat through the screen…

When it comes to those that are of the top-tier sexy category, there are certain things that may appear mundane in your day-to-day life that are suddenly catapulted into the too-hot-to-handle section as soon as you’re feeling the butterflies for that certain someone. A cool outfit, a smoooooth voice and good manners might be considered typically attractive, but what about the weird and wacky things that are hot AF but a *little* off-piste? Sometimes it’s the characteristics you can’t quite put your finger on that are the most captivating of all, and the combination of any more than two together is guaranteed to have you catching feelings…

1. These may be in no particular order but a hand on the back of the headrest whilst reversing takes the number one spot regardless.
2. Veins. 
3. Accents. All of ‘em.
4. … But especially Irish. Look no further than Paul Mescal in Normal People. 
5. It’s 2022 and therefore a moustache and a mullet will take you far.
6. When they’re attentive and remember small things about you. Honestly the bar is so low.
7. If they’re into reading they just got 200+ attractive points. It’s not hard to be hot!
8. Not just being clean, but smelling GOOD. A memorable, lingering scent goes a long way. 
9. Straight out of the shower, wet hair and in nothing but a towel- does it get better?
10. Has houseplants. That’s it, that’s the tweet.
11. When they’re a Swiftie- sorry we don’t make the rules! 
12. If their sleeves are rolled up- especially when wearing a shirt at the end of the day- consider us a goner. 
13. A strong backhand in tennis is peak ‘would die 4 u’ territory. 
14. A clenched jaw. 
15. If they’re good with kids, consider us ready for marriage.
16. The tiny bit of neck where a guy’s hair meets his skin. Hot. 
17. Taking off a belt. The sound, the motion, the connotations.
18. Dimples.
19. They have a favourite Harry Styles song.
20. A bit of sweat, not in an OTT way but in a pheromones-making-us-hot-under-the-collar kind of way.
21. Messy bedhead hair.
22. Speaking passionately about something = instant turn-on.
23. Smile lines.
24. When they talk about their feelings- emotional vulnerability is sexy, people!
25. If they can speak more than one language they’re getting it.
26. When they text to make sure you got home safe. 
27. They appreciate the finer things in life, aka a good romcom. 
28. They’re not on social media. Hypocritical? Yes. Hot? Also yes.
29. Knows their love language.
30. Can cook a mean roast dinner.
31. They say hello to dogs in the street. 
32. They make time to see their grandparents regularly. 

For those who’ve been there, done it and got a seriously impressive knowledge of poo to show for it, you’ll know that the first year of motherhood is a beautiful blur of wild highs and lows. The sleepless nights, the milestones (s/o to all those who dared to embark on that first solo trip out of the house), night feeds, nappy changes, first-times and cuddles. So many cuddles. 

Google is both a hero and a villain in all this, but ultimately you know there’s only so much reading you can do to prepare yourself for the rollercoaster ride that is becoming a parent for the first time. Having a tiny human and taking care of them for the rest of their life really is bananas!

As Ottilie turns one, Zoe’s reflecting on her first year of motherhood from muddling through the sleep-deprived newborn days to finding her way with weaning and letting go of perfection, here’s everything she learned in her first year of becoming Ottilie’s mama.

​​Q: First up, how are you doing?! How is motherhood treating you?

I’m good! Motherhood is honestly the wildest ride full of ups and downs and inside outs. I feel very lucky I get to watch Ottilie growing every single day.

Q: Cast your mind back to when you first got home from the hospital. What did it feel like to be bringing Ottilie home for the very first time?

One of my favourite memories that has gone immediately into the “core memory” vault. I remember feeling so happy to be home (I’m such a homebody, especially when I’m not feeling 100% so I was really looking forward to hibernating) and it was such an overwhelming feeling of pure joy that we got to keep Ottie and it was the start of forever. It sounds cheesy but that’s exactly where my thoughts went. I just kept thinking, “this is her home now too, she just doesn’t know it yet!”. I was also very excited for my family to meet her (they came over around 2 hours after we got back – and they brought Nando’s haha).

Q: On a scale of 1 – 10, how tired are you, ha?

In those early newborn days I think I just muddled through on adrenaline and snacks and my sleep was all over the place, but these days the tiredness comes more from the mental side of it. Just trying to remember all the things, and be all the things, and do all the things. I’m surprised my brain is still functioning some days.

Q: What has surprised you the most about motherhood, so far?

Girls wee when you take their nappies off too. I always thought this was just a boy baby thing, Haha! On a more serious note though, a LOT has surprised me. I feel like I am constantly surprised by even the smallest things as I’m obviously learning a lot day by day. How quickly each phase passes in this first year is probably a big one. It feels like they take forever to give you their first smile, and then you blink and they’re toddling around shouting actual words.

Q: Watching Ottilie grow into her own little person must be both heart-warming and hilarious. What’s your favourite memory from the last 12 months? (Impossible to pick, we know!)

Oh my gosh, I have so many. She recently became obsessed with our piano and will now stand at it dancing around waiting for the music to play out of it. She also loves putting things up to her ear and shouting “HELLO?” Like Dom Joly.

Q: How has motherhood changed you?

I know it has, but I feel like it’s one of things where I’m so deep into it I don’t know how it’s changed me yet! I certainly have a lot less time to give others now I have Ottie which I always feel very guilty about. I do think it’s made me relax a lot more about the slightly more trivial things I’d worry about before. I have definitely learnt to be more present and in the moment.

Q: Let’s talk parenting ideals! Was there ever something you heard or read that you thought ‘yep, I’m definitely going to do that’ but that went right out the window once Ottilie was here?

SO MANY THINGS. You sort of fill your metaphorical tool belt with ALL THE THINGS that worked for everyone else and you go through them until you find something that works for you and your baby. This also means so many of these tips, tricks and gadgets don’t make the cut, but could be someone else’s holy grail! Just goes to show you that all babies are so different.

Q: Has your experience of becoming a mum differed from your expectations? Give us the expectations vs reality, the motherhood edition!

Yes and no. I feel like I soaked in a lot of stories before having Ottie, the good, the bad and the ugly, so I feel like Alfie and I had a very varied idea of what becoming parents and having a newborn MIGHT be. Having said that, living it yourself is very different and there were certainly highs and lows along the way!

Q: How would you describe your style, has it changed since becoming a mum?

I don’t know whether it’s changed necessarily but there are certainly styles I gravitate to a little less than before. I also find that to save time I tend to grab the same couple of outfits on rotation instead of exploring my wardrobe a bit more.

Q: The most random thing you’ve found yourself doing /saying because #MumLife….

Honestly, my most used word right now is “Careful…”

Q: What’s been your biggest challenge or learning curve thus far?

Learning how to juggle mum-life with work-life, friend-life, partner life and me time. I still don’t think I’ve found the right balance and I’m definitely winging it but hoping it becomes a little easier with time and practice. Haha!

Q: How is Ottilie and what’s the best thing about being her mama?

Ottilie is amazing. Every day that she grows older, we start to see her little personality develop more and more and I’m obsessed with her. I love her so much!

Q: Mum guilt is tough isn’t it – how do you deal with those rollercoaster emotions?

I send 30 minute long voice notes to my friends of pure waffle! A brain dump and a listening, non- judgemental ear always helps.

Q: The best thing about seeing Alfie become a dad?

Just how incredible he is with her. He’s so patient and doting and it melts my heart. He always gets the biggest laughs too!

Q: What’s one piece of invaluable advice you’ve received?

Do a Mummy MOT postpartum and DO YOUR PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES.

Q: How about one thing nobody told you but you WISH they had…

That an epidural means you have NO control over your farts and you can’t tell if you’re holding them in or not.

Q: Has becoming a mother yourself changed your relationship with your own mum?

I have a whole new sense of admiration and appreciation for her! And the fact that she had two under two!! (How!)

Q: Your proudest moment over the last year?

I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud. I was very proud of myself for growing and birthing Ottie, but I’m mostly just so proud of all the little things she learns to do. She recently started taking her first steps and pride was BEAMING out of me.

Q: Your ultimate mum fail…

I recently turned my back on Ottie when she was playing with the sudocrem tub…you can imagine what she looked like when I turned back round. How do babies do things so quickly?

Q: What pearls of wisdom have you got for any new mums out there about to embark on this wild and wonderful journey?

Don’t be too hard on yourself, take it easy, go at your own pace and utilise the help of your family and friends if they have offered it! Remember that every first time parent is learning on the job and that nobody expects you to be an expert from day one. Just as your baby is learning each day, so are you!

Q: Your can’t-live-withouts from the past year! Go-to brands, meals, toys, snacks, activities!

White noise machine (hatch), Felt flap books, Teletubbies, Silver nipple cups (for me), Zip up baby sleep suits, Angelcare Bath seat, Tommy tippee squeaky eggs, matchstick monkey teethers, Nappy Caddy, Huckleberry app for tracking those first feeds and naps!

Q: What have you got planned for Ottie’s 1st birthday?

We’re having some of our friends and family over and we’ll just eat food, cut some cake and celebrate the little lady we’ve all watched grow over the past year! I think I’m more excited for her birthday than my own!

The new chapter that comes with moving house is as fresh as it gets in fresh start feelings, but amongst the excitement and Pinterest boards, there will likely be a whole lot of anxiety, stress and overwhelm as the prospect of packing up your life becomes a reality. Bet you’re regretting the 15 variations of floral midi dresses hanging on your clothes rail now, aren’t you?

Whether you’re moving into university halls, into your first shared home with your S/O or have achieved the ultimate in unachievable millennial goals and bought a house (share your secrets), consider this your ground zero of essentials to get you started. From bedding so comfy you might just forget your mattress is on the floor for approximately 2 weeks, to a fresh set of towels ready to lovingly display in your shiny new bathroom, your postman is going to be 10/10 busy delivering your new home, new-in essentials. 

Bedroom

Bathroom

Kitchen and Living

Miscellaneous

*This post contains ad-affiliate links