Number 6 here we are… HAPPY TUESDAY and Happy Birthday week to me, woo hoo! I’ll be turning 38 years young this Sunday 28th September, and I'll fill you in on how I chose to celebrate in next week's issue.
The nesting stories I received after last week's issue had me laughing out loud. From countless messages of excessive laundry, to ironing anything baby related like crazy (over and over again), to thoroughly cleaning all floors in the house less than 48 hours before delivery, I’ve loved them. A personal highlight, hoovering the ceiling at 9 months pregnant, ha! It would seem my nesting diaries may step up a gear, and you will be the first to know.
On a more serious note, I really felt very proud of the stories shared around ‘Rebuilding trust in your body’. So many life stories shared, and so much thought into how you can have better practices going forward. It’s beautiful to read. Thank You.
Reno wise, our basement now has a lovely media wall taking shape that Ben and I have been discussing for nearly 3 years. Good times despite the constant drilling! I did an interview for a popular newspaper here in the UK, which will drop in October. I’ll keep you posted on when you can read that.
This week's read: we discuss how food is fuel in FOOD OVER FIXATION, I share my obsession over Jags in THE POWER OF PETS, and finally some HOUSE NOTES, LIFE NOTES before the usual List of Joy and LTK. By the way, you don’t need to have an LTK account to shop the links. OK, Let’s go….
Food Over Fixation…
‘Fuel = Freedom’
I know food is a deeply individual and sometimes complicated topic. We all have our own history, culture, memories, preferences, and sometimes struggles with it. We also have our own celebrations - the connections over the festive season, Thanksgiving, vacations and Sunday Roasts for us in the UK. I'm not here to tell you what or how to eat, that’s yours to own. I’m very conscious that sometimes talking about food often overlaps with how we feel about weight, shape, and body image, but I want to be clear: this isn’t a conversation about body size, restriction, or aesthetics, it’s about food itself, and choosing to focus on food as ENERGY, NOURISHMENT, and JOY.
My perspective is one that we can hopefully hold in unison: FOOD IS FUEL. When we shift the focus from rules and restrictions to what food can do for us, which is energise, repair, restore, and bring joy as I mentioned above, the whole conversation changes, and that’s the conversation I would love for us to have and hold on to.
Food is, at its core, energy. Every bite we eat breaks down into fuel, so CARBS power our brain and muscles, PROTEIN repairs tissue and supports hormones, and FAT carries essential vitamins and helps keep everything in balance. If we restrict ourselves, we’re not ‘being good,’ we’re simply starving the very system that keeps us going. I might be speaking for myself here, but I have a feeling I'm not - restriction almost always backfires: it slows metabolism, increases cravings, and for women, can disrupt cycles, weaken bones, and drain energy. More than that when you tell yourself you can’t have something, all you want is that bloody thing all day long. The mental game can be exhausting. The big shift comes when we stop bargaining with food and start partnering with it. I definitely have a recurring theme in this newsletter, and I realise it comes through in almost everything I write about: The power of partnering with your body. It shouldn’t ever be a fixation about burning off a brownie - although it’s unsurprising when it is, as we all grew up in a culture that would literally make us believe that was exactly what we should fixate on, but it’s about recognising that the meal or piece of food you consumed is energy that fuels your body, your work, your relationships, and your life.
My relationship with food has been eventful. Going way back, if you asked my parents, they’d probably laugh and say I lived almost entirely on beige food as a kid. Broccoli at a push, but my go-to (especially on holiday) was white pasta, parmesan, and chips on the side. Now, I love carbs but I’m going to say this daily occurrence wasn't exactly nutritious, and I was certainly too headstrong to be told otherwise (sorry Mum and Dad). Through my teens and into my early twenties, food wasn’t really something I thought about. I had a healthy appetite, but I didn’t take an interest in cooking, and meal times were more of a routine than enjoyment. I certainly never thought about food as fuel. I was a sweet treat fiend and I liked a simple meal - that was my food diary in a nutshell! Throughout my 20’s, dance rehearsals were fueled by what was most convenient to pick up en route, or whatever catering a job offered. I vividly remember one high-energy dance job that was pretty iconic in the dance world. It was always just before Christmas, so you’d be burnt out from the year already and we all lived on soup and salad while performing seven back to back shows a day. We didn’t know any better at the time, but it’s safe to say we weren’t exactly bursting with energy by the end of the day, though we never connected the dots. Instead, we’d head straight to the bar after work without giving it a second thought. Hindsight really is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?! I’ve gone through phases, too: Living with friends and eating on a serious budget, and making it go a long way - amazing how creative we would get. Nutella was a firm favourite! I had a vegan stage too, and it’s worth mentioning here that I’ve never had a sense of smell (it’s called anosmia). I know, WILD. This means I’ve always relied more on texture over taste, which is probably why meat never appealed to me for a good few years. I would say that my vegan stage is when I started taking an interest in food, being a little more creative with recipes, and making what was then a relatively small option of vegan protein, go a long way. This didn’t work well for me in the long run. It was either a slightly bizarre concoction from me or eating out all the time with friends. I can literally hear my girl group at dinner saying ‘and a side of sweet potato fries please’. Fast forward a bit and when I stopped drinking alcohol in 2022, food became something completely different in my life. I was happy being at home with Ben, and having removed what had previously been the pleasure of choosing a nice bottle of wine together for dinner, food stepped forward and took centre stage and became the real source of pleasure, connection, and creativity. This was also post pandemic, which had a massive impact on most people's food choices - good and bad. We had found ourselves getting really into cooking from scratch, and learning some skills in the kitchen that in the years since we’ve stayed passionate about building.
The biggest shift, though, has come in the last few years. Working at Peloton and focusing solely on fitness (once I hung up my dancing shoes) allowed me to reframe food as fuel. It actually gave me the opportunity to learn more, and therefore do better, and to show up better. That shift deepened when I worked with a nutritionist during cancer treatment (game changing for me. My reality was how I could support myself in ‘feeding my disease, or fighting it’), again through fertility treatment, and now in pregnancy. In pregnancy, this becomes especially clear: your body is working overtime, and under-fuelling simply isn’t an option. I’ve seen multiple times now how food can act like medicine, how it reduces inflammation in your body and strengthens your immunity. It can literally heal, strengthen, and carry you through the hardest seasons of life, and I can’t express how empowered I personally felt to have control over certain aspects of my health and my body at such sensitive times. I’m also currently studying (slowly) to become a qualified nutritionist because the more I learn, the more I see the incredible role food plays in our health and wellbeing, and I’d LOVE to share that as much as possible.
One simple truth: A colourful salad can fuel your body, and a slice of cake with a friend can fuel your soul. Both matter, both are valid. I don’t call the cake a ‘treat’ anymore, because that word implies guilt or scarcity. The real treat is feeling good from the inside out - having energy AND joy in equal measure. It’s about so much more than the number of calories you see. As I said at the start, the balance of that is yours to own, but when we view food through that lens, it stops being about rules and starts being about the balance that suits you best.
Another simple truth I’ve learned is this: our bodies can only give back what we put in. Energy out requires energy in, it’s science, not willpower. It doesn’t take much under-fuelling to feel the effects of fatigue, low mood, poor recovery, and hormonal disruption. The good news? And this is what I always like to focus on - enhancing a meal doesn’t have to be complicated or add any more time in the kitchen. Here are three EASY upgrades that make food more fuelling:
Add colour: a handful of spinach, roasted peppers, or berries boosts vitamins and antioxidants. A colourful plate of food is dreamy!
Add protein: eggs, beans, chicken, tofu - they repair and keep you full longer.
Add healthy fats: a drizzle of olive oil, avocado, or nuts helps absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K).
Tiny tweaks like this transform ‘just a meal’ into real fuel, and that’s the point: when we stop obsessing over food as a number or rulebook, we give our bodies the best chance to thrive, not just survive.
CHALLENGE OF WEEK: What’s a food, recipe or something you add to a meal that fuels you RIGHT NOW? Share in the comments and we can all be inspired and learn from one another.
“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.” - Jim Rohn
And speaking of fuel, I’ve realised it’s not just food that fills us up. Sometimes, it’s the things (or the four-legged friends) that bring us comfort, joy, and balance in the everyday. For me, that’s Jags. The relationship we can have with a pet is something I don’t think I understood fully until she came into my life.
The Power Of Pets…
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France
I’ve always had a soft spot for animals. Growing up, our house was never without a cat or three. We had Shamu - my first cat at 5, Rocky - my sister's literal soulmate, Bert - the cat of the street, everyone loved him, and he was so snuggly. Not forgetting Romeo, Lady P, Maggie and Kedi (who we still have at my parents house. Those 2 are so cute together) - the list goes on. At one point I even had a hamster called Jenny. I remember begging my dad to take her to the vet because I was convinced something was seriously wrong, only to discover she was just storing a carrot in her cheek. Lesson learned, never underestimate a pet’s quirks. Another time I’ll fill you in on Lady P - now that is a bizarre story involving a cat being given to me by THE Katy Perry!
What I’ve realised, looking back, is that I’ve always loved giving love to a pet. There’s something about the simplicity of it, no conditions, no judgement, just pure affection and unconditional love, it makes life and love feel lighter.
And then came Jags, our wild little rockstar - she’s a working cocker spaniel named after Mick Jagger. We got her in 2022 - that year again! I was a week out from starting chemo when we picked her up, grief was heavy in our house, and the timing made absolutely no sense on paper, but sometimes life doesn’t follow logic. Jags bounded in and gave us light, laughter, sleepless nights and love right when we needed it most. I truly believe she chose us or she was sent to us. Either way, she’s just been the biggest blessing I could ever have asked for. When we picked her up, I spotted her immediately, and it was like she spotted us too. She came to us immediately, it was all very cute and calm and it felt like she was saying ‘I’m going to come home with you and make it all OK’ and that may sound a little dramatic, but it’s honestly how it felt, and how it’s been since. She smiled and wagged her tail the whole way home. Now, I’m not saying the puppy stage wasn’t brutal at times, but this little lady is pure magic. My camera roll is full of photos and videos of her, I’m totally besotted and I’d cancel 99% of my plans to be at home with her if I could. From a self confessed party girl to a homebody sharing snacks with my dog on the sofa - she gives me purpose, routine, rhythm to the day, love and endless joy every single day. She also offers comfort when words just don’t quite cut it. I’ve sat with her in some very low moments and she’s somehow made it all feel less lonely. It always blows my mind that you can build such a beautiful connection without a single word exchanged. Just proves that connection is felt, not spoken and eye contact is everything.
There’s something extraordinary about the bond we share with animals. Pets don’t care what kind of day you’ve had, how productive you’ve been, or whether you’ve got it all figured out, they just want to be with you. Their love is unconditional, uncomplicated, and ever-present. That’s powerful in a world where so much of our worth feels measured or compared. Pets keep us anchored in the everyday. Walks, feeds, playtime, they pull us out of our own heads and into the present. That kind of purpose is grounding, especially in seasons of uncertainty.
Science even backs up what we feel in our hearts: time with pets can lower stress hormones, reduce blood pressure, and increase oxytocin - the same ‘love hormone’ that bonds parents to babies. Jags also came into our lives when having a baby was literally just taken off the cards for a couple of years at least, and so to experience this ‘love hormone’ certainly filled a gaping hole in our lives.
Whether it’s the purr of a cat on your lap, the wag of a tail at the door, the quiet presence of a small creature in its cage, or the bigger animals homed outside, pets remind us to slow down, to play, and to appreciate the little things. How lucky are we to be loved by them?! I try to be coy about Jags, but never successfully. She saved me, simple as that.
I am that person that If I see any dog, it doesn’t matter if I’m in gym kit, a dress, swimwear, a gown, whatever… I’ll be on the floor in seconds, making a connection first, thinking of dignity second. It’s as ridiculous as knowing every dog’s name in our neighbourhood, but ask me their owners’ names? Not a clue. Couldn’t tell you. Yet somehow, I know the entire health history of their dog. It’s all about priorities in my eyes, ha!
I’m obsessed with following Niall Harbison’s work, heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once. I really believe he is doing some of the most incredible work in Thailand. No animal should ever be treated how he finds some of the dogs he takes into his care. I’ve added his book in ‘The List of Joy' for this week.
Of course, having a pet isn’t just cuddles. It’s commitment, chaos, and responsibility, but it’s also laughter, routine, and love that doesn’t falter. And to me, that’s the ultimate deal. Unconditional joy, in exchange for unconditional care. I’ll take that every time.
And speaking of unconditional care… Let's talk about the exact opposite: my house renovations. Because if pets bring peace, paint samples and builders bring chaos. Enter this week’s ‘House Notes, Life Notes’.
House Notes, Life Notes…
“Renovating is basically just discovering new and creative ways to argue about paint colours.”
You know what isn’t sexy? Radiators. The faff. The cost. Having to think about them so much in the first place. Getting them off the wall, putting them back on. What a rigmarole!
The realisation hit this week that our nursery (to be) holds access to our loft, and the decorating of the nursery is going on at the same time as Halloween and therefore my Halloween decor is OUT OF BOUNDS this year! Do I buy more or do I painfully sit this one out?! This is NOT OK! The option isn’t there to get the halloween stuff out now (as suggested by many), as due to renovations, every space is already FULL!
We have a very animated Greek carpenter, who is fantastic at his skill, and has equally fantastic music taste. He is passionate, lively once he gets talking, and is as obsessed with our colour scheme as we are! Win!
I belly laughed this week, I asked Ben to come to bed quickly - his eyes obviously lighting up and then cut to me just wanting to be more comfortable as we discuss the new basin for the basement toilet, ha! Poor guy!
My mum helped me do a HUGE declutter of my wardrobe last weekend. What a shift! Note to anyone reading: If you ever want the most honest feedback on your fashion and wardrobe choices, I will give you my mum. You’ll be seriously humbled by her words, and have the most organised wardrobe by the end of the day.
So yes, radiators, carpenters, and Halloween heartbreaks are the current vibe, which is why I’m clinging to the little things keeping me smiling this week. Enter…the List of Joy
List Of Joy…
📚 Reading: TINA: THE DOG WHO CHANGED THE WORLD by Niall Harbison. You just have to read this man's story - how he came to do what he does, the dog's lives he saves along the way and the movement created by Tina.
🍽️ Eating: DECIMO at The Standard Hotel, London. I went at the weekend for a friend’s 40th birthday. It’s where Spanish food meets Mexican food, and there’s a very sexy, fun vibe at the hotel in general. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in London and looking for a night with the girls, or a great date night spot.
🎫 Seeing: ABBA VOYAGE - How have I left it SO long before going to see this?! I took my Mum and Sister this week to celebrate my sister’s birthday, and we had SO much fun. It really is a concert like no other. My mind was blown at it being digital avatars and not actually ABBA. Safe to say that ABBA has been on repeat ever since.
LTK Of The Week…
NORMA KAMALI BOOT PANT - Pregnant or not, these are the best tailored pants! My friend told me about them, and I’d actually already bought them after seeing someone else wear them during their pregnancy. Elasticated waist (yes please!) and great fit.
RAINS - hooded coated shell jacket - Ok, so when the weather starts to get a bit rainy at this time of the year, I live in this on dog walks. I’ve had an older version of this for years now. Easy to pack away and actually keeps you dry!
JOHN LEWIS HALLOWEEN GHOST - we sold this out when I posted this on my instagram stories last time, and with Halloween right around the corner, I’m giving you another opportunity in case you missed it the first time round…go!
111 EYE PATCHES - saving me at the moment! Tip from me: Keep them in the fridge for the extra de-puff.
STEEL TUPPERWARE - I use this exact lunch box daily. Helps me make sure my lunch is packed, and I’m fueled for the day. Stainless steel over plastic too!
UGG CLASSIC MICRO IN ROCKY OAK - I think these are a great upgrade from the tasman slippers, which never actually stayed on my feet properly. This is a new colourway too, and since this A/W is most definitely about comfort for me, I’ve already been living in mine.
HM TEDDY SPORTS JACKET - sports jacket in soft, warming teddy. Perfect for this time of year and great price!
CURRENT BODY LED MASK - I cannot tell you how much I miss wearing my mask! I’m not wearing mine during pregnancy, but I think as the weather changes and you want to focus on your skin more, this is 100% one of your best investments!
That’s a wrap on issue 6. I hope between all of the things shared today, there’s something that resonated or landed on your screen for a reason today.
Enjoy fueling yourself this week with some beautiful food, please wish me luck with finding the right basin, and I hope there’s a little furry friend to give some love to along the way. Keep sharing, your feedback is SO helpful. If there’s topics you want me to get into more, please do let me know. I’m working hard behind the scenes to find ways to bring you even more expertise and joy weekly.
P.S. If someone in your life would enjoy this, please share it along. Sometimes the most meaningful conversations start with a simple ‘I read something that made me think of you.’
