Nothing really prepares you for the school holidays. You look forward to the excitement. The lie-ins. The lazy mornings. The idea of having more time together. You imagine long lunches, lazy days, spontaneous adventures and your children looking back one day and saying, “Our summers were magical.”

Let alone trying to juggle work at the same time.

What nobody tells you about is the snacks. The sheer volume of snacks. Or the fact that by approximately 9.17am someone will have already asked what we’re doing today, despite the fact that you told them yesterday, and probably the day before that.

Then there is the washing. The food. The constant washing up. The negotiating. The arguments. The “Muuuuummmyyyyy” from another room. Should I be booking clubs? Or do I feel guilty sending them packing. The feeling that you should be doing something fun because it is the holidays and somehow everyone on Instagram appears to be having the most wonderful summer of their lives.

And suddenly you’re four weeks in, slightly feral, wondering when you last had five uninterrupted minutes to yourself.

So, over the years I've made notes on the holidays to remind myself each year and now I'm calling it my own unofficial School Holiday Survival Guide.

And honestly? Most of it is about accepting that you don’t have to make every single day magical, and that juggling work and responsibilities at the same time is completely normal in the world we live in!

1. Get dressed.

This sounds ridiculously simple, but I swear by it.

There is something about staying in pyjamas until lunchtime that can make the entire day feel like one very long Sunday. I say this as well for when you’re working from home. I am so much more productive when I'm dressed!

I’m not saying you need to put on a full face of makeup and get dressed up every morning. Absolutely not.

But leggings you actually like. A good sweatshirt. Trainers. Sunglasses. Hair scraped back. Maybe a little jewellery.

Just enough to make you feel like you’ve made an effort and if you bump into someone you don’t want the ground to swallow you up!

Because somewhere amongst making breakfast and finding someone’s swimming goggles, it is very easy to completely disappear into Mum mode.

Getting dressed is my tiny reminder that I am still a person too.

2. Master the ten-minute face.

The school holidays are not the time for a 45-minute makeup routine. This is the season of products that do several jobs at once.

SPF. Tinted moisturiser. Concealer. Cream bronzer. Cream blush. Mascara. Lip balm.

Done.

The goal isn’t to look completely made up. It’s to look like you’ve got your sh*t together.

And NEVER underestimate the power of sunglasses. And a baseball cap actually, I think they’re so cool and put together. Easy to hide underneath them both too!

3. Romanticise your morning coffee.

As much as I love my wellness routine to include a green juice, a Pilates class and a meditation I try to remind myself that I must be realistic in the holidays. I don’t have routine and I don’t have the time to dedicate to things for myself each day.

Sometimes wellness is simply drinking your coffee while it’s still hot.

During the holidays, I try to get outside in the morning, even if it’s just sitting in the garden for five minutes. It make such a difference.

Coffee. Fresh air. No phone.

If the children are occupied, I consider this a luxury spa treatment.

4. Stop trying to make every day an experience.

This one has taken me a while to learn and I wish I could shout from the rooftops.

There is so much pressure now to make childhood magical. I also hate forced fun. It’ always costs a fortune too!

Days out. Theme parks. Soft play. Playdates.

And obviously, I love doing all of those things. But we don’t have to do them every day. Children are allowed to be bored. Goodness knows I was when I was a kid. My husband even said to the children on the first day of the holidays “You’re supposed to be bored, it’s the whole point”.

Some of the best summer days are the completely unplanned ones. Staying in pyjamas too long. Playing in the garden. Watching a film. Eating toast. Making a den. Going for an evening walk. Like lock down!

5. Keep an emergency snack supply.

I don’t know what happens to children during the school holidays, but apparently they need feeding approximately every 11 minutes.

You can feed them breakfast and within seconds they are asking what there is for lunch.

Then lunch becomes a snack.

Then another snack.

Then they’re “starving”.

I’ve accepted that the only solution is to have a drawer/fridge full of easy things that I can grab without having to think.

Fruit. Greek yoghurt. Hummus. Carrot and cucumber sticks. Crackers. Good bread. Smoothies. Whatever works.

And occasionally crisps.

Because balance.

6. Have an everything shower.

Not a quick shower where you’re mentally making a shopping list and shouting through the bathroom door. A proper shower.

Hair wash. Body scrub. Shaving your legs if you can be bothered. Body lotion. Hair mask. Your favourite perfume afterwards.

There is something incredibly underrated about emerging from the bathroom feeling vaguely human again.

You can do anything with clean hair!!

7. Move your body

I don’t want another thing to feel guilty about during the holidays. And trying to force yourself into an hour-long workout when you’ve got children hanging off you is not fun. I’ve accepted my fitness routine will not be the same and that even setting an alarm for an early workout is far harder in the holidays when you’re exhausted. But I do try and go for a walk, bike ride, even a run with children too it gets you moving. And I do try and get some pilates in too, even 15 mins just to calm myself a little!

For me, movement is less about what it does to my body and much more about what it does to my mood.

8. Put something in the diary that’s just for you.

This one is important and not a children’s activity.

Lunch with a friend. A coffee alone. Getting your nails done. A massage. Going shopping. Going for a walk without having to push a scooter. Sitting in a café with a book. It doesn’t have to be extravagant.

But I think us mums can become very good at disappearing into the needs of everyone else. And then we wonder why we feel a little bit lost.

It’s a good one to remember.

9. Don’t forget to eat.

I find that during the school holidays I can somehow feed everyone else beautifully while accidentally surviving on the crusts of their toast which is never ideal.

So I try to have things around that make eating properly easy. Eggs. Avocado. Fruit. Salads. Smoothies or juice.

Because being hangry is not the recipe for a calm and patient mum.

10. Give yourself permission to lower the bar.

This might be the most important one.

You don’t have to make every day brilliant. You don’t have to be patient 100% of the time. You don’t have to organise activities from breakfast until bedtime. You don’t have to cook a nutritious meal from scratch every night. You don’t have to look amazing. You don’t have to document it all.

And you definitely don’t have to compare your summer to someone else’s.

They’ll remember the little things.

The ice creams. The late nights. The garden. The silly games. The holidays. The cuddles. The fact that you were there.

And maybe, hopefully, they’ll remember that Mummy occasionally put her feet up, drank a glass of vino with her friend and told everyone to find their own snacks.

Lets’s face it the goal is to get to September with everyone alive, reasonably happy and still speaking to each other haha!

And if you’ve managed to wash your hair, put on some mascara and drink a coffee while it’s hot?

You’ve smashed it.

A x

Last month I shared a bread recipe online that completely took me by surprise…It went viral.

Thousands of people liked it, tagged me in their loaves and filled my inbox with photos of crusty, golden bread from ovens across the country. For something made with four basic ingredients, it caused quite literally a stir!

But like all these things and going viral, came a lot of complaints, that I had committed the ultimate baking crime… I used cups, and I’m not American.

The outrage was real.

My comments section became divided between people proudly showing off their beautiful loaves and others demanding to know why an English woman was measuring flour in cups. For me, it’s actually quite funny. If there’s one thing the internet loves more than a viral recipe, it’s telling someone they’ve done it wrong.

So after a couple of months of making this loaf weekly sometimes more, tweaking it, perfecting it and converting everything into grams to keep everyone happy, I’m sharing the updated version.

The result is everything I want from homemade bread: a cracking crust, a soft chewy centre and that artisan bakery look that makes people assume you’ve spent days lovingly nurturing a sourdough starter.

Spoiler alert: you haven’t.

This is still the easiest bread recipe you’ll ever make and it takes 2 mins to prepare!

The Ingredients

• 500g strong white bread flour

• 7g fast-action dried yeast

• 10g salt

• 400ml warm water

• Olive oil

Method

1. Wake Up the Yeast

Mix the yeast and warm water together in a large bowl.

2. Make the Dough

Add the flour and salt and stir with a wooden spoon until everything comes together into a shaggy dough.

3. Add a Little Olive Oil

Drizzle a little olive oil over the dough.

4. First Rise

Cover with a clean tea towel and leave for around 30 minutes. The dough should noticeably increase in size normally around double.

5. Stretch and Fold

Using wet hands, gently stretch and fold the dough over itself several times. Pull it as far as you can without tearing it. This is where all those lovely airy pockets begin to form.

6. Second Rise

Cover again and leave for another hour. By now the dough should be huge and beautifully bubbly.

7. Heat Everything Up

Preheat your oven to 220°C and place a casserole dish with its lid inside.

8. Shape the Loaf

Lightly flour a sheet of parchment paper and tip the dough onto it. Using a wet hand, gently fold the dough underneath itself to create a rough ball shape.

9. Score the Top

Using a sharp knife, score the top of the dough. This gives you that gorgeous rustic opening once baked.

10. Bake

Transfer the dough, still on the parchment paper, into the hot casserole dish. Bake with the lid on for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. The loaf should sound hollow when tapped, even if it still looks a little pale.

11. Finish for Colour

Remove the lid and bake for a further 15 minutes until beautifully golden.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve already made my original viral loaf, thank you for trusting a British woman with American cup measurements.

And if you’re new here, welcome.

May your bread rise, your butter be salted and your comments section remain blissfully free of debates about weighing flour.

Let me know what recipe you want next!

A x

Every time I go away I forget about how much I want and need to look after my skin when i’m on holiday. My brain seems to tell me “Everything is going to be ok you’re going away to de-stress and unwind” but actually whilst yes this is the objective, the reality is that yes you have a) extra time on your hands for some self care but b) your skin and hair needs TLC the most whilst you’re away in the sun!

I’m a seasoned pro at the essentials to pack now and thought i’d share my non negotiables with you and the ones i’ve tried and tested that don’t run off your face or make your eyes sting as soon as you step into the sun and get a bit sweaty! Ps - they’re all small enough for hand luggage too and most are from Space NK nice and easy!

Face Mask

Ok let’s talk stepping off the plane… we all know the feeling from that yucky long dry cramped Ryanair flight, our skin is the first thing to be complaining before Ryanair have even started charging for oxygen! I love a face mask, I never have enough time but i’ve made it a ritual to take one away with me every time I go with a mission for it to be used. You’ll have seen these everywhere on social media but I really do rate the Bioderma masks, leave one on long enough for it to go clear and you will have the dewiest, glowiest skin in the Med!

Biodance Face Mask

SPF

Gone are the days when we are tanning our faces girls, and if you don’t know this by now you must. My recent trip to Greece was the first one i’ve ever worn a hat for the whole trip and come back with a face whiter than I left but you know what, i’m doing it for the wrinkles! Plus being able to actually read your book without getting a headache is a pretty nice feeling! My go to for years and years has been this Elemis Pro Collagen Serum SPF50. I pop it on every morning after brushing my teeth as the bestest base layer for the day, it never stings and absorbs into the skin so well. It’s a great top up option too as it’s so light and smells incredible.

Link

Bronzing Drops

Whilst we are on the subject of ghostly skin, these Drunk Elephant Bronzing Drops are now a part of my everyday routine whether i’m away or not. Who doesn’t want a bit of glow? You can add these to any old moisturiser you use, or your SPF like the Elemis one, or use them neat to give yourself the bestest glow ready for poolside.

Drunk Elephant Bronzing Dropshttps://space-nk.mtpc.se/6251282

Hair Mask

Now it goes without saying that our hair is the thing to get ruined the most from the sun and the chlorine, so packing a hair mask is so important. I’ve used the Philip Kingsley Elastizier for years and it makes my hair as soft as silk. You don’t just have to use it in your shower routine, whack it in your beach bag and drench your hair in it whilst you’re out in the sun, the heat helps it do it’s thing. By the time you're showered, dressed and opening a family-sized bag of Lays on the balcony pretending calories don't count abroad, your hair treatment has already done the hard work

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer

Hair Protection

If like me you have coloured or treated hair and get paranoid you’re going to return with green hair the colour of the grinch then this one is for you. This little bad boy from my hairdressers Michael Van Clarke is a UV protecting styling treatment, it helps with frizz and protects your sun from the harmful UV rays. I pop this on in the morning and reapply after swimming for the smoothest hair. I used it on Darcy’s crazy unruly curls too and it was amazing!

Shop here

Suncream

I don’t know about you but other than packing the standard bright blue sunblock for the kids i’ve found it really hard to find a grown up suncream or oil that works, doesn’t make my skin itch and smells great. I took this away to Greece on my trip just gone and it is just heavenly. It’s actually an SPF30 BUT a shimmering body oil, honestly I could not get enough. It lasts for ages too i’ve come back with more than half the bottle and it gave such a gorgeous glow without having to worry about burning!

Esthaderm Golden Glow

Deodorant

Ok none of us want to be hot and sweaty or worst of all sticky. You know i’ve raved about Fussy for years and years now and I just can’t get enough of the stuff, i’ve not used a single other deodorant. They have now launched some miniatures which is the cutest idea for holidays and general travelling I just had to show you!

Also just checked and my code AMANDA15 still works for 15% off!

Fussy Deodrants Mini

Tinted Moisturiser

Last one I promise, but being make up free doesn’t always feel the best idea when you’re headed to breakfast after a late night at the kids disco, but believe me when I say I say the Erborian CC Cream is such a dream. It can go on over the top of your SPF or before it, and if you haven’t tried it (where have you been?!) it literally changes colour to your skin. It gives a lovely light base to your face covering blemishes without being a heavy foundation and i’ve banged on about this to my friends for years. I actually have 2 shades, Clair for most of the year and Dore for when I go on holiday and want a bit more warmth on my face.

Erborian CC cream

Ok I have to stop now before it becomes more than my non negotiables and my entire bathroom cabinet but let me know what else I should try!

Lots of love and enjoy that sunshine,

A x

Combine it with turmeric and you have a power pairing! Thanks to it’s active compound curcumin, turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Known to help joint support, skin health, and even mood regulation.

As a power pair ginger and turmeric are two of the most studied natural anti-inflammatory ingredients in the world. So I started taking a shot every morning, and it’s a habit that has quietly, and easily stuck for me. The children laugh at me every morning when I down my firey, sharp little shot and wince as it definitely helps wake me up!

I make my own - it’s one of the simplest things and you can stock up with a week’s worth in one go really easily.

I’ve kept up this healthy habit and the truth is I feel a difference - more energised in the morning, a bit clearer in the head, way less bloated and inflamed and during the winter it’s definitely helped me keep all the nasty bugs at bay. It’s a small, consistent thing that has become a ritual for me.

Here’s how I make mine, I’ve also done a video here

Ingredients

150g ginger
50g turmeric
6 oranges (peeled)
1 lemon (peeled)
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Black pepper
200ml water

I pop the ginger, turmeric, oranges and lemon in a juicer, then add the rest of the ingredients. Don’t forget black pepper as your body needs this to absorb the turmeric.

I got my shot jars here. I do also cheat and always have these pre made options as a back up in my fridge, they’re always on offer and last for ages (Use my code 30AMANDA on Ocado for 30% off your shop)

Big love and fiery shots,

A x

There aren’t many things in your wardrobe that can work so hard for so many occasions - from the school run, work, city breaks, Sunday coffee, over your pilates kit and even your supermarket shop you can sling them over anything and the end result = chic.

I thought i’d share some of the favourites that I own myself as well as some great options out there this season if you need some inspiration and reasons to join the trench coat society.

The OG

Ok don’t let me make you run away here (there are high street options coming) but I have to start with the OG of trench coats - The Kensington from Burberry. If you’re going to go classic, go all in. Yes it is an investment, but will it still be in your wardrobe and working just as hard for you in 10 years time, yes, yes it will. I have one myself and I can honestly say it is the most worn coat and probably item of all time in my wardrobe. This is an absolute classic and will be around forever.

Top tip: Don’t forget to check Bicester Village and Vinted, the older the better, vintage is sooo classy!

Burberry Kensington Trench Coat

The Supermarket One

From one end of the scale to the other I promised more affordable options and this corker from George Clothing is beautiful. I absolutely love the colour (I can be fussy with my cream trenches and not liking them too dark) and the clincher for me is the collar - it has a high the option to wear the high collared neck buttoned up which is everywhere this season. It’s a no brainer.

George Beige Trench Coat

The Short One

I wasn’t sure on these style trench coats at first, and then I tried one. Absolute game changer. This is such a quick and sophisticated way to finish your outfit really quickly and if you’re not wanting as much drama in your outfit as a longer option gives. It works so well with jeans but also smart trousers so will work hard for your casual and smart days. This one is another supermarket beauty from Tu Clothing and is currently just £30 in the sale. In my favourite colour Stone.

Tu Clothing Stone Short Trench Coat

The Patterned One

If you’re a bit bored of beige then patterned trenches are having a moment. I bought this for myself a few weeks ago and I am in LOVE. I always like to mix things up and for this for me is a classic but a showstopper. I would build my outfit around this bad boy and just let it do the talking. The navy is such a classic and the hint of brown works with everything we are seeing this Spring. Be quick, it’s limited edition for a reason…

Zara Check Trench Coat (Limited Edition)

The One and Only

My high street favourite. It looks and feels like a Burberry, the premium cotton sets it way above other high street options and the fact that it is shower resistant just ticks an extra box I didn’t know I needed. The checked lining makes it feel even more premium. I would go so far as to say this is one that you will keep forever and the quality will back that up. The best designer dupe i’ve found, it’s from our trusty M&S they have even named it their ‘One and Only’.

M&S The Trench

The Car Coat

And lastly for something much simpler but equally as classy, Sezane have the ultimate ‘car coat’. You can just tell it is chic and French, it’s so quietly understated with much less detailing and single breasted. The ultimate ‘throw it on and look put together’ option, if you’re feeling cheeky you can fold up the sleeves to reveal the iconic checked pattern. I love the khaki version of this too and constantly battle with my conscience that I need to have both colour ways in my wardrobe. It has a slightly oversized fit and is water repellent, have I convinced you yet?! And if you are as in love with this as I am but want to try a high street version, this version here is a smidge of the price shhh!

Sezane Clyde Coat

I’m not joking when I say I could have kept going on this for days, I have found so many beautiful coats! I’ve popped a load more here if you fancy a mooch.

And if you’re wondering how i’m wearing mine for Spring…

• Buttoned up to the top - it looks super chic and doesn’t matter what you’ve thrown on underneath!

• Over straight leg jeans with a white tee, loafers and a jumper over my shoulders

• Over black wide leg trousers with a crisp white shirt for work

• Belted with knee high boots - so classy and professional

• Thrown over my gym wear!

Hope you’ve enjoyed, let me know which is your favourite in the comments.

Much love

A x

There’s something quietly exciting about starting over.

Not in a dramatic, burn-it-all-down kind of way, but in that softer, more intentional sense. The kind where you take everything you’ve learned and loved (and maybe outgrown), and give it a new home.

So here we are <3

After years of sharing on my old-school blog that lots of you will remember (the place where it all began, before Instagram) I’ve decided to move my writing over here. The blog was my starting point. A space where I could write freely, share everything I loved, and properly explain why I loved it. And if I’m honest, I’ve really missed that.

I love writing. I always have. And somewhere along the way (between algorithms and fast-paced scrolling) I stopped doing it as much as I wanted to. I miss sharing all my favourite things with you, and actually telling you why they matter to me. So this feels like coming back to something. Not because I’m leaving that version of myself behind, but because this feels like the next evolution of it.

And it’s where all the cool girls are at.

If you’ve followed me before, you’ll know what I love to talk about but if you’re new here…

Fashion - the pieces I’m actually wearing, re-wearing, and building my wardrobe around. But also the things i’d love to be wearing! Styling tips, how-to-wear ideas and what’s on trend.

Beauty & skincare - what’s genuinely worth it, what isn’t, and the products I keep going back to. No gatekeeping, no bs.

Wellness - the realistic kind. The habits, routines, and small shifts that make you feel better without needing to overhaul your entire life. I’m a real life mum, life is not polished!

And maybe… recipes - because I love being in the kitchen, but I can’t promise I won’t forget to share.

I think I may get asked why? Honestly? Because I wanted a space that feels a bit more like a conversation and without my face on the front of it! Social media is brilliant, but it’s so fast! I need to say what I need to say and move onto the next thing. This feels different. A place to slow down slightly. To share things properly. To write in full sentences again.

This is just things I genuinely want to share, when they feel worth sharing.

So if you’re here, thank you :-) I’m really glad you found your way over.

Amanda x