The Question Stack
My workout routine, holiday plans, house move, strapless bras and a cheeky discount
I often put a question box on Instagram and never quite get round to answering everything properly, some questions need a longer, more thought-out reply than a story allows, and sometimes I want to add multiple links, which Instagram stories don’t allow. So I thought I'd start a new series on here where I can actually do them justice. I've always loved reading this kind of thing from other people, so here's my own version.
This one covers a bit of everything; pilates, holidays, house moves, packing formulas and everything in between. Let's get into it:
Which strapless bra do you wear?
When spring/summer hits I feel like I get asked this question a lot, i can’t really do a no bra situation (unless its something quite fitted) so i do wear strapless bras with summery tops more often than not. My favourites are from Wacoal and I’ve been wearing them for the past few years, they’re the only one I’ve found that actually stays up without me spending the whole day doing that subtle hitch-up manoeuvre.
What’s your workout routine?
A few months after having Cas I started working out with Bianca she’s an amazing online PT who has helped me regain my strength and fitness post-natally. We do a weekly sessions focussing on full-body strength training to rebuild my core and pelvic floor using a combination of weights, bands and bodyweight exercise. She’s got me back to my pre-baby body in terms of dress size but has also helped me so much in improving my fitness and toning my body.
She has actually given me an amazing discount code for you on her personalised coaching plans. B creates a tailored workout plan based on your body, goals and lifestyle (home based/post natal etc.) and also includes structured meal plans to support nutrition. You get regular check-ins and ongoing support throughout so it can be adjusted to your progress. Use code FRAN15 for 15% off your first month, just enter the code on her website or dm her directly for any questions.
Who are you doing your pilates training with?
I’ve been doing reformer pilates for years but stopped in my last trimester and the newborn days as there just wasn’t the time. I’ve been back at it consistently for a few months now, at least once a week at Reformer Collective in Balham. I usually do the dynamic pilates class which I love, it’s a more high intensity version which I like because it gives me more of a workout. Lisa’s sessions are my favourite.
Ideally I’d like to add a second session in each week, probably something that focuses a bit more on form. I used to go to Mojo in Clapham which I liked and if you’re looking for something you can do at home I love Bryony Deery and Fluidform. I also like 1Rebel for a more high intensity version.
I book via classpass, use my link for 20 bonus credits and a 14 day trial
Toddler-friendly holiday plans? I need some inspo that doesn’t involve all-inclusive hell.
Oh I really feel you with this one. It’s one of those things you tell yourself you’ll never do, then you have kids and suddenly you completely understand the appeal of having activities laid on. But I do think you can get the best of both, somewhere that works for small ones without feeling like you’ve sacrificed everything nice for yourself.
I’m actually going to two hotels in June that I think nail exactly that. Both are beautiful, both are genuinely toddler friendly :
I'll do a full review once we're back, but first up is the Marbella Club Hotel. Everything I've read and heard suggests it strikes that balance of being genuinely family friendly without sacrificing the things that make a holiday feel like a holiday; good service, beautiful setting, a spa and nice restaurants. There's a kids club from age four, but you can take your baby as long as an adult stays with them, plus a kids pool and family activities alongside an adults only pool. It looks like it ticks every box but as I say i’ll report back.
And secondly, OKU Andalusia, which is actually OKU's first ever family-focused property. The whole aesthetic of OKU is that barefoot boho-luxury, I’ve visited OKU Ibiza and it’s really lovely. For little ones there's one-to-one babysitting for under twos, a kids club from age 2 upwards with a proper activity programme, and a children's pool. Its also complimentary with the stay and you dont need to pre-book, i’ve read online that parents can also stay and play so i’m going to see if we can take Cas for a play even though he’s only 18 months. For you there's a spa, multiple pools and three restaurants. Again, full review to come.
Peligoni in Zakynthos is one I've had on my radar for a while and I'm hoping to get there in the autumn, if not next summer. The concept is really clever, you stay in a private villa but have access to The Club, so you get the privacy of a villa holiday without sacrificing the facilities. The crèche runs from four months, 9am to 6pm every day throughout the season, with qualified nannies, which is honestly wild in the best possible way. There's also evening babysitting, watersports, restaurants, the lot. Everything I've seen suggests it's genuinely chic without being the kind of place that makes you feel like your toddler is an inconvenience. It's top of the list.
Sonnweis in the Dolomites is one I only came across recently, I've got a work trip to a different hotel in the Dolomites coming up which is probably how it ended up on my radar. It's a luxury family wellness hotel with its own organic farm, which already sounds dreamy. What really got me though is the childcare: there are onsite daily childminders for babies from four months, included in the overnight price, plus 70 hours of activities for older kids, farm days, forest adventures, that kind of thing. Haven't been yet but it's firmly on the list.
Travel toys for 18 month olds?
We have a long travel day coming up next week, mostly on the train with our (just about to turn) 18 month old, so I asked you lot for recommendations to keep him entertained. The criteria were: small enough to pack easily and not messy, given we'll be on a train. Here's what you suggested and some notes on what i’ve got him:
Sticker books — we got him a bubble sticker book as they’re easier for little hands to peel and they’re reusable
Busy books — a lot of people recommended these, we actually have two and he really likes them, I also got him a busy board because he loves a switch and these busy cubes are really good too and very travel size
Play doh — a few people said play doh but that seems far too messy on a train for an 18 month old so i’ve given that a miss
LED Magic Drawing Board - a few friends suggested these too, a great idea as he isn’t that into colouring yet and these feel lower maintenance
Travel magnetic tiles — I think the Magna-Tiles are for slightly older (age recommendation is 3+) but I know my friends with older kids love them and the travel set is a real winner
Water books and mess-free colouring — we got him one of these, again he hasn’t shown a huge interest in colouring yet so feel like this is a great intro into it as its mess-free
Spinning snack holder - snacks are an imperative item and someone recommended these which are a fun way to enterain them
Liewood Solene Puzzle Ball - I also got Cas these, he loves a little fidget/puzzle toy and these look good
Where are your striped shorts from?
Lots of you asking for the link to the shorts I was wearing in the Q&A story, they’re from & Other Stories and are really excellent, i got a size small which fit me well (typically a size UK 10).
When’s your next sale?
We just did one a week ago but it was over the bank holiday weekend and I know a lot of people were away so we are going to do an extra after work sale on the 25th June, 6-8pm. It’ll be 677 Fulham Road, add to your diary!
What is the latest on your house move?
Still waiting on an exchange and completion date, we had our offer accepted back in February but it's moved slowly, mostly due to a long wait for searches plus a couple of things on the sellers end. Fingers crossed we should be completing within the next month or so though.
That said, we won't be moving in straight away. The house needs a lot of work so the plan is to stay where we are while we do it up, which we are lucky enough to be able to do as the idea of living on a building site with a toddler sounds like absolute hell.
What were your criteria when house hunting?
We’d been in our current house for around 12 years and have pretty much grown out of it, the plan was always to either extend or move. Once we had Cas it became really clear how much it matters to live close to family. My brother is in Wimbledon and my dad and stepmum in Fulham, which sounds close, but 45 minutes to an hour with a baby feels very different to how it felt before. So south west London became the focus, to close that gap a bit.
Beyond location we wanted something we could put our own stamp on, a project rather than something finished. We wanted space to extend, add value and make it properly ours rather than just moving into someone else’s version of a house. Then the usual things: good schools nearby, green space, decent transport links.
We ended up looking in the Raynes Park area as it ticked all of those boxes and was still within our budget. I actually know it well, my dad had a house just off Wimbledon Common between the village and Raynes Park when I was growing up, so it already feels like home.
What’s your holiday packing formula?
I’m actually going away soon so I’m planning to do a proper packing post on my holiday outfit edit, so stay tuned for that. But in general my formula is a mix of easy chuck-on mini dresses for daytime, one or two matching sets, linen shirts and shorts and then four or five evening outfits depending on how long I’m away.
I’m actually a terrible overpacker, one of my toxic traits is that I always leave it to the last minute and end up throwing in extra bits I never touch. Accessories are my worst habit, I come home with bags and shoes I didn’t wear once. So this trip I’m really trying to plan every outfit properly in advance and actually stick to it. Will report back on how that goes..