An interview with celebrity Mum, Emma Forbes!

Emma Forbes is one of the nation’s best loved broadcasters and personalities and has now branched out to launch her own lifestyle website FORBES STYLE.

FORBES STYLE has a wide range of topics and features Emma’s daily comments on a variety of subjects including; food, homes, fashion, parenting, travel, health and well-being.

Whilst Emma was a full time mum with two small children, she experimented with some fun business ventures including the boutique children’s fantasy shop ‘Semmalina’, which then led to the spin off children’s party bags – ‘Star Bags’.

As her children reach their teens, Emma has returned to the limelight with Forbes Style and uses the opportunity to share her experiences and engage with her readers, discussing views on being a mother, wife and career woman.

Our editor Fi, asked Emma how she manages to balance work and family life, keep looking so fabulous and how she makes ‘Childcare fun!’

Hi Emma!

I always wanted to work with children and I love what I do. Did you always want to be a TV and radio presenter, or did you have something else in mind when you were growing up?

I did all sorts of jobs before becoming a TV presenter. Originally I wanted to be a ballet dancer and did formal training to the age of 18, then had to be grown up, realise I wasn’t good enough and change direction..I sort of ‘fell’ into various jobs until I went to a breakfast TV studio and watched a live show..and thought – yup, that’s for me!!

Your website Forbes Style is full of loveliness covering all areas of life. How did the website come about?

The website came about as I am someone who loves all aspects of family life and lifestyle, and really had wanted for ages to find a way of putting it all together and so I took about a year developing the idea. It’s always been my niche to find gifts, cook, put together parties, etc and the website seemed the natural way forwards!

I find running a website from home gives me a great work/family balance. However, it’s a struggle sometimes with two very little ones so I’d love to know  – How do you manage the family/work balance now and how did you when your children were little?

I have to say it’s the first time I’ve worked from home doing the website and I LOVE it!! Am really nice to work for too!!! And much easier with the kids, though means I have no cut off hours…but when they were tiny it was a juggle and ultimately I took a back seat from telly while they were tiny – I couldn’t bear not being there – to this day it’s always a juggle particularly if one is off school ill or anything. I think you just have to get your priorities in order…and am a big fan of making ‘lists’!

You look great! As a busy mum on the go, please tell us your secret to looking fab!

Not sure I have a secret to looking fab! I try to really take care of my skin and give myself the odd treat facial, and eat healthily as genuinely believe that what you put in reflects on the outside!! And thank god for fabulous makeup – love concealers, tinted moisturisers and the odd bit of bronzer when am feeling pale!

Parenting can be exhausting and tiredness takes it’s tole on any mummy, but especially in those early days. What are your quick fix beauty tricks for the tired looking mum?

Quick fix beauty tips for mums..I would invest in a great concealer like ‘touch eclat’ from Yves saint laurent!! And to treat yourself to the odd time out having a mani, pedi or massage!!! Sleep was something I yearned for when mine were tiny (and didn’t ever sleep!!) so when my husband took over for a night and I could just sleep…Heaven!

We think there is enormous pressure on new mums to get back their figures, so it must have been hard as a celebrity in the spotlight. How did you feel and what would you advise any new mum to do?

I think there is huge and ridiculous pressure for people to get their figure/weight back post baby. It took me a full year to get back in my jeans  – truly – and I don’t believe people should rush it.

I think bodies change post children (for the better!!) and you have to learn to be happy with what you have, and find a healthy regime with food, etc that works for you with a good weight loss that isn’t an instant fix.

Too much else is going on in the early days of babies too and you need strength and energy and living off rice cakes isn’t enough! I say slow and steady – and enjoy the baby!

We all have naughty food moments (I’m guilty of it all the time!) What are your ‘bad-for-you-but-oh so-good’ food weaknesses?

My guilt weaknesses with food…am a sucker for tinned rice pudding. Heaven. I literally could eat it straight from the tin…and custard. Love custard!

Actually love a lot of things…so hard to limit it with the guilty pleasures! But I do believe that a little of what you fancy..does you good!

Finally, at Childcare is fun, we try to help parents and carers step away from the stressful side of childcare and have some fun doing it instead! What is your way of making childcare fun with your children?

I think making childcare fun is all about doing stuff that you don’t read in a book or a manual or that you feel you ‘should’ be doing.

I never believe the parent who is up at 6am doing potato painting and then reading, and cramming the day full of activities they feel are ‘right’ to do.

The best time with my kids are the days when we sort of just have fun together for no real reason – a rainy day when we have a laugh at a great movie, or just hours spent being together.

I think children love time spent with them – doesn’t have to be structured, they just love being listened to, not judged and just having good old fashion fun!

Thanks so very much Emma, some fab, honest advice there for mums…

If you’d like to see Emma’s rather splendid website for a fashion, homes-style or travel fix you can click here.

You can also view Emma’s recipes and cooking skills on a series of video tutorials filmed from her own kitchen! A semi-finalist of BBC1′s Celebrity Masterchef, Emma is looking to share her passion of cooking with her readers!

To keep up to date with what’s coming up on FORBES STYLE, you can follow Emma on Twitter or join the FORBES STYLE Facebook page.