Five things I can't live without - Samantha Womack
1 ROAST DINNERSI am a massive foodie and although I tend to create complete chaos in the kitchen I am actually a pretty good cook.
My signature dish is roast lamb which I serve with homemade Yorkshire puddings and potatoes cooked in goose fat.
Ideally I like to have the house crammed to the rafters with friends and family for Sunday lunch.
There is nothing quite like catching up with your nearest and dearest over a delicious roast dinner.
2 FAMILY PHOTOS
As I have got older I’ve become quite a home bird and I don’t like being away from my family.
When I travel with work I always pack a selection of family photos.
That way I can transform any sterile hotel room into a homely retreat.
One picture that always goes everywhere with me is a photo of the kids digging in the sand on a beach in Cape Town.
The sun is setting behind them and they both look so carefree and happy.
My daughter Lily is always doing little drawings for me and I tend to pin those up on the walls when I am travelling too.
3 ME TIME
Being a working mother can be tiring at times and I think women are programmed to look after everyone else, meaning we often neglect ourselves.
That is why I try to carve out a little bit of me time every day.
Even if I can only spare 15 minutes it doesn’t matter.
The point is to have a break from being an actress or a mother and to just be myself.
Sometimes I will sit alone and listen to music for a while.
If I have more time I like to take myself off for a long country walk on my own.
I have never been one of those women who like to relax at a spa or by going on a shopping trip.
Instead being surrounded by nature is the perfect stress buster for me.
4 SMOOTHIES
It is very important to me that I am there for my children as much as possible.
My own parents split up when I was little and while I was growing up I remember having to fend for myself quite a lot as my mother was always studying and my step-father was busy working as a doctor.
I would get myself ready for school and I really didn’t want my kids to have the same experience which is why I love to sit down to breakfast as a family.
I start the day well, normally with a bowl of porridge and a slice of toast and I always make everyone a smoothie to go with their breakfast.
We all have our different tastes but I like mine packed with berries, maple syrup and seeds. It really sets me up for the day.
5 IPOD
My father Noel was a musician and I have always enjoyed singing.
As my taste in music is very varied it is sometimes difficult to decide what to put on.
I really love the shuffle option on my iPod as it creates a random playlist and you never know what you are going to get to next.
One minute I could be humming along to my childhood idol Joni Mitchell and the next my son Ben’s favourite rapper Eminem is blasting out.
Then there might be a burst of jazz or a relaxing classical number.
The constant variety definitely keeps me on my musical toes.
Samantha Womack is supporting Linwoods Superfoods Fab Over 40 Campaign.
For more details visit facebook.com/LinwoodsSuperfoods