Caroline who writes our Out & About monthly events feature is mum to Mia, 5 and Nancy, 2. She combines her job as a freelance writer and mum of two with being a fishmonger’s wife and jewellery maker.

I love working from home. I love the flexibility of being able to work around the kids and still have something for me. It’s important to me to be able to take part in nursery and school activities, pick Mia up from school and have her friends over for play dates.

Without doubt the best thing for me about having children, is the unconditional love and laughter. They make me laugh on a daily basis!

On a usual working day I’m up at 6, as James is off to work then. He runs his family’s traditional fishmongers in Shenfield, Essex. Once he has gone we have breakfast and play a little before taking the kids off to nursery and school. I often try a bit of power walking or a workout DVD before having a coffee and getting stuck into work. I like to have a shower and my hair and make up done, just like I was going to work in the office. It’s easy then to get into the right frame of mind and work through to the 3pm school run.

Luckily my dream job is not far off what I’m doing right now. In Summer, it’s lovely to work outside writing, but there’s often too much glare if I’m on the computer, so most of the day I work inside. I try not to get distracted by twitter and pinterest when I’m working either!

Right now, my favourite colour is orange but it changes frequently. I like to alter things in the house and there is always a project of some sort on the go! My inspiration comes from magazines, online and the different vibe/colours I pick up from the places I visit. Pinterest and Etsy are great inspirations, too. I like to keep the house in order and I prefer to live with less clutter and a more minimal approach to ‘stuff’, otherwise it would drive me insane!

I love this original watercolour by Christina Romeo. We bought a couple of her pieces. They are my favourite in the house, so far.

With the kids I try not to set specific times to play with them and let it happen more organically. I love to get out and about with the children as well, whether it’s a quick local walk or an adventure further afield. They do love playing together at home still which is great too. Mia loves to cook with me. I like to be creative in the kitchen and to get the kids involved as much as possible. James often brings home fresh fish so we regularly make fish fingers together. You can use almost any fish and it’s really easy.

Photography  by Louise Freeland. Styled by Tracey Chalk.