True to form, when we dial into our Zoom interview with Stacey Solomon we catch her midway through a craft project – albeit perhaps not one we’ll see in her next book. (“It looks like an eight-year-old did it in 10 minutes – I’m gutted!” she posts on Instagram later that day.)
It’s this relatable nature that’s made the Loose Women panellist the nation’s sweetheart. She shares her life with her millions of social media followers, from her home hacks to her antics at Pickle Cottage with her husband Joe Swash and four children.
We catch up with Stacey, 33, as she gets set for Christmas and she tells us all about her new bath and body collection with Dove that’s perfect for gifting – or keeping for yourself.
This will be your first Christmas with Joe as a married couple. What are you most looking forward to?
We look forward to the same thing every single year – just stopping. We know that on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day we’ll be home with our kids, and for us that’s the most exciting thing.
Have you got a theme planned for this year’s Christmas decor?
I’ve already got loads of decorations so this year I’m trying to forage everything. I’ve got a load of pampas grass from my neighbour that I’m making a Christmas tree out of, then I’m going to cut branches of greenery from the garden.
Sounds like a good, cheap way to decorate your home…
Evergreen trees in your garden are perfect for decoration. Fern, holly, olive, eucalyptus – they’re all really good. I’m also doing a TV show called Stacey Solomon’s Crafty Christmas that has loads of great affordable ideas. On the show we make a wreath by opening out a wire hanger and threading old baubles on it.
Will Joe get involved or does he leave it all to you?
I love the prep and build-up but Joe loves Christmas Day – that’s when he’ll take over. He does the dinner and he builds the toys that the kids get. They’re definitely a present for Joe, too!
We bet you’re great at wrapping gifts. Any top tips?
Instead of putting the present straight in the middle of the wrapping paper, put it on diagonally. It’ll mean you only need to use one piece of tape.
Talk us through Christmas morning in your house…
We have breakfast in our pyjamas and then we get dressed, because I like everyone to wear something nice on Christmas Day – much to their dismay!
Although Christmas morning starts at about 4am, it’s Joe who’s the first one up, running downstairs to find his stocking!
Are there any Christmas traditions you and Joe had growing up that you share with your own children?
[“The day after Boxing Day dinner!” shouts Joe in the background.] He always has a proper dinner on the 27th with all the leftovers.
Boxing Day and the day after are our favourites, because everyone’s had a great Christmas Day, the kids are playing with their new toys, the mayhem is over and you’re just doing nothing. I love that time.
You’ve created a bath and body collection with Dove. Talk us through it...
Sometimes we forget to give ourselves these 10 minutes to relax, but if you’re given bath products as a gift you know you’ve got to use them. I also loved being involved in the packaging design. The roses were inspired by my daughter Rose.
I’ve got one of the Bathe & Bloom Gift Packs here that I’ll never throw away, because I still can’t believe I got to make my own range with Dove.
What about the scent?
I love that the Peony & Rose fragrance immediately makes you feel relaxed. Peonies do that for me. We’ve got a big peony bush in our garden and every time I walk past it I inhale it.
You’ve got a full household. How do you manage to find moments for me-time?
I love a bath, and I just have to make that effort to run a bath instead of going straight to sleep, because I get so much out of it. The only time I get a bath on my own is when everyone’s in bed. If the little ones are awake, they soon find me and jump in!
Is Joe a bath fan? Will he be pinching this range for himself?
Joe actually prefers a bath to a shower. I really curate my bath – I put in my bath salts, bath soak, maybe some petals – but he’s too lazy to do all that. He’ll just use up all my bath soak. He steals everything of mine. [“Anything I can get my hands on!” Joe admits in the background.]
What’s your party prep routine before an event or special occasion?
I love applying my eyelashes, curling my hair and putting my Dove gradual tan on.
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What’s your go-to glam makeup look?
The most important things for me are foundation, eyelashes and eyebrows. I’ll use my bronzer as eyeshadow and add a nude lip. That’s me done.
Have you ever had a memorable beauty faux pas?
My eyelashes are a constant faux pas. They end up on my forehead, they flap around when I’m talking to somebody!
You’re a big advocate of body positivity. How important is that to you?
Massively. A big part of why I wanted to work with Dove was because of its Self Esteem Project, which has resources that can be used with young people.
It’s also really important to me because I’m raising four children who are growing up in an era where their appearance will be one of their main priorities, which it shouldn’t be.
I want to have knowledge of how to deal with that, and how to support them in navigating social media.
Do you have any confidence-boosting tips to share?
I take a “Shallow Hal” approach. I think that if I believe I look good then everyone else does. One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given was that you’re entirely in control of how you feel, so don’t allow anyone to make you feel inadequate.
You’re totally within your rights to feel like the most beautiful woman in the world even if someone is telling you that you’re not.
I think I’m pretty and I think I’m a nice person, and that’s all that matters.
The Dove x Stacey Solomon Limited Edition Renewing Care Bath Soak, £5.99, and Bath Salts, £6.99, and the Bathe & Bloom Gift Pack, £20, are available from Asda, Tesco and Boots.
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