In the kitchen with style expert Lisa Dawson

GoodLife Q&A

In the kitchen with style expert Lisa Dawson

Award-winning writer, blogger, author and all-round style expert, Lisa Dawson is a busy mum of three, documenting her home updates and advice from her Insta-worthy home in the York countryside. We are delighted to have teamed up with Lisa to put her own stylish stamp on Goodlife dishes.

Set to provide delicious recipe inspiration and serving ideas over the coming months for Goodlife, we sat down with Lisa to get to know her a little more.

With a family of five at home, Lisa shares an insight with us into the daily habits that make her feel good, the importance of spending quality time with family and friends, her favourite Goodlife dish and more…

GoodLife Tips

In the kitchen with style expert Lisa Dawson

Set to provide delicious recipe inspiration and serving ideas over the coming months for Goodlife, we sat down with Lisa to get to know her a little more.

Q. What’s your favourite way to spend 30 minutes of me-time?

There is nothing I like more than having half an hour to myself catching up on interior magazines! I subscribe to a few but rarely have the time to read them properly so my dream thirty minutes would be relaxing on a the sofa with a cold glass of wine, something tasty to snack and the fire on. Perfection.
Q. What are the most important factors when you’re cooking mid-week meals in a hurry?

We are a family of five and my son’s both play football which means we are not always able to sit down together for a meal. Therefore, grabbing something that’s quick and fuss free is essential as often I’m restricted for time thanks to my second career as a taxi service to my kids. I try and plan our midweek meals for ease and I always go for simple but tasty options that don’t take ages to prepare or even more importantly, require lots of pans and therefore washing up!
Q. What does ‘living your best life’ mean to you?

I am constantly trying to live my best life and for me, this means taking some moments for myself but also spending quality time with my family and my friends. I concentrate hard to get my work/life balance right so that I’m able to plan in fun things that will make me happy as well as being productive in my day job. I love my work, but there is nothing I enjoy more than socialising with other people, planning a good meal or just catching up. This past year has made these things even more important.
Q. What would your best piece of advice be, or advice you’ve been given, for leading your best life?

I would say make time for yourself, even if sometimes it feels as if it’s impossible to have a break. We all have busy lives and every day stresses, so switching off and doing something that is entirely for you is so important. Set yourself some goals of things that you’d like to achieve – even if it’s just watching a box set or making a recipe that you’ve seen and would like to try. Planning little wins and completing them is very therapeutic.
Q. Are there any daily or weekly habits that help to make you feel good?

I am a huge coffee fan and I take so much joy in drinking my first coffee of the day at my desk. I don’t feel as though my day can commence without it! I wait until the rest of the family have left the house and that’s my starting point. I also plan in at least one new recipe from one of my many cookbooks, so that we can try something different as a family. I’m trying to include more plant-based food in our diets alongside our normal fare – at the moment I’m loving Anna Jones, One: Pot, Pan, Planet.