Mom of All Trades

Mom of three, author, model, entrepreneur, and podcast host (the list goes on!), Caroline Fleming gets real about her home life, motherhood, and her evergrowing string of titles.

MINI | Thank you for inviting us to your home! Tell us about the place! How would you describe your home— the design, the feel?

CAROLINE FLEMING | My home is really my life for the past 25 years. Pieces I have from my childhood home and others I have collected over the years and whilst travelling. It’s very warm and cozy and rich in color and textures.

MINI | Do you have a favorite room in your home or one where you spend the most time? Tell us why you love it.

CAROLINE FLEMING | My kitchen is where I spend most of my time. We meet there first thing every morning for breakfast before I take my children to school and again when they get back from school. It’s where my kids do their homework and where I do all of my recipes for my books and my cooking for my YouTube show, “Cooking with Caroline Fleming.” I love this room and find deep comfort and relaxation in cooking. It’s very nourishing for my soul and another expression of love, served daily to my children friends and family.

MINI | What are some of your favorite elements in your home? Where did they come from?

CAROLINE FLEMING | I love the fact that everything I have is in one place. I love that everything has been chosen because I really like them, and have a story in their own right, whether it be a frame or a painting or a piece of furniture or a small Art Deco piece. It’s my nest and the place I feel safe and secure.

MINI | You’re always on the go, even with the kids! What are your tricks to making traveling with kids a little easier?

CAROLINE FLEMING | Organizing everything in advance [and] making mental lists so you don’t forget anything. I travel a lot with my kids, so I have much experience and have learned from previous mistakes. My children are super easy and very helpful too. They know what they want when they are away and ensure they pack these priorities. Practice makes perfect!

MINI | On a career note, tell us about your cookbook! What types of recipes can we find inside?

CAROLINE FLEMING | My most recent and fourth cookbook is a real taste of classic Danish cuisine. It has a Swedish twist as I am half Swedish and will introduce you to all the most loved dishes we eat in Denmark and Sweden. I am very conscious around nutrition, so my recipes are perhaps more healthy in their preparation than previous generations. I believe in cooking less to restore nutrients, and maintaining amazing flavors. The recipes are all super simple and great dishes for whoever you are cooking for, whether they love meat, only eat fish, are vegetarian, or fussy.

MINI | What is one of your favorite recipes?

CAROLINE FLEMING | I adore all the salad, especially the kale and quinoa salad, the fish balls are amazing, and the rhubarb soup for dessert. The flavors are mind blowing and each person I have made this for is speechless.

MINI | You also have a new YouTube channel! What types of videos can we expect to see?

CAROLINE FLEMING | Yes, very exciting. The recipes on this channel are varied and all family friendly. They are three minutes long, and there is something for everyone, from l’étais to nut butters, from Italian to Mediterranean to Danish to Thai, healthy breakfasts, smoothies, summer meals and winter warmers. There is a new episode every Monday and Friday all year round!

MINI | And to boot, you have a podcast with your girlfriend, Sophie Stanbury! What topics do you cover on the podcast?

CAROLINE FLEMING | The podcast is all about talking about the things many people find difficult to talk about, bringing into the open subjects that are so important but difficult, from illness to marriage problems, making the most important decisions in your life to ensure your utmost happiness. And only you know what deep down makes you happy and what makes you sad, only you can bring this to the surface. We talk about health and beauty, fitness and friendships, food and lifestyle, dating and kids, building a business and leaving the job you no longer adore.

MINI | We know schedules can be hectic— so tell us about yours! What does a typical day look like right now? What time do you get up?

CAROLINE FLEMING | My friends say I do In a day what they do in a week. My day normally starts around 7 AM when I wake my children gently. We then have breakfast and I take them to school. My day is then—from around 8 AM to 4 PM—a combination of working, emails, writing recipes, designing my homeware, and stockings. I often have meetings during this time and occasionally a lunch with a friend or work colleague. Then I collect my children, help them with their homework, cook, we all have dinner together, I bathe them and we spend some gorgeous cozy time before I put them to bed. A few times per week I will have a dinner with friends or business dinners.

MINI | How do you manage to keep all of the plates spinning? What helps you to juggle motherhood and career?

CAROLINE FLEMING | It’s all about getting the balance right. My motherhood fills the space it needs to fill and is my number one priority, then comes my work and I will not commit to anything I cannot give 100% to. Again, these choices come with years of experience and I know what I can give. I take time when something new is offered to me and really make sure I can commit to this at the level I want to. I have a lot of energy to use so I can get lots done in a day, and I make sure that I fill my body with really good food consistently to maintain this energy.

MINI | Let’s talk wellness. What does your skincare routine look like?

CAROLINE FLEMING | My skincare and beauty routine is very simple and keeps myself as natural as possible, very Scandinavian really. I often just clean my face with water, at most a cleanser and exfoliate from Lancer or MZ Skincare or Natura Bisse is another favorite. I adore Estee Lauder Night Repair and use it [in the] morning and evening. I love Sisley SPF with Natura Bisse “The Cure” and makeup once or twice a week in the form of minerals from Youngblood, bronzer, mascara, and sun cream from Tromborg.

MINI | How about your fitness routine and diet? Are there certain foods you stick to and others you stay away from?

CAROLINE FLEMING | I am not a gym person, never have been. I do yoga once or twice a week for ten to fifteen minutes only; this preserves my core strength. I eat varied food of all kinds, from different cultures, and 50% of my diet is fruits and vegetables. I eat everything and I have a very sweet tooth. I am equally satisfied by a great smoothie as I am by a fantastic homemade cake. I don’t deny myself anything and eat dessert after every meal every day. I also don’t really drink during meals which makes a world of difference to my digestion. Every day I will eat cucumber and avocado and drink at least two double cappuccinos. I love foods that are freshly prepared. I don’t enjoy processed food at all; it doesn’t make me feel good. I try to breathe well and ensure that I don’t waste my time doing anything I don’t want to do or spend my time with people I don’t want to be around.

Photography by Margarita Karenko