Connecting with your soul and healing trauma with Tori Jenae - Part 1

In today’s episode of Busy House, Happy Home, I sit down with interior designer Pippa Lawler for a conversation that feels both grounding and quietly inspiring. Pippa shares her journey from the pace of London life to the slower rhythm of the Cornish coast, where she now lives with her young family, building both a business and a life that feels more aligned. We talk about that shift so many of us feel drawn to, the pull towards space, calm, and a home that supports us rather than overwhelms us. This episode gently explores what it really means to create a home that works. Not just something beautiful to look at, but something practical, functional, and lived in. We talk about the importance of listening - whether that’s as a designer understanding a client, or simply listening to what your own home and life need from you. There’s also a lovely thread running through this conversation about using what we already have. The value of antiques, of pre-loved pieces, of breathing life back into something rather than always starting again. It’s a reminder that our homes don’t need to be perfect - they need to feel like us. Alongside this, we touch on the realities of juggling motherhood and business, the quiet challenges of working for yourself, and the importance of community, something Pippa is nurturing through her work with women in business on the Roseland Peninsula. It’s a conversation about balance, creativity, and finding confidence in your own decisions, whether that’s in your home or your work. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by your home, your to-do list, or simply where to begin, I hope this episode is inspiring for you. Love, Charlie x Thank you for listening to Busy House, Happy Home - a place for gentle conversations about everyday life at home.

In today’s episode of Busy House Happy Home, I’m joined by the thoughtful and inspiring Camilla Poulton for a conversation about something that matters deeply to both of us: giving our time, using our skills, and stepping beyond the rhythm of our own daily lives to serve others. Camilla first reached out to me by email, and what struck me straight away was her belief that life is not simply about talking about change, but about quietly and bravely putting it into action. Together, we talk about volunteering, community, purpose, and how helping others can often bring us back to ourselves. We explore the many forms volunteering can take, from supporting schools and local community projects to listening to children read, helping in food banks, serving in the NHS in non-medical roles, and even working within the prison system. What I loved so much about this conversation is that it reminds us that volunteering does not have to look one particular way. It can begin with what you are naturally good at, what you care about, and where you feel quietly called to help. We also touch on early childhood, family life, social responsibility, and the way a happy home is often built not only through what happens inside it, but through how fulfilled we feel within ourselves. There is so much wisdom here about purpose, confidence, resilience, and the importance of using whatever gifts we have, however ordinary they may seem. If you are feeling a little stuck, a little flat, or as though life has become very small and inward-looking, I hope this episode feels like a gentle nudge towards something meaningful and life-giving. Love, Charlie x

Welcome to this week’s episode of Busy House Happy Home. It may be the first of March, but outside the wind is howling and the rain is lashing against the windows. Inside, the fire is lit, the dogs are settled, and there is that unmistakable sense that something is beginning to shift. In this gentle episode, I read the spring introduction and March chapter from my book, reflecting on fresh starts, seasonal living and the quiet promise that brighter days are on their way. We talk about spring cleaning, not simply as a chore, but as a hopeful act. Wiping down woodwork, washing dog beds, opening windows and letting in crisp air. Clearing cupboards, yes, but also clearing space in our minds. I share thoughts on eating seasonally and how nature so cleverly provides what our bodies need, from wild garlic to dandelion tea. There is wisdom in the hedgerows and in the rhythm of the months, if we pause long enough to notice. This month’s quote from Marcus Aurelius feels particularly timely: “You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” I reflect on growth, perspective and doing things that feel slightly daunting — and how often they shape us for the better. If you’re feeling weary of the long winter, I hope this feels like sitting beside a warm fire with a cup of tea, being gently reminded that spring will come. Love, Charlie x

In today’s solo episode of Busy House Happy Home, I wanted to sit down with you for a quiet chat about mindset and the simple, everyday reframes that can change how life feels. We all have jobs we don’t necessarily want to do. The laundry that never ends, the bed that needs changing, the dusting you keep putting off. And yet, so often, it isn’t the task itself that drains us, it’s the story we tell ourselves while we’re doing it. I share how I try to approach the dull, repetitive bits with a gracious heart, and how a small shift from “I have to” to “I get to” can soften the whole day. Sometimes that looks like saving a treat for the jobs I don’t love, a favourite podcast, an audiobook, a good song turned up loud enough to dance around the kitchen. But we also go deeper than housework. I talk about identity, and how our sense of self can wobble through different seasons of life, especially as children grow and need us in new ways. I share parts of my own story: the confidence I didn’t have, the hard chapters, the long road of showing up, and the way purpose and determination can be built slowly, step by step. If you’re feeling stuck in a rut, a relationship, a job, or simply a low patch, I hope this episode reminds you that change is possible. Not always instantly, and not always easily, but gently, bravely, and one choice at a time. If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed or behind, I hope this feels like a steady hand on your shoulder - a reminder that you’re not alone, and you can start again today. Love, Charlie x

In this episode of Busy House, Happy Home, it’s a solo episode with just me and a cup of tea. I wanted to sit down and have a chat and keep you company as you go about your day.