ZOË FOSTER BLAKE

Despite what I write on my border security card, (author, international DJ) I have not really been authoring very much. In fact, I have not published a novel since 2014, (The Wrong Girl), which came out weeks before I launched Go-To/my first child. It was a big year. But! I just submitted a manuscript, and it’s fair to say that a) I was a little rusty, b) I really miss and love writing fiction, and c) I may have been a bit ambitious with this one. Wheee! What fun. Creating a sustained narrative and finding and staying in flow when you have young children and a growing business requires ELITE compartmentalising skills. I do not have these skills. But I got the job done in my own clunky, highly-caffeinated way. I see now how fortunate and privileged I was to be able to dedicate all my mental real estate on writing, pre-kids. I spent six weeks shuffling around bnbs (the ‘air’ part didn’t exist yet) in Tuscany at 30 writing a novel because: I could. I was aware that it was a rare, selfish, low-responsibility time in life, and I had to grab it with two slippery, oily little hands. Anyway. The book won’t be out til next year, (I love the next part, the editing process; it’s like cutting and styling very long hair into a super chic bob) (the printing part I like less: so much ink everywhere!!) but there IS a book, and I loved writing it. Writing never feels like work, I am so happy tapping away in my soft clothes and slippers, completely absorbed in my work, utterly unconcerned with the Outside World. … Speaking of books, I just finished Demon Copperhead by the magnificent Barbara Kingsolver. Undoubtably my book of the year (and winner of the 2023 Pulitzer for Fiction, which probably means a bit more) This is ‘A Little Life’ territory: bleak, witty, epic, harrowing, powerful, and utterly enchanting. I couldn’t wait to read it at the end of every day, even though this modern ‘retelling' of Charles Dickens' David Copperfield broke my heart a million times. Breathtaking. (Multiple trigger warnings including addiction, abuse, violence.)

Happy Father’s Day, daddy boys! The mind set around being a father, father figure or mentor has changed so much in the past 10-20 years and thank f*ck for that. It’s because of organisations like @thefatheringproject who work tirelessly to equip fathers with the skills to be the best dad they can be, which has a proven and direct ability to positively influence their children’s health, happiness, mental health and social success. And so we must support and salute the fathers, father figures and mentors who choose, no matter their circumstance, no matter their lack of role model, no matter their career, to be the best dad they can. Because fathers matter. I am proud of the father of my children, for going all in on parenting, and showing up every day, when much of society would still have us believe that was optional, not essential. Proud of him for creating a wonderful podcast, How Other Dads Dad, because he was hungry for dad wisdom, as so many young/modern dads are, and he wanted to create an enduring resource and a community of confident, compassionate men who wanted to dad as best they could. Proud of him also for winning Father of The Year today at the Australian Fathering Awards, alongside Paul Wilton for sports father of the year, and Dodzi Kpodo for community father of the year, two men whose wholehearted, humble speeches had us all in tears. As our son pointed out, how can anyone aside of he and his sister possibly know what kind of father he is? Touché. But what I see is that as well as being a positive, present, many-hours-on-the-floor-playing parent, he does a great job of gently encouraging other dads to try. In whatever shape that takes. What I ALSO see is 12 months of heckling him relentlessly whenever he leaves the bike helmets at home or buys the wrong bread for their sandwiches. *Slide 3 is @maggiedentauthor, who I admire so deeply, and would award Fairy Parentingmother of the Year if I could. Her books are 💯💯

Hi! This is how I use our new hydrating, calming gel cleanser, Juicy Gel, in my morning routine. (Spoiler: with water, and my face and hands.) I follow on with our vitamin C serum, Much Brighter Skin, then Face Hero, our nourishing face oil, then our Nifty Fifty board-spectrum high protection sunscreen. This gives me all the hydration, antioxidants and protection I need for the day. I use Juicy Gel it because it’s gentle, (a soft hug between all Vitamin A and AHAs I use) replenishing, and plumps my skin. Also, it smells REAL cute and is fun to apply. I appreciate that in a cleanser. 🥒

Why the HECK would you swap to a gel cleanser? And why will it be our new Juicy Gel? I know why! 🧴It's hydrating and plumping making it GREAT for dry, mature skin 🧴It's a soap-free, water-based cleanser with a nice lather leaving the face soft and smooth - NEVER dry or tight what are you crazy no way 🧴It's very calming and cooling with cucumber, lotus root and aloe vera making it AMAZING AND SO PERFECT for sensitive or cranky skin 🧴It’s replenishing and nourishing and keeps your skin barrier happy and strong, which is great if you love your actives: HIPHIPHURAY. I love our moussey queen, Properly Clean. We’ve had over a decade of cleansing together 🥹. But at 43, I was ready for something more replenishing. It’s a matter of preference! Choose your own cleansing adventure. But definitely give Juicy Gel a squeeze. That cucumber smell, that gorgeous gloopy lather… you’ll fall fast and you’ll fall hard. Vegan, oil-free, soap-free, nut-free, gluten-free and boring-free because WASHING YOUR FACE CAN BE FUN. $39 from gotoskincare or any Mecca store 🥒

Holy juice boxes, that’s tomorrow! 🧃

#tomatogirlwinter at the Logies. Dress @alemais.official Styling @jess_pecoraro Makeup @heidiscarlettkingmakeup Hair @thesalonbyashcrokerofficial Earrings @senerbesim Actual human body @zotheysay Logie nominee / prom partner @hamishblakeshotz Pics @carolinemccredie

Whenmark? Denmark! (And also some Paris.) First up, Copenhagen, where cool people riding bikes influencing global fashion trends and stunning pastries collide. Then onto Billund, which is between 3 and 500 hours west to visit LEGOland, stay at the LEGO Hotel, visit LEGO House (incredible), eat LEGO fries, dream of LEGO, not be able to escape LEGO etc etc for fun and also our daughter’s birthday. What a trip. Bikes! Beach! Bricks! Birthdays! Bloody beautiful. 💯💯💯

After all those bikes we bravely shed our Lycra and trekked south to the beach, where we set several SPF reapplication records, and I joyfully released all my holiday extra. 🪇

Back at it again with the family bike trip! This time, an extremely picturesque, lavender-scented homage to the Tour de France riding through Provence. (There is no wankier sentence, I checked.) Featuring: riding on roads with real cars, wild heat, big, big climbs from small, small legs, many magnificent meals, and the kind of glorious scenery treadmill companies use to distract indoor runners. The combination of nature, family and exercise; it cannot be beat. For five days we rode through small towns and fields, then ate our body (and bike) weight in “fuel”, then when the kids finally went to be bed at Euro O’Clock (10:30pm ffs) watch the TDF highlights. (This is because of the Netflix series. Not because I am a Proper Cyclist™️.) I will pop my stories in a highlight. *Kids and I rode in UPF50 clothing, which I bought online (mostly from the US). Not to use comments as a billboard or anything hahaha as if!!! But if anyone knows of decent SPF activewear labels, please let me know. There be a dearth. #blakesonbikes

If you have or know a baby or toddler, it is your lawful duty to introduce them to the joys of fart humour. I can help you do this with my new book starring everyone’s favourite lil’ cloud of noxious gas, Fart, (star of 'No One Likes A Fart' and 'Fart and Burp Superstinkers’) in his first lift-the-flap board adventure, Fart’s Favourite Smells. Watch in joy/disgust as little hands lift and reveal smelly surprises while Fart visits the beach, park and restaurant looking for his ultimate smell! Find and reek at its best! Pre-order this weapon of gas distraction now via link in bio 💨 On sale August 1st.

Do you have skin? Do you exfoliate that skin? Exfoliation makes a BIG, visible difference and helps all your other skin care work better. At a time when more skin care steps are not what anyone needs, I assure you exfoliation is an OG, and sits alongside cleanser, moisturiser and SPF as an essential. And in GREAT news, Go-To now offers different exfoliants for different skins, and skin needs. OMG we have our first GLYCOLIC!!! which we combined with Mandelic acid to really improve skin texture and tone, and give big glow. ✨ OMG AGAIN we also have our first BHA! (Salicylic acid) which clears congestion, minimises pores, regulates acne-prone or oily skin and calms breakouts. (TEENS? YES!) And finally there is our sweet gentle pussycat, a blend of lactic, PHA and aloe, to soothe and hydrate the face as it removes dead skin cells. Great for sensitive skins or newcomers to chemical exfoliants. (Chemical = acids. Manual = friction, e.g. scrubs.) These toners *remember, the word toner just means a hydrating, preparatory lotion* are soothing, hydrating, fragrance-free, and formulated for NO spicy, stingy irritation. (It’s a myth you need to feel tingles to get glow.) They are your second step, after cleansing. We recommend using a reusable cotton round (the first 5000 orders get a free set valued at $15!) and swiping all over, then leave for a minute or two before your next product. Me? 🙋‍♀️ I use the Glow Exfoliator, at night, 4-5x a week. It's gentle and effective enough that I can without fear of overuse or sensitising my skin. I am really enjoying my gentle, kick ass glycolic. But exfoliating is very personal: you do you ✌️

This weekend’s shapes featuring a ball, a cube, and a heart. 🤍 Happy Mother’s Day. “Without us, they wouldn’t be alive.”