A true modern day multi-hyphenate, Exeter-based blogger-turned-author, Sarah Turner – or the ‘Unmumsy Mum’ as she is known to her 408k-strong Instagram followers – has created a digital career, first through her blog and later via social media. And yet, refreshingly, she has done so without ever adopting the filter that glosses over the reality of living through a house renovation with three young boys in tow. Quite the contrary; it was the lack of honest parenting conversations online which gave her the impetus to launch the blog back in 2013, which in turn lead to three Sunday Times-bestselling books: The Unmumsy Mum, The Unmumsy Mum Diary and The Unmumsy Mum A-Z.

In this week’s guest edit, Sarah shares the social accounts that kept her sane during lockdown; her favourite binge watch; and the independent brands she’s discovered thanks to the power of the ‘gram.

My favourite app...


Spotify. Music keeps me going on the walk to and from work.

My favourite website...


Rightmove - I can't kick the habit, even though we're definitely not moving!

My internet hero...


I've got a lot of time for Martin Lewis and everything he did with MoneySavingExpert.com.

My favourite podcast...


It's not recent but My Dad Wrote a Porno is hard to match. I nearly wet myself listening to it on the train once.

My most recent buy online was...


Houseplants. I buy way too many.

The last book I downloaded or read was...


The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary. It was fab.

My Favourite Instagram account right now is...


@depopdrama. It's so silly but makes me laugh.

My Favourite tech gadget is...


Alexa, we rely on her a lot.

My most useful digital resource during lockdown has been...


The Instagram accounts of other parents, collectively reassuring me that I wasn't alone in losing my mind during home schooling.

The most inspirational digital resource/app/website during lockdown has been...


Five Minute Mum. Daisy works so hard and I love her content.

First thing/app you look at on your mobile when you wake up/in the morning...


The weather so I can decide what to wear.

Last thing you binge-watched was...


Normal People.

Favourite brands that you’ve discovered online/through social media...


The Little Botanical (great selection of plants); Madlug (for every bag sold they donate one to a child in care); and Family Rule (beautiful handmade ruler height charts).

Social media allowed me to meet...


SO many lovely people. The best thing has been meeting people who have followed me right from the beginning of my blogging adventure and who then come along to a book tour event.

My screensaver/lockscreen is...


My hubby and our three boys on the beach

My pet online hate is...


Anyone who unironically says #cherisheverymoment.

Do you set yourself any online rules/boundaries?


I take a few weeks off social media (logging out and deleting the apps completely from my phone) at least twice a year – usually once in the summer and then over Christmas. It's good to remember life without it!!

The best digital advice I've been given...


Trust your gut feeling on what you're comfortable posting.

The Internet. On balance, a force for good or ill?


Good, when used with caution.

The Unmumsy Mum A-Z is out now and is available on amazon.

Pic credit: Rosie Parsons Photography

By Lydia Mansi
November 2020

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