MEET PARIS & PENNY THOMSON
This stylish mother-daughter duo are devoted BLAKEAWAY customers. Paris is a working mum to one-year-old Orlando and the founder of Melbourne creative production studio Sirap. Her mum Penny is not only her constant support, but also a busy working woman in her own right — juggling career, family, and life with warmth and grace. They both turn to BLAKEAWAY for delicious meals that make the everyday a little easier.
PARIS THOMSON
What does a typical day look like for you right now?
Our beautiful (baby) alarm clock Orlando wakes us at 5.30am and we're all up! Following a (short) peaceful cuddle in bed all together, the mornings quickly turn into a mad hustle between flipping morning eggs for Orlando while the other's at the gym, and both my husband and I trying to race to our first meeting by 830am with an inevitable daycare drop off along the way. I've been known to swing by BLAKEAWAY for a green juice and those egg and bacon tarts for some sustenance, and once I'm at the studio I can finally catch my breath!
How do you balance business and motherhood?
It's a wild plate-spin but I absolutely love it. I have my own business, a film production studio, SIRAP, and after raising 30+ 'work children' over the last 13 years of the business, having my own baby seemed like simply adding another (big!) production on the roster to manage! I opted to return back into the studio around week 8 like a mad woman; I wanted the balance of work stimulation and challenge and slower moments at home with Orlando. A few days before I gave birth I went to the South Yarra store to do the world's biggest BLAKEAWAY haul - it was the best parenting hack!
What’s dinner time like in your house?
For me, mostly relaxing! I'm fortunate my gorgeous husband cooks most nights. In turn I'm often pouring a wine, debriefing on the day together, navigating baby bath time and trying to start the wind down routine with Orlando. On the nights Nick isn't cooking and I'm on the pans, he'll often ask me, so what are you 'cooking' tonight - BLAKEAWAY!?
How does BLAKEAWAY help you in this season of life?
From catering team events at the studio to midweek lunch pick ups and of course, the dinner saviour, BLAKEAWAY is such an anchor for me. I have a Syrian Chicken addiction and I think those finger sandwiches have made a cameo at all of our recent life milestone events - even dropped off with a bottle of champagne at the hospital following the birth! To know I can whip out something delicious and healthy for dinner if Nick's out (and how good are those mini me packs!) is comforting in itself, and lets not start on the David's frozen dumplings for those midnight snacks at the end of a boozy night!
What’s your go-to dish or favourite product?
Sri Lankan Chicken Curry, Syrian Chicken and Chicken, Leek & Semillon Pie - and those fruit mince pies on rotation in December!
What would you do with an extra hour in the evening?
Aperitivi or meditate!
What does Mother’s Day mean to you now that you’re a mum?
I still get a little teary thinking about how fortunate we are to have a beautiful happy healthy child in our world, and to celebrate my gorgeous mother who continues to be my rock. It's really a moment of gratitude - and the breakfast in bed is always amazing!