CHELSEA & MUM IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE!

Our favourite foodie reveals a family milestone and opens up about her healing journey

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For some time now, Chelsea Winter has been balancing two worlds – one public, one private. Of course, there is the famous celebrity chef that we see – a glamorous, bestselling cookbook author, social media favourite and former reality TV champion. That Chelsea has a pretty incredible life.

Then there's the quiet homebody and solo mum whose day-to-day routine is pretty much everyone's reality.

She smiles, "In that life, I'm constantly tidying and cleaning, picking things up off the floor and putting away Lego, sorting groceries, cooking, and doing laundry and school runs."

While Chelsea, 41, is grateful for both her lives, she admits it's often a juggle. Giving her sons Sky, six, and Sage, three, a healthy, outdoorsy Kiwi childhood nourished by good food is a priority, but she's honest enough to admit there have been moments when it has felt overwhelming.

These days, though, she feels more supported than ever, with family nearby and a clearer sense of flow in her daily life. Her sister Dana and one of her closest friends both live near her home in the small Taranaki community of Ōakura.

And now, much to Chelsea's joy, her mum Annemieke is moving from the Waikato to be close by too. "It's a dream come true," she beams.

Annemieke, 76, and her husband Kevin have bought a bush-covered property, with a stream running through it, and there are already ideas to create a wonderland for the grandchildren with huts to camp in and trails to explore.

"The plan is that we'll all go to their place every Sunday afternoon for dinner to just hang out," says Chelsea. "That beautiful extended family dynamic is so important and Mum is really gifted with children. They love being with their oma."

Everyone who knows them will tell you that this mother and daughter are very similar. They're both tenacious, hardworking, creative and openhearted women who like to see the best in people.