Some days you just have to put on your overalls and go riding in the rain. Or Mama will go cray-cray. He won’t melt, he’s warm and so so happy, plus the potential for puddles is all a bit too exciting! It’s hard to remember …
One of my very dear friends from school is one of those maddeningly talented sports people who is good at everything! Whether it’s traditional team sports like touch rugby or individual extreme pursuits such as surfing, mountain biking or snowboarding, Vix has got it on …
This is a familiar scene at our house. We are committed to having an open house policy for our boys and their friends, I mean, at Ethan’s age he’s much happier with his friends around and that makes my life easier so everyone wins. Nixon, adores the big boys and they love him right back – at the moment anyway!
The torrential rains of last week followed by the sudden drop in temperatures over the past two days have left me shivering, but no longer am I in denial that winter is coming! It’s just around the corner which means it’s time to be proactive …
I’ve actually died and gone to heaven so if you need me……… Dave returned from Wellington with a selection of chocolates he picked for me from Bohemein Fresh Chocolates on Featherston St. I’m a bit of a chocolate fiend, so I’m trying to restrain myself …
I AM IN AWE OF THE MANY INCREDIBLE MUMS OUT THERE, DOING A FAB JOB OF RUNNING THEIR OWN SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES WHILST SIMULTANEOUSLY HOLDING DOWN THE FORT AT HOME. I’M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE ‘MET’ MANY OF THESE LADIES ONLINE AND CAN’T WAIT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME NEW FACES AND THEIR AWESOME ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVOURS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET INVOLVED AND HAVE YOUR BUSINESS FEATURED, PLEASE SAY HELLO! MELISSA@THEBESTNEST.CO.NZ
I was thrilled when Jane, owner at Love From Friday got in touch with me, as I’ve actually shopped her gorgeous online store before and was so, so impressed with both the quality of the goods and the high level of customer service I received. I’m sure you’ve all seen my felt ball wreath and the matching garland that hangs in Nixon’s room, little pops of fun colour that we enjoy every day.
Mum to Hannah and Max, Jane holds a Diploma of Interior Design and her innate style is evident in her beautifully curated online store. By stocking products that adhere to her belief that children’s rooms should be fun and inspiring spaces, she has managed to capture a sentiment with which I wholeheartedly agree! She both designs and makes her own kids linen range with stunning fabric she sources from throughout the world. This Mama is definitely the Master of her Domain!
I’m in love with so many things from Jane’s extensive range, but have picked out some of my current faves;
From L-R; Lapin and Me Woodland Doll Money box $50, Black DIY Word Banner $28, Twister Poster in Soft Green $48, Triangle Cot Blanket $59, Circles of Fun King Single Duvet Set $225, Sketch Inc Nesting Dolls $40
Monochrome or colour?
I love both! My kids’ bedrooms are a great example of this. My daughter’s room is full of colour and pattern and my son’s room is monochrome with some touches of orange.
But if I had to choose it would be colour. It makes me happy. In fact, my husband and I have just finished painting our kids’ bedroom doors in glossy paint: pink for my daughter and orange for my son.
Fussy or functional?
Our house tends to get overwhelmed with mess and disarray on a regular basis (read: daily!) so we’re all about functional around here to minimise the clutter!
New or old?
We have got a mix of old and new furniture in our house and I love how they work together. Two of my most treasured items would be our oak sideboard that belonged to my grandparents and a pair of Don chairs that I purchased on Trade Me and got reupholstered. Old furniture has so much charm with its history and beautiful craftsmanship.
Coffee or tea?
Neither, I am a hot chocolate kind of gal 🙂
Run or walk?
Every now and then I get inspired and enter myself into a race and train for it but as a general rule I love to head out for a walk. My favourite walk is up to the Mt Vic lookout in Wellington first thing in the morning. Bliss. My current exercise of choice is yoga. I have just started out on my yoga journey and I am loving it. 6.30am hot yoga, such a fantastic start to the day.
Which came first, the babes or the business?
While I was whipping up the babes 😉 I studied a Diploma in Interior Design & Decorating through the Open Polytechnic. Once I finished that I started thinking about a business idea and Love from Friday was launched when my youngest was 2.
What are your favourite products in stock right now?
Love from Friday only stocks products that I LOVE so that is a tough one!
Our Dear Little Letterboxes and Dear Little Mailboxes have been very popular and are a fabulous gift idea. I really love the fact that they combine an educational element by inspiring kids to read and write while providing them with lots of fun. They came in a great range of colours too.
Our cot duvet cover range provides a great mix of colours and patterns. We have just added two new covers to the range: The red and pink animals cover is bold and bright and fun and our mint leaves cot duvet cover is a more subtle and soothing option.
We have also just started stocking ‘+’ and ‘x’ wall decals in a range of colours. These look so striking on the wall. I am about to cover a wall in my son’s bedroom in black crosses.
What’s ahead for Love from Friday?
Right now we are in survival mode at LFF as I only have two days a week to run my business so I can spend the rest of the time being mum :). Its a busy two days (and lots of evenings once the kids are in bed) so its lucky that I love it! 🙂
Once my youngest starts school I will have more time to think about the big ‘where-to-from-here-question’ but at the moment I am continuing to build our product range and provide our customers with a range of fun and inspiring products for their children’s rooms.
Every time Dave goes away for work, which is far too often at the moment, I brace myself, I fortify my parenting intentions, I pray for congenial children, I clear my schedule and I cross my fingers. Dave left at 3.30am Monday morning and it’s …
Look, I’m a mummy blogger. I guess some of you think that means I must know what I’m doing with my kids but the truth is, I’m just cool with admitting publicly that I have no freaking idea! The best medicine for any attack of parenting guilt, …
Last month I went to a new brand launch that got me so excited about Chia seeds …… in quite an unexpected way.
Plant oils have been big news in skincare for a couple of years now, Rosehip oil has been linked to celebs and starlets world wide including the Duchess of Cambridge, who all rave about the benefits of adding a skin oil to their daily routine.
Certified Organic Chia Oil is the next level skincare hero and Goodness Natural Beauty Lab are the first to bring it to New Zealand as the wonder ingredient in an entire range of natural products.
I’ve been using the Goodness Chia Oil in the mornings in lieu of a moisturizer for 2 weeks now and there is a marked difference between it and it’s forerunner, Rosehip Oil. Chia Oil is much more lightweight and far less viscous, meaning it goes on easily and is absorbed quickly with no residue left behind.
It works beautifully under makeup and seems to maintain all day moisture and prevent caking which happens in a couple of dry zones I’m suffering from at the moment.
I think if you’re struggling to find a daily moisturizer that you love then switching to an oil is an option worth experimenting with. You can use it in addition to moisturizer but I find this too much for my skin.
The facts:
– Goodness Certified Organic Cia Oil has the perfect 3:1 ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 essential fatty acids
– Extracted via cold press so no need for solvents
– As well as the essential fatty acids Chia Oil also delivers minerals, B-vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants to skin
– Available in selected Farmers, New World and Pak n Save stores nationwide
The Goodness Natural Beauty Lab Range
Goodness Certified Organic Chia Seed Oil RRP $23.95 20ml
Goodness Every Morning Moisturizer RRP $19.95 75ml
Goodness Every Evening Cream RRP $23.95 75ml
Goodness Every Day Cream Cleanser RRP $19.95 75 ml
Goodness Every Week Fave Scrub RRP $15.95 75ml
For stockists or more information visit www.goodnessproducts.com
Wow, I was totally blown away by your wonderful responses to my selfie-spam that was The Lipstick Project! It seems so many of you were inspired, motivated and just plain old ‘interested’ in giving lipstick a go but had never felt brave or comfortable enough …