1)Tell us about yourself and your small business?
I’m Lisa, I’ve worked as a full time dental hygienist/therapist for past 15 years. While I love my job, I found I liked it more when I wasn’t working long hours. I’ve always loved luxury accessories, so I guess my business started from there, I wanted to provide high quality leather accessories at an approachable price. I started my business for more of a creative outlet rather than a financial one, but I’ve been surprised and humbled  in the past year by the amount of people buying my products and supporting my business. I’m ecstatic!

2) Who inspires you and why?
My mother has been one of my biggest inspirations. She is now retired, but was extremely hard working. A typical day for her would start at 4am and sometimes she wouldn’t stop until 9 pm or later. She worked for market gardeners, so it was a laborious job, but despite that dinner was always cooked, laundry for the family of 5 was always done and the house was always clean inside and out. Her work ethic inspires me, so on the days where I have worked a 10 hour day and have multiple orders to fulfil/personalise, I think it isn’t so bad when I think how hard my mother worked for us.

3)Whats your most valuable business tip?
I’m still learning as I go and I suppose that would be a tip in itself – always be open to learning and making mistakes. If you’re thinking about starting a business, just do it, there’s never a perfect time to start.

4) Where do you see yourself and your business in 5 years time?
To be honest I’m not sure where my business will be in 5 years. I would like to be able to run All My Luxe full time and be big enough to offer employment opportunities for others. However, I would be happy and grateful if I was still enjoying what I do now and making my customers happy.

5) Whats your favourite product and why?
I love my zip card holders! They are compact in size and all your cards are so easily accessible, plus I think they look really nice even if I say so myself.

6) How do you juggle working full time and also running your small business?
It’s challenging, mainly because there’s not enough hours in the day, but also very rewarding. I love personalising products and fulfilling orders. I take care and pride in my work and when I receive a nice review or message from a happy customer it makes all the hard work worthwhile. I’m also very lucky as I have a very supportive partner that will run the household when I’m swamped with the business.

Because of being so time poor, I feel one of my business shortfall is the lack of social media posts and interactions. It’s something that I will have to allocated more time for and work on.

7) What do you do for you time?
I love wine, food, chocolate and cheese …. Haha, and how could I forget … coffee!

I have 2 beautiful dogs to keep my weekends busy. I like keeping fit and catching up with friend when I can find the time .

Thank you so much to All my Luxe for being apart of our latest small business blog. We all know that I am a massive sucker for anything personalised and I love all the products, I also think that the quality is amazing as well so its a win win if you ask me.

Well until next time, head over and shop up at storm,(@ALLMYLUXE   check it out on insta)  I know I will be, and keep warm.

Tegan xx

1) Tell is a little bit about yourself and your business.
I’m a stay at home mum with 2 toddlers (mum of boys) and I love everyday I spend with them. I started this business bc I wanted to dress my boys the way I liked, and be more durable and fun.

2) who inspires you and why.
What inspired me was having young girls and ladies (mums) who were sick of not being able to buy clothing that fit comfortably.

3) what’s the most valuable business tip you could give someone?
Work from your heart always

4) where do you see yourself and your business in 5 yrs.
in the same place with my little family being there at every mile stone for I believe time is quick and I won’t get that time back watching my kids grow while working from home is my goal set

5) how do you juggle being a mum and running a business, what’s your go to self care tip.
How do we do it I don’t know but we do somehow honestly woman are just amazing we juggle in the most unexplainable way

6) what do you love most about your small business?
Watching and being with my kids

If you haven’t already, head over to Emilys Instagram @beatthreadslove and check her out. The ideas are endless and her clothing so so comfy. You can send through you design or leave it up too Emily to have a play and create something new for you. The quality of clothing is next level, I have lived in mine and its still the same as the day I got it.

It’s safe to say that Emily is a working mum who loves her family and now gets to work around the kids and do what she loves. That sounds like a pretty good way to be if you ask me.

Until next time happy shopping xx

Tegan xx

SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS

1) Tell is a little bit about yourself and your business.

B & M was founded by best friends Belinda and Mel. Bel & I are both mumma bears (5 kiddies between us). We are also both nurses! B & M was created because we LOVE fashion and shopping and we absolutely LOVE online shopping! Infact alot of our purchases were made online, but we often struggled to find the outfits we loved in our size! We wanted to create a space that was inclusive of all women.

2) Who inspires you and why.

We love supporting other women especially those that give back to our community. One of our biggest inspirations is none other than Emmylou Mcarthy from Emmylou Loves. We had the pleasure of meeting Emmylou at her Instagram workshop. Not only is that woman gorgeous, she’s also super funny and a huge inspiration as a business woman and entrepreneur. We love her outgoing, contagious and hilarious personality. She also knows how to rock a bikini!

3) What’s the most valuable business tip you could give someone?

The best business tip we can give anyone is always be genuine! Always stay true to who you are and what you believe and you shall succeed in your business. By staying true to yourself you will actually enjoy running your business. Your customers & followers will be drawn to your honesty and will be more likely to recommend you to their friends and family.

4) How do people work out what size to buy when buying online?

The question we get asked the most about sizing and from personal experience always read the description of the product! A great product description will not only tell you what the material is like but should tell you what the fitting is like! Always check the companies size guide and Measure Measure Measure!!!! We cannot stress the importance of measuring yourself! Get yourself a measuring tape, If its a top measure your bust (holdunder your armpit and follow your nipple line around your back), measure your waist (the narrowist part of your waist line, usually where your belly button is) and measure your hips (the widest part of your thighs). For bottoms, again measure

Your hips, and waistline. If you get stuck look at what sizes you already wear. A great product we found is the ZOZO suit! Its a super sexy suit purchased online that incorporates the use of an app to measure your whole body! Its AMAZING!
*ill put a link in for the ZOZO suit.
If you get stuck always send the company an email to ask about the fitting and sizing! Most companies are more than happy to help their customers with making the right decision.

5) What are things to keep in mind/look out for when shopping online.

Things to look out for when buying online!
Firstly check their refund policies! At B & M we are more than happy to return and exchange a product if it isnt the right choice for you. Always remember as a courtesy, to send the product back in its original condition. If the product is faulty in any way we will refund your purchase. A happy customer is a returning customer!
Look out for online specials! The internet is a crazy competitive world, in order for us to get your attention we always have specials!

Let’s face it things are bloody expensive these days! We have families, we know! We hardly ever buy anything at full price, thats why we are committed to keeping our costs down for our customers.

I have loved working with these ladies, the passion for fashion that they have is amazing. They had some really great tips for shopping online that I think we all need to make sure we follow. I love the styles they stock, I find them super easy to wear and comfortable.

find them on Instagram and give them a follow and check out there online shop

@b_and_mboutique

Until next time happy shopping xx

Support Small Business- The Tribe of Two 

1) Tell is a little bit about yourself and your business.

My name is Jess,I am mumma of Two beautiful but crazy kids & engaged to my partner of 13 years! I work part time plus run our new small online children’s store ‘The Tribe of Two’. Owning a store has always been something I have wanted to do. It wasn’t until having my 2nd child Aria that I started REPPING for other small business. This is when I decided to just go for it. I didn’t really have any reason not to so I did!

2) Who inspires you and why.

My children are my biggest Inspiration! They are the reason I push myself & open my world to new opportunities. Everything I do now is for them and I want to do the best I can for them & their future.

3) What’s the most valuable business tip you could give someone?

We are still so new to this whole owning your own business thing! It’s so rewarding but I think the best advice I could give is to listen to your customers their opinions matter, their suggestions matter. I have relied on my customers/followers to give me feedback to continually improve.

4) What is it like working with kids and kids fashion.

Having kids myself that are young (3yr old & 1yr old) I have found it a lot easier to open a store for children.  I am constantly shopping for them which is so helpful for my business to keep up to date with trends etc.

5) Where do you see yourself and your business in 5 yrs.

Our future goal for the business is to have a complete range of all our OWN designs! All designed by us! We have just made some of our own T-shirt’s so this is our first little step towards this!

6) What is a must have item in every kids wardrobe?

Must have item in any children’s wardrobes are ‘basics’ so plain tees,rompers – we currently sell ribbed flutter rompers & ribbed basics which have been a huge hit! But are so valuable in your children wardrobe! They are so versatile and go with everything! You can use them for layering, by themselves or even under jackets.

I would love to thank Jess for taking the time to answer these questions and for all her kids fashion tips. please head over and support her small business @thetribeoftwo (Insta) I love working with other small businesses and I watching each other grow. P.s Her kids range is so adorable.

Till next small business blog, stay warm if you’r in cold Melbourne and make sure you take 5 minutes of selfceare time for you this week.

Tegan

XX

Self care is something that we often forget about. Putting ourself last or feeling guilty about filling our cup is so common. But we have teamed up with some amazing small businesses and put together a self care pamper day. 

We hosted our first ever self care pamper day event in March and the feedback was great! We had a range of social media influencers and bloggers from all around Melbourne who come and enjoyed an afternoon of amazing food, great music and massages! It’s something that took a lot of work to put together, a lot of sleepless nights and stressing (totally the opposite of what I was trying to share) but all the stress was worth it when I saw everyone enjoying themselves and having a great time! 

We offer a range of group pamper days and packages to suit everyones needs. So if you and the girls need some relaxation and you time. be sure to get in contact with us and book your pamper day!

This event wouldn’t have been possible with the below. So a massive thank you to everyone.

Rush Rush Co:

For girls that have to get up early…or stay up late. Inspired by nineties music, fashion and culture, Rush Rush Co is the go-to online hair accessory destination for Mums, Mean Girls, and Boss Babes. We are an Australian owned small business based on the beautiful Gold Coast.

Pink Cow:

Briana from Pink Cow Social is jumping on board as a Social Media Sponsor and specialises in Social Media Management for Small businesses. Briana will be promoting our event pre and post to ensure that sponsors are acknowledged and that brand awareness is created for all involved.

Bridal Tribe:

Bride Tribe creates timeless, eloquent, luxurious bridesmaid and bridal robes. We have a large range of on trend colours and styles to suit your whole bridal party. Our robes are made from the finest materials and feel absolutely luxurious to wear.

A Day To Remember:

Melbourne based, ‘A Day to Remember Event Hire’ specialise in vintage, rustic and boho prop, furniture and décor hire. Our large range includes Arbors, Lounges, Bar and Picnic Packages, Lawn Games and more, bringing your next event to life. With DIY or delivery and set up options available, contact us today!

Mary Eats Cake

Mary Eats Cake is all about the celebration of High Tea served with urban sophistication, local rustic charm, delicious decadence and a dash of fabulous. Founded by Tea Sommelier, Sarah de Witt, and French Pastry Chef, Jess Hillbrick, these ladies know good tea and cake. The seasonal High Tea menu brings a modern fresh twist to High Tea while keeping with old fashioned traditions such as vintage teaware and classic desserts. Mary Eats Cake specialises in High Tea parties including bridal showers, baby showers, and birthday celebrations. She has two quaint venues in Melbourne, a gritty glam tea house in Brunswick and a charming cottage in Montrose at the base of Mount Dandenong.

Organic tea:

Organitea started in 2010 in my home kitchen. I’ve followed my passion and vision . With an abundance of creativity that’s on full throttle 24/7 with guidance directly from source and a background in aromatherapy and herbalism. I’ve turned my casual kitchen experience into a full time plus both local and international business. Creating functional blends and gourmet delights. Our focus is quality blends for your health and wellbeing.

Earth & Little:

Delightful Temptations:

Tiana V:

Loxley:

We create custom made bespoke stationery, specialising in personalised diaries, planners, journals and books that bring your stationery dreams into reality.   No request is too difficult as we bring you ideas to life.  The result is a book that completely suits your personal/work life and your personality.

The floral emporium:

The Floral Emporium is a floral design business by award winning designer Rebecca Davis.

Based in the beautiful Yarra Valley; the team service across Melbourne and beyond.

Colour and texture come together with gorgeous seasonal blooms and foliage’s to create installation pieces, backdrops, bouquets, displays and all things floral!

Inspiring minds studios:

At Inspiring Minds Studio we help to build confidence, independence and self-esteem in pre school kids. Our classes focus on social and emotional learning, fine motor skills, literacy and numeracy concepts through hands on and engaging activities. Choose a 3hr Drop Off session (3-5yrs) or stay and play with your child (1.5-5yrs).

I pride myself on working closely with the small business for a number of reasons but one of the main reasons is they work so hard to build there dreams and are so passionate about what they do, I love to see the smile on there face and I love to know I am supporting a small business and someones dream. So be sure to head over and check out all the amazing small businesses.

Tips to having the best looking Spray Tan in town. 

In our clinic we use Moroccan Tan. We use this tan and this tan only for a few reasons. When applied correct and looked after it last up 10-14 days and looks natural and feels great. its fades gradually leaving you with natural looking skin. It doesn’t feel sticky with its being sprayed on and also  is a green based tan so it will never leave you turning orange! And last but not least you can shower in as little as 2 hrs after being sprayed…. WINNING!!! We take great pride in making sure that it is also safe for you to use whilst pregnant and breast feeding. with a natural based tan we have found this to have the best results on all skin types.

What do to do Pre-tan

• Wax or shave 8-24 hrs prior to your tan. Waxing or shaving to close to getting a spray tan can leave the body with small dots and blotchy.
• Make sure you shower and exfoliate before your tan to remove any dead skin and products you may have on your skin. this is a very important step so don’t forget it!!!
• Avoid all skin products, body washes, moisturisers and deodorant prior to getting your spray tan.
• Wear lose clothing to your appointment and slip on shoes to avoid any rubbing on your freshly sprayed body. Its best to wear dark clothing as the tan will rub off onto your clothes however it will wash out. If you choose an 8 hr tan and will be sleeping in it, don’t worry it will wash out of the sheets!

What to do Post-tan

• Try not to touch the body and have as little contact with the skin as possible. try and keep your arms and legs straight to avoid lines.
• Avoid being active, any activity that will make you sweat can cause and uneven spray tan. its best to leave your gym workout until the next day.
• Once you are ready to shower, shower in warm water only and do not use any body wash or soap whilst in the shower. A quick jump in jump out shower is best and then pat yourself dry. And do not pee in the shower, this to can leave for an uneven spray tan.
• Moisturiser the skin daily to keep it hydrated, this will help the tan to last longer and gradually come off evenly with time. If your going to be swimming the chlorine will also reduce the life of your tan.

Getting a spray tan is a great way to boost your confidence and have you feeling great. In the clinic at Relax & Unwind Massage Therapy we see all shapes and sizes, we do not judge and welcome everyone. We also understand its hard as a mum to get in for a spray tan so our clinic is child friendly to make life easier for everyone. The above tips are a guide for you to follow to have your tan looking great and for you to stay tanned as long possible. So what are you waiting for lets get TANNED

Life can be stressful, it can be hectic and flat out crazy. You may work full-time, maybe you’re a mum, or run your own business, or maybe you do all 3? But, if there is one thing I’ve learnt so far in life is that you only get once chance. Life’s short! So, we need to make the most of each and every second, and I find the key to that is finding time for you. If you’re relaxed, calm and de-stressed, then everything else flows smoothly around that.

For me, being a busy mum, building our dream home and growing both my family and my business, I can find myself getting caught up in the same routine of working and mum life, and often forgetting about the most important thing, me! So now I make sure I take the time to put me first, or if things are getting a little out of hand and I’m getting all worked up, I regroup and focus on de-stressing and levelling myself. I’m going to go through some great tips and ways to make sure we are focusing on, and looking after, ourselves from the inside out. You can do this in your day-to-day life and it doesn’t need to cost a lot, in fact I have a few great, free ideas that everyone can put into their daily routine.

Exercise:

Sometimes it can be hard to find the energy to get up and get moving but this one can be done with or without the kids. Whether you’re doing a full-on workout, or if you are taking the kids for a walk around the block, it’s scientifically proven that if you get moving it helps to boost endorphins, making you happier. You could start your day with a quick 10-minute workout, or maybe finish the night with a wind down yoga session – this is a great way to focus on you. For me, I love putting on my gym gear and taking the kids out, hitting the beach or finding a nice walking track with some beautiful trees where the kids can explore and I can run around with them, so I’m working out without even knowing I am.

Massage:

Who doesn’t love a massage? When was the last time you booked yourself in? A massage is a great way to escape the busy happenings of life, lay down and switch off. Not only is a massage relaxing, but it also has many health benefits. A massage is great for anxiety and depression, to reduce muscle tension and improve your body’s overall health and movement. For me, I love giving massages as it helps me to focus on my breathing and I slow everything down. But I LOVE getting them as well because my body feels free, I have more movement in my muscles and I feel so relaxed.

A Bath:

When was the last time you locked the kids out of the bathroom and ran yourself a bath? Well it’s your turn now. Light some candles, put some relaxing bath salts in, dim the lights and sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy the warmth on your body. Not only is a bath relaxing but it’s so great for your muscles as well.

Listen to Music:

Blast some music and dance around the kitchen. While you’re cooking dinner or getting the kids ready for school, put some tunes on and dance! Get those endorphins happening and have fun whilst you’re at it. Music is so motivating and such a great way to uplift your mood. Or, music can be used in the opposite way. Slow it down with a cuppa on the couch and some soft relaxing music playing whilst you calm the body and take some deep breaths.

Meditation:

Meditation is such a great way to clear the mind. Switch off everything that is going on and focus on you. Meditation is proven to lower blood pressure and calm the body, it does this by focusing on your breathing. You can even jump online and find some really great meditation videos on You Tube. So, find a quiet, comfy space in the house, close your eyes, relax your muscles and free your body and mind.

Reading:

I have never been a big reader myself growing up but over the years I have found myself picking up a good book and not being able to put it down. It’s something about the positivity in the words I’m reading, and the relaxed moment of sitting there reading, that I really enjoy. And you can too. Grab a great book, sit by the pool or in a calm relaxing space and enjoy the time with just you and that book. And if it’s Summer and you’re reading by the pool the Vitamin D is great as well!

Retail therapy:

Who doesn’t love shopping? It’s proven that buying something new makes us feel good. It might be a nice little pair of earrings or it might be a completely new outfit. But getting out of the house (with or without the kids) and flicking through the latest trends, takes our minds off of all the busy things happening and allows us to focus on ourselves for a few hours, and hey if you get some new goodies why not wear them?

Date night:

So, all the stunning goodies you picked up on your shopping day you can now put on and enjoy a beautiful date night with your partner (or a good friend). Get a babysitter and go out – just the 2 of you. Let’s face it, it doesn’t happen very often does it? But it’s super important to keep the connection between you and a loved one. You might be busy with work or maybe with the kids, but life swings on by and we often find that we have missed some important talks, or just some together time. It doesn’t have to be the fanciest restaurant in town, you can grab a towel and head to the beach or go to a local little place you love. And if you can’t find a sitter for the kids, don’t stress (we are de-stressing remember) head to the park with a picnic rug and some snacks and make it a date in the park whilst the kids play.

Coffee with Friends:

Have you ever called up a friend and just had to get something off your chest? Well there’s a reason for that. When things get tough and life’s looking very stressful, talking to someone and getting things off your chest helps. It helps to refocus on what’s important, but also by you saying it out loud it gives you food for thought and you may not be so worked up or stressed about the situation after all. It’s like getting a weight off your shoulders when you let it out. And a cocktail or a coffee with a friend is just perfect for that.

Everyone is different and everyone has their own way to relax, unwind and de-stress, but these few tips I find are quick, simple and easy. The main focus is you, and it’s super important to make sure that you look after yourself. So, start by taking even just 10 minutes out of a busy day to focus on you!

Helpful Tips Coming Soon!