03.10.2016

Carnival Cruise Lines for family Holidays

My family and I spent 9 days cruising onboard the Carnival Spirit – a ship very much designed with families in mind.
I’ve travelled on Carnival Cruise Lines before now. But this is something else again.
The ship boasts amazing facilities, extensive kids clubs and has the Dr Suess characters onboard.

But is it just a floating entertainment palace?

Many people are concerned about all that noise and all those kids and the crowds?

These are all questions we asked ourselves, so I know other families will be asking them too.

We’re not really into big crowds. We kind of like our own space. Don’t get me wrong, we like to go to shows and attractions etc. But we also like to retreat to our own little corner too. Can you even do that on a cruise ship of this size?

My family are hard to please on holidays. They want to be doing, doing, doing all the time. They want to see things and experience things and at 18, 9 and 2 they all need different experiences.
So that is a difficult holiday to find!

But find it we did.

As a mother I know exactly what it’s like when you’re looking to spend your money on something for the whole family. And let’s face it, holidays are expensive. Especially if you have school-aged children and have to take your holidays during the most expensive times so value for money is what we all want.

We travelled on the Spirit for 9 nights to New Caledonia in Febuary and barely touched the sides of what is on offer to do.
And we did a LOT of stuff.
Trust me when I tell you, there is no way you will ever be bored on this ship.

Here’s a quick overview why:

Food and Dining

You will find plenty of choices with delicious dining options for the whole family, most of which is included in the price of your cruise. (Some venues charge additional make sure to check before you cruise)

If you’re not sure about any of the restaurants you can just pop in and ask a member of staff to see the menu, if they have any additional charges and what sort of food they serve. We found them supremely helpful – especially when asking about the suitability for children.
If you don’t want to dress up and like to eat quite informally, be sure to check out the varity on offer at the self service buffet with a HUGE selection for even the fussiest of eaters.
It does however get very busy, but there are staff helping with seating so you’re never waiting for too long.
It’s a great place to eat lunch or breakfast.
If you like formal dining, or something a bit special, the dining room is a gorgeous spectacle of a dining room that’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner most days.
My kids highlight was seeing the wait staff everynight who danced and sang with them, and treated them like their own children, Mr 8 even cried one the last night as he was so sad to leave them.
There are lots of other places to eat if you want something quick and easy – such as 24 hour pizza, burgers, Mexican, sushi, and a café with amazing coffee, cakes and donuts.

Or, if you’re feeling really decadent, order in room service and sit on your balcony watching the sea slip by!

THE POOLS
There are 2 different pools for families on board, plus a H2O Zone for children with squirting water cannons, slides and two huge multi-coloured waterslides looming overhead and lots of places to play.

Plus an adults-only pool, that looked very tranquil and private and very much feels like a private spa, unfortuanlly we never made it for a swim on our own.

The main pools, are for every day use and consequently it is rather noisy around here!
The pools aren’t huge so during busy times it can feel quite crowded, the perfect time for a quite visit is early morning or during a port days when you find them almost empty.

That said the children absolutely loved the pool.

But please note: Babies/ All Children must be toilet trained to use the ship pools and swim nappies are NOT allowed due to health regulation, luckily I had already heard this and trained Piper two months prior to our trip otherwise it would have been a nightmare going anywhere near the pools and trying to explain she couldn’t go in! So if your thinking of booking and know your child will want to swim then make sure you have already or leave enough time to get that training done before you depart. Also toilets are not located close to the pool area so make sure they have learnt to hold on and take them for regular toilet stops just in case.

THE DAY SPA
Yes I just had to try it out! Its quite large in size with a full gym with spa for Adults in the rear. I had the most wonderful facial and massage and felt a million dollars. If it’s something that interests you, make sure you book in quickly when you board as the spots do tend to fill up quite quickly plus book for a treatment early in the cruise as its well worth it to relax early and get the full holiday experience.

YOUTH ZONE
Or the kids clubs. Personally I’ve never really cared if my kids go to kids clubs or not and are happy to spend the holiday enjoying time with them, so I leave it up to them but I can honestly say Joshua Mr 8 was begging to return after his first session he loved it. It’s Suitable for children aged 3 and 17, they are SO well thought out, the facilities are amazing, all activities are Age-appropriate like treasure hunts, obstacle courses, arts and craft, sports competitions, movies and playground outings at sea.

Piper was too young to leave alone as stating age is three but we were able to take her in at certain times and let her have a play with the toys and stay and play with her her which she really enjoyed.

If you want an Adults night out they also provide “Night Owls”club which for a nominal fee, kids aged 2-11 can stay up with others their age until as late as 1 a.m. They’ll enjoy music, activities, games and giveaways at supervised parties while you enjoy some time out maybe wining and dining.

On top of ALL of this there is a casino, a gym, loads of very different bars, a library, nightclub, – even a chapel if you fancy tying the knot onboard.

So did we find that much desired corner to ourselves? Did we find it crowded, overbearing, busy?
Well yes, we travelled on the ship at peak holiday time so it was busy. But there was always somewhere to find peace.

Would I recommend cruising to a family with little ones.
Yes I would.

Just be prepared that you might not get to do and see everything that you want too, as often little ones have other ideas, traveling with family or friends as a group is always a good way to go as you can always swap around the baby sitting duties.

As a family when we travel we want quality, to be treated well – very well – and we want to go home with amazing memories.

And that’s exactly what we got.

Thanks Carnival Cruise Lines for the amazing memories.

Love Kerry and Miss Piper

*This really just touches on our cruise experience so if you have any questions feel free to ask a question here or Pop on over to Instagram and send me a Direct Message.

Also be sure to check out our last Blog post on the green eggs and ham breakfast onboard.

03.01.2016

Green Eggs and Ham Character Breakfast Review – Carnival Cruise Lines

Ever wondered what green eggs and ham taste like?

Well we know!

Delicious !!!!

We have just returned from a 9 day Carnival Cruise from Sydney Australia to Noumea and surrounding islands and while sailing we reserved a seat at the most fun meal at sea- The Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with Dr. Sess and Friends.

We rose early on the last sea day on board to join The Cat In The Hat in the main dining room, which had been transformed for the occasion, into a colourful and magical world with bright polka dot linens, silly centerpieces, an ice sculpture and more!

Green eggs and ham for breakfast!? You bet

Our breakfast feast was quite delicious. The menu includes Trufulla Tree Pancakes, stacked mini red & white pancakes that resembled the Cat’s hat, Dr. Seuss parfait, moose juice and goose juice, and of course, green eggs and ham. The menu was a feast for the eyes and tummy, Plus if red pancakes and green scrambled eggs aren’t your thing don’t worry as a more ‘traditional’ breakfast is also available if you’re not game enough.

The whimsical Dr. Seuss characters roam the dining room while you eat and will come and interact with the kids and they make sure they visit with every table. The Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 & Thing 2, as well as Sam I Am all make appearances throughout breakfast and are available for family photos plus you are allowed to take pictures with your own camera so you have the bonus of not having to pay extra for professional pictures.

The Green Eggs and Ham breakfast is offered the last sea day of each cruise and will be held in the main dining room its open to families as well as the young-at-heart.

This brunch is priced additional to all the other dinning options that are included in your cruise price but it is fantastic value at only $10 per person.

It is similar to other character dining that we have been lucky enough to experience at many of the Disney character dinning spots at US theme parks (which are way more expensive)

The wait staff on Carnival are over the top friendly and really go above and beyond to make your trip memorable. This breakfast is no exception! The Staff dresses up in costume and even don blue wigs plus perform a fun routine for guests which my kids loved.

The Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast on the Carnival was more than a meal, it was an experience and in my opinion well worth the price.

Thanks for all the questions I have been receiving regarding our cruise and cruising with toddlers, I know a lot of you are wanting to book and I promise I’m working on a blog post that will hopefully answer a few of your questions and help in your planning, keep an eye out very soon.

Love Kerry and Miss Piper xoxo

02.23.2016

Miss Piper Turns Two

Last week we Celebrated a very Happy Birthday Party to mark Miss Piper turning the BIG Two.

It wasn’t a massive affair just close family and friends sharing in our special day as we didn’t want Piper so overwhelmed that she couldn’t enjoy her day. We had just 8 children in total and the afternoon could not have been more perfect.

We had been away on holidays for the nine days leading up to the party and only returned home the night before the big day so I was determined not to stress myself out and keep it as low key as possible. Most of the setup was done before we went away so on the morning of the party we only had the lawn to mow, a quick shop and some food to prepare.

Here’s how we did it and a few party planning tips that work for me:

Decide on a theme – Go easy on yourself here, pick something easy that you have seen heaps of, it makes shopping easier as you’re not running around looking for random things that don’t exist (been there done that) and its also better on the budget. Plus remember a theme can be as easy as just a colour all you need is something that ties it all together for you.

I fell in love with all the beautiful tableware and accessories at little Ginger who had everything in the colours I had in mind and once I made contact they were full of helpful suggestions that made my planning and decisions easy. The kids just loved the pom pom and ribbon wands that they could play with during the party then were able to take home as gifts from Piper for attending.

This time our theme was Olaf (from Frozen) One of Pipers all time favs. But I didn’t want the over the top Frozen Princess Theme so we tried to stay with more of a colour theme with aqua, white, silver and blue and just added Olaf in, mind you while shopping leading up to the party some Princess merchandise did keep finding its way into my trolley.

When planning your styling choose a couple of areas to style and spend the money on just those areas. Don’t waste time and money trying to style everything and anything, it’s better to have a couple of areas looking great than odd decorations spread out all over the room.

Organise and set up as much as you can as early as you can – when a party is on the horizon and I’m in the last couple of weeks before the big day, I try to do something every day even if it’s just something small.

Tip – Pipers grandma even made the cupcakes three weeks before the day and put them in my freezer and the icing the week before and put it in the fridge, so all I had to do on the day was defrost, put the icing on top and pop the decoration in!

Food – Ask for help! If you have any budding chefs, grandmas or aunties around, usually they wont mind whipping up a tray of sandwiches and if that’s not an option and its stressing you out then buy it from the shop! As long as the kids have something to eat they are not usually that fussy. Big hits at our party were the kids finger sandwiches with ham and cheese, the fruit platter full of fun finger sized fruit and of course cake!

Our stunning cake was made by a family friend and topped off with a stunning personalised cake topper from Bambini Boutique

Tip – Get a good cake topper and you can’t go wrong!

Last but not least,

The birthday outfit being the fashionista that Miss P is, this is an all important one at the top of our list! A couple of main things that must be considered is that it has to be practical, a romper/playsuit is perfect at two if Piper couldn’t have sat comfortably on the floor, played in the yard and ran around or had been wearing something that tripped her up or made her itchy then she would not have enjoyed her day and would have insisted on being naked for the duration of the party.

As soon as I saw this stunning playsuit from Bouni and Bhati I knew we had found just the right amount of sparkle and frill, the perfect Frozen colour and it was lined so didn’t scratch plus no skirts so we didn’t spend the day seeing undies in all our photos. It couldn’t have been more perfect, and has left us wanting one in every colour.

And that Flower Crown – well is there anything more magical, this was custom made to our theme by the very talented Avierley Boutique we just let her know our colour theme and then let her surprise us with this masterpiece complete with butterflies. I am so happy with the outcome it was so perfect. I don’t know what this amazing lady does to her crowns to make them stay on children’s heads but Piper wore this crown for the whole party, it stayed in place and was obviously very comfortable as Piper didn’t touch or ask for it to be removed the entire time.

So that’s it, a beautiful afternoon spent celebrating our big Miss Two, just add some amazing party decorations, great friends and a cake and TA DA! Best party ever…. Now to start planning the Dinosaur party for Mr 9 in only 4 weeks time!!

Love Kerry and Miss Piper xoxo

01.13.2016

Thoughts on the certified organic baby range, Divine Baby by The Divine Company

Like all mum’s and mum’s to be I only want the best possible health for my baby.

So I often find myself standing in the middle of a shop reading the back of baby shampoo, bath wash, food labels and more… Then find myself even more confused reading numbers to only find out that it’s filled with chemicals and other nasties, so when the offer came to try Divine Baby the amazing certified organic baby collection by The Divine Company, I was extremely excited and jumped at the chance.

The Divine baby pamper collection is a beautiful set of Certified Organic personal care items including:

– Calming Baby Bath Wash 250ml

– Calming Baby Shampoo 250ml

– Soothing Baby Moisturiser 200ml

– Soothing Baby Balm 50ml

– Baby Bliss Massage Oil 100ml

So here’s what the marketing says:

The Divine Baby collection is 100% Australian made and owned, contains only premium quality certified organic, nutrient and antioxidant rich ingredients and is Vegan, gluten free and does not test on animals! Their collection is completely free from any nasties such as synthetic chemicals, endocrine disrupting, neuro and immune toxic ingredients.

All fantastic points!

But what I didn’t know was that unlike a lot of baby cosmetic companies on the market The Divine Baby collection is “Certified Organic” which means it uses the highest quality certified organic and natural ingredients to provide us with a beautiful, safe range of products we can use in our home every day and this makes a BIG difference!

There exists a common misconception in relation to the use of the word ‘Organic’ currently in Australia and mostly across the world there is little regulation surrounding the use of the word ‘Organic’ yet the mere use of the word implies “natural” “safe” “pure” and “pesticide and chemical-free.” Companies can, and do mislead customers, the everyday Organic products commonly found on the supermarket shelves are far from organic, natural, safe pure and pesticide and chemical-free.

Did you know that you can absorb MORE toxins from personal, skin and hair care products than from Food?

I don’t want to scare you too much but its defiantly worth reading and educating ourselves more about what we are using and feeding our bodies and families.

My personal opinion is that we have thoroughly enjoyed using each and every product, I have loved learning more about the ingredients used in the products and I’m very glad I found them, as I am no health expert but I am now more aware how important it is to know what effect something you are using can have on your body. I’m so happy to be able to use a product on Miss Piper that I don’t need to worry about, its one less thing us mum’s need to worry about.

If you would love the chance to try these gorgeous products for yourself make sure you are following us on our Instagram @pipersienna as we will be giving one lucky follower the chance to own a Divine Baby Pamper Pack of their very own.

This wonderful pack already comes gift wrapped and packaged so it is perfect for a baby shower, present or just a little something for bub.

If you have any questions about what we liked about the baby range or any questions regarding anything then please don’t hesitate to ask!

Divine Baby Available here http://www.thedivinecompany.com/shop/gift/divine-baby-pamper-collection/

Love Kerry and Miss Piper xoxo

11.25.2015

Summer calls for – SAMMIMIS Turkish Towels

Summer has hit already and I bet the kids are already begging you to take them to the beach!

If only it was that easy! Right?

Because going to the beach doesn’t just mean grabbing the kids and going, it also means packing sand toys, beach balls, big bulky towels and if the kids get their way the pet dog as well! So as much as you would love to plan that day trip to the beach, sometimes it can be all too much (trust me I know I’ve been there!)

So that is why I am sharing the ‘golden product’ I discovered on my last family beach holiday that made the day just that little bit easier.

SAMMIMIS Turkish Towels.

The most authentic and finest quality Turkish towels on the market, they are the only towel company in Australia with a physical store which means you can pop on in meet the friendly staff and touch and feel them for yourself plus you still have the option to shop their designs online.

Not only are SAMMIMIS towels 100% Turkish cotton and absolutely beautiful in design, they are also the only Turkish towel company on the market with different weaves and weights for different situations. So if want an absorbing weightless towel that dries quickly and is light to carry plus as a bonus can double as a sarong, rug or even a blanket to wrap your beach baby up in at the end of the big day then SAMMIMIS Turkish towels are the perfect addition to the beach bag.

Plus if you are like me and still behind with getting the Christmas shopping started then be sure to check out the current special offer, “buy 3 get the 4th free, just in time for Christmas”

Enjoy the Summer lovlies…. Love Kerry and Miss Piper xoxo

11.01.2015

Shop Piper’s Collection over at Neapolitan Home Wears and Save

Still waiting for the Christmas Gift ideas inspiration to take hold?

Then be sure to check out one of our new finds Neapolitan Homewears

You can even check out our favourites products in Piper’s Collection

NEAPOLITAN Homewares brings together an eclectic mix of all things wonderful and colourful for your home and life. Take a look around and you’ll find bright, practical and playful homewares and gifts offering a twist on the traditional.

The NEAPOLITAN Homewares range includes designer cushions, colourful melamine tableware, vintage print tumblers and cake stands, weekend and everyday bags, funky storage containers, retro print tins, porcelain canisters, children’s games and dinner sets and loads more.

Plus as a bonus shop “Piper’s Collection during the 1st Nov – 8th Nov and receive 15% OFF

Piper’s Collection – 15% off using code PIPER15

Ban.do Sip Sip Tumbler – Holiday Palm

$25.95

froy & dind kids memory game

$19.95

Londji jigsaw puzzle – Bon Voyage

$49.95

OMY Design & Play Kids Colouring Placemats set – Fantastic

$34.95

RICE Colour Changing Lamp

$15.95

RICE Kids food containers – Butterfly & Ladybird shaped

$19.95

RICE Kids melamine cup – Strawberry

$7.95

RICE Kids melamine fork & spoon – Strawberry

$7.95

RICE Kids melamine tray – Strawberry

$26.95

RICE Square tiered food containers with carry strap

$29.95

We enjoy sharing our new finds with you all and love hearing feedback, so if you have found anything exciting please drop us a line and let us know.

Happy Shopping Kerry and Miss Piper xoxo

10.11.2015

Piper’s Christmas Gift Guide

Welcome to Piper’s Christmas Gift Guide for 2015… Enjoy

Santa is on his way in just 74 more sleeps, which means now is the prime time to organise and buy all your Christmas presents and get wrapping so that you can sit back and enjoy the festive season in style.

Now for most Parents I know that can bring a lot of stress, What are you going to buy your little one? Are they going to like it? Will it be in stock? I bet so many questions just like these are flying around in your head as you read this right now!

That is where we come in. To help ease the stress of the festive season, Piper and I are going to show you what is on the very top of our wish list for Santa!

If you’re looking for some different and exciting gift ideas for babies and toddlers then this is perfect for you.

We are so excited to show you our wish list and can’t wait to hear what you think.

Baby Grand Piano from Dear Friend Children’s boutique. Available HERE

Great for little ones with a BIG imagination.

This is the most amazing toy as it provides hour of entertainment while also providing a creative outlet at the same time, plus makes a great room décor item as well, its a Musical instrument that consists of 30 playable keys which are chromatically tuned with a full two octave span. Small Hammers strike metal rods producing lovely chime-like notes (not an electronic toy). Solid and sturdy wood construction plus comes with sturdy stool/bench that’s perfect for little bottoms. This will make for a perfect present under the tree this year.

Wonderful high gloss finish. Available in black, white and pink

The Piano measures 49 cm high x 50 cm wide x 53 cm long

The bench measures 20 cm high x 28 cm wide x 18 cm long

Christmas Fairy TuTu from Mee + Mae. Available HERE

Perfect for your little princess.

These tutus are lovingly made with a beautiful Satin Ribbon Trim. This is a staple item for every Princesses wardrobe!

100% Nylon Tulle with 100% Polyester Satin Ribbon Trim.

Handmade double layered tutu skirt with an elasticated waist and yards upon yards of super soft Tulle to make the ultimate fluffy tutu for your Princess! Wear for a special occasion such as a newborn photoshoot, cake smash/birthday party, or every day just because!

These tutus are available in a selection of festive colours.

Upper Dhali Keepsake Doll Prints. Available HERE

The perfect addition to any room décor.

These Whimsical Watercolour Art prints have been exclusively created from original images captured of Upper Dhali handcrafted dolls.

They can be purchased as a beautiful single print or as a collection to adorn any room, just stunning in a collection to add that touch of magic to a special place in your house that will always be treasured.

Printed on high quality digital print on 280gsm premium cardstock with a GLOSS finish, Size – A5

Blooms Butterfly Doll To order see instagram page: @blooms.butterflies.doll.studio

Beautiful Dollies looking for new Princesses to love.

Any Princess will light up when she sees one of these lovely ladies under the Christmas Tree, Beautiful handmade Dolls Made in Australia with love, the attention to detail and high quality of these beautiful dollies has to be seen to be believed, these lovely ladies are looking for homes and doesn’t every Little girl deserves a special dolly to love.

Leluci Night Light Available HERE

Beautiful Remote Controlled Night Lights

The beautiful Woodlands Dream Light, is safe and subtle just perfect for any little persons room. It changes 12 colours, 4 brightness’s plus a sleep timer and remote. Kids just love them.

.12 stationary colour or colour changing options, four brightness levels, sleep timer and more makes this a perfect night light for your child’s bedroom.

12 gorgeous designs helps match with many themes.

Sleepy Owl
Rocket ship
Fairy
Construction
Unicorn
Woodlands – Bambi and rabbits
Noah’s Ark
Dinosaur
Giraffe
Koala
Dragon
Monkey

Polly Panda Softie – Hello Lucy Available HERE

Miss Poppy Panda Softie

At appox. 45cm tall this is the cutest lady you ever did see! Handmade with love in Australia, she has the sweetest hand painted face and spot dress. Hello Lucy has a beautiful collection of furry friends looking for homes, could you see a Miss Kitty, River Wolf or a Merkitty in your collection? We have two softies and I want more! (I mean Miss Piper wants more) The Perfect addition for boys and girls under your tree this year.

Personalised Santa Sacks Not in the shops . Available HERE

A Very special keepsake to use again and again that is for the whole Family.

Christmas is a magic time of year – why not make it just that little bit more special with these gorgeous personalised santa sacks? There are so many different ways to personalise the sacks – there is something for everyone. This year we have a special personalised sack for everyone in the family, even the dog and cat haven’t been left out!

They also make for a great gift for family and friends, a very special keepsake. Plus don’t for get the fury members of the family too!

SixSister Beadworks Bracelet Available HERE

Give a gift with meaning! She will LOVE it!

Sterling Silver Name Bracelet for babies or little girls. Soft cotton candy pink pearls accent smooth and sparkling silver beads. Delicate and sweet, this makes the perfect gift.

Girls Beaded name bracelet, the perfect gift for niece, granddaughter, goddaughter, flower girl gifts, christening, new baby girl, baby shower, dedication jewelry for infant, 1st birthday bracelet, daughter, birthday present the list just goes on!

The one we choose is a Personalized Pink & White Name Bracelet ‘Piper’
Intricate and elegant its sure to be treasured.

.925 Sterling Silver.
White Freshwater Pearls.
Pink Swarovski Pearls & Crystals.
Custom Colours Available.
Handmade with love, plus is arrives elaborately gift wrapped in a beautiful box tied with a satin ribbon, saving you another job of wrapping.
Sizes available are Newborn-3 months, 3-9 months, 9-18 months,18 months, 3yrs, 3 – 7 yrs, 7-10 yrs, 10-14 yrs

Christmas Headbands Le Petit Bouton. Available HERE

Christmas is Le Petit Bouton’s favourite time of the year! So this year they have captured some of that magic in the Christmas headwear collection. Launching in October the range includes buttery soft organic cottons in gold and silver metallic’s, striking reds and soft pinks and sage. The perfect prints for the many events over the festive season.. But not so Christmassy that they can’t be worn year round. We hope you love them as much as we do and we look forward to seeing your little Christmas Angels wearing their Le Petit Bouton headwear whilst they celebrate and create this year’s Christmas memories.

Handmade with love from the softest beautiful imported organic fabric that has approx 25% stretch which is completely adjustable, by untying and knotting at the desired length it should easily fit from 4 week old to 5yo

Cloths Rack/Play Tent from Spunkii Kidz Available HERE

Perfect piece for any kiddies play room, bedroom or reading nook.

My Kids just love tents! They sit in them to watch television, eat and play. Plus the bonus extra of this one is I get a cloths rack too!! Yeah two for one, something for baby and mummy.

These are handmade using pine & oak for the perfect natural finish they are available in a range of stunning fabrics plus the inside of the tent offers storage pockets on one side and is easy to remove & collapse for easy storage.

The frame can also be used on its own as a clothing frame for dress ups or a room accessory.

Sizing for measurements are as follows

Toddler 120cm tall X 90cm wide
Kidlet 120cm tall X 120cm wide
Tween 180cm tall X 120cm wide

Also available from Spunkii Kids (pictured) are these adorable wooden pastel blocks which are perfect for baby play or display and this stunning ‘Peace Maker’ Headdress WOW this is such an amazing piece to own.

We hope you found some helpful ideas to get your shopping under way to a vey enjoyable Christmas with the ones you love, remember when you buy small and shop from the shops above you are supporting mummy bosses and the money is going directly to support mums with little ones like yourself which makes your gift even more special, Thankyou for supporting this great community.

Please drop us a line and let us know what other ideas we can add to our list.

Happy Shopping!

Love Kerry and Miss Piper xoxo

09.28.2015

Introducing – Beautiful Button handmade Children’s Fashion

Today we are excited to introduce you to the very talented Rachel from Beautiful button as she shares her very honest journey into the kids fashion business. It’s such a pleasure to get to know and work alongside such talented and passionate women. Grab a cuppa and enjoy the read.

Welcome Rachael,

Starting anything new is hard. Whether it be something small such as the little choices we make on a daily basis. Or conversely, a decision that could ultimately change the course of your life. Anything new is hard.

Almost a year ago I made a decision that has changed my life. I didn’t set out with an end goal, it just naturally progressed and although my life is a little more chaotic now, I wouldn’t change it at all.

I am a mum of two, a wife and a high school teacher. Anybody would think that, that would be enough for one person. But I have had it in my heart for quite a few years now that I thought I was capable of more. Capable of seeing myself in a different role but I just didn’t know what. As a natural progression of finding out what I love, which are my family and being creative, my small online business for children’s clothing and accessories, Beautiful Button, was born.

I am on a journey as I’ve never run a small business before and I have had no training. I have made a lot of mistakes but I have also learnt so much along the way; about my business and about myself. So I thought I’d share a few thoughts on what I’ve learnt when trying something new and things I had to constantly remind myself of along the way.

‘Suck it up princess’

Be open to criticism and advice.

When I first started the business, I could see that what I was doing was not working. So, I chose 5 other business’ that I respected and emailed them and said something along the lines of ‘I love what you do, I’m new at this, do you have any suggestions for how I can improve?’ What I got back was interesting. For the most part it was helpful advice. There was one however that was really blunt. Initially I was angry and hurt. But eventually I saw the criticism for what it was; a stepping stone to getting better. Anybody can ask for help, but it takes a bigger person to take the suggestions, not as criticism but as advice.

‘Why is not an annoying question’ Learn from others.

For me, as I’d never run a small business, let alone used social media as a platform I needed to watch and learn from others around me in order to learn what to do and what not to do. Simple things like how to take a good picture, what my Insta feed should look like, getting my name out there by commenting and liking other business’ and mums images, when to post, what to post and how often to post are all things I’ve learnt from others. You are not alone and the support and guidance from others, particularly those who have gone before you, is vital to getting through any new season.

‘Selective hearing can be a good thing’

Know who to listen to.

Today in the world of faceless, instant, online media, it seems everyone has an opinion. But the question is who do we listen to. In the beginning it seems everyone is open to giving their two cents. But the trick is knowing which sense to take. Take advice but don’t do anything that is going to hurt you, your brand, your clients or your network contacts. Don’t get caught up in what everyone else is doing or saying. You are your own person and you can make your own decisions.

‘Keep the important things; important’

Why are you doing what you do?

For me, starting a business was primarily to keep me at home with my kids for longer. Additionally it was a creative outlet and also obviously to make some more income. Over time as I got busier it seemed that I was spending less time with my kids, the creativity was becoming a chore rather than a pleasure but, I was making more money. It has only been recently that I have stepped back and started to look at ‘why’ I’m doing this. You can so easily get caught up in the momentum of life that you forget to reflect on what is important. ‘Why’ do you do what you do.

‘People matter’

Remember the people who got you there.

Your family, your friends, your network contacts, your customers. These are the people who love and support you. Make sure your time goes into thanking and loving them for who they are and who they have made you.

These are just a few thoughts on my journey. As I said, starting anything new is hard. Take the step to see yourself, your life with more. Constantly challenge yourself. New is hard, but it is the hard things in life that shape and define us into who we are.

Thank You Rachael, such inspiring words thankyou so much for sharing with our readers.

Love Kerry and Miss Piper xoxo

08.24.2015

Introducing – the Inspirational Meemini

Hello Again!

Today Piper and I wanted share a unique brand with you. Meemini is very special to us because of the beautiful message it spreads. Not only is the fabric the best quality and super soft for our little babes very delicate skin, but they spread the most important thing that our little people need when growing up! A positive and inspirational influence, and these little designs are perfect for spreading that oh so important message!! We won’t say anymore and hand over to the founder Kylie to let you see for yourself how very unique and special this brand is.

We are sure you will love it just as much as we do.

Welcome Kylie,

My name is Kylie, I’m the designer & creator of Meemini. I am also one very blessed mummy, to my little angel my 5 year old girl, named Jasmin – Indeed my Inspiration for Meemini.

We often refer to our little treasures as ‘My little mini me” hence the creation of the brand name “Meemini“. They reflect and mirror us in so many ways, so why not teach them from the start Inspirational messages.

We are passionate to send ‘Positive Affirmations’ and ‘Inspirational Messages’ Via our range of t-shirts, accessories & decor. Our beautiful designs are made with attention to detail and of high quality, all with the purpose of sending little reminders & messages for our little ones to wear and share.

Meemini prides itself as a quality up market brand, with a choice of stylish & adorably cute gifts presented beautifully in our white gift boxes tied with an aqua bow.

Meemini – Delivering Little messages via the little people.

Lots of love & Inspiration Kylie xx

If you would love to own a piece of your very own Meemini make sure you enter our upcoming giveaway starting this Friday night the 28^th Aug over on our Instagram page @pipersienna

Love Kerry and Miss Piper xoxo

08.19.2015

Top Turn offs when choosing a Brand Ambassador

I get daily questions from Mum’s and Dad’s starting out and wanting to build their account and become Brand Ambassadors for companies, plus I speak to alot of the companies I work with each week who ask me for ideas on what accounts to look at and what they should be looking for when choosing a Brand Ambassador to represent them.

So…… it got me thinking that in the past I have written about ‘What to do to make your account look good’ so now is the time to point out a few turn offs that put prospective companies off choosing you!

And since I couldn’t do it on my own I turned to a few of my favourite shop owners and asked them all for the things that turns them off the most!

…….and came up with the Top Five Turn Offs.

1. Don’t bag out other businesses – if you are annoyed or offended by something you have seen or heard keep it to yourself don’t air it publicly! Send a message to one of your friends and have a whinge but keep to off your page.

2. Don’t fill your page with competition entries or Brand Rep entries – the odd one is fine but it’s a turn off if people can’t see your gallery, choose the brands that you really feel suit your style and stick to them.

3. Don’t Send messages to random people and groups asking them to follow you or for Shoutouts, this just annoys people and won’t build genuine followers, you don’t want people who have felt forced into following you.

4. Blurry unclear photos – Big turnoff, if you are looking to represent a company and little Miss or Mr is going through a stage of running out of every photo then stop and wait awhile and come back to it when things improve.

5. Don’t keep changing your user name and making new accounts – find something you like, stick to it and make it work for you, as changing all the time only becomes confusing for your followers.

And as a bonus I was asked to throw this one in, if you are lucky enough to be chosen to represent a brand then remember these two points:

Don’t ask for Freebies for your mates – if you are representing a company anything you receive is for you and you alone, you should be encouraging family and friends to purchase from the store not trying to score freebies for them.

You don’t get to choose what you get! – Don’t ask for what you want sent to you (unless of course you are asked to choose) The shop needs to send the product they need marketed be thankful for what you get and do the best job you possibly can with it.

I would love it if you could add your two cents worth below and add your comment on “what turns you off”

Love Kerry and Miss Piper xoxo