Slummy Saturday or Slummy Mummy?

MEH. Tthats about as much as I could muster this morning.
I slept in, did a little crochet, then, well, not much more!

When I finally decided to get dressed this morning, (ok so maybe it was this afternoon)I realised, while putting on my old faithful trackies, that I had NO clothes that actually fitted me! EVERYTHING was too big. Even my undies were saggy! WOW, how and when did this happen? Maybe breastfeeding my little poddy calf is doing it, as I am certainly not a diet, or even thinking about my diet, which is evident by the Tim Tam packet that is now in the bin!

As I contemplated brushing my hair (for what realisitically could be the 1st time this week)I prayed that I was just having a Slummy Saturday.
Apon further contemplation, I quickly realised that I had somehow contracted a really bad case of the Slummy Mummys!

Since the birth of my darling cherub a few months back, I have been living in 'House Clothes'. Track pants, old maternity tops just cos they are so damn comfy and hide all those extra 'bits', and, hey, when you are clenaing most of the day, why bother to do your hair or put effort into getting dressed! Who is going to see me?

So I have now emerged from the bathroom with my hair done, strategically hidden the hair bands so as the banish the pony tail, placed the hair straightener and curler in full view so everytime I walk into the bathroom I HAVE to look at it, and I am planning a shopping trip for Sunday! Will share details!

Has anyone lese fallen into the Slummy Mummy coma? Please tell me I'm not the only one!

Inspiration From Pretty Things Distract Me.

Our 1st ever Inspirational - Inspire WAHM interview is sitting here, in my hot little hands.
It was lovely to read Rebecca From Pretty Things Distract Me, take on our questions, and her views on inspiration.
With an outlook on life like she has, it's no wonder her products are so amazing and you all voted for her!

Here's What she had to say.

What is your WAHM business and how did you start?
My business is Pretty Things Distract Me and we make quality, original hair accessories for mums, bubs and bigger girls - we're also branching out into a small range of quality clothing for boys and girls! PTDM started when my second daughter was born, and I struggled to find nice, affordable hair accessories for her. Everything around was over priced and not to my taste. I bought a few clips from a cheap store to play with and did alot of research and PTDM was born!

Who do you find truly Inspirational?
There's quite a few people i find inspirational. My husband is the most inspirational. He's far from crafty, but his passion for our family, and for the work that i do is inspiration for me. I also find a few co-bowers inspirational. Chris from 4 Lil' Darlins inspires me, not with her bows, but with the gorgeous friendship that has formed between us from having a common interest and business. And my children are highly inspirational, too! My daughter will often sit with me and surf the internet for fun new ribbons to add to our range - she likes some things that I wouldn't give a second thought too and she's even designed her own bow! (and it's one of my most popular sellers!!!) And lastly, Nicole from The Groovy Little Hippo! We chat every day and she is constantly inspiring me, telling me when my idea's are dumb, when my bows are cute, and just being one of the best friends I've had, but will probably never meet :(

When you are feeling uninspired, where do you turn to get back 'into the groove'?
I don't often feel uninspired, walking into my office full of colour usually snaps me back into it. If that doesn't work, usually just taking some time for myself, some time with my 4 children and hubby usually does the trick. Most times, I get uninspired because I've spent way too many hours working, and I need a break!

What is the biggest challenge you have faced with being a Wahm?
My biggest challenge is getting myself into a routine so that everyone is happy! I work MANY hours a day, to fill orders for people, and struggled with my decision to make my run time longer, as i was so used to getting orders out within 24-48 hours of receiving them. While the customers were happy, mummy and the kids weren't. So we changed the rules, I don't work when my kids are home in the afternoon after school, so that i get time to spend with them, cook them proper dinners, and I get to do all their routines with them - showers, homework, etc. I go back to work at night once they're in bed, and usually work til 11 or 12 at night.

What is the biggest personal hurdle that you have had to overcome?
Working around family commitments, keeping everyone, including myself and customers happy, while maintaining a healthy, and happy relationship with my children and my husband. We've got it in the bag now, though!

If inspiration came in a box, what would it look like?
Wow, this question is so hard to answer because I can visualize it, but I had trouble putting it in words! It'd be a great big swirling pile of colour. Bright pink, with rays of bring oranges, yellows, blues, greens and purple, full of sparkle and bling - kinda like my office, bright, colourful, fun, enticing and pretty! Pretty things really do distract me. So does sparkly things hehe.

If you were not a WAHM, what would you be doing?
To be honest, I really don't know. For years before starting PTDM I'd always tried to find a way to work from home, so if I wasn't running PTDM, I'd be doing something else from home anyway. My desire to be there for my kids, every afternoon after school won over many years ago.

Chocolate or strawberry?
Chocolate!

Why do you think you were nominated as an Inspirational Wahm?
I have no idea!!! I don't
do anything special, I make hair accessories because I LOVE doing so, having the customers, and the friendships made from it has been the bonus of my passion. I guess, if I had to name something, it'd probably be that I try to treat each customer as if they're my ONLY customer. While I love that everyone has voted for me, I honestly have no idea why. I probably sound so full of myself here, but I'm really am at a loss. I don't do anything different to everyone else!

What 3 things could your business not survive without?
LOL When I first received these questions, I read them out to my best friend, and my husband who were sitting with me at the time. My husband said he's answer for me, and his answer was HIM! :D Seriously though, I wouldn't have the patience to do what I do without him. He is such a wonderful support system for me, he always has the answers when I have the tough questions, and he's ALWAYS willing to help when I feel like I'm starting to drown.

The other 2 items would be ribbon, and my wonderful customers! I couldn't get anywhere without you guys, and it's your lovely words, emails and friendships that keep me going all the time, to strive to make my next bow better than the last. You guys ROCK!

The bus out our way arrives at 8am. Each day is an interesting one, as each car arrives, and mum's pile out, some dressed for work, some in pj's still, some with the first thing they found when they opened the wardrobe doors (this is usually me).
We have our morning chat, see the kids onto the bus, and then head our seperate ways to get on with the day.
I enjoy these mornings, to see friendly faces at 8am is a nice way to start. Sometimes, however, it can be hard not to bite your tongue. Like one afternoon (the bus alternates - long story) when one mum left her 3 year old at home asleep while she came the 3kms to the bus stop! Quoting 'dont tell DOCS'.
This morning was another of those times. I swear had I have bitten my tounge any harder it would have bled!
Mrs J was at the bus stop, with her two lovely children 7 and 9, it was freezing this morning, so her children stayed in the car playing their Nintendo DS's. (A mighty fine idea at that hour of the morning I must say).
Miss A then arrived, with her 3 darling children, ranting about how innappropriate those games are, her kids will never have one, her son has NO computer games he can just do family things.
This was fine, everyone is entiteled to an opinion, I get that, we all have the right to bring our children up as we feel appropriate.
The bus arrived, the kids left, Mrs A left, and Mrs J stayed back a little, around the other side of the my car talking to my non school age children. I jumped in the car and turned around adn she was in tears. Questioning herself as a mother over a bloody DS! I felt so bad for her, jumped out and hugged her. (I might remind you that Mrs A's 3 year old had no shoes on on this 3 degree morning).

Why is the world so critical of parents choices?
Do we not have the right to make a choice for our kids anymore?
And seriously, over a computer game!

As mum's we face criticism in every direction we turn - birth choices, circumcision, breast feeding, and all that follows!

Today lets give each other a HUGE congratulations for being FANTASTIC at our job, even if we dont all do it the same way!

Here's to mum's worldwide, may you have a lovely day and laugh in the face of criticism!

xxx

{Those Who Inspire}

I must say that Find a NON - scam WAHM has brought me to some fantastic work at home mummy's who truly inspire me.

There are so many talented ladies out there that each day when I log on and see something that is truly unique, that is made with love and passion, I get re - inspired!

I also have those days where I log on and think that the internet has simply provided a way for anyone to become a business owner, regardless of talent or passion.

With this in mind, I am making a proposal.

Inspirational-inspire WANTS to inspire YOU!

Inspirational-inspire wants to help uncover the best and brightest mummies out there, those with passion, drive and uniqueness!

You can help by nominating your Fav WAHM mummy to be showcased here!

Email info.wham@gmail.com

{Inspire}

While sitting back, Listening to the rain on the roof, I wondered how such a dismal day could possibly make one so happy?

I then realised its the little things in life that put a smile on my face, that inspire me to be creative, to be BETTER - at whatever it is I'm doing.

Sometimes it can be hard to juggle life as a WAHM, and at times we all need a little support, a little bit of inspiration, a little something to put a smile on our faces. With that said, I would like to introduce 'Inspirational-inspire'.

I hope that each time you visit you can take a little something away with you that makes you inspired, or let us know how you can inspire someone else.