While you may doubt their readiness to make these choices, parents worldwide are embracing this approach to foster independence and responsibility in their children.
Here are three reasons why empowering your kids to choose their own clothing is beneficial:
Fosters a Sense of Responsibility: Allowing your child to select their outfit encourages them to take ownership of their decisions and accept the consequences. This independence reinforces their self-esteem and emotional growth, as their choices are valued and respected.
Encourages Personal Taste Development: Giving children the freedom to choose their clothing enables them to explore and refine their personal style. Whether they want to dress up as their favorite superhero or express their unique fashion sense, it's an opportunity for self-expression and confidence building.
Saves Time: When children take charge of their wardrobe selections, it relieves parents of the daily struggle of choosing outfits for them. This time-saving benefit allows parents to focus on other priorities and enjoy a smoother morning routine.
#parenting #style #kidsclothing #kidsbrand
]]>Psychologists suggest that this tactile experience of collecting and storing items fosters a sense of ownership and agency in children, empowering them to take charge of their belongings. As they fill their pockets with treasures, children develop organizational skills and learn to manage their possessions, promoting independence and responsibility.
Pockets provide children with a tangible connection to their environment, encouraging curiosity and exploration. Research in child development indicates that hands-on experiences, such as collecting and storing items in pockets, contribute to cognitive development and spatial awareness. By engaging in these activities, children develop a deeper understanding of their surroundings and learn to navigate the world around them confidently.
Pockets also offer practical benefits for parents. They provide a convenient solution for storing small items like keys, snacks, or tissues, eliminating the need for additional bags or containers while on the go. This added convenience simplifies outings and allows parents to focus on enjoying quality time with their children without worrying about misplaced belongings.
#pockets #pocketsforkids #kidsclothing
]]>In a society bombarded with unrealistic beauty standards, it's crucial to equip children with a positive body image from a young age. Books play a pivotal role in promoting self-love and acceptance, celebrating diversity in all its forms. Through relatable characters and engaging narratives, children learn to embrace their unique qualities and appreciate the beauty of differences.
Recommended Reads:
"I Like Myself!" by Karen Beaumont |
"I am me: A book of Authenticity" by Susan Verde |
"Hair Love" by Matthew A. Cherry |
Understanding and managing emotions are essential skills for navigating the complexities of interpersonal relationships. Children's books provide a safe space for exploring feelings and learning how to communicate effectively. Additionally, they teach the importance of setting boundaries and respecting others' boundaries—a fundamental aspect of healthy relationships.
Recommended Reads:
"Aroha’s Way - A children’s guide through emotions" by Craig Phillips |
"From my head to my toes, I say what goes" by Charlotte Barkla and Jacqui Lee |
"Ruby Finds a Worry" by Tom Percival |
Childhood is rife with fears and anxieties, from the fear of the dark to separation anxiety and beyond. Books serve as powerful tools for helping children confront and overcome these challenges, instilling courage and resilience along the way. Through the adventures of brave protagonists and the reassurance of happy endings, young readers learn valuable coping mechanisms for facing life's uncertainties.
Recommended Reads:
"The magical yet" by Angela DiTerrlizzi and Lorena Alvarez Gómez |
"The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn |
"Can’t You Sleep Little Bear" by Waddell |
By incorporating diverse stories that address important themes such as body positivity, healthy boundaries, and coping with fears, parents and educators can empower children to navigate life's challenges with confidence and resilience. Let's continue to foster a love of reading and storytelling, ensuring that every child has access to the transformative power of books.
#healthyboundaries #selfacceptance #parenting #booksforchildren
]]>Nowadays efficiency and convenience are important. That's why simplicity is now a worldwide trend. Opting for uncomplicated clothing enhances the visibility of natural beauty and simplifies daily routines, as neutral pieces are very easy to style for any occasion. That's why easy-to-wear, minimalistic pieces have become a big hit.
Numerous references are available to inspire your minimalist fashion choices, encouraging you to experiment and blend your clothes freely. Whether it's browsing through parenting blogs, following Instagram moms, or checking out online stores, there's no shortage of inspiration for creating minimalist looks for your children.
This shift towards simplicity isn't just about fashion—it's a reflection of a broader cultural movement. Parents are increasingly valuing quality over quantity, opting for clothes that are not only fashionable but also durable and comfortable for their little ones.
By curating your kids' wardrobes with care, you can instil values of mindfulness and self-expression from an early age, allowing your little ones to embrace their unique identities while looking their best.
#minimalism #kidsclothing #neutraltones #simplicity
]]>So, today we'll explore the world of ethical clothing choices for children.
When it comes to dressing our little ones, we want to ensure that their clothes are adorable, comfortable and also produced with love and care. This is where ethical manufacturing practices play a crucial role in the world of children's fashion. While concerns about manufacturing conditions in certain countries, like China, have been raised, it's important to remember that not all factories are the same. In fact, many small family-run factories in China are shining examples of ethical practices. These factories go above and beyond to uphold fair wages, provide safe working conditions, and prioritize environmental sustainability. They operate like tight-knit communities, valuing the well-being of their workers and creating clothing that's made with utmost consideration and attention to detail. The passionate founders of Karibou traveled all the way to China to meet their suppliers and ensure that every piece of clothing for your little ones is produced ethically.
We can't stop at just ethical manufacturing here, we also need to talk about the incredible world of natural fabrics. Picture fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo, and linen – they're not only gorgeous to the touch but also grown without any harmful pesticides or chemicals. This means they're safe for our children's delicate skin and kinder to our environment. So when you can, dive into these fabrics when you choose clothing for your little ones.
It's also about embracing quality over quantity, investing in timeless pieces that can be passed down or reused for siblings. We at Karibou, think our goals should be to promote a sustainable and responsible approach to dressing our little ones, making thoughtful choices that go beyond just fashion. Get ready to fall in love with those durable, everlasting treasures that will have your kids looking stylish while reducing waste.
Secondhand and thrift shopping is another amazing way to shop, it is almost like an exciting treasure hunt. You'll be amazed by the gently-used clothing you can find at affordable prices. Not only does it save you money, but it also reduces the demand for new clothes, giving pre-loved garments a second chance to shine. Let's embrace the joy of finding unique and stylish treasures while treading lightly on our planet. Here's some of our favourites:
Here us a shout-out to all the local and independent brands that are rocking sustainability and eco-friendliness! They pour their hearts into creating ethically made, fashionable options for our little ones. So, let's support these small businesses and discover their incredible offerings. You'll be delighted by the personal touch and unique designs they bring to the table.
And remember, taking care of our sustainable kids' fashion treasures is key! Learn all about proper care and maintenance practices. Follow those washing instructions, mend clothes when needed, and when the time comes, pass them on to other little adventurers or donate them to spread the love. By extending the lifespan of these garments, we reduce our environmental footprint while keeping our kiddos stylish.
Last but certainly not least, let's educate our children about sustainability and ethical fashion choices. Involve them in meaningful conversations, teaching them the impact their choices have on our beautiful planet.
Together, we can nurture a sense of responsibility and a deep appreciation for the world around us from an early age.
So, let's embark on this incredible journey of sustainable and ethical kids' fashion together, creating a brighter future for our children and our planet!
]]>A: Thank you so much for taking part. Tell us a little bit about you and your family Kris.
K: I’m Kristen (but go by Kris!), i’m originally from Sacramento, California but moved to Beverly Hills in 2013 for work. I ended up meeting my now husband on tinder after only living here for 3 weeks and we’ve been inseparable since! We have two daughters, Harper Lee and Billie Stone, and one more baby girl on the way. We live in a suburb outside of Los Angeles now because, well school districts and all that family stuff. I used to work at UCLA in Santa Monica but decided to quit my job and dive into blogging full-time after my maternity leave ended when my first daughter was born. Best decision ever!
A: Your Instagram feed is absolutely gorgeous! What’s your secret?
K: Thank you so much! I’m such a perfectionist so I think a lot of it has to do with that. I take all my images on a Canon rebel and edit them with a custom preset that was made by a photography friend of mine. I use a design app called UNUM and it helps me plan out my images so everything stays *fairly cohesive.
A: What inspires your home style?
K: Oh gosh. So many things. A lot comes from Instagram! I found my two favorite designers on the platform (amber interiors and McGee and co.) and so many of my choices in home decor have come from their photos!
A: What’s your go-to store when decorating your home?
K: This is a tricky one. I really couldn’t nail it down to one store haha! I do everything from target (more affordable pieces from McGee and co), home goods, Amazon, rug and weave (favorite Canadian brick and mortar home store), and the list goes on!
A: Your home looks absolutely amazing, what’s your favourite room in the house and why?
K: That’s such a hard one! But I love our living room. I think it’s the only room in the house that I am 100% content with. Of course I swap things out each season etc. but it’s the one room I can sit in for a long period of time and not pick it completely apart.
A: Do you have any tips for other Mamas dipping their toes into DIY?
K: Don’t be afraid to mess up! It was so hard for me in the beginning to constantly be comparing myself to these people on Instagram who rarely show themselves mess up. I still put holes in walls, split wood, and mis-measure my projects all the time! It’s all part of the process.
A: What’s your favourite DIY project?
K: Our nightstands in our bedroom, 100%! We had great (but cheap) metal night stands for years and I would search marketplace everyday trying to find something vintage to flip. I finally found a pair of nightstands that someone let go for only 40 bucks. I flipped them with a little bit of sanding and paint and they seriously look like they are straight from amberinteriors.com. SO vintage and I even kept the original pulls on the drawers so they are that much more unique to me.
A: What’s your favourite self care activity?
K: I honestly wish I had more time for some “true” self-care, but 30 minutes a day on my peleton has been a lifesaver! I stopped working out completely when the pandemic happened for obvious reasons. But after we were about 10 months into it, we decided that we needed to take the plunge on some sort of at home machine and I am officially obsessed with it. When I have extra time (and energy) I try to take on a DIY project!
A: What’s the best motherly advice you have ever received?
K: No season lasts forever. I had a hell of a time with my second daughter and there were some days I thought I wasn’t going to make it. It’s sounds so silly (and obvious), but I would just remind myself that season WILL end, even on the day it feels like it won’t.
A: How can people connect with you and find out more about you?
K: Instagram! I am super active there @homewithharper, and super engaged with my community. I love this space and my audience truly feels like family to me. You can always shoot me an email as well (attached to my profile)
]]>Here are our Top 5 finds.
This beautiful hand crafted design will give any nursery summer beach vibes. The lightweight feel and removable stand making it easy to move where needed.
The Good:
The Not So Good:
Where to find them -
Best price we found in New Zealand - $549.00 NZD from ecosprout.co.nz
Best price we found in Australia - $549.00 AUD from cute-to-boot.com.au
This beautiful round rattan bassinet will keep your baby comfortable and keep your nursery stylish.
The Good:
The Not So Good:
Where to find them -
Best price we found in New Zealand - $499.00 NZD from bohemehome.co.nz
Best price we found in Australia - $499.00 AUD from byronbayhangingchairs.com.au
This beautiful handmade sisal grass and straw bassinet will keep your baby cozy everywhere you go.
The Good:
The Not So Good:
Where to find them -
Best price we found in USA - $199.99 USD from designdua.com
This unique hanging macrame bassinet will change your life, no more back straining. This beautiful bassinet gives you the freedom to rock your little one to sleep.
The Good:
The Not So Good:
Where to find them -
Best price we found in Australia - $399.00 from poppyslittletreasures.com (Ships to NZ)
The revolutionary bedside bassinet will change your life, with easy zip down access to your little for feeding in bed.
The Good:
The Not So Good:
Where to find them -
Best price we found in New Zealand - $549.00 NZD from globalbaby.co.nz
Best price we found in Australia - $495.00 AUD from babyvillage.com.au
Best price we found in USA - $269.95 USD from scandiborn.com
Tag @kariboukids on your nursery must haves for a chance to get your images featured in our future blogs!
]]>A: May I know the names of your 2 pretty darlings? How old are they?
L: My sweet Ella Marie is two and a half and little Rosie Mae is eight months old.
A: What inspired you to share your little ones’ beautiful images on IG?
L: When I first had Ella, I felt pretty isolated from my pre-baby life. I made the decision to leave work, none of my friends had children, and the change of pace was difficult for me. Ella reminded me every day to see beauty in the little things. She helped me to remember my true identity; a dreamer, a positive thinker, and a nurturer. I couldn’t help but share her innocent free spirit and natural femininity.
A: Your Instagram feed is absolutely gorgeous! How do you manage to capture these lovely photos?
L: Thank you so much! I love to have my photos be as organic as possible. I shoot them all on my iPhone, so it is as little pressure as possible, and try to just capture them playing. It’s much like what we would do normally, but it takes more prep work.
A: Do you personally do the editing?
L: I do! I keep it pretty simple and try to do similar steps on each photo. I always go for a more ethereal and romantic style photo as opposed to perfect and staged. Being relatable is important to me.
A: How do you prepare your 2 lovely girls for photoshoot?
L: On a shoot day for Ella, getting ready is incorporated into her morning routine. I style her hair while she brushes her teeth and help her dress before leaving her bathroom. Rose is a lot easier, as long as she is fed and had a nap, she is always ready to get dressed and flirt with the camera!
A: They look so cute in their outfits! Do you personally style them?
L: Yes! And thank you! Styling their outfits is my favorite part of it all. The girls share two closets; one is for their loungewear and pajamas, and the other is a beautiful curation of outfits and accessories and shoes and.. BOWS! I love spending time in there after the girls go to sleep to put together looks.
A: I can see you are into fashion. How would you define your personal style?
L: I would say my personal style is feminine, modest, and comfortable... with a little dash of boho.
A: What tips can you share to mums out there on styling their little girls?
L: One tip my mom always told me is to buy what you like, and it will all come together. Try not to get too hung up on matching or buying full outfits. Purchase items that you love as you come across them, and you will be surprised how they will compliment each other.
A: What makes you happy aside from capturing your girls' precious moments?
L: Dancing, fresh air, our dogs excited tails wagging each morning, chopping fresh fruits and vegetables and snacking on them along the way, the changing leaves in fall, Ellas little footsteps running down the hallway, the wrinkle on Rosie’s nose when she giggles.... just a few of my favorite things!
A: How can people connect with you and find out more about you?
L: The best place to connect with me is my Instagram! I post every morning and share everyday moments on my stories. www.instagram.com/laurenhadalittlelamb
]]>A week before New Zealand had announced its official 5 week lockdown our family had decided to take our team member from Karibou Tania into our home as a flatmate so we could continue running Karibou remotely from home.
Little did we know that apart from running our business we would also get up to a whole lot of new, weird, and not so weird things to keep ourselves busy, healthy, and sane.
Whether you find this entertaining, inspiring, or whatever else, we thought that we just couldn't not share this. In the end we can only hope that this type of unprecedented situation of a coronavirus causing lockdown is one of a kind and so too much of a unique situation not to share.
So, here is what we have been up to for the last 4 weeks of quarantine!
Lets face it, you can always put off exercise 'till tomorrow. Only why put it off 'till tomorrow when you can just do it today - Or every day! This is actually what has happened since we ended up in the lockdown. We love exercising to Rebecca-Louise, who's a freaking awesome trainer who just kicks your butt, like no gym time alone would! Make sure to check out here channel HERE! Exercising at home or in your back yard is frickin' awesome.
Before the lockdown it seemed like I never had time for meditation. It was just hard to 'stop'. Life was fast-paced and the office was always full of hustle and bustle. But we have actually made a conscious effort to make short meditations a part of our daily routine - No matter whether or not the kids are playing in the other room. In the end my mind feels alot calmer and I'm actually feeling like a whole new person. Tania and I just put on some beautiful meditation music and simple sit quiet or 10 mins. or so. Trying meditations with different kind of crystals has also been a beautiful experience as they all act a bit differently. My favourite music to meditate to is anything with Tibetan signing bowls and the Indian flute, THIS one being my fave!
I didn't realise that we had that may jigsaw puzzles. I must have bought them all during my pregnancy days. The kids have also liked challenging themselves with some of the more difficult 500pc puzzles, my seven year old son beating his record and completing two 500pcs puzzles in one day.
I can't get enough of macrame hangings and our home is literally filled them (The trip to Bali last year didn't help). Learning to macrame has been an interesting experience - It's relaxing and frustrating at the same time!
My son and I started a mushroom photo collection a few years ago and it gives us something really fun to do as we go hunting for mushrooms together in our local park. I also think that mushrooms are pretty fascinating and have been trying to learn all about them. When I was a little girl we would forage for real wild ones for dinner. And now that it's autumn here in New Zealand mushroom season has officially began and our collection is only going to grow larger. The main thing is not to pick the mushrooms and leave them in their natural habitat (plus many are quite poisonous!)
We'd love to know! What are some things you're doing during the quarantine? Would love your comments below mama!
]]>As we’re raving for gender equality, promoting love towards nature and celebrating free spirit, catch our latest list of quaint and hippie boys names. Most importantly, do not be scared to look different and have an opinion that does not fit the “voice populi”. if you share the values we mentioned above, be brave and be confident! It’s all about you, this is your life and your baby, just follow what your heart desires and you’ll be rewarded with inner peace and happiness.
If still in doubt and the struggle is real, try a clever little quirky trick that works every time to help you choose - Asking a pendulum! This be be a crystal pendulum or just any pendant on a chain (or string) that you wear so it has your energy. If you are able to get your hands on a crystal pendulum we find that clear quartz or amethyst tends to work best.
If the pendulum moves from side-to-side the answer is NO
If the pendulum moves in a circular motion the answer is YES.
If the pendulum stays still or quivers the answer cannot be given at this stage. Ask again later when you are feeling completely calm and relaxed.
Repeat this sequence for all names and feel free to start the process again if all the names are a ‘No’. Remember to listen to your intuition and your inner wisdom and you will quickly know which name to choose.
]]>If you happen to have a waffle maker these adorable bunny face waffles should be super easy to pull off. But, if not, don't worry! You are very likely to find ready-made waffles that you can simply heat up in the supermarket. While fresh berries are still in season pick up a punnet or two of strawberries and blueberries, as well as some bananas and your sweet little bunny will be ready to delight!
We love this adorable idea of quickly and easily making croissants fun! Croissants are hugely popular in Europe as a delicious breakfast food, so why not try serving them for your child's breakfast stuffed with some yummy jam, or alternatively with melted cheese and ham.
Simply attach some plastic googly eyes if your child has them in the arts and crafts collection. If you don't happen to have them (and have no access to a knick-knack/2 dollar store at present then you can simply make these googly eyes by cutting them out of paper and colouring in the inside of the eye with a black marker. Then gently glue them on to the back of a toothpick and voila!
Ah the classic! Toast with your child's favourite spread. But, why not get creative and try this classic breakfast or snack with additional berries and fruit to make it into a cute funny animal face. Just use peanut butter, Nutella, and/or cream cheese in a creative way and a simple toast will become so adorable (just hopefully not too cute too eat!)
Kids love pancakes for breakfast! But even pancakes can get boring. Why not turn it into a sweet little dinosaur by adding in some bananas and a little bit of a creativity. Use marshmallows or cut fruit as legs and something small and edible for the eye. Then pour over with some honey or maple syrup and enjoy!
We love this adorable waffle dinosaur is a fun breakfast idea! It's easy to make with the use of slice fruit and waffles (which you can either make if you have a waffle-maker or pick up from your local supermarket - Pancakes will also work!) It has all the ingredients kids usually love, down to the little tiny marshmallow details, which you will be able to pick up from the baking ingredients isle at the supermarket.
Finish off the eyes with two small raisins and your breakfast dinosaur will be complete in no time! Or get even more creative and turn into an animal of your child's choice if dinosaurs are not his/her thing.
]]>The painful reality is the world is on quarantine and all our favourite shops and bakeries are closed for the nearest future. We have only supermarkets working during the lockdown leaving us with just “in-store made” options available. Doesn’t sound really exciting, does it?
What if you fancy something really special? Not to mention if you have your child’s birthday someday soon? Don’t despair! If you dare to get your hands into the flour, you’ll be rewarded with a happy face of you kid f. Below you’ll find carefully selected fun and easy baking recipes for non-bakers (like we are!). We searched through the Internet to save your time and now bringing the recipes which are quite simple to make and don’t require sophisticated ingredients.
When we say "Birthday Cake" we mean Funfetti Cake which is all about sweetness and delight. Get your taste buds ready!
If you have a thing for chocolate, click right below to find this super easy and quick recipe of a chocolate cake for the whole family to enjoy.
Crepes is the European version of pancakes but larger and thinner. Don't be scared, they only look fancy but in fact are very easy to make. This cake is a super laid back option your kid would love!
Making your own ice-cream cake is a delicious adventure where you get this creamy, layered icy dessert with chocolate fudge in the end. Try this easy ice-cream cake recipe that will steal your heart and make your kids to leave no crumbs.
This is oh-so-delicious cake takes less than 1.5 hr to make! Rest assured, a cute lamb face decoration on the top will entertain your little ones on their birthday party!
]]>Reading this article means you are all about nature and its blessings, you want to honor what mother Earth has to offer to humanity, you’re creative and like to express yourself. So your child would!
We know that the internet is bursting with various articles, controversial ideas and opinions which might make the decision-making process rather daunting. So we’ve come up with our top list of 11 beautifully-unique baby names inspired by mother nature that also happen to be trending in 2021.
Here are 11 of our fave sweet yet quirky names for that little new soul you can’t wait to meet (or perhaps already have!)
So here we go! In no particular order..
If still in doubt and the struggle is real, try a clever little quirky trick that works every time to help you choose - Asking a pendulum! This be be a crystal pendulum or just any pendant on a chain (or string) that you wear so it has your energy. If you are able to get your hands on a crystal pendulum we find that clear quartz or amethyst tends to work best.
If the pendulum moves from side-to-side the answer is NO
If the pendulum moves in a circular motion the answer is YES.
If the pendulum stays still or quivers the answer cannot be given at this stage. Ask again later when you are feeling completely calm and relaxed.
Repeat this sequence for all names and feel free to start the process again if all the names are a ‘No’. Remember to listen to your intuition and your inner wisdom and you will quickly know which name to choose.
]]>We browsed through our photo library to bring you some of our favourite little girls hairstyles that you can copy today. Feel free to experiment and play around with these adorable little hairstyles and in 4 weeks you will come out a pro, having a lot more fun with your girl's looks.
Try these quick and easy #karibougirl hairstyles we've picked out for you for even more bonding time with your girl. Now just put on Frozen and start practicing away. We promise that you'll love the results!
We have a huge passion for bows, we love them and have them a huge range - Everything from tiny linen bow clips to our signature jumbo organza Mia Bows. Two pigtails with two oversized statement bows is a perfect super easy hairstyle to try for an adorable look in an instant - A take on our Soviet Union childhood school days that is both unique and charming.
If your little girl has long hair this cute 'undone' done up hairstyle style requiring minimum effort and time, but looks gorgeous and goes well with any outfit. Simply gather hair into a ponytail on the crown of her head and then twist and pin with bobby pins, a hair tie, or any clips you can really that you manage to find around the house.
We must admit long hair can be hard to manage so why don’t you tame those sweet locks of hers by braiding them to the back and completing the look with a sweet cotton or linen bow. This look was featured in the Karibou Wildberry Forest collection on our model Nikita and has become a must-try look for all little darling with medium to long hair.
If your girl is going through that hard-to-manage toddler stage this look you can create even while she's on the go. Simply clip a part of her hair back and then finish off with a beautiful bow. Karibou jumbo organza Mia Bows are just perfect as they are lightweight and will really make you go "Aww!"
And if all the above hairstyles just seem way too easy do not give this adorable look a miss. First part the hair and plait back into two French braids at the top of the head. Then gather into two little buns and finish off the hairstyle by clipping in two sweet little bows. If you are like us and are not used to French braiding this one may take some practice (Simply Google a tutorial - You are sure to find hundreds!), but in the end it will be well worth it taking your hair styling skills to the next level, so you can create all new gorgeous looks for your girl.
]]>D: My husband Larry, myself, our three sons Brooklyn (7), London (5), Cortez (2) and our little girl Birdie (8months).
]]>D: My husband Larry, myself, our three sons Brooklyn (7), London (5), Cortez (2) and our little girl Birdie (8months).
A: How did you feel when you found out you were having a little princess? How did the boys react?
D: I really can’t quite put into words how I felt, I tear up just thinking about it actually! I have always longed for a little girl! At London’s 20 week scan we were told he was a girl at first and as the scan was nearly over she said he was actually a boy. I can’t put into words how that felt! So when we were told we were having a girl at our 20 week scan with Birdie I couldn’t believe what my ears were hearing! I didn’t really 100% believe it even after she was born haha for a good week after I kept checking to make sure a Willy hasn’t grown haha! I still pinch myself each morning I wake and see her little face, she completes our family and I feel so blessed beyond words to say I have 3 sons and a daughter..so so blessed!!
The boys were so excited to hear they were having a sister and the first thing London said was “I am going to play dolls and barbies with my little sister. Whatever she wants to play I’ll play with her” and so far he has stuck to his word!! I hope it stays that way too it’s really the sweetest thing to watch!
A: How do you describe the way your little boys are with little miss Birdie?
D: My boys honestly blow me away! They are so rough with each other..I mean ROUGH..but with their sister they are the complete opposite! The way they softly speak to her and look at her truly melts our hearts, they just adore their baby sister! They are very caring and protective of her..goodluck future boyfriends!!!
A: Birdie Valentine is such a beautiful and unique name, how did you come up with it?
D: Me and hubby had a deal from the day we got together..if ever we have kids he names the boys and me the girls..that worked out real well for me didn’t it?! Haha! Of course we both had to be happy with the names tho and we were really struggling, everything I picked hubby didn’t like! A friend mentioned the name Birdie when I was asking around for suggestions, I hadn’t really heard it before apart from the singer Birdy and the character in a book we got our youngest son called ‘Dreamer’ is called Birdie. At first I didn’t really like it much and it didn’t make the list but as time went on and I kept hearing and seeing it pop up it grew on me and out of our list of names it was the only one that I kept being drawn to, there was something about it and I don’t know what..I knew in my heart that that had to be our little girls name! It took ALOT to convince hubby but now he loves her name and couldn’t imagine her with any other! Her middle name I came across on good old google when searching for middle names! Funnily enough and 100% unintentional all of our kids have place names! I had no idea up until recently that Cortez and Birdie are also place names!
A: What inspired you to share your little ones' memories and adventures on IG and on your blog?
D: I have always loved finding new/cool products that no one has seen before and when I had Brooklyn I was right in my element, I purchased all kinds of bottles and gadgets from the USA and used to share mini ‘reviews’ on my Facebook and soon discovered people were removing me as a friend haha!! I don’t remember how I came across Instagram and I didn’t really know how to use it either but I soon discovered a whole new world of new and unique products and a whole heap of people who were into the same kind of thing as me! I felt like I found a place where I belonged..a place where I felt excited to share cool things! I have always had a bit of a ‘thing’ for photography too which started back at high school with the old SLR cameras so Instagram is a place where I get to get a bit creative and have fun doing something that I enjoy!
A: Speaking of your blog, I just want to say, I love it! Please tell us more about it.
D: Oh thank you! I don’t consider myself a blogger, I just really wanted a place where I could write whatever I wanted, a place I could write more than what I can in a description on Instagram and always come back to it easily. I really enjoy writing posts but I hardly get time to them these days! It is something I really want to put more effort into in the near future tho!
A: How would you define your personal style?
D: I’d definitely say that the best way to describe my personal style is versatile. I hate conforming to a specific style because I’m always open to stepping out of my comfort zone and switching things up.
I do really love to dress up tho, 9 X out of 10 you’ll find me in heels and jeans and ALWAYS wearing a nude lippy! I make sure that I do a lil somethin’ somethin’ for myself every morning before my children wake up and that is putting makeup on and doing my hair (although the hair part has gone out of the window a bit lately!) I love waking up and starting the day feeling good about myself (and I do that for myself..no one else). When we become mums we give up so much, our wants and needs get placed on the backburner, it’s just how it goes, us Mama’s are always put everyone else first! So for me taking that little bit of time in the mornings before everyone wakes is super important!
A: How do you like to style your kids and what are some of your most favourite pieces for them?
D: Again I don’t really have a specific style that I dress my children in, if I like something I’ll get it! However with saying that I don’t really get to style my older two anymore- they are all about that rugby/sportswear life! I mostly dress Cortez in a classical style tho, I think he really suits it and I guess it takes me right back to my childhood, I was OBSESSED with the Victorian Era throughout primary school!
A: What does living ‘beautifully’ mean to you and how do you manage to do it while raising little ones?
D: To me living beautifully means many things, it means appreciating where you are right now in your life, counting your blessings and being thankful for everything you have. It means surrounding yourself with people who inspire, lift and encourage you and cutting off those who do the opposite! Even if they are family! There’s nothing worse than spending time with people who suck the life out of you, don’t do that to yourself! Living beautifully means giving love to everyone you meet in the form of kindness, understanding, tolerance, acceptance and generosity. Loving yourself for YOU, just as you are and letting go of all self judgement and criticism.
A: What have you found to be your biggest challenge when it comes to motherhood?
D: My biggest challenge was letting go of the ‘perfect mother myth’ you know- the pressure that your kids should always be happy, they should only ever eat things that are healthy, being a perfect housewife and making sure the house is ALWAYS spotless and so on... It took me a long time to accept that I will never be a perfect mother and that being a good enough Mum is enough!
A: And the biggest reward?
D: I’m getting teary eyed thinking about this now! The most rewarding thing is when my boys stop what they are doing and randomly say “Mum......I love you” and when Birdie’s face lights up when I enter the room! Every single day with my babies is rewarding!
A: What 3 words best describe your family and home life?
D: Loving, fun, laid-back
A: If you could time travel to 10 years back what do you want to tell your younger self?
D: Don’t EVER let the ignorant opinions of others EVER destroy your self confidence! Stop wishing away time.There will be a time, sooner than you know when you wish you could turn back the clock! Confidence not only attracts people, but opportunities and situations as well. KEEP WORKING AT IT AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!!!!
A: What makes you the happiest in this world?
D: My family. Waking up each morning and seeing my husband and children, knowing that we are in a really good place in our lives, we live in an amazing area, have a roof over our heads, food in our belly’s and smiles on our faces! And also I can’t forget all of the amazing friends in my life.
..What more could a girl ask for 💖
A: How can other #kariboumamas connect with you?
D: On Instagram @fromlondontobrooklyn and on Facebook From London To Brooklyn
]]>H: My partner in crime (and husband) Ben, we do just about everything together. My true best friend. We have our oldest daughter Rosalie who is the most compassionate 3 year old that I know. My sweet little strawberry who is basically a clone of her daddy. And our dark haired new wee babe Fern, she’s almost 2 months old. She’s such a feisty wiggle worm who already seems set in her ways and won’t let you forget it either.
A: How does Rosie like to spend time with her little sister Fern?
H: Rosie loves curling up to Fern, playing with her hair and telling her about all of her toys in great detail. She loves to be her mini mom too. Bringing diapers/wipes over, helping with actually changing her, telling me when it’s time to feed her, and putting her down for a nap.
A: What do you enjoy most about raising two daughters?
H: I am appreciative that I get to raise daughters because I never had a sister, I missed out on that sisterly bond and have always wondered what it was like. I have two older brothers, so that was an experience like no other either, but I witness them even to this day still as great friends in life and I don’t have a sibling to go to in that same way. But I also love getting to raise kind girls who will eventually grow to become women and I need them to be strong in life, our world needs all the strong women. I have a huge desire to share with them in what ways to be kind, giving, AND strong.
A: How do you like to style your kids and what are some of your most favourite pieces for them?
H: I prefer neutrals and linens over anything, but I have a soft spot for muted colors and pretty prints too. I have these little woodland animals bloomers and a gauze tunic outfit for Fern that I’m dying for the day to come when she can fit into it. And I particularly love this one peplum grid top for Rosie, it goes well with any color bloomers and knee socks.
A: Do you have any tips for other mothers out there raising little ones on how they can live more beautifully amongst the occasional chaos?
H: Breathe slowly and deeply through that chaos because these are the moments we will all look back on with our children when they’re grown. We’ll look beyond those messes, the tantrums, the sibling fights. We’ll learn to laugh about those silly things because that’s not what really matters.
A: What does living ‘beautifully’ mean to you and how do you manage to do it while raising little ones?
H: Living beautifully is so subjective. For me though, it’s in all the details and remembering those things. It’s finding true satisfaction in not losing sight of the things I always loved doing even before I became a mom. Doing away with mom guilt and embracing self-care because that makes me better for my husband and my kids too. The way my views have changed over time as I stepped into motherhood. It’s the way my children look at me with gleaming, loving eyes. When I wake up motivated and ready to take on a new day. But it’s also necessary that I find beauty in being broken down and accepting hard days as part of my title as a mother.
A: What 3 words best describe your family and home life?
H: Warm. Humble. Inseparable.
A: How would you define your personal style?
H: A confused mixture.
A: How do you like to decorate your home and are there any favourite places where you like to shop?
H: I love to pair modern and antique together with confidence. I love local thrift stores, but I’m also a lover of handmade. Small shops need and deserve all the support! There are too many to name just a few, but I always tag them on my Instagram for anyone interested in where I shop.
A: What have you found to be your biggest challenge when it comes to motherhood?
H: Balance, balance, balance!
A: And the biggest reward?
H: Getting to love my girls for all of my life and to be shown that same love in return.
A: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
H: Anywhere in Scandinavia!
A: What makes you the happiest in this world?
H: Of course I’m easily happiest at home and for all the reasons you could probably guess. But there is also nothing quite like the feeling of when I can be of help to somebody else.
A: How can people connect with you and find out more about you?
H: I am best reached on Instagram (@daughtersandthings), my personal Facebook www.facebook.com/hellodaintydoll and through my email daughtersandthings@gmail.com. Let’s be real, DMs and PMs get lost quick around here.
]]>What made you decide to come up with this idea of capturing little adventures with your little girl and sharing them with the world?
E: There are several reasons I decided to document moments shared with my daughter, I wanted to create a modern day album for my her to look back on in years to come. I have a great love of nature and the outdoors and hope that by capturing these adventures she will also develop that same love.
A: What inspires you the most when creating the gorgeous images we see on your instagram feed?
E: I have always had a great love of the arts and come from an artistic background. For as long as I can remember I have always been inspired by the beauty that surrounds us in nature and of course then came my daughter who became my greatest inspiration of all.
A: Many of the photos in your feed are monochromatic. How did this mood develop and why do you think you chose this style?
E: This is a very interesting question as I didn’t consider my colour pallet until much later in my journey. However I have always been drawn to moody tones and that could perhaps come from my love of film. I often try and add colour to my gallery however those images often end up on the cutting room floor so to speak.
A: I think we can all guess, but I'd love to know why you chose the name @chasing_ella for your Instagram account
E:This question is an easy one to answer I am constantly chasing her. She’s a very energetic fast paced little person that doesn’t often stop for long there is no planning our photo shoots it’s usually just me clicking on the run.
A: Ella always looks super chic! Where do you usually shop for her clothes?
E:Oh gosh Ella’s wardrobe, first and foremost I am very big on ethically produced clothing I love classic styles and am a huge fan of handmade clothing. I work with some wonderful brands in collaboration and rarely go into a store to buy her clothing these days.
A: I’m sure that a lot of mums would find your life in photographs incredibly beautiful and inspiring? What is living beautifully to you?
E: Living beautifully to me personally is to be present and mindful to support love and listen to the people around you. It’s probably pretty obvious that I am a bit of a deep thinker if my words had the ability to lift others than that is the greatest reward for me.
A: How many are you in your family Eleisha?
E: My little family consists of just the 3 of us. Ella is an only child. I had her in my 40’s and unfortunately there is not much hope for more. I am a twin so that has always been quite difficult for me however I am so grateful to have her and focussed on providing an incredible life for her.
A: It looks like you and Ella enjoy lots of adventures together? Do you have a favourite photo capture of such an adventure you can share with us?
E: We love going on outdoor adventures most days although I do try and limit taking the camera as I feel I miss so much when your behind the lens. Some of my favourite photos are the everyday captures of her being silly and just being a child having fun. I have so many favourite photos of her it would be impossible to choose just one.
A: Your Instagram feed features a lot of beautiful photographs of horses. Do horses hold a special place in your heart?
E: I feel that perhaps I was horse in a past life I adore these animals so much. I find them to be so graceful and so gentle I could definitely start a separate account just for my horse photographs.
A: You and your little girl sometimes wear same dresses in the same colour. Whose idea is this? And who chooses the colour for the day?
E: When someone first mentioned the idea of matching my clothing to my daughter I found it quite absurd. But then I am not certain how it happened it just did. I secretly love it now, and if we are not wearing matching outfits we are definitely colour coordinated. At the moment I choose however that I am sure will change in the future.
A:What’s your little girl’s favourite activity?
E: Ella is obsessed with going to the park she would stay on the swing for hours if your arms would allow it and sings “going up high into the sky” at the top of her voice. She also loves the beach which is so perfect as both my partner and I do to.
A: Your favourite song?
E: Oh my favourite song that’s a hard one music is such a huge part of my life. At the moment I am completely in love with London Grammars new album and “the truth is a beautiful thing” would have to be one of my most favourite songs.
A:If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
E:If I could live anywhere in the world it would be Japan not only because my twin lives there but it is a spectacular part of the world. I love their culture the scenery and I have to say their food is amazing I could definitely live on a Japanese diet.
]]>A: Who is in your family?
A.B: Anthony (husband) - sign writer and airbrush artist, Finn 7 and Amira 21 months
A: How do you like to spend your days and what is your main occupation?
A.B: It's just Amira and I during the day, Finn is at school. We both love the beach so I try to get over to the Mount beach at least once a week. I'm big on coffee so if I'm not grabbing my fix at Starbucks I'll catch up with a friend for coffee at a cafe. I also try to get to the gym a couple of times a week and I've just started taking Amira to Tiny Bots on a Friday which is similar to Mainly Music. I am a Graphic Designer/Artist but currently making the most of Family life as a full-time mother.
A: What 3 words best describe your family and home life?
A.B: Busy, creative, Loving.
A: How do you like to style your kids and what are some of your most favourite pieces for them?
A.B: I love children's fashion. I tend to style Finn in monochrome, which he loves also. My favourite brands for Finn are Pop Factory and Band of Boys - both NZ brands, the quality is amazing and I'm all about quality over quantity! Amira is so much fun to dress. I love her in blush/dirty pinks and mustard. My favourite brands for her are Hubble and Duke and Rylee and Cru and if I had to pick one piece it would be the Hubble and Duke dusty pink romper!
A: Your kids always look super stylish. What influences their unique style and is where do you find your inspiration when creating it for them?
A.B: I get a lot of inspiration from Instagram. I follow a number of clothing brands, boutique stores and other Mothers like myself who enjoy styling their homes and children's fashion. I've always loved fashion and styling as young as I can remember and I enjoy mix and matching outfits and brands to create my own individual style.
A: Do you have any tips for other mothers out there raising little ones on how they can live more beautifully amongst the chaos?
A.B: I think finding what you love doing and making time to do it. For me it's being creative. Juggling family life and work commitments can be stressful so its important as a mother to make time for yourself. It might mean baking or going for a run - whatever it is that you love and fills your tank - make time and do it!
A: Are there any unique or special activities that you like to do together with your kids?
A.B: Both my children love the beach and the best part is - it's free! In the weekends we'll take them there or to the park. My son also enjoys fishing or eeling with my husband.
A: How do you like to decorate your home and are there any favourite places where you like to shop?
A.B: I love modern/nordic styling when it comes to decorating my home. There are two lovely homeware and lifestyle shops I love - Paper plane store and Flux Boutique, both in Mount Maunganui. I have ordered a lot of products for styling my children's rooms online. We have some beautiful online stores here in New Zealand: Little Co, Little Whimsy, Concrete Blush, Dapper Mr Bear and Beaumondebabe to name a few of my favs. I'm often changing things up. I'm in my happy place when I get creative.
A: What do you love the most about living in Tauranga, New Zealand?
A.B: The sunshine and the beach! Tauranga often has the national high for the most sunshine hours and who doesn't love sunshine?
A: What makes you the happiest in this world?
A.B: Chocolate. Haha and my family of course! I'm so fortunate to be able to be a full-time mother at home with my children. Those early years go by so fast. I love spending time with them and making memories.
A: How can people connect with you and find out more about you?
A.B:You can connect with me on Instagram: @amiebrodie
]]>A: Who is in your family?
A.P: I am married to my college sweetheart and we are about to celebrate our 7th year of marriage! In 2012 we welcomed our first daughter Norah, than another, Charlotte, in 2014, than another, Ada, in 2016 and now we’re due with our 4th baby in October!! We don’t know the gender yet, but… I’m kind of rooting for one more girl: D Either way, we’re so excited!!!
A: Super exciting, congratulations! How do you like to spend your days and what is your main occupation?
A.P: I love being able to be home with my little ladies during the day. Dance parties, crafting, baking, dress up, playing all things girly really! We’re currently educating them from home and I am absolutely loving it! I recently finished my Masters in Counseling and finished all my requirements needed to take my licensing exam to be a Licensed Professional Counselor. I really enjoy being able to help others through the art of Counseling! Our plan after Licensure is for me to continue staying home and then working around that schedule and I am so very thankful to get to do a healthy mix of what I love!
A: How would you define your personal style?
A.P: My personal style? Is tired a style? I like simple and easy. Having a house full of little people means not a lot of time to maybe get as fancy as I would like. Dry shampoo is now a necessity in my life :D I try to stick with a few simple staples. I have been pregnant and/or breastfeeding straight since 2011 so I try to dress comfortable and in clothing that has easy leche access and can be worn with a fluctuating waist line. My wardrobe is pretty much made up of skinny jeans, leggings, ankle boots, boyfriend tees, sweaters and cardigans. My make up & hair routine is simple and I try to wear something that can be worked in, played in and spit up on… I would live in a robe if I could though!
A: How do you like to style your girls and what are some of your most favourite pieces for them?
A.P: I love dressing the in well-made, quality pieces, especially dresses. They love dresses and pinafores and I would dress them like this everyday if I could. Most of their clothing comes form Instagram shops. Thelittledesignco, Pinenanfhoneyhandmade, NellieQuats, EmiesRoom, CarlyMeganClothing, CanvasHouseDesign, PetiteCoo, Fin&Vince, Shoptherabbitandfern, JamesVincentDesignCo, AliceandAmes, RedRoverKids, SwellsandSolis, MilouandPilou, TheLittleSpoons, and there are so many more. I love knowing that their clothing was made with love and care by someone who put a lot of intention into the piece. They hold up so well and are darling! I dress my babies in mainly cotton pieces, rompers and bonnets galore :D
A: Your girls always look adorable. What influences their unique style and is where do you find your inspiration when creating it for them?
A.P: Thank you for the compliment. Honestly, my two oldest pick out their clothes. If I find a shop we like, I’ll let them choose and I’m always impressed with their style. I joke that they’re cooler than I’ll ever be…but it’s true. They dress themselves and it’s so fun watching their styles and personalities flourish! For my littlest, I like simple, sweet and cozy. A romper, a bonnet, some tights or knee socks and some little t-straps or moccasins and she’s good to go! Probably my biggest concern about having a boy is how will I dress him? :)
A: Do you have any tips on how to make dressing your toddler stress-free? Or are you kids quite easy going when it comes to dressing them?
A.P: I feel really lucky in that I can think of less than a handful of times that I‘ve had to ask them to wear something else and it’s usually because something no longer fit or was too big. Most of their clothing is stuff they picked out themselves and so they are usually happy to wear something I suggest and I am usually happy with what they pick out or suggest. They share a lot of clothing now and so there are the occasional arguments over who’s going to wear what, but other than that I think let your kids be themselves!
I’s really fun! Sometimes I’ll be like, “don’t you want to wear this?” and if they say no than I give them a few other options to choose from. Toddlers like having choices so I have found if I give them the option of a few things they will most likely choose one of them. If I could choose they would be in soft neutrals every day but I am learning to accept that if they want hot pink covered in glitter, they're at least going to get hot pink! Oh, and they love matching lately. They call it being “matchy matchy” so I try to find pieces of clothing that compliment each other so they’re not identical but similar and then they're usually really excited!
A: How do you like to decorate your home and are there any favourite places where you like to shop?
A.P: I am so cheap when it comes to decorating :D My husband is a former high-school art teacher and graphic designer and we love making our décor. Most of our tables, benches and art is homemade. I love TheBirthPoster and we currently have 3 of these and will add another when baby #4 arrives! LachlanandLenny is another shop that does watercolor family portraits and I like displaying fun pieces like this. We also enjoy framing or simply hanging our daughter's art from vintage wooden hangers. Cheap and/or free and so fun to display their pieces throughout the house! Our style is a little bit boho, modern and pretty eclectic. White walls, plants and baskets in every room is kind of what I like best! A few pretty throws, decorative pillows, pretty wooden hangers to display functional items in a pretty fashion and baskets!
I could go on and on about baskets! They’re the perfect trick for making your house appear clean and organized. I have bolga baskets and baskets of various kinds placed all over the house. I keep diapers, wipes and toys in them so I’m never far from the things we might want or need but also it keeps the house from appearing cluttered. PlumandSparrow, Mnimalist_shop, fair trade stores, thrift stores and Amazon are where our baskets are from. If you’re a mom with toddlers or babies, I highly recommend storing all the little things in pretty baskets! Bows, brushes, teethers, toys, blankets, blocks, baby dolls, essential oils…baskets, baskets, baskets!
A: I'm a huge fan of baskets myself. So versatile and beautiful at the same time. What do you love the most about living in Kansas?
A.P: I like our community of friends and the size of our community. Salina is not my favorite place I have lived but it is just the right size that I can meet lots of new people but also see someone I know almost anywhere I go. I loved how in college I knew so many people wherever I went. I felt so connected and safe and I feel that here. If I go to Target or thrifting, out for coffee or out to eat, there will be someone we know and that gives me a sense of security that we are cared for and we have people to care for wherever we go.
As a parent, it is a very special feeling to know that there are lots of people who truly love your children and family surrounding us. That saying ‘it takes a village’ is really true and I am very thankful for the village we have here! And if my family is happy here, than I am happy here! We have a lot of friends all over the map and I am so thankful that technology allows us to connect with them in so many ways no matter where we live!
A: What makes you the happiest in this world?
A.P: Being with my family. It maybe sounds cliché or cheesy maybe but nothing makes me as happy as seeing my girls play together, wrestle or sing with their daddy - he’s an awesome musician - having dance parties, snuggling in bed, reading together, watching movies, making meals together, learning together, going out together, just all of it! We recently got a minivan and I love it so much. I never would have imagined the words, 'I love my minivan' being in my vocabulary but I do! We just planned our first family road trip and I’m so excited! You would have thought we brought the girls to Disney World when we showed them the van. My husband’s and daughter’s joy Is probably what brings me the most happiness! Their joy is my joy!
A: Love it! How can people connect with you and find out more about you?
A.P: You can find me on Instagram @amandapahls or at my blog amandapahls.com. I am trying to blog more but sometimes struggle making time for it.
]]>AJ: Thank you so much for taking the time to do this feature Alexa. I’m so thrilled to do this interview with you and I can’t wait to for our readers to get to know you more. Tell us, who’s in your family.
A: We are a new family of five! My three kids; Sam (5 1/2 Years), Holly (2 1/2 Years) and Ezra (3 Months) my Husband Ben and myself; Alexa. (Plus two dogs, a cat and a rabbit).
AJ: We met on Instagram and I must say that your feed is absolutely amazing! When did you get started with sharing your story and what do you enjoy the most about it?
A: I started posting on my personal Instagram account last year - I must admit it was purely so I could use it as a port to advertise my brand but I quickly got swept into the addictiveness of photography and I have met some amazing mamas from all over the world. Instagram has become my creative output and something I do purely for me - I am enjoying learning how to use my camera and I love sharing my images.
AJ: You capture such great moments. Any photography tips you can give us to help us get beautiful shots like yours?
A: Hide in the corner of the room and just observe every day moments. My kids won't pose for me (even if I try to encourage them haha) so when they are playing or being snugly, i run for the camera so I can sneak a few snaps.
AJ: Your kids are just beautiful and the way you style them is super adorable. What are your favourite pieces for them?
A: I don't think I have any favourite pieces as such but I LOVE natural fibres and neutral, muted colours. I try to buy organic and/or from small companies and I generally pick simple, easy to play in items. Kids' clothing needs room to move and have flexibility for running, jumping and comfortable enough for the odd, sporadic nap.
AJ: Does your daughter have any favourites when it comes to items of clothing or accessories?
A: Holly would prefer to be nude... shirtless at least haha.
AJ: What three words best describe your family life?
A: Loud, crazy and messy (in the best way possible).
AJ: What have you found to be your biggest challenge when it comes to motherhood?
A: Patience. Oh the patience that is needed is epic! This question took a wee while to come up with an answer, there are so many challenges with being a mama but I think patience is the one that I have to be really conscious about; patience with the sleepless nights and days with Ezra; patience with the boundary pushing and sass with Holly; patience with the sibling rivalry and big feelings from Sam. They're amazing kids and deserve my patience with each developmental stage.
AJ: And the biggest reward?
A: Seeing my babies grow into their big personalities. They're such cool kids and have incredible characters - I love watching them change and learning what their interests are with each stage.
AJ: How do you like to spend your days?
A: I'm a real home body, I love being in my own environment. I do also work from home, my little business is called Buck and Baa and it keeps me very busy in between lego building and nappy changes.
AJ: You mentioned ‘living honestly’ in your Instagram bio. Tell us more.
A: It's basically about living my life in a way that's honest to myself and who I am as a person, my interests, beliefs and morals. I want to look back on my life and have no regrets about the person I was and how I raised my children. I would also like them to have the same moral integrity so the best way to teach them is to show them!
AJ: What does living ‘beautifully’ mean to you and how do you manage to do it while raising little ones?
A: It's definitely not my house haha, we're in the middle of some in-depth renovations and let's just say; it's not beautiful haha but I would translate 'living beautifully' as a parallel to living honestly. Making beautiful family memories together, being happy on the inside and making sure my children are happy too.
AJ: What do you like the most about living in a small town in NZ?
A: We've just moved here when Ezra was two weeks old, it's quiet and the air is fresh! The folks here are really friendly too, in the first couple of weeks since we moved in we had neighbours introducing themselves and one gentleman bought a bunch of fresh flowers from his garden. There's a real sense of community and it's such a pretty town. We live on a tree lined road and it's fun to see the odd tractor and farm animals go past on trailers.
]]>This inspirational kiwi mum proves that raising little ones can totally be stylish. With over 15,000 followers on Instagram Kellie Pardoe is the Kiwi mum to watch - And be totally inspired by! A super cool mum of two makes infuses style into everything that she does and surrounds herself with - Everything from styling her kiddies in the most adorable outfits to decorating her home in a totally chic (and may I say immaculate!) way. But, as beautiful as life can be being a mum of little ones also means doing kids duties, dealing with tantrum, and being self-employed as a part time professional picker-upper. Kellie lets us into her world and shares with us how she does life, sharing her tips on style and living beautifully.
]]>A: Who is in your family?
K: Myself, my husband Anthony, Jackson (5) and Olivia (2)
A: What 3 words best describe your family and home life?
K: Busy, fun, noisy.
A: How do you like to spend your days and what is your main occupation?
K: I'm a full time mum. I have been out of the workforce since having Jackson but previously I worked in account management for a large IT / Telecommunications company.
A: How would you define your personal style?
K: Simple, chic, feminine. I love ethically made products where possible and natural fabrics too.
A: How do you like to style your kids and what are some of your most favourite pieces for them?
K: Jackson usually dresses in urban street wear. Jean shorts and t-shirts. A lot of black and white. My fave brands for him are Pop Factory Shop, Rock your Kid, Hello Stranger, Radicool kids. There are a lot of fab NZ brands for boys which is great. Olivia is right into feminine / vintage styles, lots of rompers, bloomes, blouses etc. Often accessorised by long socks and a bow in her hair. She has a lot of natural colours and dusky pink. My fave brands for her are Hubble & Duke, Rylee & Cru and Karibou Kids.
A: Your kids always look super stylish. What influences their unique style and is where do you find your inspiration when creating it for them?
K: Thank you! Most of the influence comes from me if I'm honest. Although Jackson is pretty set in his ways now on what he likes to wear. I get inspo from Instagram and just following the brands I love. There are so many gorgeous options for kids out there now!
A: How do you like to decorate your home and are there any favourite places where you like to shop?
K: It's very simple, Scandi style. There is a lot of white, some grey, black and also natural wood. Most of my big furniture items are from freedom furniture. Accessories often come from Nood, Citta and Norsu Interiors.
A: Do you have any tips for other mothers out there raising little ones on how they can live more beautifully amongst the chaos?
K: Make sure you take time to yourself, even if it's just a quiet cuppa or a bubble bath. My fave things to do are spend time with my girlfriends, go for a run or pamper myself with a bath or massage, time dependent of course!
A: What do you love the most about living in Auckland, NZ?
K: I love that we are surrounded by water, there are so many beautiful beaches on our doorstep. The native bush, parks and reserves. The cafes and restaurants which we frequent often. And the people, they are mostly really friendly.
A: What makes you the happiest in this world?
K: I'm happiest when I'm somewhere warm and sunny with my family. I also feel pretty good when I'm with my girlfriends or in the kitchen baking.
A: How can people connect with you and find out more about you?
K: I'd love them to follow our journey on Instagram, username @kellie.pardoe, that's where all the fun happens!
]]>When it comes to choosing a name for a newborn (or even unborn) baby girl things can get a bit complicated and even overwhelming especially for us creative mamas who are looking for something beautiful yet original.
Reading this article means you are all about nature and its blessings, you want to honour what mother Earth has to offer to humanity, you’re creative and like to express yourself. So your child would!
We know that the internet is bursting with various articles, controversial ideas and opinions which might make the decision-making process rather daunting. So we’ve come up with our top list of 11 beautifully-unique baby names inspired by mother nature that also happen to be trending in 2020.
Here are 11 of our fave sweet yet quirky names for that little new soul you can’t wait to meet (or perhaps already have!)
If still in doubt and the struggle is real, try a clever little quirky trick that works every time to help you choose - Asking a pendulum! This be be a crystal pendulum or just any pendant on a chain (or string) that you wear so it has your energy. If you are able to get your hands on a crystal pendulum we find that clear quartz or amethyst tends to work best.
If the pendulum moves from side-to-side the answer is NO
If the pendulum moves in a circular motion the answer is YES.
If the pendulum stays still or quivers the answer cannot be given at this stage. Ask again later when you are feeling completely calm and relaxed.
Repeat this sequence for all names and feel free to start the process again if all the names are a ‘No’. Remember to listen to your intuition and your inner wisdom and you will quickly know which name to choose.
]]>We browsed through our photo library to bring you some of our favourite little girls hairstyles that you can copy today. Feel free to experiment and play around with these adorable little hairstyles and in 4 weeks you will come out a pro, having a lot more fun with your girl's looks.
Try these quick and easy #karibougirl hairstyles we've picked out for you for even more bonding time with your girl. Now just put on Frozen and start practicing away. We promise that you'll love the results!
You know we have a passion for bows, we love them and have them a huge range - Everything from tiny linen bow clips to our signature jumbo organza Mia Bows. Two pigtails with two oversized statement bows is a perfect super easy hairstyle to try for an adorable look in an instant - A take on our Soviet Union childhood school days that is both unique and charming.
If your little girl has long hair this cute 'undone' done up hairstyle style requiring minimum effort and time, but looks gorgeous and goes well with any outfit. Simply gather hair into a ponytail on the crown of her head and then twist and pin with bobby pins, a hair tie, or any clips you can really that you manage to find around the house.
We must admit long hair can be hard to manage so why don’t you tame those sweet locks of hers by braiding them to the back and completing the look with a sweet cotton or linen bow. This look was featured in our Wildberry Forest collection on our model Nikita and has become a must-try look for all little darling with medium to long hair.
If your girl is going through that hard-to-manage toddler stage this look you can create even while she's on the go. Simply clip a part of her hair back and then finish off with a beautiful bow. Our jumbo organza Mia Bows are just perfect as they are lightweight and will really make you go "Aww!"
And if all the above hairstyles just seem way too easy do not give this adorable look a miss. First part the hair and plait back into two French braids at the top of the head. Then gather into two little buns and finish off the hairstyle by clipping in two sweet little bows. If you are like us and are not used to French braiding this one may take some practice (Simply Google a tutorial - You are sure to find hundreds!), but in the end it will be well worth it taking your hairstyling skills to the next level, so you can create all new gorgeous looks for your girl.
We have hundreds of beautiful Karibou products to give to New Zealand families in need, but we need your help!
Join us in the initiative to:
Although we do our very best to make sure that we only product top quality products, unfortunately it doesn’t always go this way and some products just don’t make the cut. It’s so sad to think that these not-so-perfect pieces may end up tragically going to waste.
So we thought, why not find a way to let these pieces go to families who really deserve them. Moreover, what if our customer were the givers?
And so the idea for the Karibou Kindness Project was born.
1. Make any purchase with us and receive a gift of Karibou product(s) to forward to a family that you feel could really use it right now.
2. Add a comment under the Checkout Page 'Shipping/Delivery Instructions' on the age range or size you'd prefer to receive (see image below on where to find this).
Please note that as product value varies greatly (anything from $10 to $100) the bigger the spend the larger the gift value.
Find out more about the project on our Facebook group 'Karibou Kindness Project'
https://www.facebook.com/groups/kariboukindnessproject Also please help us spread the word by sharing the group with your Facebook followers.
We are only opening this to New Zealand families for the time being, but hope to be able to extend it beyond NZ in the future.
Lots of love. xxx
Alyssa and the Karibou team
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A: How do you describe the way your little boys are with little miss Birdie?
D: My boys honestly blow me away! They are so rough with each other..I mean ROUGH..but with their sister they are the complete opposite! The way they softly speak to her and look at her truly melts our hearts, they just adore their baby sister! They are very caring and protective of her..goodluck future boyfriends!!!
A: Birdie Valentine is such a beautiful and unique name, how did you come up with it?
D: Me and hubby had a deal from the day we got together..if ever we have kids he names the boys and me the girls..that worked out real well for me didn’t it?! Haha! Of corse we both had to be happy with the names tho and we were really struggling, everything I picked hubby didn’t like! A friend mentioned the name Birdie when I was asking around for suggestions, I hadn’t really heard it before apart from the singer Birdy and the character in a book we got our youngest son called ‘Dreamer’ is called Birdie. At first I didn’t really like it much and it didn’t make the list but as time went on and I kept hearing and seeing it pop up it grew on me and out of our list of names it was the only one that I kept being drawn to, there was something about it and I don’t know what..I knew in my heart that that had to be our little girls name! It took ALOT to convince hubby but now he loves her name and couldn’t imagine her with any other! Her middle name I came across on good old google when searching for middle names! Funnily enough and 100% unintentional all of our kids have place names! I had no idea up until recently that Cortez and Birdie are also place names!
A: What inspired you to share your little ones' memories and adventures on IG and on your blog?
D: I have always loved finding new/cool products that no one has seen before and when I had Brooklyn I was right in my element, I purchased all kinds of bottles and gadgets from the USA and used to share mini ‘reviews’ on my Facebook and soon discovered people were removing me as a friend haha!! I don’t remember how I came across Instagram and I didn’t really know how to use it either but I soon discovered a whole new world of new and unique products and a whole heap of people who where into the same kind of thing as me! I felt like I found a place where I belonged..a place where I felt excited to share cool things! I have always had a bit of a ‘thing’ for photography too which started back at high school with the old SLR cameras so Instagram is a place where I get to get a bit creative and have fun doing something that I enjoy!
A: Speaking of your blog, I just want to say, I love it! Please tell us more about it.
D: Oh thank you! I don’t consider myself a blogger, I just really wanted a place where I could write whatever I wanted, a place I could write more than what I can in a description on Instagram and always come back to it easily. I really enjoy writing posts but I hardly get time to them these days! It is something I really want to put more effort into in the near future tho!
A: How would you define your personal style?
D: I’d definitely say that the best way to describe my personal style is versatile. I hate conforming to a specific style because I’m always open to stepping out of my comfort zone and switching things up.
I do really love to dress up tho, 9 X out of 10 you’ll find me in heels and jeans and ALWAYS wearing a nude lippy! I make sure that I do a lil somethin’ somethin’ for myself every morning before my children wake up and that is putting makeup on and doing my hair (although the hair part has gone out of the window a bit lately!) I love waking up and starting the day feeling good about myself (and I do that for myself..no one else). When we become mums we give up so much, our wants and needs get placed on the backburner, it’s just how it goes, us Mama’s are always put everyone else first! So for me taking that little bit of time in the mornings before everyone wakes is super important!
A: How do you like to style your kids and what are some of your most favourite pieces for them?
D: Again I don’t really have a specific style that I dress my children in, if I like something I’ll get it! However with saying that I don’t really get to style my older two anymore- they are all about that rugby/sports wear life! I mostly dress Cortez in a classical style tho, I think he really suits it and I guess it takes me right back to my childhood, I was OBSESSED with the Victorian Era throughout primary school!
A: What does living ‘beautifully’ mean to you and how do you manage to do it while raising little ones?
D: To me living beautifully means many things, it means appreciating where you are right now in your life, counting your blessings and being thankful for everything you have. It means surrounding yourself with people who inspire, lift and encourage you and cutting off those who do the opposite! Even if they are family! There’s nothing worse than spending time with people who suck the life out of you, don’t do that to yourself! Living beautifully means giving love to everyone you meet in the form of kindness, understanding, tolerance, acceptance and generosity. Loving yourself for YOU, just as you are and letting go of all self judgement and criticism.
A: What have you found to be your biggest challenge when it comes to motherhood?
D: My biggest challenge was letting go of the ‘perfect mother myth’ you know- the pressure that your kids should always be happy, they should only ever eat things that are healthy, being a perfect housewife and making sure the house is ALWAYS spotless and so on... It took me a long time to accept that I will never be a perfect mother and that being a good enough Mum is enough!
A: And the biggest reward?
D: I’m getting teary eyed thinking about this now! The most rewarding thing is when my boys stop what they are doing and randomly say “Mum......I love you” and when Birdie’s face lights up when I enter the room! Every single day with my babies is rewarding!
A: What 3 words best describe your family and home life?
D: Loving, fun, laid-back
A: If you could time travel to 10 years back what do you want to tell your younger self?
D: Don’t EVER let the ignorant opinions of others EVER destroy your self confidence! Stop wishing away time.There will be a time, sooner than you know when you wish you could turn back the clock! Confidence not only attracts people, but opportunities and situations as well. KEEP WORKING AT IT AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!!!!
A: What makes you the happiest in this world?
D: My family. Waking up each morning and seeing my husband and children, knowing that we are in a really good place in our lives, we live in an amazing area, have a roof over our heads, food in our belly’s and smiles on our faces! And also I can’t forget all of the amazing friends in my life.
..What more could a girl ask for 💖
A: How can other #kariboumamas connect with you?
D: On Instagram @fromlondontobrooklyn and on Facebook From London To Brooklyn
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A: Who is in your family?
H: My partner in crime (and husband) Ben, we do just about everything together. My true best friend. We have our oldest daughter Rosalie who is the most compassionate 3 year old that I know. My sweet little strawberry who is basically a clone of her daddy. And our dark haired new wee babe Fern, she’s almost 2 months old. She’s such a feisty wiggle worm who already seems set in her ways and won’t let you forget it either.
A: How does Rosie like to spend time with her little sister Fern?
H: Rosie loves curling up to Fern, playing with her hair and telling her about all of her toys in great detail. She loves to be her mini mom too. Bringing diapers/wipes over, helping with actually changing her, telling me when it’s time to feed her, and putting her down for a nap
A: What do you enjoy most about raising two daughters?
H: I am appreciative that I get to raise daughters because I never had a sister, I missed out on that sisterly bond and have always wondered what it was like. I have two older brothers, so that was an experience like no other either, but I witness them even to this day still as great friends in life and I don’t have a sibling to go to in that same way. But I also love getting to raise kind girls who will eventually grow to become women and I need them to be strong in life, our world needs all the strong women. I have a huge desire to share with them in what ways to be kind, giving, AND strong.
A: How do you like to style your kids and what are some of your most favourite pieces for them?
H: I prefer neutrals and linens over anything, but I have a soft spot for muted colors and pretty prints too. I have these little woodland animals bloomers and a gauze tunic outfit for Fern that I’m dying for the day to come when she can fit into it. And I particularly love this one peplum grid top for Rosie, it goes well with any color bloomers and knee socks.
A: Do you have any tips for other mothers out there raising little ones on how they can live more beautifully amongst the occasional chaos?
H: Breathe slowly and deeply through that chaos because these are the moments we will all look back on with our children when they’re grown. We’ll look beyond those messes, the tantrums, the sibling fights. We’ll learn to laugh about those silly things because that’s not what really matters.
A: What does living ‘beautifully’ mean to you and how do you manage to do it while raising little ones?
H: Living beautifully is so subjective. For me though, it’s in all the details and remembering those things. It’s finding true satisfaction in not losing sight of the things I always loved doing even before I became a mom. Doing away with mom guilt and embracing self-care because that makes me better for my husband and my kids too. The way my views have changed over time as I stepped into motherhood. It’s the way my children look at me with gleaming, loving eyes. When I wake up motivated and ready to take on a new day. But it’s also necessary that I find beauty in being broken down and accepting hard days as part of my title as a mother.
A: What 3 words best describe your family and home life?
H: Warm. Humble. Inseparable.
A: How would you define your personal style?
H: A confused mixture.
A: How do you like to decorate your home and are there any favourite places where you like to shop?
H: I love to pair modern and antique together with confidence. I love local thrift stores, but I’m also a lover of handmade. Small shops need and deserve all the support! There are too many to name just a few, but I always tag them on my Instagram for anyone interested in where I shop.
A: What have you found to be your biggest challenge when it comes to motherhood?
H: Balance, balance, balance!
A: And the biggest reward?
H: Getting to love my girls for all of my life and to be shown that same love in return.
A: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
H: Anywhere in Scandinavia!
A: What makes you the happiest in this world?
H: Of course I’m easily happiest at home and for all the reasons you could probably guess. But there is also nothing quite like the feeling of when I can be of help to somebody else.
A: How can people connect with you and find out more about you?
H: I am best reached on Instagram (@daughtersandthings), my personal Facebook www.facebook.com/hellodaintydoll and through my email daughtersandthings@gmail.com. Let’s be real, DMs and PMs get lost quick around here.