8 Mother's Day Gift Ideas:: Blog Hop!

With Mother's Day just a breath away, I've been thinking of things I'd love to give to my Mum. Gifts with personality, spunk and style always resonate, so without further ado - let's do this thing!

1. Naomi Murrell 'Thrills' Token $75 (on sale): After a good friend gifted me a Naomi Murrell ring with a teeny tiny bell on it, I've pretty well become obsessed. Cute, quirky and totally of the moment (while having that certain enduring style that you could keep on wearing), it's fun to wear. I love this necklace, because at first glance it's a regular little pendant, but on closer inspection, it's all about the thrills. Sums me up.

2. Nancybird Lounge Gown - Woodland $149: Don't tell anyone, but I wouldn't wear this at home. I'd wear it out. All the time. It's beautiful, draped, long lines, the perfect palette, and the print - well it's pretty well my dream jacket to pair back with a pair of jeans and some oversized jewellery. 

3. Obus Starry Night Socks $12: I am a bit of a sick puppy when it comes to socks. In the latter years, I have become addicted. Because my feet are always cold. I love these cool Turkish made socks that have style. There'll be no more borrowing Matt's anymore! 

4. Jennifer Loiselle Love Heart Sweet Message earrings 25 pounds (guys, I don't know where the pound key is): I am a massive fan girl of an Aussie in the UK. Jennifer Loiselle creates witty, wonderful jewellery that makes my heart go boompity, boompity BOOM!

5. A Table In the Orchard by Michelle Crawford $35: If you have never visited Michelle's blog 'Hugo and Elsa' you haven't lived. Michelle is living my fantasy life. And now her first book is about to launch - I can pretty well be her. Or at least cook and eat like her. Failing that, I can indulge in the incredible photographs and dream. This is not just a cookbook. It's pure indulgence. 

6. Mr Kitly - Flax Line Organic Face Washer $24: I really like having my own face washer. I get a bit annoyed when someone else in the family uses it. Call me crazy (whatevs), I really love this one. And I'd love some beautiful handmade soap to go with it too. Yes please. 

7. Craft for the Soul - How to get the most out of your creative life by Pip Lincolne $29.45: These last few months I have been looking for a crafty outlet from my work and parenting life. To make something and feel like you have instant success, or the powers of creativity wielded in your fingertips. This book holds the key.  

8. Little Tienda Catalina dress $299: Fairtrade and handmade in Mexico, I can vouch for the Catalina dress' easy beauty. Lightweight cotton it feels fabulous on - and looks just as awesome, can be belted or worn loose. 

Want more Mother's Day inspiration? 
Be sure to check out: 
Bondville for loads of clever Australian ideas 
Ish and Chi for loads of style
To totally drool check out eat read love 

10 things to do these holidays

Holidays are still going strong (but not strong enough when they're nearly over - well a couple of weeks to go). Maybe you're flagging and you need some inspiration. Wave the white flag my friend, I have ideas to get you through. I do! 

1. Penguins of Madagascar: I know the audience is divided but both Matt and I loved this movie. And that's the main thing. Wink. Wink. Ok the kids loved it too - so it's a full house - adults and kids both rated it. And Benedict Cumberbatch is a voice in it. That's always a good thing. 

2. Uno wars: We lie in bed in the morning and play Uno. Endless rounds of it. And then we play it at night too. And pretty well we play it all day. And all afternoon. And just all the time. What's not to love?

3. Hide and seek in the park: We love going to a small park and playing good, old-fashioned hide and seek. Seriously it's so fun, gets the bodies moving, and the feeling of play can't be beat. Obviously I have older children, so if you've got smaller children - use your noggin and do this in a fenced space where you can keep an eye on them. But you already knew that.

4. Flip out: I'd heard so much about it, and I finally took the smalls to Flip Out this week. It's a massive warehouse space full of trampolines. I paid for an hour for each of the smalls - and they jumped until they could jump no more. But oh man, they were so, so happy. 

5. Art Gallery visit: There's a great pop art exhibition at the AGNSW at the moment. I wanted to see it, and Matt and I thought the bright colours and content would appeal to the smalls, so we met up with my sister and niece and made a day out of it. 

6. Go Gramping! We were lucky enough to go gramping recently on Cockatoo Island as guests of Aeroguard. What is gramping? Camping with grandparents! It's a great way to spend time together, and help bonds grow. We loved this experience - the kids hadn't been camping before (I know, I know!) - and there's a recent study that shows there's a growing concern about development of life skills with 42% of Aussie parents believing their children are missing out on important life lessons by not spending enough time with grandparents, this is a great fix! We explored the island, BBQ'ed for breakfast, lunch and dinner, watched the boats (and world go by) and slept side by side in tents. It was so much fun and good for the soul. 

7. Roadtrip: If you can't go on a holiday - go on a road trip. We've been exploring up at Palm Beach (HELLO HEAVENLY HAMBURGERS!),  but it doesn't have to be anywhere fancy. Drive to another suburb or a small town and go exploring! 

8. Playdates: Honestly one of the best things to do with kids is organising a play date. They're happy. You're happy. The whole world is happy. 

9. Museums: Being a tourist in your own town is a good thing to do. Check out the museums, go look at the botanic gardens, it can create awesome conversations and memorable days out with your smalls. 

10. Drawing wars: We sit at the dining table with huge sheets of paper and draw. And collaborate. And we spend long periods of time doing this together. It's fun to do after dinner too - it can last for as long or as little as you like, and requires very little drawing skill. Seriously - I am proof of this! 

Got any extra inspiration to get everyone through the holidays?

Christmas Gift Guide: For Teenage Boys

Teenagers. Ah teenagers. So angsty. So cool. 

I remember being a teenager so well. And then I cringe. 

But let's not talk about me wearing oversized Keppers and Malcolm X t-shirts. No. Let's press on and talk about my ideas for Christmas gift giving for teenagers. Then we can all celebrate something. Lolz. 

Without further ado. YOLO. 

1. DIY Synth Kit X Technology Will Save Us from Third Drawer Down $45: Make your own electro musical instruments with this cool kit that requires no soldering required. This could keep them busy for hours. 

2. Folding Crate from The SuperCool $5: Available in a whole range of colours, these would make a cool gift to get your teenager to tidy their room (but pretend it's on their terms). You could pop a few goodies in there, and organisation could soon be the new nirvana. Just no one tell Kurt I said that. 

3. Pizza pillowcase from Kip & Co $24.50: As someone that was once a teenager, I can tell you, sleep is pretty good. And so is pizza. So why not combine these two great loves into one dreamy reality?

4. RVCA Chine 5 Panel Cap from Surfstitch $39.95: They'll look cool - and have some sun protection. 

5. Tre table lamp from Freedom $139: Give the gift of good lighting! Whether it's on a desk or a bedside, I really, really love this lamp (so much so that I own two!). It's a really practical task lamp, that oozes style. 

6. Clear Start Trial set from Dermalogica $35: I once gave some of this to my nephews and they really loved it. Remember battling your skin woes when you were a teenager? Well this is the stuff that dreams are made of. 

7. Voice and Accents workshop at the Australian Theatre for Young People $160: Get them mixing with some fresh peeps, give them a boost of confidence and arm them with some new skills to have fun! 

8. Movie Gift Card from Event Cinemas $25: Who doesn't love going to see a movie on the big screen? 

9. Everlast Prime Mantis Boxing Focus Pads from Rebel $80: Encourage them to get fit and get all their frustrations out with some swift manoeuvres and a great energy outlet. 

10. Pineapple lamp from Lark $195: Big ticket item, but heck, it packs a punch (but don't add this to the punch). Gifting pieces for their bedroom can get them in there and tidying up before you can even pour yourself a pina colada. 


Want more ideas? 

What about some daily fragrance - you could make a whole gift pack up! (My sister did this once and the boys LOVED it - complete with a toiletries bag to hold everything.)

Tickets to a game? Sydney Kings are in their high season. Get court side together. 

Vouchers are always good - for music, books, or clothes. You can never fail. 

Christmas Wishlist Blog Hop: For Her

I hate to freak you out. But I will anyway. There are only 42 days until Christmas. I hate to sound like an old timer. But I will anyway. Where did this year go?

Steph from Bondville asked me to create a wish list, and of course - I was in! Gift giving is one of my favourite things, I love coming up with the perfect gift for someone. It feels good to give. Plus each one of these are Australian designed or made. Winning! 

I've started list making. Lists are my best friends when it comes to this crazy time of the year. 

For her - whether she's your sister, your bestie, or your mum (or me, hey, I would be so happy to find any of these goodies under the tree!), these gifts are for someone who has an appreciation for colour, print, or sleeping. 

Clockwise from top left: 

Nancybird Linen Long Scarf - Blue Floral $75: I've got more than a bit of a crush on this print.

Wolley ''You're Tops" print $30: Tell your BFF she's tops. She probably thinks you are too. No you are. No you are. 

Lazybones Frankie PJ Set in Coral Bay $89: Sleep is pretty rad. And these pjs are even radder. 

Jasmine Dowling "Bonne Nuit" pillow slip from The Club of Odd Volumes $49: Please see above.

Laikonik Paint Dot design - set of 2 linen tea towels $49: I love beautiful tea towels. It turns a mundane task into a work of art. Almost. 

Obus Ziggle Spot Sock $12: I'm pretty addicted to these cool quirky socks. Get them while they're hot.

Want more? Oh man. I have SO MUCH MORE! 

Clockwise from top left: 

Elodie 'Colour' bangle no 210 $187: High on my wish list - COME ON SANTA BABY!

The Flower Drum Darling Dahlia tee $49: Best tee ever.

Jadewood X Natashya Manfield Opheya Flora earrings from Natashya Manfield (on sale) $75: The perfect statement earring.

Queen of Hearts Vase Stand by Lovestar from The Third Row $19.95: I love these teeny sized vases. Perfect for three single stems, or some wee little blooms. 

Martha Jean Shapes Ring $29: When I wear something fancy on my hands, I like to wave my hands around. This is totally what I would be doing if I had this ring.

Susan Simonini set of 4 ceramic bowls $140: We could eat red beans and rice in these every day and I still wouldn't complain.

****
But that's not all the Christmas inspiration to have. Some of my beautiful, awesome blogging compadres have compiled their Christmas gift guides too. 

Click over now and drool. And then kickstart your own Christmas gift lists. Go on! 

the red thread

Bondville

Honey and Fizz

Concrete & Honey

Checks and Spots

Sunday Collector

eat read love

Yo Mama! An Interview with Tracey Hocking of Lazybones

Phew! I had to have some time off post Frocktober because I was completely exhaustipated*. Really dog tired!  Exhausted but elated. But I'm back.

And I can't imagine a better way to come back, than with a brand new Yo Mama! This week I'm chatting with Tracey Hocking, the head designer behind one of my long time loves - Lazybones. 

I first bought a beautiful cotton vintage-inspired nightie from Lazybones about 10 years ago, that I wore religiously. I'm not even really a nightie kind of girl, but there was something different about this one, and it was made from the softest cotton. I still have it folded neatly away for when Tiny is bigger. 

It was from this beloved nightie that my love for the Australian label grew. Whenever I've been around Byron, I've always ducked my head in to see what's new with Lazybones, so today's chat is pretty exciting for me!

*****

PMM: You have a teenage son (tricky in itself!). How do you manage the whole parenting/working ratio?

TH: This is an ongoing source of angst for me.  However the teenage years are kind of great because now I am So Embarrassing apparently, I can feel a bit better if I am not always here.  But could not do it without my amazing wonderful husband who does so much for our son.

Do you have any tips for nailing it? Or even sort of nailing it?

Oh dear.  Not sure I can give any tips for nailing it but find that having something to look forward to makes all the difference for all of us.  Holidays to look forward to make those long school terms not seem as bad.

Oh and disconnecting the internet at bedtime…..

Part of the allure of Lazybones is the vintage vibe. Where do you seek inspiration? 

I sometimes wonder what I did before Pinterest…  And the whole internet in general.  An incredible wealth of ideas and images are available to us so readily.  I find the images, blogs and ideas  intoxicating and endlessly inspiring.  We use Pinterest a lot in our design team.  We build boards that expand on our initial concepts for each range. Each of us add to the board so that we get a real sense of where we want to go with a particular item.  

This is even extending to the creative people we work with in other countries now which is really exciting.  And specifically I love all eras from the 20s to the 60s and spend way too many hours looking at all manner of interesting things.

What is the best part of being the designer at Lazybones?

I am the head designer of a small team of wonderful, creative, generous, clever people.  That is the best bit.  Working with them.

And is there a downside?

No.  Oh, well only the fact that I cannot afford to make all the wonderful products we dream up….

Does your son have creative bones too?

Yes he does although he wanted me to say that he excels in creative excuses.

If you had to choose five words that described you - what would they be?

Focused, messy, creative, resilient, dreamer.

Tea or coffee?

Coffee definitely.

How do you take care of yourself?

I walk every morning with my dogs on a quest to spot our resident platypuses.  Lots of stretching and fast walking.

What's coming up next for Tracey?

OMG.  Setting up a shop in LA.  Who would have thought that would be a lot of work?  And be so complex?

***

You can take a look at Lazybones collection here. 

Follow Lazybones (and their LA adventures) on Instagram. 

Check out Lazybones on Facebook. 

Go behind the scenes with the blog.

Take a look at the Pinterest inspiration here. 

Tweet the Lazybones team here.  

This is the 11th interview in my Yo Mama! series. Interviews with creative working mamas. Look out for them weekly. 
* Exhaustipated was a word an ex-colleague of mine used to use - when she was super tired. I never had the heart to tell her it wasn't a real word. 

Gift Guide:: Kris Kringle (Under $30)

We all have gifting challenges where we need to beat the budget, and get a gift for someone.

I for one, despite being wildly, wildly funny, hate gimmicky Christmas gifts. Controversial, I know, but I'd rather you gave that money to a charity rather than frittering your cash away on junk.

But here I've compiled 10 gifts for under $30. BAM! Let's go.

1. Stila New Limited Edition Portrait of a Perfect Blush Palette from Mecca Cosmetica $20 - I love these cute little palettes. In fact, I like them so much I already gifted one. Do it. You won't be sorry.

2. Hexagon Stud Earrings from Elk $30 - A little splash of colour on the lobes never did anyone any harm. And they're YELLOW! HELLO!

3. Monkey Scrub Licorice Soap from Gorman $12 - Good enough to eat? I don't know anyone that wouldn't want to slather this all over their body. Well maybe I do. But we won't talk about them.

4. Mi Goals Book - Kraft from Little Paper Lane $21 - Kick start someone else's goal factory - give them this book to help them document their goal (keeping) journal. 

5. The Badass Club tea towel from The Flower Drum $20 - I hate washing up. Which is why I need awesome tea towels. This one's killer. 

6. Key Ring in Spice from Nancybird $29 - I love a beautiful key ring. And this one is pretty gorgeous in that spicy turmeric-esque leather. 

7. DBROS Portable Vase - set of 2 from Mr Kitly $20 - Japanese-designed flat-pack vases that become stable vases when filled with water. Be. Still. My. Beating. Heart. 

8. Pacifica Vegan Jumbo Colour Quench Lip Tint from Nourished Life $12.95 - Made from luscious avocado and coconut oils, these chunky tints look so pretty, like a paint palette. Yep. SIgn me up.

9. Seeds from Oxfam Unwrapped $10 - Whether your friend's name is Jack - or not, if in doubt, give seeds. Or something from Oxfam Unwrapped. Anything is going to be a winner.

10. Vanilla & Orange Peel Hand Cream from Grown Alchemist $24.95 - The best smelling, non-greasy, awesome hand cream you could ever meet. Give it to someone awesome and share the love. 

Gift Guide:: For Little Boys

Traditionally, boys are difficult to buy for. Well men are. Girls and women? So easy. If you're having trouble with some gift buying, maybe you can glean some inspiration here? 


1. Aqua Jet from Kidstuff $19.99 - Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a water fight, would it. Well unless you live on the flip side of the world, and in which case - this Christmas gift guide is not for you.

2. Luke & Leia t-shirt from Well Spotted $35 - These are - without doubt - THE best t-shirts my children have ever worn. They are completely locally made, with the wittiest words, they fit beautifully, and they wear amazingly well. You can pass these on for a few kids and still have an awesome t-shirt. Promise.

3. Areaware Cubebot Medium from Kido Store $39.95 - I love these. My kids love these. They're super cute.

4. Snurk Astronaut Quilt cover set from Talo Interiors $159 - Um hello? Dreams made. And it will make my kids make their bed. Problem solved. 

5. Classic Whoopee Cushion from Lark $9.95 - PFFT! I love a good whoopee cushion gag. 
6. Skylanders Swap Force Starter Pack from JB Hi-Fi $79 - In case you've been living under a rock for the past few months (lucky you) these are the toy de jour. Gift one of these and you're in the good books. Yes, your kids know if you've been naughty or nice.

7. Minti Mexi Triangles Bondi Boardies from Little Pinwheel $59.95 - Bright, graphic and awesome - no boy can get through summer without a cool pair of boardies.

8. Hand Art Tattoo Pens from Third Drawer Down $10 - Remember being small and getting in trouble for drawing on your hand? Hey! Lighten up mum! These are made for drawing on little hands. It is the holiday season, after all. 

9. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien from Berkelouw Books $34.95 - The Doctor really wanted to read The Hobbit, got a little way in, but I think was turned off by a) the sheer size and b) lack of pictures. I found this hardcover version and can't wait to give it to him on Christmas day so we can read it together.

10. Speedo Sea Squad Spinning Dive Toys from Rebel Sport $18.75 - Encourage the active this summer. These are fun and get your small swimming with play at the heart of it! 

Gift Guide:: For The Papas

Men. Science says they're the most difficult people to buy for. Ok I maybe made that up, but it's true. Ask anyone. Men. What do you get them? Women? Easy. Men? No. Not easy.

Here are 10 ideas to get you on the track to gift giving utopia. Well here's hoping. But men. They're traditionally unpredictable creatures. Or are they? I don't jolly well know.


1. Stripe Pocket Detail t-shirt from Country Road $49.95 - You can't fail a classic striped tee. And if he doesn't like it, it's the perfect addition to your wardrobe. Are you picking up what I'm putting down?
2. Moroccan Neroli Shaving Duet from Aesop $80 - This smells SO. DAMN. GOOD. And I hear from a reliable source that it's the bee's knees too. 
3. Men's Original Hobe from Hobes $159 - Matt has these. Matt loves these. Your man might love them too. Classic cool.

4. Ai Weiwei Sunflower Seeds Large Handkerchief from Third Drawer Down $26 - Cool graphic design on a utilitarian accessory. 
5. Smith Journal one year subscription $47.80 - This mag is such a great read. SUCH a great read. 
6. Large Sage and Citrus Amber candle from Plain and Simple $40 - This is one of the best smelling candles I've ever gifted. And the packaging is awesome
7. Luxe beach towel (Shoalhaven) from Lark $69.95 - Ships ahoy! I do love this nauti-cool towel.

8. Notepads and pens from Oxfam Unwrapped $22 - Totally stuck for ideas? Oxfam Unwrapped have some genius cards that mean someone is going to be super happy.
9. Gift box - 4 pack from Happy Socks $59.95 - Speaking of happy - Happy Socks. Matt loves being given socks. Don't tell him I told you.
10. The Little Vege Patch Co. from My Messy Room $44.95 - If your man is a little bit handy in the garden, this book looks a whole lot of ace. 

Gift Guide:: For the Mamas

Want my advice? Probably not, but I'll tell you anyway. Email your husband/boyfriend/partner/self the link to this post as an invitation. It's a really subtle hint in a really non-subtle way. And it means everyone wins. 

1. Watermelon tee from Gorman $99 - You cannot go wrong with this t-shirt. Great with jeans, or some little shorty shorts, this is going to become a Summer staple. Well that's if Santa delivers. 

2. Dan 300 Large Leather tote in Citron from The Third Row $250 - How great is this pop of yellow? You could never tire of it. And I am sure I could pack half my world in there, as I am prone to doing with my bags. This one will be around for years. 

3. Blue Moon, Mint Oval & Golden Enamel Earrings by Victoria Mason $160 - Does everyone know how obsessed I am with Victoria Mason's jewellery? These are pretty much perfection.

4. Jigsaw Ribbon necklace from Elk $45 - Best. Necklaces. Ever. Santa. I really want this. Badly.

5. The New Flower Drum Club Baseball tee from The Flower Drum $49 - Fun. Super cool. Get me one. Pronto!

6. Simpatico Petal Bubble Bath from Saison $49.95- There's nothing better than soaking away the battles of a long day in a bubbly bath. 

7. Meredith Red metallic sandal from Habbot $290 - Modern-day Dorothy. I don't really need to say anything more, do I? Well except, hot damn! I LOVE THESE! 

8. Ikat short from Tilly by Lee Mathews $149 - These shorts are so cute they're probably illegal. I want them. I need a fake tan. But I still want them. 

9. Matyroshka 5 piece doll set from BLANK $25 - I'd love to decorate these with my smalls. We could get messy together and create our own little mini family. 

10. Paillette - Mod Squad from Hello Darling $16.95 - Just the perfect amount of sparkle for the festive season. 

Christmas Gift Guide:: Little Girls

It's that time of the year when I pull together my Christmas gift guides. I give you ideas for you to give to other people. It's all about giving my friends. 

So today I'm talking little girls. Enchanting, smart, sassy little girls who are going to rule the world. I've tried to keep it varied, with a range of prices so there's something for everyone. 

Shall we take a peek?

1. Kiss Naturals DIY Bath Fizzie Kit from My Messy Room $19.95 - I love these kits. Give a girl a kit to make bath fizzies - and she's her own scientist. And at the end of a hard day in the lab she can relax in a bath - with the fruit of her labours. 

2. Coral and Tusk Cat Pouch Necklace from Kido Store $35 - I don't know about you, but I would be so happy if someone gave this to me. I'd wear it every day. I can imagine my Tiny loving this and hiding her special little things in the pouch. Style and function. BOOM!

3. Fine Little Day Pirum Parum poster from Talo Interiors $56 - I love Fine Little Day, and I've always had a soft spot for her posters. Whimsical, a little humorous, and a kick-ass graphic that would look as good today as it will in many years - I can see this in any room of the house, but imagine it framed up in a bedroom. MWAH!

4. One of a kind hand-painted wooden brooch from Evie Barrow $20 - Evie Barrow is so ridiculous. She's probably one of the most ridiculous people I cyber-know. She's so talented and humble, and this hand-painted brooch is so cool and collectable. Does anyone get the idea half this list is stuff I want? Hmm.

5. Boo the world's cutest dog plush toy from KidStuff $35 - Tiny is obsessed with Boo. Obsessed. Last week when she had her nasty tumble and then got gastro, I had to cheer girlfriend up. So I bought her this big Boo plushie. She adores him and takes him everywhere. He's super cuddly. 

6. Las Flores dress from Little Tienda $65 - Perfect for Summer when you're hotspotting all your favourite parks and beaches, throw it on and this is the  best cool dress this Summer.

7. Eleanor's Eyebrows book from Booktopia $16.95 - In our house, we're a bunch of book nerds. I love books. Matt loves books. Both the smalls love books. This book is so, so funny and the illustrations are so ace - I gave it to my niece for Christmas and we had such fun reading it together. 

8. Natural Shimmer Stack from Pure Poppet $15.95 - Ever had one of those moments when you walk in to discover your child getting rather involved with your make-up? One moment springs to mind when Tiny ground my brand new lipstick into her table. It was a pretty artwork, but there wasn't much left of my lippie. Give them their own make up for Christmas.

9. Yellow Owl Workshop Rubber Stamp set of 3 from Notemaker $19.95 - It's Summer! It's almost the holidays! I adore this rubber stamp set from Yellow Owl. Let the girl go wild stamping! 

10. LEGO Friends Stephanie Kids' Watch from LEGO $49.95 - Tiny loves LEGO Friends, and this watch is a pretty cool and fun way of keeping track of time. 

Next up - what would mama want? 

Yo Mama! An Interview With Briar Stanley

 

About three years ago I had the great fortune of meeting Briar Stanley through work. She's a wildly talented woman with so much going on you don't know where she'll pop up next. Since meeting her three years ago, she's become a mum to the most ridiculously beautiful baby girl who makes me go clucky every. single. time I see her pop up on Instagram.

Briar's blog is this hotspot of cool. I love clicking through and wondering what I'll find. I'm never disappointed. Briar carefully curates a visually rich snapshot into her life. It's like visiting a good friend to catch up. Except much more beautiful.

She's terribly humble, utterly charming, and her work just appears BOOM - so effortlessly stylish. 

So let's do this thing - I'm lucky to have Briar Stanley on PMM today. Look out for her credit on Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby. Let's GO!

PMM - Briar Stanley. Props buyer. Interior stylist. Food enthusiast. Crafter. Blogger. Mother. How do you fit it all in?

BS - I don't watch a lot of TV and I rarely sit still. 

To be honest, I'm concentrating on styling resedential properties since I have been on maternity leave, working from home with more flexible hours - so I haven't been experiencing the long hours as a props buyer on a film for a while. 

I've also always got time to be a food enthusiast. My husband is a great cook, and I love nothing more than trying out a new restaurant or cafe with my baby in tow...she loves her toast and babycino.

How did you first start working in interiors and prop styling?

I studied Graphic Design for three years at The Design Centre, Enmore. After graduating, I was a graphic designer for a few years at a big advertising agency - but my heart was never really in it. I one day found myself on the client side of a Kelloggs commercial and had a complete life changing/light bulb moment when I spotted the crew Set Dresser decorating the lounge room. A few months later, I took a bit of a gamble. I quit my day job and started waitressing in a pizza restaurant at night so I was free during the day to take on work experience in the film industry. Experience work I did! That was over seven years ago, and all the free work paid off - I work with the same people today I met in those first few months.

You worked on The Great of Gatsby (squeeeee!!). What was your favourite part?

I was surrounded by sparkles, gorgeous furniture and sumptuous fabrics as a Senior Buyer in the Set Decorating department for close to a year, it was definitely one of the highlights of my career. The huge size of the production and the healthy budget meant that we had the luxury of highly detailed and layered sets with months of research behind us. It was a challenging job, but thrilling at the same time. Working with the best in the industry and witnessing things like Gatsby's extravagant party scenes being shot at Fox Studios was truly electric. 

It must be demanding working on a film. How do you maintain your stamina?

Exercise definitely helps - not only physically but also for mental stamina. For the past few years, I have been part of a Manly based personal training group PinkFit a few times a week. For me, a day beginning with exercise is a much more productive one! I also walk/pram push a lot with my baby. In the first few months of her life, we would clock about 9km a day, because that was the only way she would nap...oh, fun times! When I'm working on a film, I'm always in bed before 9pm, as I usually have to set the alarm for 5.30am.

What other awesome projects have you worked on?

Some films I really enjoyed working on include Australia, Wolverine and Tomorrow When the War Began. I've also worked on the television series Underbelly, Rake and Paper Giants. I especially enjoyed Paper Giants, the story of Ita Buttrose - when she was editor of Cleo in the 1970's. 

I've also had some fun shoot days in the world of magazines - assisting the stylist Megan Morton was always a joy, and styling my own 3 x covers for Real Living magazine was definitely a highlight.

What's one of your favourite parts of your job?

It sounds so cliché, but I was able to forge a career based around my hobby. I was obsessed with interiors as a kid (I was always moving things around  my bedroom), so to be able to play with furniture and props all day really is a dream come true. 

What's your least favourite part?

When I'm working on a film, it would have to be the long hours.

You have a one year old baby. How do you juggle life?

My Mum and family are a big help and I have a very supportive husband. It's taken a while, but I feel like we are juggling things quite well. It's coincided with the baby becoming a better sleeper too. Sleep makes the world such a better place!

I found working from home, I always found distractions such as the washing machine, the sink and making beds (plus much, much more), how do you keep your eyes on the prize?

I'm pretty used to working alone when I'm on the road. When I'm out sourcing props and furniture, it's really important to keep focused with a strict to-do list. When the day comes to an end back at the office, I have to have some exciting things to show and tell. I treat working from home in a similar way, I'm a big fan of my to-do list (including daily domestic chores). I also make sure my office space is always looking nice and inviting, with good natural light.

Do you take time out for yourself? What do you get up to re-energise your batteries?

I'm not great at switching off - I can't even sit through a whole DVD at home. I do love to go to the cinema though, and pre-baby, would often go alone.  

I get the urge to craft/create often. It's almost my form of meditation, and I like to complete projects while the baby is napping.

What's up next for Briar Stanley?

A trip to New York. I kid...I wish. I'm decorating a gorgeous home for a client at the moment, so I'm looking forward to seeing the project come together. I also hope to style a few more children's bedrooms in the near future - that's where I can really have some fun.

Find Briar's consistently beautiful blog Sunday Collector here

Find her on Instagram here

And Facebook here

And Bloglovin here

This is the 10th interview in my Yo Mama! series. Interviews with creative working mamas. Look out for them (sometimes) weekly.