Melbourne Mamma - Fashion | Food | Family | Fun | Shopping
Your local guide to the best fashion, food, family fun and shopping in Melbourne
Today on the blog, we’re getting to know Jamie from Jamie T. Photography.
Tell us a little about yourself…..
‘When I was 10 I was given my first camera, a small Kodak Brownie that I thought was the greatest present ever! I thought I was the bees knees, taking ‘awesome’ shots of flowers, my cat, my brother and sister on the trampoline….. all which in my adult hindsight were woeful. But it ignited a passion inside of me that I never grew out of, but thankfully grew into.
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Today we’re getting to know Alli from Motivating Mum.
1. Tell us a little about yourself?
My name’s Alli and I have two gorgeous, spirited little minxies who I am either cuddling or tearing my hair out over! My business is all about networking and this spills over to life – I love, love having loads of friends and seeing them often. Going out dancing at least four times a year is a must! BC (before children) I travelled the world and have been to many, many countries and plan to do so again one day. I have no hobbies – running my business, seeing my friends and looking after the family pretty much takes up all my time.
2. Describe Motivating Mum in one sentence?
Motivating Mums offers support and advice to mums in business, or those wanting to be, in Oz and the UK. …
Today we’re getting to know Sevi from Baby Bistro.
1. Tell us a little about yourself?
Before I was blessed with my two boys, I worked in a corporate office in a Cash Management team. At the time I liked what I did but always imagined I would be working with food. I thought about starting a catering business offering homemade lunch delivered to offices in CBD.
I am lucky to be able to do what I love and still be at home with my boys. Family is everything to me and when Lucas and Thomas were born we were so excited.
I love being a mum and although it’s not always easy it’s the most rewarding. I love watching them play and laugh and grow.
2. Describe Baby Bistro in one sentence?
Healthy food option for busy families.
3. What do you sell?
Baby Bistro offer home style organic baby & toddler food from 4 months to 5 years.
4. What led you to starting Baby Bistro?
When my son started eating solid food he was a fussy eater and refused a lot of foods. I made sure that what he was eating had to be of nutritional value so I cooked everything myself. Like every mum, cooking fresh meals daily was challenging and I could not find anything available in the market to save me on those nights I wasn’t organised enough to cook a meal.
I have always enjoyed cooking and my time in the kitchen became a de-stress and that’s when I knew I could do this professionally. It was natural for me to whip up meals and I wanted to share it with other mums.
5. What do you love most about what you do?
There’s three things that come to mind about what I love most about what I do.
1. I love cooking 2. I love that it’s home style healthy meals from a mum who cares 3. I love that babies & toddlers all over Melbourne are eating my food. Food I grew up on and loved myself.
6. What’s one item you can’t live without?
I have to say my Thermomix.
7. What’s one item your kids can’t live without?
My boys are still young so I have to say their mum 🙂
8. Favourite place to shop for your kids?
We love to shop at Highpoint. It’s close to home and works well with the boys sleep times. It’s all our shopping under one roof.
9. If you weren’t running Baby Bistro what other job would you like to do?
I would have to be doing something with food.
10. Favourite place to take the kids in Melbourne or Victoria?
Our Favourite place to go is local community parks. Lucas loves running around and playing on the swings and Thomas loves to be outside.
You can find Sevi and baby Bistro on Facebook or at www.babybistro.com.au.
Today we’re getting to know Fatima from mor-stor.
1. Tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a mum with two boys, aged 4 1/2 and nearly 2. I’m a big foodie lover, so I enjoy checking out new restaurants and then giving them my ‘Masterchef’ tick of approval! My husband and I also love travelling. We have toned it down a bit since having the kids but I have a huge bucket list of places in the world that I still need to see even with the kids. Life before the business – I was actually doing the same thing but for someone else!
2. Describe mor-stor in one sentence?
Storage designed to be seen.
3. What do you sell?
Children’s and nursery storage solutions.
4. What led you to starting mor-stor?
I couldn’t find what I wanted when I had my first child. I wasn’t a fan of licensed prints and wanted something that I could pack all the toys in and leave it in the lounge room at the end of the day without it sticking out like a sore thumb.
5. What do you love most about what you do?
I get to test all of my products out on my friends – so it’s a good excuse to have a coffee catch up at the same time. ‘Can I come over and give you this sample to try out?’ Then I get to fit in work and friends at the same time. Working for myself has also been a huge bonus. On the days that I am not in the office I make the most of it with the kids and get some quality time with them. Also helps when they are sick as I don’t have to ring my boss and tell him I need a day off!
6. What’s one item you can’t live without?
Mascara. I would never leave the house without having mascara on. That would be the worst thing in the world for me. It scares me to think about it actually.
7. What’s one item your kids can’t live without?
I’m embarrassed to say this but at the moment it’s my i-Phone. They think my music playlist is pretty cool so on the way to school/crèche we have a boogie in the car and they get to choose the songs. I also have a few Apps on there that they play with.
8. Favourite place to shop for your kids?
Country Road and Seed. My shopping style is run in, grab clothes off rack and run out. I’m always in a rush so it’s just easy to go to these stores.
9. If you weren’t running mor-stor what other job would you like to do?
I am addicted to clothes shopping, so I would need to get a job at Country Road Head Office I think. I need color in my life so it has to be a textile based job.
10. Favourite place to take the kids in Melbourne or Victoria?
We actually try to do something different with the kids all the time so I don’t have a favourite place as such. I follow Little Melbourne and Melbourne Playgrounds on Facebook and I am constantly surprised at all the things you can do in Melbourne. So, we try to have a new experience all the time. For a weekend away though I have a soft spot for Lorne – the kids never tire of the trampolines at the foreshore, and I get my fix of café’s and Endota Day Spa. If you asked my 4 year old, he would ask me to take him to Pancake Parlour every day of the week, followed by bowling. Our local Pancake Parlour has a rocket with ‘nan’ and her wooden spoon inside. It takes off on the half hour with lights etc which they think is just awesome!
You can find Fatima and mor-stor on Facebook or at www.mor-stor.com.au.
Today we’re getting to know Melissa from Memories of Mine Photography.
1. Tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a single mum with 2 beautiful kids aged 9 and 12. I discovered my passion for photography later in life. After my divorce, I decided I needed a hobby, one I could include my kids in and so I took up photography. Fell in love and did a course. Seven years later and I’m now building my own business, the rest how the say “is history”.
2. Describe Memories of Mine in one sentence?
A boutique photography service office quality products and personalised service.
3. What do kind of services do you offer?
I specialise in outdoor portraiture. I work with my families to create beautiful portraits that unique to you and reflect your family’s personality. I offer quality products such as prints, canvases, collage/storyboards, albums and images on CD. I also do Pet Photography and Weddings.
4. What do you love most about what you do?
I love meeting many wonderful families, especially the kids. Often mums get a little upset or frustrated because their kids are being kids, running around letting off steam and not wanting to co-operate. Then when they see their photos and see that I have captured a moment they didn’t think possible. The mum becomes very happy and having a happy client is the best feeling in the world.
5. What are your favourite labels or stores for little ones?
I love Carnival Designs for all things girlie and Spirithoods are another favourite which are great for kids and kids at heart.
6. What’s one item you can’t live without?
Obvious answer, my camera.
7. What’s one item your kids can’t live without?
My daughter couldn’t live 5 minutes without her i-pod, I swear it is permanently attached to her.
8. Favourite place to shop for yourself?
OMG, I spend way too much time in camera stores and not enough time in shoe and accessories land. I am looking forward to meeting some fabulous designs at the Melbourne Mamma’s Market in August and finding myself some new favourites.
10. If you weren’t running the Tick the Box what other job would you like to do?
If I wasn’t a photographer, I’d probably be in IT customer support which was my full time job before becoming a photographer. Some might think that being a photographer is a big career change but when you think about it, it’s not so different as good customer service is what I pride myself on and believe my previous job has given me excellent skills in this area.
11. Favourite place to take the kids in Melbourne or Victoria?
For something different my kids love going to the Open House Melbourne event. This free event is on once a year and allows the general public access to some of Melbourne’s iconic buildings that aren’t otherwise open to the public. Most building have guided tour. It’s a great experience if you have kids over the age of 8 or 9.
You can find Melissa and Memories of Mine Photography on Facebook or at www.memoriesofminephotography.com.