Monday Mama #12

One of our loveliest and dearest Twitter friends Charlotte is this weeks Monday Mama. Check out what this honest mum says about style, her plans of never getting married and motherhood.

Name: Charlotte

Blogname: I'm only saying what you're thinking...

Website: www.onlysayingwhatyourethinking.blogspot.com

Twitter name @yesimcharlotte

Location: Kent

Keeping it Brief

After deciding I wasn't into the whole marriage and babies thing, I met my husband at work (he was my boss) and we got married and had a baby! Up until two years agoI worked in the creative industry but now I spend my days looking after our daughter. For now...

We love your blog. How did you start it and where did you find the inspiration from?

Thank you! I started it after not being able to find any honest blogs about pregnancy and motherhood. They were all sugar coated. I'm not stupid, I knew it wasn't all perfect pregnancies and amazing babies that don't cry or keep you up all night so I thought I'd tell it how it is. Every last gruesome detail. I found inspiration from everyone who told me pregnancy is just wonderful and motherhood is a peaceful experience. As if!

Both you and your blog are very honest, do you think there's a lack of it out there?

I used to think so but now more and more people are being honest

about their experiences. Before I think they were afraid people

would see them as selfish for complaining about being so blessed.

But as Mama's we're allowed to vent about our troubles otherwise we'dgo crazy!

Tell us about any nicknames you have for your little one?

I call her Lil or Bubs.

One thing you know you shouldn't let your child do but allow it anyways

I give her chocolate sometimes. She can smell it from a mile off,

I'm sure. A little chocolate monster!

Talk about one thing you're convinced your child has inherited from you

Her determination. I've never let anyone tell me I can't do something and she's exactly the same. It isn't disobedience, it's her strong will. If she really wants to do something (just recently - crawl), she will.

We've noticed how incredibly stylish you are, and we love it! Do you and Lil ever match or would you ever consider doing that?

Haha, thank you! We've never matched on purpose. Sometimes we'll both wear skinny jeans and a top and I'll realise later in the day that we match. We've both acquired so much leopard print that the chances of us both wearing a piece of it is very high! Like Pat Butcher and her mini sidekick!

What makes you a LatteMama?

I only allow myself one slummy day which involves sweatpants and an old tee. And I always smile! Your smile always brightens up someone's day.

How has motherhood changed you and your style?

I can no longer wear heels everyday! And I try to dress for comfort whilst looking presentable. I layer up a lot too. When Lil is having a tantrum I tend to get a bit flustered, especially in public!

If there's one advice you can give to new mothers what would it be?

Take lots of photos. Who cares if people think you're a baby paparazzo? It's your baby and they grow up SO fast. Cherish every second.

What are your future projets, and goals?

'I'd like to go back to work at some point, whether it's back in to the creative industry or to try something different. I really enjoy writing so I guess we'll see. I only have one goal and that is to ensure Lilian continues to be a smiley, happy child.

If you could choose one piece of clothing from LatteMama for your little ones,

what would it be?

Ah I love it all! But it would have to be the Ahoy skull and cross bone tights.

Monday Mama #11

    Name: Junior Style Sales                                    

    Location Events & Pop-ups throughout London

  Website: www.juniorstylesales.co.uk

Twitter: juniorstylesale 

Facebook: Juniorstyle 

Keeping it brief:

Im Romaine and I live in Islington, London, with my partner and two boys Eugene, who is 9 years old and

Ethan who is 5 years old. We are in this business together as a family and everyone helps out, whether it is 

sticking stamps on envelopes…(kids love stickers…great way to get some help!), to helping daddy load the 

van with stock.  The boys love being part of the ‘Business’.  I’m originally from Louth 

in Lincolnshire, a lovely little market town.

We love Junior Style and admire all the hard work you're putting down on it. How did it start?

Thank you Latte-Mama.  As a student I worked for a company who held designer menswear and 

womenswear sales and customers would ask staff where the children’swear was when they came to these

 events. Many years down the line and after the birth of my first son Eugene in 2002, I decided I wanted to 

start a business that would work around my son and family.  With the help of some great friends and family

 members, in July 2004 Junior Style Sales was born. Using a similar model to the Womenswear sales I worked

 at as a student, I started on my journey with Junior Style. Initially, the company started selling children’s 

sample clothing collections in November 2004 and then retailers/designers started to approach me to help them

clear any overstock or they would use the sales as a way of promoting their brand/shop. The sales grew steadily

as did my family.  With youngest about to start school last year, I thought was about time to start to grow the

business and in January 2010 Junior Style re-launched our website and started to hold weekly online flash sales

 offering retailers a chance to promote their boutique, for designers/agents to promote their brand to a wider 

audience, whilst offering the customer a variety of brands and styles at discounted prices.

Where do you see Junior Style sale going?

This year is going to be a very exciting year for Junior Style.  There are going to be lots of changes to our 

website. Junior Style hope to offer customers something a little more than clothing on our website as we grow

and expand as a company.  I am lucky to have fantastic staff on board to help push the business forward, all of

which are busy working mums too! We are hoping to establish more pop-up events around London and have

lots of fun marketing plans for the Summer……….There is so much more to come and if you follow 

Junior Style on twitter, you will be kept up to date with details on our events, sales.

When will we be able to follow your business, thoughts on life and how come you've resisted the blog 

phenomena?

I have wanted to write a blog for the last year for both Junior Style and a personal blog about my life as a

mumprenuer, with business tips and advice (having learnt a lot from running my business), however,

Junior Style has been a priority this last year as the online flash sales were in their first year and needed 

nurturing.  Also, I have had a lot to learn this year as I was a bit of a technophobe and having an online 

business you really need to get to grips with the online world and I have had to learn pretty fast, as selling 

online is very different to having a retail outlet.I have already got together many potential posts for my 

personal business blog, on which you will be able to follow myself and the ups and downs I have with 

Junior Style.  As for a blog for Junior Style, you will have to follow us to see what we have planned this year

with regard to a blog. My personal twitter account is https://twitter.com/romainermc .  I tweet here offering 

business tips that I have learnt along the way whilst developing and growing Junior Style…and a bit of Wit

 and Wisdom.

Your dad is Sri Lankan and mum Danish, what difference have you seen in children's clothes from

 the two cultures and how does it compare to British fashion?

The Scandinavians are know for especially known for Quality, Design &  Style.  Scandinavian children’s 

clothing brands seem to be more playful and really designed with the child in mind.  I also like the fact that 

many are using organic cotton too. My mum was very much into making clothes when I was growing up. 

I remember my father bringing some beautiful batik materials back from his trips to Sri Lanka.  My mother, 

loving dress making, would make my two sisters and I, the same dress in the same batik fabric.  I do not feel I

 have enough knowledge on Sri Lankan children’s fashions, but generally I would say that the key elements in

 both fashions would be colour and patterns being striking and bold.

What is your nicknames for your two boys?

Eugene’s nick name used to be Bobby and Ethan’s used to be Bubstar.  Neither have a nick name now.

What one thing do you know you're not supposed to let them do but allow it, anyways?

The boys love Nutella and a jar of it does not last long here. The boys will help themselves to a spoonful of it,

 when I am not looking……….I occasionally pretend I didn’t seem them helping themselves to the Nutella, as

I used to do it too!!

Finally, if you got to chose clothes from LatteMama for your boys, what would they be?

Eugene the eldest tends to choose his clothes himself and as he loves the style of No added Sugar. 

 I think he would pick the Blue Velvet Bunny love cardigan if it was in his size, as he loves cardigans or the 

Out of pocket grey knitted top.  For Ethan, I think he would love the Appaman ship Polo or the Ship T-shirt.

Slugs and snails and puppy dog tails

I always hear people complain about there not being enough exciting things for boys out there, too many fabulous dresses and not enough fabulous three piece suits for our boys. But behold there is something fantastic coming our way from Ireland. The great Slugs and Snails have blown us away with their AW 2011 collection of tights for boys!

Have all other designers forgotten that boys also get cold during winter? That our Latteboys are mischievous and skip the socks too often? I've drifted away, my point is Slugs and Snails, are clever, funny and very practical. It's not only for boys, but for anyone with an edge who is in need of being kept warm under those trousers, skirt or snowsuit!

LatteMama always prides itself in being unique for children, we love whats different yet practical and too often forgotten. This time, we're unique ourselves. We are proud and delighted to say that www.latte-mama.com is the absolute first retailer to be stocking Slugs and Snails. Available on Monday and only for 11 pounds! We can't wait for the next collection. x

Monday Mama #10

Join us in getting to know the gorgeous Mags mum to beautiful Ben and who started blogging for the milestones and now is a true mum blogger.

Name: Mags Allmark

Blogname: Mummy's Space

Website: http://www.mummysspace.com/

Twitter name: @mmeeee

Location: West London

Keeping it brief:

I'm Mags, a former software developer who has given up coding to become a stay at home mummy to Ben, a very energetic toddler who is averse to sleep, loves running about, climbing, strawberries, my iPad and generally anything he shouldn't have. Originally from Cork, Ireland I moved to London in 2004 where I now live with my husband, son and our little chihuahua Coco.

Why I blog and how it started:

I started blogging shortly after Ben was born in September 2009 but didn't begin properly until June 2011 and now I'm hooked. I love the outlet it gives me. Initially I saw it as a way to keep an online record of Ben's major milestones but that has grown into other areas of interest and I now find myself writing regularly about iPad / iPhone apps, baby and children's products, I also take part in The Gallery and The 366 Project and write about everyday issues and events that take my interest as and when.

My nicknames for the LatteBaby:

Nicknames tend to be variations of his name Benjamin, we call Ben most of the time but also Benjy and Benj.

One thing I know I shouldn't let my child do but allow anyways:

During Christmas we had lots of chocolate decorations hanging on the tree which Ben soon discovered. I used to strategically place one (or two) within his reach each day and watch as he discovered them. As a result he probably had a little too much chocolate over Christmas!

The things I'm happy to say Ben got from me:

Ben has brown eyes like mine and lots of curls just like I had as a baby (and probably still would if I didn't use my trusty GHD's).

I'm a LatteMama because:

I love being a Mummy and feel very lucky to get to spend so much time with Ben. It makes me happy, and like anything else if you're happy it shows.

How motherhood has changed me and my style:

I've given up the world of city working so no longer need a smart working wardrobe and wearing heels everyday is just not an option especially when chasing after a speedy toddler.

The one piece of advice I'd give to new mums is:

Be yourself and trust in your own instincts.

My future projects and goals are:

Continue to enjoy blogging and hopefully gain more readers along the way. I'm also planning a redesign of my blog which will involve me trying to remember my developer skills...

The one thing I'd choose from LatteMama for the little one would be:

I love the Out Of Pocket hooded jumper - the detail with the patches on the elbows and fake pockets is gorgeous.