Monday Mama: MrsAgathaMarple

Monday Mama

 Kids, Fashion and Blogging with some of the Nets most famous Latte Mama's

Monday Mama is back with an all new crowd of wonderful Mum's from across Britain and Europe, giving us an exclusive look into the latest in kids fashion and blogging straight from those that matter.  

This week we have the pleasure of MrsAgathaMarple,

a mother, wife and experienced blogger from Finland.

She gave birth to her adorable son in spring 2008, which is when it all started. She went on to start her very own blog shortly after in October 2008 and she loves blogging still.



Sari and her son



Name: Sari

Blog: MrsAgathaMarple

We have to ask Mrs Agatha, where did the name for your blog come from?

Well, I'm a huge fan of Agatha Christie, love her detective stories and my favourite is Jane Marple. So when I thought about a name for my blog that would stand out, MrsAgatha was the coolest name I could think of and the address also has Marple in it =)

You have been blogging for years now, have you noticed any changes in the children’s fashion blogging world?

Yes, there are more sponsored blogs, brands and businesses have realized how easy it is to advertise via blogs.

What's it like blogging in two languages at the same time, and do you ever feel like skipping one?

I feel like skipping all the time! :D It's quite hard to write in 2 languages but I can't skip Finnish since most of my readers are from Finland. And I can't skip English as I've noticed an increasing amount of readers outside Finland =)

How has your sons style changed since becoming older, do you even get to decide his outfit anymore?

When he was a baby I bought him very colourful retro-style clothes (brands like Ej Sikke Lej and Småfolk were my favourites then). But nowadays he dresses more like me, black and grey being the most used colours with some more colourful things too. I'm a lucky mama and he lets me to choose his clothes still! :D

He really doesn't care about what he wears, he's happy if the clothes are comfortable.

Scandinavian fashion has become very popular lately. Are there any must have Finnish brands out there, and how would you define Finnish fashion?

I recommend checking out brands MinuMinu and Aarrekid, those are the best Finnish brands for kids. Also Nosh Organics is cool.

Almost all Finnish brands use organic/recycled materials for the clothes and the designs are quite simple but feature a few unique twists. Most of the children's brands in Finland are retro-inspired since that kind of style is a big hit at the moment in Finland.

What has been your best fashion find in the past?

For myself: Swedish Hasbeens-shoes and for the boy: Vans-shoes (can you tell that I love shoes ;D)

What is your favourite trend for S/S 2012?

I love the colourful jeans!

What do you predict will be the most popular one for AW 2012?

I'd say sequins and warm jumpers.

What are your top wish list items from www.latte-mama.com?



Clockwise from top: Robot Tee £22; Puss Shirt £28;
SunBirds Hat £15.50; Out of Pocket Jumper £17; Roley Poley Pants £32

#lattemamauk

Monday Mama #4

The epitome of what the LatteMama team strive to be, and the pure

definition of what a true LatteMama is can be found in the twitter and blog

world. We are so intrigued by Kaisa Larkas-Mossop, her style, her Finnish

heritage, her home and mother life that we just had to have her featured

as our Monday Mama. We go on her sleek blog on a daily basis and with

anticipation wait for her "Wear What" and "Sunday Style" posts. With our

Monday Mama moment we've gotten to know Kaisa better and we're more hooked

than ever. Get to know her yourself too!

Name: Kaisa Larkas-Mossop

Blogname: Mum on the run

Website: http://kaisalarkas.com/

Twitter name:@kaisalarkas

Location: Buckinghamshire, UK

Keeping it brief: I moved to London from Helsinki at 18 to study. After graduating,

I worked at a few women's magazines before going freelance. I now mainly write

for the Finnish Elle and a couple of in flight and interior magazines. I met my English

husband when I was on my last year at uni and we have three children, aged five,

nearly three and one. Oh, and I wish I had an unlimited shoe & handbag fund! :)

Why I blog and how it started: I honestly never thought I would start a blog!

But I was walking my daughter to school not long ago and suddenly thought that

there must be mums who, despite loving their children more than anything, want

to read about something other than potty training, breast feeding, tooth fairies

and weaning. ;) I wanted to start a blog about light hearted, interesting and even

silly stuff, like my many failed baking attempts and also just simply post pictures

of what me or the kids wore. I also try to keep my posts short so people can read

them quickly whether they are about exercise&fitness or an interview I do every

Monday with anyone from a fashion designer to an inspirational mum.

My nicknames for the LatteBabies: My husband wanted our kids to have Finnish

names, which I was very happy about. But because of this, their nicknames wouldn't

make much sense to anybody who isn't Finnish!

One thing I know I shouldn't let my children do but allow anyways: Eat in front

of the TV. I don't allow it often but when I do, it makes such a mess.

(For me to clean up, of course!)

The things I'm happy to say my child got from me: They are all very social and

have never been clingy. My daughter told me on her first day at nursery 2 years ago:

"Mum, can you go now so I can play with my friends" (her friends being a room full

of kids she had never met before), and my middle son who has just started

pre-school settled straight in too. I love the fact that they are not shy and I guess I

can take at least some credit for that. They are also very headstrong and sometimes

too clever for their own good but for that, I also blame my husband a little bit - in a

good way, of course! :)

I'm a LatteMama because: I don't really consider myself one but thank you! My

children are my world but I think it's important to make sure you still remain true to

what you were like before you had kids. So as much as I'm often tempted to do the

school and pre-school runs in my pyjamas and hair sticking out, I try to make an

effort to look nice. In addition, I have recently gotten addicted to running so I try to

make sure I have time for that.Things obviously change when you have kids but it's

important to occasionally take time for yourself. I think that also makes you a better

mum.

How motherhood has changed me and my style: I hate to admit this but I think

I'm a bit more uptight now. Although my friends would say otherwise. (They seem to

think I'm the most relaxed mum they know, bless them!) As for my style, since having

kids and when they are small, you obviously have to be more aware of what is

practical when you're at the park,play groups etc. But I've always been quite a casual

dresser anyway, and most comfortable in jeans, boots and a cool top.

The one piece of advice I'd give to new mums is: Don't listen to other people's

advice too much as you as a mum will know what is right for you and your baby! :)

My future projects and goals are:I might be getting involved in a very cool

performance project called Fairytale Punk as I've been asked to do the PR for it.

And yes, I did a half marathon and am keen to do the full one next year.

(Maybe New York so I can combine the run with great restaurants and shopping?!) And I'm

dreaming about opening a little boutique with a few good friends in the village where

I live. We'll see if anything will ever come of that...

My Finnish traditions which I have yet to let go are: I like to sit around the table

husband is working late. In addition, in Finland and in Scandinavia as a whole, people

tend to be out with their kids a lot and I think it's really important. I also bring back

things, such as rye bread, every time I've been back home.And we always have two

different Christmas dinners cooked by my husband: the traditional Finnish one on Christmas Eve,

followed by the equally traditional English one the next day.

The one thing I'd choose from www.latte-mama.com little ones would be...

How do you expect me to choose just one?! I love the green moose top 

but if it really  has to be just one item, it would have to be the No Added Sugar

Roley Poley harem pants that would look adorable on my youngest son.