I have a great interview for you today from Natalie (@stylemesunday) who seems to be popping everywhere at the moment from an @olivelovesalfie event to filming for Ebay @ebay_uk She is one busy lady!
Thank you for agreeing to talk to Bad Mum and answer some
questions. For anyone that doesn’t know, Natalie is the founder of Style MeSunday which is a website dedicated to “Fashion with
Feeling”.
You started blogging back in 2012 after you fell pregnant with
your second daughter; how did you find blogging back then and how much has the
blogging world changed now?
Blogging was a bit different then, I had no idea what the heck I
was doing. I made a lot of mistakes. Luckily I’ve learnt from them. I always
knew I’d like to make money from it one day, but didn’t realise how long that
would take or how much work was involved.
Is this something you have always wanted to do and what gave you
the final push to give it a go?
I have always been interested in fashion, but I’ve never pursued
it as a career. Fashion blogging was a way I could dip my toe in and see if it
was something I wanted to do more of long term. 5 years later, I’m still here,
although it’s no longer just a toe.
I love that you express yourself through clothes and fashion, and
like you said on a down day you can slap some bright lippy on and it instantly
picks your mood up. Have you always been like this or is it something you have
learnt over time?
I’ve always been a very positive person but don’t get me wrong
there are some days even bright lipstick doesn’t work. But yes, I have
always loved to express myself through my clothes and make-up, I’ve always worn
what I’ve like and not really cared about what other people think.
I love that you have been with your husband since you were 16!
That is so rare these days but so romantic too. Does he share your love of
fashion or do you leave him to do his “thing”?
No he’s not into fashion at all really. He’s the opposite of me.
He dresses very safe and has a wardrobe full of black, navy, grey - muted
tones. But he quite likes that I’m more adventurous and fashionable.
As you are a Mama to two daughters (who you call the ratbags ha
ha) how have you found building up your business and juggling motherhood too?
I’m not going to lie juggling is tough. As the work builds up and
becomes busy there’s a point where the money isn't quite there yet and so it’s
difficult to afford childcare. And as women I think we often take on too much,
and think we can have it all. When in actual fact having it all is very
stressful. I’m learning to ask for help more these days and trying to delegate
better.
There is a Mama revaluation at the moment on Instagram (which I
LOVE!) How do you find all this new honesty and baring all to the world about
the real side of parenting – is it something that we could regret one day or is
it helping new Mum’s to show the truth?
Oh I’m all for sharing the truth as long as it isn’t hurting
anyone. After all, you bond with people by sharing your experiences,
vulnerabilities. I think there’s a real camaraderie among the mums of Instagram
and many find it is a real network of support.
I absolutely love Instagram and what you can make of it. You havea 19.3K following (well done!) How important has Instagram and social media
been to your journey so far?
Social media has been massive for me, and in fact it has taken
over from blogging. I get most of my engagement through social media and my
main source of income.
I love your style, your hair, your clothes…just you in general!
And, you are stunning!! How do you find time to be a Mama and look so good?
Share your secrets!!
Thank you! I really don’t look like I do on IG all the time
however. I’m quite precious about how my main feed looks now. I only post
aesthetically pleasing photos. However head over to Insta stories and you’ll
find me with zero make-up on first thing in the morning. My top tips for
looking good are firstly lipstick. Bold lipstick detracts from tired eyes and
instantly lifts the whole face. Also I wear lots of dresses and skirts, which
usually looks more out together than a top and jeans, even though no more effort
has gone into creating the look.
You have met some amazing people (like Davina McCall) and done
some great work (including your #WarriorWomanProject and EBay campaign.) You
must be proud and what is next for you?
I’m extremely proud, but I’m also very ambitious, so I don’t often
stop and really appreciate how far I’ve come. I should do this more.
I really do love the way you speak about your eldest daughter, who
has a rare genetic condition called Brittle Cornea Syndrome and how you
want to give her the best possible life; even working through a bucket list to
give her as many experiences possible while she has little sight. You also want
to show and teach her that no disability should hold anyone back…this is
AMAZING!
You want to remain positive which is rightly so, but do you
sometimes find it tough as we all have hard parenting days and how you do cope
with them? To show we are all human at the end of the day!
Of course like every parent I have my days when things just get
too much. Last year I had A LOT of those days. 2016 was a really rough one for
all of us. Sometimes I wondered if I’d every be truly happy again. But I now
feel stronger and more positive than ever before. These days I have off times
more in line with every other mother. When the kids are playing up and not
listening, or being rude and everything just gets a bit much. But that’s life,
no one is ever having the most amazing time 100% of the time. Now I know it’s
just a passing moment and we will survive this.
What amazing things have you done from the bucket list and what is
next? *
We’ve done quite a lot actually. We went to Disney World last
December, it was amazing and we had the most magical time. It was great way to
end a tough year. We also went to Britain’s Got Talent and my daughter got to
meet Ant and Dec and her literary hero - David Walliams. We also have some more
exciting things planned for this year but I don’t want to say anything in case
I don’t pull them off.
Lastly, everyone must leave us with a parenting confession that
you have never told anyone before…do a shot if it helps!
I’m hoping I’m not the only one that has done this. When one of my
daughters wet the bed in the middle of the night I put a towel over the wet
patch and we all went back to sleep. Pretty scummy right?!
Don't worry I have done that too and with spilt milk, many times!
Thank you so much for your time and I really do appreciate it.
Keep doing what you are doing and if you have time…I need your help
badly!!
* If you have a once in a lifetime experience
that you could offer or if you can help, please get it touch.
Interview by Sophie Farrow
Photos credited to Natalie
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