Life With Lisa - Lisa Kelly Photography Blog

It’s time for another local business spotlight and I am so excited to be sharing the following amazing business with you.  I adore Beck and am constantly amazed at the unique, beautiful clothing she has in her store for mummies with growing bellies.  I don’t remember such gorgeous clothing being around when I was pregnant so I think all you expecting ladies are very lucky.  Go check her beautiful store out next time you are at Tuggeranong.  Let’s hear about the business from Beck herself (and a little personal stuff too LOL):-

So Beck, tell us a little bit about “Motherly Instincts” for those readers not familiar with it yet:-

Where do I start, we opened in 2005 with a 2 1/2 year old (James) and a preschooler (Bethany) and I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had a dream of owning my own business where it would be fun, exciting, challenging, and provide an income that would sustain our little family. My husband works full-time and loves his job. He is very busy and has been travelling alot. We have been trading for 3 years and I have become stronger, more experienced, met lots of amazing people, and built a small business that has lasted 3 years.

We have lots of wonderful maternity clothing and accessories for expecting mums. The store also has beautiful baby gifts, Breastfeeding tops and breastfeeding accessories. I source a lot of our products from Australia and new Zealand. We love to support local business.

What is your favourite thing about your job?

The people of course.  I have amazing people tell me their amazing stories about their life and sometimes the universe is hard and sometimes it’s amazing. (I tend to cry with some of them, it can be hard). I also LOVE when we find a beautiful outfit and the customer is so happy I get lots of joy from this. I do however have bad days and for some reason you tend to remember these days more than the great days. I love the hours so I can drop my children off to school and wave goodbye. I love travelling to see new products and choosing the clothing. You need to have an idea what people are after and choose the right product. This can be a challenge at times but lots of fun!!! Can I have lots of favourite things Lisa??? I love to be busy in the store!! We have busy days where I remember this is why we opened the store, to help all of these amazing women find a product that helps them to feel fantastic about their changing body. This can prove to be a big challenge for most women.

How did you get started?

Crazy I guess! I just started to make a few phone calls and went from there. We made a business plan and used this to go step by step to design and create the business we wanted to provide to the Canberra women. A plan is very important and very hard to write. You need to know exactly what you want to supply, what people need and how to get people to buy them. This changes every season and you need to stay tuned to what people are looking for! Lots of time and hard work also! There is lots of fun times but you need to be strong to pull you out of these hard times. Still trying to get this right. If anyone knows how to get the right work life balance please tell me!! Lisa!! Gosh, Beck don’t ask me, buggered if I know how to get the work/life balance right LOL

How big is your company in terms of employees?

We have had alot of employees and most of them with growing bellies. The sad thing is they move on with their new additions. We currently have the three of us working, we all have had children and remember what it is like to grow an amazing baby in your belly. Always looking for trendy mums to do a few hours so if you are having a baby and are looking for work, give me a call.

Where can we find you (website, blog, location)?

I am not as clever as Lisa with the blog, you will have to teach me one day. But we have a website at www.motherlyinstincts.com.au and I love any kind of feedback. If there is a product you would like to see in the store send us a message any way you can. The store is located in the lush valley of Tuggeranong. In the Homeworld centre right next to Aldi and shopfront.

What are your favourite products?

I love the Hot Milk bras, I wish there was sexy looking bras when I had Bethany 9 years ago. These bras a sooooo nice and their new season stock should be in by the end of August.

What is your favourite thing about Canberra?

We love the parks and the bike paths. As a family we all get on our bike and go for a ride. This is important time to spend with the kids so they will remember mum and dad going for a ride with them.

What’s your favourite ‘indulgence’ that is just for you?

You must be kidding !!!! I am really bad at this question as I go a hundred miles an hour, so to sit still is a little hard for me!! I really hate the hairdressers as they take soooo long ! However I do like a glass of wine, good company and a delicious meal.  Snap, me too Beck

I do like to sit and colour in with Bethany and read books with James. I am not bad at mixing up some play dough to make some animals!! I am a mum, we always come last. Sorry!

What advice do you give first time mums?

When looking for clothing make sure they are trendy and wear what you would normally wear. It’s important to look and feel good through your pregnancy. I find most women purchase jeans, cargos and a pair of black pants. These are your staples. Then you can add to these by looking through your wardrobe and putting all you clothing that fits to one side. You may need a few tops, a jumper and some breastfeeding singlets, cotton underwear and some comfortable bras. There are also products to help you through the in-between parts like a belly belt and a tummy band. These are good investments and help to get started. Don’t leave this to the last minute as maternity wear is designed to go from early pregnancy all the way through to post pregnancy. HAVE FUN! Some times this is hard but pick up a Bun in the Oven top $34.95. You only do this a few times ! Also take lots of photos, I know you don’t feel like having your photo taken but you WILL regret not having them to look back on. Believe me I would of loved to have dressed up and had some nice pictures taken so I can look back when my kids have children and remember!

Any ongoing specials you would like the Lisa Kelly Photography blog readers to know about?

We have just received a shipment of Bobux soft sole shoes that are simply gorgeous. www.bobux.com

Breastfeeding tops for the summer are arriving and the formal dresses. We have 25% off out winter range now and for Lisa’s special friends 15% off new season if you mention this blog. Make sure to check out the website www.motherlyinstincts.com.au

Thanks Lisa this was fun!! Take care!

Beck

THANKS BECK, LOTS OF GREAT STUFF FOR EVERYONE, AMAZING ADVICE AND LOTS OF LAUGHS…..

This was a wonderful session.  The parents walked in saying their baby was quite an “angry and grumpy” little one, and that it could be from her Russian heritage LOL.  Her father is Russian and they actually live in Russia, just here in Australia to have the baby and then will be moving back in a few months.  They also brought along grandpa and auntie and niece.  I also had my photographer friend Jenny Ruddle at this session so the studio was full to bursting but there was so much love and laughter in the room it didn’t feel crowded at all.  And…………I don’t know what mum and dad were talking about.  After a few initial squawks from the princess, she drifted off into the soundest of sound sleeps and we didn’t hear another peep from her.  Mum kinda wanted me to come home with her, she thinks I have a magic touch or something.  Maybe I am magic……………..maybe I’m not, I’ll never tell though.  Anyway, I know mum is stalking the blog dying to see some images so I thought I better put her out of her misery.  Introducing Miss K………………

This was my favourite image from the session, I just adore it

And for something different, instead of a foot shot, I’m showing a hand shot.

I have a big canvas of a similar image in the studio and mum was keen to recreate it.  I think we did a fabulous job of it.

I love the little wrinkles in her forehead.  She was so tiny that alot of her skin was a little wrinkly, she just needs some time to fill those wrinkles out and I’m sure it won’t be too long.

There you go K, I hope you love them as much as I do.       

I swear there has been a baby boom lately.  I have met so many new little perfect people in the past month and each and every one of them steals my heart.  This sweet princess is no exception.  Mum and dad were pretty tired, I think Miss L has been prefering to party during the night instead of during the day.  Ahhhh the joys of newborns, and adjusting to your new life.  For those of us with older children, I know you can all completely relate to those first few weeks where your whole world gets completely turned upside down.  Adjusting to lack of sleep is the biggest killer of all for sure.  I first met Miss L when she was inside her mummy’s tummy………

And here she is now……………

I recently met the cutest little guy, and the best way to make him smile was to shout out “Wanna make a deal” or “Deal or No Deal”.  It absolutely cracked me up how happy he was when someone said this.  He would clap and laugh and so would everyone else.  And he was pretty excited to bring along his new baby sister for me to meet.  She was absolutely perfect, slept most of the time but woke up for some shots too.  Pop came along to help out and he did the most amazing job.  I found it sooooo hard to narrow down these photos, so I am showing a gazillion but the children are just so divine, I know you will see why it was so hard to choose…………I fear for the parents bank balance, hehehe.

I was mesmerised by his amazing eyes and those perfect bowed lips

Here he is showing me his sister, he was amazingly gentle with her for a lad who is only 16 months old himself

Isn’t she perfect……………there are no other words, just PERFECT!

You know I love feet shots

This family were so much fun.  Lots of funny banter between them and ‘S’ is just the apple of mum and dad’s eye.  He is clearly spoilt (in a good way) and loving it.  And he’s travelled the world, and all at the young age of 19.  He’s done more exciting things with his life than I could dream of, hehe.  And seriously mum and dad are bursting with pride.  And so they should be.  They have done an amazing job raising their boy, he is confident, funny, smart, friendly and clearly adores his parents too.  I had such a lovely time with you all, thanks so much.  I hope you enjoy this sneak peek………

Isn’t he a heartbreaker

And this photo has a funny story, apparently everywhere ‘S’ has travelled, he has taken a “double point” photo.  Kind of his little weird thing he does to tie all of the photos together so we thought it would be fun for him to include his parents in his “double point” craze.  Hang about, are they laughing at me??????????  What is so funny people………..is my fly undone, is there food around my mouth?  Hmmm, how rude LOL.