I met Jade when she was planning her wedding in 2010. It was lovely working with Jade and being able to create her perfect wedding look. During this time she spoke about WeddingsWhitsundays.Com and how it would be beneficial for me as a new business to become part of the web directory.
At first Jade and I just had a business relationship and then we became colleagues and now I am privileged to say good friends. I have had the pleasure of working with Jade on many different projects in the wedding industry. I also know first hand how well she creates websites. She helped me create my make up website Loll Doll makeup by Lauriely and now has just created this one A Beautiful U by Lauriely. She has an innate ability of being able to extract your vision and materialise it online.
So how does Jade manage to do all this, while having two small children? How does she do it? Let’s find out what makes Jade tick…….
How do you stay on top of housework?
To be honest I do the bare minimum during the week, basically just the dishes, laundry and if I can’t possibly stand the sensation of grit sticking to my feet any longer, I will vacuum. In saying this though, we have a pretty tidy house and for me it all comes down to eliminating the things from your house that you don’t need in your life and making sure the things you do need have their own designated space in your home.
How do you manage juggling being a Mum and working?
Some weeks I don’t and I feel like I am on a treadmill with no off button and other weeks I am all over it.
I certainly haven’t found the formula to create those good weeks and every day I am still learning… but there are a few things I know help me along the way. Don’t blur the boundaries…. when it’s work time, work and work hard, and when it’s mum time, be present and be planned. If I pick up the boys from school and day care and I still have work in my head, try to make a call, check my emails I am doomed for a disastrous afternoon. But if I wrap up my day before I leave the house, clear my head and have the afternoon planned then just like that we have a wonderful time together. Understanding that is the easy part, but actually making it happen is the challenge.
We all struggle with Mother’s guilt, what would be your advice to new Mums on how to cope with this and keep things in perspective?
I am going to have a serious case of the Mother’s Guilt when I travel to Bali for 10 days for a Yoga Retreat and I also know that no matter what I tell myself or how much my friends reassure me, I will still feel that I am being indulgent and doing the “wrong” thing. What I can say though, is that I am going to Bali, and that I do deserve this time to myself and that when I return I will do so as a better wife and mother and that my boys will be absolutely fine.
I guess my only advice would be to stop yourself from casting judgement on other mums as everyone has their own circumstances, their own priorities and their own approach to raising children.
What is your number one guilty pleasure or indulgence?
I can’t believe I am going to admit to this, but I cannot get enough of trashy American reality TV shows like The Real Housewives and WAGS. I find them absolutely comical and I know they are completely scripted and not at all ‘reality’ but I sit and smile at the TV like a Cheshire cat while my brain turns to mush.
Who do you admire?
Anyone who has the courage to live a life completely outside everyday expectations.
Families you see who travel the world backpacking with their pre-teens, or travel around Australia for 3 years home schooling their kids. Anyone who volunteers their life to improving the quality of life of others, those that live and breathe extreme sports and push the boundaries.
What would you say is the best part of being a Mum?
The really pure moments, like that first morning cuddle, or the last kiss goodnight, retelling you a story about their day, learning something for the very first time and when they are overwhelmingly happy with their achievements.
What would be the first advice you would give to a new Mum to be?
Go on a Baby Moon… so that’s you on a holiday with a big 8 month pregnant belly doing absolutely nothing except laying by a pool, reading a book, getting massages , eating in peace and sleeping in.. All those things that you are about to say goodbye to for some time.
I know we all try and aim for the perfect work/life balance, how do you keep everything together most days?
Continually returning to my yoga practice has been fundamental in keeping my emotions in check and a healthy perspective on work / life balance…. and walk, whenever you can, go for a walk, preferably somewhere in nature. If I don’t do things for a few weeks in a row, everything starts to fall apart.
Do you have any hobbies?
Yes, Scuba Diving has unfortunately it has been on a temporary hiatus since 2013. I feel like my husband and I have been daydreaming about our first family dive holiday to Fiji for five years. When are kids old enough to go to Kids Club?
What is your favourite book?
So maybe not my all time favourite but notable mention because I have almost finished it and it absolutely blew my mind is ‘Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind’. Read it, it will really change your perspective on the way we live our lives.
What do you think is the key to a healthy relationship?
That you are growing together and also independently. That you both need to make a continual effort and to always touch base to see how each other are feeling. Don’t say things you will regret and don’t store your feelings away.
How did you get into web design?
I dabbled in a few web development subjects during University and after completing my degree I travelled to Airlie Beach. Within a few weeks of arriving I scored myself a job developing a travel website and loved the challenge of the projects that we completed each day and learnt so much on the job. I started getting freelance design requests from there and so commenced my side hustle of developing websites for small business’, whilst I also worked as Marketing Manager for Air Whitsunday, Weddings Whitsundays and then Villa Botanica. I now work independently from home running my business Slinkylinks, designing brands and developing websites for a variety of industries.
What is your most favourite part of your job?
The deliverables at the end of the project. A shiny new branding kit, a kick ass website and my clients sites sitting at number 1 in Google.