If you've followed the Miann & Co journey, you would know that we very seldom have stockists for our Womenswear. A collection that's so close to our hearts, we wanted to find the right fit and style for our brand - that's where HERE. Home, Style & Design comes in. When Lily first approached us to stock our womens line, it felt like a no-brainer. They were passionate about small business, ethical production and sustainable living and we knew our womenswear belong in her store. Join us today as we sit down with Lily to talk all things small business, motherhood (she's recently welcomed her first child) and facing 2020 head-on in the time of COVID.   You guys are so passionate about independent brands – where does that passion come from? When opening HERE, I named it that to ensure that I always focused on Australian brands. The fact that I could support other small businesses by stocking them in my store felt like a very meaningful thing to be able to do, especially after years of working in the commercial fashion industry.  I wanted to bring brands to my customer that were new or less commonly known within our area and we've kept that concept going for over three years. I've absolutely loved watching my customers become fans of labels that we've helped them discover! Also having this space gives me an opportunity to make a difference when it comes to promoting the world of slow fashion and by supporting independent brands, we're able to have that conversation with the designers directly, and therefore able pass that knowledge onto our customers, which is so powerful!    HERE! Has such a unique and eclectic style – your feed and ‘Friday Styling’ is very uniquely you, how did you develop this sense of style? I have always embraced my own sense of style, I love the process of creating different combos and putting outfits together in a more unexpected way. I think this comes through both in store and on our socials which from day one I have put so much time and effort into creating content that is individual to us. There are hours and hours spent capturing and editing our own photos because the goal is to paint a picture of HERE on a digital platform, I hope that when people come across our feed they connect with it as if they were shopping in store. Paying close attention to detail is also very important to me, those who see me at work will know that I go back and make the tiniest if changes until I'm 100% happy.  With Friday Styling, a dear friend was constantly telling me that people wanted to see more of 'the face behind the brand' but it really only came together once Emily joined my team and we could build the concept together. Our main goal with the photos and videos is to show our followers how the same pieces can work for many different bodies, ages and styles. We so often see fashion portrayed on a narrow spectrum, so we wanted to showcase a couple of real women wearing clothes in a way that is relatable to our customer's lifestyle while also giving her inspiration to wear pieces different ways and educate her on what it means to build a sustainable wardrobe.    COVID and lockdown has affected everyone differently this year, we’re curious to know how you guys pivoted your small business to accommodate all the change we’ve been going through... It's been the most unpredictable year imaginable. Not only was HERE being impacted by COVID but I was also pregnant and needed a lot of personal time away from the store. We were so fortunate to have a beautiful and established online store which became our main focus throughout April and May, and then again in July and August. To encouraged our followers to support our online store during this time we offered free shipping or local delivery and of course kept up with socials to promote new arrivals or sales. It certainly hasn't been a smooth couple of seasons for the businesses but we did what we needed to do in order to stay open, whether that was being online only for several weeks or opening the brick & mortar store for special trading days like Mothers Day, we simply did what worked for us. All the while our loyal customers continued to support us and understand that it wasn't business as usual, which I am incredibly grateful for!   What advice would you give to other small businesses trying to pivot at this time? Stay true to yourself! I found that zoning in on the things that our customers loved most about HERE is what worked for us. The personal elements of shopping with us continued even when operating online only because our customers were able to call, email or DM for advice. We kept up the Friday Styling so customers still felt connected to us each week. Every small business has struggled through this time so if we can focus on what we do best as an individual store, we will all be better for it!   Lily, you’ve recently welcomed your beautiful baby boy, Fletcher – what are your top tips for running a small business while embracing the newborn season? Surround yourself with amazing support! I could not have got through the past few months without my support network. My partner and family at home and staff member Emily in the store. My pregnancy and birth was a bit of a rollercoaster with a lot of time spent in hospital so I have had to actually take a big step back from HERE over the past 6 months. Which is never easy when you're used to spending half your time running a business, but knowing that my business was in the very talented hands of a trusted team member was invaluable! It's the most wonderful experience becoming a Mum and I have really prioritised this time with Fletcher, allowing myself to just be his Mum. But again, I've only been furtunate enough to do this because of the amazing people around us!   And finally, taking time for yourself when running your own business is so important! How do you take time out to care for yourself, and what are your favourite things to do? Well as a new Mum there isn't a lot of spare time but when the chance arises and is perfectly timed around breastfeeding, I do love to treat myself to a hot bath filled with essentials oils & dried flowers, a good book or podcast and a glass of red wine - bliss!  I am a very creative person so as long as I can continue to have some kind of creative outlet whether is fashion, interior design, art or reading & writing, life is good.    Thank you so much Lily for taking the time out to chat with us, we so appreciate it! You can follow the lovely HERE. team via their instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herehomestyledesign/   All our love, Miann & Co x

Living in Australia, you become accustomed to our harsh summers and all that comes with it. For most of us, that means hats, sunglasses, long sleeves and slapping on sunscreen for four or so months every year - and chasing around after kids that would rather do anything but! For our latest range, A Simple Life, we wanted to focus on clothing that provided sun protection and was wearable for every day - think the lightest of cottons with longer sleeves, shorts that are breathable and dresses so flowy and oversized your little one will be able to keep cool and cute all summer long. Cotton, for us, is the best fabric when it comes to summer dressing. Our new range, when not made from super light 100% cotton, is made from a cotton muslin - the same fabric as the light weight swaddles babies are wrapped in for the warm weather. Breathable, fine and super soft, cotton wicks away moisture from the skin that allow heat to escape the body to stay cool and remain at an even temp. On hot days, synthetic, man made fabrics will stick to the skin, leaving the sweat to soak up into the fabric that in turn becomes trapped in its fibres - this leads to smells developing, and an overheated, uncomfortable child. Choosing cotton helps to stop fluctuating temperatures that make little ones irritable, too cold, too hot and itchy.  A classic summer outfit is the old shorts and t-shirt. In a woven cotton, these pieces are elevated up that notch so they can be worn not only everyday, but to special occasions and even family Christmases and celebrations.  Both our bloomer shorts and long sleeve tops are perfect to wear to the beach as cover ups, or even if you forget your bathers, they're great to swim in and will dry off super quick due to the nature of the fabric. Our Frill Long Sleeve Flowy Tops are both made from cotton muslin and woven cotton respectively. Both are great options to keep the sun off little ones skin and are so easy and comfortable to wear. Our muslin this season is in a beautiful Pink Tint, a soft and muted blushy pink that has quickly become one of our favourites. Our Cornflower Gingham print was designed in house, very meticulously down to the spacing of the lines. We're super passionate about our prints! Our colour palette for this season is very earthy - colours you would see scattered across rolling fields and the sand dunes. Inspired by the French countryside and the prairie, we are so in love with these new seasons prints and colours - sky blues, earthy browns, crisp whites and touches of vintage off yellows and lilacs, this collection is one of our favourites to date. We'd love to know your thoughts, which piece is your favourite? All our love, Miann & Co x

Beauty is subjective. Maybe you follow a 10 Step Korean Skin Care Routine, or maybe you use a little soap and a splash of water, maybe you're somewhere in-between. To me, the most important part of my skin care is intuition. When my skin feels more dry, I'll load up on oils or moisturisers. When it's a little more oily, I'll only apply one or two or skip the oils entirely. The most intuitive part of my skin care routine however, is the use of beauty tools. Face Rollers and Gua Sha's are simple, relatively inexpensive tools that can really amplify your skin care. I love to use them to reduce puffiness, stimulating blood flow, drain lymph nodes and to really get product deep into my skin. So, what's a face roller? A face roller typically consists of two tumbled crystal pieces, threaded with a piece of sturdy wire with a rod of tumbled crystal holding them together. Rollers are typically made from crystals like rose quartz, jade or amethyst but there are some out there made from metal. In Ancient China, beauty tools were made from Jade, known then as 'The Stone of Heaven'. And a Gua Sha? Gua Sha's are flat disks of crystal that come in varying shapes. Like face rollers, they're usually made from jade, rose quartz and amethyst. They're one of the oldest forms of traditional Chinese medicine.  How do I use a face roller? Before you start, make sure you're working with a freshly cleansed surface, then apply your skincare to minimise pulling at the skin. 1. Always roll upwards and in one direction – never roll up and down. 2. Repeat up to five upward rolls in each area. Starting with the area under your jawline. 3. From there, roll out towards your hairline, under the cheekbones and then along them. 4. Finally, roll flat along the brows, and then upwards on the forehead. How do I use a Gua Sha? As above, before you start, make sure you're working with a freshly cleansed surface, then apply your skincare to minimise pulling at the skin. Keep the tool quite flat and close to the skin, this will minimise dragging. Swipe a minimum of 3 times each area, and add product if you feel there's not enough for the gua sha to glide over the skin. 1. Warm the Gua Sha between your hands to further minimise pulling on the skin. 2. As with the roller, you only want to swipe up. Start by sweeping up the neck on both sides, then sweep up from under the jawline. 3. From the chin, sweep from the middle of the chin and over the jawline, up to the earlobe.  4. Sweep the cheekbone on both sides, and then again over the cheekbone, sweeping up towards the hairline. 5. Gently sweep under the eyes - be very gentle on this area as it's quite delicate. 6. Go over the brow area and out towards the hairline, then sweep up and out from the forehead. Our number one tip for Gua Sha's and rollers is to keep them in the fridge or the freezer so they're nice and cooling when you apply them to the skin. It feels so good! What are your favourite beauty techniques and tools? All our love, Miann & Co x

A little baby in a bodysuit is one of the cutest and sweetest looks when the weather gets warmer.  Wether worn alone, or with a beautiful little t-shirt underneath - there is nothing cuter than seeing a pair of chubby little legs running or crawling about in an equally adorable bodysuit! Our favourite bodysuit this season is our Frill Bodysuit in our new season print, Sweet Meadow. This is based off our super popular and sold out Frill Bodysuit last season that came in the Secret Garden print.  This piece is so beautiful it speaks for itself. The frill details really come over the shoulders for the prettiest look, and features a snap closure gusset and buttons down the back for easy dressing. In the same vein as last season, we have brought back our Sleeveless Suits in two new colours - Cornflower and Antique Gingham. Our Sleeveless Suits are super understated, simple and extremely gender neutral piece. It features a fully functional gusset with elastic around the legs for an easy fit. The added functional front placket makes this piece easy to get in for fussy bubs. The newest shape added to our range is our Tie Shoulder Bodysuit. This bodysuit is voluminous and full through the body, with a shirred fabric and an elasticated band around the chest.  This is one of our comfiest shapes to date, the added elastic makes for a beautiful and easy fit, while the tie shoulders can be adjusted as needed while your bub grows! This is only a small selection of the beautiful summer bodysuits we've released this year. With shapes and colours for all babies, you'll want them all!   Which one is your favourite?   All our love,   Miann & Co x

Our Large Softies and Pram Toys are a family favourite. Made from 100% natural cotton fibres, they are beautiful, handmade pieces that are perfect for all children – from babies, to toddlers, to school goers!  Our business was born from our passion for natural fibres and making children happy. When we first set out on our journey 10 years ago, natural fibre toys weren’t a thing. Like all parents, we were concerned with our children’s well-being and safety – after our eldest son flared up with eczema that grew worse when playing with synthetic toys - we couldn’t help but wonder what was in those toys that caused such a reaction, and were they safe for our children to handle? From there, our homegrown, family business was born – with one mission, to educate our community on the benefits of natural fibres.  When you think about children’s toys, you want them to be safe. When they spend so many hours playing with them, you don’t want to have to worry if they happen to put a piece of a toy in their mouths or snuggle down with them in bed at night. We personally choose to not have synthetic fibre toys in our house, why? After researching further into how synthetic fibres were made, we were shocked. Synthetic fibres are made from crude oil – non-renewable fossil fuels that don’t break down, are cheap to produce and are essentially just plastic. If they’re so harmful to the earth by releasing carbon emissions, we wondered what they would do to our little ones – and that is why we made the switch. We design all our Softies in house, in our small office in Geelong, Victoria. When inspiration strikes, we hit the drawing boards and come up with new and beautiful ideas for our much beloved toys. We manufacture them in a small co-op in the Nantong Province in China – we have been working with this factory since our very first soft toy! Our softies are produced in small batches, all made by hand, by a small team of beautiful men and women that we are so proud to work with. Working with a co-op allows the workers to have ethical and flexible working conditions, and the ability to work from home and work around family and farming as needed. But also working with such a small team means we have longer lead times than standard businesses, sometimes up to 9 months between conception of product to having the toys delivered to our warehouse. The handmade nature of our Softies and their all-natural fibres make them unique, heirloom pieces that we hope you and your children pass down for years to come. In unprecedented times, we all turn to the things that comfort us. That could be a favourite movie or television show, a favourite blanket or pillow. For our bubs, when times are tough and they may not understand this new world around them - comfort comes in the form of turning to their imagination, and their toys. We knew our children weren’t alone in this. Lockdown meant not being able to see friends or play the way they used to – and we watched them return to the simpler things. Playing outside, jumping on the trampoline and more, and we wanted to take that beautiful simplicity and help it grow. And from that comes our new line of Softies. With Deers, Bunnies, Monkeys, Dinosaurs, Unicorns and much more, there is a Softie for every child – a beautiful friend to help their imagination thrive. We’d love to hear if any of you still have your soft toys from our earlier releases! All our love, Miann & Co

An unfurling flower, sprouting at the first sign of golden sun. The songbirds calling, the first shaky steps of a newborn lamb. A sweet scent in the air, laneways lined with pink and white blossoms.  With winter behind us, spring waves hello. Needless to say, the desire to dream was strong through the colder months. We dreamt of the works of Monet and Van Gogh, the dreamy French countryside, bright, yellow sunflowers and sprawling gardens. Dreamt of lying in a russet gold field, daydreaming amongst a cloud dappled sky. Nothing reminded us more of Spring and Summer than beautiful, flowy, drapey fabrics and vintage prints. Our new range was born from a desire to bring back our own childhood, to wrap our own little ones in pieces and prints inspired by long days spent exploring the outdoors and long nights spent with friends. With new season colours, like Hazelnut, Maple Sugar & Cornflower Gingham, we hope to invoke in you memories of your favourite warm weather memories. Memories that you can share with your little ones. We hope this range brings you as much joy as it does us. All our love, Miann & Co x 

Wellness, as you can see from our website and socials, is very important to the team here at Miann & Co. We believe the wellness journey isn’t a one and done type thing, rather a whole change of lifestyle that continues for life. An especially big passion of ours is gut health. The gut is linked to so many functions of the body – from taking food from the mouth to the stomach, turning our food into nutrients and energy, then turning our food to wast and sending it out of the body. It’s one of the largest systems in the body and we think maintaining our health through nurturing our guts is super important. Scientists have recently discovered that gut health can be a contributing factor to immunity response, susceptibility to chronic illnesses, mental health and much more. Making small changes to your diet such as consuming more probiotic rich foods, limiting red and processed meats and decreasing dairy and refined sugar intake can be super beneficial to overall gut health. Another way we like to boost our gut health is by adding supplements into our diet. One of our favourite brands is the beautiful Australian company, IMBIBE. IMBIBE was created after founder Felicity Evans was on her own wellness journey after being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. She says herself, ‘IMBIBE was founded with one singular purpose: to offer Next-Generation products that are effective, potent and support women at every stage of life. Our products blend the most cutting-edge innovations in science and bio-active technology to produce a range that is unmatched.’ Keep reading to find out why we love IMBIBE and learn all about our favourite products… IMBIBE Beauty Renewal Beauty Renewal is a probiotic cocktail – perfect for those starting out their gut health journey. Mix 15ml of this fruity liquid with a glass of water in the morning for a boost of 6 billion probiotics to start your day right. Beauty Renewal also comes with the added bonus of creating radiant skin – always a plus! IMBIBE Protect Protect is a great product that directly assists the gut – further helping to stimulate immune function, skin radiance, acne prone skin and free radical damage. Place 2 teaspoons of this into a glass of chilled water for a refreshing, tart berry drink. IMBIBE Miracle Collagen This is a bonus one, but Miracle Collagen is just that – a miracle product to help boost collagen in the body. This product gives a boost to and helps to strengthen hair, skin and nails. It’s completely flavourless and odourless, so you can add it to your morning coffee. How do you supplement your gut health? All our love, Miann & Co x

Being brave comes in many forms – being kind, being supportive and standing up for what’s right. In times like today it seems hard. When every day is so different from the last, and nothing seems certain. As small as they are, as innocent as they may seem sometimes, our little ones are more intuitive than we think. They pick up on so much that we may try to hide or sweep under the rug. We wanted to create pieces for our children that can help bolster their confidence, give them a sense of self-assuredness and strength when times seem tough. From this, our Be Brave Jumper was born - a reminder that although life can sometimes feel tough and overwhelming, there is strength in bravery, strength in finding happiness in rough times.⁠ It’s a big wide world out there and right now we’re living in a brand new one. We hope our new jumper inspires little ones and encourage bravery in a time where things may seem scary – and there’s no better way to do that than with a friend. Our range of bunnies, Kari Koala and our new Deers will all fit our Softie Jumpers – so take a little bravery everywhere you go and match with your favourite soft toy. How do you help your little one keep brave? All our love, Miann & Co

Gone are the days when cloth nappies meant a large square of Terry Cloth held together with safety pins - we are so excited to introduce to you our new Reusable Cloth Nappies! Featuring all new season prints, these nappies can be worn underneath our upcoming Spring/Summer launch as bloomers and are great for everyday use. They feature multiple snap closures to adjust with your bub as they grow. A waterproof and breathable exterior makes these nappies a joy to wear, both for parent and baby.  We'd been using cloth nappies on and off with our daughter since she was born, with every intention to use them until she was toilet trained. But like all busy families, life gets in the way and sometimes your best efforts can fall to the wayside. Daily routines get shaken up, kids start school or kindergarten and sometimes it's just easier to use a disposable nappy. It wasn't until we read some fairly alarming facts on the impact disposable nappies have on our planet that the idea popped into our heads - why weren't we making our own, easier to use and clean nappies? Around 3.75 million disposable nappies are used in Australia and New Zealand - each and every day. It takes a single disposable nappy 150 years to break down - adding to the 67 million tonnes of waste produced by Australian's each year. A baby will use around 2500 disposable nappies in their first year of life alone, the average child will use 7000 disposable nappies before they are toilet trained.  With both the fiscal aspect and ecological impact of switching to reusable cloth nappies heavy on our mind, the choice was easy. And we haven't looked back. Our new Reusable Cloth Nappies come with a synthetic, waterproof nappy cover and two interchangeable bamboo soaker pads. Also available are wet bags in the same four, new-season prints and extra bamboo soaker pads if needed. We truly do love these nappies - they're so easy to use and are so good for your baby and the environment. They're not as bulky as traditional nappies, reducing the load we carry day to day all while being comfortable and cute. Help reduce your family's impact on the environment by making the switch to Reusable Cloth Nappies today! Have you used a cloth nappy before? We'd love to know your thoughts. All our love, Miann & Co x  

 1. You've had a super interesting life - tell us about your childhood, what are some of your favourite memories? I grew up in a small coastal town called Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route in South Africa. My childhood was very typical of a coastal town and we spent a lot of time on the beach with friends. My Grandparents owned a Caravan park which was on the waterfront and I spent a lot of time there during holidays and weekends, on the beach and making new friends with holiday makers. There was only one primary school and no high school and as is the case with most small towns, everybody knew everyone. I went to a small far school in High School and there were about 150 pupils from prep to year 10. It was the best and some of my fondest memories as the classrooms were small and we got a lot of attention and were able to be outdoors a lot chasing cows off the rugby field etc. Back then it was still very safe and as kids we were able to roam free and play in the street or walk to the beach and town, which we did almost everyday. As it was a small town we were never reliant on our parents to get us anywhere as we could walk wherever we wanted to go. I always draw the comparison to Plettenberg Bay being similar to Lorne on the Great Ocean Road. My favourite memories are from summer times when the sun rose early and set late with good weather and spending everyday down the beach. December holidays were always my favourite time of the year as Plettenberg Bay was a favourite Holiday destination and the whole town came alive with holiday makers and events.     2. You spent a lot of your early life travelling, what took you overseas? The first time I went overseas was when I was 23 years old. It was always an ambition of mine since I was very young and I remember watching movies and TV shows that were set in cities such as London, New York, LA etc and always wanted to go there. Growing up my parents did not have much money and overseas travel was never an option, we spent most of our holidays at home or on Caravan holidays close to home. So when the opportunity came for me to go to London in 2001 on a 2 year working holiday Visa I grabbed it with both hands, sold my car and everything I could to get the money together and off I went. My cousin and her husband was in London at the time and a lot of it was made possible by them which I will always be grateful for. This is also where I met Bec on a blind date and we have been together ever since. When I think back now, I don’t think I ever had the ambition to go back to South Africa and in the back of my mind I knew that there were no opportunities waiting for me when I get back. Together we spent just over 5 years in the UK and from here we were able to travel most of Europe. The travel bug bit and the rest is history. Bec always said she was going back to Australia and as our relationship grew over a 5 year period we decided that we would make the move back to Australia together. The opportunity of moving to a different country with Bec was extremely exciting for me and another new adventure. On the way back we spent 3 months traveling South America and have traveled together ever since. We now travel as much as possible and try to do 2-3 overseas trips a year (apart from during these uncertain times with the pandemic where travel is no longer permitted). I am very glad that our kids get to have the travel opportunities that I always wanted and dreamed of as a child and it builds the best memories and experiences we can share as a family. To me there is nothing more exciting than seeing a different country or experiencing a different culture.     3. How did you and Bec first start the business? We started the business back in 2011 after the birth of our middle child. It was just not viable for Bec to go back to work with 2 children at daycare and we also didn’t want the boys to be in care 5 days a week. The reason we started the business was for more flexibility and freedom with the kids. Little did we know that this would not be the case. During the first few years I worked full time and did some work in the business after hours. Bec would be home with the kids and running the business full time. As the business grew she had her hands full with packing orders and designing new ranges and the admin and everything the business demanded whilst looking after the kids and running the house. I worked in Melbourne and the commute was between 1.5 to 2 hours each way by car.  It reached a point where it just wasn’t viable anymore and I hardly saw the kids as they would be asleep when I left for work and when I got home. I eventually found a job closer to home and then managed to get part time work a couple of years later which freed me up to do more in the business. It wasn’t very long after this that the business was able to support both of us full time on minimum wage. It was tough going and most of the money went back into the business to try and grow it. It was then that we realised we were working harder than before with less time for the kids. We did have more flexibility, but the time had to be made up somewhere else. One good thing was that the business has offered us a lot of opportunities to travel over the last few years with the kids while they were little, always combining trips with Trade-fares in Europe, The USA or Asia. Something I will treasure forever as we were able to do it as a family.   4. How do you think your previous jobs help shape Miann & Co today? I started my career in banking after I left school, however the interest or passion was just not there and after about 2 years of hating my job I took a job in hospitality working at a small country Hotel. I loved how varied it was with no one day being the same. I continued with Hospitality in the UK and was able to work my way up from Reception to more stable hours in Reservations and then Revenue Management and also Sales and Marketing. As the positions were so varied I was able to gain a lot of experience in Sales and Marketing, budgets and forecasting etc.     5. Why do you feel so strongly about natural fibres?  Growing up, my Mom made a lot of our clothes as well as her own, she also knitted and crochet. Both my grandmothers also knitted and crochet so I was always surrounded by the idea of making your own clothes. I remember going to fabric and needle work shops with my mom and she would pick out her yarns or fabric.  Thinking back now, there wasn’t such a big emphasis on Natural at all and when she could afford it she would buy 100% cotton, but mostly acrylic yarns were readily available and also much cheaper. I can remember that some of my jumpers were very “scratchy” and irritated my skin when I wore them for extended times due to the synthetic fibres. It wasn’t until I met Bec who has a background in fashion design and after the birth of our first child whom had eczema brought on from synthetic fibres that I realised the importance of natural fibres and how limited choices were when it came to toys and clothing. It’s changed a lot over the years, but when we started the business there really wasn’t much around and hence we decided to start producing with natural fibres and 100% cotton in particular due to its hypoallergenic properties and also that it breathes so much better and is better for your skin all round. It is also much better for the environment which is something that Bec and I are very passionate about and has always been very important throughout our business and personal journey.    6. Did you always know that you wanted kids? Yes, I could always see myself having kids and have always loved babies. I can still remember when Bec told me she was pregnant with our first child. Even though times were tough back then and we could barely support ourselves, the excitement took over and I couldn’t wait to be a dad.   7. You have now had a third child, how was that?  Yes, number 3 is our little girl. We have a big gap between the two boys whom are now 10 and 12 and Coco whom just turned 3. I think we both forgot how much hard work babies and toddlers are, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. It is such a joy to once again be able to experience life through the eyes of a 2 or 3 year old and share all of those first time experiences again. There is something so beautiful about seeing Coco navigate her way through the first few years of life taking it all in and the excitement of experiencing something for the first time. It is so special how much joy kids can bring to your life and how happy they are about the smallest little things. It teaches you a lot about being greatfull for absolutely everything you have.   8. What’s your favourite thing about being a dad? My favourite thing about being a dad is having someone depend on me and being able to make them happy and seeing the joy on their faces. I love the excitement that kids bring and they certainly make for the best and most entertaining conversations. I love being able to spend time with them on the weekends and spoiling them with pancakes, French toast or something special for breakfast. I also love giving them new and exciting experiences such as travelling and being able to share all of this with them.   9.  What has been the hardest part of your parenting journey?  When they are sick or upset, it is definitely the hardest. Trying to protect them form the harshness of the world we currently live in and are surrounded by and teaching them to navigate some of the negativity out there. It is always hard for me to to see any child struggle at something.   10. What is your favourite thing to do with your family?  Again, traveling. Whether it be abroad or just somewhere close, it is the best times we get to spend together and experience something different and new. It all boils down to doing something together and being able to spend quality time together.   11. What does an average day look like for you? No day is ever the same and everyday seems to be busy. At the moment I am working from home and doing remote learning with the boys which has been great in a way as I get to spend more time with them, but everyday starts with Coco as her and I are generally the first two out of bed. Everyday starts with a coffee for me and a hot chocolate for Coco with some quality time on the couch. It is after this that the craziness Strats and the house turns into a circus with having to get the three kids ready for school and daycare. Bec and I generally work in the Miann & Co office together 3 days a week as Coco goes to Daycare. Thursdays and Fridays we take turns to work from home with her and these days are filled with work, cleaning the house, washing and everything else you don’t get to during the week. We don’t have any family or support around, so we have had to learnt to manage on our own and in some cases this has made us a closer family as we all rely on each other. Our lives are very busy with running the business and home life in general, but it is also very rewarding.   12. How do you juggle home and work-life? I wouldn’t call it juggling as there is always another ball being thrown in there. I think I have more of a fake it till you make it approach. You just have to do what you have to do. I take everyday as it comes and I am not a very good planner, luckily for me Bec is! It’s hard to switch off when at home and because Bec and I both work in the business we always have work to discuss or when one wants to switch off the other is ready to go, but it all works out in the end. Splitting time between the office and home is hard as we don’t have family support around, but we always make it work, we have to. We are also fortunate enough to have a great team at work who pride themselves in what they do and no task is ever too big. This certainly helps a lot.  Watch our interview with Terry & the Kids here: 

Pregnancy & Postpartum are two of the most delicate and special seasons of life. A time when you're adjusting to a growing body, then one healing from giving birth. A time when you're caring for a special, new life that was created by your very own body. It can be hard, and also incredibly rewarding at the same time.  It's important to remember during this time that the care you give to your newborn should also be applied to yourself. Wether that be skipping a load of laundry in favour of getting some sleep, or lathering your skin in a nourishing moisturiser. Take some time to let yourself heal and rest. Below, you'll find 8 beautiful products to help you through this time. Pregnancy • Modibodi Maternity Brief Specially cut to sit under a growing belly, these underwear are designed for pregnancy. Comfortable, good for the environment and your body to help with any pregnancy leaks. • Hermosa Pregnancy Soak This is a beautiful cruelty free and vegan soak that soothes pregnancy aches and pains with a combination of magnesium, Himalayan salt and peppermint oil. Add to your back and soak away.   • Weleda Stretch Mark Massage Oil This beautiful blend helps to prevent stretch marks, keep natural skin tone and skin resilience before and after pregnancy. • Weleda Perineum Massage Oil Massage this beautiful oil into the perineum area 3-4 times a week to improve skin elasticity and flexibility with the aim to reduce tearing or the need for an episiotomy.  Postpartum • Hermosa Postpartum Sitz Soak Rich with magnesium, immerse yourself in this gorgeous cruelty free & vegan blend, and take a few minutes out for yourself. Even better, this soak may help to stimulate your blood flow, fight infection, heal tears, and reduce swelling. Don't use while pregnant. • Reusable Cotton Pads These 100% cotton pads are a great eco alternative to regular breast pads. Soft and gentle on the skin, these are slim and discrete and fit well in a nursing bra. • Weleda Nipple Care Cream Highly moisturising and protective ointment that helps to prepare for breastfeeding and provides relief from cracked and sore nipples that can occur when feeding your bubba. • BodyICE For the perineum and breast area, these strips can be used to pre and post pregnancy for relief on bodily aches and pains. Use hot or cold. What are your favourite products for this special time? All our love, Miann & Co x

Have you ever struggle with not knowing what to wear, despite an overflowing wardrobe and too many clothes to count? We’ve all been there. Odd are time and time again you grab for your favourite dress, or pair of jeans and a classic shirt – the same thing you’ve worn before but always feel great in. What if there was a way you could condense your wardrobe, leaving behind only things that make you feel good. Things that will always make you feel beautiful and put together. Good news, there is! It’s called the Capsule Wardrobe, and honestly, it’s made getting dressed in the morning so simple (meaning more time for sleeping in!) Capsule wardrobes are just that – a small collection of clothing consisting of basic pieces that can all be paired together to make a complete outfit. They can consist of any number of clothing, but the general rules are: quality over quantity, timeless staple pieces and finally, items that make you feel good. So how do you start on making your own capsule wardrobe? We’ll talk you through it. What's Your Style? You might have a strong idea of your style, or the style you want to have. You might have no idea how you want to dress. This is where social media comes in handy. Find someone who's style you like, what do you admire about them? What is it about their style that you like? Use Pinterest and Instagram to pin and save posts respectively of things you like, style you admire and ways you want to dress. Once you've compiled a healthy board, condense it down to the things you really like to truly pinpoint your style. Go Through Your Wardrobe Start by sorting everything into piles. As a general rule, I have a few piles. Keep (clothes you absolutely love, clothes that match the style you've pinpointed as above), Donate (clothes that are still in good condition that someone else will love), Repair (clothes that may have a split in the seams or a missing button that can be repaired) and Throw (clothing beyond repair). Maybe you have pieces left in there you haven’t worn in years, or things that don’t fit you anymore, things that maybe you hate. This is a sign to give them away. Those pieces you love but haven’t worn due to a busted seam or broken zip? Pull up YouTube and watch a tutorial on how to repair your clothing. If it can be repaired, it’s still good, don’t give up on those – keep or donate as you wish. Before you throw irreparable clothing in the bin, consider friends or family that may have a scrap fabric pile or collect buttons and zips for repurposing. This is a super important step in making sure things don't go to waste and contribute further to the fashion industry waste. Sort, Sort, Sort From the pile of clothes you love, start sorting through them. It's in this that you'll see if there's any gaping holes and pieces you'll need in the style you're trying to achieve. You'll also be able to sort through really seasonal items - items that get stored away when the weather turns cold, or alternatively when the weather gets warm. You wouldn't keep coats out for Summer, and you wouldn't have your shorts out for Winter. Set your basic pieces to one side. This could include basic tops like singlets and long sleeves, your favourite pair of jeans - essentially all the staples of your new style. The Shopping List Once you've sorted, you can start listing the things you don't have - but keep it seasonal. Capsule wardrobe's are meant to be developed over time, as you need the pieces, so don't go out and splurge.  If it's coming up to summer, and you find that you are lacking in t-shirts, invest in those rather than another pair of denim shorts when you already have them.  As the seasons change, you can add the staples you need to the wardrobe. Also know that it's fine if you find a piece you really love that you think you'll get a lot of wear out of that may not necessarily fall in line with your style. Some capsule wardrobe users will allow themselves to purchase one or two new seasonal items every few months. Final Tips The most important part of a capsule wardrobe is that it shouldn't feel restrictive. Underwear, socks, bras etc are not included, so feel free to add those and take away as you wish.  If you are intrigued by the idea of a capsule wardrobe, we've created one of our own that really sings to our personal style. We'd love to hear your thoughts! For more information, we've linked a few resources that have really helped us in our journey: - The Anna Edit's YouTube Series She has lots of great info on how to incorporate seasonal style into your capsule wardrobe. - Bestdressed's Travel Wardrobe This is a fun take on a capsule wardrobe experiment while travelling, and the pros and cons. - Caroline Rector's Blog Caroline has many great printables and advice on how to being your own capsule wardrobe. Does a capsule wardrobe appeal to you? We'd love to know if it does! All our love, Miann & Co x