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How I Spent My Birthday: A Day in the Life of Me

by Chavah Kinloch on June 12, 2010

So I’m officially 26 today! I’ve had a great day. I haven’t done anything exciting, it’s just another regular day but I have to say; the birthday wishes that have rolled in all day have totally made my day.

The day started early. We headed out to treat the kids to McDonald’s for breakfast. Totally unhealthy, I know, but they loved it. The day actually started with all of us sitting in the car in the dark, waiting for the AA guy to jumpstart the car because the kids left the lights on last night, even though I specifically said to them last night TWICE to make sure the light was switched off. Hmmm… no ears much?

We headed straight to kindergarten and school after breakfast. Davis took his Rugby trohpy with him to show the other kids, he was player of the day on Saturday. His face was so cute when it was announced. He’s learning how to write his name. This is big stuff!

Boston and I headed home. He played with my presents; a huuuge canvas, some much needed paint and some perfume I’ve been asking for for the past 2 years. Woo hoo! Well done to my hubby. Then we chilled and watched The Biggest Loser, our morning show lol and the little guy headed for his first nap.

While he sleeps I usually tidy up. Mornings cause chaos in our house.

Then it was time for a friend to pop by and drop his car off for the weekend. He’s off to help out his pregnant sister. We drop him off at the airport and run a few other errands. We head back home because I forgot something and stop by the video store to drop off our overdue DVD’s. Oops. We arrive home to notice a courier card on the doorstep. We JUST missed him, he drove past us. Totally bummed. We pick up our gear again and grab the ticket to collect the parcel while we’re out but first stop at the bank. Only in country towns will you find muddy gumboots greeting you at the door to your bank hehe. Next we head to the courier place. The WRONG courier place…Please note: READ your courier call cards lol. Head over to the right place and they can’t locate the item…awesome. I leave my number and they call me later in the day when I’m too busy to come back. Last stop is at the dairy. I really wanted a drink with some flavour. Davis and I are sick :(

Home again, time to let the little guy cause some damage while I do some laundry. Unload the dryer, load the dryer, load the washing machine and fold a few batches of laundry already cleaned and waiting for me to give a damn. I don’t mind though, they’re just towels and blankets. I have to fold the towels. I’m slowly teaching everyone in the house how to fold them to keep their uptight Mother/Wife happy. They just leave it to me though, I asked for it right? After they’re put away the little guy is still happy so I begin sketching on my new huge canvas.

I take a few breaks and put some music on for Boston and I to dance to. He looooves dancing. It also works great to help with the creative flow.

Time for lunch! Not before I change a stank as nappy. Boston and I switch on Rachael Ray on Freeview channel 8. I love channel 8; everything’s on an hour later. I also finally turn my phone on to check the text messages I’ve had come through for my birthday. Spend a couple of minutes replying. Love you guys!

Boston goes down for his afternoon nap. I can’t believe how good he’s being, he’s fought his naptime for the past month. I take advantage of the quiet time and get back to sketching.

Davis finishes kindy and is home again. He’s looking pretty tired so I put on Kidzone and he watches the Wiggles. Boston wakes up and needs cuddles so we all hang out together. Usually the boys like to share their afternoon tea together but today they settle for pretending to type on the spare keyboard. They’re happy so I carry on creating until the last two arrive home from school.

Now it’s chaos time. First we all have afternoon tea together then out comes the paper, the pens, the toys, the leftover lunches, the shoes get kicked off and crumbs nestle into the carpet. No homework today though, thankfully, seeing as it’s Friday. Instead the kids relax watching T.V. while catching me up on their adventures for the day. Then everyone settles into their own little hobby. Drawing, exerting energy outside while the sun’s still out, playing with their latest creation; binoculars in this case. Davis comes over and we talk while he watches me paint for a little while. He’s looking really tired now so I suggest he goes and rests, he replies “No, I’m watching.”. I later find him crashed out on the beanbag. Almost everyone that visits has fallen asleep on there. Vahnija shows me her new ‘magic trick’. I explain to her about friction and static electricity. She asks me questions I can’t answer, as usual.

I’m back at my easel, determined to get this base coat completely done. All the kids are back inside now, it suddenly started raining. Andrew arrives home not long after and has shown up with groceries for his birthday dinner he was planning for me. I carry on painting while the kids jump around the living room. Davis sleeps right through it all. Dinner finishes cooking. I finish painting at the same time. Feeling pretty pleased with myself.

Dinner was pesto and cream cheese stuffed chicken with baby carrots and garlic and black pepper mash. He served up way too much, I’m sure it’ll make a great lunch tomorrow. Now it’s bedtime, the kids get themselves ready and we have a few little talks before we exchange our routine big kisses, cuddles and I love you’s. They head off. I do more laundry. I’ve almost managed to restock the linen cupboard again. There’s still another load waiting for me. Joy.

I walk back in to the living room. Wow. Really? One more clean up and I call it a night. I ask Andrew to shake out the rug so I can vacuum. Somehow I get lucky and he ends up vacuuming. I don’t complain.

Then I blog.

And now I’m tired. I hope you enjoyed your day as much as I did. Told you I didn’t do anything special but I really did enjoy myself doing it.

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Successful Sunday’s: Interview with Louisa and Heidi of Belly Beyond

by Chavah Kinloch on May 9, 2010

Heidi and Louisa are the masterminds behind the online store Belly Beyond. Seeing a need in the market for a place where new and expecting parents could purchase items that were both quality and affordable, knowing the two didn’t have to be mutually exclusive,  these two friends set about working on their dream in 2008 and have managed to create a  multi-award winning business. 100% NZ owned and operated, they say they are quickly becoming known for their crazy sale prices on designer brands. Hear that, designer brand sales! Oh yes, please. Be sure to check out their website and don’t forget to visit their blog; where they’re currently holding a not-so-ordinary month long challenge much like one I mentioned in Blog Idol 2. If you know what I’m talking about, I bet your smiling. Head on over and join in!

How would you describe yourself?

Two halves of one whole. We work incredibly well together and bring different skills to the business which means we naturally gravitated into our roles and don’t fall over each other in the same tasks. That we were best friends before we started the business has been a huge advantage and we really do enjoy going to work every day!

What inspired you to do what you do?

Neither Heidi nor I wanted to have to go back working for someone else and knew that we wanted to do something that could be run from home, at least initially. We had been quite restricted in our previous roles and were looking for an outlet for our ideas and creativity. Our very first product was just one large bag, filled with newborn necessities, but we quickly realised it would never become a business that would support us both. We noticed there were a lot of online baby sites either with a really budget mentality in shopping experience, product or service or if they were boutique focused, their range was incredibly restricted. We wanted to bridge that gap and bring quality essentials together at great prices.

What would be your best advice for someone wanting to go into business for themselves?

Just start! Work on your business ideas little and often and if you keep at it a business plan will form. Be aware that working for yourself takes commitment and dedication and it’s by no means the easy option.

How do you handle all your different responsibilities, what are your priorities?

How do we handle our responsibilities? We don’t! We seem to have a never-ending to do list and rarely get time out from the business. During peak times we work close to 80 hours a week each but we still wouldn’t trade it for a 9 to 5 office job. We try to ensure we have time out with the kids every day and some family time on the weekend.

Any goals for the future?

Plenty! It’s a matter of prioritising which ones to attack first. Bigger picture goals though are for the short term to grow the business and for the long-term it’s to get a much more reasonable work-life balance.

Tell us a little bit about your family and relationship, if you’re in one:

We both have incredibly supportive husbands and two children each. Louisa has a two year old and one starting school next month, Heidi has a 14 year old and a 1 year old. It’s definitely a family affair, from our husbands domestic skills to their business advice and our parents help with the kids we are a close knit bunch and being best friends adds to the dynamics.

Biggest life lesson?

Treasure your family and friends. Everything you may be working hard for is empty if you haven’t got special people to share it with.

Biggest lesson you’ve learned in business?

Know the difference between business friends and friends in business. The majority of people genuinely want you to succeed and in general we would say embrace your competition as they can be your biggest motivator.

What do you do on the hard days, we all encounter them:

We are lucky that we have each other to bounce off and vent to on those hard days, it would be very different and lonely if it wasn’t a partnership.

Our husbands are a great source of advice as well, business men in their own right they often show us another angel to look at things when we can only see the down side.

How do you relax?

Funnily enough we relax by talking business on the phone and when we hang out with the kids. Louisa relaxes with social media time and Heidi loves to shoot stuff!

Share with us your favourite quote:

If someone creates waves for you – get your surfboard and start surfing!

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Attention Bloggers

by Chavah Kinloch on March 31, 2010

Do you have a creative blog? If you’re interested in exchanging links shoot me an email. Ideally you’ll have a blog that you post on at least four times a week, email me once you have added my link and I will add yours. Be quick, spots are limited.

I look forward to hearing from you!


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I Get the Feelin

by Chavah Kinloch on February 19, 2010

That no mater how hard I try I will never get this song out of my head hehehe. It has been stuck in my head for two days now so I’m sharing it with the rest of you so you can sing along. I do LOVE this song though so that’s a bonus. I figured today I’d like to share a little homegrown kiwi music with you in the likes of David Dallas. This first song is called I Get the Feelin and the second is Big Time, unfortunately I can’t share all the songs I think you should hear so just google him or type in his name to you tube for some extras :) .

I think if you wanted to you could listen to all his songs and love them.

I remember the exact moment I first heard David’s music. Andrew and I were dropping our friend Dayne home and were talking about how David had just started recording his own songs.  Dayne had a CD of the songs so we put it on and rocked it. Before that I’d only ever heard him rhyming in the garage hehehe.

Anyway, for your entertainment and your introduction to kiwi music here’s David Dallas. You can also find him over here on his blog.  Big Time was recently featured on Kanye West’s blog. How cool is that?

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