Getting Ready for Babies with Matraea

With the babies due any day now, I have been really trying to relax and keep my feet up as much as possible. Relaxing has been a difficult concept for me to grasp, as I'm constantly on the go - but I had to listen to my body this last month of pregnancy.

Self-care is so crucial, especially now as we prepare for the arrival of our twins. A long hot shower, watching your favourite movie you haven't seen in years, even something as basic as making a cup of tea in the afternoon has become a new ritual that I  truly look forward to. Being on bedrest has been very enlightening and has made me realize that it's OK to take care of yourself.

I've recently discovered Matraea and all of the amazing products they offer to mothers both during pregnancy and post birth. All of their teas and creams are made up of organic ingredients with the intention of nourishing a woman's growing body. 

My favourite time of the day has been early afternoon when I could sit back and relax with a cup of the Energizing Iron Mama Tea. I have always loved peppermint flavoured teas and this one was no exception. It has a robust flavour without the added caffeine. I'd bring up a big pot of water and just keep refilling my mug as I kept my poor swollen feet up.

The Blooming Baby Belly Tea has also been great in these last few weeks, as my due date quickly approaches. It's a great way to naturally prepare your body for birth, as raspberry leaf tea is believed to strengthen your pelvic floor & assist in breastmilk supply.

At night, my belly would be so sore & red (ah, the joys of pregnancy!). I would rub Matraea's Radiant Belly Butter all over and immediately feel relief. The texture is different than your average belly butter, and a little bit goes a long way. It also smells delicious, which is something I've struggled with in the past with other products. I also have incredibly sensitive skin but one glance-over the ingredients, I knew this wouldn't aggravate my skin!

Tell me, are you pregnant? Why not prepare for baby (or babies!) with some organic products to help you transition into motherhood! Try these & other Matraea products, available online or at any Snuggle Bugz location near you!

Although Snuggle Bugz were kind enough to send me these products, all opinions & images are my own.

Thanks for reading!

xo

L.

#SalaganHome Guest Bedroom/Office: Part 1

Well, we're officially in our new home and things are moving fast! I feel like the month of March just whizzed right by us, as we spent most of our nights and weekends slowly moving our stuff over to the new house. It's been a very tiring few weeks.

While we have big plans for all of the rooms, the first space we had to tackle was the Guest Bedroom / my home office. Our twins will be here before we know it and we will have a lot of guests coming in from Windsor - so this room was first on our list!

I was immediately inspired by THIS post by Jillian Harris and knew this was the direction I wanted to go in terms of design. The airiness of this space, the metal framed bed, the fresh white linens - I wanted to basically duplicate this room.

Knowing that this room also has to double as my home office, I have to get creative with the floor plan. Considering this is what I do for a living, this will hardly be a challenge. I am more excited to have actual windows in my working space now!

The empty space - look at all of that LIGHT! 

We already have a double mattress & frame but were in need of a headboard & footboard. I started to look online and while I found some pretty affordable options (like THIS one & THIS one!), I knew I could find one cheaper secondhand. I scoured Kijiji and LetGo for weeks until I found the one. A very random find in Blenheim, Ontario!

A little matte black spray paint & I'll have the look for $30!! I live for a good deal.

I picked up THIS bedding from Ikea - something fresh & airy and easy to wash, which will pair nicely with THESE pillows from Tonic Living. You can never go wrong with classic black & white ticking!

So there's a little update on our Guest Bedroom / Office. I'm so looking forward to seeing how everything will come together - stay tuned for more updates as I'm going to document as much as I can throughout this move. Make sure to follow me on Instagram to see all of the behind the scenes as well :)

Thanks for reading!

xo

L.

LIFE AS A FREELANCER

I’ve been fortunate enough to run my own business as a freelance Designer since 2013. Never in a million years did I think that this is what I would be doing, but I’m so glad that I am! I didn’t expect to be working for myself so quickly when I first moved to Toronto, but I instantly learned that being a freelancer is the new normal here. In just 3 short years I’ve been able to work for several talented Designers within the GTA.

I’ve created this list of my best tips on how to succeed, flourish as a small business owner and gain a slew of new clients!

1. Create your business identity – I know it’s such a cliche thing to say, but understanding your identity before you venture off is crucial for your business. Who are you? What is your business? What do you stand for? What types of services can you provide? These are just some of the questions you should ask yourself as a business owner. Once you’ve established your identity, make your presence known through the use of social media & networking to get your name out there.

2. Charge what you’re worth – Freelancers either charge what they’re worth or they don’t. Most often, they don’t. When you’re first starting out, it’s difficult to gauge your worth. This knowledge comes with experience, talent and exposure. Once you establish yourself and are confident in your talent, re-evaluate your rates & charge accordingly. There is absolutely nothing wrong with increasing your rates every year or so, as long as you have the talent & knowledge to back it up.

3. The Power of ‘No’ – If you are far too busy for another client at the moment, it is completely ok to tell people ‘No’. This was very hard for me to do the first couple of years. Naturally, I’m a people-pleaser. And when your name is on the line, you don’t want to disappoint your clients. However, it’s not healthy to burn yourself out. So if you have too much on your plate, take a step back and prioritize your clients & take on the jobs you feel best reflect you and your brand.

4. Social Media Social Media Social Media! – Using social media can connect you to potential clients and partners within your community. I cannot tell you the amount of Designers who have personally messaged me on Instagram looking for assistance with miscellaneous design work. Post photos of your work, use tons of hashtags and tag your clients. Businesses, especially Interior Designers use social media every day to showcase their work, so use all platforms to get your name out there!

5. Plan your days ahead – I spend my Monday mornings planning for the week ahead. I check all emails from the weekend, look at projects that require immediate attention and schedule any meetings throughout the week. Carving that time out every week keeps me sane, and allows me to take control of my schedule. While planning, I make sure I balance my time evenly between all of my clients so everyone is happy.