Lately, I've been getting into podcasts - like ALOT! I'm pretty late to the game on this but finding time bymyself to listen to audio with a newborn proved difficult. As Luna is a bit older now, I've been listening to podcasts when I walk her in the pram and when I pick up Lola from school. During Isolation, I also listened to podcasts whilst doing personal deliveries for our SuperCool community! So I've found a few podcasts I've really been loving and wanted to share them with you all.

1. The Grace Tales - Georgie Abay host, editor + author of The Grace Tales website / online mag interviews some diverse mainly Aussie people covering all sorts of topics related to motherhood: i.e. Parenting, post-natal depletion, how to stop people pleasing, mindfulness and transformation, sisterhood and birth order! Fave's are: Jacqui Lewis, Teresa Palmer & Caitlin Cady. 

2. Lady Start Up - Mama Mia presents all sorts of inspiring women who have begun biz's. My fave interview thus far has been the creator of Canva, "Melanie Perkins". 

3. Second Life - Created by Hillary Kerr of Who What Wear and based in LA, this podcast interviews mainly Americans who have pivoted from one career to another.  Some of my faves have been Miranda Kerr, Justina Blakeney, Reese Witherspoon and Cindy Crawford on their respective changes from one career to another. 

4. Jumbled Loves a Chat - Pip has some great convo's with inspiring women from many different industries but mainly small biz about their lives and lessons learned! Fave's have been Phoebe from Sage + Clare, Rachel Castle, Jane Cay from Birdsnest. 

5. Imprint by Natalie Walton - Natalie has curated a gentle, inspiring bunch of women who have chosen to lead a slower, quieter life. She shares their stories as to why and how. Faves have been Courtney Adamo & Emma Lane. 

6. Offline - Alison Rice interviews a variety of people with Instagram profiles but likes to peel the layers behind their edited persona.  She interviews experts on sleep, facing fears, post-natal depression, human design, Ayurveda and what success means to them. Faves have been Kelly Muller, Pip Edwards, Deborah Hutton and Jacyln Michelle. 

I'm discovering new podcasts all the time, so I will edit this list as I find more that I dig but if you have any you recommend, please share! 

Setting the mood.... so important for creating the right vibe for the whole casa!

(Particularly at the moment in Isolation!)

Come 6:30-7ish, I put lamps on & turn off all bright lights... I have our diffusor going throughout the day so the house smells amazing and often burn candles 🕯 at night when the kiddies are asleep to relax our parental bodies!!

The oils I love to use are listed below:

1. Upper Oil - great for mornings, focus + homeschooling, getting it done! Upper oil has woody + citrus oils which make it grounding + uplifting! Boom 💥

2. Centre Oil - perfect for baths, chilling, night time wind down... (pure lavender: so its super relaxing!) Great for calming tantrumy kids!

3. Downer Oil - great to put on your feet + wrists before meditation, yoga or bed! The ultimate mix of relaxing oils inc Patchouli + Sandalwood (my faves)

4. Australian Native: Eucalyptus & Acacia
Wanna feel energised & also like you live in the bush? This oil is super uplifting but also fresh & a lil slice of “home”.

Click here to check them out...

 

PART 3: TEACHERS 

Like many of you, Noonie & I have been trying to think of ideas to share the love (in a small but helpful way) for those affected by this Virus! We have decided to be inspired by one of our fave movies: Pay It Forward! 

So for the third in this instalment we are going to Pay It Forward for those who are working with challenging circumstances with homeschooling: Teachers! Presented with new technology and ways to educate our kids, Teachers are really flexing their creativity muscles at the moment. We want to honour them for doing a great job in these times. 

So if you know an incredible teacher, please nominate them via this email with the below. 

1. Their full name & contact email address or school name & contact email address. 

2. Your name & email 

4. A lil message from you to them 

We will pick THREE TEACHERS at random and contact them to let them know that you have nominated them to win this SuperCool gift with your message. 

3 Teachers will WIN $100 worth of Gift Vouchers: $50 from us and $50 from our friends at Jones & Co (the home of the rad face vases and one of our beloved brands we work with!)

Just in case you were wondering, we will NOT add your email or their email to our mailing list (this is legit - we're not trying to scam anyone!) 

So let's share the love and reward these special people helping our community!

If you like this idea & are a business who wants to partner up with us, we'll be doing a new version of this every week for the moment! Contact us here... 

If you're following this on instagram: the hashtag is #payitforwardsupercoolstyle

Nominations Close Sunday 17 May.  

Winners will be notified directly on Sunday 17 May (evening) + announced on Instagram!

BRAND NAME: Mr Kitly x Decor

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS: Since Dec 2010

DESCRIBE MR KITLY IN 3 WORDS:  A shop upstairs

HOW DID THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN DECOR & MR KITLY BEGIN?  I reached out to Decor a few years ago as I was a long term fan of the design,  from way back in the 80s and 90s I remember seeing them in my Grandma’s house and greenhouse. I wanted to reintroduce that enduring and classic design to the current generation of indoor plant fans.

WAS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT IS MADE IN MELBOURNE?  That they are made in Melbourne is truly a great bonus. I mean, how great that such a well made and iconic design has been made in a Melbourne factory since the 80s and it is still so. In general though I am city agnostic in may ways, what is equally important to me is that the production process is transparent and all of the people involved in bringing the product about are working in good conditions. Though the very short ‘plant pot miles’ involved in transporting this particular product is pretty ace. 

WHAT HAS THE RESPONSE BEEN LIKE SINCE YOU LAUNCHED THIS? Overwhelming positive! It’s really great to see the love for them and to see how plant fans have embraced them as part of  their indoor gardens, carefully selecting plants and colours.

WE PERSONALLY HAD BLACK THUMBS & SINCE USING THE SELF WATERING POTS HAVE BECOME GREEN THUMBS! WE GET A LOT OF CUSTOMERS SAYING THE SAME THING. WAS IT A BYPRODUCT OF CREATING SUCH A SIMPLE IDEA OR STRATEGIC?  That’s nice to hear! That’s down to well thought out design, the original designer, Richard Carlson was a highly respected designer and he worked with horticulturalists to refine the design.

YOU'VE AUTHORED A BOOK - LIVING WITH PLANTS - HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE EXPLOSION OF INDOOR PLANTS INDUSTRY?  It’s really interesting to see the popularity of indoor plants grow and grow - when we opened in 2010 it was a bit left of field and it took quite a bit of effort and research to seek out growers specialising in indoor plants.  Since then it has exploded absolutely, which is great because it’s really nice to think that indoor plants have regained their place proudly in so many homes again. Heartwarming. 

WHAT'S NEXT FOR MR KITLY? ANYMORE COLLABORATIONS? WILL WE SEE MORE COLOURS/SHAPES OF THE SELF WATERING POTS?   Yes for sure, new collections will be on the drawing board I am sure!

Check out the ace range of Mr Kitly x Decor Self Watering Pots here.