Friends

Q1: Tell us a bit about your job/business?
Stem design is a full floral styling business. We work on weddings, events and help decorate unique parties with flowers.
I started the business five years ago, as a hobby, and three years ago, decided to try and make something more of it.
I also have a secondary business called the botanist, which is a retail florist and plant shop. It also stocks small pieces of furniture, vases, homewares and treats. We are just about to have our first birthday.
I am the creative director of Stem design. I also oversee the administration side of both businesses and dabble in the financials from time to time, when I need to.
I am the head florist at Stem and silent support for the florists at our secondary business. They are so wonderful, I don’t need to do much over there at all.

Q2: What does a typical day look like for you?
A 6am start. Off to my flower suppliers until about 8am most days. Then onto the computer for half of the day, sending quotes out, updating details in clients folders and planning flower orders and logistics for any work we have the following week. I then help create and set up and flowers installations that may be on for that particular day, with my staff. Late afternoons and into the evening, I usually meet with couples and corporate clients to talk about their upcoming events. Then I trundle home and either think about cooking or switch on the box to turn my brain off for the day! I am very lucky and have an incredibly hard working and supportive partner that often cooks for me, when I have a late day, so after catching up with each other and eating, we will squish a movie in and head to bed. The bonus of working for myself though, is that I can switch my days around to suit what I have on both at work and at home. It makes for very full days but enjoyable ones.

Q3: If you got to choose, who would you select as a Mentor either in life or professionally and why do they inspire you?
I look to my friends as life mentors. They are all wonderful parents and hardworking fun loving people. They constantly remind me that life is not just about work and that the simple things are always the best things.
Professionally I would love a mentor that has the work/life balance down pat, whilst maintaining a profitable business at the same time. I admire woman that have families and work towards their professional goals as well.

Q4: Do you routinely take time out (for yourself) to rejuvenate or practice some kind of self-care?
To be honest, not really. My monthly massage, since being pregnant has been the most wonderful self time. I had to force myself to schedule it in but I am so glad that I have done that.
It is definitely something I need to do. I thought I would not have time to fit in time out during the working week and when people told me that you have to make time, I thought that was a load of rubbish. How can you make time, when you have no extra time in a week? But I know now, that you can make time.

Q5: If the opportunity presented, what advice would you give to your younger self?
To make more of an effort with friends and family, even when work can be crazy and life is busy. Those things can come and go but your friends and family are eternal and those relationships need nourishing.

Q6: What was the last Google search you did?
My baby at 35 weeks.

Q7: Favourite eats (either at home or out-and-about)?
At home – My husbands ham and lentil cassoulet.
Out and about favourite eats would have to be any authentic Italian I can get my hands on!

Q8: Next holiday or dream destination?
A long weekend on the Sunshine Coast in June. Seaside in winter is the best! Moody waters and skies, whilst being wrapped up in soft fluffy clothes and eating fish and chips on the beach. I can’t think of anything better!

Q9: Book or music recommendation?
Music recommendation would have to be Dave Matthews Band. Absolutely amazing and worth venturing through all of their albums.

Q10: Any exciting plans in store for 2016?
Becoming a mummy! April will bring a new little angel into my life. I think that will definitely keep me busy!

Q1 – Tell us a bit about your job?

I have the best job in the world, I get to work with expectant parents and mothers and babies, strengthening their bodies and encouraging them in their precious roles. I’m a women’s health/ pelvic floor physiotherapist, a Pilates instructor and Childbirth Educator. Teaming up with Lisa at Mummy & Co has been magic. She invests so much delight in people and I love the caring attitude of the business.

Q2 What does a typical day look like?

I’m sure I won’t be the first person to say that I don’t have typical days, every day is a ‘fly by the seat of the pants thriller’ to care for family and for patients.
However most days include a morning juggle of kid’s lunch boxes (with dietary restrictions), before school training or musical endeavours, a couple of morning school runs, Mums and Bubs Pilates, patients with a mix of pregnancy or birth related pains and injuries, pelvic floor rehabilitation and sexual health and then after school music, homework wars, dinner and then often there is something on at night

Q3 – Who would you choose as your Mentor in life or professionally and why do they inspire you?

I don’t have to choose, my mentor in life is my mum. She raised five kids in extraordinary circumstances, inspired us to cherish each other and she was a Domestic Violence counsellor. Mum taught me that to love babies, you need to love their mothers. On the professional side, one of the physios I worked for in my early years in private practice was a life changer. His clear thinking and thorough approach whet my love for the ‘detective side’ of physiotherapy. He has gone on to dizzying heights, including becoming Australia’s first forensic physio. Though, if I could teleport myself anywhere and lap up professional knowledge, I would spend a year with world renowned obstetrician and researcher Michael Odent.

Q4 – Do you routinely take time out (for yourself) to rejuvenate or practice some form of self-care?

Haha the best question! Do I routinely take time out. Yes, though with four kids, sometimes the routine has wide gaps! My husband and I try to get up before the kids and spend 30 minutes together praying for our families and friends, or before we get stuck on devices at night time try and take that intentional time together. For both of us, the best self care is building our friendship and intimacy as a couple. The deliriously happy picture of me is our recent night away in Maleny. My personal soul food is a good book, though mental health requires regular exercise for me!

Q5 Advice to my younger self ?

“I love you, warts and all. Don’t try and hold it together, accept the love your friends and husband want to give you”

Q6 Last Google search I did?

What’s the difference between preservation and conservation?

Q7 Favourite eats?

So many! Two that spring to mind are: freshly picked and cooked corn on the cob from the garden dripping with butter and pepper, and, the sand crab lasagne at Bardon’s Lutece is worth an annual pilgrimage!!

Q8 – Next holiday coming up?

(That) is our biennial family reunion. My mother’s hard work paid off, we all can’t wait to spend time together. My parents, the five of us siblings and all our spouses and kids crammed into a massive house in Hat Head ready for a week of fabulous beachside fun and delicious food.

Q9 – Book or music recommendations?

Too many! Though last year I finally read the classic “Cry the Beloved Country” by Alan Paton, and apart from sobbing, my soul said ‘yes, this is the story that speaks the true song, the story of mercy and humility and the costly song of love’.

Q10 – Any exciting plans in store for 2016?

Yes, growing our Active Birth Workshops for the business, and starting Storytime Pilates – linking kids body awareness, body regulation and literacy skills. That excites me!

Contact Liz at:

Mummy &Co
Obstetric Physiotherapy
m: 0413 254 55