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Hot business owner tips!
I have decided to write a business blog for all the people out there wanting to start a business who might benefit from reading this. This blog is sponsored by XERO which is one of the highly recommended tools I use but don't worry I won't be talking about finance for the entire blog!
Below I will be sharing all of the things I have learned in the 4 years of successfully running The Milk Boutique as well as my personal Instagram brand Tammi.tmb.
So let's get into it.
These are all the applications and software I use for TMB that I have always loved and still use today!
1. XERO Finance/bookkeeping/invoicing/reporting - it's so user-friendly!
2. Canva - Graphic design/social media posts/branding
3. Shopify - Website platform
4. Klaviyo - Email campaigns
5. Trello - Organisation for the days/months ahead.
6. Pinterest - Visualisation/branding/ideas
My hot tips on getting a business started.
1. Have a business idea? Or already have a business but can't get a clear visualisation on your next product/collection/branding or how you can expand and grow as a business? Transfer all of your ideas in a Pinterest board and see colours and ideas get sorted/named and come to life! Sometimes getting it out of your brain and onto paper or into a board really helps move and ideas into execution!
2. Be innovative to make your business or product stand out and be unique. Look outside of the box and don't be afraid to be different. 😍
3. Stop waiting for a good time to start! Sometimes the best lessons are made through experiences and jumping in the deep end, in return you act quicker and become more proactive. To be honest you will never feel "ready" to start and if you are just honest and sincere with customers then they are usually very understanding.
My hot tips for a business that has started (from my experience)
1. Your energy and time is just as valuable as money to keep your business operating and thriving! Protect your boundaries and don't be afraid of delegating/outsourcing jobs. If you are burnt out doing jobs behind the scenes, you may resent your line of work and fall out of touch with the reason you started in the beginning.
2. It's okay to "do it all" at the start but if your business is getting too busy for you to handle then that's a really good sign that it is scaling. To keep up with growth, you might need to hand over the reins a little because your business needs you at your best.
3. Consider a business coach or advisor if you are struggling with scaling the business or time management etc. Once I hired my business coach (who I aligned with really well and who had the same taste and vision as me for my brand), TMB really took off. If you decide to look for a business coach, make sure you are really picky! It's your "baby" they will be involved in and if they sound expensive that's okay, they are still worth considering because in reality, they should be able to pay for themselves in a short amount of time if they are worth their value.
- The last thing anyone feels like doing is bookkeeping, it's not a fun topic to talk about or even think about but I will tell you, one of the biggest lessons I have learned is that having your accounts up to scratch for the sake of your EOFY/BAS and to know whether your hard work is actually profitable/sustainable for you and your family is so important, do not neglect this part of your business! For me the easiest way to keep on top of my accounts is by reconciling daily/weekly with XERO and having my accountant log in and work his magic when required. Bookkeeping with XERO is ridiculously easily especially when it matches invoices for you and has a transaction memory so all I'm ever really doing is "one-tap" reconciliations. It's so user-friendly and gives you a huge amount of reporting and insights on how well your business is tracking!
I hope this short blog containing my top tips helped to motivate you in some way and if you would like to hear more business chat or everyday mum life chat please remember to come and check out my personal handle on Instagram for daily stories and posts, feel free to comment or DM me any questions! (tammi.tmb)
Thank you to XERO for being a part of my content and for being such a user-friendly, easy platform for our business to use on my laptop, or on my phone and between workers and accountants! We highly recommend XERO.
The Big Move! Kids and Resilience
The Big Move! Kids and Resilience
This blog is sponsored by and in partnership with Aptamil Toddler
Hey guys!
If you're a follower of mine at @tammi.tmb you would know that a few weeks ago our family took a big leap of faith and moved away from everyone and everything we knew in SA to lap up a new lifestyle change on the Sunny Coast (QLD).
It has been naturally so scary for us as parents having concerns on how the girls will adapt to the completely new environment and essentially going back 10 steps as we re-introduce childcare/pre-school all over again so I thought I would write a blog on "adventuring out" whether it be moving houses, starting a new school or sports or simply putting your baby into care for the first time as you return to work. I hope these tips on what has helped us during this time and from our previous experience with both of our girls might help ease your mind and potentially help you prepare or feel more at ease for a similar situation.
- New adventure = new routine and you can't start the new routine until the new adventure itself has begun.
What I mean by this is during the lead up to both of my girl's starting childcare I was so worried if they would sleep there since they bed share and I would often rock or lay next to them to get them to sleep but I found a new faith in that they always seem to establish a new routine on their own and in their environment and I am sure that is what will happen here in QLD and the best I can do is to help make that new adjustment for them as comfortable as possible. I have control over things like making sure their school bags are packed with everything they might need, and I have communicated as well as I can with the carers, but I can't control the new relationships and routines they will form independently.
- Communication - they understand more than I ever expected.
I feel like I always seem to underestimate just how much the girls understand and, in the lead up to our move, I made sure I communicated as much as possible with the girls despite their ages by explaining what they can expect, how they might feel about it and if they are worried or scared it is completely normal. I use communication as much as I can to reassure them and I feel like this has helped so much with the move. We have booked tours with new childcare centres and pre-schools and start off with short orientations and my focus for those days is to make it all about them and making them feel comfortable and safe.
- Never underestimate kids’ resilience
One thing that has taught me about the experience of moving with the girls is that they are so much stronger than I give them credit for, I was so worried about how fragile they would be about this new experience and they have proved me wrong, like they have done in every single similar situation in the past. Sometimes... actually all the time, I feel like I make myself worry about them more than I need to, with as much support and preparation as I can provide, I bet they soon won't even remember they have moved across Australia!
If you’re looking for some resources that might help you if this topic or resilience building in children, the Parents’ Corner from Aptamil Toddler is a great resource, check out some of my favourite article below:
Aches and Pains during Pregnancy – and how to cope
Aches and Pains during Pregnancy – and how to cope
Indeed, aches and pains are part and parcel of being pregnant, and I’m sure you’ve had friends who will tell you horror stories of their discomfort. However, not everyone is the same, and it certainly isn’t a given that you will experience discomfort. Common areas of discomfort include; ·
- Lower back pain
- Pelvic girdle pain – either at the front of your pelvis, groin or lower back/buttock region
- Your middle back, or thoracic spine
- Chest wall pain
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Leg Cramps
- Constipation
For the most part, these aches and pains are caused by the changing shape of your body and the way it needs to accommodate the growing baby. As your belly grows, your normal spine curves tend to increase or become more pronounced to accommodate the weight shift. This can cause all sorts of stiffness, muscle overactivity and pain which can all be treated by a physiotherapist.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is characterised by pins and needles/ numbness in your hands as is largely due to the increased fluid circulating in your body. Your physiotherapist will be able to advise you on an appropriate brace that can greatly assist in symptoms reduction and resolution.
Constipation is a common problem during pregnancy, affecting around 50% of all women. The high levels of Progesterone circulating in your blood stream when you’re pregnant slow down your digestive tract. This causes greater water re-absorption and thus your stool becomes firmer. Iron supplements can make constipation worse, so it is important to keep your fluids up, have a high fibre diet and keep up with regular exercise to encourage good gut motility. High fibre foods include green leafy vegetables, grains, legumes and fruit. If you are still struggling with your stool consistency, adding a teaspoon of Psyllium husk to your cereal or juice in the morning can be of great benefit. If you are wanting to use a fibre supplement, best speak to your Pharmacist/GP as some are not appropriate for pregnant women, and they will be able to advise you on the correct product.
Importantly, don’t try and put up with any of your aches and pains. As with most pain, the sooner you address the issue, the sooner it can be resolved. Physiotherapy treatment will assist in reducing any muscle tightness, strengthening appropriate muscles and advising you of the right exercises to keep yourself pain free. Participating in a regular exercise can be a great way to keep fit, pain free and make your pregnancy journey an enjoyable one.
Final Tips...
Being pregnant will be an experience like no other. Your body will change shape and in ways you didn’t think possible. It is an exciting journey that you are on and it can be overwhelming with so much information out there. Our best advice is to eat well and hydrate well, exercise regularly and always get your aches and pains assessed by a health professional who will be able to advise you on the appropriate management.
Written by Brooke Williams - Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Post Grad Cert (Continence & Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy) APAM | Director & Principal
Back In Motion on Collins Street (Melbourne) 9602 3332
Free assessments available so if you have any questions for Brooke definitely take advantage of this offer!
What to expect when you're expecting - handy hints for your pregnancy journey.
Congratulations! You’re pregnant!
Pregnancy can be both an exciting and daunting time for many, filled with challenges and for some, apprehension. The next year or so will be one filled with tremendous change but also much joy. Most women and partners are keen to find out all they can about the journey ahead, and how to ensure you have a healthy pregnancy and to nurture the life growing inside you. There is plenty of information out there for you to read and learn, so I’ve endeavoured to put together a few handy hints that will help you on your journey.
Early Pregnancy – The First Trimester
An exciting time that for most seems a little surreal as the visible signs of pregnancy are yet to surface. As the first three months progress, you can expect to notice a few early body changes and most commonly morning sickness will be experienced by 50-90% of women. There are many old wives’ tale remedies to assist with the symptoms, but below are some suggestions that you may find helpful:
- Small, frequent meals
- Avoiding heavy/ stodgy, fatty or spicy foods can also be of benefit
- Ginger root can be of assistance eg. Drinking ginger tea
- Keep hydrated between meals; drinking small amounts frequently can be helpful
General fatigue and lethargy can be common during these early months and keeping up with your exercise can seem like a battle. However, it is important for your ongoing stamina and fitness levels to try and keep up with some regular form of exercise.
Exercise during Pregnancy
Can exercise and pregnancy go together? Absolutely! It is really important that you keep up with your regular exercise routine during your pregnancy, as it provides immeasurable benefits to you and your growing baby. Exercise is a great way to help reduce the effects of pregnancy; like aches and pains, improves your stamina, keeps you and your baby healthy and also assists in controlling your weight gain throughout your pregnancy journey. Current guidelines suggest around 10-15kgs is the appropriate amount of weight gain, so keeping up with regular exercise will definitely assist this.
Recent research has changed some long held beliefs around how much to exercise during pregnancy. Once upon a time, we were told to “take it easy,” and not over-exert ourselves when pregnant. Then our views changed with studies showing improved benefits of continuing to exercise during pregnancy at your previous level of activity. More recently however, The Royal Australian College of Obstetricians have changed their guidelines once again, and it’s great news! We now recommend increasing your level of exercise during pregnancy compared to your pre-pregnancy levels as the benefits are multifactorial. Despite what you may be told by well-meaning family and friends there is minimal risk to your growing baby.
What you choose to do really depends on your level of exercise prior to getting pregnant. Provided you have no pregnancy complications, of which your GP or Obstetrician will inform you of, you can continue at that same level and even increase it if possible. Obviously, common sense prevails in these situations, and we’re certainly not advocating you start training for a marathon or start training twice daily at a high intensity for the duration of your pregnancy, but we do want to highlight just how important exercise is. Weight gain is just one of the many important factors we need to keep an eye on, specifically to assist in ensuring our blood sugars remain within appropriate limits to reduce the likelihood of getting gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes has considerable effects on the growing baby and regular exercise can be helpful at reducing the likelihood of this occurring.
The type of exercise that is great for pregnant women includes:
- Swimming; avoid breaststroke if you have any pelvic girdle pain
- Cross trainer
- Elliptical trainer
- Brisk Walking
- Cycling
- Jogging; provided you have been doing this pre-pregnancy. Always listen to your body as your progress through the trimesters, as eventually this type of exercise will be too challenging and it is best avoided
- Gym classes; in most cases these should be all fine as long as you are familiar with the technique and exercise that are being instructed
There are some exercises that are not ideal for pregnant women, so we always suggest discussing things with a Physiotherapist who understands exercise during pregnancy. That way your exercise program can be modified if needed and you can remain fit, active and pain free throughout your pregnancy journey.
There is a common misconception that exercising during pregnancy can reduce blood flow to your growing baby, cause you to over-heat, and that you should reduce your exercise for these reasons. In actual fact, these things have consistently been shown not to occur, so exercise is, in fact quite safe as long as you follow the above recommendations. If you are in doubt though, please discuss with a health professional like a physiotherapist. The best way to judge how hard you’re working is simply by how breathless you are. Your aim is to be breathless enough that you’d have some trouble keeping up a conversation whilst exercising without puffing a little throughout the sentences.
Pilates, particularly pregnancy-pilates can be an excellent way to maintain your fitness, your core strength and help with your posture and pelvic floor strength throughout your pregnancy. We suggest finding a centre that specialises in pregnancy Pilates to ensure you are getting the most benefit out of the exercise.
Written by Brooke Williams - Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Post Grad Cert (Continence & Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy) APAM | Director & Principal
Back In Motion on Collins Street (Melbourne) 9602 3332
Free assessments available so if you have any questions for Brooke definitely take advantage of this offer!
Wearing wireless bras during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Did you know that it is recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding mothers wear well fitted/wireless bras?
Have you ever wondered why?
Well I've done some research and I can fill you in!
Bras with wires
Not only do bras with wires become instantly the most uncomfortable thing in the world when you're pregnant or breastfeeding but also from as early as 16 weeks gestation your breasts begin to lactate and change in size.
Wires are simply not flexible enough to give you support and comfort during the ever changing breast shape you will encounter during your pregnancy and breastfeeding days and from the inflexibility and pressure they can put on your breasts can even cause health concerns like blocked milk ducts or mastitis.. and coming from someone who has had mastitis multiple times, trust me, you do not want it!!
Wearing bras to bed
The decision to wear a bra to bed depends entirely on you!
Some women feel they need the support or a way to hold nursing pads in place, I've heard of ladies telling me they literally live in my bras (even swim in them!) but others find wearing a bra/crop top to bed to be too uncomfortable.
So at the end of the day it is definitely personal preference on whether or not you decide to wear a wire or wireless bra but from my personal experience, I swapped to wireless bras and I have never looked back! When you are a mother, comfort trumps all when it comes to what you are wearing on your body.
My only issue is that the huge lack of modern designs for wireless breastfeeding bras, crops & sports bras! and this is exactly why I have designed my bras for comfort as well as fashion!
I have personally worn the bras I have designed and find them to be extremely supportive and comfortable, they hug your bust with a firm band and stretchy fabric but aren't too firm at the same time as along as you use my measuring chart when placing an order then you will find the correct size your body.
So if you decide to go wireless then simply read my testimonials on my home page or go ahead and make an order, you will not be disappointed.
xx