With so many of us juggling so many balls at the moment the key to keeping the wheels on the cart is being organised and planning .  This starts with the little ones and we find when things are organised the flow of our house just works when things are not we find we live a little more out of control and the wheels really do start to fall off .    Our two year old can be a tornado one day with every single draw emptied but we have found the key to coping with these days is to have some kind of organisation . These are tips that help us stay organised :    1.  Ensure that every item has a home .  Everything in the house needs to have a spot where it belongs and we need to make everyone aware of where these spots are .  we have hair clips in little spots / undies / socks / toys and books they all have their own special spot in the house that everyone knows where it belong .  so when we get back to the morning rush every one knows where to find a hair brush / clips / tooth brushes / notes and their school bags which keeps everyone responsible in the family to play their part in keeping the house organised .   2. Do Regular declutters  Clutter accumulates quickly mail / little one kinder projects / notes . We get to Friday and ensure that we file every thing hang the kinder art on the fridge and ensure that everything has a spot to be . With babies growing through there clothes super fast I keep one side of the wardrobe with collapsable boxes that I can easily sort and file babies clothes as they grow to keep and either pass on to a friend or later donate to charity .   3. But less and buy well  This is a philosophy that we have always lived buy . Buying well and having less . This has always been a philosophy that we have lived buy and buy doing this you don't have as much clutter . We found we where gifted so many plastic toys with our eldest children that broke easily I was doing weekly clean outs of our baskets and it created so much unnecessary waste . We prefer wooden or handmade toys or nature the kids get hours of entertainment from being outside . We also invest in natural fibre clothing not only because its better for us to wear on our bodies but it also helps with producing less waste and also limits the micro plastics you are washing into the ocean .      4. Clean at the end of the day  We never go to bed with a messy house . Everything is always put back in its place to start the day fresh . What happens during the day can look like a bomb has exploded but starting the day fresh with a clean house helps with the morning routines .    5. Get the kids involved  We involve the kids with keeping things organised and have different age groups and everyone from the 2 year old to the 12 year old pitch into help with clean up . We never used to do this and the kids weren't aware of the time that it took us to clean up - now they understand the time and team work makes light work . Make it fun we let the kids organise their own spaces , they love certain pillows / wall art and they even love there own scents that we use in a diffuser that we have running during the day and night .   These tips our household keep some kind of normality and keep us all sane when thing get added to the family routine .          

      Packing that hospital bag suddenly makes the reality of having a baby very, very real. I went on my due date with my first, was hospitalised for 4 weeks with my second and 3 weeks early with my third. I knew I had to have that hospital bag packed from 35 weeks. My hospital stays were always longer than two days, and I think it's always good to pack a little extra where you can. I have listed some of the things that I found super helpful pre and post labour and helped me feel comfortable and organised. Remember that parenting and birthing journeys are very much an individual experience, but hopefully you can find something within this list to help you out during this beautiful season of your life.   IN THE BAG • 4 x sets of Tracksuit Pants - preferably dark colours. I bled heavily post birth and there is always the possibility of accidents or bleeds, so I always liked to have extras just to be on the safe side. I found cotton loungewear and all natural fibres the most comfortable and easier to breathe in while sleeping, feeding and cuddling the baby.  • 4 x Nursing Tanks - these are amazing and help adjust to feeding a newborn and learning about your new body.  • 6-8 pairs of Black Underwear - I loved the Bonds cotton undies, but looking back I would have loved to try the ModiBodi Period Underwear to help with heavy bleeding and help with the possibility of leakages. • 1 x 'Nice Outfit' for a family photo, or for you to look and feel your best. I always have used to have a pair of what I called 'luxe loungewear' on hand to feel good, and l look back on those family photos with happy memories. I loved wearing our Chloe Knit Pants with a lovely, loose shirt like our Blake Shirt (breastfeeding friendly) and then a cardigan to throw over the top. • 1 x Dressing Gown - perfect for throwing on and wrapping up in, it's why we designed our April Dressing Gown that little bit more special and it doubles as a lovely wrap cardigan.  • 1 x Pair of Shoes - Runners match perfectly with loungewear and a pair of white trainers goes with everything.  • 1 x Pair of Slippers - keep your toes safe from the cold of the hospital floor with an extra snuggly pair.  • 4 x Pairs of Socks - I always had freezing, cold feet post birth and socks were an absolute must, even with my summer baby.  • 2 x Maternity Bras - The more comfortable, the better. I took my bra off the first time round and woke up in incredible pain. I felt wearing a bra no wires and a super soft cup so much better the second and third time round as my milk came in. • 5 x Sets of Washable Breast Pads - My milk normally came in on day three as I was leaving the hospital, these are essential. • Ice and Heat Packs - I wish I knew about these the first time around, and luckily I found them for my second and third births. Boy did it help with the swelling and bruising, and the heat packs are great to reduce damage during childbirth. Packs like BodyICE are perfect for this.    SELF CARE • Face Wipes - makeup removing ones are great to help you feel a little more fresh, but baby wipes work wonders in a pinch. • Toothpaste & Toothbrush  • Body Wash - something that smells beautiful and leaves you feeling good! • Hairbrush & Hairties    • Basic Make Up • Maternity Pads - I needed two packs of these.  • Nipple Balm - Use something natural, soothing and good for both you and your baby. We stock a beautiful balm by The Hermosa Co that also doubles as a lip balm. • Dry Shampoo  • Deodorant  • Shampoo & Conditioner  • Cleanser & Reusable Face Pads  • Supplements & Medication (if needed)   FOR THE BIRTH I usually had everything together in the one bag, but third time around I had a sleeve of things I packed especially for the birthing room. • Essential Oils - I am super sensitive to smell and always had essential oils in all my birthing rooms. The Calm Roll On by Willelaine Aromatherapy is a perfect option.  • Water Bottle • Lollies - Barley sugars or jelly beans are great to chew or suck on during labour. • Heat Pack - The BodyICE Perineum Strip is perfect. • Phone & Phone Charger - Labour can go on for a long time, it's great to have a little distraction and something to capture all of the precious moments. • Pillow - Bring your own! I can't stress how amazing it was to not sleep on hospital pillows, there's nothing like your own pillow. • Camera - And all chargers in a camera bag with memory cards etc.    FOR THE BABY   Personally, this was my favourite bag to pack!   • 2 x Blankets - Always take an extra for sick babies. If you have a summer baby, maybe change these out to light cotton or muslin blankets. • 4-5 Newborn Onesies - You'll probably use less, but its always helpful to have extra on hand incase. We had two winter babies and one summer baby, but even then we use onesies with sleeves because of the air-conditioning. • Beanies - A light jersey beanie works great for summer and again, for that air-conditions, or a heavier knit for winter. • Going Home Outfit - We all love taking some snaps leaving the hospital and a special outfit is perfect for this. Our full knitted bodysuits a little bit more special and super warm for winter bubbas. • Newborn Dummies - Like the Natural Soother Company! We started with the round ones, and later found our kids didn't like the ortho dummies. Our kids also had stomach problems, so a dummy was a massive life saver.  • 1 packet of newborn nappies or cloth nappies. • 1 x packet water based baby wipes. • 3 x Muslin Cloths - I used these as bibs after feeding. They are my go to and their multi use abilities make them amazing.  • Booties - as small enough socks to stay on tiny feet. • Baby Capsule - Not essential, as I didn't have a capsule with my eldest or middle child. We invested in one for our third child and it was one of the best purchases we ever made. Our little girl was in it for 12 months, she was a lot smaller then our boys and it was great with the older two being able to not disturb her sleep while in the car doing school drop offs and sport. Also make sure it's installed ahead of time so you're not doing it in the hospital carpark like we did!  Tips for baby clothes sizing: I've had small babies and extra large babies - babies that went into 0000, 000, 00000 straight from birth. My advice is to have a couple of varying sizes with you. We were told from an ultrasound the day before I gave birth that our middle child was small, and the next day he was born 10.5 pounds, so it never hurts to be over organised.    Everyone's birthing experience is individual and every parenting style is individual. These are things that helped me and hopefully sharing those will help you x  

Not only are we passionate about inspiring people to be aware of what they put on their own and children's bodies - we also passionate about promoting a culture that embraces using less and providing education on how to look after garments to make them last as long a possible. We truly want to inspire a 'Buy Well & Consume Less' mentality.   Natural fibres are defined as a material directly obtained from an animal, vegetable, or mineral source and convertible into non-woven fabrics or woven cloth. They are better for you and your family, and kinder for the environment. Cotton, our personal fabric of choice, makes up 90% of the clothing we offer amongst silk and linen. Cotton and other natural fibre's like it produce a far better and longer lasting product than it's synthetic friends.   WASHING Cotton can be machine-washed, however it is highly dependant on the type of washing machine you have and the cycles it offers - particularly when you are looking at cotton knitwear. I have had both a top loader and front loader over the years, and I can say, hand on heart, that front loaders provide a gentler wash reducing natural wear and tear on clothing. I've noticed holes appear in my clothing from the top loader, although this could be that now my washing loads are bigger due to three children (who seem to change clothes more often than a person ever should) on top of myself and my husband. I believe all clothes should be washed in cold water, and this ethos goes for our clothing too. This helps to ensure that clothes don't shrink and fade, but really, clothing shouldn't be washed above 30 degree celsius as it can damage the fibres and reduce the longevity of a garment. Hand washing is the safest way to ensure no damage is done to your clothing. When hand washing your garments always use a detergent that kind on your family, their skin and the environment. Cotton is quite versatile when it comes to what detergents you use, some of our favourites come from EcoStore that you can now shop here. Our ranges don't contain yarns like wool or synthetic yarns like nylon or polyester that require specialised washes or liquids. Coming from a family that suffers with skin allergies and eczema, it is really important to use a washing detergent that works for your family and their skin. We see pretty instant differences in our kid's skins if we change washing powders or liquids. If you choose to hand wash, be sure not to over wring your clothing. Over wringing can break down the fibres and can also increases the amount you need to use a hot iron.  And lastly, always check the care labels of our garments - although a piece is cotton, the knit may require a special kind of laundering or drying. Which brings us to our next point...   DRYING  Drying is actually a critical step in laundering clothing, particularly knitwear, correctly. Before you put your knitwear in the dryer or on the line, make sure there is no excess water left in the garment. A fully soaked garment won’t return to its original outer garment measurements. The best way to dry Knitwear is to lay it out flat, however, you can also hang your knitwear over the drying rack to avoid ugly peg marks and also prevent the knit stretching out of shape. Avoid drying your knitwear in full sun. The Australian sun is super powerful (believe me I have tested this theory) and the UV in Australia is even stronger then the UV they use in the testing houses. Never over dry, leave knitwear, or your beautiful solid dyed garments out in full sun all day - it will bleach! IRONING The key to caring for your garments is to avoid ironing. I try my hardest to not iron - in fact, I avoid it at all costs. If garments are hung right, it smooths down all the fibres that have been given a good ruffle up when washed and it restores your natural fibres to their silky best. Remember to check your care label and amend your ironing setting to the suitable setting for the fabrication, if you choose to iron. On my more delicate or premium fibres, I often pop a cotton sheet between the iron and the fabric layer as an extra safe guard to prevent any damage an iron may cause.    STORING Before you retire your knitwear for the warmer months, make sure your knitwear is clean, pressed and folded neatly so that when you go to pull it out again on a chilly evening, it is as beautiful as it was the day you put it away. Again, I don’t recommend hanging knitwear, as it will drop no matter what yarn the garment is made from. The tighter the weave (like a 12 gauge knit) the less likely it is to happen. However, I always believe that folding your knitwear is best practice for increasing the longevity of the garment. Storing is also essential for keeping the garments shape, for example, I love to hang my woven dresses as this reduces the potential for ironing due to wrinkles.    MENDING AND ALTERING  Get creative with mending! Children’s clothing in particular lends itself to a little add on here and there. Add a decorative button, patch or a little embroidery over holes and tears. Remember that kids clothes will get holes and buttons will fall off, both are super easy to fix. Sew them back up or on, are alternatively, teach your kids to sew on a button! These small things can take a garment from not being functional to functional.  We also use deeper hems that allow parents to let down hemlines and get more wear from there garments.   We also have some extra washing tips that can help to extend the lifespan of your garments:  • Catch stains as they happen. Do not leave them to soak into the garment fibres - the longer you leave a stain, the worse it will become. A touch of Eucalyptus oil or Sard Soap can be very effective for stain removal.  • Don't forget to clean your washing machines and dryers to avoid build up of mould. Run a HOT wash with 2TB of bicarb, ½ cup vinegar and 1 TB Eucalyptus oil to give your machine a good clean.  • Separate your clothes out and launder with similar colours, washing in water also stops bleaching or cross colourations of garments.  • As your babies grow, launder and store your their clothes via size to make sure the clothing is free of stains and deters moths and other fabric easting nasties.   Caring for your clothes and teaching kids to invest in fibres and love their garments are all steps to less consumption and also contributes and reduces the fashion land waste. Love your clothes and know your fibres. Reduce your impact on this amazing planet.

To celebrate Mother's Day this year, we thought what better way that to interview our Creative Director and Founder, Rebecca Meyer. Join us as we talk all things business and motherhood. From humble beginnings in a small town to running a successful business with three children in tow, Bec gives us an insight into her journey as a business woman and mother!   You've had a super interesting life - tell us about your childhood, what are some of your favourite memories? I grew up in the country, in a town of 1200 people surrounded by farming communities. My Dad had his own business and share farmed rice, my Mum was a nurse. I'm one of three - I have a brother who is 18 months younger, and a sister who was born 10 years later. It was a huge highlight to have a younger sister. We honestly spent a lot of time outside exploring and grew up on the Murray River. We loved sports and I really enjoyed being creative. Growing up in the country provided the perfect background for this lifestyle.      You started sewing at a young age. Was this something you taught yourself, or was it passed down in your family? My Mum taught me how to sew initially. She used to make our dance outfits and lot of our clothing. The nearest shops were a good two hours away and online didn't exist back then - at least not until Myer began mailing out a catalogue. My passion for sewing really took off in the beginning of high school, we had some crazy passionate teachers at our school and that was really inspiring.  Where does your passion for kids and babies wear stem from?  To be honest, after initially being accepted into fashion I was so excited - I started out studying fashion with a dream to later move into magazines. After doing work experience with Marie Claire and Pacific Publications, I decided that magazines wasn't something that I wanted to venture into.  In my second year at university I really struggled with direction and started working at OshKosh. My sister was born with Down Syndrome and independent dressing was getting more difficult for her - so I did my final project on new closures for clothing to help aid independence and self dressing.  I loved working on this project and I felt like it gave me the direction I needed and have worked in kidswear ever since. I love it.    What did you feel was missing in the kids space? After university, I went and worked in the kids space in London for 5 years. I loved it! I managed to gain so much experience - everything from visiting factories overseas, to meetings with buyers on some of the top high street brands. It really was such an incredible experience for a country girl. After moving back to Australia and having my first child, I went in search for natural fibre toy and to my horror the market was pretty much non-existent.  That was 12 years ago now, and the market has changed a lot. I think the next 10 years will bring even more amazing change in this space.    Why do you feel so strongly about natural fibres?  I guess in growing up making our clothes, we soon learnt what the fibres do and how they react and really how they affect the wear of a garment. Also, growing up in a farming family, knowing about farming and it's impacts - I did my whole Year 12 geography project on organic farming and I was honestly fascinated.  I lost touch with this a little while working in bigger companies where products were a lot more price driven and so many of them had synthetic fibres being used to bring down cost.  When starting Miann & Co, I wanted to do things differently. Using all natural fibres is something we started with over 12 years ago, before words like 'eco-friendly' and 'sustainable' were even being talked about. My first born would get horrible eczema that led to staph infections - this lead us on a mission to make sure he was wearing and playing with products that are made in their most natural state. It was a gap we saw in the market and we really wanted to serve other families who also value these things. I guess there is so much that we are finally hearing about the body and skin absorbing what we put on it - I have never felt more passionate about using natural fibres and educating people on the benefits of these.  What took you to London?  Like many Australians, I applied and was accepted for the two year working visa. I was then sponsored to stay and I really, really loved my job and the people I worked with. I still feel so lucky to have experienced those 5 years. I learnt so much being surrounded by incredible humans and I also met my husband who was from South Africa, in London.    Did you always know that you wanted kids?  Absolutely. I loved kids and when I hit my mid-twenties that desire grew quite strong, and working in kids and babies clothing I was constantly clucky - I still am. When did your business start in your mother hood journey ?  It started just after baby number two, when going back to work and paying the childcare fees was rather daunting. So we decided to start a business with the kids at home. It was hard. My husband worked over an hour away and commuted everyday - he would leave at 5:30 AM and get home around 7 PM. Those early days of juggling a new business and two kids with no family around was hard. I look back and think 'we were crazy' but we managed to do it.  You have now had a third child, how was that?  Adding our daughter to the crew has honestly been the ultimate blessing. We had a bit of gap between kids because of the business (it was like giving birth to another child) and time just passed by so, so fast.  I think because of the gap we just got to enjoy it so much more. She came to the office a lot days in that first year and she was the kind of baby that we could take anywhere.  Having the boys be that little bit older was such a help too. I honestly found two boys under 2.5 and starting a business quite hectic and overwhelming at times. So the transition from two to three children was super smooth, although we did forget about those initial gruelling 8 weeks with newborns!   What is your favourite thing about being mum?  Honestly, everything. I love being a mum and I have been blessed with three very different individuals to nurture, learn from  and grow with.   What has been the hardest part of your motherhood journey?  Probably those long, sleepless times in the early days. The boys had contestant ear infections, so there wasn't a lot of sleep happening when we started the business. Raising little people with no family around and moving to a new area where we literally knew one person was so challenging, but the rewards that came from this hard time have been so, so brilliant.     What is your favourite thing to do with your family ?  Honestly being in nature with the kids we are massive beach lovers and we are all so happy at the beach a picnic and sunshine. The simple things are the best things and it really is the magic of being together as a family .   What did an average day-in-the-life look like before COVID?  It really wasn't very glamorous and life at the moment looks very similar. We wake up every morning to a little person calling our name - our 2 year old is still the first up and refuses to get out of bed unless someone gets her up. I would love to say I exercise in the morning but there is never time with school lunches and getting the kids and ourselves ready and out the door for 9 AM. Before lockdown, both my husband and I were working in the business full time, and he's now working from home and helping the kids with home learning. There are only two of us working full time in the business at the moment, with a casual coming in a couple of days a week. A work day can be anything from talking to factories, costings product, developing ranges and prints to photography. The days are always very full.  Our kids normally have training or sport so one of us will do daycare pick up and the other drop them off. After that, we normally have family dinner around the table together and then bath and bed for the kids - and of recent times we do a little more work before hitting bed.    How do you juggle home and work-life?  We prefer to call it a blend rather than a juggle. Our sole focus is the kids and spending time with them - which can be hard when you own a business, we prioritise family holidays every year for this reason. We don't subscribe to parental guilt and we always make our kids needs the first priority, always. And I would also say having a supportive partner in all aspects of our life - we are a team in everything and knowing you are supportive of each other and in the trenches together some days . 

  Mother’s Day is an important day of the year for both mothers and kids - that calls for a grand celebration. This Mother's Day will look a little different, but some amazing ways to celebrate our mum's this mothers day at home include:    Breakfast in Bed   Almost everyone loves getting delivered breakfast in bed - so why not treat mum that way this Sunday? Our picks are a yummy Full English, or pancakes dripping with maple syrup. Don't forget the cup of tea or coffee either, they're almost as important as breakfast.   Give Her Flowers Flowers are a beautiful, natural way to tell your mama you love her. Wether you give her a single stem, or a whole bouquet - flowers are a great way to bring the outside in while in isolation and brighten every room.   Give Her the Day Off Tell your mum to sit back and relax this Mother's Day by taking over all the household tasks. Even if she tries to sneak around and do the dishes, tell her to get back to relaxing and watching Netflix - this is her day to do whatever she likes. Throw A Surprise Party If you're lucky enough to have siblings around, invite them over and surprise her with family this Mother's Day. An alternative would be to have your siblings organise to meet up on FaceTime or House Party at the same time as mum and spend a few hours catching up!    Spend a Day Together Let's face it, there's almost nothing better than spending the day with those you love. Make a platter, cups of tea (or a bottle of champagne if you're old enough) and climb into bed with your Mum to spend the day lounging, watching movies and soaking up that quality time. Surprise Her with a Lovely Gift We've got a curated selection of beautiful gifts on our website that are sure to put a smile on your Mum's face. From beautiful knits, to aromatherapy, to skincare to accessories - there's something for every Mum. Pamper Her   Set up a little 'at home spa moment' and pamper your Mum! Run her a luxurious bath with beautiful salts and oils, leave her favourite book for her to read and let her spend a few hours soaking up the goodness. When she gets out, grab your favourite skin care selection and treat her skin to some beautiful products.   What are you doing for you Mum this Mother's Day?

We don’t even feel guilty saying that we love spending a day binge watching Netflix. And now, more than ever, the call to flick through your recommended list on all streaming platforms seems stronger than ever. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite shows (aside from the obvious binge watchers like Friends, The Office and Brooklyn 99) that we think you should watch while socially isolating yourself, or if you need to have something on in the background while you work from home. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist You’re a fan of musicals? So are we. You like family friendly, tear jerking sitcoms? You’re speaking our language. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist takes both and has turned it into one of my favourite shows of 2020. It’s like Glee, but better, and less dramatic. You’ll be enthralled from the very beginning. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist is streaming now on Stan.   Derry Girls Maybe you spent a lot of time in your youth watching The Inbetweeners, and upon finishing felt there was nothing else quite like it. Well I’m so glad to introduce you to Derry Girls. Set in Northern Ireland in the 1990’s, this show is a nostalgic throwback to teenagehood and the nineties. You can catch Derry Girls streaming now on Netflix.   Stranger Things If you haven’t yet dedicated an obscene amount of time bingeing this show, now is your time. It mixes the Goonies, IT, science fiction and the classic aesthetic of the 80’s into one of the most iconic and beloved tv shows of our time. Stranger Things can be watched on Netflix.   Gilmore Girls It’s the weekend, it’s raining and you just want to watch something wholesome? Gilmore Girls is streaming on Netflix, that’s all I have to say.   The Fosters Following on from the wholesomeness of Gilmore Girls is The Fosters. I’m currently deep in this show, watching at least a couple of episodes a day and I am in a word, obsessed. It’s a classic American teenage drama that follows the day to day life of a blended American family - it is amazing. You can watch The Fosters now on Stan. What are you binge watching these days? All our love, Miann & Co x

Like you, we love to spend an afternoon getting lost in the land of YouTube. Hours spent watching tutorials and life hacks, enthused and enthralled but we’re probably not going to use a hot glue gun to make shoes or jewellery. Then there are those accounts that we turn to in hard times, that never fail to cheer us up - and we thought we’d share our favourites (in no particular order) with you!   girl in calico Kaetlyn from ‘girl in calico’ lives the life we wish we could - a traditional homemaker and homesteader at heart, her videos without fail will make you feel super cosy.   emmymadeinjapan In Emmy’s videos she makes, discusses and tastes food from all over the world - and is always, always super positive.    Iz Harris It’s no secret that we’re massive travellers - and Iz Harris’ is one of our favourites. She and her little family produce the most wonderful, most beautiful videos about their life and travelling.   Tasha Leelyn Tasha has been one of our favourites for a long time now. Living with four German Shepherds in rural Canada, her videos incase her life thrift shopping, diy-ing and living consciously.   Elsa’s Wholesome Life We turn to Ellie’s videos when we’re in need of a good, vegan recipe. Her genuinely wholesome life inspires us to do better and we’re always excited when we see a new video from her in our sub box.   Rowena Tsai If you’re stuck in a creative block, or struggling to pull yourself out of a hard place then Rowena’s videos are for you. Self betterment through self care and inspiration are abundant here.   best dressed Fashion and comedy aren’t known for going hand in hand but Ashley makes it effortless. We love her laid back attitude and effortless style - she’s definitely one to watch.   Flying The Nest I know that all of us out there have dreamed of uprooting our lives and travelling - well, Jess and Stephen of Flying The Nest actually did that, and it’s so inspiring.   Who are your favourite YouTubers? All our love, Miann & Co x

          Mornings for me are sacred.   They’re the time put aside for me, and only me. I’m a creature of habit, I’m a ritualistic creature that thrives in routine and if I don’t get my morning, my proper, ritualistic morning, my entire day is thrown out. Now, I know this isn’t convenient for everyone. Some of us have kids, family, work night shift and other commitments and such an indulgent morning routine isn’t the reality for all. Here are some of our favourite things to do in the morning, that maybe you can adapt into your own routine.    Waking Up Early My mother always told me that she woke up extra early to have a little alone time. She would apply her makeup, eat breakfast and have a cup of tea all within an hour before her kids woke up. She told me it was imperative for her to have this time alone so she could better care for us, by in turn taking care of herself. She passed this knowledge onto me, and it’s something I now incorporate into my daily routine. Energy Cleansing Smoke cleansing has been around for thousands of years, and is one of the most important parts of my morning. Burning herbs like sage and rosemary or plants like eucalyptus and lavender can really help set the tone for a great day. If you’ve never smoke cleansed before, you’ll be amazed at how grounded, at peace and how calm you feel after burning.   Kickstart Your Day We all know the old celebrity trick of drinking lemon water in the morning. Maybe it’s a gimmick or a placebo, but I do think it has its benefits. Typically it’s marketed as a metabolism kickstarter, but I find it more invigorating. You’re hydrating, getting a boost of vitamin c and I think it’s had a positive effect on my skin. I also like swapping it out for a green tea, or oat milk latte. Either way, I love starting my day with a hot drink.             Ground Your Mind & Body I don’t always have the time to do it, but when and where I can, I love fitting in a quick 10 minute meditation or yoga practice. They’re both super grounding practices that calm the mind, and get the body and blood moving. When I have the time, I look for a beginners medi or yoga video on YouTube and get to centering my energy. Nourishment Most important in the morning, is giving something nourishing to your body. This could be a full meal, some fruit, a smoothie or even a slice of toast. Getting some food into your body early in the morning gives you a boost of energy to get you through to lunch, and truly sets the tone for the rest of your day.           What do your mornings look like? What morning routine do you follow? All our love, Miann & Co x

  Anxiety is tough. There are many remedies, both scientific and home based. One of our favourites to help with everyday anxieties is essential oils. Diffusing beautiful, natural scents and using rollers on both yourself and your kids is a great way to calm and relax. Aromatherapy as a practice has been around for thousands of years, first practised in China, India and Egypt. Essentials Oils aren’t a cure all when it comes to health and wellness, and you shouldn’t rely on them to cure ailments. If something is really bothering you, please seek advice from a healthcare professional. Further on from that, here are some of our favourites.   Lavender Oil Perhaps the ultimate in beneficial essential oils, Lavender is our very favourite. Not only is it super soothing and calming, it's the perfect oil to burn or diffuse around bedtime to help yourself and your little ones sleep. Bergamot Oil Fresh and citrusy and derived from oranges, Bergamot is invigorating and rejuvenating. This is a great oil for when you’re feeling overwhelmed at work and need to refocus.   Jasmine Oil Jasmine is a great oil to use to quell anxiety, without the sleep inducing effects of Lavender. It calms the nervous system and improves wellbeing.  Patchouli Oil Patchouli is a musky, earthy and ultimately calming scent that's been used for thousands of years. Anoint your wrists and behind the ears to ground and centre you during an anxious time.  Peppermint Oil An honourable mention goes to Peppermint Oil, not only because it smells divine, but because it’s a super rejuvenator and is essential for us when we or our kids have a cold. We love popping a drop in our hands and rubbing them together and inhaling it’s goodness to clear the sinuses. Our line of Willelaine aromatherapy products features many of these scents in their makeup, and are great to keep in your handbag or at your office desk. What tips do you have to help your anxieties? All our love, Miann & Co x

    When the warmth of summer fades, and the nights draw to a close ever quicker - we turn and reach for comfort. Heeding the call of mother nature herself and a wintery chill that echoes through the bones - we slow down, we curl up and we hibernate.  We rise to cold mornings, to stark white frosts covering the earth. We wait longingly for kettles to bubble and boil while warming our hands over fireplaces and heaters, aching for coffee and hearty breakfasts to warm us through. Days once spent out with friends, long hours on the beach frolicking in the sea turn to nights in, cosy meals and cuddling up on the couch.    We reach for thick jumpers, comfortable pants and knitted cardigans just like our ancestors, anything to fend off the cold and it’s sting. Drawing inspiration from nature, the cool hues of autumn fading into winter, the longing to be warm and cosy - we bring you our Midwinter collection, natural, 100% cotton loungewear to be worn on repeat.     Our classic Chloe’s are back this season, in stunning Cafe Au Lait and Ochre shades. To match with them, creating winter’s biggest trend ‘the loungewear suit’ we give you our Rory Hoodie - in Cafe Au Lait and Grey Speckle. For days when you must leave the house, pair our new Marigold or Willow Jumper with your favourite jeans in our winter shades burnt amber and slate grey. It wouldn’t be a winter collection without one of our signature cardigans, and this year we bring you Hazel, a thin knit, super warm piece to pair with everything.   We hope you love our new loungewear collection as much as we do, we cannot wait to spend every evening and lazy Sunday wrapped in our new favourite pieces. All our love, Miann & Co x

Winter is one of our favourite times of the year. Piles of wood ready to burn stacked outside the house that only a person daring enough would venture, collect and gather to warm the family. A stock of pickled vegetables, preserved fruits, salted meats keep home in the pantry. Warm brews and strong coffee for the coldest of mornings when you can’t get out of bed. Fog encompassing the land, the desire to stay in, the siren call to hibernate under a thick blanket and never leave.      We may not follow the old ways – ways that fed and warmed and calmed the families of yesterday – but we can still feel the yearning. It’s there in our blood, weaved through the things that make us inherently human. With the cold comes the urge to slow down, take stock and rest. A weekend spent curled up with your little ones, reading stories and watching movies, enjoying the cosy simplicity of company with those you love.       Our new collection, Midwinter, is inspired by those times, this cosy season. Pieces to warm your babies, and pieces for Mama too. A collection of soft tones, neutrals and a promise of Spring.       We hope Midwinter keeps you as cosy as it keeps us. All our love, Miann & Co.

    We know how easy it is to be swept up by the ‘pandemic panic’, how easy it can be to think of only negative things, of how in a bid to remain informed and educated our 24 hour, doom and gloom media cycle can have a really harmful effect on us. It can seem like having these worries is so petty and insignificant compared to what is happening around us. Listen babe, your feelings are valid and now is the best time to indulge in some self care. Self care is one of the best ways to ensure you’re reaching your full potential. Think of it as a holiday for your body, a hug for your soul and a rest for your mind. Tough times don’t always call for tough choices, they call for thoughtful ones as well. The Skin You’re In Wrap yourself up in your favourite clothes - this could be the most extravagant dress you own, or a gorgeous loungewear set, or a ridiculous hat. Whatever makes you feel good is what you should be wearing, just make sure it’s comfy. Be Present ‘Mindfulness’ is one of our favourite forms of meditation, and it’s quite easy to practice. Instead of being swept up on the outer, it’s all about the inner. Focusing intensely on what you’re sensing and feeling. This may seem overwhelming, but it’s intensely relaxing and grounding. We typically follow along on an app like Simple Habit, or just searching mindfulness medi on YouTube. This is one of our favourites, and also this one.    Move Yourself Following on from mindfulness is our favourite practice, Yoga. With gyms out of action there’s no better time to start practicing at home. There are tons of helpful gurus on YouTube, and even 10 minutes a day of a little yoga could be enough to put you in a peaceful mindset. You’ll be surprised at how good a little stretching makes you feel. Nourish Mind, Body & Soul Right now, you might be wanting more than anything to dive into some junk food, and we can’t blame you. There’s nothing wrong with craving carbs or sugar, but now is also a great time to indulge in something that’s good for you as a whole. A veggie loaded soup, a casserole, a big salad. Take some time out and cook for yourself, cook with intention and cook from the soul.     How are you treating yourself right now? All our love, Miann & Co