I came across Jewel's instagram a couple of years ago when I was dreaming of the family life, but well before I was pregnant with my daughter. Her delicious looking HUGE cookies instantly caught my attention and I dreamed of the day I would have an excuse to purchase them #breastfeedingperks ;) Over the years, connecting with Jewels and eyeballing her delicious creations and fab 'mama must have's', I also learnt just how much of a genuine and beautiful person she is. She's always up for a chat and is so supportive of the motherhood and breastfeeding journey, but also of every mama's journey - breastfeeding or not. My favourite part of listening to my insta stories in the mornings usually while I'm making a cuppa or getting mine and Aria's brekky ready is hearing Jewel's friendly, positive, warm and welcoming little messages that she sends out to her mama tribe. I've purchased lactation cookies, the mama survival mug and 'Mama Body Tea' breastfeeding tea from her, and also been lucky enough to be the lucky winner of extra lactation cookes and a 'The Calm Compound' lactation essential oil. These products are all so beneficial for any breastfeeding mama! I can vouch first hand on their ability to increase your milk supply which I especially found useful in the early days when clusterfeeding was a regular thing, but also when I need to help increase my supply to pump and build a milk stash now that I am back at work. These goodies are the perfect gift for an expecting or new mama friend or the perfect self love gift for yourself!
Even though we've never met, as I follow her insta journey through parenthood, her thriving business and now her third pregnancy (YAY!) it feels like she's an old friend. When I first interviewed Jewel's for this article it was a few months ago, months before she announced her pregnancy. Mum life, work life and just life in general has gotten in the way.. and it's taken me forever to get this post up! But a massive CONGRATS to beautiful Jewels, her hubby and two gorgeous girls on the super exciting news that they have a new little baby girl joining their family later this year. I can't wait to follow along during this pregnancy. What an epic little girl gang, and one very lucky little bubba xx
WELCOME Jewels!
Let's start with a little bit of self loving..
Q. If you had to 'sell' yourself to the world, sharing your most amazing qualities or skills, tell us your top 5. 1. I have a HUGE heart..hence I feel things deeply.. but I kinda like that about myself... 2. I'm a loyal girlfriend, wife, sister, daughter- #gotyourbackgirls I make a mean pasta bolognaise! (thank my Italian upbringing for that one!) 3. I'm a girly girl and love having my nails done & can't live without my mascara BUT... give me half a chance.. I'll be out there in the garden swinging a pick, carrying rocks, doing manual labour just like the next bloke. 4. My ability to see most things with that perspective that the cup is half full :) It's a lovely way to live. 5. I'm always up for a chat!! Love a laugh. Love interacting with others. Hence, always feel free to DM me lol!
Q. Now, tell us three things not many people would know about you.
I've run a marathon- Alice Springs 2010 (unfortunately never again.. my knees would never withstand that again... and I'm lucky if I can push 5km now!!) but it was one of those life changing events.. running in the wildnerness ... with no music, contestants spread out....just myself and my mind was such a test of the power of the mind. I lived in Darwin for 3.5 years with my then new husband - it was quite simply some of the best years of our lives together- kid free, experiencing a whole new demographic & the wild storms- just incredible!! Oh we miss the storms... but that humidity, nope. I'm a huge sucker for reality TV!! The Bachelor is probably my fav!! (poor hubby) followed by googglebox.
Q. You have such a gorgeous little family! Your hubby must feel a little outnumbered by the girl gang residing in his house.. but I can bet that he secretly loves it! My husband has said to me before that he'd be more than happy with a little girl gang of his own ;) So cute! Have you changed a lot over the years since having kiddies?
Oh thanks :) hahhah He is definately outnumbered by the amount of pink in our house but I think secretly he loves his little girl gang and doesn't know it any other way. Gosh I don't know where to begin... I have changed in so many ways it's quite incredible. I feel like motherhood has tested every ounce of patience and yet delivered me so much more, taught me to 'go with the flow', be adaptable to change, be kinder to myself, be kinder to others (everyone has a battle of their own). Mine came in the form of postnatal depression (twice over). And whilst this was the worst time of my life, it's actually turned out to be the best in a weird way because the amount I have learnt about myself and my own strength to get through that kind of darkness is definately the silver lining.
Q. What do you love most about being a mama?
Those bear hugs... you know the ones where those little arms just wrap around your neck... as I carry my daughter to bed and I still find myself taking in her scent...(like you would a newborn) yet she's 3.5 years old.
Q. What do you do to make yourself smile?
I listen to music, I bop around the kitchen like a dork with the kiddies in toe, I chat to my mum every single day (even if it's just to say hi and randomly see what she's cooking for dinner)... I think life is too short to not enjoy the small stuff and make time for those key people in your life.
Q. What does a usual day for you look like?
Crazy multi-tasking. In some respects it's got a little bit easier as the kids have grown between juggling the biz & the family as I've co-ordinated Scarlett to go to childcare when Chelsea is at kinder. So on those 3 days during the week, It's dedicated work time and you'll see me baking, packing order, answering emails, taking photos, waiting for the courier, running to the post office (for those that can't go by courier).... and then I race to do the pick up... make dinner, get kids to bed, chat to hubby.. pop on instagram (some nights I'll be working, others I'll be watching netflix) On the days the kids are home... I'll get up early and bake before we go out for the morning, pack orders at lunchtime while they watch a movie and then it's post office run in the afternoon. I'm "on" all the time.. it's actually hard to "swtitch off" cause I LOVE what I do... but I am trying to consciously give my full attention to either the mum (when I'm mummying) or to the biz (when it's work time). It's a juggle but I honestly wouldn't have it any other way.
Q. Your business Milk and Cookies by Jewels is booming! I can easily tell why it is so successful having purchased some of your delicious cookies previously and seeing first hand how much they work, but tell us a bit about your business in general. What you do for mamas or expecting mamas, and if you could give us a quick run through of your available products that would be fab!
milk & cookies by Jewels is the home of luxe lactation cookies... you know the type of yummy cookie that you just crave all day long and look forward to 3pm with your cuppa... yep that's what I'm best known for!! It's a cookie that works it's magic to support milk supply. Ideally I recommend starting to nibble on the cookies in the week prior to birth and definately pack them in your hospital bag!! You'll be so happy you did at that 2am feed when you're desperately trying to bring your milk in. The rest of the products in the store compliment a Mama's breastfeeding journey... baby bottles specifically suited to a breastfed bub so that Mum can feel assured bub won't encounter nipple confusion. The Haakaa breast pump so that you can tandem express (hands free!!) whilst feeding bub and start a collection of saved milk in your freezer. The essential oils Lactation roller to further support milk supply... the list goes on. I would definately recommend popping online to www.milkandcookiesbyjewels.com.au to view the entire range.
Q. How did you get into this as a job, and what led you towards this decision?
Sadly, postnatal depression and struggling with my own milk supply is how I even stumbled upon lactation cookies. At the time I was an overwhelmed new Mama in that newborn fog and starting to bake for myself gave me a creative outlet and shifted my focus. I then started to bake for friends/family... and then some local women in the community. I never had the intention of starting a business. Heck back then... I couldn't think of much more than just surviving the day to day of mum life grind. But as time went on, I got better, I continued to bake and the women I was baking for encouraged me to dream bigger- ALOT bigger. And after alot of blood, sweat & tears I am here to day.. proud to be supporting so many beautiful women around our country.
Q. What's your most favourite thing about your job?
Hands down the connections!! The milk & cookies by Jewels tribe of women are just beautiful- always keen to share pics of their babies with me, their happy moments, the joy of their cookie delivery but also trust in me to seek support on the harder days. That trust is just incredible & something I cherish. You don't get much better than that :)
Q. What are your top 5 tips for a breastfeeding mama to ensure she properly looks after herself and has a healthy milk supply?
1. First & foremost- believe in your body!! I'm a huge believer in the body follows the mind. Back yourself girl- you can do this. 2. Go slow - be gentle on yourself... laze on the couch as you need, nourish you body regularly with frequent snacks/meals... lap up that new baby. Your body is recovering from birth. 3. Skin on Skin- amazing for milk supply!! Use this trick whenever you have an unsettled bub, a leap, teething, think your body needs a little boost... our bodies are incredible if we allow them to follow their instinct. 4. Water!! And lots of it!! Breastfeeding is hard work. 5. Cluster Feeding is acutally a good thing! It's sooooooo exhausting and it makes most of us question our supply but it's bub just building up your supply. Best to just go with the flow and get comfy on the couch (and don't look at the clock!!! Big Love to all the Mamas reading this is the newborn trenches, Jewels X
Jewel's was interviewed over the last few months for her first magazine publication in Ballarat Lifestyle Magazine. An amazing and honest article about her life as a mama and how her wonderful business was born. Love this chick! x