It's safe to say that I love my job, and I am very grateful that I live this kinda "double life". Most of the year I am at home in a small town in Australia with my kids (and husband Justin), packing school lunches, driving them to swimming lessons and 13 dances classes a week. Here is a photo of my 4 year old son in his batman swimmers, smiling and waving underwater while his teacher treads water behind him.
Like most of us mom's my kids are my life, and although there are LOTS of crazy moments, I love that I can be at home with them. While I am doing all this "MOM stuff" I find a few hours a day to sneak away from the chaos, go upstairs to my cute little studio and put together a collection of clothing and sarongs for "island life". I send weird little photos of myself (like this one below) to my team, when I get excited about the samples that arrive on my doorstep. How cute is our "Aloha Tank Top" on the new 2018 collection. I can't wait to wear it.
A couple of times of year, I pack the samples into 2 big luggage bags, type up a mammoth schedule for the kids, so that Justin, my mom, and my mother-in-law can keep the household running while I am away, and I embark on a 30 hour journey to Florida. Here I am, ready to board a little Dash-8 in my small town, to fly to Sydney.
Here is the photo I took as the plane took off.... looking over towards the quiet little valley where my little stone cottage is.
Here is a photo of the view as I flew over STUNNING Sydney Harbour... who would know its midwinter!
15 hours after take off in Sydney, I landed in Dallas. 30 hours after leaving home, I was is West Palm Beach FL. Standing at the baggage claim at midnight, I sent this photo to my family to let them know I had arrived safe in Florida.
But that was just the beginning. I had 6 hours sleep and then drove over to Palm City FL to pack the van with Lauren and drive 2 hours to Miami. Thank goodness Lauren did the driving !! Here is a photo of the van all packed up.
Here I am up the ladder hanging the backdrop for our booth. We always have a beach shot, so that people feel like they are on our island.
We had a great show, and Miami Swim Show is one of the most sophisticated shows I have been to. Such a nice vibe. Here is a photo of all of us with Tessa and Shanda from Foxy's in the British Virgin Islands. So from the left, its me, Tessa, Angela (our adorable Caribbean sales rep), Shanda and Lauren. I don't know why it is alway me that looks silly.... lets blame that on the jet lag
So the show is now over and I got a day in the warehouse. I am flying home via Hawaii.... WOOHOO can't wait to share those photos with you all ! I will leave you with another little sneak peek of something coming in December, this is our cute AT ANCHOR BEACH BAG in navy blue. Yes please !
One love island friends xx