I live in Pokfulam, Hong Kong, with my eight-month-old son Hamilton, my husband Angus and our Australian Bulldog Minka. We are from Sydney, Australia, where we both grew up. We moved to Kong Kong six years ago and it is where we plan to stay and raise a family.
How did you become a blogger?
When I was designing knitwear, I used to document how I was wearing the knits intertwined with my own wardrobe. These were the images that were getting the most likes and some were going viral. This made me start to think about blogging more seriously.
What are your kitchen staples for your family?
Every Sunday I spend time creating a meal plan for the week. I’m more conscious of the food that I’m putting into my body since we mostly home cook our meals. I love using a slow cooker so dinner can be prepared in the morning and I try and stay away from artificial flavors and preservatives and ultimately, make an effort to eat healthier.
Top holiday destination (with kids)?
We love The Four Seasons Nam Hai in Hoi An Vietnam. They have a kid’s club with a pool. There is also a puree menu available for young children which uses fresh produce mostly sourced within the hotels gardens. The staff are friendly and welcoming with children.
How do you make sure your partner creates a bond with the little one?
My husband has had a strong bond with Baby Hamilton since he was born. He starts work at 6 am and we pick him up every night at 5:30 with baby and dog in toe. So, they spend quality time together on a daily basis before we put Hamilton to bed at around 8. And our weekends are all about spending time as a family.
What does the word education mean to you?
Education is something ongoing, you never stop learning.
What values you would like to instill in / pass down to your little ones?
I want to teach Hamilton to be a kind person… And always help those who are less fortunate than us. I want him to be empathetic and intuitive. I will always teach him to listen to his heart and be guided by his intuition. I will teach him that he can achieve whatever he desires in his life as long as he is determined and works hard. To treat people the way you want to be treated, and not to be judgmental. But above all I just want him to be happy and content.
The dreaded jet lag, how do you cope with it?
I try get on with my day without napping.
Your favorite holiday memory with Ham? Watching his little face seeing snow for the first time.
Co-sleeping or separate rooms? We Co-sleep. I cuddle baby Hamilton all night and I love getting woken up with his beautiful eyes, big smiles and cuddles, it melts my heart and is such a beautiful start to the day.
IPads and technology, what’s your take on kids and screen time? Essential. When my son is having a hard time teething it is sometimes the only thing that will distract him from his sore mouth. I don’t think that 15 mins of screen time here and there is detrimental. My hubby and I both loved cartoons growing up. We also have a TV in the car and have his favourite cartoons on DVD which we put on if he is ever really restless. There is nothing worse than a screaming baby in a car.
Motherhood in a nutshell…
Motherhood has taught me so much. It’s teaching me what life’s all about. Looking at him and seeing little parts of your husband and little parts of your wider family. Gaining a new perspective on life. Watching him sleeping. Holding his tiny hands. Finding yourself doing the most ridiculous things to make him laugh. I’m so proud of bringing Hamilton into this world. He’s the most beautiful and exciting thing I’ve ever created.
Most embarrassing holiday memory? Nothing too bad yet…
You got right back into shape after having your little one what’s your exercise & diet routine like? Any tips and tricks?
I didn’t put on a huge amount of weight when I was pregnant. I really suffered with morning sickness (which is really all-day sickness) right up until I gave birth. My son was luckily above average in weight.
Hardest thing about motherhood?
How much I have changed. My interests are so different now.
Do you have a parenting philosophy?
Parent by example. Hamilton is already copying everything I do. I am really conscious of that.
Has your style changed since you have become a mom?
I haven’t changed my style. I still love wearing heels and dressing up.
Your typical morning …
Hamilton will usually wake me up between 6:30 and 7 with a big cuddle. I always open the curtains and let sunshine in and then we take our dog up to our rooftop and all get some fresh air. We go downstairs for his milk and cereal and I drink warm Lemon Water. It gives me an energy boost and helps keep my skin clear. I also take a probiotic and I add Restore supplement to my water. Restore increases cellular hydration by modifying the molecular nature of the water. This also gives me a boost of energy and makes me less likely to want to head back to bed. I then jump in the car and do some exercise. This will change by day, it may be strength class, spin, hiking or watersport. It just depends on the day… I find that if I exercise in the morning it gives me more energy for the rest of the day. I will then race home and shower. I dry brush for three to five minutes before showering I find that this exfoliates and keeps my skin soft and has almost removed the cellulite that I got when I was pregnant. I wash my hair every day using Shu Uemura Mosture velvet collection. It’s amazing and makes your hair so soft and shiny. After a shower, I use rose oil to moisturize my body. I also add Argan oil to the ends of my hair. Since I became a mum my makeup has to be really simple and quick. I have a 5-minute makeup routine. Then I then sit at my desk and write a to do list of the most important tasks that must be done that day. Sometimes they are as simple as writing a blog post, but writing these down really helps get them done. I then get onto answering my emails. I eat my breakfast at my desk; eggs, with sourdough avocado and sometimes tomato’s. After breakfast, I take my supplements. I take a B-Complex12 and Acetyl-L-Carnitine for energy. Ferrasorb for Iron, a multivitamin, and a hair and nails supplement.
Follow Rebecca’s fashion and family adventures here
Photography by http://michellejproctorphotography.com/
