Adelaide PBC!

I just wanted to do a shout out to the fantastic people of Adelaide! We were lucky enough to go there for the Adelaide Pregnancy, Babies and Children’s Expo (PBC) last weekend and we had such a great time. It was my first visit to Adelaide and I loved it! Everyone was so lovely to us so thank you for coming and saying hello. Our bags also did really well there with everyone loving all of our nappy bags, especially the Lyla!

I also have to thank my mum who helped me out. She was such a great help, from helping me put together a bookcase (which took nearly 2hrs to put together), to looking after our stall while I grabbed something to eat, I couldn’t have done it without her.

So thank you again Adelaide and I hope to see you all again soon!

                                            www.totalbagenvy.com.au

Because I'm Happy!!!!

Because I’m happy  (yep like the song) we are currently crushing on all things yellow! 

To be honest, I’ve never been a big fan of the colour yellow.  The main reason is that yellow washes me out and I look like something from the Walking Dead, so I’ve never had any reason to pick up anything yellow.  But Kristy has convinced me that yellow is the colour of the YEAR and has been shoving all things yellow in my face for the last couple of weeks. She even painted our office wall yellow!

And you know what?  It made me smile and it made me feel happy!  How bad can a colour be that makes you cheery?

Armed with a mood board of yellow products, we have been at work and have been playing around with some sketches to make you feel happy.  

I can’t wait to see what comes out of this happy mood we are in!

P.S We announce things first in our Newsletter and Facebook!

www.totalbagenvy.com.au

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Until next time,

Kym and Kristy xx

Our Valentine’s Day Dinners – epic fail or raging success?

So, who knew that I could cook? Neither did I!! But… my Valentine’s Day dinner was a raving success! Must be all of those nights watching My Kitchen Rules! Or the fact I received a dozen red roses and a diamond ring (not that kind of diamond ring but still diamonds…) and was feeling on top of the world!

I said last time that I was cooking a special dinner for my boyfriend seeing he was only just getting back that day. So, of course I decided to cook things that I have never cooked before. I really wasn’t sure about my cooking capabilities but my thought process was that I still had a frozen pizza in the freezer and there are a variety of take away places close to my house, so if it all went horribly wrong we wouldn’t starve.

Unbelievably nothing went wrong!! I am now cooking extraordinaire! Ok, so I did have to ask him how to use the grill in my oven (I’m pretty sure it hadn’t been used in the seven years I have lived there! :/ ) and I did take longer than an MKR contestant to get all courses to him but he gave me a 10 out of 10 so I was pretty proud of myself. That was, of course, until he decided that now I can cook I should cook dishes like them all the time…..hmmm. What’s that? I think I need to do some more bag orders up…..

What did Kym and her husband do for Valentine’s Day? Well, surprisingly, he actually remembered! And brought home a cheesecake and tub of ice-cream, which Kym didn’t eat because she went to bed. Her husband also told her that he had tried to order her flowers. Tried to.  See, told you they are romantics!

I hope your Valentine’s Day dinners were really special too!

Until next time,

Kristy and Kym xo

www.totalbagenvy.com.au

Valentine's Day - Romantic or Over Rated?

So guess what is coming up next week? That's right, Valentine's Day!!! February is the month of LOVE and romance!

Kym and I have differing views of Valentine’s Day. She thinks it is over- rated, expensive and an excuse for people to buy presents for no reason. Kym and her husband have a deal that they don’t buy each other anything. I think that secretly she does want something, but won’t admit it! Kym would be over the moon with either a card, flowers or just an ‘I love you’ but I know for a fact that she would like a weekend away! Her husband is male however so he doesn’t really catch on to Kym looking him in the eye and saying ‘let’s go away for a weekend’ hint. So, they normally completely forget most special occasions and don’t give each other anything for Valentine’s Day, Anniversaries, Christmas….

Me on the other hand, well I have had a love/ hate relationship with Valentine’s Day. I have been single for more Valentine’s Day than partnered up, so those years I hated it (although occasionally I was still given roses so I loved those years!).  Now, however, I have an amazing partner and can’t wait for Valentine’s Day! He has already told me he is buying me a present and now I have the dilemma of what to buy him! He works away and only gets back on Valentine’s Day so we have agreed that I would cook a romantic dinner for us but presents are beyond me.

Yes, I agree that Valentine’s Day is expensive and an excuse to buy something for someone but what is wrong with that? What is wrong with wanting one night in the whole year when it is just about the two of you, showing each other how much they mean to you? I know that telling and showing each other how much they mean to you should be done every day but how many people actually do that? Especially when there are children involved and then most things revolve around them and they don’t understand that mum and dad need some time out from them! Their worlds revolve around them remember!

Either way, Kym and I wanted to share our picks for what we would be happy with. Kym is a mother to three lively boys so she would love the Lyla bag! It has heaps of room for everything her three boys would need and she thinks this would be such a gorgeous present for other mums or mothers to be.

                                                http://www.totalbagenvy.com.au/nappy-bags

My pick, being without children, would prefer one of our gorgeous handbags, clutches or evening bags. I have had my eye on a couple for a while, just didn’t know how to sneak them past Kym!  I also think they would be the perfect present because they are all ON SALE!! That means getting an amazing present without the expensive cost. You could also just buy one for yourself and tell your partner he bought it….or it has been in the cupboard for ages! lol.

http://www.totalbagenvy.com.au/handbags

 

http://www.totalbagenvy.com.au/evening-bags

So whether you have Kym’s views of Valentine’s Day or mine, we both hope you have a fantastic (and romantic) day. You can view the rest of our bags at www.totalbagenvy.com.au

Until next time,

Kym and Kristy xx

2014 - Such Possibilities!!

I like the thought of 2014.  It’s a nice even number, and already January is almost over and this year is looking pretty good.  I can’t say that I’m sad to see the back of 2013 for so many reasons, both personal and business wise.

First our factory just “disappeared”.  Yep, that’s right. One day we were skyping about a new design and getting emails about material prices, and literally the next day we got nothing.  No phones answered, emails returned, and even our agent in China could not get through to speak to anyone.  Very strange and very stressful!  It took us a long time to find another factory that was able to produce our designs and vision with the quality we expect and you deserve. 

But… we did find one that we are very happy with, and as a result, we have the stunning Lyla and the elegant limited edition Charlotte. 

                                                   

                       

www.totalbagenvy.com.au/nappy-bags

This year, we have so many exciting things that we can’t wait to share with you.  Our factory in China is now closed until mid -February for Chinese New Year celebration, but after that it is full steam ahead.  While the factory is closed, it allows us to focus on finalising new designs and work on some other projects we have in the pipe lines.

We are also doing a little bit of travelling this year and heading to Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane for the first time, so keep an eye out for dates and come and say hello. 

 We are also having a big spring clean of our office, so ‘Like’ us on Facebook to be sure that you grab a bargain in our Sample/Hurt sale.  Also, make sure you sign up to our newsletter to be the first in the know as well as get additional exclusive offers. You can sign up at www.totalbagenvy.com.au

Until next time

Kristy & Kym xxx 

Going Back to Work...

How do you cope with going back to work after the holidays? I think this is probably the most asked question after the Christmas/New Year period. Immediately the brain goes to ‘I don’t want to’ because even after a short break, you’re in holiday mode and want to stay there! Any kind of decision making or work is way too hard to even begin to comprehend.

The good news? After a few days back at work it won’t even feel like you went on holidays! Ok, I’m still trying to decide whether that is the good news or bad news.

My advice? Do a job you LOVE! You know that old saying, ‘If you love what you do you’ll never work a day in your life’? I happen to think it’s true. Try to find enjoyment in your job and really, if you applied for the job, there must have been something that you thought you would enjoy. Otherwise, just take things one day at a time and look at your bank account at the end of the week. J

If you still hate, and I mean hate, being there, you should probably quit and find something that you will enjoy. We spend more hours at work than with loved ones at home so you may as well make the most of it and find a job that not only challenges you but fulfills you.

Apparently January is a big month for people changing jobs and I say good on them. I believe life is all about taking chances. You took a chance with a first date and a first kiss with someone and the only bad thing that may have happened was that it didn’t work out. If you change jobs and it turns out you don’t like it, at least you took a chance. 

What if you did like it? What if it was exactly what you wanted to do?

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What to pack in your hospital bag

Having a baby is such an exciting time.  You get to go shopping for baby gear, decorate the nursery and have fun with baby names.  What is just as important as your baby’s bag is your bag.  Hit the shops one last time before baby and spoil yourself with some comfy items to make your stay in hospital more comfortable.  

Our must have items to pack in your hospital bag are:

·         Hospital paper work/medicare/private health cards;
·         3 sets of button up pyjamas or nighties;
·        Dressing gown; 
      Maternity Bras;
·        Heaps (and we mean heaps) of comfy undies (if ever there was a time for granny panties, this is it!); 
 ·    A couple of sets of your smaller sized maternity outfits (pants and loose fitting tops);
·         Maternity pads;
·         Breast pads;
·         Baby’s going home outfit;
·         Toiletries;
·         Camera/phone/phone charger;
·         Books or magazines;
·         Hair bands;
·         Water bottle;
·         Change of clothes for your hubby/partner/birth partner

Optional items are:

·         Massage oil;

·         Aromatherapy oil;

·         Relaxing music;

·         Make up;

·         Lollies/chocolates

Try and get your bag packed at around 36 weeks in case labour comes on early, and then you can kick back and try to get some much needed sleep before bub comes!

www.totalbagenvy.com.au