Welcome to Beauty and Lace Laila and thanks for taking the time out to talk to us.

What is your vision for Laila & Spot?

My vision for Laila & Spot is all about filling a real need for New Mums – beautiful clothes designed for the challenges of new motherhood. I want to bring out clothing that is stylish and feminine, functional and designed to fit with the life of a new mum while making them feel amazing without spending a fortune.

Our first range is a Basics Range, which includes all the most important everyday items for new mums such as tops, leggings, skirts and simple dresses. I want to keep building on our offering, including a wider collection for different occasions, not just seasons.

Can you tell us a little about how Laila & Spot was born?

When I had my first baby, I discovered the needs of New Mums are very different to those of pre-pregnancy and pregnancy. I struggled to find suitable clothing that was comfortable and flattering. I found the only options available were maternity clothes (with some sort of breastfeeding access) or my regular wardrobe. Sadly, I didn’t fit into my old wardrobe straight after my little boy was born and I couldn’t wait to put away (or even burn!) my maternity clothes. But I also found these clothes didn’t provide all the functionality I was looking for as a new mum. Simple things like pockets, soft waistbands and flattering cuts became high on my list of priorities, along with the obvious things like discreet breastfeeding access. While I could get some of these requirements from maternity clothes, there were no options available that even came close to checking all the boxes for me.

Frustrated by this, I hit the design table and created a new range of clothing, designed specifically for New Mums.

Before embarking on the Laila & Spot journey, what was your field?

Contrary to what most people think, my background is actually in the IT field. I have a Bachelors Degree in Commerce and Science and worked with various businesses from development through to Project Management. While this sounds like something a world apart from fashion, there are actually a lot of similarities and learnings I pull out from there and utilize on Laila & Spot.

What has been the biggest challenge on the road to getting your designs into the marketplace?

Setting up a new business, I struggled with the need to suddenly be an expert in so many different fields. Its hard wearing all the hats. But I found the new world of motherhood empowering and tapped into these new experiences for inspiration. Great business ideas solve problems and mums are in the best position to spot ideas that will help make new motherhood easier.

Laila & Spot was created with a very specific market in mind, what would you say is the most unique feature of your range?

The most unique feature in our range is being able to combine fashion and function to really deliver what new mums look for. The beauty of our garments is not only what you see – but also the things you don’t see; features like hidden support, our magnetic clasps and concealed breastfeeding accesses to name a few.

Our business is all about new mums, and to ensure we deliver this, we have other mums on our team, from design to testing to production.

I was reading on your site about magnetic clasps on your dresses, can you tell us a little about how you came up with that feature?

I wanted the clothes in my range to look like everyday clothes, and not scream “I’m a new mum!”. I wanted not only functionality but also elegance in the garments and the commonly used plastic drop down clips just weren’t going to meet the mark for me. And so I went about looking at other avenues. The magnetic clasps we use on our garments are not only elegant, they’re also very functional, snapping back into place with just one hand.

Ethics and the environment are a big part of your company ethos, how did you ensure those requirements were met?

It was important to me to crate a brand that respected both ethics and the environment.

When sourcing our fabrics and factories, I do not rely on agents or second hand information. I personally visit the factories that make our fabric and our garments. I have worked there alongside the employees so I can vouch for the workplace myself. From yarn to completed garment, I understand and know the process first hand. This is the only way I can ensure our whole end to end journey is ethical and our garments environmentally friendly.

We are also big advocates of mums and women, and only use factories that offer equal opportunity for everyone. We also support the CARE Australia Empowerment Program that aligns with our values – “Help 1 woman out of poverty and she’ll bring 4 others with her.”

Can you tell us a little about your manufacturing journey?

When setting up this label, I looked at various manufacturing options. While we do all our design and sampling right here in Australia, getting it manufactured here was not a feasible option. So I turned to a country I called home for many years, a long time ago – India.

Ensuring our clothes are ethically made is high on my list of priorities, so I wasn’t satisfied with just sending our garments offshore to get made. Instead, once the initial phase of design and sampling was done, I headed off to visit a few factories over there myself. I’ve spent many weeks over several trips in India working in different areas. This investment of time and energy has given me an invaluable insight to understand the end to end process, as well as ensure the workers there are treated fairly.

The factories I work with treat their employees with the utmost respect. There are three breaks during the day that are mandatory – no lunch breaks working at your desk like I used to. Child labour is not only unheard of at our factories, but there is also a strong sense of community in this manufacturing town. So each factory looks out for the other to make sure they are all following the same guidelines and ethics.

It’s always tough being away from my own family when I make these trips, but I feel this is an important aspect of my business. During my time over there, I was able to get to know not just the workers, but also their families as we enjoyed cups of tea together and shared a few laughs.

What’s your favourite piece from the range?

That’s a tough one! I love each item and didn’t approve the samples until I was 100% satisfied. But if I had to choose just one, I think I would pick the first design I came up with – the short pleated dress. It is flattering, comfortable and I just love the flair of the skirt.

Where can we find Laila & Spot?

Our first range will be available for sale by the end of April this year. We’re excited to have Laila & Spot garments sold in stores in my home town of Melbourne and other cities around Australia. Our clothes will also be available from our own web site for new mums who don’t have a retailer near-by. We’ll be updating our list of stockists closer to the launch of our range so keep an eye out on our website – www.lailaandspot.com.au

Are you working on anything new to add to the range?

I sure am! We already have the next 2 ranges in design mode and we will keep adding complementary pieces just for mums. While we’ll continue to use natural fabrics, I’m excited about introducing different textures and prints to our range.

What does being a woman mean to you?

I think a lot of people underestimate how much women are capable of. I read this quote once, that always makes me smile and summarises my personal philosophy – “Women are quite simply amazing. We can make a baby, have a baby and feed a baby, all without even getting out of bed.”

Women are naturally very empathetic and generally genuinely want to help each other out. I find being a mum empowering. Motherhood has brought about love, strength and drive I never knew existed.

Teaching a mix of music, numbers and colours, these toys will encourage learning from six months old.

Lil’ Phone Pal (RRP $17.99*) – suitable for 6 to 18 months

Little ones can dial up learning fun with their own Lil’ Phone Pal. This first phone introduces basic phone manners with “Hello”, “Goodbye!” “Who is it please?” and “Thanks for Calling!” whilst exploring early counting 1, 2, 3 and motor skills as they play. The coloured movable beads and band help baby to practice their dexterity whilst also encouraging bub to imagine, grow, learn and develop.

Farm Mash Up (RRP $29.99*) – suitable for 12-36 months

Farm Mash Up teaches your little one to create silly animals for endless musical fun whilst learning about colours, animal sounds and facts, as they mix and match. With three ways of learning – by touch, sound and sight – Farm Mash Up provides hours of learning fun facts, baby animal names, and colours with each animal match.

Each time a child presses a tile into the interactive tile reader, it says the name of the animal and its colour eg. “Red Dog”. Everyone will enjoy familiar barnyard tunes including Old McDonald as they sing along.

These new LeapFrog products are available from major department stores and independent toy retailers. For further information on LeapFrog and its products, visit www.leapfrog.com.au.

For customer enquiries or more stockist information please contact Funtastic’s free-call Customer Care Line on 1800 244 543.

We have 5 prizes up for grabs, each is valued at $47.98 and contains 1 x Lil Phone Pal and 1 x Farm Mash Up.

To enter, just leave a comment below telling us why the little one in your life who would love this prize!

Competition closes 27/05/13 midnight AEST. You must be subscribed to the Beauty and Lace newsletter OR a Facebook fan to enter. Make sure you use a valid email address so we can contact you if you are a lucky winner

Terms and conditions

- All decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
- Competition is a game of skill. Chance plays no part in determining the winner.
- Prize not negotiable, and cannot be exchanged or taken as cash.
- One entry per person
- Competition open to Australian residents only
- Entries are only valid if all required fields have been entered. No responsibility accepted for lost, late or misdirected entries.
- All entries become the property of Beauty and Lace. Your details will not be given or sold to any third parties unless required for claiming of the prize.
- We reserve the right to make changes to the prize and competition if required.
- Winners will be notified by email.

Inspired by dreams of warm, buttery toast and a tin spaghetti doona, designer Sophie Farquhar bought her night-time visions to life by creating a range of hand drawn bed sets, including a doona cover, flat sheet, fitted sheet and pillowcase, each made using 100% cotton.

Has your little one ever cherished the desire to sleep in a chocolate bed? Or in a forest of lush green trees surrounded by the prettiest of flowers? Then the Chocolate Bar Bed and Sleepy Flowers Bed Toppings would come most suited.

Sophie Farquhar goes by the belief that “when kids go to bed happy they are more likely to have sweet dreams and sleep through the night” we most definitely nod our heads in agreement with this, we also think the sets would make for a gleeful gift.

Stockists – Visit http://www.bedtoppings.com.au to purchase online or to find your nearest stockist.

The kit even comes packaged in a durable plastic storage case which allows you to never lose those tiny little nail scissors again!

Inside you will find the following Dreambaby items :

• A soft hair brush – the brand has designed this with a large handle so that when they are ready they can learn to brush their own hair.
• A comb with rounded teeth which doesn’t scratch when used
• A toothbrush with soft bristles and an easy grip handle which allows them to practise their own dental hygiene skills
• A baby sized pair of nail clippers for safer nail grooming
• A pair of scissors with a rounded tip, these will last well into the toddler years
• A set of four emery boards for tidying up rough nails (especially useful if your baby scratches themselves)

With all the grooming essentials covered, and the easy storage, this is a must have for new parents or even those with slightly older children.

Priced at $19.95 this saves the hassle of purchasing all the items individually and there is nothing in here that you wouldn’t use.

BPA and PVC Free.

For more information visit www.dreambaby.com.au or call 02) 9386 4000 to find your nearest stockist.

Be part of the child safety and care conversation and LIKE Dreambaby®: http://www.facebook.com/Dreambabysafety

These gorgeous shoes you see pictured are creations from all about Heidi, who had the clever brainwave of designing shoes made from one piece of leather, so there are no seams to cause discomfort to young, growing tootsies.

There are currently two designs to choose from – velcro and laces – and both come in a dizzying array of bright colours.

all about Heidi offers comfort with conscience and every shoe is adjustable to allow for a perfect fit and growth. Crawling babes and toddling tots need shoes that stay on and you can rest assured these playful shoes are designed with sturdy grip.

RRP – $39.00

Stockists – You can nab a pair (or two) from http://www.allaboutheidi.com . Also be sure to check out the stockists’ page for your local retailer.

There are two Closer to Nature® breast pumps in the range: Electric and Manual.  The Electric Breast Pump utilises Natural Feel Expression, which mimics a baby’s natural feeding action.  A super-soft silicone cup makes this one of the most comfortable breast pumps on the market. It has four speeds, which allows mum to find the most comfortable and efficient setting. The unique one-piece valve in this pump provides improved suction with no backflow. Busy mums will appreciate the simple design of this pump, which is easy to assemble, use and clean. It comes with a handy microwave steriliser box, a Closer to Nature® 150ml bottle, a storage lid and six breast pads.

The Closer to Nature® Manual Breast Pump has only three parts making it incredibly easy to put together and clean. The soft, flexible cup is rippled for extra comfort. This breast pump is very quiet so expressing can be done discretely. The Collect and Protect Milk Storage System means mum can express directly into the Closer to Nature® Milk Storage Pots provided. The manual pump action is easy to control. This pump also comes with a Closer to Nature® 150ml bottle and six breast pads.

The Closer to Nature Baby website offers some great tips for those expressing for the first time. Looking at a photo of your baby while you express may help your milk flow. Massaging the breasts before you start will help stimulate the breastfeeding hormones. It’s important that you are comfortable and relaxed before you begin.

For best results use a Closer to Nature® bottle to feed your baby the expressed milk. The teats have been designed to stretch, elongate and flex like an actual breast, making it easier for baby to switch from breast to bottle and back again. The advanced easi-vent™ technology is designed to help reduce colic as it lowers the amount of air taken in by bub, resulting in a less windy and more contented baby. Of course all Closer to Nature® products are BPA and phthalate free.

For a full list of stores selling the Closer to Nature® Breast Pumps go to www.closertonaturebaby.com.au. The Electric Breast Pump has an RRP of $200 and the Manual Breast Pump has as an RRP of $90.

We have two prizes to giveaway with one electric and one manual breast pump up for grabs. For your chance to win tell how a Closer to Nature Breast Pump would help you.

Competition closes 11th April 2013 midnight AEST. You must be subscribed to the Beauty and Lace newsletter OR a Facebook fan to enter.

[gravityform id="127" name="Win with Closer to Nature"]

Terms and conditions

- All decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
- Competition is a game of skill. Chance plays no part in determining the winner.
- One entry per person.
- Prize not negotiable, and cannot be exchanged or taken as cash.
- Competition open to Australian  residents only
- Entries are only valid if all required fields have been entered. No responsibility accepted for lost, late or misdirected entries.
- All entries become the property of Beauty and Lace. Entrants may automatically become a Beauty and Lace member and receive our newsletters, you may opt out any time. Your details will not be given or sold to any third parties unless required for claiming of the prize.
- We reserve the right to make changes to the prize and competition if required.
- Winners will be notified by mail or email

One of the best ways to achieve a healthier, happier you is with the support of others. Doing it alone is tough and it is often easier to pick up a biscuit instead of a dumbbell when you have no one to push you.

To bring in the new year, the weightloss experts at Tony Ferguson have created a way for women all to work together to lose weight – the “Share the Weight Challenge”. Have a look at the following video, I must admit I got a little shiver and a burst of motivation from it:

To get started you can visit www.sharetheweight.com.au and pledge your goal. Not only will you have your friends support but the backing of the whole country – the idea is that as a collective we will lose TEN THOUSAND TONNES!

So far over 8000 people have made the pledge, so by joining in you will take away the isolation and be made accountable for your own health.

No matter if you want to lose 1 kilo or 100, this is a good motivational tool to get you on the right track.

How many kilos do you want to lose this year?

This is a sponsored post but opinions are my own.

A good table can be enjoyed with a range of activities including drawing, craft activities, eating, car racing, lego…the list is endless.

The Mocka Wooden Table and Chair Set is affordable and durable, and the natural birch wood colouring and simple design will look good in any home. The set comes with a round table, two chairs and two stools (which are strong enough for an adult to sit on too).

Made for children from 2-6 years, this is such a lovely Christmas idea, especially as a joint gift for young siblings.

The set comes flat packed but even if you find yourself putting this together on Christmas Eve, it is easy to put together for even a non handy person.

There are many things out there that you could waste $119 on this year, but if you want to spend your money wisely and choose a gift that will last – then you should definitely look at Mocka!

Mocka is an Australian, family owned business offering quality products for children and this beautiful table and chair set is just one of many items you will find in their online store.

For more information please visit: www.mocka.com.au

The first key point is that this seat will grow with your child – it is a purchase that will take them from 6 months to approximately 8 years old, making it a car seat and booster seat in one.

Re-positioning the shoulder straps is normally a job that can be awkward and time consuming as you have to take the seat out, re-thread the straps and then re-install. This Maxi Rider takes the hassle out of this process, as the “Easy Adjust” in the name suggests – this is actually easy to adjust!

The headrest can be moved up or down automatically while the seat is still fitted in the backseat, so you always have the right shoulder strap height for your child. Now that is clever!!

With all that cushioning you may be concerned about the width of the Maxi Rider AHR, but in fact it is 30mm slimmer than the previous Maxi Rider AHR without sacrificing on any of the comfort or safety features (the internal width is the same). This new design may just give you the extra room you need to fit multiple seats in the back! This is also 80mm higher to cater to taller children.

If that is not enough cool new features for you, here is something that will make you smile. For all those times you have inwardly cursed because you put the baby in the seat and then realised they are sitting on the buckle and you have to try again – there is now an EZ buckle system which pushes the buckle forward when not in use. Perfect, especially when you need to transfer a sleeping toddler from from the stroller to the car with minimum disruption!

Parents can also be assured the Safe-n-Sound Maxi Rider AHR Easy Adjust has a high standard of safety. The seat comes with deep side wings with additional padding, and even by touching this you can tell it is strong and durable.

There are five colours available so you can match the interior of your car, or add a pop of colour with the red. Choose from garnet, onyx, bluestone, slate grey (pictured) and caramel.

With less than 2 weeks until Christmas, this would make an excellent and practical gift idea for new parents. The RRP is $529.00 and when you think about all the features, comfort and safety – and the fact this will last you 8 years (more if you have multiple kiddies), it is definitely something worth investing in!

For more information on the new Maxi Rider AHR Easy Adjust visit www.britax.com.au

There are 10 popular song choices available which they can strum along to including Rockin’ Robin, Itsy-Bitsy Spider, If You’re Happy and You Know It, ABC Song and Pop Goes the Weasel.

Included are fun sound effects for increased interactivity and the guitar really helps to build those important fine motor skills.

If they have a natural love of tunes, or you would like to give them the chance to explore music then this is a must have gift.

If you are worried about purchasing a “noisy toy” this is varied enough that it doesn’t get irritating – and so much preferable to a drum kit! Comes with a strap to complete the look (and make it comfortable for them to play.)

RRP $39.99

For further information on LeapFrog and its products, visit www.leapfrog.com.au

For customer enquiries or more stockist information please contact Funtastic’s free-call Customer Care Line on 1800 244 543.