Welcome to December’s Working Mum Series with Cressida Ruth – @thechicpetite. Cressida is a fashion and beauty blogger, as well as mum to two gorgeous girls. Her blog and Instagram are a one stop shop for all things bright and beautiful, with a true mix of high street and high end pieces that have been carefully curated. And she is a true expert in tried and tested beauty. Cressida has two great fashion pages on her blog, one for us mama’s and one for mini’s. It’s updated regularly with her favourite picks, so whether you’re a busy working mum like me, or someone who likes a curated edit of pieces to look through and save you the hard work of shopping, Cressida’s blog is for you. www.thechicpetite.co.uk
I hope you enjoy her interview, I particularly love her advice to working mums on “do something that feeds your soul”. I know for me personally that my time with my daughter is precious, so if i’m doing something that takes me away from her it has to be worth it.
Lisa
xoxo
Cityrunmum talks to Cressida Ruth a.k.a The Chic Petite
- Please introduce yourself – Hi I’m Cressida and I have two daughters aged 7 & 4. I started my blog The Chic Petite in 2016 mainly to share my love of fashion and beauty with like-minded women not only as a platform for me to express myself but also to show that looking stylish doesn’t have to be time consuming. I want to inspire women and make fashion more accessible and effortless for them. I also free lance for a luxury concierge magazine as a writer / fashion editor.
- How many days/hours a week do you work?
Good question! I feel like I never stop coupled with being a mum. Blogging isn’t an office job there are no set hours but when you work with brands there is a pressure to create content and also to keep it consistent. I’m very fortunate not to work a 9-5 but it takes up alot of time but the more time and effort I put in the better the rewards.
- Describe a typical working day in your household (i.e. morning routines with nursery/school drop offs to evening)
Well my day starts at 6.30 am and I do all those usual mum things like yelling the kids to brush their teeth and get their shoes on. My youngest has also just started school so it’s lovely not having four school runs a day now, just the two instead. I do like to work out so most mornings I try to get to the gym if I don’t have anything scheduled. If I’m at home I then spend the day updating content, sourcing pieces for the magazine, speaking with PR’s etc. Then it’s back to mum mode for the school run and dinner. I might get time to whip the Hoover around and a duster before my husband gets in from work.
- How do you balance working life with motherhood? And what/who do you rely on to make it work?
I will always be a mother first before anything. Nothing will come before my daughter’s and I wouldn’t want it to. I just use the time they’re at school as my time to do something that I love and think only of those hours as my ‘availability’ for the blog & magazine. It can be really hard to switch off sometimes especially if there are deadlines or you’ve got to shoot something specific for a brand or with the magazine there is an added pressure as it’s not mine but again I feel really fortunate that I’m able to do both. I rely on myself only to make it work as only I can make it all happen.
- What is the best thing about being a working mum?
For me the best thing about it is how bloody fantastic it makes you feel being able to juggle it all.
- And the hardest?
I miss being able to socialise with my other mum friends. I’ve turned down many coffee dates and lunches as I just haven’t got the time anymore. If I had to be in an office it must be really hard to juggle school runs.
- How do you unwind? Balancing motherhood with work can be relentless so what do you do to relax when you’re not at work/with the kid(s)?
So I have a few things I like to do that help me to unwind… typically at the end of the week I love to have a hot bubble bath with a face mask on and I will ALWAYS make time for that but strangely enough one of my favourite things to do it to cook a Sunday roast (glass of fizz in hand) and invite family over. That is my hygge place. I love entertaining.
- What is your proudest mum moment?
I can’t define one specific moment. My girls make me proud every day as I see them grow into thoughtful, sociable well mannered little ladies. It makes me proud that I got something right! I’ll always be prouder of who they turn out to be as people over any academic achievements.
- Do you feel that motherhood has changed you, and if so, how?
Absolutely it’s given me a voice. Before I had kids I was quite shy, I would just take crap from people and never speak up. Lets just say that thay certainly isn’t the case anymore.
- What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing working mums at the moment?
From my experience with friends that work it’s work places and employers. I still don’t think times have moved on much for working mums and I feel that’s why we are seeing the birth of more and more amazing mum’s in business and following their passions. Maybe it was always there but having children seems to fire something up.
- What is your proudest work achievement?
For me it’s more personal things that have happened. I started my blog as a hobby really so when I was approached by Reward Style I was so proud of myself to have been personally invited by them. Also when I was approached by the magazine it made me proud that by being me I’m opening doors into a new career I never would have dreamed of two years ago.
- What does ‘flexible working’ mean to you’?
To me it means fulfilling a role within hours that work for you. I think more mum’s should be able to do the same.
- What are your go to stores/websites/blogs for your working wardrobe, and what are your staple pieces as a working mum?
Well for me I’m not an office worker my blog is aimed at all women, mum’s on the school run, women that can express themselves at the weekend when they’re out of their work clothes but also I do mix pieces that you might usually wear to work so it inspires from different angles and to such a huge mix of ladies. I like to think of my style as ageless so women from 20 up to 60+ might be inspired by something. I don’t ever physically go shopping but my go to online retailers are ASOS and Zara. A staple item for me would be a tailored over size blazer as you can team it with anything!
- Finally, what advice would you give to new working mums? I.e. those who are just going back to work from maternity leave, setting up their own businesses, or going for a new job?
The only advice I feel worthy of giving is to just do something that feeds your soul and be you because you are doing a wonderful thing be it to provide for your family or because you followed your passions, stand up and be proud of yourself!
