Did you watch ABC TV’s War on Waste? If you haven’t, you should! It’ll make you rethink that daily (or more) take away coffee and any form of single use plastic. This series really resonated with our Love Mae team. We are all very passionate about the environment and producing ethical, reusable and eco friendly products. It’s this passion that fuelled the development of our range of bamboo tableware which is made from bi products of the bamboo industry - essentially the left over bits that no-one was previously using. It’s all natural, sustainable and biodegradable.

You can still watch the War on Waste series online and there’s a new podcast (we love a good podcast!!) by Craig Reucassel and Wendy Harmer that will be releasing new episodes fortnightly until December. You can subscribe to that here. 

If you’re following Love Mae then there’s a good chance you have young kids of your own, or in your life. We all need to work together to protect our environment for these children. We’re 100% in. Are you?

These are just a few of our favourite Bamboo designs that are as kind to the planet:

'Fox and Friends' 5 piece set

'Fox and Bird' 4 pack of bowls

'Stars' 4 pack of Cutlery

'Forest Mix' 4 pack of Tumblers

'Forest Folk' 5 piece set

'Forest Supper' 5pc set

Love.. Mae xx

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself in 25 words or less? 

Sure … Hmm, I’m a mum, wife, and maker of things, I’m messy (but trying hard not to be). I’m tactile - my hands are, strong indelicate and always busy. I collect things, especially second hand books – on many subjects (slightly compulsively), which I rarely find time to read (but I will one day!)… I appreciate mindfulness, family, and friendships. I admire people who don’t always take the path of least resistance when it comes to the things they believe in.

How did the idea for ‘Real Good Things’ originally come about?

I guess it’s a new project that just evolved naturally… I’ve always created things so cooking and experimenting with cakes just happened. When my daughter was a toddler and we travelled a lot there wasn’t much time or space for creative pursuits so the kitchen just became my default outlet.. I call it my meditation! My husband encouraged me to start to share it recently – at first I was hesitant to food spam my friends but now I’ve realised they don’t mind the taste-testing perks. My husband and dad both have quite strict dietary requirements so it’s a fun challenge creating magic looking cakes without all the refined, fake stuff.

We are strong believers that food is nature’s medicine and love how you have created so many treats and snacks that are as beautiful as they are nutritious! What has been your favourite creation to date?

Ooh That’s a tough one – Each time I make a cake that’s my fave – because it’s what I’m vibing on at the time! My daughter Sass has requested (actually dictated to the very detail) a Zombie Cake for her 5th birthday coming up and I think it’s going to be very cool when it’s done.

Having lived in many different parts of the world have you found that your habits and inspiration for what you cook has changed with the locations?!

Definitely .. We lived in L.A for 3 and ½ years and travelled to many places over the world with our kiddo during that time. I’m definitely inspired by those different cuisines, street foods and produce. In the Netherlands I walked to the grocery store every day just to stare at the array of cheeses.  I now appreciate pumpkin pie, bagels and there is a whole wide world of iced tea I previously never new existed, ha ha. Mostly though I’m inspired by the produce that’s local to the place at that time. It just makes so much sense to cook seasonally – shipping a pomegranate across the globe then buying it for an exorbitant price seems mad for so many reasons.

We feel so lucky that we got to enjoy the most ridiculously cool rainbow cake that was made by you for our 9th birthday! Can you share the recipe with us? 

My absolute pleasure! Of Course…. It’s easy to make – I promise!
You can download the Recipe here! 

After lots of travelling you and your family have chosen to settle in the Byron Bay area with your family, what do you love most about the area? 

Gee .. what’s not to love ? We love the beaches, the normality of healthy living, the sense of community, and living close to nature - but not in an isolated way….. Being able to have your kids climb trees everyday and go bare-foot isn’t something I’ll ever take for granted again.

Have you ever struggled to get your little one Sass to eat healthy food?

Ha ha- of course !
Like all parents some days it’s a dream and other times it feels like a battle of wills. I’ve always tried to consciously make new foods about discovery and adventure; leading by example.. but I think there are intrinsic taste preferences in us all. The thing she particularly avoids is avocado … Pretty much my favourite thing !?

What’s the best piece of parenting advice you have received?

From my dad – “don’t sweat the small stuff – it’s all small stuff.” Pretty sure it’s from one of the many personal growth books he buys (compulsively) and doesn’t read …… Yes, it must be hereditary. And when I once asked my mum how long it took her to get her kids from sleeping in her bed she replied “ I’m not sure, but you don’t sleep in my bed now do you?” and I realised that it actually doesn’t matter and that one day I won’t even remember the tired days, just the happy morning cuddles.

Is there anything you have swore you would never do as a parent but have found yourself doing?

Oh dear, umm so many things ! Like all parents – You hold fast to your core values but along the way you realise sometimes you just have let the peripheral things slide to survive the day, flight, night or hour – by whatever means necessary …  Access to T.V and the looming reality of technology in our everyday lives is probably the most current hurdle.

What’s in store for you in the next few months?

Ooh good question ? Hmmmm  – more bakin’ makin’ and  shakin I’m sure…. I’m right into making choccie truffles at the moment !

And lastly, what’s on top of your Love Mae wishlist? 

Ooh loving the new 4 plate packs in all pretty designs – the peacock and doe are too cute!… And my daughter loves her Australiana dinner set ! It’s actually the only thing she’s allowed me to serve her meal on since she got it – so happy it’s dish washer- proof. I think the alphabet prints are a wonderful educational aides that look cool too … I think that might be on the birthday list.

Claire shares her recipes and journey on her website:  http://clairesnel.com/

You can also find her on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clairesnelrealgoodthings
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairesnel/ 

Check out her Rainbow Sprinkles recipe online Sarah Wilson's 'I Quit Sugar' website here too!

We hope you love Claire just as much as we do!

Love... Mae xx

The month of Mae's Birthday Celebrations continues! 

Your store is a local favourite, it has such a warm and welcoming feel. Can you tell us more about the story of Bud?

You’re a mother, what’s the best piece of parenting advice you have received?

Is there anything you have swore you would never do as a parent but have found yourself doing?

What do you think is the most important thing to consider when shopping for products for yourself or gifts for others?

What is the best part of your working day?

You’re lucky enough to be based in Mullumbimby , what’s your favourite thing about the town and it’s surrounds?

Where do you eat when you've got an hour to spare that is walking distance?

And lastly, what is your favourite Love Mae product?

Earlier in the year you may remember that we caught up with lovely Fran who is one half of Franjo's Kitchen. Fran is a lawyer by trade and mum to baby Margot and 3 year old Phoebe. She works alongside Jo, who is a naturopath, nutritionist and wellness consultant and mum to twin babies Florence and Charles and 3 year old Matilda. Together they developed a wonderful range of cookies and crackers for pregnancy and lactation for Mum's that work with your body, not against it.

They have recently launched a their new 'Kinder Range' which is something we have been very excited about!

Nutrition plays a crucial part in helping your little love grow into a healthy and happy adult. As parents it's our role to nourish our children with wholesome food. We are love these biscuits for our little loves because they're vegan so perfect for those with dairy and egg intolerances, cane sugar free and nut free which makes them friendly for lunch boxes.

We tried both flavours and still can't decide which is our favourite because they're both so delicious. We have one warning... you might might find it hard to resist sneaking a few for yourself!

Our New Unicorn Supper 4pc Set + Franjo's Cacao and Chia Biscuits 

Our New Fox and Friends 5pc Set + Franjo's Vanilla and Chia Biscuits 

How cute is this packaging!?
Once you're finished with the box you can tear the perforation and watch Benjamin Bear come to life!

You can check out more of their wonderful products here!

Enjoy!

Love... Mae x

We love following the lives of you and your little ones on Instagram, sometimes the weeks can get away from us, we  love having time on the weekend to catch up with everything.

Here are some our favourite snaps from recent times!

Our 'Moon and Stars' 5 piece Bamboo Set captured by @samanthamcmillen_stylist

Our 'Forest Folk' Mini Decals and 'Build a Pine Tree' Large Wall Decal in this lovely room styled by @mylittlechief 

Our 'Unicorn' Wall Decal looking gorgeous in this room styled by @littledwellings

Our 'Peacock and Doe' 4 pack of Bamboo Plates captured by @justaddflower

Our 'Woodland Tea Party' 5 piece Bamboo Set captured by @belloundelsa

Make sure you share your photos with us too, simply tag us or include the hashtag #lovemaestudio

Can you tell us a bit about Franjos Kitchen and how it came about?

When I was breastfeeding my first baby, I had milk supply issues. I googled “how to increase my milk supply” and stumbled across page after page of recipes and advice. Around the same time I met my business partner Jo, a naturopath. At the time Jo was developing another healthy cookie company. A month or two after meeting I was lying in bed and had the lightbulb moment of creating Franjo’s Kitchen. There was a gap in the market and using Jo’s skills as a naturopath I saw an opportunity to create a really special product.

We’re also believers in food being nature’s medicine, can you tell us why is it so important to really consider nutrition whilst breastfeeding?  

It’s a no brainer. Our bodies are working sooo hard to produce milk for our babies. We need to fuel them properly to do so. There are so many factors that go into milk production and whilst diet isn’t always the complete answer it does have a huge impact on the amount of milk we can create, and the quality of that milk. Mothers, breastfeeding or not, need energy and a good diet is absolutely essential!

Sweet or Savoury, do your crackers and cookies have the same benefits? Which is your personal favourite?

Yes both our products contain galactagogues – the ingredients that help with your milk supply. Not only that, but all of our products contain ingredients specifically chosen by Jo for their nutritional value. We don’t use any cheap bulk fillers or refined flours or sugars. I genuinely love them all! It’s like trying to choose between my children! I love the fennel and fenugreek cracker with avocado and goats cheese on it and the choc chip has got to be a go to too, especially for the mid avo pick me up! But then again, I love the ginger and apricot! Honestly I can’t choose!

What are your top tips for breastfeeding mums?

Understand breastfeeding before you have the baby. Those first 6 weeks can be really challenging. Establishing supply, understanding cluster feeding, and correct latch are sooo key. Get help from a lactation consultant as soon as you think you need it, they are godsends. And remember to eat! You need so many extra calories and lots of extra water. But above all, you need to do what is right for you and your baby. There is no doubt that breastfeeding is absolutely wonderful and I loved feeding both my babies until toddlerhood but ultimately the most important thing is a happy mother so if for whatever reason it doesn’t work out please try not to feel too guilty.

How do you juggle parenthood and being a business owner?

We are really lucky that we live in the smartphone age, so a lot of my work gets done off my phone. But it’s definitely tricky. Now that I have both my girls in childcare I try to get as much work done as I can on my “office days” but the reality is as a small business owner, the work never ends. It’s definitely a juggle sometimes but I feel very lucky to be in this position and dictate when I work rather than being tied to a job with annual leave and office hours to consider!

Is there anything you have swore you would never do as a parent but have found yourself doing?

Ha! Everything. I saw a meme the other day which said something like “it was so much easier to parent my hypothetical children before I had them” and it’s so true. I’m over 4 years in so I can’t even remember all my wild pre children ideas of parenting but I’m pretty sure I’ve broken every rule!

What’s the best piece of parenting advice you have received?

Love them and read them books. A friend of mine who is a teacher said that the children whose parents seem truly happy to see them after school, who seem to genuinely love and enjoy their children’s company and who are well read seem to be the happiest and most well adjusted. I know it seems pretty simple but it really struck a cord with me. Love your children unconditionally. Read them books. I can do that!

And lastly, what’s on top of your Love Mae wishlist?

Ohh I think it would have to be some of your beautiful fabric wall stickers! Love them!

For all things Franjos, head to their website here or follow them on:
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest

We took 5 minutes to catch up with the lovely culinary queen, Amie Harper...

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself in 25 words or less?

I'm a mum of 2 gorgeous children - Pip 3 1/2 & Jim almost 12 months this month dec 17th and a wife! I love the outdoors and the beach so we've always resided next to beaches since I finished study. From Sydney and now to Victoria's, chilly Torquay. We spend weekends taking the kids for walks, scoots, beach swims and plays or swims at the pool bc the water is so cold still! Just moved into a new house. It's small but lovely and the kids share a room but it's our own patch of dirt and a great backyard! I'm fun, friendly, sociable but private, colourful and a bit quirky. I love my family. The main reason I do what I do to give them a great future but to look up to me as a hard worker so they have similar work ethics and morals.

What is your background, how did Amie Eats come about?

I studied science at Monash university and then transferred to RMIT in Melbourne to study food science and nutrition degree. I had a passion for nutrition and in particular child nutrition finishing my final year focusing on child snacking behaviour within schools (14 years ago!). It horrified me to see what kids were being packed in lunch boxes back then... I was young and keen to change the world.

I had already started working in FMCGs writing recipes, assisting pack styling and creating concepts. It was a fun start to my food career. Then I went off to learn product development and food tech, which took me to Holland to research food. I was offered some amazing experiences very young but I was still drawn to child nutrition so quit my job and started to cold call child care and kindergarten to work within their setting and educate and teach kids about good food. It was really difficult and I didn't gain much momentum 10 years ago I guess things were only beginning in this area. So I went back to the big corporate route again!it wasn't until I had Pipi and I was working in Sydney with some great styling and writing experience under my belt with ACP now Bauer that I had the drive and confidence to give my own cookbook a go...

I saw a niche in the market as a new mum for inspiring fun and health food not only for baby but for mum and dad also. One meal. So at 6 months I started cooking, testing and styling recipes in my backyard. Pipi on my hip most of the time her tiny paws honing in on my creation I was trying to shoot, often with my I phone!!!i started writing recipes at night after Pipi had gone to bed. Then my little sister would edit them over in the Middle East. She was working as a journo over there... I outsourced the design layout to an old colleague and did everything else. Writing, testing, styling and photography. I aimed to finish the the. Ok by the time pip was 1, which was pretty close. IT  went to print a month or so after and my first copies arrived just before Christmas. I cold called shops to gain distribution and sold online and at markets. It went really well and is started writing book 2 when I fell pregnant with jimmy (now1)  i was quite sick and really tired so struggled running a business and the thought of doing it all again was overwhelming. I was lucky (not just luck I'd put so much hard work and Kate nights into book 1)  enough received an amazing opportunity  to be published through Murdoch. They took over book 1 distribution and the publishing of book 2, which has been sent to print and will launch early next year! Hooray!!!!

Watch this space. It was so nice to work with a creative group of people this time around and feel part of a team as a stay at home mum who works from home you can feel quite isolated. This process was great and new.

Why is nutrition so important in early years?

The first 12 months of a babies introduction to solids is so important. Not only are they open to exploring and trying everything and anything! So make the most of it. Introducing a wide variety of colourful whole foods in this first year will assist in setting up their taste preferences for life. Giving them a much more rounded palate and reducing those toddler fussy moments, which will still happen!

Can you share with us your favourite go-to recipe to quickly whip up when time is not on your side? 

Oat, coconut & chia cookies

Ingredients:

120g butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons golden syrup
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 cup spelt flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup chia seeds 

Method:
Preheat oven to 175C. Line a baking tray with baking paper or rub a little butter on the base of the tray. 
Melt butter, sugar and syrup in a saucepan over low heat. Add bicarbonate and 1 tablespoon water. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside until cool. 
Combine flour, oats, coconut and chia seeds in a large bowl. Pour butter mixture into flour and mix until combined. 
Roll tablespoons of mixture into balls. Place on baking tray 2cm apart pressing down gently. Repeat until all mixture has been used. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until your liking.

Note:  Less cook time yields a softer chewier cookie. Longer cook time will be crisper and last longer! 

Enjoy!

How do you know when your recipes are a hit?

When everyone eats it! Including the fussy toddler... and she says to me 'mmm, mummy, this is delicious and nutritious!' We cook a lot together and talk about where the food comes from to why food food is important to help how up big and strong to run fast or climb trees!!! She gets that bc she loves running and climbing.

What food can we always find in your pantry?  

Eggs can help create so many things my go to meal maker when I'm having a lazy cant be bothered cooking day, variety of grains & seeds ( they can bulk up any meal - make salads or added to porridge) , delicious bread and good olive oil!

Then there's the fridge! Although I keep my eggs in the fridge!

What’s the best piece of parenting advice you have received?


Just go with it and trust your gut. My sister also told me never to purée anything in a machine only mash with a fork when starting to introduce food. That really helped me and unknowingly probably started my thinking towards Baby Pip Eats cookbook creation!

Is there anything you have swore you would never do as a parent but have found yourself doing?

I've had to eat so much humble pie! You have no idea what your in for until you have children. I had no idea that you could feel this huge overwhelming love. The loss of complete control to this tiny little being. There were too many things I said I'd never do and did. from getting into the cot to feeding to sleep to whatever worked to get some sleep!!!

And lastly, what’s on top of your Love Mae wish list? 

I love anything Rainbow so I think I'll have to get the Rainbow Set! Gorgeous. X

Want to know more? Head to Amie's website here: amieeats.com.au

And, join her on her journey:
Facebook:
 /amieeats
Instagram:
 @amieeats 

We hope you enjoyed hearing about her life as much as we did.

Love... Mae xx

We love seeing photos of our products in their new homes!

These are a few of our favourite snaps that feature our Bamboo Dinnerware and Fabric Wall Decals.

Make sure you share your photos with us too, simply tag us or include #lovemaestudio

Our Forest Feast 5pc Bamboo Set captured by @alfieandkids

Our Dinosaur Invasion Wall Decals captured by @littledwellings

Our Bear and Deer 4pk Plates captured by @amieeats

Our Woodland Tea Party 5pc Bamboo Set captured by @myconfettilife

Our Woodland Tea Party 5pc Bamboo Set captured by @thefiedlerfolk_

We took five minutes to catch up with one of our lovely stockists, Sheridan Knell from Sunshine Trader... 

Where can we find you?

Shop 1/16 The Terrace, Brunswick Heads

Can you tell us a bit about your store and it’s philosophy?

Sunshine Trader is a collection of all my favourite brands. There are so many talented creative’s in the Northern Rivers and Australia as a whole and I just love discovering them and filling the shelves with their amazing products.

What’s the best part of your working day?

When new and exciting brands are delivered – I love opening packages, it’s like Christmas!

What were you doing before you opened Sunshine Trader?

Operations Manger at Harvest Café, Newrybar.

If you could turn back time, is there anything you would do differently?

No, I think it’s all a learning process.

Brunswick Heads is a beautiful place, what’s your favourite thing about the town and it’s surrounds?

The Bruns River - it’s stunning at high tide and I love water activities, swimming, bridge jumping, fishing, snorkelling and paddle boarding.

Where do you eat when you've got an hour to spare that is walking distance?

Homegrown and Milkbar for breaky and lunch and Fleet for a cheeky cocktail at the end of the day seeing as they are just next door.

@homegrown_bruns Homegrown Brunswick Heads 2, 19 Booyun St, Brunswick Heads, NSW.

What’s inspiring you at the moment?

I spend a lot of time getting lost on instagram going from one creative to the next.

Do you have a favourite Love Mae product?

The bamboo dinner wear makes an amazing gift for kids, I’m a massive fan!

Shop our Bamboo Dinnerware here.

Make sure you pop into Sunshine Trader next time you're in Brunswick Heads to say hello!
Or, follow their journey here:

Facebook: Sunshine Trader
Instagram: @sunshinetrader
Pinterest: Sunshine Trader

Love... Mae xx