I’ve always found myself fascinated in other peoples morning routines. As the saying goes… if you win the morning, you win the day. And I have to say - it’s personally my most favoured part of the day. When the world is quiet and the sun peeks through the trees. The kids are sleepy, quiet and cuddly. Chris brings in my cuppa’ while I’m still waking up (the novelty never wears off). And there’s a sense of calm in the air + refreshed energy. But just for transparency - that’s how I feel *MOST* days… other days I want to crawl back into bed and never come out!!
Jennifer Aniston once shared that she wakes up at 4:30am on work days to start her morning rituals. When Oprah Winfrey rises she lights three candles and meditates… every single day without fail (even on holidays). Jane Austen would wake up before anyone else in her house so she could start the day playing the piano. Kate Hudson wakes up with a facial ice bath everyday. In 2005 Steve Jobs once said in an interview “For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?”, pretty interesting stuff right?!
Y’know I look on Insta most days and I see 30 step skincare routines, 10km walks, ocean swims, yoga, journalling and green smoothies happening…… all before 9:00am. And I dunno’ about you but it makes me feel like a bit of a failure at times. I really applaud the humans out there who can stick to a steady & successful routine and yes, there are days when I conquer world before mid-day too… but they’re few and far between. So in this journal we caught up with a bunch of Australian creatives we admire and got the inside scoop on how they like to begin their day. Except we’re keeping things real around here - with an Insta vs reality narration of what our mornings look like. I'll start with mine...ENJOY!
Phoebe - @sageandclare
Insta
I wake up fresh as a daisy to the warm glow of the sun rising out of my bedroom window. A steaming hot glass (yes I like my tea in a glass!) of english breakfast tea with milk and honey awaits. I spend 30 mins to myself checking my news apps + socials, enjoying the quiet of the morning with the doors open to a gentle, crisp breeze and the sound of kookaburras. I hop out of bed and make it immediately, as I can never leave a bed unmade and I know my tired nighttime self will love me for it later. I wash my face with a Sage x Clare waffle face washer and a few pumps of Living Libations Seabuckthorn Best Skin Ever, followed by a small dollop of Living Libations Sundew Vitamin D Creme. I decide I look so fresh, healthy and glowy that I don’t even need any makeup and my hair has that effortless beach wave that doesn’t need touching either. I wander out to the kitchen where I put together a breakfast board, because I love all things breakfast and can never decide what to choose… it includes eggs, avo, feta, streaky bacon, chia pudding, zingy green smoothie shot, papaya with lime, and a golden waffle drizzled in maple syrup. The kids wake up smiling and happy around 7.30ish and want cuddles and quiet time as they slowly welcome in the new day. I wander into my wardrobe, knowing exactly what I want to wear… fave jeans, cute top layered with a knit, cool girl sneakers and a hat. I feel good and look effortlessly stylish. I get the kids dressed, get their beds made and do a final sweep of the house, leaving it clean and tidy before heading out.
Reality
I wake to the cry of Heidi at 5am, again. I wearily get up and pull her into bed with 6 dummies in the hope that she’ll fall back to sleep and I can reclaim any amount of shuteye, puh-lease! By 5:40am she finally surrenders but Jude wanders in at 6am, wanting to climb into bed and take the EXACT position Heidi is in, waking us both up in the process. Heidi and Jude squabble over who gets to be in the middle and at least one of them ends up losing the battle and in tears. Chris brings a tea in for me, which I forget to drink at the optimum tea-drinking temperature, leaving it too long and skulling it lukewarm. I hop out of bed and messily make the bed… done is better than perfect. I wander into the bathroom, take one look at myself and wonder how the hell I’m going to ‘fix’ what’s staring back at me. I start with LL Seabuckthorn BSE and our waffle face washer, followed by LL Sundew Vitamin D Creme and then move onto some makeup that hopefully goes some way to giving this tired, dull face some life. I go with a tinted moisturiser, under eye concealer, mascara and LL Moccasin Flower Shimmer as bronzer, LL Maiden Fern Blush Balm on my cheeks and lips, and finish with LL Cosmic Apricot Shimmer for some glowy highlights. I run a brush through my hair (that’s all I have time for) and I pause to wonder how other women fit hairstyling into their morning routine?? The kids are loud and frenetic… Heidi is either by my feet grizzling or she’s found my toiletries and managed to make a mess. If it’s the latter, I leave her be because it buys me 5 mins of peace and I’ll take that with a side of toothpaste smeared across the floor. I head into my wardrobe and stare at it blankly, choosing to put on the same thing I’ve worn 3 times already this week because at least I don’t have to think. I make the kids brekky, they barely eat it, and then I nag them continuously for 10 mins to get dressed. It usually only happens when I start getting angry and I’m stressed because we’re running late. We rush out to the car and I realise I haven’t eaten anything. I stop by McCafe again, ordering a toastie and iced latte, feeling regretful that I’m not stopping by the small, local (but slow) cafe instead, eating something healthier. I call Mum, then Dad, then switch to ABC morning radio as I head into work, taking a few deep breaths before walking into work to greet the team and start the day.
Featured: Hadley Linen Fitted Sheet - gingerbread, Moonlight Flat Sheet, Kittie Linen Quilt Cover, Harriet Punch Needle Cushion - wheat, Austin Linen Pillowcase Set, Nialey Linen Pillowcase Set, Taavi Velvet Sham - wheat, Parker Woven Cushion - gingerbread
View from my bedroom window... will never get sick of looking at this.
Imogen Roberts @al_and_imo
Insta
I slowly wake up to the smell of coffee, Al passes my mug to me and I sip it... It's good, really good. As per usual, Goldie has slept through the night. I open my eyes and he's got Goldie in his arms, he's taking her out. I lay in bed drinking my coffee and read a chapter of my book. I get out of bed and step onto the mat. After a long pilates workout, I feel stretched and strong. I have a long, hot shower. Al comes home, passes Goldie to me, we lay down and have a gentle feed - Goldie's reaching up to me with her tiny hands wrapped around my finger, staring into my eyes, it's pure bliss. We head down to the beach and walk along the cliffs, the gum trees are flowering and the ocean is sparkling, Edwina is walking calmly beside the pram - she's so well behaved for an 11 month old puppy! We bump into our friends and decide to go and get a coffee and a pastry at our fav beach cafe, we hang out for ages catching up while Goldie and Edwina quietly entertain themselves. We say farewell to our friends, jump in the car and Goldie stays awake for the drive. We walk through the door and Al has cooked up a delicious looking meal, I pop Goldie in her cot, she rolls over and goes to sleep without a fuss. Al and I run over what's going on in our businesses, realise we're on top of everything, so we just enjoy a peaceful meal together overlooking the farm.
Featured: Jemima Knit Blanket, Rumi Patch Cushion, Atana Velvet Cushion
Reality
*Ouch* I peel my sweaty eye mask off and peer down at my 9 month old, biting my nip.... how did she get there? Al must have brought her in and rolled her into my chest, on autopilot i've lifted my top without waking. Edwina our dog is trying to get in on the action, she's heavy, filled with vibrant/needy energy. Goldie's finished feeding and I sit up in bed, Al passes me my coffee - I get out of bed and zap it in the microwave. I climb back into bed, look over to the book I've been meaning to start for months and everyone piles back on - how can you want space and in the same moment wish the moment to never end? I take Goldie out into the lounge and pop her on her mat and say theatrically "Floor Time Is Your Time!!" I'm in my dressing room staring blankly at my wardrobe, I check the weather on my phone and put on some pants, I walk around the house in a bit of a trance half-dressed feeling like I'm doing stuff but actually doing nothing. I snap out of it and put on an uninspiring, breastfeeding-friendly top. Edwina's sitting at my feet, tail wagging, her puppy-dog eyes begging me to take her for a walk - it's raining, we live on a farm and I cannot be bothered cleaning a muddy pup. Sorry Weenie, it's going to have to wait. I look around, every surface in the house is covered in *stuff* ... Seriously, where does all of this stuff come from? I start in the kitchen, I'm halfway through packing the dishwasher, Al and I are having a broken business meeting on the fly when Goldie let's me know she's had enough and she's HUNGRY! I look in the fridge, it's slim pickings. I mash up some avocado with tuna - it looks disgusting but she eats it. I check the time, it's 7.30am.
Featured: Jemima Knit Blanket (& Edwina's cute booty)
Kate Smedley @__kate.eliza
Insta
Biiiiiig yawn and arms stretched out, woken by the sunlight gently peeking through the blind resting on the pillows and bouncing back to the walls. There’s no need for an alarm when I’ve had such a restful sleep, just the sound of the coffee machine whirring in the kitchen. Our bulldog happy snuggles in at my knees and my coffee and croissant are placed on my lap in vintage ceramics where they definitely will not spill on the quilt cover which conveniently matches the mug and saucer. The kids are still asleep a little longer, just enough time to shake out my curly bed hair and start a skincare routine, who knows I might even film it in a time lapse. Oh and #nofilter because oh-so-rested remember? Swanning past my beautifully made bed in my blue silk Spell robe to find the boys are up and eating breaky. Their pjs match but are opposite, one has a striped shirt and spotty shorts and the other has a spotty shirt with striped shorts… they’re eating eating pancakes my partner has made and pouring syrup, sharing the berries, giggling at each other’s faces they made on the pancakes out of the toppings... they’re so cute. Happy (the dog) lays next to them snoring, completely unfazed by the breakfast buffet. I throw on a baggy dress and sparkly sneakers, a hand knitted beanie and a quick liquid eyeliner, my fave go-to outfit in no time at all - totally cute and totally boomerang selfie worthy. Grab my studio bag, super excited for a fun productive day.
Featured: Hadley Linen - gingerbread, Beckett Linen - cantaloupe, Petal Bowl - sherbet
Featured: Hadley Linen - gingerbread, Heather Embroidered Cushion, Rylie Round Cushion - strawberry.
Reality
My partners alarm goes off pretty early, but he snoozes it. So 5 minutes later… there it goes again. And again. I’m sort of pretzeled around a bulldog sleeping on my legs and Zephyr who has snuck in sometime pre 5am and taken my side of the bed, so my back… oh my goodness my back hurts. I’m shaking Nicks shoulder to stop snoozing the alarm and check the time…shit we’ve really gotta go. Hustling the kids to the couch and they’re arguing over the blanket, but also the cartoons.. everyone’s tired, everyone’s hungry! We just want to snuggle up for a littttle bit longer… Nick’s making coffees as quick as he can so we can function that little bit better but there’s only enough oat milk for one - how did we run out, I swear we shopped two days ago!? Happy has stolen the kids toast and hidden under the couch with it, yeah wow we really have to get going…I moisturise my face, rub out the mascara under my eyes, bronzer, fresh mascara, hair in a top bun! Cuteeeee. A little spritz of some Gypsy Water perfume will make all the difference. Try on 4 dresses, shorts, jeans, change shoes, sit on the end of my unmade bed huffing and puffing and mumbling something about having nothing to wear, yelling “that’s it I’m not going” in a grinch voice and settling on a vintage tee and denim shorts, beanie to cover my hair…as. Per. Usual. Oti gets a lunch order once I realise we’re also out of bread (which of course he’s thrilled about) and we roll on out the door and on with the day. A little unorganised and chaotic but completely love-filled and fabulous x
Featured: Lyric Beni Rug
Tumaini @missteezed
Insta
I wake up to the beautiful sound of birds chirping in the early morning. The sound is so gratifying - it means I get to hear them another day and I am alive. The sunshine begins to peek into my room while I write down 5 things I’m grateful for in the journal that sits on my bedside table. While the family is asleep - I slip into my robe and grab a glass of warm water to begin the day. I pop the kettle on and get the girl’s breakfast ready - put cereal in a bowl and leave the milk out so they can pour it themselves - I also slice up some fruit for them to add to their cereal if they please. I make myself a cup of tea and wait for the girls to wake. Thea generally wakes up first with a wonderful smile. Our morning exchange consists of: “Good morning, how did you sleep and what did you dream about?”, her younger sister joins us and gives us big good morning hugs as we go and wake the baby up with giggles. While the girls sit, chat and have breakfast - I sneak off to have a shower and carry out my ten step skin routine. I check on the girls who are getting themselves ready for school. My wardrobe has all of my clothes steamed and ready to go and I pick up my Sage x Clare dress which is airy and breathable - spritz some perfume and go check on the girls. Everyone is ready and happy for another day to learn and grow - I load them up in the car and we head to school.
Featured: Iggy Daisy Dress.
Reality
Anytime between 4:30-6:30am I am woken up by Issa screaming “Daddy - where is my ….” and it all depends on the day as to what she’s looking for and it’s always at an ungodly hour that she looks for it. It could be her Gabby doll, Pikachu, her pillow, a shell she found 3 months ago - ANYTHING. Lucky hubby goes to tend to her and I try to get a few more hours of sleep in before the day starts. By 6:30am - Issa bursts into the room. Literally swings the door open with such force that it wakes Ari up! Now 2/3 kids are awake - I don’t know what time it is but I need to get out and start the day - Thea walks in and lets us know she’s exhausted because her sister woke her up (even though she wakes up after her). I repeat 5 times that we need to get breakfast - no one is listening… do I raise my voice? All of a sudden I have their attention. I get breakfast ready but it’s never what anyone wants and so I have to negotiate. The chaos that ensues the morning routine baffles me because it’s the same requirement every morning but with the way the girls operate - you would think I try something new everyday. Breakfast is done - now to get them in the shower and have their teeth brushed - again - sounding like a scratched cd because I’m repeating myself… again!
The baby is screaming for attention because the dog has managed to snatch the cracker out of her hand so I need to get her a new one, the older girls need to get dressed and guess what - I’m repeating the request. While they get dressed I rush to the shower to have a 2 minute shower and brush my teeth - I’m thinking about what I’m going to wear while I’m in there and hopefully what I want is where it is. I get out of the shower - The Ordinary ‘Buffet’ and black girl sunscreen on my face - I thank my mum for good genes because ain’t nobody got time for a face routine. Guess what? I Can’t find what I wanted to wear but thank goodness my Sage x Clare dress just came off the clothes line - slip her on - and I need to remember to put a face mask in my pocket before I leave. I ask the girls if they are ready and no one is dressed so I get them dressed and rush them into the car with school bags and drink bottles. As we drive out of the garage I realise I don’t have my mask! So I rush back inside and now we are en route to school - blasting ‘We don’t talk about Bruno’ in the car - we get to school as the bell rings and I shuffle the little humans into class!
Krystal Boyd Priest - @krystalboydpriest
Insta
I spring out of bed very well-rested engulfed by my lush Sage x Clare linens in the late morning with Lennox (our 5 month old daughter) still asleep peacefully in her bassinet, my fiancée David, Penelope and Malibu (two puggles) all sprawled out in their respective corners. I then tip-toe downstairs and make two maple iced coffees before David begins to wake, I jump back into bed for some morning snuggles before we quietly down our drinks. The sound of a wiggling baby and gentle grunting gets our attention, David grabs Lennox and she greets us with the biggest cheek-to-cheek smile before our routine cuddles. I then head to the kitchen to make the perfect scrambled eggs on toast while dad gets Lennox ready for the day. We enjoy breakfast simultaneously whilst Lennox is content playing on her play mat and getting in some tummy time all on her own. One of the most exciting parts of my day whilst being on maternity leave is choosing what outfit to get dressed in for the days adventure which I usually have planned in my head the night before. I throw what I had imagined on all together and finish it off with a pair of my favourite sneakers.
Featured: Mim Moon Robe.
Featured: Sidonie Shag Cushion.
Reality
A screaming baby around 4am has been my daily alarm clock as we navigate through Lennox’s first sleep regression, either that or the sound of David or Penelope snoring a centimetre from my face as everyone is so squished up, our super king sized bed feels like it’s reduced to a single. I throw my beautiful Sage x Clare duvet off my body and catch a whiff of the breastmilk smell which has been the scent of the month. After I get Lennox ready for the morning and have our iced coffees made and ready I prod David to get up before the ice melts and spoils the drink. He then keeps Lennox entertained as I whip up some quick fried eggs for breakfast. We juggle Lennox from lap to lap while we eat between screeches on the play mat. After breakfast I get dressed and all ready to leave the house only for the finishing touch of baby puke to be added as I walk through the front door.
Featured: Kirby Play Mat.
Ahhhh one day I will master the art of yoga and meditation at sunrise but for now I’ll keep pressing the snooze button and getting some extra forty winks. And I won’t feel guilty about it either because bed is just too damn good and I'm only human. X
Enjoyed this? You might like this journal on ‘Sleep Secrets’.
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