Happy New Year! Hope you all had a blast celebrating the New Year in. Mine was very low key this year due to a growing bump that seems to be sucking the life out of me. I love this time of the year though because it feels like we have a fresh start and a new surge of energy. I have a lot of exciting plans that I'm working on for 2017, which I will be sharing with you soon. I want to shift gears and put my all into House Curious this year, although I'm already finding it a little challenging. I had plans to go on a big buying trip towards the end of Jan to Paris but my husband has convinced me it may not be the best idea given how heavily pregnant I am. I just keep on pushing and pushing myself but I'm realising that I'm not superwoman and I need to start listening to my body and slow it down a little.  

I’m feeling very reflective and it’s only now that I’ve stopped I can appreciate all that we have achieved this past year. This time last year my house was a building site and House Curious was still an idea with a logo and a holding page. Fast forward to now and we have put on some magical workshops, like our wellness day Shine Bright, the Candle and Calligraphy workshop and The Ultimate Dinner Party Menu to name a few. I’ve worked and partnered up with so many amazing and talented people and feel grateful for all the new friendships I’ve made.

It’s crazy to think that we only did our press launch last May and first workshop with Anna Barnett in June. Since then we have not stopped and I was fortunate to have my business and house featured in a few magazines. Between renovations, launching House Curious and running after my toddler we managed to do a soft launch of the House Curious interior and lifestyle shop a few months back. Why am I telling you this? It’s not to show off or brag... my business is a far from perfect and I still have a very long way to go but I’m proud of this little venture of mine and it’s good to acknowledge the wins. I know so many people that have little ideas and dreams bubbling away and to get your idea off the ground can feel scary and overwhelming. I know because I’ve been there. But I’ve learnt that you‘ve just got to throw caution to the wind and just go for it. Even taking the littlest steps, like chatting to a mentor or doing some market research can get the ball rolling. I encourage everyone out there to do more of the things you love this year and do all the things that you’ve been talking about, no matter how big or scary they feel. When you do the things you love you instantly feel alive and this energy is infectious with others around you.

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There is no way that I could have imagined doing all the things I’ve done this past year. I would have said it’s going to be too hard and impossible but being focused and determined has led me to this point. As much as this year has been exhilarating and I've loved connecting with so many wonderful people I have to say that it’s been physically and emotionally exhausting at times. I’ve questioned whether I was doing the right thing, doubted every decision I’ve made and at times wanted to give up. I’ve worked liked a dog, had less time with my family (the opposite to my ideal) and I constantly feel like I’m on the back foot. Anxiety, stress and tears have all been part of this journey. But to get to the good stuff it was never going to be easy. You’ve got to work hard for the things you desire and never ever give up. That’s why this year I am going to be more fierce and determined than ever and little will hold me back, except a demanding milk leech who'll be making an appearance soon we hope. I’m telling you this because I think from the outside it can look all rosy and perfect but that is rarely the truth. We’re all human and we all struggle. And most of the time we keep our struggles to ourselves and we project the good stuff. So no matter how tough it gets remember most of us are struggling too.

So what's instore for next year? We’ve got two more workshops in Feb, which have sold out and then we’re going to be taking a little break on the workshop front until later in the year. My focus this year with be on the lifestyle and interior shop. We’re going to be launching House Curious in a bigger and bold way and I hope you will all come to the launch. We have some new partnerships in the offing and one that I’m most excited about is Blacklist. Blacklist is a design studio in Sydney who produce a range of very cool art, stationary and paper goods. And even better, all available at House Curious from mid Jan. To coincide with the launch of the House Curious shop we’re going to be doing some pop up shops in the Spring. I’m hoping to blog more about my interior style and share my little black book with you; I’m all about sharing my interior finds. Oh and let's not forget I need to pop a bubba out early March, a minor detail! It’s going to be a crazy ride but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’ve learnt a lot in the past year so I thought now would be the perfect time to share some of my learnings with you...

It’s ok to pause for a minute

Let’s face it there are going to be days when you feel shitty and things aren’t flowing so well. You know the kind of days where you have a million and one things to do but you’re exhausted, feel uncreative and then doubt starts to creep in. 'I’m not cut out for this. I’m going to fail' etc. We keep plugging away because we must prove that we are super human but actually we’re better off stopping and taking some time out. Refocus, do less, prioritise and if it's all too much scale it back until it's more manageable. Trust me you’ll be much better for it in the long run and the last thing you want to do is burn out too quickly and not achieve anything. 

Aim high but focus on one thing

I'm a big believer in setting goals that feel out of my reach, scary and bigger than my capabilities. Why not go after the big prize? Set your goals and dreams high and don't settle for anything less. If the bar is raised high then you are more likely to push yourself harder and I bet you will be surprised at what you're capable of.  The trick though is to drop everything else and focus on one thing and you'll more likely succeed. Most people don't fail because of their potential. They fail because their potential is spread too thin and in too many directions. Don't be too disheartened if it takes longer than you imagine. Take stock, acknowledge the wins, re focus and keep hustling until you're there.  

Vocalising your dreams and goals works

When I say vocalise I mean getting your ideas down on paper. Blog about it, share with friends, or on social media, basically to anyone that will listen! The more you talk about it the more accountable you will feel to action those dreams. The reactions you get from people will also help mould and form your ideas so it's a win win situation. Start with "My dream is..". or "I'm going to....." This is the first step to making your dream a reality. The catch?  You'll need to follow this up with a plan of action because only you can make your dreams a reality. 

Support and celebrate your friends achievements

On this journey I’ve had some amazing support, which has been instrumental to my stamina to keep going no matter how hard it’s been. Be there for your friends when they're going to great lengths to follow their dreams. Support them, share their work, celebrate their achievements. It takes bravery, blood, sweat and tears to go after your desires and sometimes a friendly email from someone close telling them 'you're doing great' can give that extra push to keep chasing their dream. Personally I love seeing my friends succeed and I love celebrating and supporting their wins.  Celebrating their success actually gives me the motivation to keep striving. We have so much to learn from each other and we are much stronger when we’re together, supporting each other. So come on let's make 2017 about supporting and encouraging each other.

Don’t forget to have fun

Note to self: loosen the F*&K up! Excuse my French but this is a big one for me because it's very easy to get bogged done by the stress and challenges of the daily grind. Starting a business has been so much harder than I expected and at times it hasn't been much fun. Make sure you leave some time for having fun, relationships and adventures. If it's all work and no play you'll be less creative and productive. So here's to having fun and living our lives to the fullest.

I would love to hear how you are starting the New Year and what you have learnt over the last year.  Please share with us by commenting below.

Love Sommer x

Now that the clocks have gone back and it’s a wee bit chilly it’s a great time to think about making your home snug and cosy. Being an antipodean I dread the colder months but I do enjoy hibernating. For me it’s about slowing down, turning the fire on, reading or playing board games, fluffy socks and red wine. Just talking about it makes me want to snuggle up under a blanket.

To make a room feel cosy I like to use soft tactile pieces like velvet sofas or cushions, sheepskin rugs and a great big wooly blanket. Candles are a great way to set the ambience and they create a beautiful warm glow, the more candles the better. Warm accents of shiny brass beautifully reflect flickering candles. Lighting is also key. Turn the main lights off and use lots of different light sources at varying heights; think floor lamps and table lamps of different shapes and sizes. Baskets are also a great way to soften a room and look good with blankets spilling out of them. Get the board games out, place books on tables and turn the TV off. Who else is ready for a cosy night in?

Get the cosy look

Smoked Glass Brass Lamp £175

Tibetan Sheepskin Dip Dyed Rug

Natural White Baskets

Theo Brass Vase

Smoke and Musk EOEL

The White Company

How To Hygge

Designers Guild Sofa

Velvet Cushion, Nude

Guest blogger - Victoria Hockley, Life Coach

A little over a year ago I was meeting with Anna Barnett, author of Eat the Week cookery book and she was raving about her life coach and insisted that I meet with her. Now it's my turn to introduce you to Victoria Hockley. Vic is one of those ladies who oozes joy and positivity and alway puts a smile on your face. I'm so grateful to have met her and now to be working along side her on our Shine Bright workshop on 20th August. With only a week to go be quick and snap up the last couple of tickets here.

I've asked Vic to take over my blog to tell you a little more about what she does and how life coaching can help you. Make sure you read to the bottom of the page because she is also offering a free 1 to 1 coaching session for people who have bought tickets to our Shine Bright workshop. Over to you Vic.

Thanks for the intro Sommer and hello lovely people it's so nice to be here on the House Curious blog and to chat with you all. Hopefully I can give you a little insight into what I do and how I help my clients plus share useful exercises that I use with some of my clients.

I often have clients that say that they would really like to work on their ‘time management’. You may or may not be surprised to know that interestingly there’s often much more that lies behind their want or need for this ‘time’, and so I find that more often than not that I am looking for the things that are ‘not’ said, rather than the things that are!

I also find that some clients want to get straight into goal setting. And whilst I also almost can’t wait to get to this point (for them too), if we miss the fundamental basics, then these new goals they commit to won’t last long at all.

So where is our starting point?

More than ever it is important to begin to understand YOU, to understand what isn’t making you happy, what is making you happy, and what are your secret desires?

A few questions to help with understanding you:

1.     When am I at my happiest? Be really honest with yourself. Remember this is only for you. Write down the things that make you happy. What are you doing? What are you saying? Who are you spending time with?

2.     How much of my time do I actually spend doing things that make me happy? What are the reasons? What is your reality? Are your choices made for you? Where are you in the queue for happiness?

3.     What would be the benefits of spending more time doing the things that make me happy?

Really think about the positive effects on your life and those you love

4.     In the long term what will it cost me if I don’t work towards understanding what holds me back? Really think about what you could be missing out on. Do the fears outweigh the benefits? Or do the benefits outweigh the fears?

In a way it is all about Self-Awareness. Some have greater self-awareness than others. There is no right or wrong, but the clearer we are in understanding what may hold us back and the reasons behind our actions, the quicker we can start working on that time management!!

A really good way to start to become more aware of your own actions is by studying the reactions of others.

I have a little explanation around different personalities that has helped my clients and friends, in differentiating between the red and green lighters in their life. “What are they?” I hear you say.

Often we have friends or loved ones that when we tell them about an exciting idea, or a big change we intend to make in our lives they throw out some negativity. A “what do you want to do that for?”, and a “That’s ridiculous”. These I call the ‘red lighters’.

Then you have what I call the ‘green lighters’, the friends and loved ones that are supportive and encouraging and say “That’s fantastic”, and “Good for you, tell me more”.

Personally I am more selective with what I share with the red lighters in my life, but trust me this has taken years of practice, and it does not mean I do not love them. I just know that their personal responses may affect my decisions, and I want to be influenced by positivity rather than negativity.

The point is that the red lighters are not bad people, they still often love and care about you as we do them, it’s just that they are putting their own fears onto your choices! They may feel they would never have the courage or that it is too risky, whereas the green lighters in your life would generally take the more optimistic approach to life, and usually see the benefits and excitement from your point of view.

The idea is NOT to make you dislike the red lighters, but to just be more aware. If you recognise the people who impact you more positively, are less likely to hold you back and are more likely to support you, then it will help you to consider with whom to share your next BIG idea.

A really good exercise to help recognise this in others is this:

Think about 3 or 4 people that you spend time with. Notice the beliefs that they have about themselves and others. Listen to what they have to say and how they provide the ‘evidence’ to support their beliefs. Look for those that have limiting, negative beliefs and those that have positive, optimistic beliefs.

It will I’m sure make you start to think about the advice you offer and the things you say to your friends. Remember, if you are reading this and thinking “oh no, I think I’m a red lighter”, it isn’t a bad thing, we all have reasons for carrying different traits. In fact, if anything it shows that you have some great self-awareness as you are able to recognise that perhaps at times you do push your own fears onto others, and maybe just that thought alone could help you to understand yourself that little bit better.

Here’s a little quote to finish:

 “Your past has given you the strength and wisdom you have today, so celebrate it, don’t let it haunt you”

Shine Bright Wellness Workshop

To each person that buys a ticket to our Shine Bright Wellness Workshop, I am offering my 1 to 1 expertise to help you on route to setting your goals.

This includes:

1.     You’ll dig deep and complete a questionnaire to maximise the programme

2.     I will go through and personally give you feedback on each area

3.     I will send you an email breakdown giving you some focused ideas of PRIORITY areas for you to work on

4.     You will receive 10% off when you sign up for any coaching packages

If you buy your tickets early enough I will be able to complete this before the workshop, which will genuinely benefit you with our work together on the day!

Thanks for having me today and I hope you all have a fantastic and productive week.

xx