Whilst Christmas is always a hectic time of year in any household, it's particularly hectic in mine. I have all the usual 'mum' bits to do, like getting the kids' costumes ready for school plays, decorating the house, preparing the food and shopping for presents, but my business also picks up considerably in the festive season. At Tiffany Rose we bring out our Christmas collection in October in time for all the festive social events, allowing pregnant women to look elegant as opposed to wearing clothes that make them look like a Christmas pudding! Our Autumn/Winter 2013 collection contains some gorgeous pieces to flatter mums-to-be this Christmas and each dress is guaranteed to make you look and feel fabulous on Christmas day.
In spite of being mega busy, I love the Christmas period and seeing the excitement on my children's faces when we put up the decorations and their eyes lighting up when we open presents never fails to melt my heart. That's why I think it's so important to make time for my family at Christmas. I know they won't stay young forever so I want to make the most of taking them to pantomimes and Christmas fairs while I can, although finding the time can be difficult. My business is obviously important to me, so I make sure I divide up my time carefully and focus completely on getting my work done. When I'm with my family, I switch off my work phone and the work side of my brain and have fun being a mum. I save time where I can, which is why I'm such a big fan of online shopping- no time spent in queues, stuck in traffic jams or wrestling through crowds.
I don't think I'm alone in thinking that this year has absolutely flown by. 2013 has been busier than ever for Tiffany Rose and it's been a lot of hard work, but winning The Queen's Award made it worth it. When I see all the late nights and missed social events paying off, having my own business becomes so rewarding. It's been such a joy reading all the glowing reviews from mummy bloggers and seeing celebrities wear my creations on magazine covers. Looking back over the year and seeing how Tiffany Rose has done and how my children have grown makes me feel really positive about the future, and I have some big hopes for next year. As much as I love Christmas, I'm looking forward to a bit of down time after the holiday rush, as I know next Christmas will roll around all too soon!