Her Wisdom - Caro Davies

Today's HER WISDOM featured interview is with Caro Davies and her lifestyle blog The Twinkle Diaries is an honest and refreshing read. Not only can you read all about her family adventures parenting twin boys and her love for interior design but you can also buy her own designs in her online shop which are beautiful - I have my eye on the Family Recipe print!

I've loved getting know Caro over the last couple of months, she another wonderful woman that I've connected with over on Instagram. She is so chatty and down to earth, she's a genuine lady who's fun to follow but extremely humble, Caro always cheering me on and her Insta Stories are my favourite!

So let's welcome her to the HER WISDOM series, I know you will love getting to know her as much as I have...

How do you begin your day? What are the first 3 things you need to do to get your day started?

First thing is a hello and a kiss from my big (man-shaped) boy. We’ve been together for 22 years next month but waking up next to him never loses it’s shine. The early morning silence doesn’t last long though. 9 times out of 10, it’s shattered by two pocket rockets — our 5 year old twin boys — launching into our room. 

Next is a cup of tea. My morning cup of builder’s (strong black tea with a little milk but no sugar). I’ve never been keen on coffee first thing — that comes later in the day — but I literally can’t function properly without my morning cuppa.

As we both run our own businesses, my husband and I are lucky that we enjoy breakfast together with our sons everyday. 

Monday to Friday is a little more regimented; we eat first, then get the boys ready. Then, if he’s able to, Dickie drops the twins off at school before carrying on to work. 

Weekends are a little more relaxed but we always sit round the kitchen table to eat our breakfast. It’s a mini ritual. 

As the boys generally eat their supper earlier than us, it’s often the only opportunity we have to sit around the table and eat together. 

It’s something I cherish.

Share your favourite piece of wisdom and why it means something to you.

I love the phrase ‘It’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil’. 

It’s basically saying, if you’re unhappy — or need something — speak up; otherwise it might go unnoticed. It’s a brilliant little reminder that people don’t have ESP.

If you’re unhappy at work — or in a relationship — but don’t voice how you feel, people will assume that everything’s fine. 

Speaking up when something’s bothering us is such a great life lesson. Communication should never be underestimated for a happy, balanced life. 

What is your go to thing for comfort when it all gets too much?

My husband usually. 

He is the voice of reason in our relationship; whereas I’m more emotional and driven by my heart. He’s a great foil for me; offering stoicism and balance to my chaos and jumpy, creative mind.

Our cats come a close second!

Who are the women that inspire you?

I’m motivated by the go-getters and colourful bright-sparks; the women who grab life with both hands and forge their own path. I don’t necessarily mean business-women either — although I do know some brilliantly inspiring women who’ve built their own businesses from the ground up.

Generally speaking, I’m totally inspired by those who are true individuals; humans who are brilliant in their own way. It’s not necessarily the same attribute that inspires me each time either — it could be any number of things. It could be that they’re an amazing mum or an incredible creative; or a woman who’s risen to the top, despite awful circumstances. 

I just love seeing women who are comfortable in their own skin, dancing to the beat of their own drum.

   

The sheep mentality is rife — particularly on social media — for fashion, homes even parenting! I’m always excited when I come across someone who’s doing something a bit different from the norm. I find that really inspiring.

How do you see yourself and what makes up your sense of identity?  

I see myself as someone who’s always trying to improve things. Both myself, as a person, and my surroundings. 

I think, overall, I’m a creative — and have been since I was very tiny (my career path was almost mapped out from when I was a child).

I have a quick mind —and a head bursting full of ideas; things I want to make and do.

And I see myself as the girl who got lucky.

Fate was certainly smiling kindly on me the night I met my husband; I love my three boys more than I can possibly say — and I love being the only female in a houseful of men.   

Do you have a favourite dish or recipe that makes you feel good or gives you a much needed boost?

My husband is the main cook in our house and one of my favourite things he does is linguine with crab, garlic chilli and capers. I’d eat it every night if I could!

And my favourite recipe to make is something that I bake with the boys. It’s an adapted Nigella recipe — double chocolate and banana muffins — made from bananas that have gone black. Of which there always seem to be many!

They’re super-easy (instant gratification too as they only take 12 minutes to bake). The boys love getting involved, stirring the mixture and throwing in the chocolate chips. 

We do it so often that I know it’s something they’ll remember when they’re grown-up. 

And that makes me so happy. 

What does confidence mean to you, what builds yours? 

Confidence is a funny thing isn’t it? People think if you’re able to walk into a room full of strangers and smile and chat, then you must be highly confident. 

I’m always told by other people that I strike them as super-confident although I actually feel quite shy sometimes.

Although I do go to events and smile and chat, it’s often bravado. But plastering a smile on my face — and making myself go and speak to people — is necessary; networking is part of my job.

I see real confidence as something quite different; it’s not necessarily what you see on the outside.

It’s almost like a quiet knowledge that you’re living up to your own expectations.

I think that confidence and pride go hand in hand and, for me, producing work that I feel proud of — or being the best mother and wife that I can be — fills me with confidence. 

Feeling proud of my achievements — no matter how small — is definitely the thing that makes me feel most confident. 

What's challenging you right now?

Time management. 

I’ve had my own business for 12 years but now, added to the mix, I also write a successful blog (which has been a fantastic source of income over the last few years) and have to maintain all of the social media channels that support it (that’s a full time job in itself!). 

Plus I’m a mother to two little boys. As well as a wife, housekeeper, etc etc…  

I thought that when the boys started school last September, things would become a little easier but quite the reverse. There just don’t seem to be enough hours in the day. Or maybe there are but I’m just not utilising them in the best way!! 

I need to try and organise my time a little better but haven’t quite managed it yet!

Tell us more about your latest or next project.

My latest big project is to redesign my business website. I built it, from scratch, almost 10 years ago and it’s so outdated now. I don’t even make the products that it displays anymore!

Not On The High Street is the only platform I’ve been using to sell my current designs, since the twins were born in 2013, which is so silly as I lose such a lot of commission on each order.

While brands pay me to write about their products on my blog and social media feeds — I’ve built up a large network of followers — yet I’m not using that platform to promote my own business! It’s crazy.

I’ve learnt so much since I’ve been blogging and I want to apply that knowledge to the other half of my business.

Easier said than done though — my plans are being scuppered by poor time management!!! ;)

You can find Caro on social media at the links bellow — go and give her a follow and say Hi!

Twitter — @twinklediaries

Instagram — the twinkle diaries

Pinterest — Caro | The Twinkle Diaries

Facebook — The Twinkle Diaries

YouTube — The Twinkle Diaries

Google — The Twinkle Diaries