#Supermamas - Interview with Victoria from Lylia Rose

What are my Supermamas interviews about?

Over the upcoming weeks around Mother’s Day I’m going to run a weekly interview series featuring mums, who have given up their professional life after becoming a parent and decided to do something completely different for living. In these interviews real women are telling me about their journey of becoming a mother how they have changed their way of thinking about work, pursuing dreams and making money.

I came up with this idea when I realised that I’m lucky to know so many wonderful women. I really am surrounded by #supermamas. Most of all: my own mama. She started an evening course at the university and she was reading law when she was pregnant with me. By the time I was in pre-school, she graduated summa cum laude and became a lawyer! And others too: friends, blogging buddies and creative business owners I have met lately. They are juggling it all: looking after the children, having a newly found profession, running a new business and inspiring us. Their stories are a real inspiration to everyone.

I truly believe when a child is born, a mother is born too. And so we change. We grow, learn and become stronger. We should embrace all these changes and use their power to nurture, create and find our passion. So these mums took risks, pushed themselves, overcame self consciousness, challenged themselves again and again until they found their very own path to balance. My Supermamas Interviews are about them.

Supermamas Interview Series: Introducing Victoria from Lylia Rose

Can you please introduce yourself?

My name is Victoria and I’m a full time blogger at lyliarose.com and home money maker. I live in Gloucestershire with my two children, husband and some chickens!

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I never really had my heart set on anything and changed my mind regularly. At one point I wanted to be a radio presenter, then a librarian, a firefighter and an infant school teacher. I guess I never knew what I wanted to be!

What did you do before becoming a mum?

I worked at head office for Superdry. I’d worked there for ten years, before Superdry even existed and it was originally a shop called Cult Clothing that sold a lot of different brands. My favourite role was eCommerce fulfilment manager, but the role I left whilst on maternity was Retail Samples Manager which I’d done for over one year.

Why did you leave that job?

It took a lot of debating as I wasn’t sure what to do, but I handed my notice in towards the end of my one year maternity leave after having my first child. The cost of full time childcare for 40 hours a week so I could work meant we’d not have been left with much from my wage packet. I also wanted to spend the daytimes with my daughter. She still seemed so small at age one and I wasn’t ready for her to be in care full time.

What do you do now?

Now I’m a full time blogger! I set up a handmade card shop on Etsy when on maternity with my first daughter and it’s totally evolved! It turned into selling jewellery on my own website where I started a business blog. That blog turned into a lifestyle blog and now it’s my main focus. The blog just took over and I love it. It’s all been unexpected but now I wouldn’t want to do anything else.

What are you passionate about?

Blogging! I absolutely love writing and always did as a child. I’ve never wanted to write a book, but I’ve always wondered how I can write and enjoy it, now I know. Start a blog! I’m so passionate about it I’ve just started a second blog and I have an idea for a third!

Where do you find inspiration?

From everywhere. From the things we do, the things I watch, people I talk to and things I hear. Also from other blogs. I read a lot every day and always feel inspired.

Did you learn to say no?

I have learned to say no to many opportunities. I’m regularly offered opportunities that don’t fit with my lifestyle or beliefs and sometimes it’s hard to turn down the money, especially if I really need it, but I want to keep some sort of niche on my blog and it relevant to me and my lifestyle as much as possible.

How did you overcome uncertainties and self-doubt?

Just by going for it! I did have three part time evening and early morning jobs since leaving my full time job, but I’ve since gone full time with my self-employment, in May last year. That was a scary decision, but I’d been making a good enough wage for over six months by then so knew I had to take the plunge. I just have to roll with it and try to fill myself with the positives and not worry about the negatives or the anxiety eats me up!

Did you have to convince your family about making the leap? Or did they support you from the very beginning?

My husband has always been very supportive of what I do and the choices I make. He can see how passionate I am about it all and knows I will take another employed job if we ever needed the money and my own business fails. I’ll always make sure I’m earning enough, no matter what.

What’s your latest project?

I’ve had a few health related projects recently which are great to write about. I love relating keeping fit to mums and families as many people think it’s tough to stay active once you have kids. I’m obsessed with healthy living and keeping fit so it’s great when work projects can relate so well to my own lifestyle. I find it so easy to write.

Name a thing (or two) you used to give a shit about – but not anymore:

Wearing makeup.
Buying new clothes weekly.