The post Power Mum:
Schynaider Moura appeared first on My Lemon Magazine.

Motherhood changes everything.

It shifts your priorities, transforms your goals, and redefines who you are.

When I became a mom, I stood at a crossroads, questioning how I could chase my dreams without losing the essence of being present for my son.

Leaving a stable corporate career to pursue my passion wasn’t easy, but it was the best decision I’ve ever made. 

Through this journey, I’ve come to realize that balance isn’t about perfection; it’s about finding harmony in chaos and focusing on what truly matters.

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey. It’s messy, imperfect, and filled with lessons, but it’s also deeply rewarding.

Actionable Advice for Moms on a Mission

Set Boundaries, Respectfully but Firmly

Boundaries are liberating. Set clear hours for work, family, and yourself.

When I’m with my son, my phone is down, and my attention is undivided. Work can wait because those moments with my son are priceless.

Celebrate Small Wins, Every Day

Whether it’s finishing an article, squeezing in a workout, or even just making it through a tough day with a smile, acknowledge your victories.

Progress is progress, no matter how small.

Build Your Village

No mom can thrive in isolation. Lean on your partner, family, friends, or community.

At Mumchkin, we’ve created a space where moms can share, connect, and grow together.

You don’t have to navigate this journey alone.

Spotlight Tips for Busy Moms

Boundary Basics: Create a workspace at home, establish a routine, and use tools to limit
distractions, like muting non-essential notifications.

Win Journals: Keep a journal by your bedside and jot down three things you accomplished each day, it helps maintain perspective.

Finding Your Tribe: Look for local or virtual mom communities like Mumchkin,
where you can share tips, vent, and laugh through the chaos.

The post The Juggle Is Real: Finding Balance Between Being a Mom and Following Your Passion appeared first on My Lemon Magazine.

From the urban jungle in Utrecht, The Netherlands, Agatha portrays glorious mamas and creates illustrations to empower herself (and hopefully many others) in her adventure of single motherhood. 

Besides spending her precious time illustrating, she read pirate picture books, pushed the swing, and baked banana pancakes with her two little loves, Nur and Maimun. 

Whilst carrying her youngest boy in her belly, Mooon Moms was her personal project to visualize a sweet motherhood experience. 

Even though it was going to be a solo adventure, as her love-relationship just stranded, Illustrating brave, beautiful mamas inspired her to write her own awesome motherhood story and break with the sad stereotypes of single moms. 

By now, Agatha has had the honour of portraying many amazing mamas with their little (and big) loves and amazing women without babies from all around the globe. 

Her recent adventures in Morocco were a huge inspiration. This place holds an exceptional spot in her soul, as it holds the roots of her two beautiful boys. 

She feels blessed to run this creative business, and Agatha is so grateful for all the fantastic beings she created. 

When I saw her work, I also saw Barbara’s, our Boss Mum. She is also a single mum and a force of nature. Agatha illustrated her in a beautiful way, and this amazing illustration will definitely fill her room walls with joy. 

May Agatha’s illustrations nourish your soul and bring you lots of joy!

Follow Agatha’s fantastic work here. 

The post Mooon.moms Illustrations appeared first on My Lemon Magazine.

Authored by the brilliant Gabrielle Nancarrow, the mind behind ‘The Birth Space,’ this new title delves into motherhood’s core. Penned during a year filled with the joys and challenges of mothering three children, the book shines a light on themes like evolving identities, balancing career and motherhood, and seeking personal meaning in a society filled with expectations. These universal themes often make a mother feel alone.

“The Motherhood Space” isn’t merely a book. It’s a haven for every mother and those with a soft spot for one. Nancarrow intertwines her tales with those of women whose stories will strike a chord. Contributions from notable personalities like Eve Rodsky, Amy Taylor Kabbaz, and Courtney Adamo enrich the narrative.

Gabrielle aims to make readers feel connected. As you navigate through its pages, you’ll find solace in the shared moments of happiness, pain, and all the shades in between.

For every mother and their admirers, “The Motherhood Space” offers empathy, recognition, and affection.

Dive into motherhood’s diverse spectrum with “The Motherhood Space by Gabrielle Nancarrow.”

Shop here

by Lara Franco Gomes

The post The Motherhood Space By Gabrielle Nancarrow appeared first on My Lemon Magazine.

By Bárbara Perino

Photography courtesy of Chriselle Lim

Chriselle founded her blog The Chriselle Factor and launched her YouTube channel to chronicle her daily musings and personal style and to help women discover their true beauty. She started off her fashion career as a wardrobe stylist and is now one of the most influential tastemakers on the web.

LEMON Magazine [LEMON]: It’s so nice to interview you! What are you up to at the moment?

Chriselle Lim [C.L.]: Finally putting my two girls down for bed and catching up with some work while face masking!

[LEMON]: Where are you currently?

C.L.: Los Angeles, California

[LEMON]: Our magazine is proudly influenced by mums like you! Tell us a bit of what changed when you became a mum?

C.L.: I was still the same person on the outside – I loved fashion, beauty, travelling, and so on… But on the inside, I became a different person. My purpose and reason for being completely changed. That is how my company Bumo was born. I was frustrated with the lack of options working moms had once they became a mother and decided to create a system that would enable parents, especially mothers, to stay in the workforce and continue their career while they are an awesome present parent. Bumo is all about integrations – work and parenting don’t have to be a binary decision anymore… they can co-exist, and we believe that the future of family is all about integration.

[LEMON]: How old are your girls?

C.L.: They are 6 and 3 years old.

[LEMON]: What’s the biggest challenge of being a mum?

C.L.: Allowing your kids to experience all the hard emotions – sadness, anger, fear, etc. It’s easy to just coddle them and protect them, but sometimes the best thing you can do is let them experience these things on their own so they can build their confidence and strength. Let them fall, but instead of you picking them up, teach them how they can pick themselves back up.

LEMON: Do you have any favourite kids brands?

C.L.:  There’s so many cool brands out there for kids. Zara kids is always reliable but there are other cute brands such as Hart+Land for cute pjs and basics, Lovely Littles has some cute stuff, and I also love the subscription programme Dopple! For kids’ accessories, my go to is In Favor Of.

LEMON: And you, do you have any favourite brands?

C.L.: This is a hard question for me as I have A LOT of favourite brands and cool new brands pop up every day. I really love to wear Isabel Marrant, The Frankie Shop, Victoria Beckham…

LEMON: How would you describe your style?

C.L.: Classic and timeless with an edge.

LEMON: What’s your top teachings to your girls? That you would like for them to take into their adult life.

C.L.: Never silence your truth – always use your voice to speak up, even if it’s scary. To be brave and always lean into your fear!

LEMON: What do you think of when you think of lemons?

C.L.: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade! When life throws you a curveball, know that you will come out of it stronger, wiser and better than you could ever have imagined!

READ FULL INTERVIEW AT LEMON Nº11 HERE

QUICK QUESTIONS

Skirt or shorts? Skirt

City or beach? Beach

Lemon or peach? Lemon

Dinner with the gals or the hubbie? Dinner with the gals

QUESTIONS FOR THE GIRLS

C&C

Blue or pink? Pink

Dress or trousers? Trousers

Playing indoors or outdoors? Outdoors

Chocolate or strawberries? Chocolate

The post Inspiring Beauty appeared first on My Lemon Magazine.

By Lara Franco Gomes
Photography courtesy of Graciela Raquel Gauna
Illustration Catarina, a Rosa @catarinaarosa

LEMON Magazine [LEMON]: Hello Graciela! 

Graciela Gauna [G.G.]: Hi! I’m so happy to be doing this interview! I feel really flattered that you guys asked me to do this. So, thank you for having me!

LEMON: How are you and your beautiful family doing?

G.G.: We are doing just fine! We are all happy and healthy and that’s the most important thing. I always try to focus on the positive. But I must admit that I’m a bit exhausted from the last year and a half with home-schooling my boys and working from home at the same time. But we just got back from a little trip to Italy, which was so good for the four of us. Just enjoying time together as a family. 

LEMON: We absolutely love your home! Where do you find inspiration when decorating your home?

G.G.: That’s so kind of you, thank you! I find my inspiration in books, magazines, Pinterest and Instagram.  

LEMON: How would you describe your house’s style?

G.G.: I really like to keep it simple, minimalistic and timeless. I like natural textures, like wood and linen, combined with some funky design pieces. Lately I’m also thinking a lot about adding some colour in our home. To paint some walls for example. But I think my house style can be described mostly as Scandinavian. 

LEMON: What is your favourite room in the house?

G.G.: I think the kitchen because I love to cook!

LEMON: Do you feel that your home décor style changed when you had kids?

G.G.: The only thing that changed was all the toys!

LEMON: What’s your favourite piece from your kids’ rooms?

G.G.: They don’t have a lot of stuff in their rooms, but I really like their beds.

Gabriel’s bed was made by my husband, who has his own construction company (@calisinterieurbouw) and he can create everything (lucky me). So when Gabriel needed a new bed, he made one. 

My other favourite piece is the vintage wardrobe in Gabriel’s room that my mum found. She always finds the best vintage design pieces. 

But if you ask the boys, they will definitely say the gym rings! 

THIS OR THAT
Tub or shower? Shower
Wood or tile? This is a hard one…I like both, but if I had to choose, then wood!
Bare floor or carpet? Bare floor
Plants or flowers? Flowers (I’m not so good at taking care of plants… but I always love homes with lots of plants)
Ceramic or glass? Definitely ceramic
Accent pillows or throw? Accent pillows

LEMON: So your boys each have their own room, right? What was the experience of them sleeping together in the same room like? 

G.G.: They have their own rooms again now, yes, but I have to admit that they have been sleeping together again for some nights recently. School just started and we still have to get back to routines.

But them sleeping together in one room, despite the large age gap of 4.5 years, was a great idea. Neither of them is a great sleeper and one night when I was trying to get them down together in Gabriel’s bed they both slept so well. So we decided to put Kaya’s bed in Gabriel’s room. I think it gives them a secure and safe feeling. They don’t wake up scared in the middle of the night because there’s always their sibling to snuggle up with. They sleep better together and, in my opinion, it kind of makes sense: just as we adults prefer to sleep with a companion in the room, why wouldn’t we allow the same for our kids? I know all kids are different, but for our boys it worked out so well!

LEMON: What are the main pieces that turn a house into a home?

G.G.: Personal things make a house into a home, like photos and art.

LEMON: What are three pieces you think should be seen as an investment for life and three that can be bought cheap in big shops?

G.G.: Investments for life include a really good espresso machine (I can’t live without good coffee), design lamps and art.

While I try to shop mostly in local shops instead of big stores, three pieces that can be bought cheap would be plates and crockery, baskets, and bed linen. 

LEMON: Do you mix décor trends? If so, how?

G.G.: To be honest, I don’t do décor trends. I try to invest in timeless pieces that I will love for years. But I do love mixing vintage with design. 

LEMON: What are your favourite colours for home décor?

G.G.: Mostly neutral and natural colours, but also blue, green and pink.

LEMON: And favourite textures?

G.G.: Wood, linen and knit.

LEMON: What is the best decorating lesson you’ve ever learned?

G.G.: To invest in timeless pieces. 

LEMON: Complete this sentence: A living room should be… 

G.G.: Cosy and comfortable.

LEMON: What’s the best DIY decoration piece you’ve ever made?

G.G.: To be honest, none. 

LEMON: Do you prefer patterns or plain simple colours?

G.G.: I prefer plain simple colours. 

LEMON: How do you choose artwork at home? What do you look for? 

G.G.: For me, choosing the right piece is just a feeling! 

LEMON: Can you tell us three brands you absolutely love for home décor?

G.G.: TAKT, MOEBE and HAY.

LEMON: Complete this sentence: Home is… 

G.G.: Home is where my family is. It could be anywhere. 

@gracielaraquel

SPOTIFY

10 songs you love
to hear around the house

Angus & Julia Stone – Snow

Jose Gonzalez – Open Book

Altin Gun – Bulunur Mu

Kings of Convenience – Mrs. Cold

Carla Bruni – Quelqu’un m’a dit

Bon Iver – Flume

Jack Johnson – Banana Pancakes

Kings of Leon – Muchacho

Angus & Julia Stone – Mango Tree

Feist – 1234

The post Simply Beautiful appeared first on My Lemon Magazine.

By Bárbara Perino
Photography courtesy of Kristin Cavallari
Illustration Nadia Chamorra @nadiachamorra

LEMON MAGAZINE [LEMON]: Hi Kristin, what a journey your life has been! What was your first experience with reality TV like?

Kristin Cavallari [K.C.]: Hi! Overall, I had a great experience on reality TV. That’s not to say there weren’t hard times – being 17, 18 is hard enough, and then the pressure of being on TV offers its own challenges. But I look back on that phase of my life very positively. It ultimately made me who I am today, and I had to do a lot of soul searching because of it. I didn’t know who I was, and I knew I didn’t want to be the girl I saw on TV, so I had to look inward and do a lot of growing up. 

[LEMON]: Can you tell us about one high point and one low point from your first reality show?
[K.C.]: Some of the good moments are classic memories, like how I was asked to prom, graduation, those sorts of events. I’m glad I have those on camera and shot in such a beautiful way. A low point was when my boyfriend at the time and I were in a fight and he was trying to talk to me about it, but because I didn’t want to air our dirty laundry, I kept saying “I don’t want to talk about it” – meaning not on camera. It came off like I just didn’t want to deal with it, and it came across very cold on the show. Those sorts of moments were tough to deal with as a kid and having people judge me and my situation when they didn’t have the full picture.

[LEMON]: How has the industry changed since your days on Laguna Beach?
[K.C.]: Reality TV is very different today. Nowadays, people go on TV with an agenda and a persona they’re trying to play… it was never like that for us. We were just living our lives and had no idea what the show was going to do for us and our careers, or how much it was going to change our lives. 

[LEMON]: Apart from reality TV, you’re a proud mum and an entrepreneur! What are you up to these days?
[K.C.]: Exactly that! Just focusing on my kids and Uncommon James and now Uncommon Beauty (our new clean skincare line). I’m really happy and feel like my work/life balance is perfect. 

[LEMON]: I’m in love with Uncommon James, congrats! How is that going?
[K.C.]: Thank you! It’s going great! I still have to pinch myself that I’m able to live out this dream and I’m thankful every day. We just opened a new store in Dallas, which is off to an amazing start!

[LEMON]: Do you have anything new up your sleeve? Anything new with Little James?
[K.C.]: We just launched Uncommon Beauty, which has taken up most of my time. We’ve pared back Little James and are focusing just on pyjamas at the moment. We found that’s what resonates most with our customers – the fun prints and beautiful colours. 

[LEMON]: What is one message you want to pass on with your work?
[K.C.]: That you can do whatever you want in life. If you have a strong work ethic, are passionate, and don’t let “no” discourage you, nothing can get in the way of your dreams. I didn’t go to college, I don’t have a BA, but I go after what I want and keep fighting until I get there.

[LEMON]: As a mother, what is a typical day like for your family?
[K.C.]: Saturdays we go to the farmer’s market, come home, make lunch, then swim, ride bikes or meet up with friends. I typically make dinner then we play outside some more or do arts and crafts before bath time and the bedtime routine. We’re pretty low key. 

[LEMON]: How old are your kids?
[K.C.]: Camden is 8, Jaxon 7 and Saylor 5 years old. 

[LEMON]: Tell us a bit about each of their personalities?
[K.C.]: Camden is the sweetest soul I’ve ever met. He’s good at everything he does and wise beyond his years. He’s full boy in the sense that he loves all sports and video games.
Jaxon is my wild child, no fear, a little rebel. He has the best sense of humour and makes everyone laugh. He’s always up for some fun. He also has a very sweet side.
Saylor is soft and sweet, yet has a tough side being that she has two older brothers. She’s the caretaker/best helper with her friends, but isn’t afraid to throw down with the boys and wrestle. She’s becoming super girly, always wanting to wear dresses and do her makeup and nails.
All three of them are very different and I feel so lucky to have such awesome, fun kids.

[LEMON]: Any funny parenting moments?
[K.C.]: A couple of years ago, the kids and I were staying at a hotel in Florida. We were all in the hot tub with two other couples when Jaxon yelled “Mum, I just peed!” and I went “Oh my gosh, Jaxon, you’re supposed to go to the potty” and he shouted, “YOU told me to!” Luckily everyone started laughing. 

[LEMON]: How has your life changed since becoming a mum?
[K.C.]: My kids gave my life real meaning and purpose. It’s also made me really get in touch with myself and figure out exactly who I am. I need to be the best version of myself so I can be the best mum for my 3 babies. It’s also made me become a much more empathetic and compassionate person in general.

[LEMON]: As we all know, kids lead by example. What values do you want them to take from you into their adult life?
[K.C.]: I really hope they develop a great relationship with themselves. When we love ourselves, we go out into the world from a place of love rather than with negativity and hate. Putting people down, judging and criticism comes from a place of unhappiness within yourself, so I want to raise my kids to be comfortable in their own skin and love life. I hope they look at every situation as a learning experience to grow. I want them to continually grow, learn and never be complacent. At the end of the day, I only care if they’re happy. And happiness comes from loving ourselves and being grateful for everything we have.

[LEMON]: Does your family follow any specific diet?
[K.C.]: When I cook at home, we don’t do cow’s milk or gluten, but when we go out to eat or on vacation, we’ll indulge. 

[LEMON]: What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
[K.C.]: I can be very shy. Until I get to know people and I’m comfortable, I don’t say much. It takes me a minute. 

[LEMON]: If you had a magic genie, what would your three wishes be?
[K.C.]: That all three of my kids grow up to be happy and healthy; that all three of my kids outlive me; that when I die, I look back feeling happy and satisfied about my life with no regrets (about things I DIDN’T do).

[LEMON]: You’re a big inspiration for many women, mums, and entrepreneurs out there, what do you hope to pass onto people who follow you on social media?
[K.C.]: Thank you! I hope I can instil some confidence in women. I want women to know that it’s ok to never settle, to chase your dreams, to want it all. We’re powerful and can do whatever we want if we put our minds to it. 

[LEMON]: Is there anything you would like to change about your life?
[K.C.]: No. I’ve gotten to a place of being comfortable even in the hard times. I think everything happens for a reason and I just want to learn and grow from every experience. The older I get, the more I realise life is a series of building blocks; everything we go through starts to make sense. I think that’s really cool. I’m enjoying the journey because now I know that everything works out in the end. 

[LEMON]: Any regrets?
[K.C.]: None. It’s all part of my story. 

[LEMON]: Where do you see yourself in three years from now?
[K.C.]: Hopefully doing exactly what I’m doing now: being the best mum I can be and continuing to grow Uncommon James. 

[LEMON]: What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of lemons?
[K.C.]: Health!

uncommonjames.com
@kristincavallari

The post Beauty In Everything appeared first on My Lemon Magazine.

Coral started her brand Velveteen Babies in 2013 soon after she became a mother and after a career in luxury retail.
She made it her mission to both source and produce playful, design-led products for her family with an aesthetic she knew everyone would love.
Soon after her family moved into a rather bland home near the beautiful Yorkshire Dales in the U.K., another project was born: redecorating the whole house while parenting her three young children, Felix, Barney and Willa.

LEMON Magazine [LEMON]: Where do you live and how long have you lived there?
Coral Atkinson [C.A]: I live in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, which is a stone’s throw from Harrogate. We moved from Harrogate to Knaresborough 3 years ago and love it here. 

[LEMON]: What first made you fall in love with your home? Or was it just a shell to make your own?
[C.A]: We were limited to one house in our budget in the area we wanted, so there was absolutely zero love, but luckily we have good imagination and vision! 

[LEMON]: What’s your favourite room and why?
[C.A]: I love our living room, full of mid-century furniture and personality. We had to knock down walls, build walls and completely overhaul it, so I do appreciate how far we’ve come in there! 

[LEMON]: How would you describe your interior style and what are your biggest inspirations?
[C.A]: I can’t really categorise myself in terms of where I think I belong, but Scandinavian style with colour is probably closest. I take inspiration from all sorts of different interior schemes and like to add some personality! Our house is quite small, so I’m always conscious of it not becoming too cluttered.
I’m inspired by mid-century design, Instagrammers such as @prchtg and @peschkart, who use colour so perfectly. 

[LEMON]: Would you call yourself a hoarder or a minimalist at heart?
[C.A]: I’m a minimalist, but a hoarder of kids’ room stuff.I don’t like too much stuff getting out of control, but it’s hard with three children. Every now and again I’ll have a huge clear out and sort everything, but I need quite a few props for my styling work so I do have a cupboard of doom!

[LEMON]: What’s your favourite colour and how have you used it in your home?
[C.A]: I think it would have to be pink tones, though I try not to let it become overloaded. Often I use white walls with pink toned wall art, or if the walls are blush then I tone it down with different colours, wood and shelves. I try not to let any particular colour dominate the house and create different zones: our playroom has a mustard half wall which I still love; and upstairs we have a muted green bedroom, a blush girls’ room, and a grey-blue toned boys’ room. I like colour to flow! 

[LEMON]: Your brand Velveteen Babies focuses on kids decor, especially garlands. How many do you have in your home and how would you advise people use them in different rooms?
[C.A]: I have one on the wall in each of the kids’ rooms and one usually in the playroom, though I do change them up regularly as I try out new colours. I love styling them on shelves as well as walls, and often on pieces of furniture too. They are easy to hang in a variety of ways, though I usually just have a roll of Washi tape handy for quick moves! 

[LEMON]: What are your favourite interior stores?
[C.A]: I love @istome_store, @scandiborn, @thismodernlife, @antipodream, @molly_meg_ and @modocreative for beautiful bits, and H&M home and Zara for affordable home finds! 

[LEMON]: What is your next project for the home? Do you just go for it or do you plan it out? If so, how?
[C.A]: We’ve just had an architect visit as in the long term we hope to completely change the kitchen and back of the house into a spacious kitchen/dining/family area. It’s not going to happen for a couple of years though, so we hope to tackle the dreadful inherited bathroom next! I’d also like some decent wardrobes for our bedroom and a refresh of Willa’s room. 

[LEMON]: When the kids are at school, you tidy their bedrooms like most of us mums. Hand on heart, how long does it last?
[C.A]: It’s trashed the second they get home. Clothes everywhere!

[LEMON]: What are your favourite toy brands for the kids and what have the most used and favourite toys in your home been?
[C.A]: I have lots of kids toys that are really for me! I think our Plexa toy kitchen has been loved to bits. It’s played with so often and it’s full of Little Dutch accessories such as tea sets and a toy coffee maker. The boys don’t play with toys as much now but Barney has always liked the Candylab cars and Way to Play track set. Poppet, our Olli Ella doll, is often a part of their games and pulled around in the Luggy. And they tend to use the Wobbel Boards to make little forts rather than actually wobbling on them! 

[LEMON]: What’s your favourite house plant? Are you green-thumbed or do they die and you replace them?
[C.A]: I love my cheese plants as they are fairly indestructible and can handle neglect pretty well! 

[LEMON]: Tell us three words that describe your home.
[C.A]: Colourful, friendly and varied.

[LEMON]: What’s the most treasured item in your home and why?
[C.A]: Apart from the obvious bits like photos and the kids’ first baby outfits, probably my wall art collection as it brings me so much joy! I love supporting small businesses and most of them are from creatives. It all makes this house into our home. 

[LEMON]: Have you ever thought about extending your passion for interiors and becoming an interior designer?
[C.A]: I’m married to one! He’s mainly in furniture design rather than soft furnishings though. I get most joy from styling work, but I’m not sure if it would be as fun doing it for others with their own ideas about what they want! It’s definitely something I might explore in the future though. 

[LEMON]: Complete this sentence: “A happy home is…”
[C.A]: Full of chaos and colour.

www.coralatkinson.com

@coral.atkinson

The post Coral Atkinson: The Redecorator’s Dream appeared first on My Lemon Magazine.

By Bárbara Perino
Photography courtesy of Sally Mustang
Illustration Laura Pina @lendalendalaura

LEMON Magazine [LEMON]: It’s been a long year. How do you feel about 2020?
Sally Mustang [S.M.]: Personally, it was such a big year of growth for me. My body held space for the universe to open up as I gave birth to Azure on our lounge room floor during a radical flood. I morphed and expanded this year as I learnt how to become a mother. I also said goodbye to a soul I held so dear to my heart and witnessed such beauty in death and saying goodbye. I celebrated family life and the little simplicities with my husband. Together we made a dream happen, building an entire food forest so we can be completely sustainable. I witnessed the collective consciousness of humanity expand as old belief systems and structures in society came crashing down. I saw my community band together in strength and unity. I gained a greater connection to Nature and the bigger picture. I felt myself become freer emotionally and became more vulnerable this year. I witnessed the power of prayer time and time again. I know that everything is a choice and I trust the universe’s unfolding. It’s never let me down before.

[LEMON]: Looking forward to 2021?
[S.M.]: Sure, I’m always optimistic about the future. 

[LEMON]: You are a free spirit. What does it mean to be free?
[S.M.]: I think freedom is the ultimate goal of this existence. For me, being completely yourself is freedom.

[LEMON]: What’s your source of daily inspiration?
[S.M.]: Love. Nature. 

[LEMON]: What’s it like being a mother in this crazy world?
[S.M.]: Beautiful, hard, enjoyable, challenging, heart-breaking, blissful, all in the same day. 

[LEMON]: How do you keep your family vibrations tuned on the right frequency?
[S.M.]: I definitely feel like self-care for mum and dad is so important. We make time for each other every day to practice something that will fill up our cups. 

[LEMON]: Has life changed a lot since your rebirth as a mother?
[S.M.]: Yes. My whole life has completely changed. It’s really hard to even grasp that when your pregnant. But everything changes and nothing can prepare you for it. I miss my old life and I don’t miss my old life all in the same breath.

[LEMON]: What is your advice for mums?
[S.M.]: Oh gosh, I feel like my advice would be advice for one mum and not for another as it really depends on your lifestyle and the spirit of your baby. But I think some great advice is to just do you as a mum and don’t try to be this way or that way or feel guilty for doing this or that. Just do you. And feel good about that.

[LEMON]: What are the most important things you want your baby to take from you in his life?
[S.M.]: I hope he is free. To be himself and express himself 

[LEMON]: You are very free when it comes to your body and sex. How do you think people see this?
[S.M.]: I hope whatever they see in me they see in themselves. 

[LEMON]: How do you see this?
[S.M.]: I see it as freedom. Pleasure is our birth right and ohhh so good. Why not live it without shame?

[LEMON]: Where do you want to go with your status as an influencer? What do you want to pass on to your followers?
[S.M.]: For me the platform is my voice. I just hope it encourages others to dedicate themselves to enjoying the pleasures and beauty of life. 

[LEMON]: How do you find balance in life? Any tricks?
[S.M.]: For me, movement is the quickest way to find balance and move stuck energy. Yoga, dance or a run. 

[LEMON]: What’s your family’s daily routine like?
[S.M.]: We don’t have many routines. Sometimes we adventure in nature all day, sometimes we are painting and gardening all day. I guess at the moment we have a night-time routine. We eat dinner together, have a bath, go for an evening stroll in the jungle. Say goodnight to the trees, the rivers, the animals, the moon and then either me or Mitch puts Azure to sleep. At the moment that means going to sleep with him (even if it’s early) as he likes to be touching one of us at all times or he wakes up. 

[LEMON]: Can you tell us a little more about your lover and soulmate?
[S.M.]: It’s really hard to explain all the feelings he makes me feel. It’s so passionate. So rich. So intoxicating. Our paths crossed, stars crossed, planets collided in autumn 2015 and since then we have been completely inseparable. The first year of our relationship we really just dissolved into one another, discovering a love so powerful I didn’t know that a feeling like that existed. It’s kind of hard to explain it unless something like that has happened to you. I know as humans we can fantasise, read, watch, believe in true love, but really, until it’s actually happening to you, I don’t think we can really comprehend or understand it. Life is so much more colourful when we’re in love and for me personally, it’s the reason I’m here having this human experience. It’s as if our souls were searching endlessly throughout time and space to find one another. 

[LEMON]: How is he in his role as a father?
[S.M.]: Absolutely amazing. I guess he is helping re-write what a father looks like in modern day society. He is very open emotionally and I know Azure will grow up learning how to express his emotions because of Mitch. We are also both stay-at-home parents, so we are creating a really solid foundation for Azure.

[LEMON]: You are such an inspiration for us at Lemon: beautiful, wild, free and respectful to earth and its beings. What’s your advice for women that live stuck in a bubble?
[S.M.]: Get out in nature as often as you can. Even better if you can get out in nature naked. I think most women’s problems and deep wonderings can be solved by what the trees whisper, what the waters carry and move, by the dirt between your toes and the sun on your skin. 

[LEMON]: Talking about style, what are your must haves?
[S.M.]: Always a great pair of boots. Beautiful underwear. Jewellery. 

[LEMON]: Any favourite brands?
[S.M.]: I shop thrift shops and vintage. I love the principle but also love having unique outfits. Zazi vintage is a really special brand for me. 

[LEMON]: I see you have some amazing tattoos. Can you tell us the meaning of a few of them?
[S.M.]: Yeah I’m covered, but I’m hoping to get more, especially a back piece once I stop breastfeeding. I guess I sort of feel like they’re my marks, like my leopard spots or something. I have a lion covering my left hand which I got after visiting Africa and doing some volunteering with a white lion conservation company. The inside of my left hand is covered in light language, something that came to me once during a meditation. The two-headed snake that wraps around my right wrist is to symbolise my more shamanic work. I have a green birdwing butterfly on the inside of my right arm (the same as Mitch’s neck) that is an endangered species that lives only in the valley we call home. We have planted vines all around our property in the hope of repopulating the species. The tattoo on my lip was done as a union ceremony with Mitch. It was done by a dear friend by a waterfall, hand-poked as a kind of marriage between Mitch and me. I guess it’s to signify truth within our relationship. 

[LEMON]: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
[S.M.]: I really don’t know and I love that the mystery of life can take you anywhere. 

[LEMON]: What’s the first thing you think when you think of lemons?
[S.M.]: Juice.

@ sallymustang

THIS OR THAT
Day or night?
Both
Lunch or dinner?
Dinner
Shorts or skirt?
Shorts
Neutral or colourful?
Depends on my mood
Long sleeve or short?
Naked
Sunglasses or hat?
Hat
Beach or countryside?
Both
Love or sex?
Both, I can’t help it!
A lot of the time I want to
have my cake and eat it too.
It’s the worst bad thing about me.

The post Sex Is Art appeared first on My Lemon Magazine.

By Bárbara Perino
Photography Jodi Plumbley
and courtesy of Montana Lower

LEMON Magazine [LEMON] – What are 3 words that define you?
Montana Lower [M.L.] – Today? Passionate. Feral. Free. 

[LEMON] – How would you describe your style?
[M.L.] – Quirky. Effortless. Vintage. 

[LEMON] – We see a lot of photos of you in nature, sometimes naked. How do you feel in those moments?
[M.L.] – I feel like the version of myself nature always intended. I feel most like myself when I’m naked among the trees with the people I love. Like I am ready to melt into the earth at any given moment, and also ready to bloom when the season allows it. I feel like when we strip away all the noise and connect with the earth, we are able to truly share its energy… And there is nothing more powerful than the Divine Feminine. 

[LEMON] – What are the most important values you want to pass on to your child?
[M.L.] – To live in harmony with the earth and with oneself… That’s something she inspires ​me​ to do every day. 

[LEMON] – Do you have any idols? If so, who are they and why?
[M.L.] – Mothers everywhere. Since starting out on my pregnancy journey, I realised how disgustingly naive I was to everything being a mother entailed. And once I gave birth, I knew I would never look at another mother the same way. Mothers are so overlooked in modern society. If I could, I would look every single mother in the eye and say: “You are doing a fantastic job – just for showing up to this wild initiation.” 

[LEMON] – How did you meet your partner, Tom?
[M.L.] – I was actually at a photoshoot. I’ll never forget sitting on that couch: I’d just had my hair and make-up done (I only wear makeup for shoots), and Tom walked through the door with the biggest smile on his face. He’d been roped in to be the ‘male model’ on the day by one of his friends and was this devastatingly perfect balance of shy and polite. I still feel my heart beat in my head when I think about the first time I met him. I thought he wasn’t interested in me because he wouldn’t talk or look at me… I found out later he was just quietly freaking out because he felt exactly the same as I did. 

[LEMON] – What is your family morning routine?
[M.L.] – Chaos. We try really hard to stick to Tom waking up with Blue first and taking her to the toilet, then playing for an hour while I get a little more sleep (we still feed all through the night). Then I’ll wake up, we’ll eat some food, have a bath and try to connect to each other while Blue is calm by the water and set a game plan for our day. If this happens most days, I’m stoked. 

[LEMON] – How did life change when you became a mum?
[M.L.] – Everything changed. I don’t even recognise myself. To put it simply: before I fell pregnant, I’d just walked away from my engineering career and was basically relying on modelling jobs to come through to support myself. Now I have 3 businesses, a self-converted tiny home on wheels and honestly I feel sorry for anyone who tries to tell me I can’t do something! I’m fiercely protective of my time and energy with Blue and becoming a mother really united me with my inner strength and what I’m truly capable of. I mean, I can create a human being… Everything else feels minuscule in comparison now! 

[LEMON] – Best environmental tip?
[M.L.] – Start with your own backyard. 

[LEMON] – How do you stay in shape?
[M.L.] – Drink pure water. Eat pure food. Dance with every part of your body (the weirder the better). Always remember to treat yourself – because you deserve it. A healthy mind-set is the best thing you can put into your body. After all, the human body is just a vessel for the spirit. 

[LEMON] – Can you tell us your favourite recipe?
[M.L.] – Frozen mango… Tom’s the cook in our house! I basically live off fruit and sourdough when left to my own devices (laughs). 

[LEMON] – If you could only use one beauty product for the rest of your life, what would you chose?
[M.L.] – “The Repair – Finger Lime Serum” from my ethical skincare line “Bluem” that’s just launched. No plug intended! It’s my ‘All-in-One’ for the whole family. We use it for everything from hydrating the skin, calming sunburn, aftershave, healing cuts… it’s actually been used as a traditional medicine throughout history, so I can’t take credit for nature’s genius, but I ​can​ put it in a bottle! 

[LEMON] – What do you like to do to relax?
[M.L.] – Eat some reishi mushrooms, light some incense, put on classical Indian music and stare at nature. My baby Blue has also recently shown me that it’s super relaxing to play with wet sand! (laughs)

[LEMON] – A place you would like to go you have never been before?
[M.L.] – I’ve always wanted to go to Tahiti. But honestly any tropical Island where I don’t speak the native language sounds good to me! I was raised in Fiji so I’m forever craving sweating my ass off in a hammock, cooling off in the ocean and repeat. I love being places that shock my senses everywhere I look and remind me there’s a big wide world out there. 

[LEMON] – Do you have any Christmas traditions?
[M.L.] – Having Blue was an opportunity for us to write our own traditions and so we decided we’d cut out the commercialism and focus on what Christmas is really about: FAMILY. We make each other gifts and instead of ‘Secret Santa’ creatively express ourselves in our own unique way about someone who inspired us in the past year. For me last year it was a writer, Hygeia Halfmoon. She wrote this book called “Primal Mothering for the Modern World”… it hit so good. 

[LEMON] – Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
[M.L.] – I’ll set the scene: a simple cabin among the trees, another baby or two in hand, tending to the garden… my lover bends down and brushes my hair behind my ear, kissing my shoulder and says “What day is it today, my love?” I look up at the sun, squinting my eyes, and gently reply “I don’t know… who cares?”

The post Determined To Make An Impact appeared first on My Lemon Magazine.