Welcome back… I hope you’ve had a perfect end to the weekend. I am absolutely thrilled to be able to bring this weeks Successful Mother insight to you. Falling in love with her style when I was pregnant with Margot and she was just a few weeks ahead of me with her second pregnancy I took all the inspiration I could from her on how to style my bump. Not only is she insanely beautiful, stylish and chic but this woman has ambitions and is gearing up to take on the beauty industry with a big launch next year – and to top it off she is incredibly kind and actually really quite hilarious with an infectious dry sense of humour. You’ll see what I mean when she goes into her morning routine with the kids. Without further ado – introducing the talented entrepreneur that is Anouk Yve.
1. Do you plan your outfits in advance?
It really depends, believe me or not but I really make an effort every morning to look nice. I think if you look nice you feel nicer too. This indeed takes some planning in advance, usually either the night before but most of the time half an hour before everybody in the house wakes up. I not only plan my outfit but also the outfits of the kids. In this way when hub leaves the house to go to work, I’m dressed up and after I do the children. My son is 2 years old, my daughter 9 months.
2. What is the average morning routine for you?
Dress myself and the kids (I usually put the television on for my 2 year old son so he can watch while I can do all the work).
Afterwards we go down to the kitchen and I prepare food for the children while Teun plays with his Toys and Elin is watching me from her Trip trapp chair. I always make porridge (oatmeal and almond milk). After they have breaky, I will eat something quick. By that time the first baby made the first poo, so diaper changing can begin. I’m fully done with the morning routine at 9 oclock. About that time Elin is getting tired so I’ll put her to bed, while Teun is playing and I will clean the kitchen, check my mail etc. After an hour Elin wakes up again and I prepare her bottle, change diapers again and start making lunch. Yes everyday the same. Mornings are the most busy.
3. Do you have any quick makeup hacks that hide a sleepless night?
Hihi, yes, the obvious Touche Eclat, but also make up fixing spray from Urban Decay (skindinavia). This will leave my skin with a fresh radiant glow, some lipstick on my cheek and voila a healthy look is born.
4. Do you manage to style your hair everyday or do you have a tip for making second/third/fourth day hair last?
Haha I have curls so my hair is the best at day three and four. Because Elin pulls my hair all the time I usually have it in a low bun, I think it’s chic and minimalistic. I also – like you Ashley – love a good hairtuck, that’s my quick hair hack if I need to go to the supermarket.
5. Any sneaky ways to look better than you might be feeling?
Always dress nice, It’s my number one rule. It’s so easy to grab a track suit and just really be a mom mom, but I refuse. I want to look nice. Teun and I make a little play out if it. I will do my make up and Teun will watch and sometimes I draw something on his face with a eye pencil. The other day I made him a cat and he ‘Meowed’ at me the whole morning. It was so much fun.
6. Do you have to work a lot in the evenings too?
My time is very limited. My kids are so so young, the younger the more work you have. When they are in bed I can work two hours max, but I also have a boyfriend who wants attention so I try to do that too. It’s difficult. My boyfriend hates Instagram and everything that comes with it. He refuses to make photo’s of me so I really have to plan shooting days. I have friends who help me out, and I work with a photographer too. Usually I shoot one time each week. We do 4 looks, I cannot do more. It drains me out. I mean I’m 33yrs old. My goal is to succeed with my brand – I’m launching a special curl cream and spray next year – not to be instafamous for what I wear but for what I have accomplished as an entrepreneur. I always had businesses. That’s what drives me, not the amount of likes on a special pair of jeans I happen to wear.
For this time being it’s ok to earn money with my account, but the end goal is more complex and deep than just looking nice on instagram. I see it as a tool to reach my goals and to keep a close eye on influencer trends etc.
7. Do you have any tips for keeping the baby/kids entertained whilst you get ready?
Haha, eh Youtube? Yes my son does watch the television and yes sometimes more than an hour straight after each other. First I thought I was a bad mom, but it’s just the new era I guess. I know other moms do it too and I know our moms would have done it if they had the technique we have today. I have a few rules: No television during dinner – any dinner that is, I want them to really eat consciously. During the day time television is on only after 4 oclock, and we go out to play everyday for at least two hours. We live in the country side and the nature around our house is just so pretty. The only annoying thing is that it’s fall, Teun loves to jump in puddles. He’s always soaking wet haha. Yes this means again extra work for mommy.
8. Do you have any help with the kids in the morning from your husband or anyone else?
No I don’t I do everything myself. My boyfriend is gone two or three nights a week too and he works six times a week. Leaving 6.30am coming home 4pm. He’s almost done being a football player (we used to live in England by the way – he played for Southampton, Millwall, Norwich). It’s hard having two young babies and being alone a lot. I simply cannot go to events, or be on Instagram all day like the fulltime Insta-influencers do. I don’t have the time. My number one priority is my babies. Luckily sometimes I can ask my parents or Jos can ask his parents.
One side note: Every monday Teun goes to daycare, so I can do some extra work. And every friday we have a nanny. Friday is my day, I collect things I really want to do, put it on a list and make them happen on friday. Whether that is a stroll into town, quality time with friends or doing a yoga class. If I didn’t had one day ‘off’ from being a mom I literally will loose it haha!
9. Any style tips to make you feel and look better if you’ve not had time for makeup and hair?
Go outside for a walk, this will give you a fresh radiant look. 😉
If you don’t follow her already I would highly recommend getting on and following… her stories make me laugh, expect dancing and babies, fashion and family, life going by… and everything done with such style.
Hope you’ve enjoyed this week – let me know of any other mums you’re dying to know just ‘how do they do it?’
With love,
Ashley
xx