Hello and welcome,

Please bear with me as this is my first blog post (ever!) and the very first day of me launching my new business Pickle & Squidge, named after my Littles, Oscar (4) and Alice (16mths).

I don't know about you, but once you have a baby and even during pregnancy, you have a lot of time to think... time to think about what type of Mummy you'd like to be (some of that goes out the window, when you realise that these Littles practically run your life!)? What you envision your life will be like and then the reality of it all starts to hit home once these beautiful little bundles arrive.

Now don't get me wrong, I love motherhood!  I gave up my very demanding job on the road as a Sales Executive to start a family, because when you're away all week it's pretty hard to get your timings right - if you know what I mean?!  I have been a 'stay at home Mum' (I hate these titles, which I will get onto in another blog) since Oscar was born and since his arrival I have fallen in love with my new role, and if I'm honest I have my days where it is unbelievably hard... but mostly I wouldn't change it for the world.  But I have always felt like I needed to do something, I actually felt a bit of pressure too, from nobody but myself, but it was there.  And I didn't want to go back to a job in which I would travel so much, as I didn't want to be away from my little Pickle.

I have always had ideas, but they have never really come to fruition, but this one lingered.  I gave friends and family who were expecting their first babies little boxes with a few essentials in and they loved how practical and thoughtful they were.  I was adamant that I would only give boxes full of items that actually worked for me, a tried and tested box full of essential items to help you in moments of need - normally in the middle of the night or when you're on your own and perhaps at your wits end!

It was finally after my little Squidge was born that I decided that if I didn't do this, someone else would.  So, a year later, haha, I made my very first branded Pickle & Squidge box for a baby shower I was attending and co-hosting!  It was nearly perfect but there was still a bit of tweaking that needed to be done, I'm a bit of a perfectionist so I'm sure I will always be looking to improve and make this the best it can be - just like us Mums, always striving to be the best we can be.

I took the plunge, bought my website and sat down with some friends that pointed me in the right direction, gave me great advice and guidance.  I'd done a lot of work prior to this  and knew exactly how I wanted it, I just needed to bring it all together.  Luckily I have worked with Liam, a fantastic website designer www.opiyo.co.uk who totally got what I wanted and the ever lovely Spencer at www.stillmovingmedia.co.uk who helped me with my images to bring it all together and make this daunting dream a soon-to-be reality.

And now I sit here, the night before I launch my latest baby, wondering if it will be a success? Will anyone buy anything from me? How will I manage running a business with two small children (a dog and husband)?  How will I do it?  Because, I probably could have launched this a month ago if I'd actually pushed myself.  I've delayed it a little and maybe that's because of a lack of confidence and the unknown.  But you never know unless you go for it... So here we go!

Kate x