Name: Sally Fazeli
Mama to: Hugo Hudson Fazeli
Where can we find you?: I’m a Lancashire Lass born and bred and I blog at www.sallyfazeli.com
What do you enjoy most about being a mum?: Loving someone so much and feeling so loved in return. Also I get to act like a big kid everyday… never a dull moment!
What has been the number 1 baby product you would recommend?
In the beginning stages I absolutely loved using a cacoonababy, it put my mind at ease when Hugo was sleeping knowing that he couldn’t roll over and get stuck. I could take it with me wherever I was at home or at a family or friends house if Hugo needed to sleep. A jumperoo was also fabulous for entertaining Hugo as he got older so I could quickly get ready and do a few house jobs knowing that Hugo was in a safe place and enjoying himself.
You run a successful blog and now you are back at work, what is your best tip for keeping organised with a little one?
Erm I don’t think I’m any more organised to be honest, I’m just quicker and when I get ready for work, I’m like, that’ll do, I rarely do anything with my hair for work these days and you can forget my signature eye liner flick I do on my days off. I’m all about dry shampoo, a quick bit of mascara and a coffee on the go. I usually get Hugo ready first and then pop him back in his cot with a few toys, books and nursery rhymes on YouTube, it honestly works a treat since we put the jumperoo into storage.
How do you balance work and family life with your personal passions (such as photography)?
This is something I struggle with to be honest; it’s a constant battle for me of how much time I devote to my blog and social media channels; sometimes it feels like there just aren't enough hours in the day when you're also a mum in full-time work. That being said, I absolutely love all areas of my life and I feel blessed to be in a career that I love whilst being able to do my hobbies like photography / Instagraming and blogging.
I’d say my blog really took off when I became a mum and I think that’s because I was writing about real life and motherhood instead of just fashion finds like I used to pre-Hugo. In the early stages of motherhood and blogging I used to feel obliged to always say 'yes' to companies who wanted to send things for Hugo or myself but I soon realised how much time and effort went into every collaboration which was effectively taking time away from me that I could be spending with Hugo and doing normal things away from a camera lens. I decided to put everything into perspective and focus on the things that matter and benefit us as a family. I found that by doing this my blog and Instagram became a lot more authentic as I was personally recommending things I love to use or wear whether I bought them or not. It also released a lot of pressure.
I currently work four days a week which does provide a nice balance but that extra day off goes far too quickly! In an ideal world, I would love to have an extra day off with Hugo and work three days but it would affect us financially. Since I went back to work I had to adjust my outlook again and try not to put so much pressure on myself if I haven’t had time to blog that week or to take pictures... especially in the winter days where the days are so short and the weather is awful, it gets harder and harder to go out to different places to take pictures. I generally get in at night around 6.15pm so it’s all go-go-go with tea, bath and bed and by the time Hugo has nodded off I’m ready to go to sleep myself. I generally write my blog post late at night after I’ve given myself a little kick up the backside to get on with it. I’m not one of those kind of bloggers who can churn it out in fifteen minutes; it always ends up being a really late night as it can take me two to three hours to write and upload all my pictures. It really is like a second job and that’s why it’s so important for me that I keep all my social media in that happy place where I enjoy it and it doesn’t become a stress. In that happy place is where I find my creativity comes from and thoughts on where I may want to take a specific blog post. The moment I start getting stressed or pressured is the moment I need to change things up a bit and shift my focus again onto the most important things in life - my husband Ayman and son Hugo.
How has becoming a mother changed you and your outlook on life?
Oh wow, I could write an essay on this. The moment I gave birth to Hugo was the moment I fell so deeply in love with this little baby who I created and who was so dependent on me. I knew instantly I would do anything for him even if it meant giving my life for his. That sounds a bit intense but it’s so true and I wouldn’t even think twice about it – I'm sure it's a feeling all mothers can relate to. I look at him every day in awe that I was able to make such a beautiful and perfect being, even if other people may see imperfections in him, he is absolutely perfect to me. Hugo has helped me to live life in the moment and to not waste days; he’s grown so much over this past year and I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t soak up as much time as I could just playing and being with him. I pray every day for God's protection to be over him and that puts my heart at rest a little knowing that I can’t be with him 24/7 protecting him everywhere he goes, so in a small way it gives me a sense of peace knowing that he is in safe hands. Hugo has given me more meaning to my life; a purpose and drive to want to better our lives as a family. My life feels so much more rich, colourful and full and I can’t tell you how much more inner joy and happiness I have just because of that little boy and how much love I have for him. Ultimately materialistic things really don’t matter compared to having your baby in your arms, nothing can beat that feeling. Life is so precious, we all know that and I just want to know that I have lived life to the full everyday with him... even if that’s just a day in the house as sometimes they’re the best days.
What is one piece of advice you would give to all mums?
TRUST your instincts!!!! - ALWAYS! & give yourself a break, you’re doing a fabulous job even when you think everything is falling apart, know that just you is enough for your baby and really you’re all that your baby wants and needs. I always remember a moment in hospital when I had just given birth to Hugo and he was crying but I desperate for the toilet and a midwife saw me and said, your baby is fine, he’s safe and he’ll still be there when you get back. Go and do what you need to do because ‘Happy Mum, Happy Baby!’. I felt like she gave me that permission I needed to hear and that it was ok to nip to the toilet even if Hugo was crying.
