Tell us about your family.
My husband and I have a five-year-old son, a two-year-old daughter and a six-year-old Labrador!
What was the biggest adjustment when you became a mum?
Letting go of the person I was prior to becoming a mum.
I realised I had to change my outlook and how I approached work, my personal life, my relationship, family and friends.
There were also the hormonal and body adjustments.
What’s the best part of being a mum?
I’ve loved watching the journey of my kids growing up and seeing their personalities flourish.
My son loves to chat, so I love our conversations and his curiosity. My daughter is often in snuggle mode, so I love our cuddles.
Experiencing their interests with them and spending quality time together is my favourite part of parenthood.
I also love the playful and silly side it has reignited in me.
What has been the biggest challenge?
The start. Realising how hard it was to work with a newborn while also experiencing breastfeeding challenges.
What surprised you most about becoming a mum?
That I would be a mum who sang all the time!
I am still constantly singing to my kids and have made up so many songs for them.
What do you wish you’d known before becoming a mum?
I wish I knew more about postpartum life.
If you could go back to those first few months, what would you tell yourself?
I am naturally quite an optimistic, glass-half-full person, but for some reason I was quite negative towards myself in the first few months of being a mum.
I focused on what I wasn’t doing right and where I needed to get better. I was reading too much online, writing down too many notes about his sleeping and milk consumption, and how much I was pumping.
I wish I had relaxed, tried to enjoy it more and focused on and celebrated all the great things I was doing.
I was more aware of that the second time around.
How do you manage the juggle when it feels like there’s too much to do?
Remaining consistent and disciplined.
Morning exercise really helps set my day up in the right headspace and gives me the energy to cope with whatever the day throws my way.
I also protect my priorities and focus on what drives outcomes, what only I can do and what I can delegate to my team.
It’s about doing impactful, meaningful work rather than just being busy.
What genuinely makes the day-to-day juggle easier?
Finding a sense of joy in the daily.
For me, exercise is my outlet for this. Some days it’s just 10 minutes with the kids jumping all over me!
Taking pride in how I present myself and wearing clothes that I feel good in, while still being practical.
Having a shared Google Calendar with my husband helps keep us organised.
Reducing my standards and expectations around the house.
And I leave my phone away when I’m home from work so I can be present with my family.
How do you make room for your career, motherhood, your relationship and yourself?
I try to focus on protecting my energy.
I check in on how I feel and try not to overcommit. How can I move through all the parts of my life in a manner that isn’t just “getting through”, but rather being fully present and having a positive impact?
I try to be present wherever I am rather than focusing on what is happening later in my day or tomorrow. I’m not great at responding to texts and emails!
I try to look after my body through exercise, movement and eating good food, and not trying to do too much.
My friends and extended family have probably taken a bit of a backseat since becoming a mum.
I like my weekends to be slow with my family and need those slower days around the house to recharge.
Who is in your village?
My husband and kids.
The five things you can’t leave home without?
- Go-To lip balm
- Dr Superfoods Organic Matcha Tea Powder
- Poppy Lissiman statement sunglasses
- Merry People on my feet!
- Phone and laptop
Your favourite holiday?
Hawaii with my husband before we got married and had kids.
Why has that trip stayed with you?
It was my first real holiday since starting Merry People!
We also just had the best time together. The weather, the food… every day was incredible!
Where is next on your travel list?
I’d love to go to Scotland, Ireland and South Korea.
What fashion brand are you loving right now?
Such a hard question!
A brand I love at the moment is Never Fully Dressed in the UK. I love the founder and her styling videos. They have a similar energy to Merry People with colour, joy and positivity.
What trends are you loving right now?
Matcha in terms of cultural trends.
Fashion-wise, I love a hydrated glossy lip, statement sunnies, barrel pants, big winter scarves, clogs and mules.
What’s one trend you just can’t get on board with?
The gypsy-style pants that are super tight around the ankles that are trending at the moment.
What’s your latest brand discovery?
Kourh, a Sydney brand. Love their jackets!
Where do you do most of your fashion shopping?
Influencers and online. Websites like Revolve that stock lots of different brands and up-and-coming brands.
What does a healthy lifestyle look like to you?
Daily exercise, eating well, getting a good eight-plus hours of sleep where possible, laughing and feeling relaxed and content every day.
How do you keep your body moving?
Strength training, running, walking and Pilates.
What are your five essentials for feeling your best?
Eating well and fuelling your body for the day with good energy.
Exercising daily and stopping to move your body throughout the day, even if it’s a quick walk around the block.
Putting my phone away after work and not looking at it while spending time with the kids.
Having something to look forward to, like a family holiday, and making sure I have time blocked out for the family.
Setting boundaries.
What are your health and wellness non-negotiables?
I exercise daily unless I’m really unwell. I struggle to feel productive and accomplished in my day without exercising in the morning.
Never skipping breakfast, or meals in general.
And no coffee for me. I feel fatigued later in the day.
What does “balance” actually mean to you?
Doing the best I can in respect to the buckets that are important to me
What inspired you to start Merry People?
I was going to a festival and couldn’t find appropriate waterproof shoes.
I saw this gap in the market and decided to have a go at creating my own waterproof boots that I could wear anywhere and everywhere!
What’s the best part of building Merry People?
Creating products I love, having fun at work and the community of such lovely, joyful customers who care deeply.
What’s the biggest challenge?
For me, it is probably the balance of work, my relationship and motherhood.
Always being the steady ship!
What’s coming next?
We have some exciting products coming out next year that are entirely new styles, including a rain jacket and a new type of boot!
Finally, what would you say to someone who wants to start their own business?
Start!
Embrace progress over perfection.
Dani's Top 5 Merry People Picks
Billie Clog in Dusty Lilac
Bobbi Ankle Boot in Cobalt
