Life Update : Lockdowns, Love & Other Adventures
Image by Remy Bernhardt for Araminta James
Hey internet, it’s been a while. Over a year to be exact, since I tapped away at the keyboard and strung along some sentences into this space.
Truth is, I love it here. And one of my only 2022 resolutions is to start writing and get my creativity and words flowing again.
The recent changes in the world meant that the tropical little getaway that was this blog didn’t have much to say anymore. There were no more surf & yoga retreats to go on, no more tropical shoots to share or adventuring to new places with cool people. For a little while there, my focus shifted to keeping sane and my head above water whilst I learnt to adapt and navigate like everyone else into the world of 2020.
It’s been a ride, to say the least, but it’s definitely time to pick this passion up again.
So here’s the low-down on the last 12 months of life. what I’ve been up to, who I’ve been with, what I’ve been loving and where I’m headed.
A lot has changed, yet many things remain the same. The end of 2020 and all of 2021 was a big blur of world-altering virus + global lockdowns + everything else life threw at us.
Lockdowns, Love & Other Adventures
Lockdown in Sydney
Like most countries in the world, Australia went into lockdown. No need to explain there, we all went through it in some way. But unlike most countries, Australia stayed in lockdown, which meant families were separated, much like myself and my mom, who I haven’t seen since September 2019 when my dad passed away. Government restrictions still make it hard for me to leave and come back safely, and for my mum to be able to enter the country on the right kind of visa. We’re waiting it out, but it’s something that, like most Australians and internationals living here, I hope will change soon. I miss her, and while we talk daily, it’s strange not seeing her for such a long amount of time.
I kept busy during these times much like everyone else, got heavily into meditations, podcasts, walks, started baking and doing every other millenial thing in lockdown … which brings me to my next point.
A new addition to the family: Oatley
It wasn’t t’ill the end of our 3rd lockdown that we finally got our beloved new family member: Oatley. Anyone who knows me knows how long I had been pining to Scott about a puppy, and we were fortunate enough to cross paths with the best little furry friend anyone could ask for. Now 6 months old, he is a quirky, smart and loving boy who loves the beachy-surf life as much as his owners do. Naturally, as any proud dog mum would, I got him his own page @theoneandoatley .
MUDE — the business, The Book, the journey.
This is perhaps my greatest and proudest achievement, aside from building this blog. It may also be the main reason why I had to put the blog on the back burner for a little, while all my creativity was focused on this new project.
You may have seen the new addition in my instagram bio of “co-founder” and that is because along with my best friend— and now business partner— Ash, we launched : MUDE.
Inspired by the way influencers were pivoting their businesses and service offerings during the pandemic, we noticed a shift from content creation to product creation. So many influential women were making the business leap to create and market their own brands by way of clothing, beauty products, workout videos, wellness supplements and much more.
We thought of how cool it would be to have one place to shop it all, and that’s exactly what we did. Within just 6 months, we had imagined, built and launched MUDE, the business of our dreams.
A coastal, chic destination that was created to empower women in business.
I couldn’t be more proud of the women we have on board our journey, icons such as Elle Macpherson, Sjana Elise, Natalie Roser or even Victoria Secret model Devon Windsor. The building process of MUDE was an intense and very steep learning curve. I’m very grateful each of these ladies saw the passion and drive in Ash and I to make MUDE what we envisioned.
And as if launching a business wasn’t time consuming enough, we somehow had the idea to publish a book as well! A journal of sorts, sharing the tales and secrets of the women who have joined the movement. “MUDE: Women of Influence” made my publishing dreams come true, and I guess in a way, had me writing the book I always wanted to write.
Working with Dream Brands + Getting back into modelling
While surf & yoga retreats around tropical destinations were no longer a possibility, another way I had to pivot my income stream and energy was through modelling. Starting with a few major campaigns coming my way ( ROXY being a definite highlight), which lead to me joining the ranks at IMG Models in Sydney as well as DUST in Byron.
Shot by Carly Brown
For as long as I’ve modelled (since I was 15) and had my many ups and downs with it, I’m happy to say I’ve reached a really healthy relationship in regards to the industry — largely in part to the people I’ve work and surrounded myself with — and I’m actually very excited to see where it takes me next.
bringing back the things I love in 2022.
Going back through some of my past articles, I realised how much I love writing. How therapeutic it’s always been for me and how purposeful it makes me feel. And I think that’s what I’ve been lacking with my content, whether that be social media, writing or anything else I’m involved with. A sense that I’m doing this with intent, for myself and for you, the reader.
So consider this my declaration to get back on the horse, and keep sharing my thoughts and words, in the hopes of sparking a little more creativity on your end as well.
Until next time x