So today we head stateside as part of our ‘What’s in your backpack series?’, and we speak with the gorgeous Jules, mama to two little ones.  She’s a lifestyle photographer, from Scotland, now living and working in Miami, USA.  I believe her brilliance is capturing and securing those precious moments, you know those on the spur of the moment ones that have the power to truly take your breathe away. 

She has an amazing story to tell as she travels around the world with her young family.   And she makes it sound so easy.  Read what Jules, has to say about moving a young family around the world, living abroad, changing career and setting up her own business!

More importantly, let’s have a sneak peak or nose around, as to what’s in her backpack.

1.    Tell us a little bit about yourself?  What you do and how you came to be living in Miami?

My name is Jules, and I currently live in Miami with my husband and two young daughters, (8) and (5).

We relocated from the UK to The Hague in 2012 due to my husband’s career. We spent three wonderful years in The Netherlands and have many fond memories, this is where my oldest started school and where my youngest was born.

After The Netherlands, we embarked upon an expat assignment in Washington DC. It offered us the chance to experience life in America and the opportunity to travel further afield from the Nation’s Capital. We now find ourselves living in tropical Miami once again due to work commitments and will be here until summer ’19.

‘Wow, sounds like an adventure Jules… I want to live a life like that!’

I set up a lifestyle and event photographer business, and have captured many events on behalf of the British Embassy in DC and Consulate here in Miami. I love the creativity and diversity involved in what I do, and the people I am fortunate enough to meet along the way. Everyone has an interesting story to share.

 

2.  Tell us about your initial experience when moving out there – what were your challenges?

The biggest challenge during any of our relocations undoubtedly is always to make sure the children have as smooth a transition as possible from wherever we might be leaving to wherever we are going to.

The older they become the harder it is for them to say goodbye to friends, as the relationships they forge for themselves are that much stronger. Thankfully moving to America we didn’t face any language barriers unlike in The Netherlands but I have learnt that children adapt to new surroundings and cultures often far better than adults do. Their ability to pick up a new language far surpasses that of their parents. My children now speak a sprinkling of Spanish, Italian, and French and can still remember certain phrases and numbers in Dutch.

‘That’s so amazing, I wish I could say my son has some languages up his belt… but alas we only have basic greetings in Japanese and super basic pidgin Yuroba…’

The early weeks are unsurprisingly always the toughest, as you are learning where everything is, possibly living in temporary accommodation, adjusting to a new time zone or indeed language. It is unlikely that you will know anyone and therefore face the daunting prospect of rebuilding a network from scratch. Everything does eventually fall into place, but you do need to accept that it will take time.

3.    Give us an example of your typical morning?

 

I am an early bird and get up at 6am. I generally start the day by making coffee and stepping out on our balcony. It is my favourite time of day as the city is at its most calm and quiet, we live in the heart of Downtown Miami therefore just an hour or so later it will be bustling with traffic and people commuting. It is a chance to check my emails and prepare for the day ahead. The girls will be awake around 7am and then the real chaos kicks off!

‘I love your early morning routine. And I bet that balcony view is amazing right!’

4.    How do you balance a busy household as a working mother?

I am fortunate enough to work for myself therefore I can accommodate my schedule around both my husband and the girls’ commitments. Often my events are hosted in the evenings and so we don’t need to rely on anyone else for additional childcare. I am grateful to be in position whereby I can be both at home, and working. Although do miss my days working as an Account Manager in Ad agencies. Photography is very much a solo venture and other than when present on a shoot it is just me at my desk listening to Spotify whilst editing photo albums for clients. I miss the camaraderie from working amongst creative and talented colleagues collectively working towards meeting tight deadlines!

‘Yeah, I remember those tight deadlines – eating late night pizza and all that adrenaline…  Nah, I don’t miss it.’

5.    What’s your go to mantra?

I don’t think I have one! But if I had to choose it would be something along the lines of –

“When life gives you every reason to be negative, think of one good reason to be positive. There is always something to be grateful for.”

‘I love this, It really does help us to remember to count our blessings.’

 

6.    Tell us your number ONE time saving hack?

I love cooking and often try to prepare mid-week meals at the weekend. Although with such a variety of schedules and having one fussy eater in the family, this isn’t always that effective!

 

7.    What’s the ONE thing that you carry in your backpack that helps you organize your day?

My phone, although I also carry a day-to-day diary and don’t often use my online calendar – much to the dismay of my husband. I don’t always have a pen but there will no doubt be a packet of crayons the girls have picked up from a recent restaurant visit.

‘I love how you just make do and carry on!’

8.    Be honest how organised are the contents within your backpack or bag on a typical day?

My photography bag is extremely well organised, I carry back up chargers and memory cards for my back ups!

My personal backpack is a lot less organised, if you dig deep enough you will always find a collection of shells or dried flowers the girls have collected and gifted to me during one of our many beach walks. I am regularly complimented on my Nariva Boutique ‘Ava’ mini me backpack. It’s the perfect size for days out and compliments the stylish Miami backdrop perfectly.

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For more information about Jules and her work head to her website. Her gorgeous social media handles can also be found here. 

Or, if you are ever in need of a pick me up, or some inspiration, head over to her sunny, bright Instagram page.  It does the same thing as a coffee or hot lemon drink on a cold winter’s morning!

For more information about living and working abroad with a young family – stay tuned for our next series, where we head over to Toronto, Canada.

Note the Ava mini me backpacks are all sold out, but please check back as we occasionally re introduce new colour themes into our older designs.  Nariva Boutique wants to encourage every women to enjoy their individual story as they stylishly carry their swag in their backpack.