No Ordinary Gal Laura Baxter

You asked, I've delivered! Here are my ramblings reflecting on my time in lockdown and how it drove me to go after a new job, and I only went and landed myself one in the middle of a blooming pandemic!

I also highlight my favourite new small business Make it Count Jewellery who I just love and can provide you with some of the most beautiful Christmas prezzies (or a little treat for yourself!) Follow Claire on Instagram, or buy directly from her Etsy shop here - 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/makeitcountjewellery?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=858051840

https://www.instagram.com/makeitcount_jewellery/?hl=en

Kimmy joins Laura to talk about how after being quite sure having kids wasn't for her, the unexpected arrival of her daughter 18 months ago proved to be the best thing that ever happened to her. She also talks about the amount of pressure she put on herself to get everything right, and how the stress of returning to work put her into a state of really poor mental health. Kimmy speaks so openly about it and reminds us that mental health can affect anyone at any time. Whether it's ongoing and long term, or an acute, situational spell.

This week's No Ordinary Business is Hull Sailor run by two of the most badass ladies I know. They have an amazing clothing and apparel range which you can shop online or in their physical store in Spark York, which is also a tattoo studio! Buy from www.hullsailor.co.uk, follow the shop on Instagram @hullsailorandco and check out J's inkwork @jjmottotattoo....it's a Hull Sailor shirt I'm wearing in the album cover for this show!

Charlotte joins Laura for a very honest and open conversation about motherhood. 

Like many women across the country, Charlotte feels she is completely ordinary, a part time work around her two young girls, but she shows up every single day. And it's what it takes to do that every day, that makes Charlotte and women nationwide extraordinary. We delve into the emotional rollercoaster of being a mum, the weight of responsibility, and how having a "break" is usually going to work or being able to go to a supermarket solo. I'm sure SO many will relate to this, and so many will not be aware of just what it takes to survive mumlife. 

This week's No Ordinary Business feature is Elegant Events Essex who provide at home cinema experiences! You can find out all about them on their instagram which is @elegant_events_essex! Go give them a follow and have yourself a covid safe gathering or upgrade on family movie night! 

This week Katie joins Laura for a chat about her enviable talents, where her strive for perfection comes from and how she re-trained to turn her hobby into a career. 

We talk about how the design industry has transformed over the past 15 years, giving so many talented people jobs that they love, and what it's like being a woman in the workplace, and how your relationship with your work is viewed when you don't have children - something I'd never thought of and loved chatting about.

This episode is also a reunion as we'd not physically met in over a decade, and it was as joyous and wonderful as our teenage chats were. 



As mentioned on Instagram this week, I'm now doing weekly shout out's for awesome, female businesses - not an AD or GIFT for me, just want to help these No Ordinary Gal's out, and first up is Knits by Knowles! You can check out her Instagram @KnitsbyKnowles or browse her Etsy store at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Knitsbyknowles?ref=search_shop_redirect

Hannah joins Laura to talk about the twists and turns her adult life has taken after realising that the life she had planned from teen years, just wasn't meant to be. Hoping to live the tale everyone seems to have of uni life, partying with a bit of studying, Hannah headed to Wales to pursue a degree in film studies, but it wasn't as she'd hoped. Struggling to come to terms with that, she entered a spell of poor mental health, but came out the other side to land herself a job in a bridal boutique. Here she sored, gain extra hours, promotions and earned handsomely, but knew it wasn't her passion. After a chance job opportunity at a local college, Hannah found her calling in helping young adults with learning disabilities and has just summer gained her full teaching qualification. 

Hannah's story will be one so many resonate with, proof that starting over isn't failure of what you thought you should be doing, but finding the courage to pursue what you want to be doing. 

Moira joins Laura to talk about her karate career, what it's like as a female in such a male dominated sport, and how a crossroads in life lead to her taking a risk and going after a totally new career in her 50's. 

Moira really is the embodiment of Girl Power, she's was part of the first ever female squad when women were finally allowed to compete in karate, won numerous titles, has trained countless children and adults to their black belts, started her own association and after redundancy, took the opportunity to retrain as a personal trainer and sports therapist. She's an incredible role model and one of my personal heroes.