Contributors

Suzanne Milne

Before I had our two amazing children – Oliver, now four, and Charlotte, one – I spent four years as Deputy Editor of Junior magazine (which modestly proclaimed itself to be ‘the world’s finest parenting magazine’) working with the incredibly clever and creative editorial talent, Catherine O’Dolan. Every month we packed that magazine full of the latest great designs for children with a focus on fashion but also brilliant books, interiors, products and toys. Awaiting the arrival of my son, I realised that despite the years curating this brilliant editorial content, there wasn’t an online space where I could find, save, edit and share the things I wanted for my own baby with my husband, my friends and my family. I spent hours desperately trying to locate things that I knew existed, but that just wouldn’t show up in a google search… Thus MyLittleStyleFile was born.

Our team of writers and artists are a truly talented bunch with a bundle of experience editing leading magazines in parenting, travel and interior design around the world. They are experts in their field and we’re honoured to have them help curate MyLittleStyleFile‘s ever-growing collection of outstanding books, products and destinations for families. Take some time to meet some of them in the biographies that follow.

My dream is that MyLittleStyleFile is a fun and useful place for you and your family and if there’s something you’d want us to feature, I would love to hear from you. Just drop me a line – suzanne@mylittlestylefile.com

Abdul Malique

After studying Typographic Design at a London art college, I started my design career working for several design agencies before my love of magazine design drew me into the world of publishing. For the last 12 years I have been working and art directing on glossy interiors and fashion magazines including Homes & Gardens, Country Living and SHE. Until recently I was the Art Director on Junior, a fashion & lifestyle magazine for parents. My design approach is to keep things clean and simple whilst maintaining a strong typographic element.

Brenden Lovett

It was over a decade ago that I picked up my first digital video camera and started filming ‘behind-the-scenes’ footage of the tours and productions I was acting in and producing documentaries for cast and crew. This quickly branched into short films, show reels, corporate training videos and, more recently, feature films. All of this experience and several cameras later (plus some not inconsiderable training in editing, camera technique, lighting and sound), has now fully prepared me for the greatest responsibility of any Dad – to make totally awesome home movies. It has of course also helped me to create and manage the video content of  the products, places and interviews for MyLittleStyleFile.

Catherine O’Dolan

Having spent most of my career as a journalist writing about family lifestyle, I can honestly say that I still feel a sense of excitement discovering the latest gorgeous interiors, an exquisite picture book or some state-of-the-art equipment – it’s come a long, long way since the navy-and-polka-dot or kitsch teddy bear designs that were de rigueur when my daughter was born 17 years.

As the former editor-in-chief of Junior magazine, the pioneering glossy lifestyle magazine, I’ve seen modern parenting evolve over recent years into a very chic business, with a wealth of exciting and avant-garde designers lending their expertise and flair to the industry. Writing about everything from fashion to family travel, interiors, books and toys, my philosophy has always been to surround your child with beautiful things, and to give them access to wonderful places, whilst remembering that a walk in the park can be equally as enlightening and exciting as a stay in some fine and fancy hotel (though I’m a fan of that too). The trick is to savour and enjoy, but never to be too precious about it.

Parenting is the most exciting adventure you’ll ever likely embark upon, and we should never take that privilege for granted. Taking our children’s hand as they embark on life’s big adventure is a huge responsibility (and is best conducted with a hefty dose of humour), but it’s usually not too long before our children start to teach us a thing or two! My two pedagogues for the journey are Grace, 17, and Joe, eight.

Rose-Marie Hillier

I’ve been a journalist specialising in decorating, design and architecture for over 40 years and a former Editor of Australian House & Garden magazine, Australia’s established leading homes magazine.

My greatest passion is colour. I can’t live without it in my home, it’s always been that way — I remember convincing my Dad to paint my bedroom ceiling in a gloriously rich Chinese red gloss for my 21st birthday. Ah, the power of colour. When my son began school, I decided to work permanent part-time which gave me some freedom from the magazine to be a school mum and also turn a passion into reality; I trained up to become a colour consultant. As a social commentator and design journalist I have reported on the design influences and trends both in Australia and globally that have shaped our homes and lifestyles, and presented decorating seminars to homemakers, students, architects and builders.

My decorating style is eclectic and I love blending the refined with the quirky though I am always moving things around, mixing things up a bit – something my husband and son still can’t get used to!

Kristina Foster

Born in Sydney and ripened in Asia, Kristina Foster has lived and worked as a journalist for over a decade in Australia, Thailand, Singapore and the US. She specializes in seeking out luxe hideaways and urban havens that welcome little and big guests alike.

Kristina once traveled the world as a stylish singleton experiencing life’s finest in food, places and culture. Now with two school aged children she don’t see the need to downgrade to chain motels, fast food or cheesy theme parks.

With little ones in tow Kristina has splashed in the rice paddies of Ubud, pottered the alleys of the Marais, noshed truffle fries by The Bund, always retiring for a good night’s sleep in 1000-thread-count sheets.

As a freelance writer Kristina has contributed to travel and lifestyle publications around the globe including Elle Singapore, 2-Magazine Asia, GQ Thailand, Cafe Society Magazine and wandermelon.com

Laura Lee Davies

Laura spent five years as editor of Time Out London magazine and has a background in music and arts journalism with a range of other print titles as well as at the BBC. More recently, Laura has also worked on print and web titles devoted to children and parents. She developed the pregnancy and parenting website ThinkBaby and in the last decade has developed her expertise as a writer of developmental and family life issues around children’s books, crafts, and lifestyle, writing for titles including Junior and The Times. Based in London with her family (she has a son, 13, and a daughter, 10), she continues to work as a writer and broadcaster on arts and parenting topics, and is editor of the website SuperSavvyMe, for parents of school-aged children in the UK.

Emma Ventura

Having spent much of her own childhood exploring the deserts and mountains of Oman with her adventurous expatriate parents, Emma Ventura has never lost the thrill of discovery. Her work as a writer and editor saw her based in Oman, Vietnam and the UAE before she set up a permanent home in Australia in 1998. Although her career has seen her navigate a traditional Arabic canoe through the Strait of Hormuz, tag albatrosses on the Tasman Sea and travel on foot through South Africa’s Kruger National Park, Emma’s head is just as easily turned by great food and design. She was Deputy Editor/Travel Editor of Australian Gourmet Traveller before making the leap to freelance writing in 2011. Emma has contributed to numerous publications including Australian Gourmet Traveller, The Weekend Australian, British Airways High Life, Good Weekend (Sydney Morning Herald), Jamie Magazine, Qantas The Australian Way, Gourmet Traveller WINE, Voyeur (Virgin Australia), Marie Claire (Australia) and Post Magazine (South China Morning Post, Hong Kong). Emma currently divides her time between London and Sydney.

Judith Wilson

Judith Wilson is the author of 13 books on interior design, including the best-selling Children’s Spaces 0-10 (which has been translated into over 10 languages), Harmonious Home, The Vintage Home and her latest title, Casual Living, a book dedicated to fuss-free living and easy, relaxed spaces.

As a freelance interiors writer for over 15 years, Judith contributes to many national magazines, was previously Decorating Editor on Homes & Gardens magazine and lectures on Styling at the KLC School of Design. Married with two teenage children, Cicely, 17, and Felix, 15, Judith lives in South West London where she practises what she preaches, finding that splashes of bright colour, a combination of vintage and modern style, and obsessively planned storage is the key to the happiest, most organized, family space.

Liz Harper

Liz Harper has written for leading travel, lifestyle and parenting magazines and often sits on the family travel expert panel of National Geographic Traveller and the parent panel of Smith & Family. Over the past few years she’s taken off, with daughter Molly in tow, to some fabulous destinations: they’ve shopped in NYC, hiked in the foothills of the High Atlas mountains, explored the Amazon rainforest, checked out the big five in Tanzania’s Serengeti, and snorkeled in the clear blue waters off the Zanzibar coast. Nearer to home they’ve built sandcastles in St Ives, surfed in Woolacombe and sailed in the Lake District. Liz’s love of travel has most certainly rubbed off on her daughter and they’re looking forward to sharing some of their incredible finds with you on MyLittleStyleFile. You can also catch Liz tweeting @lizharper and on her website…

Susannah Osborne

Over the last twelve years, I have mixed and matched a career in journalism with my passion for photography and spell teaching in London schools. Now I combine my writing with looking after two gorgeous but super-contrary girls: Minnie, 4 and Poppy, 2. Having started out on ELLE UK, I have written for many London based women’s glossies and national newspapers, including The Guardian, The Financial Times, The Independent and Red Magazine, on a range of topics from luxury travel to teaching your child to read. In the winter months you’ll find me somewhere on the ski slopes of Europe, and I have skied the world, from Chile to Canada and The Alps. In summer, my family like nothing more than to jump in our campervan to seek out some sun, which can be hard to find from our base just outside London.

Catherine Wright

After a murky past as an international management consultant to finance her passion for travel, Catherine meandered her way to the sunnier climes of acting and theatre. With the vagaries of life with young children and being the ‘trailing spouse’ to a Scottish helicopter pilot, Catherine found it necessary – for all their sakes – to channel her creative urges into writing. The muse has variously lured her into poetry and short stories, for which she has won awards, as well as magazine features for Junior in the UK, and children’s picture books – one of which was filmed and featured in the story time segment for CBeebies in Australia.

Catherine lives with her husband, Andrew, and their two children Fergus, 8, and Lilla, 6 in Perth, Western Australia. Here they bask in the wild joys of nature and eternal sunshine whenever possible (especially if it buys Catherine a few minutes abstinence from the delights of domestic duties…)

Peter Balderstone

During songtime at a new toddler group, I observed to my son, “Our usual toddler group sings a much better rendition of ‘Hop, Little Bunnies’ than this lot.” In retrospect, I believe that to be the single most pathetic thought that has ever crossed my mind.

I ditched my job as an academic lecturer to become a full-time father when my two kids came along. Most of my writing has been on literature and film. I have given Shakespeare in Performance seminars & lectures to postgraduates at Shakespeare’s Globe, the University of London, the Shakespeare Institute, the London Centre for Theatre Studies, and the University of Cambridge. Now I work with my writing partner on introducing children to Shakespeare in school acting sessions.

Being a Pad Dad allows me the flexibility to write plays & comedy scripts, to do improv comedy & schools performance workshops, and to edit and write about Books & Media (and a few other things besides) on MyLittleStyleFile.

Suzanne Baum

I have worked in journalism for nearly 20 years, for five years as Features Writer for the Jewish Chronicle newspaper, then as the section editor for my own lifestyle and social column on the weekly paper. After the birth of my first child, I turned freelance and specialised in writing on parenting and family health, as well as women’s interest features. I am also an expert in family travel, with a constant mission to find the most engaging family-friendly facilities for my highly energised brood of three boys!

I have written features and real-life stories for a number of leading newspaper titles and women’s magazines including The Sun, Daily Mail, The Times and Zest and have been a regular contributor to Mother&Baby, Junior, Practical Parenting and Your Family magazine, where I had toy review pages. My family travel features have appeared regularly in the Jewish Chronicle, Conde Naste magazine and the travel website takethefamily.com

Helen McKay-Ferguson

As an aunt-of-three I am often called upon to partake in a world of playful adventure. I’ve helped orchestrate sandcastle dramas starring stone kings and queens, cheered on ‘Brandy Wiggins’ in a back garden Tour de France and constructed a bespoke monster out of spent Christmas crackers (tip: you can unroll the ends to make really good jagged teeth). 

Happily, I have been able to combine my delight in things childish with a passion for the written word.

As a part of the team on glossy lifestyle magazine Junior, I spent five years writing about very cool things created for children – covering everything from playgrounds to picture books, designer dwellings to dream travel destinations. I have also worked as Features Editor across a portfolio of best-selling pre-school magazines, and would have a sporting chance against a five-year-old in a contest of name-that-character. My weaknesses include well-cut dresses, chewy sweets and anything bearing a bird motif (although not necessarily in that order).

Nick Connell

In a previous life I was paid to go on other people’s vacations (working on the entertainment team with cruise ships), so I have consequently visited over 100 countries and all seven continents. From scuba-diving in Bora Bora to heli-skiing in the Canadian Rockies, sipping cocktails as the sun set over Waikiki and sampling degustation menus in San Juan, my office job gave me a taste of what MyLittleStyleFile is all about. I’m looking forward to sharing some stories, tips and travel secrets.

I left it all to settle in leafy West London, work for Apple and take orders from my 16-month old daughter. She is also keen to let you know her thoughts on some of the great design products out there for kids and of course some great family destinations.

Abigail Rea

The oldest of four children, I have always been surrounded by little ones and this never changed as I grew older and followed in my mother’s footsteps of teaching children the piano. While teaching part-time, I also graduated from Sydney University and began to follow my passion for writing and travelling, undertaking various journalism internships. All of these interests are combined in my involvement in the charity my family have established called ‘Love Give Share – South Pacific’, which aids underprivileged primary schools in Fiji. For the past few years I have made regular trips to this island nation to visit and teach in the remote schools where we have sent donations, live in the villages (often without electricity or running water!) and be a part of this fascinating and inspiring culture. I hope to maintain this work whilst I continue to pursue my career in writing.

Ed Hutchings

Born in East Anglia, but raised in the Persian Gulf, I was always going to have two things – itchy feet and an inquisitive mind. Having left university with a degree in hospitality, I embarked on a career as a sommelier, and after working at various Michelin-star restaurants, not to mention winning the prestigious sommelier competition UK Torres Quizmaster in 2004, I like to think I can separate my Chardonnays from my Sauvignons.

However, I found myself standing in vineyards with winemakers and preferring to watch the birds around me rather than listen to another monologue about soils, so decided that wildlife, my true passion in life, was the way ahead. Whilst working for the RSPB at Symonds Yat Peregrine viewpoint in Gloucestershire and surveying Nightingales for the British Trust for Ornithology, I started writing a casual column in a local village rag, which soon escalated to writing articles for Bird Watching Magazine – Britain’s best selling bird magazine. I also write for Suffolk Life and contribute to numerous other titles.  I am delighted to have joined MyLittleStyleFile and contributed to the A to Z of Where The Wild Things Are, which will hopefully help inspire the next generation’s appreciation and understanding of our amazing natural world.

Lyn Mettler

Lyn Mettler is an Indianapolis, Indiana-based freelance travel writer who has worked in public relations and journalism for the past 15+ years.

Contributing to FoxNews.com, US News & World Report, USA Today 10Best.com and more, Lyn frequently writes about adventure travel, hotels and family travel. 

Lyn writes more on travel at www.GotoTravelGal.com and regularly appears on Indianapolis’ WISH TV offering travel tips and advice. She roots for her alma mater, Indianapolis’ Butler Bulldogs, and loves living in Indy, where her favorite haunts include White River State Park, Broad Ripple, the Monon Trail, Lucas Oil Stadium and Hinkle Fieldhouse. 

MyLittleStyleFile is very excited to have Lyn onboard as our Indianapolis Style Correspondent, sharing with us some of her favourite destinations across her home town.

Kelly Burstow

Kelly loves life at both ends of the spectrum: wearing high heel shoes one day and hiking boots the next; sipping tea from a pretty cup and slurping hot coffee from a camping mug; challenging herself physically and stopping for quiet unhurried moments to feel the wind on her face.

Kelly and her husband Matthew seek to live a fun and adventurous life with their four kids. A favourite way to do this is exploring the corners of their home city, Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. From sailing bark boats down babbling streams to hip shops to visit, Brisbane is full of hidden treasures that add fun to family life. Which is why MyLittleStyleFile is excited to have Kelly onboard as Brisbane’s Style Correspondent, letting us in on this city’s best secret destinations for kids. 

Her blog is a jam-packed great family recipes and fun crafts, which is no doubt why it wins the url of www.beafunmum.com.