One of our favourite online magazine for mums, The Grace Tales, has written a fabulous article about the founder and fearless leader of Marmalade Lion - Alicia Jackson. It's an inspiring read about life, business and all that comes in between.

One of the things that you will probably be told over and over again by helpful friends, mums and otherwise interested parties, is to make sure that your home is spotless to ensure that bubs is in a germ free and hygienic environment. That’s all very well pre-birth, as getting your home spick-and-span is all part of the natural nesting instinct that happens in the lead-up to giving birth.

Many a been-there-done-that mother has laughed when a first-time mom talks about how challenging the newborn stage is. Sure, there's no sleep and spit up everywhere, but what they don't know is that all bets are off when your kid can move. This is also the time that all the weird toddler behavior starts to kick in and you begin to wonder if you gave birth to a crazed monkey child instead of an actual human being. But fear not, this too shall pass. And chances are that the odd things your toddler started doing yesterday that you spent all night Googling are really just par for the course.