A Mother's Day We'll Never Forget

When we launched our Mother's Day competition this year, we hoped we'd hear some beautiful stories.

What we didn't expect was just how many incredible women would be nominated. Over the weeks that followed, our inbox filled with stories of mums, grandmothers, daughters, sisters and friends who quietly give so much of themselves to the people around them. There were stories of resilience, generosity, strength and kindness. Some made us smile, many brought us to tears, and every single one reminded us that you never really know what someone else is carrying.

Choosing one winner was incredibly difficult.

The nomination that stayed with us came from Louisa, who wanted to surprise her lifelong friend Kathryn.

She wrote about a woman who continues to care for everyone around her despite navigating some incredibly difficult circumstances at home. Reading her words, what stood out wasn't only everything Kathryn had been facing, but the deep admiration and love that shone through every sentence. It was obvious this wasn't simply a nomination for a competition; it was one friend wanting another to feel cared for, celebrated and reminded of how much she means to the people around her.

One of the things we loved most about this experience was that both Kathryn and Louisa shared the day together. It felt fitting that the friend who had taken the time to recognise someone else's kindness would also be part of the celebration.

Their time together included styling with Fiona from Style Liberation, beautiful hair by the team at Blonde Poetry, a pair of Sissa Sorella shoes each and a photography session with Kerrie Brewer Photography to capture some new, fun memories.

Spending time with these two friends was every bit as lovely as we'd imagined. They laughed together, encouraged one another, soaked up every moment and simply enjoyed having a day that was about them. Looking through the photographs afterwards, what stands out isn't just how beautiful they both looked. It's the warmth between them, the ease of a friendship that's lasted almost twenty years and the genuine joy they shared throughout the day.

As wonderful as it was to celebrate Kathryn and Louisa, this competition was really about something much bigger. It reminded us that our community is filled with women who notice one another, support one another and take the time to celebrate the people who rarely ask for recognition themselves.

To everyone who took the time to nominate someone, thank you. Every story we received was important and valuable, and although we could only choose one winner, each nomination was a reminder of the incredible women who make up the Sissahood.

And to Kathryn and Louisa, thank you for allowing us to be part of your story. We hope these photographs will always remind you of a day spent celebrating a friendship that is clearly very special, and a woman who gives so much of herself to the people she loves.

It's easy to think we're in the business of selling shoes, but moments like these remind us that what we're really building is a community. One where women celebrate one another, cheer each other on and occasionally get the chance to give someone who truly deserves it a day they'll never forget.

Before we finish, we'd also like to say a heartfelt thank you to the incredible women who helped make this experience possible and so special. Fiona from Style Liberation, Chanel and the talented team at Blonde Poetry and Kerrie Brewer Photography generously shared their time and expertise to create this event.

They're all wonderful Canberra small businesses run by passionate, talented women who genuinely care about the people they work with. Supporting one another is something we believe in wholeheartedly, and we'd love for you to show them a little love too. If you haven't already, pop over and give them a follow - we're lucky to have such an incredible community of women lifting each other up.

Be sure to show them some love:

• Style Liberation - @styleliberation
• Blonde Poetry - @blonde.poetry
• Kerrie Brewer Photograper - @kerriebrewerphotographer

Love Katie xo