Mims Moments: Recent Episodes
Miriam Cunliffe
This is Mims Moments, join me Miriam Cunliffe for chat, tea and moments of inspiration, as I talk to interesting people from around the Wyre Forest.
The sweet smell of success, should definitely be heading Chloe Cook's way. Chloe of Cupcakes by Chloe, came on my podcast to talk her passion for cup cakes, her desire to learn more about running a business and most importantly creating new flavours throughout the seasons. We're currently in Summer and I can't wait to try her new sensational creation of lemon and white chocolate cupcakes. 😋🥰🧁If listening to this episode is getting your taste buds going, then why not order a box for yourself. You can contact Chloe by direct message through her Instagram or by emailing chloe@cupcakesbychloe.comhttps://www.instagram.com/cupcakes.bychloe?igsh=MWgydWxkcDZ6ZmJsbA==
If you're new to starting out in business for yourself, then networking could be the key to gaining valuable insight and advice with the added bonus that some of it is FREE once you become a member of their Facebook community. As your business progresses you may want to look into paid for membership and in person events but start off with, who doesn't like free stuff!I belong to 3 wonderful networking groups:https://womenwhoworcestershire.co.uk/They have a free community Facebook page, once you request to join you can access advice and get notifications for free networking events and paid for membership opportunities. MIB International, no not the Will Smith alien franchise, it actually stands for Mums in Business, it has a free Facebook community and in person events which have a fee to attend. https://www.facebook.com/share/EQ5xWU5EnSpgfCFN/https://mib.international/Lastly I go to a co-working group on a Monday run by the fabulous Wendy Garrett of Garrett Learning, it's held at Bistrot Pierre in Kidderminster.I've made lots of connections taking part in networking, why not give it a go.
In today's episode I'm talking to Laura and Lisa from Kidderminster Nightstop and mediation, a local branch of the nationwide Nightstop organisation.They talked about how they help the invisible homeless young people, who are usually sofa surfing and not easily picked up as being homeless. Nightstop help with mediation between the young person and their family. https://www.wyreforestnightstop.org.uk/info@wfnightstop.orgTelephone: 01562 542773
I don't know about you, but recently my anxiety levels have grown. Perhaps it's because I have two part time jobs, as well as my side hustle, alongside my teenage daughter studying for exams oh and I'm going through the perimenopause!So I've been trying to get outdoors more, breath in the fresh air, I find it calms me. I'm also finding time to meet up with friends over a cuppa. The website www.mentalhealth-uk.org has some very useful tips and advice on how to deal with anxiety. There is also a book about to gain some you time and de stress within your lunch hour. It's called "Gone for lunch: 52 things to do in your lunch break the author is Laura Archer.
Shirl Ariton a self employed holistic hairdresser, with over 25 years experience. Opened her first salon in Stourport on Monday 25th March,it was well attended with lots of people coming to support her at 4High Street, Stourport. Shirl had previously worked in salons before setting up on her own working from home. As well as hairdressing shehas trained to become a reflexologist. Offering a unique experiencewith a mixture of hairdressing and wellbeing. The treatments caneither be alongside the hair appointment or immediately following it.“I have a lovely salon space for a one to oneclient basis . To make you feel truly relaxed and pampered there willbe a complimentary hand and arm massage while your colour is taking .Fresh coffee from beans , a range of teas and hot chocolate will beavailable for refreshments”.The hairdressers will be open from Monday toFriday, yes you heard that right open on a Monday! With later openingtimes on a Tuesday and Wednesday evening. https://www.facebook.com/ShirlAritonYou can contact Shirl via facebook on the above link or by direct message on07739 136664
In the immortal words of Vanilla Ice, stop collaborate and listen to this new episode of mine.Where I'm talking about the benefits of working together, collaborating.To collaborate is to commit to the possibility of producing an outcome greater than the one that would be developed on your own.I recently collaborated with BBC Hereford and Worcester with the lovely Nina Das Gupta on their upload programme. If you're creating something that is spoken word, comedy, drama or art follow the link to upload it to the BBC and you too might get featured on their show.http://bbc.co.uk/uploadThe fabulous West Midlands Podcast Club founded by Sarah McDowell and Rachael Botfield is a very supportive group, whether you're a wannabe podcaster, just starting out or seasoned podcaster. They've helped me so much on my podcast journey. Here's a link to learn moreHi Ellen, here's the link to the west midlands podcast club.https://airtable.com/appe1rAKJLrerkTjV/shrHGdmb6SedBk18o
On today's podcast I'm talking to Wendy Garrett of Garrett Learning, who is passionate about helping people reach their full potential through learning and encouraging collaboration hosting co-working clubs based in Kidderminster. To start your journey and find out more please visit her website:www.garrettlearning.co.uk
February is the month of love and I thought I'd share my love for small businesses in today's podcast I'm giving a shout to just a few of those I've bought from or used their services.The lovely Nicky from Our Village Green will help you be good to the environment and save money in the long run, with some wonderful products. Here is the website and you can follow her on Instagram too. She has also been a previous guest on my podcast, so please go back and give it a listen. https://our-village-green.sumupstore.com/Another lady whose services I've used is Natalie of Priory Copy, she helped me get focused on my message for my website, we had worked together at Newsquest for many years, so I already felt comfortable with her, however she is friendly and very approachable, her words can help transform your copy to sparkle on the page and her inspiration content calendar is exactly that, it has really helped me, with lots of helpful advice through out for the different seasons. www.prioritycopy.co.ukThe talented hairdresser Shirl Ariton ends my little shout out to small business. I met Shirl through networking and by happy coincidence picked up her 20% marketing leaflet in my local area and have continued to use her services. She has over 20years experience and always come away feeling fantastic. She'll put a spring in your step with a cut and style to suit you. You can find her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shirlariton?igsh=Nzl0MWRpb2Jmd3dw
I'm starting the year off in style, with Jo Gaffney who gives you the confidence to love the skin you're in right now. I've been a fan of Jo through her Instagram, she always has fun and interesting content, not to mention her clothes and style always look fab. I've dropped a couple of links to Jo's website and Instagram account. Here's a little a bit about Styling LifeOT:Styling life will enable you to lead the life you want to lead in style. Does your body confidence stop you doing what you really want to do? Accept and love the body you have right now and confidently take control of the image you want to project. Our 121 sessions are tailored for you. No two humans are the same.Our group sessions are available for small groups to develop image confidence together. This could be friends or workplace teams. You will be amazed at the increase in your productivity when you improve image confidence.https://www.stylinglifeot.com/https://www.instagram.com/jogaffneystylinglife/
It's gone all Christmasy in Mim's Moments, as I pop along to Milton Hall Baptist Church, on Lorne Street in Kidderminster. To talk to Graham Knight whose idea it was and look at the trees. A lot of different local groups have put their trees into the festival, including the girls and boys brigade, St Barnabas School, St Ambrose's Catholic Primary School, The ladies of the UCM (Union of Catholic Mothers) to name but a few. Come and see them all for yourself this coming Saturday 9th December and the following Saturday 16th December.
In this episode recorded on Remembrance Sunday I talk to Mike Salter a veteran and member of the military vehicle trust. As well as Heidi from The Royal British legion, who has played the bugle last post for many years at the service.
Here some tips for getting into the local media. If you want to share your story on a future podcast, here are my details:www.miriamcunliffephotography.co.ukmiriamc108@gmail.comAlso here are the details for Natalie a fabulous copywriter. https://www.prioritycopy.co.uk/@prioritycopy
Petra Bland is a personal trainer based in Hartlebury. She helps people overcome their barriers to help them achieve sustainable weight loss and fitness results. Whether it is fat loss, getting stronger, building muscle, improving your health, changing your lifestyle Petra has created a system that will help you achieve that.Her coaching methods will help you reach your health and fitness goals. Giving you a strategy to maintain it long term. Helping you feel better about yourself without giving up the process.Offering online or in person Coaching Programmes you will get exercise programmes for home or gym to suit your lifestyle. You will be provided with nutrition advise and target to help you make informed decisions around your eating habits . Your progress will be monitored and reviewed in your weekly and monthly meetings. You'll have support during your PT session as well as outside the time you book with Petra. Leaving you feeling motivated, happy and empowered and will have exit strategy to help you maintain your results.Listening to this podcast will give you a flavour of what it's like to work with her.
Growing friendships through growing produce is the tagline of Wolverley Allotment Society. I spoke to their chairperson Jenny Bull about what it took from her initial idea about an allotment to the reality of the wonderful plot of land they now have. It's a story of community, of everyone helping each other and of companies getting involved to help and fundraising. I've often wondered about allotments and with it recently being National Allotments week I thought I would find out more, hope you enjoy listening.Here is the website address for Wolverley Allotment Society. https://wolverleyallotmentsociety.wordpress.com/If you would like to find out more or join their waiting list.
Amy Woodcock is the face behind Naturally Grown Health. It's a small business with a big passion for helping you to look and feel good naturally. By using a combination of nutrition, health coaching and handcrafted herbal skincare (made from ingredients grown in her own garden), helping women to transform their skin and get their confidence back. I really enjoyed learning more about natures herbs that can be used on your skin. For more information please visit www.naturallygrownhealth.co.uk
Today's podcast was an impromptu one, as I was in Kidderminster library, one of my favourite places to visit and I saw the poster for the summer reading challenge, which brought back happy memories of when my daughter used to do it. Each year they have a theme and this year it's sport. I grabbed an unsuspecting summer reading challenge volunteer called Tazmin, who is studying to become a primary school teacher. She said it has been a great experience working with the children and parents. Here is the link for more information if you're interested in the Summer reading challenge.https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/You can also call 01905 822722The Summer Reading Challenge is a nationwide programme by The Reading Agency in partnership with libraries. As well as support from The Youth Sport Trust and The Arts Council.
Once upon a time, I dreamed of becoming a storyteller through my pictures and audio.
Which I have been lucky enough to do. Today is national writing day and today I'm talking to Viv Walker
a talented author who lives locally in Worcestershire. She is constantly inspired by her environment.
She writes both for adults and children, although as she says adult books make it seem as if we're talking about
fifty shades of grey, which they're not!
Here is a little bit about Viv in her own words.
I live at the edge of a nature reserve in Worcestershire, UK, with my husband and three rescued cats.
I grew up in the back streets of Birmingham, UK. There were no books in our house, we couldn’t afford them, but I was a voracious reader and went to the local library with my grandfather every Monday evening. Once I found an author I liked, I would work my way through everything they had ever written, before moving on to a new one.
I wrote my first novels in my late twenties; they were pretty awful and most of them were collecting cobwebs in the loft until recently. Over the years since then I have dabbled with writing on and off (mainly creating film or TV screenplays, which were also pretty awful!)
I believe that for many years writing was my escape from the stress of the real world; a relaxing hobby, but that was all, and I was never brave enough to show my work to anyone.
I came up with Jessie and the Shimmering Withywicks after my first grandchild was born. It took me over two years to write the first draft (I was working full-time and only had free time on Sunday afternoons) but I was thrilled when it was finished, so I self-published it.
After that, I decided to take my writing seriously; I completed a six-week, Writer's and Artists' 'Writing Fiction for Children and Young Adults' course with Bloomsbury Publishing. I followed that by working my way through more writing and self-publishing training courses. My 'Tomtee Tales - Book 1' has been revamped, rewritten, tweaked, professionally edited - thank you Jo! - and, I believe, improved, many times over since the original. I am now not just pleased with it, but actually proud of it, at last.
'Tomtee Tales - Book 2' - Jessie and the Purple Parasols, is out now and I have lots of ideas for book 3, so, as they say, watch this space!
I have also written The Tomtee Tales – ORIGINS. This prequel to Jessie and the Shimmering Withywicks tells the story of how, and why, the Tomtees separated from humans and went into hiding. It is only available via this website – see the ‘Tomtee Tales Tab’ for details of how to sign up to get a copy!
For the grown-ups, my first novel was called Just Too Late, (a romantic sci-fi fantasy) which I've recently revamped. I've also completed my second one, The Samsara Spiral, (a WW1 related paranormal sci-fi/romance). Both are available on Amazon now.
www.vivwalker.net
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BZ8XVPP1/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jessie-Purple-Parasols-Viv-Walker-ebook/dp/B0C3D2XZ3S/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MB494KINC4IO&keywords=jessie+and+the+purple+parasols&qid=1683560837&sprefix=jessie+and+th+epurple+parasols%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-1&author-follow=B013BXULVU
https://www.lonelinessawarenessweek.org/This week marks the Marmalade Trusts nationwide campaign to raise awareness of loneliness.The theme this year is connection.So in today's episode I'm talking to Donna Robinson who connects with people online with her Facebook group, Making Health easy with Donna. https://www.facebook.com/groups/makinghealtheasywithdonna/?ref=share I'm also talking to Christianne Flavin about the importance of human connection in person, as she talks about her time volunteering at the warm hub in Kidderminster.You are not alone, you can reach out from home or meet someone in person. 💕
https://our-village-green.sumupstore.com/With World Environmental Day 🌎 coming up, I caught up with Nicky Chapel of Our Village Green 💚Our Village Green’s mission is to enable local homes and businesses to reduce their single-use plastic consumption and chemical pollution. We provide a convenient and free doorstep delivery service collecting your empty household bottles/containers, refilling them with our range of eco household essentials, and delivering them back to your doorstep. Refill not landfill. Our refill products are biodegradable, plant-based, cruelty-free and planet friendly. Our household products are carefully sourced and we proudly champion many local makers. We offer a free delivery and collection service from Hagley to the surrounding local areas. Come and join this lovely Our Village Green community and let’s change the world - one refill at a time!
Death is a subject, I myself struggle to talk about, I'm not alone in that I think. So today as part of Dying Matters Week, I'm talking to Louise Holyoake, a counsellor specialising in grief, bereavement and loss.She trained with Cruse in Sandwell and after qualifying stayed with them for 3 years. She also did some voluntary bereavement work with Kemp Hospice in Kidderminster. Now working in private practice from a room in her house. Currently working Monday to Thursday from 9am to around 6pm. She's fully accredited member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society, has a full enchanced DBS check and is fully insured.Everyone deals with grief differently, Louise said some cry for days, hardly taking a moment to care for themselves. Others laugh, whether nervously or because they manage pain with humour. Others feel numb and wonder why they aren't crying or laughing like the others. Each of these reactions is normal - there's no right way to grieve. Every loss we have will have a unique grief process as each of our relationships are unique. As a therapist Louise helps her clients come to terms with their loss in their own personal way.Grief refers to the thoughts, feelings and behaviours connected to the loss of a loved one, a job, an object or anything else a person values. However when we talk about grief, it's usually in the context of bereavement.For more information on the process of grieving, acute grief, integrated grief or complicated grief please visit Louise's website. Stepping StonesLouise Holyoake http://louiseholyoake.co.uk/
In today's Mim's Moments I'm talking to Kelly Hurst a Home Start Wyre Forest co-ordinator.Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families with young children through their challenging times. We are there for parents when they need us the most because childhood can’t wait.Home-Start works with families in communities right across the UK. Starting in the home, our approach is as individual as the people we’re helping. No judgement, it is just compassionate, confidential help and expert support.Last year Home-Start supported 56,000 children in 27,000 families, in communities across the UK.Being a parent has never been easy. It can be lonely, frustrating, heart breaking and over-whelming. Life-changing events can happen to anyone. That is why Home-Start is ready to support families through their toughest times.Every Home-Start volunteer is trained to help them work alongside you to overcome the challenges you are facing. We work with you to build on your strengths and give you the support that you tell us that you need. With the help of a Home-Start volunteer, the impossible becomes possibleYou can get in contact via telephone 01562825896Or find them on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/homestartwf
Today's episode is coming from Cosy Coffee, one of my favourite places to grab a cuppa and treat in Kidderminster.I've been speaking to Manager Kyle Williams, whilst enjoying a cuppa of course. I love the retro interior and relaxed atmosphere. So if you're in Kidderminster and fancy getting a drink and something to eat, whilst people watching out of the big window in the downstairs seating area. You know where to come, open from 8.30-4pm Mon to Thurs and 8.30-5pm Fri and Sat.
On today's Mim's Moments, I'm speaking to Margaret Ozgur creator and founder of Cubby's Salve. www.cubbyssalve.co.ukI've used Cubby's Salve products, especially the Mist your face range, it really perks me up and gives me time to de-stress. Here's a little bit of background about Margaret. Handmade with love in Cubby’s Kitchen by me, Margaret (Mimi to my Cubbies). Creator and Founder of Cubby’s Salve Collection. Each individual Salve and Body Bar is lovingly blended and hand poured in small batches using traditional practises.Thanks to Mama Nature’s gifts which is the heart of Cubby’s Salve Collection. Our ethos is love and respect for ourselves and others and the Environment which connects us all. Inspired by Cubbies. Passionate about the benefits of Mama Nature.Using handcrafted, traditional practises in Cubby’s Kitchen. Using only the purest ingredients and precious oils from trusted suppliers (Family businesses). Beautiful plant ingredients which are grown ethically. Wild harvested or organic. These are the miracles blended magically with love from love to create your much loved Cubby’s. With each and every one of your products staying as close to nature as possible.
On today's Mim's Moments I'm joined by Julie Duriez, a wellbeing coach based at Clinic 66 in Bewdley. April marks Stress Awareness month and I find natural therapies help me in dealing with my own stress levels. I was lucky enough to have an aroma touch session with Julie before recording this podcast. I have to say it left me feeling totally de-stressed, I felt like my body was a computer screen with all these tabs open and as essential oil was used I felt myself becoming calmer as each tab closed down, almost falling asleep at one point. You can get in contact with Julie by calling her on 07815 126617 or you can book a treatment via the website https://www.lavendertreetherapies.com/
On today's Mim's Moments I'm talking to Melissa Burgess an aromatherapist and reflexologist. This week has beenComplimentary Therapy Week, so I thought she would be great to talk especially as she is launching her own business called Heel to Heal, based at first in Clinic 66 , Bewdley. You can contact her through her email melissa@heel2healworcs.uk
In today's podcast, I'm talking about myself, to give you an idea of what I'm about and my background.
In the hopes of enticing you onto my podcast to chat about your story, how you created your business, charity or endeavour that
you think people might want to hear about.
Please excuse the mistakes and pauses as I'm used to someone else filling in the gaps!
If you wan't to be on my podcast please get in contact via email miriamc108@gmail.com or direct message me on instagram
you can find me as miriamcunliffephotograhy and the same for facebook.
Hope to hear from you soon.
This episode is all about being kind to others, especially when they're not expecting it. Whilst walking into town one day, my friend and I were approached by a small group of smiling children from Little Trinity Nursery with their helpers including Nursery Manager Gaynor Carter. We were given a lovely drawing and bunch of daffodils. A beautiful unexpected gesture which made our day. So I decided to come along to Little Trinity to find out why they did it.
Today I'm talking to Adrienne Potter, a combined solution hypnotherapist, who specialises in wellness and lifestyle.
You can find out more about Adrienne and how she could help you, by looking her up on instagram and facebook under the
name of adriennephypnocoach
She also has the positivepickle account.
Her website details are as follows: https://linktr.ee/adriennephypnocoach
In my first episode of Mims Moments, I am speaking to Kidderminster's Mayor Cllr Sarah Rook. About life as a female councillor and being Mayor during a pandemic. I had to record this outside in Springfield Park, due to the current restrictions. So there is background noise of nature and children playing.
(This was recorded when Cllr Sarah Rook was still in Mayor), recently another female Cllr Juliet Smith has become Mayor).