Exclusive interview with Mother Muse
Stephanie Liu Hjelmeseth
Could you describe yourself in one sentence?
I am a calm, gentle soul whose spirit thrives on romance and beauty in everyday moments.
What do you do for a living?
I run my fashion and lifestyle blog Honey & Silk full-time and I also photograph part-time for commercial projects. I love being able to say that I am a creative for a living! It’s so rewarding and something I never thought would happen.
How have you been feeling?
I’ve been feeling so amazing! Honestly, I feel very blessed that for my first pregnancy, everything has been relatively easy – I haven’t had morning sickness and other symptoms like headaches or heartburn have been very mild. The fatigue is definitely there, but I totally don’t mind the extra naps I have to take.
What has surprised you most about being pregnant?
The emotions and realizations I’d go through. I’ve never felt so much excitement, fear, love, and empowerment ever before in my life. It’s really amazing that this pregnancy is allowing me to discover myself anew; it was totally unexpected and something I haven’t heard before.
What do you like best about being pregnant?
I love the feeling of our baby growing and kicking in my belly. It’s the most unique sensation I’ve ever experienced and I don’t think anything else can compare.
Describe the word woman in your own words:
The most underrated being in the world.
Did you struggle with accepting the body changes that came with pregnancy?
I hadn’t felt such insecurities about my body, since I was in high school. Your body goes through such a rapid change and I expected some of it, like the growing belly, some stretch marks, but I didn’t know about the rest! There’s so much that happens to a woman’s body inside and out. I struggled with managing weight in the past and it’s a whole new mindset to put yourself in while having to gain weight for the health of your baby. I long for dresses in my closet that I used to love wearing. I am still figuring out the best angles for my body whenever I take photos.
But all the while, whenever I catch a glimpse of myself naked, I do have a feeling of pride that overcomes all of my insecurities. This body is literal magic right now and I’m overwhelmed with love and honor for growing a human being within me.
Tell us a bit about how you see your vision for your birth.
My vision for my birth is just to have a positive, spiritual experience, connecting with nature and God in such a way that I’ve never before. I would like to go all natural, unmedicated, to feel all of nature’s force as it was intended. However, I’m keeping an open mind to it all, because I’ve heard so many things about labor and I think the best way to go into it is to not have any expectations. I do expect that it’ll be the hardest thing I’ll ever do and I’m mentally preparing myself for that, with excitement.
Who are your three favourite Instagram muses to follow?
Paola, Stella Simona, Angela Fink
You feel most beautiful when?
After a few moments of self-care – with glowing skin after a mask, a freshly brewed pot of jasmine tea, a lit fragrant candle, and Francoise Hardy on the record player. With the light pouring in through the windows and with my cat and husband next to me on the couch, I feel beautiful, and so happy!
What’s your top self-care tip for your pregnancy?
Indulge in self-care as much as possible! Clean beauty facials, prenatal massages, hair treatments – anything to make you feel pampered, relaxed, and beautiful is worth it for your spirit these 10 months.
Who is your Mother Muse?
Of course, my own mother. It took me about 21 years to understand the great lengths she had gone to sacrifice for the best well-being of her 3 children and I know I would not be who I am or where I am without her. My mom has the biggest heart for her family and community and she has been the perfect example of a mother’s unconditional love. I will look to her for everything in becoming as great of a mom as she is.
Can you give a quote about Mother Muse coffee books?
The Mother Muse coffee book is very endearing to me, because it is what inspired me and lifted me out of my fear of becoming a mom. On my blog, I talked about a period of time shortly before we were expecting, when I was fearful of failing at motherhood and balancing other things I loved, like my career and my life with my husband. But when I came across Mother Muse, this beautiful coffee book and incredible community of mama muses showed me that achieving greater dreams is possible, especially after becoming a mother. Mother Muse helped empower me to trust in my husband, my family, and community in fulfilling my dream of becoming a mom and to continue pursuing my passions with more support than before.
What inspired your blog name Honey & Silk?
I started my blog in 2011 actually as a food blog, so I played off the yummy treat “honey & milk” with silk since I knew I wanted to talk a little bit about fashion. I just love how Honey & Silk sounded and I feel like it still encompasses my vibe as a person perfectly.
Mother Muse Stephanie Liu Hjelmeseth , Photographer Nicki Sebastian
Styling D Ô E N
MOTHER MUSE 