Shine Media

06/03/2019

My latest interview with for Shinemedia.biz actually moved me to tears! Talk about ALL the feels!! Head over to the website, click on Journal and read all about this beautiful, shiny woman's journey to create a family. As she so beautifully says, "At the end of the day, love wins and family is the prize."

07/02/2019

This article and the excellent comments really shows how Instagram only cares about money and its hurting accounts hard! Less than 10% of your followers are seeing your content, so you need to make it COUNT!

Like many of you, I have been personally victimized by Instagram. Over the past couple of weeks, I've noticed a significant drop in my impressions, engagement, and number of new followers. The reason: Instagram's 2019 Algorithm. Thanks to this new update, only 10% of your followers are ab...

01/02/2019

Hip hooray! COMPETITION TIME!! My client turns 1 today!!
I've teamed up with lovely Oona from to celebrate women around the world moving from dreaming to doing! ❤️
So what will you win? One lucky winner will get to choose between a 60 minute Health Coaching consultation OR a 60 minute personal fitness training session with Oona AND a social media makeover with me! The competition is open to anyone, anywhere as all sessions can take place in person or virtually!
HOW TO ENTER:
✨ Follow &
✨ Like this post on both profiles
✨ Tag 3 friends in separate comments
Competition ends on the 8th of February 2019 T&C’s apply

29/01/2019

*Using illness as a tool for self reflection, or, what I learned from a simple tummy bug*

I didn’t feel well over the weekend - I was super tired, had a bit of a headache and a dodgy tum that culminated in being sick (vomiting) and feeling really nauseous from 7pm on Sunday night until midday Monday.. it was no fun.

I rested and took it easy yesterday and once the discomfort and nausea and exhaustion passed, I felt lighter and calmer. In this relaxed state, I reflected on the past week and what had lead up to being ill.

I had been in Jhb for 3 weeks and returned at the beginning of last week. Eager to catch up with friends and family and start implementing all my big 2019 goals (which include launching a new biz, moving house and organising my wedding!!!) I ate out a lot, saw 5 or 6 friends (separately) had 3 client meetings, a meeting with my new accountant, a photo shoot for a client, a personal training session, gave a one on one social media coaching session, scrolled through endless apartments and viewed a few, searched for wedding venues, signed up for an online course, visited the Chiro, went for a job interview, watched a whole Netflix series (binge watching anyone?) and dealt with a family drama for several days!!! (I don’t know about you, but reading back on this, I’m pretty exhausted!) All in a week!

Yes, it could’ve been a tummy bug or food poisoning but as I was sick with the wind howling and the fire raging on Signal Hill (I live in Tamboerskloof) and the choppers flying deafeningly overhead, I thought, “This is too much!” Now I’m all for being productive and getting things done, but this wasn’t feeling right.

It’s really made me reflect on what nourishes me and what doesn’t. On the list includes: Meditation, less screen time, less social media time, earlier nights, more quiet, solo time, less multitasking, less eating out (for health and budget reasons) smaller portions, simpler food and stronger boundaries with other peoples drama.

Have you ever had an experience like this? An illness that maybe opened up the space for you to reflect on what lead you there? Some insightful observations? I’d love to hear your thought

17/01/2019

I love this quote by ❤️ We all experience defeats and it’s easy to become disheartened. But there IS a difference between experiencing defeat and feeling defeated and they don’t have to be one and the same. We need to try, experiment, grow, play, have crazy ideas, push our boundaries, exit the comfort zone and sometimes, do something totally different just for the hell of it. Defeat and failure are not negative, they are positive signs that we’re living and learning. 💫

16/01/2019

Want to up your Instagram game?? Get back to basics!! Competition is fierce and you need to maximize all your marketing avenues. Before you waste money on paid advertising on social media - get back to basics!! Have you got a cohesive brand identity that shows off your brand in its best light? Do you have a checklist for compiling a great post (hint it includes an eye catching image, correct use of hashtags, a clear call to action and a caption that invites engagement.) Do you have a content plan and an editorial calendar or are you just winging it as and when you feel like it? These are just a few of the basics you need to get right before even thinking of advertising campaigns!! S H I N E offers one on one coaching sessions (you get to focus exclusively on your biz and we brainstorm ideas together) or bring a bestie or attend a small workshop (online training courses are in the pipeline - watch this space!) If 2019 is the year YOU need to present the best version of your biz to the world, pop me a mail to book your coaching session! ❤️

16/01/2019

I love this blog post from fellow designer Function Creative Co. She really explains what goes into creating a design and why no, we can't charge a fiver. If you're a potentiol or current design client, please read!!!
ps I love supporting fellow designers!

We get it. A lot of people think design is expensive. And now we’re breaking down exactly what goes into a good design process and why that expense is something absolutely worthwhile when it comes to the success of your business.

15/01/2019

My latest project was a joy to work on ❤️ S H I N E created a brand visual identity and these gorgeous cards for a beautiful, soulful project for ❤️ It’s not launched yet but I’m so in love with the concept I as to share a sneak peak here

14/01/2019

Welcome to the weekly S H I N E biz tip! ❤️ Every Monday I’d like to post a valuable biz tip for you that will help YOU take the next step! Please share below what you’re struggling with and I’ll do my best to help you ❤️ Have a shiny week

13/01/2019

What’s holding you back?? I thought a lot about my biz and why I often feel stuck or like I’m going around in circles ( ) I brainstorm, write in my notebook, listen to podcasts, watch videos, read blog posts and talk to friends and family, yet I’m not really moving forward at the pace I’d like to. Why? Well I think it all comes down to taking the next step. Every body’s next step is different. It may be getting a professional brand identity, a website, a photo shoot, a social media strategy, a newsletter, signing up for a course, attending a workshop. It may be small like writing your first blog post or big like quitting your job, but it’s the next thing you really need to do to move forward. And that’s another key word... DO! You need to take that next step not just talk about it!! Next time you think about your biz, identify the next step YOU need to take and do it! Action has its own magic.. it’s not a million things you jump between and it’s not overwhelm. It’s simply TAKING the next step.. and that will lead to the next and the next... What’s the next step you need to take and what do you think is holding you back?

11/01/2019

Happy 2019 from S H I N E! This is my first post for 2019 because I’ve been taking time to think about my biz and how I want to communicate on social media. There are an overwhelming amount of “New Year, New You!” Posts and my heart just wasn’t in to adding to them. I don’t think you need to be a “new you.” I think you’re pretty damn amazing just as you are ❤️ S H I N E was created to help you present the best version of your ideas to the world and essentially help you to move from dreaming to doing. After reflecting on this, I had a light bulb moment!! My goal and the goal of S H I N E and showing up here, is all about “The Next Step.” Every one of us has that next step we need to take in our lives, and most of us could do with some support, motivation, guidance and yes, a little help. That’s the essence of S H I N E and what I’ll be focusing on this year. Helping you to take the next step in your life so that you can shine like the star that you are. Much love, Sam ❤️

24/09/2018

I’m in Vietnam for 6 weeks and have been immersing myself in its culture and beauty. Traveling for me and taking some distance from the familiar, the routine, the comfort zone, the predictability and sometimes a stuck, uninspired space is like taking lung fulls of fresh air. It gives me perspective, makes me question ‘the norm’ and pushes me to think about what my best life looks like... Have you travelled to a particular place that was life changing for you or simply made you look at life a little differently?