Hey everyone,

Welcome to our Female Figures Blog for October! Can you believe we’re already in the last quarter of 2024? Time flies, but as we kick off Q4, I’m excited to bring you some inspiration from a woman who’s literally turned her dreams into reality. From stay-at-home mum to styling parties for the likes of Rebecca Judd, her story is a true testament to the power of vision boarding, manifestation, and putting in the work. 

She's also someone who has truly become an integral part of the Growme family— It's none other than our business bestie,  the incredibly talented interior stylist, Tanja Mitrov! If you’ve ever admired the dreamy, whimsical touch on our website and Instagram feed, you’ve already seen her magic at work. 

Tanja has this amazing ability to take a vision and transform it into beautifully styled images, all while adding her signature feminine and playful flair. I feel so lucky that our paths crossed in the most serendipitous way—through a mutual love for the gorgeous store, Norsu Interiors. We've been collaborating ever since!

Not only is Tanja a phenomenal product stylist to clients like Hide + Seek Kids, Lenzo, Blonde Noir and yours truly - Growme Melbourne.  She’s also the founder of fabulous kids' party business, Confetti Carnival. Her eye for detail and knack for creating joy-filled spaces has caught the eye of celebrities like Rebecca Judd, Jessie Roberts and Nat Wheeler to name a few. She's also a mum to 2 beautiful girls Sienna and Harper, who sometimes model in her styled images too. We ask Tanja how did she do it? Starting a business while balancing mum life and catching the attention of her dream clients? Our chat below! 

1. Tell us about yourself, and how did you come into business?

Tanja: My name is Tanja, and I’m the founder of Confetti Carnival, Interior Stylist and mum of two wonderful girls living in Melbourne.  After having my second baby and spending time as a stay-at-home mum, I realised I wanted something more—something that would allow me to stay home with my kids while also channeling my creativity. That’s when Confetti Carnival was born. I started up a slumber party hire business to combine my love for creativity with the flexibility I needed as a mum, and it’s been an amazing journey ever since and grown into so much more!

 2. How are you finding your Moodyboard, and how has it helped you with work or vision boarding? 

Tanja: My Moodyboard has become an essential part of my creative process and day-to-day organisation. It’s aesthetically pleasing, which keeps me inspired, and I love pinning up ribbons, cards, small touches that spark joy as I prepare for events. And photos of my girls, who are my daily source of inspiration.  It also doubles as a whiteboard, where I can jot down bookings and ideas. One of the best parts is that when I host parties, it transforms into a Polaroid station and a Welcome Sign!! 

"My Moodyboard has become an essential part of my creative process and day-to-day organisation. It’s aesthetically pleasing, which keeps me inspired, and I love pinning up small touches that spark joy as I prepare for events."

3. There’s no such thing as a typical workday for business owners, but could you take us through a typical day in your life? 

Tanja: A day in my life as the owner of Confetti Carnival is always different, but my week follows a bit of a rhythm. Mondays are my ‘touch-base’ days, where I connect with clients for the upcoming weekend, finalise details, send invoices, and update the website. Sometimes, I also collect hired items. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I focus on ordering the stock I’ll need. By Thursday and Friday, I’m deep into prep mode—blowing up balloons, creating garlands, and personalising details like ribbons or eye masks. Fridays, Saturdays, and even Sundays are often spent out and about, setting up events and making sure everything is perfect.

4. As a mum, what challenges do you face while running your business, and what do you do to overcome those challenges?

Tanja: As a mum running my business, the main challenge I face is having to step out on weekends to set up events. However, I’ve found ways to balance it all. Sometimes if there is room one of them will come along with me and help and then we make a day of it.  Most of my work is done during school hours, which allows me to focus without interruption. When my kids are home, they love to help out, whether it's blowing up balloons or just playing nearby while I work on personalised items. I’ve set up my workspace to be kid-friendly, so they can hang out with me, and sometimes they even ask me to make little things for their dolls while I’m working. It’s all about finding the balance and involving them when I can!  They love what I do.

Tanja makes fun activities for kids parties as well like this DIY slime kit - available on her store at Confetti Carnival. 

"I’ve set up my workspace to be kid-friendly, so they can hang out with me, It’s all about finding the balance and involving them when I can!  They love what I do."

Tanja's gorgeous girls Harper and Sienna are a source of inspiration for her work. The girls have their own Blush Moodyboard in their room, beautifully styled in their room with all their favourite things. 

5. Your clientele for Confetti Carnival is impressive! How do you get access to these celebrity clients and what tips do you have for others who would love to do the same? 

6. When you look back at your journey, what are the key learnings you’ve learnt along the way? What advice would you give your younger self who was just starting out....?