The Tale Of Rebecca Judd

When we descend on the Judd household for this shoot, it’’s early in the morning and the family is seated around a chic black dining room table in their Brighton home eating scrambled eggs on toast. Some celebrities might be self conscious without makeup on, but Rebecca Judd jumps up to greet us, looking completely relaxed. In person, she’’s warm, open and instantly likeable (which is why we’re so thrilled to have her on The Grace Tales for the second time). Tell her she’’s glamorous and you discover she’’s modest too: “”You caught me on a good day with professional hair and makeup. I don’t wake up like that,” she says.

The mother, model, television presenter, speech pathologist and founder of blog Rebecca Judd Loves (RJL) has arguably one of the industry’’s busiest schedules. ““I’’ve had more opportunities and so many new business ideas since becoming a mother, plus the confidence to carry them out. It has been a very big career change. I started RJL after Oscar was born, joined the 9 News team as the weather presenter, became a co-founder of Beauty EDU plus many more partnerships,”” she says.

Judd describes herself as: determined, ambitious and a perfectionist. ““It’’s to my detriment some times,”” she says. ““I take on too much work and then throw myself at it 110%. I’’m currently working seven days a week, which is unsustainable so it’’s something I need to reassess and manage better. I need to start saying no. On the flipside, I love what I do and I have so many incredible opportunities at the moment, which I don’’t want to pass me by. Ah, the ultimate work-life-motherhood juggle. Umm, help?””. We spent the morning with the stylish Melbourne mother to Oscar, 3, and Billie, 1, in their spectacular home……

Billie wears Polo Ralph Lauren dress, $79, available at David Jones. Cot and change table by Leander. Pom poms from Poppies For Grace. Artwork by Sara Winfield.

“Motherhood has taught me that there is so much more to life than getting caught up in work, mistakes, trivial relationships, regrets……
Children are precious and definitely give you a whole new perspective on life, about just how lucky we are to be here. Don’’t sweat the small stuff. Since becoming a mother, I’’m busier for sure but also more patient. I see my role as the ultimate educator and nurturer.

Always set aside family time as an entire family unit……
My husband and I both work full time, so it’’s important that we book in time as a group and holidays, which we can look forward to. We’’ll do date night once a week whether it’’s just the two of us or we meet with another couple.

I did a lot of Pilates when I was pregnant with both of my children……
Now I never have any time to do long work outs, so I’ll do Pilates once or twice a week at home (we have a reformer), a HIIT 4 minute Tabata work out on my spin bike (yes, only 4 minutes – how lazy is that?!), or I’ll run once a week. My run is more akin to the slowest jog you’’ve ever seen and I get very bored so I’’ll usually only run two kms (tops!). Oh well, at least I make an effort (sort of).

Oscar wears Polo Ralph Lauren polo top, $89, and seersucker shorts, $99, available at David Jones. Heatherly Designs bed. Wire letters from Down to the Woods. Indian headdress from True Love Styles. Artwork from Crate Expectations.

Billie wears Polo Ralph Lauren dress, $79, available at David Jones. Rug from Fenton & Fenton. 

Oscar wears Polo Ralph Lauren top, $89, and seersucker shorts, $99. Billie wears Polo Ralph Lauren dress, $79. All available at David Jones. 

I definitely take more care of my skin now that I’’ve hit 30……
I use serums – Vitamin A, B and C – and I exfoliate like mad with a new scrub I’’m developing. I never put nasty chemicals onto my skin and moisturise with organic beauty grade coconut oil – so pure and good enough to eat! In terms of makeup, it depends on the day. If I’’m working from home and my only outing for the day is to the shops or school pick up/drop off then I’’ll ALWAYS conceal my under eye bags and fill in my eyebrows. That is all.”

My children’’s bedrooms feature monochromatic colour palettes as a base……
In dark timber floors and white walls and then I inject pops of colour in furnishings, which are easily interchangeable and cost effective. I have recently designed a bedding range with Adairs, which will launch very soon. The base colours of the range are black, white and grey and then the girls set features pops of neon pink and the boys, mint and blue. It’’s contemporary and fun and a design, which will keep both the kids and the parents’ happy.

Oscar wears Polo Ralph Lauren top, $89, and seersucker shorts, $99. Billie wears Polo Ralph Lauren dress, $79. Rebecca wears Polo Ralph Lauren dress, $1149. All available at David Jones.

Billie wears Polo Ralph Lauren dress, $79. Rebecca wears Polo Ralph Lauren dress, $1149. All available at David Jones.

When it comes to kids, I love routines……
I believe this is why I’.ve always had good sleepers (Oscar slept through at 11 weeks and Billie from 6 weeks). I always managed the day feeds and sleeps very strictly to ensure they were so well fed (nice full tummies) and not over slept, that by bed time at 7pm they wouldn’t wake overnight from hunger or because they’d had too much sleep during the day. I worked with infant sleep specialists and maternal and child health nurses on their routines and they were perfect.

I do not deal with sleep deprivation at all……
Hence why I enlisted the help of an infant sleep specialist. The first couple of months with Oscar were pretty hairy, but I.’m lucky in that my children slept through from an early age so you will hear no more complaints from me. I’’ve had friends and family members with bad sleepers and I do not know how they do it. I think I’’d have a nervous breakdown!

I go pretty hardcore at the old Google calendar……
I also have a nanny a couple of days a week and terrific family support. As I mentioned earlier, I always schedule in family time and lots of mini holidays. For example, I’m doing a four day trip to the snow next month and then off to Noosa for a quick break the week after.

Billie wears Polo Ralph Lauren dress, $139. Rebecca wears Polo Ralph Lauren dress, $849. All available at David Jones. 

 Oscar wears Polo Ralph Lauren polo top, $59, and chino short, $79. Billie wears Polo Ralph Lauren dress, $139. Rebecca wears Polo Ralph Lauren dress, $849, and shoes. All available at David Jones. Artwork by Miranda Skoczek.


Oscar wears Polo Ralph Lauren polo top, $59, and chino shorts, $79. Rebecca wears Polo Ralph Lauren dress, $849, and shoes. All available at David Jones. Artwork by Miranda Skoczek.

I feel balanced when I’m at home with my family……
When I’.m staying away from home for work (usually interstate) I feel very unbalanced and not myself. I guess it is that mother’s pull to her babes. Thankfully, I’m not away from home too often. I also hate having night events on during the week, so I rarely venture out after dark Monday to Friday. I’’d much rather be on the couch drinking peppermint tea and eating chocolate in front of the fire.


Rebecca wears Polo Ralph Lauren lace top, $559, silk skirt, $299, and shoes. Oscar wears Polo Ralph Lauren cotton shirt, $69, and chino shorts, $79. All available at David Jones. 

Rebecca wears Polo Ralph Lauren lace top, $559, silk skirt, $299, and shoes. Oscar wears Polo Ralph Lauren cotton shirt, $69, and chino shorts, $79. Billie wears Polo Ralph Lauren dress, $89. All available at David Jones. 

I live in……
Skinny jeans or leather pants, a Skin and Threads tee, pointed leather flats, a statement blazer and my HUGE Goyard handbag which doubles as a nappy bag, toy bag, lunch box etc. I never wear heels anymore unless it’’s for work or a function. They are so uncomfortable and give me the sorest back and hips. I never used to wear tees and now I live in them. And of course I never wear any short dresses or skirts (not good for bending down to little ones) or anything strapless (unless you want your boobs flashed to the world as soon as you pick your child up!)

The hardest part is definitely feeling guilty every time I go to work (which is a lot)……
I want to be with them all the time, but I need to work as well so the constant mothers guilt gnaws at me. The best thing is just seeing them grow and teaching them to become kind, caring, sensible human beings.

I love bedtime……
Mornings are great too. I love waking up and having a coffee on the couch while the rug rats run around.”

Rebecca wears Polo Ralph Lauren knit dress, $449, and shoes. Oscar wears Polo Ralph Lauren polo top, $89, and chino shorts, $79. All available at David Jones. 

Quick questions:
Your signature scent: Chloe
Your favourite movie: Labyrinth when I was a child, The Craft when I was a teenager and Crash as an adult.
Coffee or tea: A strong latte.
Favourite children’s book: Too many! Harry Potter series, Paul Jennings, anything by Enid Blyton or Roald Dahl.
Favourite food: Chocolate
Sunday morning spot: The Pantry cafe in Brighton with my family eating their quinoa and brown rice porridge washed down with a strong latte.

Rebecca’s little list of loves:
My family.
Our new vertical gardens at home.
Morning coffee.
Jagged compression tights.
The Skincare Company serums.
Billie’s macho attitude.
Coconut balm.
My new bedding range from Adairs.
Skiing at Falls Creek – freedom with my hubby who’s now retired from AFL and doesn’t have to play injured any more.

Rebecca wears Polo Ralph Lauren blazer, $849, T-shirt, $49, shorts, $299, and gold Tiffin handbag, $2499. Oscar wears Polo Ralph Lauren polo top, $89, and chino shorts, $79. All available at David Jones. 

Photography: Julie Adams Words and styling: Georgie Abay Hair: Marie Uva Makeup: Chantelle Baker. In association with Polo Ralph Lauren.