What a Weekend...

How on earth do I begin to summarise the wonderful whirlwind that was Britmums Live 2014? A fantastic weekend conference of networking, learning, growing and reflecting. Blogging has become such a precious hobby to me, and it was wonderful to mix up with likeminded people and grapple through creative, technical and collaborational ideas.

So here were my top five highlights!

1. Meeting wonderful bloggers...
So I know it's kind of a weird thing to say you have "friends" on the web... But when you get to know other mummy bloggers, you kind of have this weird understanding between you; you know pretty much all about each others lives, have lots of conversations through social media, share the joys and the woes of parenting, "get" the whole blogging thing... and so meeting face to face is just about the coolest thing ever. I got to catch up with some genuinely lovely bloggers who I met at Christmas, got to know some new friends, and met some of my blogging "heroines" and discovered they are totally normal, down to earth girls who love a good chat and a cuppa.

Chilling over lunch in the courtyard

The lovely Jess who was my travel buddy!

2. Getting back to creative basics
The gorgeous Lucy from Capture by Lucy did a brilliant workshop on blog design, and I was really challenged to get back to basics, strip everything back and remember what my blog is all about... Five words that I want people to feel when they get to my space; I want this blog to feel creative, colourful, faith-filled, homey and welcoming... That's my aim! Better get to work...

3. Seeing the potential of my blog as an agent of change...

I was honoured to meet Hayley Goleniowska who blogs at Downsideup... Hayley's daughter Natty has Downs Syndrome, and Hayley has fought tooth and nail to help others personally, and nationally, to overcome some of the misunderstandings and misconceptions surrounding Downs Syndrome... She has been an incredible agent of change and it was so inspiring to hear her story. Our blogs are a platform to raise our voices and talk about what matters and, as Emma Freud reminded us in her usual witty way, to postitively counteract the negative trash that the tabloids are filling our nation with.

Hayley and her daughter Mia have just published a book to support Downs Syndrome families.

You can buy it here. It is fabulous!

4. Getting my head round tricky technicalities...

There are two main challenges to blogging; the creative, and the technical... And instinctively I lean to the creative side. I love the challenge of writing something new every day, of finding some little moment, or a thought, or an observation to write about... But the technical side? That's not my thing...  The prospect of creating a blog badge, or using Google+, or adding plug-ins ("what??!" I hear you say... Yup... I feel the same!) fills me with dread, so the weekend was a wonderful opportunity to get my head around the more technical side of blogging.

5. The goodies!

And of course, then there's the goody bag... With so many great sponsors, you knew it was going to be good (yes, that is a Joules bag in the background... gasp! I landed myself a lovely Joules scarf!) and so I came home laden with goodies for myself, and sweeties, books and a bucket and spade filled with all sorts of sand toys for the girls...

They were happy bunnies.

And I'll be honest, so am I.

A fabulous weekend. I have learnt so much, met so many lovely people and feel truly grateful to have become a part of this wonderful blogging community. It really is special, and I could never have foreseen, when I wrote my first post 7 years ago, the journey that it would take me on.

Of course, I have to give a shout-out to my fab hubby and lovely parents who looked after the girlies so their Mama could head to the city! You are all superstars.

So there you have it... You'll have to watch this space... You may see some changes to come (or can you spot any already??!)