Britmums Live The Highlights

OK, it’s fair to say that I have banged on about it a fair bit “Britmums Live” and why I was pretty dam excited to be attending.

Enough already I hear you scream.

But it’s done now! I attended and got high on the natural buzz of everything blogging, So… I guess it would be just plain rude of me if I didn’t tell you how it went!

Two entire days of workshops, inspiring talks, healthy debates, mingling, tea and a generous servings of cake (not forgetting the odd glass of wine and an awards party) is a lot to get through! So… As not to overload you, I’ll break this down into more manageable portions as to provide you with the highlights.

So here are my top 20… Enjoy!

Friday…

1) Arriving at 4.30 pm midway through a tea break. A cup of coffee and a slice of moist cake was just what this girl needed after the commute (god I loath the underground, though don’t tell the transport obsessed son I just said that)!

2) My first workshop of the weekend “The bloggers studio: The path to getting published, with bloggers who have done it” Having already started writing a book (see last post) this for me was need to know information. All speakers provided us listeners with some fantastic advice, especially “Emily Carlise” (More than just a mum) which meant that I left smiling.

3) I found that this year there was a much larger network of parent bloggers who’s main focus was on that of SEN, Autism, Aspergers and Disability. This meant that I finally got to meet some of the bloggers behind some of my favourite blogs. Tania from Special Needs Jungle has been a lady I’ve wanted to meet for some time. Finally getting to have a good old chin wag over a couple of glasses of wine was brilliant (Yes, we talked about everything from SEN provision to our boys unique and wonderful little ways).

4) The BIB Awards ceremony, Oh yes, did I forget to mention that an awards bash was merging into the agenda? OK, forget I did not but who can blame me, especially when this very blog was a finalist in the category Inspire! Ok, sadly I didn’t claim the title, but at least I lost out to the lovely talented “Mummy Whisper” Seriously it is impossible to hold any kind of blogger resentment, Lisa is just to bloody nice!

5) The fact that Special Needs Jungle did it for us SEN parents by bagging the Change Award! My fellow SEN blogger, activist, Aspergers Mum and now drinking buddy Tania was a little shocked by winning but still stepped on the stage and shared an important message with the 500+ bloggers, “Please do something to help looked after children in care as many of these children are not lucky to have dedicated parents” Please read and share her latest post.

6) The waiters at the BIBs party… I say no more!

7) The after party drinks with some lovely bloggers.

Saturday…

8) Sarah Brown (wife to ex PM Gordon Brown and founder/president of Piggy Bank Kids) opening key note “Finding your Voice”

9) The Discussions Den, “Blogging for the greater good” A real inspiring discussion hosted by the lovely Kate (Kate on thin ice). Other speakers included Camila Batmanghelidjh (Kids Company) the inspiring Polly Gowers, (Give as you live) Claire from One and one of my favourite bloggers fellow finalist in both the Mads and the BIBs “Kylie Hodges” writer of the blog “Not even a bag of sugar” All gave some fantastic tips and advice on blogging for the greater good. This was by far one of my favourite discussions at Britmums Live.

10) The “Getting the most out of Google +” workshop as this meant that I now understand a little better on how to actually use it.

11) My one 2 one style consultancy with TK Maxx personal stylist “Claire” her suggestions surrounded me with doubt. However she knew her stuff and I left wanting to buy myself some peg trousers.

12) More Cake!

13) How great it was to never find myself stood awkwardly in a corner like a loner! Seriously, there was more than enough lovely bloggers to chat and mingle with.

14) Having a manicure at the Crocs stand! My nails looked lovely (keep an eye out for my lightweight crocs wellie review in August).

15) The display of fireworks right outside my hotel window.

16) The talk by Cherry Healey… What a legend! A brilliant talk on how to combine social media, press and tv to help promote your blog and of course having the time to do so.

17) Acting like a bit of a tit in the Orlando photo booth.

18) Chilling out at the Butlins stand with Laura (Tired mummy of two) it was lovely to catch up.

19) Getting to chat with some lovely bloggers and brands during the breaks including Romanian mum and Mum of three boys.

20) Lastly the amazing bloggers keynote. I cried and laughed out loud. I can’t recommend the following post enough!
Doing it all for Aleyna: Survivor
Down Side up: What to say when a baby is born with Down Syndrome
Dorky Mum: Twitter is like
Ministry of Mum: Seven days of special love

Lastly I would like to thank the people at Orchard Toys for sponsoring my attendance. Of you haven’t checked them out then please do.

Do you fancy sponsoring an award winning blogger to attend BritMums Live 2012

Fancy sponsoring an award winning blog
to attend the parent blogging event of the year?

As an avid parenting blogger of 3 years, who is passionate about her blog, I like to attend the big name conferences in order to gain tips and inspiration on all aspects of blogging and the world of social media.

That’s why in June 2012 I hope to attend the biggest of them all “Britmums live”

This two-day conference is solely dedicated to the British parenting blogger & its audience and will attract some 500 attendees. Britmums live is run by the UK’s largest parent blogging network of more than 3,000 influential and engaged bloggers and is set to make a massive impression on the blogosphere.

What with some fantastic top name bloggers all set to attend and some high-profile speakers, such as Sarah brown and Ruby wax its the ideal time to connect with bloggers.

So… If you’re a brand looking for a way to get noticed, sponsoring an influential, well established blogger who knows how to network could be the way forward.

Having been sponsored to attend events such as Cybermummy 2011 (sponsor, Londontown.com) and the Mad blog awards 2011 (sponsor, OptiBac Probiotic’s) which I was chuffed to have won the Mad blog awards most inspiring blogger of 2011, I can promise that your brand would be very well represented.

If you are looking for a parent/mummy blogger who has a good reputation with some big name brands (Argos, Sainsbury’s & Micro scooter just to name a few) with the addition of an influential reach within both the parenting and special needs communities, then I just might be your blogger!

WHAT CAN I OFFER IN EXCHANGE FOR SPONSORSHIP?

• ▪ A professional blogger/brand relationship with all terms of the agreed sponsorship fulfilled within the agreed time scales.
• ▪ I will only acquire the one sponsorship meaning it will be only your brand/company I represent
• ▪ I can wear branded clothing with your brand/company logo (t-shirts, badges etc…) on the day of the conference
• ▪ Your brand will be mentioned in conjunction with all my post relating to the Britmums live 2012 event here on the blog. Post will then be blasted out to some 2,2oo twitter followers and over 5,000 Facebookers (as well as a number of other parenting and blogger networks)
• ▪ Tweets & RT about your brand and any promotions competition’s you may currently be running
• ▪ A full length detailed introductory post introducing you as my Brit Mum’s Live sponsor 2012
• ▪ I would be happy to review and share my opinions on any of your products here on the blog (happy to discuss any request for video reviews of the brands product)
• ▪ Would be happy to run any relevant competition’s for my sponsor here on the blog
• ▪ Brand Logo with attached link to your website featured in my blogs sidebar for the period of one year, with an additional mention in the brands we work with listing (remains on the blog indefinitely)
• Mentioned as my sponsor on my business cards which will be handed out by myself at the event
• An article or guest post on your blog/website (topics can be discussed prior to sponsorship agreement being made)
• Mentions and reviews on my sister blog which launched this month and already proving a success.

I am also open to discussion on any request you may wish to make as to form a sponsorship that is tailored to suit us both. 

WHAT WOULD I REQUIRE FROM YOU AND YOUR BRAND?

• ▪ Cost of conference ticket which currently stands at £49.99 + £2 booking fee, although this is an introductory price that may slightly rise dependent on how soon ticket is purchased before the event
• ▪ One nights hotel accommodation following the first day’s conference (remember this is a two-day event) No more than £150.00 (maybe less depends on prices at time of booking

I think that’s a pretty awesome deal and a great opportunity for some great exposure at a low-cost.

If your interested in becoming the sponsor of an award-winning blog, then don’t hesitate to contact me and I’ll be happy to send you my media kit containing all that need to know information such as states, reach, testimonials, Wikio/ebuzzing klout scores, blogging achievements and more.

Please feel free to email any questions you may have and I’ll be sure to answer them the best I can.

Email Claire Louise at: abwapage@yahoo.com or find me on twitter as @clairelouise82

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Why I won’t be sharing my new years resolutions with you!

It’s the 28th December 2011 & in just a few short days we will be at the start of a brand new year!

 Now I’m not about to share all my New Years resolutions  (not that I don’t have any)! Why? Because if there is one thing I’ve learnt over the years, it’s that life is full of unexpected twists and turns, especially when you are a parent of three children, one on the autism spectrum. Do I set myself goals that are hard to achieve? Yes, I properly do, don’t we all? In all honesty, I’d rather kick my own arse privately if I happen to fail on one two of those resolutions.

 I hate reading articles that proceed to tell you what you should be doing! They run off a long list of suggested resolutions one may wish to make. It’s my opinion that new years resolutions don’t spring out from a two page spread, but instead from the gut of the person making them! Resolutions are personal goals you set yourself, which haven’t been decided on lightly, you have to really want to succeed at achieving them, they hold great meaning and would provide the setter great satisfaction if achieved.

 Sadly every single article I’ve read on the subject, whether this is a blog post, parenting website or big name magazine, they all suggest the same old thing! Look at and change the way you eat, quit smoking, lead a healthier lifestyle… Blah- Blah-Bloody-Blah…

 I’m not by no means stating that I’m not going to be working that bit harder to fit comfortably in my skinnies, I’m just stating that surly it’s not always about this, it often stems that little bit deeper than this! Loving yourself that little bit more and gaining confidence should always be the first step.

 Though I have indeed decided to keep my resolutions to oneself (call me a chicken, I don’t care)! I have however decided to share some of my blogging goals for the year of 2012, so if failed we can all laugh together as to be honest failures sometimes make us more eager to succeed and the next time we try, we do it that bit better!

So… here’s a few of those 2012 blogging goals

Relax and enjoy it that bit more, worry less about stats and positions on whatever listings (Top this or Top that) as like many I am a little guilty of doing this.

 Reach out and hopefully provide some hope and support for more families on the autism spectrum, more than I’m already reaching!

 Finish my SEN Know how page, it’s important to me to get this done, I set myself a goal to finish it with the end result being, a number of downloadable fact sheets covering a whole spectrum of subjects relating to special educational needs.

 Expand my love of photography, hopefully expressing myself a bit more through pictures as well as words.

 Create a set of social stories that will be available via the blog.

 Launch my sister blog, which I’ve been working on yet remains unpublished.

 I’ve already done a few video reviews, though I want to expand on this and really get into “Vlogging”

 My biggest goal… Use the power of social media and blogging to help charities such as the NAS! I have a fabulous and fun idea in the pipe line that I can’t wait to get out there! I really do hope that the support of fellow mummy bloggers and some fantastic contacts I’ve made over the past 3 years I’ve been blogging can help make this one a reality.

Related articles

• Girls on the Spectrum: Q&A with the Author of Aspergirls (healthland.time.com)
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