Have You Missed Me?

You may have noticed I've been on a little blogging break, well I'm back there is no need to worry. The break started because we were struck by lighting which trip the fuses and blew up the modem!! Of all the things to go!


So I had to take a break from the internet, which to start with was really hard not being able to nip on and have a look at things but after a week I didn't miss it, so when we go the internet back I decided to extend my break as OH had a week off from work.


Its been nice to step back and re-evaluate my blogs and how much time I spend online. I've realised that even though I set myself a rule that I won't go on while BG was awake unless OH was home with her, I found myself sneaking on to answer emails or writing posts, I'm now going to be super strict with myself, I've realised that the time I spend with BG is precious to me and she's growing up so quickly, I'm taking my own advice live first and blog last.

The Gallery - Can You See What It Is Yet?

This weeks Gallery  prompt is Can You See What It Is Yet? 

So can you?

How about now?

Does this help?

Surely you've got it now, no?

Oh well come back Friday and I'll show you

Don't forget to check out on the other entries on Wednesday 

NM X 

Together Again

On Sunday for the first time in years I got to spend the day with both my sisters and brother, I can't remember the last time all four of us where together.

We got together for a very important occasion, my nieces 1st Birthday. For those of you that follow me on twitter you may have seen that my niece had been ill and spent her birthday in hospital so it was an extra special day for us.  

My sister D arranged a birthday BBQ and we had a great day for it. My niece B was spoilt rotten as it should be and BG also got presents from my sister V so she didn't feel left out. 

We ate, drank, laughed, played and cried (tears of laughter). Pictures where taken, poses where made and kisses shared, it was the perfect day.

BG who isn't normally bothered with other children, dotes on B and is very happy to give kisses and cuddles. 

  

The men where left in charge of the BBQ, I don't know what it is about men and fire but at one point all four men where around the very small BBQ staring into the flames.

I loved spending the day with them all, but it makes me sad that I don't get to see them all very often, I treasure the small moments we get. Hopefully it won't be so long this time before we all get together.

I leave you with this song, it brings back so many memories of when we where younger. My sister V had this single and played it so much that my sister D who was about 5 at the time knew all the lyrics and could sing them even without the music on, it was so cute. We would get her to sing them to our friends!

So I give you Wonderwall by Oasis 

NM X

The Soundtrack To My Week - Christmas In July

I've been riding on the Cybermummy high all week and have loved talking to all my new friends. I've still go to read all the posts people have written and catch up with the live blogging that went on that day.


I've been gallivanting again this week yesterday I was at the John Lewis Christmas show and I will tell you all about it soon on New Mummy's Tips. 


But to honour all the Christmas shows going on this week I give you.......


Christmas in July by Toni & The Tomcats 




NM X

My Cybermummy Experience

Unless you have been living under a rock you know that it was the Cybermummy Conference this past Saturday, and what a conference it was. It was something I had been looking forward to for a long time and to be honest it has past in a bit of a blur.


The day started quite early for me like most of the women attending, I had a lovely journey down with Carly and meet Karin at Kings Cross. While heading for the tube I was accosted by a woman who grabbed by arm and said “are you Carol?” “I recognised you hair from your blog” it turned out to be the lovely Becky someone I had been talking to for ages through twitter, blogs and emails , this set the tone for the rest of the day and it was a good one.


We all headed off together and meet more bloggers along the way, we all walked down from Earls Court tube station together (once we got the right exit), I was walking near the front of the group and was amazed to see so many women walking together, it was a joy to see. Thank you Hannah for arranging the walk.


As soon as we got into the hotel you could feel the atmosphere, there were hugs, tears and nerves all mingling together and to be honest it felt good. The rest of the day was a blur I meet wonderful women, missed just as many. Listened to inspirational women speaking, faced my fear and spoke in front of them, laughed, cried, ate cupcakes, drank wine and did a pub quiz.

The talks was interesting, at times I felt disappointment as I thought to myself I know that, but on the journey home I looked at in a more positive way at least I’m on the right track, I doing it right.


I wish I could tell you every single thing that happened but I can’t, one I don’t remember and two it would be a very long post.


What I can tell you is what Cybermummy has done for me-

• It’s giving me confidence in what I write
• It has made me realise I need to refocus some aspects of my blogs.
• It’s given me hope that we can all get on if we are in a room together.
• It allowed me to meet the people I admire the most.
• I learnt that Linda Jones is exactly how you envision her to be, she managed to kiss me, compliment me and insult me in the first 3 minutes I meet her.
• It made me proud to be a woman/mummy blogger

I’ve already started a fund for next year!


It seems that all the love we generated at Cybermummy as disappeared overnight due to a new parenting league table being announced and Julys Tots 100 going up.


So here is some advice (feel free to ignore it most people do)

• Celebrate or commiserate then move on, stop going on about it 
• Don’t make people feel bad for making or not making a list
• Stop worrying about them, being on a list doesn’t make you a good blogger, you do.
• Write for yourself and no one else, people will know if you are writing to get comments so you can move up on said list.
• Remember why you started blogging in the first place
• If you don’t love it anymore, don’t do it
• Live first, blog last

So in honour of the fabulous Cybermummy conference I leave you with this song, I hope it helps empower you.

The Soundtrack To My Week

This week has been completely emotional for so many reasons and I'm feeling a little drained.


I'm not going to ramble on today and I'm just going to share this song with you.


Its by one of my favourite female artists and is about her battle with cancer, and its just so right for this week and the Race For Life I did this week, so here it is.....


Melissa Etheridge, I Run for Life... 

Crowdsourced Keynote Speaker At Cybermummy

On Saturday I will be attending the Cybermummy conference, something I have been looking forward to for a long time. I was really lucky that my ticket and hotel was my birthday present from my dad.


I'm looking forward to meeting as many bloggers as I can and learning about how to make my self a better blogger.


On Tuesday I received an email telling me that I had been chosen to read one of my posts at Cybermummy!!! I am so excited and terrified at the same time.


Its a complete honour to be asked, I'm very proud that my post was deemed good enough to be read out. So from 3.30 till 5pm on Saturday I and a host of other fantastic bloggers will be reading our post out, I just hope I don't faint!! 

NM X