Blog Camp

I made it to Blog Camp last Saturday in a haze of painkillers.

Did I learn anything? Well, my notes include the phrases quirky cats and social signals, so on first glance the answer appears to be no.

Luckily plenty of other bloggers have written about what was discussed at each workshop - all the links are on the Tots100 blog.

I went to the first Blog Camp in London last year. The theme was how to become a more professional blogger. There were sessions on building your brand, SEO and design. I came away feeling pleased I finally understood SEO, but have I done anything with that knowledge? No. I decided I was happy pootling along with Baby Baby. I kept it ticking over, but it wasn't really going anywhere. That was fine, my free time is limited.

I initially got a ticket to Blog Camp Birmingham so I could catch up with my friends. There are too many to name here (and to be honest I can't be bothered to add in all the links). If we chatted or hugged or smiled at each other thinking I'm sure I know that face, then insert your name here - you know who you are. The atmosphere was relaxed and informal and there were plenty of coffee breaks.

What I have taken away this time is a renewed enthusiasm for blogging. I am inspired, not only by the sessions (although they were excellent for the most part), but by the discussions in between.

I have already tried snarking and found that I love it. I hammered away at my keyboard earlier this week ranting about The Voice. I expect I'll do it again. After all, The Apprentice is on tonight... As a snark target I do think it's too easy though. It would be like shooting fish in a barrel. I'm certainly going to get off the fence and not be afraid to voice my opinions. 

I have so many ideas buzzing around (in the gaps in my brain that the co-codamol can't reach). I don't have time to implement all of them now, but they'll keep. 

The best bit? Blog Camp was free and you had to look very hard to see a sponsor...

Blog Camp

Give up Clothes for Good

I wore these Carvela shoes on a hot date with my husband. It was in the early days of our relationship, before we were married.

During the day we had filled a skip with my late father's stuff. I looked towards the sky and said 'sorry, Dad' every time I lobbed something in. That evening we had booked into a nice hotel. We washed away the dust of the day and got ready to go out. I was wearing a black top and skirt, finished off with stockings and my pretty new £60 shoes. As I said, our relationship was still very new.

We strolled a short distance from the hotel to a lovely Thai restaurant. We had a fun, flirty evening. As we set off to walk back to the hotel my feet started to hurt. I suspect Andy thought I was making a fuss, but I insisted we got a taxi back to the hotel. Yes, it was embarrassing to take a taxi such a short distance, but my  toes were covered in blisters.

I can not begin to describe the relief when I took the sodding shoes off in the hotel reception. We then drank far too much red wine and gate-crashed a wedding reception. We managed to dance the night away, with me in my stocking feet.

The Carvela shoes were put back in their box and were never worn again.

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In April I will be taking my hardly worn shoes to my local TK Maxx store to be bagged and tagged and sent to Cancer Research to sell in one of their shops to raise money for childhood cancers. The Give Up Clothes For Good campaign is being supported by the Tots100 with a blogging carnival.

If you would like to join in please consider yourself tagged. Simply write a post about a much-loved item of quality clothing that you are willing to give up for charity. Include the links above and maybe embed this YouTube video too. Then email your post to me: sandy [at] tots100.co.uk.

Give up Clothes for Good

Tots100 Book Club: How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

I was at a party with Caitlin Moran once. I didn't get to speak to her as she was surrounded by people. Every now and again I'd catch a glimpse of leopardprint or big hair and smile to myself.

I remember her presenting 'Naked City' on Channel 4 in the nineties. I remember her raving about Jeff Buckley, so much so that I bought 'Grace' and played it on repeat for years. I don't follow many famous people on Twitter, but I follow @CaitlinMoran.  She's very very funny. Her Celebrity Watch column in the Times is genius, but I only get to read it when the pay wall is down.

We've established that I'm a bit of a fan of Ms Moran, so I was keen to read her book 'How to be a Woman'. It's part autobiography, part feminist essay. Don't let the latter put you off. If only all feminist essays were this accessible then perhaps the world would be a better place. I found myself agreeing with just about everything Moran writes.

This book is simply brilliant. It made me roar with laughter and with outrage. She tackles subjects as diverse as abortion, Katie Price, pubic hair, childbirth and £600 handbags. In fact her description of her two very different experiences of childbirth should be compulsory reading for women and men. She is brutally honest and completely inspirational.

I would like to recommend this wonderful book to Becky from Lakes Single Mum, as I know she will enjoy it. In fact I defy anyone not to devour this book and then declare themselves a STRIDENT FEMINIST!




The Tots100 Book Club is where bloggers share their favourite stories. Every month, the Tots100 invites 10 bloggers to tell us about stories that have moved and inspired them – and to share their favourite books with another blogger. Each month, we’ll be publishing a round-up of the Book Club’s recommendations over on the Tots100 site, meaning you need never be short of great reading inspiration again!

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Tots100 Book Club: How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

Why My Children Are Faceless

There are lots of photographs like this on Baby Baby.

I have explained why in a guest post over at the Tots100 today.


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Why My Children Are Faceless

The Secrets of My Blogging Success!

Tomorrow is my six month 'blogoversary'. My first post was only written on 14th May this year so I was shocked and delighted to find Baby Baby at number 5 in the Top 100 UK Parent blogs today. To paraphrase Norman Cook 'You've come a long way Baby Baby'!

A few people have asked me how this has happened so I thought I would share my secrets. Well, they're not secrets at all, but this is my blogging experience. (There is also an excellent post you can read over at Angels and Urchins that covers even more about how to start a blog).

I started on Twitter in February this year. One of my Twitter friends @Caroljs had started a blog New Mummy. I thought it was a lovely way for her to record her life as a new mother. This was the first blog I ever read. Thank you Carol x

In May I attended a session run by the Preston Writing Network, it was a Preston bloggers meetup. A journalism lecturer explained the technical 'how to' and I was able to chat with Ed from Preston Blog and the fabulous Jenn Ashworth about starting a blog. Before this I really didn't understand what a blogging was all about.

The best piece of advice I was given on that night was to become part of the blogging community.

In her wonderful explanation of the Top100 this month Sally writes:

"The blogs that really score highly in the index are those that are lively, thriving, interactive blogs written by bloggers who have thrown themselves headlong into the Mummy blogging community and feel passionately about what they do."

If you would like to know more about how the Top100 is put together, you can read all about it here.

When I started Baby Baby I set about finding the community. To do this I looked at Carol's blog and went through her Blog Roll (list of blogs she reads). I followed the blogs I liked and again looked through their blog rolls. I started leaving comments on other bloggers' posts. People were polite enough to visit my blog and either leave a comment or follow me back (or both).

I quickly realised that the mummy blogging community is a friendly and supportive place. It's a wonderful way to get advice, have a laugh or share someone's pain. I have cried with laughter. I have also sobbed my heart out reading some posts. If you're feeling down virtual hugs are a pretty good substitute for the real thing. People care.

I joined British Mummy Bloggers. It's a great forum. Here you will find plenty of blogs to read. Over time I have become involved in discussions and even started a couple.

Since joining BMB I have met some bloggers in real life. I email others and friendships are developing. I had no idea that this would happen.

I submit posts for carnivals. I occasionally write guest posts for other blogs. If someone has written a blog post that inspires me to write my own take on the subject I always credit them by linking back to their blogs.

I try to make my posts easy to read, although I sometimes struggle with Blogger - like today I can not get the font right over the whole post! I also try to keep my posts fairly short (she says, having written loads today)!

If I like a post I have read I will tweet about it, other bloggers do the same. The community is more supportive than competitive on Twitter.

So what do I write about? I started the blog thinking I would have a niche. I thought having two babies born within a year of each other would make an interesting read, but I haven't really written much about that.

I write about what's going on in our lives. I write about what I see on the news. I post photographs that I hope amuse you. In terms of Google searches (SEO), my most popular post has been Rainy Day Activities for Toddlers. I've been looking back over my blog posts and think the content is pretty varied, there are even a few recipes. I hope you find my blog entertaining.

You should write about what you know, what interests you, what excites you, what you feel passionate about. I could write about my children all day and I love reading about yours.

I take part in the weekly writing workshop at Sleep is for the weak. (I don't like to single anyone out because I have many favourite blogs, but I think this is one of the best blogs out there).

Before Baby Baby I hadn't written anything (non-work related) in the twenty years since I left school. The more I write, the more I enjoy it. I hope I'm getting better at it. I hope I'm finding my voice.

I haven't written quite so many blog posts in the last couple of weeks as I've been inspired to try my hand at creative writing. I started a creative writing course two weeks ago and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I've also joined a local creative writing group.

I'm not going to neglect Baby Baby or my Google Reader, but there are only so many hours in the day. I'm still reading all of your posts, and commenting when I have the time. I am so grateful to my lovely readers for all their support.

There are other ways to raise your blogging profile that I'm aware of, but haven't tried yet, such as hosting a carnival or using McLinky, or creating a meme. Some people's blogs look so stylish, mine definitely isn't, sometimes a makeover or sleek design can create a good impression.

Above all, write for YOU and enjoy the experience. Don't try too hard or worry about the Top100. Another paraphrase for you, from Field of Dreams this time, 'If you write it, they will come'.

I hope you've found this interesting. Happy Blogging!

If you would like me to explain more about any of the points raised above, please contact me via the comments box or by email to sandycalico at ymail dot com.

The Secrets of My Blogging Success!

Mummy Bloggers Meet at MOSI in Manchester

On Sunday Presley and I drove to the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Manchester to the British Mummy Bloggers Northern Meet up.

I was confident that we would enjoy meeting more Bloggers after the success of my Blogger Blind Date the week before.

Presley and I arrived early and had time for a look around the amazing MOSI. We would thoroughly recommend it and will be going back for a proper explore.

We all met in the cafe. The children played together and the Bloggers and their partners were able to have a chat. I managed to talk to everyone, albeit briefly. All Grown Up was there with her beautiful four week old baby. I resisted the temptation to ask for a cuddle, I feared my hormones would rise up and order me home to my husband immediately!

It was lovely to see Sally and Lindy again, wonderful to meet Josie and Parklover, and I was in awe of the Wife of Bold and Amy with their four daughters each, all behaving impeccably. Huge thanks to Amy for organising the event too.

Special thanks goes to NotSupermum who made sure Presley didn't get his roast dinner on his head at lunch time and who also emailed me the wonderful photograph she took of him playing.

After lunch there was a presentation from Silver Cross. They unveiled their snazzy new travel system. If I needed another pram this would be on my short list.

Silver Cross also revealed their new toy ranges. All the children were invited to play with them, Presley didn't need asking twice.

I proved that I only open my mouth to change feet by telling the Silver Cross rep that their toys looked like those you get in Mamas & Papas, but in a good way. The toys are lovely. Really. Oh dear.

Pretty soon after that I got my coat.

We had a fabulous time. If you're thinking about going to a British Mummy Bloggers meet up, I can thoroughly recommend it.

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In other news.... I'm staggered to see Baby Baby at number 21 in the index of Top UK Parent Blogs. I don't know how it got there, but I'm delighted.

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And finally.... There's a carnival over at Conversations With Moms. Maria has kindly included one of my posts.

Mummy Bloggers Meet at MOSI in Manchester