PARENTING Archives - Page 36 of 66

June 12, 2015 by lambandbear 7 Comments

I’m going to Brit Mums Live and I don’t have a sponsor

With Brit Mums Live being only a week away, I’ve read many a blog post about sponsorship. Whether that be a sponsor plea or announcement. So I thought I’d write my own post about sponsorship, or lack of.

I’ve been blogging for almost 18 months and worked with some amazing brands and PRs. More than I ever imagined working with.

When I learned I could be sponsored to go to Brit Mums Live I instantly began tweeting and emailing brands I’d worked with. I even changed my email signature with a plea for sponsorship.

As the months went by and I had no response to my requests I decided to book my ticket and sort out travel and accommodation myself.

As much as I love working with brands, I’m actually quite relieved not to have a sponsor. My blogging time is limited and this has a huge effect on my blogging mojo. I have to blog around work and family life, so having deadlines puts great pressure on me. This is my first time at Brit Mums Live and I want to enjoy it. I can tweet as much or little as I want during the day, I can blog as much or as little as I like about the event, or I can switch off completely and just learn, which is ultimately why I’m there.

Don’t get me wrong, I think sponsorship is amazing and if a great deal was offered to me, I might just have to man up and get blogging, but going to the event without a sponsor really doesn’t bother me at all.

I know a lot of bloggers out there can only go with a sponsor due to financial reasons, and trust me when I say I’m normally one of those bloggers. However I was lucky enough to get a few sponsored posts last year and managed to save up the money I earned to pay for my ticket.

I’ll also add that I’m reviewing the hotel I’m staying in, however not in connection with Brit Mums, I was just sensible enough to book the review for the weekend of the event!

I also bought my train ticket in advance which ended up only costing me £9 each way.

Next year will be completely different. I’ll probably desperately want a sponsor, but I’ll be a more experienced blogger and hopefully a lot more organised. I’ll be able to cope with the extra tweeting and the blog posts about who I’m working with. Or maybe not. Who knows?

What I do know is, this year I’m happy to concentrate on Lamb & Bear, and just Lamb & Bear.

So if you are going to Brit Mums without a sponsor, don’t sweat it. It doesn’t make you less important. Spend the time promoting your blog and nobody else. Learn. Socialise. And most importantly, drink wine.

June 11, 2015 by lambandbear 9 Comments

Eleven Things

The lovely Lauren from Belle Du Brighton tagged me to answer 11 questions about myself etc. I love these sort of posts! It’s a great way to introduce a little more of yourself and your life to those who read your blog.

Here are my ‘eleven things’ answers.

1. What was your favourite childhood book?

Ok, this is a tough one, because my mum read with us from a really early age and I loved reading as a child. I wrote a post on my favourite childhood books as there are so many. I asked my mum and she said The Hungry Caterpillar and The Jolly Postman were my faves. I also loves The Tiger Who Came To Tea.

2. Do you have a favourite meal, and if so what and why?

I’m so guilty of saying “this is my favourite meal, song, film, drink”. Whatever, it’s always my favourite! But I have a memory of being at pre-school and making my favourite meal out of string and tissue paper on a paper plate. That meal was spaghetti bolognese. Loved it then, and I love it now.

3. What did you want to be when you grew up?

I have no memory of wanting to be anything in particular. In fact I don’t have many memories of my childhood. So here comes mummy to answer this for me. She said “you wanted to be a dancer, teacher and at one point a police officer! Oh and a photographer and journalist later on”. I have one memory of going through a phase of designing shoes. I was really young, so had no idea what a “designer” was, but something intrigued me about creating unusual shoes.

Turns out I covered 3 of those dream roles. I work as a fashion designer, studied photography at A Level and now write a blog. That covers designer/photographer/journalist right?!

4. What’s your favourite joke?

How do you know an elephant’s been in your fridge? Footprints in the butter!

This is an awful joke, but one I always remember reading as a child and thinking was hilarious!

5. Where is your happy place?

Cuddling Lamb. Anytime, anywhere. It’s taken a long time to get to this happy place, but cuddling him brings a tear to my eye.

6. The last song you heard?

‘Killing in the Name Of’ by Rage Against The Machine just played on Spotify at work. Bloody love this song.

7. Who was your last text from?

My sister in law Stevie with a voice message from my nephew!

8.What colour is your sofa?

Ha. Well, it’s supposed to be grey. But is now dark grey in areas due to lots of spills by Lamb! And it’s less than a year old… damn.

9. What is on your bedside table.

A lamp that doesn’t work. My old iPhone (I upgraded last month). A few books that I’m not reading. Baby Wipes.

10. Do you have any blogging goals?

To turn my blog name into a successful brand (which I’m currently working on).

11.Where did you last go on holiday?

Bluestone Wales!

I tag Tanita, Alice, Emily, Shaz and Gemma if you want to take part.

Here are my questions.

1. Where is your favourite country/place you have visited?

2. Name your top 5 celebrity crushes.

3. How do you feel about piercing babies ears? There’s a whole debate right now over it being called ‘abuse’.

4. What is your dream career?

5. If you could re live any moment in your life, what would it be?

6. Cats or dogs?

7. Top 3 things to help you survive a day?

8. PC or Mac?

9. Have you ever won anything?

10. Heels or flats?

11. Camping or Spa holiday?

June 5, 2015 by lambandbear 3 Comments

Mummy and Me – May

A little bit late but here is my selection of photos for this months ‘mummy and me’ linky with Nicola from Life Through My Eyes.

June 2, 2015 by lambandbear 6 Comments

Little Mr Independent

Dear Mr Independent,

Today you wanted to change your own nappy. “Poo poo, nap nap, Jaxsix do it”. You laid yourself down on the floor in the hope you could change it yourself. Mummy stepped in to help.

Today you wanted to take off your own shoes. “No daddy, Jaxsix do it”. Daddy gave you one chance to take them off before getting angry about the dirty trainers on the sofa, and quickly removed them. You cried because you wanted to take them off yourself. They were too difficult to remove by yourself.

Today you wanted to drive the car. You kicked and screamed and cried. You resisted being put in your car seat and ended up with the footwell a number of times. “Mummy has to drive sweetie. Jaxson can drive when he’s a big boy”.

Today you wanted to help with the hoovering. “Jaxsix do it”. This often drags out the time it takes to hoover our living room, so mummy bought you your own Hoover for your birthday. Now you can Hoover whenever you want.

Today you tidied up your toys by yourself. “Jaxsix tidydup”. You picked up everything on the floor in the living room and carried into the dining room, and put on the floor in there. Ok, so mummy had to tidy up the dining room, but I was so proud when you tidied up by yourself.

Today you wiped your own mouth. “Jaxsix wipe mouth”. You took a wipe from the packet and rubbed it all over your face. Mummy finishes off the bits you missed.

Today you went down the ‘big slide’ by yourself. It really is a big slide. You were so happy with yourself. You are normally very clingy and want mummy to hold your hand, today was different. Today you gained confidence. You didn’t need me anymore. I didn’t know whether to be happy or sad.

Today you wouldn’t let me dry you after your bath. “No mummy do it, Jaxsix do it”. You picked up your towel and started rubbing your hair, belly, legs. You did a pretty good job, l was impressed.

However,

Today you asked for cuddles.

Today you held my hand as we walked to the shop.

Today you ran to daddy as he walked through the door.

Today you screamed and cried because “Jaxsix sleep daddy’s bed. Jaxsix sleep mummy’s bed”.

No matter how quickly you grow up, no matter how independent you are, you will always be my baby.

Love mummy x