Grow Smarter. Feel Connected. Leave Richer. (BritMums Live Recap)

 
It’s hard to believe it’s been 2 weeks since we partied like blog stars at BritMums Live, the UK’s biggest conference for parenting and lifestyle bloggers.

I arrived fashionably late as ever on the Friday, just in time to run into fellow Mothers & Shakers Mirka and Vicki and do that ‘girls squealing’ thing we do.

Then upstairs for the drinks reception and more catching up with other bloggers including MaSh Buddies Jacqui and Penny, before the Brilliance in Blogging Awards. I was thrilled that Penny, Mummy Barrow and Mammasaurus won the gong for Best Commentary. Go Team Honk!
 
Here’s what I got out of BritMums Live:
 

1. Grow Smarter

 
I only managed to attend 2 seminars: Social Media, Activating Your Network with Paul Armstrong and Pinterest led by Maggie at Red Ted Art. I gained loads out of both, especially that Google Plus is the future (via Paul) and I really need to get on it properly. And helpful tips such as how to give credit to the original source of the images you pin (thanks Maggie).
 
Always give love back to the source — an essential life tip.
 

I also learned how to use a wand from the man who handles wand training at the Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio Tour.

And how to make a business card that even the babes can’t forget, from Fi at Childcare Is Fun (hint: bubbles!).

 

2.) Feel Connected

 
Blogging is all about making connections, and at a blogging conference it’s often about making connections between the real person and their teeny tiny avatar! There’s a lot of staring at each other’s chests (reading name tags) before ‘oh I know you! I love your blog!’

I met loads of bloggers I don’t get to see enough, including fellow Hillarys Blinds blogger the lovely Luschka (Diary of a First Child), as well as fabulous BritMums Jen and Susanna, Kelly at Domestic Goddesque (with her deliciously scented cards), Marianne at Mari’s World, Sabina at Mummy Matters (had a nice chat with her little man) and many more.

It was exciting to give out our spanking new Mothers & Shakers business cards. We got really lovely feedback from those who’d already heard about our services for bloggers and brands, as well as those who were just discovering MaSh for the first time.

My favourite memory of BritMums Live will be having dinner with my mates at gorgeous Turkish restaurant Haz, and giggling with the ladies at Eat over our global domination plans, while sharing sympathies with Jacqui who’d totally lost her voice!
 

3.) Leave Richer

 
And yes, I left feeling enriched. Mostly in my belly after the delicious baked goodies at tea time. But also by that equally warm and gooey sense of being part of a community that is quite literally exploding (aesthetically, mind you).

Blogging has gone from being the reserve of a few ‘inner dork’ types to something that everyone and their mama’s mama can get involved in and make a name (or even a business) for themselves. It was through BritMums Live and subsequent blogging events that I cemented the friendships that led to starting our exciting new enterprise.

And of course, there was swag. The goody bags were stacked to bursting as always, but my top prizes were the #MakingWavesforAlex t-shirts, helping raise funds for blogger Tasmyn and her husband Alex. Ezra wore his T-shirt for Sports Day the following week!

 
Thanks to Hillarys Blinds for helping to make it happen for me this year and to Jen and Susanna for pulling this off once again!