Being a Finalist in the #BiBs2018 and Impostor Syndrome

Blogging awards, they are funny old things. On the one hand I love them, they are a public acknowledgement for a job well done, for working hard, for engaging your readers. Then on the other I loathe them, they can be a popularity contest, with those who shout the loudest winning.

My love:hate relationship with blogging awards has been going on since 2011 when I was a finalist in the family life category of the MAD blog awards. I’d only seriously been blogging for around a year and I was so made up that my readers would nominate me and then vote for me. I honestly thought I’d win, not from a vanity point of view, thinking I was the best but I was just swept away with the glamour and accolade of it.

I didn’t win, Jane at Northern Mum did and it was well deserved as she has an awesome comic voice that I could never hope to emulate. I remember dusting my pride off and thinking ‘oh well, there’s always next year’ and for a few years I continued to be nominated and then a finalist in both the MADs and the BIBs. Always the bridesmaid and never the bride is the phrase that comes to mind.

Left to right: Penny, Clare, Gemma, me, Michelle and Anya

My MAD Blog Awards

Selfie with Hayley

Friday morning my husband loaded the kids and I into the car and we set off to drop them at school, then next stop the train station where he gave me a pass out until Saturday evening. I was just a little excited to know I had 24 hours to myself and that during that time I'd be doing some lovely things and meeting up with great people.

You might have watched the live feed and you are sure to have seen many pictures on twitter, instagram, FB etc so instead of rehashing the whole night I give you my own alternative MAD blog awards -

Best dressed on the night
There is a tie in this category as the judge (me) can't decide if light or dark is the way to go. Both Helen (Actually Mummy) and Emma (Crazy with twins) looked stunning in their strapless floor length dresses and I was not even a tiny bit jealous (no, not me - not even a little bit) of the way they looked.

Proudest moment
Was of course watching the short film to introduce the outstanding contribution category with the seven other ladies that were at the awards, in my heart I held Ruth (Dorky Mum) and Kylie (Not even a bag of sugar) close and cried with the others as we realised what the power of Mum/women bloggers can do. Such diversity and passion. It is a privilege to take my award home and I will treasure it forever.

I do have to say this was a toss up though, as about 3.30pm I got a text to say that Miss E had got a headteachers award for trying really hard this week with her times tables. That makes me so happy as she is the one finding it hardest to settle into her new school. She thinks she is stupid as she has difficulty reading, it breaks my heart. I hope this boasts her confidence a bit.

Best acceptance speech
These awards were great as most people were shocked to find themselves on stage accepting an awards and all the mumbled 'thanks' and quick dashes off made me smile. One person stood out though for her very eloquent speech. Fiona (Coombe Mill) thanked Kerry for paving the way in her category of family fun and it was good to pay tribute to the awesome Multiple Mummy, no longer with us but with her Lord.

Best dinner companion
At pre-dinner drinks I said to Hayley 'Oh I hope I get to sit with you at dinner, you are such fun' and low and behold I did and how fabulous it was. You'll all know that Hayley is a diamond and such a genuinely lovely lady, we had a blub together, a hug together and I was proud to hold her hand as we went on stage for the outstanding contribution award.

Get to know you award
I have a few contenders on this one - I've known Becky (Baby Budgeting) online for a number of years now but you find that until you spend real time with someone you don't really get to know them. I loved having a 1/2 hour walk with Becky and some time at the awards to really chat. I hope to get to know you better again soon Becky.

Then we have Charly from PODcast who I shared a room with and she was my London guide helping me find my way around, we enjoyed a lazy Saturday morning putting the blogging world to rights over breakfast.

I also met Tom from The Future's Rosie and he won the best new bog award. I'd not heard of his blog before but meeting him and hearing Hayley talk about what a fabulous Dad he is, I'm now going to look him up and have a read.

Funniest drunk
I'm not going to share the conversation with you as I think she might be slightly mortified but let me just say that Fi (Childcare is fun) is the best drunk ever. Such fun and I bet she won't even remember she was chatting to me before she crashed on the floor for a sit down! I think Emma of Emma and 3 gives her a run for her money though as that lady likes a tipple but it is probably needed after the stresses of dealing with her youngst daughter having hip dysplasia.

Champion surfer
To add to the fun of the night we had a 'bucking bronco' style surfboard to ride and Filipa (Gourmet Mum) was the business. She rode that baby like a pro and even jumped from side to side as the waves got too much.

Amazing organisers
That Sally throws a bloody good party and this was probably the tops of all the events I have been to. The food was divine, the venue just perfect, Dr Ranj was a marvellous and funny host and even the strange Just Eat chef had me chuckling away.  Big, big thanks to Sally and Tots/ MADs team as well as Parentdish of course.

Best pillows ever
At nearly 4am I crashed into my bed at the Covent Garden Travelodge and I can tell you they shocked the hell out of me, as instead of flat pancake pillows which I have come to expect, I had 4 plump and divine pillows on the new Sleepeaze kingsize bed. Yes the room was a review and I'll write about it but there is no need for me to say anything in this post unless it is true.

So there you have them the alternative MADS, my night would have been perfect if my bloggy mate Seasider Clare had been there but I managed to rock it anyway!

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Meeting Mums, Family Walks & the MADS (#R2BC - week 38, year 3)

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As I sat in my children's new school PTFA annual general meeting yesterday I started to think about my reasons to be cheerful, not because I was so bored that I was driven to it but because I am feeling grateful for the PTA. Bet not many can say that!

The kids have now been at school for two weeks and I have only managed to speak to about four parents, one of which I knew already. I don't seem to be a natural at mixing on the school playground and it can be a lonely place. You know how it is, everyone seems to have their own friendship groups established already and I'm the norman no mates. But today I spoke to about another eight women and volunteered to be a committee member and it makes me feel happy to know I will be useful and that I can get to know these women better.

My next reason is that I had my Mum up to stay last week and it really helped me to feel at home here, I loved showing my new area to her and enjoying some time together. Then my Dad and brother came up on Sunday and put up all our mirrors and pictures and the house is really starting to look super, it most definitely is home, I feel very relaxed and content here.

We are definitely a bit more spontaneous here and when dh and I finished dinner at about 7pm and Miss E announced she'd like a walk out we said why not, we could do with some more blackberries for a pudding tomorrow night. It was lovely to spend 45 minutes out in the fresh air chatting about our day and bumping into some of the other people who live here. The volunteers were all getting ready for a bonfire but sadly it was after the kids bedtime.

My last reason this week is that it is the MAD blog awards this Friday and I'm getting a couple of days away in London. I'm really looking forward to sharing a room with Charly from PODcast, having lunch with Sally and a group of other bloggers who are arriving early including the very lovely Geek Mummy and Gournet Mum and of course attending the awards themselves, they are sure to be a glamorous and fun event if the last one I attended was anything to go by. I am a finalist in the outstanding contribution category but I hide no hopes that I will win, it is just super to be there and I appreciate every reader of this blog and how successful you have all made it.

Don't forget to check out the MADs website on the day so you can watch the live stream from the awards

And that's me for this week, it's been a good one. God is good!

How are things with you?
Why don't you have a think and remind yourself of all the things you have to be grateful for and write a post to link up. Add in the blog hop code (if you fancy) and link up here and then leave a comment or two on other linked up posts please.

I'll catch you soon, be blessed, Mich x

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If you like what you have read and want to stay up-to-date then subscribe by email for free and receive blog posts directly to your in-box - just click the link Subscribe to Mummy From The Heart... by Email or perhaps you like to keep all your blog reading in one place, if that is the case you can follow me on BlogLovin too!

Dressing up for the MAD Blog awards

I can't believe how fast this year is passing, in just under a month I'll be in London to attend the MAD blog awards and that is super exciting. I'm very humbled to be there as a finalist in the Outstanding Contribution Award, there are 10 of us in this category and every one of the finalists is a blogger I admire. Of course the truth is that I don't really feel I deserve to be in this list but it is wonderful anyway.

I've been to the MADS once before and had a great time, I hold very fond memories of spending the early hours sat outside a bar with about six good friends drinking wine once the awards had finished. This year will be even more exciting as the MADs team have excelled themselves and the awards are being held at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington. I went to a Christmas party at this hotel back in 1997 and it was really good, so I have high hopes for a swish evening.

Talking of it all being a bit posh I really need something nice to wear. Thankfully I'm quite long in the blogging tooth now and this means that I have not been stressing for months about what I shall wear like I did in 2011. Back then M&S sponsored me to get an outfit and due to my size and the time of year it was I could hardly find anything to wear. This time I'll be wearing a dress I have worn before and feel good in. It is slightly too long, so I have about 3 weeks to get it taken up as I don't want to kill myself in the 4 inch spiked heels I wore last time.

You can't see my dress too well as my girls are hiding it but it gives you the idea!

That reminds me that I need to look for a new pair of shoes to go with my dress and I've been looking at the Clarks shoes range at Littlewoods and chosen these black patent court shoes, they do have a 3 inch heel but with it being a bit chunky and having a small platform sole I believe they will be comfy for a nights dancing. At £69 they are an investment but I always think Clarks shoes are worth it and if I am feeling a bit decadent they do them in a wine colour and that would match my dress too, so it depends if I am feeling sensible or fanciful.

I also like the look of these sling backs and the great thing with them is that they are reduced to just £31 and that is a real bargain for these elegant evening shoes. Ohh decisions, decisions.

Anyway I have to hold off for another week as my house sale is due to complete next week and then I feel like I have license to treat myself so I can indulge in a bit of shopping and maybe just book myself a room at the Royal Garden Hotel too!

Nights like this are always a paradox for me as I long to be there and enjoy it but I also feel like I don't deserve to be there and the inner child in me always rears her head and reminds me of the young Michelle who sat behind a curtain for a whole birthday party as she did not feel wanted. I think it is about time I grew up and started to value myself a bit more, don't you?

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If you like what you have read and want to stay up-to-date then subscribe by email for free and receive blog posts directly to your in-box - just click the link Subscribe to Mummy From The Heart... by Email or perhaps you like to keep all your blog reading in one place, if that is the case you can follow me on BlogLovin too!

For the Love of Blogging

Did you know that I have a really successful blog?

I often get told I am one of the 'big' bloggers and my rankings say I am a 'top' blogger and of course that makes me smile (and giggle a little too).

Shall I share with you why my blog is so successful? 

Yes, you fancy being let into my little secret?  Maybe you can duplicate it and you can have a successful blog too.  It really is a winning formula and it won't cost you any money.

Blogging Awards - What's Your Opinion?



Image Credit

It's that time of the year again. 

Last week I was happily reading through some of my regular blogs and I came across the first BIB (Brilliance in Blogging) badge and a post from the author asking their readers to nominate for them.  Now, before you get carried away with trying to second-guess me I do not have a problem with anyone making their readers aware of a competition or asking for their nominations/ votes.  This post is written purely from a personal perspective.

This year there are two major awards in the UK parenting blogosphere, the BritMums Brilliance in Blogging awards, which will be presented at an evening ceremony at BritMums Live in June and the MAD Blog awards, which if last year is anything to go by will be celebrated with a ceremony September time.  I have to be honest and say I would prefer if there was just one set of awards, I do not really want to have to make a choice of which to put myself up for but to be honest I don't want to have to 'go through it all' twice. Ohh decisions, decisions.

The Day After the MAD Night Before!

The question on my lips all day has been 'was it worth it?'

Thankfully I have not been sick today, even after a ton of booze my sensible head kicked in and we went for food and water before falling asleep.  I think I shocked my lovely roomie @Kykaree when I stumbled into the room just before 3am but still look my false eyelashes and make up off, cleaned my teeth and washed my face - yes I really am that boring!

Today has been a day of waking up too early, feeling pretty darn awful, that sort of half death feeling, sweating alcohol and neglecting my kids. Thankfully dh was here looking after them so when I crawled into bed about 2pm and did not get out again until close to 7pm it was OK. A wasted day yes but thankfully OK. So many times I have felt like shouting 'shut up', Mummy is tender, I don't like this feeling and no thanks I don't want to eat your plastic food but instead I smiled and nibbled on my strawberry sunday that Miss E lovingly prepared for me.. Next time I am tempted by free booze I will recall this day and think nah, near 4 bottles of win does not suit you Mich!

But back to that question, 'was last night worth how crap I have felt all day?'  In the words of Gok Wan 'Hell yes!'

I had a ball last night at the MAD blog awards, sadly I did not win but when you lose to a worthy winner that makes it a lot easier to stomach.  I think Jane took it to extremes though when she hid her MAD award down her boobs so I could not get to it! Look at that smug face...

It is a long time since I have really let my hair down like I did last night.  I had just the best time as I stayed with some people who I really value and now class as good friends. We started with a superb Turkish late lunch with @AllforAleyna showing off her fluent Turkish, I then enjoyed getting ready and everyone seemed to agree that my sparkly silver glitter eyes were pretty cool. I felt special in my new Marks and Spencer outfit complete with sparkly jewelery and bag and boy was I glad I went for the sensible shoes when we realised that the MADS were a standing event this year!

Here I am with the beautiful Liska from New Mum Online, she makes me look like a giant!  Then thanks to Lindy over at Squidgyboo for the full length photo,

Photo Credit

The wine flowed at the awards and I got to say hi to loads of great people and spent time with some diamonds. Later a few of us headed out for al fresco drinks until 1.30am and then on for a burger and chips up Shaftesbury Ave. Thanks @SAHMLovingIt @seasiderclare @clairelouise82 @superamazingmum @bobbity666 @allforaleyna I was so pleased to spend extended time with you all and it was great to get to talk.

I've just seen @Nickie72 tweeting that she does not have many photos of her from the night, so I'll share this treat with you.....  Nickie posing with the one who pretends to be an evil overlord, but look at her - pussycat!

Thanks to all who made last night happen - Sally, Jen, the ton of blogger helpers, TalkTalk, Parentdish and all the sponsors. I'm looking forward to next year already.....  well as long as my gorgeous readers want to vote for me again!

Reasons to be Cheerful - The MADS Edition

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How could my reasons to be cheerful be about anything else this week? Selfish, indulgent? Yes. So what? Sometimes we have to look after ourselves and have a bit of fun! Life is about balance after all. Too much seriousness makes Mich a boring bunny.

Tomorrow night is the Mummy and Daddy (MAD) blog awards in London and it is thanks to you super bunch that I will be there as a finalist in the Best Blog about Family Life category. I am super chuffed to be going and very excited. I know that Sally and Jen will have done an amazing job organising the event.

So straight onto my list of MAD reasons -

• After dropping the kids to school tomorrow, I am straight off up to London for a spot of shopping
• Then meeting a load of great bloggers for a late lunch/ early dinner of Tapas
• Checking into the Radission Bloomsbury hotel - which looks super plush!
• I have an outfit provided by Marks and Spencer and I feel so comfortable in it and hubbie tells me I look glamorous. It looked quite plain on the hanger so I have just included a snippet in the monatge below, I'll post a full piccie for you on Saturday.
• I am have had my hair cut this morning
• I applied the fake tan last night and have non-pasty legs for once
• My toe and finger nails are manicured and tidy, sadly the hot pink went out the window for my finger nails as a load have broken but they still look nice.
• I intend to have cuddles with loads of super friends at the awards - Chris, Alex, Clare, Heather, Karen, Nickie, Maggy and a very special hug for Lexy. (and if I have not mentioned you by name I am up for hugs with everyone else too!)
• I am going to have some booze tomorrow night, it is not very often I drink and completely non-existent to get drunk nowadays but tomorrow I might just head that way!

If you fancy tuning in and getting the live news from the MADS then log on to the MADS Blog for about 7pm tomorrow night.  The awards will actually start at 7.15pm. It will be worth it just to see every one's gorgeous outfits. There will be a competition running on the live blog so someone can win £250 of luxury skincare products - sounds good!

My thanks go to Parentdish UK and TalkTalk the main sponsors of the MADS. So over to you, what is making you happy this week? Link up your post now...

Keeping my Sanity about the MAD Blog Awards

I am getting rather excited, at the end of September I am going to the MAD (Mummy and Daddy) blog awards ceremony in Soho at the TalkTalk Customer Experience Centre.  I am a finalist in the MAD Blog about family life category and I intend to have so much fun, I am under no illusions that I will win but being there and joining in the with the evening will be reward enough.

Today, I have been shopping and that is one of my most favourite activities in the whole wide world. My Mum and I set off for an enormous M and S that is near us and we hunted for something glamorous for me to wear.  Luckily M and S have decided they would like to sponsor my outfit for the night and help to make me look tip-top! On the flip side sadly the fashion at the moment seems to have all dresses being not suitable for someone who has a rather large belly!  So dresses seem to be out but I have got myself something nice, so far!  Notice that 'so far', there is still 24 shopping days until the awards and I intend to use them fully, my outfit could get swapped right up until the last moment.

One thing I won't be changing though, is the shoes. I was super chuffed to walk into my local M and S last week and see the perfect shoes for the awards.  I wanted evening glamour and they are black patent with velvet trim and I wanted heels, which they do have but being me I am no good for long periods of time in very high heels, so whilst I would love to have worn my 4" platform patent shoes (also from M and S, yes it is my favourite shop) it means more to me to be able to walk all night and to be able to have a good dance with some fabulous blogging mates that I will see at the awards like @nickie72 @SAHMlovingit @ChristineMosler @allaboutheboys @northernmum @seasiderclare and so many more.

No jeans on the night though!

As well as going to the ceremony, I also get to spend the night at the Radisson Edwardian Bloomsbury Street Hotel, sharing a room with the super @Kykaree that I have only chatted to a few times before on twitter but I just know we will get on so well.

I am amazed at how different I feel now to the weeks that were the run up to CyberMummy.  By rights I should be more nervous now and worried about what to wear and how the evening will go but I just know that the @Swhittle and @Mum_Themadhouse will make sure we all relax and enjoy ourselves.  No going MAD for me this time!  Well unless I win the award and then who knows what may happen!

I am linking this post up to this weeks Gallery over at Tara's place, it seems to fit this weeks brief of shoes!

Cheerful about all things blogging! #R2BC - Wk 22

 
Evening all, don't the weeks go so fast?  Here we are Thursday night and time to be grateful again....  but hold on, there has been an extra dose of gratitude this week for Tara dedicated her Gallery linky to Christine of Thinly Spread.  You will have read on here that Chris is off in Mozambique this week with Save the Children. In case you have been away from the blogging scene and missed it, I'll just reiterate that there is a very important petition that needs your signature.  You think it is fair for all kids worldwide to get vaccinated don't you?

Thanks for signing up and now onto my own reasons for being so cheery this week!   I am dedicating this weeks #R2BC to all things blogging. So many people have no idea what blogging is and boy are they missing out.  Blogging comes with a whole load of benefits -

1. A massive support network to help you through the tough times.  When I suffered a miscarriage, who was there? When I am struggling with my food addiction, who is there?  Why, it is all of you wonderful readers.  God bless you.

2. Making some great new friends, ones you have never met but you can have a real laugh with.  Take yesterday I posted and slated @Nickie72 of Typecast fame and luckily she completely knew I was having a laugh and it really did cheer my dreary day at work!

3.  The added bonuses that come from writing a well read blog. Monday we had a review trip to the London eye, which the kids loved, Tuesday we had a review trip to Ask (Italian restaurant) and Wednesday a gorgeous Morphy Richards kettle and toaster arrived at my door.  How can you knock that?

4. How can I not mention as well that I have been shortlisted as a finalist in the MAD blog awards for the Best blog for Family Life. Click the link and vote for me if you feel compelled....

You know the routine by now, link your happy/ gratitude post up and go and visit others. If you are new to #R2BC then welcome, check this page out and see how it all happens.



Oh and I realised that I have not been linking over to Maxabella's just recently, so I am putting that right again today.  Over in Oz there is a very similar (but longer running, more slick...  you get the picture) linky, so join up there too and make some new friends across the other side of the world!

If you liked this post, please use the Tweet button on the right! Go on, it's very easy. Cheers Mich x

Are you MAD about me?

I decided that really I need a weekend off, one where my mind is not constantly on the blog, one where I fully focus on every word the kids say, I actually spend some time with my hubby, I stop and enjoy the world around me....  I bet you know what I mean?  We all feel a bit burned out at times.  Things have been on a high and we keep going and going and then.....   a rest is needed! 

So I am being kind to myself and not coming back onto my blog until at least Monday night or maybe even beyond this, as I have a post scheduled to go live on Tuesday anyway.

While I am not here I thought I better leave you with some reading material. You might be wondering about who to vote for in the MADS (Mummy and Daddy Blog Awards) and I would not be doing myself any favours if I did not give you an idea as to why I am in the final 6 for the Best MAD Blog for Family Life.

#R2BC - The MADS Edition!

It's that time of the week!  Yay for counting our blessings...

1.  I suppose it is a given really, that the first reason I will start off with is that I have made the shortlist of 6 for the MAD (Mummy and Daddy) Blog awards.  There were literally hundreds of blogs nominated so I have done very well to get onto the shortlist and that is thanks to all you wonderful people who nominated me.  Thank you so much, it is really nice to know you enjoy what I do!

So how do you fancy voting for me to win now?  That would be the icing on the cake!  The voting is very quick, just enter your name, email address and use the drop-down lists to choose Mummy From The Heart in the Best MAD Family Life Blog.

Reasons to be Cheerful 1,2,3 - Week 15

Welcome it's week 15!  My, how quick times flies when you are having fun!

Miss M with her precious handbag!

Lots to be grateful for as always....

1. I am on holiday, by the time you read this I will be at Butlins in Skegness at the Christian festival Spring Harvest and I always have an amazing time here, as do all my family.  We get to spend lots of time together, worship God and be fully refreshed - where there is 3 reasons to be cheerful rolled into one (oh and burglars if you are thinking of raiding my house, don't bother my brother is there with his girliefriend doing some electrics for me!)
2. Today I am feeling comfortable in my own skin. I am larger than I have been in a long time but I am looking in the mirror and liking the Mich that looks back at me, she has grown so much as a person over the last 10 years and no longer is she a harsh person who does not tolerate weakness in others. One day when I really do feel brave I will post about that Mich, she had some very big character defects.  I am praying I can hand my eating issues over to God at Spring Harvest and then not only will I like the Mich I see in the mirror, I will also like the body I see that houses her.
3. Miss M has been listening to me. This is a biggie!  If you know my blond bombshell you will know that she is a very independent and willful young lady, whilst also being immensely funny and beautiful. We had a grown up chat about 5 days ago about how she does not like me to shout at her and I explained that I only shout when she does not listen and respond to my requests.  It is not perfect, but we have made massive progress.....  long may it continue!
4. I have been nominated in 3 categories for the Mummy & Daddy Blogger Awards (MADS) and this is making my day.  I know blogging is not that important in the big scheme of things but for me my blog is my Church and it is where I get to share myself and do a little bit of good.  If you fancy nominating me too, then hop over to my MADS post and have a read...  Cheers x

So share with us all your reasons?  What is making you have a smile from ear to ear this week?

As I am on holiday and am trying to remain offline - Can I please ask you all to try extra hard to comment on each others posts and to retweet.  I know that some of you are amazing and read & comment on every post and I thank you very dearly. Yes, Kate this is you I am referring to!

..and before you go, I must remember to point you over to Maxabella's I'm Grateful for... link up.  Join up your reasons post there and make some new Aussie friends. It is live on our Friday.

Of course Jen's Blog gems is still open too. Link up every other Sunday and air your archives.