Keep Calm and Blog On! #BlogOnMOSI

On May 2nd, the annual Blog On conference took place at Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry. Some fantastic brands and PR companies were in attendance. There was some lovely food, with breakfast by Brioche Pasquier, The Co-Operative providing the wine and Hungry House sponsoring the wonderful cake, that kept us all happily fed throughout the day. Some of my favourite blogging buddies were in attendance, providing the company and the laughs.  With some fantastic giveaways and goody bags, we were properly spoiled!  

It was lovely to find out about some great new products such as the QVS range of great value make-up brushes and the new, cool science related toys from Brainstorm. (The Magno.Z toys are awesome!) Black Sheep Wools generously gave out some lovely things like pom-pom makers and French knitting spools, which will be great for introducing my kids to some new crafting skills. The wonderful Sandra from Thinking Slimmer was there and I'm excited to be working with her again soon. Hopefully I'll lose the last of my excess weight! The More Vitamin drinks were a great new discovery for me. Still or sparkling flavoured water with added vitamins and minerals for both adults and kids seems like a really good idea, plus the drinks taste lovely. An easy way of adding some extra nutrients to your diet.

There was a really informative and well delivered session on advanced blogging that I enjoyed from one of the PR companies in attendance. I don't really see my blog as a business, but still found some useful tips and ideas and the presentation was really professional and engaging. Other sessions included a YouTube talk. I leave my YouTube channel to take care of itself and it does pretty well, so I just carry on in my own laid back way! One day I might take up vlogging, when I can think of something interesting to say! The photography session gave us the chance to look at some nice pictures, then go off into the museum to take some of our own. Thankfully I had my technical, photography whizz and blogging buddy Bex to help me with the technical stuff while we snapped the steam train outside. The niche session we attended was on lifestyle blogging, but it didn't really resonate with me at all. Maybe I should have hopped across to the food blogging session instead?

I don't worry too much about my stats, rankings, DA or PR or any of that stuff - I write because I enjoy it and I love having a little corner of cyberspace to call my own. Every view is a bonus, any comments are excitedly and gratefully received. I really value being able to work with brands and work hard to provide a professional service that retains my own personal touch. I don't stress over my blog/life balance and switch off my laptop all weekend long to enjoy my family without distraction. I enjoy being a part of this community and have some lovely people that I count as friends. I'm one content and happy blogger!

Blog On is genuinely one of the most relaxed and friendly blogging conferences, and being in Manchester it is really convenient for me. I'd definitely recommend it to any bloggers looking for a good, bloggy day out!  I'll be keeping an eye out for Blog On 2016.

The Fabulous Blogging Conference that is #BlogonMOSI

I first met Laura a few years ago at a bloggers' event at Butlins.  Since then, I've watched with massive admiration as she has transformed herself into a blogging tour de force!  Among Laura's credits is the annual bloggers' conference Blog On MOSI, perfect for those of us north of Watford, which takes place at Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry.

Yesterday was this year's Blog On MOSI.  Laura has got the formula just right, with round table discussion groups, small group Q & A's and hands on workshops, which give delegates the chance to learn new things and be inspired by their peers and the experts.  There is also plenty of opportunity to chat and mingle with the other bloggers as well as the brands that attend. The awesome bags of freebies, the incredible tombola and the huge raffle also play a big part in making the day a tremendous success.

My highlights from the day included the following things:

Learning how to use my PASM buttons!

My Lumix G2 camera and I have our ups and downs.  Sometimes I'll get a great shot, other times I do a better job using the camera on my phone.  This has been a massive source of frustration to me.  Thankfully, John Arnold was on hand to give me some top tips and advice. Now I can adjust my aperture settings and shutter speed and take control of my images.

Getting inspired by Capture By Lucy

Lucy's blog features the sort of photographs you wish you could take.  Combining an artistic eye with some beautifully quaint and retro props, Lucy can elevate a shot of a bottle of washing-up liquid into a work of art. I loved chatting to her and snapping some of her vintage props.  She is one inspirational lady and just as lovely as her photos.

Thanks too to Emily Leary for giving me the courage to play with the Dodge, Burn and Curves settings on my photo editor.  I was too nervous to mess around with them before!

Vitamix

For the last two weeks I've overhauled my diet.  I'm now a mostly dairy free, caffeine free, artificial additive free, refined sugar free, low carb eating vegetarian.  I've embraced my new lifestyle, losing 10 lbs, improving my skin, my general wellbeing and my outlook on food in the process.  Blog On was set to be a challenge. Cakes, pastries, cookies, brownies and flapjacks are available in abundance.  This was set to be a real test. Psychologically I thought I should be craving the sweet stuff, but when I really thought about it I was actually happier to eat the fresh fruit and drink mineral water.  It was empowering to not feel jealous of the cake eaters!

My decision was made so much easier by the lovely lady at the Vitamix stand who was using the latest Vitamix blender to make delicious green smoothies.  They were absolutely delicious and I paid a couple of visits to get a glass of grape, banana,pineapple and spinach smoothie.  The machine itself is amazing with the ability to freeze or heat the contents the blender, making ice-creams and soups with ease.  It's genius!

I met some lovely folk, and although I'm still a bit of a lone wolf, I enjoyed chatting to the bloggers and PRs I already know as well as meeting some wonderful new folks.  My favourite new face of the day was the incredibly funny, very lovely Messed Up Mum.  If you want to read a searingly honest anonymous blog about juggling parenthood, complicated family life and post baby health concerns with mental health issues, that still manages to shine with love, humour and warmth, take a look.

I may also have taken a selfie with a cardboard cutout of a Stormtrooper...as Blog On was held on May 4th...'May the fourth be with you' and all that!

I was pretty chuffed to win some prizes on both the tombola and raffle (unheard of) and come home laden with some pretty cool free stuff from some brilliant brands such as Jacobs Creek, Kelloggs, Nickelodeon, Ecover, Crushed UK, Scotch, Hotter Shoes, Bananagrams and McVities.  It was lovely to also contribute towards raising money for charity (over £700 was made on the day) and also to donate some nail varnishes to the Bravery Boxes collection.

Thanks again to the indomitable lady that is Laura Seaton aka Tired Mummy of Two - you sure know how to throw a good conference!

I'm getting my Blog On at the MOSI #BlogOnMOSI

On Sunday, you will find me at the MOSI in Manchester taking part in the first Blogs Up North conference:  Blog On.  Organised by the unstoppable power of Laura from Tired Mummy of Two, it promises to be a fun opportunity to meet brands, learn stuff in round table discussions, drink wine, meet fellow bloggers and raise money for Clic Sergeant in an amazing raffle!

It's great to have an event held up this end of the country.  I have decided not to do any more London based events unless they are the totally amazing, not to be missed kind.  But getting to Manchester is ideal, with just a quick stint up the M6.  Ian is driving me to the venue then taking the children off to the Trafford Centre with their Merlin Annual Passes so they can visit the new sea Life Centre and the Legoland Discovery Centre.  They will also be joining up with big sister Megan who lives in Manchester, so it promises to be a great day out for everyone!

I have met a lot of bloggers over the last three years of my blogging journey, a few of which will be there on Sunday.  But if anyone doesn't know me, I'm the rather tall one who has a propensity for misbehaving at times.  I'll probably also be wilting away in the corner unless the MOSI has air con.  I'm not good with this heat!!  I'm also not good with names and faces so if I appear rude by not approaching you straight away, it's because I'm trying desperately hard to remember if I know you in real life or just virtually and I don't want to appear like a crazy stalker.  Please come and say hello to me, to avoid that situation.

I hear there is alcohol at Blog On!  I only just came off the wagon after five years being tee total, so that might prove interesting.  I promise not to disgrace myself!

I'm really looking forward to meeting the brands and I must remember to bring my business cards!  I had like 500 of them originally and still have about 497 after giving one to my mum and offloading a couple more on unsuspecting folk.

So who am I?

I am Wendy.  44.  Mum to five great kids.  Joe 24.  Megan 21.  Ella 17.  Kizzy 10.  Freddy 4.  Wife to my high school sweetheart Ian.  Grandma to baby Ted who is 7 months old.  I love blogging...it gives me a raison d'être! I love the opportunities that it has given my family.  I live in the country but crave the city shops and restaurants. I'm vegetarian and am a real foodie.  I love films, music and Disney.  My hair is greying but I refuse to dye it.  Stubborn.

@wendymcd83 on Twitter.

This is Me

See you there!