How the Other Half Live

Back in June, I won the top prize in the Passport Draw at Cybermummy.  For someone who has never won a raffle prize in my life, I was pretty excited by just having my name read out at the after party.  What a thrill that was!  But, given that the prize was for a family stay at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire, with a full Hampshire Breakfast and Horse Riding thrown in, the excitement mounted with the realisation of just how fabulous a prize this really was.

The Four Seasons Hotel is  not the sort of place I would ever have visited. My holiday budget would not extend to such a stay. But having the experience thrust upon me, I was happy to embrace the opulence, luxury and indulgences that it entailed!

As we arrived in the car park (after having decided to avoid the valet parking option where the Rollers, Range Rovers, Bentleys and Jags were parked) we made our way towards the hotel.  Within seconds two young concierges in waistcoats and flat caps, looking every bit like English gentry, rushed towards us and relieved us of our bags and escorted us to the reception.  As we checked in, our motley crue of luggage including Fred's Trunki and an assortment of mix and match sports, canvas and overnight bags were taken to our rooms.  How I wished we had matching Samsonite cases as I saw them trollied down the corridor!

Driving up to the Four Seasons Hotel

We were escorted to our room and given a mini guided tour of the history of the building and the facilities available.  Every corridor, staircase, courtyard, atrium or room we passed was resplendent in decorative embellishments, artwork or floral arrangements.  As Freddy thundered along with us doing pig impressions, still buzzing from his Peppa Pig adventure, my heart was lodged firmly in my mouth.

The rooms we arrived at were unbelievable.  I'm used to Travelodges so to have two adjoining rooms that were as big as the entire ground floor of my house was quite a shock.  Each had it's own marble bathroom with deep tub, separate shower room and vanity unit.  It was quite exquisite!

Four Seasons' Bathroom

The beds were sumptuous with enormous plump pillows and crisp, white bedding.  The TVs were 42" and had loads of Sky channels to keep the kids happy.  We had fluffy dressing gowns and slippers waiting for us.

Kizzy's  Fairy and Friends Pyjamas.

The most amazing thing was the welcome gifts that awaited us.  The children had an array of handmade, personalised confectionery in their room.  They also had rubber ducks and foam letters spelling out their names in the bathroom.  Such attention to detail.  Me and Ian had a display of apples and dried fruit on a slate tray.  It was quite fabulous.

Despite the utter poshness of this hotel, children are made so welcome.  Not only did they have all the personal touches in their room, Freddy was also allowed to pick some gifts from a toy box at reception.  He chose a giant pen and a colouring book.  I lived in fear of him marking the pure white bed linen!  The girls were given a key to a secret cottage in the grounds where there was air hockey, snooker and fuss ball tables. There is a Kids Club offering activities such as Arts and Crafts and nature walks everyday.  The restaurant is stocked with children's beakers, plates and cutlery.  The cloakrooms had baby changing facilities with pure, white fluffy towels to lie baby on.  Every member of staff had a smile for the children.  This kid friendly policy put me in a far more relaxed mood...Freddy is a handful, a real little lad on the go in top gear at all times.  It was nice to know his presence was not resented!

Air Hockey

I discovered that posh hotels don't have kettles, and as a cup of coffee cost £4.90, I had to go without my brews which was a little upsetting!  Apart from that, every need was catered for.  We had luxurious baths using the gorgeous products that were provided, then relaxed in our fluffy robes!  Bliss!

The breakfast was a fancy affair.  The buffet was beautifully presented on silver salvers and included Full English and continental options alongside some items I couldn't identify! (Too posh for me!)  Sadly, in spite of cute plates, cups and cutlery especially for him, Freddy just did not want to have breakfast and just wanted to escape into the acres and acres of gardens he could see out of the full length windows.  Food was not something he was bothered about so we didn't have a relaxing breakfast...well Ian didn't.  I pretended not to know the man chasing around outside after the sprinting toddler, as I dined on a delicious combination of eggs, potato rosti and mushrooms and sipped on glasses of freshly squeezed juice.

The girls had their horse riding hack after breakfast.  We were driven to the Equestrian Centre by a concierge in a Range Rover and the girls were kitted up in boots and hats before riding off across the meadow on their ponies Ben and Charles!!  We tried to follow on foot but with Fred stopping to pick every dandelion clock we soon lagged behind.  But it was a lovely walk and the grounds were glorious.

We had an amazing time at the Four Seasons Hotel.  If I won the lottery I would definitely go for one of their customized week long breaks with a fully organized itinerary. How cool would that be!  They will even send a chaffeur to collect you from the local airport if you come by private jet.  I bet people with that sort of money don't mind paying £4.90 for a cup of decaff!

If you ever wanted a gorgeous, family friendly place for a very special occasion, you wouldn't be disappointed.  It really is a taste of living like Lord and Lady of the Manor.  Thank you to Cybermummy and to the Four Seasons Hotel for giving us the taste of the high life.  It was wonderful!

In less than 24 hours....

In less than 24 hours...


I'll be hitting the road with Louise in our Hyundai Car Share Santa Fe.


I'll be trying my best to work out how to drive an automatic, convincing my clutch foot to stay redundant and not get the urge to interfere with the other pedals.  


I'll be doing my best not to dwell on the increasing number of miles I'll be putting between me and my baby boy, and hoping my boobs will cope with the separation.


I'll be hoping that my spatially challenged brain can deal with the Sat Nav's instructions to bear right and in 100 yards take the left hand lane, so that I will make it to the Hoxton in good time, minimally stressed and in time for the Eat, Meet and Greet party.


I'll be trying to remember everyone I have on my 'must meet' list and all the brands I want to chat to...Disney is an absolute must!


I'll probably shed the odd tear or two as I think about my baby boy who I've never left before.


I'll be hoping that my choice of clothing/footwear will make me feel happy in my own skin.


I'll be hoping that my technology doesn't let me down as I photograph, film, blog and tweet my way through the proceedings.


I'll be ready to embrace the wonderful opportunities that Cybermummy has to offer and I'll be ready to have an amazing time. 


I'll leave you with this quote from Thelma and Louise:


"You said you 'n' me was gonna get out of town and for once just really let our hair down. Well darlin', look out 'cause my hair is comin' down!"

Cybermummy Stress!!!

With just a couple of weeks to go until we all congregate en masse to attend Cybermummy 2011, I feel a little niggle of panic rise from the pit of my stomach. But what is the reason for my little wobble???

I know a lot of people are anxious about meeting everyone...the strange combination of virtual confidante yet physical stranger mixed into one is indeed bizarre.  Many of these 'strangers' will know all about your life, your kids, your husband, your problems, your hopes and fears.  They will know your most embarrassing moments intimately....yet you have never actually met before!  However, this is not one of my anxieties.  I have been fortunate enough to meet a lot of lovely ladies at various events this year and it has been nothing but positive!  Everyone has been exactly how I imagined them to be and the fact that they all know the story behind why I am tee-total did not come between us!!

Many bloggers are worrying about what to wear.  I'm turning up in jeans...it is my clothing of choice and I want to be comfortable throughout the day.  So I'm not stressing about anyone showing up in the same frock as me, or worrying about which designer I'll be showcasing...fashion just ain't my thing.  I am perfectly confident in my wardrobe choice...I'm not going to dazzle anyone with my glamour, but that was never my intention!

Weightloss is something that has been a huge topic of conversation across Twitter as we all try to shed a few pounds.  I'm no exception to this.  I am attempting to slim down....6lbs lost so far!  But I'm not doing it for Cybermummy....I'm using Cybermummy as a target for my visualisation in my hypnotherapy.  It's an event along the way which will help me lose the weight in achievable chunks. It's just one step on my journey.  It's not being done for vanity and I really don't worry what other people think...I'm doing it for my health, to gain control over my eating and for my own self-esteem.  If this in turn makes me feel better in my skin at Cybermummy then that will be a bonus, but I'm certainly not dieting to impress my fellow bloggers on the day!  (But if anyone is impressed I'll be inwardly very smug and eternally grateful...after all I am only human!)  My diet will also be put on hold over the Cybermummy weekend...I'm going to thoroughly enjoy the Cybermummy Eve Party and I won't be skimping on my menu choices.  Similarly, I will enjoy my lunch on the day.  No nibbling rabbit food to impress anyone with me...oh no!!

Travelling does make me feel a little bit wobbly, but after winning the use of the Hyundai Santa Fe in the Car Share Competition I'm actually quite excited.  It is an opportunity to be outside of my comfort zone and embrace the journey as part of the experience.  Driving to Central London from Shropshire isn't the nicest journey and I tend to always let Ian do all the driving when we go anywhere as a family.  So I'll be reconnecting with my independent side, which I think will actually be empowering.  Just hope I can find a parking space big enough when we get there!

However...the one thing that is making me a little sick to my stomach is leaving Freddy.  I know he is nearly two, but he is still breastfed.  The self weaning has not yet happened.  In fact this week my toddler has been poorly and feeding more than ever.  This is what panics me about leaving him.  The logical part of me says that this is an opportunity for my son to decide that he doesn't need his 'boob' anymore.  When I'm around it becomes habitual and there is no incentive for him to stop.  Without me there, he will have to do without.  He uses cups easily and even drinks milk, but his breastfeeding is something in addition to all this.  I know his Daddy will not let him be sad and will do everything in his power to keep my baby boy happy, but my heart still breaks a little bit.  I think my biggest fear, if I am totally honest, is that he will make the decision to give up breastfeeding completely and that part of our journey together will come to an end. I know it's daft, but the bond is so strong.  This will be a final cutting of the umbilical cord...my little baby will be a big boy.  On one hand I am looking forward to him being independent so he can be less reliant on me, but the other part of me is holding onto to this stage with dear life.  He is my last baby...I know how quickly they grow up...I just wasn't in any rush for it to happen.

So if you see a woman clutching a photo of a cute little boy whilst trying to stem the flow from her leaking breasts...it'll probably be me!!  I promise though to try and keep that behaviour for the hotel room only.  Cybermummy is a time for me.  My blogging has literally changed my life and I am embracing every opportunity it throws at me.  But that doesn't stop the fact that I am going to feel like someone has chopped off one of my limbs.  I know, I know...I'm one of those women who define themselves by their children.  But do you know what...I wouldn't want it any other way!

Mumentum...My Journey to Being Slimmer

It's been just a week since I hooked up with Liska and the other #Mumentum girls.  I'm already 5 lbs lighter, more positive and my attitude to food has changed.

I've restarted my Thinking Slimmer Slimpods, listening to the 10 minute recordings at bedtime every night.  It has really helped me.  I am listening to the yet to be released "Lose Two Jean Sizes" slimpod, along with the "Chocoholic Cure".  They help by reprogramming the unconscious part of your mind to see food as a fuel that is there to be burned.  It makes you aware of the feeling of fullness and makes you open to change habits of a lifetime.  It encourages you to do 'anything more than nothing' to achieve your goal everyday and visualise the person you want to be.  The person you CAN be!

It really is incredible that after just a few days I am no longer craving treats or binging.  It's easy to say no to food or just have a little taste of things and then stop.  I genuinely don't feel like I'm being deprived of the things I used to want, because the desire for them has gone.

So far so good!!  But I do believe that the support of you #Mumentum ladies is really instrumental in the effectiveness of my ability to allow myself to succeed this time.  I feel that I'm not alone, that other people care and are rooting for me, like I'm rooting for them!  Motivational chats on Twitter and comments on blog posts have raised my spirits immensely and I'm so grateful for the support and friendships that are developing online.  Everyone has different motives for their weightloss or fitness goals.  Everyone is taking a different approach...but we all want the same thing.  To get back the control and be as healthy as we can be for our families.

I'll be thrilled to meet up with some of our group at Cybermummy.  And I really hope that we get the opportunity to attend an event together as the #Mumentum Ladies!  We could get T-Shirts and everything!!  Poster girls for fabulous Mummies working on reducing their tummies together!

Liska's group is snowballing as other people on Twitter see the hashtag and realise what a great group it is.  I'm so glad that I joined in and proud to play a part in it!  This is exactly what social media should be about...enabling like-minded people to link up and connect.

My one concern is that my lack of exercise will eventually call a halt to my weightloss.  I've done all kinds of things in the past. Yoga, pilates, holistic toning and going to the gym.  In every one of these attempts I've put my back out.  I couldn't walk for 3 days following one Pilates class!  I was diagnosed with scoliosis after the birth of baby number 3.  I had a year of restricted movement and pain following Ella's birth.  There is definitely something amiss in my spine.  Instead I will try to walk the school run more often and do activities with the family that gets my blood pumping. Fingers crossed it will be enough.

I start week 2 with a positive outlook and I can really see where I want to be.  Using Cybermummy as the first marker enables me to set a date for my first target.  I'm not entering into any mass hysteria regarding the Cybermummy event as some people have suggested to other people's attempts to lose weight etc.  But it is an event that is punctuating my year and therefore provides an opportunity to lose a bit of weight and is a focus for my efforts.  Feeling like I'm doing well is a huge confidence boost.  There is no harm in that whatsoever!!

Listography... 5 Decisions I'm Glad I Made

I do sometimes wonder if my life has been a series of events that were always destined to happen.  My journey seems to have been decided for me and I've walked the path willingly, knowing that the ultimate destination was the place that I always needed to be!

Kate has challenged us to come up with five decisions that we are glad we made...so I'm going to take some credit for taking the forks in the road that have lead me to where I am today.

1: Keeping My Son

When I was pregnant and single, it was suggested by people close to me that I had an abortion.  I even had a clinic recommended to me.  I would have been able to go to university, brush my past under the carpet and start a new life away from the waste of space who was my now ex-boyfriend.  At the Family Planning Clinic when my pregnancy was confirmed, the nurse went straight for the abortion option speech.  I will never forget her writing "will not consider abortion" in big letters across my medical notes when I stated emphatically that I wanted to keep my baby.  She seemed disappointed!  Perhaps she was on commission?  I may have been a young, vulnerable, single teenager ...but I knew that this baby, my Joe, was my destiny!

2: Being Brave Enough to go it Alone

Being 21 and finding myself pregnant with baby number 2, could have made me prepared to settle for the relationship I had found myself in.  I had a partner and a roof over my head and I'm sure I could have done what I needed to do to make it work if I had tried (or given in and accepted my lot).  But instead, I had the guts to find myself a flat to rent and start again on my own when I was 6 months pregnant.  I would never have been happy living like I had been, and my children would not have had a good life had I stayed.  I would have had to compromise who I was and what I wanted.  It was not the easy option to go...but it was the right one.  I don't regret anything though, because I wouldn't be without my daughter Megan for the world.  Another good decision!

3: Ian

Being brave enough to risk a fantastic friendship and making Ian my other half was a tremendous decision.  He has helped me to be the best version of myself I could be.  We've had another three gorgeous children to add to the two beautiful ones we already had.

Recently when we tidied out our garage I unearthed a box filled with cards and letters I had sent to Ian over the years.  From the age of sixteen, when Ian left school, to when we got together at twenty-three, I had regularly written to him.  He had kept every single one.  We were so meant to be together!!  Writing those letters and never letting our relationship fade away was a great decision...because as soon as the time was right we didn't hesitate!

4:  Moving to Shropshire


We lived in a Housing Association flat in Hampshire.  It wasn't a great area to live and I worried about the future of our children.  My sister had just moved to a lovely house in the country and we saw the possibility of a much better lifestyle.  Ian wasn't on a big wage but we worked out we could just about afford a house of our own if we scrimped and saved.  It also meant that Ian had to carry on working down south while we relocated to Shropshire.  We found a lovely three bed semi with a garden for less than it would have cost us to buy the flat we lived in!  As Ian worked shifts, he lived three days with us, returning to work for a further three days and so on.  We only had one car so my sister helped me with school runs and shopping trips when Ian was away.  Eventually Ian found a better paying job nearer to our new house and he came home.  Everything fell into place.  We now have a 4 bedroomed detached house and I count myself extremely lucky!!  All thanks to our decision to become Salopians!!

5: Starting My Blog


I've loved being a wife and a mother, but I've always felt that I needed an outlet for myself.  I've taken courses, done extra A'Levels, volunteered at my kids' schools around the children once they started nursery.  But it was starting my blog last year that has really fulfilled that part of me that has wanted something for myself (without compromising the time spent with Freddy).

I've met some great people, I've done things I would never have dreamt of doing (interviewing Ken Barlow??!!), I've been to some amazing places and I've had unbelievable opportunities!  My personal confidence has grown immensely.  I've met some fellow bloggers already this year and can't wait to meet up with so many others at Cybermummy!  I've had some brilliant products sent to me for review and I'm about to start my Toyology adventure. I've 'met' the lovely #mumentum ladies who are helping me with my weightloss efforts by offering support and encouragement.  Blogging has changed my life quite literally!  What a great decision to click that "create blog" button on Blogger!!

Reasons To Be Cheerful

It's June...I can't believe it's come round so quickly!  I'm vlogging my reasons again this week because I am so excited about my new Cybermummy plans!!  Whereas before I was going to let my husband drive me and stay overnight with Freddy, then pick me up afterwards...I'm now flying solo with Lou as my wingman!!  Check out why on my video along with other reasons why I'm cheerful today!!

Possibly the Bravest Post I've Done...Momentum!

I've decided that the only way I'm going to get motivated enough to really stick at the latest in a long line of failed diet attempts is to open up to everyone.  I want to share what I see when I look in the mirror.  I want to express the feeling of vulnerability and the desire to change.  I want to write a post that inspires me to do it for the long haul.

Since having Freddy I've lost over 3 stone, although the last stone has gone back on and off over the last 12 months.  It is that stone which is my problem.  It is that stone that I want to shake off and put behind me for good.  It is that stone that reminds me that I am weak, that I am undisciplined with my diet and that I am a failure.  It is that stone which terrifies me, taunts me and mocks my attempts.  But it is also the stone that I hide behind.  The one that almost comforts me, as it strips away any expectations.  It enables my gluttony.  It is my feeder.  It tells me "What difference does it make what you eat...you're fat anyway?"  It manipulates, lies and smirks as I eat another piece of cake or two.

For every part of me that wants to change, there is an equal part that fears that change.  It is ridiculous.  But it is that that sabotages my attempts.  Something buried deep inside that doesn't want to give up the greed and the comfort of limitless food.  It holds on tight.  I wish I could unearth why.

When I was younger I was thin.  My eating disorders, my rebellion and my control, maintained a skinny figure.  But I wasn't happy.  I look at photos of me with that body...5ft 11" and sylph-like...and wonder why I wasn't ecstatically happy, confident and in control.  Instead I was a depressed self harmer with no self-esteem who found myself single and pregnant at 18.  We are promised by the media and told by the multi-million dollar diet industry that slim equals happy.  We are told that the secret to happiness is to shed those last few pounds.  We are shown images of smiling women, spinning round in floaty dresses and posing next to giant jeans that they used to wear.  If only life was that simple.

As a Teenager

Pregnancy and the birth of my son turned my life around and put me on the path to where I am now.  My life has become a happy place where I feel content, safe and secure.  My adoring husband is supportive, complimentary, passionate and he loves me regardless of what size I am.  And over the years that we have been together, I have been many sizes!

Yet still this elusive weight related utopia beckons to me.  I want it, I really do.  These pictures show why.

Christmas 2009, and I'm stuffing in Ferrero Rochers in a "How Many Can You Eat In One Minute" contest with my family. I do well in these gluttony based competitions...funny that!

Christmas 2009

My sister got married in February of the following year.  I lost nearly 2 stone in 2 months.  I bought an outfit and some new wardrobe staples in size 16.  Within a few weeks, the new wardrobe I bought was too big.  Unworn size 16 jeggings still languish in my wardrobe.

February 2010

I have yo-yoed since then...stone on, stone off, but I am wearing size 14 clothes now.  The jeans are actually way too big and I always end up looking like a builder...not a good look.  I got brave and bought myself some size 12 jeans for Cybermummy and they fit well.  But they do unnerve me a little...since buying them I've been back to my old binging.  I've put on 5 lbs!

May 2011

I've just embarked on a Thinking Slimmer Slimpod Trial to "Lose 2 Jean Sizes" (available in Autumn) alongside a "Chocoholic Cure" .  The hypnosis MP3's have worked for me before, until my subconscious came along and sabotaged my success.  I had a phone call with Sandra (the founder of Thinking Slimmer) and discussed my 'problem' at length and this latest combination of Slimpods could help me on my way.  I am feeling more empowered.  My other weapon is my Diet Plate which helps immensely with portion control.  It is an excellent tool for making sure you don't over eat at meal times.  I'm also priveleged to be friends with some lovely ladies on Twitter including the lovely Liska who have the MomemTum group.  Support from other women sharing the same experiences is very powerful and motivating.

I'll leave you with the physical embodiment of the extra stone.  My belly.  Five pregnancies and an adulthood of yo-yo diets have resulted in something resembling over handled dough.  It's not attractive and it hangs over my waistband when I sit down.  I want it gone.  Now I've shown everyone what lurks beneath the baggy jumpers...I have a duty to get rid of it.

What lurks beneath!

Cybermummy is so close now!  I want to feel full of confidence as I walk in!  I want to look nice.  I don't want to hide beneath a baggy top.  I was tweeting last night about what to wear...I really want a gorgeous top.  But I don't even know what a gorgeous top would look like.  I hate clothes shopping.  I wish I had a Gok Wan to give me a hand!!  First things first though....diet starts NOW!!!!!

Reasons to be Cheerful

Michelle at Mummy From The Heart is yet again reminding us to be cheerful for those little things in life that make us smile.

1:  I had a lovely lunch date with Louise and her baby son Tala.  I was so proud of Freddy who is so gentle and sweet to his little friend.  He passed him toys and squatted in front of him to talk to him, while little Tala grinned and beamed.  They are going to be great buddies. Freddy was happy to pass on his Graco highchair to Tala, who is just about to start baby led weaning.  I love seeing Fred's baby things getting a new lease of life.

2:  It's half term next week....Yay!!!  It is lovely having my children home.  Plus no school runs for a week...bliss!  I hope we get some good weather!

3:   Cybermummy is only a few weeks away.  I've been making plans with Louise who is also staying at the Hoxton.  We have our travel plans sorted.  We'll not be partying afterwards (the world will probably be safer because of this though) as we are both going to be suffering from having our virtual umbilical cords severed for the first time, and heading back to our kiddies. Please don't mock, we can't help it!!

The last time we went out together was actually my wedding in 1997!  We were a tad tipsy...check out Lou's hair and my see through skirt though!  The world would not be ready for a re-enactment of this!

Michelle has asked us to recommend a new blogger.  I'd like to send you all to go and check out James Spence at jamesspence.net.  He's a proud new dad to a baby boy and one of my fellow 2011 Toyologists.  He draws the most amazing cartoons, and if his review that he entered into the Toyology competition is anything to go by, there will be some amazing posts coming up soon.

Reasons to be Cheerful

I missed last week because I was too ill to a) use the laptop for any length of time or b) feel cheerful enough to find three things to smile about.

This week I am feeling better and that in itself is a reason to be cheerful!

So this week's reasons are:

1: I bought a pair of Size 12 jeans and they fit me!  I don't think I'm where I need to be in my relationship with food. My weight is still fluctuating and I'd like to be a stone lighter, but having the courage to go from the mindset of being a size 16 to a size12 is a real stepping stone in my struggle with my mental body image.  One day I will get on top of my obsession with my weight. But until then, hey, I've gone from a 16 to a 12!!

2: We had a wonderful walk around Ellesmere Lake with the kids.  It is such a lovely place and Freddy has developed a love of trees, dirt and ducks!  He takes such delight in being out and about and his zest for life just makes me smile!

3: Today I met up with the lovely ladies behind three of my favourite blogs.  My friend long time friend Lou from Bloggomy and I, drove to Cheshire Ice Cream Farm to meet up with our newfound blogging buddies Heather from SAHM Loving It and Alyson from Alyson's Blog.  Along with our littlest children, we spent a few hours enjoying the soft play area, having lunch, looking at animals and of course indulging in the mandatory pleasure of eating ice cream!

New Friends and Cute Animals

Exhausted after his fun day!

Meeting up has made me even more excited about Cybermummy.  I loved that we were all exactly how we expected us to be.  I'm sure some people who blog adopt a persona that they will not be able to live up to in real life.  With us though...what you read is what you get!  It was very reassuring to know that Tweeting translates to real life conversations. So I am looking forward to meeting the flesh and blood behind some of my other favourite blogs next month.  Exciting times!

Cybermummy Here I Come

Today I received my email confirmation for my Cybermummy ticket.  It's all official...wooo!  Thank you Graco :)  So now the reality of the situation has sunk in.  I'm going to meet so many of the bloggers I admire, aspire to be like or simply enjoy a chat with.  This means they will be meeting me too...now that's the scary part!  I think it might be time to restart the diet and try to get into shape, so I feel confident about walking into a room full of people.  The wobbly bits really won't help me feel good about myself.  I'll be stressing about what to wear...I live in jeans, but is that appropriate attire when in the company of the ex-PM's Missus ??  Probably not!

Seeing someone for the very first time is a magical moment when in just 3 seconds we make a subconscious judgment on them...the first impression.  It's funny...in our blogging world we know intimate details about each other.  We know about each others' children,  marriages, hobbies, home lives, heartbreaks and triumphs.  We've tweeted and chatted (albeit within the confines of 140 characters).  We've shared secrets, dreams and hopes.  How this will translate into face to face contact is going to be like a social experiment on a grand scale.  Will knowing that I was a self harming anorexic teenage single mother colour your judgment of who I am now?  Will you already have a pre-conceived idea of me...will I live up to it, good or bad.  Sitting on a laptop, tapping away on my keyboard, I don't really have to worry about the fact that my words are being spewed out across the internet to a potentially incalculable  audience (oh how I wish the incalculable masses all read my blog...that'd give my pageviews a much needed boost!)  It's just me and my ramblings.  It's only when you stop and really think about the power of the internet that you get that jittery feeling inside.  The OMG  people are actually reading this....reading this AND commenting!  That's powerful stuff!  However, in the face to face environment of a conference, I can't hide behind my virtual self.  It's all in real time...there's no delete button in real life.  If I utter some nonsensical jibberish I can't take it back!  I can't Edit Undo if I make a monumental screw up!  It's a case of what you see is what you get...no amount of photo uploads, fancy fonts and meme entries are going to help me on the day!

I take comfort in the fact that most of us mummy bloggers are going to be in the same boat...having to live up to our virtual identities.  It is going to be wild.  I was chatting today to @notesfromhome on Twitter.  She was worried about eliciting odd looks from random people whilst trying to work out who is part of the conference.   We decided we should make a secret gesture, a sign to signal your membership to fellow Mummy Bloggers.  Like the Stone Mason's Secret Handshake...only more glam and girly!  How about a Cybermummy hair swish???  It could work.  They'd be hundreds of wonderful women descending on The Brewery in London all frantically swishing their do's to announce their arrival.  It'd look like an advert for Pantene!

One thing is for sure I need a name badge or a T-Shirt emblazoned with my blog name...that is unless Graco decide to send me in an outfit fashioned on the Symbio Travel System with a Raincover on my head.  Which I would be prepared to do for my lovely sponsors!!!  

One thing's for certain though, Cybermummy promises to be an amazing experience with inspirational women, informative workshops and motivational speeches.  In all seriousness I feel absolutely honoured to be a part of it.  I can't wait to meet fellow bloggers...those who I already know and love, and completely new ones!  It is a very exciting prospect.

I have one question though....do we get lunch???  Or should I be planning to pack a pasty and a Mars Bar to tide me over till tea time!

Cybermummy Meet and Greet

I've just seen Metal Mummy post a meet and greet bio and linking it to Mummy's Shoes's blog.  So as I am a Cybermummy 2011 attendee I thought I should copy!!


I'm attending as a Graco Ambassador, thanks to the lovely people at Graco following my win in their Symbio Advocacy Competition.  I'm really excited about learning how to take my blog to the next level, and it'll be amazing to meet many of my blogging inspirations and cyber friends in real life.  What an experience it promises to be!


Name: Wendy McDonald


Blog: Inside the Wendy House


Twitter: @wendymcd83


Height: 5' 11 1/2" (will I be the tallest blogger I wonder??)


Hair: Long dark brown and a little unmanageable (with a smattering of grey that I refuse to dye!)


Eyes: Green (or possibly 'ditch water'??)


Likes: Being a SAHM, horror films, cheese, cake, cheesecake, live music, being a vegetarian, big TVs, Disney, sunshine, family days out, Indian Take Aways, having a good cry at films!


Dislikes: Insects,  Student Finance and other ridiculous bureaucratic idiocies, the fact I can't dance, dried fruit, polystyrene *shudders*.

I'm a Graco Ambassador and I'm going to Cybermummy!

It's Friday again so here is my post for A Calm Zoned Kid aka my 8 year old daughter Kizzy's meme!  We have to submit a post and a pic of something "fab" we have done, achieved or made...to celebrate the fabulous moments in our lives!

This week has been a good one.  I've won a few prizes, I've got a few reviews in the pipeline and my family have made me proud and happy for lots of different reasons.

I've also restarted my Thinking Slimmer Slimpod hypnotherapy and feel certain I can lose a stone!

But my Fab Friday entry is:

Today I heard I had won my Graco Symbio Ambassador Competition.  I've worked really hard since November reviewing the Symbio pushchair (check out the page tab to see links to my campaign).  I've roped in all the family to help me and we have had some fun!  It feels wonderful to have my efforts rewarded and to establish myself a little bit more into the blogosphere!

As my prize I become a Graco Ambassador, receive £500, another brand new pushchair The Fusio and a ticket to Cybermummy 2011!

Thank you to everyone who watched my videos, read my posts, joined my FB page or looked at my photos! Thanks to my singers, my dancer, my story writer (Kizzy!), my director & editor for some films, my racers, my guest reviewers, my puppeteers, my singer/songwriter/guitarist and my forever supportive and tolerant family....but mostly thanks to Freddy !  Love you all xxx