The BritMums Blog

Blogger of the week + 10 must-reads

Blogger of the week...we just love this opportunity to showcase the talents of a blogger who has lit up the blogosphere with his or her glow. And boy do we have a cracker this week!

This particular Blogger of the Week has created a video documentary of CyberMummy11 which has even gotten a certain former Prime Minister's wife online and commenting. We've all gotten a kick out of the characters used to represent various bloggers, in particular, the figurine that was portraying Jay (@cosmicgirlie) had all of us doing a double take!

Blogger of the Week + 10 must-reads

It's time to shake off the "Cyberlag" that many of us are feeling and get back to reality! Right? Right! What better way than to get back to our weekly routine of highlighting bloggers who are shaking up the Blogosphere? We love highlighting bloggers who are making us sit up and take notice.

The BritMums Blogger of the Week has been making us sit up and take notice for some time now, actually. She's a prolific blogger who is beloved by all as she's a truly genuine and lovely person both in the flesh and on the internet. Her positive attitude, smiling disposition and generosity are second to none. She was a live-blogger extraordinaire this past weekend at CyberMummy and can always be counted on to support events going on in the blogging community. Who is she? None other than...

Silent Sunday

Blogger(s) of the Week: The CyberMummy Live Bloggers!

This week there's something special going on. What is it? Hmmmm...I don't know...I just haven't heard much about it I don't think!

HA!

Yes, that's right, on Saturday there will be approximately 400 attendees gathering together to celebrate blogging at CyberMummy11.

Countdown to CyberMummy: Top Tips for Survival

Two more sleeps until we all get to revel in the joy of blogging, chatting and having fun as a blogging community.

There has been a load of tweeting going on about everything from what to wear and how people are arriving to nerves and wibbles from first-timers and veterans alike. To quell some of those nerves and wibbles, Karin from Cafe Bebe has put together some top tips for survival at CyberMummy. Have a view of these tips and get yourself ready for an amazing weekend!

Countdown to #CyberMummy11: what are you doing with the kids?

Only three days until the UK's largest mum blogging conference, CyberMummy (!)  I've had my hair cut, my chin hair zapped and I know what I'm  going to wear (jeans and a top that looks like a Matisse painting, if you really want to know).

But what about the kids?

Hubby is working from home on Friday, so he can collect them from school. I'm fairly confident he knows where their classrooms are. I'm not as confident they will be healthfully nourished.

While I was doing last minute CyberMummy preparations, I overheard heard the girls talking over breakfast:

Countdown to #CyberMummy11: A critic's view

Iota Manhattan is one of my favourite bloggers; she's candid, tells a good story and has the ability to make you think about larger issues while still making you laugh. I asked her to write about her feelings about coming to CyberMummy:

Susanna asked me if I had time to write a blog post: Countdown to CyberMummy. I'm amazed. Why would anyone want to know what I think about CyberMummy? I mean, I'm the blogger who last year said she was going to run an alternative conference, where we'd all wear our yoga bottoms, eat chocolate cake, and search for our inner bloggers. And this year, there was a moment a few weeks ago when I said publicly that I was thinking of selling my ticket and not coming.

Have you written about #CyberMummy11? Add your post to our Linky

It's Monday morning and a mere five days until the UK's largest parent blogging conference! We know how much you are enjoying the preparation for CyberMummy11 and many of you have written about it. You've shared what you're wearing, talked about your nerves and worries and are right proper excited about it all.

Countdown to #CyberMummy11: Crumbs attending for the very first time

In our ongoing Countdown to CyberMummy11, we hear from Claire McDonald who will be attending her very first Cybermummy. She is a CM virgin. We promise to be gentle with you Claire!

This time last year I wasn't on Facebook. Or twitter.

So it's pretty crazy that this year I'm going to Cybermummy. As a speaker.

The countdown continues: The 12 things to bring to #cybermummy11

CyberMummy is almost here, but getting ready for the big day is easier than you think. Here, CM founders Jennifer, Sian and Susanna give their hit list of what to bring on the day. 

1. Business cards – You’ll be handing out loads and here’s a tip: write down a note to yourself on the back of other people’s cards to jog your memory when you’re back home. (I’m always grateful when going through a stack of card I find little notes like “met at lunch” or “writes about kids’ clothes” or whatever.) If you don’t have cards already, get quickie ones made at a copy shop or print some out yourself.

Countdown to CyberMummy11: From Moscow to London, why I'm coming

More excitement in the build-up to CyberMummy which is only eight days away! Today we're braving the frozen tundra of Russia to share some lovely thoughts from the profound Potty Mummy. She'll be fresh off the plane from Moscow and assures us that she'll be sporting a fur-lined bra and sheerling-lined wellies when she touches down in Blighty to attend CyberMummy11.

Blogger of the Week + 10 must-reads

This week we're celebrating all things CyberMummy so it really seems only fitting to throw the spotlight on the individuals behind it's creation. They've been blogging for years, changing the blogosphere in the process and have managed to orchestrate not one but soon-to-be two blogging conferences that have celebrated brilliance in blogging.

Back in 2009, following a Live Chat post-BlogHer '09 on the then, British Mummy Bloggers network, the idea of having a conference of "our" own was put forth, seconded and thirded. A seed was planted and Jennifer Howze, Sian To and Susanna Scott decided to make that seed grow into something amazing; the first blogging conference of it's kind in the UK. Through hours of hard work, meetings upon meetings, train journeys, coffees and probably a few grey hairs, CyberMummy 2010 was born.

Countdown to CyberMummy11: Expat Mum flies home

NINE DAYS UNTIL #CyberMummy11! We want to celebrate the amazing bloggers attending this year's event,  including a very special blogger who is flying "across the pond" and was there when it all started. Please give it up for Expat Mum, Toni Hargis...

Countdown to CyberMummy11...

It's just ten days until the UK's biggest parent blogging event of the year.

Whether you are so excited you can't keep still or perfectly petrified (maybe a little bit of both?) -- you have to admit it's going to be a blogging bash.

We are supporting the conference here at BritMums HQ with daily posts leading up to the event.

While on Twitter this week, be sure to share your thoughts, ideas and wibbles by using the hashtag #CyberMummy11. 

We want you all to join in the count down to CyberMummy11.

Ready?

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six... 

-Susanna (A Modern Mother)

 

BMB and CyberMummy at @sarahbrownuk’s book launch

The first clue that this wasn’t your average book launch came as we arrived. “Don’t forget to use our hashtag – #SBBlackDoor”, two press people told us as we entered the Secret Garden at Shoreditch House last Wednesday.

The second came from the author herself, who kept her speech short, announcing, “"I won't speak long because this is a tweetup and we must get back to tweeting."

Representing mum bloggers everywhere at the launch of Sarah Brown’s new book Behind the Black Door last week was founder of BMB Susanna Scott (@amodernmother), myself (@JHowze), our CyberMummy partner Sian To (@mummytips) and Livingwithkids’s Liz Jarvis (@livingwithkids).

Blogger of the Week and 10 Must-Tweets

Another week, another brilliant blogger to draw your attention to. This blogger is a London based Magazine Features Writer in her OFFICIAL capacity who combines her talent in writing Children's Product reviews, running a busy household and being an outstanding Mummy to an energetic toddler and delightful new tiddler! She's wondering if there are more hours in the day and I'm wondering how she manages to do it all and still look so fab. This week's Blogger of the Week...Mummy's Little Monkey author Jacqui or @Jax2000 as many of you know her.

Tips for finding a brand to send you to CyberMummy

Our CyberMummy partner Sian has just posted some great tips on her site about how to target, pitch and secure a sponsor. (Hint: Don't offer to get their logo tattooed on your arm...or elsewhere.

In fact, these suggestions work for finding a sponsor for any kind of project: know what you want out of the deal, be clear and upfront when pitching, target brands that you want to work with and be specific about what you provide them.

Get Sian's step-by-step advice on getting sponsored for CyberMummy.

-- Jennifer Howze