Once Again, I Thank You

Last week we were all really poorly.

It's not often I take to my bed with illness. I think as a mother you have a duty to 'soldier on' regardless. It's something that programmed into you the moment you give birth. You have someone totally dependent on you so illness isn't an option.

Last week though, I was defeated. I spent 2 or 3 days in bed feeling dreadful with this nasty virus that is doing the rounds. I didn't have the energy to blog, I barely had the energy to take myself to the loo. I'm still struggling to recover from it even now.

Anyway, it seems last week The Mad Blog Awards 2013 nominations opened and I missed all the excitement and chatter. I really can't believe it's that time of year again. I think they are earlier this year as I remember it still being at the open nominations stage when Tiny Ched was born 28th March. I was so lucky to be nominated for the Best Pregnancy Blog and Best Baby Blog and was completely blown away when I won the latter.

I checked out the nominations so far this year and someone has very kindly nominated me for Best Baby Blog again (I'm still eligible having a baby born after 1st Feb 2012). So this is a post to say THANK YOU, whoever you are. I know you're not my Mum as I haven't told her yet!

I'm not one for begging asking for votes, it's not my style. Some people do and that's their choice but it's just not something that comes naturally to me. If you enjoy my blog and wish to vote for me then you can do so by clicking on the button below or by visiting The Mad Blog Awards vote page here. There are tonnes of amazing blogs out there though so go ahead...make someone happy. I've still not cast my votes yet - it's going to be tough this year!

Nominations close at midnight 18th February 2013. 

Happiness Is...Being On Twitter On A Friday Night

My blog has been seriously neglected lately and, for that, I sincerely apologise to all my lovely readers.

Life with a new baby has been a blur. The past 6 months since his arrival have just flown. I honestly thought time went fast when Mini Cheddar was born over 3 years ago but now, the arrival of Tiny Ched has made each day whizz by in a blur of happiness.

Talking of happiness blurs. I'm very happy today.

I shouldn't be! I only had about 4.5 hours sleep last night. No, TC is still sleeping through.

I didn't sleep because at 9.55pm last night I received this tweet:

I had to pinch myself.

Seriously.

I should have been in a swanky London hotel enjoying the company of some fabulous bloggers and friends but I chose not to go. This was for two reasons if I'm completely honest. I have a baby who is exclusively breastfed (and I live in North Wales)...plus, I never in a million years thought I'd actually win an award.

I'm still shaking.

So, I'm just writing this quick THANK YOU to all my wonderful readers who voted for me. I honestly can't believe my little blog has won an award. I can proudly say I am 'Best Baby Blog'. Also thanks to Sally and the whole team at The MAD Blog Awards and to the lovely team at Emma's Diary for sponsoring the award (and collecting it on my behalf).

The last couple of weeks have been quite up and down for me so I've not been around - I'll be able to blog about it all soon - so this has really made my day (and week, month, year etc.)

A proper thank you post and details will follow but I just wanted to let you all know I'm still alive and regular blogging will commence shortly.

Thank you once again - and thank you from this little guy too...

Heather xx

The MAD Blog Awards Carnival - Home

It's a great honour to be a finalist again in this years MAD Blog Awards and it's a great honour to get the chance to host a carnival of blog posts from some of this years amazing finalists.

Being a stay at home mum means I do spend a lot of my time at home and, as my name says so, I love it. So what better subject to talk about here on my blog.

Becky over at Baby Budgeting gives us all a great idea to make homemade craft boxes for our kids. As she explains, these are boxes of POTENTIAL which really give our children the creative outlet they need. I know I'll certainly be putting one together for the summer holidays - perfect for these endless rainy days we've been having!

Becky also has a great post over on her Family Budgeting blog where she shares her top food storage tips to try and reduce the average families yearly food wastage bill. Who would have ever known that keeping an apple with potatoes stops them budding? I certainly didn't. So many great tips I'll be using from now on.

Had enough of all the rain we've been having recently? Well, head over to Transatlantic Blonde and allow Ryan to transport you to a 24 hour heatwave in home of Glasgow. She shares some superb photos of 'Blondie Boy' giving his new paddling pool its first outing. He's so cute!

Want to learn how to avoid having your breakfast at home served by a dragon? Actually Mummy shares her insights into the 5 things she's learned from her parents in this hilarious insight from a child's perspective of life at home. 'How to argue' is definitely one we can all relate to. I have the flounce to a tee ;)

Maggy from Red Ted Art shares a guest post on her blog with super straight forward instructions on how to make a fabric noticeboard to brighten up your home. Having looked for a nice noticeboard for my kitchen for a while I know that they can sometimes be expensive so utilising an old frame to make one of these is a perfect idea.

I'd never thought of 'laying the table' as a learning chore until now and Elaine's post over at Littlesheep Learning really makes you understand the importance of this task for children. There is even a link to a laminated place setting mat which will really aid children in laying the table.

Emma and Kerry over at Science Sparks show us how to transform flower colours with transpiration! If you have some white carnations (or some celery!) then why not head over to their blog and see just what amazing colours you can create with science...and some food dye. Brilliant!

If you are moving or thinking of moving then Ruth from Dorky Mum will set your heart a flutter with this lovely sentimental look at how a house becomes a home. She has put her 2 bed flat with scuffed paintwork but full of love up for sale in this really touching post.

Mirka at All Baby Advice shares a couple of heart warming home videos of 'Sisters love' and 'Olivia at 3 weeks old'. I should warn you though, anyone feeling remotely broody should avoid this post. Actually, just go for it...just be prepared for your ovaries to twitch slightly.

Last, but by no means least, Multiple Mummy Kerry shares her story of how she came to discover the amazing Home Start UK who empowered her as a mother. I can't even imagine coping with 4 month old twins and a 19 month old at the same time. Kerry shows that there is always help for families when it's really needed.




Please take time to visit the blogs and show some love to these amazing MAD Blog finalists.

I'm Really MAD...Again!

I took a blog break last week.

Yes, it was only a week but Tiny Ched and I were full of cold and my freelance work had been catching up with me a bit. I've also been off Twitter and Facebook, choosing to lose myself in the escapism of the photographic loveliness of Instagram instead.

I was completely unaware of something major happening in the world of parent bloggers last week.

The MAD Blog Awards finalists had been announced!

I didn't have a clue.

I wasn't expecting to be shortlisted. I thought it was sheer fluke I was up for Best New Blog last year.

So, imagine my surprise when the very lovely Katie from Mummy Daddy and Me Makes Three (she's up for some awards, check her out - she rocks!) wished me congrats on Instagram and asked if I was going to the Awards Ceremony.

I was drinking Yakult at the time (yes, I'm THAT rock 'n roll) and it almost came out of my nose! I headed over to the MAD Awards website, clicked on Best Pregnancy Blog and low and behold there was my name. Wow!

I was over the moon!

Then, almost 24 hours later I got a tweet from the MAD team with a #ff to the Best Baby Blog finalists and mentioning me.

Eh? *confused face*

I went to write a tweet back saying I was 'Pregnancy' but before I did I checked the site as I'd not had chance to go through all the finalists at that point...I'd just headed straight to Best Pregnancy. Sure enough, there I was down for Best Baby Blog too. My baby is only coming up on 7 weeks old. Double Wow!

So, this post is to say a huge....

THANK YOU

to each and every one of you who voted for me.

I only have a very tiny number of close friends and family who know about my blog and a small number of followers compared to my fellow finalists so it means such a lot to me that you guys got me through.

The fellow bloggers in my categories are all amazing and I'm feeling like the donkey in a race of pure thoroughbreds. I'm quite sad that a lot of bloggers that I voted for who I assumed would easily make the finals haven't.

I'm under no delusions of grandeur, I haven't a hope of winning and, you know me, I'm not one for asking for votes but hey I'm ecstatic that I've made enough of an impact in the blogging world to make it through to a second consecutive final. I've only been blogging less than 17 months so you have no idea what it means to me.

I love you guys so much.

Thank you once again for making me MAD. Not often you can say that without sarcasm!

Vote for your winners above

Tiny Ched and I say THANK YOU!

Jugs Like Jordan

Just incase you're in any doubt...THIS ISN'T ME!
Photo credit

If you've found this blog post via a Google search of the title, then I'm afraid you're going to be bitterly disappointed...and shame on you! *shakes head and tuts loudly*

Yes I'm breast feeding again.

I breast fed Mini Cheddar and was 'large' when my milk came in but jeez...this time...

This time my jugs were epic.

I don't think it helps that Baby E is a lazy little bugger. When my milk came in after I had MC, every time she fed it was like it was the last feed she'd ever have in her life. Baby E just sleeps and sleeps (and no, I'm not really complaining) and so my boobs were just throbbing and huge until my body established the whole 'supply and demand' scenario.

It's wasn't sexy, it was just plain awful. I had backache and I couldn't sleep properly. Why anyone would choose to have norks this humongous I'll never know.

I'm dreading post-breast feeding. After these bad boys go what am I going to be left with?

Spaniels ears?

Fruit Winders?

Bungee boobs?

Rocks in socks?

Whatever it is, it ain't going to be pretty but it will be worth it. Feeding my boy is something to treasure - that closeness, that bond...I love it.

So what if my tits head south and start poking out under my waistband...at least they will be like that with good reason.

In other, totally random news. I have found out I've been nominated for a couple of MAD Blog Awards. Last year I mad it through as a finalist for the Best New Blog which was amazing. I think this year I've been put forward for Best Baby Blog (not sure how as my baby is only a week old) and Best Pregnancy Blog - Yaye! Thank you SO much to whoever voted for me.

If you want to cast your votes for your favourite blogs then click on the MAD button below and make your favourite bloggers go a bit MAD. Feel free to throw me a nomination to if you enjoy my ramblings. My blog address is: http://sahmlovingit.blogspot.co.uk/

Turns Out I Am Mad After All

Well, who would have thought that little old me who posted her first crap blog post called 'New Year New Blog' on 31st December 2010 would be sat here less than 5 months later saying "I'm a Mad Blog Award Finalist"?

That's the news I was alerted to via Twitter on Tuesday.  Eek!

Sorry for the delay in this post but we've been away down south to Hampshire for the last 2 days to visit Peppa Pig World (more on that next week!).

I know everyone will be saying this but to say I'm shocked is a total understatement.

I actually blogged about the Mad Awards when the nominations came out and I found out what I had been put forward for.  I never thought I'd get through be an actual finalist and to be nominated for 'Best New Blog' is something I'm actually extremely proud of.  Jeez, sorry...it's beginning to sound like an acceptance speech!

Anyway, I just wanted to write this post to say a sincere and mahoooooosive "THANK YOU" to each and every one of you who voted for me.

My family and close friends (apart from one) aren't aware of this blog and I'm not on Facebook so to know I've been nominated by fellow bloggers and new friends is completely overwhelming. It still hasn't really sunk in. If I could kiss and hug you all personally I would, even though you probably wouldn't want me to because I smell after being in the car most of the day and eating Burger King for lunch!

I'm sad that some of the people that I originally voted for in the first round didn't make it through but pleased that others did.

I'm up against some seriously stiff competition in the 'Best New Blog' category but just to make it through is amazing.

Remember to vote for your favourite blogs before the closing date of 14th June 2011.  You can do so by clicking on the links within this post or the badge at the top right of my blog.

Thank you again xx

I'm Not MAD...I'm A Bit Sad

I wasn't going to do this.  I told myself I wouldn't blog about it but the more and more I think about it the more I feel I have to.

Basically, the MAD Blog Awards are underway - they celebrate the best parenting bloggers in the UK. When the nomination form went live last week I saw posts popping up asking for nominations and I felt a little dubious about it. Maybe it's because I'm a new blogger or maybe it's just because it came on the back of the whole Tots 100 controversy.

For those of you who didn't hear (although you'd have to be on another planet not to) there was a big hooha - I've just discovered hooha is also a word used for vagina, I did not know that - anyway, yes there was a big hooha about a lot of people dropping way down in the Tots 100 ranking last week. Some people took to their blogs whilst others took to Twitter.

A few of you know that I felt extremely uncomfortable about the whole thing.

Why? Because I'd only been blogging 3 months and I went up 200 places from 262 to 62 so I made it inside the top 100.  I know I should have felt happy but I didn't, I felt rotten. I felt awful because there are so many amazing blogs ranked way below me that should be above me. Yes I've worked hard on my blog, I take time out to talk to people, I try and join in with great memes as well as ramble on with my own posts (not always poo related) but I just don't feel like I deserve to be above some of the people on there.  I actually lost sleep over it. I know, I worry too much!

I'm not a competitive person in the slightest and I think the rankings and ratings brings out a side sometimes that I just don't like and I just didn't feel happy with the whole situation. I got over it after a few days though and moved on.

THEN, the first taster of who had been nominated for the MADs came out on Monday and I was on there. I was alerted via Twitter and excitedly clicked straight on the Best New Blog....I was there.  I was happy. This was the one I was kind of hoping I may get nominated for. Just to be nominated was enough, I don't expect to go on and win it.  I struggled to vote for this myself as there are so many amazing new blogs out there so I voted for the one that, when I first started blogging I never realised was a relatively new blog. I think that's the sign of a great new blog.

Then I started looking through the other nominations to check the people I'd voted for were on there. I was on quite a few of them too. Anyone who knows me in real life knows I can be a little insecure and I shy away from attention, hence my feelings on the Tots 100 ranking.  Maybe it stems from my Dad being on the local Carnival Committee when I was young and to 'make up the numbers' he made me enter Miss Mynydd Isa one year and I slipped over walking in front of the judges! Who knows? Damn, I should have saved that story for another post!  I've also blogged about my issues with shying away from attention here.

I sat in stunned silence and felt that awkward uncomfortable feeling like I did with the Tots 100. My real life friend Alyson over at Alysons Blog has taken the decision to remove herself from the nominations.  I thought about following her lead but I don't think I need to. I think I just need to be open about my feelings on the awards I have been nominated for.

Looking through the nominations I think there are some AMAZING blogs on there, blogs that really truly deserve to be there. There are also some blogs that I don't think should be on there (me included) but that's just my opinion, I guess these awards can be interpreted in different ways. Looking through some of the categories I've been nominated for makes me a little bit sad (an embarrassed sad) if I'm honest.

This is what I have been put forward for:

Best Family Fun Blog (blogs that inspire to get out and have fun with our families)
I don't think I should be in this category.  I did do a post about Mini Cheddar learning through play and have done a few others and some Gallery and Silent Sunday photos about it but that's it.  My blog doesn't inspire people to get out and have fun with their families - there are so many great blogs that do.

Best Family Life Blog (blogs that don't fit into a niche like craft or cooking etc.)
I guess I could just about see why I'd been nominated in this but the list of nominations in amazing and there are some great family life blog examples there.

Best New Blog (blogs that have made a big impression before their first birthday)
This was the one that I hoped I was nominated for so THANK YOU.  I've only been blogging 3 and a half months and I know that a lot of people are amazed when I tell them that - that is the biggest compliment ever.

Best Writer (blogs that we love for their writing)
This made me feel uncomfortable.  Seems whoever voted me for this loves their poo posts!  Thank you but honestly, I'm no George Orwell. There are some amazing people out there who write brilliantly.

Blogger Of The Year (all round blogger who moves, inspires and entertains us)
Well, I'm clearly moving people with my poo posts so why not?  No, seriously...I've only been blogging a short while, there are some amazing bloggers that I adore out there so if you're stuck for who to go for I can point you in the right direction!

Most Inspiring Blogger (those who inspire us with their words, courage or amazing spirit)
Like Alyson, this was the one that made me feel the most uncomfortable about the whole thing when I saw it. I should actually laugh - I'm not inspiring at all.  I mentioned this on Twitter and the lovely Claire over at The Grumpinator - Wean Machine said it was her who nominated me for this.  I was really touched but asked her why.  She emailed me with a lovely response but still, I honestly don't feel worthy of this.  Thank you again though Claire.  There are some incredibly inspiring bloggers out there, there are bloggers who I sit in awe of at their lives and their writing and bloggers who despite hardship, illness and family troubles are always positive and it really shines through in their blogs.

Post Of The Year (a post which celebrates a stroke of genius and stands out in the last 12 months)
I was honestly a little chuffed that my (I'll say it again as you can never have too much poo in one post) poo post made the list!  I've actually done a follow-up here if you fancy reading it (are you mad?).  I too voted for the post that made me smile the most so I'm glad that someone saw fit to smile enough to vote for it.

Best Pre-School Fun Blog (celebrate blogs with children aged 1-4)
Well, I guess my blog fits into that category so I don't have much of an argument for that one do I?  The lovely Liska at New Mum Online voted for me on this one I believe.  Thank you again Liska. Again though, there are far more worthy blogs than mine.


What I'm trying to say in a long-winded way, as usual, is that you should vote for the blogs that you truly 100% think deserve these awards.  Please PLEASE vote wisely. The blogs rely on the amount of nominations they receive to take them through to the next round so I'm hoping that the right blogs go through.

I'd also like to say a massive THANK YOU to those who have voted for me - even though a few of the nominations don't sit comfortably with me that doesn't mean I'm not extremely grateful.  I haven't divulged my blog to my friends and family so it's nice to know that people who actually read my blog and haven't met me in real life have voted for me.

If you haven't voted yet, take time to think about who you really care about in the blogging world.  You can use the link below (or the one on the side of my blog) to go through and vote.