On Saturday I did something really exciting! Almost 2 and a half years after writing my very first blog post, I went to my very first blogging conference. Blog Camp Birmingham.
When I started my blog I didn’t anticipate that I’d be writing it more than 2 years later. I was anxious about my pregnancy and wanted an outlet. Somewhere to write down my thoughts and feelings. And a blog seemed like the perfect place; a modern take on the traditional diary.
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The Love of Blogging
Back then, I didn’t realise how much my little virtual journal would become such a huge part of my life. Didn’t expect to look forward to writing my posts so much. To get such a buzz out of taking the photographs, to illustrate my words.
And a couple of years on I can say — with some conviction — that my blog isn’t going to be discarded any time soo. Nor left unwritten or taken down from the World Wide Web.
It’s such a fantastic creative outlet and I just can’t imagine it not being there now.
As my blog has matured, a whole host of other exciting opportunities have begun to occur. The chance to work with interesting brands; to create lovely posts inspired by their products or services.
Incredible Opportunities
We’ve been given the incredible opportunity to go on a little family holiday to Bluestone Resort in Wales. We had a fantastic day out Folly Farm — again as a direct result of my blog.
And I have met some really lovely people. Through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Fathers, mothers, bloggers, non bloggers, bloggers.
Plus I have a group of very special blogging friends who I regularly chat to on-line and — as of yesterday — in person!
So yesterday, I swallowed my nerves (and wow, was I nervous), caught the train and headed off to Blog Camp Birmingham.
The event was run by The Tots100; a network for mum and dad bloggers, with more than 8,000 members, reaching 10m UK readers each year.
Throughout the day I learned about Pro-Blogging, Metrics, Vlogging and how to be Camera Ready.
I met my lovely ‘virtual’ friends.
I chatted to some of the most influential movers and shakers of the UK blogging world. And left with a head full of ideas and inspiration.
I fell into this blogging malarkey completely by chance.
When I signed up for my free WordPress blog and wrote my very first post I had no idea that there was an entire sub-culture that went with it.
And since that first diary entry I’ve discovered new friends — real ones not ‘virtual'(!) —new skills, and a possible new career in the offing.
Amazing what you find when you’re not really looking, isn’t it?
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
ah sounds like you had a really great time, gutted i couldn’t make it but look forward to meeting you in Juneat britmums!! x
It was brilliant Amy — so wish you’d been there. Really good to listen to the full time, paid bloggers talking about the industry. I picked up lots of tips! :) x
I followed along on Twitter and it looked so exciting. It’s strange, but from reading your blog, I expect you to wear yellow all the time :) I’m off to BlogOn in Manchester on Saturday and I hope it’s just as good x
Aaah it was so good Rachel! I was terrified in the morning and nearly bailed out — I don’t mind admitting — but I’m so glad I swallowed the nerves and went along! So far out of my comfort zone but brilliant to learn some new things and best was meeting all my lovely blogging friends!! I’m not going to BlogOn — I have a Britmums ticket and am toying with going to Blogtacular — are you going to those? Can’t wait to meet you :)
I’m going to BritMums too so I will see you there. I would love to have gone to Blogtacular but I’m on holiday when it’s on. It looks like the perfect conference for creative bloggers though.
Brilliant! So I’ll get to meet you in June! :) Yep — Blogtacular looks perfect for a creative head like me. Got to work out if I can justify the expense! If I hadn’t paid for my Britmums ticket — and had a sponsor — I wouldn’t even be thinking about it! One thing at a time though ;) x
So great to meet you there and have a big hug!! You are just as lovely in person as I imagined!! So glad you enjoyed it too. Always fab to meet up and chat with some lovely bloggers :) Jess xx
Aaah pet — it was SO good to finally meet you!!! My blogging partner in crime ;) So glad I didn’t bottle it and actually went. Looking forward to Britmums now! x
What a wonderful event to participate in! I’m like you – I had no idea that this little corner of the internet to upload sonogram images would turn into 10 years of deep and amazing friendships… and even paid writing jobs!
It was fab Sadia! So goos to finally meet the people I’ve been chatting to online. And incredibly inspiring to meet bloggers who have had financial success through their blogs. Can’t wait to go to the next one! :) x
It looked so amazing! I just hope when the next one comes along I have enough courage to go! #TwinklyTuesday
It was brilliant! I was SO nervous and nearly bottled out but I’m so glad I went :) Roll on Britmums :)
It sounds like the event was awesome! I wish I could have gone tooooo. I think I blog for the same reasons as you, it really is a wonderful outlet, isn’t it? Ah it must have been so lovely to put faces to names finally! Mim x #twinklytuesday
It was really good! I think I needed to go to a smaller even before Britmums. I know I would have found that incredibly overwhelming, had I not gone and met a few of my fave bloggers beforehand at BlogCamp. Blogging is an amazing outlet!! Can’t imagine life without my little blog now! x
I wish you’d been there too! I can’t wait to meet you!! It was such a fun day — only made better by finally meeting some of my lovely friends! Can’t wait to give you a big hug at Britmums!! :)
Wow, good on you for going Caro, especially when it was, as you say, so far out of your comfort zone. Sometimes you just need to dive in and swallow your fear.
Thanks for sharing this. I was wondering how it went.
#TwinklyTuesday
I absolutely agree Fionnuala! Sometimes, facing your fear is the best thing you can do. I would have missed out on such a great day — and probably not had the courage to go to future events — if I hadn’t swallowed my nerves last Saturday! x
It is amazing! It’s so nice to see what you can achieve with blogging. I’d love to go to blog camp and meet you and my other virtual blogging buddies, sounds like such fun. And to work with brands would be amazing. Congrats on all your achievements. #TwinklyTuesday
Incredible isn’t it? I certainly hadn’t anticipated it when I wrote my first post. It’s such a brilliant world, that’s for sure! :)
Sounds like you had a fab day and it’s always lovely when you can finally put a face to the name #Twinklytuesday xx
Totally agree :) People look different in real life than they do online, so it’s so nice to meet everyone for real! x
I’m still to make my first blogger event and really hope it happens this year. Baby #2 is going to get in the way a little bit for the next few months (blinking baby ;)). It’s great to hear that you found it so useful and have come away with lots of inspirarion x #TwinklyTuesday
Aaah first things first pet :) Plenty of time for you to come to the blogging events!! Got to get your Tiny Tinbox Traveller #2 born first!! :) x
Would have loved to have gone and the Tots Bristol bootcamp is sadly on a Friday so that’s out of the window. I did go to Blog On Cymru earlier this year and that was really enjoyable. You learn so much when you’re in a room full of other bloggers don’t you. I just wish everything wasn’t based out of Wales. #twinklytuesday
Aaah that’s a real shame. I’ve spoken to a few others who are disappointed the Bristol one is on a Friday too. It’s a real shame you’ll be missing out. Hopefully there will be more events popping up in Wales x
Awe lovely! Congratulations on your long-standing blog – it’s such an achievement! I really so much wanted to go on Saturday but wasn’t quick enough with the tickets! I’m glad it was a fabulous day and you got to meet up with some community blogging pals – will see you there next year! #TwinklyTuesdays
Aaah thanks so much Yvette! Wow — it’s funny for someone to say ‘long standing’! As I only nought my domain name and went self-hosted in January, it still seems like it’s a brand new blog!! Thanks so much and — yes — hope to see you next year :) x
Sounds like a great time you had and it must have been so nice to meet your virtual friends in person! I’m wondering now if I’ll ever get to go to one of these events! #twinklytuesday
Carolyn
Aaah it was SO much fun! The best thing about the day was definitely meeting up with my blogging friends and being able to chat to them in person. I’d definitely recommend it! :)
So glad you enjoyed BlogCamp – it was a great day wasn’t it and was so lovely to meet you :-)
Aaah Louise it was fab to meet you too!! One of my favourite parts of the day was meeting up with all my fellow bloggers! So nice to see everyone in ‘real-life’! x
Reading interesting to read as I got my ticket for Blog Camp Bristol yesterday! I’m quite nervous but looking forward to putting some names to faces x
Aaah Elaine! You’ll LOVE it!! I was so nervous but so, so happy I swallowed my nerves and went anyway. Now I’m really looking forward to Britmums! :)
It was so lovely to meet you, this is such a lovely post to read. Blogging is amazing isn’t it? Your blog is awesome, so glad you started all those years ago xx
Thanks Kate darling :) It was gorgeous to meet you too. Such a surprise — I was delighted when I saw your little face!! Thanks for your lovely comment xx
So good meeting you, sad we didn’t get a pic together. Next time. Knew we’d click x
Aaah it was fabulous to meet you too! Yes — I was rubbish at remembering to get photos taken with people. I only just managed to remember to get some shots of the day! You are exactly as I thought you’d be! I’m looking forward to seeing you again at Britums xx
Wow sounds like you had an amazing time meeting your fellow bloggers and virtual friends! I’m so jealous! Maybe one day I’ll make it too x
It was brilliant! You should definitely put it on your ‘to-do’ list! I would highly recommend it :) x
Sounds like you had a great time! Thanks for sharing your experience, especially nice for those that couldn’t make it :) We like catching up. Thanks for hosting #TwinklyTuesdays
Aaah I really did have a great time! It was so lovely to meet all the girls I chat to online on a regular basis! So happy that they are as lovely in real life as they are ‘virtually’ :)
Ah lovely post. Looks like you had a fab time, yay to meeting your virtual friends. I wonder if I will still be blogging in 2 years?!
#TwinklyTuesday
Xx
It’s funny I hadn’t anticipated that it would be something I’d carry on with. I just thought it was a good outlet for my thoughts and feelings when I was pregnant with the boys. The thought of stopping now makes me a bit sad!! I hope I’ll be blogging in another 2 years too :)
Looks like you had a lovely day, as a newbie its great to hear people still so passionate about blogging after 2.5 years. Im a bit gutted that I didn’t think about it sooner :). Thank you as ever for hosting #TwinklyTuesdays catch you next week xx
It was a lovely day! So nice to put faces to names at last! Would highly recommend going to one :)
Caro it was amazing to meet you and proud to be a new friend xx
Aaah Sarah — it was brilliant to meet you and the other girls!! SO happy to finally meet my fave blogging girlies — and delighted that you’re just as lovely as I imagined xx
It’s really interesting to hear about your blogging journey. I started my blog in February this year for virtually the same reasons – somewhere to channel my thoughts and feelings as the birth of our daughter approached. I’ve just read your first post too! That’s a fun thing about blogs, you can look into the past. Imagine our kids reading them in the future!
Sounds like you had a good fun day at blog camp, I had no idea these things even existed until a couple of weeks ago!
#TwinklyTuesday
Thanks so much David! Good for you, starting your blog — it’s the most satisfying thing isn’t it? Being able to write your thoughts down is brilliantly cathartic. And having interaction from other people is something that a conventional diary just wouldn’t be able to give. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. It’s been written for my boys — to show them in the future. A memory box of our lives.
It certainly helps. I’ve found it helps me to make sense of the things that confound me the most – parenting related or otherwise.
My current plan is to read out some of my blog posts on her wedding day!
Me too! I totally agree! Aah that’s a lovely idea. My plan is to make the posts into a book for them. That way, they’ll always have a record of it :)
I’ve not been blogging as long as you but I am really wanting to attend my first blog conference, I had tickets for an event this weekend that ended up being postponed so am still waiting :(
Oh Ashley — what a shame it’s been postponed! I hope you get to go to your first blog conference soon. I was debating on whether to go to Blog Camp but I’m so glad I bit the bullet and went along!
Love that picture of you and Jess, really glad you won’t be leaving this virtual world of ours any time soon!
Aaah thanks lovely! It was brilliant meeting the girls — I wish we had all been there! Roll on Britmums!! ;) X
Sounds like you had a great time how exciting!! =D
Aaah Jenni – it was SO good! I was really nervous the morning I went but I was so glad that I didn’t give in to the fear and bottle out! ;)
1. I’m so sorry I missed it.
2. I can’t WAIT to meet you at Britmums
3. I’m totes jealous of how stunning you look in yellow stripes!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
1. Me too, I missed you.
2. Me too! AM SO excited to give you a big cuddle. I am loud. And I will squeal when I see you.
3. Thanks lovely :)
xxx
I was following along on Twitter and Instagram om Saturday feeling very envious of what looked like a really fun and informative day. It means I’m looking forward to BritMums Live even more, which will be my blogger event debut. (Okay, I’m terrified …)
It’s funny how your story seems to be such a common one. I fell into blogging out of boredom, because I’ve always liked to write and because it seemed like something fun to dabble in. Eight years later, I have my parenting blog, a TV blog, run a group blog about cycling and write for a national newspaper website. Blogging has become such a big part of my life, almost without me realising it. I can’t imagine not doing it.
It was such a great day Tim — I thoroughly enjoyed it! I’m happy to have gone to a smaller event first and met some of my blogging friends though. I think Britmums will be a different kettle of fish altogether, as it’s so much bigger; I would have been a little too nervous to start with that one. After last week, I’m really looking forward to it now!!
Good for you for facing your fear and jumping in at the deep end! That said, everyone’s in the same boat aren’t they? And the blogging community is so lovely. Look forward to seeing you there!
BlogCamp looks like a lovely day, I was gutted I had to cancel my ticket. So glad you had a great day xx
Aaah such a shame you couldn’t make it! It was a great day, wish you could have been there. Hopefully I’ll see you at Britmums? x
A fabulous post. I am so thrilled that you started your blog. I love it. Your blog is like a warm hug on a sunshiny day. I am thrilled you love blogging as much as you do. It is awesome, isn’t it?! I am gutted that I didn’t get to meet you on Saturday. but not long to Britmums now and I then get to give you the biggest hug ever. Hugs Mrs H xxxx
Thanks darling — that’s a lovely thing to say! I absolutely do love it!! Have not been this excited about ‘work’ in years! :)
What a fab post and I love the pictures! You’re right that blogging is just the perfect way to be creative and make friends.
Thanks so much Sally. It was such a brilliant day.
What an incredible world blogging opens up! It seems meeting up with ‘virtual blogging friends’ sounds less daunting than I imagine it to be in head. To many more wonderful years of blogging and fab opportunities through it. #TwinklyTuesday
It really does! And, funnily enough, meeting up with the people I’ve been chatting to for the last few months wasn’t daunting at all. Taking in all the info was the think I was most dreading!!! But it was a brilliant day! :)
Was so lovely to meet you and had a fantastic day! Looking forward to seeing you at the next event soon x Lovely pictures that really capture the day xx
Thanks so much Bon — it was so lovely to finally meet you! Looking forward to the next time x