Blog : Little Lilypad Co

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This time last week I was at Blogsummit in Birmingham. Now I appreciate that to a lot of the readers of our little blog, this means absolutely nothing and I have to admit a mere two years ago, I had no clue that I would be excited / nervous and interested in going to an event like that. Blogging just kind of happened on the Lilypad, it was never a conscious decision and we have made some (okay maybe alot of) mistakes in terms of promotion, advertising, SEO and even (quite frankly rubbish) content. *whispers* There are alot of people that write for a living and I take my hat off to each and every one of them because I write when I feel like it, when I have something to say, to rant about, to share or simply to remember, I never consider it "my job".

So despite being in awe of lots of amazing bloggers and a bit worried that there would be cliques, there was lots of friendly faces and a totally happy vibe. Once I had got past people looking at my boobs (at my name tag - obviously!!), it was great to meet lots of "online friends" in the flesh. It was cool to meet up with Pink Oddy too, as we haven't seen each other since 1994 when we both left senior school ..... bizarrely we had no trouble recognising each other, must be a testament to our youthful looks (and obviously nothing to do with Facebook keeping us updated!)

I loved the enthusiasm of the speakers from boggling my brain in the SEO masterclass to meeting some great contacts in the Brand Panel session. The Tots 100 had clearly worked hard to bring a great collection of people together but like a lot of the great ladies that were there that day, my favourite sesson was Andy Cope's Art to being Brilliant. Now obviously I am already brilliant (ahem) but he exudes optimism and in the fast paced seminar he reminded us all that happiness isnt "over there", it is here and now and we should be enjoying every second of it. 

There were a number of us that moved on from Blogsummit to continue to "enjoy" the day with a few vino's and something to eat and it was great to get to know the people behind the blog. I spent alot of time chewing the ear of Emma and Laura, both of whom are super cool ladies. My mum always told me never to talk to strangers but when you read someone's blog, you begin to understand them as people and it is fabulous to find out that they great in "real life" too. I know Emma and I will sharing vino's again in the future!!

So did I learn much - Definately.

Would I go again - Absolutely

Am I Brilliant? - Well I am definately not a "mood hoover" and I intend of being part of the 2% of the population who is eternally optimistic, positive and happy!

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There is always a great buzz around The Baby Show at the NEC, Birmingham but is it really worth going? 

I have been a the show for the past 4 years, in support of businesses, as a pregnant mum, as a new mum and today as an "expert" on the Mumsclub stand. The one thing I noticed this year was that there were more big brands at the show, than in previous years, in particular Asda had a big presence but the whole show had an overall great feel to it.

It is not always cheap to attend exhibitions like The Baby Show but there have been lots of offers around for reduced ticket prices, try the Mumsclub site for 40% off. Once inside the show, it is probably best to have a plan, otherwise you will quickly realise that you are missing some amazing stands and great deals.

Despite the fact that the floor plan isnt always clear to follow, the actual aisles are extremely spacious with lots of pushchair room, even while some of us (this may have actually been me) stood in the aisles chatting. So where are the top places to visit?

The Natal Company - The Natal Company is made up of MummyNatal, BabyNatal and DaddyNatal and they will be running classes across all three days of The Baby Show. Their ethos is to support families to have a confident, empowered and enjoyable experience into parenthood. This resonates so clearly with our own daughters birth that we highly recommend paying them a visit!

Tommee Tippee Feeding Area - This is a great space in the one corner of the show and has a private breastfeeding area and free baby food. It also has a seated area (and let me tell you, your feet will be grateful of this after a while).

Mimijumi UK - Now on the subject of breastfeeding, we found an amazing concept from Mimijumi UK. The bottle is unlike no other we have seen and as a mum who struggled to make the transition from breast to bottle, it is certainly a consideration for mums in the same situation. Replicating a mother’s nipple and breast, the innovative teat design is a key factor which creates a natural feeding and latching experience for a happier & healthier bottle fed baby. It may have raised a few eyebrows but if you are mum, you know you will try anything!

Baby Changing Area – We have all been to grotty changing rooms but the Baby Show has a large area with free nappies and free wipes ..... what is not to love??            

The Fisher-Price Crèche – The Baby Show is obviously about our beautiful little ones but we all know that sometimes it is easier (and quicker) to zoom around the stands we want to go to, without worrying about a blanket or toy falling on the floor! The Fisher Price Creche looked extremely popular today though with lots of toys and things to learn whilst playing.  All the staff are fully trained nursery staff and are CRB checked but our word of warning would be to book in advance or at least as early as possible!!

In terms of the stores and stands available there is a great mix from pushchairs, clothes, bibs, furniture, so if you are a pregnant mum, new mum or an experienced mum, there is something for everyone. 

Our advice, make a list of what you need and "try" and stick to it!

Oh .... and maybe take some snacks as the queue for food was huge!!