#DPCON12: The Thank You Edition

April 8, 2012 By 16 Comments

I am slowly slowly recovering from my #DPCON12 high. I may or may not have been napping like a 150 year old nanna and watching lots of trashy movies and oh, inhaling lots of chocolates. Good times.

I was hoping to do my wrap-up post but there’s lots of them already. Check them out here. I love reading them. Thank you all for such kind words. I am humbled and forever grateful.

Putting together DPCON12 was a massive undertaking. It’s about 6 months of my life. Give or take. But it’s all worth it. All worth it. But, I could not have done it without these people…

  • My husband who is my rock and rocks my world. Thank you, lovey. For holding the fort whilst I go and kick some ass. I love you. So much. I owe you some serious sexy time.
  • My Team of Awesome who are just as passionate and hardworking as little old moi. Thank you for putting up with my crazy. What can I say. That’s how I roll. Ahem.
  • The generous sponsors and exhibitors. Thank you for believing in our community. Thank you for ‘getting’ us. Hope to see you guys again next year.; )
  • To the lovely and full of the Zen volunteers. Thank you for all for your superhuman efforts. You did good, guys. Love youse all.
  • To the attendees. What can I say. I am overwhelmed by the love and support. Thank you from the bottom of my crazy heart.

I am sure I may be missing some people here. But you know who you  are. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Much much love.

Brenda
xxxxx

Filed Under: Blogging ROCKS, Digital Parents Conference, DPCON12, I am a proud mummy blogger, Just me

Why I do what I do

March 26, 2012 By 12 Comments

In about 72 hours (give or take), I will be opening the 2012 Digital Parents Conference. I have my speech planned out (mostly). It’s just a 5 minute welcome speech and I simply cannot wait.

This passage from one of my favourite bloggers pretty much sums up the reason why I do what I do.

This moment in history, the one that so many sneer at – the age of the ‘mommy blogger,’ the age of the ‘ladyblogger,’ the age of relentless storytelling about our children and our homes and our private lives and our private parts and our handbags and our diaper bags and all of that stuff that we previously only talked about over kitchen tables and backyard fences – is a radical moment because it is a cultural first. It is pushing a cultural transition. Women – and mothers especially – have never had a broad-based, widely-accessible, public platform for our stories. Now we have that platform. And we are using it. We are lifting the veil on the private sphere and we are telling our stories, our own stories, in our own voices.

And it is epic. We are epic.

Rock on mum bloggers. And I’ll see you all very very soon! Big love.xxx

Filed Under: Blogging ROCKS, Digital Parents Conference, DPCON12, mummy blogging

A delightful bloggy event and a delightful giveaway too. SNAP!

January 23, 2012 By 16 Comments

And the winner is….

MUM-ME. Congrats! Please email me at mummytime(@)gmail.com your postal details.

****

You guys know that from time to time I organise and coordinate bloggy events on behalf of brands and PRs. Last Wednesday was my first one for 2012.  And it was all shades of delightful!

Mainly because the venue was in The Wine Room. The. Wine. Room.

That up there is Flying Fish’s wine cellar. And it’s like  six freaking metre wall of wine. 750 bottles of red wine suspended onto a rich gold coloured Thai silk wall covering. Could you imagine having one of those walls at home? Me want one!

So anyway, I invited a few mum bloggers to the event. Because I am all about sharing the bloggy event love. I wish I could invite everyone. But there’s this little thing called budget that I have to be mindful of. Buggers.

The event is the exclusive launch of Nature’s Own brand-spanking-new-super-yummy,-you-won’t-believe-it’s-fish-oil-can-totally-make-a-mango-daiquiri-out-of-it product. Or Omega Delight for short.

Seriously, no fish taste! I especially love the mango/peach flavour. My Mr10 loves it too. He keeps it in the fridge and glugs glugs about 1 tsp of it first thing in the morning. Nice.

What does fish oil do anyway? Well according to Miss Milena, the dietitian who was there on the day.

Our bodies do not produce Omega-3 fatty acids. But, oily fish like salmon and mackerel are mega-loaded with them. These fatty acids are good for us. They make our hearts, brain and joints in tip top condition. Ask Dr Google if you don’t believe me.

Melina said we should be eating fish at least 3 times a week. And no, fish and chips don’t really count. Well maybe it does. I’m confused now.

I gotta tell you though. Our family love fish and we love eating them. But sometimes, I am too lazy to cook ‘em. So, being a super responsible mother and all, I give my kidlets vitamin supplements including le-fish oil. I hate hate the fishy aftertaste though. You know, when you burp and you can totally smell it. Yuck.

Omega Delight does not have that yucky fishy aftertaste. WIN!

If you’d like to give them a go. You can buy them at Coles/Woolies for about $21.95.

Today though, I am giving away 3 bottles (Citrus, Pineapple and Mango/Peach flavours). Just because I am nice and all. First to comment wins it. How freaking easy is that?

And go!

PS. Giveaway open to Aussie residents only.
PPS. The giveaway will run for 1 week from today 23rd  January 2012 to 29th January 2012.
PPPS. Make sure to leave your email address on your comment. Okay?

GOOD LUCK!

Filed Under: Blog events, Blogging ROCKS, Giveaways, mummy bloggers Tagged With:

A birthday, a review and a giveaway. You’re welcome.

October 20, 2011 By 33 Comments

And the winner is….DUN DUN DUN….

BIG CONGRATS! Loving the rap, Ash!. Hehe. Email me your details at mummytime(@)gmail.com and I’ll get the Sony Ericsson peeps to organise delivery of your awesomely awesome phone!

***

The Second Boy turned 10 last week. Hitting double digits age is a huge thing. And befitting a double digit age is a grown up bike.

Wearing pink sunnies is totally hardcore, yos!

Mind you though, he doesn’t know how to ride a bike. But he’s one determined boy. And I’m proud to report that as of 2 days ago, he’s mastered it! Without my full-on assistance! A proud mama moment indeed.

And cue your gift…

Yes my dear very loyal readers. You’ll get the chance to win that baby up there! Because I am all about sharing the birthday love.

So anyway, just a bit of a backstory. I got invited to this Sony Ericsson event a few weeks ago. A big ass limo and copious amounts of alcohol were involved. Behold some photographic evidence:

And ooh look, a totally stolen pic of me modelling the unit.

Seriously though. I love this phone. Not as much as my iPhone though. I need to say that in the interest of keeping my integrity. Ahem. 

It takes great pictures as it’s got an 8MP thingymajigs as compared to the iPhone 4′s 5MP something something. Now, if you wanna go all geeky on me about the specs. You’re more than welcome to check out their site.

And ooh look, more pictures…

So, wanna score the  Smartphone? Of course, you do! It retails for about $500 big ones! Just leave me a comment below telling me why you think the Sony Ericsson Experia Neo rocks the shiz. Alternatively, link me up to your blog. And show me a sample of your rocking photography. Okay fine, that’s a bit much. Just link me up with some pictures that you’ve taken. I wanna see them, okay?

I’ll choose the winner and announce it here on this post 2 weeks from now. So come back and check if you’ve won the awesome prize. And oh, make sure to leave a valid emal address too.

That’s it. And let the flow of comments begin…

Disclosure: I was not paid for this post. I was loaned the phone though for about 3 weeks or so. My words are my own. Purely my own. So there.

PS. Score some extra entries by tweeting and/or FB sharing this giveaway.  One tweet and /or FB share /day only. Don’t be greedy. Heh.
PPS. Open to Aussie Residents only. A thousand apologies to my overseas peeps.

Filed Under: Awesomeness, best gift ever, Birthdays, Blogging ROCKS, Giveaways, motherhood, my kids, Product Reviews Tagged With:

Breathe Happy. You know you want to.

September 18, 2011 By 23 Comments

Alternate title: Brenda Does Ambi Pur

As in I went down on all fours! What? I was channeling my inner sniffer female dog persona. Don’t judge me.

I get a lot of PR pitches on this blog. As in like, 50 million a day. Okay fine. 49.5 mil a day. Semantics.

Most of them. I just ignore. Because dudes, I am lazy just don’t have the patience nor the time to tell them that my name is not “mummy blogger”. That stuff is just plain annoying. Really, if you want to pick my interest. At least address me by my first name. That’s all I’m saying.

But then sometimes, the PR pitch is just plain “OK, I AM SO GOING TO DO THIS THING”. Like this one from Rachel of Hausmann.

Now THAT is a kickass pitch!

So of course, I said yes. I’d LOVE to be a part of it. Are you kidding me? Silly old me in a TV commercial??? That’s like my life list #9856. So yeah, I totally said YES. Plus, I love Ambi Pur. Lots. In fact, I may or may not have a slight addiction to the Sweet Citrus & Zest one. I like sniffing nice things, okay?

And so I went to the top secret location and did all these secrety things. Behold the rushes…

Ambi Pur TVC

I honestly don't know what possessed me to release my inner b*tch. Pun well and truly intended.

Just call me Brenda, Failed Method Actor Extraordinaire.

Channeling my best "Miss Universe" runner-up face here.

Dudes. I went down on all fours and smelled yucky yucky stuff in the name of our art. Feel fee to erect a statue on my behalf. I am one blogger dedicated to her craft. So you know, learn from me. Or not. Up to you.

Then finally last Friday, I got THE call from the Ad Agency peeps. I missed her call but listening to my voicemail. I knew in my mummyblogger gut that I got the gig. You just know these things, yah know. So I rang her, pretending I was all super cool about it. Who am I kidding. I totally lost my shit the minute she told me I got in. She may also have used the words “you were so funny and hilarious, we *had* to put you in”.

I will now take a moment here to bask in my awesomeness. Feel free to join me. We can sniff the Ambi Pur together.

So yeah. Yours truly is now a full fledged commercial model.  Or commercial person. Again. Semantics.

This right here is the final product. I have about 5 seconds of airtime. 5 seconds! Oh, the uber hilair Emma was part of it too! See, I told you mummyblogging rocks! Big time.

Please take note though that this TVC does not air till later tonight. I think about 7PM. So you guys are like  attending the advanced screening. You’re welcome.

Disclosure: I received (it’s not in my bank account yet though) a talent fee for my participation in the TVC. However, my opinions and views about my Ambi Pur experience are purely my own. Lying gives you herpes and crabs and boils. Ewwww boils. Peace out.

*FB love them here. Only if you want to.

Filed Under: AmbiPur, blogging, Blogging ROCKS, happiness, I am a proud mummy blogger, mummy bloggers, mummy blogging, ProcterGamble

Of Personal Branding, Knowing your Self Worth, Your Value and all that Jazz

September 3, 2011 By 31 Comments

I have foot-in-mouth syndrome. I sometimes say things without fully thinking them first. With this post being an exception. Ha! I am a touchy feely person. I wear my heart on my sleeves. And I love saying wohooooo!

That’s me. That’s my personal brand. And I am cool with it. Most of the time. And I am not about to change it for the sake of making myself more “marketable”, more “respectable” and more “intelligent” sounding. I know myself. I know what I am capable of. And I kickass. Most of the time.

Being a mummy blogger rocks. Big time. I know it. Believe in it. And I really don’t care whether you cringe at being called one or not. It’s your issue not mine. It’s a label that you either own or rebel against from. I love being one. I am grateful for being one. End of story.

But here’s the thing. And I want you to listen up and listen hard.

The minute you change from being a rocking mum blogger to a professional-working-your-damn-butt-off-consulting-with-brands-but-still-totally-rocking mum blogger. The minute you start calling yourself a social media consultant/practitioner/expert/guru/ninja or whatever else that tickles your fancy.

Is the minute that you shift that paradigm.

It’s time to speak corporate language. It’s time to put on your professional armour. It’s time to start charging them actual dollars. Actual professional consulting fees. You know, the cash that actually covers your business expenses. The cash that will enable you to pay your suppliers. The cash that will actually put food on the table.

You are running a business. Not a charity.

And please, for the love of everything-small-but-with-dreams-of-someday-being-a-big-business-operator. Do not give your services away for free. I repeat, do not give it away. Even if you are so tempted to do so because you need it to build your client list. Because guess what. The chances of you getting paid by these companies in the future are practically gone. The chances of you convincing them that you are worth their corporate dollars for future projects are pretty much wiped out. I know it’s harsh. But that’s the truth.

Your Time. Your Effort. Your Influence. Your Experience. Your Expertise. Your Network. Has value. Lots of value. So charge PREMIUM for it. You deserve it. And you are worth it. You are worth every goddamn penny.

These Brands. These Big Brands  that you so desperately want to attach your business to. They would not spend their precious paid time meeting up with you. They would not spend their time listening to your ideas and to your advice. They see your value. YOUR VALUE.

It’s time you start seeing yours.

Filed Under: Aussie Mummy Bloggers, blogging, Blogging ROCKS, mummy bloggers, Social Media Consulting

Blogher11 Adventures – The Welcome Home Party Edition

August 26, 2011 By 10 Comments

CLICK CLICK CLICK

The uber cool girls at Naked Comms (Hello Lorraine, Larissa and Shana) on behalf of Ribena and Macleans have given us a Welcome Home Party last Saturday night. What? I know it’s like a few nights late. But I have stuff to do, yos? Like feed the children, send invoices to clients, polish up proposals and OMG, it sucks to be a grown up!

So anyway. The party was heaps fun. As evidenced by my shameless duckface posing. What is up with that? Feel free to perv on the rest of the pics here.

Oh almost forgot. I’ve shown this slideshow at the party too. I hope you guys like. I like it. Lots. Cuz, it’s full of myself. Like literally full of self-portraits. I am nothing if not a narcissistic blogger! Heh.

Filed Under: Blogging ROCKS, Blogher, Macleans

Blogher11 Adventures – Things I’ve Learned Edition

August 23, 2011 By 10 Comments

Okay, here you go. Finally. I am able to string the words together. 

Blogher was one hell of a crazy ride. I laughed. I cried. I danced. I laughed some more and cried some more. And then some more. Yep. Blogher for me was a super emotional journey. (No need to take out the violins yet, k?).

I went in there both as a business person and as a blogger and of course as a Macleans Mum. Ahems. As a businessperson. Blogher blew my mind. Wide open. As I was walking around the expo hall. My entrepreneurial mind was going into kaching overdrive. I’ve recorded my walk around it. Cuz I am like a film person now. Here you go. Watch it and be amazed at the brands really getting the power and influence of bloggers! And OMG, the swags!

As a blogger. I’ve learned that in a sea of 3000+ bloggers in a foreign country.  Even if you are the most extrovert person that you know yourself to be. You are going to feel just a little bit overwhelmed. And that you would need to go back to your hotel room possibly with a big ass Corona to decompress yourself.

I’ve learned that in the sea of 3000+ bloggers in a foreign country. You would feel mighty proud that you belong into this community of smart, savvy and let’s-kick-some-major-ass women. And that they are your people. And that you belong into their tribe.

I’ve learned that it’s totally 1000% okay to drink *several* glasses of margarita at 11 in the morning.

Because you will need its calming effects when you board the American Eagle. Probably America’s Smallest Plane. I’m not scared of flying. But boy oh boy this teeny tiny plane scared the bejeebus out of me.

I’ve learned that Americans really do adhere to their Supersize Serving Reputation.

1 serving of a takeaway pizza! I kid you not!

I’ve learned that in America, I am not scared to hitch a ride with a total stranger. Just so I can get to the freaking Disney Concert Hall.

I’ve learned that finding a new friend in a foreign country is always possible. Susan Fujiki made my stay in LA a truly wonderful experience. Thanks again, Fujiks. You are a generous generous soul.

I’ve learned that Americans are very tourist friendly. And that if you ask them nicely. They’d totally  pose for you.

I’ve learned that no matter how much I whinge and whine and moan about my children. I miss them like crazy when I’m not with them. They are my life. And I’m quite okay with that.

So Blogher. Thank you for having me. See you next year. Maybe. Perhaps.

Filed Under: Awesomeness, Blogging ROCKS, Blogher, Macleans

Hello Hollywood! Day 2 – Blogher11 Adventures

August 5, 2011 By 8 Comments

This is Susan Fujiki aka Kungfupussy. LA Tour Guide Extraordinaire!

Susan, whom I’ve never met before has generously offered to show me around Hollywood. Bloggers are the best creatures ever. They do stuff for their fellow bloggers just like that. So Pussy err Susan, thanks heaps again for your awesome tour guiding skills. Feel free to put my name down as your referee for those prospective “Susan Fujiki Tours” clients. You’re welcome.

Hollywood is pretty much what I imagined it to be. And more. More Crazy! Click. click. click…

Rodeo Drive, baby!

And booo!

More Hollywood Goodness for you!

We had lunch at around 2PM at Baja Fresh. I nomnom-ed on these!

and these.

One thing I love about American food is they are very generous with their serving. As in!

Lunch over and Susan’s Twitter friend @regami gave us exclusive access to Sunset Gower Studios. It’s a *real* studio not a pretend one like that Universal Studios. Wink. It is where they film Dexter! Look, I’ve got photographic evidence!

Coolness, right?

And look, it’s Dexter’s boat and motorcycle!

You gotta admit, that’s pretty darn cool!

And now for the piece de resistance. Hollywood Boulevard, y’all!

Must now get my beauty sleep. I will post more of the Awesomeness tomorrow. Miss you guys.xx

Filed Under: Blogging ROCKS, Blogher, Macleans

Hello LA! Day 1 – Blogher11 Adventures!

August 2, 2011 By 22 Comments

So, I am finally here in Los Angeles! Look, I’ve even managed to snap a pic of their “Welcome Mat” in my semi catatonic state. I didn’t sleep at all during the 13 hour flight. Excited much?

The upside is I got to sit beside Dennis, an American Dude who is a A Die Hard Surfer. He’s been surfing since he’s like 12 years old. And he’s 59 now! He lives with his wife and 4 children at a 40-acre farm in Florida. But get this, Dennis has got a heart valve thing which cost about $300,000!

I got to meet the $300,00 Dollar Man, people! My Life List is getting shorter by the minute. Hehe.

The plane touched down at about 6.20AM LA time which is I think  is 11.20PM Sydney time. Got picked up by this…

And chatted with this Real Life Marine for the whole 30 minutes ride. His name is Danny and he’s also a Surgeon and a Pilot. Rock on!

My mind is still flipping out  with the time difference. But, I did manage to convince myself to hunt for some American Breakfast right after checking into the Luxe Hotel in downtown LA. Dowtown LA is their CBD, so lots of stuff to check out!

Here are some pics of my hotel room. Cuz,I am all about sharing.

Nice yeah?

Oh, my breakfast. Here it is. Pancakes, 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, bacon, eggs…

and a Hawaiian Smoothie. I am in Breakfast Heaven!

Breakfast over and time to check out what Downtown LA has to offer. Have I mentioned that by this time, I have been awake roughly around 24 hours? Years of being sleep deprived has its advantages, I guess.

Target Ad! Yeehah!

I think this is some kind of a theater.

Is it just me or does the dude in the billboard looks a bit like Rove?

And so I walked and walked and ended up here. I swear, it’s like my body and feet are possessed.

But guess who “greeted” me at their entrance? Ugh!

Stay tuned for more LA Shenanigans tomorrow. The lovely Susan Fujiki aka @kungfupussy <— best twitter handle ever is going to be my Tourist Guide. Hollywood, here I come!

Filed Under: Awesomeness, Blogging ROCKS, Blogher, Macleans
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