BritMums Live and All That Jazz!

Start your engines folks we're on a countdown now.  This time next week some of us will be lucky enough to be getting away from it all at home and winging our way to the sunny smoke for the fantastic BritMums Live annual blogging conference.

And when I talk wings I mean like those of a butterfly as, once again, I shall be donning my own (well, kind of) to support anyone from newcomers to speakers who may be getting a few nervous flutters.  After feedback from previous events, our schedule has been somewhat reduced so I'll be free as a, er, butterfly after welcoming all the attendees along with my colleagues, some new and some old (well, kind of again!).

We've written a post HERE that outlines where we'll be and what we'll be doing and I can't wait to meet some of you, squeeze some who are now old friends after four years of blogging and smile graciously during the nerve wracking nightmare exciting Awards ceremony when someone else walks off with the prize that you lovely people have kindly put me up for, thank you humbly again.  And again!

There's lots of chat about what we'll be wearing and I've only just sorted myself out.  Comfort is key 'coz it's a long day and looking glam at the same time can be a bit tricky, especially when you're only 5' and need heels to see over anything and anyone in quite crowded conditions.

Apparently, it's all in the accessories and aren't there some lovely ones about?  I've seen these gorgeous watches online at Tesco and am very tempted by a pale blue one to match my trousers on the second day, although a Betty Barclay for £25 has got to worth a thought as well or instead, hasn't it?  The necklaces in almost every single shop are stunning and, no doubt, there will be lots of those around while we all try to look our best pretending it was effortless - but, again, by being only little, it's easy to be overwhelmed by the huge ones, so I might stick to an old favourite.  It may, no doubt, be as grateful for an airing as I will be!

Here's the plan for day 1 and day 2.

The plan for day 1 and day 2.

I haven't gone for that selfie in the mirror thing because it's not really me and while we're on the subject of looking good, it's going to be my utmost pleasure to have a chat with a woman who has both brains and beauty - Carol Smillie, who will be there as one the keynote speakers and to host the #BiBs.  She and the tennis player turned other TV presenter Annabel Croft have formed a successful business partnership with their company called Diary Doll and they are the sponsors of the Best Writer category.   

Despite what one might reasonably believe to be a natural correlation of writers and diaries, it is not the case in this instance.  I've been reading their brilliant blog about The Last Taboo - think ladies and stuff that only women know about and do check them out. *Taps nose.* You might be quite surprised how often their award winning product can come up in conversation.

If she has any butterflies before her talk on Saturday, she can come to any of us in the team who are there for exactly that purpose.  I am really looking forward to meeting her, as I am all of you who will be there, so do, please, let me know if you're attending and we can say hello!  

Anya XX

[Disclosure - this is a partly collaborative post].