Exciting Announcement: Midlands Bloggers Meet Up!

Well I'm making a brief return from my gnome-induced hiatus to tell you about a little meet-up I am organising with the fabulous Kelly from To Become Mum

Last month, I responded to one of Kelly's tweets asking about a blog meet up for Midlands Lifestyle and Mummy Bloggers, as this was something I had been on the look out for.  Well in true Emma-fashion, we decided to mastermind a meet-up ourselves AND I am proud to introduce the Midlands Bloggers Meet Up, which will be happening on Saturday February 22nd 2014.

The finer details are still to be confirmed, but it will take place in Nottingham and we will be updating attendees nearer the time.  The meet up will run from 11-3pm and will be a wonderful chance to meet other bloggers, enjoy a few treats and share ideas and discussions.  You are welcome bring your baby or come alone, we are working on a suitable event that will cater for lots of us and will be child-friendly also.

There will be goody bags for all attendees - so if you are reading this and are a fabulous Midlands-based brand, or know one who might want to get involved, we would love to have you on board!

If you would like to attend our meet up, please email either Kelly or myself to confirm and we will keep you updated with further info.  We are also using the hashtag #midsblogmeet on Twitter and would LOVE you to share this event with your followers - the more the merrier!

It will be a lovely way to make new friends and something to look forward to in the New Year, Kelly and I are hoping to put on a fantastic event and if you are Midlands-based, you'd be mad to miss out!  What are you waiting for?  Give myself (missemmaberry@gmail.com) or Kelly (tobecomemum@gmail.com) an email and reserve your place now!  

We look forward to seeing you in February!

x

#NaBloPoMo November 7th: Social Media Trollhunters

I wasn't going to use today's prompt, about how much you share on social media, but I decided to share an experience that completely rocked me last week!

I've always considered myself a very positive and happy person, which translates to my blog, I love writing Life is Peachy and I'm particularly proud of my latest project; The Frugally Fabulous Year.  But, last Monday, I was the victim of my first trolling incident. 

Having had some amazing responses about my new project, in which I have resolved to stop buying clothes from high street stores for one year for both financial AND ethical reasons, I sought out some other sharing sites to really hone my message to the 'masses'.  I've had some lovely feedback from fellow bloggers and followers, even people who want to join in themselves.  Raising awareness of ethical shopping is something I feel very strongly about, it wasn't easy to write a rounded, consistent, non-ranty post that stated my reasons behind setting up the challenge, but I was pleased with the outcome and, as any blogger knows, the comments and reactions were even better!

To try and further my reach with The Frugally Fabulous Year, I decided to share the link on Reddit; a site that allows you to share posts and articles.  Having not shared anything on this site before, I wasn't sure what to expect, but it's safe to say I got much more than I bargained for!  

Within one hour of posting my blog post I was surprised to check my stats, to see that I had already received lots of referrals from Reddit.  Even better than that, when I signed in to the site, I had 3 comments waiting for me!  Sadly, unlike the positive and empowering comments I have been used to from my lovely readers; these were nasty, belittling and picked apart just about every aspect of my project.

I was accused of being pointless, endlessly ranting about sweatshops, didn't understand the meaning of the word 'frugal' and had not considered that not buying from high street stores would have the same impact as buying from them (say, what?).  In hindsight, I think it was highly unlikely that these people had even read the post further than the first paragraph.  I responded to the two culprits in a polite manner, but was met with belittling replies, simply suggesting that, as middle aged men, they were over the 'fashion phase' and didn't need to prove a point like I seemed to.  These trollers had entirely missed the point of my post.  Not only that, why were two middle-aged keyboard warriors so concerned with my new project, if it weren't something they were interested in?

The thing I was most angry with, was how I had allowed these thoughtless men to make me feel.  I lost a lot of confidence in what I had written and how I felt about my work AND it was instilled by two people who were not regular readers or even in my supposed target audience.  I would never choose to write mindless comments on a blog or article that didn't interest me; I think it is unproductive to fill someone else's blog with negativity, even if you don't share their opinion.  I'm all for freedom of speech, found in the brilliance of blogging, of all places, but petty comments do nothing to help or encourage someone, who puts their heart into their writing and, in my case, simply wants to raise awareness, create interesting and inspiring posts and learn something along the way.

Thank God for wonderful friends and followers is all I can really say - not one to want to put a dampener on anyone's day, I took my frustration out on Twitter - only to be met with some lovely and encouraging messages. 

The more I delved into it, the more I found that there seems to be a lot of hatred for bloggers right now - we have to stick together.  Bloggers are, as Martha Stewart reportedly said last week, often uneducated in what they are writing about.  But, we are so much more than that - we have the freedom to write what we want, when we want, members of society who can help, encourage or just share an articulated opinion.  

I guess I've learnt, from this rather painful experience that trolling is, sadly, part and parcel of one's decision to blog.  It shouldn't be, I still think my project is a good idea, I still think I've thought about it and produced a well-rounded reason for wanting to raise this awareness and I very much doubt that this will be the last time I'm on the receiving end of something like this.  Slowly, but surely, my confidence is coming back, I even look at it as a test for later, something to toughen me up when I'm putting my novel out there!

I suppose as the lovely Dita Von Teese once said, 'you can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, but there will still be someone who doesn't like peaches.'  Never has this made more sense to me than now - and I'm determined to carry on with my Peachy Life, leaving the trolls where they belong - lost under a bridge! 

One Hell of a Peachy Liebster Award Nomination!

Well...I returned from my little jaunt with the parents in Somerset last week, to find that I had been nominated for my very first LIEBSTER AWARD!  YES!  A wonderful surprise, which left me very happy, after I had looked up exactly what a Liebster Award was, of course!

The Liebster award, though information on its origins are fuzzy, is an award for bloggers with less than 200 followers who are nominated in light of deserving recognition and encouragement for their blogging work and talent.  Liebster, the sweetest German word you ever did hear!

I was nominated by the lovely Beauty Blogger Elinor over at Little Red - I urge you to give her blog a read HERE lots of interesting beauty reviews, general thoughts and giveaways!  So she asked several questions to the bloggers that she nominated for her Liebster nominations and here are my answers!

1. Cat, Dog or Other Pet?

I'm a real animal lover but I'd have to go with a cat.  My family cat, Duffle, pictured here,

passed away in January 2012 after nearly 14 years and I absolutely adored him.  Dogs are incredibly loyal but I love the independence that cats exert and my old boy had a really loving personality! 

2. If you had to choose would you rather be blind or deaf?

Tough one really, I think I would go with blind as I'm not sure I could cope without hearing music, as I see music as a sort of sense. 

3. What life motto do you live by?

I live by two.  The first is 'Live Joyfully, Without Apology', which I have tattooed on my back.  Strangely these were just words that jumped out of an old Glamour article I once read, but I feel they really resonate with how I want to live my life and inspire others.

I also live by 'Fear Is The Cork That Bottles The Body', which was a great motto I learnt whilst studying Dance at University.  I apply it to everyday life and feel it makes me braver to try new things! 

4. Do you prefer reading fiction or non-fiction?

I do read both, but I would go with fiction.  I've been obsessed with books and stories

ever since I was a little girl (Chronicles of Narnia was my first real foray into fiction aged 4)!  I am also a novelist and am writing my first novel, which I hope to be published one day.  It is a fiction piece set in 1930s Berlin and i'm about half way through my first draft.  I love being taken on fantastic journeys in books - I love reading horror, fantasy and contemporary fiction that really makes you think.  One book I always recommend is 'The Gargoyle' by Andrew Jordan, as it is nothing like I have ever read before.  It also deals with ideas of reincarnation - which I am really interested in.

5. What’s your go to skin care routine?

Hmmm interesting one.  I have always cleansed, toned and moisturised every night since I was at secondary school.  I tend to stick to simple and effective brands that don't cost the earth but really work for me.  I also love using Soap and Glory scrubs every so often and I have a wonderful Neal's Yard face mask that is worth every penny!

As a huge foodie, I am really influenced by the eating habits of the French and Italian who eat lots of 'naughty' foods yet stay slim and beautiful!  If you drink lots of water, exercise, eat well and live life to the full, I believe it will show on the outside.

6. Chocolate or Vanilla?

I love both, but I think Vanilla is probably the one.  I'm a huge fan of putting vanilla extract in almost everything I bake.  I recently made this Neapolitan cake for my Birthday, see blog post HERE it was full of vanilla-ry goodness!  But then it had a chocolate layer too, so I guess I got the best of both worlds! 

7. Describe your personality in 3 words?

Quirky, Driven and Kind

8. What’s your chinese zodiac sign and does it describe you well?

I was born in the year of the Rat and I think it sums me up in part.  I'm very tidy and organised and refuse to be influenced by others - I prefer to think and make decisions for myself.  I don't see myself as particularly materialistic and, whilst I'm driven, I don't think I only work for success.  I believe in a good work/life balance and am happy as long as my home life is!

9. Coffee, Tea or Hot Chocolate?

Tea, every time!  I am sat with a huge mug of it as I write this!  I love all types of tea, especially Chai and Moroccan Mint!  Though I am very partial to a hot chocolate and I love making my own Chai Tea Lattes! 

And now, as is Liebster tradition, it's my turn to nominate some bloggers who I really think are deserving of this award.  Some of my nominees may have already been nominated, but I've chosen a broad spectrum of newbie bloggers whose blogs I thoroughly enjoy reading!  To gain your award, all you need to do is answer my questions, link me in to your post, then choose between 5 and 11 other bloggers to pass this accolade onto, then create 10 questions for them to answer!  The lucky ones are....

Gillian - www.siltandbone.co.uk
Victoria - kickatthepantrydoor.blogspot.co.uk
Bethany - bethanyworrall.wordpress.com 
Jasmine - http://jasminesweetnothings.wordpress.com/
Gude - hodgepodgecraft.com 
Emily - www.tealadymumbles.co.uk
Kelly - tiasmum12.com
Sophie - soph-isticatedblog.blogspot.co.uk
Steph - funkymamma.co.uk 
Emma - itsemmamade.blogspot.co.uk
 
And here are your questions!

1. What inspired you to start blogging?
2. Stand out moment of 2013 so far?
3. What is your horoscope sign and do you think it relates to your character?
4. Do you have a geek-girl passion?  If so, what is it?
5. What has been your favourite blog post so far?
6. The Beatles or Rolling Stones?
7. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
8. Baz Luhrmann - love him or hate him?
9. What is your life's motto?
10. What one piece of advice would you give your younger self?

That's it, let's get this Liebster show on the road!  A huge thank you to Elinor for my nomination and a big wave to my nominees!