I went to tell you my story around the MAD blog awards.
4 years ago I was delighted to be nominated as a finalist in the very first MAD blog awards. (Mummy and Daddy)
I was in my first year of blogging and so chuffed to have been recognised.
I arranged for my mum and my baby, who I was still feeding, to come with me to Butlins at Bognor where the awards were to be held and I was so excited. Sadly my mum passed away unexpectedly just 6 weeks before and completely broken hearted I decided not to attend.
My best friend Naomi somehow or other managed to persuade Sally out of a ticket and convince me to go with her right by my side. This is why I love Naomi. Naomi somehow ended up giving out an award too (she’s soft that Sally Whittle). I ended up having a lovely time and knew mum would have been so pleased I’d gone.
I met some fab new friends too.
The following year I was a finalist for best blog post and best small business. Again I didn’t win but had fun with the lovely Cass from Frugal Family and made many more new blogging pals.
Year 3 of the MAD blog awards I was a finalist for best blog post at family budgeting and best thrifty blog at baby budgeting. The mighty Frugal Queen won the award for best thrifty and best blog post went to the awesome Mammywoo.
This was my fourth MADs year…should I bother trying again? I ‘ve asked for votes so many times surely everyone’s had enough by now!
But….
I so wanted a little glass trophy.
I so wanted to go to another fab MADs party.
I wanted to make mum proud.
Luckily for me I was once again a finalist me and my great pal Penny (an outstanding blogger nominee no less) trundled off to the gorgeous Royal Garden Hotel where the awards were being held.
Bizarrely we wore the exact same outfit to travel down in …
What a lovely hotel and what a fabulous awards ceremony.
The food was awesome, as was the service and the venue.
Dr. Ranj who presented the awards was funny and eloquent and the room was packed full with old lovely blogging friends and new ones just waiting to be met.
I got to sit next to on of my very best blogging buddies the lovely Chris Mosler (Thinly Spread) and the inspirational Emma Vanstone) we had such a nice time. The winners were fabulous and I got to present an award myself to fantastic Fiona from Coombe Mill for best family fun blog.
Then came my category and well blow me down..Chris presented the award and…… I won!
I had to say a few words ( I had to at my wedding I just get this compulsion!!) and all I can really remember was thanking everyone and asking them to remember Cass frugal who couldn’t make it to the ceremony. Cass is my co finalist… a fab, thrifty blogger.
Cass from Diary of a frugal family : The best frugal blogger I know!
I could not stop grinning.
Mum would have been so proud.
It maybe 3 years after we planned it together mum but I finally bought that award home.
2 of my favourite bloggy pals Maggy from Red Ted Art and Ruth from Geek Mummy being all lovely celebrating with me and behind us the rather fabulous Lexy from Mammywoo.
The marvellous Mammywoo won best blog writer and blog of the year and she is a blogger who moves me . I come from a long line of sensitive and strong ladies and Lexy has that spirit by the bucket load. I so admire how she conveys her fragility and strength and endless capacity to get up again and to hope. I hugely respect her writing and am delighted she won. A standing ovation too.
There were a whole bunch of ladies with huge hearts nominated for their outstanding contibution at he Mads , take a look at this. This is what love can do.
All of them are amazing. Each and everyone.
Well done ladies.
You inspire me.
I had a wonderful time.
Thanks to Idealo who sponsored my category and for my lovely prize.
Thanks to the fabulous Tamsin and Liz from Parentdish who sponsored the awards. Always a delight to see them and it just wouldn’t be the Mads without them.
Lastly thanks to Sally, lovely Sally who puts in so much work (with help from a great team) so we can all come together and celebrate parent blogging. Thanks Sally. You rock.
Fab photo by Chris Mosler
I feel so appreciated and happy thank you to everyone of you who ever voted for me.
I will cherish my award.
I am delighted….and what lovely friends I have made along the way. Mum would be so pleased Naomi made me go the Bognor that 1st year it’s lead to such good things..
Thanks Na x
Thanks Sally x
Thanks Mum…. this award is totally dedicated to you, because you believed in my writing and you taught me money doesn’t make the world go round, love does and really knowing that has made life pretty good.
All photos form Penny Alexander and Tom Arber
What a lovely post Becky, your Mum would be so proud of what you’ve achieved. It was lovely to see you win that little glass trophy at last, totally well deserved ๐
Well done! So well deserved. You looked beautiful ๐
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Thank you so much Ruth x
This is such a well deserved award Becky. You have the most integrity of ANY blogger that I know and I am honored to call you my friend.
Your mum has been proud of you every single month, day, moment, blog post, and award ceremony since.
You deserved this missis and I’m so so so so happy that you won. Thank you for the lovely things you wrote and for also posting a picture of me winning, you are so kind.
Cherish that award and anytime you feel low you can look at it, scream and jump and say ‘I’m an award winning blogger!’
But in my eyes you were the best every year x love ya x
Cant write anything else but your blog reduced me to tears. Becky I am so proud of you – you keep on going.
So delighted you won, and that you presented my award. What an amazing night and lovely to relive it all through your post.
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Lovely to share that moment with you Fiona x
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Thanks lovely Lexy!
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Thank you Jen
I was so happy for you, as would be your mum. Love that we both wore our mum’s earrings that night. You look fabulous Becky, what an inspiration, what a journey xx
Aww, your dedication to your Mum just made me cry! Great post, great night and well done you for a fab award!
So so sooooo HAPPY FOR YOU Becky!! Whoop whoop! Simply wonderful AND well deserved!! Yay to keeping trying!
Big hugs.
Maggy
(PS love that photo of us, much better than the one I took!!)
Lovely, lovely Becky – it was such a privilege to present you with your award, it will go down as one of the best moments of 2013! I’m delighted you won, you so deserve it with all the work you have put into your blog and I’m sure your Mum would be SO proud – I am! xxx
Oh Becky you just made me cry – you deserved it so much and your mum would have been so proud of you. Not just because you won an award but because you are easily the nicest blogger (and possibly person) who I’m lucky enough to know. We don’t see each other nearly enough but I look forward to seeing you again soon x x
Awww Becky, what a beautiful post. I was so happy to see you win, and loved spending so much of the evening with you.
You are one of the loveliest, friendliest people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and I’m sure your Mum would be very, very proud. xxx
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Thank you Emma and Penny and Jo how kind you are xxx
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Ah Chris you were the PERFECT person to give me the award, perfect!
What a lovely and happy post and a great tribute to your Mum. Congratulations on your award and it must be lovely after three years. You obviously deserve it. It was a great evening. x
Awh that made me cry Becky. You so deserve this award, you work so hard. I am honorored to have such a gorgeous and talented friend ๐
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Thank you Katie and Amanda am so chuffed ๐
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Yay Cass and Maggy….?
Ah I’m so glad you got your dream! Worthy winner indeed. And you’ve attended all 4 awards ceremonies!
Well done again Becky! Amazing stuff and well deserved. So great that the lovely Chris got to present you the award too xx
Congrats on your award. It looked like it was a fantastic evening ๐
Oh your mum would be so so proud of you. Many congratulations – and I’m here with tears streaming down my face now.
It proves hard work finally pays off massive congratulations on your award and no doubt your mum is massively proud of you although no longer with you.
Love this post, and very happy for you – just a bit sad I didn’t get to meet you! Next year maybe…?! I have to say, you’ve managed to wear an array of gorgeous dresses ๐ Naomi sounds like a great friend and I am sure your mum is watching over and is very proud x
This is my favourite write-up of the night. Wish I’d had a bit more time to congratulate you in person – but WELL DONE!