I have just had the most wonderful weekend in London attending the MAD blog awards 2015, run by the ever fabulous Tots100
For the third consecutive year it was held at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington which is a beautiful hotel, in the most gorgeous part of London on the edge of Kensington Gardens. It is a top class hotel and always a pleasure to stay there.
I was delighted to be a finalist in The Best Thrifty Blog category sponsored by Experian. Gorgeous Jill from Experian took Jane, Emma and I out for lunch and we have a lovely time. So great to hear about all Experian does…fabulous for us money minded folk!
The awards were full of glitz and glamour, photo booths, jenga, scooter and the one and only Dr Ranj.
Lovely Sally, Tots founder and blogger at Who’s the Mummy is the creator of the Mads and puts on the best events. You even get a ‘bit of a do’ before the occasion.
Check out my hair!
I helped sign everyone in to the event and then settled to a scrumptious feast before the awards properly started. The winners were all pretty fabulous and you can find a full list here Well done to them all.
Seeing some of my most lovely blogging friends really warmed my heart
There were some fabulously frugal blogs in my category
Mum Savvy Savings
All well worth a thrifty read and Gina from Cold tea and Smelly Nappies was a well deserving winner. Yay Gina!
I was lucky enough to have been asked to present the Outstanding Blogger award and it was my absolute pleasure to do so. The blogging community is incredible and full of eloquent, motivated, inspiring and caring writers. it was wonderful to be able to talk about all that these bloggers have achieved. Some have raised monies for charities or highlighted a cause, some share information, some talk of personal issues that profoundly move and support others. A couple of the bloggers were nominated for their outstanding loveliness as supportive members of our community.I liked that.
They are all complete blogging treasures.
The worthy winner was Hayley from Downs Side Up who writes about changing perceptions of Down’s syndrome which she does so beautifully with a gentle, powerful strength. Hayley has huge grace and an indomitable spirit. Fabulous Hayley. She has my utmost respect. A well deserving winner.
What a wonderful evening. Thank you Sally and you too Lindy ( always an absolute pleasure to see you both and I know you work SO hard to pull off this fabulous event.)
I am truly mad about the Mads.
On a personal note….
I don’t normally get very personal on my blog but well sometimes you just have to say thankyou ….(plus loads of bloggers saw Emma and Donna (looking glam below) tie my shoelaces for me and must have thought I was some kind of diva!) Let me explain…
I know I can seem self assured but I have to be honest and tell you it was a VERY big deal for me to get to the Mads this year. Two years ago I experienced a bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis. In simple terms means I have to sleep on a ventilator and that my lungs function at about 50%. I haven’t travelled on my own in 2 years. Coming to the Mads involved a few tears and a dose of self doubt.
It took persuasion, encouragement and quite a bit of help with luggage carrying, shoelace trying and hand holding to get me to the Mads. But I got there in one piece and I had a ball. I feel I got quite a lot of my old confidence back in the process.
Heartfelt thank you’s to Emma B , Emma V, Emily, Penny and Chris for their emotional, practical and physical support. I also want to thank Sally who somehow or other made it so I had absolutely no excuses left not to come. You have all helped me out of my comfort zone and achieving this feels like an important step forward. I could not and would not have done this without you supporting me. Bless you.
The blogging community is amazing and I am profoundly grateful to be part of it.
Love this post! Nothing like pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and rocking it to give a much needed boost to your confidence!
I was following on Twitter and sad not to be there. So very glad you made it down and I heard great things about your speech. Outstanding work Becky!
Aww thank you Becky. It was lovely to finally meet you. I’d never of guessed that it was a big deal for you to be there, you came across as a very confident and strong woman. So sorry to hear about your past problems, that sounds very scary but glad that you managed to make it to the MADs. Your speech was very emotive and heartfelt. Lovely lady!
Your speech was truly beautiful, Becky. Love that hairdo too – magnificent pin curls! Glad you were able to attend xxx
I am so pleased you made it. I think you are WONDERFUL and after chatting online for so long, feel so happy we got to meet in person. Can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for you to get there, you are an inspiration. Your speech was incredible and summed up what blogging means to me. And, your hair looked FAB! #girlcrush
It sounds like you had a great night and well done you for facing your fears and going it alone
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Thanks jen x
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Ah Sarah, so lovely to meet you too next time we must have a proper chat x
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Thankyou Leigh
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Ah thanks Gina and well done you!
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Thanks for all your support P x
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xxxxx Lindy xxxx
Glad to hear you’re doing well. It does us good to come out of our comfort zone occasionally.
So pleased you had a wonderful time, and at one of my very favourite hotels too! 🙂 xx
sounds like you had a wonderful time 🙂 xx
Well I said it on the night, but I was a bit drunk, so I’ll say it again sober: you’re amazing! xx
I am so glad you had a fabulous time and got over your nerves about attending. Your hair looks amazing
Love this post and we all need a blogging friend to help us tie shoelaces or indeed in my case, protect me from an embarrassing knicker/skirt incident in the toilets! Thank YOU Becky for that! And well done on getting there. xx
So glad you had a great time and are slowly getting back onto your feet. It can be easy as a blogger to hide behind the interenet and our little home bubble. Well done for getting back out there x
So glad you made it tot he MADS, I know this was a big step forward for it. It really is a fabulous event and always so frendly and welcoming. Mich x
oh lovely Becky
I feel like we got to know each other far better this weekend.
Am soooo pleased you came, and your speech inspired so many at the awards.
Much love
Well done Becky – you must be so proud of yourself! Sounds like a brilliant night spent with some amazingly talented bloggers – you all look amazing! xxx
Ah, it sounds like a fab night out. One day!
I think we met there? Talking to Hayley after she won and you were telling me about your new blog? I hope that was you (I had had a few glasses of wine so I might be mistaken!) but if it was you it was really lovely to meet you!!
how exciting for you sounds like such a fun night. Watching all the posts go up Its looked such fun well done for making it to the awards
Your photos and your hair looks wonderful and the Mad blogger awards sounded like a great experience, especially with you presenting an award. You should be proud of yourself and what you have accomplished going to the event, it sounded like a great boost for your confidence.
i would love to enjoy things like this too , i dont think i ever will though lol, cant tear myself away from my little ones