BritMums has been and gone for another year.
This year was my second time attending BritMums Live. Last year I came away from the conference having learnt so much. I met a few new people, but I went mainly for the learning side of things.
I went to as many sessions and talks as I could and I learnt a lot.
This year was slightly different. I don’t feel that I’ve learnt much! I went to a good number of sessions, but everything that was said I already knew.
I did learn a few new things that I’m hoping to apply to my blog over the coming months though.
Aside from that I did have a really good time.
In the run up to BritMums Live I have been working with my wonderful sponsor, Dom and Geri.
Started in 2011, Dom and Geri is a personalised greetings card website with a difference. Selling personalised wrapping paper and gift tags to match your card, Dom and Geri have something for every occasion.
Personalised cards and wrapping paper go hand in hand. The joy of personalised wrapping paper and cards is that you can swap and change for any occasion. Although the world is forever evolving, people still prefer the old cards and presents over emails and cyber gifts. You can also find Dom and Geri over on Twitter and Facebook.
Before BritMums
I packed my business cards away which had very kindly been given to me by the wonderful people over at Instant Print.
I didn’t hand many business cards out, but it’s always handy to have them.
Before the event I’d read about the Instawalk which had been arranged by One Dad 3 Girls.
I was keen to go as I thought it would be a good chance to see some of the sights of London, but also to meet some other bloggers.
I arranged to meet up with Kirsty from Something Crunchy Mummy and Sarah from Run, Jump, Scrap at Paddington station as our trains all arrived at the same time and we’d all agreed to take part in the Instawalk.
I arrived first, followed by Kirsty then Sarah.
We made our way to the London Eye and had a spot of lunch before the walk started.
I’m really glad that I went on the Instawalk for one reason. I managed to buy our girls a souvenir ‘Beefeater’ London teddy bear.
Sadly that was the only part of the Instawalk that I enjoyed. I feel really bad for saying it, but I have to be truthful.
We didn’t actually do much walking. We just seemed to hover around the London Eye for an hour whilst waiting for other people to take pictures. I thought it could have been a bit more fast paced. I brought my camera along so that I could snap away at the sights too, but it would have been better for me if we took pictures as we walked.
A few people left and decided to make their way to the conference, including me, Kirsty and Sarah.
Time was getting on a bit so Kirsty and I headed to our hotel to book early check in so that we could drop our bags off.
We arrived at the conference around 2.20pm.
I wish we’d just gone straight to the conference so we could have had some time to sit and chat rather than walk 1.6 miles across London with our heavy bags!
Anyway we arrived at the Brewery and registered.
I learnt from last year to visit the brand stands first so that I could have some time chatting to them, collecting their business cards, leaflets and products they had to offer.
This meant that on day two I didn’t have to carry them around.
The Brands
I don’t think there were as many brands in the main room as last year, but that didn’t matter as the brands that were there were all fab!
Parragon Books
I visited the lovely people at the Parragon Books stall first. I’m one of their book buddies which means that we regularly review their brilliant books. After chatting for a while about their new little learners range I was given two of their carry handle books called ‘Peek a Boo I love you’.
It’s a great little book and will certainly come in handy for the aeroplane journey on our upcoming holiday.
RealTimes
Next up I chatted to the lovely and really friendly people on the RealTimes Stand. RealTimes is an app that automatically creates beautiful and engaging visual stories from your photos and videos, helping you capture and share life’s adventures with no effort.
It’s a great little app that’s easy to use. Here’s a video that I created using the RealTimes app of my BritMums Live experience.
RealTimes also have a competition running at the moment to win a VIP family experience for 8 to stay overnight in Port Lymphe Animal Reserve’s exclusive Livingstone Cottage. All you need to do is share your ‘Ultimate Family Moments’. Simply download the app and use it to create a shareable video montage of your ‘Ultimate Family Moments’ using existing or new videos and photos on your device.
Your ‘Ultimate Family Moment’ can be anything you choose from a family birthday celebration, to a day out in the park. Here’s an example. Share your RealTimes story on Twitter @realtimes quoting #RealFamilies to enter. Winners will be selected by RealTimes experts who will be looking out for humour, emotion, fun and excitement. Entries must be received before 20/07/15. Full competition terms and conditions can be found here.
Munchkin
Munchkin were at last years BritMums Live and they’re a really friendly bunch! Last year they gave us one of their brilliant non-spill bottles so I was hoping for another this year as they’re absolutely brilliant. Thankfully they gave us some new ones in the BritMums takeaway bag.
More importantly though I got to have a first glance look at their Miracle 360 degree Sippy Cups. As well as looking trendy and a bit futuristic they’re absolutely superb!
From looking at the cup it took me a little while to work out how to drink from it, but it’s actually really simple! You just drink from it like you would a normal glass.
The lid automatically reseals after drinking so it doesn’t spill. Brilliant!
My Friend Freddy Bear
I love the idea of Freddy Bear and am pleased that I got a chance to take a look at him in real life. He’s an adorable little bear with lots of different interactive games and activities. There’s also an app to download to play the games.
There were some other great brands at the event too, but I won’t list them all!
I met the Twirlywoos!
My twins love them (and so do I!)
We broke a Guinness World Record
The ice breaker at this years BritMums involved wrapping up as many people as mummies with toilet roll as possible in just three minutes! You weren’t allowed to have any significant gaps in the toilet roll so I had to be thorough when wrapping up our mummy!
We broke the record and everyone took home a Guinness World Record Medal!
Sessions
I went to the following sessions:
- Turning pitches into profits
- How successful bloggers do it
- Social Media Optimisation
- Your child’s digital footpring
- Beginning SEO
- How to market yourself and your writing
- How to be a social media manager
Out of all of the sessions I had two favourites: Your child’s digital footprint and ‘Beginning SEO’. Both sessions were informative and I felt that I’d learnt something from them.
I didn’t really feel as though I’d learnt much from the other sessions.
The Social Aspect
This for me was the most enjoyable part of the whole conference. I met some wonderful bloggers.
As mentioned above, Kirsty and Sarah, but I also met Kaz who I’ve been wanting to meet for so long now! I also met Zena, Cath, Michaela, Ryan, Martyn, Jo, Bek and a few other bloggers, but if I named them all I’d be here forever! It was great to meet everyone!
I also met Carol Smillie and really enjoyed listening to her talking about her range of protective pants.
Special shout out to Martyn who arranged for a total of 12 bloggers to have a free meal at Nandos. I had a plain chicken burger with chips which was delicious!
Overall
Although I didn’t learn much I did have a great time and met some wonderful people. I’m looking forward to doing it all again next year!
Related
20 Comments
Something Crunchy Mummy
June 22, 2015 at 8:22 pm
Great round up of BritMums Live 2015!! Was so lovely to meet you and so many other lovely bloggers 🙂 xx
Bek Dillydrops
June 22, 2015 at 8:43 pm
It was great to meet you! I like your photo of the Twirlywoos with one wrapped up as a mummy! It made me giggle 🙂 I found that in a couple of sessions, I didn't learn much but for two other sessions, I felt inspired by what was discussed. I think the main thing for me was meeting other bloggers. I do wish I could have been there on the Friday too though, as I didn't get to chat to as many people as I would have liked.
Leanne Cornelius
June 22, 2015 at 9:04 pm
It sounds really great from the social point of view, I would love to go next year but I think the nerves would be too much for me!
Leanne – A Slice of My Life Wales
Emma T
June 22, 2015 at 11:51 pm
I fancied the walk, but decided that it wouldn't work with early check in, and I didn't want to be lugging a suitcase around with me. A shame, because it should have been a great opportunity.
Ryan Costello
June 23, 2015 at 12:31 am
A fantastic round up of a great weekend. My thoughts on the event are very similar to yours, in that I didn't feel as though I learnt a great deal but was in love with the social aspect. It was great to finally meet you in person.
Nicola Fraser
June 23, 2015 at 4:29 pm
It was great meeting you in person and hope we can do it again next year or at any other of the events.
Steph Curtis
June 23, 2015 at 6:04 pm
Glad to hear you enjoyed the social side! Love your Real Times vid too 🙂
Catriona S
June 26, 2015 at 7:35 am
Sounds like a fun weekend 🙂 and a free Nandos sounds amazing! I contemplated going, but I didn't feel like it was for me, maybe next year! Xx
Mummy Fever
June 26, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Sounds like you had a good time. I've never been but one day maybe #BinkyLinky
Bethan Sian
June 26, 2015 at 1:37 pm
Looks like you all had a lovely time! I can't wait to go next year 🙂
Random Musings
June 26, 2015 at 3:12 pm
It's a shame you don't feel you learned much, but overall it sounds like you had a good time anyway. 🙂 Thanks for hosting the #binkylinky
Debbie (My Random Musings)
Ashley Beolens
June 26, 2015 at 5:30 pm
Next year will be my first Brit Mums, so been reading all the great reviews and experiences everyone had, it's a shame you felt you didn't learn as much but maybe being that bit more experienced the learning curve is less steep?
Sophie P
June 26, 2015 at 7:25 pm
It looks like a such a fun event, and I really hope to make it next year! 🙂 #binkylinky
Helen Porter
June 26, 2015 at 7:47 pm
aww Emily it looks like you had a fab time I followed the hashtag all weekend and the pictures from the instawalk it look great cant wait to catch up with you next year xx #BinkyLinky
Mrs Tubbs
June 26, 2015 at 8:08 pm
Glad you had a wonderful time! I'd love to go but it's always over Rev T's birthday! #binkylinky
Carol Cameleon
June 26, 2015 at 8:15 pm
Sounds like you had a great time, despite a few disappointments 🙂
Ali
June 26, 2015 at 9:18 pm
That's a really honest account and as someone who didn't go, I appreciate that! I'd love to know more about 'your child's digital footprint' was it a safety type talk? It' something that does worry me. #binkylinky Ali @ Mum in a Nutshell
Jenny
June 27, 2015 at 7:46 pm
It sounds like you had lots of fun even if you didn't learn much new. I would love to come along, but it's just too far away for me at the moment, I will just have to join in on Twitter while you are all off having fun! 🙂 x
Leandra Bramham
June 28, 2015 at 7:29 am
It's great to hear everyone's different perspectives on britmums, I was planning on going but in the end couldn't make it, I'm glad I've given myself another year to decide if this is for me. Although after meeting 2 of my blogging buddies this month, I would love a bloggers meet-up thanks for writing this great post! #binkylinky xx
Odd Socks and Lollipops
June 30, 2015 at 12:48 pm
A really interesting read, I didn't go to Britmums but it's been great to read everyone's posts!