Let’s go out with a bang

To finish off my little bloggy party I’m going to go out with one last giveaway. Since a blogoversary is a bit like a birthday, my last giveaway is a total surprise!!

Yup you read that right. You have no idea what will be in the box that I’ll be sending to one lucky person but it’s full of some great goodies.

But on to the winners so far!!

Thanks for all the yummy chicken ideas. I’m sure we’ll be trying out a few.
Giveaway #12 x $20 Lenards vouchers go to…… Sammi & Sasha.

Some great beauty tips and the
Giveaway #2Beauty pack goes to…… Mary

Thanks again go to those who took part in my bloggy question & answer.
Giveaway #3Urban Lily Life Journal goes to…… Kylie

and the final winner
Giveaway #4Ella’s Kitchen pack goes to…… Narelle

All winners have 48 hours to contact me with their postal details. If I have no contact my Tuesday I will be doing a redraw.

Now for the big Mystery box. You’ll have to do a little work for this one.
Comment on this post sharing your favourite birthday memory
(Optional – leave me a message here if you do any/all of these)
Like me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Tweet about the giveaway

Entry is open from 22 April 2012 until 6th May 2012 and is open to Australian residents only. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.

and with that

my birthday celebrations are over…. or are they?

I’ll be back over the weekend to announce the winners. AND I have one more giveaway for you to enter but more about that on the weekend.

A HUGE thank you to all who took part and to everyone who entered my giveaways. Here’s to the next 6 years!

It’s all about bloggers

Today I’ve got together a few bloggers to answer a few questions about themselves & their blogs

Who are you and where do you blog? Tina Gray, http://tinagray.me
And how long have you been blogging? about 6 years, but with this blog, 2 years.
Tell us a little about you, your blog & your blogging journey. I’m a mum of 5 children and wife to 1 husband. My blog is my space to share what goes on in my head while trying to raise my family, trying to find my skinny self and sharing what I think about stuff.
What is the one thing you wish you had been told when you started blogging? and what one piece of advice would you give other bloggers? Make your blog your own. Find YOUR voice. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing.
Tina can be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Who are you and where do you blog? Liz, www.lizosaurus.com
And how long have you been blogging? 1 and a bit years at Lizosaurus, about 5 years all up.
Tell us a little about you, your blog & your blogging journey. I’m Liz, I live in inner west Sydney with my husband Jarod and my cat Train. Blogging is just a creative outlet for me – somewhere to put my thoughts and chat with likeminded others. My blog has also offered some amazing opportunities – from free passes to the Easter show to a flight to Malaysia for an awards ceremony!
What is the one thing you wish you had been told when you started blogging? and what one piece of advice would you give other bloggers? Blogging is not the be all and end all. There is still a life outside of the internet!
Anything else? Also – make sure you’re enjoying it. If you’re not it’ll come through in your writing.
Liz can be found on Twitter

moi

Who are you and where do you blog? Tork, http://torkona.blogspot.com
And how long have you been blogging? 1 year, 4 months
Tell us a little about you, your blog & your blogging journey. I just turned thirty. I’m a Pisces. I enjoy crisps and long walks on the beach.
But seriously, I am a dad blogger. Why? Because I love being a dad. I love talking about being a father. Not only that, but I am hilarious and I love making people laugh. Hehehe.
I also love to inspire, with a splash of music here and there and the odd hand “written” poetry. Wussy stuff, but I enjoy it, so I make it up talking about stuff dad’s might like as well as the odd gaming info. Overall, I blog about my boy and for my boy. It’s all about keeping memories for the future when I have trouble remembering stuff!
What is the one thing you wish you had been told when you started blogging? and what one piece of advice would you give other bloggers? I wish I was told.. don’t worry about it. Just have fun.
Don’t worry about traffic. Don’t worry about how to blog. Simply keep your blog place neat and just write epic as you can whilst enjoying what you do.
Anything else? Once I had this dream where I was a transforming plant that could transform into anything. There was a mob chasing after me for hours in this dream and I couldn’t get away from them, no matter what I did. I would turn down strange corners, run super fast, chuck rocks at this mob, nothing would work. Then I realised I was a transforming plant, so I turned into an old granny and grandpa and simply walked past them, whinging something about ‘kids these days’ as the granny whilst as the grandpa I was stroking a cat.
Just thought I’d share that.
Tork can be found on Twitter and on Facebook

Who are you and where do you blog? Ames, http://tutuames.com
And how long have you been blogging? In total since Oct 2009, on this blog since March 2011
Tell us a little about you, your blog & your blogging journey. I’m a SAHM to two little ones, a toddler boy, lufflump and a newborn girl, sesame, and not married to but in love with the mister. I’m just getting into fitness and joining Roller Derby so will be also blogging that journey.
I began blogging in 2009. Only the mister knew I blogged. I stopped because I lost my blog mojo and I hated my blog, it still makes me cringe. I didn’t blog again for almost six months. I kept reading my favourite blogs but didn’t write anything.
I started my new blog, Tutu Ames now Accidental Wonderland, as I felt my blog mojo come back mostly thanks to Twitter. I’d spent the six months learning about writing posts, design and topics. I expanded my knowledge, not through e-classes but through blogs I admired.
My current blog is my third baby. She’s gone through many changes but I feel like she’s finding her happy place. The problem is that happy place keeps changing! It’s my place to vent and connect with a wonderful community.
What is the one thing you wish you had been told when you started blogging? and what one piece of advice would you give other bloggers? Take snippets of your favourite blogs but don’t copy, individuality is the key! Also please turn word verification off it makes commenting suck.
Anything else?  Happy blogiversary!!
Ames can be found on Twitter and Facebook

Thanks to all who took part in my little bloggy interview. Pop over to their blogs & leave them some love 😀

Today’s giveaway is an Urban Lily Life Book Journal (I’m not sure if you can buy these anymore but last check RRP was about $30). Colour may vary from that shown below

ULP375 The Urban Lily Life Book Journal is a refillable 6 ring binder journal with a soft PVC cover with chrome metal closure.
Each Journal Includes
– 50 printed journaling pages
– 25 ruled pages
– 10 blank pages
– 5 polka dot page dividers
Journal Size – 18cm x 23.5cm

Enter using the Rafflecopter below. Easy one today. Again Australian residents only please

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday Night

So today I was hoping to have a guest post for you all but I left my emailing way too late. You know, the usual thing 😉 Instead I thought I’d share with you some of my favourites from the blogosphere.

I’m sharing this post by Tork cause a) it’s funny and b) it’s got cute pandas. I thought I might take part in Clairey’s handwriting challenge. Tina’s blogging posts are always informative. I *heart* Joy the Baker and her post Ten (Super Rad) Blog Post Ideas is great when facing a bit of bloggy block. Can’t share a list of bloggy goodness without sharing Two Lumps (cat owners can relate) and then there’s some bloggers who I struggle to pick just one post from recently – Eden, Lori, Kelley & Sass. I just want to give them huge hugs for a variety of reasons. Amazing women.

So there’s my favourites, all be it short. Hey it’s been a long day (OMG did I mention Miss K is finally sleeping in a single “big girl’ bed. We went and bought her new sheets, a pillow and a few other bits and pieces – she was super excited) and I’m a little tired. Tomorrow I’ll be back with some exciting stuff.Miss K in her new bed

Today’s giveaway is a bit of a beauty pack (thanks to the Bloggers BBQ) with some Dove hair serum thrown in as a bonus 😀 Enter using the Rafflecopter below. Open to Australian residents only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My 6 year adventure

This time six years ago I started a blog – From the Wolf’s Den (I did have another blog that started in 2005 so really I’ve been blogging for 7 years in May but meh, whatever). My first post was pretty simple. I’d started moving all my blogs from Blogger to Word Press. I don’t think I even kept my blogger blog though I still have my very first blog and my wedding blog.

I was a scrapbooker and a personal blogger. I shared scrapbooking stuff I’d created and just posted about my general life. Then in 2009 I fell pregnant with Miss K (& started a pregnancy blog) but it all got too much so this blog became my pregnancy blog as well. Which reminds me – I need to import all those posts from my pregnancy blog to here – keep it all in one place. In 2010 I became a ‘mummy blogger’. Over the last two years I’ve blogged a bit about crafting, a bit about parenting and bit of general blogging. Blogging has given me the chance to document, rant, share and so much more.

I still can’t believe I’ve been blogging so long. I’ve made some great friendships because of this blog (& Twitter). I’ve also had some great opportunities to work with some awesome brands. AND I got to go to a blogging conference.

So here’s to six years. May the next six bring more friendships, more opportunities and more blog events!!

For the next seven days I’ll be turning the Den into a bit of a party den with some great things lined up. Starting today with the first of my Blogoversary Giveaways.
Today’s giveaway is brought to you by Lenard’s. I have 2 $20 vouchers for Lenard’s to give away. I tried Lenard’s at the recent Bloggers BBQ and it is yummy. Shame there isn’t one in Tasmania 🙁

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to Australian residents only. Please check if you have a Lenard’s near you before entering.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our Melbourne Adventure Pt 2

Or the day I went to DPCON12 and hubby had a day with Miss K.
(We’re finally home and now I’m hoping to sit down and do a bit of blogging about the Digital Parents Conference and the rest of our trip.)

Up and about early for a Friday. A quick breakfast & shower then I was off to my first ever blog conference. It was also the first time in 2 years I’d been out for a full day without Miss K.

I was super nervous but also super excited. Fortunately Digital Parents had organised bloggy buddies for us and I was paired with the lovely Donna of Nappy Daze and Kim of Working Women Australia. Thank you ladies for being awesome and helping a conference newbie feel welcome and for giving me someone to sit with and chat to 😉

After arriving at the Sebel (after the taxi trip from hell) I was met by the lovely Denyse and wandered upstairs to check in and receive the AMAZING swag bag (omg that thing was so heavy and so full of amazing goodies – the photo doesn’t do it justice)

DPCon12 swag bag After we sat down we were welcomed by the amazing Brenda and then took part in a little speed dating blogger style. I met some lovely bloggers, some who I already read & follow on twitter and some who I now follow and read.

Then we got into the serious business. A great panel of bloggers including THE Problogger Darren Rowse (he is so nice) and the ever inspiring Sawhole (Madam Bipolar) discussing Social Media for Social Good.

We then got into the social side – Morning Tea. I am so devastated that I didn’t think to take a photo but I met one of my bloggy crushes – Kelley. We’ve been chatting for years and finally got to meet (sorry for accosting you in the loos LOL) but I did get a photo with the wicked Eden. I take a shocking photo, eyes always closed!

Me & Eden *squee* Next up was the panel on Blog to Book and then lunch and a chance to meet & interact with some great brands, including Dyson, Disney, Hallmark, Macleans, World Vision, Hardie Grant Egmont (thanks for the great books – they are a huge hit) and Kleenex. Back to the main hall and we had the choice of some workshops. I stayed for the Working with Brands panel – a VERY interesting discussion with some PRs. The twitter stream was abuzz especially around the discussion of sponsored posts.

The next panel I stayed for was Blog to Business. I wasn’t sure if it would be relevant but I did find it interesting. I do look forward to reading about the other two panels – Writing Workshop with Valerie Khoo of the Sydney Writers’ Centre) and Blog Coaching Boost with Nicole Avery. On to afternoon tea and I got a Glow Job for the ever fabulous Glowless.

My Glow Job

Then we got to discuss Mum blogging and if it was a radical act. The panel started with the awesome announcement that the ever awesome Eden was being sent to Niger by World Vision. You can follow Eden’s trip on her blog and by following the hashtag #EdenInNiger on Twitter. Eden, if you read this, you totally rock.
Last up was the My Blog, My Story. OMG if you ever go to a Digital Parents Conference (or read any of the amazing stories), take tissues – you will cry! We heard so many amazing and inspiring stories. Stories of loss, parenting and stories that made us laugh (I’m looking at you Reservoir Dad). I loved Shae’s story of being a ‘hippy lala parent’ (transcript here) and the whole room was brought to tears by the heartbreaking story told by Kristie (transcript here – have tissues handy). And then it was over.

A big thanks to Brenda and the organising team, the DPCon sponsors and my wonderful sponsors (Belkin Australia, FollowMe Sticker, George Town IT & Miss Bella Blooms Creations). I’m already looking forward to DPCon 2013!

Instead of heading to the dinner I headed back to hubby & Miss K with plans of heading out to the MCG to watch the mighty Hawks take on Collingwood BUT Miss K had other ideas. Ideas that included her going to sleep at 6pm and not waking up until 7am on Saturday morning. So hubby & I ordered in Chinese from Good Luck Tea House using Eat Now and watched the game on telly from the comfort of our couch.

crashed out for the night even with shoesTea from Good Luck Tea House

I’ll be back tomorrow with pt 3 of our trip

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Thanks to my amazing sponsors for Digital Parents Conference 2012 – FollowMe Sticker, Belkin Australia, Bella’s Blooms and George Town IT

Want to see your business featured on my blog? Please check out my Sponsor page to see if I’m looking for sponsorship.

Blogging Conferences – some resources

With only 11 (!!!!!) days til Digital Parents Conference I thought I’d do a bit of sharing & linking up to some posts I’m finding really useful in my own prep for the first blogging conference I’ve attended.

For the last couple of weeks, Twitter has been buzzing with the topic of clothing and what people are wearing to Digital Parents Conference. Especially this dress (nicknamed the condom dress).
and then there was this comment by the lovely Tina of Tinagraydotme

image

puts it into perspective a bit. I remember reading somewhere, I can’t for the life of me think where though, that you should dress in clothes that are you and are something that you are comfortable in.

What am I wearing? Ah, that will be a surprise. In other words I have no real idea yet but I have some clothes picked that all coordinate so I’ll pick on the day. Thanks to my awesome mum I have a few new outfits for this trip 🙂 (love you mum!)

Being a blogging conference, of course tech will be a big thing to bring be it laptops, iPads, smart phones.

Nikki at Styling You has a great Geek girl guide: what to take to a blogging conference and Danimezza has a list of 10 things to take to an event.

I’ve made my list of what I’ll take & I’m hoping it’ll all fit in a great little bag I bought on eBay last year for my iPad

dpcon post

1. my iPad (obviously) & iiNet mobile wireless (case by Belkin Australia & stickers by FollowMe sticker)
2. Bluetooth foldable keyboard
3. pens
4. a blank notebook
5. business cards
6. some mints (not pictured)
7. makeup bag
8. camera and spare batteries
9. backup power for iPad & iPhone

Other useful links
Blogging Basics 101 – Attending a Blog Conference: Tips & Advice
Blog Conference Newbie (US focused) has some interesting posts
My Front Porch Swing has a couple of great posts – Prepping your blog and what to pack in your bag
Whispered Inspirations has a great conference guide for newbies
The anti-clique conference by Zoey @ Good Goog
Crash Test Mummy – A guide to surviving DPCON12 for the shy blogger
Fake it Till You Make it – How to Confidently Fake it from Sonia
Blogging conferences and what to expect
DIGITAL PARENTS CONFERENCE 2012: The Event, The Lifesaver & The Link Up 

Have you decided what you’re wearing? What your bringing?
Do you have a great resource to share that I can add to my list?

I’m also joining in with Tina’s Piquing my Pinterest

Tina Gray {dot} Me

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Digital Parents
Want to see your business featured here? I’m still accepting sponsors. Please email me or check out my Sponsor page.
Join the list of current sponsors including FollowMe Sticker, Belkin Australia, Miss Mommy, Bella’s Blooms & George Town IT

Business Cards for Blog Cons

I’m in the process of designing my own bloggy business cards for the upcoming Digital Parents Conference (OMG it’s only 42 days away!!!) and thought others might be in the same boat as me and have no real idea what to put on them.

After a little Google searching I came across Momcomm and their series of articles on blog business cards (from 2011).

I also found a post by David Risley – 5 Important Tips for your Blogger Business Card. I love the idea of using your photo. And from Table of Five – Get Your Business Cards Ready For Blog Conferences!
Then there’s Blog Design Heroes’ Business Cards for bloggers (check for typos!!).

So what are you putting on yours? Have a great resource to share? Or know of someone who designs kick ass cards?

Look forward to swapping cards with you 😀

FollowMe Sticker

I’ve been a fan of FollowMe Sticker now for some time after winning some freebies thanks to their Twitter account (@FollowMeSticker)

FollowMeStickerlogo

So as you can imagine I was pretty happy when they came onboard as one of my sponsors for Digital Parents Conference. I asked Stuart Lawson, Founder of FollowMe Sticker to share a bit about the company.

‘”FollowMeSticker was started after reading several articles on how small businesses were taking advantage of Social Media to launch or increase their business. One example was a small cupcake shop owner who invested time in Twitter to gain a local audience and introduce coupons and deals to bring new customers into the new store. This success can be seen by many other businesses who decide to invest some time into developing an audience on Social Media platforms. By developing a community on Facebook or Twitter that is local- you increase the amount of people talking about your business and that gets more customers into the doors.

Our stickers let customers know your business is on Facebook, Twitter, or other Social Media profiles. That means customers can go online and look for coupons or interact with others, as well as interact with your brand. FollowMeSticker was started to help individuals and small local businesses increase sales and word-of-mouth with only a small investment.

Although Social Media doesn’t work for every business- some businesses can really take advantage of fostering a small local community of folks who are supportive of your businesses values, and who will openly share their positive experiences about your company online. I hope that gives you a good idea of what it is and what our goals are. We are here to help local businesses increase their buzz and word-of-mouth.”

FollowMe Sticker produces

image image image

Get your own social networking stickers for 25% off in time for Digital Parents Conference by going to FollowMeSticker.com and entering TWITTER42

You can follow them on Twitter or Like them on Facebook

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Digital Parents

Want to see your business features here? I’m still accepting sponsors. Please email me or check out my Sponsor page.
Join the list of current sponsors including FollowMe Sticker, Belkin Australia & George Town IT

Taking a break

Well Christmas is 2 (!!) sleeps away and like most bloggers I’m planning on taking a little time off. I do have a guest post and a review scheduled so be sure to pop back and check them out.

I’ll be back on New Year’s Eve to do a year in review.

So have a Merry, and safe, Christmas and hopefully I’ll see you back here in the New Year