Three years later? I am really proud and happy to say that sometimes? People do listen and not only listen they shout back. Might be comments on a Facebook post, or a YouTube video. Could be a DM or someone stopping me in the street to say "Hello". 2016 was the year where I felt that with the love and support of some amazing women, it was OK to show off my chubby body, spent the majority of my YouTube videos looking like a hot mess and when I fell really poorly they helped me get through it. Comment by wonderful comment.
I got my body out and guess what? NO ONE CARED!
Smiling for the kiddos hiding ALL the pain
Let's talk about the highs. Much nicer. This year I was nominated for a few awards and had the pleasure of winning Best Use of Video and Blog of the Year at the MADs. It was a truly magical night I will never forget (mainly as I twerked and...you know the rest). I was also asked by The Huffington Post to go down and take part in a discussion about guilt with Jamie Oliver. I arrived sweating profusely and spent the whole time praying I got a free Huff Post mug. I did. He was lovely and smelt amazing.
I arrived and said to these people "are you all sh*tting yourself?". They replied? "No" #justmethen
CAN EVERYONE SEE THAT I WON. LOOK I WON. I WON I DID. I WOOOOON #classy
A few things happened that I couldn't have predicted in my wildest dreams. When you start a blog you sometimes set yourself little goals. I dunno maybe review a free holiday or get a book deal. From day dot I wanted my family to get a Merlin Pass. And when I received an email saying would we like one? I cried and did a happy dance of joy. Much like I cried when my lovely friend Kiran asked if I not only would like to speak at the Mumsnet conference but would I like to interview the lady who inspired me to write Louise Pentland. I mean what are the chances? Pinch. Me. Moments.
Thanks for changing my life in a weird way that you didn't know
This year I had some wonderful family time away courtesy of brands including Konfidence, Optiwell, Away Resorts and Camp Bestival. I also worked with brands including Marks & Spencers, Mattel, Andrex and Pampers. My mug was featured in Bella magazine and I became a judge for the monthly Good To Know blogger competition. My Dad said he had never been as proud of me as when they got me on BBC 5 Live and TORE ME APART. My girl got a Barbie Dream House sent to review. F*cking amazing. I've had trolls. And dealt with them. Three years in I don't get so hurt. Which is something I am grateful for. I'm tough as old boots. OK sometimes I cry a bit. Like when The Guardian called me a 'slummy mummy' but that may have been the Tramadol withdrawal.
We reviewed one of the best holidays of our lives in the Isle of Wight. We are all crying here
I love my blog. Almost obsessively. For me it's a 365 day a year wonderful job. If I'm on holiday, if it's Christmas even if I've just woken up from an operation. I like to think people read it or watch me as really? I'm just totally ordinary. I shop in Matalan and I sometimes get cross with my kids. My husband does my head in and I spend an inordinate amount of time in my dressing gown drinking gin in a tin. But if this year has taught me anything? Is that being ordinary really is good enough. In fact just being yourself (as w*nky as that sounds) is the best thing you can be. I spent a lot of time in bed thinking (off my face on ALL the drugs) about how lucky I am. I have two small children and get to photograph them daily, film them, talk about them, write about them and document them. Warts and all. I can't wait to see what 2017 holds...but I can promise you one thing...it won't hold twerking.
If you're interested in starting a blog check out my post here: So You Wanna Start A Blog...
...Good luck!