An A - Z of Blogfest 2014: Part 1

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On Saturday, 8th November I headed to Kings Cross in London. I was armed with new boots, a new lippy, a new notebook and brand new shiny business cards. I was on my way to Blogfest 2014 and I was scared. 

Luckily, I had arranged to meet some wonderful fellow bloggers at Kings Cross train Station. These bloggers are women that I chat to daily on Twitter or Facebook. I know the ins and outs of their lives because they share them with me on their blogs. I've grown to love each and every one of them but I had never met them.

I was so worried that they wouldn't like the real me. That the Mrs H that they had met through my blog was different from the Lucy that they were going to meet. 

I needn't have worried. As soon as I announced myself to the group, I was pulled into numerous hugs. These women are my friends irrespective of how I met them.

Blogfest 2014 was amazing and I am really glad that I plucked up the courage to go. I have many highlights so this is (part 1 of) my A - Z of Blogfest 2014:

A is for Arabella Weir - This woman was feisty and hilarious and a perfect member of the "How to find your funny" panel. I wish I had her courage and her comic timing.

B is for bloggers - D'oh! Sorry to be obvious. Over 450 bloggers attended with the aim to learn how to become bloody brilliant bloggers.

C is for champagne - I was lucky enough to win a bottle of Taittinger for composing the best tweet of the morning. I believe that I purely won because my tweet include a rude (but biologically accurate) word. 

On my way home with a bottle of champagne to keep me company. 

D is for decisions - I desperately wanted to attend the panel discussion "beauty blogging - behind the make-up". It featured two of my favourite beauty writers, Sali Hughes and Caroline Hirons. I am not a beauty blogger and so I made the sensible decision to attend the panel "can blogging change the world". This was a brilliant session but part of me still wishes that I had been able to hear Caroline Hirons and Sali Hughes.

E is for exhaustion - I arrived home at 21.00 and I was exhausted. I am a stay at home mum and have not done anything like this since going on maternity leave. I left the venue with brain overload and that was exhausting.

F is for friends - I have made some amazing friends from writing my little blog. Before Saturday, I had never met these ladies. Yet, I feel like I have known them for years and I hope that I will know them for many years to come.

Wonder women. From left to right: Kat from at Beautwins, me, Katy from What Katy Said, Karen from Stopping at two and Jenna from Tinyfootsteps. (Photo courtesy of the lovely Karen).

G is for gin - At the end of the day we were treated to a complimentary gin, prosecco and canapes reception. Unfortunately, I was on antibiotics and I wasn't able to try the G&Ts. However, I was reliably informed (by some slightly squiffy friends) that the gin and tonics provided by Fever-tree were gorgeous.

H is for Hugo's mummy - I started reading Leigh's blog months ago. She is the most inspiring woman and writes immensely powerful posts about her gorgeous son Hugo and his legacy. I've been desperate to give her a hug. On Saturday, I was given my chance. Hugo has an amazing mummy and it was wonderful to finally meet her.

I is for inspiration - The whole day was inspiring. I returned home with a renewed passion for my blog. 

J is for joking - I have been bantering with a number of bloggers for months. We have shared jokes galore and made each other snort with laughter. As soon as we met up in Kings Cross the jokes began and they didn't stop all day.

K is for kick-arse speakers - The Blogfest panels were filled with the most amazing speakers including Francesca Martinez, Camilla Batmanghelidjh, Sarah Vine and Nick Hornby. Everything they said was note-worthy. I learnt so much. But the main lesson that I took home with me was to believe in myself and to believe in my blog.

Check back soon for An A - Z of Blogfest 2014: part 2.

Hugs

Mrs H 

xxxx

P.S. Did you attend Blogfest 2014? What did you think? Have you got any suggestions for the second part of my A-Z?
P.P.S. I have linked this post up to Brilliant Blog Posts over on Honest Mum's blog, #TheList with You Baby Me Mummy and Mum's Days and lastly #SundaysStars which this week is being hosted by Heledd at Running in Lavender and Amy at Everything Mummy.