The MADS: One Day to Go!

Its finally arrived, the MADs awards are announced tomorrow. I have to say my nails will be pleased seen as I've been biting them since the finalists were announced.

The MADS: One Week Left!

Hello! 


Its the FINAL WEEK this week for voting in the MADS awards, and every vote counts. I would love it that if you like this blog (hello, if you do, mwah love ya loads for getting me, my sense of warped humour and for not giving up on my rantier times) that you'd pop over and vote for my blog in the Most Innovative category.

Why YOU should Vote for me in the MADS!

Look, its me! I vlogged. THAT'S HOW MUCH I WANT AN IPAD!


Yes, I nearly threw my laptop and Elder's PC out the window to edit this so, please be kind!

Dear So and So: 45k for a BENCH!?

Its that time of the week when I write some letters to vent whatever is narking me off. So here goes:

Oh-My-Gawd-MADS Updates

MADS Bad and Dangerous to...Drink With!

Tee hee!

Yes, Monday saw quite a few of the finest of Britains Bloggers trek across the country (or from Lapland if you're Heather, I'm presuming a sled was involved with a couple of hardy huskies) to reach Bognor Regis (which was very definitely in a Southern direction) for the final of the MADS awards.

Now, can I say what a legend an glutton for punishment a certain Ms Whittle is? She gets a bit of stick, but my, she obviously got the organisation skills of a team of twenty to pull off such a great night in a lovely locale, more or less single handedly (offer of help next year still stands sweetie, have skills, will travel).

A special mention goes to my road trip driver, the very lovely Emma at Mellow Mummy (who played my CDs in the car, despite them going from one style of music (ie Bowie) to another (ie DJ Luck and MC Neat)), she is such a good blogger that she managed to get us the loan of a car, a very comfy Kia C'eed, so I didn't have to negotiate four trains with luggage.  I was also very pleased that she had more luggage than me and gratefully pointed this out to Elder to prove its not just me. Hope you're house is sorted soon, if all else fails move to Maidenhead!

I also have to say how amazing Butlins is- no more leaky chalets, no more bingo (there may have been but I was too busy chillin' out in the spa, even the balcony pool in the rain, that's how hardcore we are). The room we were in was gorgeous, and I now have ideas on how to decorate my bathroom and bedroom at home. I wish I had a cleaner like they have too!

A full list of winners is at Whose the Mummy



Tim from Bringing Up Charlie was absolutely shocked and stunned to have won the title of Best MAD Blogger, but never was there a more suitable candidate for the award, and he even put up with us mad women in the bar. That in itself deserved an award!



Pippa kept us all laughing, so it was no surprise she won the award for Best Family Fun, and well done to Jo at Slummy Single Mummy for winning Best New MAD Blogger.



With the awards at a satisfying close, it was off to celebrate in a sedate, adult fashion with a few coffees.

NOT!

Yes, us Mum's may seem mild mannered, but a few bottles of free wine and we regress to our pre-child drink buckets selves. Well, I did anyway, and everyone will back me up that Jo joined in to, even demanding bars be kept open and stealing balloons, which she later showed us an unknown before skill of balloon modelling (which was either a dog or a phallic hat).

First prize for inventive use of Table decorations goes to Emma at Me, The Man and The Baby. Truly admirable.

There was an avalanche of laughing, happy chatting and loads of gossiping, all in a friendly manner, of course! We were so naughty that a Red Coat had to tell us to be quieter, and then we had to move indoors as we were waking people up! Ooops, sorry to any guests in the Shoreline!

I went to bed with a warm glow that wasn't necessarily due to the wine, and have to say had a great night.


Then all too soon it was breakfast time (yum, a full English and you could stack your plate high for £8.95), I had a whistle stop manicure (first time ever, have to say I may be doing that more often), a brisk stroll on the beach (getting blown to smithereens) and then home again to a mad child in a swimsuit.


See you all soon! Here's some photos and videos from the day!

The Ocean Hotel-Butlins but not as we know it

ROAD TRIP!

Mini would live here. Fact.

Party Time!

An inventive use for table decorations!

We are all drinking lemonade. Shandy at most. Really. Stolen bottles of wine? Never!

Cheers!

Muddling Alongs MADS Introductions!

Yes, its THE MADS on Monday (did you know, its just a small event, hardly even spoken of, if you ask me, its a bit hush hush you know) and Muddling Along Mummy has asked everyone to say hello and introduce themselves, kind of the same as the Cybermummy meet and greets.


So, I'm going in the capacity of, well, going cos I was invited and its an excuse for a girlie night out, if I'm completely honest! I didn't get to stay over at Cybermummy, and was really disappointed after seeing what a good time everyone had who did. 


So here's me:

The next question is one I actually think may have been causing Sally issues as she has become rigid with boredom due to the whole discussion, on Blogger.Ed even down to the possibility of wearing leather trousers, which led to a whole off shoot conversation regarding Lederhosen and then Howard from Take That's chaps with arse view. Hmmm.


I shall be wearing a long black maxi dress there and for the reception, then changing into a very nice knee length sixties looking dress. Its black with a white peter pan collar. With leggings. And I finally sorted out my shoe issues from my post on women's need for more baggage than men, and have just gone and bought a pair of shoes from New Look. They are suede, with a small heel, but best of all, they have silver studs. Rawking.


I have also located my missing vintage clutch bag, about an hour after buying a silver clutch bag from Peacocks in desperation, but never mind as it only cost me a fiver from the kids department! 


I have, however got a new designer bag, a Radley Hobo in pink which I love. And the biggest secret is that, well, please don't hurt me for my jamminess, I went to a jumble sale for want of anything better to do, now that Mini is at playschool from 9-12 every day, Elder has now nearly ended the raves outdoors season and has a window before the raves indoors start, so he has Littlest if I want to go off and mooch, lady of leisure style. 


So, yes, having been caught in the rain with no coat, I walked past my local Salvation Army hall, and a little old lady told me to come in and have a cuppa, as there was a sale on and it was better than being in the rain. 


I felt quite sorry for her, actually, 'cos Maidenhead being singularly the poshest place, ever, they don't "do" second hand, much less jumble sales in church halls with old ladies- except to drop off their old tat. So, apart from a few other little old ladies with twinkles in their eyes and hopeful of mass attendance looks in their gazes, there was a young couple with a baby, and me. 


I had a quick look, and spotted a few bits and pieces, not much to my taste, but I felt I should show willing and if all else failed I could buy a book. Then I spotted a box of jumbled up bags.


Now, bags are my downfall, I love them, especially vintage bags. And this being a sale which looked like it had predominantly been donated by the little old ladies now sat looking downcast, I thought there was a slim chance of finding a gem or two.


When I looked, there were loads of common as muck bags from M&S, Primark, and I when I found a bag for life, I nearly gave up. Then I spotted something. A pink, soft as butter leather something. 


I have spidey sense, or the bag equivalent of it. Pulling out a dirty bag at the bottom, I knew this was special. I was right- inside was the tell tell Dog logo in silver- a Radley Hobo drawstring bag. 


I found it quite hard to contain my glee at finding this gem. I have wanted a Radley for a while, so finding one here in a jumble sale, well, I could quite frankly have kissed the old lady who suggested having a look as a means to escape the rain.


Then I went to pay for it. And the old lady on the tin (not till, tin, as in Biscuit, rattling with a 20p coin), took one look and said " Are you sure you want that love, its a bit battered". I said it was a bit dirty, but I'd give it a clean and it'd be fine- in fact I took a baby wipe out of my handbag and showed her. "Oh I'd much rather that posh bag you have already, is it real Chanel?" she asked- she had no idea what the bag was I was holding, and whilst vintage Chanel is admittedly dearer than Radley, its still a Radley, and it was in a jumble sale.


She asked me for 25p. I nearly choked- I can't possibly give you 25p, its worth something, I said. 
"Oh, she said, it doesn't matter to me, I think its knackered. Tell you what, you can give me 50p instead then!"


God bless old ladies. I did give her 50p, but I stuck a load of change in the box for donations on the way out.


I looked it up when I came home- it was originally 279 quid new! In a while it'll probably go up, if they discontinue them.


It has lost the swingy leather dog from the side, but you can replace those for a few pounds on EBay.


Thank you, rain. Thank you for running late Mini and making me forget my coat and brolly. Thank you posh lady of Maidenhead who ditched the bag, probably in favour of a Mulberry. Thank you daft old ladies who have no idea what labels are. 


Yes, so that's me, bargain hunter extraordinaire, lover of music, writing, and Mum of two. 


I cannot wait to see everyone x