London Baby!.....BritMums Live 2014

This weekend has been so much fun and has really helped me to see things differently. It was just the break I needed to come home feeling invigorated, more positive and with a refreshed and renewed admiration for my husband and sons. You know, you go away, they miss you, you miss them and everyone appreciates each other a little more! That's what I'm trying to say!

All ready to get the train

Bloggers in the Venue Court Yard

I had a blast, it was so lovely to meet bloggers who I had been in contact with but never met. I also got to spend more time with friends who I had already met, and that was fantastic. Being me Jo Laybourn instead of wife and mummy everyday! Don't get me wrong I love my family with every ounce of my being but I needed that time out and time to be me.

In the main hall listening to one of the speakers

My own personalised Coke Bottle

Britmums Live was held at The Brewery, London. A lovely venue which was in my opinion just prefect for 700 parent bloggers. Proudly sponsored by Style Attack I arrived set to pick up tips, hear great speakers and meet fantastic like minded bloggers and that I did. There were too many I wanted to meet and chat too, to do just that but in the main I met many from the mental list in my head. 

Some of my good friends, Clare, Jen, Liz, AK, & Carly

The keynote from Emma Freud on Friday was funny and interesting and set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. It was great to watch the Brilliance in Blogging Awards at the end of day one, and I want to Congratulate all the winners. I'd not heard of all their blogs but I now have more to read!

Me, Jen and AK

My room mate for the night at the Hoxton Hotel, in Shoreditch, was my good friend AK and her lovely baby daughter Molly Mae. It was great returning from a lovely meal out with bloggers, to chat about our day, comfortable in each others company and reflecting on our first ever blogging conference. Molly Mae slept right through bless her, so I couldn't have asked for better roomies. The Hoxton was great and really reasonable. I'd stay there again!

Day two started emotionally with the keynote from Benjamin Brooks-Dutton, father, author and blogger, who stood in front of 700 people and spoke about his passion for keeping his deceased wife's memory alive for his son and how he hopes to help people talk about death.

Watching a live desert demonstration in the Morrisons kitchen

Then onto some sessions for me, Google+ being one of them and how to run Giveaways on your blog. Both very interesting and informative. Very popular choices too! With sessions throughout the day there was still time to mingle amongst brands, meet new friends and spent time with old ones. Lunch in the very lovely decorated marquee was great and very sociable but for me the food wasn't my thing. However the food being bought out in the Morrisons 'kitchen' was!

The beautifully decorated marquee

Enjoying a vino at lunch on Saturday

A great Instagram session in the afternoon, was followed by tea break, more chit chat and then the final keynote by bloggers reading moving blog posts and finally a great insert from The Good Enough Mums Club, which was uplifting and hilarious! 

Me in my sponsor t.shirt

Of course there were goodies bags for attendees at the end and they did not disappoint. Would I go again? I think yes! 
Despite missing the boys more than I care to admit, I think I'd stay a second night next time and ideally at the Montcalm, right there at The Brewery. 
I feel so much better for going away for the weekend, I've been spurred to finally lose the weight I want to and I feel good. Like really good!! 

Thanks BritMums. Thanks also to my fab sponsors Style Attack, and of course to AK and Molly Mae.