The extremely long DPCON13 wrap post

This is a S1 post

For full details please see my disclosure policy

You know what's wrong with Blogging Conferences? They go way too fast and no sooner have you arrived, hugged those you know and managed to figure out who half the other people are that it's time to say goodbye.

I was only able to go this year thanks to my awesome sponsor McCormick Marinade In A Bag. I'm told I should put here that I have my own marinade bag currently in my tummy, but that just makes me think this baby will come out smelling like Honey & Soy chicken. Though I suppose if it has to come out smelling like food, that's a good one.

Day: 1
Mood: Cranky & tired
Hours sleep: 2.5 in previous 48 hours

I arrived in Sydney early Tuesday morning after having had about half an hour of sleep in 15 second head dropping whip-lash bursts on the plane. Each time accompanied by the most attractive snorty snores as I awoke wondering where the hell I was and panicking that I'd drooled on the man sitting next to me. For the record, I didn't, but it came close a few times. Am awesome travel companion. 

Sydney: your traffic is atrocious. Sydney drivers: you see those lines? Stay within them. It leads to much less honking. Tourist drivers/chauffeur/Jo from Chickens and Bees: kudos for not getting me killed, tis much appreciated. Mwah.

After lunching with Zoey from Goodgoogs and Jo the three of us ventured out for a PR meeting that was "within walking distance". At this point I'd like to point out that "walking distance" varies greatly depending on if you're a chick who runs for kilometres every day or a chick with a flaring chronic pain condition (who also happens to be a bit whingey and hasn't slept). PR meetings make me feel important. I'm not, but hey, it's all about how you feeeeeeeeel, right?

Despite the magnificent company, falling asleep during the car ride home and the subsequent two hour nap were a definite highlight of day one, as was my post-dinner bubble bath that I enjoyed while everyone else who'd already arrived at the hotel was in the bar partying. I really know how to rock a child free holiday, don't I?

I fell asleep around 2:30am after Emma from Emma's Brain crocheted me a penis. As you do.

Day 2:
Mood: Emo & tired
Hours sleep: 4

My head was still firmly in WA time so when the clock read 6am, I was really getting up at 3am. My luggage had somehow made its way out of the cupboard over night and plastered itself to my face, directly beneath my eyes.

We headed on over to Curzon Hall/Cinderella's castle and the hugging began. Soon after, the lack of sleep, the hormones and the whole emo thing caught up. I managed to just hold it together when I saw Tiff from My Three Ring Circus, though I do think I heard her neck crack when we hugged so tight. If I'd had time to compose myself from seeing that gorgeous lady, perhaps I wouldn't have burst in to tears to see Fe from Lumsdaine Photography (who I've spoken about previously here). I'm constantly surprised at how close you can become to people you have only met in person a handful of times. It wasn't even 8:30am and I was crying. I wanted to slap myself.

By mid-morning it all caught up and I found myself completely sobbing in the bathroom on the verge of a full blown panic attack. It's hard to describe exactly what was going on but all I can say is that I'm a girl who really likes her sleep and having had less than seven hours in three days makes for one super emo Glow who is prone to tears. I pulled it together as best as I could for the remainder of the day and soaked in as much information as I could (loved the legal panel!) before making a quick exit.

Day 3:
Mood: Nervous & tired
Hours sleep: 6

It's amazing what six hours of solid sleep will do for a gal. I was still exhausted but the melancholy mood that hung over me the day before had gone and was replaced by oh-fuck-I'm going-to-be-on-stage-does-my-hair-look-OK nerves. On a scale of one to brown trousers, I was right at the top.

When it was time, I made my way to the stage and did what any nervous person wearing a Madonna microphone would do: took selfies with Mrs Woog while we Vogued. Our panel was meant to be a light-hearted look at how to deal with negative comments and trolls and I was super chuffed to be amongst some uber bloggers Corrie from Retro Mummy, the afore mentioned Mrs Woog from Woogsworld and Clint from Reservoir Dad... even if he did take a toilet break half way through.

I'm firmly of the opinion that the word troll is overused. People disagreeing with you aren't trolls, its when they bring in personal attacks, particularly under the veil of anonymity, that it becomes a troll comment. We don't all have to like each other, hold hands and sing kumbayah; hell I have very close friends that I disagree with vehemently on certain subjects and some that shit me to tears every now and then (and I've absolutely no doubt that I do the same to them, probably more frequently).

No sooner had it all begun than it was time to make myself purdy for the gala dinner and an impromptu Harlem Shake (which only gets a little bit of me and none of the people who were beside me).

Day 4:
Mood: Content & tired (sensing a theme yet?)
Sleep: 7 hours

If there is one way to start the day that will ensure a lasting good mood, it's snuggly newborn cuddles. Kristie from Hespera's Garden joined us for breakfast and it was all I could do not to run off with little Caelen. Then the whole "holy shit I'm gonna have one of these soon" hit me and I handed him over to Jess from Tattoo Mummy who immediately burst both her ovaries.

The concierge at The Stamford Grand was so lovely when we were checking out and offered to not only get us a private taxi (hello, Mercedes Benz and fabulous driver) but to have us taken to the Sir Stamford in Circular Quay where they'd look after our bags for the remainder of the day while we shopped. Service above and beyond made Zoey, Jess from Essentially Jess and I very happy chickens as we headed off for the best laksa I've ever had and then quiet chats by the Harbour Bridge over chips.

It was a HUGE week and, surprise, I'm still tired. As awesome as it was, I'm so glad to be home.

Once again a massive thank you to my sponsor McCormick Marinade In A Bag - don't forget the BBQ giveaway complete with the full range of Marinade In A Bag and a Weber BBQ is still running. Enter here or head to Coles to buy your own for $2.99 a packet.

What was your favourite DPCON13 memory?

Bags of flavour {giveaway from my tasty #DPCON13 sponsor!}

This is a S1 post

For full details please see my disclosure policy

Um, how is it March already?

I'm going to have to give serious thought to this whole DPCON13 thing that is happening next week. OK I lie, I've already been thinking about it - what to wear, namely. I can see the post "how to go to a conference when pregnant and look like a whale" just writing itself.

The whole what to talk about when I get on stage is another story all together, but despite that, I'm so excited. It's practically squee-worthy!

I would not be going to the conference if it wasn't for my awesome sponsor McCormick Marinade In A Bag. Instead I would be sitting at the computer vigilantly following the twitter stream whilst simultaneously trying to avoid it.

McCormick have kindly showered me with Marinade In A Bag, though not literally or I'd be quite gloopy. The Sticky BBQ and Honey & Soy flavours made a much acclaimed appearance at Map Guy's 30th and everyone thought "day-am, girl, those chicken legs were amazeballs" so I batted my eyelashes and pretended it was nothing... because it was nothing. Shove meat in bag, re-seal, leave for 30 minutes, take out, cook. Done! No mess, no fuss, NO DISHES!

To help celebrate the launch of Marinade In A Bag, McCormick are giving you the chance to win the complete range of McCormick Marinade In A Bag, a Cooler Bag, a BBQ mitt, a set of Heat Beads BBQ tools and an awesome Weber® Smokey Joe® portable charcoal barbecue, a miniature version of the famous Weber kettle with fire and rust proof steel bowl and lid, weatherproof handle and rust-proof vents which regulate airflow through the barbecue, ensuring delicious results. They're even going to throw in some Heat Beads for that perfect smokey flavour. All up it's valued at just over $200.

To enter, go here. You can enter daily.

If you can't wait to get your hands on some Marinade In A Bag, it's available nationally through Coles for $2.99 (one 200g bag has enough marinade for up to 1kg of meat). If you don't use it all at once, put it in the freezer after you've taken the meat out and use it again the next time.

If you're attending DPCON13 come and say hi (I'll be the one with the super cute Marinade Man on my shirt). I'm terrible with names and get overwhelmed easily but shove your business card in to my hand or staple it to my forehead. Better yet, tweet me saying "I'm in front of you, moron".

Full terms and conditions are available here.

Call me the Bag Lady

#Sponsored A
for full details see my disclosure statement

In November I put the call out for sponsorship to DPCON13, touting myself as a fabulous Madonna photoshopper, Glowdonna. Sadly, and if I'm honest, quite surprisingly, no companies saw that as a real, bankable talent and no emails offering a partnership were forthcoming.

With the proverbial cabbage moths flying from my inbox (and my bank account), I stepped things up a notch in the form of a fancy pants info-graphic sponsorship proposal. If I can't be Madonna, then at least my proposal could be, cone bra, oversized radio mic and all.

 

And whaddya know, a fabulous company, who I enjoyed working with once before, said they'd sponsor me... on the proviso that I put away my Madonna photoshopping once and for all. It was a tough call, but, sometimes you have to make sacrifices in life.

So you can call me the Bag Lady. Or to be more specific, The McCormick Marinade in a Bag Lady! Hurrah!

I tried the Marinade in a Bag when it first came out and loved it. I was excited to introduce it to my friends on the weekend at a big Australia Day pool party BBQ (at which I would of course have passed off as something I'd whipped up myself) but unfortunately feral toddler Tricky has a contagious condition and we are in isolation. Oh well, more chicken for me!! Silver lining FTW!

There are four great flavours: Honey & Soy, Red Wine & Garlic, Teriyaki and Sticky BBQ and they're available from Coles for just $2.99 each.

My favourite is the Teriyaki and Map Guy loves the Sticky BBQ. Tricky devours them all equally because MEAT, so I really have no clue if my little carnivore has a preference. I love that it's a marinade without the mess and that I don't have to dirty a separate tray to use it (hello, less dishes!), you just open it, chuck in up to 1kg of meat, seal shut and leave it to work it's marinadey magic. Even those allergic to cooking could do it.

McCormick aren't only sharing the lovin' with me, they want you to be involved too, so keep an eye out in the coming months because I'm going to have a fabulous giveaway of lots of yummies!

So a major thank you to McCormick, and I promise from here on out, Glowdonna is no more.

Have you tried Marinade in a Bag? Did you pass it off as your own, too?

Desperately Seeking Sponsorship

Desperately Seeking Susan did big things for Madonna's career so I'm going to take a page out of her book, or classifieds column as the case may be, and do a little desperate seeking myself.

Introducing the new movie (poster) sensation for this summer, Desperately Seeking Sponsorship:

Starring yours truly as the chick who needs to get to Sydney in March for DPCON13. You can call me Glowdonna. And Glowsanna Arquette. That's right, I'm my own side kick. I've cloned myself so that you'll get twice the value for your sponsorship. Or something.

Just imagine, all that talent that went in to photoshopping my face in there could be directed to promoting your brand. If that's not winning, I don't know what is.

I'll be speaking at the conference on how to deal with trolls because apparently getting your name in CLEO will do that. I knew having a troll and getting hate mail would have to have a silver lining! Yay me! So I could be wearing your company logo on stage when I bang on about how someone disagreeing with you does NOT make them a troll. SHEESH! Most overused word ever.

So if you happen to be a company that has a few spare bucks to invest in a social media campaign then I'm your gal. Or gals if you count Glowsanna. Whatever.

This here blog is juuuust about to hit the half a million view mark since I went .com last year. I know it's not much compared to some others, but hey, for a blog with no long term goals or plans and a haphazard posting schedule (what schedule?), I think it's just fine and dandy.

I have a whole fancy pants prospectus that I'm just itching to send out, so if you'd like a copy to see if you and I are a good fit, then hit me up at glowless@wheresmyglow.com. Alternatively cash donations in non sequential unmarked bills can be sent to PO Box 2517 Warwick WA 6024. Just kidding. Maybe.

Wanna sponsor me?

Is that a spade or a short handled digging instrument?

I don't normally wade in to the murky waters that are online debates about mummy bloggers for a few reasons:

• Getting my opinion across in 140 characters or a small comment box is bloody hard
• I loathe conversations that go in circles
• I'm happy to disagree with people and have them do their thing while I do mine
• I don't really give enough of a shit to waste valuable time on it

But can someone, for the love of Google, please tell me how an opinion writer who has a column in a newspaper and writes about a comped weekend experience; a tech website owner who is paid to write about the features of the brand new iPhone she just got given; and a TV show reviewing games they have been sent, are any different to each other? Are any different to me? REALLY. Because I just don't get it.
 
They were paid for their time, their skill and their ability to draw readers/viewers with their opinions. How is that different, really, to what Bloggers who choose to walk the monetisation path do?

They all received product with the expectation it would be reviewed. They all received payment or compensation in one form or another. No one is jumping up and down saying they have been bought, that they've sold out, are immoral and unethical or that they are being untruthful in their review. You can call it sponsorship, a small fee from the parent company, an admin fee, hell, you can even call it Shazza's Shoe Fund. I'm gonna call it a fucking a spade. Money is changing hands for opinion, be it positive or negative, no matter what the platform.

You can argue to the cows come home that old media is governed by laws, and that I am not. The fact that I am abiding by those laws, because I feel it is the right thing to do, is seemingly dismissed because I'm new  media and my platform is mine alone and therefore anything I write must be intrinsically biased, unbalanced and easily bought. My words here are not influenced by whether or not my palm was lined with cash or a box of fucking washing powder came my way, and it even says so on my media kit so that companies who wish to engage with me know straight up that I can't be bought.

I get that there are some unethical bloggers out there willing to say anything for a buck, but they are in the minority here. Painting all mummy bloggers who monetise with the one "cash-for-comment" brush, and singling us out as the only writing niche who have some bad eggs amongst us is a narrow viewpoint indeed.

Louboutins, Lamborghinis and the Living Dead

This post is sponsored by Nuffnang

Map Guy gets a subscription to a car magazine every Christmas… well he usually does. Last year he decided, for some unknown reason, that he wanted to branch out and get something different. Which completely sucked because I had to think of a new present for him - I bought him a Hot Lap, forgot about it, bought him something else awesome, then remembered the Hot Lap and died a little inside realizing how much money I’d spent.

But I digress.

When I told Map Guy we were getting the chance to review Top Gear Australia Magazine he went a little crazy. The thought of having a car magazine back in hands after such a long period of automotive abstinence made him foam at the mouth in anticipation. He lost the ability to form sentences and just went around the house making vroom vroom noises and driving an imaginary Ferrari. I rolled my eyes but Tricky thought it was awesome fun and joined in.

After he stopped ran out of petrol, we tried to figure out which article we liked best. I like cars – I like the noise they make, I like some of the shapes, I like being driven fast around a track and I really like that new car smell... yet I still choose my car based on colour, how easily I can fit a massive bloody pram in the boot and whether or not it has a wine bottle holder (mine does!). Therefore if I had to call myself a car nut I’d be a peanut. Map Guy likes everything about them – things that I have no clue about like diffs, cam shafts, injectors, and I’m slightly embarrassed to say, manual gearboxes. He is a giant car nut… a brazil nut. Or a coconut if that’s actually a nut – I was too afraid to Google “big nuts” and check.

So I grabbed the mag and flicked through:

“What about this Range Rover Evogue article, Map Guy? It says the interior could match my Christian Louboutins!”

“What the hell are they? Is that one of those expensive handbags?”

“No, they’re shoes”

“Do you own a pair?”

“Nah, I’d have to sell a kidney to afford them… OK how about the James May Pub Guide to Technology?”

“I’m not sure that would be appropriate Glow, considering even after the cartoon explanation, you’ve still have no idea what it was about…”

“Yes I do! It’s about giant pints of beer… isn’t it?”

“Errr no. Hand over the Top Gear Magazine and no one gets hurt. Here, what about this one? We can talk about the Lamborghini.”

“Ewwww it looks like someone beat it with the ugly stick. Plus it’s white, I hate white cars. What about the article I saw with the man posing naked in front of his car in the middle of nowhere?”

“What’s it about?”

“I don’t know, I only looked at the naked man pictures.”

“Wow, you’d make an excellent TT reporter. WAIT! I’ve found it! Zombie cars!”

“Zombie cars? SHOW ME! OMG I WANT ONE!”

So having managed to avoid the Ford vs Holden carnage that usually ensues when we watch motorsport together, we have survived the tandem reading of Car Magazines and managed to zone in on the undead. I love that man, take that, seven year itch!

After seeing him so happy I’ll definitely be heading back to the tried and true present of a magazine subscription. Plus this year I might win a tropical escape to Hawaii with Magshop’s Christmas competition. Treat your family and friends to a magazine subscription today so they’re reminded how awesome you are every month! Gals, if you can manage to time its arrival every month with your PMS, even the throwing of knives and dinner plates will be forgiven. Maybe.

Natural Transition - Plus FREE Hugalugs!

I have said before that I'm a daisy chain away from being a full blown hippy what with my drug free birthing, breastfeeding, home cookin' shenanigans. I embrace my inner Crunchy Mama and for the purposes of wearing that crown, ignore all the meat and processed food I eat.

So when Julie from Natural Transition kindly offered to help me get to Blogopolis I thought it was a really good fit since her site is a resource for all things natural pregnancy and birth related. I actually offered to get a Natural Transition tattoo on my forehead for the conference yet strangely enough Julie declined. Can you believe it? Weird.

Julie is a Sydney based naturopath, breastfeeding counsellor and natural fertility consultant and her Natural Transition website is an amazing resource full of information on everything baby related; from fertility, pregnancy, birth to breastfeeding and more... and it's all FREE! And we know how much I like free things.

Julie is obviously doing something right because she's a finalist in the Bio-Oil Ausmumpreneur awards in the Eco Friendly Business category for her Natural Transition shop and in the People's Choice Best Blog category. The first one is judged by a panel interview (aargh!!) but the second one is a vote, so if you've got a tick, you can go here and click the pink like button down the bottom.

I checked out the shop and here are a few things that I wanna get my hands on:

I used reusable nursing pads when Tricky was feeding round the clock and I was on Dairy Duties, but they were plain and boring pastel colours. I wish I had these! Hooters for your hooters! Huzzah!

Cheeky Bits Boutique Nursing Pads $8.00

I'm a massive babywearing advocate and I own three different types of carriers. The one that I used the most was my Hug-A-Bub. But I want a black one so I can wear it clubbing I can mix and match with my outfits because I'm terribly vain!

Black Hug-A-Bub $125.00

Now this I have just ordered. Nappy bucket deodorizers! We've been cloth nappying for 14 months now, you'd think I would have learned to hold my breath when I open the bucket. Even washing daily as I do, the ammonia smacks you in the face when you open the bucket. These babies are bamboo charcoal and absorb odours!

Pure Bamboo Nappy Bucket Deodorizer $7.95

I was a skeptic of baby legwarmers until I was given a pair recently and now I love them. They're really funky and a great way of showing off Tricky's awesome cloth nappies too! These are so freakin cool but I can't choose between skull and cross bones and stripey. Hrm bad ass or rainbow child?.

Hugalugs Leg Huggers $10.00 or FREE with a GlowJob!

If you need anything fertility, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding or mamahood related, be it advice, information or a product, then head over and check out Natural Transition. Right now she's offering a FREE pair of Hugalugs legwarmers with any purchase if you mention GLOWJOB at the checkout. You even get to choose what design you want, how cool is that?

So head over now and grab something for yourself or for a friend.

How To Create a Kick Ass Media Kit that Glows

Oh hello, fancy seeing you here. Are you here for the all the boob and lady parts talk? No? Oh right, maybe the post where I rant about dickhead doctors or my boy's wonky noggin? Hrmm not that either? OK how about the schmaltzy posts that are obviously written when I'm high on hormones? Wow not that either! Oooh I know why you're here. The kick ass media kit!

If you were at Blogopolis or were following #nnb2011 you might have heard that Andrew Hughes of Reprise Media mentioned that I had a good media kit. He went as far as saying it was better than some of the professional ones he's seen. Woah. That's one hell of a compliment, I had no idea it was coming and it left me blushing (though I was also having an allergic reaction to seafood at the time so maybe it was just that).

If I hadn't been sucking down on antihistamines I would have taken a screen capture of all the tweets that followed and stuck it on my mirror instead of those "You're a wonderful, worthy person" post it notes that are meant to send you down the path of enlightenment. Because a wall of Tweets from other people saying you rock absolutely kicks "Live each day to the fullest" to the kerb.

My inbox has been jam packed full of requests to see it ever since. I have shared my media kit, sponsorship request letters and the like with lots of Bloggers before because it's only fair I pass on the knowledge that was shared with me when I was starting out.

So here we go... this won't be what you're expecting...

Why yes that IS my award smack bang in the centre
so you know right away I'm awesome!

There was one person who was amazingly helpful when I first started looking for sponsorship, who sent me her kit and then looked over mine when I'd put only the smallest of personal touches on it (like my then follower count of 82). That woman is Tina Gray from TinaGray{dot}Me and the PR Friendly Aussie Blog Directory.

It's been about a year since Tina looked over my kit and gave it a nod of approval. In that time it has changed a lot and morphed in to something that is truly my own. The flesh is different but the bones of it? Well they are still the same and it would be dishonest of me to claim that I am some fancy pants media kit creator when it was her framework that I built upon.

Now I bet you weren't expecting an attention whore like me to say that, were you?

I encourage you all to check out Tina's eBook about how to create a media kit and then build on it so that you end up with a finished product that reflects you and your blog.

All I can add was the feedback I received from Andrew about why he liked it. He said I "communicate all of the important things that I needed to know quickly and up front – then all of the detail was there If I wanted".

In my now infamous kit I have all the important stuff on the front page including:

• a section about my blog written in my usual "blog voice" so up front you know I'm rather tongue-in-cheek. I will admit this less than professional tone could lose me some business, but I want a company to know what I'm like
• a section about me, also written in my usual "blog voice"
• a section about my audience demographics and level of reader engagement in a more professional tone (well as professional as someone like me can get)
• a section about why a company should choose to go with me as a Mummy Blogger
• a table with all my stats and where they came from 

Yep, all of that one ONE PAGE. If you can't fit that all on one page you're saying too much. If a company likes what they see there, they can flip over and read more. If you make them go searching through a massive kit for the information they need, chances are they'll pop you in the 'too hard basket'.

Over the next five pages (ya-huh, it's loooong!) I have:

• links to the websites I've been featured on and a list of the magazines I've been featured in
• a list of the awards I've won (OK so it was only one but it totally deserves a section)
• a testimony page showing reader engagement and praise for my sarcasm writing 
• terms and conditions of running a review/giveaway/sponsored post and links to examples of each
• sponsorship packages currently available and a summary of previous ones
• advertising rates and payment options
• contact details

So there you have it. Anticlimactic much?

I wanna say a massive thank you to everyone who linked to me in their Blogopolis wrap ups and of course to Andrew for mentioning me in the first place. My site stats have jumped about 25% because of it and it's both  completely awesome and overwhelming at the same time. My ego is so freakin big right now that I'm needing a neck brace to support my fat head. So, um, in closing, if you're a blogger, go make your Media Kit Glow. If you're a company... you should totally sponsor me to go to BlogHer12 with Zoey and Louisa.

The Perfect Gift Guide

This is a sponsored post. Writing it got me on a plane home from Blogopolis. A plane I almost missed.

I am obsessed with finding The Perfect Gift. I am really easy to buy for, give me something shiny and I'll love you forever, and since I always get such amazing gifts I strive to give back at the same level. 

There are three elements to consider when purchasing The Perfect Gift:

1) It has to be thoughtful - just grabbing anything because it's the day before the birthday or Christmas Eve doesn't cut it. You need to prepare in advance. Start thinking about Christmas now.

2) It has to be useful/wanted - don't buy something that you want them to use but that they would hate, especially if you're only doing it so that they'll let you use it. This includes all domestic appliances, anything BBQ related, and car cleaning equipment. This is of course null and void if they have specifically asked for it.

3) It has to be cheap - wait, that's not what you expected was it? Well this is, after all, my guide to The Perfect Gift, and we all know I'm cheap. If it makes you feel better, say "value for money" and be snooty. 

For your convenience I've created an awesome Venn Diagram that will help you understand The Perfect Gift guidelines:

You're welcome.

Now there is one thing that I have come across that sits smack, bang in the middle, in Holy Grail territory... a gift subscription from Mag Shop!

For the past four years Map Guy has been the recipient of a Wheels Magazine subscription because he is a bogan  rev head... but I could find a mag to suit every member of my family.

Mum - Woman's Day, Dad - Choice Magazine, Aunty Penny - Take 5, MIL - Burke's Backyard, FIL - 4x4 Australia, SIL - Rolling Stone, BIL - FHM. 

And because they keep getting a present weekly or monthly, it makes you look really good. Just think about it, you've had a bit of a tiff with your hubby and then the next day his copy of Inside Sport arrives and voila! all is forgiven. 

Are you a magazine fiend? Do you subscribe or head to the shops each month to grab your mags?

Hi, Chair! - Boomer Highchair Review

In the spirit of full disclosure, this post is part of my sponsorship to attend Blogopolis. I would love it if you could read it. 

When we were buying everything in preparation for Tricky to enter this world I gave myself a $1000 budget to get everything. Cot, change table, baby clothes for a year, pram, car seat and even my own maternity clothes (I failed at this task, but scraped in at just under $2K).

When we got Tricky's highchair it didn't break the bank... we spent a whopping $7.50 on a second hand one from the Baby & Kids Markets - it was one of those moulded plastic jobbies from that Swedish place known for allen keys and meatballs. I didn't see the point in spending a fortune on something that would be used for less than 12 months before he was sitting up at the table anyway.

Now the Boomer Highchair is considerably more expensive than $7.50... but it's also going to last considerably longer than a year. You're looking at fifteen years of use. FIFTEEN! 15! Possibly even more because the Boomer grows with your munchkin from a first solids high chair to booster chair to dining chair, see:

It's European influenced so it's like the BMWof highchairs; well engineered, functional and funky, but it's Australian designed so it's like a Holden too; easy to use, long lasting and durable.

The Boomer ticks a couple of important boxes too: it's made from plantation rubber wood so it's eco friendly and because of the foot platform it encourages good posture.

There's an optional five point harness available if your child is a daredevil and likes to launch himself from furniture like Tricky does. Strapping him in will be necessary until he develops a sense of danger (either of falling or being yelled at).

One thing Tricky didn't like about the chair was how sturdy it was. The kid likes to push furniture around and has done so at every opportunity since he could coast along (he's practising his furniture removal skills at nine months old in this video). As a result my floors will not be worn down with the incessant scraaaaape, a rather unexpected bonus!

But what I really like about the Boomer is that it is easy to clean (just a quick wipe, no grooves for food to get caught in) and it gets kids at the table for mealtimes and gives them the opportunity to learn about how meal times work to encourage good habits young!

If you want to get your hands on a Boomer Highchair they are available at selected children's boutiques or you can go straight to the source and buy one online. They are currently retailing at the introductory price of $199.95 (plus $25 flat rate postage) which makes it about $13 per year of use! After that they'll be around $290 so jump in quick to grab a bargain and tell Piccolo Innovations that Glowless sent you!

Blogopolis, Here I Come!!

Remember this sign???

Well, after a bit of emailing, a coffee at a local cafe, and a bit more emailing I'm happy to announce that Piccolo Innovations have come on board as my Blogopolis sponsor!

Piccolo Innovations is a new WA based company run by Morna Frankowiak. This woman is amazing.

Morna is a single mum of two teenage boys, works full time and is now running her own business. And if that's not busy enough, she wasn't entirely fulfilled with her work so she's also just about to complete her degree in nursing for a mid-life career change!

To fit everything she does in to one day I'd need a nanny, a cook, a cleaner, a personal assistant and a chauffeur.

The product that has just been launched is the European influenced, Australian designed Boomer Highchair. A funky chair that grows with your child. Tricky has been putting it through it's paces for the last week and there will be a proper review very shortly, but I can tell you now, it rocks (not physically, it's very secure!).

For now I want to say a massive WELCOME to Piccolo Innovations!  I'd love it if you could check out their great products at their website and like them on Facebook, just to show some support to the people who support Bloggers!

Multi talented, I made this gif!

Fag Hag

This is a sponsored post. Writing it gets me on a plane to Melbourne for Blogopolis.

I had my first cigarette when I was 14. I thought I was so cool, sitting alone at the bus stop before school, having half a puff of the mildest cigarette ever made and coughing my severely asthmatic lungs up to the point where my eyes watered. It doesn't get much cooler than that, right? How were the boys not falling over themselves to get to me?

Afraid my dirty little secret would be found out, I would shove an entire packet of mints in my mouth and douse myself with deodorant just as the bus pulled up. Instead of smelling like a stinky ashtray, I smelled like a stinky ashtray dipped in mint and berries. My apologies to the bus driver, who nearly choked one morning after a particularly thorough dousing.

I didn't really touch them again until I was 18, when I became a Friday night Fag Hag (smoking an entire packet on the one and only night a week that you smoke) and I only graduated to full blown smoker when I went through a bit of a crisis. Or rather, crises.

I ended up smoking an entire pack a day. 30 cigarettes, in 18 waking hours. Every. Single. Day.

Like many youngens, I wasn't concerned with the health effects. Which is really surprising since it was my constant whingeing and nagging insistence that got my grandmother to quit many years prior. Oh how the mighty did fall.

At the time I didn't really care about the cost either. When I look back at it now and see how much money I wasted (about $8000 over four years) I cringe. Do you know how many shoes, handbags and iThings that could buy???

Apparently there are many levels of addiction, and for some reason or another, nicotine and I were friends, but we weren't inseparable soulmates (I scored a 3 on the nicotine addiction test). So one day, I just decided to quit... though having a hunky new anti-smoking boyfriend may have had something to do with it. I still had a pack in the cupboard and I didn't touch them. Didn't want to touch them.

Apparently my Dad did it the exact same way. Kept a packet in his top pocket to prove to himself he could resist temptation. Freak.

I do find myself flirting with my old nicotine friend from time to time, normally when I'm having a few loud quiet ones with other smokers, but I'm lucky that for me, it doesn't mean being dragged back in to that expensive habit... just a stern reprimand from Map Guy (who was the hunky new boyfriend).

If you'd like to find out the benefits of quitting smoking, how much money you're wasting, and some tools to help you quit, visit http://www.doortoquitting.com.au. Maybe I should too so I can kick the habit once and for all.

Blogopolis or Bust

Soooo do you remember when I pulled out this little sign?

You don't? Well I did. And then I nearly fell over because the CEO of an awesome company actually saw it and I became her 'sponsorette'!

So, based on the premise of "ask and ye shall receive", here we go again, but this time, with a bigger sign:

Picture me holding it while standing by the side of the highway wearing Daisy Dukes. 

What can I offer a sponsor? Well, other than making awesome signs on cardboard, a lot.

For sponsoring me to attend Blogopolis you will receive:

• My first born child, gift wrapped*
• A night with me**

Sounds ace, right? I suppose I could throw in side bar advertising, lovely welcome posts, even the opportunity to kit me out in your logo.  I could even mention SEO which I'm pretty sure stands for Sensational Enchilada Opportunity, so I'm not really sure why you'd want that, but hey, who am I to judge?

I've already managed to get partial sponsorship, which means one company thinks I'm worth it. So you won't be the first person to rock up to the party, feeling awkward and wondering if it's too early to open the wine yet (for clarity, it's never too early to open the wine).

So if you're a company, even a teeny tiny start up WAHM one, and you want to open your business up to some fab social media marketing, then get in touch. I'm pretty cheap, just ask Map Guy.

*Will be a picture of said child, gift wrapped lovingly. I'm really good at wrapping so this sorta counts as two perks
**You can take me out to dinner; I like my steak medium-well and I'm fond of Toblerone cocktails. If you give me enough of them I become really funny. Well, I think so. You can drive me home after dinner and I'll even flick the porch light on and off to say goodbye, a tradition reserved for family and close friends - you should feel honoured

Tricky Travels

I always planned to do a post about traveling with Tricky but I wanted to wait til all the fuss had died down a bit so that everyone wasn't so completely overwhelmed with conference posts that they'd just roll their eyes and click away; so here 'tis.

I was really worried about the flights because children and confined spaces don't really mix. Particularly confined spaces with pressure changes that happen to be hurtling through the air at 800km/h with no way to get off.

At the airport the people around us physically tensed on seeing a baby waiting for the same flight as them. For a moment there I became a mind reader; one look at a person and I could instantly hear their thoughts, as if by magic; "That kid better not be anywhere near me" and "That kid better not cry". It was a warm and welcoming reception of furrowed brows and pursed lips. I felt like telling them to piss off, at least they didn't have to hold the squirmy child for 5 hours.

But I needn't have worried. Tricks slept through take off, woke up for some breakky, had a play, then went back to sleep as we landed in Sydney. I was amazed. He then went straight to Sydney time unlike me who felt those three hours soooo much in the morning.

I was pretty impressed when I got to the hotel and there was a massive stack of goodies from Rock-A-Bye Baby Equipment Hire waiting for us!

The pram was a Quinny Zapp pram and it was brand new! It's really light weight, pretty easy to unfold and designed for travel - it's the smallest buggy when folded (and fits in it's own carry bag that is smaller than a tennis bag). It wouldn't suit an infant because it doesn't recline, but Tricky is old enough now that he doesn't need that. It came with a plastic cover which was heavily used - Map Guy and I walked around all day on Sunday, enjoying the strange wet stuff that fell from the sky - it's been a while since I've seen anything like that, but I think it might have been rain.

The Valco Traveler Portacot and Bubba Blue linen pack were Map Guy's domain - he's put together a portacot before and had much trouble, but this time he read the instructions and whaddayaknow, he got it, first time! Bravo, Map Guy!

By far the best thing though was the exersaucer. When you're staying in a room that isn't baby-proof, having somewhere you can put your kid while you go to the loo is really important and something that I hadn't thought of until we got there. I had just been thinking that it would be great to keep him entertained (which it was) but it served a much higher purpose and I was glad we got it. Pretty sure Tricks would have happily spent hours in the thing and I'm seriously considering buying one for home now that I know he likes it.

Checking out of the hotel we needed one of the concierge trolleys for our 2 suitcases, laptop, baby bag, pram in a bag, portacot in a bag and exersaucer. Kelley from Magneto Bold Too who was checking out at the same time did a double take and again I was blessed with the ability to read minds; "Fuck you guys brought a lotta shit!" (c'mon, it's MB2, you know she swore when she thought it!) so I got to do the whole "Oh nahhhh we didn't bring all this" sponsor plug.

Tricky fell asleep soon in to the plane ride home and the rest of the flight was uneventful unless you count the aborted landing and having to fly around for another ten minutes before we could try again. I'm not a very nervous flyer but almost touching down only for the engines to rev and the plane to jolt upwards kinda made me wish I'd worn brown pants.

So the first flying holiday with Tricky was a massive success mainly due to not having to take care of him for much of it (thanks Map Guy) or having to lug massive amounts of supplies over (thanks Rock-A-Bye Baby Equipment Hire)!

How do you go traveling with kids? Do you hire prams and the like or do you lug it all over with you?

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Glowless rocked the Aussie Bloggers Conference thanks to

HealthyChart and Baby Goes Retro and Simply Colors

Simply Sponsored

AusBlogCon is almost here so it's time to announce another awesome sponsor!

Please help me welcome on board the Where's My Glow Sponsor Train the super fabulous Simply Colors! (I may or may not now have the Chuggington theme song in my head)

Simply Colors has been creating unique personalized baby and kids clothes throughout Europe, USA, Canada and Australia since 2005.

They have t-shirts, rompers, dresses, singlets, rugby shirts, messenger bags,sleeping bags and more in ten vibrant colours that you can personalize with your child's name, a cheeky message and one of 40 funky illustrations. There is even 17 font styles and 20 different print colours for you to create a truly unique design! And because they're 100% cotton they'll survive being beaten around and washed over and over again.

You can make matching "Big Brother" "Baby Sister" shirts for the arrival of a new baby (how popular would you be if you made one for a baby shower present?!), birthday hoodies, I ♥ my Nanna dresses and even medical alert shirts for when your child goes to daycare or on a school excursion!

Check out the Simply Colors Facebook fan page for some awesome specials and great fan photos then head on over to the Simply Colors website and create your personalized shirt with their interactive design page now!

In the coming weeks I'll be doing a review on the amazing shirts that Tricky was sent (you HAVE to see them, they're adorable!), and in a few months a giveaway - because everyone looooves a giveaway!

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Meet Glowless at the Aussie Bloggers Conference thanks to

HealthyChart, Baby Goes Retro and Simply Colors!

A Hire Power

Tricky is a seasoned car-traveler. We've made the six hour journey down south to visit his Albany Nanna and Grandpop a few times, starting when he was seven weeks old.

The Glow-mobile is packed to the ceiling with crap baby stuff every time. Clothes, cloth nappies, blankets, bibs, pram and portacot.

I do have an entire 4x4 Mum Tractor of space but what happens when I go to Sydney in March for the Aussie Bloggers Conference? I'll have excess luggage before you can say "That baby better not be sitting next to me!"

Well, thanks to Rock-A-Bye Baby Equipment Hire, I won't have to lug a portacot or a pram all the way to Sydney and worry about it getting lost or damaged in the cargo hold because they're lending them to me for the weekend! Yay! *Happy Dance*

If you're going to the conference and your little ones are coming with you (under two and they fly for free!) and don't want to be charged excess baggage or have to rely on kind strangers to help you carry all your crap baby stuff then give Rock-A-Bye Baby Equipment Hire a call.

They even have a Sydney Airport Concierge service where they will install your hired capsule in to your hire car before you arrive, plus gift certificates that make a fantastic baby shower present! How awesome is that?

But you don't have to be just visiting Sydney, hiring is a cost effective way to get great baby products for a fraction of the purchase price. Why spend hundreds of dollars on an exersaucer (is that not the coolest name?) that your baby can only use for four months when you can hire one for $75? Plus you don't have to worry about trying to store it or sell it after.

To hire everything and anything from strollers, highchairs, breast pumps, slings, gates to car seats and more, check out Rock-A-Bye Baby Equipment Hire's website, Facebook page and follow them on Twitter.

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Meet Glowless at the Aussie Bloggers Conference thanks to

HealthyChart and Baby Goes Retro

Baby Goes Retro

Notice anything spiffy sitting over there in my side bar?

I'll give you a hint, it's a groovy little square that shows, amongst other things, some super cute bubbas wearing amazingly funky clothes.

Why am I banging on about this? Because *drumroll please* I'd like to welcome on board my latest Aussie Blogger's Conference sponsor, the super fabulous Baby Goes Retro!

I can hear the crowd going wild. In fact I'm pretty sure a Mexican Wave is taking place across lounge rooms and study nooks across Australia. Just be careful if your laptop is actually on your lap - I take no responsibility for flying Toshiba's.

You MUST go and check out all the funky threads at Baby Goes Retro. They have a truly unique collection of street smart Scandinavian clothing for babies and kids. If you want bold colour and beautiful fabrics on your tot, then head on over. You can even get 10% discount for signing up to their awesome newsletter (be sure to tell them Where's My Glow sent you!).

Some of the delicious outfits on offer at Baby Goes Retro

But it's not just wicked clothes. You can get everything from bibs, rattles, cups, dummy clips, mobiles, bathers, even shoes and accessories (some that are especially for Mums and Dads -woo!).

So please show them some lovin' and stop by the Baby Goes Retro website - for those who are feeling a little light in the purse department after Christmas there is even a SALE section! My favourite four letter word.

You can also find Baby Goes Retro on Facebook, Twitter and their Blog.

Will Blog For Food (or Flights)

Do you know what you're doing on March 19th next year? I do. Well sorta. It'll be one of two things:

Attending the fabulous Aussie Blogger's Conference in Sydney - Woo! High Fives and a happy dance!

or

Crying and feeling sorry for myself cos all my bloggy friends are there without me. Boo! Put those hands down and do a sad dance (actually for me, all dancing looks rather sad).

I really wanna go. So much so that it hurts a little bit when I cough.

And I'm not too proud to beg...

Why does bloody everything have to be in Sydney? Why couldn't the powers that be choose Perth, the most isolated capital city in the world, to hold their conference? It's just plain inconsiderate, really, that they go and host it over there where most of the members of the group live. Typical.

So here I am appealing to you all for a little help. And by help, I of course mean money.

You can sponsor me! Wouldn't that be lovely? If you could spare a few dollars, all you have to do is click on the Sponsor Me button below. It'll take you to a secure PayPal site where you can donate a few dollars (or, like $1000 if you're feeling particularly generous).

Then I can go to the conference which is specifically geared toward "Mummy Bloggers" so I'd fit right in since I'm a Mummy and a Blogger.

But what do you get for it? Well other than my eternal love and devotion, you'd get your name in lights on the blog.

If you're a company I can wear your logo all over me (temporary tattoo anyone?), put your ad on the blog and give out your business cards whilst telling everyone how freakin awesome you are! Plus I'll blog, Facebook and Tweet from the conference too, to give you maximum exposure!

If you'd like to find out more about being a corporate sponsor you can email me at Glowless{at}gmail{dot}com and I'll send you a Media Kit (OMG, I have a Media Kit!). But if you're just a plain, ordinary person like me and wanna help a Perth gal get all the way to the Harbour City click below and help a blogger out! Thanks!