My 2010 in Pictures - win a CyberMummy11 ticket

It's been quite a year for me, first CyberMummy10 and then Blogladesh and the UN with Save the Children. I wanted to say thank you for all of the help and support from you, my friends and fellow bloggers. There were some dark times - especially in Bangladesh but what we achieved is set to change the face of charity campaigning for good. You were all a part of that.

To say thank you, I'm giving away a ticket to CyberMummy11 - but you do have to work for it!

To be in with a chance of winning you need to join in the 'Your 2010 in Pictures' meme. Your entry can be a single picture that sums up 2010 for you or a montage like mine. Do your post then come back and add it to the Linky below.

Here is my 2010.....

Entry closes at midnight (GMT) on 10/01/11 and a winner will be chosen by my trusty assistant and me over a packet of biscuits and a pot of tea.
The prize is a ticket to CyberMummy11.

A spot of CyberMummy housekeeping!

I hope you all had a great Christmas:)

As many of you noticed I've had my head down and yes I finally managed to get a few days away from my computer but I'm still alive so worry not!

The big news is that you only have 2 more days to get hold of your Early Bird CyberMummy11 ticket. On the 1st January the price will go up to £100. Get your ticket here.

There are still quite a few people who are yet to pay for their CyberMummy100 Club number. Wouldn't it be great if we could get this tied up to do a New Years Day draw?

Please check the link above to see who we are waiting for.
If you need to pay please email me and I will reply with payment instructions. mummytips at gmail dot com

Thank you for all of your support this year - you have all been amazing. 

Sian. xx

CyberMummy 100 Club - The Next Step

Hurray... all 100 numbers in the CyberMummy 100 Club have been sold. 

It was touch and go for a while there and I do apologise for turning tetchy and slightly neurotic but it seemed to do the trick. 

So the next step is getting all 100 £5's in. I do realise that this is going to be a mammoth task and I emplore you to pull out now if you think you might not be able to pay. By the very nature of the 100 club we need to get everyones money in before we make the draw.

Having mulled it over with my trusted advisors @michelloui and @secondofclarity we have decided on the two following payment options.

1. Paypal payment.

If this is how you would like to pay, please send me an email stating your 100 club number and your registered paypal address. I will then send you a funds request - you pay and you get a big red PAID mark next to your name!

2. Cheque payment.

If this is for you, pop me an email and I'll give you my postal address. If you are paying by cheque - please make sure you write your 100 club number on the reverse, or I won't know who it is from. As soon as I have your cheque you will also get a big red PAID by your name.

So your next step is to email me by clicking on the hyperlink to let me know if you will be paying by Paypal or by Cheque. When you email please use CyberMummy100 Club as the subject title and quote your 100 Club number so that I can keep a clean and tidy spreadsheet.

Now I do realise that it's Christmas and that not everyone has spare funds right now but the sooner we get the payments in the sooner we can pick our lucky winners. 

I'm going to set a payment deadline of 15/01/11 - which is one month from today. If you can't make that payment deadline please talk to me and we will work something out. The whole 100 Club relies on everyones honesty and I really don't want to resort to stropping and moaning to get the money in... I do enough of that already! 

Please leave a comment so that I know you have seen this... and don't forget to grab your 100 Club badge here, supporting our community is something to be proud of. xx
You can keep up with who has already paid here.

MummyTips and the Build a Bear's Sparkle all the way..

OMG - I cannot believe that I nearly missed this weeks Gallery.... and as it's 22mins past midnight I actually have missed it but better late than never...

Tara's theme this week is Sparkle and I was inspired by (copied) my friend Karin from Cafebebe...Please don't tell her...!!

She posted a beautiful pic of her Little Miss from a lovely day out we had courtesy of Build A Bear. My pic is a true rarity... Both of my girls in the same frame - without me having to engage even the slightest photoshop edit...

And they do truly Sparkle...

My wish for 2011 is that they learn to value, love and respect each other..... because I am fed up of their fighting!

Blogladesh reached TEDx London

This time last week - I was being pressured to ditch work for the day and join my friends and colleagues at the BMB Xmas party at St Martins in the Field. Talk about peer pressure. I relented and made my way to London, Macbook in hand..

picture credit - Jennifer howze

Then I had a call from a lovely lady called Andrea Hartley - she was presenting at TEDx London that evening and she was highlighting the success of the Blogladesh campaign. After chatting for a while I let slip that I was actually in London for the day - and somehow I ended up right there at TEDx amongst a group of amazingly talented and passionate women as I watched the Blogladesh story unfold.

It really blew me away to sit back and hear our journey told by someone else and I realised how easy it is to slip back into real life and leave the things that Eva, Josie, Liz and I experienced behind us. I wish this wasn't so - but of course daily life takes over.
As a small gesture to Blogladesh and Save the Children - and it is small I know, I have declined to send wine and goodies to my clients this Christmas. Instead they will be giving a child the gift of education.

Do stop by Save the Children's Wish List - there are gift options that literally do save lives and from only £10. And as an end to the post I have just heard that I have been shortlisted in the British Mummy Bloggers 'Brilliance in Blogging' awards in the 'Bloggers who make a difference' category.
If you followed Blogladesh - pop by and vote.....

Are you supporting CyberMummy100 Club?

Despite my complaining that all 100 numbers still haven't been taken I thought I'd say a very big thank you to those people who have thus far supported the 100 club. It's a good idea. A simple idea - and one that could get you to next years CyberMummy for just £5.

If you are one of the very generous and community minded bloggers who has already pledged please feel free to grab this code and display the badge on your blog for all to see.

We have less than 30 numbers to sell. I would love to see some new faces joining in.

<a href="http://www.mummy-tips.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="CyberMummy100Club" src=" http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z425/mummytips/CM100club.jpg "/></a>

How to make your iPhone battery last all day!

Yesterday I was in London at the British Mummy Bloggers Christmas lunch. I'd planned to go straight back home afterwards but sometimes plans change. An amazing opportunity presented itself to me and off I went to join a truly inspirational group of women at TEDxLondon to share the success of our Blogladesh campaign with them.

One problem..... 

I wasn't planning to be out all day / night - so I didn't have my iPhone charger with me. It riles me that I put up with the fact that my battery doesn't last all day. It's like I've been totally and utterly brainwashed by the God of Apple and I'm taken back about eighteen years to mobile phones of old. But this isn't 1992, it's 2010 and your phone battery should last all day. FACT.

So there I was - unable to tweet or text from this amazing event. My phone had been as dead as a Do Do for hours. But on the train on the way home I chanced upon a gentleman with an iphone charger (I'd seriously been asking everyone I spoke to all evening). He gave me my life line but also shared the best tip I've ever heard on how to make your battery last as long as possible. I've had an iPhone since launch - yet I'd never heard this - I guess that's one of the side effects of a product that comes without a user guide....

So here it is.....

Did you know that unless you manually close the apps on your phone they remain open and so draining your battery?

When I say close the app - I don't mean hitting the home button because that doesn't actually close the app. You'll know what I mean when you try it.

Dur... it all makes perfect sense now... this is why my phone pings, dings and vibrates with Facebook messages, ebay notifications and tweets all night long.

Try this and you'll totally get it too...

1. Double click the home button and it brings up a scrolling list of all the apps you have open on your phone.

2. Press one till it jiggles and you'll see a red minus icon appears. 

3. Click it to close the app down.

Don't worry - you aren't deleting. Just closing down. 

Every single app on my phone was open. This is just a few of them...Angry Birds, email, camera, Smack Talk, Twitter, Facebook, Tube Map, Super Yum Yum, Bejewelled, Camera Bag, hipstamatic, eBay, google and the Cat in the Hat. No wonder my battery life was having a hard time...

Today - my battery lasted till 10pm and I'm so happy I could squeal.

Small things.....

The King & I Curve Leicester review

The Curve has to be the most beautiful awe-inspiring theatre that I've ever seen. Simply stepping through its doors offers a promise of great things and Paul Kerryson's new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King & I certainly didn't disappoint.

Sumptuous costumes, simple yet stunning staging and a beautifully orchestrated score led by Musical Director Julian Kelly skilfully set the scene for this bitter sweet tale of love, honour and clashing cultures.

Janie Dee as anna is simply brilliant and her warmth, sincerity and effortless performance is matched by the entire cast. Chook Sibtain as The King gives a sensitive yet intimidating performance but it is David Needham's choreography and dancers that steal the show.

From the simplicity of the children's scenes to the sheer brilliance of the ballet of simon and Eliza - fresh, vibrant and beautiful with perfect attention to detail.

The faultless professional performances are equalled by the 18 talented local children who fought off stiff competition to win roles as the King's children.

Can you spot my girls in this pic?

If you only see one show this holiday season, make it this one.

The King & I runs till January 15th at Curve theatre, Leicester.
Want to see some more images from the show? Pop over to the Curve Facebook page.

The Gallery...... White

This weeks White Gallery theme is very apt seeing as everything is coated in thick, crisp frost.

I love taking photographs but more than anything I would love to take better photographs. I have a few lenses but I would love to have the time to push myself and to get more out of myself and my camera.

This beautiful frost cobweb was taken using my macro lens.

Don't forget to stop by Tara's blog tomorrow to catch up with the rest of this weeks pics.

CyberMummy 100 Club Numbers

Here's the list of numbers already taken. Either comment on this post or over on the original post to stake your claim on a number. Each number costs £5 and when all numbers have been sold your payment will be due.

All I ask is that you are honest and that you only take a number if you are going to pay. This 100 club relies on honesty. It only takes one person to not follow through on their pledge for the whole thing to fall apart.

Selling 100 numbers for £5 each will create a fund of £500. This will allow us to buy 6 CyberMummy tickets (at the Early Bird rate of £80) and leave £20 in the pot. I will then top the fund up by an additional £60 to secure an additional ticket. 

So the odds are 14-1

Not bad for a £5 out lay.... 

1. @dubaiwriter  PAID
2.  @michelletwinmum  PAID
3.  SusanKMann  PAID
4.  TJ Hughes  PAID
5.  Cara @SnoozeShade  PAID
6.  BumpWear Claire (or whatever her name is this week)  PAID
7.  Living with Kids  PAID
8.  Freckles Family  PAID
9.  Deliciousnessy  PAID
10.  Cara @SnoozeShade  PAID
11.  Maternal Dementia  PAID
12.  Living with Kids  PAID
13.  Adventures of an English Mum PAID
14.  CafeBebe  PAID
15.  Mama Mcann  PAID
16.  Lord Dodo  PAID
17.  Scribbling Mum  PAID
18.  Rosie Scribble  PAID
19.  Mummys Shoes  PAID
20.  Living with kids  PAID
21.  Red Ted Art  PAID
22.  Alexander Residence  PAID
23.  A Modern Mother  PAID
24.  Amy Lane  PAID
25.  Not Such A Yummy Mummy  PAID
26.  angels and urchins blog  PAID
27.  Northern Mum  PAID
28.  @second_time_mum  PAID
29.  Marisworld  PAID
30.  Living with kids  PAID
31.  Christine Mosler  PAID
32.  English Mum  PAID
33.  Gingerbread House  PAID
34.  The Project Lab  PAID
35.  @Kahanka  PAID
36.  Mummy's Little Monkey  PAID
37.  A Modern Mother  PAID
38.  Tales from the Village    PAID
39.  Mediocre Mum PAID
40.  Naturally Mummy   PAID
41.  Being A Mummy  PAID
42.  Liveotherwise   PAID
43.  Super Amazing Mum  PAID
44.  Amy  PAID
45.  Cara @SnoozeShade  PAID
46.  Perfectly Happy Mum  PAID
47.  Lunarossa  PAID
48.  Maison Cupcake  PAID
49.  @BethGoodLife  PAID
50.  Cara @SnoozeShade  PAID
51.  Cherished by Me  PAID
52.  New Mummy  PAID
53.  Tiddlypompom   PAID
54.  Soph4Soph          PAID
55.  Mom on a Wire  PAID
56.  Lord Dodo   PAID
57.  All About Mummy   PAID
58.  Typecast  PAID
59.  Kelly Fairy  PAID
60.  Mumra  PAID
61.  Bumbling Along  PAID
62.  Prescli mags  PAID
63.  Hello its Gemma  PAID
64.  Kelly Fairy   PAID
65.  Not SuperMum  PAID
66.  veryboredincatalunya  PAID
67.  And then all I thought about was you  PAID
68.  Mumsrock  PAID
69.  Cosmic Girlie  PAID
70.  Sandy Calico   PAID
71.  Mummy and Monkey   PAID
72.  PeaBee72  PAID
73.  Julie B  PAID
74.  Moaning Mummy  PAID
75.  Cara @SnoozeShade  PAID
76.  Artistically Nuts  PAID
77.  A Modern Mother  PAID
78.  Vicky Phillips  PAID
79.  Diary of a first child  PAID
80.  SingleMummy  PAID
81.  Tasha Goddard  PAID
82.  Blotted Copy Book  PAID
83.  Mummy Mishaps  PAID
84.  MetalMummy  PAID
85.  Typecast  PAID
86.  Muddy no sugar  PAID
87.  Manda  PAID
88.  Deliciousnessy  PAID
89.  BabyGenie  PAID
90.  Safedreams  PAID
91.  SusanKMann   PAID
92.  @babysigningmum  PAID
93.  A Modern Mother  PAID
94.  Insomniac Mummy  PAID
95.  Childcare is fun  PAID
96.  Mummy Loves  PAID
97.  Notes to self  PAID
98.  @thebabybubble  PAID
99.  Mummy Walker  PAID
100.  Cambridge Mummy  PAID

The CyberMummy 100 Club

Last year a fellow blogger and I decided to pool resources and create a CyberMummy fund in order to give a few cash short bloggers the chance to go to CyberMummy. We both blogged and tweeted about it and lots of bloggers signed up to be in with a chance of winning a pass but only a handful of people donated. 

We were both disappointed. Our fund didn't have a set donation. We would have been happy with a couple of pounds, but it just didn't happen.

Disappointed but not deflated - here we are again. Ready to give it another go for CyberMummy11 with the CyberMummy 100 Club.

This is how it works.

You buy a number for £5. When we have all 100 numbers reserved we will ask you to pay your £5. If we don't sell all the numbers we won't ask for your money and we will skulk off and moan.

If we do sell all 100 numbers we will have £500 in the pot. Enough to buy six CyberMummy tickets at the early bird rate of £80. Those math gods amongst us will realise that 6 x £80 = £480 and that there will be £20 still sitting in the pot..... so I will then donate £60 to get another blogger a ticket. 

I hope you're still following...... so you choose your number from 1 to 100 and pledge to pay £5 into the fund. When all 100 numbers are taken we will then ask you to pay your £5. 

Once everyone has paid we will pick 7 names from our 100 using a random number generator.

To stake your claim on a number please leave a comment on this post with either your twitter name or you blog name and the number you want to take.

Numbers will be allocated on a first ask basis and a list will be compiled on this post.

All we ask is that you are honest and that you promise to pay your £5. It only takes one person to not pay and the 100 club falls apart.

If you already have sponsorship or a ticket but would still like to donate... no problem... if your number is chosen you can gift your ticket or choose to have another number drawn.

So come on secure your number before someone else does......

*** I've just added a post with numbers already taken. This will be updated daily. If the number you requested has already been taken I will email / tweet or message you to ask for an alternative choice. ***

CyberMummy Needs You!

The CyberMummy11 site is just about to go live - but before it does we need your help. We would love to feature some real comments and feedback from last years conference and each comment that we use will link back to your blog.

Want to help?

Just leave your feedback / comment on this post - with your blog link and we'll do the rest.

One day till opening night - The King & I Leicester Curve

I just came a cross this video of the King & I rehearsals. The girls are so excited. Dress rehearsal today - opening night tomorrow. Good luck to the whole Blue team - I know you will be ace!

Media request - Boost your health

Would you and your partner like to improve your health? A top glossy women's magazine is looking for a couple (in their 30s or 40s) who would like to complete a health assessment to find out about areas of their health they need to improve - and to get advice on how. You'll share your story of making some tweaks to your lifestyle and the difference it makes.

If you're interesting in finding out more, email  Jessica.powell@redwoodgroup.net with yours and your partner's details, a bit about your current health, your contact number, and a recent photo of you together.

Mummy-Tips Celebrates with The Gallery

A celebration of my babies.... The Gallery

Hold on to those precious pre school years.

When you look back you will miss them more than you could ever imagine. I know that I do.