Not another slippery dip

Embracing the messy, mundane & momentous

NASD TURNS FOUR – elk giveaway up for grabs

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NASD turns 4

Hip, Hip, Horay. NASD turns 4 today!

Hip, Hip, Horay, NASD turns four today!!!

So, not so long ago I turned the big 4-OH!! But today I turn 4, a far more fun age. And I hope you will all celebrate with me! 

It’s hard to believe that FOUR whole years have passed since I wrote my first post on Not another slippery dip. My blog has been like my 4th baby in many ways. I remember the combined excitement and nervousness I felt when I pressed PUBLISH and sent my post out to the blogosphere. I say blogosphere because it’s sounds a lot more impressive than the two readers (my husband, and my sister) who were the only ones following my blog at the time! My first post was called “Kids. Who’d have ’em?”, which gives you an insight into my state of mind at the time!! Well, it appears I didn’t turn anyone off with that post, least of all myself as I prepare for baby no. 4 to enter our lives!!

Blogging is a lot like parenting. It can be a steep learning curve and it takes some time to find your feet. It is a journey that is as exciting as it is perplexing. It requires more than I can give at times.  I love it.  I am emotional about it. I am confused by it. I lose patience with it at times. Personal blogging can be revealing, leaving you feeling vulnerable. It can also be liberating – the freedom to write what you like without constraint.  Just like parenting it’s a personal journey. 

Thank you for sharing this journey with me. I am so happy that you are reading. Each and every comment from my readers means a great deal to me. In the blogging world it’s easy to get fixated on site stats, traffic and new followers. I don’t have huge numbers, but like most things in life, quality over quantity wins out every time. I love writing and I blog to express; to connect; to capture, and to create.

What will be in store for my fifth year? Well, it’s fair to say it will involve more challenges, more twists and turns, and yep, more slippery dips! Oh, and a 4th baby, just to add to my busy schedule. He or she is sure to provide lots of content inspiration, and lots of newborn baby spam. I’ll try not to bore the pants off you with overdoing the newborn spam 🙂

Thanks for navigating the slippery dips with me. In a virtual sense, the champagne is on me! I hope you will celebrate with me. Hip, Hip, HORAY!!!!

ELK GIVEAWAY UP FOR GRABS FOR NASD READER

The lovely team at elk accessories are helping me celebrate by offering one lucky reader the chance to win a $100 elk gift voucher. I specifically asked elk to support my birthday celebrations as, aside from their continually evolving and stunning range, the winner will get to choose a gift that’s not in any way baby-kid related. Shop their beautiful Monument collection and choose something special, just for you!

All you have to do is sign up to my monthly newsletter (if you’re viewing from a desktop you will see subscription box on the right hand side) and you are automatically entered into the drawer to win. It’ll take you less than 10 seconds! Competition closes at midnight AEST on Wednesday 7th September. GOOD LUCK!!!

Win this elk gift voucher

Win this elk gift voucher

Thanks again for being part of my online community.

Here’s to a fabulous 5th year ahead!

Michaela xx

7 ways blogging is like parenting

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Blogging

Blogging

The more I blog the more I see how it parallels parenting in many ways. Sometimes the line between “work” and “fun” can be a little blurred. And there’s often an imbalance between output and return. Just like parenting, I was blissfully unaware of what kind of commitment it would be until I launched right into it.  Here are 7 ways blogging is like parenting:

1. You learn on the job

Blogging is not really something you can learn prior to jumping in and giving it a go. It’s a work in progress and the goal posts are continually changing. No sooner have you moved through the newborn fog of sleep deprivation than a new set of challenges awaits you. …

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Happy Birthday to me!

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One-Candle-cakeIt’s hard to believe that a year has passed since I wrote my first post on a blog called Not another slippery dip. I remember the combined excitement and nervousness I felt when I pressed PUBLISH and sent my post out to the blogosphere. I say blogosphere because it’s sounds a lot more impressive than the two readers (my husband, and my sister) who were the only ones following my blog at the time!

I decided to write a blog to nourish my creative side, and to provide another layer to my life. I confess I knew nothing about blogging and what it would entail. I gave little thought to what I would write about, and I didn’t know about the “rules” required to establish a loyal following. Since then the terms ‘readership’, ‘messaging’, ‘traffic’, ‘hits’, ‘integration’, ‘widgets’ and ‘plugins’ have become part of my vernacular. I’ve learnt about Search Engine Optimization,  “engagement”, Google plus, Author Sure, marketing across multiple platforms, tweeting, sharing, commenting, uploading, and, more importantly, writing….

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Why I blog and why I read blogs

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IMG_0428Recently, the Sunday Telegraph featured an article by gossip columnist Ros Reines, in which she launched a condescending attack on Mummy Bloggers. She tore them to shreds and she upset a lot of people (bloggers). Her tone was mean and scathing.

It is my belief that people criticise things they don’t understand. At the heart of most judgment is intolerance; a lack of understanding or education. Rather than taking offense to her words, I have decided to share with you some of the reasons behind why I blog.

I know that not every blog post will appeal to all readers. By writing about my personal experiences I also feel quite ‘exposed’ and this is something I am still adjusting to.

So, why do I blog? Why share with the world my inner feelings, fears and experiences?

…

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