Mom Of Two Little Girls | BlogOn Toys Introduce Yourself

This month I will be attending my first blogging event in the UK. Here is me, Mom Of Two Little Girls, and my contribution to the BlogOn Toys Introduce Yourself Linky. I’m hoping that even though I don’t know anyone, maybe someone will recognise me!

I am really nervous to be attending. I made such amazing friends as part of the South African blogging community, but I am feeling extremely overwhelmed to be attending a UK event, alone! And I had to pick one of the biggest to dip my toes in, didn’t I? Oh well, maybe it’s like ripping a band-aid off.

I chose BlogOn Toys as my first blog conference to attend because as a mom of two little girls, toys are ~~currency~~ life. Besides that, I am really excited to see what toys are available in the run up to the Christmas season. I like to make informed decisions about what toys I actually spend money on for my girls so this is the perfect opportunity to do that.

BlogOnToys Introduce Yourself Linky – Mom Of Two Little Girls

Share a photograph (a recent one so people can recognise you!)

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmWK1mwAuTl/?hl=en&taken-by=momoftwolittlegirls

There are very few pictures of me because I am usually the one behind the camera. Luckily now that my teenage bonus daughter is living with us I can get her to take the occasional picture of me to prove that I was actually there with the family too! One of the biggest problems that a lot of moms have is that they are so busy taking the pictures that they don’t get to be in them! We need to be in the pictures too!

What is the best thing about blogging?

I love having a little piece of the internet that is all mine. I get to write and create and express myself in a way that is all mine. I get to share my journey as a mom.

Other than that though, I would have to say the blogging community. I know this is what everyone says, but it is so true. To be able to connect with like-minded people who you have never met, but who ‘get’ you, is something else. And it’s even better when those people become real friends.

What was your dream job when you were growing up?

To be a professional dancer. Sadly, I’m not very flexible at all and after having both hips replaced three years ago, my dancing days have been curtailed somewhat! Now my dance moves are reserved for the kitchen and my kids! Lucky them!

What is your lucky number?

I’m not sure I have one, although I do seem to have quite a bit of luck. Maybe 20?

What is your favourite season?

Summer! I can’t stand the rain and cold. I know – why did I move back to the UK again? Even though African summers can be extreme, I would much rather choose warmth over cold and damp any day of the year. Besides, my hair does NOT cooperate when the weather is damp!

If you had to choose one what would your favourite dish from the Chinese be?

Okay so this is a legit reason why we moved back to the UK – to be closer to our favourite Chinese Take-Away ever, the Crispy Duck in York, and my favourite dish there is the Crispy Shredded Chili Beef with Egg Fried Rice.

What is your useless talent?

I am a very good judge of character. This is a useless talent because I am also the world’s worst push-over and even if I know you’re a knob, I’m probably still going to try help you!

If you could keep any animal as a pet what would you choose?

I have a very fat cat as my pet. He hails from Huddersfield, and moved with us to Zimbabwe, then South Africa and now back to the UK. If that doesn’t show you commitment to loving your pet then I don’t know what does. He has cost me an absolute blady fortune, but also put me off owning any other pets for a while since clearly I take my commitment to them to the extreme! But I would choose cats over most other animals any day because they are independent, self-sufficient to a certain extent, and also a very good judge of character.

Which one meal would you eat forever? (If you had to choose one!)

Melted cheese on toast. My husband used to travel a lot for dinner and I would actually survive for days at a time, just eating cheese on toast, with wine of course!

What is the last thing you check before you lock your front door?

That I have my sunglasses. My sunglasses, whether I wear them on my face, or on my head, are my ‘security blanket’. I use them to cover my eyes too because whatever I’m thinking is expressed on my face and this is not always appropriate. Hide the eyes!

If you won £50,000 what would be the first thing you would buy?

A plane ticket for my mom to come visit us for a month and to cover the costs of her being away from work for that amount of time. We miss her. When she is around, we are all happier. The kids forget I’m alive. Hubby and I get to go away together, and I also get to just be with her. Yes, I’m a mommy’s girl.

What is your favourite social media channel?

I love Instagram, but I really love the InstaStories. Looking at everyone’s lovely instagram feeds is fun, but if you really want to get to know the person behind the pretty pictures, go to InstaStories!

Tell us more about your best ever holiday

Before I became a mom: The holiday my husband and I went diving in the Red Sea off Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

After I became a mom of two little girls: We love taking long road trips with our kids. You can check out some of our adventures here:

Road Trip: Northern Cape, South Africa – Day 1

Road Trip: Northern Cape (Days 2 and 3)

I’m looking forward to road tripping in the UK and Europe.

And when my mom comes to stay, my husband and I normally jump on his bike and escape for a bit of child-free travel, adventure and excitement: 3 Countries In 3 Days.

Name one cake you rock at baking

Ummm … does banana bread count? I’m pretty good at that!

Which session are you most looking forward to?

The Public Speaking session and the SEO sessions. I am really looking to take my blog to the next level and I believe that both those will help me do that.

What is your favourite book ever?

Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree – all of them.

Which special event is your favourite? (Halloween, Christmas etc)

Now that I’m a mom – Christmas. I love seeing my kids get excited about it and buying into the whole magical ideal of it. I’m not sure how much longer it will last. My eldest is now 7. Fingers crossed we get at least one more year of believing.

If the internet vanished right now how would you share your message or life story without a blog?

I think I’d write a diary. That’s kind of why I started blogging in the first place. To have somewhere to write. So if the internet wasn’t there, I’d still write.

That’s me!

I’m really looking forward to attending BlogOn Toys! I can’t wait to meet some really cool people, network with the brands and PRs, and check out the latest toys and gadgets on the market.

And I am equally excited to be getting a weekend away to myself, getting to sleep in a hotel room, in a bed, alone, without the hubby and kids! Bliss! (I love them really.)

So that’s me, Carly. A parenting blogger at Mom Of Two Little Girls. I’m simply just a mom of two little girls, trying to raise them as best I can in a modern world. An insecure sarcastic tough love mom who loves travelling, her husband, her kids, and last but not least … cheese, wine, and her cat.

Please come say hi?

Mom Of Two Little Girls | BlogOn Toys Introduce Yourself

Mom Of Two Little Girls | BlogOn Toys Introduce Yourself