Tomorrow Is A New Day:: The End of Google Reader

As of the 1st July - Google is closing down Google Reader. 

Which is not good news, right?

So how are you going to get PottyMouthMama delivered piping hot and fresh to you? 

Check out Christina's post here for details on other ways you can follow your favourite blogs. 

There's no time like the present to change things over and beat Google to the punchline. 

I'm using feedly - just in case you were interested. 

Paid Product Reviews:: What Does This Mean?

Voices of 2013 Blogs and Brands Panel (L-R) Brian Giesen of Social@Ogilvy, Lousia Claire of Brand Meets Blog, Stacey Roberts of Veggie Mama and me.

I had the great pleasure of attending Voices of 2013 on Saturday. I've been light in step ever since, I've felt so buoyed by the experience.

It's been good not only for my blog (inspiring!), but for me to meet so many like-minded people, and awesome birds that I only usually get to chat to on the interwebz. 

Maybe you might not know, but by day I work in PR. It's night time when I don a cape and mask and start blogging. I was delighted to sit on the Blogs & Brands panel as a blogger. Even if I did get covered in nervous rash sitting up there. 

So on the day, while we talked about sponsored posts, we didn't get to talk about paid reviews. And what I think of them. Or more likely - what I don't think of them.

Because at the heart of a review - it's meant to be an unbiased account of what you think of a product.

But if it's paid? Well then it blurs the lines doesn't it? It becomes a bit of cash-for-comment - because really, are you honestly going to bite that hand that feeds you? Will you look a gift horse in the mouth? (How many more cliches can I work into this one paragraph?). How can a review be unbiased if you're being paid to post it? 

The cold and quick answer: it can't. 

Or can it? I'm interested to know if you think that you can maintain an unbiased review while being paid by the brand. Because me? I don't think so. I think the lines are blurred, I think you're cosying up with Alan Jones, and your reader is going to be pretty annoyed to find that your writing paid reviews.

This stinks of lack of integrity.

Nielsen research shows that 71% of Australians look at web reviews before buying. That's a huge figure - a lot of Aussies looking for credible reviews to guide them. Now let's imagine if all the reviews you're reading are fictional. How to navigate your way through all that crud?

There's more power in honesty, integrity, and your readers will want to keep reading what you have to say. But if you're being paid to share your scoop de la scoop about products? Well who wants to read more PR guff. Not me! And I work in PR!

You need to give your audience more credit - they are smart and savvy. They can sniff out when something's not right. And if all you share are glowing reviews, then something's rotten in the state of Denmark. 


image is courtesy of the impeccable Cheryl of BusinessChic. 
THANK YOU CHERYL! (I'm in the pink - like Barbara Cartland).

If I Didn't Take A Break

I have so loved having a wee blogging break. 

It has done my sanity awesome-good-things. 

I don't know if anyone else ever feels this way - but life was overwhelming me. I had to cut back somewhere: I can't cut back at work (bills to pay and all that); I can't cut back on parenting (two children to parent); I can't cut back on being a wife (unless I want my relationship in tatters. No thanks); I can't cut back on exercise (because it makes me feel so happy). So it was blogging and housework.

As a result our house is one heck of a mess, and there's a really impressive leaning tower of clean washing on the couch; and my head feels clearer. My blog is a mish mash of thoughts and a trail of where my mind is at, a kind of online inspiration board - minus the inspiration + the bored. 

But it's ok. It is ok. I am ok. My mind feels better for it. 

It's also given me time to think about PottyMouthMama - and who she is, what she stands for, and where she is going.

Over the last few months I've really contemplated giving up blogging. I've been blogging almost non-stop for five years. I let my blogging birthday slip past because - well what have I got to celebrate. 

Please - join my pity party. Just jokes. It's been cancelled. 

Instead this is where it's at:

PottyMouthMama is a working mum. Whether she wants to be working is really beside the point, isn't it? She has to work because - like I said earlier, there are bills to pay, mouths to feed, a car to put petrol in. But work doesn't define PottyMouthMama.

PMM loves: fashion, beauty, enjoying life, getting out and about, family, friends, reading, films, art. This is PottyMouthMama. She's complex. She's fun. She thinks about her life BC (before children), and loves reminiscing about tabletop dancing - but doesn't miss it. She's looking forward. 

I had a friend ring me late one Friday night - she was drunk, I was lying on the couch happily watching Poirot. She berated me loudly and said "yes well that's what you do in suburbia - stay at home on Fridays and watch free-to-air". Well last time I checked with my local suburban free-to-access police station - it wasn't illegal (unless things have changed - and in which case, my hands are in the air - come and arrest me). She continued for another five minutes before I cut the conversation short - she wouldn't remember ever talking to me anyway. I didn't need someone else raining on me, I already give myself a hard enough time without a support crew. 

That phone call not only stung - it made me think about life decisions (and which way our friendship was heading). it made me considerhow no matter who you are, or what you do, life is difficult, life is tough, life throws challenges at you every. single. day. But it's ok. I am ok!

Over the next few months PottyMouthMama is going to change a little. She's evolving. And she doesn't have to please other people in the process, and she's not going to apologise for being who she is. 

And PS - I will watch Poirot on a Friday night if I want to. 

It's Friday Night. Do You Know Where Your Bloggers Are?

Have you had a good day or a bad day?

I have had a no good, very bad, awful, terrible, horrible day.

So let's fast forward onto better, brighter things.

I'm sending you off around the world in just a few simple clicks.

First stop - off to see my sister, Sarah, who just came back from a positively dreamy trip to Paris and London. She's just started capturing those first few days over on Calico + Ivy's blog - be inspired.

Next stop, you're keen to check out Germany while you're over in Europe, ja? Then check in on beautiful Bianca and her babes in a German summer. No wonder she's heading to Sydney soon.

Everyone knows that Tasmania is my idea of Utopia. Despite never having visited. No matter, I'm living vicariously through Michelle of Hugo and Elsa fame. Literally feast your eyes over here.

So you find yourself in Tassie - you must, absolutely must pop into The Hut Chronicles. Marian's garden is evolving, it's a joy to behold.

And one more stop on this whirl wind tour - have a cup of tea with Mrs Smith. This post resonates with me like there's no tomorrow. Thank you Mrs Smith for writing it so beautifully and so bang on.   You are an inspiration lady.

What's that dear reader? You want MORE? MORE??? Ok. Have this song. If you can listen to this and not be in a good mood and want to crazy dance with the kiddies, then I honestly do not know what's wrong with you.

Good night and good luck.

Oh Hai.

Last night I went out on the town to kick up my heels with a bunch of bloggers. I met Wee Birdy there and together we giggled and guffawed the night away.


Big ups to Wee Birdy for giving me this banging picture of me being a ham hock. I mean, who doesn't star their Darling mani when posing mercilessly? The truth is, the reason I was dressed like a Tequila Sunrise (see recipe here) was for the Kidspot Top 50 Bloggers. Aha. 


Woogs held me in her bosom. I got to meet Eden. Was astounded by Hair Romance's beautiful hair. And I reunited with Chantelle. There were many more and it was like a whirlwind tour. I felt a bit like a fraud. 


Anyway, you readers, you are all quiet as mice. What's happening on your homefronts? Do tell. I am waiting to hear. And when someone wants to hack into my mainframe and let me know how I can reply directly to comments, well I am all freaking ears. I can not work it out myself and I want to punch my blog in the head. 


Right now I am listening to Gossling because I just love her. I've eaten a burger for dinner and had two to three wines. Who's counting? (Because it's not like I have to drive to bed.) I got told I was very quiet at work today. I love listening to the Hack on Triple J driving home. Do you? What are you doing? Come on, spill. Fill me in on what's on the haps in your neighbourhood. 


Oh and as a Friday bonus, how great is this Bluejuice cover of Video Games. I went off Lana del Rey quicker than Lite White goes off in a luke warm fridge. But this. This I can get with.


And finally, come join me on Facey. We can like totes chat. And stuff. 


PS - this is a link heavy post. I apologise. But perhaps you'll thank me later for sending you around the world in just one quick read of PottyMouthMama?

Are You There Friends? It's Me. Lexi.

Right now, for all I know, I could be the only one here. I'm banging out this written word, and it might just be me reading it in a quick edit before hitting publish. It's oh so quiet.

Are you there reader? Because all I can hear is an echo.

I'm madly putting together lists of gift ideas - but do you like them? Do you care? What is art? What is normal? Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

I'm not asking for a marching band, or a ticker tape parade every time I post - but girl, gimme a little sign.

Do you hate that I turned off the anonymous commenting? Well I did it because I was sick of Simone and other fabulous nobodies opening cans of whoop ass on me. I got tired of it actually. As soon as I turned it off, life got better!

But dudes. You gotta throw a girl a bone. It's boring being just being all by myself all the time.

BTW - do you think my small girl-child will like this book? Totes unrelated. But you get that on the big jobs.

Is Anyone There?

Oh man it's oh-so-quiet around (BTW - did you know Spike Jonze directed that clip??!) here these days.

Where are you?

What did you do this weekend?

What are you wearing right now?

Are we breaking up?

Any excuse for some cool Bjork shots. Right?

Help Me Help You

So in a couple of weeks I'm doing a little talk at a conference. It's about PR. And PR agencies/consultants and the world of blogging and bloggers.

Secretly I am hoping no one turns up, because every time I think about it, I feel really, really queasy.

Nevertheless, I am doing a little research beforehand. Whether you read blogs, blog, or are new to blogs, I'd value your feedback. But I'm not doing some hardcore survey, because:
a) I just don't have the time
and
b) neither do you

Let me cut to the chase. I'd love it if you had a spare five minutes, if you can tell me:
- If PR agencies contact you: what works? what doesn't?
- What do you love?
- What do you loathe?
- How many companies contact you per week?
- Do you ever get any really random requests?
- And does anyone ever nail it - like really hit the nail on the head, and get you and your blog, and how to work with you?
- As a reader: what works for you? And what are you sick of?

Or if you're more comfortable emailing me, that's ace: lexipmm (at) gmail (dot) com

I'd appreciate any insights you can share with me - and if you comment on here, please don't name any agencies or companies.

Help me out peeps!

Sharing:: 5 Blogging Tips

I'm no pro. And unless you're Heather Armstrong, you're not a pro either. But since I began blogging over three years ago, and since I (occasionally) get asked for tips on blogging, I am happy to share. But folks - remember, I'm not swallowing swords, I'm not Charlie Teo operating on brains, I'm not dancing on a stage. I'm blogging. And it's not rocket science.

So here are my 5 tips to help your blog along:

1. Make your blog a reflection of you. Put your blinkers on baby, and don't try to be something you're not. And don't get blind-sided by what anyone else is doing. This is your space. It's not the Olympics.

2. Visit. Pay your neighbours a visit, and share a cup of sugar with them. Share the love. Water their bloggy garden. Get on Twitter. Talk. Connect with other people. Don't get obsessed with your blog. Spread the seeds. Watch 'em grow. If you visit other people's bloggy gardens, they might pop over and visit yours.

3. Don't make it your whole life. Big mistake. If you become fixated on watching those numbers, those visitors or those comments, you're going to be mighty disappointed. While blogging takes work, it shouldn't become your whole life. Because if it does, you're not going to have anything to blog about. But learn how to edit. Heavily.

4. Don't think you're going to give up your day job. Life must go on, and unless you're a ridiculously talented, uber blogger and you strike it lucky, then you're probably going to make about $11 and a few washing powder samples in the first two years. If that's your aim. But don't make it your aim. I blog because I love writing. Because I love connecting. Because I love sharing. Blogging has helped me make some remarkable friends. And I get to write about things I love. Because I am my own editor. But you've got more chance making a bombfunk by winning Tatts Lotto. Blogging is for certs, not about making mula.

5. Give credit where credit is due. If you see something on someone's blog - and you want to blog about it. Blog about it. But give credit. It's not cool ripping copy, ideas or concepts from someone else. Tap your own ideas and shout out when you've been inspired by someone else.

And just remember my mantra: I'm not an expert. I'm not an expert. I'm not an expert.

Is Blogging Pre-Meditated?

Since PottyMouthPapa has started blogging, we've had some interesting topics.

Such as - is timing pertinent to blogging? Is there a rhyme and reason for blogging? Is blogging pre-meditated?

For me, I blog daily when I can. But I usually don't plan my posts. I don't have a chart where I have to tick something off. I'm certainly not so organised. Blogging for me is usually digesting something that's happened that day (or sometimes the day before, or sometimes what's coming up). I usually sit at my computer tutor with no idea in my head and then bang out some words.

Sometimes my posts are crummy.

Sometimes they are good.

And sometimes, when I am really good, I hit all the high notes and 'publish post' with a spring in my fingertips.

PottyMouthPapa on the other hand is much more organised. He researches his blog posts. He times them. He sequences them. Me, not in a million years. I have drafts sitting back there in the Post tab still waiting to get a go at going live.

If I were to look at getting organised, then perhaps I'd invest a small amount of dosh in this notebook from Notemaker. Because that's the joy of being organised. Great stationery.

Makeover

The good news is: I HAD A MAKEOVER! I got new glasses, and man, I am such a fox. I might need to get my brows groomed, but no matter, what do you think of my new specs?

But in other news, PottyMouthMama is three years old. Three years of me banging on about random stuff and things. But you like stuff and things, right?

So it's about time I gave this here baby a bit of a makeover. What would you like to see on PottyMouthMama?

PS - Happy Australia Day!

Bloggers Are Not Superheroes

I'm not sitting here with a cape on. Or my big undies over the top of my outfit. Nor do I have any super powers. I'm not saving lives. I'm only saving my sanity. And preserving my memories. That's what blogging is to me. Oh and it's given me a community of other mamas and general all-round ace chicks to communicate with. To high five. To chew the fat. To bounce ideas. And to virtually hang out with.

But I'm not doing anything anyone hasn't done before. I'm parenting. I'm working part-time. I'm wifeing. I'm trying to make ends meet (and those ends seem to move further and further away monthly). I'm juggling and dreaming, hoping, praying, cleaning, cooking, washing, talking, watching, stitching, writing, reading, sleeping, snoozing, cuddling, kissing, sweeping, watering, laughing, smiling, showering, weeing & pooping, walking, driving, looking, sniffing, colouring, avoiding, chasing, weeding, dusting, vacuuming, emailing, SMSing - oh man, I could go on, but you've probably already fallen asleep. WAKE UP!

I'm a woman. Not a superhero. I have no super powers. If I did, I'd give nasty people an electric shock each time they were nasty. BZZZZzzzZZZ!

So why are bloggers seen as the new superhero? Are bloggers the new black?

Go West My Friend!

Today, besides sharing some funny little tidbits from home life, I'm sending you to other places.

Firstly, my funny little tidbits.

The Doctor asked Tiny the other day if he could inspect her ear lobes to see if she has holes for earrings. (I think he thinks you are born with them). For the record, she doesn't.

The Doctor has also been hoarding all the toy catalogues. He then cuts out the pictures and carries them around. Everywhere. I've finally convinced him to stick them into a book, since he went walking with Matt, dropped half of them, and spent the walk home discovering his cut-outs strewn across the footpaths, Hansel and Gretel stylie.

But like I said, go west, go discover some other blogs:


The effervescent Toni at Little Suitcase is rocking Frocktober. Maybe you can donate a pretty penny or two to raise funds for ovarian cancer research?

Head over to say hi to Alexis at Knot Sew Crafty - and check out this super ace clip! She always has the good stuff!

Hayley at Little Pinwheel has been writing about raw mum moments this week - in the interests of dissolving the mystical 'perfect' parenting idea - these are beautiful, heartfelt posts

Ever wondered what happened to the two Kris'? Well clearly I did.

image from Toni's blog.

Stuff I Like

I was going through my bathroom cabinet tonight, tossing old stuff, tossing stuff I don't use, and getting amidst the thick of it. And also wondering why I have not one, but three almost full tubes of fake tan (my favourite one is Ella Bache) - since I gave up fake-tanning when I fell pregnant the very first time (application just took too long, and it's when I first started taking notice of what is in the products I use - oh and who wants to fake tan when they're breastfeed? It's just too much hard work not getting a half-Tandoori'd baby).

I love beauty products. LOVE them. I've enjoyed a number of jobs where one of the perks was free cosmetics. It was always fun to try the new colours, new trends, oh man, I loved it!

I love to dabble. I love to learn new tricks. In short, I love make-up and all that it can do and say about a person.

But one of my favourite un-make-up things is Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate. I much prefer it over the original which is a bit too minty for my liking. But this one? It is lush and a joy to apply (it also happens to be one of the things my bowerbird loves to steal).

If you've read PMM for a while, you know I am a dedicated Lansinoh fan - it might be a nipple cream but it is positively dreamy on dry and chapped lips (and if you put it on before you go to bed - et voila - soft and supple lips by the morning). But the Burt's Bees is a little better when out and about in public - easy to apply, a very subtle pink-ish tone, and smells terrific.

I don't even remember where I bought mine (maybe a health food shop?) but I know it's available online too for around $6.95.

Anyway, this brings me to a real beauty blog - bellaMUMMA. Like beauty tips and tricks? Check it out!

Ladiez?

Anyone doubting lady-power should watch this. It's awesome! It's super-fantastic. It's ladiez!

Seems particularly apt given Australia got its first female Prime Minister just this week.




via the very intelligent, very awesome Knot Sew Crafty

Seriously Hooked

I have a really big blog love for Made by Joel. If you've not checked it out before, do, because he is awesome.

He makes the most insanely cool things with and for his kids. And who wouldn't want a massive cuddle like that?! I do - pick me! Pick me!

Those walnut shell boats are on my to-do list with the Doctor. I am always tossing bath toys because of the mould factor. These ones are disposable and compostable. Yeehar!

Which brings me to this super duper cool toy bench. And I know someone who has a new work bench that loves playing with wood.

Dear Dad? I hope you are well as it leaves me the same. Are you reading this? Just putting my order in, ok.

Are You (GASP!) A Mummy Blogger? Then Go Outside And Shake Yourself

Megan at the Byron Life (who is basically living my life, but it's not mine, it's hers, but I'd like it to be my life, but it's not - oh look, oops I did it again) blogged about this the other day. And it's been bugging me.

Not Megan. But the article. Actually not the article. It's all the 'hoo har' about the article. The poor journo has been sent reeling. And how ridiculous people can be. Seriously peeps, don't take things so darn seriously!

Do you blog?
Would you categorise yourself a 'mummy blogger'?
Are you cringing at being a 'mummy blogger'?
If you are, can I book you in for some expensive counselling?

I mean of course you're blogging about bigger things, but if you a) blog and b) have child, then you are sort of going to be labelled a 'mummy blogger' (unless you're blogging about the mating cycles of small extinct reptillian bandicoots, then I guess you're some kind of kooky animal blogger). I hate to break it to you but that's just the way the cookie crumbles.

And speaking of cookies - check out these ace apple earrings over at Earl and Cookie. How was that for a segue?

PS - go visit Megan. She's a top bird!

It's Called: I Can't Find The Camera

So from now until the point when I locate the camera, I'll be illustrating this here space with images found on the interwebs. This means that:

a) I can't show you some sewing I have so enthusiastically taken part in

b) I can't get too personal

c) I must cruise the interwebs kerb crawling for syootable images to illustrate my incredibly interesting posts.

Now that I have that out of the way, I'd like to ask you some big questions.

What is it you like about PMM?

And what don't you like?

And what do you want more of?

It's been almost two years since PMM was hatched and like all two year olds, it's heading into rocky territory. Some days I find I don't know what to post. So tell me, dear reader, what is it that warms the cockles of your heart.

And while you're thinking about these big questions for twenty-ten, here's some muzak. It will definitely warm the cockles, even the sub-cockles of your heart. Shut UP!

image appropriately titled rock and a hard place.

Pupcakes?

Like I said earlier in the week, I went to town with pupcakes for Tiny. I'm not sure if I've mentioned before of Tiny's love for all things puppy and catty. She goes mad for 'puuuuuuppies!' whenever we pass them in the street. Same can be said for catties.

As dutiful mother, I decided since she didn't want to have her pav and eat it too, I would make pupcakes.

I was inspired by one of my favourite blogs - Angie and Kristin have oodles of fantastic ideas. If only I had sat up front and paid more attention because my pupcakes could have looked a little more like theirs, and a little less like...mine. An ode to a moustache. I even heard my MIL say, 'Oh that looks like a tarantula', ahem.

Thankfully it was just our exclusive party of four who had to eat them. We ate our way around the droopy cowboy moustache (Ode to Texas), the straight mo' (Ode to a Banker), and the monobrow - while clearly not a moustache, it's kind of like a brow 'stache (Ode to a Mono).

Thanks be to blogger for rotating my image. Again. Rotate your head dear reader. x

The Myrtle & Eunice Road To Enlightenment: In Just Ten Minutes

Our house is tidy. This in itself is no mean feat. It took me hours of dedication (not to mention boxes) but it's tidy. Regular visitors will not recognise it because now - well you can actually see we have a floor. We have a FLOOR CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!

But then comes 'the creep'. I call it the creep because before you know it, mess has crept back in, and all my hours of sorting, swatting silverfish and tidying are down the drain, and in my book, that ain't cool.

So we've taken to day one of the Myrtle & Eunice Road To Enlightenment with great aplomb. Well I have, and everyone else has just been swept up into it. Anything to fight off the creep.

Straight after dinner, I set the alarm clock and we were off. However, given my slow starters (particularly the largest male in our roost) I added an extra five minutes to the tab (15 minute tidy up - high fives all 'round) - no one else need ever know of this, and he won't because he only ever visits my blog to look at the pictures.

For weeks I have been whinging saying, 'I didn't make all of this mess, so why should I have to clean it all up?' - and now I don't have to. The smalls are excited. There's a timer. There's excitement. And there's the dreaded red zone.

The red zone is like no-man's land. This is where things that are consistently left out are put into a box, and heading straight to charity. This incites fear. Excitement. Dread. And, at the risk of sounding like I work with Brand Power, it really works.

PottyMouthMama on the road to enlightenment courtesy of Myrtle & Eunice, and together - fighting the creep.

image stolen from Housekeepers for Homemakers. However I do love to wear a maid's outfit during my days at home. And carry a feather duster at all times.