today I join The Remarkables

Picture this......over 6 years ago I was sitting on my couch, feet up to rest my poor fat pregnant ankles, laptop on my lap and 40 weeks pregnant with my first baby. I had been reading some knitting blogs and saw on blogger a button to create your own blog. Oh, OK I might create my own blog. Name of blog. Um. Knitter and new mum (what a mouthful). And that was the start of my blogging career. A split second decision to start a blog and share my new life as a stay at home mum.

 

1 week old keira

 

We had just bought our first house, we had gone from two good incomes to one, I only knew one other mum in the area but was so excited and nervous about the life ahead. All I knew was that I wasn't returning to banking and that my dreams of being a stay at home mummy were about to come true.

 

a mummy of one

 

Fast forward 6 years and that little family has grown to a family of 7! I still can't quite believe that has happened (but yes, I do know how it's happened!) and my traffic of about 3 readers per post has grown to thousands. And I've had over 3.5 million page views here on my retro mummy blog. Wow. That statistic is just crazy! I went from having a little knitting stash to becoming a full blown craft addict. And I receive the most beautiful emails and messages from my readers telling me how much they love my blog and then sharing their stories with me.

 

the family has grown!

 

I don't know many stay at home mummies in my area with lots of children or who love craft as much as I do or who love to bake and just be at home. But I do through my blog. I love what I have created here and it's become a huge part of my life. I blog everyday because I love it. No one makes me do it, it's a love of blogging and sharing.

 

I am always taking photos!

 

About 2 years ago I started working with brands and now bring in an income that makes a real difference in our household. And I love it. I never imagined that I could be doing this. When Keira was born I sold Avon, I sold Tupperware, I set up my retro mummy store selling fabric. All the while running my blog on the side and never imagining that I would be working through my blog in a few years time.

And these days I'm so busy with just raising a family and running a household that I can't answer every email or business request that comes in. And boy do I get  a lot of requests. I need to flick it over to someone else who is more savvy and more assertive than I am. And I don't have the time to do every request that comes in.

 

a mummy of 4

 

But gosh I've had some amazing opportunities come my way. I've been on the Today Show (sadly I didn't get to meet Karl), I've been in magazines and newspapers, I've had a makeover and film crew follow me around Westfield for the day with the gorgeous Donny Galella and worked with some really amazing big brands.

 

 

And I have to say thank you to YOU my lovely readers, some of you are old timers and some of you have just found me. Some of you have met me (aren't you lucky) and some of you live on the other side of the world. Whoever you are and wherever you live, the only reason I get to make this announcement is because you keep coming back to read this blog and enjoy it. So, thank you. And that's why you are the first to hear this exciting news which has been kept under wraps.

 

I first met Lorraine of The Remarkables when Emerson was about 3 weeks old and I was lucky just to get out of the house with some lip gloss and deodorant on that day and make it to our meeting on time. I was so impresed with Lorraine's business and how it could help me going forward and also I just fell in love with Lorraine. She's one smart lady. And so I said yes! And she then said 'OK, well wait I still need to tell you a few more details'.......I was just a little bit too excited.

 

I'm a mummy of 5! And I wish I looked this great every day!

 

Like so many of you, my number one priority in life is my family. And I'm so happy that I now have someone like Lorraine who will help me with the business side of things and let me do what I love to do. Raise a family, do my craft, bake some cookies, take photos and blog about it. Life is good. And I pinch myself.

 

I'm so excited to announce this to you today and also so excited to be joining a group of amazing bloggers in Australia. You can find all the Remarkables here. And my only worry about joining the Remarkables? I hope I don't get photographed standing next to another Remarkable like Hair Romance or Styling You - you know those bloggers who blog about beauty and hair and look immaculate. I still have to remember just to check my shoulder for Emerson's throw up or call out to my girls and ask who has taken the lipgloss from mummy's handbag the nappy bag.

And if you're reading this and have always wanted to work with me, well you just speak to Lorraine!