The Mums on the Go Journey

You are invited to the Mums on the Go - Birthday Tea Party by Mums on the Go
in The Mums on the Go Journey
17 May 2012 | 0 Comments

Mums on the Go™ is celebrating its second birthday and I would LOVE YOU to join me for a Birthday Tea Party!

Mums on the Go is more than a child-friendly directory … Mums on the Go is a community … a community of Mums who care about their own needs as well as their children, a community of businesses who want to make that easier to achieve, and a community of sponsors who want to help Mums on the Go reach and support more Mums across Australia.

This very special Birthday Tea Party is the perfect way to bring this magnificent community together in person.

By joining the birthday celebration you will have a chance to:
•   Connect & celebrate with the Mums on the Go community
•   Enjoy a scrumptious High Tea including an amazing Tea Tasting with the girls from Rabbit Hole Tea
•   Take home a goody bag full of birthday treats
•   Have a chance of winning one of the fantastic door prizes on offer including gifts from The Mama Club, Nicole Anderson Photography and Pure Romance

When: Sunday June 24th 2012
Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm
Where: TheMamaClub - 26-30 Spring Street, Bondi Junction, Sydney
Tickets: $37

Purchase tickets online HERE using Visa or Mastercard. Email Linda for bank account details if you prefer to use EFT.

Pay with Paymate Express

Tickets booked before May 31st will receive 3 additional entries into the Lucky Door Prize draw!
Bookings close June 14th.

You are most welcome to share this invitation with any other Mums who might enjoy this morning out – the more the merrier!

Can you bring kids?
Of course! The Mama Club has several enclosed play areas for children, however … I encourage you to leave them at home with Dad so you can indulge in some 100% (well deserved) Mum time

Other questions? Email Linda or phone the office on 02 8572 9477

I hope to see you in person on the 24th June!
______________________________________________________

About the Rabbit Hole Tea Tasting:
The girls from Rabbit Hole tea have made it their mission to serve you tastebud tingling tea.

No teabags, no chemicals, no disrespecting farmers or the environment. Just natural, organic and fairly traded leaf. So, if you’d like to join our tea party, follow us down the rabbit hole…
Is it any wonder tea is the world’s second most popular drink?

Join the ladies from Rabbit Hole Teas and the Tearista from TheMamaClub on a taste sensation as they take you on a Tea Flight down the rabbit hole...

You will taste a selection of beautiful, original, organic teas and explore the story behind each cup you sip. Learn the secrets of brewing the perfect pot of tea every time and be excited by their passionate pursuit of the perfect cuppa!

About TheMamaClub:
TheMamaClub is a luxury lounge for all new parents and carers of children aged 0-2 years. At TheMamaClub we understand the joys and challenges of becoming a parent. We offer a welcoming space that is both luxurious and stylish for you and your little one to enjoy. We are committed to providing our members with a warm and welcoming experience each time they visit TheMamaClub.
Am I a blogging fraud? by Linda Anderson
in The Mums on the Go Journey
16 Apr 2012 | 2 Comments

I have been reflecting a little lately on "blogging" and the role that writing a blog for Mums on the Go has in my world. I feel a little like I stumbled into blogging by default as opposed to consciously setting myself up as a Blogger.

When we were designing the website for Mums on the Go, the child-friendly directory was always the focus. It was WHY we existed, it was WHAT we really wanted to share with other Mums. During the planning sessions with our web team they strongly suggested we have a Blog on the website as a means of offering Mums other reasons to visit the website and engage with Mums on the Go. We took their advice and a Blog was added.

What would we write about? Neither Calli or had written a blog before and to be honest I had never been interested in reading blogs. We knew we wanted to write blogs that made you think, laugh, cry, question and reflect ... everything and anything from motherhood, relationships, being a woman, politics and general topics of interest ... so we just started writing.

Here I am almost 2 years down the track and I am fascinated at how important the blog has become ... to me, to the business and to you (the Mums in the community). What started as an "add on" has a more significant purpose that I could ever have imagined. Sometimes I feel like a fraud when I am invited to things like the Bloggers Brunch, or register to attend a blogging conference such as 'Blogopolis', or read articles in the paper such as 'life on the line'. I look at the other bloggers and think they are "real" bloggers because that is what they do 100% ... they don't build directories ... they blog and are very good at it.

Slowly but surely I am becoming more confident in claiming a space in the world of Blogging, to recognise that what I do actually has value and matters. So I am really proud to have been entered into the Sydney Writers Best Australian Blogs 2012 Competition ... along with over 1000 other Blogs!! And while I await the judges decisions on major award categories the People's Choice voting has also started.

So if you think that the Mums on the Go blog matters, if it adds value to your world in some way or if you simply want to offer some moral support to a girl trying to stand up and be counted in the world of blogging ...then please vote! You will find "Mums on the Go" on page 3 of the list of blogs.

Linda x
Mumprenuers Masterclass - March 2012 by Linda Anderson
in Working Mums, The Mums on the Go Journey
15 Mar 2012 | 1 Comment

I posted this week on facebook my excitement and apprehension about attending the Mumpreneurs Masterclass. I was excited to be attending the event and having an opportunity to meet some other amazing Mums in business. I was apprehensive as I was taking Miss 3.5 with me thanks to the lovely Penny Webb bending her "kid policy" for me. The event was 3 hours long with 2 hours of that being official guest speaker/presentation time ... which meant Miss 3.5 needed to be quiet and non-disruptive for that amount on time.

Could we do it? Or was I going to regret trying to combine being a Mum and being a Business Owner in such a public way?

Penny had chosen two terrific guest speakers for this event, women who were still in their first couple of years of business but who had inspirational stories to tell.

Cath from Lunch Boxes with Love who is passionate about providing her kids with delicious and varied lunches which are fun and practical too. Her business offers a range of products including funky boiled egg molds, to transform your plain old boiled egg into a car or a bunny, sandwich punches to shape your sandwich into anything from a Choo Choo Train to a Fairy Princess with wand.

Cath is an inspirational business woman who has great self belief, is willing to take risks and is dreams big!

Andrea from Fox in Flats has a great magazine style blog to help you navigate motherhood in style. You will find lots of fun and informative article perfect for getting out of your daggies at the playground or coming to terms with dressing a body that has a new shape! Her articles are not about being a "glamour mum' ... more about acknowledging that just because we became Mums we didn't lose the desire to look and feel nice, even if it sometimes involves baby vomit or a smear of Vegemite. Check out her Top 12 tips for looking good when you’ve got little kids.

I related strongly to Andrea's business journey as it is based on providing quality online content to Mums ... just like Mums on the Go. I was really interested to hear how this has evolved and what great opportunities are opening up in her world. At the end of the day she is very clear about what she has created and why ... the rest unfolds from there.

So how much of these great presentations was I actually able to listen to whilst also ensuring Miss 3.5 was well taken care of?

Sometimes my view looked like this:

But more often it looked like this:

Luckily I can colour in Dora and listen at the same time!

I really enjoyed the event and I think Miss 3.5 was an absolute angel who was rewarded with an icecream outing that afternoon! I am pretty sure we will be allowed back next time!!

Linda x
Would you like to connect with other Mums on the Go? by Linda Anderson
in The Mums on the Go Journey
12 Mar 2012 | 4 Comments
Recently I have been pondering the idea of setting up some sort of "event" with Mums on the Go ... a gathering of other Mums in the Mums on the Go community.

To be honest the motivation is pretty selfish, I spend most of Monday - Friday with my 2 kids or sitting typing away at the computer (like right now)... it can feel pretty isolated. Not a huge amount of adult engagement during the working week. So I thought it would be fun to find a way to connect with other Mums on the Go in person, not just on facebook, twitter or comments on my blogs.

I figure if I am going to organise something I better get off my backside and do something about it! The year is ticking along and before I know it their will be a new baby in my world and I won't be planning any events then. In reality I would plan a Sydney event and possibly a Melbourne event to start with and see how they go before heading any further afield.

So for Mums in Sydney or Melbourne would you like me to organise something? and if so what sort of things would you like to do and why?
- casual child-free dinner
- some sort of event with an inspiring guest speaker
- an "adventure" day
- a group "pampering" outing
- High Tea
- something else
Let me know what you think ... if there is interest I will organise something!

Linda x
2012 has hit a bump ... a baby bump that is by Linda Anderson
in Motherhood, The Mums on the Go Journey
9 Feb 2012 | 3 Comments

As we prepared to move from Melbourne back to Sydney last year I took some time to map out what I wanted 2012 to look like professionally and personally. After quite a rocky 2011 I was keen to create a calmer path in 2012.

For Mums on the Go my focus was to add 2 more cities to the child-friendly directory (most likely Brisbane and Perth), work on increasing number of Mums visiting the website every month and really get stuck into creating revenue ... after all I can't "donate" my time forever.

Personally, I wanted to really focus on self care ... getting fitter, feeling calmer and having a little more "down time". As a family we wanted to do some travel this year to take advantage of the last "non-school" year and airfares before our 'baby' turns 2 in November. We planned a trip to Waiheke Island (NZ) to see if it is somewhere we might like to live one day, a trip back to Magnetic Island to enjoy some tropical warmth and our big trip was to be 4 weeks in Europe/UK to visit family and friends. My husband has a brother and a sister over there who have 3 kids each ... we would love our girls to meet their UK cousins.

Sounds like a great plan! The only thing is my plan for 2012 hit a small bump before Christmas ... I discovered I am pregnant!

We had always wanted to have three children and having struggled to conceive our first two babies I was thrilled to have fallen pregnant without actually trying. I felt like a silly teenager turning up to my GP announcing I was pregnant and had no idea when my last period was ... who was counting ... I was too busy moving cities!

Obviously we are thrilled by this news but it does mean baby #3 is becoming part of our family sooner that I had "planned" so there are quite a few things in 2012 that won't be happening anymore ... like that trip to Europe, and I think I will settle for just getting Brisbane added to Mums on the Go. Trust me ... I am not complaining at all though ...

The great thing about plans is that you can always make new ones!

Linda x
Am I Wonder Woman? by Linda Anderson
in Motherhood, Wellbeing for Mums, The Mums on the Go Journey
16 Jan 2012 | 2 Comments

It was my birthday a few weeks ago.

A card arrived from my Dad with a picture of Wonder Woman on the front. This made me smile as Wonder Woman was my hero when I was about 5 years old ... I remember going to the Easter Show and getting a Wonder Woman showbag. I thought Wonder Woman was amazing ... she was strong, adventurous, fought for good not evil and had a great costume!

I opened the birthday card and inside was a message, part of which said "Graphic perhaps captures life for you in 2011 - hope 2012 provides more opportunity for relaxing and a slower pace"

2011 had certainly been a challenging year and contained very little "rest". It saw me with a newborn baby in Melbourne, my business partner decided to move on from Mums on the Go leaving me with a tough choice about continuing the business, I suffered depression, added Melbourne to the child-friendly directory and then at short notice discovered we were moving back to Sydney again ...

Am I Wonder Woman for getting through 2011 with a smile still on my face? No, I don't think so ... but I do hope I have captured some of Wonder Woman's determination, adventurous spirit, and energy!

Do I think 2012 will bring the the rest my Dad hopes it will? Not at all!!! I have more big plans for Mums on the Go and some new adventures to plan in my personal life. Hopefully 2012 will be less "bumpy" though ... that would be really nice.

Did you have a childhood hero? Can you still relate to them now that you are all grown up?

Linda x
Happy Blog Day! by Linda Anderson
in The Mums on the Go Journey, Women who Inspire, Helpful Hints
31 Aug 2011 | 2 Comments

Happy Blog Day to you!

Apparently today is Blog Day. What is Blog Day I hear you ask? Well, it seems it is a day where people who blog (me!) take time to acknowledge and share other blogs that we like with our community.

Here is a list of 6 blogs that I enjoy reading ... they are not all Mum/Parent orientated ... just things I like and perhaps you will too. These are in no particular order ...

Motherless Daughter : Once upon a time I invited a wonderful woman, Cheryl Strong, to write a guest post for Mums on the Go. Her post was all about what is was like to be a Mum without the presence of her own Mum, who sadly died 13 years ago. Her post touched many Mums who read it, and the comments left online inspired Cheryl to start her very own blog. It is beautifully written and a sacred place for all Motherless Daughters to connect.

Write Change Grow : I confess I have a soft spot for this blog because it is written by a coaching client of mine. When I met Thea several years ago she was doing a writing course by correspondence and dreaming of perhaps one day being a fulltime professional writer. She has shown great courage and determination n pursuing her dream and is now writing full time. I always enjoy reading this blog full of honesty, humour and interesting perspectives.

Woogs World : - I am always uplifted by Woogs World. Humorous, intelligent and thought provoking. Written by a Mum, and often containing posts about family/parenting - however, the overall content much more diverse.

The Modern Parent : Mother to 5 boys Martine writes a blog focussed on supporting mums & dads thrive in their journey as parents. I have met Martine in person and found her to be a grounded, generous and interesting woman. Her blog contains all of these qualities too.

Sphinxx : sphinxx is a social enterprise committed to achieving gender balance in leadership. Their vision is to see women equally represented in leadership roles – in business and in our communities. This blog is informative, supportive and inspiring.

Planning with Kids: written by Mum of 5 and uber-organised Nicole Avery. This blog is a fantastic resource anytime you need inspiration about making life run more smoothly, simply or enjoyably in your family. There is an amazing wealth of information here.

So these are some of my favourites? What are some of yours?

Linda x
Mums on the Go blog updates via email by Linda Anderson
in The Mums on the Go Journey
28 Aug 2011 | 0 Comments

Would you like to receive Mums on the Go blog updates via email?

The joy of online business is that it is always evolving and growing ... constantly adapting to the needs of its users. Recently I have enjoyed seeing the blog component of Mums on the Go become a more important part of the site than I ever imagined it would be when it launched in May 2010.

I have received a lot of requests lately for an email subscription for blog updates. So instead of always having to check the website or facebook you could receive a short email with a link to any new blog posted. I would love to be able to offer this to you and have asked my web development team to look at having this set up on the website.

It will take a little time to get this onto the website itself so in the meantime I would like to take care of this personally.
Simply email me and let me know you want to receive updates via email. I will ensure you receive a link to every new blog posted ... direct to your inbox! And when the fancy online version is available I will make sure you are automatically subscribed.

Sound like a plan? Drop me a line ...

Linda x
There's no place like home by Linda Anderson
in Motherhood, The Mums on the Go Journey, Relationships
24 Aug 2011 | 3 Comments

I have been a little absent from facebook and blog posts in recent days while I to terms with the shock announcement that my family and I will be moving back to Sydney in mid-November.

We moved to Melbourne just over a year ago for a 2 year stint c/o my husbands work. It has been a pretty challenging time over the past 12 months I have given birth to my second child, unexpectedly become the sole "mum on the go" and struggled with PND. There have been may lovely things about being here though - the opportunity for my eldest to get to know her cousins, we have made some lovely new friends and managed to explore some lovely places beyond Melbourne.

Just 2 weeks ago my husband and I sat down over a glass of red wine and brainstormed all the lovely things we were going to do over summer before heading back to Sydney next May ... lots of time at the beach (which we can walk to), camping trips, more exploring outside Melbourne and so on. So this sudden change has left me feeling a little out of kilter. Funny that we have quite clearly been keen to return to Sydney at the end of the 2 year contract but now we are given the opportunity to head back early and I feel resistance.

Of course it will be lovely to return to Sydney, it is home for us and we have many wonderful friends there. However we won't be able to return to our actual home as we have tenants in it until April so we will need to rent elsewhere for 6 months and then move again. Sigh ...

I am unlikely to find childcare at the end of the year but I am secretly hoping some other family will get unexpected news about an interstate move and space will magically become available for my girls :) If not, I will just have to juggle for a while.

I feel sad for my 3 year old who has made some very special friends. I know everyone says to me "she's a child, she will adjust quickly". That may be true but I don't want to belittle the depth of connection she feels with a couple of very special people here. I know we were always going to leave next May anyway but somehow it feels unfair to deprive her of 6 months of time with these friends.

The next few months are going to be very busy. I am determined to still launch our child-friendly business directory for Melbourne sometime in October but I do need to be careful not run myself into the ground in the process. So I plan to start going to a group personal training session on Saturday mornings to give me a physical outlet for the crazy time ahead. I also commit to getting the kids down to the beach every sunny Melbourne day we have between now and November ... after all we did pick this house/Suburb so that we could enjoy this part of Melbourne!

What a funny old journey this thing called "life" is - LOL

Linda x
Bloggers Brunch #2 in Review by Linda Anderson
in The Mums on the Go Journey
3 Aug 2011 | 0 Comments
Last week I attended the second Bloggers Brunch hosted by Kids Business which was a wonderful experience. Following my recent nomination for the “Best Blog” award at this years National Ausmumprenuer awards (have you voted yet?) it was great to connect with so many other inspirational Mum Bloggers.

The Bloggers Brunch is a mix of inspirational guest speakers, networking, and opportunity to look at products that I might be able to review and share with you online. Maddison (my 8 month old) came with me again but as she is no longer content to just hang out in the Baby Bjorn I was able to leave her with some great carers from Babysitters and More who helped me stay baby free for much of the event.

A quick run down of the guest speakers:
- Melinda Gainsford Taylor – spoke on health goals and her Weight Watchers journey. I have to say it was great to know that even ex-Olympic athletes have challenges finding time to exercise post-children!
- Susan Jackson – Financial goals
- Nicole Avery, Planning With Kids, spoke on setting blogging goals. My key take away here was to step back from being "busy" and make sure I am creating time for things that really help me achieve my goals.
- Heather James from Inspiring Mums- using goal setting
- Bernadette Black, 2009 Barnardos Australian Mother of the Year – spoke about overcoming adversity and achieving your dreams. A quote that I wrote down during her talk was "The journey may be different but the destination can still be the same" ... nice to keep this in mind when life takes an unexpected turn
As mentioned above the other aspect of this event is access to products that may be of interest to you. Companies come to this event that would like the uber-influencial Mum Bloggers to write reviews/comment on their products to spread the work to other Mums. To ensure I am acting with integrity I commit to the following:
- only review product that I feel might be of genuine interest to you.
- to write an objective and honest review (so if I don't like something I will say so)
- to make it clear and explicit when I am reviewing something
In coming weeks I will be review products from Homedics, Garnier, Blackmores, and Protect-a-Bed.

I may also have opportunities to giveaway products to you as a result ... so stay tuned!
Does Mums on the Go have the Best Blog? by Linda Anderson
in The Mums on the Go Journey
26 Jul 2011 | 2 Comments

Mums on the Go has been nominated for the “Best Blog” award at this years National Ausmumprenuer awards which is a wonderful honour.

It is interesting that the Blog component of this website has become so important, both to me and to all the Mums who are part of this community. The Child-Friendly Directory was always the driving force of creating this site but we always wanted it to be much more than that.

The blog at Mums on the Go is self reflective, prepared to be honest and is intelligently insightful. The blog provides a space for Mums to challenge their assumptions, say anything, be anything and focus on themselves. Mums on the Go is NOT a parenting website so the blog does not discuss how to get your children to sleep at night or eat vegetables! The Mums on the Go Blog creates a sense of community for women who want to take full advantage of the internet to provide the ‘village support’ that is lacking in society for so many of us.

Who will WIN the award for BEST BLOG? Well, that now comes down to a “People’s Choice” vote … so this is no longer about quality of the blog it is all about quantity of votes! So as I prepare to hit the shopping malls and kiss a few babies (isn’t that how voting campaigns work??) I am asking you to support me by placing a vote …

Voting for 'Mums on the Go' as “Best Blog” is a vote supporting Mums valuing themselves … as women not just as mothers.

HOW TO VOTE!

1. Click on this link: http://connect2mums.com.au/photo/mums-on-the-go

2. You will be prompted to sign in to the website. If you are not a member please join using link in top right corner. Don’t worry – you will be able to “unjoin” again once awards are announced on 28th August

3. Click the LIKE button (Pink Star) below the Mums on the Go image and description

And you’re done!

Voting closes on August 21st.

Thank you in advance for your support … and please feel free to pass this on to anyone who may be interested in supporting me.

Linda x
Mums on the Go is turning 1! but when? by Linda Anderson
in The Mums on the Go Journey
3 Apr 2011 | 0 Comments

Mums on the Go will soon be turning 1 which is a very exciting milestone. However, I am having a small dilemma about exactly when to celebrate. We launched Mums on the Go on Mothers Day 2010 (9th May) so I am wondering if our anniversary should be the 9th May or Mothers Day?

I have been in this position once before. Last week was my wedding anniversary (24th March), however the year I got married the 24th March fell on the Thursday before Easter. We chose this day to get married to allow our families (who are spread across Australia, NZ and UK) to spend a lovely long weekend with us after the wedding. My husband turned to me at the time and half jokingly said "Shall we celebrate our wedding anniversary on Easter Thursday or March 24th?". Without even thinking about it I said "March 24th of course!!"

As the years have rolled by I have occasionally reflected on this choice. It might have been quite fun to celebrate our wedding each year on a different calendar date but always having a nice long weekend attached instead. It might have been fun to take a less traditional approach. Then again, I love celebrating our anniversary on March 24th so perhaps it doesn't actually matter.

Which brings me to the starting question ... shall Mums on the Go celebrate its business birthday on the 9th May or Mothers Day?

Perhaps I should just flip a coin?

Linda x
Final farewell from Calli by Mums on the Go
in The Mums on the Go Journey
7 Mar 2011 | 6 Comments

It is for the last time that I write to the lovely Mums on the Go community, and my purpose is to say thank you and good bye.

Thank you for investing your time in Mums on the Go, visiting the website and being able to recognise the value of a dream that Linda and I brought into life.

The person I most need to thank is Linda. Thank you for your commitment, shared vision and collaboration and understanding.

Dreams don't always end the way you expect them to, and I certainly didn't think that I would be leaving quite so soon.

But my life's journey is taking me on an unanticipated path, and it feels right to follow it, as hard and as painful as it is.

Becoming a mother has been a very difficult transition for me. I have really struggled to come to terms with who I am now, what my place is in the world, and what I want to do with my skills. It has been a confusing 4 years and continues to be confusing. There are so many demands, and it is diffuicult to prioritise them....which is why we started Mums on the Go in the first place!

Thank you for your responses to my heartfelt blogs. I have taken great comfort from your comments and contributions when I have shared my thoughts and feelings. It is nice to know you are not alone.....

I sincerely hope that the Mums on the Go community grows, thrives and becomes an important resource for all Mums across Australia.

Love Calli xxx
The future of Mums on the Go by Linda Anderson
in The Mums on the Go Journey
7 Feb 2011 | 3 Comments
In recent weeks we have been sharing news of major change here at Mums on the Go. Calli made the difficult decision over Christmas to leave Mums on the Go and I was left with some difficult decisions to make … primarily – is it possible for me to continue Mums on the Go alone. I have spent several weeks working through the many questions raised in my blog and I have finally made a decision about the future on Mums on the Go.

I am very pleased to share with you that I will be continuing to run and grow Mums on the Go.

In the short term there may be some changes as I am still very much in newborn baby world after the birth of my second daughter, Maddison, on November 30^th. So naturally most of my time and energy is directed there. Blog posts, articles and Facebook posts may be a little less frequent than usual as I find my feet.

As the year progresses I am planning to put energy into expanding our directory into other cities and exploring other ways of bringing value and new information to support your journey as a parent.

How can you help Mums on the Go in 2011?
- Spread the word to other mums – the more Mums we have engaged in the site and becoming part of this community the more momentum the site will have
- Suggest new child-friendly businesses in ANY city
- Post reviews for any Sydney businesses you have visited
- Keep giving feedback – after all this site has been created for you :)
Thank you to everyone who has provided feedback and support in recent weeks. I look forward to continuing this journey with you.

Linda x
The future of Mums on the Go - where to now? by Linda Anderson
in The Mums on the Go Journey
11 Jan 2011 | 4 Comments
As you are now aware Calli has made a very important personal decision and will be leaving Mums on the Go in the near future. As her friend and business partner I fully support this decision however, there is no denying the fact it now places me in a very difficult position and I have some tough choices to make in coming weeks.

The most challenging decision I need to make is whether or not Mums on the Go can continue if I am the only person left to manage it. Mums on the Go would never have come to life if Calli and I had not embarked on the venture together … it was a much bigger concept than either of us could bring to life alone.

I am still very passionate about Mums on the Go and the desire to support Mums to look after their own needs as much as their children’s and hope to be able to find solutions that allow it to continue and become a viable business.
However, I am the mother of 2 children under 3 (the youngest being only 6 weeks old) and run an established Life Coaching business that needs a lot of my time and energy.
Is it possible to continue Mums on the Go without significant consequence to my family, my business and of course my own wellbeing?

As you will see I have a lot of questions right now and not many answers and in coming weeks I need to explore ideas and options to see what answers I can find.

We have a wonderful community surrounding Mums on the Go of which you are valuable member. How can you help?

Firstly, it would really support me to learn more about how you use Mums on the Go so that if I need to change the format of the website in order to continue I can ensure it changes in a way that most supports your needs. I have attached some survey questions below and I would really appreciate your response by Friday this week. Either as responses to this blog or emailed to me directly – linda@mumsonthego.com.au

Secondly, in the next 2 weeks I will be actively seeking some sponsorship for the website to provide some financial security for the running costs over the next 12 months. If you have any connections in companies that may be interested in supporting the site please let me know … women’s products, children’s products, banks, family products etc

Lastly, if you have any other inspiration for ways to support Mums on the Go moving forward I am open to all suggestions and offers … and loads or moral support won’t go astray!!

I will keep you posted in coming weeks of where this journey leads me and the decisions I make for myself and Mums on the Go ...

Linda x

SURVEY QUESTIONS
- What do you value most about Mums on the Go?
- How often do you use our Facebook page and what do you get from it?
- How often do you visit the website?
- What do you use the website for when you visit it?
- How often do you use the directory on the website?
- If I need to change the shape of Mums on the Go is there any aspect of it you would not want to see cut out?
- Is there anything I could add to mums on the Go to make it more useful/valuable for you?
- Do you tell other mums about Mums on the Go?
- Is there anything else you wish to share?
Goodbye from Calli by Mums on the Go
in Working Mums, The Mums on the Go Journey
10 Jan 2011 | 1 Comment

Have you ever had to make a decision that was right for yourself, but hurtful to those around you? I suppose a close example could be breaking up with someone you love, but are not 'in love with" anymore. You are still really fond of them, and care about them deeply, but the passion is gone.

That's happening to me right now.

When our eldest daughter was 5 months old, I sat down and imagined my "perfect" work/life balance. I wanted to start a business and work from home. So I embarked upon a journey that led me to meeting Linda and establishing Mums on the Go.

The problem is, I am living my "dream life" and finding that paradise isn't how I imagined it to be, and not very enjoyable.

I have discovered I don't like running my own business. I love the creative elements, but the day to day responsibilities of being a business owner have reached that "tipping point" where I don't want to do it anymore.

This is an awful realisation. I have established Mums on the Go in partnership with someone else. I am hurting them terribly, and that is really hard to come to terms with.

But as much as I want to continue being an owner of Mums on the Go because of a commitment I have made to Linda, the bottom line is that my heart isn't in it. So Linda and I have decided that I will be leaving Mums on the Go in the month or two. It has been a tremendously difficult decision to make, but i know it is the right one for me.

This isn't the "Last Goodbye", you will hear from me again as Linda and I work through all the transition details, but I certainly won't be a large presence from now on.

Linda will be posting a follow up blog in a day or two about where my decision leaves her and the viability of Mums on the Go....

Love Calli xxxx
The burnt chop syndrome by Mums on the Go
in Wellbeing for Mums, A Mum's View, The Mums on the Go Journey
12 Dec 2010 | 2 Comments

Tis the time of year for a bit of introspection....

Linda and I would like to thank you for being part of the Mums on the Go Community.

It has been a year of great change and challenge.

We've seen our idea become a reality, and although that reality has had its bumps along the way, what keeps us going is that we are trying to make a positive difference in Mums lives.

Our very strong belief is that us Mums neglect our needs needlessly. We matyr ourselves thinking we are doing our family a favour. But are we doing the right thing by them?

One of our resident Clinical Psychologists, Dr Cal Paterson wrote on his blog this week about the "burnt chop syndrome". Basically, the theory goes that Mum, after slaving over cooking the dinner passes out the best part of the dinner to Dad and the kids and leaves herself the burnt chop.

We do this because we think we should be putting ourselves last.

But have you ever stopped to think about what this is engendering in your kids? The impact this behaviour is having on them - seeing and being part of you putting yourself last?

It is the beginnings of guilt. They feel guilty about getting the good stuff while you have slaved over dinner and then give yourself the dregs.

The solution?

A roster system

So, next time you feel "guilty" about wanting to spend some time on yourself, think about how long it has been since it was 'your turn'. Your kids and husband will thank you.

This will be the penultimate blog of the year, I will take some much needed time out for a week or two over Christmas and New year and try to recharge the creative juices. After next week's final blog (19th Dec) I will break for 2 weeks and then post again on 9 January 2011.

Again thanks to all of you who read our blog and visit the website. It would be very lonely without you !!!!

Lots of love Calli and Linda xxxx
Kickstart Blog #7 by Mums on the Go
in The Mums on the Go Journey
14 Nov 2010 | 0 Comments

Each month here at Mums on the Go

we are presented with new dilemmas, new challenges and new opportunities.

Last month Linda blogged about our renewed focus on SEO, strategic alliances and

about her embarking on maternity leave.

One highlight was finally sending out a newsletter to all the businesses to raise our profile with them, and start a conversation that will hopefully lead to (some/most) upgrading their free basic listing to a paid premium listing.

This month, I’d like to talk about a month- long campaign that kind of just grew organically, but reaped rewards we weren’t expecting.

The “engine room” of Mums on the Go is our directory of child friendly businesses across sydney but the heart and soul of the site is firmly in the blog pages and the articles.

Article topics include everything from exercise and diet tips for losing pregnancy weight, to libido, career advice and relationships.

It started with something I was really interested in and wanted to learn more about. I visited the St John of God Hospital’s Mother and Baby Post Natal Depression unit. I filmed some video interviews and wrote a couple of articles. Then we were sent an article on Post Natal depression, and a book about PND that we could give away in our newsletter. We joined the dots and it seemed obvious...let’s make a month of it.

We were excited to bring something that would help break the silence and stigma associated with such an important issue, and that felt terrific.

What were weren’t expecting was the unprecendednted amount of participation on our facebook page, spike in our traffic numbers and gratitude from our community for making it a month-long event.

Why am I sharing this?

Because it has been a salutory reminder, yet again, that when you do something that comes from an authentic place, it will take on a life of its own.

Calli x
Being a Mum is a lot like being a Business Owner by Linda Anderson
in Motherhood, Working Mums, The Mums on the Go Journey
1 Nov 2010 | 2 Comments
As of today I am officially on maternity leave ... and yet here I am posting a blog!

So what does maternity leave actually mean to me as a business owner?
- It means that I have put in a lot of work completing major tasks and pre-preparing a lot of things for Mums on the Go so that if I give birth tomorrow I won't be leaving Calli in the lurch with extra responsibilities.
- It means I am stepping back from every day operational responsibilities for a while.
- It means that from today I need to consciously slow down the pace of my life a bit.
- As this business also feels like a baby to me I can't totally switch off ... I know there are LOTS of useful things I can be working on. So I will be spending a couple of hours every day working on more project related tasks that can be dropped in the blink of an eye if needed.
This had me thinking today that being a Mum is very much like being a business owner:
- as a Mum the concept of maternity leave is redundant ... my toddler doesn't care that I am really tired and would love to be taking a nap at lunchtime when she is refusing to have her sleep!
- Mums rarely get sick leave ... you have to be REALLY REALLY (almost dead) sick first - much like a business owner
- Public holidays don't mean a thing
- You never just operate 9-5
- you spend a lot of time negotiating
- and we are really passionate and proud of what we do!
So where are my musings leading me? Simply to say that as Mums we have a really important "job" which we can sometimes forget to value enough within ourselves. Take some time out today to acknowledge yourself being an amazing woman and an amazing Mum ... because when we are so busy "doing the job" we can lose sight of this.

Linda x
Kickstart Blog #6 by Mums on the Go
in The Mums on the Go Journey
12 Oct 2010 | 0 Comments

“Don’t underestimate how long it will take, and how much effort it takes, to create a viable online business”

These words of wisdom were given to us by other businesses that have gone before us as well as our wise Kickstart panel. I am really glad that so many people took the time to say this to us because I imagine we might feel disheartened by our journey otherwise. Instead we are able to accept that creating Mums on the Go to be the business we want it to be is a long journey but we know we will get there.

One aspect of our business that is moving more slowly than we first anticipated is our site traffic numbers. They are strong and steady each month but not growing. So what are we doing about this?

    * Revisiting our SEO plan – now that we are a little older and wiser we are able to rework our keywords, meta tags, and other site elements that improve SEO. A time consuming process but one we hope will begin to grow our traffic numbers
    * Fresh Content – we have always known content is a key factor to SEO. As time goes by we are learning to be more strategic in the content we add to the site and connecting it to existing content. As I am about to have a baby I have been doing a lot of work sourcing content to automatically roll out whilst I am on leave.
    * Embracing Strategic Alliances – we have been more active this month in fostering relationships with other websites/businesses who are connected to similar audiences to us. We have chosen to approach this with a generous spirit and trust that by openly supporting others it encourages them to support us to.

This month we have been able to improve our community’s ability to have “their say” on our site which has always been an important part of our plan. We have always felt it was essential that Mums could feel they had some ownership of content and that Calli and I were not the only voices.

    * Reviews & Ratings – this has been the most exciting development this month. People now have the ability to add a review and/or rating to any business listed in our directoryexternal link which means a greater sense of authenticity and transparency exists in terms of information on the site.
    * Article Comments – we have also added a comments feature to the end of all new articles on the site. Not as critical to us as the Reviews/Ratings feature but again another way to encourage contributions and discussions with our community.

Throughout the month of October we are hosting a feature on Post Natal Depression. All articles, blogs, external link newsletters and so forth will be focussed on PND. Our aim is to raise awareness, reduce the sense of stigma around this issue and open up conversation amongst our community. If you know any new or expectant Mums please encourage them to visit the site and get involved.

On a very personal note I am due to have a baby in the next 2 months. As my first child arrived in the world 6 weeks early this feel like very loose due date. Naturally this is a very exciting time for me and my family however it creates challenges for us at Mums on the Go. As a new business we are still in a very labour intensive phase of building the business. My need to take some leave when the baby is born prompts us to look closely at:

    * What are the most essential aspects of the business to focus on whilst I am out of action or limited in my capacity to contribute?
    * What expectations are fair to hold in the business at this time?
    * How do I balance my need to have time off with the commitment I feel to continuing to contribute to the business?
    * What can be pre-organised to run on auto-pilot during this time?
    * What other support resources are available to us during this time?

We have some really interesting and exciting times ahead…

Linda x
Kick Start Panel from Nett Magazine month 5 by Mums on the Go
in The Mums on the Go Journey
8 Sep 2010 | 0 Comments

It has been three months since we launched www.mumsonthego.com.au and we have achieved an enormous amount, but I still can't shake the feeling we're hardly progressing at all. As Linda and I are only working part time, we need to be realistic about what can be achieved, but the behind the scenes machinations of actually running the business seem to eat up a lot of our time!
Linda Blogged last month about the "nuts and bolts " of what we are doing - such as working away at adding listings to our directory.

This month I thought I'd share with you our experiences & the lessons we've learned with social media and PR.

During the initial kick start session, our panel spoke about the importance of Social Media - but they also warned that not all businesses get it right.We have blogged about how we used Facebook to connect with our community in finding a suitable name when we realised we couldn't trade mark Yummy Mummy Guide, which was a fabulous success for us.

Since then, we use our Facebook page to achieve 2 objectives.

1. Connect to our community in an informal way by starting conversations

2. Drive our community to our website by posting info about the latest articles, polls and blogs.

A single post can sometimes achieve both these objectives, but not all the time. We have found that the women in our community do want to chat about the small stuff more often than the big stuff (so asking questions about favourite holiday destinations are more likely to get a larger response than asking questions about how couples successfully divide parenting & housework responsibilities between them). So we actively try to provide a balance of both. * Another lesson I've learned through our Facebook page/ social media is around the issue of give-aways. I thought if the give-aways were attractive enough, they would drive our likers through the roof. .....They didn't!

Also, we didn't have very many people enter the competitions (The criteria was 'describe in 25 words or less'). So next time we will simplify the criteria,and do a random number rather than ask the community to write something.
* The give-aways were still valuable to us because it is a terrific feeling to be giving something tangible to your community, however, next time I won't look at it as something we will necessarily get much out of in terms of new likers or numbers of people who enter.
* The most successful way we have found new likers is from the reciprocal visiting and posting comments on other small businesses/like minded communities pages. It only takes a couple of minutes each day, but it is a good habit to post on others wall interesting.funny/observational things - the trick is to not do it in a sales-y way.

Publicity/ Public Relations:

I'm sure you're all aware that sending out a media release telling the world you exist isn't generally the most effective way of generating publicity. (That's why we have an advertising industry! ) The PR approach we've decided to take is to distribute media releases when we have something to say about an issue that is already generating coverage. I call it "re-ax" PR. (It is our reaction to the news angle/news item). They've been a few "mum" issues lately and so we decided to chance our arm and see how we went. The first PR we did was in relation to a newspaper opinion piece. Fill-in Sky TV news reader jacinta Tynan wrote about how easy Motherhood is, and how Gen X mums are complete whinging pains and should get over themselves. We wrote our own blog about it, arguing that it is wonderful she has found it easy, but many mums struggle, and her comments are insensitive to those women. We then posted a few sentences from the blog on other popular Mum blogs and websites who were also discussing the issue. This was very successful in doubling our visitor stats for the week.
The very next week another celebrity model Giselle Bunchen decided to tell the world that it is should be mandatory for all mothers to breastfeed. We coined a phrase in the jacinta Tynan piece - Mum-upmanship. So we build a media release around this term and the recent celebrity examples.

We sent it to talk back radio stations & morning TV shows. We were lucky enough to snag an interview on 702's James Valentine show. The day of the media release, our visitor stats doubled (meaning journalists visited our site which is terrific) and the following day the radio exposure was a thrill. But surprisingly, the Google analytic stats didn't spike the way I expected. However, I think that we can't under-estimate word of mouth from the interview, and this takes longer to see. In the coming month we will be putting more resources into our directory once again. We have been waiting for our web developer to bring on-line the ability for us to have star ratings & reviews/ comments to our directory listings. Yippee - can't wait!
Calli x
taking bold action by Mums on the Go
in The Mums on the Go Journey
19 Jul 2010 | 0 Comments

Last week was a pretty big week for Mums on the Go. Linda moved to Melbourne so I was flying solo in terms of active work for the Mums on the Go site. It was pretty daunting for me, probably because it was like a practice run for when Linda goes on maternity leave later in the year.

In the lead-up I was thinking I would take a conservative approach - plan to knock small things over so I could feel like the site was making progess. This is really important to me. I didnt realise how time consuming the actual machanics of running a business are. It feels like I dont get enough time to work on the content of the site, and I really fret about it. In particular, I worry about paucity of businesses in the directory in western Sydney, Hills District and South Sydney. (Please suggest a child friendly business if you know any!)

However reading the New York Magazine article last weekend had a profound impact upon me, So much so that I went out on a limb and took a risk. I spent an entire day writing last weeks blog - Parenting and Happiness - the Ultimate contradiction and then distributing it.

An entire day is an "outrageous" amount of time (to me) for writing & distributing a blog entry. Outrageous because we were also 50 % down on (wo)man hours, but outrageous because Linda had already written the blog entry for last week, so there was no real need for another. But the philosophy of Mums on the Go is to be a supportive resource for Mums.

But I felt like I had to break free of my "limiting beliefs" and take bold action.

In posting the blog I felt very nervous. Putting out such a deeply personal entry was nerve-wracking. But am I becoming more confident and stronger & importantly, more comfortable in my own skin.

But reading your very personal, thoughtful and insightfurl comments was, in all honesty, one of the highlights of my Mums on the Go journey so far. Thank you for sharing your private thoughts about your take on the the relationship between Parenting and Happiness. I was completely inspired by you.

I hope you all have a wonderful week - and perhaps take a risk and do something meaningful rather than results-driven. I'd love to hear from you if you take the plunge

Calli x
Kick Start Diary: Month 4 by Mums on the Go
in The Mums on the Go Journey
2 Jul 2010 | 0 Comments

Our next Kickstart Diary entry in now available via Nett Magazine. This is an interesting read for those of you who enjoy a glimpse into the world behind the business operations of Mums on the Go.

The original blog post reflecting on our first 3 months is posted on our site - this has links to some video footage too!

thanks for being part of this journey!

Linda & Calli xx
Oh Baby! by Linda Anderson
in Motherhood, Working Mums, The Mums on the Go Journey
1 Jun 2010 | 4 Comments

Mums on the Go is excited to share with you we have a baby on the way ... well, more precisely I have a baby on the way!

It seems only fitting that as this website expands and grows so will my family (and my belly!). That my personal need to find child-friendly business will increase ensuring I never lose focus on how to add more value to other mums using this site.

I also find myself asking the same questions working mums across the country ponder ... how will I blend my values and commitments as a mum with my values and commitments to my work? What choices do I have? What solutions exist to help me create the balance I want?

I feel excited by these choices, yet at the same time a level of internal conflict. I feel blessed to run a business that is so supportive of having children and being both a mum and a business woman ... and I feel blessed to have a business partner who supports this too. My internal conflict arises when I try to "how" I will have the best of both worlds ... how will I honour all my responsibilities in a way that feels good ... can I?

I know in coming months I will gain a lot of the clarity that is currently missing so I don't feel too concerned. Still wouldn't it be nice to have a magic wand?

I know I am not the first mum to feel like this and I won't be last! Do you have a story to share with me?

Can you relate to these feelings and how did you navigate this part of your journey?

Linda x
Directory Changes by Mums on the Go
in The Mums on the Go Journey
24 May 2010 | 2 Comments

When our first daughter was about a month old, I couldnt remember what life was like before being a parent, but at the same time I was still adjusting to all the new strange habits of my new life - the waking every three hours, the responsibilities to this gorgeous child, the inability to have a shower before midday....

Two weeks into life as a co-founder of Mums on the Go website, I feel really similar. I am completely consumed by our new "baby" I cant imagine life without "her" ("him" ??) , but I am simultaneously reeling from all the new skills I am having to acquire - sourcing and uploading content, marketing, budgets, strategic business plans - being responsible for keeping a business "alive".

After the initial jubilation and elation of the launch, the hard work has now really begun. This site is not going to become a community because we have built it. It is going to become a community because we will continue to listen to you and respond to your suggestions.

Already you may have noticed that we have re-arranged the directory box on the home page. We received feedback that the key word box was making searching more difficult, rather than easier. I must admit it was initially hard to hear that something we had laboured over for months already had problems! But this journey isn't about our egos, or just about the directory, or the articles for that matter. It is about building something that is living and breathing and capable of growing. And in order for the site to thrive, we need to know how to make it fit your needs better. So please, if you notice something on the site that you don't think works as well as it could, or is just plain annoying, please contact us and let us know. We truly want this to be somewhere you come that makes your life a little easier and pleasurable!

During the more "challenging" moments of the past two weeks I've been singing a song to myself. it soothes me and makes me feel more confident when I start catastrophising about how long my to-do list is and what will happen if I don't get through it all that day. It is by a female singer who was tragically killed in a car accident when she was in her 20s. Her name is Aaliyah, and the song is called Try again. The chorus goes "If at first you dont succeed, dust yourself off and try again, dust your self off and try again, try again. here is the You Tube clip of her video:

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It made me wonder what you do in these moments? Do you sing to yourself as well? Or do you have a mantra?

Or do you just reach for a chocolate bar, a bottle of wine...... or flog yourself at the gym?

I'd love to know and I'm sure everyone else who visits the site would too...you might inspire them!

Dont forget to drop us a line if you think of how we can make your visit here easier and more enjoyable.

Hope you all have a great week, thanks for reading and being part of our community

Calli x
Kickstart - the journey so far by Mums on the Go
in The Mums on the Go Journey
20 May 2010 | 0 Comments

At the beginning of this year we were invited to participate in a panel discussion for start up online businesses. This panel was set up by Nett Magazine and was called Kickstart.

Calli and I were able to articulate our 3 greatest business challenges at that point and have a panel of experts discuss these challenges with us. Needless to say it was an amazing experience for us!! Nett Magazine then printed an article about us and posted some video of the panel session online. To avoid any confusion please note that at this stage of our businesses development we were called "Yummy Mummy Guide" ... why did this change ... keep reading!

Nett Magazine invited us to submit a monthly blog to share our business journey. We love writing these blogs as they give us an opportunity to reflect on lessons learnt, choices we make and the journey we are on ... and what a journey it has been so far!

Would you like to learn more about how Mums on the Go came to fruition or learn a little more about Calli and I? I have attached the first 3 months of Kickstart blogs for you to browse. We will continue to share these monthly blogs with you as we write them.

Happy reading ... and no laughing at us on video ... well not too much anyway! Linda x

Kickstart - Month 1

Kickstart - Month 2

Kickstart - Month 3
Happy Snaps by Mums on the Go
in The Mums on the Go Journey
23 Dec 2009 | 0 Comments

Being Christmas Eve, I have been reflecting on my transformation. Once a Grinch, I now embrace Christmas as it gives me the opportunity to thank important people in my life, giving them a token of my friendship and appreciation. It strengthens the connection between us, because we take the time out to say 'you are important to me'.

Connections can be made in all kinds of ways, and some of the best are the unexpected ones.

Linda and I have made a new and unexpected connection. Her name is Joey, and she is our very special Yummy Mummy Photographer. Joey read about us in the paper and loved the idea of a Yummy Mummy Guide. She contacted us asking if we needed a photographer - and offered her services. She is a very talented, warm, and sincere person. We are very fortunate to have made a connection with her. You can see her funky, quirky and creative snaps here: www.josephineki.com.au

Thank you Joey for seeking us out. We look forward to combining our
creative endeavours!

And an enormous Thank You to all of you who read these blogs, and are following our journey. Whatever your religious, philosophical or festive beliefs are, I hope you enjoy the best parts of what this silly season offers !
Prototype round 2 by Mums on the Go
in The Mums on the Go Journey
19 Dec 2009 | 0 Comments

So there we were. Feeling very daggy in Sydney's hip Surry Hills. Even the males walking the street were uber- trendy. Garnished with hats, sporting this week's favoured length shorts (neither long nor short) and perfectly tussled hair. I guess the up-side is that my daughter's bloke's wont be giving them a hard time for taking too long to get ready - the new frontier will be time-sharing the bathroom mirror....and mascara and eye liner (if those boys were an accurate indication)......

I digress.

Since we last gave you an update, we have been working furiously. The lion-tamer built a prototype of the Yummy Mummy Guide website. We've been reviewing it and ensuring it has all the functions that we want. They include our core reason for being - a directory of child friendly businesses, but also lots of scope for us to provide diverse content. As the site hasn't started yet, it is difficult to predict exactly what our community will want from us, but we are building a site that will be easily adaptable. The other irony is that Linda and i are not exactly the most tech-savvy people. The concept was originally for a book. Then Linda realised it made more sense for it to be a website. So we kinda stumbled our way into cyber space. It sometimes feels to me like illiterate people opening a bookshop....

Jokes aside, we may not be very certain about how the technology around our concept works, but we are very sincere about making a positive impact on a mum's life. That's why we want to have lots of other interesting content on the site. Being a mum can sometimes be isolating and, dare I say it, mundane at times. And it is very easy to subsume your identity into motherhood.

That's why we are not a parenting website. We are a website for women who are mothers. The focus is on your needs, and giving you the ability to incorporate your children into fulfilling your personal desires. Not having to choose between the two.

So what are your needs as women? Apart from the directory of child- friendly businesses, we are trying to cover areas including: Fitness - giving you simple exercises you can do at home while playing with your baby/toddler; Tips on how to dress for a post- baby body; the joy of having a hobby; career advice; mental health support; sex and libido issues; and providing a space for you to raise topics and provide your point of view. If I have left anything out - please let me know by commenting on this blog. The website, after all, is for you, so tell us what you want!

The lion-tamer also advised us on the importance of images on the website. So the hunt for an appropriate photographer is on. We have a couple of options, and we are currently negotiating. I look forward to unveiling our Yummy Mummy Guide photographer in the new post. Love Calli x
The Journey by Mums on the Go
in The Mums on the Go Journey
12 Nov 2009 | 0 Comments

Why do Australians love underdogs so much? Our subversive nature, and distrust of authority is the easiest explanation. But I think it is more than that. I believe it is also about empathy and understanding. And knowing. Being part of the journey. The converse is also true. When close friends or family are so private that they dont share their goals - like trying to fall pregnant, or when they are suffering through a tragic miscarriage. They close themselves off to others around them sharing how elated beyond the norm they are when they eventually do have a successful pregnancy. They feel hurt because they expected more from those around them. But they haven't shared, so they cant expect to have it both ways. If one isnt privy to the journey, then they are not invested in the outcome. That's why we are blogging from the ground up with the Yummy Mummy Guide. Our dream is for this to become a community where every mother who visits us feels like she has some ownership and vested interest in the site. And for that to happen, we need to be open and honest from the start. But it is bloody hard! I'm not accustomed to this whole world of expressing my innermost thoughts. What happens if someone challenges us? What happens if we offend lots of people? what happens if people are "just not that into us?" I suppose we'll find out. By then I will hopefully be more accustomed to expressing myself through blogs! regards, Calli x
1st meeting with Web designer by Mums on the Go
in The Mums on the Go Journey
10 Nov 2009 | 0 Comments

Until now, in my mind, I kept referring to the Yummy Mummy Guide as a project. I suppose it was to protect myself from negative thoughts - if it isn't real, then it can't be a failure. But after meeting with our web designer, lets call him 'The Lion Tamer", Linda and I emerged with the task of deciding what the content of all the pages would be. There is no way now I can call this a "project." Especially when we got home to see an important email from the web design company. The first of our 3 payments was due at the end of the week. Gulp.
The Birth or was it The Conception? Anyway, it feels miraculous by Mums on the Go
in The Mums on the Go Journey
8 Nov 2009 | 0 Comments

Hello, and welcome to our journey! We are two Sydney- based women who, after having our first-borns, realised there were aspects of our old life we didn't want to forgo. We independently started to compile lists of businesses such as hairdressers, dentists, beauticians and physiotherapists that would see us with our children in tow - meaning these little "indulgences" didn't encroach on our precious family weekend time, or worse, forgo it completely as we didn't have ready access to baby-sitting. Calli's family live a couple of hours out of Sydney, and Linda's well, they dont even reside in the same state....and her in-laws aren't even in the same country!

During one of our initial conversations after meeting each other, we were swapping information about businesses that we had either been to, or had heard of, that were "child friendly". We lamented that this information was only available via word-of-mouth and wasn't it a shame there wasn't a dedicated website or book. We looked at each other. "Perhaps we should do it?"

So after many months of deliberating exactly the best way to benefit Sydney's Yummy Mummies, we are now in the process of building a website.

Our dream is for the Yummy Mummy Guide to be a community - not just a directory listing of businesses that are Mummy-and-child friendly. We are working on having areas of the website that cover all aspects of a Yummy Mummy's life, and for the site to be a place that values our community's input, and actively seeks your ideas and opinions.

Thanks for taking the first step of this Journey with us

Calli and Linda x

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