My 2012

Well 2012 has been a busy year, I left my job in an Investment Bank on the turn of the new year and started my own business as a Childminder.  My blog really took off and I have had some truly amazing opportunities that have come with it and made some real life friends from it too.

It hasn’t all been a bed of roses – we struggled on one wage until my job took off and then hubby was made redundant at the end of October, but we got through it and are coming out the other side.

So, here are my blogging highlights of 2012:

January

Bloggers were challenged to write their birth stories as part of the launch of the new One Born Every Minute program.  It certainly made me dust off the conwebs in my brain and I wrote two posts, Am I a rulebreaker and Pain Relief.  I also took part in my very first linky – Family Frolics on MultipleMummy’s blog.

February

I launched my first ever competition on my blog – a family ticket to Paulton’s Park & Peppa Pig World, and that was it – I was hooked on running competitions and I adore announcing prize winners and making someones day!!  It was also the time I wrote about my breastfeeding journey and tips that helped me through the dark early days!

March

I got to interview the legend that is Justin Fletcher on the phone.  Never have I been so nervous and excited all at once, and terrifyingly I was up straight after Richard Bacon on Radio 5 live, which I stupidly watched online.  However, Justin was delightful to talk to and I even got a message on twitter from @sidsloane (CBeebies Sid) to say how good my interview was and how well I captured the real Justin!  March also saw me invited to the new Warner Brothers Studio Tour London – Making of Harry Potter preview.  It was amazing and still is one of the highlights of my year – we cannot wait to go back!

April

This month I was lucky enough to win a Merlin Annual Pass with Brit Mums and my Joy of Swimming post, which really did help keep the kids entertained this year.  I also did some great work with some other bloggers on our #mummybudget theme, about saving money and free activities for the kids.
I also started my Days Out Page, reviewing local and not so local days out, including Crabbing at Mudeford Quay, which has really helped out both local and holidaying folks alike.

May

I attended my first ever Blogging conference – Cybher and met some of the lovely ladies that I chatted to regularly on twitter, including the lovely Charlie –  @themummyblogger, Sonia – @Mummy_loves, Dawn – @dawnie_brown, my namesake Kara @innocentcharmer, Maria – @feistytapas, Laura – @TiredmummyofTwo and Kerry – @MultipleMummy plus many many more!  I had a really fantastic time and cannot wait to do it all over again this year!.

June

June was a very busy month, as two of my children and I have birthdays.  We started the month at the Sainsbury’s Jubilee Festival and a very damp and dreary Howletts Zoo.  I was lucky enough to win a British Gas Diving competition on twitter and hubby and Kian got to see the British Gas Diving Championships which were the qualifications for the London Olympics.  My birthday day out was taking the kids to see In the Night Garden Live which they thoroughly enjoyed!

July

Olympic fever was starting to hit, and we saw the arrival of the Olympic Torch relay locally.  We enjoyed trips to Legoland, Weymouth Sealife Centre and the new Weymouth Sealife Tower as well as some local fun at Mudeford Lifeboat funday and Swanage Carnival.

August

We attended the Tots100 Summer party in Brighton, which wasn’t the networking event I had hoped for, but we all had a fantastic time at Zippo’s circus and then came LolliBop – I don’t think the kids have had this mich fun – ever.  We loved it, met some fabulous bloggers and even one or two famous faces, including Isaac’s favourite:

Isaac with CBeebies Alex

September

I waved my boys off to go and watch the Wheelchair Basketball Finals at the Paralympics.  Having missed out on getting tickets for the Olympics, I was ecstatic when my friend offered us two tickets, so snapped them up fast.  Sadly I missed out but they still talk about that day now!  It was also the month that Isaac started school – finally!

October

October wasn’t a good month.  My 37 year old sister suddenly passed away and hubby was told he was to be made redundant and had to go through a stressful consultation period with the company he worked for.  There was some light relief at the end of the month with Wimborne Food Festival and Isaac singing and dancing with the Rhyme Rockets.

November

With the exception of my sisters funeral, November was a better month.  Hubby found a new job and we got to visit Marwell Wildlife twice.  Once to review as part of Britains Best Day Out and Money Supermarket and then again to visit Father Christmas which has since been voted the best in the South West!  I also was honoured to take part in Healing for Kerry – a blog hop / prayer to send positive vibes to Kerry (MultipleMummy) who was still very poorly after a brain aneurysm.

December

A very busy month indeed, with Christmas, sponsored posts, seasonal bugs and lots of school events to attend.  I was devastated to learn that Kerry lost her fight and passed away on 14th December, so my final link of the year is to her Just Giving page – Love-Kerry which is raising money for Addenbrookes Charitable Trust (ACT) who were key in giving her the best care possible!

I leave you with a little dance from Isaac and Master Moves Mickey – this post has to be ended with a smile!