I saw We need to talk about Kevin at
the cinema with Bern last night - thanks to Mamamia. It's based on the book by Lionel
Shriver, starring Tilda Swinton. Such a brilliantly shot film, such
an important story. It's a story about hatred and love and blame and warning signs and
evil. And a mother's struggle to grapple with the tragedy, grief and blame her
son has caused.
In the before, she lived a life with
colour. A life of could have been travels, dreams and trying. So much
trying, and compromise, with Kevin especially. But colour.
In the after, her world was stripped of
colour. Except the paint of blame she scrubbed
off the walls, the porch, her car, her hands. The blood red paint. Always a reminder. The biggest could have been.
The film was thought provoking and
confronting. You never know the burden someone carries.
I wondered what it'd be like to carry
her burden. So damn hard. She'd be grieving for the community while
they'd be blaming her. Every moment she'd be worrying what someone
would think of her. Carrying the burden having lost everything. Who would grieve for and with her? How could she start over?
It's an example of nature versus
nurture.
Sometimes you can't shape someone, no
matter how hard you try.
Sometimes you've got to trust your gut
instinct.
Sometimes people are pure evil, born
that way, without explanation.
The Aussie Bloggers Conference. Wow. So many attendees have already written about their experiences. I was going to write an epic post earlier, but unfortunately I've been so tired this week, and fell sick. So you can read the epic posts and elaborations of the speaking panels in the link I've provided above.
Words alone can't express how excited and passionate (and thankful) the conference made me feel. I loved it. So. Very. Much.
(Disclaimer: I met so many wonderful bloggers that I can't recall who was who, and so I apologise if I leave you out of this post. But please leave a comment and say hi so I can find you. I also plan to email those whose business cards I have.)
The conference was held on Saturday 19 March in Sydney. Around 170 bloggers, advertisers and media reps attended. I wish it was over two days because I wanted more discussions about blogging, and more time to get to meet and know people.
To be honest, I was worried about going - worried there'd be cliques. I talk to everyone, but in the back of my mind I feared it'd be like highschool. I don't have a blogging circle, and I didn't 'know' more than about five bloggers attending the conference. But I am relieved to say that the conference was filled with nice, kind hearted, inclusive and caring people. If you want your confidence to be boosted, I recommend attending a blogging conference.
The conference featured a number of discussion panels covering blog content, social networking and building communities. I got some useful messages from these discussion panels, a lot of things I do already:
Good content is key - we can pretty up our blogs a lot, but readers come back for the content.
Twitter is best the marketing tool to use - and not just to promote your blogs. Interact with your followers, engage in conversation, and this will help draw people to your blogs.
Be careful online. Don't post pictures of children. Don't tell other peoples' stories.
Be authentic with your writing voice. Be honest. Don't advertise products that don't fit with your blog or beliefs (and say nice things about your sponsors all the time - they may just be sitting on your table - hi David from Nuffnang!)
Blogging creates wonderful communities and friendships. It's a little like online activism.
There was a lot of tweeting through the conference. To some (me included) this may have been considered as rude, but it was also a good way to get instant messages from the conference recorded and out there. I did partake in tweeting, especially about the attractiveness of a certain male panelist.
I didn't get as much out of the panels as I got out of the personal story readings. I think if the next event is over two days, it'd be good to have some more practical workshops - how to promote blogs, how to write a certain style etc.
The personal stories blew me away. I was asked to speak in the My Blog My Story feature.
Their stories were very moving. Everyone who spoke showed strength through adversity. They've experienced hard times. Kim and Karen have posted their stories on their blogs so you can read them for yourselves.
My speech was about the way my blog has afforded me so many opportunities. I did it off the cuff, but read out two blog posts: When my face is this sore I find it hard to look in the mirror, and the DiVine version of In control telling my story. The off the cuff bits covered what I do in my life, what my illness is, what support my blog has brought, how I have helped others, my achievements since blogging, and giving out my room number to any men in the room. And I spat my lolly out on stage! Keeping it real!
Thanks to Kim from All Consuming for recording this, sorry for the sound. You will need the volume up high.
I received so much good feedback. Four big claps, lots of laughs, some tears, and so many people came up to me to thank me for my speech. It was a honour. I felt very loved.
When I returned to my table, I received so many tweets of wonder. Wow. Seriously, wow. Thank you. This bit will be rather self indulgent. But I want to record it for prosperity. And it makes me feel so proud and accepting and loved. Awwww :)
So much honesty, raw detail, confronting topics, interesting stories and humour in the My Blog My Story and Crowdsourced Keynote features. It's this sharing of life experience which resonates with me and makes me want to blog and read blogs.
I met some wonderful new friends. And found wonderful new blogs.
I got to know all the speakers in My Blog My Story who sat at my table, plus Veronica Foale from Sleepless Nights. And I chatted with Veronica and Kim Foale, plus Magneto Bold Too at the airport on Sunday.
Meeting Bern was a blog idol moment. I was seriously excited.
I also met Rick Morton, blogger and Mama Mia staffer, who I tweeted across the room for his attention.
I enjoyed speaking with Del from Relish, My Relish - looking forward to catching up in our 'hood, and Eden and Beth from Baby Mac during the breaks. I met a really nice Queensland journalist at lunch too - but I can't recall her name, sorry - I hope she reads this and reminds me. Edit - she commented, and revealed herself as Belinda from Save Mum Sanity.
And I was so lucky to win some Moet and Chandon.
After the conference was the ball. Hello princess skirt, sparkly shoes and unlimited champagne!!!!
Dinner was good. Caesar salad, fish and risotto, and strudel.
The ball allowed me to meet lots more people.
I met Corinne and Ann Paterson - lovely ladies. Corrinne kept me entertained with her tweets during the conference.
One of my favourite people I met at the conference was Michelle from Farmer's Wifey. She was so nice, funny, and immediately made me feel welcome. And I loved her dress.
Bern took these. I was a bit tipsy.
And this is me, a bit star struck again with Bern.
I spoke for ages with Suzanne from Aussie Writers - she was great to talk to and we have a few things in common.
I danced - no photos of me here but you can see dancing pics on my blog's Facebook. I swished my skirt like it was nobody's business. Particularly during Khe Sanh (and my plane buddy Magneto Bold Too was not impressed with my love for bogan rock!)
I have found some blogs that I really enjoy and want to share with you.
Yes and Yes. It's an American blog with really interesting interviews, personal stories, advice and style. Yes and Yes covers some serious life and world issues, as well as some lighthearted ones. I once read a story about a girl who was raised by parents who grew and sold marijuana. Yes and Yes is like This American Life in print form.
I have already mentioned this one a few months back - Raising Ruby It's the journey of a labrador puppy in training to be a service dog for a person with special needs. A cute, cheeky and smart labrador with fabulous owners doing good in the community, what more could you want? Raising Ruby has been nominated as a finalist for the Petties pet blog awards - you can vote for the blog here (choose 'servicepuppyruby')
And Pluck Your Strings. It's a music blog written by Lachy, a Melbourne based journalism student. It features reviews of CDs and concerts, and particularly focuses on Australian indie music. And Pluck Your Strings has opened my ears up to music I'd wish I'd been listening to sooner. The Middle East, Cloud Control, Jinja Safari...to name a few.
Kendi Everyday. A fashion blog. It's not your average fashion blog (the kind I dislike - showing off excess wealth, picture after picture of amateur models or pictures pilfered from pages of Vogue magazine - I prefer fashion blogs with more substance). Kendi Everyday is just a pretty girl wearing attainable and practical outfits, and every so often she does a 30 for 30 remix challenge which gives new life to an existing wardrobe. Not only does Kendi dress fabulously, she can write! And with humour.
So Now What. Bern Morley is a hilarious 'mummy blogger'. I don't read many 'mummy blogger' blogs - most just aren't in my demographic. But Bern writes with such honesty, humour and humility - not just on the topics of parenting, but work, family and some hearbreaking things like death - and I can identify with her writing so much. She also shares a love of Callan Mulvey with me. Bern has also been nominated for a blogging award by Kidspot, and if she wins she will get a well deserved holiday. You can vote for Bern here.
Enjoying the Small Things. Another 'mummy blogger', this time based in America. I was drawn to this blog because Kelle Hampton has shared an amazing story about the day her baby girl Nella was born in January 2010 - Nella was born with Down's Syndrome. Kelle is a brilliant writer photographer, documenting the growth and fun times of her two gorgeous little girls - Nella and Lainey (age three). Kelle's blog is so heartwarming - she expresses such love and emotion through her blog.
Hedonistic Hostess. This blog belongs to Marion Grasby from Masterchef. All entries but one to date are before she became Australia's favourite Masterchef contestant. I admire that she's studied a Masters in Gastronomy!
I hope that you check out some of the blogs I mentioned, and love them as much as I do.
So there is a little initiative today called bloggers without makeup. Jodie Ansted from Mummy Mayhem had the idea for this initiative, and it's really taken off.
Jodie said 'It feels right to do this, and I'm so glad there are so many who want to get involved. What a great example we will be to our kids, and also to young girls who think they have to look like a magazine cover all the time. (You DON'T ladies! You are gorgeous as you are!)'.
Some of my blogging friends (that's you Bern, Caf and Taryn) have posted photos of themselves without makeup and why they believe in the cause. Aren't they beautiful?!
Right now I am blogging without makeup. I always do ;)
I can't wear much makeup. I have some bronzer, but when my skin gets dry, the bronzer makes it look like a crocodile skin handbag. A cheap crocodile skin handbag because once my skin starts peeling, bronzed skin flakes off.
I sometimes wear nailpolish. I hate taking the stuff off. And about once a year I will wear lipstick.
As for makeup on others - yeah, when it's minimal it can look nice, but my belief is to be yourself. Why hide your inner and outer beauty with makeup so thick you need a trowel to apply and remove it?
I like to look good - I take pride in what I wear, but I despise vanity. I believe it's time consuming, annoying and shallow.
It agitates me to see girls fixing their makeup in public, worried that a stray hair or smudged eyeliner may ruin their day. Get some perspective. Why should women feel pressured to wear makeup to change the way they look? When did we forget about inner beauty? Natural beauty?
I hear some of you wonder what the point of me taking part in this initiative seeing I can't wear makeup.
Well! Today I am sharing one of my favourite photos of myself with you. I love the closeup shot, the way the black and white takes the severity of my skin away, and the way my smile lights up. It was taken by my lovely friend Jo Ginn.
My wish is for everyone to love the skin you're in. If I can do it, you can too :)
