Blogger Behind The Blog {Real Mum Reviews}

Here’s this week’s instalment of Blogger Behind the Blog where I interview a blogger all about their reasons for blogging and what it means to them. This week I’m joined by Lucy from Real Mum Reviews.

Here’s Lucy sharing more about her blog:

Where did your blog name come from?

When I started maternity leave with my first child, I found the wealth of products and services available for mums, parents and babies a bit of a minefield, and the different opinions on the right and wrong way of doing things was a tad stressful! I found that I was most comfortable with recommendations from my friends and family, and people I could trust, so decided to start a blog where a real mum (aka me!) shared her experiences and opinions, warts and all. Hence, Real Mum Reviews was born.

When did you start your blog and why?

I am not the kind of person that can sit still, and have always led a very academic life, having gone to university and completed a masters. As such, I found the first few months of maternity leave quite hard, in that I didn’t have anything for me, and my whole life seemed to resolve around babies! 🙂 I set up the blog to keep my mind active, and thought I could teach myself some new skills in the process. I am really proud of how much I have learnt! I am not technical but am able to do some basic CSS and HTML coding, and edit my theme by myself, as well as having learnt a significant amount about social media and promotion.

What did you do before you blogged?

I worked (and still work part time) in Human Resources. I love my job. I get to work with some great colleagues and help young people into the world of work – including apprentices, undergraduates and graduates. I am responsible for a graduate development programme at my current employer, and I get real pride from seeing a graduate develop their career over the 2 year programme. It’s my other baby! 🙂

What was your first post?

From memory (as a lot of my first posts got lost when my original web host went awol), one of my first posts was reviewing some of the products I already owned, including Infacol – which was a life saver when my daughter was very little. I also shared a post about breast feeding friendly locations in my local area.

What inspires you to blog?

I just really enjoy it. Sounds like a cliché I know, but I find it a form of escapism and enjoy writing down my feelings. I have also made some great friends and contacts through both the blogging community and also my social media followers. You certainly never feel alone! 🙂

What post has had the best response, which post are you most proud of and which post did you enjoy writing the most?

The posts of mine that tend to have the best response are those that other mums can relate to – I recently shared some posts regarding my miscarriage, and the day that my daughter made me cry – both of which got a wealth of support and helpful comments from my followers.

The posts I am most proud of are the ones that make people laugh – most recently these have included the Threenager post and one about a Mum’s Character reference. I enjoy writing all of them to be honest, but ones that come from the heart are usually my favourites.

Have any of your posts not had the response that you expected?

I’m always surprised at how much interest there is in relatively ‘normal’ posts, like my pregnancy updates, but I guess people like to read what others are going through at similar stages of their pregnancy.

Where do you see your blog in a year’s time?

I really want to grow my blog over the next 12 months, particularly as I am on maternity leave now and expecting my 2nd child any day now! I would love to host more features, linkies and work with other bloggers more, as well as attend more events and work more closely with brands.

What is your favourite thing about blogging? 

I love going to new product launches and hearing about new products hitting the market. I always feel that my friends ask me about recommendations as they know I understand the market well, and it’s nice to feel useful! 🙂 I love working with brands and getting the opportunity to road test products that other parents may want to consider for their children.

…and your least favourite?

Sometimes you get writers block, or lose a bit of motivation to write. I also don’t like it when people write hurtful comments or troll on bloggers’ pages. Thankfully that hasn’t happened to me (yet!) although it is something I particularly fear.

What’s the best blog post you have ever read? 

This is a really hard question as there are so so many. I read a LOT of blogs, and to make one stand out is really hard. What I love about blogging is that there can be such variety on such similar topics!

What blog do you love to read and why?

I love reading about Brummy Mummy of 2 – she’s a local mum blogger who loves to keep it real.

Do you do anything differently now to when you started blogging?

I put less pressure on myself, and concentrate more on the writing than I do on the stats. its very easy to get caught up and obsessed with the data side of blogging, and that can detract from the enjoyment!

Is blogging what you expected it to be?

More than I expected it to be, I expected it to be a little hobby, but it has become a bit of a way of life! 🙂

What’s been your favourite blog collaboration to date?

I have loved working with the Gro Company, as have enjoyed every single one of their products, particularly their Gro to Bed set which has officially changed bed time routine for good!

Are there any brands you would love to work with, why? 

I would love to be a brand ambassador and work with a brand on a long term basis. Some of my dream brand link ups would include Stokke, Snuz Pod and Bloom, because I quite simply love their products and how modern and stylish they look in the home. With my second daughter’s imminent arrival, I also feel it would be a great time for me to get involved! 🙂

Have you had any blogging fails so far?

I am sure I have had many, although wouldn’t have always known them at the time! 🙂

What is your biggest blogging hope, dream or ambition?

To become a recognised Birmingham based parenting blogger that people specifically recommend to their friends! 🙂 – I’d also love to feature on Huffington Post! 🙂

What do you do when you’re not blogging?

I have a three year old daughter, so we spend a lot of time playing together, particularly doing craft which she absolutely loves. The last few months of pregnancy have been hard, so I have also spent a lot of time sleeping!! 🙂

and lastly, tell us all a random fact about yourself

I have a sick phobia, not ideal with a toddler and a baby on the way. I’ve had it since I was about 14, and it can be so bad at times that I can’t even watch a film if it has sick in it (I have been known to leave a cinema!!) – its got much better since having children (as it kind of had to!) but I am hopeless when my daughter is ill. Thank god I have a supportive partner and a strong stomach!!

Now that you know all about Lucy from Real Mum Reviews, make sure you go and read her blog. You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram – thanks so much Lucy for being involved!