When Bloggers Meet

Yesterday was the inaugural Redland Bloggers Meetup, and what a grand day it was.

I have a tradition of making things happen, if what I want doesn’t already exist. Take the magazine, Footprints (I’ve kept the Facebook page and still occasionally post there!), that I ran for 15 years. When I couldn’t find the magazine for Aussie Christian women that *I* wanted to read – I started my own!

And so it was that after blogging here at Redland City Living for nearly six months, I was dying to meet some of my new bloggy friends IRL (In Real Life). I didn’t want to wait til the Problogger Conference, happening in September on the Gold Coast – so I set about organising my own little bloggy meetup.

I knew of maybe four or five local bloggers and promptly put the call out … thinking that a small gathering would be fine, better than nothing, you know?

Instead, I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and the number of people who wanted to come along! We even had guests travel from as far afield as the Gold AND Sunshine Coasts; I was so humbled.

Luckily I warned the staff at the cafe beforehand, because I knew there would be:

1. Plenty of talk and chronic over-sharing;
2. Raucous laughter – and lots of it; and
3. Photos being taken and then promptly shared on social media via our phones!

Hosting the Redland Bloggers Meetup was so easy – all I had to do was book the venue. Bloggers are a delightful bunch like that, get them together and no ice-breaker or specially planned activities are needed. 😉

Conversations varied from careers to housework (what were we thinking!), in-laws, fashion and caring for children with special needs.

Of course it was a fantastic opportunity to talk all things blogging –  the stories that we CAN’T tell online, what our partners, families and friends think about our blogging (that’s if they even know about it!), how to monetise our blogs, time management, which linkies to join, stats, social media, and websites and blogs worth checking out.

I would like to thank each of the following for their part in making the event such an outstanding success:

1. Min from Mins Mash;
2. Lisa from Random Acts of Zen;
3. Sarah from Slapdash Mama;
4. Kirsten from Kirsten & Co;
5. Anne from Domesblissity;
6. Cheryl from Bayside Kids;
7. Kerry from Five Days in Paris;
8. Judy from Australian Inspirational Women;
9. Emily from Have a Laugh On Me;
10. Amanda from A Cooker and a Looker; and
11. Carly from the upcoming Redland City news magazine (watch for the launch issue next month!)

Now, I know you’re all dying to know the answer to that most important of questions: what did I wear? (After all, I *am* a middle aged fashion guru!)

I had a couple of outfits planned, based around jeans or leggings. Then the weather threw a spanner in the works by being unseasonably warm! I still went with my new favourite jeans, but added a light t-shirt with sequins and my red flats for a pop of colour. I wish I had a fun red necklace to complete the look but alas I don’t (yet!).

It was such a great time, we will DEFINITELY have to do it again – and next time we might make it an evening affair, so that some of the people who couldn’t make it today can come join the fun!

Have you been to a Bloggers Meetup? Wishing there was one in your area? I hope I’ve inspired you to hold your own!

It’s Thursday, so I’m joining in with:

• Thankful Thursday with Francesca Writes Here
• Thriving on Thursday with Domesblissity
• Talk to Us Thursday with Blogs and PR

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