threelilprincesses.com

Category: Blogging and Media

  • Spirit of Tasmania versus flying: Which do you prefer?

    Spirit of Tasmania versus flying: Which do you prefer?

    Sponsored Post

    spirit of tasmania
    Right now, as I write this, I’m looking out the window at the Spirit of Tasmania sitting out on the Mersey River. It’s such an awesome sight on a still night.

    It’s one of the reasons we first bought his house. You never tire of watching the Spirit sailing in and out of the mouth of the Mersey.

    I’m going to be honest and say it’s been a while since we last sailed on the Spirit. Pre kids actually. I remember doing a day sailing over and getting to explore the ship, while on the way back we opted for a night trip with a cabin.

    A few years back, just before one of our previous trips to Melbourne, Julian was talking to Ella’s child carer. Ella repeated her usual “yes, we’re going to Melbourne to see Uncle Rick, aren’t we Dad?’’.

    “We hear so much about Uncle Rick. Apparently he has a really big boat?’’ the child carer said.

    Julian then had to explain that the “big boat’’ is actually the Spirit. The child carer had more than a little chuckle at that.

    Due to the boat being so visible, there’s been repeated requests we go to Melbourne on “Uncle Rick’s big boat’’ since instead of the plane.

    Watching this video I’m questioning why on earth we don’t go on the Spirit more often. Especially with trying to organise kids. I know they would think it was such an adventure.

    Tell me: do you prefer to fly or sail?

    DISCLAIMER: I was paid to write this post. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

  • While we’re away…

    While we’re away…

    Build A Blog That Matters

    As many of you know, we’re taking a six-month break from this blog due to the sheer volume of work that has resulted from our business blog, Kellie O’Brien Media.

    While we’re away, I thought you might be interested in learning how to start your own blog.

    Blogging can take as much or as little time as you want it to. Ultimately though, it can open some amazing doors for you. It has for me.

    Learn how to make money from blogging with our free course coming soon.

    If you’re a business or PR, please note we won’t be responding to your blogger outreach emails. There’s just too many to filter through on a daily basis. We hope you understand.

  • Aussie Giveaway Linkup #117: Surviving the Gold Coast and #PBEvent

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup #117: Surviving the Gold Coast and #PBEvent

    PBQLD1

    We’re on the last days of our 10-day holiday in Queensland. It’s been amazing and, like any holiday, I just don’t want it to end. Especially the tanned legs. I hear it’s been snowing in Tasmania. Just the thought of that turns my legs pale again.

    The holiday idea all stemmed from the fact I wanted to get out of my zone and attend Problogger Training (a conference about blogging and “all that new age stuff”, as the taxi driver put it yesterday). The two-day conference finished yesterday, so now I’m itching to get home and start working on this blog and the Kellie O’Brien Media  blog. My head is exploding with ideas. This blog has been a bit lost this year and needs some direction.

    If you’re a blogger, business owner or author and want to hear about the highlights from #PBEvent, you can follow my Kellie O’Brien Media site over the next week or two. I have so much to share!

    Otherwise stay tuned here for some stories about what we Taswegians got up to in Queensland. Expect giggles!

    In the meantime, here is this week’s Aussie Giveaway Linkup!

    Aussie Giveaway Linkup instructions:

    If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:

    1. Only link directly to the giveaway post/s and include the prize and end date in the linky tool below. Link each giveaway separately. If you need to delete it, hover over your link, wait until the red “x’’ appears and click.
    2. Giveaways must be open to Australian residents and be run by Australian-based bloggers or businesses.
    3. Grab the button below to add to your post.
    4. A new list is added each Sunday so bloggers need to add their links weekly.
    5. Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.

     

    Aussie Giveaway Linky
    Hosted by Three Lil Princesses



  • #MumBlog: Join the free Mum Blogging MasterClass

    Join us as Three Li’l Princesses, the University of Tasmania Cradle Coast Campus and ConnectPink host the Mum Blogging Masterclass on Monday from 2-4.30pm. It’s a chance for those of you who want to learn about how to start a blog and connect on social media to gain some tools to get you started. In the second session, there’ll also be service providers on hand to discuss how, once you’re online, you can connect with relevant services.

    Simply click on the link below at 2pm on Monday and join the conversation (we welcome any questions you have from home). Feel free to come and go as you please. We’re all mums, so we understand that children come first.

    If you have an iPhone you can also download a free app to use with the blog at the iPhone app store or on www.coveritlive.com

    If you would like to learn more about blogging after the session, be sure to follow the blogging series happening on Mum PR at the moment.

  • What Dolly Parton taught me about blogging

    What Dolly Parton taught me about blogging

    At 7.20am I’m speaking about the Mum Blogging Masterclass on ABC Radio, so I thought it fitting I have a post on blogging today. I wanted it to be of mammoth proportions and, really, how could you go past blogging lessons from the Queen of Country, busty blonde Dolly Parton.

    Not that Dolly is a blogger. I know. I Googled. She does have a community blog, but I didn’t learn anything other than what it takes to create a good Dolly Parton collection. Frightening stuff.

    Dolly Parton

    What Miss Parton has taught me is this lesson:

    “Make ‘em laugh, make ‘em cry, scare the hell out of ‘em and then go home’’.   Click to tweet

    Basically, what I’m saying is: “be entertaining”. I’ve tried to adopt this mantra into the blog. I’m not sure I’ve always succeeded though. Especially during those horrid sleep-deprived months when I couldn’t differentiate between what I posted on the blog and what happened in my dreams. There was a scary moment once when I thought I’d posted a 1000-word spiel on my love for Australian cricketer Mark Waugh. Seriously, I don’t want to be admitting that sort of thing in public.

    I do hope that over the past few years I have occasionally:

    Made you laugh: When life goes bottoms up
    Made you cry: A father’s tears
    And scared the hell out of you: Read this and you will never speed again

    I often wonder if we’re moving mountains on this li’l blog with educating, entertaining and informing you about some elements of parenting – or at least how to make pretty birthday cakes. If we’re not, then I’ll just leave the mountain moving to Dolly, who’s doing a darn fine job of it on a daily basis – and I’m sure her back is paying for it too (I know, you saw that one coming, right?).

    Do you have a blog post – either your own or someone else’s – that’s made you laugh, cry or scared the hell out of you? Feel free to share.

  • Come join the Mum Blogging Masterclass

    Come join the Mum Blogging Masterclass

    I can finally let the cat out of the bag…

    This li’l ol’ blog is playing a part in hosting the Mum Blogging Masterclass next Monday from 2pm to 4.30pm.

    Mum Blogging Masterclass

    It doesn’t matter whether you can get to the University of Tasmania’s Cradle Coast Campus in Burnie on Monday or not, because we’ll be live blogging from the event right here on Three Li’l Princesses and UTas will be tweeting from its account @UTASCradleCoast.

    Here’s how the afternoon will pan out:

    2.15‐3.00pm: A session from myself and and ConectPink Editor Angela Carey on how blogging, Twitter and ConnectPink can act as a catalyst for social inclusion through the creation of social networks.

    It’s an opportunity for those who struggle with BookFace and Tweeter to experience firsthand the benefits of blogging and social media. It’s about assisting those mums who find themselves staying at home most days on how to better communicate with the outside world. As mums, we all have a limit on how many times a toddler can ask you the groundbreaking question: “but why?”.

    As I have said before, it takes a village to raise a child. Problem is, nowadays we barely know our own neighbours and our parents are working later into life. Those networks we once relied on aren’t there. This is where blogging, Facebook and Twitter have enabled mums to feel reconnected and supported. They no longer feel a sense of isolation and loneliness. Especially when bub is crying at 2am and you don’t know what the heck to do – there is nearly always someone in the same situation online eager to help. The neighbours are generally not quite as nice at 2am!

    It can also be an avenue to professional support, educational opportunities, stepping back into the workforce or even starting your own business (and yes, I am proof of that).

    3 – 3.30pm: Afternoon tea break ‐ mingle, chat and relax. Well, I probably won’t be!

    3.30 – 4.30pm: A “chat room” on education and training opportunities, child and maternal health and access to government services. This will be a roundtable style discussion on the need for people to get professional advice and not just `‘rely on the internet’’. Do NOT Google what that small lump on your toe is. Trust me! Eight community service providers and the all-female Tasmanian ALP Senate team are confirmed to attend to provide insights into these three areas.

    That’s right, you have direct access to all these people to ask questions and put forward ideas on things that matter to you as a mum.

    If you can’t be there, follow and contribute to the sessions on  www.threelilprincesses.com and on Twitter via @UTASCradleCoast and the #mumblog Twitter hashtag.

    You’re more than welcome to leave comments here, email me on kellie (at) threelilprincesses (dot) com to ask a question anonymously or head to the blog on the day and post your comments as part of the live blog discussion.

    Learn more about starting a blog.