Blogging: Wordpress (free) - I started out on Blogger (don't a lot of people) back in 2004 but moved over to Wordpress in 2005. At first it scared the crap out of me but it's actually quite easy to use, has a ton of flexibility, and the plugins are fantastic. I also use it on my iPhone and iPad for editing on the fly - if you're using it on the iPad use PhotoPad for screengrabbing images and editing them so that they can go into posts.

Also: Posterous (free) - For quick posting and easy blogging, especially if you're scared of what blogging entails, you don't even need to set up yourself - just email them and next thing you know you've got a blog and login details.

Also: Typepad (paid) - I've been using this for one blog for years. I think of it as the halfway house between Blogger and Wordpress. Looks nicer than the former though but not as flexible as the latter.

Ecto (Mac) (paid) - I very rarely post to my Wordpress blogs from the web unless I am desperate. This is a desktop app which I would call pure genius but it is prone to occasional quirkiness. Saying that though, I have been using it for three years and still highly recommend it. Don't waste your time with the PC version which is highly unpredictable.

Also: Mars Edit (Mac) (paid) - The alternative to Ecto, this is my backup simply because I still have to go online to Wordpress and edit links because it just does the basic html for the link (not the open on a new page and learning it) - very odd.

Also: Google Docs (free) - Not only great for working on documents online - it has a spreadsheet, 'Word' like, and presentation online based applications that can be shared with other people and collaborated on. Great for storaging simple documents and working on group projects, such as team blogging where you may want to collab on a list of ideas for posts. Before anyone asks, I am aware of the existence of the likes of Huddle but they just don't 'do' it for me.

Also: Pages for iPad (paid) - One of my favourite purchases, I wrote a mini ebook on this a few weeks ago. Think of it as the Macs answer to Word and it's a steal at £5.99. I do find it very odd that it doesn't have a Word count. I also use it with Dropbox (see below) and open up Word documents on it. The whole working on doc's is not as fluid as I'd like but basically I email it back to myself when I'm done, open on the laptop and when I'm done, I save it back to Dropbox.

Note taking: Evernote (free) - I cannot say enough good things about what I regard as my brain stored online, on my desktop, iPhone and iPad plus it's also supported on other phones. Clip stuff on the web, take voice notes, put drafts of anything, email it stuff of interest, organise into notebooks, and basically never ever forget anything or run out inspiration again.

Invoicing and expenses management: Freshbooks (paid) - So simple and yet so good, basically do your invoicing online and email over a PDF of it. They can also login, pay via Paypal etc plus you can send estimates to clients (or receive them) and I also put expenses in on the fly when I'm out and about via the iPhone app.

Email Marketing: Mad Mimi (paid) - I've tried out several email marketing services and most of them make me want to scream and are ugly, causing me to shy away from doing any email. This has changed with using online based Mad Mimi. Intuitive, it has drag and drop with images and the email sections, easy to use, I can do autoresponder campaigns (like dripfeeding a series of emails), it's got great tracking, and all sorts, with the major draw being that it's based on the number of people in your list, not how many emails you send. Very good value and customer service when I balls up stuff is excellent. If they had better blog to RSS, I'd call them perfect.

Also: Feedblitz  (from free) - For automated emails that go out to people who subscribe to be notified of when you update your blog, this is great although it has it's quirk and it's not the greatest looking thing. Stuff like cracking the time (I've had to set my timezone to somewhere obscure to make emails go out at the time I want) is a pain in the bum. Basically it's good but lacks finesses. If you're on Feedburner, your Feedblitz readers show up in your reader numbers.

RSS Reader: Google Reader: Jaysus I love this RSS reader although I had to bite the bullet and mark as read over 3000 feeds last weekend as I got behind. I love reading shared items from @that_kat @violetposy and @chrisbrogan. Brilliant for keeping track of trends and staying on top of what's happening in marketing and blogging.

Also: MobileRSS (free) for the iPhone - hooks up to Google Reader account. Great for sharing on Twitter, Facebook etc on the fly.

Also: Newsrack (paid) for the iPad - This does seem to be the most popular reader but until this week I cursed it for being crap with shared items but it's fixed that now.

Also: Reeder (paid) for the iPad - Can you tell I've slinked around trying to find an RSS reader for the iPad? This readers is simple and quite lovely looking but does seem to crash out when you flick through feeds.

To Do List: Teuxdeux (free) - Really simple, fresh, well designed online to-do list management that looks just how I'd write mine out. I'd love it more if it hurried up and had an iPhone and iPad app because I'm a bit high and dry at the moment as I haven't found anything I like that works across all three fluidly.

Also: Sorted for iPad (paid) - This is cheap as chips at 59p and has a simple interface like Teuxdeux and I use it for keeping very detailed lists - my own version of project management...

Mindmapping: Mindnode (paid) - I use the paid for app on my iPad and it's simple and well executed and great for organising my ideas, especially when working out all the different elements of a site, ebook etc.

Digital Download Processing and Management: E-junkie (paid) - I've been selling ebooks for 2.5 years and they are a major source of revenue. E-junkie makes it very easy to do and it costs me less than $5 a month. It hosts your digital goods, has an affiliate management scheme, bookshop, is hooked up to Paypal, Google checkout etc and I rarely have any issue with it.

Online Backup: Dropbox (free) - I LOVE Dropbox which has given me an unbelievable amount of flexbility especially now that I have an iPad. Aside from backing up lots of stuff, I save stuff I'm working on so that I can pick it up on my iPad but it's greatest use is storing my sh*tload of ebooks that I'm reading!

File Reading App: Goodreader for iPad (paid) - This baby works in tandem with Dropbox and makes all of my files/ebooks a dream to read.

Social Networking Management: Hootsuite (free) - I manage all of my Twitter accounts and Facebook pages out of this and particularly love it for letting me schedule up tweets and the option of inviting team members. The only thing I won't recommend it for is team members for Facebook Pages as it has quirks there that haven't been ironed out.

Also: Twuffer (free) - Another online based scheduler for Tweets - this is pretty much all it does.

Also: Manage Flitter (free) - Clean looking, well designed tool that let's you manage your Twitter account by telling you who you follow that doesn't follow you back, inactive followers, and letting you clean up your account. It also lets you search your stream, something that's a nightmare to do otherwise. 

Also: Echofon Pro for iPhone and iPad (paid) - Even though this doesn't let me schedule tweets, this is by far the best I've tried so far, particularly for the iPad where decent Twitter (and Facebook) apps are thin on the ground.

Image Editing: Skitch (Mac) (free) - Even though it doesn't have stuff like layers, I am heavily reliant on this app, using it for quick editing of images and taking screengrabs (you can also use it for making video demos)

Ebook cover software: Boxshot (paid) - If you're publishing digital content, this makes for a snazzy 'box shot' or book shot - basically totally lifts your, for example, ebook cover out of the doldrums giving it a 3D effect and having it look like a book. Well worth the money if you're selling digital content.

iMovie (Mac) - I use this probably because I have not go the energy to try to find something simpler - it's been a steep learning curve bloody making and editing videos for Baggage Reclaim's video channel. There's exporting from my Flip video, importing it, adding in titles which is why I have 17 videos awaiting my attention. But with a bit of practice, it does get easier to use. Obviously I welcome any recommendations!

FTP Client: Transmit (paid) - Been using it for a few years and it's simple and intutive to use, making the whole putting files on the server, setting up new sites a doddle. They do a free trial as well.

Skype: I mostly use this for doing consultations and it probably saves me a fortune on my phonebill as well. I pay for extras like a voicemail and generally use it for international calls as well as Skype to Skype. Also great for conference calls.

Stats: Statcounter - I've been using this since the day I started. I also use Google analytics although note that external software tends to be inaccurate because users have stuff that may block cookies from being recorded. If like me, you're self-hosted, you'll start to see some big discrepencies the bigger you get. They are great for trends though.

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It's amazing how I blog for a living and chalk up thousands of words a week and then forget to update my own personal blog - hilarious! Work has been a tad crazy recently - I'm trying to finish a few ebook projects, I've had a surge of consultations (serves me right for rewriting the page and making it more attractive), I've knocked some whopping and very overdue things off my todo list, and then added even more to it...plus the usual madness of two kids. Oh and the cleaner's done her back in (not as a result of me I should add).

Tomorrow I'm 33. I'm not particularly excited by it. In years gone by I'd be on the lash already moonwalking around the place. I'll do something at the weekend. The kids are home all day with me so I'll be lucky if I don't have to superglue my eyes open by 4pm, nevermind contemplate actually doing something in the evening.

But I have decided to stop 'neglecting' myself and this blog - I'm going to actually slow down but work smarter, indulge myself and actually get back into reading (not just falling asleep reading my iPad...). I'm also going to make a conscious effort to update regularly as aside from me veering between relationship writer and coolhunter (clearly I love variety...), I need to empty my brain of all the 'other stuff' like things I discover to make my work exciting or simpler. Now that I've said it out loud, I shall have to follow through.

Check out what I found today: Simple online form management with Pandaform - ideal if you create forms for people to fill out like contact/query forms, competitions etc. Free, up to 3000 entries a months, up to 10 users. I suspect I'll give up Wufoo and save myself a little cash.

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After getting lots of queries following my talk on Saturday at Cybermummy, the UK's first conference for blogging mums, here are ten key things (note I could wax lyrical about a lot of things but have to zip it sometime) to note about working with brands and trying to make money from your blog.

1. Work out who you are - Personal Values & Blog Values

Much like in dating and relationships, if you don't know who you are, you'll be whatever you think people want you to be and then find yourself living outside of your values. This is no different in business and in blogging. Who are you? What are your personal values? What are your blogs values? Values are your firmly held beliefs about what you need to live your life authentically, hence your blog values are your beliefs that not only allow you to blog and work authentically, but to work with brands or generate an income in an authentic manner.

As an aside, make sure who you are is what is coming across. There's no point in saying you want to be an authority on a particular subject if what you're known for is negative stuff - manage your online reputation vigourously to ensure it's congruent with your values.

2. Define your blogging boundaries

Boundaries teach people how to treat you and what to expect from you. You need to know what your limits are and live by them. While stepping out of your comfort zone is good for challenging yourself, stepping out of your comfort zone to let your boundaries get busted is not. You need boundaries for every relationship - romantic, friends, family, colleagues etc and...your blog.

What are you and are you not prepared to do?

Research the different ways that people work with brands and find out what you're comfortable with.

Communicate your boundaries - Having a what I like/how I want to be contacted page puts you in charge of making your boundaries clear.

3. Create your own opportunities and don't travel with the herd

Look you could sit on your backside and wait for brand owners, retailers, PRs to find you but I suggest you create your own individual opportunities as well. In fact I insist. People will feel your genuine interest if when you do work with brands etc, they're people who you genuinely click with and have a passion for what they do. Don't be a sheep - you can find out what others are doing but it doesn't mean you have to do it and I suggest you dance to your own beat.

4. Everybody talks about brands - most of you just don't realise it.

Blogs are conversations taken online. Remember when you told someone that you thought X was really good, but Y was really sh*te, but you'd like to have a go of Z? Everybody talks about brands and products and services all the time. They don't do it in an infomercial, they don't talk in a review format, but they do slip their way into conversations all the time. Which brings me to...

4. Get to grips with what selling out actually is.

I'm going to give it to you straight no chaser because it bores me no end when I hear people bleeting on about selling out. You are not selling out if you 1) work with brands or 2) earn money from your blog. However the key to not selling out is all in how you go about working with brands or earning money from your blog.

If you've thought about 'crossing to the darkside' (joke) but then dismissed it as 'selling out', you've likely seen examples that make you uncomfortable, or your beliefs about money and working with brands bring out that uncomfortable feeling.

A lot of us have a weird relationship with money - As bloggers, there is also an element of wanting to keep up with the Jones and worrying about what 'they' will think, which is a bit like trying to cup the ocean in your hand...

If you know your values and have defined your boundaries then you can talk about brands on your blog without selling yourself down the river like a two bit hooker. This is because you teach people what to expect from you and they learn your 'flow' and 'voice'.

But, it is perceived as selling out if the only time you ever talk about brands is off the back of being contacted by them directly or indirectly and in response to being given something for free or even being paid for it.

I write about products and brands on Bambino Goodies - Over 90% of what is written about is driven solely by us with no contact directly or indirectly from anyone.

If you're going to write about products or services, ask yourself: If I wasn't being contacted by PRs/looking to get some free stuff for myself/trying to get some money, would I still want to write about this?

Am I prepared to write about 'stuff' if I'm not being compensated for it in some way, shape, or form? If the answer is no, then you will open yourself up to your editorial integrity being called into question.

Am I setting up a 'review site' to leverage opportunities with PRs? If so, how will this work in the medium and long term and how will I differentiate myself from anyone else they contact?

5. Explore your options and get creative about how to earn an income from your blog.

I am not reliant on advertising for earning my living. As an example of how you can earn a living from blogging, I earn mine from 1) ebooks, 2) direct advertising (banners, buttons), 3) indirect (a little affiliate stuff), 4) consultations with readers who want my advice and support and 5) consultancy work. I'm just about to start doing events both on and offline and doing print versions of my ebooks, plus I'm sure there are other things I've forgotten.

The point is - you have options. Do your homework and brainstorm what you can do. Other people I know have taken a long view to aim for a book deal, there's speaking engagements, selling your creations, e-courses, and all sorts.

What do you know a lot about? What did you do in The Time Before Kids? What are you a goto for?

6. Make yourself brand friendly

Have a contact page that says how you want to be contacted and what about. You have a responsibility as a blogger looking to work with brands to hold up your end of the communication and state what you're interested in and make the process easier. It also makes it a hell of a lot easier when people are wide of the mark to feel unperturbed about deleting their emails.

Create a prewritten email that you can tweak a bit and send off to people you're contacting or who have contacted you which has key information about you and your blog, and/or

Design a Media Kit/Page. One page is fine. Include logo/header, description of your blog - what it's about, what type of content you write, type of people you read, and then include a decent sized paragraph about yourself and a photo. Put down the type of opportunities you're offering - competitions, discount codes, sponsorship, advertorials, advertising, speaking engagements etc. If you've been featured in the press, won any awards etc, create a 'press' section. Do include rough stats - example average unique users a month, page impressions. They're not necessarily expecting high numbers but if you're going to engage with brands, you should not be all 'don't they know who I am' about making your stats known to them - they have to report back to their clients.

Shove it into Word or Powerpoint and save it as a PDF file - bingo, you're good to go.

Clean up your blog so that people can see where an ad would go. Very difficult to envision yourself with a blog that looks like roadkill.

7. Know your value. Get behind you and if you want to make things happen, make it happen.

Believe in you! Don't listen to naysayers - half of them don't know what the frick they're talking about or are just hoping you won't get a piece of the action that they want. If I'd listened to a lot of people who gave their two cents, I'd never be doing what I am or have given up before I'd really started.

Don't sell yourself too cheap but don't overprice yourself either. If you will go to the ends of the earth for a packet of biscuits, you're distorting your own value. Likewise, if you're behaving like the Mariah Carey of blogs, you may find yourself on the receiving end of negativity, especially if your talent and content doesn't match your diva status.

Photo Credits - Kat at Housewife Confidential aka my sister from another mother.

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via etsy.com

Hot off the back of Saturday's post on super stylish iPad cases, here are two more iPad cases to feast your eyes on. I'm a serious fan of textile designer and quilter extraordinaire Amy Butler so combined with the love of my iPad, I've gone into serious lust mode for these cover cases by ElizabethDavidDesign on Etsy. From US$45 and you can get it customised too.

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I'm a huge Chris Rock fan and even got to see him a couple of years ago here in London. One of my all time favourite Chris quotes is from Bigger and Blacker and it's been at the forefront of my mind recently as I witness the backbiting, sniping, bitching, and general losing perspective amongst the collective of mums who blog (mummy bloggers).

Chris said "Women, y'all exaggerate everything. You turn it into some Dynasty shit, like:

'She's trying to destroy me!'

What the fuck are you talking about? You wrap up bags at J.C. Penney's! What's she doing, ripping up your paper?"

I guess what I'm saying is: What the frick is everyone going on about? You write a blog! What's she doing? Hogging up your virtual limelight? Getting more comments/attention/free tat than you? Disturbing your sensibilities? Triggering your I Must Give My Opinion button? Stop the madness!

I should add, clearly, not everyone is like this and actually, I find that if there are more than two women anywhere, for some reason, we just don't know how to live and let live. But I really wish that more of us would.

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I have Apples iPad Case (Oh did I not mention I have a splendiferous iPad?!) thanks to my brother and it's a godsend as it's far easier to type on as it acts as a stand, plus of course it protects it when it's inside my everything but the kitchen sink handbag. However it's not the sexist looking thing, I'm the type of person with a lot of handbags so of course I've been checking out my options. Here's a few I found and I'll also post my attempt at making my own (once I actually make it!)...

Blythe King's swoonerific iSockit™ iPad cases are handmade from vintage fabrics in a shirt pocket style with gorgeous button detailing and enough room for a pen or two. Offbeat plaids and navy and military inspiration with vintage uniform buttons make these super desirable. $75-$85

MyGreenMonkeyDesigns on Etsy has a brilliant range of iPad sleeves with my current favourite being the paisley Recycled Clothing Shirt $27. They also do a vegan leather stand case for $45.

Apparently Bill Ambergs block colour leather iPad cases have already sold out and I haven't tracked down where they're on sale but they're £140.

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via thebrowncorporation.com

For someone like me who can't help but snigger at poo jokes, The Shit Box, a portable cardboard toilet did induce giggles. For a start, the character on the side reminds me of Hanky the Christmas Poo from South Park but it's the whole concept of 'going' in a box. To be fair, I can actually see the need. Aimed at festival goers, campers, people on road trips, fishermen, and even kids caught on the hop, I could have done with these when I had to go for a wee in the middle of the desert in Egypt a few years ago - I was nearly 5 months pregnant, desperate, but also afraid of snakes...The box would at least have given me some level of dignity as I screamed my head off while trying to work out if I could be seen from the bus...

Anyway, each of these boxes comes with biodegradable poo bags so the box can last as all you need to do is...er...tie up the bag and dispose of "responsibly"... It pops out, folds, and stores for repeated use. They also say that it can be used as a stool afterwards but for me, the idea of sitting where I...er...you get the idea, holds little attraction for me.

Oh and fear not - for those that don't want to sit on something called a 'Shit Box' there's the 'Ploo', a camo one for those on the down low, and 'Little Jack' for one to five year olds. Each comes with its own duffle bag for carrying it plus disposable bags and even some loo roll. £13.84 - £15.67 at...check it... The Brown Corporation (snigger). The site is very funny full of subtle and not so subtle poo humour.

via Daily Candy

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via thorstenvanelten.com

I've just snapped up one of these Fono lamps for £20 (they were originally £59) in the Thorstern Van Elten moving sale - I've had my eye on them since I featured them last year. There's also half price Our Children's Gorilla - the eco friendly Swedish designers - and I got a couple of their infamous Albert Coat Hooks in my loot. Move fast for the good stuff!

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via made.com

Earlier I wrote about the stroller desk for one of my blogs Nest Goodies but I just had to comment on how bemused and a tad weirded out I am by the naked women posing on various pieces of affordable designer furniture.

I'm not a prude (I write about dating and relationships for a living so that's killed off any potential prudishness - If the walls could talk!) but I am very bored of obvious to the point of totally unnecessary nudity to sell products.

I get it - sex sells. Apparently. Actually it sells to some but not to all and the use of sexual imagery and messaging in advertising has become so overused and misused to the point of losing its proverbial mojo.

As someone who has a great appreciation for well designed, aesthetically pleasing products, I could do without having to look at someone's arse spread out on the furniture or the idea that their beaver is lounging against a big bean bag.

Using straplines like 'prices stripped bare' and 'beautiful furniture without the high street mark up', Made.com are obviously trying to convey the message with the naked women. I get it! But it doesn't sell the company's brand or their products to me because the bare arses pressed on furniture don't add any value to the experience. If anything they detract it... It seems we've become so casual about nudity and sex, it just appears everywhere - the casual sex of product and brand marketing...

But seriously, the desk sells itself and so does the price.

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via Business Insider

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via amazon.co.uk

I count the first book by rogue economist Steven D Levitt and his partner in crime Stephen Dubner as one of my all time favourite books. An entertaining and yet thoroughly enlightening book that explains stuff like why sumo wrestlers and teachers are most likely to cheat, the different cultural attitudes towards educating your child, and the impact of having a name that 'looks' black on your job prospects in America, I'm currently reading the follow up, Superfreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance.

These days I don't devour a book in a few days so it's taking me a while to get it finished in sleepy bursts, but I know a hell of a lot more about the economics of prostitution (Who knew that putting yourself on the stroll and national holidays were so intrinsically linked?!) and the real reasons why the death rates were so high for new mothers in the past - doctors not sanitising their hands after doing autopsy's (yeuch) and then transferring lethal bacteria to birthing mothers. Fascinating.

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Each one is one-of-a-kind and is made from local wood with the country names etched in. Quite a tricky puzzle to put together, it's one that the family can get involved in and a real memory test. I can imagine though, if my side of the family saw it, they'd be asking where the Caribbean puzzle is.... euro 15.95 from one of the coolest stores ever, Shak Shuka.

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We ended up on an impromptu elephant hunt this past weekend when we went to dinner at Gaucho's near Tower Bridge and started spotting the stunning life-size elephants that have been painted for the Elephant Family conservation campaign.

Two hundred and fifty have been customised by artists and celebrities and will be auctioned to hopefully raise £2m to help save the Asian elephant as well as also contributing to twenty UK based conservation charities. Visually delightful and gracing parks, street corners, buildings, and areas around historic landmarks, they'll be on display until July and I've promised the kids we'll go on another elephant hunt which will be carefully planned for me to swing by a few shops en route.... You can download a route map as well. Oh and they have a whole store full of mini elephant delights.

Funny moment was on the way back to London Bridge via a little stroll along the Thames, my almost three year old asked if we could go and see the hippos next - clearly she thinks London's turned into a zoo.

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via spincollective.co.uk

For those of you who desire to leave the shackles of a corporation, or if like me, you've gone solo and are resisting fitting into the cookie cutter of life, this 'I am not a ro-bot' sticker is a humorous reminder to stay creative and original. The full quote is 'i am not a robot'..... 'a person who works mechanically without original thought, especially one who responds automatically to the commands of others'. I only wish my desk looked like the one pictured... £18 at Spin Collective

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via bambinogoodies.co.uk

The mighty online retailer ASOS has launched a private sale site called Achica and they're currently selling Brio gear with some chunky discounts until 8am tomorrow (3rd Feb). Their Ride on which is normally RRP£69.99 is £42 for instance and serious style buy. There's also train sets too.

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via babygadget.net

I get to check out a lot of kids related gear and there is an increasing amount of creativity surrounding highlighting of extinct or near to extinct animals. Josh Finkle's a 3D designer who has handcrafted these recently extinct animals and the packaging provides the story behind them. They're stunning although sadly only prototypes it seems.

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via urbanoutfitters.co.uk

You'll definitely see me coming with this neon pink bobble hat that I picked up in the Urban Outfitters sale for £8.99 reduced from £18. They have a *number* of bargains that I shall have to pretend I've owned for a while, although me thinks I'm unlikely to get away with saying that about this chunky delight...

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via bambinogoodies.co.uk

This delightfully retro illustration is by Stockholm based illustrator Ingela P Arrhenius who takes her inspiration directly from the 50s and 60s, often from vintage pieces she collects on her travels. Capturing a wonderful naivety in her illustrations which are popping with colour and charm, I suspect I shall be tempted to add this into our burgeoning collection...

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