sapphiredragon

So while both my partner and I have been extremely lucky so far in that most of the big baby items we need, we have been able to get from friends and relatives, as we get down to within the final 70 days ( can you believe 68 days till EDD?), there are still bits and pieces that we will need before the big day arrives.

So together with the help of a number of baby sites ( mostly tried to stick with Aussie sites), I have put together a list i what I and these other baby sites have decided we still need to get. The purpose of this list is not only so i can keep track of what I still need and mark off as I receive but this can also be used as the list for anyone looking to buy stuff for the baby ( i.e. for baby shower or if people are feeling generous :P).

So The basic part of the list is just the generic item i.e. change table, cot set, bath then today I have also gone to my local shopping centre to all the shops that sell baby items and taken prices for specific items so people have a ball park figure of what each item might cost as well as some idea of things i liked the look of and also slighly more frivolous items that I though were cute or cool and should list. You may (or may not ) notice i have a bit of a Winnie the Pooh fetish so many items do feature Winnie or his friends :)

I will continue to add specific items and photos where possible as I check out a few more baby shops and experienced mothers, if you see something that is not on the list that you think should be, please let me know :)

Now with further ado, ( the list )

I went to the Filex health and fitness exhibition, convention and super workshop the weekend before Easter and did took some extremely interesting, sessions, lectures, workshops and classes.

One of the sessions I went to was a lecture called "writing for marketing and communication" which was taken by Amelia Burton, a qualified Pt, blogger, writer and who looks after Michelle Bridges 12wbt Facebook and twitter accounts.

The session itself was aimed at Personal trainers and giving them ways that writing can further their business such as:
blogging - writing articles recommending latest trends, new or old fitness ideas and anything else of interest in the field of health and fitness, reading, commenting and linking to/ on other blogs
Social media - Facebook and twitter
Search engine optimization & geolocations - ways of maximizing the chances that your Pt business might pop up first in a google search

It was really interesting and while aimed more specifically at personal trainers, me (not being a qualified personal trainer... Yet) saw other avenues that the learning could be applied.

The idea that captivated me the most was the idea of writing a blog.

Now as I mentioned before, I am not currently a personal trainer so may not necessarily be qualified to write about some topics but still the idea of writing a blog called to me. After I all I have been journaling for years now, back in 2000 in the days of live journal as an early adopter, before that with pen and paper and the book you hid under the bed so your siblings didn't get hold of it and read about how you absolutely loved that cute guy in the grade above and tell them at lunch time the following day. So blogging shouldn't be so hard should it?

Except for a couple of key things:

1. Actually writing a concise article that talks about a subject concisely and to the point without repeating words like concise. Not the combination of verbal diarrhea and shiny tangents that my journaling usually involves.

2. Actually having an opinion. I am a Virgo on the libra cusp so I am usually diplomatic, noncommittal, able to see both sides. When people asked about a boom or movie, my answers are usually along the lines of "yeah it was okay" " it wasn't too bad" "I didn't mind it". I'm thinking that no one really wants to read a review of a book or product where it is described as not too bad or okay with no real elaboration. People want to know that something is brilliant or terrible, they want to know why it is brilliant, what makes it so terrible. In short, a clear unequivocal view one way or the other.

Of course there is something to be said for being objective but generally people want subjectivity in blogging. They don't necessarily have to agree with your opinion but they do want to know you have one.

3. Being brave enough to actually share your opinion with the world. This is the big one. For many people, its like "So what, this is what I think and this is why" and they are quite happy to spend the next 10-20 minutes telling you exactly why they feel that way. I know people exactly like that and that's great.

But me, I'm the virgo with a libran cusp remember, I like diplomacy and seeing both sides and keeping everyone happy. If I share an opinion, then someone might disagree, and there would be conflict and conflict is bad or at least it is to me. Even writing the lines above about people wanting you to have an opinion, I could see potential comments coming back saying, "No they don't. People want objectivity and lots of it. People are ok with okay and don't mind it"

This is the biggest thing for me I think. Not only actually having an opinion about something but being able to share it not be afraid to run the risk that someone may disagree completely and then share that opinion with me.

I guess it is something to work on

Anyhew so I am thinking about starting 2 blogs:

One about books and reading as I much of my life is dedicated to these pursuits and one about my health and fitness journey as I have joined Michelle Bridges 12 week body transforation program tonight so I am thinking I can chronicle this journey.

What do you think?