Never in my wildest dream did I think I’d ever enter the ‘mommy blogosphere’. But it beckoned me. Last Friday, I had the privileged to attend ‘Bloggers Brunch‘ hosted by Kids Business, an annual event that brings mommy bloggers, family-friendly brands, inspirational guest speakers and even the progeny of said bloggers under the one roof.

This year brunch was served at Encore in St Kilda, guest speakers included Sarah Cavalier, creator and editor of Mama Mag and Celia Hill, of children’s entertainment act The Kazoos. Peppa Pig, friend of the Cancer Council, graced us with her presence, while Giaan Rooney, brand Ambassador of Life Space Probiotics came for a chat.

The day was very educational, I came across many brands I’d not heard of before, such as:

– Bondi Chai– the only chai latte recommended for sale to children of all ages by the West Australian School Canteen’s Association. Bondi Chai can be used to create guilt-free drinks and desserts like cheesecake, carrot cake and smoothies.

– Little Innoscents– natural and organic skin products for babies and the whole family. The amazing scents were not only captivating but also uplifting, and their essential oils are truly divine!

– Life Space Probiotics, formulated for the entire family, tailored to all life stage needs from pregnancy to infancy and all the way into the senior years. Giaan Rooney’s family takes them daily!

– Smash Nude Food Movers are lunch and snack boxes designed to reduce packing and waste, keep food fresh and promote a healthier lifestyle. I love the Brekky In A Cup, it’s hopefully going to help me keep up my oats-eating habit!

The speakers were also hugely inspirational. Sarah Cavalier of Mama Mag shared the endearing tale of how instead of letting divorce and depresssion define her, she was able to “rise from the ashes” and create her hugely popular publication. Sarah advises that all moms should take care of themselves both physically and mentally.

Celia Hill of The Kazoos shared her experiences juggling business in the entertainment industry and motherhood. I resonated with her “we live life forwards but we look at life backwards” quote. As moms, we plan ahead ceaselessly but we also need to reflect (but not to dwell) on the past, as the past is often the best teacher. I also adore Celia’s quote ““Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose but we never take off our dancing shoes”!

My favourite part of the day was bonding over our love of dogs, probiotics, Bugaboo prams and unusual children’s names with Giaan Rooney. The last time I saw the former Olympian was at the Caulfield Cup in this post. Apparently she still recognized me even though I have probably aged 10 years since becoming a mom… I got to learn a few things about this incredible lady.

Giaan got her name when her mother was travelling through Switzerland and met a Swiss lady who was thinking of naming her unborn daughter Giaan.

Did you know that Giaan has an adorable three legged pooch called Lester? She even chose her pram, a Bugaboo Donkey, so that her terrier can sit in a basket on strolls.

When asked about Life Space Probiotics, Giaan told me that in all of her research on health and wellness, she kept coming back to gut health. Her family members all take Life Space Probiotics daily. She told me that previously, health and wellness equated to athletic performance, but now that she is a retired Olympian and a mom, being healthy means that she can then be around longer for her loved ones.

Giaan was delighted to learn of our daughter’s name Olympia. “That’s my favourite girl’s name! It’s strong and feminine at the same time!” I laughed because it was for this exact reason why I chose it.

The theme of this year’s Blogger Brunch was ‘Healthy Wealthy and Wise’. Before I work on the ‘wealthy and wise’, I’m just going to concentrate on the first part. There’s never been a more important season in my life that I need to be healthy, not just for myself, but for my loved ones. Thankfully, judging by all the mommy bloggers I met last week, I know I won’t be alone on this journey!