If I was a 2016 MAD Blog Awards judge…
First of all I don’t think I could be a 2016 MAD Blog Awards blog judge – imagine the pressure!
It’s not just that there are an infinite number of Mums and Dads (MADs) out there crafting some amazing posts on eye-wateringly beautiful websites. They are also doing it at the same time as bringing up their kids and the day job; whether that’s looking after their family full-time (I salute you) or being employed elsewhere. Blogging is not something you do for the heck of it – it’s a passion. How do you judge that?
Setting that aside, I would like to highlight the six bloggers I think should be in the final of the 2016 MAD Blog Awards Best Family Travel Blog category. They rock, and if you haven’t already decided where to cast your vote in this category please check them out.
Five Adventurers – I love Nisbah’s mix of holidays and days out, which must be organised with military precision as they often involve her extended family. Her and her daughter’s entry to the Mark Warner ambassador programme left me in awe of their creativity.
MummyTravels – Cathy is one of the first family travel bloggers I came across when I set up Tin Box Traveller. She has a great writing style that can transport you from a cold and wintry UK to the balmy Caribbean in the space of a few paragraphs. My mind boggles at the number of stamps that must be in her passport.
My Travel Monkey – Ting is another writer who’s posts I adore, especially when she gets on to the subject of food. I always have to run to there fridge after reading them! She was also one of the first bloggers to contact me about guest posting on her blog. I remember feeling thrilled that someone other than my parents had read my blog.
The Helpful Hiker – Lauren’s blog is packed full of tips for getting outdoors with kids, as well as detailed descriptions of hiking routes. She is a proper ‘whatever the weather’ girl who can’t be contained by four walls. She’s also a fellow camper, although is a bit braver than I and still pitches a tent from time to time.
Travel Loving Family – I’m a big fan of Lisa’s guides to the Caribbean – if you are planning a trip there her blog is a must read. It’s also hard to believe she’s only been blogging since June 2015. She’s definitely one to watch!
Wander Mum – Elizabeth is a great story teller. She pulls you into her posts like you’re right there sharing her adventures. Her daughter, Mrs T, is the same age as Tin Box Tot but so much better travelled. If you’ve ever wondered how its possible to travel around the world with a toddler, Elizabeth has the answer!
In fact each one of these great bloggers is flying the flag for travelling with kids. Yes, it can be hard, but it’s so worth it.
One notable omission from my list of favourite family travel bloggers is Karen from Mini Travellers. She is equally worthy of the top prize – so much so that she won it in 2015! I’m sure she won’t mind passing her crown to someone else this year.
I’d love to say that I’m sharing this post in a totally virtuous way but, to be honest, I would be honoured if you would also consider me for a 2016 MAD Blog Awards nomination in the Best Family Travel Blog category. It’s an extremely tough field and there are many more bloggers I could have mentioned who also deserve recognition. But to get to the final shortlist of six would be a blogging dream come true.
So, that’s who I would like to see in the finals if I was a judge. Now it’s over to you. Who will get your vote for the Best Family Travel Blog and in the 13 other categories?
How to vote in the 2016 MAD Blog Awards
Anyone can vote for their favourite blogs – you don’t have to be a blogger. Simply visit the Tots100 website, enter your email address and the full URL (including http://) of the blogs you want to nominate. You have to vote for your blog of the year first before the other categories come up.
I love hearing what people think about my blog so feel free to leave a comment below or browse around. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
There are some blogs here that I haven’t checked before so I will have a look. You know already that I have voted for you for the travel category!! So I hope you get lots of nominations!! Good luck lovely!! Thanks so much for sharing this at #KCACOLS.
A Moment with Franca recently posted…Review – Cuddledry Swim Supersoft Swim Poncho Towel
Great selection and lovely post #KCACOLS
Nadia – ScandiMummy x
It’s certainly a tough one this year! I haven’t heard of some of these blogs you have written about, i will be tracking them down shortly for a good old read! I have already nominated but good luck! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday.
Thanks Rachel! I’m glad you’ve found some new blogs here 🙂
I’m still compiling my list of nominations, and this has just given me a whole new load of blogs to check out, guess I know what I’ll be doing tonight! Good luck #KCACOLS
Sorry (but not sorry) for making things a bit more complicated for you 😉
Good luck Claire! I definitely need to check out some of those blogs on your list that I’m not familiar with. I really need to spend some time looking at the categories and putting in my nominations xx #KCACOLS
I’m finding it’s getting more difficult by the day as I’m reminded of blogs that I love! x
Some amazing blogs listed here! Must be a tough category! I haven’t seen all of them before so thanks for sharing 🙂 I am Karen (Mini Travellers) biggest fan so I hope she does well too. Good luck to everyone involved xx
I’m glad I’ve been able to introduce you to some lovely new blogs! Karen is amazing, right?! x
Oh I think it would be so stressful being a judge, how could you possibly choose a winner from all the amazing bloggers out there. Good luck with your nominations, your blog is fab so I’m sure you’ll do well x #kcacols
Thank you so much, that’s lovely of you to say x
I am loving your list but will have to check out the couple that you have listed that I am not too familiar with. It is going to be such a hard decision for most of the categories! The very best of luck to you 🙂 #KCACOLS
Thanks Sara. I’m glad I’ve been able to introduce you to some new blogs 🙂
Thanks! I’ve just followed some of these on Twitter. Always nice to find new blogs. I love Mini Travellers too. #KCACOLS
Ah, that’s brill. I’m glad I’ve been able to introduce you to some new reads 🙂
A great list of bloggers there! It’s so hard to choose, I did mine the other day! #KCACOLS
It’s so hard. I’m leaving my for a little while as I keep adding others to the mix all the time 🙂
Great list of recommendations, can’t wait to check them all out! #KCACOLS
Fab! You won’t be disappointed 🙂
Good luck! And thanks for the tips of other blogs to have a look at 🙂 #kcacols
Great post – I haven’t read some of these blogs so thank you for sharing. It must be so hard to judge I couldn’t do it xx #KCACOLS
I so glad I’ve been able to introduce you to some new reads 🙂 x
What a lovely lovely thing to read – thank you so much for including me here. There really are some fabulous family travel blogs around – and definitely including yourself!
No problem Cathy – thanks for all the inspiration! And thank you for the kinds words 🙂
Some of my favourites in this line up Claire, you included. Making those final choices is not going to be easy that’s for sure. #KCACOLS
It’s going to be so hard! I’m making a long short list for all the categories at the moment. It’s definitely a decision not to be rushed! 🙂
Absolutely. I’m giving myself a bit of time so I can consider all the categories carefully. There’s so many great blogs around!
Great post – and such a good idea to highlight other worthy blogs too! #thelist
Thank you. They all deserve recognition for being great blogs. I really hope they make it to the final list that goes to the vote.
I know I am not officially a travel blogger more on the edge as my blog is more family lifestyle mix but I love being part of the travel community it is such a warm friendly open community, great choice Claire I cant wait to see it all unfold x
It is so lovely, isn’t it Sarah?! I’ve found that with all bloggers that I’ve met on and offline. Everyone is so willing to share their experience and advice. But quite frankly that makes the whole nomination process all the more difficult! 🙂 x
Hi lovely!
I’m definitely racking my brains for which members of the #coolmumclub to put in which category. Don’t worry, you are already earmarked for my travel spot!
Thanks for linking up with #coolmumclub (PS I’ve been blogging less than a year, just saying, in case you didn’t know that! Ha ha! Shameless! ;-))
Ha! Thank you so much and I’m liking your shameless style 😉
Love how you have highlighted all the other travel bloggers too Hun. But you have my vote. Already done and dusted Hun. I found it so hard to write my MADs post!!!
Thank you so much! I’m having to write a long list of all blogs I want to nominate. It’s probably going to take me a few weeks to make up my mind!!
🙂
It’s so tough isn’t it! Cathy was the first I came across as well, it completely made me realise we aren’t the only crazy ones!
Yes! And let’s face it, you have to have a touch of the crazy about you in this game 🙂 x
What a lovely post, and such lovely words for fellow bloggers – makes me want to share my nominations too! Good luck 🙂 xx
Do it! Everyone is in need of some inspiration. The field is so broad it would be easy to miss a few absolute gems. It’s all about sharing the love after all 🙂 x
Oh gosh some really good ones here that I hadn’t considered. Argh I am in such a quandry. There are so many good blogs out there! #thelist
It’s so difficult isn’t it! I’ve seen so many people post to Twitter that they have completed their nominations already. I think it’s going to take me the whole four weeks to decide! 🙂
Thank you so much for your lovely kind words – and alongside so many of my favourite travel bloggers too. You are a fantastic writer Claire. I love reading about your adventures…you are far better at nailing the great outdoors than me and I love all your Travel Timehops going back before the little ones were around. All the best of luck to you and the other ladies. Xxx
Thanks Elizabeth, that’s lovely to hear. I’m not sure I always nail the great outdoors – sometimes it gets the better of me 🙂 Good luck! x
Aw thanks for including our family travel blog Claire:) That is so very kind and generous of you. We are going to try for the newbie blog category, the competition in the travel category is absolutely immense as you have highlighted in this article! Best of luck to you, as you know I am a huge fan of your blog and very envious of all your travels (especially your upcoming cruise!) xx
Thanks Lisa, that’s so kind. You’ve definitely got my newbie nomination! 🙂 x
Wow what a great list of travel bloggers to be included with! Thank you Claire you are very kind. You are also a wonderful writer – I love how you include so much detail in your posts. Best of luck to you and all the other ladies! x
Thanks Ting, that means a lot! Best of luck!! x
Fab post Claire, the family travel blogger world has some brilliant bloggers in it and you are most definitely one of them!
Thank you Karen, that’s so lovely of you to say x
I agree, it would be difficult to choose blog posts to nominate…there are some fab ones out there but I deffo have my favourites. I don’t class myself as a Mum blogger, however, I do enjoy reading Mum/Dad blogs and certainly find myself nodding in agreement on the regular!! #coolmumclub
I’m so glad I don’t have to make the ultimate decision. It’s going to be tough enough picking one of these fab blogs to nominate this this one category!!
Oh lovely, lots of new blogs for me to check out! I love reading family travel blogs, they have got me thinking that maybe one day I could travel with three children in tow…..maybe!
Hooray for introducing you to some new blogs! They’ll definitely give you the motivation you need 🙂