I have some AMAZING news to tell you. On Thursday night I found out that I have been shortlisted in the ‘Best Use of Video’ category for the 2016 MAD Blog Awards organised by Tots100. This news has been the best thing that could happen to me! It is the biggest highlight since I started my blog almost one year ago. I’m still in shock!
I put myself forward for these Awards not thinking that I would actually have any chance what so ever to get shortlisted. I just wanted to tell people how happy I was feeling since the moment I started my blog. I always had the idea of having my own blog and my own YouTube channel but I never had the courage to set them up until after giving birth to Sienna. I realised that I really needed to think what I wanted to do with my life as there were pretty much no options at that particular time!
I was made redundant from my job as a Legal Counsel in my company and then my dreams fell to the floor. I was unable to continue my plan of getting my qualification in order to become a solicitor in this country. I’m already a practicing lawyer in Peru but I couldn’t do a lot of legal jobs here due to the lack of qualifications required to practise in the UK. I managed to convert my Law Degree but in order to be a practicing solicitor here I had to do another 4 years of studies and practise so this was no longer an option for me. I was not getting any younger so I really started to panic.
In that particular moment I had this brilliant idea of starting a YouTube Channel and my blog, “A Moment With Franca”. This has changed my life completely for the better. I feel that I now have a purpose in life. I feel useful, helpful and can bring some money to the house because of my blog. This feeling is just fantastic.
I feel so very proud of my blog and maybe not all of you realise, but this is a family blog. It is as much Nick’s as mine. He works behind the scenes with the more technical parts of the blog and is fantastic at helping me with all of that. He is also sometimes in front of the camera when we do videos which I love, and he also helps with the editing. We are a team and I love this a lot.
It is amazing to be able to share with my husband all the high and lows of being a blogger. It is not easy as it’s is a lot of hard work. Every evening we sit down and discuss what would we like to do to improve the blog and to grow it more and more.
We have also our little stars, Bella and Sienna that are just amazing. They love being involved and enjoy every single minute of what this blog brings to them.
I did a video a few weeks ago about how I feel about these awards. This was before I found out that I was shortlisted. I published it on my facebook page. Maybe some of you have already seen it. If not you can watch it here
Now that I’m a FINALIST, I can say that my blog is an ‘Award Nominated Blog’! How cool is that?
It would mean a lot to us if you could vote for us. It is very easy to vote. You only need to put your name, surname, email, then go to my category (Best Use of Video), select my blog (A Moment With Franca) and then click submit. Easy! Thank you so much!!!
Thanks for stopping by,
Love you all ❤️
Franca 💋
Well done! And very well deserved. And what a brilliant thing you have done turning your idea into something tangible and successful – you should be very proud 🙂 #KCACOLS
Aww thank you for your lovely comment!! 🙂 xx
I’m not surprised at all. It’s very well deserved and I am keeping everything crossed for you x #KCACOLS
Aww thank you so much Nicky!! I really appreciate your support!! 🙂 xx
Big congratulations – very well deserved!! #KCACOLS
Thank you lovely!!
Ahh congratulations!so pleased for you!!you definitely deserve the award..I’ll make sure I remember to vote for you 🙂 xx #kcacols
Aww thank you Wendy!! That means a lot to me! 🙂 xx
Fantastic news! Well done and it was great to read about the route you took to get here – determination, hard work and teamwork! I’ve only been blogging for two months so awards seem a million miles off – I’m just finding my feet here but your story is quite inspirational. Thanks for sharing. #KCACOLS
Aww thank you so much for your lovely comment! It made my day to read that my story could be inspirational!! I love blogging and the blogging community is so supportive! Thank you again! 🙂
I’m so proud of you! I know how hard you work and I hope lots of people will vote for you, as you deserve it. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, yay!! #KCACOLS
Nadia – ScandiMummy
Thank you so much beautiful!! It was so lovely to see you today!! Thank you for my card, I love it!! You are a great friend!! 🙂 xx
wow!! Congratulations hun!!! fingers crossed for you #KCACOLS
Thank you so much Natasha! 🙂 x
So pleased to hear you made the finals, a just reward for all your blogging hard work. #KCACOLS.
Thank you so much Fiona!! It is so exciting!! I still can’t believe it!! 🙂 x
So amazing and so well deserved! I’ll be keeping everything crossed for you :). #KCACOLS
Aww thank you so much Davina!! Fingers crossed!! 🙂 x
Congrats on being a finalist and good luck with the rest 🙂 🙂
#KCACOLS
Thank you! 🙂 x
congrats Franca. I’ve yet to dip my toes into vlogging, but this appears to be the way of the future. Good for you for adapting early #KCACOLS
Thank you Jeremy!! 🙂 x
How absolutely WONDERFUL! You most definitely deserve this, not only to be shortlisted, but to WIN! Congratulations, all your hard work is coming to life <3
And, how wonderful that your blog is an entire family effort. What a beautiful thing to bond over! #KCACOLS
Congratulations!! That is wonderful news 🙂 It’s so nice that your family is involved in helping you with your blog. That’s awesome!
Thank you lovely, 🙂 x
I’m so thrilled for you Franca, massive congratulations to you and Nick and well deserved 🙂 #kcacols
Thank you so much Laura!! We are so happy! It is so nice to have a familly project. Thank you for all your support! You are a great friend! 🙂 x
Wow Franca this is an incredible achievement – really well done – I’ve only just met you through this linky but am in awe of how much hard work you put in to your blogging – you really are so deserved of being nominated and making it through to the finalist stages – super thrilled for you – couldn’t have happened to a nicer person – really good luck! #KCACOL
Aww Helen thank you so much for your lovely comment and your kind words!! It means a lot to me!! I’m so happy to know you through this linky too!! 🙂 x
Your blog is fabulous and I am so thrilled for you! You’ve got my vote xx #KCACOLS
Yaay!! Thank you my love!! You have my vote too!! 🙂 xx
Many congratulations Franca, this is a great achievement. Good luck. Pen x KCACOLS
Thank you so much Pen! We are so excited! 🙂 x
Yay! Well done you!! Have just voted for your fabulous blog. I love that it is a family blog that Nick helps with too 🙂 #KCACOLS
Aww thank you so much Sara!! You are a STAR!! That means a lot to me!! I love that Nick is involved too! 🙂 x
Congrats, You deserve it! I can tell you work really hard on your videos and blog and it has paid off for you xx
#KCACOLS
Thank you so much Rachel! 🙂 x
Congrats! Hopefully this little blogging adventure of mine will be award nominated one day. Thanks for sharing! #KCACOLS
Thank you so much Jason, 🙂 x
Congratulations Franca & you are v brave vlogging terrifies me. I’m definitely happier behind a camera. #kcacols lifeinthemumslane
Well done lovely and it is really fab to read the reasons behind your blog and why you started blogging. You are doing so well! 🙂 #KCACOLS
Well done Franca – amazing achievement and great that you also have the help and support of your hubby! I’ve really struggled in the last few months with fitting in my blogging as my husband has been working away a lot and Arthur has had a bit of separation anxiety so I just haven’t had any time to myself. Trying to get back into it now though as I have really missed having that outlet #KCACOLS
Congratulations Franca! I’m so excited for you. I can imagine what a shock & how exciting it must have been to see your name listed. You know you have my vote. Best of luck lovely!! x #kcacols
Congrats on the nomination – you must be over the moon! Best of luck in the finals. #KCACOLS