So where am I on the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and why is it relevant to this blog?

Great content?

This weekend the Times Magazine ran an article called The Asperger's Effect.  A glance at the layout in the magazine and you immediately noticed that there's a test: "Where are you on the spectrum?".  In 5 minutes, and 50 quick multi-choice questions later, you know whether you are, and I quote "socially smooth, empathetic to others and ambivalent about numbers" or not.

Interestingly I was more interested in how quickly I jumped at the chance to do a test.  What that says about me is possibly far more revealing that the results of the test.

My results were almost disappointingly boring.  No revelations here I'm afraid.  I came in with a score of 17; apparently average for a man, whereas 15 is the woman's average.  You can do the test on-line at TheTimes.co.uk/magazine.

Why am I mentioning this?  Because it struck me that the article was refreshingly different, on a topic I had read little about.  I was immediately drawn to great content.  That's what I aim for here on this website: great content.  I try and make it relevant, interesting, helpful, fun and a little tongue in cheek.  This website was started because I wanted to help other mums learn from my mistakes.  I provide tips on parenting that work for us and my solutions for maintaining your yummy mojo whilst also being a mum.

What makes great website content?

Whether I succeed or not is something of a mystery.  Whilst I can see how many people are clicking through to the site and how long they are staying, I can't tell if they are finding useful content.  I can't tell if I am making them smile, or laugh, or frown with disappointment.

That's where blog awards come in.  It's blog awards time, and it's now possible for you to nominate my blog for any of 16 different categories in the MAD Blog Awards 2013.  So do you think I qualify to be nominated for Best School Days blog, Most Entertaining Blog, Best Fashion and Beauty Blog or Best Mad Blog for Family Fun?  How about Best Family Life Blog, Best Family Travel Blog or Best Blog Writer?  Or do I qualify for the ultimate MAD Blog of the Year?

If you do think I deserve a mention, please pop over to nominate me on the Mad Blog Awards 2013 nomination form.  It'll only take a minute and I'll be amazed, flattered and thrilled that I might possibly be doing something right in this small, but perfectly formed, corner of the web. 

Nominations close at midnight on the 18th February 2013.

Of course, if you don't think I should be nominated, and you don't feel that I'm providing the content you are searching for, then absolutely please let me know!  Would you like more beauty, more fashion, more fitness; or maybe prefer the parenting tips and hints, the craft ideas, or the travel reviews? Please feel free to comment on the posts and let me know what you like.

Thanks everyone.

Doubting your own self-worth?

Those of you who follow me on twitter (@ymummyreally) and on facebook may have noticed that I've been feeling a little down in the dumps since Wednesday night, when the cold/virus/joint aching/sore throat/high temperature thing that my children both enjoyed over the bank holiday weekend was lovingly passed on to me.

I fell to sleep at 7.30pm on the sofa on Wednesday night.  That's right!  7.30!  Boy, am I a wuss!  And yes I expect lots of sympathetic comments and virtual biscuits sent over.  (pretty please - bottom lip comes out)

The advantage of feeling rubbish for the last 24 hours has been plenty of time to think.  Oh no! Think? That's not good is it?  My parents always tell me I over-think everything.  Over analyse it all.  Feel like I need to have mapped out all the possibilities, internally debated all the arguments, considered all the outcomes, before doing ANYTHING.

Tea always makes things better

They are right.  I've been thinking about my next blog post and I've been stuck.  This is partly because I found out today that I didn't make the finalist list in The Mad Blog Awards 2012.  As a result I went straight into 'over-analyse' mode.  I sat and spent far too much time, in an already weakened state, reading the 'finalists' blogs.  The idea being that I should be able to pick up some tips to help improve this humble blog and therefore provide you lovely readers with some really great stuff.

I'm sure you can see where this is going can't you?  On a normal, healthy day that plan would be fine.  I'd have a read, enjoy the fantastic blogs that they are (they really are, click on the Mad Blog link above and check them out - but please do come back... whimpers) and use the lessons to build the joy here.  What actually happened was that I got over-emotional, over-awed at these other writers, many of whom have been doing this for years, and felt completely not worthy.  There were even tears.

It was stupid, stupid, stupid.

And so I sat down to write.  Though this post doesn't particularly stick to the main theme of this blog (tips to help us be yummy, even when a mummy) it is to remind me that we are ALL yummy in our own ways.  We have our own skills, our own talents, and, maybe more importantly, our own joys.

I've been writing this blog for 3 years now (has it really been that long) and this will be my 165th published post.  I didn't write it to make money (though if offered that would obviously be nice).  I started it because I've always wanted to be a writer.  I wanted to write.  I wanted to hopefully create something that someone somewhere would find useful or mildly amusing, and I will keep doing that regardless of potential awards, because it is here, with you, that I find my moments of joy.

So thank you for stopping by.  Please stay for biscuits.  Comments and feedback are definitely welcome (I always reply). Above all, stay yummy - it's not just a looks thing; it's a state of mind.*

*good job really - failing at the looks thing!

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 The "out of the mouths of babes" link up is still open, and new posts are being added to the list every day.  Feel free to pop on over for a giggle, or to add your own.  Click the button below!