The Pink Lining Black Cabs Wheelie Suitcase Review

Pink Lining are a brand that I can often be found lusting over, they have an entire range of beautiful bags from extremely practical changing bags to wheelie suitcases, and as you would expect they all come in the most stylish of designs and include the coveted pink lining!

I am the very proud owner of the Yummy Mummy Blue Bouquet bag that I have been using since last October and it is still serving me well now. So when the chance came around to add the Black Cab Wheelie Suitcase to my Pink Lining shrine, I was very quick to take the opportunity by both hands.

I was sent the suitcase a few months ago on the run up to Brit Mums Live so that I could take it along as my weekend bag. It was the perfect choice as it allowed me to take a great variety of clothing and fit in absolutely everything I needed for the weekend. 

The suitcase is absolutely beautiful, it is made out of cotton canvas and laminated in EVA coating so that it is easy to wipe clean. I love the black taxi cab design and think it looks really great, I have certainly had many compliments from friends, family and passers by on just how super my suitcase is. I have to say that I am more than inclined to agree with them.

The wheelie case has a metal frame and casing in order to create extra luggage capacity, it is incredibly easy to pull along and even when full is easily transported. The bag boasts a large outside pocket which I have found incredibly valuable for storing my mobile phone and other items such as my Brit Mums Live ticket! It would be just as handy for travel documents and essentials you may need direct access too sooner rather than later.

On the Inside of the bag you will find the traditional Pink Linking along with a zipped pocket for any other valuables that you want to store away. There is a padded strap that you can add onto the bag so that you can carry it on your shoulder easily without it becoming to un-comfortable. If you are traveling light then this strap is perfect, especially if you cannot pull it along for any particular reason. This bag is described as being perfect for fitting in an airplanes overhead lockers, I haven't got poof of this yet but I am travelling to Cyprus in August and plan on using this bag as my hand luggage so I can confirm this then.

The handles and shoulder strap are thick and pad out the strap perfectly and the entire look of the bag tells me that it is built to last a long time. 

Brit Mums was not the first time I used this bag as I used it back in May to go away for a week in Devon. I managed to pack everything I would need for an entire week and that is including my own clothes as well as Leo's, I did pack light and the suitcase was full to the brim but I managed to comfortably pack absolutely everything in there. 

Bag Dimensions:

51cm in length by 21.5cm in height, by 29cm in width

I travelled with the suitcase on the train and then hopped into a taxi on my journey to Brit Mums. I was really thankful for the suitcase as it was so simple to navigate the hustle and bustle of London with it just wheeling along behind me looking pretty. I knew that on the way back this suitcase may be a little heavier what with all of my Brit Mums goodies, so I had deliberately packed light to leave enough room to pack a number of the goodies away for the journey home. 

I really love this bag and I would highly recommend it for weekends away, or even a week away. I found the size perfect for my personal needs and think that it will be the perfect solution to my hand luggage in August, god knows I need to pack a lot to keep my little man entertained on a....4 hour flight!

The Black Cab Wheelie Suitcase retails at £105.00 but at the point of writing this review it is on a special sale offer at £52.50. If you are swooning over this suitcase then NOW is the time to get it on order, as this bag is absolutely beautiful and sure to turn a few heads on it's travels. Not forgetting that this bag is completely practical and going to last you a long time.

Disclaimer: I was sent the Pink Lining Black Cab Wheelie Suitcase for the purpose of this review however all views and opinions expressed are completely honest and my own.

Brit Mums Live 2013 - The Aftermath

Last weekend I visited Brit Mums Live thanks to my sponsor Hilary's Blinds.

 I joined hundreds of other bloggers and descended upon the Brewery for a weekend full of natter with like minded people. I hoped to go in with an open mind, learn and meet many of the bloggers I had been tweeting with over the past year and come away with a rejuvenated passion for what I do.

I have to admit, I did only glance at what talks were going on this year and went along to a few that I felt would be relevant to me, and the rest of the time I could be found schmoozing in the lounges or picking at the yummy nibbles that were on offer. 

I was so excited to finally be meeting a number of bloggers that I had been chatting with since I first started blogging, Nicola at Life Through My Eyes, Lisa at Holly Bobs and Rachel at Mummy Glitzer. Of course there were also bloggers who I was looking forward to having a catch up with, bloggers who I have been lucky enough to meet before, Bex at The Mummy Adventure who I am always happy to room share with, Emma at Crazy With Twins, Lucy at Dear Beautiful and Katie at Mummy Daddy and Me. Brit Mums really is the place to go when you want to put a face to a Twitter name!

I had the privilege of meeting Dawn at Mummys Little Peeps and Leyla from This Day I love and it was great being able to sit down and have a couple of bottles glasses of wine with everyone.

There were some truly remarkable speakers over the course of the weekend from the likes of Kirsty Allsop who was incredibly funny and down to earth, and the fabulous Katie Piper, who for me stole the whole show. Katie came on and spoke about everything that happened to her with incredible honesty and openness, she laid her soul bare to each and everyone of us in that room and I thought she was amazing.

I attended the Brand Panel Debate where the topic of discussion was what brands and bloggers really want from each other. Expectations really need to be set from the word go and in that very first email or phone call, there is no point in taking on a project that hasn't got a clear goal to work to. Then of course what happens when you have completed what you agreed to? Do you expect thanks? A retweet maybe? Again this is all something that should be discussed from the start so you know what will be happening when all is said and done. 

The second session that I attended was all about storytelling, sometimes I write a post and think to myself 'I could have put that down on paper in a much more interesting way' and then I begin to kick myself. So I am hoping to go back to my roots and make my posts more personal and more enjoyable.

'Stories come in many shapes and forms, each creation is a way to share our story'.

The Brit Mums lobby was bursting with people from all different walks of life with the same passion. We were all there because we love blogging and want to grow. I always find it interesting talking about blogging with other bloggers, they get it and they get you. Sometimes it can fall on deaf ears with family and friends that know your little secret, but not at Brit Mums Live.

Brit Mums Live is very focused around meeting brands and potentially helps you to create new working relationships. Last year I became a Panasonic Intelligent Living Mum and had a fantastic year working along side them on product reviews and work shops at their head office in Bracknell. It really did open up a fantastic opportunity for me to be a part of, so if you are thinking about coming along to next years Brit Mums, I say grab the chance with both hands and come along! 

I think my favourite part of Brit Mums has to be the Key Notes, I said exactly this last year. It is really great to hear from fellow bloggers sharing their greatest work on the big stage. Hearing the emotion that they put into each and every word they read. This year was incredibly emotional, we lost two of our own over the course of this last year. The two beautiful MM's, Multiple Mummy and Matilda Mae. 

I listened with my heart on my sleeve as friends paid tribute to those who couldn't be with us. But I am sure that both Multiple Mummy and Matilda Mae were there as Katie Perry's 'Firework' played through the room to a standing ovation of bloggers. Bloggers who were clapping along and thinking of everyone who's lives have been touched by both Matilda Mae and Kerry at Multiple Mummy.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jennie from Edspire over the weekend and I have to say she is amazing, and so is the fantastic Heather from SAHM Loving It and Susanne from Ghostwrittermumy, who both took to the stage and read Merry's words.

The whole room listened intently and the atmosphere was so powerful. 

The one thing I know, is that the blogging community will carry you through anything. If you need help they will be there, they will get you through and keep your head above water and I feel incredibly proud to be a part of it.

See you at Brit Mums Live 2013!

This Friday I am heading to London for Brit Mums Live, I have had this weekend marked on my calendar since the beginning of the year and excited does not even begin to cover how much I have been looking forward to it.

It is a time where I can be let loose and talk everything blogging with people who get it, Luke often looks at me blankly as it all goes straight over his head. It is a whole weekend where I don’t have to wait until Leo is napping or in bed before I can let the geek in me out of the bag.

The conference kicks off on Friday afternoon and goes on for the whole of Saturday, there are a number of different workshops going on over the two days, so I am going to have to narrow down the ones that I feel that I will get the most out of.

This year I must make sure I take more notes so that I can look back on what was discussed in the sessions, l want to be able to use what I learn to take my blog to the next level.

I attended last year not knowing what to expect from a blogging conference, but I know this year that I will be coming away with fresh ideas going forward, and a rejuvenated passion for what I do. I am looking forward to putting names to the faces of other bloggers that I have been tweeting with over the past year, and also meeting new ones and discovering new blogs to add to my ‘must read list’.

There will be a number of brands at this years Brit Mums Live such as Panasonic and Butlins. Last year I was chosen as a Panasonic Intelligent Living Mum which was a real honour and a fantastic experience. This year I hope to schmooze with Butlins and apply to be a one of their ambassadors, I think Leo would absolutely love this now he is that little bit older.

I am really excited about this year’s Bloggers Key Notes and look forward to hearing some amazing bloggers recite their best work. Last year there wasn't a dry eye in the house through the laughter from Claire at Ministry of Mum and the most personal of posts from Hayley at Downs Side Up.

It was amazing hearing the author’s of the posts read them exactly as they were meant to be read. You can hear the feeling in their voice, the sentiment. You laugh with them and you cry with them and that is why the bloggers key note is my favourite part.

I am being sponsored to attend Brit Mums Live by the lovely people at Hilary’s Blinds, I am really grateful to them helping me out and sending me along to be with everyone this weekend.

You can find Hilary’s Blinds on their website, and you can also connect with them on their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

For those of you attending Brit Mums I will see you on Friday!