Figbar Norwich is a cake and dessert foodie mecca in Norwich, and Steph from Figbar kindly invited me to their metaphorical Christmas Dinner #FillOurTable which was a lovely Christmas campaign and was hosted on their blog.
To be included amongst restaurants, chefs, entrepreneurs, bloggers, managers, friends, and people of interest who they have come to know through their Figbar adventure makes me feel incredibly imposter-ish and quite proud too!
I have discovered some new interesting people to follow at the table, as well as already being sat next to (I hope) one of my best friends and super PR & blogger Leah!
The published post is here
Guest Post
"Just hear those sleigh bells jingling, ring-ting-tingling too... come on, it's lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you..." is playing through our sound system as our next guest arrives to #fillourtable here at our (fictional) Figbar Christmas Dinner Party! It's the simply gorgeous superwoman Emma Victor-Smith, founder of the excellent parent events company We Got This! (Sometimes). If you are reading this and are a parent, stop right now and follow We Got This! (Sometimes) on all social channels linked below (then come back and finish finding out about it's founder!). If you aren't a parent and reading this, stop right now and follow We Got This! (Sometimes) on the social channels linked below, all events aren't exclusively for parents or mums, like the upcoming Fashion Re:boot (also linked below), and often you'll find yourself thankful for the upbeat and positive quotes posted.
I first met Emma after the launch event of We Got This (Sometimes). The name of her company alone made me feel like she may be my kindred spirit. It turns out, she is absolutely brilliant. Fearless, positive, hardworking, dedicated, motivated, but, and probably most importantly, honest and real. She is all these brilliant things, but she also will tell you like it is- days will be hard, parenting can be rough; life can be rough, but that doesn't mean you can't find the smiles. Which this superwoman does for sure. I'm am so incredibly inspired by her attitude towards starting a company as a young parent and the community that she has already created because of it. I am so grateful that she's here to #fillourtable and share her experiences. Our Fine City certainly has a lot of gems, and Emma Victor-Smith is one of them.
I am thrilled to introduce Emma Victor-Smith, founder of We Got This! (Sometimes) as the next guest to #fillourtable!
But first....
Upcoming events… We Got This (Sometimes!) presents:
Busting the Supermum Myth with Anya Hayes at St Giles Hotel, 19/1/2018, 10am
The Scummy Mummies Show at Norwich Playhouse, 31/1/2018, 20:00
Fashion Re:boot at The Narthex, The Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist, 23/2/2018, 19:00
OK, Emma, welcome to our ideal dinner party!
Name: Emma Victor-Smith
What you do: Founder of Parent Events business We Got This! (Sometimes) and Freelance Brand Consultant
A Bit About Emma: I'm Emma, Norfolk girl (went to school in Bradwell and Gorleston, have settled in Hethersett), wife to (long suffering) Mike, and mum to two children, 4 and 11 months. My background is delivering design and marketing projects for food manufacturers and retailers and I’m still dabbling in that a little. My new project is creating lovely, laidback, fun, sometimes glamorous events for parents in Norwich and the surrounds, called We Got This (sometimes) (as in all honesty no parent has got it, all the time).
Find Emma:
instagram @wegotthissometimes
facebook WeGotThisNorwich
twitter @we_got_this_s
#fillourtable
1. You are at our Christmas dinner party, aside from us, who would you have at your ideal table and why?
My husband! He has been away a lot. If we could squeeze lots of people in, also my friends, we are mostly with kids or live across the country, I’d love to have everyone in one room in real life, not just on what’s app! Only adults though, so we could finish conversations.
2. What foods are you most thankful for?
I love food so much, and miss eating out now we have little ones (we used to go out A LOT when we lived in the city centre before children)! So anything cooked by anyone else, at home or out, out. Marmite on toast and a cup of tea is my big love. I also love steak. And very dark chocolate.
3. What is your most cherished family tradition regarding food?
To be honest, I tried to keep out of the kitchen growing up, now I enjoy cooking if I have lots of time and a recipe (so hardly ever!). I did like making cranberry sauce one christmas eve (with vodka) with my parents, and my mum taught me to make a delicious stuffing. In our home, a Sunday roast has a special feeling (for about 5 minutes until it all goes wrong!).
4. What act of kindness has made the biggest/greatest difference to your life?
So so many! I am not sure how far back to go. Most recently, it has been my husband, friends and family who have their own issues, challenges, day-to-day routines and yet supported the launch of We Got This (sometimes) in such amazing and different ways. It can be isolating and paranoia creeps in so much when you are a mum. Especially if you are self employed. You have to have some grit and I have grown (?) a brass neck but the support and words of encouragement, being the first guest speaker, specially discounted training, social media sharing, ad hoc babysitting, hands on help, contacts of contacts, proof reading and more, they were and are all acts of kindness. It all has a huge ripple effect as I can help others with the business - I think if everyone is benefitting in various ways it is the best outcome - I love collaborating.
5. What is the best compliment you have ever received?
I am not sure about ever received, that would probably be if a client ever said a piece of work was outstanding as I can’t help but be a perfectionist (I’m trying to lower standards now for obvious reasons!). Recently, some lovely women have contacted me privately to say how brilliant they think We Got This is, and that they found it inspiring, which makes me feel like an imposter but also very happy inside. Very recently, two of my friends children on two separate occasions gave me a spontaneous kiss which makes my heart burst!
6. If you had a dollar/pound to give to anyone in the world, who would you give it to and why?
To Get me out of These Four Walls, a local charity for mums suffering with post-natal depression, it is such an important charity as it is difficult enough after having a baby, so to get out and meet other mums who understand your brain is such a tonic, I hope to support it next year.
Thank you, Emma! We can't wait to see more of you around Norwich at these awesome events!
