Charlie…the one with the best blog name ever. This guest post is a sneak peek into the mind that is Mess and Merlot. In there you’ll find cake, and Sean Maguire. What more can I say…other than I once saw Sean Maguire perform at a Radio One roadshow Charlie. But let’s save that conversation for another day 🙂
Enjoy!
x MMT
Hi, I’m Charlie, you can find me over at www.messandmerlot.com yapping away about whatever happens to be bumbling around my brain.
I started my blog 5 months ago as a new challenge, something to keep me busy now my youngest had started BIG SCHOOL, the trauma excitement of our building work had finished and the festive season had come and gone. With absolutely no experience in writing and very little idea of how to ‘blog’ it certainly was a challenge and continues to keep me out of trouble while the kids are at school (or football, ballet, Scouts, asleep, on the loo….)
In this short time I’ve managed to figure a few things out, mainly that there’s a lot of stuff I still need to figure out but also that blogging is very, very addictive.
Hard work, but addictive.
I say hard work, I mean obviously there are people who do this properly, for a living, but I’m still very much in the novice camp. Although I love it, I’m aware that I really was clueless as to just how much ’blogging’ actually entailed. Sharp learning curve, Baptism of fire, Rebel without a Clue, whatever you want to call it, I’m still glad I decided to go for it.
So 5 months in and here’s the craic:
- I’ve discovered the magical world of linkys where you get to read and be read. Halleluiah!! Without them I seriously doubt anyone would be reading my nonsense.
- Through these I’ve found so many brilliant blogs/bloggers and discovered that the blogging community is welcoming, supportive, funny, honest, basically awesome.
- Social media has become my main source of entertainment. Twitter steals way too much of my time, Instagram is a thing of beauty and Pinterest is my fantasy mind palace. I don’t do the Facebeak yet, maybe one day. Twitter chats are a relatively new discovery but great fun a brilliant way to discover or get to know more about other bloggers.
- I’m actually writing. I mean, I’m sure there are real writers out there cringing at my too-long sentences, grammatical errors and poorly arranged paragraphs but I’m not gonna stress about it anytime soon.
- Blogging has become a much bigger part of my life than I imagined it would. It can be challenging and time consuming but you gain so much in return. I’ve found blogs and read posts that have made me laugh, made me cry, allowed new discoveries or made me question my opinions on matters that I would never have considered otherwise.
- Writing a blog is like free therapy. It can be a form of escapism or a way to face reality and work things out, with a little help from my blogging friends.
- I’m excited to see where my blog goes from here. I wrote a whole post about this but for now it’s early days. I’m trying not to focus too much on how my stats are looking or what ‘niche’ I fit into (unless you consider ‘Fabulous’ a niche, in which case…).
Everything you need to know about me:
- I was born in Dublin’s Fair City where I lived as a child before moving to N. Ireland. I went to university in Wales to study Fashion Design before moving to London where I met Himself. We now live in beautiful Bedfordshire with our two little scamps Spud (7) and Flump (5)
- I love cake! I bake LOADSA CAKE but rarely get to eat any because they’re usually for other people. After I left full time work I decided I wanted to start a home baking business, so I did and four years later I’m still fiddling about with fondant.
- Aged 5 I decided I wanted to work in Tesco. A neighbour found me there arranging packets of sausages and promptly returned me to my Mother, who by the way hadn’t even noticed I’d been gone. To be fair to her, Tesco wasn’t that far from home and it was in the days when kids were just turfed out to play with traffic between meals.
- Not long after this I cracked the code on my brother’s safe, stole his money and headed back to my previous place of employment to spend it all on the kiddy rides. Well if they wouldn’t let me get a job what’s a girl to do?!
- I was obsessed with Sean Maguire as a teenager and on a trip from Belfast to London with my parents, made them take me to Ilford, Essex where I used my SCARILY VAST KNOWLEDGE to track him down. Yes he was home. It basically made my life.
I think that covers all the really important stuff for now!
You can find me on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or of course my blog.
Cheerio for now!
Charlie. X
Mess and Merlot July 8, 2016
Eek – I am SO excited to feature on this week’s Meet The Members! I love this series so it’s great to have the chance to say hello and hopefully get to make some new bloggy friends (and wave at any old ones – cooee!!). Thanks for having me Sarah, have a great weekend. X
P.S. I’m pretty sure I was at that Roadshow too 🙂
MMT July 8, 2016
You too Charlie! Xx
thimumslife July 9, 2016
Oh my goodness, this is brilliant!! I’m so impressed that you heartily stalked, and managed to track down Sean Maguire at his house!!!!! That is amazing!! I remember the swooning over him, although I was more of a Paul Nicholls girl ! I also one time broke into my brothers safe-it was one of my greatest childhood achievements, as he’d always been so cocky about the fact I’d never find out what was in there! And found arranging sausages in tesco…!! Made me snort!! You have achieved loads in only 5 months of blogging, and I definitely count yours as one of my favourites. It has been lovely to find out more about the person behind the brilliant blog!! x
Mess and merlot July 30, 2016
Oh yes – Paul Nichols, he was quite the hottie too 🙂 Thanks for your lovely comment, it’s nice to know you enjoy my posts – it means a lot! x
Kaye July 14, 2016
Lovely to get to know Charlie a bit more, Mess & Marlow is such a fab blog name. #coolmumclub
Mess and merlot July 30, 2016
It pretty much sums my life up 🙂 x
beautybabyandme July 14, 2016
Ha ha great introduction Charlie – I’ve really enjoyed your posts so far, really witty and funny! Looking forward to reading many more. A fellow cake fan (even though I can’t bake)! xx #coolmumclub
Mess and merlot July 30, 2016
Oh thank you so much, it’s always lovely to hear that someone enjoys my posts. P.S. cake is always much more enjoyable when someone makes it for you anyway 🙂 x
powerporter July 14, 2016
Absolutely chuckling at you sorting sausages in Tesco!! Sounds like you have been on some adventures across nearly the entirety of the U.K.! Nice to meet you #coolmumclub
Mess and merlot July 30, 2016
I know – independant from an early age clearly!! Yes just Scotland to go really to complete the set 🙂
Mrs Lighty July 14, 2016
Love this! Charlie your blog is one of my faves so it’s good to find out more about you. You may also be jealous to know that I live about 20mins away from Ilford and therefore Sean Maguire… 😉 #coolmumclub
Mess and merlot July 30, 2016
Aww thank you so much – that really means a lot! Ha ha do you?? He’s actually a big Hollywood start now living in LA…apparently 😉
justsayingmum July 14, 2016
Aww so fab to learn more about you Charlie! I love your blogs and always look for them on linkys. Cannot believe you tracked down Sean Maguire – you so need to blog that experience out! #coolmumclub
Mess and merlot July 30, 2016
Oh thank you – it’s so lovely to hear you enjoy my posts, a real compliment as I have no idea what I’m doing really!! As you know I always enjoy your posts too, you are clearly a natural!! 🙂
Back With A Bump July 14, 2016
Sean maguire such a hunk!! I made my dad take me to Ronan Keatings house in Dublin when we were in Ireland on holiday. I sat in the cry and cried. Ah the joys of being 14. #coolmumclub
Mess and merlot July 30, 2016
God our poor parents, the things we do for our kids eh?! To be honest, I froze outside the house (the door was open and I saw him running upstairs), my Mum said something to the effect ‘We’re not bloody coming all the way from Ireland and standing outside the house for you to not meet him!!!’ Only for her I never would have been brave enough to go anywhere near the door!! Oh yes, the joys of hormones eh?! 🙂
pottyadventures July 14, 2016
It’s always great to get a bit more of the inside track on fellow bloggers. I think sometimes we create a blogging facade so features like this are great. I can’t believe you e only been blogging 5 months and the Sean Maguire obsession made me laugh.
Potty Adventures
#coolmumclub
Mess and merlot July 30, 2016
I agree, love this series for the same reasons. x
Robina - Babylists July 14, 2016
Nice to meet you! Love this post so will definitely be checking out your blog! X
Mess and merlot July 30, 2016
You too- thanks Robina 🙂
Mother of Teenagers July 14, 2016
Charlie you are clearly multi-talented. A great writer, baker and detective! You are in a league of your own. Lovely to read more about you. #coolmumclub
A Mum Track Mind (@amumtrackmind) July 14, 2016
Lovely to read a bit more about you Charlie! Haha how scary that you tracked down Sean! I mean its skilled but scary lol. Good luck with your blog – your writing is warm and funny and I know you will go on to do great things with it #coolmumclub
ljdove23 July 14, 2016
Lovely to read a bit more about you, love your blog! I too love cake, loads of it!! Laughed so much at Sean Maguire, I used to love him too!! #coolmumclub
Coffee & Bubbles July 14, 2016
A great introduction, it’s always great to read more about the people behind the posts! It sounds like we have a few bits and pieces in common! #collmumclub
Mrs Morgan Plus 3 July 14, 2016
hehe love this popping over to your blog now 🙂 xx #coolmumclub
thetaleofmummyhood July 14, 2016
I love posts like these, its great to get to know the person behind the blog! I LOVE cake also, cant get enough! Haha!
#coolmumclub
teacuptoria July 14, 2016
Hi Charlie, lovely to meet you. I’ll pop over to your blog and have a nosey! Glad you’re enjoying blogging, isn’t everyone lovely and so supportive. It’s like a big mums coffee morning 🙂 Tor xx #coolmumsclub
Lisa Robb (@workingmumy) July 14, 2016
I loves types of posts! Can’t believe you only started 5 months ago!! Looks great!!
L X
http://workingmumy.blogspot.com
#CoolMumsClub
motherhoodtherealdeal July 14, 2016
Ahhhh I’m a big fan of Charlie and her blog so it’s great to get to know her a little better. Loving all our fab #coolmumclub mamas! xxxx
Cheryl @ Tea or Wine July 14, 2016
You know I’m a fan Charlie – especially of your cakes even you do put mine to incredible shame!!! Great to find out more about you. Can’t believe you tracked down Sean McGuire! I used to work in Ilford! #CoolMumClub xx
Something About Baby July 14, 2016
So lovely to see you featured, I’ve recently discovered your blog and love it! I hope you don’t hate me when I say I had to google who Sean Maguire is, and still don’t know 🙁 but I do love cake (eating and baking!) #coolmumclub
MMT July 14, 2016
You must be so young…Don’t know sean Maguire?! 😉
Something About Baby July 14, 2016
Ha, I apologise, I think I am too young
Emma Plus Three July 14, 2016
I started around the same time, almost 6 months for me. It really is addictive isn’t it? And so much more time consuming than I ever expected x #coolmumclub
twolittlepiggles July 14, 2016
Love mess and Merlot great to find out more about the voice behind the blog! #coolmumclub x
Dr Mummykins July 14, 2016
Lovely to know more about you! Hurrahh for grammatical errors and long sentences…I’m with you! haha! #coolmumclub
absolutely prabulous July 15, 2016
Charlie Charlie Charlie. You are flipping brilliant (but I’ve already told you before). The Tesco paragraph…snorted. The bit about figuring out there is still loads to figure out. But woah woah WOAH! What is this? You mean you don’t just blog…you also run a cake business?! How do you do it?! Great post (surprise surprise not) #CoolMumClub
Rhyming with Wine July 15, 2016
I’m still a little bit in awe of the fact that you bake actual cakes, and now I find that we share a love of not only wine but also Sean Maguire? Charlie – you are so #cool that I may have to start stalking you! (Except that I’m useless and don’t have much in depth knowledge of myself let alone anyone else? ) Lovely to hear more about you. Love your no 1 groupie xx
Thanks for sharing MMT! You know I love this series xx #coolmumclub
Mess and merlot August 25, 2016
Pa hah, everyone needs a cake-making, wine-guzzling, Sean Maguire- stalking friend!! 🙂 x
mumworkrepeat July 16, 2016
Absolutely loving your stalking of Sean Maguire, made me spit out my tea! I’ve been blogging for a similar amount of time and like you have been on a steep learning curve. One moment I’m in love with it, the next minute I’m like “why am I doing it, when there are so many talented writers out there!” Lovely to read more about you…I live in Herts so not far away at all! #coolmumclub
tammymum July 17, 2016
Hi Charlie, loves reading this, and your blog incidentally. You definitely covered all the important bits there id say. Also MMT – you’re so right – best blog name.ever. Xx
Mess and merlot August 25, 2016
Hee hee why thank you! 🙂
thealohamummy July 17, 2016
Lovely intro to you!! Totally get the Sean thing! He once came to Torquay on the Mizz (remember that magazine?!) Roadshow!!!!
I love hearing from bloggers who one just assumes are uber professional and expert at the craft and yet they are only a few months ahead of where I am! It’s so encouraging and I totally agree…addictive!! X #coolmumsclub
Mess and merlot August 25, 2016
Aww thanks- nooooo definitely not uber professional, just winging it mostly 🙂 x