A couple of Fridays ago I was lucky enough to go to the MADS Awards 2015.
A real case of –
‘Yes Cinderella — you shall go to the ball!’
The finalists were announced earlier in the year. And when I saw my blog’s name in that list — I absolutely couldn’t believe my eyes. Such a shock (in a good way).
Although I’ve been writing my blog for almost 3 years, I only recently made the move to a self hosted site. I decided to start taking the whole thing a bit more seriously — at the start of this year.
So on January 9th, my new self-hosted site was purchased.
I’m not entirely sure how long it took me to make it look presentable! And switch from the free WordPress to the one you see today. But it’s been a lot of hard work over the last few months, that’s for sure.
Instead of posting every few weeks, I’ve been posting 3 or 4 times a week. Been taking on lots of crafty projects that require ridiculous amounts of time and effort.
Like the birdhouse upcycle I posted last week or the little shoe-rack that I turned into a bench-seat.
I’ve learned to create movies. No mean feat either; to begin with there was much swearing as I couldn’t work out how to use the editing software!! ;) I’m really proud of the little film I made for Camp Bestival and I’m learning how to vlog too. Here’s my latest attempt :)
I’ve been made an ambassador for some fabulous brands and reviewed some fantastic products along the way too.
All in all, the last 8 months have been a whirlwind.
Juggling the blog. Working part time for my design business. Looking after twin toddlers. Plus everything else that life throws at us has been pretty tricky. Some days most days I feel like a hamster on a wheel. I love my blog — and I take everything about it pretty seriously. The writing, photography, content but, boy, it’s time consuming. And when you’re already short on time, it can be pretty exhausting at times.
So to make that final was awesome.
A real treat and a lovely reward for all the hard work.
Some of my blogging bests — Julia, Karen and Sarah — and I, got to stay in a lovely apartment in Kensington for the night, courtesy of the lovely folk at Citybase Apartments.
I got to have my hair done by the amazing Powder Puff Girls — and drink Prosecco. Very spoiling and very much appreciated!! :)
Plus I met some really lovely bloggers for the first time; some that I’ve commented on their blogs regularly plus some new faces.
I also got to catch up with some lovely folk who I’d previously met at Britmums or BlogCamp, earlier in the year.
And whilst I didn’t win a prize, it really was a big enough treat just to be there.
I seem to have found myself in a sub-culture that I never knew existed! A lovely industry — with lovely people — and I feel so proud to be a part of it.
Congratulations to all the prizewinners — particularly my friend Karen who’s blog Mini Travellers scooped the prize for Best Travel Blog and Hayley, who won the award for Outstanding Contribution, with her blog Downside Up. She’s been instrumental in bringing awareness — and changing people’s perceptions — to Down’s Syndrome.
All in all it was a fabulous event.
Finger’s crossed I’ll be lucky enough to go again next year! :)
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
Awww, I love you. You’re so humble. Your blog is an absolute delight and you so deserved to be there on the night xx
Aah thanks so much pet. That’s lovely of you. The category was such a tough one — to be on the shortlist with some of those names was amazing!! Particularly as there could only be one winner.The calibre of the other runners up was incredibly high — such an honour to be on that list xx
congrats on making the finals Caro. Looks like a great time
Thanks so much Jeremy — it was fab. Feel a bit now like I’ve dreamt the while thing!! ;)
Aww congratualtions on being a finalist. You looked lovely. And well done on your blog. It is such a labour of love x #TwinklyTuesday
Thanks so much lovely :) It IS a labour of love isn’t it? I felt so chuffed to see my blog on that list — still can’t quite believe it!!
Congratulations on the nomination! It looks like you had a fantastic time — and what a gorgeous outfit! #twinklytuesday
Thanks so much Jennifer! :) It was SUCH a good night. If you’d have told me, this time last year, that I would have been a finalist at a blogging awards, I’d have probably laughed!! I still can’t believe my luck!! :)
This looks like so much fun! To stay in an apartment and go out for the night with prosecco is a dream for us mum’s isn’t it? Looks like a fab bunch of people and a top night, thanks for sharing it with us! Lizzie xo #TwinklyTuesday
Haha!! Too true! The whole thing was so fabulous — but the Prosecco definitely made it a little more so ;)
Oh you took some lovely photos. Is that a yellow coat I spy? Hmm.. I’m jealous of that if it is! Looks like you had a fabulous time, whilst also looking rather gorgeous xxx
Thanks lovely :) Yep — I love my yellow jacket :) Pretty partial to a little bit of yellow!! ;)
Sounds like you had a fab night. Congratulations on the nomination. That’s huge in itself. You definitely deserve it as your blog is fab. Fingers crossed for next year
#twinklytuesday
Thanks so much Sam!! :) And I totally agree — I never expected to see my blog on that list in a million years!!! Thanks SO much :) That really means a lot xx
Ah, well done you! I love seeing my favourite bloggers rewarded for their hard work. It can be an overwhelming business so having your efforts recognised is really fantastic. Congratulations, very well deserved xx
Thanks so much pet. I was up against some REALLY big bloggers so it sort of felt a bit surreal!! They have a really big following so I didn’t really stand a chance but it was lovely to make that final :)
Huge well done on getting to the final, I don’t know how I missed that!! Sounds like a lovely night well deserved!
Thanks SO much lovely! It was a brilliant night — so pleased to have been there :)
Congrats on being nominated! What a fun experience! Isn’t it nice when all your hard work is recognized?
Thanks so much Valerie! It’s SO nice for all the effort and hard work to be recognised. Even though I didn’t win, it was still such a fabulous experience!
I’d love to go one day – looks like such a fun night and great to meet so many bloggers #twinklytuesday
It was SO much fun!! Lovely to see so many of the bigger, more well known, bloggers whose blogs I’ve been reading for a while. Such a treat to be there :)
Ah I love your piccys…you look awesome and that apartment! Wow!It looked like a brill night and well done you on being a finalist xx Thanks for hosting x
Thanks so much Sarah!! :) xx
What a fabulous time! Congrats on making it to the final. I’m sorry you didn’t win but I’m glad you got to meet your blogging buddies, get your hair done & enjoy the evening! Thanks so much for hosting #TwinklyTuesday x
Thanks so much Becky — that’s lovely of you xxxx
OH lovely it was such an amazing night and it was so good to finally meet you! I love your blog and know how hard you work on it, you totally deserved to be up there! Can’t wait to meet up again soon. Oh and I’m glad you got that photo of Sarah doing my hair! xxx
It was SO good to finally meet you too!! Felt like I’d known you for ages :) Thanks so much pet — that really means a lot xx
Well done on making the finals, well deserved and how gracious of you to write such a lovely post even without winning. I loved your birdhouse post and your vloggs make me giggle. keep up the good work Mrs, Listed Home is awesome! #TwinklyTuesdays
Aaah thanks so much Ali — that’s really, really lovely of you :)
Sounds like a fantastic evening, well done on how far you have come. x
Thanks so much Caroline xx
You are doing so well with your blog, it has a real processional feel.
Just making it to the MADs is huge so well done you! It looks like you had an amazing time and it is an experience that many other bloggers, myself included, can only dream about. Maybe one day…
#TwinklyTuesday
Thanks so much Leanne — that’s lovely of you. It was an amazing experience — if you’d have told me, this time last year, that I’d have been there I just wouldn’t have believed it!! :)
Sounds like you’ve been on an amazing blogging journey! Well done on all your success x #TwinklyTuesday
Thanks so much lovely :) It’s been a crazy year, that’s for sure!! :)
Awww what a crazy year!! I am so much admiration of you, I struggle to balance it all with one toddler let alone two! I love your blog, you should be so proud of what you’ve achieved. Congratulations on making it to the finals. x #twinklytuesday
Aah that’s so lovely of you Chloe — thanks so much :) It’s a hard juggling act, that’s for sure!! It’s going to be a bit of a struggle over the next couple of years but, after that, *hopefully* things may get a little easier :) x
It was lovely watching all the photos appearing on Twitter and Instagram that night! definitely inspiring to all us newbie bloggers. And as everyone else has said, you absolutely deserved it. X MMT #twinklytuesday
Aaah thanks so much pet!! It was so bizarre to be there — such a treat!!! :)
Ah it was an amazing night wasn’t it? and such a pleasure to spend time with all you lovely ladies xxx
Hanging out with you girls was the best bit for me!!! I would have felt a little bit shy if I’d been there on my own. Being with my blogging buddies made it feel like a proper party!! :) x
It did look like an amazing night. Congratulations on making the final – such a great achievement especially as you’ve only been doing it all seriously for eight months. Is that really all it is?! X #twinklytuesday
Thanks so much Claire!! Yes! Crazy isn’t it? It’s been a lot of hard work but SO worth it :)
Congratulations on making the finals! Sounds like you all had a fab night :) You’ve achieved so much in under a year, well done! Thanks for hosting #TwinklyTuesday
Debbie
Thanks so much Debbie!! It was a real ‘pinch me ‘ moment!! Couldn’t actually believe I was really there — and up for an award!! Crazy!
Ah this looks like such a fab event and a lovely recognition of all your hard work! Congratulations on making it to the final, that is a great achievement. I’m very interested in the story of how you went self hosted – it’s something I want to do but don’t have the guts just yet! Becky xx #TwinklyTuesday
Thanks so much lovely!! It was really, really easy. I have a fab company who look after the hosting. It was really straightforward — I’m so, so happy I went for it :) If ever you need help, just let me know. Am happy to pass on any info xx
What a fab night! You deserve to celebrate with your bloggie mates, as you say, blogging takes a serious amount of time and hard-work! Congrats on getting to the final, your blog is amazing and I love it :-D Sabrina xx #twinklytuesday
Aaah thanks so much lovely — that’s so nice of you xxxx
Such completely deserved success and you would have been a worthy winner, but I am so glad you had a fabulous time at the MADS x x x
Thanks SO much pet — that means such a lot :) Wish we’d all been there!! ;)
It was so fab to spend the weekend with you and thanks so much for the mention! xxxx
It was SO fun wasn’t it?!! So looking forward to seeing you again at BlogCamp :) xx
That looks fun! Glad you had a wonderful evening :) Thank you for hosting each week #twinklytuesday
Aah thanks so much — that’s really lovely of you xx
Soooo glad you got to go!! Looks like a wonderful time. Thanks for putting up with my rejiggering my routine for #TwinklyTuesday with the new job.
Aah thanks so much pet! And it’s been no bother at all – so glad you’ve found a job that you love x
Well done on making the finals luv, looks like you had a great night loving the dress and the hair :) too. A real achievement xx #TwinklyTuesday
Thanks so much pet — that’s lovely of you :) xx
OMG, someone else who loves ‘Gone with the Wind’…I’ve watched the movie about a hundred times (give or take!) and now I’m reading the book! (Great vlog, by the way;-) ) Also, congratulations on your blog nomination – such an achievement. #TwinklyTuesday
Aah thanks so much!! And yep — me too. I absolutely LOVE that film!!! :) x
It really was a great night wasn’t it? Loved hanging out with you and the other girls — we’re a lucky group aren’t we? Hope we’ll all be up for awards next year :) xx