Welcome back to the Blogger Spotlight Interview. This week we have Michelle from The Intolerant Mum taking part in the Blogger Spotlight interview.
If you would like to take part, and your blog is under six months old, or has been re-launched in the last six months, please email me randommusings29@gmail.com
1 Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself
Hi, I’m Michelle, 35, mum of two (daughter aged 7 and small boy, 2) and wife of one. I’m originally from Up North but now live in Surrey. I’m a true northerner and enjoy chatting to strangers, eating things with gravy and having a glass of wine rather than a glaaaass. In my past life I was a Recruitment Manager for an investment bank but have mostly been a stay at home mum since my daughter was born. I am food obsessed and many moons ago I studied English Literature at University, so blogging marries my passions of food and writing.
2 What is your blog’s name and what is it about?
The Intolerant Mum. I’m intolerant of wheat, dairy and my kids so the name fits perfectly! I blog about my favourite gluten and dairy free ‘clean eating’ recipes and my parenting highs and lows. Mainly lows…
3 Why did you decide to start a blog?
I often struggle to find decent free-from recipes online, especially ones that don’t contain wheat or dairy. Those I do find are very often American and I have to translate ingredients and quantities. And by and large, a lot of the recipes just don’t work! So I wanted to share my own recipes which are simple, tasty and nutritious. I have wanted to write a blog for ages but didn’t know where to start. Then, last summer I saw a link on Facebook for Digital Mums, they retrain mums to be Social Media Managers and I loved what I read! Before I applied, I decided to dip my toe in the waters of Instagram and Twitter and I realised I could blog anonymously, and so The Intolerant Mum was born!
4 Do you have any goals for your blog?
On a basic level, I would love to post more regularly but it’s hard to balance with family life, plus studying. My longer term goals are to find more blogging networks and communities to interact with. I have a few on Twitter and Instagram but would love to build on this. It is the sense of community that I love most about the blogging world; it’s so rewarding. I would also love to be a bit braver and do some vlogging and recipe videos. Lastly, I would also like to be much more active on my Facebook blog page, it needs a bit of TLC!
5 Tell us one random fact about you
I am a truly terrible singer, literally, honestly 100% tone deaf. I was blissfully unaware of this fact until I was about 12, when everyone at our school had to audition for the school choir. I was the only girl in the entire year group not to be invited to join. Whenever they went to practice I had to sit with the mean boys who quickly cottoned on that I must be tone deaf. I would like to be able to laugh about my shocking voice but I’m so scarred from the awful choir experience that I am mainly just mortified by it. A karaoke night would be my worst nightmare. Just writing ‘karaoke’ has made my toes curl, my heart pound and given me goose bumps.
6 What is the best piece of blog related advice you have received so far?
It’s a total cliche, but write as though no one is reading it. It’s easy to over think it and for doubt to creep in, so just write from the heart and write for yourself.
7 What is your favourite thing about blogging?
As I mentioned above, I love the sense of community on Instagram and, in particular, Twitter. I had no idea such a network of amazing women (and a few men) existed and it’s really empowering, especially when you do doubt yourself occasionally. I’ve met some really inspiring people through blogging.
8 Is there anything you would do differently if you were starting over knowing what you know now?
I wouldn’t accidentally ‘out’ myself by linking up my blog Instagram to my personal Facebook! I had been blogging anonymously for a couple of months and one day linked up the wrong accounts. I was horrified when I realised what I had done! I’ve found it harder to write since then, as I am very aware that my blog is being read by people I know. For the same reason, if starting over, I probably wouldn’t to a Facebook blog page at all and would just stick to my lovely anonymous Twitter and Instagram until I was fully in my comfort zone and ready to tell the world what I was doing!
9 Anything else you’d like to share with us?
Hopefully you will see a bit more blog and social media activity from me now that I have started my Digital Mums course. I will also be sharing any social media and time saving tips I find along the way so watch out for those!
10 Where can we find you? (blog link and links to any social media)
BLOG https://theintolerantmum.com
TWITTER https://twitter.com/Intolerant_mum
INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com
thank you for sharing!