Blogger’s Corner with Melanie from Fraser’s Fun House

The Blogger’s Corner series is an interview series featuring advice and experience from bloggers whose blogs are older than six months.

If you would like to take part, you can find all of the details here.

This week, we have the lovely Melanie from Fraser’s Fun House

1 Introduce yourself

My name is Melanie, a 30-something SAHM of 3 living in Cumbria. Our mad house consists of Mr F, my hubby, Thing 1 and 2 (my teenage daughters) and our Cheeky Monkey who is 4 and rules the roost. Just your average family trying to wing their way through life.

2 Tell us a little bit about your blog

Fraser’s Fun House is a place for me to share day to day fun and frolics from our mad house – along with anything else I hope readers might find interesting.

As a family we really enjoy days out so we will be sharing lots of those from our local area as well as further afield. Other interests include Christmas, reading and bagging a bargain so I’m sure those will feature too.

3 What can your readers learn from your blog?

Probably not a lot worth knowing – I would like to hope that as time goes on I can teach readers that there is no such thing as a perfect family, home etc.

I think we are often bombarded with pictures of inspiration for our homes and family and whilst they are stunningly beautiful for most they are simply unachievable. #

We are a real family and I plan to tell it like it is without the glossy finish.

4 What’s your favourite thing about blogging?

Writing has always been a massive passion which sadly has been side-lined for many years due to a significant lack of time (and energy) thanks to life getting in the way. Blogging has become my Me Time, allowing me to get those creative juices flowing.

5 And your least favourite thing about blogging?

Probably the lack of time I have for planning and writing – I need to have a notepad on hand at all times to jot down things I randomly remember when cooking tea etc. – my mind is not what it was before kids.

It is time consuming but as I continue my journey hopefully I will be able to plan my time better with less juggling.

6 Tell us one random fact about you

I am an only child, but have two step sisters, two half-sisters, two step brothers and one half-brother.

7 If you could only blog about one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Books – I LOVE books and they are one of my biggest passions – alongside my family and writing of course. My ideal job would most definitely be getting paid to read and write about books.

8 What was the hardest part of starting your blog and why?

The hardest part about starting my blog was having the confidence to put myself out there.

I have been through a rough time dealing with anxiety and depression in recent years which has had an enormous impact on my life stopping me from doing lots of things I once enjoyed.

I was given the opportunity a few months ago to write for The Socialite UK which has really helped me improve my self-confidence and belief that I can do it.

9 If you could give new bloggers one piece of advice, what would it be?

Believe in yourself.

I didn’t think anyone would want to read anything I wrote which held me back for years and I’m now kicking myself. I have been overwhelmed with the view numbers and followers I have gained in such a short space of time.

10 Is there anything you know now that you wish you’d known in the beginning?

I’m only just starting out on my blogging journey…ask me in a few months.

11 Do you have any long term goals for your blog?

I would love for my blogging to become something I could do full time as a career, however, I’m under no illusions as to how difficult it is to get to that level. For now, I am happy to have an outlet for my passion.

12 Who’s your blogging hero?

Anyone brave enough to start and blog and put themselves out there is a hero in my eyes as I feel it is a massive thing to do.

13 What’s your favourite social media network and why?

That’s a really hard question as until about 6 months ago I really only used Facebook and that was only on a personal platform – I had a personal Twitter but if I’m honest I didn’t really ‘get it’. However, since becoming involved in blogging I have obviously had to learn more and my favourite is now Twitter. I love how easy it is to share content on there and how fast paced the posts are.

14 Where can we find you? (blog link and links to any social media)

My blog, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.