You done for Christmas organisation yet? Meh, by this stage don’t even worry about it. Bung on the bird, pop the cork, relaaaaaaaaax!

It’s been an amazing, crazy, slightly bonkers year on Muddy – I can’t quite believe another 12 months has come and gone! Here are some of the Muddy highlights of 2017, glad you’ve been around for the ride!

 

JAN

January went off with a bang (and my stress levels did a little hike) with the launch of extra nine Muddy counties including Devon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. Because, you know, why have nine Muddy counties when you can have 18?!

 

FEB

Muddy made the finals of the UK National Blog Awards. Didn’t get the cigar this year, but still ended up as one of the Top 8 Arts and Culture blogs in the UK. (*thud*).

 

MARCH

The entire Muddy site had a total redesign, making it mobile led, bookmarkable, and so goddam pretty it deserved its own catwalk.

APRIL 

Muddy and The Ivy collaborated on the launch of its Marlow restaurant with Muddy readers getting a week’s head start on pre-bookings (oh but it was my pleasure!). I wore my favourite baggy trousers for the event, all the better to eat myself to a standstill and then write the first official review.

MAY & JUNE

My favourite exhibition of the year – Colourscape at Waddesdon Manor (above). We found the 30 most romantic stays in the UK, fell in love with jumpsuits, jazzed up my jardin and I tried a fat blasting alternative to lipo.

In the meantime, The Muddy Awards crashed the internet! 600 entries per second were recorded at one point, and after a couple of false starts, they were the biggest awards we’d ever run with 30 categories and thousands of amazing local businesses. Was the pain worth it? Hmmm. Errrr. Ahemmm. YES!

JULY

Back to the business of blogging. Fine-dined in Buckingham; ombréd my hair in Beaconsfield; found the best green spaces in Bucks & Oxon; offered advice on taming teens; bombed down to the best beaches within 3 hours; tried team yoga in the garden. Generally Muddied myself good and proper.

 

AUG

Two weeks in Croatia. Not gonna lie, I slept for 14 days straight.

 

SEPT

Whoa! Three kids back to school, one seriously hungry blog and September was a great month to feed it. New fashion for the season, loads of artsy culture-y stuff to do, Legally Blonde reviewed, 5 star Cotswold retreat reviewed (a toughie), schools nosed around, plus I went to Stoke Park to do a joint talk with Kim, CEO of designer label Winser London. Not sure the older ladies present were quite ready for my references to Bianca Jagger and Studio 54 and sequin disco shorts which was kind of delicious!

OCT

The first ever Muddy Stilettos Literary Salon and (*phew*) it was sell-out. Part of the Thame Arts & Literature Festival, we fronted five amazing authors – Clover Stroud, Sasha Wilkins (aka Liberty London Girl), Alexandra Heminsley, Elizabeth Heathcote and Tasmina Perry. A great experience – I will definitely be doing more live stuff in 2018, so do let me know what you want to listen to and I’ll organise it!

NOV

Flashdance reviewed (OMG, so much fun!!!!!). Cliveden spa reviewed. Cosy pubs found and shared. Xmas Gift guides sorted nice and early for the first time ever. Panto guide ready (*double thud*). Midlife crisis, the reprise – the blonde ombré turned redhead.

DEC

Two weeks of the worst flu I’ve had ever (come on, feel my pain, it was a total nightmare!). More worthwhile was the biggest ever Muddy giveaway – nearly £3000 of designer goodies to say a heartfelt thank you for reading my musings over the year.

So that’s that, sayonara 2017. I’m signing off now so I hope you have a wonderful Xmas and New Year. I’ll be back with a vengeance in 1 Jan, ready to help you goddam own 2018!

Hero xx