About me

Contact: mari at marisworld dot co dot uk

At 19 years of age, in London, I met a drop-dead gorgeous Italian and was swept off my feet. He lived in Italy and I lived in England if it was to last one of us had to move.

So I did.

I saluted Great Britain eight months later and left the green, green grass of home (much to my mother’s distress) for the Dolomites where I lived in the mountain village of Folgaria for almost 18 years. I learnt to speak Italian fluently, I helped run the family hotel and I made some lifelong friendships.

My perfect life came crashing down in 2003 when my ex husband left me for one of our barmaids half my age (I know such a cliche!) and in the aftermath of that shock I had to find my feet and start all over again.

So I did.

I returned to Ol’ Blighty and fell in love with an Englishman who expressed his desire to one day be a father. Time was running out fast so I took my decision and put my heart and soul into what would prove to be a difficult project but the end result was our beautiful twin girls born in 2008.

I had also reinvented myself in the working industry only to be made redundant when only 10 weeks pregnant with them. No job to go back to 18 months after their birth but I needed to do something.

So I did.

I started blogging and Mari’s World was born in January 2010. I had no idea back then that Mari’s World would lead to what it is today, a fun and exciting project which allows me to write, be creative and reinvent myself continually.

Now on the right side of 40 and wishing a speedy menopause as I am so done with babies!

My oldest children live with their partners and children in North Italy and work in the family hotels and I live with my Englishman and the twins in Kent.

My CV includes a lifetime in the hotel and catering industry; I can make a proper expresso, turn down a bed and knock up a mean mojito all whilst taking your booking, accompanying you to your room and telling the lifeguard that the swimming pool needs a good clean. Tourism where I promoted Folgaria to the world and then Italy to the UK and a stint in the publishing world too.

I am a full time SAHM Great British Housewife, my most complicated position to date. The role isn’t clearly defined, the hours are not stipulated and there is no overtime but there is always something new, something exciting and something to be proud of.

I’m a Butlins Official Mum Ambassador and a Panasonic Intelligent Living Mum I trialled the MuTu System the Jenny Craig diet and WeightWatchers. I review lots of toys and cooking products, please see the specific pages set up for easier navigation and I am a Britax ambassador too.

My blog has led me to my new job, editor of the Brit Mums Blog and tomorrow I plan on world domination or maybe a quiet pension on a sunny beach somwhere.

I’m a great believer in ‘what will be will be’ but that doesn’t stop me entering the national lottery every week ‘Just In Case‘ and my two passions are chocolate and white wine. I love the smell of freshly cut grass, I love music, I like to laugh so hard it becomes infectious and I am a great tickler a skill my late father taught me but I hate to be tickled! And I always give everything I try my best shot.

Most of all I love people, meeting them, talking to them and creating friendships, some last – some don’t but I don’t give up until I’m convinced there’s nothing left to do.

Pet hates include lies, deception, half truths and bitchiness – tell me how it is, tell me straight and I will respect you forever for it. I try my utmost to live by the same high standards but I too am flawed, don’t be put off by it.

You can find me on Twitter (follow me) and my Facebook page – (Like it) and I’m on Google + too or email me mari [at] marisworld.co.uk

Mari x