Each month we profile a different Canadian Food Blogger who is part of the FBC community. This month we meet Bella, food lover, freelance food and lifestyle writer living on the Pacific coast.
Blog name: XOXO Bella
Where were you born? New Westminster, BC
Where are you living now? Port Hardy, BC
Why did you start your blog?
I have learning disabilities and during high school my mom suggested that I start a blog to write about things that I liked. It all started in 2005 to practice writing and create some positives in my life. Cooking and taking photos were both things that brought me joy, and they still do.
How did you decide on your blog name?
xoxoBella was something that I thought represented me and would be a blog name that could grow with me over the years. I have travel and lifestyle content to my blog along with food, so it is a good fit.
What do you blog about?
I started out as a food blogger in high school, and it soon started to include fashion content with daily outfits that I shared. After high school, I got the travel bug and added blogs of all my trips. However, recipes have always been the core of my blog and what I invest the most time and resources into. My recipes are diverse, and they are what I enjoy eating and making for others.
Is your blog your business, your hobby or something in between?
My blog and social media (@bellabucchiottion Instagram) are both my full-time business. I dropped out of college after the first year to pursue it full time.
What post on your blog most encapsulates you and why?
I enjoy sharing everyday easy dishes and also Italian family recipes. This tuna and white bean salad is a meal that I was served often growing up, and I still enjoy it today. You can make it easily with canned tuna or as shown on the blog with grilled tuna. It is quick, easy and full of fond memories.
Which post do you wish received more love and why?
This ribollita soup is the most amazing dish and everyone that makes it raves about it. This is my Nonna’s recipe, and I am happy that I have been able to start to document her recipes.
Which post’s success surprised you and why?
There are a lot of ginger molasses cookies out there, but this one continues to do well. When I was working on the recipe, I had a friend try them (since I am now celiac and can’t eat gluten), and she said it was exactly like a Starbucks cookie. Well, others agree with that! It also turns out perfectly using gluten free one-to-one flour, so that is a bonus.
What’s your biggest challenge as a blogger?
Time! There are so many things on the to-do list every day. Even with help, I always feel behind.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a blogger?
I feel like blogging is a serious of lessons, and these three things are my biggest take-aways from the last 8 years:
1. Consistency is key. Blogging and social media is a long game, and you need to keep regularly creating and updating content. You need to keep writing and keep creating. You never know what blog post will take off or what social post will get traction.
2. You need to try stuff to see if it works. Following what others say works for them won’t necessarily be useful for you. There is no magic formula, and it is ok to do things differently. If you tried some thing once and it didn’t work, that doesn’t mean you can’t try it again later. For me, Flipboard is a great example of that. I was on Flipboard for several years with minimal success. I recently starting using it again (since Meta sites don’t show Canadian news) and now have it as a traffic source that equals Pinterest.
3. Have a personal presence on your blog and social media. Others will connect with you as a person and find your blog. It is ok to be more than a food blogger and share that with readers/followers. You can love hiking, be a doting pet parent or you can be a travel enthusiast, too.
What are you working on next for your blog?
In Q1 I always dive into blog post updates, diving into stats. Updating old blog posts is really important to do year round, but I like to put a bigger emphasis on it during the slow down in Q1.
What else should we know about you that may or not be in your“ About Me” page?
Six years ago, when I was 19, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and also as a celiac. It was a huge change in my life! I take any opportunity I get to tell people to know the signs of T1D so you can recognize it in yourself or a family member.
What makes your blog unique?
You will find a bit of everything because it is not solely a food blog. I share crafts, travel, pets and more.
How do you cultivate a sense of community around your blog?
Social media is so important for this. People really enjoy watching stories of you doing everyday relatable stuff and making food that isn’t necessarily photo perfect. Being relatable is how I connect with my readers and followers.
What part of the FBC site do you find most useful?
I enjoy the Featured Foodie posts as it is a great way to find other Canadian food bloggers to support.
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