Today we’d like to introduce you to Bianca Garcia.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Bianca. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started Confessions of a Chocoholic ten years ago. I’ve always loved to write and I’ve always loved to eat, so I figured might as well marry my two passions. My blog started off like any other back then – it was a mishmash of articles, small/dark pictures, and topics all over the board (ranging from shampoo to cookies to shoes). A few years in, when I was doing my masters at Harvard, I took a Food Writing class and decided to really do that: write about Food. And as well all know, food is more than just sustenance – it’s a universal language that we all speak and understand. It’s really about family, culture, and love. So I began sharing more of my stories, taking the time to write well, post better pictures, and in general just post quality content that I’m proud of. Over the years, my little blog has evolved and grown over the years, as I have. It has opened up so many doors and given me so many opportunities.
Today my blog is a destination not just for my favorite recipes, but for capsule restaurant reviews, travel adventures, and my personal stories. Yes, I’m still obsessed about my hair and cookies and shoes. But I also talk about my husband, vacation life, favorite TV shows and books, my family in the Philippines, my job as an advertising professional, and so much more – all the things that make my life richer and sweeter. These are my true confessions.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. I have a fulltime career in advertising (I’m currently VP/Director for Digitas, Boston’s largest ad agency) so I have to really make an effort to work on my blog. It started as a hobby, and luckily enough, I became part of an ever-growing group of marketers/influencers who collaborate with brands and agencies. So I know that I am very fortunate to get paid to do what I love, and I appreciate how lucky I am. But that doesn’t mean that it’s easy! I worked really hard, and continue to work hard, for this. I need to be on top of schedules, contracts, content calendars, events, etc. I need to make sure I have fresh ideas, good writing, beautiful photos, and community engagement. I treat my blog as my own brand, and I’m constantly trying to find the balance between personal and professional. There has been times where I’ve considered quitting, but in the end my heart wins – I love blogging, the community that I belong to, the opportunities that have been offered to me, and the people I’ve met along the way. So I’m still here! And I’ve learned to embrace everything that comes along with having the blog.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Confessions of a Chocoholic – what should we know?
Confessions of a Chocoholic is a food blog, but I also write about my travels, my family, being Filipino, and other life musings. Its equal parts memoir, recipe collection, restaurant review database, and travel diary. I enjoy a balanced life, so while I do have an affinity for rich, indulgent foods, I keep everything in moderation. (And by moderation I mean always having room for dessert.) My followers know me for being authentic and having a friendly, approachable voice – my recipes are never intimidating!
Not a lot of people know this but when I moved to the US 14 years ago, I barely knew how to cook. I didn’t even know how to make rice (bad Asian) and I had to Google how to boil an egg. Now I make risotto, French style scrambled eggs, layered cakes, and all sorts of delicious things. So I’m very proud of the fact that I now have a food blog that I get to develop recipes for brands, and that I get the opportunity to share my favorite things with the world.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Writing about food, people, and places that I really love has made my blog an extension of my life, and that authenticity is important. There’s been a lot of changes over the years – the rise of social media, the ways that brands and PR agencies work with influencers, the job opportunities available, etc. – so being flexible and open to evolving is necessary. I credit hard work and luck 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.confessionsofachocoholic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confessionsofachocoholic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConfessionsofaChocoholicBlog
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/biancagarcia
- Other: https://www.bosfilipinos.com/
Image Credit:
Bianca Garcia
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