Name: Jo-Anna Rooney
Blog name: A Pretty Life in the Suburbs
Where were you born? Calgary, AB
Where are you living now? Calgary, AB
Why did you start your blog?
My mom started a family blog for my sister and I to contribute to, but I soon discovered that I wanted free reign on a blog of my own, so the next day I started one! And much to my surprise I loved blogging, and haven’t stopped since, and that was 3 years ago.
How did you decide on your blog name?
I didn’t really know at the time when I first started blogging, what my niche would be, but I live in the suburbs and I love pretty things so I put the two together and came up with the name. If I were to do it all again, I would have chosen something else. But what can you do!
What do you blog about?
My blog is a lifestyle blog with home projects and tips, but I mainly blog about food. Food is where my real blog passion is!
What post are you most proud of and why?
I really love my Herb Roasted Pork with Brown Sugar & Rosemary Roasted Butternut Squash & Apples post (whew, long title I know, but there was just no way around it! J). We love this recipe so much, but I really love this post because I have such fond memories of cooking in the fall. And this post takes me back to a nice and cozy time. I also love it because I feel like my blogging and photos took a good turn in this post. I feel like I’m really coming into my own style and this post was the start in helping me get there.
Which post do you wish received more love and why?
I love my Summer Roll Salad Bar post, and couldn’t wait to publish it. But for some reason it didn’t receive the attention that I thought it would. It’s one of my favourites and we love having dinner this way!
Which post’s success surprised you and why?
My Homemade Spaghetti Sauce post has absolutely shocked me with the number of shares, pins and views it has received. I put that post up kind of last minute and didn’t really love it (love the recipe, just not the post or the pictures), but my readers sure loved it! It’s in my top viewed posts of all time, and gets views everyday!
What is one (non-kitchen) gadget you can’t live without?
My iPhone. I’m addicted to it. For reals.
What is one kitchen gadget you can’t live without?
My Kitchen Aid mixer without a doubt. I am still using the one I got when we were first married and it is used almost on a daily basis. I don’t know what I would do without it!
Favourite food, care to share a recipe?
My favourite food is a Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup that we make. This recipe is my absolute favourite and in the winter we eat it weekly. Oh, but I love dessert too…so pretty much anything with chocolate in it is a fave of mine too!
What else should we know about you that may or not be in your “About Me” page?
Well, I’m pretty cheeky and a bit fiery, but I try to keep that in check as far as my blog goes. But I’m learning to be more myself on my blog and have found that my readers love this, and the posts where I’m most myself are some of my most viewed and well received posts.
What makes your blog unique?
I try really hard to create and keep a community on my blog (and social media). I love connecting with people and inspiring them to be creative in their kitchen and homes. I am relateable. I keep my recipes easy to make, and as clean as possible. And I like to throw in the occasional home project or craft, or personal story so that I can connect with my readers. I really truly want to help people make their everyday lives a bit easier…even if it is through a great recipe.
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Thank you so much for the feature!!
That Spaghetti sauce and roast looks so yummy, I’m such a sucker for homecookin’!