Featured Creative Woman: Francesca of Three Bay B Chicks
People blog for several reasons. Some blog for money, some for affirmation, and some simply want to add their two cents to public opinion.
But Francesca Bianca Banducci, one of the founding members of the popular blog Three Bay B Chicks, blogs for one reason: pure love.
“Creating a post that is fun or creative is great fun and something I find personally fulfilling,” Francesca said. “However, having others enjoy what you write, or even manage to get a laugh out of it, is even better. For me, blogging is like having a party that all of my favorite people show up for and then, if I’m lucky, rave about what I cooked.”
Francesca grew up in Dixion, a town outside of Sancramento, California. When she wasn’t twirling in ballet classes or dining on ice cream, she spent her time reading and hanging out with her family and friends.
“When I was little, Dixon was basically a fast food stop in between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe,” she said. “Although it has since grown in size, it is still a hotspot for skiers on their way to and from the snow.”
Luica and Giancarlo
After earning her bachelor’s degree in fermentation science and working at a winery for her first job, Francesca settled into family life. She married her high school sweetheart, Geoff, after reuniting with him in college and had two children, Lucia, 1, and Giancarlo, 3.
The Last July, Francesca teamed up with her long time friends Thuy and Kacey to create Three Bay B Chicks. Francesca met Kacey in kindergarten and attended Brownies together. According to Francesca, she says Kacey claims they didn’t fully get along until she gave Kacey a fabulous Secret Santa gift at age 7. She met Thuy in college, where they shared a house with Geoff, Francesca’s boyfriend at the time.
Each woman writes about a different subject: Kacy writes about style, Thuy offers blogger tips and Francesca pens humorous stories about her children. The blog has taken off in popularity, which Francesca says she never expected.
“Our blog was actually initiated by my good friend, Thuy,” Francesca said. “She thought starting a blog would be a fun activity for (us) to work on after we started having kids. Little did she know that the concept would blossom into something bigger and much more time consuming. Although I’ve known both girls for years, it wasn’t until we started the blog that we really began talking and seeing one another much more consistently.
“I was never a girl that kept a journal. Most of my writing has been either for school or for work. The writing that I did as part of my former work life was limited to writing procedures and reports, all of which was very dry. One of the benefits to being a part of a blogging team is that each of us write a few days a week and each of us focus on different topics. I have been fairly fortunate with coming up with writing topics thus far. Given that I have two kids, ages 1 and 3, I don’t often have writer’s block when creating posts.”
Currently, Francesca is a stay at home mom and recently completed her MBA in marketing. Although she’s currently staying busy as a stay at home mom, she would adore working for a marketing team at a large winery . Even if she’s not prancing around the vineyards currently, she has great plans for the future.
“If Thuy, Kacey, and I could go on to create Three Bay B Chicks Omnimedia, ala Martha Stewart, that would be lovely,” Francesca laughs. “If that doesn’t happen, woman of leisure or full-time blogger sounds pretty appealing.”
Fun Facts from Francesca:
What are your favorite sites to visit?
Honestly, there are too many sites to name. I read and comment on blogs that run the gambit, from those at the pinnacle of popularity to those where we may be the only follower. Sites that we especially love we either follow or list in our sidebar.
What’s your ideal meal?
This is a tough one, especially since I am simply a big fan of food. Truly. I get excited about fresh ingredients, cooking, eating, and entertaining. My ideal meal with my husband always has three components: red wine, chocolate, and a table that you cannot draw on. My most favorite meal with friends and family is by far the pig roast that we host every fall.
What’s your favorite type of pie?
Lemon meringue, baby. My grandmother’s version can bring tears to your eyes.
If you had all the money in the world and could go anywhere, where would you go and what would you do?
I would charter a boat to sail around the Caribbean islands for close friends and family for the summer. It would be pure bliss. With all the money in the world, I’d also love to host a getaway for all of the wonderful bloggers I’ve met. It would be great to have an actual conversation with those who perpetually make me laugh while sipping fruity cocktails in Hawaii.
If I gave you a blank wall and told you to fill it, what would you do?
I’d let my son, Giancarlo, draw on the wall because that is one of his passions in our home. I’d also fill it with paintings from my favorite artists, photos of family and friends, and make sure that it has a window so that I can see outside.
Do you think there’s something unique about the connection women have through blogging? What do you think it is?
Absolutely. Blogging is a wonderful way for women to express their thinking and feeling process out loud. The posts that I have read truly span the female experience; they range from stories on infertility, to adoption, to losing a child, to everyday life with kids, to working, to getting married, to getting a divorce. It is fascinating. I believe that blogging allows women to declare to the world what they are going through and find others in a similar situation. This process of expression and reaction is unique to the on-line community of women bloggers and one that connects us all.
Who inspires you?
Everyone. Truly. There is something to be learned from everyone in my life.
To read more about Francesca and her wacky adventures with her adorable kids, visit Three Bay B Chicks!
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! We have a week full of whimsical fun coming up! We have a new Gift, Penelope’s Pie Shop and Twirl! We’ve also got a new recipe and tons of whimsical fun! Stay tuned!
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:55 am
Thank you again, my friend, for this lovely feature. Your writing, as well as your generous heart, continues to humble me. This was a very fun endeavor!
I look forward to all that the blogosphere has to offer us in the future together…and maybe even a shared meal of BBQ and pie someday, if I am lucky.
-Francesca
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:41 am
Great post. Sometimes I need to take a break from blogging to actual read some blogs. It’s nice to learn about others in the blogosphere.
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:26 am
Francesca and the gang are wonderful. If you don’t read their blog you are missing out.
BTW-I better be on that chartered boat Francesca!
Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:19 am
What a great feature. I started following Three Bay B Chicks because of Francesca’s unmistakable humour and personality. I think she’s great…and I don’t even know her personally.
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:30 am
I am absolutely crazy about Francesca, Kacey and Thuy. The trio combine to make the most well-rounded and delightful blog and I completely enjoy my visits. Not to mention that I have developed quite a rapport with Francesca and we tease each other mercilessly. I adore her to pieces and if I had all the money in the world, I’d absolutely take a trip out to CA to visit her! Great feature!
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:47 am
Great feature! Adorable kids!
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:23 am
I did not realize one could take fermentation in college. I am so behind the times, or something.
It sounds like you all are lucky to have each other in the blogosphere.
Is that Giancarlo’s painting? Looks like a Jackson Pollack.
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:29 am
What a great feature! I became acquainted with Francesca and the Three Bay B Chicks through the hilarious ‘Where’s Wenda’ rage that was so fun to participate in. I love their blog and how each of them bring their own unique writing styles to make every visit something special.
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:35 am
What a great feature! 3 Bay B Chicks is such a wonderful blog — so well rounded and FUN. Thanks for doing this interview! I know Francesca through the blogosphere and it’s always fun to get to know her a little better!
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:10 am
This post was lovely! It was fun to learn more a Francesca! Three Baby Chicks is one of my favorite places to hang out!
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:34 am
Okay, your blog is too cute!! I don’t know what I would do without my Sonic vanilla cokes!! I think there needs to be a Sonic in every city. Heck, I could even part with a few of ours because we have so many
I was mad when coke stopped selling vanilla coke in cans but I think they are selling it again. Although, still nothing compares to a Sonic Vanilla coke with light ice 
haha. I’ve got an addiction to photographing my dogs as well. they are just too cute not to!!
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:07 am
great interview! i love francesca and I loved getting to know more about her. thanks for this feature, how fun! I hope to see more.
just wanted to remind you my blog has moved to http://www.mychihuahuabitesblog.com
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:25 am
This was so neat to see Francesca over here. I learned more about her.
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:30 am
Nice to know Francesca and her beautiful children!
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:53 am
Love the history of you guys! I always wondered!!!
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I LOVE Fran (I’m calling her Fran because I pretend I’m an old friend) and 3 Bay B Chicks. They truly are one of my favorite reads and I loved learning more here.
You guys rock!
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I loved this post…it was nice to get to know you better too!
March 22nd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Very nice post.
I just went over and commented on her blog.
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Ooh they’re adorable! Thanks for featuring
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I truly adore Francesca. I feel like we are bloggy soulmates. We have a very similar approach to blogging.
March 22nd, 2009 at 4:47 pm
great interview! i’ll definitely check out her blog – a girl that loves lemon meringue is ok by me
March 22nd, 2009 at 5:44 pm
The Three Bay B chicks rock!!
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:53 pm
If you are the marketing director at a winery, do you get bottles as bonuses??!! All for that!
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Great feature! I just love Francesca and her writing skills. She gives great bloggy love.
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:13 am
Very cool that you are interviewing bloggers!
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:19 am
I was fortunate enough to “meet” francesca through SITS!
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:43 am
Aww… Francesca is so sweet!
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:56 am
Great post! I love Francesca’s blog so had to come over here to see what she wrote.
Now that I’m here I need to check out the rest of the blog. I loved the interview q&a.
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:06 am
love the feature – I visit the 3 Bay girls often
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:03 am
I love this intereview!! Fracesca, I really like what you said about women blogging – perfect.
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:37 am
What fun getting to know Francesca and her cohorts! I like this new feature on your page. It’s a great way of discovering new people and their talents! XXOO
March 23rd, 2009 at 8:52 am
How fun!!
Oh, and regarding the PB ice cream pie–my door is open any time.
I think it would be best if we started the meal with some BBQ of some sort–the messier the better, and then, naturally, moved on to more healthy things like peanut butter, fudge, and uh, candy bars.
March 23rd, 2009 at 9:10 am
How lovely. I’ve seen the Three Bay B Chicks commenting around the blog world. I will have to check them out!
And I totally know what you mean about getting married for babies or insecurity. It’s quite funny/sad at the same time.
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Great Q&A Duckie and I can see why you bonded-she loves pie!
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Three Bay B Chicks is one of my favorite blogs to check in on. Francesca’s a sweetie. Nice to learn a little more about her. Thanks for the interview!
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Dixon is 8 miles from where I live…I wonder if we are fellow alumnae from UC Davis? Hmmmm? Nice post!
March 24th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
What a great post! Sancrmento huh? I am down with creative spelling. I lOVE Lemon, dang I can’t spell it, but it is the same one. Next on my list after chocolate. YUM! I want you to get rich so you can host that get together. You may just have to settle for meeting me when I come to Sancrmento this summer!
March 25th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
What a great interview. Gotta love a person who blogs for love.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:35 am
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
http://www.craigslistpostingtools.info
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
What a great feature! Francesca is fantabulous! It’s great to know more about her now. =)