Episode 623: Master Food Blogging in English as a Second Language – How to Improve Your Writing and Stay Motivated with Dalit Vaknin

EBT623 – Dalit Vaknin

Intro 00:10

Food bloggers. Hi, how are you today? Thank you so much for tuning in to the Eat Blog Talk podcast. This is the place for food bloggers to get information and inspiration to accelerate your blog’s growth, and ultimately help you to achieve your freedom. Whether that’s financial, personal, or professional. I’m Megan Porta. I have been a food blogger for 13 years, so I understand how isolating food blogging can be. I’m on a mission to motivate, inspire, and most importantly, let each and every food blogger, including you, know that you are heard and supported. 

Supercut  00:37

You are going to want to download our bonus super cut that gives you all the information you need to grow your Instagram account. Go to eatblogtalk.com/Instagrowth to download today. 

Megan Porta  00:52

If English is your second language, or you have a blog in another language and are considering blogging in multiple languages. This episode will be really insightful for you. Dalit Vaknin, from scoops and saver, joins me to talk about her experience blogging in English as a second language. First of all, you’re going to love her niche. It is the best, most delicious niche ever. I’m a little obsessed with it. I just absolutely love how Dalit decided to do this. It seemed so scary to her. English is her second language, but she forged ahead with this project, even though things weren’t perfect, even though it was scary and she didn’t necessarily have a voice in English, she didn’t have the confidence at first, but she did it anyway, and she completely started a blog in English when it was not her native language. She gives a lot of helpful tips and provides tools and resources if you are doing something similar in order to make your life so much easier. Tune in. I hope you love this episode. It is number 623 sponsored by RankIQ. 

Sponsor  02:03

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Megan Porta  03:05

Dalit, a former dietician, is a passionate food blogger and culinary enthusiast. After relocating to the US, she turned her love for food into a thriving blog specializing in artisanal ice cream. Dalit’s mission is to inspire others, especially those whose first language is not English, to pursue their passions through writing and blogging. She believes language should never be a barrier to sharing your unique voice and stories with the world.

Megan Porta  03:34

Dalit, Welcome to Eat Blog Talk. How are you doing today?

Dalit Vaknin  03:37

I’m good. I’m good. Thank you for having me.

Megan Porta  03:40

Yeah, it’s so great to have you here. I’m excited to chat about blogging in English as a second language. I know a few food bloggers who do this, and it sounds like it’s not always the easiest journey, so I’m excited to hear about your journey before we get into that story. I would love to know if you have a fun fact to share about yourself.

Dalit Vaknin  04:00

Okay, so basically, my fun fact is where I grew. I grew in Israel, and in the kibbutz, it was a kibbutz member. It’s kind of a communal community that still agrees nowadays in some kind of form. So basically, everybody, everyone gets the same income, and no matter what’s their salary, for example, like the CEO seal or a teacher would get the same income. And as a kid, it’s kind of like living in a really beautiful village. And so we had, like, a lot of, like, no cars entering, like the inside space. And we had that of nature and freedom to explore everything the school was inside, you know, the the kibbutz. So it’s kind of like a unique way of living. But I know it’s unique for somebody, for outside, but for me, it was like kind of natural to go like that. 

Megan Porta  04:55

That sounds so cool. So how long did you live there in that community? 

Dalit Vaknin  04:59

Yeah. I was, like, basically all of my life, like almost all of my life, other than, like, when I was in college and some other periods. And then when we moved to the to the Boston area six years ago, that was when I basically left that area, and I still have, like, a lot of most of the family over there, so get to visit there, and my kids get to run around on the around the you know.

Megan Porta  05:27

That’s so cool. I didn’t, I mean, you kind of know those places exist, but you don’t hear about people who actually have experienced it. So that’s really cool. I love that you have that experience, and then now you’re here, and you said you’re in Boston, right? Yeah, okay, yeah, cool. Well, thanks for sharing that, and I would love to hear a little bit about your blog. You have the coolest niche. So tell us about your blog. Give us a little background. Anything you want to tell us about it.

Dalit Vaknin  05:57

So my blog focused on ice cream and gelato. Basically, I’m trying to my niche is frozen dessert, and I specialized in ice cream and gelatos. I try to my focus is more about the artisanal side of of that niche. So it’s kind of a niche inside a niche. So basically, it started when I really was look, wanted to try all the ice cream I used to try and explore around the world, and also, like in Israel, around my hometown. And when we got to Boston, I realized it’s not so easy, and I kind of missed some of the flavors I used to have. And I mean, it’s not like there are many places in Boston, but still, you have to go out and go out, drive like for 20 minutes or there was nothing inside the neighborhood. So I’ve always joked that if there was something in our neighborhood, they wouldn’t even bother to do. But then I realized I want to have those flavors really available to me and to my friend, and I realized that they’re like, geeking about ice cream and talking about ice cream, and most of my friends doesn’t really care. Like, okay, we want to try. But like, they don’t care about, like, yeah, you know, scoopability and ice and crystals and all that.

Megan Porta  07:16

Important stuff. 

Dalit Vaknin  07:18

Yeah. So I decided to start this blog and just like, write those recipes that I won’t have to go back and yeah, just have them available to me and just share like my expertise and my passion with other like minded people that like to know, yeah, dig down.

Megan Porta  07:38

That’s so cool. I love this niche, so much so two things, I have a son who is obsessed, I mean, probably the most obsessed human on the planet, with ice cream every morning. I’m not kidding, Dalit, he wakes up and he’s like, he’s 14. He’s like, Mom, can I have some ice cream? Like, no, get some breakfast. And then when he gets home from school, what does he ask me? The first thing, can I have some ice cream? No. And then after, I mean, like, it’s like, all day, I’m like, Dude, you are so obsessed. So I’m going to give him your blog. He’s going to be so happy. And then the second thing I wanted to mention is, I was looking at your blueberry lime cheesecake gelato. I don’t know that there’s an ice cream or a frozen dessert that looks more delicious. Oh my gosh. This is so yummy looking. I could eat it. I could eat that whole pan right now. It’s so good. 

Dalit Vaknin  08:28

Thank you, appreciate it.

Megan Porta  08:30

Yes, I’m excited to share this with Sammy. I will let you know if he dives into some of this. We do have an ice cream maker that we never use, but he always asks about it, so this might inspire him to pull it out yeah.

08:43

Yeah. You can feel free to talk with me about everything. I always like to chat about it. 

Megan Porta  08:49

Do you have a recommendation for a good recipe to start with? If he’s just a beginner ice cream maker?

Dalit Vaknin  08:54

Usually there are, like, all the kind. It’s called Philadelphia style, so you don’t need to temper eggs, and it just like, cream sugar, and it’s like, really the basic and use that would be a great and you get, like, really good ice cream. 

Megan Porta  09:11

Okay, and how many recipes it looks like you have a ton of recipes on here to explore.

Dalit Vaknin  09:17

I think around around like 80-90, recipes now. 

Megan Porta  09:22

Okay, so lots of, yeah, that’s, that’s a big database of ice cream, yum. This all looks so amazing. I’m starving. Okay, let’s talk about why you came here, which is blogging in English as a second language. So English is your second language, correct? Yeah. Okay, when you moved over to Boston from Israel, did you know English? I’m assuming you knew English at that point.

Dalit Vaknin  09:46

Yeah, I knew English. Like, that’s kind of something I’ve, we’ve learned from, you know, elementary school. But then I realized and that it’s kind of like, yeah, you know English, but it’s not like. Same, but you always have to learn it’s not like your mother tongue language, right? And especially if you want, I always had a feeling like, if you’re writing a blog, it had to be, like, coming from your heart, and has to be so natural, yeah? And it’s something that you have to be like, like, the way you’re talking. So I didn’t want to start because I felt like, No, it’s not like, I won’t be able to express myself the way I’m I can. I’m able to express myself in my own language. So that’s something that really holds me back for a while.

Megan Porta  10:32

Sure. Yeah. I mean, if English is not your native language, I imagine that it’s kind of hard to find those words that you can find in your in your native language, right? So it’s, yeah, probably a bit of a challenge.

Dalit Vaknin 10:48

Yeah, and then, like, it’s hard to find those words. And like, I be honest, it too. It’s not like, as easy as is good way for me to write in my own language that would text. It still takes me a lot, lot more time. And the other whole, the whole process, is longer, but I just accept it, and I know trying to embrace it, and just like, understand that this is how it goes, and it’s something that you have to to really understand, and there isn’t. And what I always realize that, like, there is a kind of jargon, I’m not

Megan Porta  11:23

sure, yep, jargon, yep. Like,

Dalit Vaknin 11:25

for any occupation, like, for example, when I was working here as just a project manager, there’s, like, a specific kind there are specific kind of words that you need to use, and once you start to work in this specific place that you know how to use them, and it’s getting easier and easier. So in the same like for blogging or writing recipes, or especially writing recipes about ice cream, there are specific kind of words that you need to learn and use them, and then you can just like, it’s everything getting easier. Like, for example, if you need to go now to a shop to buy some equipment for whatever fix the house. I don’t have that vocabulary, but for this specific but for food blogging, I do have the vocabulary for now. So it’s kind of like you don’t have to learn, like, the whole language, just need to learn the specific jargon.

Megan Porta  12:17

Yeah. So I would love to hear how you decided to write your food blog in English. What made you choose English over your native language? 

Megan Porta  12:26

So there were like, two, basically things that led me for that. One is, like, I’m super niche. Like, I’m a niche inside of me, of a niche in the ice cream and then, like, some kind of a very specific artisanal recipe, and I realized that if I write it in my own, like native language, there are no many people that would really I would be able to share those recipes, because it’s such a specific topic. So I have to expand and be available. And if I want to connect with other people, I have to do it in, like in the most common language. And also there were some other like groups that I was participating in that people from all over the world in the, you know, social networks, and it was all in English. So I knew I had to really be, have to do it in English. That’s like that, you know. And the other thing is, like, I really, I was looking for, basically, at the beginning, I was looking for a way to really improve my English, but I didn’t want to do those, like, boring classes, which, yes, like, you know, you know the grammar and totally all of like, when you’re learning, like, a new language, it’s it could, that could be really boring. So I really wanted something more, like practical, that I’m actually creating something and doing something, and not just, like, learning new language. So that was kind of a way to do both of them. And actually, I couldn’t find I wanted, like, a kind of take a class that’s teaching blogging and English, but they couldn’t find it. So if somebody is has this, like, maybe want to create that? 

Megan Porta  13:59

Yeah? Maybe get there, yeah, yeah, that’s great. I love your creative way of you know, just deciding to make learning English more fun and easy and not like you said, one of those boring like, here’s your English word of the day. Like, how boring is that? Is that really going to get you excited and learning? But you chose food blogging, and I’m sure it’s really helped you to advance your English skills, right?

Dalit Vaknin 14:26

Yeah, so it’s like a kind of way to, like to, you know how to say two birds in one, like, advance my English skills and my some more technical skills. And like digital marketing, it’s like all the tools that you need to learn in order to be in this digital area. So it’s kind of felt like more effective in that way, so I can learn both skills in like at the same time.

Megan Porta  14:52

Absolutely. I love that so much. How did you get past the fear? I’m guessing that it was kind of scary to launch into a project like this, having English as your native language. Was it scary? And how did you get past that?

Dalit Vaknin  15:08

Yeah, so I think it’s a lot of mindset. Like, for example, I talked to it the other day with a teacher, and he said, like, you know, I see a lot of kids here that’s coming and they need to learn English. And the kids that are not shy that they would ask, if they don’t understand, they would ask the kid, and they would be able, they would, like, talk. They are the kids that learn English, like, the fastest way, other than kids that are would stay, like, quite the whole, like, period of time in the class would ask. So it’s kind of like, it’s kind of something like, you have to show up and be there and like, be able to make mistakes and know that, like, you’re not going to be perfect, and your writing is not going to be like, as fluent as like, I don’t know other bloggers, but you have to be to embrace it and really accept it. That’s something that I really trying to tell myself all the time, like, I mean, it’s not like I’m it’s okay to like, I’m trying to avoid like as much as possible, but still, like, you have to embrace it and understand it’s not going to be perfect. And the other thing is, like, something somebody told me, like, nobody is seeing your blog at the beginning anyway, so it’s like writing as a diary. So don’t hesitate like you’re writing. And it’s like, keep improving. And at the beginning, maybe it was a comfort to me that not many people would watch it, that they can make mistakes, and that’s that’s okay, like, I’m practicing from one post to another. Also, like, like, I said, like, really understand that it takes more time than you, like, you would want, like, I’m like, sometimes feel like a snail, just like being able to, like, create a blog post, and it, like, takes me much more time, I assume, from other bloggers. But it’s also something I okay. It is what it is for now and getting better. And the other thing is, like, really, under like, I see other people, like, if some I have a friend that she would speak like my native language, and I see she would sometimes make mistakes. And like, I don’t care, like, I understand that’s her, that’s not her. Like, native language, I’m kind of, like, I accept it, it sounds okay, like, who cares? So I’m trying to, like, tell myself that, like it’s okay to make mistakes, and it’s not, like it doesn’t make you stupid or something, or Absolutely, like it’s something that you definitely need, like it’s okay to make mistakes. 

Megan Porta  17:41

Yeah, absolutely. I love that perspective. Did you get help at first? I mean, I imagine those first few blog posts had to be a little bit extra scary, just like, oh my gosh, I’m putting this out there. Did you have anyone look through it? Did you use ChatGPT, any sort of assistance in just getting you going and building up that confidence. 

Dalit Vaknin  18:02

Yeah, I try to, like, in terms of assistance, I try to get some help, like, just give a little to friend to read and getting back to me, like, with mistakes, or with all kind of, like, spelling, grammar or whatever, or just, like, some help about, like, just understanding what the my point. And of course, there are, like, for example, like, of course, all the like technical tools. So think, like nowadays, it’s so much, so much much more easy in terms of like, you have all those, those resources like ChatGPT and Grammarly and right it’s really makes things like so much easier than it used to be.

Megan Porta  18:43

Things are much smoother these days because of all of the extra resources we have at hand, right? Yeah, yeah. Definitely has plays a role, and I’m in what you’re doing, I’m sure, and gives you a little bit of an advantage, as opposed to people who might have done this, like, I don’t know, 8, 10, years ago, they would have been floundering much, much more. Did you find that it was hard to just get into your voice, because I’m sure you have a voice in your native language? Was it hard to get to that point where you feel felt like you had a voice in English? 

Dalit Vaknin  19:17

Yes, I must tell, I still try to find my voice, like it’s kind of like something I’m working on, and because I know, like,

Megan Porta  19:26

Yeah, yeah.

Dalit Vaknin 19:28

So there is a difference, like, how you sense, like, in different languages, and the way I think, like in my native language, I’m kind of more sophisticated. I use, like, so like, a lot of vocabulary, it’s not much more words, and it can be or I can articulate the object much better, but it’s kind of like something that I’m kind of like, you know, my nowadays, my voice, and I’m kind of like tweaking it from, you know, from post to post, and trying to, you know, improve with time.

Megan Porta  20:00

Yeah, absolutely. Oh, and you’re no exception there, because we’re all trying to do that, even people who do speak English natively. That is something that we’re all working on. We’re all trying to make those little improvements find our voice all the time. So I feel like we’re in the same boat there. 

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Megan Porta  21:18

And then, do you feel like you’re at a place where you’re just feeling more confident with each new blog post that you’re writing? 

Dalit Vaknin  21:24

Yeah, I do feel more confident. And nowadays it’s like taking me less than it used to be. I think I used to be, like, two posts per month, and like, I told someone, and she was like, well, like, like, you have to, like, accelerate your pace and but it’s now, it’s much better. And it’s kind of like, Yeah, from time to time, gets better. What I’m working is like, trying to to learn to type, like, faster because I don’t know how to do it without looking at keyboards. And something like, I can do it in Hebrew, but I can do it but not in English. So it’s something that will accelerate one stick you can do it. So that’s something I’m working on

Megan Porta  22:05

That’s interesting. I didn’t even think of that, that the English letter keyboard is not, does not come naturally, because you probably did not grow up with that correct?

Dalit Vaknin  22:17

So it’s something like, yeah. The more you do it, you get better out of it. It just like, by practice, you have to practice and practice.

Megan Porta  22:26

All those little things, they add up to a lot of learning, I think a lot of learning opportunities. And I love that you’re just celebrating each kind of milestone. And it seems like you really do look back and take in your wins and the progress that you’ve made, which I think is so huge in an endeavor like this. 

Dalit Vaknin  22:47

Something else I wanted to add, like, really use that. What helped me just, like, use visuals as much as possible, because, like, sometimes, like, you don’t have their language, you can just use so sometimes I try to just, like, in those pictures, like, process picture, process shots, just to add arrows and, like, some little notes and things that, like, really make that you need to combine this and that so kind of, like, make everything more visual, rather than, like, have a lot of like, heavy text, which is easier for everybody. I think everyone like, like, um, like visuals, yeah, so that’s something that’s really helped me too.

Megan Porta  23:27

Yeah, because like, visual is visual. It’s just what you’re looking at. So everyone speaks that language. Do you have any other tips for bloggers who might be considering this? I know a few bloggers who started blogs in their native languages and then have made the decision to also write like kind of duplicate and write English versions of their blogs, if that makes sense. So they’re not doing just English only as a second language, but they’re doing both. If someone is making that decision to leap over into English. What tips do you have for them?

Dalit Vaknin 24:04

I mean, if I also know, like, some blogs that have like, two versions that I’m really curious to know how it works, because, like, how does the Translate work from one to another? That should be, that could be a really good, great option that you can offer, like, but it’s also a lot of work, yeah, really just to maintain both websites and the translates another just like, tip just not to try to translate, like, just write it. Usually, when I try to translate it from my native language to English, it just comes out, like, kind of, just try to switch and think on the English side, and this way it’s like, more like, like, it’s comes like, more natural without like, doing the translate. And also just try start simple, just like, with simple recipes and like, I made a mistake and started, I think, my first blog. Was like, kind of pavlova ice cream, like, with, you know, three components. Basically, that’s like three recipes inside one. It’s kind of like, how do you say it? Like fancy and just start simple with, like, the simplest, and go from there. That’s always like, you know, a good rule.

Megan Porta  25:18

I think that’s the best tip ever, right there, just starting simple, because the language will be simple there, the instructions will be simple. And then you can build as you go, making things more complex as you kind of get used to it and build your confidence.

Dalit Vaknin 25:33

Yeah. And also, just like, if you’re immersing yourself with like, reading cookbooks, reading other people’s recipes. And just like you start to get the language and get the you know how to write the recipe. And I mean, like, for example, like, used to put you like, you don’t say, like, put, put the suspense, or whatever. Like, there are other words you can use. And like, you go from there. And like, trying to think about other examples. I don’t have it for the moment. But just like, just like, as much as you write, read and write cookbooks and other people’s recipes, just kind of get the, you know, get into the mindset of writing and what are the specific words and how people describe them. So that, for me, has been very helpful.

Megan Porta  26:23

That’s a great tip, too. 

Dalit Vaknin  26:24

And of course, like, use a friend, if you have a friend or spouse, to help you review the blog that that could have been very helpful, just someone to give you some tips and see how, like, you know, you don’t see or since to you, very like, obvious to you, but like somebody, like another reader, would ask, and would need, like us to be more specific, yeah, and all of that, and, like, basically all the tools. Like, just like I did for Grammarly, it took me, like, a while to do, to do the, you know, the paid version, and that, like, really, for me, it was really worth, like, every penny. So maybe not for someone who is like, is fluent, like, in English. But for me, that, like, really a lifesaver. It really gives you nowadays it’s always also gives you some options, like, really, with reformatting your sentence so it would be, like, is more, like crisp and, like easy and, you know, shorter, yeah. And we did some, I don’t know, something AI, like, like, some improvement. And there is another, like, you wanted to go over some tools that I use? 

Megan Porta  27:39

Yes, please. That would be great. Yes. 

Dalit Vaknin  27:41

Also there is the website that’s called the Capitalization. It just like, for headlines, it’s help, like, telling you when to do the capital letters for each word, like, when you don’t have to. And so just like, copy paste the capitals there, and it’s like, makes it on the correct way. And, of course, Chat GPT don’t have to, yes, but usually I just do, like, can you please poofread with my text? And just like, make sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. And that’s that’s really helpful. And that’s like a recent one. I think you recommended that this one the alt AI tool that helps you do with the alt text description. Yeah, that’s like, such a time saver. And when I say, like, I think I didn’t do all the alt text really correctly back like, before that it could just, like, really amazing. Let’s really see the picture and give you the alt text, and give you the alt text for the specific picture with all the copy. And also, just like I use sometimes Google, just Google words, because sometimes like that would be correct by like the grammar would be correct, but it’s like a different meaning. So just like Google the like, the word that I want to try to like describe, and that would give you, then I see the correct options, like Google give me the suggestions. So that’s also something that really helpful for me.

Megan Porta  29:16

Those are so great. Some of these I never would have thought of. Do you have any books that you read? I know there are some books about how to compose, you know, the perfect recipe, or things like that. Is there anything like that that you’ve really dove into? 

Dalit Vaknin  29:31

No, I know there are, but haven’t like really read how to compose? No, that’s on my list. 

Megan Porta  29:37

No, but I do like your strategy of just going through cookbooks, perusing blogs, and making sure that you kind of get how the you know, like the format, is laid out typically, and that sort of thing. I think that’s really helpful. And you probably don’t need to dive into a book if you don’t want to, as long as you’re seeing what’s working for other people and how they’re putting things together.

Dalit Vaknin  29:59

 Yeah, exactly. And they. Kind of like, you get the idea of how to describe it and how like, proper recipe would like, describe the whole, you know, in the whole session of like, write like description of like, you take the suspen and then like it, all those things that you just kind of learn along the way. Yeah,

Megan Porta  30:21

and like I said earlier, it’s not just people who don’t speak English as a primary language. It’s us too. It’s people who know English very well that have to learn all of this. It took me a long time to figure out how to write in a large saucepan combined, blah, blah, blah, because for a while I was kind of jumbling those words around, and I wouldn’t be super consistent with how I was saying things like that. It took me years to learn that. So I feel like kind of, we’re on the same page in a lot of ways, just learning how to write as a food blogger and a recipe developer, and just kind of learning as we go, right?

Dalit Vaknin 30:59

Yeah, exactly like, some kind of, like, I think really was helpful to me as well, was RankIQ, because sometimes I wouldn’t write, like, medium high heat, like, I didn’t think it’s really necessary for someone really to to know that. Like, for me, it’s really obvious, but And now, like, it’s like, kind of tell me to that one of the words that are really in use that they now have, like, really to add, like that you need to use, like, high heat or low heat or whatever, just like, kind of the words you need to add. So that’s kind of also been helpful, just to be more specific and like, give a lot of like the whole information to my readers.

Megan Porta  31:39

Definitely. Do you have other tips, tools or resources? You’ve listed quite a few that I think are super helpful. Anything else you want to mention? 

Dalit Vaknin  31:47

I just want to mention, like, for those who really have like English as their first like, not like their English is a primary language, so that’s like, use it and enjoy it. It’s like, so it’s such a gift. And it’s something that, like, I don’t know, I don’t have the numbers. Like, maybe 50% of the bloggers doesn’t have it. Like, if you do have it, it’s like, really, embrace it, enjoy and really, it’s something that you’re able to connect and pronounce yourself, like, in a way that is, like, very genuine and easy. So just like, you know, like, for whoever does like, hesitate to start to write, or whatever like, well, if you already have, like, the language, that’s like 90% of them. So it’s just something that’s like, makes everything like, really straightforward.

Megan Porta  32:36

Yeah. Do you ever experiment with, I don’t know, or just being in social settings and working on just speaking your English in order to improve your writing. Do you know what I mean like to translate that over? I know I just started doing like Toastmasters, which is a club where you can go practice speaking in front of people. And I have, there’s a woman in there, in our group who goes there because English is her second language, and she just wants to improve all around like writing speaking, so she goes there so that she has to force herself to talk in front of people, and that carries over into other areas of her life. Does that make sense? Do you do any of that? Basically,

33:17

I do like participate in some, like bloggers groups nowadays. So that’s kind of way, really, to improve my speaking and my because I be honest with you, like, as a blogger, you don’t really many times, like, you don’t really talk with many people during the day, true. So that’s like a good opportunity talk with other people, and, of course, about, like, discuss things that related to blogging, but also practice English, and that’s like for me, also an opportunity for the for this and but, but definitely like being able to, that’s like, something like, one of my goals for next year, just start to be more present, like in videos, and be able to, like, kind of, like, do more videos and with audio and with like, my like, hear myself speaking and speaking to the audience, and like, use that kind of that part rather than writing, which is a different skill than talking. Yeah. So that’s definitely something I would like to be able to practice and improve, and just like feel like a whole total other, like a different area that you need to like another skill to grow.

Megan Porta  34:28

Yeah, and you’re right. We don’t often have the opportunity to talk to other bloggers, so it’s kind of hard to talk the blogging language when you’re not really around bloggers in person much. I can see where conferences and retreats might be really good for this, just so you can do a lot of talking and gain those skills a little bit more.

34:48

Yeah, definitely, that’s like more like more comprehensive, yeah, I agree.

Megan Porta  34:56

Accelerate those skills a bit. Anything else you want to mention if somebody is considering this, or maybe they have started it and they’re feeling frustrated. Do you have tips for getting through it? Anything that we haven’t mentioned yet?

35:10

No, I think we I just would like to emphasize like, kind of, like, really, the mindset, like, really, just like, be able to just do it and just try to really be, like, compassionate with yourself, about the about mistakes and about grammar, and about, like, not being so fast. So it’s like, kind of really all the time, going back to the mindset stuff for me, at least,

Megan Porta  35:36

yeah, I imagine that’s a huge piece of this is just doing things despite it being scary and not being perfect. But remember that none of us do it perfectly. Even if we speak fluent English, it is not perfect for any of us. So keep that in mind too. Thank you so much for being here. This was such a just good conversation, and I think it’s something that we don’t dive into much. So thank you for bringing this topic to the table. We really appreciate it Dalit.

Dalit Vaknin  36:06

Thank you. Thank you for having me. 

Megan Porta  36:08

Yeah, it was so fun, so fun to connect with you. Do you have either a favorite quote or words of inspiration to end with today?

Dalit Vaknin  36:15

Yeah, so my quote that I wanted to share is today is by Seth Godin, so I think one from one of his books, I don’t remember which one, which is the secret to being wrong is in to avoid being wrong. The secret to is being willing to be wrong. So it’s kind of like mindset and courage, like, kind of explore like, kind of like encouraging exploration experience, instead of, like avoiding mistakes, but something that I always like to go back to and like and remind myself that it’s like, kind of like, it’s okay to experiment and learning and make mistakes. 

Megan Porta  36:55

Yeah, that’s so aligned with what we talked about today, and think we all need to embrace that a little bit more. I see so much striving for perfection in the entrepreneurial space. And really there’s, there’s no perfection. None of us are perfect. So yeah, be willing to be wrong. I love that. Thank you for sharing that. We’ll put together a show notes page for you. Dalit, if anyone wants to go look at those. Head to eatblogtalk.com/scoopsandsaver, tell everyone where they can find you, Dalit? 

Dalit Vaknin  37:26

So I think the best way would be I do have, like a Facebook page, then I spend like more like more time on Facebook than I also have my Instagram, which is a scoopsandsaver, and also the same with on the Facebook. I’m not very active on Instagram, but more like on the Facebook side and also on my email. If anyone has anything to like, you would like, would like to connect on my email, [email protected] 

Megan Porta  37:55

Great. Everyone. Go check Dalit and all of her awesome ice cream and gelatorecipes out, and I will be in touch with you, because I know my son’s gonna go nuts over your blog. So to be continued on that for sure. Yes. Well, thank you again, so much for being here, and thank you for listening food bloggers. I will see you next time. 

Outro  38:18

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Eat Blog Talk. If you are craving accountability, focus and connection at a low monthly cost, join the Eat Blog Talk Accountability Group at eatblogtalk.com/focus. I will see you next time you.