FAQs

1. What is Buckle Up, Boo?

Buckle Up Boo is an Australian personal blog and zine featuring mostly funny, deeply honest stories about travel, parenting, IVF, and modern life.

Think travel-meets-family-meets-chaos. A blog and print zine where I turn everyday life into entertaining, true stories. It’s part memoir, part misadventure journal, part comedy.

It’s for smart, slightly quirky people who enjoy a good story and a laugh. Alongside the humour, I also write openly about harder shared experiences like IVF because it is part of modern life for many families.

If you want it all – and the chaos that comes with it – you’re in the right place.

Get the backstory on the About page.

2. Who is Bella Archer?

Bella Archer is the author and creator of Buckle Up Boo.

Bella Archer is my pen name – the mischief-loving creative persona I use to tell true stories openly, with humour and warmth, while still honouring my family’s privacy. That’s why you’ll see illustrations here instead of real images of my family.

3. Are the stories real?

Yes. Every story on Buckle Up Boo is based on real life.

The names you’ll see are the real pet names we use at home, including our extended universe of characters like Lark’s Favourite Aunty™ and Nandad.

4. Who are RaRa and Lark?

The family we made. RaRa is my nerdy fiancée and adventure partner in life. Lark is our toddler with remarkable red curls who roars like a lion cub.

These days, we’re pretty much joined at the hip – and what a transition it’s been, from footloose and fancy-free to parenthood.

5. Is Buckle Up Boo written by a real person?

Yes. Buckle Up Boo is written by a real human author Bella Archer.

No AI-written posts, no content farms – just one person writing honestly, thoughtfully and with a sense of humour. AI is used to generate illustrations to help protect the family’s privacy.

6. What’s the Buckle Up Boo zine?

It’s a physical print zine – a bite-sized slice of joy, chaos, travel, and heartfelt storytelling. Think: vintage travel poster energy meets “parenting but make it cinematic.” Copies appear in cafés, markets, playgrounds, and neighbourhood steps across Sydney. Issue #1 is out in the world. Issue #2 is brewing.

7. Can I buy the zine?

Yes – and doing so supports the creative chaos that fuels this entire universe. The zine is available for $5 (+ $1.70 postage), and can be purchased by emailing buckleupboo@gmail.com.

8. How often do new blog posts go up?

Regularly. (Which is the diplomatic way of saying: whenever a story grabs me by the collar and demands to be written.)

The only exception: I faceplanted my way into a concussion, fractured elbow and one hell of a black-eye in November and have been out of action while I recover.

9. How do I stay updated on new stories and zine releases?

Subscribe to the newsletter, follow @buckle.up.boo on Instagram, or check the site for new posts. You’ll get the good stuff, including early zine announcements and behind-the-scenes chaos.

10. Why does everything feel a bit cinematic?

Because that’s how life feels to me.
Buckle Up Boo exists where everyday mess meets movie-scene energy.
A quick stop at IGA becomes an odyssey.
A toddler tantrum becomes a Greek tragedy.
A road trip becomes a love letter.

It’s how I make sense of the world – and invite you into it.

11. Can we collaborate?

If you’re a creator, brand, café, publisher, bookstore, tourism board, or curious human with a fun idea – yes, absolutely.

Partnerships, features, interviews, sponsorships, café drops, or creative collision – I’m here for it.

12. Can I pitch a story idea or submit something?

Right now, Buckle Up Boo is a one-woman creative engine. But I love hearing ideas, stories, or sparks (especially the weird and wonderful ones). Send them through and they might just become something beautiful.

13. Is this a parenting blog? A travel blog? A memoir? A humour column?

Buckle Up Boo doesn’t fit neatly into a single category.

So… Yes. And no. And also… sort of.

Buckle Up Boo is a personal blog written by a parent who loves travel, storytelling, and finding humour in real life – especially the messy bits. It sits at the crossroads of:

  • storytelling

  • motherhood

  • misadventure

  • heartfelt confession

  • travel chaos

  • cinematic life moments

Call it a chaotic-hearted memoir in motion.

14. How do I support the chaos?

Easy:

  • Buy the zine

  • Follow on Instagram (@buckle.up.boo)

  • Share your favourite posts

  • Tell a friend

  • Leave a comment on a blog post

  • Back future projects (like the upcoming Radio Mini Series coming soon in January)

Every tiny act helps this world grow.

15. What’s next for Buckle Up Boo?

Buckle Up Boo is an evolving creative project with more stories, ideas and community ahead.

A baby, hopefully – fingers crossed IVF works out.
More travel chaos, because I can’t sit still.
More magic, because I have a soft spot for magicians.
More zines, because I probably should spend more time offline.
A growing creative community, because creative minds coming together is a lot of fun.
And big, beautiful, meaningful things – like the Underground Market of Meaning.

We’re just getting started.
Boo is still tightening her seatbelt.