The Ugly Side Of Sharing

It seems the time has come for me to write a post about use of content on my blog.  

This morning I received an email tip that another website was using a photo of my work without my permission. This website belonged to a bakery in another state and had some of my work featured without credit to me. This is misleading to clients because it looks as though it is their own work.

I emailed the website and asked that they remove my photo. I was greeted with a very nasty email from what I presume was the owner. She insulted my intelligence and indicated that it was OK to use the photo because there was a disclaimer about it not being their work.
I returned to the site where there was, in very small print, a mention that they use photos from other bakers to inspire their clients.
This, however, did not make amends in my book. (I've still insisted on them removing my work)

I spend countless hours not to mention my own money making the items I feature on this blog. At this time, I do not have sponsors for my posts so my work is paid for out of my own pocket. Yes, I do have some paying clients and I sell my cupcake toppers on Etsy, but that income does not compensate for all of the dedication I've put into this blog and creative passion of mine.
For some other bakery to use my photo, my creation, and mislead clients into believing its their work (lets face it, what clients really read that fine print...not to mention, there wasn't credit given to me if they had!) they are profiting off of my hard work.
This is not acceptable.

I hope that you visit my blog, Twitter and Facebook page and find inspiration. Maybe even order some items from me too! However, if you are inspired, create your own work, your own version of it.  Do not steal my content and my photos that I painstakingly take the time to create.

With that said, I love my readers, I hope you enjoy my content. If you would like to feature my work on your own blog or website, I will consider it on a case by case basis and only if proper credit is given. Please contact me at fairytalefrosting at gmail dot com before posting on your site. (the email address is spelled out to reduce spammers)

Grocery Shopping & Menu Planning: What Works For Me

Recently, I was bragging sharing with a friend of mine about a recent grocery store trip.  I don't know about you guys, but I just cant get into this hard core couponing thing. I tried, and failed, several times. I found myself buying lots of stuff we didn't normally use or didn't use fast enough because there were coupons.  I found that I was one of those people who fell into the traps of spending more because coupons gave you the illusion of saving.  Yeah. So couponing is  just a no go for me. Don't get me wrong, I check the local ads and if I come across something that's already on my grocery list then I'll cut it out and use it.  But thats it.
I dont really coupon but I have been able to better organize my grocery shopping so that we clean out our fridge before I go to the store again.  This has actually saved us money because we eat at home more and use all of our food before it spoils.
I was telling my friend about this and thought I'd share my process with you! Now, this is a fluid process, it has grown and changed over the last several months, but for now, this is what works for me.
I blog about food, so I am always on Pinterest and other favorite blogs checking out recipes. This is probably what helps me the most, because I already have an interest in food. Im always pinning recipes to try later.  But then when I go back and look at the pins, I get really overwhelmed combing through the ingredients of each recipe.
That is when I discovered Ziplist. Ziplist is a life saver!!!  Now, instead of pinning recipes, I just installed the Ziplist Recipe Clipper into my toolbar. I zip it, and it saves the recipe and ingredients for me.  Its also handy because you can add tags and search your recipe box later. I find this useful for recipes we really loved.  I tag them with "I loved" "David Loved" or "We Loved" and then later, I can find them quickly.
Every week (give or take a few days) when I am preparing to grocery shop, I sit down and look at Ziplist. I typically plan 5 dinners.  At my house its just David and I so this works well for us, I'm sure this strategy could translate into bigger households though too.
I plan 5 dinners, usually the recipes serve 4-6 people. I make a list of the 5 recipes I've chosen and post it on my fridge.  I find that instead of saying "On Monday we will have this for dinner" I just list the 5 recipes and as I make them, I cross them off the list.
This is helpful because:

• I dont have to stare at the fridge and wonder what Im going to make tonight. 
• I dont stare at my fridge and wonder why I bought 3 green peppers, or whatever other miscellaneous ingredients I forgot why I bought
• If Im not in the mood for chicken, I can just pick a different recipe from my weekly menu, sometimes you just gotta make whatever you're craving that day

So now that I've chosen my 5 recipes, I use Ziplist to create my grocery list.  One by one, I add each recipe to my Shopping List and it asks me what ingredients I want to have added.  It even suggests why I might already have in the house.
Once all of my recipes are loaded onto my shopping list, I quickly add anything else we would normally need, like milk, eggs, etc.
I cruise the local ad for coupons and then head to the store.
Ziplist has an app for your phone, so there is no need for me to bring a list!  Whats great too is Ziplist stores your list by departments.  So I get everything in the produce section before I move on.  No more, being on the other end of the grocery store when you realized you missed carrots, which were further down your hand written list.
There you have it. I now have my menu complete, my grocery shopping complete, and what else is great is, I mentioned its just the 2 of us, and our recipes serve 4-6 people.  Well, I just made us lunches all week too.
So let me recap the benefits again....

• Recipes are all stored in one place, with the ingredients needed
• Menu planning is done in a snap (Mine usually takes about 15 minutes to do)
• Grocery List is completed in minutes and arranged by grocery department
• All the food I buy gets eaten
• My menu is laid out for me with the flexibility I need
• I save money because I only buy what I know Im going to cook
• I take the guess work out of what's for lunch because as I prepare each dinner, Im also preparing the next day's lunch

I used to really hate grocery shopping, but now, I don't mind it as much because I'm so much more organized and quicker about it.  Same goes for dinner time, its not nearly as stressful to figure out "Whats for dinner" because I already have a game plan that can be flexible with our schedules.

So pop on over to Ziplist and check it out.  You can thank me later!

**Ziplist did not sponsor this post. They have no idea who I am.  I'm totally sharing this because it has really impacted my life and I hope it will be helpful to others. This is all based on my own preferences and personal experiences with menu planning, budgeting and of course using Ziplist. 

Redefining Greatness

Hmm...so its the end of May. My last post was a month ago. An actual full month.  Every week I've thought "today I'll post" but I just haven't had it in me. So its confession time.  There seems to be a lot of that going on in the blogosphere lately (like here, here, and here).  Its pretty odd timing that this whole confession thing is happening.  It actually makes me a little angry since I've thought about writing this post for quite some time.  Since I never bothered to write it, now it seems like I'm just jumping on the pity party bandwagon. But one of the things I have to work on is to stop worrying about being the first to do something, to stop comparing my content to everyone else's, and to stop measuring everything I do against "better" blogs or for gods-sake projects on Pinterest.

I've been considering for several months now of shutting down Fairytale Frosting. Blogging is exhausting. I found that I stopped looking at the world in a joyful way.  I used to look at my baking, my crafts, and my other quirky activities as a fun way to pass time and hopefully end up with something beautiful. Instead I started looking at things like "how can I turn this into a blog post that will get me more readers." "How can I make this project even better than it is on Pinterest so that I can have a popular pin" I stopped having fun with my hobbies and started becoming critical of my work, always falling short of expectations.
I've been blogging for almost 3 years and I have about 114 followers. (Which I love love love you guys!) but in blog-land, that's a failure.  I actually had a company, with whom I wanted to partner with, tell me that they "did not have time for a blog like Fairytale Frosting".  And that was the nice part of the email.
I've had customers actually email argue with me about my pricing for goods such as my fondant toppers. One customer told me that my prices were far too high and my products were not "worthwhile". Anyone who sells handmade anything knows what a struggle it is to determine pricing.  Its hard not to second guess yourself when you have one negative thing after another. I know there is a saying about it being easier to believe the bad stuff, but the quote escapes me at the moment.

Between my own expectations and the handful of negative remarks I've gotten, its hard to stay motivated and enjoy the process.  So I've been neglecting it. I've cried over it. I've let people down over it. I haven't had it in me.  Who knew that a blog could be so exhausting?

With that said, I took some time off. For a few weeks I mostly just ignored that I even really had a blog. Then I started to back up some old photos, and was flipping through some of the work I've done in the last almost 3 years. And you know what....Toot Freakin Toot I'm quite proud of it.  Even with all of the imperfections.
I started to miss that feeling.  I missed creating things because it was fun. Its time I realigned my goals with myself.

I may not post regularly, my content will be varied, I may even share on subjects that aren't baking or craft related (gasp!) but everything I write about will be because it comes from my heart.  I vow now to write about things I enjoyed doing.  And you know what, if it doesn't get pinned on Pinterest, or never gets commented on, or never gains me any new readers....that's OK BY ME.  I do all of these crazy things because I like them. At the end of the day, that's what counts.

So, if you've managed to stick through this whole crazy post, thank you. If you've been following my blog here or Facebook or Twitter....THANK YOU. I am humbled and honored by that fact. I also apologize for ever letting the thought cross my mind that I needed "more" readers.

Today I start with a fresh look at blogging. Its no longer about being a popular blog.  Its exactly what it was meant to be from the beginning....a way for me to share about things I love. That may include crafts, desserts, cooking, my dogs, my home, or whatever may peak my interest at the time. I will no longer try to fit into the blog mold.  Someone out there has a better looking blog, wittier posts, or more creative content.  You know what, good for them. This, this is my space, to be my definition of great.  Which will not be determined by anyone else's standards but my own.

Stay tuned kids, I'm not going anywhere.