Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I share your posts, recipes, videos, workouts, meditation recordings, or any other content on my website or blog?
Thank you for asking! I love when my readers enjoy my content so much that they want to share it.
Here are the ground rules that need to be followed to keep everything fair:
- Posts/Videos/Workouts/Recordings/Other Content: You are welcome to share any content from this website by linking to the original post or page on flaxseedsandfairytales.com. Do not copy and paste any text or other content from this website onto another one. This is a copyright violation. Always share the link instead.
- Recipes:You may not share full recipes from Flaxseeds & Fairytales without my consent. Please do not copy and paste a recipe onto another website. Again, this is a copyright violation. If you want to share a recipe, you may do so by linking to the original recipe on flaxseedsandfairytales.com.
- Photos:Please credit all food/recipe/travel photos taken by me (see the next FAQ on this page) with a link back to the original post/recipe or the homepage of flaxseedsandfairytales.com. Taking one of my photos without giving credit is a copyright violation, so please make sure that clear credit is given to Flaxseeds & Fairytales anytime you share a photo on another site or blog.
In short: linking + credit = good, copy + paste = bad. Do the good thing! 😉 Posting links to your favorite posts on Flaxseeds & Fairytales is always appreciated!
Thanks for sharing and if you have any questions about sharing, please feel free to contact me at alyssa@flaxseedsandfairytales.com.
Do you take all your own photos?
The images on F&F are a combination of my own photos, paid stock photos from Adobe Stock, and royalty-free stock photos licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0) from Pexels and Pixabay.
All of the food, cooking, recipe, and travel photos are my own, unless otherwise noted. These photos were taken by me using my Canon Rebel
or my iPhone 7 . The photos described above are owned by me and if you choose to share them, you must follow the photo sharing guidelines outlined in the first FAQ on this page.
The remainder of the photos on this site are not my own and were either purchased from Adobe Stock (get 10 free stock images here!) or used under CC0 from Pexels or Pixabay. Please do not credit these photos to me.
What camera do you use to take your photos? What about lenses, tripods, and editing software? Any tips for newbie photographers?
I use a Canon EOS Rebel T4i. It’s an older camera, but I love it. I’ve had it since 2013. It’s extremely durable and user friendly. Most importantly, it takes beautiful photos! Canon has since moved on to the Rebel T6i, which you can purchase here. It’s an upgraded version of the camera I use and I’ve heard great things about it! The two lenses that I use the most, especially for food photography are, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Fixed Lens 
and the Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Fixed Lens 
. They’re great for taking close up photos! For travel photos, I mainly use the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Lens
. The tripod I use is the Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 Aluminium 3-Section Tripod Kit 
and I use Adobe for editing my photos. Although phones take great photos, if you’re serious about photography, it’s important to invest in the proper tools to get the most out of your pictures!
My best advice for new photographers is to practice! Practice, practice, practice! I know it sounds simple and maybe even boring, but it’s the only way to improve your photography skills. If you’re really passionate about photography, I also recommend that you take classes. A lot of photography studios, community colleges, and other educational institutions offer inexpensive classes for learning photography. I took several classes at a nearby photography school, including DSLR Basics, Photoshop for Photographers, and a Food Photography workshop. These classes improved my photography a hundredfold.
I also recommend that all beginner and intermediate photographers check out the Tasty Food Photography eBook by: Lindsay Ostrom of the popular food blog, Pinch of Yum. She is one of the most successful food bloggers out there and she takes gorgeous photos. Although the book is geared toward food photographers, it helped me improve my photography in all areas. There’s something in it for everyone! You can purchase the book here. It was one of the first investments I made for my blog and I’ve never regretted it!
Looking for more? Check out How I Improved my Food Photography Overnight for easy tips on how to take better food photos right now!
I have a dietary restriction. Are dietary restrictions addressed on Flaxseeds & Fairytales?
Yes—absolutely! I have my own dietary restrictions, including a severe allergy to gluten. All the recipes on my blog are gluten-free. I am also mindful of other dietary restrictions my readers may have, so in order to make it easy for those on special diets, if a recipe is vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, Paleo, or Whole30, it will say so on the recipe card under “Cuisine”. You can also search for recipes that fall under these diets in the search bar or recipe index.
I’m out of shape, but really want to start exercising. Do you have any advice for me?
My best advice for anyone beginning a new exercise routine is to start slowly and listen to your body. I know first-hand what it’s like to start exercising for the first time in a while and to want to increase the intensity level quickly. But, if you advance too quickly and you don’t listen to your body, you will burn out!
When I first started exercising again after my illness, I expected my fitness level to be the same as it was before. I would exercise really intensively for a week and then burn out or injure myself and be sedentary for 3 weeks. NOT GOOD. Remember the F&F philosophy—small, consistent changes create the most effective and long-lasting improvements. Resist the urge to push your body past its limitations and focus on exercising at a low-to-moderate intensity level, five days a week. Once you’ve gotten stronger and more used to exercise, you can begin to advance slowly from there. Keep the old saying in mind: “No matter how slow you go, you’re still lapping everyone on the couch”. Here are some of my favorite, low-impact workout DVDs to get your started: Leslie Sansone: 5 Mega Miles
,Jessica Smith: 10,000 Steps Weight Loss 
, and Gina Buber: DANCE That WALK – 5000 Steps in One Easy Low Impact Walking Workout 
.
And remember—you should always consult your doctor or qualified health professional before undergoing any exercise program! Never start a fitness program if your doctor advises against it. If you experience faintness, dizziness, pain or shortness of breath at any time while exercising you should stop immediately. Be smart and stay safe!
What’s your favorite kind of workout? What’s your favorite food?
I love High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) because it’s an awesome way to get fast results. It revs up my energy and I always feel great (and drenched with sweat) when I finish. A few of my favorite HIIT-style DVDs, include Jillian Michaels: Extreme Shed & Shred
and INSANITY 
. Please note that HIIT is not for everyone and you should be good physical condition before starting this or any exercise program. If you’re new to HIIT, I recommend Walk On: Walk the Weight Off 30 Day Plan (Low Impact High Results Program), which contains an awesome HIIT walk with lower intensity options, as well as a variety of other fat burning walks.
OMG favorite food. So hard to decide! I pretty much love all food, but if I had to choose, I absolutely love seafood. Crab, lobster, shrimp, scallops—you name it! YUM! Also, I’m kind of a carboholic, so I love pasta. Give me a giant bowl of pasta with seafood and I will be your new best friend. 🙂
I’m interested in learning meditation, but I don’t really know anything about it. Do you have any recommendations for brand new meditators?
Yes!! I am so proud of you for taking this step toward living a more present and fulfilling life. If you’re brand new to meditation, I recommend you start with this post here. It takes you through all the meditation basics with helpful tips for getting started.
I also recommend that all new meditators, read the book Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation: A 28-Day Program
by Sharon Salzberg. This book was my first introduction to meditation and it changed my life. It has awesome practical tips for getting started, as well as, a CD full of basic guided meditations to start you off.
Although meditation can be difficult at the beginning, the longer you stick with it, the more you’ll start to see the benefits. There’s no time to start like the present. GO!
Please note that although meditation is considered safe for most people, you should always consult your doctor or health professional before making any health-related changes. If you have a history of depression, anxiety, or any other mental health issue, please consult with your health professional before beginning a meditation program.
What is your background in health and fitness?
Great question! My formal education is actually in a totally different field. I have a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. While I was completing my Master’s, I suddenly developed a severe chronic never pain condition that left me debilitated. After several years of suffering, I was able to treat my difficult condition (with the help of a doctor and nutritionist) through adopting a healthier diet and lifestyle. This journey inspired me to switch career tracks and pursue my passion of helping others achieve optimal health and wellness. Everything happens for a reason and after suffering through chronic pain at such a young age (I was only 24), I truly believe that Flaxseeds & Fairytales is my calling.
In December 2017, I received a certification from the American Council on Exercise (ACE)
to teach Group Fitness classes. My interest in the health and fitness industry grew from there as I pursued continuing education credits in the field, read countless books and journals, and interviewed many health professionals. Health and fitness are my passion and I work hard everyday to expand my knowledge so I can share it with you. For the full list of my credentials, please visit my About Me page (they’re listed at the bottom of the page).
What’s the story behind the name Flaxseeds & Fairytale?
Flaxseeds & Fairytales is all about helping you find your healthy, happily ever after. I believe that small, consistent changes are the best way to achieve your long-term health and fitness goals. The “Flaxseeds” part of the name represents these small changes, while “Fairytale” represents the health and happiness that grow as a result of these changes. Every post on this blog is a seed that you can use to start your journey toward happily ever after. 🙂
For the full story behind the name, please visit my About the Blog page.
I want to start a blog too! Any tips??
Yes!! I’m so excited that you’re interested in starting a blog. Starting a blog changed my life and was the best choice I ever made. It’s a little scary at first, but I promise you, it is so SO worth it! My blog is a huge part of my healthy, happily ever after because it allows me to pursue my passion, while still prioritizing a healthy lifestyle and my own well-being.
You can start your very own blog for just a few dollars a month with Bluehost, my favorite hosting company for new bloggers. Once you have your blog set up, you can start making it a success by visiting my Blogging section.
I have a specific illness or disease. If I write to you, can you give me advice on how to treat it?
No—unfortunately, that is outside of my scope of practice. I am not a doctor or health professional of any kind and I am unable to answer any questions related to your specific medical condition. While I share my personal experience in the hope of inspiring you to make conscious health decisions, you should always consult with your physician before making any health-related changes.
Even if your condition sounds similar to mine, please do not self-diagnose or delay obtaining medical or health-related advice from your health professional. Every individual is different, so it’s important that you consult your doctor one-on-one for your personal needs. The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only and should never be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition. Please understand that this policy is for your own protection and well-being. Please see full disclaimer here.
What is your comment policy?
Thank you for asking! Flaxseeds & Fairytales is not just a blog—it’s a community. I love my readers and encourage you to engage in conversation with both me and each other via the comments section of my posts. All that I ask is that you do so respectfully. We all have our opinions and it’s awesome when we can learn from each other’s differences, but we have to do it respectfully.
Comments that don’t contribute to the conversation, are clearly spam, promotional in nature, contain profanity, attack an individual directly, or harass other readers will be deleted at my discretion. Please use your real first name and email address (your email address is kept private)—anonymous comments will be deleted. I reserve the right to edit or delete any comments submitted to the blog without notice. Thank you for understanding. Let’s all be friends! 🙂