We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stefanie Skrzypek. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stefanie below.

Hi Stefanie, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

After I had my second daughter, I decided to cutback from my full-time position as a restaurant manager to pursue what I like doing. It was scary at first not knowing if I was going to be able to make it all work. I wouldn’t call if a “full-time” living but we are making it work and I get to work from home, make my own schedule, and be with my girls which I will call a win!

I struggled in the beginning balancing it all between being a present mom and dividing my time to fit in creating content and doing video work for others as well.

If I had to start over again I would try to learn time management better. Make a calendar, and a list of what you want to accomplish that week and get it done. Instead of trying to do TOO much all of the time in different directions.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a mother of two girls who has always liked to cook and bake. I come from a family of 6 and enjoy camping, spending time outdoors, and like to stay busy. I actually went to college for a video production/communications degree. I worked for a few years making local tv commercials with a production company and also for a few years in college sports radio sales.

When food blogs were gaining more popularity, I started seeing a few “hands in pans” videos and knew I could combine my love of cooking/baking and video production. I started creating videos for some bloggers on the side. I eventually thought about starting my own food blog as I gained more knowledge into the food blogging world.

So I started Stef’s Eats and Sweets where I focus on easy dinners and desserts. I also LOVE to cook outside on my flat top and smoker so you will see a lot of easy approachable recipes for outdoor cooking, too.

I think I simplify the cooking and baking process by showing my readers that you can still easily making good food at home even when we are all so busy.

I would like people to know that behind these smaller sites like mine, we are real people trying to make a small living. We are not AI, we test our food, we spend countless hours in the kitchen, writing, editing photos, making graphics, and constantly having to learn all aspects of new social media expectations. So I would appreciate if people actually CLICK through to my links and go to my site, scroll the posts, read or don’t, stay awhile, or share! And of course I would love if you have tried a recipe, come back and let me know your thoughts. Or even better-leave a comment or rating, it helps!

I am proud of myself for sticking with this. This will be my 7th year of creating recipes on my website. I started it when my daughter was 6 moths old. I thought it would be a good hobby/way to document all of the things I enjoy making. I have SLOWLY turned it into partial income which is very exciting.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I love when I see that people are actually READING and making my recipes! This makes me happy. When you see people share posts, you have no idea who actually is taking the time to go to the recipe and make it.

When I go to my analytics, and see that certain things are constantly being read/made/ comments on Pinterest that they loved it and will be added to their dinner rotation- this is an amazing feeling! My creations are making a way into your home and (hopefully) making your life a little easier.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Yes! I would love for this position to be my main source of income. Right now I still work a day or two at a restaurant, make videos for other bloggers, and do some other virtual assistant work.

So in some ways, I still feel a little all over the place. I wish I could just focus on my site, make a full GREAT recipe and video every week concentrating on the quality like I would if I was working for someone else.

That would give me a little more time to be a better mom, spouse, and everything in between.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stefseatsandsweets.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefseatsandsweets/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stefseatsandsweets
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefanieskrzypek/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@stefseatsandsweets
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stefseatsandsweets

  Lemon8: lemon8-app.com/@stefseatsandsweets

  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stefseatsandsweets/

Image Credits

Stefanie Skrzypek