Fairytale Brownies Blog

Fundraising with Fairytale - Part Deux!

Thursday, August 5, 2010 by Melissa Eisenstein

Once again, it's an update on our efforts to raise $72,000 to build a playground for those wonderful kids here in the East Valley!
Fairytale Brownies is working with some of our friends here in the Cotton Center to raise additional funds to help with the build. So far, Alyssa has received VERY positive feedback from many of the businesses here! Quite a few have volunteered to place donation bottles in their common areas for any spare change donations. Also, The Barbeque Company, a restaurant serving Cotton Center, is holding a day where a portion of their sales will go to benefit our build. Date is TBD, but Alyssa will announce details soon, I'm sure!
Also, on September 30th, we are holding a Tweet-Up and open house here at the Fairytale Bakery! We'll have delicious gourmet brownies available for purchase, as well as our newest products...Fairytale Cookies! We've been taste-testing them in house, and trust me, they're wonderful and well worth the anticipation.
As an additional fundraising idea, we're also putting together a rummage sale! Our delicious belgian chocolate brownies will be available there as well. The rummage sale won't be here at the bakery....the fundraising team is hosting that event at none other than...MY HOUSE! At this point, we have it scheduled for October 16th, and I'll publish a link to a map & directions once we're closer to the event.
I hope to see you all VERY soon!

Show your love with gourmet Fairytale Brownies as after-school treat

Tuesday, August 3, 2010 by Alyssa Andrews

We have a back-to-school tradition in my household that began in 1991 when my oldest son started kindergarten. One by one, my children stand by the front door dressed in their new school clothes and smile so I can take a picture of the beginning of a new school year. Some years they smiled and other years they rolled their eyes, but I have those precious photos that chronicle every year of growth.

This year, my youngest son will have his first day of school and I will not be there to record it - the entire family except him will be out of town. I plan to take his picture when I get back, but in my mind, the photo won't be the same.

For those of you who haven't established a first-day-of-school tradition, try this: Serve Fairytale Brownies as an after-school treat! Place the gourmet fudgy brownies on a plate and serve with a cold glass of milk and lots of love!

Every year, one of my Mom friends has served cookies to her children when they come home from their first day of school. Last year, she decided to take the children out for frozen yogurt instead. Although the children love frozen yogurt, they wanted to know where the cookies were. The cookies were just the store-bought variety and not as delicious as a Belgian dark chocolate brownie from Fairytale Brownies, but they were served with "love" and the children knew it.

This year, my friend is serving Fairytale Brownies as her first-day, after-school treat. Her children will know they are loved after just one bite of a chocolaty brownie, and they won't even remember the store-bought cookies from the past.

On the road with Fairytale Brownies

Tuesday, August 3, 2010 by Alyssa Andrews

I am enjoying the sights of Portland, Oregon, this week, while sending my son off to dental school.

We left the Arizona desert Saturday and began the 20-hour drive to the much cooler mecca we call the Pacific Northwest. Of course we brought with us the perfect comfort food - gourmet brownies from Fairytale Brownies. The Magic Morsels were a great pick-me-up after the first 10 hours on the road, but we saved some of them for later. Once he's all moved in (we're almost finished), we'll have a brownie break.

If you're sending your son or daughter off to school, be sure to include the perfect comfort food - Fairytale Brownies.

Customer's Rave about Belgian Chocolate Brownie Gifts!

Monday, August 2, 2010 by Hilary Lee

I just wanted to share some of the great comments and raves that we've had pouring in to our customer service center about our great Fairytale Brownies and our excellent service! Here are some of the best ones from this week:

Fairytale Brownies offers a huge selection of brownie gifts in every price range - the quality is top-notch. My families request for birthdays is that I send birthday brownies! So easy to order brownies online and the shipping is a great value. ~ Stephanie B., TX

Our entire family enjoys the fudge brownies from Fairytale Brownies, and when there is a time for a special treat, we always look to Fairytale. Thank you for such an excellent product! ~ Ruth B., PA

I received Fairytale Brownies recently as a housewarming gift and loved them so much that I'm sending brownies to my Dad for his birthday! ~ Vic J., AZ

Great product! Ordering brownies online couldn't have been easier. I really appreciate the reduced shipping promotion. ~ Mary S., PA

I enjoyed Fairytale Brownies when I received them as a gift. The people I have sent them to raved that they were the best brownies too! ~ June F., IL

Visit us online at brownies.com for more information or to order brownies online!

Include Fairytale Brownies in your school lunches

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 by Alyssa Andrews

Even though it's the last week of July, in Arizona we are getting ready for our children to return to school. Some area schools are already back in session!

Don't forget to include Fairytale Brownies in those lunch boxes.

Magic Morsels are a perfect bite-sized ending to any brown bag lunch. They are available in Original, Chocolate Chip, Caramel, Walnut and Sugar-free Original flavors.

Need a little larger size option? Try our Sprites - they're 3" x 1.5" and equal to one serving size. Sprites are available in 12 flavors.

Order your gourmet brownies online and they will be shipped to your door. Buy them in bulk without the special packaging and receive an even better price. Just put the spare brownies in the freezer (they'll stay fresh for up to 6 months) and use as needed.

Now that you've got lunches covered, time to focus on back-to-school clothing!

Brownies on Vacation!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 by Kari Gayes

I am very excited this week, because Thursday morning I am heading out of the Phoenix heat to some (hopefully) cooler temperatures on the Connecticut coast to spend a week with my parents and my sister's family, including the two most adorable nieces in the world (I may be biased, but they're pretty stinking cute). If there's one thing I've learned about being a cool aunt, it's to always have some fudgy Fairytale Brownies when I visit! I'm taking a Magic Morsel Dozen for the girls so they have their very own bite-sized gourmet brownies to devour. Since my dad just turned 60, I decided I should take him a Happy Birthday brownie gift as well. I think I'll take the Birthday Sprite 24 so he has plenty for himself and to share with the rest of the adults, who are always very happy when I send brownies for the holidays.

Order NEW holiday brownie gifts & save with early order discounts!

Monday, July 26, 2010 by Hilary Lee

Fairytale Brownies is excited to announce that we have many new and delicious gourmet brownie gifts coming your way, including our long awaited New Fairytale Cookies (available September 8th). We have New Christmas and Holiday gift packaging, New Towers, and New Keepsake Tin gifts! Check out this exclusive link to our New Products page here: brownies.com/new!

While you're browsing our new gift selections, why not consider thinking about placing your order for Holiday Gifts? If you order now for the holidays, you can and Save up to 30%! If you're not sure what to order, just put down a deposit to secure your discount. Call customer service at 800.531.5209 and we'll help you get started!

No addresses or gift selections needed.
Just prepay now and place your order with you're ready.
We'll help you find the best brownie gifts for your budget and follow up as the holidays approach!

Call our customer service team today at 800.531.5209 to take advantage of these early order discounts! For more information on early order discounts, please visit the volume discounts page on our website brownies.com, or click here. Thank you and have a Fairytale Day!

Fairytale Brownies and Professional Wrestling????

Thursday, July 22, 2010 by Melissa Eisenstein

Yes, I know, that seems like a very unlikely combination. But, to be honest, wrestlers like gourmet brownies too, and are more than willing to share with their buddies.

Recently my husband brought a Fairytale Brownie to a wrestling friend of his: "Monster Mayhem". He really loved the rich, fudgy brownie, and requested more, if we could get them for him. As a favor to the hubby, I brought home a Sprite Dozen, and did the "Choose your Own" option, as Mr. Mayhem's favorite flavor is Peanut Butter! Well, he loved them so much, he shared with all the wrestlers working that night for EXW (www.elitextremewrestling.com), a local promotion that we support. All the guys loved those Belgian Chocolate brownies! Unfortunately, one of the guys who knows my husband very well was not in the "locker room" at the time, so missed out. We're going to bring Tyson some gourmet brownies at the next show.

One of our personal friends took a few home too, because he and his wife think these are the best brownies they've ever had, and they're a welcome treat occasionally. My husband Jeff was giving out brownie advice too..."one cream cheese, one peanut butter and a glass of milk." I think I've made some more addicts!

Don't forget ladies' night with Fairytale Brownies and AZ Girls Pint Out

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 by Alyssa Andrews

I want to remind all of our 'lady' Fairytale Fans about Thursday's brownies and beer night.

AZ Girls Pint Out is hosting a brownie/beer tasting at 6 p.m. at Sleepy Dog Saloon and Brewery in Tempe. Entry fee is $15 and most of the proceeds will go towards building a local playground with the national nonprofit KaBOOM! The fee will include 6 beer samples and 6 brownie samples, and an informative introduction to the brews being sampled.

There also will be a $1 raffle to win a gourmet brownie tower gift or an iPod.

Sleepy Dog is located at 1920 E. University Ste 104, east of McClintock Road on the north side of the street.

It's going to be a Fairytale evening. See you there!

Brownies.com getting a fresh update

Monday, July 19, 2010 by Hilary Lee

Every year the catalog & web team here at Fairytale Brownies discusses improvements and updates to our catalog and website based on what our customers are asking for. We listen very closely to what our customers' requests are and plan for updates and upgrades. We do this not only to stay close to our customers, but we strive to stay technologically competitive and implement features and benefits that are industry standard.

For example, on our website brownies.com we've just added a great new feature called "Enlarge/More Views" for our product details pages. This allows the customer to see close-up beauty shots, or "zoomed views" before they buy brownies. This will help the customer in understanding exactly what they are purchasing when they buy brownies for themselves or send brownies as a gift from Fairytale Brownies. For example, based on a simple product photograph, some customers did not realize our gourmet brownies are individually wrapped for freshness with all nutritional information listed on each brownie wrapper.

Another feature we are adding both to our website and catalog (coming September 1st) is a full and complete description of the gourmet brownies including quantities/flavors in each brownie gift. Previously, we've included a product description with a descriptive photo for the customer. Now, we will be including all flavors, inclusions, weights, and their respective quantities in every brownie gift.

Along with some really cool new features and benefits, we are debuting a fresh new look for both our catalog and website. Our corporate branding will remain the same, however, both channels will be updated with a modern and airy look and feel. We're excited for our customers to see these updates! Our catalog and web team has been working hard to get these updates ready for the Fall/Holiday 2010 rollout. Request a catalog here if you aren't already on our mailing list, and/or visit brownies.com after September 1st. You won't want to miss these updates :). Oh, and the delicious gourmet brownies are divine too, tee hee.

Fairytale Brownies gears up for the holidays . . . in July?

Friday, July 16, 2010 by Kim Silva

It might not seem like the holiday season is just around the corner, especially considering the extremely high temperatures in Arizona right now, but peak season for Fairytale Brownies is coming and plans are already being set for the upcoming holidays.

We're in the final stages of putting together our staffing plans and projections for the coming holidays and will be bringing on temporary seasonal staff beginning in late August. We typically stagger the teams for each department. Our brownie bakers will be coming first, followed by some of our CSRs, gift packers and data entry teams. We will have a few rounds of hiring up through November. We are lucky enough to have most of the same team members return year after year, but we also have to source new team members as our volumes continue to increase each season. By the time it's all said and done in December, we'll have brought on 100+ additional temporary team members to help us bake and ship delicious gourmet brownies to customers all over the world!

If you are interested in temporary seasonal employment, or any other available positions with Fairytale Brownies, you can download an application at www.brownies.com or send resumes to careers@brownies.com. We also accept applications in our Retail Store Monday through Friday from 8am - 3pm. For more detailed information on the various positions, requirements and start dates, contact Janet at 602-489-5154 or via email at janet@brownies.com.

Celebrate National Ice Cream Day with a brownie sundae

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 by Alyssa Andrews

Today is National Ice Cream Day and what better way to celebrate than with a brownie sundae?

Fudgy chocolate brownies from Fairytale Brownies make the perfect dessert when served alone, but add some ice cream, fruit, nuts, chocolate sauce, and/or whipped cream and you have a beyond perfect divine creation.

Experiment with a variety of gourmet brownie flavors, too. Try a Peanut Butter brownie with peanut butter chocolate ice cream. Or Toffee Crunch brownie with pralines and cream ice cream.

You might feel like exercising after you've eaten this purely decadent dessert, but please wait 30 minutes before doing so. It's Mom's rule, that's why.

Fundraising with Fairytale Brownies & KaBOOM!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 by Melissa Eisenstein

Recently, I became a part of the KaBOOM! build team, and I'm doing my best to assist with some additional fundraising to make our new build possible! We've held meetings, sent emails, everything, trying to come up with WONDERFUL gourmet brownie based ideas to help this wonderful charity raise the funds to build another beautiful, safe playground for deserving kids.

We have an event on July 22nd, at the Sleepy Dog Brewery in Tempe, AZ at 6:00pm, featuring our Belgian Chocolate Brownies paired with their handcrafted brews. Admission is only $15, and all proceeds go to KaBOOM! We have the event posted on our Facebook page; just RSVP if you'd like to attend.

Our 2nd major event is on September 10th, at the Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler. This is a golf tournament sponsored by Aerotek Industries, $95 per person, $350 per team, or $450 per team with hole sponsorship. It includes the 18 holes of golf and the cart, as well as some extra goodies, AND since we're partnering with Aerotek for the tournament, Gourmet Brownies will be served! If you're interested, here is a link to the registration form and details: cdn.content.compendiumblog.com/uploads/user/ff23ca86-5016-423d-b8e7-eea72065d36e/1adc32d5-a44a-4298-b0d9-623757f73165/File/28fc1983e33a8a9ae8de908f04c89591.pdf

As always, if you can't participate in any of our upcoming fundraisers, you can always donate a dollar, $5 or $10 online when you order brownies on our website. I'll keep you all posted on our upcoming events! For more info about KaBOOM!, and our upcoming project, visit out website at www.brownies.com/facts_info/kaboom.aspx.

On a personal, side note, I've discovered a new site www.mommylingo.blogspot.com, and started posting there as well, just little tidbits about being a mom and the crazy situations you occasionally come across. She loves Fairytale Brownies too! Check it out!

Gourmet Brownie Catalogs - Down to the Wire!

Monday, July 12, 2010 by Kari Gayes

We are down to the wire with our Fall and Holiday Fairytale Brownies catalogs this week! We've been working hard for months, and will be sending the files for our gourmet brownie gifts catalog to the printer on Friday. The photo on the left is a stack of all the edits we made just in the last week! All this hard work can make us a little crazy, but it is always worth it in the end to see the mouthwatering catalogs full of our fudgy brownies and cookies that will be on their way to you soon! We've made some changes this year, and we hope you love these catalogs as much as we do. And if you aren't on our mailing list yet, fill out this form to ensure you'll have a catalog when you want to send brownies or have cookies delivered to your friends and loved ones this fall!

Back to our roots - brownies and play!

Thursday, July 8, 2010 by Eileen Spitalny

My partner David and I met on the kindergarten playground and ever since we have played and eaten brownies together! Yes, that playing turned into starting a business together. And since 2001, we have partnered with KaBOOM! to spread the word about their important mission for all kids to have a safe place to play and we have donated dollars and brownies. Next year will be our 10-year anniversary working together and we are rasing funds to build a Phoenix area playground not too far from our bakery. You can read details here on our website - http://www.brownies.com/facts_info/kaboom.aspx

My daughter is helping raise funds for this playground build. She made a jar at home that asks for money for kids in need to build them a playground. We have filled it up once so far and brought it in to the big coin jar in our retail store. Her first haul was $41.78. Now the jar is back at home being filled up again. So if you come over be prepared to part with your spare change and a dollar or two. In return we will offer you a fudgy chocolatey Fairytale Brownie with a cold glass of milk as a sweet reward! There are many ways you can help us with our efforts. If you are interested just post a comment or idea. Thanks for making the world a sweeter place!

Red, White, Blue & Fairytale Brownies

Thursday, July 8, 2010 by Melissa Eisenstein

This past Sunday, the United States commemorated it's 234th birthday! And many of us commemorated that with cookouts, parties, swimming, and of course, fireworks! Those of us who are chocoholics had to add in...Fairytale Brownies!

My in-laws had close family friends in from out of town over the long weekend. We were invited to a cookout there on Sunday for the 4th. Of course, I volunteered to bring Belgian Chocolate Brownies as a wonderful way to end dinner, and the out-of-town guests had yet to sample the goodness of one of our gourmet brownies!

Well, the selection I brought with me went over fantastically. Everyone found a flavor they loved, as well as sampling some new flavors. I think a few were even snuck into the luggage for a special take-home treat. I made sure to bring our tempting summer catalog with me, just in case anyone felt the need to order brownies.

I think the guests were suitably impressed by the selection of flavors offered in the Patriotic Sprite 24, as well as the quality of these rich, fudgy confections. Hopefully, I've made addicts for life.

Fairytale Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Wednesday, July 7, 2010 by Kim Silva

I just returned from a visit home for the 4th of July holiday where we had a great family reunion. Part of the weekend long festivities included a dessert competition, so I put my thinking cap on and decided to use some of our Fairytale Cookie samples to make ice cream sandwiches - a simple treat for a hot Summer day! The cookies will not make their official debut until this Fall, but we had so many samples from the various tests we've been conducting, I just knew I could use them somehow for the competition.

Apart from the ice cream melting before I could finish the entire project, they came out absolutely delectable! I took 3rd place with my entry, which I thought was commendable considering I didn't exactly make the ice cream, and the team here made the cookie samples for me. Either way, Fairytale Cookies made awesome ice cream sandwiches!

No guilt with Magic Morsels at this party

Wednesday, July 7, 2010 by Alyssa Andrews

I'm planning a "going away to dental school" party for my son at the end of the month and asked him what foods he would like to serve his guests. Fudgy chocolate brownies from Fairytale Brownies made the list.

Kevin's undergraduate degree is in Exercise and Wellness, and with 6% body fat, he is a walking billboard for healthy living. He can eat anything and everything and not gain weight.

Let me say this right now - Kevin does NOT get his body from his mother. I have a shape. Some call it "round." The difference between my son and I is that Kevin understands the meaning of the word "moderation." I'm still learning it.

Fairytale Brownies has a brownie size for every appetite - full-size 3" x 3" squares for those who love their Belgian dark chocolate; 1 1/2" x 3" Sprites for those interested in portion control; and 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" Magic Morsels for those who can be satisfied with a few bites of delicious chocolaty goodness.

Kevin likes the Chocolate Chip Magic Morsels. The great thing about the Magic Morsels gift is that four different flavors come in a box so one can eat an Original, Chocolate Chip, Caramel and Walnut morsel, and technically only have consumed one brownie.

I'm serving Magic Morsels at Kevin's party. No guilt for any of us!

It's a small world after all...Brownies Delivered!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010 by Hilary Lee

This past weekend, I took my son to Disneyland in Anaheim, CA to celebrate the Independence Day holiday. It was the perfect weekend. We had absolutely gorgeous weather and the crowds were not too bad. The excitement in the air was palpable; we were ready to celebrate America's freedom with a bang! The main reason we went to Disneyland for Independence Day was for the amazing fireworks show they put on every year. Growing up in Southern California, I know how Disney does it up every year, so I was excited to share that with my son. Here we are standing in line for our favorite ride, the Matterhorn roller coaster!

While we were there the most amazing thing happened....and I realized what a small world it is after all. Just before the fireworks began at 9:30, we were trying to strategize the best place to view the show. We decided that the restaurant on the tip of Main Street right in front of the castle was the best place. Apparently my idea was not original because it seemed that there were lots of people out there too. Then, I was approached by a woman who said, "You're more than welcome to join us at our table for the fireworks show." I was so excited, because her table just happened to have a completely unobstructed view of this great show! We gladly accepted her invitation and got to chatting pre-show.

Turns out..... she is from AZ. Her daughter went to Patterson Elementary which my son currently attends, and we live about 5 miles from eachother! While we were exchanging contact information, I mentioned that I worked at Fairytale Brownies. Again to my amazement, she said that the doctors office she works at has gourmet brownies delivered frequently from patients. She loves our brownies and uses us to send brownies to her friends and family too. It was so awesome to meet new friends - and in the most unlikely of places! "It's a small world after all!!"

Sharing some brownie bites!

Friday, July 2, 2010 by Eileen Spitalny

Actually these are bites of advice. Recently I talked with Jim Blasingame, The Small Business Advocate. Here is a link to the most recent interview - http://www.smallbusinessadvocate.com/small-business-interviews/eileen-spitalny-8257
We talked about how we are using social and online marketing at Fairytale Brownies.
Maybe you can apply to your own business or where you work or to attract more Facebook fans to your personal page!