It's Blitz!

Today while I was browsing ModCloth I came across this BEAUTIFUL maxi dress. It's absolutely lovely and perfect for summer. Maxi dresses and yummy coral colors are two of my favorite things about summer fashion.

If you're planning on spending a summer day at the park/mall/art gallery/etc. in a maxi dress, then a pair of toned arms are your best accessory (I'm still working on these myself)! While I was on Shape magazine's site this morning, the Toned Arms in Record Timeworkout routine caught my eye. After looking over I thought to myself, what a perfect way to tone up in a hurry for your favorite maxi dress! I'm adding this short routine to my workout starting tomorrow morning, are you? I'll be sure and update as I begin to see results:)

Also, the newest Yeah Yeah Yeahs' CD, It's Blitz!, has some great songs for your cardio workout. Zero, Dragon Queen, Dull Life and especially Heads Will Roll. You can download them on iTunes. (Purchase it if you can! Because I've been in a long-term relationship with a touring musician, I have personally felt the effects of people preferring to illegally download and it's no fun)

xoxo

The Foodie Fashionista <3

Strawberry Salads Forever

This post is completely strawberry inspired! From their beautiful red color to their yummy taste, strawberries are love! Lately I've been on a strawberry kick. I twittered about sharing my Willams-Sonoma roasted strawberry salad experience and how I was munching on fresh strawberries for dessert tonight.

The other night I made a scrumptious 'Baby Spinach Salad with Roasted Strawberry ", recipe compliments of Williams-Sonoma It was the perfect recipe for those of out there that aim to be healthy and loove cooking, but aren't quite 'top chefs' yet.

But first, I wanted to share some great online shopping finds that will totally get you in the "strawberry" mood for this great salad.

Dress by Motel, $64.37 ASOS

Heels by Jeffrey Campbell, $159.99 ModCloth

Aren't those shoes adorable?

Salad time!

Now before beginning, invite some girlfriends over (or a hot date!) or put some music on. To stick with this strawberry theme, I recommend Strawberry Swing by Coldplay or Strawberry Fields Forever by the Beatles or the amazing cover by Jim Sturgess.

I'm going to be proving the "half" version of the recipe, as it makes a huge salad (enough for 6 people I'd say). And other great thing about this salad is that it's cheap. It cost me about $16 for all the goods (minus the basics I already had like spinach, almonds and red wine vinegar..), and that was for the full size recipe. The most expensive ingredient was the pecorino romano cheese which cost $9.99, but I only used half for the cheese and it will make for an excellent snack later.

Ingredients

1/2 lb yummy fresh strawberries

4 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil

2 tsp. plus 1/2 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

fresh ground pepper to taste

3 tbs. red wine vinegar

1/8 cup fresh orange juice (I just brought the small "lunch-size" of Simply Orange orange juice, as I didn't take the time to make fresh OJ. Just being honest...)

2 tsp. freshly ground tarragon (this is usually located by the lettuce and spinach, in case you didn't know - because I didn't! Thank goodness you're never too old to call your mom)

1/2 cup blanched whole almonds, roasted (I totally cheated on this and used the pre-sliced salad mix-in almonds)

4.5 cups of baby spinach

2.5 oz pecorino romano cheese, shredded

Directions

Preheat over to 400 deg F

PART 1, Roasted Strawberries - Cut strawberries in half lengthwise, and spread them out on a rimmed baking sheet. It's important that you actually used a rimmed sheet, as you'll be covering them in 1 tbs. olive oil, 1 tsp. sugar, a dash of salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle the olive oil and the sugar over all the berries, then toss to coat all the berries evenly. Roast the strawberries until soft and yummy, which is about 10 minutes.

PART 2, Salad Dressing - Whisk together the vinegar, orange juice, tarragon, a dash of salt and pepper to taste. Next, slowly whisk in 3 tbs. olive oil.

PART 3, Putting it all together - In a small bowl mix together the almonds and a dash of salt. In a large bowl, combine the fresh baby spinach, another dash of salt and as much fresh ground pepper as you'd like or don't like. Then drizzle and mix in about half the dressing (you can add more later if you want). Divide up the salad spinach, and top with the amazing strawberries, yummy cheese and the almonds.

TADA!!

Now that was easy, wasn't it?

So until next time, follow me on Twitter and let me know:

-What's your favorite fruit this summer?

-Do you have any good recipes that incorporate strawberries?

-And I'm still looking for a delicious vegan cupcake or cookie recipe to try this weekend, what's your favorite?

Sincerly yours,

The Foodie Fashionista xoxo

My cupcakes bring all the boys to yard

I had a marvelous baking night with the girls, and we baked some delicious (but totally and completely unhealthy) cupcakes with Sprinkles Cupcake Mix. I had picked up a package of Red Velvet and Vanilla, but happily decided on Vanilla... YUM! We were going to make them both but we knew we'd end up with too many leftover cupcakes or really bad tummy aches and full of cupcake regrets. To me, the key to enjoying the art of cupcakes is to bake them yourself (mix or even better from scratch when you have time) either with your friends, kids, loved ones or some of your favorite music and only eat one yummy little cupcake. Share the rest with your friends, family, your co-workers or the new neighbors. Do not let them sit around your house! I REPEAT DO NOT LET YUMMY HOMEMADE CUPCAKES SIT AROUND YOUR HOUSE! The key is to eat one out of the entire batch, not one the night you baked them and one the next day and the next day and the next day and the next day until they are gone. Learn to enjoy sharing yummy treats with the people in your life. It gives me so much happiness to give someone the simple gift of a cupcake.

Having a homemade cupcake (or one from a cute cupcake bakery) once in the while is GOOD, eating more than one or two is not healthy nor a friend of your skinny jeans, and a life with NO CUPCAKES IS NO FUN!

Rules to remember when baking cupcakes

1. Make baking enjoyable - Bake with company, have your friends or loved ones around. Or if you're baking alone don't forget the music! Pop in your favorite CD or start your favorite playlist on your iPod. If you're anything like me when my favorite song comes on while I'm bake, I can't help but shake my booty while I'm sifting confectioner's sugar into the frosting. Learn to find joy and satisfaction in the process of baking, not just the end result.

2. Only eat one cupcake, and enjoy and savor every bite (and if you get full STOP) - Maybe you're the girl with the killer body that can eat another cupcake the next day and not gain weight, but that is a lot of sugar and butter so maybe have just half. But rule of thumb for the majority of us.... ONE CUPCAKE PER BATCH! Another good idea... before you even start to eat it cut it in half and put one half in tupperware and into the fridge for another day.

3. Share the rest with the lovely people in your life - See the joy your bring them, it's bound to make you feel good too! It can make you feel so much better than eating the leftover cupcakes ever could. No guilt, no self-loathing just happiness and knowing you cheered up someone's day

Baking (cupcakes especially) is not about being selfish. It's about enjoying life, having fun, creating something cute and yummy and bringing joy to others!

Does anyone else have any cupcake and baking hints?

What are your favorite cupcake recipes?

If you have a yummy vegan cupcake or amazing vegan cookie recipe, please send them my way! I'm going to try one this weekend <3

Ciao!

The Foodie Fashionista

Welcome to The Fashion of Food!!

Have you ever gone to the kitchen for ONE cookie and felt emotional, broken, helpless and stuffed when you end up eating SIX cookies instead?

Around 3 o'clock in the afternoon, are you focused on how you want to sneak away from life's responsibilities for a nap? Do you promise yourself "I'll eat better tomorrow" time and time again? Have you ever found an adorable dress for an amazing price, but passed it up cause you didn't feel confident enough to rock it?

I've been there! And I'll admit, there are days when I'm still there. However, I won't give up. I've made many changes, and I've already seen the pay off! This blog is here to help inspire and motivate me while I continue to turn around and enhance my lifestyle, while helping you!!!!

Food and fitness are friends, not enemies! And you don't need a million bucks to look and feel like it! Food, fitness, fashion and beauty all go hand in hand. They are the ticket to positive, energetic and adorable life.

This is a blog for contemporary women (and sophisticated teens!) who are also making the change and wanting to make the change (but don't know where to start). AND this is a blog for REAL females =) For those of us who can't drop thousands and thousands of dollars to run away from our homes full of Jimmy Choos and Balenciaga handbags, to detox spa retreats for weeks at a time. This is a cute and motivating blog for the struggling college student, the fashionista, the young professional, the hospital intern, the retail manager, etc. who loves real food, staying active AND satisfying their sweet tooth with cupcakes, killer and affordable heels, one of a kind dresses, and adorable accessories.

As often as I possibly can, I'll be updating with posts full of recipes, workout plans, awesome shopping finds, beauty tips, and reviews from everything from face wash to a good book. I am no chef myself! All the recipes will be VERY detailed for those of us who aren't exactly sure how to use a hand can-opener or how to properly add flour to your scrumptious cupcake batter!

Importantly, I want to hear from you! I'm not just saying that. I abosooooolutely mean it. I've learned so much from women in my life I admire and the books and websites I've "researched". But there is so so so much more I do not know, if you have a tip please share! Leave comments, email me, or be a "guest" writer and contribute your own post :) And be sure to follow The Fashion of Food on Twitter http://twitter.com/fashionoffood

A sneak preview of what's coming very soon....

Well... that was a lot. Honestly, I'm just excited.

Yours truly,

The Foodie Fashionista <3

http://twitter.com/fashionoffood

"High-tech tomatoes. Mysterious milk. Supersquash. Are we supposed to eat this stuff? Or is it going to eat us?"

-Annita Manning