Fashion: Flare

I have to admit that while I love skinny jeans, I am so happy to see that flares and wide legs are on trend again and have made their way back into the market.

Flares are more comfortable and more forgiving of most body shapes and, in my mind, they can look effortlessly chic when paired with a simple top and some fun accessories.

I also love the fact that many people associate flare jeans with the 70's (I can hear my mother saying "I used to have jeans exactly like those!" right now...) and who doesn't have an affinity for the era of free love.  These jeans are a particularly great fit because they are high waisted - giving the illusion of long legs (which I definitely don't have!) and because they are Seven for all Mankind, one of my favorite denim brands. Everyone has their own favorite brand but this happens to be one of mine because I can always find a pair to fit my petite frame.

Keeping on trend with the 70's theme, I paired my flares with a cropped LOVE tee and some ridiculously high t-strap platforms... I'm 5'1 (like I said, no long legs here) so I will take any help I can get from these 6 inch heels! Another benefit to wearing sky high platforms is that they prevent your flares from dragging on the ground. Torn and tattered hems are just not cute... unless you're trying to channel Abercrombie and Fitch circa 2000 (please don't).

You will also notice that much of my outfit is from Forever 21 (not the denim...always invest in good denim!)...I know this store is often a mad house - especially in Manhattan - but I have developed a skill (of which many of my friends and coworkers are jealous) for quickly sifting through the trashy stuff to get to the good stuff...but you too can and will acquire this skill if you patiently visit a Manhattan F21 store everyday because your office is right across the street a few times... After all, practice makes perfect, right?

Jeans: Seven for all Mankind

Top / Heart Necklace / LOVE necklace / Flower ring / Silver Bangles / Sunglasses: Forever 21

Green glass bangles: street vendor

Silver Sparkly Socks: ps from aeropostale

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Dany Platforms

Belt: Urban Outfitters

BONUS F: Finances

Because I love reading the news (it's a great procrastination tool), I figure I can share some interesting articles that I read regardless if they are unrelated to FFF.

This is a New York Times article on the marginal cost of children (did I mention I was a nerd an economics major at NYU?)

A lot of my friends and family are getting married; so this is for you guys as you begin to consider starting a family...

http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/the-marginal-cost-of-children/

      

My mother is one of 8 children. (She's the 4th kid from the left in the front row - sorry Mom!)

       

FITNESS: Good for your health...who would have thought?!

A friend sent me this article last week and I must say I was shocked to read that studies have found health benefits to drinking (and I'm not talking about a glass of red before bed every once and a while)... Check it out!

http://www.cnbc.com/id/41392317/

I think it's time for a drink!

FITNESS: A quick rant…

It’s that time of year again - a few weeks into January - and everybody’s New Years Resolutions (hit the gym everyday, lose a few pounds, yadee yadee yada) are starting to lose their shimmer and shine.

Luckily, because I am a self proclaimed gym rat and have educated myself in the arenas of health and fitness, I never succumb to the vicious cycle that is a New Years Resolution: Vow to go to the gym and eat healthy everyday -stick with this plan formaybe a week - then fall back into the ease comfort ofcouchpotatoness. 

Unfortunately, everyone is not as motivated or well informed as I am, and I get frustrated with you fat lazy people!!! accept that fact.

In the past few days, due to the diminishing luster of the aforementioned almighty New Years Resolution, I have received numerous requests for work out tips and tricks - female friends and coworkers trying to drag out stick to the resolution just.one.more.day.

So here’s the big secret ladies… 

LIFT WEIGHTS! 

Yes, actual weights… you know, dumbbells?! I’m not talking 2 and 3 pounders either, girls… USE YOUR MUSCLES! All cardio and no weights is like a cupcake without icing - what the hell is the point!? Maybe a cupcake analogy wasn’t the best choice for this particular post…

The bottom line is - and I will get into the science of it all at another time - you need to incorporate weights into your workouts if you really want to be lean, fit, and f***ing fabulous…and I know you do. 

FASHION: Shoes!

I had to write about this pair of great new booties I got last week… Jean-Michel Cazabat Larita Lace Up Booties (via Shopbop).

I LOVE THEM!!! I can’t wait to wear them! (if you can’t tell) You will certainly be seeing them in future posts.

They are about 5 inches high with a 1 inch platform - perfect for someone of my diminutive stature. The heel is painted in an ombre-eque fashion, which lightens the overall harshness of the shoe.  I’ve been into wearing a lot of black lately - I think it must be this weather…

FOOD: Whole Wheat Banana Bread with White Chocolate, Macadamia Nuts, and Coconut

Of course my first post would be about food…what else! 

I had to start out with one of my very favorite foods: BANANA BREAD. I usually always have some variation of this personal staple lying around my apartment.  I eat it for breakfast nearly everyday and I truly do not get tired of it.

I think the key to not tiring of it (other than my innate addiction to any and every baked good) is VARIETY. There are so many different things you can do with banana bread - you never have to make (or eat) the same loaf twice. You can add chocolate, nuts, dried fruit – whatever you prefer.  I tend to lean toward the sweet, more dessert oriented variations because I inherited quite a strong sweet tooth from my father (thanks, DAD!)

In any case, this particular version is one of my recent favorites. It has everything –and more – that you could want in a banana bread!  The white chocolate adds the best element (in my mind):SWEETNESS! The macadamia nuts add a wonderful crunch. The coconut compliments the bananas subtly and perfectly. It really is as amazing as it sounds, I promise!

Since I’m a little bit of a big heath fanatic, I try to make healthy substitutions whenever possible.  The original recipe (fromFor the Love of Cooking) is listed below, but here are my suggested substitutions – feel free to utilize as many or as few as you like:

-          ½ cup of butter: either use light butter or ¼ cup of applesauce + ¼ cup of butter (any way you can reduce the amount of fat in a recipe is a plus!)

-          ½ cup of white sugar: I substitute with Splenda for baking (my dad is diabetic so I’ve gotten used to incorporating this in many recipes)…it’s zero calories and you can’t taste any difference! Agave or honey are both effective natural sweeteners, but they contain calories…so it just depends what your goal is – less calories or more natural

-          Use all whole wheat flour (1 ½ cups altogether)

-          ½ cup sour cream: I prefer using fat free greek yogurt

ORIGINAL RECIPE :

1/2 cup of butter, softened

1 /2 cup of white sugar

1/2 cup of brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup of flour

1/2 cup of whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup very ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 cup of sour cream

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut

1/2 cup of macadamia nuts, chopped

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a loaf pan with cooking spray.

 In a bowl, cream together butter, sugar, vanilla, and eggs. 

Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. 



Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture. Add the bananas, sour cream, chocolate chips, coconut, and macadamia nuts. Stir just to combine – do not over mix. 





Pour into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Slice, serve and enjoy.

Since I’m a single girl living alone —- I slice my banana bread, wrap it in individual servings, and stack the slices in my freezer so they will stay fresh and last longer. Then I grab one each morning, defrost, and enjoy.

And so it begins…

Friends and family have been asking me to start a blog for over a year now…I never thought anyone would really want to hear what I have to say or read about what I do in my everyday life - but after numerous requests, I have given in and jumped on the blogging bandwagon.  These three things are my passions: they are my motivation to get out of bed in the morning and the things I dream about at night.  I hope you all enjoy, appreciate, and maybe even learn something from my love for (and obsession with) FOOD, FASHION, and FITNESS.