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Smart is the New Pretty: Let’s Socialize

By |October 19th, 2011|Smart Is the New Pretty|
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As women, we are known to be very social creatures.  So, when the buzz word  “social media” started popping up everywhere (and is even now considered a “career”), we thought to ourselves, “Psssh!  We’ve been doing this for years.”  While there are plenty of folks out there who consider themselves to be gurus, experts and mavens in the venue of Marketing/PR 2.0, most of them haven’t a clue as to what they’re talking about.  So, if you’re looking to increase your social presence, it’s probably best not to leave it to the “experts” and start learning yourself!  Social Media is constantly changing so you better keep up!

Now go fire up your Tumblr, Twitter, and Flickr.  It’s time to get social… and while you’re at it, be sure to Tweet, FB, and YouTube with WhyDid.

WhyDid
 

Why Did You Wear That: Pick of the Patch

By |October 18th, 2011|Personal Style, Why Did You Wear That?|
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As mentioned, this past weekend, we made the trek to Half Moon Bay for their annual pumpkin festival.  We considered pulling a U-turn looking down the hill at the bumper to bumper traffic,  but hung in there, because really… going to a pumpkin festival is the right thing to do, right?  Maybe not.  This promised pumpkin fest wasn’t quite the vision I’d conjured up in my head while sitting in two hours of traffic.  But with all things in life, you must take the bad and learn from it.  So, here are a few things I learned:

  1. I’m not really a “festival” type of girl.
  2. They’ll charge you four times as much for a pumpkin in the “country” as you’d pay for it at Safeway.
  3. I do love a good petting zoo and still want that pony I yearned for as a little girl.
  4. And I still remember all the words to Kenny Chesney’s She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy (you can take the girl out of West Virginia…).

Luckily, on the road to (and from) the festival, there were several roadside stands with their own pumpkin patches (and petting zoos), where we stopped.  It probably would’ve been prudent to have just gone to the pumpkin patches in the first place and skipped the festival altogether.  Again, we live and we learn. At least I was dressed for the occasion.  Without fail, it is always 15+ degrees colder near the beach in Northern California… and always grey (way to go marine layer).  Wearing a transitional chiffon dress with a cashmere grandfather cardigan was the perfect way to look pumpkin picking chic.  Paired with flat lace up boots and tote, those pumpkins didn’t stand a chance.  Had my tote been any bigger, you bet your ass I would have smuggled a potbelly pig home.

 1. J. Crew Maisie Floral Print Silk Chiffon Dress, $395, 2. C by Bloomingdale’s Cashmere Grandfather Cardigan, $118.50, 3. Seychelles Jungle Lace-Up Short Boot, $165, 4. Rebecca Minkoff Dear Tote Bag, $330

In the end, we opted not to pay the $20 they were charging for a subpar pumpkin.

xx,

WhyDid

 

Setting the Mood: Who’s Afraid?

By |October 17th, 2011|Setting the Mood|
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Pumpkins aren’t the only stars of fall.  Many a city girl may venture off in search of an orchard in order to capture herself the first perfect ruby red fruit of the season.  For some reason, all the apple picking makes me think of plaid and capes… which then leads me to think about one of my favorite storybook characters, Little Red Riding hood.  There’s such a combination of wide eyed naivete and dark mischief to that tale.  And I think there lies a little of each in all of us.  Fall is the most magical season of the year (and a good reason to live in the Northeast).  There’s just something about it that stirs up nostalgia and creates excitement.  Yet another one of life’s little contradictions.

Are you afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

xx,

WhyDid

 

Cape: Burberry Brit Leather Trimmed Wool Cape, $650

Pants: Etoile Isabel Marant Gary Tartan Wool Cropped Pants, $385

Shoes: Bloch Gwen Studded Leather Brogues, $295

 

Why Did You Eat That: Pumpkin Patch Snack

By |October 17th, 2011|Recipes, Why Did You Eat That?|
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It’s pretty clear that people are crazy for pumpkins.  Pumpkin lattes, pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread.  I mean, if you can add a pumpkin to it, people are gonna eat it.  I know this because I saw a stand for pumpkin topped pizza at Half Moon Bay’s Pumpkin Festival this past weekend.  The only thing I didn’t see was pumpkin wine… and I’m wondering when that’s gonna happen cause then I’ll be a truly happy camper.  This leads me to believe that if you combined pumpkins and cupcakes… you’d really have a homerun.  And someone’s beaten me to the punch…

There’s a magical place called Sprinkles where I first encountered the pumpkin cupcake and it was love at first bite.  Sadly, there isn’t a Sprinkles on every street corner, so not everyone has access to such delightful baked goods.  Lucky for you and me… and everyone else reading this post, I’m about to let you in on a little secret.  Sprinkles was smart enough to realize that they just can’t franchise fast enough.  So, they’ve packaged their cupcake goodness and you can buy it at Williams-Sonoma (and at their store, but if you don’t have a store then you can’t buy it… and if you were in the store, wouldn’t you just buy a cupcake?).  This weekend, I took on the task of whipping up these babies.

Now, since I’ve been going on and on and on about pumpkin cupcakes… you probably would like to make them (and eat them).  And because it will take too long to either 1) order and wait for your Sprinkles Cupcake Mix to arrive, or 2) find your closest Williams-Sonoma, I’ve taken the liberty of providing you with an alternate cupcake recipe (but have kept the Sprinkles Icing recipe – which is kinda the best part).

Ingredients: 

Pumpkin Cupcakes

  • 1 1/8 cups all-purpose flour, sift before measuring
  • 1/2 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 5/6 cups sugar
  • 1 eggs, beaten until frothy
  • 1/2 cup mashed cooked or canned pumpkin
  • 3/8 cup milk

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8oz. cold cream cheese
  • 1 stick (113g) unsalted  butter, firm but not cold
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 3 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

  1. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a bowl.
  2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy; beat in eggs.
  3. Blend in mashed pumpkin.
  4. Stir in the sifted dry ingredients alternately with the milk, blending until batter is smooth after each addition.
  5. Spoon batter into well-greased and floured or paper-lined muffin pan cups.
  6. Fill about 2/3 full.
  7. Bake at 375° for 25 minutes, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.
  8. Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the cream cheese, butter, salt, and cinnamon on medium-low speed until smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes.
  9. Reduce the speed to low, gradually add the confectioners’ sugar and beat until incorporated.
  10. Add the vanilla and beat just until incorporated.  Do not overmix or the frosting will incorporate too much air.  It should be creamy and dense, like ice cream.
  11. Add milk 1 tsp at a time if frosting does not have a spreadable consistency.

If this doesn’t get you into a festively fall mood, then I really don’t know what will.  Probably that pumpkin wine.

xx,
WhyDid

 

*Editor’s Note: I did, in fact, make that cupcake up above.  Sprinkles is so thoughtful that they even include the cute little candy dots. 

Look for Less: Sweat Style

By |October 16th, 2011|Look for Less, Why Did You Wear That?|
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While we’re on the subject (and conveniently now have the best workout playlist ever), let’s take a look at some svelte starlets in their workout gear.  You didn’t think they just looked that good with no hard work, did you?  No, it takes a lot of time and effort at the gym along with the smallest caloric intake possible (kidding about that last part… kind of).  Anyway, These ladies know that it’s important to be dressed properly for their grueling iron pumping sessions.

I, too, understand the importance of a good workout.  I mean, have you seen my ab workout??!!

1. C9 by Champion Racerback Bra, $14.99, 2. Victoria’s Secret Yoga Foldover Crop Legging, $29.50, 3. So Low Oversized Dolman Zip Hoodie, $95, 4. New Balance Set of 2 Stretch Performance Camisoles, $28, 5. Nike Lunar Sweet Victory + 2 Training Shoe, $100, 6. Forever 21 Hair Tie Ball, $3.50

This is one of the very few times where something resembling leggings must be worn as pants.  That does not make it okay to prance around town all day in them when you’re through at the gym.  For instance, I do not want to see you strolling into brunch post workout in your leggings and sitting down next to me.  Your cameltoe is not good for my appetite…

Not only is looking good while you glisten crucial, but wearing the right shoes and right bra will also save you from injuries and gravity.  Now drop and give me twenty!

xx,

WhyDid

 

 

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