Style Activist

outfit post | neutrals i can play in

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:06:00 +0000

zara trenchcoat [great buy] [i dream about this] | urban outfitters v-neck tee [the best] | H&M wide-leg high waisted trousers [way cooler than mine] [great buy] | asos cuffs [similar] | pour la victoire sandals | j.crew starfish earrings [similar] [these are fun]

to be honest with you, nothing makes me happier than a comfortable outfit that doubles as cute. as a very active person, i love adventuring and exploring. you know - finding a hidden vintage clothing store downtown or walking through the vines at a winery with my best friend. the majority of what i do in life calls for comfortable clothes. this outfit is just a really old urban outfitters tee (from high school actually) and some slouchy wide-leg pants that almost feel like sweatpants. really? really. add a touch of bling and some comfortable sandals and you've fooled everyone. this is an outfit that my dad would ask "oh.. why are you all dressed up?" i'd probably say something nerdy like, "dad, i'm just going to the museum" duh, dad.

(just kidding dad.. you're the coolest guy on the planet and i love you)

xo,

E

*photos by Ciara.

healthy hungry | poached egg stack

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:44:00 +0000

a morning without a good breakfast is a rough one, if you ask me. especially since mornings are so not my thing. i try to eat as clean as possible, and that means i've weaned myself off ~~my favorite~~ all of the processed, sugar-laden cereals i used to eat in the past years (truth be told, i still have cravings!). and so i've happily made friends with these delicate little orbs.

this year has been full of so many egg experiments and recently i've been poaching them. oh let me tell you about the glory of a poached egg! aside from it being healthier than eating overcooked, oily eggs, it's in my opinion the best way to taste the whole egg; the richness of the yolk with the buttery egg white perfectly balanced in poached harmony. YUM! but is it really healthier for you? though a health food enthusiast through and through, i'm no nutritionist. but Sarah is, and you can read about the nutritional elements of eggs here. this recipe was inspired and adapted by this post, from my favorite health food blog My New Roots.

i've made a dozen variations of this recipe, with all different veggies and even quinoa! but this one seems to be my favorite.

you'll need:
organic eggs
fresh baby spinach
a fat, juicy tomato
a small onion (i love red onions and vidalia's)
an avocado
celtic sea salt
chili flakes
1 tbsp vinegar (for poaching eggs)

let's cook!
-first i roast the tomatoes. preheat the oven to 400 F. i slice them into wheels, coat them in a little EVOO and finish them off with a pinch of salt before they go in the oven. they roast for about 20 minutes, until they are a little browned and juicy.
-next up, i sauté the onions. i like to slice them thinly so they cook quickly and even caramelize a bit. cook them in a cast iron skillet for 5-10 minutes, in a little bit of grape seed oil or EVOO. set aside.
-slice the avocado however you'd like. i like them in long slices. set aside.

ready to poach?
it's all about the egg here so make sure you're careful about this part. Sarah describes the best way to poach an egg here. this is exactly how i make mine at home, too.

stack 'em...
ready to assemble? start with the raw baby spinach on the bottom as the base, then add three slices of avocado. then stack a large wheel or two small wheels of roasted tomato. next up, put a generous spoonful of nearly-caramelized onions on top. oh and for the best part? gently finish with your poached egg as the final layer of this mega-insanely-delicious stack of breakfast glory. sprinkle with celtic sea salt and chili flakes.

EAT!
plate, fork, mouth, (napkins), enjoy.

xo,

E

be active | workout gear

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:07:00 +0000

it's no secret that i have a deep love for fitness and getting my sweat on. at least if you follow me on twitter and instagram you'll know that i'm daily getting my endorphin fix. so many of you have asked me about incorporating this huge part of my life in blog posts and i've finally caved. health and fitness are my biggest passions in life, even bigger than fashion and shopping. gasp! it's true, i have to admit. it hasn't always been this way but in the past couple years i've been challenging myself in the gym and i've come to really understand what the saying 'look good, feel good' means. without working out on the reg and eating healthy, my clothes don't fit as nicely - if you know what i mean.

i'm still (and will always be) in love with pretty clothes and this comes down to even my workout gear. if i don't feel confident in my spandex and sneakers my workouts tend to be less successful. while it may be more of a mental thing, it relates directly to the physical and for that reason i'll always be sporting stylish yet comfortable workout gear. these are all pieces that i actually work out in. and sweat in. a lot.

what do you wear to work out? does your workout gear have to be stylish too?

xo,

outfit post | that old denim jacket

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:26:00 +0000

here's part II of the fun time i had with Ciara shooting photos at my parents house... we live in the country. can you tell? i'm totally into the monochromatic look right now for some reason and i can't believe that i'm wearing a jean jacket? seriously? this is cool again? it totally is! and it brings me back to high school when i used to pin band pins on the front pockets and wear chuck taylor's. yes, i totally had an emo moment. and by moment i mean at least 5 years of my life were dedicated to collecting my favorite albums, memorizing lyrics and going to shows in firehouses/church basements with my girlfriends. we were awesome and i'm not ashamed to say i dated a few musicians back in the day. don't ask for proof... the pictures get embarrassing.

would you rock a jean jacket?

xo,

E

lucky fabb west

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Thu, 03 May 2012 06:13:00 +0000

i'm wearing : banana republic blazer [even better] | zara blouse + jeans [similar] | pour la victoire heels | bauble bar neon necklace [similar] [amazing] | oia jules chain bracelet [love this] [similar]

lucky FABB west was absolutely incredible. we met so many west coast bloggers that are down-to-earth and fun! and we heard from some pretty amazing entrepreneur's and business minded women (and men!) that left me super inspired and like i have a long list of things i need to improve on. while feeling slightly overwhelmed, i'm so excited to kick things up a notch and use all of this inspiration for something really good. whew. i think it's all still soaking in, you know?

it was so lovely to see some of my favorite blogger friends like aly and kiley (pictured above) and meet so many new ones that i already felt like i knew in real life. i think one of the best parts of it all is the amazing friendships that have grown from being in the blog world! i absolutely love it.

xo,

E

instagram | hey! i'm in LA

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 17:13:00 +0000

I'm seriously in LOVE with California! I was born here and used to come out here as a kid but it's been years, and honestly much too long since I've enjoyed the West Coast sun. I'm out here for work and for Lucky Magazine's Lucky FABB conference AKA too much fun with bloggers and friends. None of it feels like work, which makes me feel really lucky.

I'm out here with Caitlin and we're doing LA things like drinking organic tea, brainstorming by the pool, and talking business with the ocean in view. Basically we're already planning out next trip, let's be real.

We have a lot of adventure ahead of us so if you wanna you can follow me on twitter {@StyleActivist} and instagram {@StyleActivist} for daily updates and photos. I'm also instagramming for BNO while I'm out here so follow us on @bno_official!

If you're gonna be at Lucky FABB tomorrow, come say hi!

xo,

E

outfit post | back to the basics

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:31:00 +0000

Zara trench [favorite] - Zara pants [the real deal] - J.Crew top [she's a beaut] - Karen Walker sunnies [dreaming about these] - Rebecca Minkoff mini mac - Pour La Victoire heels

You guys. I am so excited about this project I did with my friend Ciara. This girl has serious talent and working with her made me think she was just as excited!? I think she was. And it was awesome. We had a lot of fun one morning last week shooting a few looks that I'll share over the next few weeks. You'll like 'em.

So, you know when you look at your closet and you feel like there just isn't anything to wear? Everything just looks so blah and you feel uninspired? Like you stare and nothing catches your eye? But you know there are pieces in there that really are fabulous, just begging to be picked!? Forgive the 21 questions, but we all deal with this (unless you have a Coveteur closet - then you have nothing to complain about). When this happens to me I'm all like "where's my chambray shirt?" There are those classic pieces that are always good to you; you wear them and you just feel good. The basics, those trusty basics. These are mine. My faux leather pants make me feel slim and my trench envelops me in khaki love. And the chambray? Didn't I already tell you once how much I love my chambray? Soft as can be and a true chameleon - she goes with everything.

Uninspired what? Now I'm ready to remix in 1,000 ways. What are your trusty basics?

XO,

E

*photos by Ciara Marie Photography. You can like her Facebook page here!

fitness | guest postin' over there...

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:38:00 +0000

I'm hanging out in spandex.. in the world wide web! Let me explain the craziness: I'm guest posting about some of my favorite tips and tricks pertaining to my annoying obsession with living healthy and staying fit. Where? Over on Sparkling Footsteps. Lynzy is a fellow fitness fanatic so I was so excited to share on her awesome blog. Go check it out!

I'm recovering from what felt like a body-breakdown that turned into a nasty cold then stomach funk. Blame that for my lack of posts this week. I'm getting better though! And I'm back to blogging. I missed you guys.

xo,

E

outfit post | utopian pink

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:12:00 +0000

old Halellu crop top [similar] | old Francesca's pleated skirt [similar] | ASOS cuffs [love these]

I'm home now; after 21 blissful days in the sunny state of Florida. I'm exhausted and so behind on life and emails. Tomorrow's another day right? Not to mention there's an overwhelming pile of clothes to unpack, launder and sort staring at me in the face, but I'm too busy snuggling with my kitty Viv to bother right now. She's the thing I missed the most. And I think she missed me too because everywhere I go, she's at my heels.

I don't normally like to post overly-edited photos on the blog but these seemed right. Anywhere there is sand and sun there is my utopia. I know I was gone for so long but it doesn't seem real. Time flew by so quickly that I feel like I was just living a dream of some far off fantasyland that doesn't exist because where I live is so far from ocean waves, sand and sun-kissed tans. Except the sun is showing it's face today, almost saying 'hey, it's gonna be okay." Oh Mr. Sun, please shine down on me.

xo,

E

shop | sugar sweet

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:47:00 +0000

J.Crew eyelet top | Topshop shorts | Topshop socks

I'm totally crazy over the Prada and Louis Vuitton SS '12 lines but my budget doesn't exactly line up. The 50's flair, soft hues, fun prints and textures... ah! Be still my heart. I'm on the hunt for pieces that are reminiscent but more affordable. These are some of the pieces I'm seriously stalking or already have. While I love the sugary sweetness that is the frilly, pastel look - I like to add edge by throwing on a leather bomber or a spiked cuff to tone it down a bit.

I just finished watching Footloose so I think I'll go dance around the living room for a bit and pretend I'm Julianne Hough. Actually, I secretly wish I danced for a living. Lose your blues everybody, cut footloose...! Ugh. Secret's out.

XO,

E

instagram | florida moments

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:05:00 +0000

1. beach attire and good reading material.

2. me and some cute guy i picked up. we're a little sunburnt. i don't mind it.

3. my birthday dress and fried ends. i can't wait to get my hair done!

4. a baseball cap for the beach. can't get enough.

5. trying to stay healthy while on vacation with green smoothies. nom!

6. taking a break from swimming with my nephews. i'm usually the one splashing.

7. post beach photo. i have ugly feet. but cute bikinis.

I want you to know that putting this post together took over an hour. My laptop is acting crazy and after every. single. sentence. we're seeing colorful pinwheels. I hate those spinning pinwheels. But I love blogging... and you. So I sucked it up. All I'm seeing are pinwheels for days. Good grief! I think it's time for a check up.

Vacation is over on Tuesday. I'm trying to figure out my strategy for settling back into normal life, but keep coming up short and end up weeping instead. Life is tough.

Come say hi in the insta-world! Find me: @styleactivist or follow along here.

Have a fantastic weekend!

adventure | sun and sand

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:15:00 +0000

I've been living in: Furor Moda vintage mesh top (c/o) | Victoria's Secret bikini separates | DVF flip flops | leather baseball cap [this is amazing]

I can't lie and say that I miss Pennsylvania one bit. I know I'm not meant to stay in PA for much longer so I try to make the best of it, but I don't feel at home when I'm there anymore. I guess I still feel like a nomad since college and all the random places I'd find myself living. After I'm home from Florida next week I think I'll be heading cross-country! We'll see. You know me, I can never get enough of adventure and exploring new places.

So until I leave next week I am enjoying every minute. My freckles are out in full force, despite loads of sunscreen. My hair smells like the ocean and there seems to be sand everywhere. We're exploring. Biking. Laughing. Drinking. Swimming. And on the lookout for sharks (there were a few shark attacks last week - kinda scary).

Visit furormoda.com and use the code 'activist30' to receive 30% off your order! I really love this and this.

XO,

healthy hungry | grilled turkey burgers

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:42:00 +0000

Well, I'm still in Florida and the fantastic weather calls for grilling. Oh, yes it does. Grilling is my favorite way to cook up fresh fare and it's typically the healthiest. While I have no problem firing up the grill myself, my boyfriend has a real talent for it so I asked him to come up with a recipe that I'd feature on the blog -- so he took over healthy, hungry this week and cooked all of this himself (minus the compote. and I spread the goat cheese on the bun. but that's all I can take credit for). He's a pretty good cook and I'm not ashamed to say that I licked my fingers after stuffing my face full of turkey burger goodness.

This recipe is super simple and we spent less than $25 on the whole meal! The ingredients include:

1. organic turkey burger patties

2. gluten-free hamburger buns (we used Udi's)

3. 1 red onion

4. organic baby arugula

5. fresh goat cheese

...and I made a homemade fruit compote with fresh lemon juice, 1 sweet plum, 1 honey mango and sweet white wine.

Compotes seem intimidating at first but they're actually really simple. You can enjoy homemade fruit compotes with greek yogurt and granola, on gluten-free toast or even over fro-yo for a special treat. I made a really simple, no-sugar-added compote with what fresh fruit was on sale that day, but I love recipes like this, this and this. And any berry makes an awesome compote too!

Combine chopped fruit in a saucepan with 3 tbsp of water and 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice and bring to boil. Add about 3 tbsp of sweet white wine and reduce heat to medium-low and gently simmer fruit until mixture has turned into a thickened preserve-like consistency. Gently simmer for about 15 minutes then remove from heat and let cool.

Later we'll spread this compote on the hamburger bun for a sweet element for our turkey burgers. Yumm!

1. Grill turkey burger patties until they are cooked through and have nice grill marks. We don't like them over-cooked because then they get tough. Yucky.

2. Cut red onion into thick slices, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with S&P. Grill until lightly charred.

3. Lightly drizzle olive oil on gluten-free buns and toast on hot grill for light grill marks.

Now it's time to assemble the burgers! Spread the goat cheese on bun, then goes the turkey patty, then grilled onions, then top with fresh arugula. Spread plenty of compote on the other bun half, then put it all together and feast.

A big thanks to my guy for making me some yummy, healthy food! Hope you enjoy it too.

xo,

E

outfit post | fringe in florida

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 07:14:00 +0000

I guess I neglected to say on the blog that I was going to be in Florida for a while this month. Whoops! I think I lost my mind for a little bit. That's why I went missing here on the blog last week. It just happened. And in Florida is where I am. Right now. It's so good. The sand is even better than I remembered.

I was starting to feel really seasonally depressed and not to mention homesick for my boyfriend so I just bought a ticket and decided to get away for a few weeks. I have to admit I didn't open my laptop more than twice last week and it was blissful. You know when all you've been doing is work, work, work and you're so burnt out that you can't remember any other way to cook an egg besides scrambled? That's how bad it was. No creative juices. No inspiration. No fresh ideas. Just exhaustion. I'm doing way better now that I've got some major tan lines and a punchy pedicure going on. I'm starting to feel myself again.

My birthday was on Saturday! I'm 23. And it kinda feels like this is going to be my best year yet. I know I say this every year but things seem to be getting better and better around here so don't mind me. I wore this killer dress out in Fort Lauderdale for dinner, drinks and dessert -- which was a life-changing ice cream cone the size of my arm. Sometimes you just gotta treat yo' self, ya know what I mean?

XO,

instagram | nyfw captures

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:50:00 +0000

Some photos from the city...

1. driving into the city, admiring my rings, new gold cuff and ombre nails.

2. the chandelier in the lobby of our hotel, the Hudson.

3. where magic happens; on the steps of the Lincoln Center.

4. cabbing around the city the day before BNOnyc.

5. entirely too much food Thai for just two people, sorry not sorry.

6. the view of the city from our hotel window

7. lots of big hair for a girls night out with all our lovelies (hey! that's Marissa).

8. my weakness: froyo with fresh fruit and coconut.

Absolutely love the fuzzy feelings of being in NYC, surrounded by all the people who love their city. I kept calling it a magical land, and anyone who's been (or who calls it home) cannot deny the feeling of magic that permeates throughout the streets and shops. I loved catching up with friends, eating delicious sushi and Italian, drinking bubbly, shopping too much and snuggling in my bathrobe at the Hudson (I'm a sucker for a good bath robe). My only complaint from the whole trip is that there were no air vents in our hotel bathroom. Weird, right? Made for a pretty suffocating shower experience.

For my daily photo updates, follow me on instagram :: @styleactivist. Or here.

XO,

healthy hungry | salmon tacos + a breakfast twist

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:19:00 +0000

I'm not here to boast or brag, but I have to be honest and tell you that I can make a pretty mean taco. This is just the tip of the iceberg, people. Because I have been known to make a taco out of anything... I mean, college was my taco experimentation playland. The weather has been teasing me lately. You too, right? Peaking at 60 degrees, then plummeting to 34 the very next day. Enough already! I've also been known for faking Spring, while doing anything I can to make it come quicker... since I'm sure mother nature hear's my cries for sunshine. So this recipe is my cry for warmer temperatures. Let's see how it works, shall we?

This salmon taco recipe is light, fairly simple and obviously delish (my cooking protocol). It screams springtime. And since it's March I'm all about getting ready to prance around in bikini's, so light is important.

There are three parts to this taco recipe:

{one} the crunchy cabbage, red onion and habanero (yipes!) slaw

{two} grilled salmon

{three} simple guacamole

{Cabbage, Onion and Habanero Slaw}

You're going to have to use a pretty sharp knife for this one because you want a thinly sliced slaw.

1. Thinly slice 1 cup of cabbage and red onion

2. Mince 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro

3. Toss cabbage, red onion and cilantro in a bowl with the juice of 2 limes

4. Add S&P to taste

Alright, so habaneros are scary. I don't really know what possessed me to think everyone would want habaneros in their tacos (I looooove spicy food), so this part is optional for those of you who can't stand the heat. If you are into spicy, or brave enough to test the waters, thinly slice 1/4 of an habanero pepper and toss in with the slaw we just made. The lime juice helps take the edge off, but you still get a kick. Still scary? Avoid the seeds and ribbing of the habanero, where most of the heat lies. Also remember to wash your hands immediately after handling the habaneros.

Set slaw aside. It's best if prepared a few hours before so the slaw get's a chance to marinade.

{Grilled Salmon}

I love salmon and it's very good for you (bonus). And since I don't eat meat, except for chicken every now and then, I eat a lot of fish.

1. I smother a medium sized filet of wild caught salmon with a few tablespoons of EVOO and the following spices (1 teasp. of each): cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, turmeric and paprika.

2. Don't forget to season the fish with S&P to your liking. I use about 1 teaspoon of each.

3. Grill! Don't know how to grill salmon? Here's a video on how to grill salmon. Or you can bake it, or pan-sear it. Just don't overcook it because you don't want tough fish.

{Simple Guacamole}

I have dozens guacamole recipes. This one is very basic, since there are so many other flavor elements to the tacos. I'll post some of my guacamole recipes on the blog soon.

1. Mash two ripe avocados with the juice of 1 1/2 limes (or 1 lime if they are really big).

2. Add salt to taste. I go light on the salt because I just love avocados on their own. But that's just me.

Now, assemble. Warm corn tortillas (I love blue corn tortillas because they are pretty) in a medium skillet over low-medium heat, spoon slaw onto tortilla first, then top with sliced salmon, then dollop with guacamole. Serve, eat, enjoy!

Whoa! How did an egg get there? Okay, I'm guilty. I fell in love with eggs this winter (totally random), so I couldn't help myself. Here's a total breakfast twist on the tacos: Have leftovers? Swap the salmon for a fried egg and enjoy the next morning.. or two hours later. Because there are no rules here of when you are allowed to eat eggs.

Wow. That was good.

Would you try this at home? If you do, snap a photo and let me know how it goes! And, of course, if you have a question or two, don't be afraid to ask. Just put Healthy, Hungry in the subject line - styleactivist@gmail.com.

XO,

outfit post | a high bun and florals

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:55:00 +0000

Zara trench coat [similar.. obsessed with this], top [similar] [similar], trousers & sequin clutch [similar] (I have a Zara problem) | Sorrelli earrings, cocktail ring & spiked cuff (c/o) | Banana Republic heels [similar... want these] | Kate Spade 'Ooh La La' necklace

I need to come clean. It's bad. Really bad. I have a serious problem with Zara... like, I cannot stop shopping there. Online. In store. You name it, I want it. Hence this entire outfit being Zara pieces. Sorry not sorry, folks.

I'm anxious for spring and I know I will be wearing a whole lot of florals right through summer. And the high bun? Well it's just a fancy way to say "my hair is difficult and I'm tired today". I'm dealing with it.

XO,

Photography by the aaaamazing Lydia Hudgens. Seriously. Can she photograph me every day?

healthy, hungry | charred brussels sprouts

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:23:00 +0000

Be still, my heart.

My 13 year old self would be scoffing at the present me, the girl in love with brussels sprouts. But, then again I've come a long way since cheese fries and mayonnaise. Okay, so I still relish in the deliciousness of french fries every now and then. So sue me.

Back to the main point. Since discovering these delectable tiny cabbages in the fall, I haven't been able to stop coming up with new ways to roast them, sauté them, slice them, dice them, all to just devour them. Besides roasting them, sauteing them until they are nearly burnt is my new favorite way to have an excuse to eat almost a dozen all on my own. Once the summer rolls around, I will definitely be coming up with ways to throw them on the grill like a crazy person. But until then...

This recipe is super easy and super healthy. Let's get cookin'...

{Garlic quinoa}
I made it like this (but boiled in water instead of chicken stock). I usually use red quinoa because it has a nuttier taste and well, because it's prettier. But I only had regular quinoa on hand this time around. Bummer.

There are hundreds of quinoa recipes. This one looks pretty awesome. So does this. I'm all about getting crazy with my quinoa.

{Mashed Sweet Potatoes}
1. Boil sweet potato(s) until fork tender, drain (but set aside 1 tbsp of water for later).
2. Add about 2 tbps of unsweetened almond milk or unsweetened coconut milk (more if you prefer a smoother consistency).
3. Mash by hand for best texture (this is a boyfriend tip by the way).
4. Add S&P to taste.

Don't you dare put sugar in these babies! They are already sweet.

{Charred brussels sprouts}
1. Trim and halve brussels sprouts.
2. Heat EVOO in a medium-large sauté pan over low-medium heat (I use 4-5 tbsp of EVOO because a) 3. brussels sprouts soak up the oil quickly and b) I don't want them to dry up and burn before they are cooked)
4. Once oil is heated, add brussels sprouts.
5. Remember that water we saved from the sweet potatoes? Add the water to the pan and cover.
6. Let brussels sprouts cook for about 5 minutes.
7. Add dried oregano, dried rosemary and dried thyme to brussels sprouts. 1 tsp of each.
8. Mix herbs evenly throughout sprouts with spatula and replace lid on pan for another 5 minutes.
9. Uncover pan and add S&P to taste.
10. Allow brussels sprouts to cook until blackened on both sides. I like mine pretty black, but cook yours to your preference.

Serve in layers. Quinoa on the bottom, mashed sweet potatoes in the middle and brussels sprouts on top. Enjoy!

I've made this meal at least 6 times in the past month. Obsessed is a slight understatement.

XO,

E

outfit post | a baseball cap and neon

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 22:36:00 +0000

I'm wearing: J.Crew top [similar] | Zara trousers [I really want these] | BaubleBar necklace | Target clutch [similar, but I really want this] | Banana Republic heels [similar] | ancient baseball cap borrowed from my brother [I just bought this.. and this is just gross]

Baseball caps are cool, people. Need proof? Okay. Understandable. Right this way, ladies.. find proof here, here, here and here. The whole sporty chic thing has been tugging at my heart strings. See? Oh and this too. *Swoon*

I've been wearing baseball caps since I was a kid, so I have to admit I had a little moment when I started seeing more sporty editorials in my favorite fashion publications. Growing up in a family that is obsessed with sports, both playing and watching, has had a big influence on me. And as you know, I'm in love with working on my fitness and exercise, so putting on this cap was kind of hilarious and ironic.

I think you'll be seeing me in a lot of sporty chic this spring.

I love how the sugary sweet pink tartan print paired with the girly floral print is offset by the baseball cap. It's so unexpected. I guess I just really love unexpected things. But who's surprised?

xo,

E

outfit post | snake prints and fur

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:59:00 +0000

I just got home today from a fabulous long weekend in NYC! Sure, I'm beyond exhaustion and my feet are blistered and achy, but none of that really matters when I think about all my amazing friends I got to hang out with. BNOnyc was on Friday, and let me tell you - the party was another good one. I'll fill you in on all of that later but I can't stop smiling over the fun girl time and shopping sprees that made the weekend special.

NYC is just absolutely magical. You never know what's going to happen when you're there. Oh, and it's cold. SO cold! Can you tell I am nearly frostbitten in these photos?

W118 by Walter Baker top [similar] - H&M fur stole [similar] - Zara faux leather pants [want these instead] (ended up returning them because they ripped and a little big anyways) - Zara boots [obsessed with these] - Target wallet [this one is way cool] - ASOS cuffs [need these] - Catbird thin gold rings - The New Black ombre nail polish set

Check out that ombre nail polish! I'm obsessed.

I wore this outfit on Thursday, for a whole day of stuffing gift bags, getting the venue space ready for BNOnyc and ironing out last minute details for the event. I cannot tell you how serious my recent obsession is with prints for Spring! And being matchy-matchy with them (which is like, cool, for the first time in years) is totally my new thing. I met up with the uber-talented Lydia Hudgens who snapped these photos! She is the bomb and I wish I lived closer to her so she could take all of my blog photos. I owe her a lot for making me look so good in these.

Cheers to a brand new week! It's gonna be a good one.

XO,

Photography by Lydia Hudgens

Sunday Shopping | Ombre Nail Polish

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:30:00 +0000

I'm the girl who paints her nails every day because of the serious fun I have with experimenting. I'm entirely obsessed with nail art, glitter-bombed nails and the adorable trend of painting your ring finger a different color than the rest. So when I stumbled upon this pin on this pin board I gasped! With joy! I've been seeing this ombre nail trend on my favorite blogs and on instagram -- but a complete set of polishes that makes it as easy as counting the fingers on your hand? Pure genius.

If you're into easy, like me, this is perfect. Sure, I probably have all the colors in my collection already but this is just too fun to pass up. I snagged the set in pink and blue. You can get it too! Right here.

Happy painting!

xo,

healthy, hungry | organic veggie scramble

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:53:00 +0000

As per highly requested, I am going to start sharing my health and fitness tips once a week right here on le blog. It's no secret that I have become quite the health nut over the years (for reasons I promise I will share in a later, longer post), and all my annoyingly healthy tweets and instagram's have seemed to draw in much attention.

Enter Healthy, Hungry. The chapter about feeling good and looking good.

This time I'm cooking up a healthy brekkie. I'm limited to what I can eat in the mornings (I'll share more on this later). Nope, no pastries or sugary cereal for me. So I usually play with my eggs. Veggie Scramble it is! Luckily, I looooove veggies.

I start with chopping up fresh veggies. You can use whatever you have in the fridge. I usually use a lot of onion, red pepper, kale and mushrooms - whatever looks colorful, really. Don't be afraid to mix it up!

Lightly sauté over medium heat in EVOO (Rachel Ray lingo for extra virgin olive oil, people).

I'm not complicated with my eggs so I just add them straight into the pan and scramble it all up with my spatula. Don't forget to sprinkle some salt and freshly ground pepper!

Good fats are essential to help you burn fat. And I just really like avocado. I slice up a half of an avocado and put it right on my plate. Dee-lish.

Oh, and don't overcook the eggs! No one likes a rubbery egg (that just sounds gross). Sprinkle with fresh herbs - I love cilantro and basil. Serve. Enjoy. That took maybe 10 minutes. YUM!

Would you make this at home?

xo,

P.S. It's no secret that I've been super MIA lately. But, it's a new month and I'm back. January meant a whole lot of re-adjusting for me. Thanks for understanding :)

instagramed

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:55:00 +0000

{so I went a little blonde.. I'm still shocked every time I look in the mirror}

Life as of late has been, in one word, challenging. So we're all going to have to deal with the fact that I am trying to figure out the mystery of the tripod. For those of you who don't know, I've temporarily lost my personal style picture-taker. He's moved to Atlanta and I'm stuck with a pile of gadgets that I've no clue how to use. Remote... what? So you're telling me I have to push this little button and somehow look natural in a photo? This is something I've yet to master, so bear with me. I'm still wearing pretty clothes, now I just have to figure out how to photograph them myself. For those of you who take your blog photos with a tripod and remote, I give you a one woman standing ovation. Bravo! You are... more than a woman (or man) to me. I really hope you sang that last line.

With all of the challenges in gadget land, I am immensely grateful for my gorgeous little iPhone 4S. She takes nearly perfect pictures and there are limitless editing options. And I'm addicted to instagram, so it's a win-win. Welcome to my snap-happy picture world...

{yummy roasted veggies}

{new favorite cosmetics: Perfekt brow perfection gel, NARS triple x lip gloss, Dior DiorShow mascara}

{the Clarisonic Mia is a perfectionist's best friend}

{sneaky Vivienne hiding under the sheets}

{the green monster: healthy and almost delicious}

{products from Sephora & Birchbox: Tarte blush, shampoo/conditioner samples, ZOYA Kristen}

{gifted Poshlocket bracelets and a fresh manicure}

{trying out new mascara: Kat Von D's Sin-Full}

{homemade and healthy Saturday brunch}

{the smell of a new book}

Stories are sometimes better told in photographs, or so my inner four year old says. You can follow my story on instagram by searching @StyleActivist. But if you're not on instagram you can follow here.

xo,

goodbye 2011, hello 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:17:00 +0000

What a year 2011 has been! My dear friend Christine did a 2011 recap, and I am being a total copycat and doing the same. I know I'm a few days late, but I think it's still relevant. There were some definite highlights this year that I just have to share...

In February, I attended NYFW, Lucky FABB and IFB and met some of the most fabulous girls ever.

I lived out of my suitcase for almost the entire year. While it was an adventure, it got exhausting. I moved in April, in May, in July, in September and December. Somehow I still had time to blog. Whew.

I spent the summer living in Miami, working at The Webster Miami in South Beach. Best summer job ever. I also met Ria Michelle! We spent an entire week going to Miami Swim Week shows and events. I love Miami, and Ria is one of the coolest Floridian bloggers I know.

I discovered the amazingness that is Lightroom and my blog pictures really improved (thanks, Ria).

I co-founded Bloggers Night Out! We held our inaugural event in NYC during Fashion Week in September, and hosted over 450 guests! Huge success for us. I'm still so proud.

In September, I attended Lucky FABB again and met my fashion idol Diane von Furstenburg. Words cannot express what that moment felt like.

November meant I was finally introduced into the iPhone family. Yes, this was a definite highlight.

December brought two holiday BNO events to DC and Boston. Great times with blogger friends!

Finally, I spent NYE with my closest friends! I could not be more blessed.

Safe to say 2011 was full of adventures and unexpected moments. But, I cherish all of those moments and all of the people who were along for the ride. I have big hopes and plans for 2012, from personal goals to work endeavors. It's going to be a big one. I can feel it in my bones!

Cheers to a brand new year! May yours be filled with joy, happiness and love.

xo,

to you and yours

noreply@blogger.com (Erika of Style Activist) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 15:37:00 +0000

I am on a MacBook Pro hiatus for the rest of the day, albeit the Spotify Christmas playlist I have playing on repeat. BUT, I wanted to drop in real quick to wish all of my readers a very Merry Christmas! I worked out this morning with my dad (it's our tradition.. I know, we're nuts), and I'm spending the rest of the day with a glass of wine in hand, laughing at family jokes, eating too much, and watching endless Christmas movies. You're all going to think we're crazy, but my family didn't do any gifts this year. None. We wanted to focus on the real meaning of the season, and I am SO thankful we did. My heart is full.

However you're spending your day, remember to hug the ones you love, don't argue, don't stress over the gift you're giving or receiving, enjoy dinner without guilt, and please share the eggnog!

I am so thankful for all of you! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Holidays to you and yours.

xo,

E