FBFF - Blogging Effects & Cooking Day

Today's Fashion Beauty Friend Friday post hosted by
Katy from Modly Chic is about how blogging has effected us...

1.    Since you began blogging do you notice a change in the types of things you gravitate towards while shopping?
Yes. I no longer shop for item for what it is. I always look for things that don't look like much on their own but could be great pieces to build amazing outfits. So a pretty dress that would be worn by itself no longer appeals to me.

2.    Do you find, as a fashion blogger, that you dress differently from your family and friends? Do they comment on that?
Oh, definitely and yes they comment all the time. Mostly they are very supportive even when I dress quite different like hot pink ankle socks with heels, or a plaid tie, or red tights and white fedora's!
Everyone that knows me now expects me to dress in an eye catching manner and they are used to it.

3.    What’s the weirdest fashion that you secretly like, even if you aren’t bold enough to wear it?
The jumpsuits that are tight on top and super wide leg pants on the bottom. I love the way they look in photos but it is a bit too much for me. 

4.    Looking at current trends – what would you like to try but need to build up the courage to do?
There isn't really any trend that comes into mind that I need 'build courage' to wear. If I truly like a trend I will totally try it out. And when someone comments, I simply reply: "I am a fashion blogger" somehow justifies any odd outfit you have on. Beauty!

5.    Toot someone’s horn – what fashion blogger out there inspires you with her bold fashion choices?
I would have to say the #1 spot goes to by far Bee from Atlantic-Pacific.
I honestly will go back and look at each and every single post of hers if I missed it. I haven't had an outfit she wore that I didn't like!

I also love Diya from In Her Stilettos...

Mellow Mayoness

Liz from Late Afternoon

I also use a lot of the combinations from Carrie Fabulous as inspiration...

To See Others posts click HERE!

MY DAY:
Well it was nice to not worry about my outfit today. I already knew I would be doing a FBFF post and my day was just doing excessive amounts of grocery shopping and cooking.
Thanks to my Mom I was super lucky to shop without the kids. And good thing cause I barely fit in the x-large shopping cart without 2 kids in it and barely fit everything in my car again without them.
Shopping part I feel is the easy part. Taking 10+ trips back and forth from the car to the kitchen unpacking and organizing is brutal.
After all the shopping I cooked for hours and hours so that there is nothing to do tomorrow.
We have a big beach b-day party to attend all morning and then hosting our big BBQ & pool party at home right after. So everything had to be done.
This party we are hosting is our gourmet dinner party group. It is not the type of party where you buy everything ready and serve buffet style. Everyone that hosts goes all out cooking very gourmet recipees and preparing 4-5 course meals. Usually these are adults only parties but this time everyone voted to have a day party with kids so we can see how much all our kids have grown. Should be fun. HOpe the weather cooporates.

Here are some random cooking photos I took today...

 I decided to try out some Turkish side dishes that I love but have never learned to cook myself.

First up was fried eggplants. First you have to soak them in salty water to take off their bitterness...

Then you fry them. I pretty much never fry stuff so don't own a deep fryer which would have made this whole process a lot less messy I am sure...

When they get pink you turn them over.

Then cool them on paper towels. I couldn't help nibble on a few slices and they are yummy...

I also bought some long peppers to fry...

These puppies pop and splatter big time. Good thing my mom warned me but I was screaming jumping the whole time trying to turn them... Glad I only bought a few...

Then moved onto the zucchini... These are also salted and left under the sun for a while so they are not bitter

Before frying you soak them in a flour/water solution...

Here they are being fried but forgot to take photo of how they looked when done...

Didn't take any other photo for this corn salad but had to roast 12 corns on the grill for an hour then cut the kernels with a knife. Mixed it with cherry tomatoes, green onions and fresh basil. The dressing is olive oil and red wine vinegar.

Another dish I didn't take any other photo of. Unfortunately neither store i wen to had a big bag of grated carrots so had to peel 2 lbs of carrots then used the food processor to grate them. You cook it (as seen here) with olive oil until it is soft. Then mix it with plain yogurt and mashed garlic.