I’m a hardcore advocate for my girl crushes and, with that being said, I’ve decided to launch a new feature to Sparkles and Stilettos : a somewhat weekly feature where I try and showcase a different #WCW (Woman Crush Wednesday).
Let it be known – these are girls who I know and who I admire. Young woman who are out there kicking ass and taking names – while at the same time, paving their own path to whatever dreams they may have. I’m constantly inspired by the women in my life. My girlfriends are honestly the most impressive #girlbosses that I know – and it brings me SO much pleasure to get to introduce you to all of these feisty females who leave me in awe on a regular basis.
First up: Amanda Wilens.
Amanda is the author/creator of the BEYOND delicious food blog Feed Me With Amanda and if I had a blogging partner in crime, she takes the cake (no pun intended).
I met Amanda through my little sister. The two of them went to the same college and Amanda wound up being my sister’s Big in their sorority. Naturally, we all wound up spending a lot of quality time together (even venturing to London together for a week a couple years ago), and every time I get together with Miss.Wilens, I’m so grateful that even though I eye-rolled at my sister for going Greek, she wound up with such a stellar lady as her other Big Sister.
Which brings me to her blog. Feed Me With Amanda was developed when Amanda ventured out to St. Louis, Missouri to start a new life with her boyfriend. I sent over Amanda a list of questions and she was gracious (and patient) enough to write out some answers for me :
What made you decide to start a food blog?
I’m a foodie. I started taking cooking lessons when I was 5 (learned how to make green eggs and ham, greatest meal I’ve ever prepared) and since then I have just had a passion for food. Eating it, making it…but really just enjoying it. Food shouldn’t be just something we eat to stay alive, but something that makes you feel alive.
What inspires you when you’re looking at
recipes for the blog/regular life?
recipes for the blog/regular life?
It depends on if I want to make it
or go out and get it prepared for me. St. Louis is filled with amazing
restaurants, so sometimes you go where your nose takes you. Other times, when I
cook at home, it can be what sweets are “in season” and what food will make my
boyfriend and my tummy happiest.
or go out and get it prepared for me. St. Louis is filled with amazing
restaurants, so sometimes you go where your nose takes you. Other times, when I
cook at home, it can be what sweets are “in season” and what food will make my
boyfriend and my tummy happiest.
Can you describe the process of creating a
food post for your blog?
food post for your blog?
I have multiple
facets to the blog, so eating out I call “Feed Me St. Louis” and making recipes
“Feed Me at Home”
facets to the blog, so eating out I call “Feed Me St. Louis” and making recipes
“Feed Me at Home”
1) For both Feed Me St. Louis and at Home I must take photos.
LOTS and lots of photos.
LOTS and lots of photos.
2) I download them to my mac and brighten some of the
best shots.
best shots.
3) For Feed Me St. Louis: Write up a description. What we
ate, what made this place great (I don’t write on places that I don’t love),
and what you must try when you visit.
ate, what made this place great (I don’t write on places that I don’t love),
and what you must try when you visit.
For Feed Me at Home: Write up the
ingredients, steps, and tips.
ingredients, steps, and tips.
4) Formatting. I go on wix.com and edit my post,
making adjustments to the page, the web and mobile version.
making adjustments to the page, the web and mobile version.
5) Post to social
media, pin on Pinterest, etc.
media, pin on Pinterest, etc.
Honestly the hardest part can just be sitting
down and writing it all out.
down and writing it all out.
How does your boyfriend feel about this endeavor? Does he like eating your experiments?
The guy might be more in love with the blog than I am. He loves that I experiment with so many recipes. And that I am always down to go out to a new place to try. However, he does occasionally get embarrassed I think when I stand on top of a chair in a restaurant to get the best photo possible. But honestly, he could not be more supportive and would like this or something similar to become full-time for me. He knows how happy it makes me!
Is this a hobby that you’re exploring in
your spare time, or do you hope to someday turn this into a career path? What
would be your dream job?
your spare time, or do you hope to someday turn this into a career path? What
would be your dream job?
I would love to turn this into a career. I love
food, photography, editing, etc., but I also just really enjoy seeing how food
can bring such happiness to people. I have a few “dream jobs” when it comes to
the world of food. It would be incredible to work for a food magazine or online
foodie-zine. And one day I really hope to have my own dessert bar.
food, photography, editing, etc., but I also just really enjoy seeing how food
can bring such happiness to people. I have a few “dream jobs” when it comes to
the world of food. It would be incredible to work for a food magazine or online
foodie-zine. And one day I really hope to have my own dessert bar.
What’s your favorite food? What’s your
favorite restaurant?
favorite restaurant?
ICE CREAM. Some people may call me crazy, but it’s
true. I love it. I mean…why else would I have dressed as it for Halloween this
year? As far as favorite restaurants go, this is a toughie. I am still fairly
new to St. Louis, so I will tell you the BEST place for ice cream here. Ices
Plain and Fancy. They are so clever with their recipes and use liquid nitrogen
to make your order fresh right in front of you. I mean who doesn’t love science
with their dessert?
true. I love it. I mean…why else would I have dressed as it for Halloween this
year? As far as favorite restaurants go, this is a toughie. I am still fairly
new to St. Louis, so I will tell you the BEST place for ice cream here. Ices
Plain and Fancy. They are so clever with their recipes and use liquid nitrogen
to make your order fresh right in front of you. I mean who doesn’t love science
with their dessert?
Everything is online these days, which
makes it a lot easier to get exposure for your writing/creative endeavors. What
has been the most exciting part of this experience for you?
makes it a lot easier to get exposure for your writing/creative endeavors. What
has been the most exciting part of this experience for you?
It definitely
can get crazy. Who would have thought the internet would be like it is now? For
me some of the greatest things have been reposting of photos, reviews, people
asking for specific recommendations or recipes, and folks asking me to come and
eat at their restaurants. Recently I was on Lauren Conrad’s website for my Ice
Cream Cone Costume and that was definitely a surreal experience.
can get crazy. Who would have thought the internet would be like it is now? For
me some of the greatest things have been reposting of photos, reviews, people
asking for specific recommendations or recipes, and folks asking me to come and
eat at their restaurants. Recently I was on Lauren Conrad’s website for my Ice
Cream Cone Costume and that was definitely a surreal experience.
Which food bloggers do you admire?
So
many! Love and Lemons, Half Baked Harvest… ooo but especially my girl Meghan
with Nutmeg and Honeybee. Her treats are so beautiful, how do you even eat
them?
many! Love and Lemons, Half Baked Harvest… ooo but especially my girl Meghan
with Nutmeg and Honeybee. Her treats are so beautiful, how do you even eat
them?
How would you hope to inspire other women
out there?
out there?
I hope that women realize that whatever you are passionate about
should always be your drive. Although you may not be where you want at this
current moment, there is nothing that you can’t do. And if someone tells you
you’ll never make it, just work harder to prove them wrong. You got this
ladies!
should always be your drive. Although you may not be where you want at this
current moment, there is nothing that you can’t do. And if someone tells you
you’ll never make it, just work harder to prove them wrong. You got this
ladies!
What would be your advice to any other
woman who is interested in starting her own food blog? Just do it. The
hardest part is getting started. Look around for the best hosting sites, think
carefully about your domain name, and be choosey about your blog…a friend once
told me “This is your image! You can do whatever you want to do!” Make it 100%
you!
woman who is interested in starting her own food blog? Just do it. The
hardest part is getting started. Look around for the best hosting sites, think
carefully about your domain name, and be choosey about your blog…a friend once
told me “This is your image! You can do whatever you want to do!” Make it 100%
you!
So if you’re looking for some amazing food inspiration, be sure to check out Feed Me With Amanda – and let me know if you try out any of her recipes!
