Uncategorized – The Who WOD Wear Blog

Amazing Amazon Dupes

January 26, 2021by Hayley PosnerLeave a Comment

Can you actually find good dupes for high end products on Amazon? As someone who is a self proclaimed shopaholic, I am curious to find out if you can find trendy but cheap items online that are just as good if not better than their high end counterparts.

Now I am all about splurging on something you really love and will wear for years come, but sometimes the trend is so fleeting it feels silly to shell out the big bucks for a single season stunner. Enter to the famous influencer approved Amazon dupe! I have always been apprehensive to buy certain things on Amazon, especially fashion or beauty items because of the horror stories I have heard of people getting junk items. Recently though I have been shifting my mindset and have become more open to dupes/ faux items as a way to have fun and get creative with popular trends.

To embark on this journey, I purchased a handful of items to test to see if you truly can find a cheap dupe on Amazon for some of the most popular items influencers swear by. Reviews are king on Amazon so for this experiment I tried to stick with items that had 4-5 stars for 90% of their reviews and worked to find items that were affordable but also cute/ versatile enough that I could style them multiple ways.

Item 1) Schoolgirl Tennis Skort – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07P9PXQFM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This one was funny for me since I did wear a plaid skirt when I was in high school in NY at a girls Catholic school, so something about wearing a little plaid tennis skirt felt oddly homey.

I was really skeptical of this one mostly because the reviews were sketchy AF on this listing, but I did some measurements and opted for a larger size based on reviews saying it ran small.

Overall, I give this purchase a 6 – Is it a cute tennis skort that is “on trend” yes, but is it high quality and thick, no. Does it looks like a costume.. A little bit. My general verdict on this one is that it is perfect for the trend. I will wear it once or twice while the style is in and then will likely leave this skirt in my closet for Halloween next year. Not bad, but not great!

Item 2) Seamless Halo Hair Extensions – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D28PHD4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have been wanting to invest in hair extensions ever since I started my hair re-growth journey. (Read more on my hair journey here – https://wordpress.com/post/whowodwear.com/198) but professional grade hair extensions are not cheap and I have been on the fence on wether it is a worthy investment. For me I don’t plan to wear them every day and likely will only use them for going out or special occasions and because of this I decided it was wise to see if I could find an inexpensive set as a test run before taking the plunge into buying real ones.

Enter my Amazon dupe quest! My goal was to find a good color match and good length/texture match and to spend less than $20. So I began combing through reviews and looking at photos and decided on a dark brown faux hair halo for under $9.99.

The verdict – Sub 10 dollar hair extensions are exactly like they sound, very cheap/fake looking however I have to give this purchase a hard 3/10 as the length and color was 100% spot on and once applied correctly I have to say it looked pretty damn good for 10 bucks. But will I wear this out for a special occasion? No, certainly not as up close/in person it is very clear that this is a fake wig/halo. In photos I think it looks fire but for in person I would say this halo did not make the cut. Overall, if you are a photographer or creative type and want some extra hair then this is perfect. If you are hoping to find date night or wedding party ready extensions then these are not them! Fun for dressing up and taking photos at home for sure, but these are not really street safe if you ask me.

Item 3) Magnetic Eyelashes – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B089JHV2TK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have wanted the Glamnetic or Silly George Lash kit for forever but ya girl cannot justify spending 75 plus dollars on fake lashes. So to Amazon I go!

I decided to try the Paulinrise magnetic eyelash set for less than 10 dollars because why not, even if they suck at least I did not spend 50 dollars on them.

The verdict – These are pretty great for sub ~10 dollars! They stayed on all night, were not that terrible to apply and overall looked nice. I think these are awesome for someone who likes the option to wear false lashes for a night out or special occasion but is not a hardcore false lashes everyday type. I think for a wedding or something I would want to spend a bit more to get a better product but for random nights out I have to say this dupe did the trick!

Item 4) Oversized Vintage Crewneck – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08LNLXSTL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have been obsessed with the vintage hoodie look and recycled crewnecks that have a good worn in look to them but I am sorry Princess Polly, 100 dollars for a sweatshirt is highway robbery. I was skeptical of finding a good dupe on Amazon as finding a sub 20 dollar vintage looking item from an online retailer is a gamble no matter how savvy you shop, but I decided to try nonetheless.

Decided on this listing as it had a cute photo and decent reviews however I was skeptical of if this item would even end up looking like the photos and unfortunately I was right.

The end rating – I give this purchase a 3 – Is is a long sleeve navy top that is oversized? Yes, does it look vintage or worn in at all? No, not even a little bit. I have to say this one was somewhat of an epic fail, the “sweatshirt” is really just a giant long sleeve shirt. It does not look even in the slightest “vintage” at all. Will I wear it to relax in, sure, is it the cute fashion stable I wanted, no.

Item 5) Vintage/Hype Girl Sunglasses – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BNHRLDW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I am so here for the vintage sunglass look that I could not wait for summer to get myself a pair of these fierce looking shades. I decided I wanted a white and black pair since why not and was shocked to find how easy it was to find the exact style I was looking for on Amazon!

The 2 pack set I found was less than 20 dollars and I cannot lie I was expecting to get a pair of super cheap plastic dollar store sunglasses. Damn was I wrong!

The verdict – These are amazing! Do not walk, run to get yourself these glasses. They are not only fly as hell but they are sturdy and decently high quality for an Amazon find. I could not be happier with these and have to say these are a solid 12/10 as they greatly exceeded my expectations! Overall, I am obsessed!

So to conclude this episode of Amazing Amazon Dupes, I have a few pieces of advice for finding trendy dupes online.

Reviews, reviews, reviews – Read as many reviews as possible and look at customer photos. This will be the biggest help when it comes to choose which dupe is the best of all as there tends to be many options to choose from. Even one really bad review can get me to re-think a purchase if it is recent enough and there is good evidence to support the claims.

Size up/ measure yourself – Most dupes are not going to be the same size as your traditional fast fashion finds because they are coming directly from the factory or manufacturer in most cases. Assume the sizing will be weird and be sure to look at the sizing chart and take some measurements for yourself. I typically wear a 2-4 in bottoms and I ended up measuring myself for the tennis skirt and buying a large/XL as the sizing chart was really wonky. The large fit perfectly even though it was a size 8/10. Do not assume the sizing will be normal, as chances are the item will be much larger or smaller than you are thinking it will be.

Assume the quality is low – Sub 20$ sunglasses tend to get a bad wrap for being pastic-y and cheap looking, with good reason. When buying an item on Amazon that is 50-75% cheaper than a brand name version you should not assume the quality will be the same or even close to similar. Prepare yourself for a bad craft project and then be shook when the dupe is better than you thought. It is way better to be good surprised than bad surprised when your new purchase is not as cheap looking as it cost in reality.

Weigh the pros /cons – Is this an item you hope to have a year from now? If so maybe re-evaluate whether you want a dupe or the real thing. Some items are worth spending on, others not so much. You have to decide if this is something you want to cherish forever or love for a season or two. Who knows, you may even love the dupe so much you decide to go all in for the real thing!

Uncategorized

Macro Friendly Pizza

July 27, 2020by Hayley PosnerLeave a Comment

As a hardcore, born and raised New Yorker, nothing makes my heart sing more than a damn good slice of pizza. Pizza and I have had a complicated relationship the last few years, mostly due to my long-held belief that pizza cannot be both healthy and tasty. I used to firmly believe that pizza was a “treat” meal or only reserved for special occasions or late-night drunk binges.

Pizza and I have tried all kinds of ways to make things work for us, however the best pizza hack came to me when I was low on money in 2019, living alone in a lacking good pizza part of Denver. Homemade pizza was the answer to my healthy/tasty struggles! The first few times I bought pizza dough at Trader Joes, I epically failed and burned the life out of my pizza leading to sad burned mess. On a separate occasion I managed to pile so many toppings on my homemade pie that it didn’t cook enough! My brother, Kevin, actually taught me the proper way to cook homemade pizza earlier this year and since then the homemade pizza has become a Friday night dinner game changer for me and my boyfriend.

So how do I make homemade pizza fit in my macros and taste good? My tip is simple, tracking your pizza first, then add protein to your pie and track backwards from there. This hack has helped me make my favorite diary free cheese dreams come true! By simply accounting for the carbs and protein first thing in my food log, I am able to accurately plan and arrange my day so that I still hit my goals and do not have to make a gross pizza just to get it to fit.

A few of the ways that I make my pizza macro friendly, high in nutrients and tasty af are by using crushed or pureed San Marzano tomatoes instead of highly processed pizza sauces, swapping regular mozzarella for Trader Joes Almond Mozzarella alternative, and using high protein toppings such as chicken sausage and prosciutto. These three simple swaps up the protein of my pizza by 10’s of grams and makes my pie more filling and satisfying. Another healthy, high protein pizza option I have made is buffalo chicken pizza! Simply mix up some zero-calorie buffalo sauce and grilled chicken (I use premade Trader Joes Simply Grilled Strips) and top your pizza with that macro friendly goodness.

Just because I love rolling out some homemade pizza does not mean I do not have some take out favorites in the Denver metro area! My top 3 favorite, authentic NY style thin crust pizza places definitely have to be Anthony’s near DU, Ian’s Pizza in the Ballpark area and KAOS Pizza on Pearl Street. Some other great Denver pizza joints include Sexy Pizza, Pizza Pedal and Pizzeria Local.

My go to pizza recipe is below!

**Pro tip – You must let the dough sit out and rest in room temperature for at least 20-40 minutes before rolling. Once the dough is rolled, floured and shaped, be sure to prebake the solo dough for 10-15 minutes before loading it up all your sauce and toppings!

Trader Joes Garlic and Herb Pizza Dough (1/2 A Container)
2-4 Tbs. of all-purpose flour
½ Can of San Marzano Tomato Puree
1 Oz. of Trader Joes Shredded Almond Mozzarella
½ Oz. of Trader Joes Crumbled Goat Cheese
½ of a Trader Joes Spicy Chicken Italian Sausage chopped finely
1 Oz. of Trader Joes Sliced Prosciutto
30 grams of red onion, sliced
30 grams of raw arugula
50 grams of raw baby Bella mushrooms chopped

Go forth and pizza make your heart out! For more of my healthy eats check out my Insta stories @who.wod.wear

Food, Uncategorized, wellness

Greek Inspired Summer Salad Recipe

July 20, 2020by Hayley PosnerLeave a Comment

Getting your greens in shouldn’t have to suck! I will be the first to admit I am not much of a salad aficionado and have only added them into my diet regularly as of recently. It has taken me a long time to figure out what kind of salads I like outside of dressing heavy take-out salads from restaurants. Homemade salads used to be a huge turn off for me mostly because I did not understand how to combine ingredients to make something that not only was good for me but that also tasted good and was filling enough to keep me satisfied post meal.

Kale has always been one of my favorite leafy greens, but it is bitter when eaten raw and can burn in the oven easily. I have experimented with kale-based salads in the past but have always felt dissatisfied with the flavor or combination of ingredients. After some experimenting and an on the fly pot-luck holiday gathering I finally created the perfect summer salad!

This salad recipe was actually one that I found on Pinterest for a 4^th of July BBQ and then have modified to add some extra leafy green volume for a workday lunch meal. Here is my easy and colorful Greek inspired summer salad!

Ingredients:

150 Grams of Raw, Peeled Cucumber, Chopped
50 Grams of Red Onion
50 Grams of Cherry Tomatoes, Halved (* Can sub for any tomato of choice)
10 Grams of Kalamata Olives, Chopped
1-2 Tablespoons of Crumbled Feta Cheese
50 – 100 Grams of Raw Kale (Depending on your desired volume/ration of toppings to lettuce)
12 Grams of Peppered Salami, Sliced Thin
1-2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing

Instructions:

Simply chop and combine all ingredients, pour and mix dressing then serve!

Hope you enjoy and check out my Instagram stories for more of my daily meals and healthy recipe ideas! @who.wod.wear

Fitness & Health, Food, Personal, Uncategorized, wellness

Tracking Macros & Meal Planning When You Live With Your Partner

July 6, 2020by Hayley PosnerLeave a Comment

Moving in with your partner is a huge life step! This relationship milestone can be particularly scary for many reasons, but my biggest worry was actually one that very few people think about when taking the leap to cohabitate with their romantic partner. When my boyfriend and I decided to self-isolate together this past April, I was most worried about how I was going to keep up my healthy food habits and continue to track my macros while learning to live and cook with my man.

My boyfriend does not track his macros and does not have a structured meal plan or eating schedule like I do, which initially caused me to be nervous about us living together. I am definitely more OCD/type A when it comes to meal prepping and planning while he is more of a mindful eater who does not pre track or weigh his food. This stark contrast could have potentially negative side effects for us as roommates and life partners and I was super anxious about making things work when the time came for me to move into his apartment.

So how do we eat meals together if I have to weight and track my portions, and he doesn’t! It’s actually super simple, we just make equal portions of food and try to spit things evenly! If I am making 6 ounces of ground beef for me, I will simply weight an equal portion for him as well and make 1 giant pot meal that we simply split down the middle as best as possible. While this is not an exact science, it does work well for me when I am eating for maintenance or being a less strict with my macro tracking. Overall, this cooking method works super well for nights when we both are craving pasta or a ground beef taco bowl but is less cut and dry when it comes to cooking more complicated dishes or want slightly different meals that have some common ingredients.

Another way we make this work is cooking on 2 separate baking sheets. I will prepare 1 sheet for me with my pre weighted portions and 1 sheet for him with his portions if they differ from my own. This allows us to still make a meal together without having to make the exact same portions or veggies. I personally, love mushrooms and kale and eat them probably every other day, while my boyfriend is a mushroom hater and will only sporadically join me in crunching on some crispy kale chips. I am a huge proponent of simple but effective meal making and both my boyfriend and I are not into spending hours in the kitchen each night. One pan/bake sheet meals, work wonders for us when we are trying to eat together but enjoy different protein, carb and fat sources and make for a no fuss dinner.

Cooking together when you have different habits does not need to turn into WW3 or cause you or your partner to feel guilty for their needs/wants. For me and my boyfriend, we try to cook/plan 2-3 meals per week together and then will eat the rest on our own. Sometimes we do more, and some weeks we share less, but either way we make sure to clearly communicate before we cook so that one person is not left with no chicken for dinner. If you are like me and you cannot share your food without feeling anxious about it shifting your numbers, then I highly recommend cooking on separate baking sheets or in separate pans from your roommate/partner. This will allow you to portion control your food while enjoying the same meal as your dinner date! It’s a win win for you both. No need to compromise your goals or feel guilty!

Uncategorized

Tasty Thai Peanut Sauté

June 18, 2020by Hayley PosnerLeave a Comment

I hate eating the same meals on repeat week after week! Nothing bores me more than a simple chicken, rice and broccoli style dinner. I absolutely love cooking and trying new things but also like to keep my weekday meals simple and quick for busy nights after I come back from work and the gym. One go to for me is an easy stir fry dish were I can throw some protein and veggies in a pan and mix up a simple soy sauce based dressing and call it a day.

Rice is definitely a staple in my diet but there are only so many nights I can eat some variation of rice, protein and vegetables before I feel bloated and weighted down by the rice baby I am growing. Enter stage, my new favorite cooking staple, bib lettuce! Last weekend I took a trip to my local farmers market on Old South Pearl Street in the University neighborhood of Denver and found some gorgeous bib lettuce heads that I could not ignore.

Lettuce is a super tricky produce item for me to buy since it goes bad/rots super quickly in the fridge if I do not utilize it fast enough, but I was determined to make this lettuce last me for the week! My friend, Julie who is severely allergic to gluten and grains, inspired me to try making some lettuce wraps as an alternative to weekly chicken stir fry bowls or taco bowls.

Here is my recipe for an easy, Thai peanut style chicken sauté that makes for an amazing lettuce wrap or rice bowl dinner! Note, I also tried this recipe with frozen shrimp and I found that the shrimp flavor was too mild and got super lost in the toppings and sauce but really any protein option will work for this recipe, even tofu.

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons of Thai Peanut Mildly Spicy Marinate and Dipping Sauce from San-J
1 Teaspoon of honey
1 Lime or 2 tablespoons of lime juice
3 Tablespoons of soy sauce
3-4 pieces of bib style lettuce head
6 Ounces of raw chicken breast **(Substitute protein of choice)
50 Grams of white mushrooms chopped
80 Grams of white onion chopped
50 Grams of sugar snap peas
30 Grams of shredded carrot
15 Grams of chopped green onion
13 Grams of roasted peanuts **(Substitute almonds or skip if allergic to nuts)

Instructions:

First, chop and weigh out the onion, carrots, snap peas, mushrooms and chicken
Portion out roughly 15 grams of carrot and 20 grams of snap peas for garnish and chop up the green onions and set them all aside for later.
Grease or oil your pan with your fat of choice, I usually use avocado oil spray but any olive oil or coconut oil will work. Add the carrots, snap peas, mushrooms and onions to the pan and begin sautéing until the onions are a bit brown.
Next, add your chicken to the pan with the veggies and start cooking and mixing it all together. Add salt, black pepper, red pepper and garlic seasoning to the pan and distribute around the mixture.
Mix the soy sauce, honey and lime juice to create a sticky sauce and pour it over the chicken an veggie mixture letting to coat the bottom of the pan.
Let the sauce bubble and thicken as it coats the chicken and veggies making a nice caramelization. Finish once the chicken or other protein is cooked to your desire. I personally like to get a nice crisp or burn on my chicken before I call it done!
Weigh out your peanuts, put them in a ziplock bag then crush them up with a bottle or meat pounder for an added crispy topping for your wraps.
Scoop the chicken mixture into your lettuce boats and top with the crushed nuts, raw carrot, snap peas and green onions that were set aside earlier.
Pour the spicy peanut sauce in a small dish and either drizzle on top of your wraps or if you so dare, dip the wraps directly into the sauce.
Enjoy!

This recipe is so versatile, weather you are a rice lover or a lettuce lover, this recipe is super tasty and will quickly become a crowd favorite. Simply swap the protein or opt for rice instead of lettuce wraps and you have a totally new meal. These also make for a great party appetizer! This recipe can easily be used to create a lettuce wrap bar and have guests mix and match veggies, sauces, toppings and proteins for endless options and even more customization.

For more tasty treats check out my Instagram stories and highlights @who.wod.wear