skinny italian -- teresa giudice has the best of both worlds

Teresa has no regrets for the table flipping incident we all know (and love!) her for - lucky for others she hasn't flipped any tables since. Teresa Giudice, a born and raised Jersey girl stars on Bravo TV's hit series, The Real Housewives of New Jersey is a true housewife. We watch Teresa each week as she devotes her time to her family - her "juicy" hubby Joe and 4 fabulicious daughters - Gia, Gabriella, Milania, and Audriana -- she does it all and still stays fabulous!

Just recently her first book, Skinny Italian, hit shelves and is a New York Times Bestseller. The lifestyle title is all about healthy Italian cooking while getting a glimpse into her family - showcasing 60 recipes straight from Salerno.

Throughout the book Teresa offers helpful advice and mouth-watering recipes you just can't wait to try with a dash of the behind-the-scenes gossip we love! She is a true example of how you can still eat spaghetti and fit into your "skinny" jeans.

How do you eat it all but stay so fit?

Italian food gets a bad rap in America because everyone thinks Italians sit around eating chicken parm and cannoli all day – and if you do eat that way, you certainly will not be skinny! But real Italian food—the kind we eat in my family because my parents grew up in Italy—is healthy as well as delicious. You’ll see in my recipes that I use olive oil instead of vegetable oil and fresh cheese instead of processed cheese, I sauté instead of deep fry, and I serve vegetable-based sauces rather than creamy sauces. I use sugar only in desserts (NOT in tomato sauce – that is sacrilege!). And my desserts are usually light and fruit-based.

How do you manage it all - wife, mother, work, etc? What advice can you give to other moms juggling it all?

Cook for your children. I know it sounds overwhelming, but the more you do it, the better you get. I’ve gotten a lot of emails from moms saying “my kids are such picky eaters. They never like anything, but they love your food.” That makes me so happy. And my girls love what I make for them. They never want me to order out because they’d rather eat what I make for them. My recipes are easy, too. Strawberries & Sambuca, which is my favorite dessert, has 3 ingredients and takes 10 minutes.
How do you keep your marriage so happy even with kids? Do you take timeout together?

Juicy Joe and I have date night together which gives us time for just the two of us. He wrote the sidebars in my cookbook called “Juicy Bits from Joe” that are funny and sometimes sexy, too. Check out my recipe for taking a sexy bath! I love to do vacation with the kids though. I wouldn’t have fun on vacation if my children weren’t with me.
What's your favorite designer? No one designer. I like unique pieces
What are the essentials you never leave home without? Lipgloss, lipliner, Blackberry

What is your favorite time-saving tip you think every mom should know?

I usually make extra food so that I can save the leftovers and serve it to the kids as their after school snack. That way I know they’re eating healthy, homemade food as snacks. I’d also recommend saving time by planning ahead: sometimes I cook two dinners at once: one to eat that night, and one to eat the next night.

What is the one thing you swore to yourself you would never do, but after having kids have found yourself doing it?

I never thought my husband would wind up doing our family’s grocery shopping, but after our third daughter was born, I realized I couldn’t do everything on my own. Now I make the shopping list and Joe goes to the store.
Okay, you know we just have to ask - does it bother you that your known as the "table flipper" because by far that is still the all time best moment and I'm sure you have gotten a ton of LOVE from it.

No regrets!

Teresa has given us a peek inside her glamourous life - up close & personal and wants to share more - which is why you NEED her book. Lucky for you, she is giving one of our lucky readers a chance to win a SIGNED copy!

Coke or Pepsi? Neither, I like bellinis!

RHONY or RHOC? I like both, but I blog about RHONY on People.com

Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate

Movie or book? Cookbook!

Beach or Mountains? Beach

Yoga or pilates? both

Texting or talking? I used to like talking better, but it takes so much time.

Texting is faster for me these days.

Twitter or Facebook? I started out with just Facebook, but now I’m Twittering a lot too.

Dressing up or going caz? I like getting dressed up to go out with my husband and

staying casual when I’m with the kids

Heels or flip-flops? Both – heels when I’m dressed up and flip flops

when I’m being more casual

Shopping online or in-store? Mostly online, but if I’m shopping in a store,

it’s usually at boutiques

NYC or LA? New York is my back yard so I have to say LA –

it’s fun because it’s different for me.

Lipgloss or lipstick? lipgloss

Latte or frapp? latte

Wine or beer? wine

Blackberry or iphone? blackberry

SATC character? Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte or Miranda?Carrie

Morning riser or night owl? Morning

Make a comment telling us why you must-have Skinny Italian! This comment is mandatory. You also MUST be a follower of CupcakeMAG & Sprinkles.

For extra entries, please leave a separate comment for each entry letting us know.

The more you comment the better chance you have to WIN!

1. Follow cupcakeMAG on Twitter

2. Follow Teresa on Twitter

3. Make sure you "LIKE" us on our NEW Facebook page.

4. Subscribe to our updates (top right corner above) - just sign up with your email!

5. VOTE for us on Top Mommy Blogs here -- just select "click to vote" -- you don't have to register - just a simple click.

6. Tweet about this giveaway and include @cupcakemag -- you must tweet, not just follow.

7. Write a blog post about this giveaway on your blog and send us the link.

The winner will be selected next Monday, June 14th around or after 11pm, EST. Open to US residents only please.

Just can't wait to win? Grab a copy of Skinny Italian now here. You can also read more about The Real Housewives of New Jersey here along with Teresa's blog. And stay-up-to date with Teresa on Twitter & Facebook. And for all of your Teresa needs visit her website.

support HANDmade with Sophi PIP -- plus a giveaway!

Sophia PIP is the perfect shop for those that appreciate the little yet beautiful things. We adore the casual elegance theme of handcrafted jewelry that is simple enough to be worn everyday - not to mention the quality craftsmanship and delicate designs. When we received our goods the detail & quality was beyond better then retail. The shop is filled with and is a great way to support handcrafted goods. And we love the designers motto -- "Make the world a better place by buying jewelry" -- as giving back is important to her (and us!) so a potion of her profits from Etsy are donated to various charities.

The Mirror Mirror on the Wall pendent ($36) is très chic. The delicate pale yellow flowere adorns a handcrafter Sterling Silver oval frame. It catches everyones eye and really stands out in its simplicity. The blossom adds a feminie touch is a translucent lucite - the perfect amount of detail. The necklace was oxidized & brushed to create a antique look.

Another customer fave we love our the Poppy Earrings ($26) - besides the fact that they are just adorable - they are perfect to dress up or wear caz. Made of copper and brass each individual poppy is hand-cut & shaped. The simple topping, a single Sterling Silver drop accents the center of each blossom. The matching bangle bracelets to go along create the perfect pair.

When did your love affair with jewels begin?

It's a pretty funny thing. I didn't wear jewelry for the longest time because I grew up with the original fashionista and that can be very intimidating. My mom has always been very stylish and I'm a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl. She had all these big sparkly jewels that I loved when I was little (and of course, often tried on when she wasn't looking!). When I got older though, they just didn't translate into what I'd actually wear. To make a long story short, I had a hard time finding simple but distinct jewelry that can be worn casually so I started making a few things for myself and some as gifts for friends.


What is your favorite material or stone to work with?
I love working with Beach Glass. Finding them is such a joy to begin with, but being able to work with something with such organic forms keeps things fresh. Every piece has a new shape that I can make a new design around.

What inspires your pieces?
There are too many to list! I read a lot and have studied the classic forms. I love watching old movies and try to imagine what the characters would wear nowadays. I love cooking, the ocean, and meeting new people. Everyday is an adventure and everything contributes to the person that I am and what comes out of my head. I always have a sketch pad with me and at the end of the day I look though all the sketches and see if there is anything I can use design wise.
What's up next for Sophia Pip?
I really like the "industrial" look that putting different metals together creates, so I'll definitely be exploring that further. I also like the "rustic" look of copper a whole lot; I've been experimenting with various natural oxidation techniques and I can't wait to integrate some of that into new designs. On the opposite side of the spectrum, I love everything nature, from twigs to flowers to snails, so I want to see how that would fit into what I make. These tend to turn into the more "delicate" designs". Maybe the "industrial" and the "delicate" will meet somewhere down the road. I can't wait to see.

How would you like to add some S.Pip to your jewelry collection? Well now you can because we are giving away Your Favorite Necklace. All you have to do is tell us why you LOVE it. Because who doesn't? This comment is mandatory! You also must be a follower of both cupcakeMAG and Sprinkles.

For extra entries, please leave a separate comment for each entry letting us know! The more you comment the better chance you have to WIN!

1. Follow cupcakeMAG on Twitter

2. Make sure you "LIKE" us on our NEW Facebook page.

3. Make sure you "LIKE" Sophia PIP on Facebook- leave a comment if you can!

4. Subscribe to our updates (top right corner above) -- just sign up with your email!

5. VOTE for us on Top Mommy Blogs here - just select "click to vote" -- you don't have to register - just a simple click!

6. Tweet about this giveaway and include @cupcakeMAG - you must tweet, not just follow.

7. Write a blog post about this giveaway and send us the link!

We will choose a random winner on June 16th around 11pm or after, est. US residents only.

catching up with jillian michaels

Jillian Michaels is one tough momma but she will whip you into shape so fast it will make your head spin. We all have watched Americas toughest trainer on TV's The Biggest Loser, but Jillian wears many different....shall we say yoga pants? She's not just a fitness trainer and life coach but also a author, blogger, creator of DVDs, video games, and even a line of apparel. And let's not forget to add creator of her new equipment line -- it is hard to keep up!

As busy as she is - thankfully, we were able to catch her --- read on as she fills us in on her new show, Losing it with Jillian, how to stay motivated, what NOT to eat & her own guiltiest pleasure -- plus, she really made us think about that diet we keep putting off!

photo credit: andrew southam

Has The Biggest Loser changed you?

Absolutely! It has changed my entire life. In addition to teaching me about the resilience of the human spirit and body it has also give me an international platform to get out the message of health and wellness.

What would you tell someone who has tried all the fad diets but has not been successful and lost their motivation? Whats the best advice you can give to stay motivated?

There are two separate questions here: The first is how to see the results and the answer to that is to avoid "fad diets" altogether. The trick to weight loss is simple math. Calories in vs. calories out. If you watch what you are eating and you are mindful of how many calories you're burning you will be back on track and seeing results in no time. The second us motivation. If you spend time identifying all the reasons why you want to lose weight you can tolerate the how of what it takes to get there.

You influence so many with your kick butt work-outs -- but who influences Jillian Michaels?

In life, I have so many amazing mentors who influence me, from Suze Orman to Maria Shriver. I'm really blessed to be surrounded by so many inspirational people.

What is your go-to meal & favorite snack? What is the worst thing you can feed your body?

With my hectic schedule sometimes it's hard to find time to even grab a bite. A quick go to meal that I love is black beans, hummus, organic greek yogurt and pop chips. My favorite is pop chips barbeque flavor. And the worst thing you can feed your body is processed food....stick to all natural and all organic as much as possible.

How excited are you about your OWN show? What can we expect to look forward to? How does it differ from The Biggest Loser?

I'm really proud of Losing It and all of the families that were involved. It's definitely different from The Biggest Loser in that I am only with the families for a week, I give them the tools they need to change their lives and then check back in with them in 6 weeks to see how they are doing. I'm dealing with kids as well so I have to soften my approach when working with them. You can't tell a 10 year old, you need to lose 50 pounds,so instead you introduce them to karate or soccer - something that they will enjoy and that will also help them get healthier in the process. You'll laugh, cheer, and definitely shed some tears.

We all know and love you on TV and in your books, but do offer personal training sessions? If so, how would one of our readers set-up a session?

Unfortunately I don't have time to take on personal clients as my schedule just doesn't allow me to do so. Every year I donate training sessions to charities around the country but this year I am doing a Wellness Cruise in October. It's for all of the people that have said "if I had you are a trainer I could lose weight or get motivated"....now is their chance.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Red wine and Newman's Own organic peanut butter cups

If there was only one thing you could do each day to maintain a healthy lifestyle -- what would you make sure that ONE thing was?

Eat clean. Cut out processed foods completely.

What's up next for you?

Next, I start season 10 of The Biggest Loser, I have my cruise coming up in October, I'm working on my fourth book "Unlimited", I have a DVD coming out this fall, and a new Wii game in 2011. I'm also really excited about new fitness equipment line and my clothing line with K Swiss.

After reading this we suggest you take a trip to the store or visit Jillian's online store to pick-up her latest two books that continue the smash-hit Master Your Metabolism book series with The Master Your Metabolism Calorie Counter & The Master Your Metabolism Cookbook to let Jillian help you eat right. The Master Your Metabolism Calorie Counter is the perfect handy reference guide to keep your metabolism under wraps at home or on-the-go. It fits nicely in your purse and is like a bible when it comes to eating right. It pairs perfect with the extensive must-have cooking companion that is filled with 125 recipes to keep your metabolism in line and yet the simple minimal ingredient recipes are perfect even if you aren't a great cook. We LOVE Curried Salmon Salad Pita Pockets and Blueberry Banana Muffins. It has something for everyone and tells you the health benefits of each recipe along the way. This book has never made it so simple to master healthy eating and living has never been easier.

Lucky for you we are giving one lucky reader their chance to start balancing their body by winning both books NOW!

*Giveaways Details*

Make a comment telling us why you must-have Jillian's books! This comment is mandatory. You also MUST be a follower of CupcakeMAG & Sprinkles.

For extra entries, please leave a separate comment for each entry letting us know.

The more you comment the better chance you have to WIN!

1. Follow cupcakeMAG on Twitter

2. Make sure you "LIKE" us on our NEW Facebook page.

3. Subscribe to our updates (top right corner above) - just sign up with your email!

4. VOTE for us on Top Mommy Blogs here -- just select "click to vote" -- you don't have to register - just a simple click.

5. Tweet about this giveaway and include @cupcakemag -- you must tweet, not just follow.

6. Write a blog post about this giveaway on your blog and send us the link.

The winner will be selected next Friday, June 4th around or after 11pm, EST. Open to US residents only please.

So, what are you waiting for now? Put down that processed food and get moving! Until you can get that motivation going by tuning into Jillian's new show on NBC -- Losing It With Jillian as she helps families make life-altering changes starting June 1st at 10pm. Read more about the show here. And stay-up-to date with Jillian on Twitter & Facebook or to get your butt kicked everyday sign-up for Jillian's newsletter on her website.