LIFE

Questions from a 20-something: Vol 4

Hey guys!! It's been a long time! But, as always, I've been doing a lot of googling & I think it's time to bring this series back.

There are a lot of questions I have on the daily, some answers are an easy google search away. Some, though, are harder and more thought provoking. But you know what? I usually figure it out, and I thought you might benefit from what I’ve found. So here we go: five of my recent questions AND answers. 

Ian the cow

How can I get my fresh flowers to last longer?

Trim the stems and change the water every other day. Am I the only one that didn't know this?? The bottom of flower stems get really brown. That's bacteria, guys, and it blocks your stems from drinking water. If you just trim the stems a quarter inch every time you change the water, flowers will last much longer! Bonus tip: stems die at varying times. Pick them out as they die so bacteria doesn't spread to your other stems. Bonus tip #2: make sure your stems are naked below the water line. No leaves or buds, just stems!

Is it possible to be emotionally abusive.... to yourself?

YES. It is actually very, very common. Often we are the most abusive person in our lives. It does a lot of harm, including preventing yourself from ever reaching your full potential. Emotional self-abuse usually stems from a place of low self-esteem. It takes a lot of time to change the conversations with yourself, but it is very important to do. Try writing one thing that made you happy, or one thing you did well, every day for 100 days, as an easy way to start changing your mindset. 

What happens to a zit if you don't pop it?

The body takes care of it! Your body treats a zit like an infection – because that's what it is – and will attack. Eventually the zit will dry out! This is not true for black heads though... you have to get rid of that ish on your own.

Why do some medications make you gain weight?

While I can't say why your specific medicine is causing weight gain, I did find a few common answers. Some meds increase your appetite and cause you to eat more. Some meds can slllllooow your body’s metabolism. And some meds affect how your body stores and absorbs sugars. Woof-nation. I started taking a medicine two years ago that contributed to a twenty-pound weight gain – in one month! It was bananas! But I guess, just keep on keepin' on, right? You're taking the medicine for a reason. 

Are the calorie counters at the gym accurate?

Short answer: no. Long answer: some machines are better than others. *Assuming you enter your weight and age into all machines* The elliptical's counter is the least accurate, often overestimating calories burned by 40%. Yikes. The other machines really depend on your technique. If used properly (i.e. without relying too heavily on the handles) the stair stepper, treadmill, and stationary bike are closer to accurate. 

Have a question? I'll look it up :) Just shoot it my way!


Photo by: Diana Lustig // Location: Heath Home

Life After the Wedding

Sydney Marie Photography

Well, guys, we're two months in. As of this week, I've been "Annie Heath" (in name, if not in legality) for eight whole weeks. Time for a life update: Jake and I are back in San Francisco. After a quick three days in Vancouver, we came straight to SF and jumped back into our life.

It was really hard coming down from our seven crazy months of wedding planning + whirlwind week as bride and groom, but more on that later.

In June, I accepted a new job (in the city, woot!) & Jake got a promotion. We took a week off for the Fourth of July and relaxed in Kewanee, Wisconsin. Ever heard of it? Neither had we, ha! It was a fun and quiet way to spend a few days together before we celebrated the wedding of two close friends at Elkhart Lake. We partied till the sun came up (lolz - til I took a red-wine-fueled nose dive into the basement bedroom at our VRBO) and spent the rest of the weekend on a rented pontoon boat with Jake's best college friends.

Sydney Marie Photography
Sydney Marie Photography
Sydney Marie Photography

So, life after the wedding has been, overall..... good!
I think that's because our life before the wedding was good, too.

That's what I've learned, anyway. Because, for all the hoopla and emotion... and money... that goes into a wedding, it really means nothing for the rest of your marriage. Life after the wedding is only as good as life was before the wedding. 

After all the guests leave, and the presents stop coming in the mail, and you start attending weddings that aren't your own.... your partner is the one thing you can carry with you.

Lucky for me, that leaves Jake. 

Sydney Marie Photography
Sydney Marie Photography
Sydney Marie Photography
Sydney Marie Photography
Sydney Marie Photography

But, here's the real question...
How did we end up with these magnificent photos? 
Answer: Luck. & super talented Instagram friends.

A few years ago, I met the incredible Sydney Norberg over Instagram. She was coming to shoot photos in Cincinnati the week I was leaving it. I introduced her to my bestie, sighed – because, well you take a look at Sydney's Instagram handle and tell me how you'd feel missing the opportunity to shoot with her – and moved to SF. 

Fast forward two years, and Sydney is HERE! Just for a vacation... but she squeezed in some time for a couple's shoot at Sutro Baths. & BONUS.... her uber-talented, incredible videpgrapher-friend, Ben Maurice, was traveling with her from New Zealand. 

Sydney Marie Photography
Sydney Marie Photography

& that's how Jake and I received the very sweetest two month-a-versary gift that we could ever imagine: a styled shoot in the place where we began our life after the wedding.

Our real life.
In San Francisco. 
Where we truly became "The Heaths."

P.S. Good luck trying not to melt while you watch Ben's video, below.

// photography: Sydney Norberg of Sydney Marie Photography.
// video: Ben Maurice of Sink or Surface.
// on Annie: coat (on sale!) & similar dress & similar denim & similar booties
// on Jake: pantsshirt & shoes.


26, What a Doozy!

Sometimes, I forget the real reason I started this blog was to document life. Basically, I want to look back when I'm old & gray & remember what I was thinking in my youth. 

So, with that being said..... 

Today is my birthday! I'm twenty seven! But,  before Jake and I head off to the bars to celebrate this new & wonderful year, I'd like to first take a second to reflect on the biggest moments of my last. It was a doozy! 


1 month into twenty six (July)
Vacationed with most of my family (+ Jake) at Lake Michigan.
Celebrated the union of two of my best friends.

2 months into twenty six (August)
Visited Yosemite for the first time.

3 months into twenty six (September)
Celebrated the union of two MORE friends.
Moved out of my studio in the TenderNob. 

4 months into twenty six (October)
Watched a freak fire destroy a u-haul filled with all my belongings. 
Decided to marry Jake!

5 months into twenty six (November)
Started a podcast with my sister-in-law to be. 
Took bomb engagement photos c/o my bestie.
Got totally scammed whilst buying a wedding dress online

Twenty six and one half! (December)
Coasted.

7 months into twenty six (January)
Made exercise a semi-regular part of my life.

8 months into twenty six (February)
Visited beautiful Maui with all my in-laws to be.
Joined a gym in SF.

9 months into twenty six (March)
Woke up with eyes & mouth nearly swollen shut!
(Found out I'm severely allergic to poison oak)
Said goodbye to a dear uncle.
Got showered with love for our approaching nupitals. 

10 months into twenty six (April)
Celebrated my final days as a BACHELORETTE!

11 months into twenty six (May)
Married Jake! 


It's been one HELL of a year. Twenty six had some of the best moments of my life, and some pretty low ones too. But in one adjective, I'd describe 26 as solid.

Jake and I solidified our devotion to each other. I solidified my relationship with his family during our first Heath vacation. I celebrated all the relationships in my life: friends, family, and loved ones alike. I made my body (sorta) solid by setting weekly workouts. & I solidified my love for nature with every glorious trip around this world (Hawaii, Yosemite, Half Moon Bay, Tomales Bay, Lake Michigan, Vancouver, etc). 

So now, I'm sitting here looking at twenty seven like: "Whew, tough act to follow there, twenty seven. You up for it?" 

& twenty seven is all like: "Life is full of surprises, Annie. Just you wait."

Isn't life grand :) 
Now let's get a beer!


Thoughtful (Off The Registry) Wedding Gift & A GIVEAWAY

DSC_0030.jpg

GUYYYYYSSSSS, I'm getting married in NINE DAYS. What the actual heck!?!? Jake and I are so busy getting things ready. We didn't work with a wedding planner, so all the little final details to figure out are up to us. It's been a lot, but we cannot wait!

Just wanted to pop by to say hello and tell you about one of our favorite "non-registry" gifts. Happy Maps sent this customizable poster to Jake and I a few weeks ago and we are in love with the minimalist design.  Even though we aren't getting married in San Francisco, we decided that was the place we wanted to feature on our Happy Map. It's where we found our first home together and got engaged... plus, this is where we will come back and officially start our lives as THE HEATHS!

There's lots of customization you can do for your map (location, title, coordinates, color), so check it all out here. AND, as a wedding gift to me and Jake, Happy Maps has offered to host a giveaway! Enter the contest on this instagram post.  GOOD LUCK!

I'll announce the winner via instagram next Thursday (5/25), and get back on the blog when I'm a officially a MRS!

xox

To win a Happy Map, like this photo on instagram and follow the rules listed in the post! I'll pick the winner next Thursday... right before I become half of "The Heaths"!

Happy Map provided c/o. All thoughts are my own. 


Your Favorite Posts of 2016

Friends! How was your New Year? I stayed in with Jake. We (read: he) made a delicious dinner and we toasted with champagne and ice cream sundaes at midnight. 2017 is going to be one for the books, with our wedding right around the corner, but before we go head first into the new year, let's reflect a bit, shall we?

What were my biggest moments of 2016? 

  • Moving into a new apartment (& out of the Tenderloin, huzzah!)
  • Starting a podcast!
  • Getting engaged.

What about you? What will you remember when you look back on this year? While you take a second to think about it, here's a list of the blog posts you loved the most in 2016, chosen by # of page views in my trusty google analytics account. 

xox