Questions from a 20-something: vol 2

We’re young. We’re learning. There are still some life skills that need some tuning up. Which reminds me: does Wd40 work on all metals? Does it stain?

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. 

How long does it take to cool a room temperature diet coke in the freezer?

A can of coke should cool down in the freezer in about 20-25 minutes. It will take half that time if you put it in a bucket of ice instead. It will half that time if you add water to the ice and half that time if you add salt to the water. So you’re looking at a perfectly cooled soda in 25 minutes in a freezer or 2 minutes in a salted-water-ice bucket. via 

Can a sinus infection cause your teeth to hurt? 

Yes! My recent sinus infection put me out of commission all week. To top it off, I thought I had a cavity in addition to my symptoms! Turns out it's all related. Phew.

What's the right amount of time to keep a toothbrush?

3-4 months. But also replace it after every illness, regardless of how new it is. I've heard of people re-catching their own germs from their toothbrush after being sick.

What are the best podcasts to listen to on a commute?

Gimlet media's Start Up and Reply All. TED Radio Hour. Serial. PBS Newshour. I listen to each of these every week :D

Shoot. My eggs are expired.. can I still eat them?

Check with the float test! Place your eggs in a bowl of water. If they float -- don't eat them! If they stand on the bottom, they're still good. If they lay on their side at the bottom, they're very fresh. Via.

Got a question? I'll look it up! Just shoot me a note. Photo: Nikond3200 / Edits VSCO Filters for Lightroom.

Crushing on lately...

Oh guys. Hi :D I have some updates: A few weeks ago I had a kitchen accident and cut my hand. Ouch! I could type, but after my full work day (marketing) (read: typing a lot) I couldn't muster much hand stamina to blog,. I had to rely on the posts I had in stock (two) but those went really fast and I had to miss you guys terribly.  Finally, on Friday, I got my stitches out (yay!), but the next day I got sick. My days have consisted of work, sleep and DayQuil since. But, now, here we are, back in action :D

Happy updates! My friend Natalie is coming to visit me in less than TEN DAYS! I can't wait to host my first official visitor in SF! & with that, I can introduce this beautiful photo. Recognize it? I geeked over it (and immediately bought this exact flavor) when Natalie posted this picture last week. Which leads me into my last note: I want to host a photo sharing space. Would you guys be into that? I'm not sure of the details yet but I've been tossing around the idea for a while.

Let me know. & in the meantime... some crushes: 

Photo by: Natalie Folchi of Natalie Was Here

• This instagram.
• These culottes.
• These shoes.
• This podcast.
• These plants.

• These earrings.
• This book. 
• This ice cream.
• This beer.
• This start up. 

• These wall mounted desks.
• This huge calendar.
• This Netflix binge.
• This tattoo.
• This outfit.

Questions from a 20-something

We’re young. We’re learning. There are still some life skills that need to be nailed. Which reminds me, what’s the proper way to nail into drywall, anyway? What happens when the plaster literally separates from the wall? 

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. 

Does food lose nutritional value when you freeze it?

No! For the most part. Food that is frozen at peak nutritional value will not lose any value when frozen. Even self frozen food. Good, right? I freeze my bread a lot.

Should you buy gifts for every wedding shower and wedding you’re invited to?

Yes, this is polite. Even if you can’t go? Still. How much should you spend? Apparently, for the wedding, you should cover the cost of your dinner at the reception. That varies, I know. As a general rule, at our age I think we can slide by with $50. What if that's too much for your wallet? I have a LOT of friends getting married, like, a lot. (yay!) So I'm trying to get creative with my gifts. Your friends understand. Any nice note and thoughtful gift will show your love and appreciation.

Can you order groceries on Amazon?

YES! Some. But there is also a new service I’ve been hearing about called instacart. It has some amazing VC backing. I got a direct mail piece (old school effective!) promoting their partnership with Whole Foods. Then the next day, I saw them announce a partnership in Minneapolis with Target. I think they are only in a few cities right now... Including SF. About to try it out fo sho.

Which form of caffeine will affect me the fastest?

My coffee connoisseur of a sister told me, as far as coffee goes at least, a Black or Red Eye gets the most in your system the fastest. That's one cup of coffee with the addition of a shot (or two) of espresso. Now as far as the battle between coffee, soda, energy drink, etc.. I'm not sure. Do you know? 

 Are elephants like super smart?

Apparently so.  That's probably why it is a compliment to say: "You have the memory of an elephant." Neat.

So that's all for now! I'm a never ending spout of questions though, so I'll have more for you coming up. And if you have any questions to add to my list, send them on over! :D

Photo: iPhone5s / Edits: Snapseed and VSCOcam

Crushing on lately...

Pretty, isn't it? It's hard to remember, in the midst of that daily grind, how pretty my new state is. It's been good, mostly. But it's also a little hard. I've been here for almost two months. That's two rent payments, one piece of furniture, a few kitchen supplies, and as of this weekend, a fan (finally!). The fan will be a game changer. 

California is a whole new animal. But it's going to be cool to tame it. Yesterday I cut my evening commute down to 80 minutes (rather than *gasp* 2 hours and 40 minutes on some nights). I think that's a really good start. Anyway, how are YOU!? I miss you guys! I wrote down a few of my current crushes, but really I'm just dying to hear yours. Let me have it!

• These shoes.
• This blog. 
• This article.
• This instagram. 
• This book. 

• This short video. 
• This sneaker. 
• This photographer. 
• This watch. 
• These tiny tattoos.

• These pants. 
• These popsicles.
• This Netflix binge. 
• These kitchens.
• This ice cream shop. 

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Photo: iPhone5s / Edits: VSCOcam for Lightroom

On Change and Haircuts

Someone once told me you can expect big things on the horizon when a woman cuts her hair.

Long, blonde, curls. A lion's mane. From childhood through adulthood, my hair has always identified me. Often, it was the first thing people noticed about my outward appearance. About four years ago, in the summer of 2011, I cut and donated 14 inches of my curls. It was the year before I graduated college and, let's just say, I was finding the transition from student to non student difficult.

Things settled down though, eventually, and I started a painstaking journey back to my old self: long, blonde, curly Annie. The Annie I recognized. The Annie I knew. The place where I was comfortable. 

Being comfortable is really, really lovely... but, your comfort zone is not where you grow. I think it's called a leap of faith. Sometimes, you just have to push. It's the only way to reach for the great things writ in your stars.

I cut my hair again this summer, a few days before I moved to San Francisco. I came without a job, without an apartment. In fact, the only thing I did have was two jammed suitcases and this little voice that kept saying "try." 

For me, California has been a big change. I've never been so on my own: forced independence, new people, new places, new public transportation. Apartment gates that don't open for FedEx. Bed frames that need to be carried seven blocks uphill because you didn't know about the gate. Lumber on the Bart.

It's not always easy.
And that's what I told my friend and mentor, Tom. 

You have completed phase one of your journey through life, he wrote me. And like those rockets that are sent into space you have simply jettisoned your youth. Phase 2 is where it gets really exciting. You are becoming more superb as the individual you will want to be. And in addition you will emerge as a great woman that you knew you would become.

I rarely curse, but, damn.

They say you can expect big things when a woman cuts her hair. It means change is on the horizon. And when you keep your eyes wide, change can take you places you never thought you'd go. Changing the status quo doesn't mean you were unhappy with life before, comfort is a lovely thing... but what will you miss if you refuse to try?

You might find yourself 2,000 miles away, standing on the edge of an ever-inching comfort zone, itching to see what shape the domino takes next.

Enjoy the ride... and, if you ever end up back where you started, thank your hairdresser,  

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Photo by Tory Putnam at the Portrait Pop-Up
Shout out to my hair dresser Nikki, who, when we were both two decades younger, was my favorite babysitter as well.