Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Tweet

Pin It

I'm moving! Again.

...for those of you who haven't been following my (very back-and-forth) adventures on the blog and/or my Instagram (@danaikadzere) I started off at school in Boston, graduated and moved to NYC for two year, spent two of those summers subleasing in Boston, and then moved full-time back to Cambridge this August. This February, I headed back to NYC for two months (subleasing again). And now I'm moving back to NYC full-time!

Phew. In total, I only lived in my Cambridge apartment for about six months. I'm hoping (and expecting) to spend more time in my next apartment. For starters, staying in NYC instead of subleasing in Boston.

It will be a relief to have just one home for a while and to not have to pack up everything I own and unpack it all again every few months. Plus, moving is expensive!

              

I love both Boston and NYC, however, so I'm glad that work will keep me connected with Boston even when I'm not there every day.

For those of you who also have a move coming up, here are a few of my (hard-earned) moving tips!

Read More...

My Favorite Things to do on a Cold Day!

Tweet

Pin It

The polar vortex is returning!

I still remember the iconic day of polar vortex-dom for me last winter - we decided to go to brunch, completely failing to check the weather forecast and relying instead on the beautiful sun shining in on us from my window. We bundled up - it was winter in NYC, after all - and made ourselves on our way, only to be greeted by a blast of icy cold air the moment we stepped outside.

But this is brunch, guys, and we're not quitters.

Luckily, I lived really close to the subway station, so getting on the train wasn't a problem. On the other end, however, our brunch destination of choice - we had decided to try Siggy's Good Food at 292 Elizabeth Street in NoHo - was a bit of a walk from the subway. That, or I had terribly misdirected us, as would not be atypical of my navigation skills.

...I'm going to go with Siggy's just wasn't close to the subway.

It took us over thirty minutes to make it from the subway stop to Siggy's. We stopped in every third or fourth storefront to huddle for warmth, before sprinting a bit further down the sidewalk. Our longest stop was in a very heavily perfumed Hollister, where we tried to see if we could zip ourselves into one coat for more warmth. It turns out, two people trying to wear one coat do not have an easy time staying upright. That failed.

Anyway, finally we arrived at Siggy's, a hipsterish cafe well-suited to the neighborhood and run by alien-loving hippies, and had a delicious, and most importantly, warm, brunch. I drank so much tea.

Follow me on Instagram @danaikadzere for more photos of my eats and adventures! 

I chose the Splendid Raw Slaw Salad with Sesame Kale and Cabbage. I'm incredibly picky about dressings and if it isn't amazing, I don't want it. I really liked the dressing that came with this salad. Whoa!

I also quite enjoyed the alien smiling down on me from the wall and, most of all, thawing out near the roaring fireplace.

Still, going on a let's-find-the-new-brunch-spot adventure isn't what I'd recommend as a typical polar vortex day activity, especially when temperatures are so low that my roommate took a "cold day" (think: 'snow day') off from work last week, because he refused to leave the house. Here are some cozier alternatives!

Read More...

5 Reasons Why I Liked The Secret Life of Pets

Tweet

Pin It

'The Secret Life of Pets' is no 'Inside Out' or 'Frozen,' but it got a lot of flack from critics and I don't think that was at all warranted! I would say it's not that far under 'Finding Dory,' the other big animated release of the summer, in terms of quality and both my sister (11yo) and I enjoyed it!

Source: Giphy

If you were excited to watch the movie and now put off by the poor reviews, read on for five good reasons to give 'The Secret Life of Pets' a shot, after all!

Read More...

How to Survive a Cross-State Move Without Your Parents!

Tweet

Pin It

The mark of adulthood is figuring out how to do more and more by yourself that you used to have your parents' help for. Most of us had parental help moving to college and many had help with their move from college to the city of their first job.

But as time passes after that first major move of complete adulthood, parental help with future moves becomes less and less likely. Your parents might leave the continent, like mine, or they might just decide that they're getting too old to play moving service for you and that you're getting old enough to learn how to do it on your own.

Moving is a useful skill to pick up, especially if you're someone who likes trying out new cities or doesn't get too attached to a specific place and prefers to follow opportunity. I'm moving back to Cambridge, MA from NYC for work and this is my first major move without any parental assistance and without the option of storing belongings at my parents' house (see above: they left the continent).

With the recurring millennial question of 'how can I do this grown up thing with minimal headache,' here are my tips for pulling off a snag-free major move by yourself!

Read More...

What Being a Hobby Baker Is Like

Tweet

Pin It

I love baking! Baking is so fun, makes my apartment smell cozy and inviting, and can make others happy, too. I've also had the opportunity to work with some cool companies on recipes.

But being a hobby baker has its trying moments, too, just like anything else. Here's what you don't see in the cheerful recipes and pretty food photos!

When you're asked to bake cookies for an event, but they need to be sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and whatever the other latest food trend is:

When you're elbows deep in flour and someone tries to join in on your solo baking project:

Read More...

Five Outrageous April Fools Day Pranks

Tweet

Pin It

Happy April Fool's Day!

I'm born just two days shy of the holiday and so very glad that I wasn't born just a bit later. In honor of the holiday (and in gratitude for not having my birthday on it) here are five memorable April Fools Day pranks from history!

1) The (Taco) Liberty Bell

In 1996, Taco Bell ran an ad on the holiday announcing that it had purchased the Liberty Bell!

The Tex-Mex fast food company set the trend for companies using the holiday to promote their brands.

2) Nixon return.

In 1992, NPR caused a stir by running a false announcement by 'President Nixon' (really a voice actor) announcing that he would run for the presidency again.

The faux-Nixon claimed, "I never did anything wrong, and I won't do it again."

3) Digital Ben.

In 1980, BBC announced that Big Ben would switch to digital readouts to keep up with modern technological advances.

4) The Left-Handed Whopper.

In 1998, Burger King followed Taco Bell's lead and ran an ad in USA Today announcing the release of a new Left-Handed Whopper. The new burger would be exactly like the original Whopper, except that all the condiments would be rotated 180 degrees to suit their left-handed customers.

Given that burgers are more or less circular, you wouldn't expect people to fall for it...and yet thousands of customers flocked to Burger King to try the new left-handed sandwich, while others requested their usual right-handed burger.

5) Spaghetti harvest.

BBC strikes again! In 1957, BBC reported that Switzerland had an excellent spaghetti harvest that year, thanks to the disappearance of the spaghetti weevil.
























To the hundreds that contacted BBC about how to grow their own spaghetti, BBC answered "Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best." 

How do you celebrate April Fools Day?

When is your birthday?

Read More...

How to Make the Most of A Long Weekend!

Tweet

Pin It

It's MLK Day weekend and, while the holiday doesn't generate the same enthusiasm in most as the recent holiday season did, it's still a nice three day weekend and a great break after readjusting to the 5+ day work week that makes most of our lives. Getting back into the swing of things after a long vacation can be tough!

It's easy for a weekend (or even a long weekend) to fly by before we even really realized that it arrived. Here are some fun ways to make the most of this long weekend and really enjoy it!

Have at least one cozy evening in with a book and a movie.

This can be lovely with a loved one or a good friend, or all by yourself. We all need some tranquility and it's important not to skip unwinding over the weekend. That way, we're all rested for the new week!

Read More...

7 Reasons to See Pixar's 'Inside Out'!

Tweet

Pin It

'Minions' comes out in just a few days! I'm not sure who among I, the 22-year-old, and my little sister, the 10-year-old, is the more excited one.

An accurate representation of how we're responding to the approach of the 'Minions' movie release

Still, before you rush to the cinemas to see 'Minions,' there is another movie that is already out in the cinemas that you should definitely consider watching.

Pixar's 'Inside Out'!

I had high hopes for this movie, because it's a Pixar movie and I love all things Disney, but it exceeded my already high expectations by far. I loved every moment of the movie!

If you haven't seen 'Inside Out' yet, here are seven reasons why you should!

Read More...

5 Times It's Okay to Take A Cab

Tweet

Pin It

As a city girl - it still feels unreal to call myself that, even though I've lived in NYC for a year and Boston for three - I have plenty of experience with all sorts of transportation that does not involve a personal vehicle.

I'm entirely okay with that. The world (or, more specifically, car accident statistics) doesn't need me on the roads.

Still, when you don't rely on your own car for transportation, you face a lot of trade-offs.

Buses are slow.

The subway doesn't always have a direct route to where I need to go. It also tends to make me motion sick.

You can't walk or bike everywhere.

Cabs are expensive.

So when is it acceptable to go for the cab or - horror of all horrors - Uber on surge pricing? Here are five times when it's totally okay to skip the public choice and hire a taxi or a car!

Read More...

5 Exotic Apple Variants

Tweet

Pin It

Apples are The. Best.

Think I'm wrong?

                                                   

I have a very real obsession with apples. My favorite varieties include Crispin, Pink Lady, Envy, Fiji, and Jazz apples, more or less in that order.

But here are some exotic apple variants you may not have heard of yet! I haven't even tried all of them yet, but hopefully some day.

Read More...

Horizontal Running and Other Reasons To Get Excited for May 15

Tweet

Pin It

The girls that brought us horizontal running, fat hearts, and pitch-slapping are back!

Universal Studios, Schick, and Skintimate are combining forces to bring the Barden Bellas back to the big screen for Pitch Perfect 2 in just over a week! 

Fat Amy is your hot date on May 15 and, unlike blind dates and setups, she's sure not to be boring!

If aca-awesome acapella, witty banter, and Fat Amy's antics aren't enough to sell you on Pitch Perfect 2, the fun plot should be. 

In this sequel, the Barden Bellas start off at the top of their game - but then the fall is faster and steeper than the ascent. After an exposure incident with Fat Amy and the President of the United States of America, the Barden Bellas are not only disgraced, but banned from performing! 

But these girls don't give up that easily.

Instead, they band together again to compete at a worldwide competition that no American team has ever won. The stakes are high and their odds are low, but that's exactly what will make it so fun to watch!

I'm definitely grabbing some girlfriends, a cute girls night outfit, and plenty of water to rehydrate from all the laughing that will happen - Friday night plans, done!

In the meantime, check out any Ahold retailer (including Stop & Shop, Giant, or Martin's) for Schick razors and Skintimate shaving gel to get your legs ready to rock, like I do!

If you buy any 2 Schick women's shave items (minimum $10 value) between now and May 23, you'll get a printout at check-out to redeem a code for a free movie ticket to see Pitch Perfect 2 in theaters!

You can dazzle and get pumped at the same time - beginning April 15, limited edition Pitch Perfect 2 packaging is available in stores nationwide for Schick Hydro Silk Razors, Skintimate Shave Gel, Schick Intuition®, Schick Quattro For Women® and Schick Xtreme3®!

Need some inspiration to Rock Your Legs? Check out this awesome music video!

What's a girls night without lots of photos for the memories, after all? With this beautiful spring weather, it would be a shame to be stuck wearing pants to hide that winter fur. 

I love winter, but I am definitely also celebrating the return of spring. NYC is so beautiful in the spring! Since I'm (temporarily) leaving the city in a few weeks to spend a month in Boston and the next month in Germany, I'm trying to soak up as much of NYC as I can before I go. I'm going to miss my city!

What are your favorite Friday night activities?

Who is your favorite Bella?

Do you sing?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Schick® & St. Ives® . The opinions and text are all mine.

Read More...

Going Out: My Beauty Routine!

Tweet

Pin It

Even when you're a twenty-something girl living in NYC, going out is not always appealing in winter. But when the weather warms up and the sun starts beaming happiness down at us on a regular basis, going out becomes so much more appealing!

I'm a model, so on some days (when I have evening photoshoots) I'll just leave on my makeup from the shoot to go out. It makes getting ready much easier!

But usually I don't have this kind of setup to get ready before going out:

Behind the scenes of a photoshoot, in hair & makeup.

It's a bit of a bummer, isn't it? 

I love rocking makeup for photoshoots or shows, but I keep it waaay more natural in my day-to-day life. With 'Pitch Perfect 2', sponsored by Schick and Skintimate, coming out on May 15, I decided to share my going out beauty routine with you guys! Like the Barden Bellas, I'm all about women celebrating our aca-awesome selves. Whether your style is toned down or dialed up, rock it with confidence and you will be the knockout of the night!

Need some ideas of where to start? Here's what I do:

Read More...

Healthy Hacks in NYC

Tweet

Pin It

The Big Apple is a must-see on any European traveler's US travel list and most American travelers' travel lists, too.

I've been lucky enough to live in this amazing city since last June, as well as for various month to three month chunks over the past few years, and the longer I live here, the more I fall in love!

This can actually happen in NYC and it does, regularly. How could you not love this city?

As a New Yorker (I'm not going to lie, that's still fun to say) I've picked up a lot of tricks about how to make the most of the city.

Since none of us like to feel bloated and sluggish after travel, here are some of my city local tricks and tips for having a healthy trip to NYC!

Read More...

"If You're Not Rich, Be Attractive"

Tweet

Pin It

Let's face it - we all get a lot of advice, solicited and not so much, all the time. And some of that advice? Well, it's just straight-up shitty.

But here's the thing about shitty advice: sometimes there's a nugget of gold hidden in all that sooty black coal. 

I realized a while ago when, at a fashion show after-party, a man gave me this post's title as advice. He was (a) rich, (b) proud of it, and (c) not on my potential friends list. Pair all  of that with the fact that he followed that golden advice up with a leering "you're doing it right" and my immediate reaction wasn't gratitude for the golden advice.

Instead, it was a superficially polite smile and an internal 'please excuse me while I find an appropriate receptacle to hurl in.'

But a few days later, when I thought about what I must assume was a failed attempt at flirting, I realized that there was a bit of a point in there.

Read More...

Healthy Hacks at the Airport

Tweet

Pin It

I love airports!

They're full of interesting people, going and coming to/from interesting places. They're among the absolute best for people-watching.

It's terrible, but hilarious.

They're also among my favorite places because if you're in one, chances are that you're traveling. Yay!

But starting your trip on a healthy note is a good idea, so check out these hacks for being healthy at the airport.

Read More...

5 Things I Wish Existed

Tweet

Pin It

The world is full of wonderful things (the internet!) and less wonderful things (the selfie stick) but sometimes the things we really need want don't exist.

Here's a short list of five things that would be awesome if they existed.

Date-bots.

We would send them to go do all the awkward first dates for us, then cut in for the second date with the good ones.

               

The guys would never notice the difference, right?

Read More...

Healthy Hacks in Hawaii

Tweet

Pin It

Are you lucky enough to have a trip to Hawaii on the horizon? YAY!

Hawaii is stunning.

But as much as we all love a beautiful vacation, vacations have a common bad reputation for wrecking healthy habits. Yes, you're not adhering to your normal routine. Yes, you're probably not hitting the gym and getting your usual lunch salad. You're on vacation, things should be different than in your day-to-day life!

True as that is, that doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice health for fun!

Read More...

3 Reasons Why Girl Power is Good for Everyone!

Tweet

Pin It

As an actress and a creative writer - and thus someone who probably spends a little too much time in a fantasy world - I love movies, television shows, novels, etc. Creativity and make believe are such fun explorations of alternate possibilities!

But there's something that's all too common in entertainment that really bothers me.

The depiction of girl-girl interactions.



A lot of movies, especially in the USA (as compared to German television) portray women as contenders. They're always fighting over something, whether it's a man, a job, or the last pair of Jimmy Choo's at a late summer sample sale.

And you know what the real problem with that is? Just as much as fiction imitates reality, reality is molded by popular fiction. This pop culture girl versus girl world is toxic, because it encourages women to think about women in that destructively competitive, instead of constructive, way.

So what ends up happening? We tear each other down, instead of building each other up.

ENOUGH ALREADY.

Women should support each other! There is no pair of heels, no job, and certainly no man worth putting that negative energy out into the world. When we work together, we can achieve great things!

Here are three reasons why girl power is good for everyone.

Read More...

Dating: 12 Year Old Expectations vs. 21 Year Old Reality

Tweet

Pin It

It's undeniable that progress is a constant thing in human society and that our world is always undergoing cultural evolution.

It's not always linear (remember that half-a-second reemergence of chokers?) and sometimes a progressive step is derivative of a much earlier version (ie: T-swift's signature crop top/high-waisted pant/skirt pairing, a classier take on the early 2000s crop top/hip-hugger pairing).

So yes, the world is changing. But somethings, like human interactions, stay fundamentally constant. In that case, part of why the world seems so different today is a shift in perspective as you age!

Now that I'm at the ripe old age of 21, with a past relationship experience of my very own (spoiler: it ended), I have a very different understanding of dating than I did when I was 12!

Read More...

Gift Guide Do's and Don'ts: The Best and Worst Gifts for Bloggers!

Tweet

Pin It

My birthday is coming up!

I'm the most subtle person in the world, I know. I've only been wearing my birthday tiara for, oh, three or four weeks now. And my birthday is in just under two more weeks. Sooo...

In celebration of celebrating my twenty-second year of existence for a full 24 hours (even though it will be on a dreaded Monday this year BOOOOO) here's a gift guide of some of the best (and worst) gifts for bloggers. 

Hopefully it helps you out with the next blogger birthday/christmahanukwanzaka celebration that you have!

Read More...