LongLegsBigCity

Meal Prep & Money Saving

June 6, 2019 5 Comments

I’m here today to talk about my most recent money-saving venture: meal prep. In 2018, I had a resolution to bring my own iced coffee from home instead of buying, and it seemed to save money (about $900/year). When I first decided to try and meal prep, I wasn’t convinced it saved money. In fact, I’m still not convinced. Simple math: I used to spend $6-8 on lunch per day, with the occasional $12 day. I still feel like I spend a similar amount in groceries, but something happened a few weeks ago to change my mind: I actually did the calculation.

My friend posed a question to Facebook-world: “How much do you spend per month on groceries?” Somehow, even with living in New York, I spent less than almost everyone on the thread! I checked my mint, and I averaged $146/month over the past year, but $170 since December when I started bringing my own lunch ($274 if you include eating out & delivery, but I won’t go into that). That means I only added $24/month to my grocery bill to make about 18 lunches/month. That’s CHEAP.

To be fair, I really spent $340 on groceries, but I split it with my emoji-bf, whose lunches I also make. I know, I know, I’m a catch. But still… $170 for myself.

On the Facebook thread, people asked me how I did it, and I promised a blog. But spoiler alert, it’s not a huge secret. The main secret: it takes a LOT of time. The secondary secret: Trader Joes. Not only does TJ’s have the lowest prices I’ve ever seen (especially on organic berries and meat), but they also have some great pre-made/pre-seasoned things. And I’m always trying to cut down on time, so that helps.

Every lunch I make has the same formula: protein, vegetable, lots of seasoning, and some carb (preferably whole grain).

I’ll separate those three parts and lay out some of my fav options, while interspersing some of my go-to recipes. I have started putting my recipes on my Instagram story when I meal-prep, and some of my friends take screenshots to make the recipes for themselves. I’m such a trendsetter! And budget-setter!

Protein:

TJ’s is a game-changer here. I buy their organic chicken breast (thin-sliced). And I buy a LOT of it. Literally last week the cashier asked if I was preparing for the apocalypse. But I just freeze it! Then I always have chicken in the house. And I can season it however I want to make something for the week. Also, TJ’s has some pre-seasoned proteins we like. Here are a few of our go-to items:

Pesto Genovese Chicken Breast – we love this
Shawarma Chicken Thighs – my bf’s favorite
Pollo Asado – Also good, especially in taco bowls! I throw in black beans, onions, brown rice and fresh spinach – tada!
Chicken Sausage – Again, game changer. At Trader Joes they have a million options (roasted garlic, jalapeno, sun-dried tomato, smoked andouille, etc.) and they are about $4 for 5 links. At my regular grocery store they are $8.99 so this is a HUGE savings. They are fully cooked, so it makes for great, easy meal prep or last-minute dinner. Also, they don’t expire for a while so I can keep it in the fridge and wait for a day when I don’t want to cook but also don’t want to spend money.

Veggies:

TRADER JOE’S, MAN! Are you sensing a theme?? They have the cheapest produce. Sometimes when I put a lunch together, the vegetables are raw, sometimes baked, sometimes sautéed, or sometimes steamed. TJ’s has a lot of “steam in bag” options, so I mostly buy these, in case I run out of time to bake or stir fry them.

I love brussel sprouts, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach. Our lunches usually contain these. The best part of making all the food is I get to pick what’s in it!

Carbs:

Carbs are a necessity for my emoji-bf for lunch. He says he doesn’t feel full without them. Before I started meal prepping, I often bought salad for lunch. And even though it filled me up, I must admit that a carb added helps me get through the day. I often don’t eat between 1:30 pm when I finish lunch, and 9:30 pm when I get home from teaching Spin class. 8 hours is a long time without food! Carbs help me power through.

Brown Rice. This is usually what I make because I can put it on the stove to simmer/cook, then do the laundry, or take a shower, or even go for a short run. I’m all about double tasking. Also, it’s SO CHEAP. Especially at Trader Joes. I buy Basmati sometimes, or Jasmine, both are good, and incredibly cheap. It’s about $4 for a bag that can make 20 lunches or more.
Pasta. Again, I always try to use an alternative grain instead of white. I like the brown rice and quinoa fusilli pasta, or red lentil pasta, or vegetable radiatore. All of these are about $3/bag and make 6-7 lunches.
Refrigerated ravioli: TJ’s has some awesome ones and they are all cheap, but these are the unhealthiest carb option of the bunch, and heaviest, so I usually reserve them for dinner. Some of my favorites: Butternut Squash Triangoli, Lobster Ravioli, Honey Roasted Pumpkin, Spinach Tortellini, but our absolute FAV: Porcini Mushroom & Truffle Triangoli. Did I mention, these are each about $3??

Seasonings:

Again, I love Trader Joe’s for this. I can cook chicken a million ways using some of my favs:

Everything Bagel Seasoning! If you don’t have this, RUN and get some. It’s good on veggies, salmon, chicken, bagels… pretty much everything.
Umami Mushroom Seasoning Blend – “on its way to cult favorite status”
Red Curry Marinade
Soy Teriyaki (I love to throw chicken in a ziploc in this for 24 hours then simmer in a stir fry with fresh veggies. DELISH!)
Tikka Vegetables or other of the $1.99 Indian non-refrigerated packets. These come in many options, some veggies, some with lentils. I usually will add lots of fresh veggies to this mix and simmer on the stove. Sometimes I’ll add chicken sausage and there’s a whole meal!

Now that you know what I like the cook, the questions are how and when? I ask myself this, too. I thought I was totally tapped out on time since I have 5 different side hustles, but somehow, I’ve managed to fit this in. I usually try to complete all food prep for the week in under 2 hours. The best way to do this is by multi-tasking and buying lots of containers.

CONTAINERS
But still wine.
I wasn’t kidding about the containers.
So many.

You need to go in with a plan. I always try to cook in the least amount of time, and with the fewest dishes to wash (also cuts down on time washing less). I try to always be using at least 2 or 3 cooking methods at a time –

Example to save time: roast chicken in the oven while cooking rice on the stovetop and steaming veggies in the microwave.

Example to save dishes: boil pasta in a pot, split that into containers, then use the same pot to cook and season ground turkey, then add in the sauce and veggies in the same pot, and let simmer for 20 minutes, all while baking salmon in the oven for dinner (on foil… no dishes).

Example of Tomato Sauce in process.

You guys get the idea. I hope this helped a little bit, even if for no other reason than to give you a shopping list of things to buy at Trader Joe’s! This blog is not sponsored, by the way. But if you have any connections at TJ’s and want to throw them my way for some coups, I’m all in! Buon Appetito!

Miscellaneous

Blondes Have More Fun

May 31, 2019 No Comments

It’s true! I have been blonde for 5 days now and I’ve been partying ever since. To be fair, it’s also been my birthday, so that may have something to do with it, but I haven’t had this much fun since I was 19!

On Wednesday, I turned 32 (WOOF, right?). To treat myself, I decided to balayage my hair. I had been thinking about it for a while, but I couldn’t bite the bullet because it’s so expensive! I finally decided it was time because a friend of mine hair-shamed me. She saw a photo of my hair that I posted on my braidstagram, and asked if it was me. Instead of complimenting my FAB skills, she asked me if I was growing out my roots intentionally. RUDE! The answer was yes and no.

This is the photo I was shamed for. It’s so pretty though, right??

In years past, I always went light brown/blonde in the summer, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to! So, I had let it go a bit too long. And people noticed. Or at least, one of my friends did, and the others were too nice to say anything. I decided to look into some Groupon deals, and sure enough I found a great one with fab reviews at Salon Ascend, not too far from my apartment. Even better, they had an appointment open on the Sunday of my birthday celebration!

I bought the Groupon for “Hair Painting, Color Melting or Balayage Color with Glaze and Shampoo” for $118 (usually $240). Also, I used 2 additional coupon apps (Honey, anyone?) and ended up only paying $94! A steal! When I made the appointment, the receptionist told me to set aside 3 hours, which seemed steep, but I made sure to pack a book, a water bottle and some coffee.

Of course, the day of my appointment it was 94 degrees and despite my cold shower after my run, I could not stop sweating. I arrived looking like a hot sweaty mess, and asked for a few minutes to cool down. My colorist, Margarita, was super sweet, looked at some photos I showed her for inspiration, and said she would mix the color and let me sit in the A/C for a few minutes. Praise be.

The actual process was WEIRD. I have never had my hair professionally highlighted before, but it takes a WHILE. They weren’t kidding about the three hours! She was very thorough, and I think I had 7 pounds of saran wrap on my head when I was finished. Then I sat. And sat some more. Margarita kept checking on my color, and telling me to wait a bit more. She cut two people’s hair while I waited, and then we went to the sink. I got shampooed and then she put in a purple toner and I waited some more. This time, no saran wrap, just a huge plastic bag on my head. It was a LEWK. After some more waiting, I went back for another wash, and we discussed a possible hair cut. The Groupon didn’t include a cut or blow dry (there’s always a catch), and although it’s usually $90 because #NewYorkPrices, she said she would do it for $60. I usually pay $30 to cut my hair, but I also don’t usually get a blow dry. And I didn’t feel like going to another salon after already sitting there for 3 hours. I said yes.

She did an AMAZING job. I LOVED the color and the cut, but mostly the color! Margarita told me to buy a purple shampoo to keep the brassiness out of my hair, and I purchased the same exact one she used on me in the salon for $10 on Amazon. Not bad!

The manager/receptionist/someone said she would take an “after” picture with a ring light and backdrop so the color would show more. She knew what she was doing and she even took a slow-mo video without me asking! I set it to Nicki Minaj “Anaconda” and posted it on Instagram (swipe to the second pic to see). I told her that I had a hair Instagram and I would tag her; I think she was thrilled at that. Maybe in the future I can even get some balayage for free, because I think I’m HOOKED!

I highly recommend treating yourself on your birthday, especially if it is something that makes you smile every time you look in the mirror! Happy Birthday to me!! I can’t wait to braid it and have those highlights shown to Instagram in all their expensive glory!

Long Legs and other Personal Problems

In Over My Head

May 16, 2019 6 Comments

True Confession: I’m SO OVERWHELMED!!

I have been completely ignoring my blog because I haven’t had time to write anything meaningful. But then this morning I realized, isn’t blog short for “weblog,” which means I can just write about anything I want? Well… you’re about to get a (very quick) rant about how busy I am.

Here are a few things I’m doing/reasons I’m overwhelmed:

Working my regular job Monday-Friday for most of my waking hours.
Traveling for said job.
Traveling for fun.
Running 3 Instagram accounts (FOLLOW ME! @braidinmanhattan @longlegsbigcity)
Trying to achieve my goal of 100 tweets/month.
Attempting to monetize my braiding business. I have my first wedding with 11 bridesmaids and a bride in less than 2 weeks!
Trying to keep up with this blog (failing).
Cooking lunches for me and my sweet emoji boyfriend both for health reasons and $$$ reasons.
Teaching classes at gyms. I taught 13 Spin classes in April, and I was out of town for 13 days of the month!
Creating fun, new playlists for above spin classes.
Planning my birthday, which is in 13 days (btw, I haven’t planned anything).
Training for the NYC marathon.

Oh, and on top of all of that, I’m also job hunting, which is a full-time job in and of itself! Writing cover letters is VERY time-consuming. A friend said to me today that I live 9 lives. But unlike a cat, I’m living them concurrently, not consecutively. If you noticed that sleep was not on the list of things I’m doing, you’d be making a correct observation. Caffeine = good.

Also on my list of things I’m doing (although I know I swore I wouldn’t do it again!) is bullet journaling. I have changed the way I approach it, and I think it’s working so far. It helps me set goals for the week and the year, and feel accomplished in completing things, even if it’s not all of the things.

I owe you guys many blog posts, especially about my travels throughout southern Italy and in Montreal, and I will try to write them soon, but no promises! There are so many updates to give about my foray back into running (I signed up for my first race of the year!) and about my attempts at meal prep. Also, how to start a passion-driven business using solely social media and word of mouth! There will be some great content here… someday.

Thanks for sticking with me through this crazy time!
❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Travel

Free Walking Tours

March 27, 2019 2 Comments

I love free walking tours. First of all, they’re free – my favorite price. My very first blog post was about finding free things in New York, and this is a great way! Second of all, they allow you time to walk around and explore new places while learning. And best of all, they require no tour books or preparation; you just show up and absorb knowledge.

It feels like there should be a catch, but in fact, there is not one. Here’s how it works: You google the place you want to explore + “free walking tour” and then you show up at the specified place at the specified time. Sometimes it requires a sign-up ahead of time, but they never require payment. Then at the end of the tour, you tip the guide whatever you think the tour was worth. This varies based on the tour (and the country… Americans always tip more!).

I discovered free tours last year in Spain, where I went on 5 tours in 4 cities in 10 days. You may think I got carried away, but why not? Tours last anywhere from 1-3 hours, and sometimes cover a lot of miles. I went on tours in Cordoba, Sevilla, Granada (x 2!) and Madrid. As I said above, the best part is learning about your surroundings, both contemporary and historical, without having to get a book from the library. Also, you can meet other tourists and locals. I love to walk close to the guide and pepper him/her with questions along the way. In my experience, they always know more than they let on, and rarely can’t answer a question. My favorite part of the tour is always the end when I ask local tips about the best happy hours, free tapas, best paella, etc. The local guides are the key!

Also, the guides know their way around if you need directions. Once, we were on a tour when the skies opened up and it started to pour. Our guide found us a covered place to wait it out, but when it became obvious that the rain was not going to stop, she told us how to navigate the back roads of Spain to get to our Air BNB as quickly as possible with the most overhead coverage. Also, if you are booked back to back (I often over-plan my trips), the walking tour guides can tell you which attractions are must-see, and which ones you can skip. And their advice and tips are all free!

Although I have taken free tours internationally, and I find them to be more popular in Europe, they also have them all around North America! I went on a tour in Chicago last year after my success in Spain, and I LOVED it! Our guide was a young woman who had a true love for the city, which came through in her tour. I learned about architecture, city history, and some of their landmarks. I was so inspired, that I decided to also go on a free tour in my own city! I had a random day off last summer (Jewish holidays FTW) so I went on a free tour of the Financial District, Little Italy and Chinatown in New York City. I learned a LOT about the original colonization of New York, the Native Americans who were displaced, and of course, the mob in Little Italy. Later last year, I went on another free tour from the same company, Free Tours by Foot, of Grand Central Terminal. I found that one incredibly interesting because it’s a place I have walked through MANY times, but never knew anything about! Did you know the famous clock in the middle is made of opal and is worth $10-$20 million?? Did you know that there are hidden acorns throughout the terminal architecture because it was a Vanderbilt family symbol? Try to find them, like hidden Mickeys!

Inside Grand Central Terminal, with the most valuable clock ever.

Although I said there is no catch for the FREE tours, the way most of these companies make money is that they offer tours for a cost, as well. Often at the end of the tour, they will plug their non-free tours, and offer discounts if you sign up then. In Cordoba, we happened to be in town during the infamous Patio Festival (Fiesta de los Patios). In fact, our Air BNB was even one of the Patio destinations! After our free walking tour, we found that the same tour company was offering a tour (for a cost) of the patios. Since these patios are hidden all around the city, we decided it was worth it. It was. Not only did we get to see hidden gems of beauty throughout the village, we also learned history of the festival, found out how winners are chosen, and learned about how the owners of these homes work all year to prepare their courtyards for the fiesta. Our guides were amazing. Best part: your guide is a built-in photographer! She took fantastic group pics of us, some of our only non-selfie group shots of the trip!

Patio Festival with our tour guide photog.

If you haven’t realized yet, I am addicted to these free tours. I am now in the habit of googling “free tour + [some city]” whenever I have a free block of time! Most recently, I went on a free tour of the New York Public Library and learned a BUNCH. I also got to see the original Winnie the Pooh dolls they have on display in the children’s reading room. And that one didn’t even require a tip because the docent is an employee! I am leaving for Italy in 3 weeks and you can bet I have a few free tours on the itinerary. I can’t wait to report back! Do you guys have any free tour ideas for me to check out? Let me know in the comments!

Outside the infamous 5th Avenue Library (yes, it was in the Sex & The City Movie)
The Reading Room
The original Winnie the Pooh dolls!

Big City Living

⭐Hamilton⭐

March 18, 2019 1 Comment

Saturday night I went to see Hamilton. If you’ve been living under a rock and you haven’t heard of it, it’s a musical on Broadway. According to Wikipedia, “in 2016, Hamilton received a record-setting 16 Tony nominations, winning 11, including Best Musical, and was also the recipient of the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.” So yeah, it’s sort of a big deal. And since it’s such a big deal it’s semi-impossible to get tickets. For example, on Ticketmaster right now, the cheapest seat is $448. Per person.

To be honest, there are some serious Hamilton-heads out there who know every single lyric and even go to themed-spin classes with the songs. I am not one of them. Or I wasn’t. In fact, I didn’t even know any of the music before this weekend. Except the one song performed on the Tony’s. I always knew I wouldn’t have the money to go to see it on Broadway so I figured, why bother trying to know the songs?

My best friend was in town over the weekend from Seattle because her boyfriend bought tickets to Hamilton on presale OVER A YEAR AGO. He flew from Seattle to see it! He had 4 tickets, and at the last minute, one of the people going to the show canceled. I told him I would advertise the ticket on my Facebook so he wouldn’t lose the money. My brother, the protagonist of this whole story, LOVES Hamilton. He has seen it on tour, but never in NYC. He saw my Facebook status and texted me asking why I wasn’t going. He said “do you know the music? Is money the only thing holding you back?” He knows my student loan situation. I was about to text him back when I heard phone “CHA-CHING!” and I saw that he Venmo-ed me the money for the ticket!! I texted him back my extreme gratitude and deleted my Facebook post advertising it to anyone else – I WAS GOING!

I called my brother, so he could tell me his favorite songs, and I got to listening! I had 24 hours to learn a VERY LONG soundtrack. Literally, there are 46 songs. I listened to the songs all day Saturday and by the evening, I had a better idea of what would go on. The play was LONG. But it didn’t seem like it! The lyrics are fast, since most of the songs are rapped, and my brother had warned me I would probably not understand all of the lyrics. However, maybe it’s the decades of listening to rap, but I understood a lot of it! The music is super catchy and I’ve been listening to it ever since.

Mandatory pre-show marquee pic!
Playbill pic.
THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS!
In our seats waiting for an amazing show!
Besties on Broadway.

The coolest part of the story, if this isn’t cool enough already, is that my best friend’s boyfriend and his brother, went to school with the musical director, Kurt Crowley. They’re from Helena, Montana, and not too many people are from there, so they kept in touch. Kurt stayed after the show and let us onto the stage to talk with us about the show, and to take photos. There were actors from the show all around us on stage signing Playbills, but since I didn’t know the cast well, I didn’t ask for any signatures. We did get some awesome pics, though! And it’s an amazing experience to be on a Broadway stage, looking out at the theater; it’s not as big as you’d think! We took some more photos, and then left. We hadn’t realized that more than 3 hours had passed! A testament to a great show is that there can be nearly three hours of FAST speaking, and it seems quick.

Full cast post-show, asking for donations for something (I wasn’t paying attention when they started asking for more money)

I feel the need to end this post with some serious cliché’s – it was such an incredible experience to be IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENED IN THE GREATEST CITY IN THE WORLD! I recommend it to anyone who has the money, or a SUPER SWEET BROTHER with the funds. THANK YOU AGAIN, BABY BRO!

The guys & Kurt Crowley.
Selfies on Stage.
THE STAGE WHERE IT HAPPENED!

Long Legs and other Personal Problems, Miscellaneous

Credit Card Churning

March 12, 2019 4 Comments

You’ve probably heard the phrase “money doesn’t grow on trees” or, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.” Well, ladies and gents, I’m here to tell you that everything you learned is FALSE and there is a such thing as free money. It’s in the form of credit card bonuses and it is complete sorcery.

http://gph.is/1a4df5e

I was never part of the magic until I met my emoji boyfriend who got me in DEEP with “credit card churning,” and I’m loving every second of it. We actually have a little jig we do in our house called the “free money dance.” Not lying. Churning basically means that you get a new credit card to access the sign-on bonus, and then after a certain amount of time, you get another one, and start all over again. Some people think that this affects your credit score, which it does, but usually not enough for it to matter if you do it right. In general, a hard inquiry, which is what a credit card company does every time you apply for a new card, affects about 10% of your credit score. But if you do it infrequently enough, then your credit should be fine.

Yesterday, I just signed up for my 7^th credit card in 3.5 years’ time. Aka the amount of time I have been with my boyfriend. It all started when we began to talk to each other about finances. These finance bros get off on this stuff. JK. But really, he was very interested to hear about my student loans, etc. We got to talking and he found out that I had a credit score in the middle 700’s, but had a credit card running balance of about $4,000. He was FLABBERGASTED. Literally, I think I had to pick his jaw off the ground. Maybe not literally, but he was gaping at me. He told me he didn’t understand how a person with my credit score could be paying interest on a balance, when I could just open a new card and do a balance transfer to buy myself time. Now, guys, if you’re confused, I was, too.

Quick explanation: Another reason people like to open credit cards is because they offer “balance transfer offers.” This means you can open a card, transfer your outstanding debt to a new card, and they offer to not charge you interest on it for a certain amount of time. I looked at this, realized I was getting free money, and I was HOOKED. I was able to pay off my credit card debt by saving all of the money I would have been spending on interest, and I did the same thing with my private student loans! I transferred my $6.5K from Wells Fargo to a credit card, and I have been making minimum payments for 18 months, without paying any interest! I have enough money now to pay them off by May, when the interest will kick in (this particular card had a 21-month interest-free grace period).

Again, balance transfers are not even the tip of the iceberg of this money, as the “real money” lies in the sign on bonuses. It seems crazy to me that this free money exists out there in the universe and people don’t access it left and right, but the truth is, most people don’t know how! There are millions of Reddit threads on the topic, but it can get very technical, very quickly. I am lucky to have an in-house financial advisor who is patient with me and explains the intricacies. I will try my best to give an equally-as-elementary explanation here.

I am not new to this credit card business. In fact, growing up, our family used to carry around little laminated cards in our wallets that my dad would make, to remind us which cards to use every quarter based on the percentages back we would get on different categories of purchases. Example: January through March, you should use the Discover card for gas, and the Visa for groceries; they’re 5% back. My parents still do this! This is #LevelExpert, and I do not recommend it for novices. Also, although 3% v. 6% does add up, most people “churn” for the bigger money bonuses. The Showcase Showdown, if you will, is the sign-on bonus.

Here’s the simple summary: credit card companies want to hook you on their cards, so they offer a bonus if you sign up and spend a certain amount of money, generally within the first 3 months. These bonuses differ from card to card – sometimes it’s miles, sometimes it’s points, and sometimes it’s cold hard cash in the form of a statement credit. The catch here, of course, is that you need to “spend money to save money.” The trick is not to open a card with a sign on bonus if you will need to make purchases you wouldn’t normally make in order to get the bonus. However, sometimes it’s still worth it if you come out on top!

Here’s an example: when I signed up for the Amex Platinum card, they offered a $1K bonus but you needed to spend $5K in 3 months. That is MUCH more than my budget, if you don’t include rent. So, I paid my rent on the card for a month to make the minimum. Rent in NYC is high. Now, this complicates things because my landlord charges 3% on credit card payments. But overall, it was still worth it to get the bonus.

I see some of you guys rolling your eyes, saying that this whole process isn’t worth it. But I ask you, if someone said you’d get $1,000 for it, wouldn’t it be worth it? That’s the trick. You need to get a bonus that’s big enough to be worth the work.

So far, I have gotten:

Citi Double Cash for 18 months interest free
Citi Diamond Preferred for 21 months interest free
Chase Sapphire Preferred for 40,000 bonus points
American Express Platinum for 100,000 bonus points
American Express Charles Schwab Platinum for 60,000 bonus points
American Express Blue Preferred for $200 back
Barclay’s Arrival Plus World Elite for $700 in travel back

https://gph.is/2OWJkaQ

I want to let you guys know, I am not the only one out there doing this. A lot of people do, especially if they know they have big purchases coming up where they will be dropping a lot of mulah anyway. Another example: a friend of mine got the Amex Platinum because he bought his fiancée’s engagement ring with it. So savvy.

I have traveled many times now by using bonuses. My trip to Spain last year cost me $120 out of pocket. My trip to Costa Rica was completely free. Durham, North Carolina? Free. I also transfered $110,000 Amex points to a Charles Schwab investment account at 1.25 cents/point, which means I got $1,375 FOR FREE! I have been very fortunate to have someone explain this to me and I hope I have been helpful as well.

Still confused? Try checking out The Points Guy; he is one of the most famous churners on the internet nowadays, and you can filter cards by the category you want rewards for (airline, cash back, etc.). He does receive money from clicks, and he does have partnerships with certain cards, but he is pretty clear when he receives kickbacks from companies, and he is also very reliable with his information. He even has a beginner’s guide!

A few warnings & tips:

If you have bad credit, you may not get approved for certain cards. Most credit cards rely on your credit score when they decide whether to approve you. You can check your credit score for free on Credit Karma to see where you stand.
Opening cards does affect your credit score, as I said earlier, so don’t do it too often. The general rule of thumb is to not open more than 2/year, or one every 6 months.
Closing accounts too often can also affect your score. When you close a card, your overall credit limit decreases. This increases the percentage of credit you are using (or “utilization”), and lowers your credit score. Try to keep the account open. You don’t need to use the card, just keep it in a safe place. At home.
Beware of annual fees! Some of these cards charge hefty annual fees. Sometimes it’s worth it for the bonus but be aware. You can always downgrade the card after you get the bonus, before you have to pay the annual fee the next year. Downgrading means keeping the account open but changing it to a less prestigious card without an annual fee. This way you aren’t closing an account, but you aren’t paying fees. I did this with my Chase card, switching from Sapphire Preferred ($95 annual fee) to Freedom ($0 annual fee).
Don’t carry a balance on cards. It can be very tempting to buy things. Especially when it takes 45 seconds to be approved on a new card, and they grant you a $12K credit limit straight out the gate. IT’S A TRAP! Make sure you can pay off your statement balance when it’s due, otherwise you owe interest and then THEY WIN.
A related point: If you’re opening a card to do a balance transfer, make sure you set up auto-payments for the minimum payments. You don’t pay interest, but you still have to make minimum payments, and you don’t want to miss those. Just set it on auto-pay and forget about it. Otherwise they charge interest and again THEY WIN. DON’T LET THEM WIN!

I hope this was helpful. I am not a financial planner. I am not good at this stuff. But I am understanding it more and more every day, and if I get free money and free trips, then I feel obligated to share the wealth. By wealth, I mean knowledge. Y’all b*tches aren’t getting’ any of my trips!

Do you guys have any other tips or tricks? Card recommendations? I’ll need a new one in 6 months!

Miscellaneous

Reproductive Rights Conversation with Jodi Picoult & Dr. Willie Parker

March 5, 2019 3 Comments

As you may know, I LOVE to read. I have many “favorite” authors, but my all-time favorite author is Jodi Picoult. One of the best parts of the internet is that you can follow celebrities, keep up with them, and even sometimes (if you’re lucky!) interact with them. One of my 2019 resolutions is to be better at Twitter, and one way I discovered that I am more likely to check in on my Twitter is by following people I’m interested in. Enter: Jodi Picoult. She has such a great Twitter. Not only is she funny, but she’s very liberal, like me, and often retweets other people I want to follow. But I digress, this is not about Twitter in general, it’s about one of her tweets specifically, when she mentioned she was coming to NEW YORK!:

Come join us! https://t.co/k15Ntnc33A
— Jodi Picoult (updates only) (@jodipicoult) February 13, 2019

I clicked on the link, because obviously I wanted to join her. And guess what? The conversation was being held in a venue 9 blocks from my apartment. It felt like it was meant to be.

The theme of the talk was reproductive rights. Not only would Jodi (we’re on a first name basis) be there, but Dr. Willie Parker as well! Jodi’s most recent book is about a shooter inside an abortion clinic, and I was enthralled by the plot on page 1. She based the main character in the book, Dr. Ward, on Dr. Willie Parker.

I love reproductive rights. Really though. I know that sounds weird, but I feel very strongly about a woman’s right to have independence over her own body. In fact, in law school (#RIP that career), I was on the board of Law Students for Reproductive Justice. And yes, sometimes that position involved searching the internet for STD facts for our annual Sex Ed Trivia fundraiser, but it was for a good cause!

I could not wait to be in the same room as Dr. Willie Parker, a world-renown doctor, abortion provider, and author. I have not yet read Dr. Parker’s book, Life’s Work: A Moral Argument for Choice, but it has been on my to-read list for a year. I guess I’ve been too busy reading Jodi’s stuff. I knew they would both have interesting things to say, and I also looked forward to their interaction with each other, since they seem so different.

There were a few tiers of tickets, but I bought the cheapest one because… law school loans. Also, the other tiers all included a copy of Jodi’s book and I already have a signed copy, natch. Even my best friend knows about my love for Jodi Picoult, so she mailed me a signed copy all the way from Seattle a few months ago. The day before the event, I was so excited that I tweeted about my enthusiasm, and Jodi replied! She said she couldn’t wait (to be in my presence, no doubt).

https://twitter.com/LongLegsBigCity/status/1100600221690679296

LOOK AT WHO REPLIED!!
My signed copy of A Spark of Light

I arrived super early because it was blocks from my house and I got a prime seat. The conversation itself lasted for an hour and was moderated by Lizz Winstead, a hilarious Writer/Producer/Comic, Co-creator of The Daily Show, and fierce advocate of reproductive rights. She founded Lady Parts Justice, an organization dedicated to raising awareness of legislative attempts to block women’s reproductive freedoms (straight from Wikipedia, so it must be true). Between her witty commentary between questions, and both Jodi and Dr. Parker’s thoughtful answers, it was a fantastic experience. Most notably, Jodi talked about her experience shadowing Dr. Parker in his clinics for a few days while researching for her book. I loved her description of Dr. Parker’s calm and meaningful bedside manner. And then, she broke out the best story of the night: She said that they did a lot of driving together while she was shadowing him, because he works at clinics in two different states. Once, he was driving and they were eating M&Ms and he dropped one. He was looking for the missing M&M between the seat and the center console and he said “Man! It’s tighter in here than operating in a woman’s vagina!” The whole audience burst out in laughter while Dr. Parker looked to the sky for God’s forgiveness and then to his wife in the front row to mouth “sorry.” The whole thing was hysterical.

Although the vibe of the conversation was light-hearted, they both tackled tough issues. They spoke about the right for a woman to have autonomy over her body, and about the importance of a common language in speaking about reproductive rights, like the difference between a “baby” and a “fetus.” My favorite thing Jodi said was, “Laws are written in black and white. But women’s lives are lived in hundreds of shades of gray. For that reason, it is important not to let laws control our lives and bodies.”

I didn’t get a chance for a selfie with Jodi or Dr. Parker, but I did get some photos of them and I did get a very happy ending. As I walked out of the venue, there was a table outside for Lady Parts Justice, and I asked how to get involved again in supporting the cause. I leaned down to sign up for their mailing list, and two of the girls tabling complimented my hair. I explained about my side hustle, Braid in Manhattan, and they were both elated. They said they would love for me to help them with events and collaborate. I could think of nothing better than reproductive rights, volunteering, and braiding all in one place. I can’t wait to work with them and make a difference, even if it’s by brightening a woman’s day with a FIERCE hairstyle. I’ll keep you posted!

Travel

Harris Hill Ski Jumping Road Trip

February 26, 2019 2 Comments

Last weekend I went to Vermont to watch an event most people will never see in their lives: ski-jumping. And guess what, it wasn’t even my first time. I hopped in the back seat of the car with my sister and brother-in-law, loaded up with snacks from Trader Joes, and we took off for Brattleboro, Vermont Saturday evening. It’s quite a drive to begin at 7 pm, but we made a few stops along the way.

To start at the beginning, my sister and brother-in-law have been attending the famous Brattleboro Ski Jump competition at Harris Hill for 6 years. My brother-in-law went to college in Vermont, which is sometimes a detour we make on our road trip, but I don’t even know if that is how he originally found out about the event. Two years ago, I made my first trip up to watch, and it was everything I dreamed of and more. This year, since it was so fun, I made my best friend come, too.

I did some pre-ski-jump-watching braiding, because duh.

This year’s 38-hour road trip included a few stops to see my brother-in-law’s friends, and a quick beer at one of his favorite college bar hangouts, The People’s Pint in Greenfield, Massachusetts. We stayed for the night in a DELUXE SUITE at the Comfort Inn (jk, but they did have free breakfast!). The next morning, we went into downtown Brattleboro to get delicious coffee at Mocha Joe’s. We were not the only ones with that idea – there was a line out the door! But we had stopped there the last time I went on the road trip, so I knew it was worth it. I got a maple latte, which was AMAZING, and we headed to the hill.

The town of Brattleboro’s biggest event! There were signs up in every store’s window.
GREAT coffee.
THE CREW!

Ski jumping is a sport that most people have seen on TV in the Olympics, and let me tell you, it’s nothing like how it is in real life. People plummet down ramps at 55+ mph with no padding or anything, and only skis on their feet. Then they free-fall/fly with their legs and arms akimbo like a flying squirrel, and somehow land on their two feet. And you can watch it from feet away from them. If you’re thinking, “WHAT?!,” then you’re thinking the same thing as me.

Each year, male and female jumpers in Junior, Open and Masters categories jump to their death. Well, hopefully not to their death, but it surely looks that way to a novice. Speaking of novices, the junior category is comprised of CHILDREN. And speaking of jumping to their death, we actually witnessed an injury this year, where a 14-year-old girl became unconscious after a fall. Thankfully she was fine, we followed up on her on the internet. Anyway, there is definite danger involved. And despite the fear of injuries, people come out every year to watch. It’s the most extreme sport I’ve ever seen up-close.

The competition began back in 1922 and is a two-day event that attracts jumpers from around the globe. This year, there were jumpers from Slovenia and Austria who jumped up to 102 meters down a hill and landed on their skis. It was amazing to watch. Even better with hot coffee in my hand and trail mix in my pockets. We watched the warm up jumps from the bottom of the hill, so they landed and skied right in front of us. Also, this put us next to the commentator’s tent. It was helpful to listen to the commentary, because I knew nothing about the sport, and they explained quite a bit as they were killing time. One of the commentators, Nicholas Fairall, was a former Olympian in the ski jump, who was paralyzed from an injury. Even with his injury, and after witnessing the 14-year-old girl lay unconscious on the snow, he said that the sport was “one of the safest.” I do not believe him at all, but I was still happy to watch safely from the sidelines.

Our view from the bottom. Look how high that is!!
FAST BRAIDS! This was one of the jumpers.
ALL FOR THE GOLD AND THE GLORY!
These super young jumpers, ready to plummet.

The best part of a sport that consists of one single downward slope, is that there is no bad place to watch! After the warmup jumps and the first round, we went on the stairs up the side of the hill to watch the final round. Being on the stairs means that I could see exactly where they landed on the hill after they appeared from nowhere, flying over the edge of the slope. It is impossible to describe, so I will refer you to my Instagram videos for videographic evidence. It was thrilling to be so close to the action.

Our view of the bottom, once we went up the stairs.
HOW COOL IS THAT!?
They landed right in front of us!
Spot the flying man!
An almost-fall.
And back up again!

The weather was GORGEOUS and sunny, but it was melting all the snow and ice from the previous days. After a few hours standing in cold slush, we left and grabbed lunch in town, then headed back toward New York. We took a final pit stop at another friend’s house and ate dinner at the quaintest place called The Norwich Inn, and continued our drive back to the city. We stopped one MORE time for food, because of course, at The Donut Dip in West Springfield, MA. The donuts were supposed to be phenomenal, but it was 9:30 pm at that point, so they were just ok. An ok donut is better than no donut, though. I’d like to go back and try them fresh in the morning. Maybe next time!

I can’t wait to go back and watch again. Maybe next year I’ll compete, the entry fee is only $25 and it includes lodging! KIDDING MOMMY, THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. But I will most definitely watch from the sidelines.

Next year… meet me at the top!
That’s me!

Travel

Mystery Weekend in Hudson, New York

February 14, 2019 No Comments

I love surprises. I don’t understand people who don’t. Why would anyone not like the suspense and excitement behind someone planning something for you!? It’s the best! Thankfully, my mystery (emoji) boyfriend knows this. I mean, he better, it’s been a while, ya know? In honor of Valentine’s Day, here’s a blog about one of the best surprises he’s pulled off.

He has taken me on many mystery date nights before. From random restaurants he has found, to dinner at a restaurant I love but he doesn’t, and even to row 4 tickets of a Broadway show! You may remember that he even took me to a staycation once in a hotel room that overlooked the freedom tower. I know, I know, I bagged a good guy, here. Well, not to gloat, but he outdid himself. This time he planned a whole getaway!

I went to Washington DC for MLK weekend, and since I was going to be away all weekend, he asked me what I was doing the next weekend. I assumed he wanted to Netflix and chill, because we are old and that’s the usual date night for us. But then he asked me what my plans were for all weekend, and I knew he had something up his sleeve! I told him I’d reserve the weekend for him. The next Friday, I packed an overnight bag, and we walked 4 blocks to Avis. He had told me that Amtrak was too expensive (it generally is, if you only book a week in advance), so he rented a car instead. I had no clue which way we were going until we got on the west side highway toward the George Washington Bridge and realized we were going north.

I wish I could tell you I figured it out then, but I didn’t. Plus, with traffic, we were barely out of the Bronx an hour later. And then I had to pee. Word to the wise: don’t drink coffee before a road trip. We had to stop at McDonalds for a pit stop and a few Chicken Selects. Because duh. We finally arrived at our destination at 10:15 pm, thankful for the fast food sustenance along the way.

We were in Hudson, New York! Not Hudson Valley, Hudson Hudson. I knew we were driving for a while, but I didn’t realize how far it was until our Uber driver later told us he lived in Albany. I gasped and said “wow, you must have taken a long trip to get here!” And he told me it was 40 minutes. Woops.

Unfortunately, we arrived so late that only two restaurants in town were open, so we took an uber to one of them, and had drinks and appetizers. The food was good, but we were exhausted. We went back to The Wick, where we were staying, and fell asleep within minutes.

Thank goodness for these drinks after a long drive!

Hudson, New York is home to a very quaint strip of restaurants and stores, and is supposedly a food destination. This is why my emoji man chose it for our getaway. What he didn’t know, is that it is also home to Etsy headquarters. I happen to have a good friend from the gym who works for Etsy, and she spends a good amount of time in Hudson. As soon as she saw I was there (because if you don’t Instagram it, it didn’t happen), she started sending me recommendations. Funnily enough, when she goes to Hudson for work, she stays in the same hotel we were in! She told us the best food and drink spots around town, and we took one of her recommendations, Le Merche, for brunch. She did not lead us astray! This place was fab. I had an egg sandwich on SUPER fresh bread, and my bf had the Croque Madame, which was delicious, fresh, and HUGE. I tried it, of course. And the side of potatoes… let’s just say that the food was so good I barely had time to take a photo of it. And we all know how rare that is.

My delicious breakfast sandwich on freshly baked bread.

The rest of afternoon I spent doing nothing, while my bf worked. I asked him before we left if he was sure he wanted to go away with so much work to do, and he assured me that he did, and a change of scenery would be nice. Meanwhile, I read a book and styled my hair 5 different ways. I need to keep creating content for Braid in Manhattan to keep my followers happy! Also, my bf is becoming quite the insta-husband. He is so great at taking hair photos! I told he better be careful or I’ll make him go full-time.

So many hairstyles.
And even more hair pics.
Spot my gray hairs?
Emoji man loves to take pics when I’m not ready.

After many hours of blissfully doing nothing, we went to dinner at W.M. Farmer & Co., which we heard was the SPOT. In fact, every online article about food in Hudson mentioned this as the best restaurant. We made a reservation. Unfortunately, we are underwhelmed. The food, although farm to table, and not bad, was not overwhelmingly good, and it was very expensive, even for people from Manhattan. The one remarkable part was the cocktails. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a GREAT drink. We each had two and were very impressed.

Since the only reservation available was at 6:30 pm, we had plenty of time after dinner to mill around. Unfortunately, it was 20 degrees outside, so we speed walked to a bar my friend had recommended. It seemed like a cool vibe, but the inside was very smoky (maybe because they are famous for a mezcal slushy?) and we decided it was too much for us. We went to a bar next door and had a beer. Then, surprisingly, after a day of doing absolutely nothing but eating, we were tired and went back to the hotel. We watched Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in bed and went to sleep. We really are an ancient couple. But that bed was so comfy!! I just love a king size bed. Someday when I move out a shoebox NYC apartment, I’m going to get one of my very own!

The next morning, we packed up and got ready to leave. The life of a man in finance means work on a Sunday, so we had to get back to the city. However, we needed sustenance first! Thankfully, my friend offered a final breakfast recommendation 10 minutes outside of Hudson, Gracie’s Luncheonette in the Catskills. We went from watching Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, to pretty much being in an episode of our own. We ate more delicious food and got a freshly-made donut for the road. We tried to leave quickly, because it started to snow as we ate. Not just flurry, but SNOW! I’m from Florida, and my bf is from Texas, so neither of us are too used to driving in a white-out. Thankfully, he took the wheel and I handled the donut. I’m pretty talented at feeding the driver, if I do say so myself.

We took toll roads back to the city, and got back within 2 hours! My bf dropped off the luggage and me, then returned the car, and I settled back into regular life and meal prep. Overall, it was a great 42-hour getaway with plenty of food and relaxation, and time with my better half. I have to keep reminding him of how much fun it was, so he knows to plan more surprises for the future! I promise to keep you guys posted. Do you have any fun mystery date ideas? Do you know my mystery man behind the emoji? Send him a text with an idea!

Morning Catskill Kisses in the Snow.
Evening FREEZING stroll. Doesn’t my bf look cold? 😉

Big City Living

Heat v. Knicks Game

February 7, 2019 2 Comments

I know I keep on saying I’ve peaked, but now I really have. I had the best day of my life when I was in the Macy’s Parade (I’m literally never going to stop talking about that, so you should get used to it). And now, I have had the best night of my life, attending the Heat v. Knicks game in the FIRST ROW, center court. You may remember how my friend got me into The Parade, well another friend of mine got me in to see this game! I am really #winning at this “friends” thing.

Here’s how it happened: My best friend and college roommate works in media. When you work in media, you tend to have reps for companies you work with, and they have perks. Lots of perks. My friend didn’t even ask for this these tickets! She just casually mentioned being a Miami Heat fan, and the rep was like “let me see if I can get you tickets next time they are in town.” He didn’t mention they were ROW ONE!!

See me photobombing?
We were basically on the court
Selfie Skills

It was a girls’ night with four of us, and we met up 30 minutes before the game. These top-notch tickets also come with access to the Delta Sky Club lounge, which means FOOD. FREE FOOD. There is a catered buffet with lamb, mashed potatoes, shrimp cocktail, burgers, the whole nine. Then there are also hot dogs, soft pretzels etc. AND there is a sushi bar with fresh sushi and all of the condiments. After we finished our pre-game food, we stocked up on food-to-go to bring to our seats. There were bags of cotton candy, bowls of candy, boxes of popcorn and cracker jacks. We were loaded up. I should have brought a bigger purse. We didn’t have time for 16 Handles. Shame. Booze wasn’t included but I was already too full. Plus, one of my friends is pregnant, so #Solidarity, or something.

Once we got to our seats with our many snacks, we realized how AMAZING the seats were. Center court, right behind the announcers. This came in handy for replays. We could see them on the announcer’s screens in front of us! Let me mention the celebrities. SO MANY OF THEM! First of all, the legend, Carmelo Anthony was in the house as well as Sophie Turner. But better yet, we were sitting directly behind “comedian row,” courtside in front of us were Hassan Minhaj, John Mulaney, and Leslie Jones! Also in front of us was CC Sabathia of the New York Yankees.

We were so close, we were almost in the shot when they zoomed in on celebs
We were as shocked as John Mulaney and Hassan Minhaj to be there.
Who is this guy? Def famous but I couldn’t place him!
Dwyane Wade hugging Leslie Jones, and CC Sabathia Photobombing me.

I was so busy staring at the celebs in front of me, that as I was mindlessly chatting with the random guy to my left about my love for Dwyane Wade (natch), I got a text from my friend sitting on my right. “Do you know who we think you’re sitting next to? Elton from Clueless.” Aka Jeremy Sisto. It was true! I couldn’t place him, but it was definitely the famous “rollin’ with the homie” and I was was rollin’ with him! I tried to google him a few times during the game, but he was literally sitting next to me, so I waited until halftime. I finally got up the courage to ask him if he was in Law and Order (I didn’t want to date myself with the Clueless reference) and he said yes! He sort of rolled his eyes and he said “that’s me, Detective Lupo,” to which the guy he was with replied, “You were in Law and Order? Detective Loophole?” HA! Little did I know, the guy who thought he was Detective Loophole was actually his costar on his current show, FBI! Who knew!?

The night would not have been the same if the Heat hadn’t won. That is the whole point of the game, right? It was so awesome to be courtside, it felt like we were IN the game! We were much more invested because we felt like we were on the court. And the game was CLOSE! The Heat pulled through in the 4^th quarter and won 106-97. YASSS. It was amazing to be there to witness Dwyane Wade’s last season, and to wear his jersey, the same color they were wearing that night! When he left the court, he received a standing ovation, as he should have.

The fun didn’t end there. My friend (the same one who got us the tickets) is from Miami, and her sister knows a few of the guys on the team. My friend, therefore, knows them, too! One of her Heat friends left us post-game passes at will call, so we were able to go to a special section of the stands after the game and mingle with the players. Wade is too cool for that, but a couple of the other heavy hitters came out and chatted with friends and family all around us! Whiteside, Richardson, Winslow, etc.

It was a dream come true. Everything from the free food, to the girls’ night out, to the celeb spotting, to the Heat win… it was magical. And now I can never go to a Heat Game again because it will never compare.