Health Tag

Consider this an incomplete list of things you should never do on a first date.   1. Oversharing Once I had a first date tell me about his fantasy role-playing shower games, where he would embark on a quest and do battle with the enemy. Oddly, we ended up dating (and I’m sure that says more about me than him), but you can see how that could be an issue, right?  If you can’t, you’re probably an oversharer.     2. Agreeing with everything your date says One of theRead More

1. You’ll learn to erase the word “embarrassment” from your vocabulary. Greatness and embarrassment are closely connected. If you aren’t willing to be vulnerable and take risks, you’ll never meet your full potential.   2. You’ll discover your non-negotiables.  We’ve all grown up being told that acting selfishly is not okay, but when it comes to your personal and professional life, sometimes it is. Each of us will learn that there are certain things that we just aren’t willing to put up with. And that’s fine. Realizing your non-negotiables willRead More

Think you know what will make you happy?  Science says you’re probably wrong.  The good news is you only have to be correct enough.   As Americans, we swarm for the latest mobile devices, new cars make us feel like new people, and the clothing sales ensure that we look like our friends.  Humans are pretty bad at determining what will give them lasting happiness or contentment, and because of this, there’s big business in cars, electronics, and jewelry.  There’s also big business in debt reduction, payday loans, gym memberships,Read More

You know what ultra-sucks? Not being a kid anymore. When you’re small, school is literally a bunch of games. Everything is interesting. You can get away with murder. I remember when I was at the zenith of my bucktoothed adorableness I broke into my neighbor’s house in order steal their kid’s kickball and got away with it (I also ate most of their peanut butter straight out of the jar. With my fingers. And I regret NOTHING). Yep, being a kid pretty much rules, and even angsty adolescents generally don’tRead More

Writtalin’s very own Patrick Smith composed a poignant and touching ode to his past self a few days ago (okay it wasn’t an ode…wait, what is an ode? Ode, ode, ode. Haha. Funny word. Sorry.). In it, he endearingly reminisced over the olden days of high-school when everything seemed to suck a little better than it sucks now. I think we can agree that most of our hair-styles were fun while they lasted, along with the relationships, and the fears of never getting to second base. But hidden under the laughsRead More

I recently had a girl, with a shockingly difficult sounding diet, move in with me. She is gluten intolerant AND lactose intolerant. And on top of that, she can’t eat anything with corn/corn sugars in it for some time, meaning potatoes and corn tortillas are out as well. At first I thought: Holy cow..What CAN this girl eat? Rice, some veggies, and fruit??? I would die! I was correct—her diet is extremely limited, especially for a 6’2” girl who should be putting down 2,300 calories per day. However, to my surprise,Read More

Everyone has their personal list of “no-nos” for what they think is acceptable when gettin’ it on. Be that as it may, here are a few “don’ts” that I  hope would be on everyone’s list: #1 – Socks I don’t know about you, but I think keeping your socks on during sex is just weird. Sex is something you’re supposed to do naked, and to keep that one awkward article on is just silly. It’s not hard to take those socks off, so just do it. #2 – Criticism No one likesRead More

Are you broke and hungry? A starving college student or recent graduate with no culinary expertise…or money? Here’s how you can eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a week – all for under $60.   It may sound crazy, but local farmers markets, such as Sprouts, can be one of the cheapest grocery stores… even compared to corporate stores such as Safeway or King Soopers. Stores that get most of their produce locally tend to have not only better, organic foods, but shockingly low prices as well. Through my yearsRead More

Let’s face it: tattoos are in. You’re not about to make a shocking counter-culture statement with a Sailor Jerry swallow on your forearm. But that’s not to say you shouldn’t get one – tats are part of the modern zeitgeist. The long journey of body mods (which can easily become your internet rabbit-hole for the day) goes from ritual, to exotic, to deviant, to mainstream, and has culminated in this glorious blank canvas of possibility for the current generation of Millennials to splatter their lives all over. As I reflectRead More

Breakups are a part of life, but being single is what you make it. For some people, the single life is stress-free and exciting. For others, it’s frustrating and miserable. Here are 6 things single people do that hold them back from embracing singlehood: 1.    Worry about where their friends are in life All of us progress through life at different rates, and it isn’t fair to use your friends’ milestones as benchmarks for your own achievements. If your friends are married, engaged, or enjoying long-term relationships, good for them.Read More

Lesbehonest…I had McDonald’s for lunch today. And for breakfast yesterday. Possibly multiple times this week. When it comes to being healthy and working out, it takes a small miracle to get me anywhere near kale and/or a treadmill. But as I grow older, I’m not-so-subtly often reminded of the reality of a declining metabolism and drooping physique. Enter the gym. Actually, more like gyms. I’ve cycled through (literally… I hate spin classes) a new gym almost monthly since graduating from college and attempting to be a real adult with aRead More

If you’re one of the millions of New Years’ resolvers who vowed to get fit this year, chances are you’re looking for the perfect soundtrack to help you push through the wall or run away from the Blerch.  And if you’re like us, you’re tired of the incessant Top 40 that the gym insists on blasting while you’re trying to get into the zone.  A great workout mix needs variety as well as the driving BPM to help get you up and get you psyched.     Whether you needRead More

Men, take note. We all have a list of things that annoy us about the opposite sex. Here are a few common things that men do that women really hate: Send one word or one letter texts: Nobody likes to receive a one word text message, but here’s why it’ll actually get men into trouble: When a woman sends a “k,” she’s actually sending a “whatever, asshole.” When a man sends a “k,” he’s actually sending a “k.” Unfortunately, women interpret this message the same way they would interpret theirRead More

I’m cold, you guys. OK. Yes. It’s warmer than it was last week but I’m still going to complain because it’s January and there is a lot of winter left on the horizon.  If you’re in California and warm — but hopefully not on-fire warm — then you’re not invited to my circle of self-pity and I’m not talking to you. For the rest of us, here is a tasty, wintertime way to drink alcohol, so we don’t lose all will to live when it’s April and still snowing inRead More

Unlike in today’s world, food was scarcely available to our ancient ancestors. The cavemen had to hunt and gather for their food and eat tiny scraps that were barely enough to survive on. Food was not consumed for its taste, but for the pure purpose of providing energy and life. A handful of berries, a few slimy bugs, or better yet, a bloody, fatty, raw morsel of squirrel meat was considered good eatin’ for the day. Hell, in my anthropology class about the ancient Aztecs, I learned that the mostRead More