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Tag: Jen Hacker

  • Happy Thanksgiving!

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Contributors share traditions and what they’re giving thanks for

    Thanksgiving
    PHOTO: TV Media Insights.

    I used to mark my year in reasons to fly home, and one of the biggest trips was naturally for Thanksgiving. LAX is reportedly the busiest airport in the US during Thanksgiving week, and from the endless delays, cancelations, and hours spent at a terminal during that week for the past decade I can say proudly that it’s true.. and I survived. Last year in the cab ride to the airport, a thought casually crossed my mind: “This is the last year I’ll travel for Thanksgiving.” It came and went before I had a chance to challenge it, but a year later I smile at my personal premonition.

    For the first time since 2005, I am staying put for Thanksgiving. I see my family every day, yet the festive air is contagious and the holiday spirit feels even more magical now that I’m in a city in which temperatures drop for the season (plus you have to admit San Francisco feels like a snow globe city, without the snow). 2014 has been quite a year. I don’t know many who didn’t go through some kind of major change—a decision to change jobs, move into a new apartment, relocate to a new city, go back to school, start a company—and we are all better for it.

    This Thanksgiving, take a pause before you begin your meal or before you change into your Thanksgiving pants, and give thanks to those around you (literally and figuratively). Here are what our single girls are grateful for this year.

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  • Tale of Two Cities | Best Libations

    Tale of Two Cities | Best Libations

    Jen and Catherine’s top 3 drinks from Los Angeles and San Francisco

    libations
    PHOTO: InsideScoop.

    Now that we’re exploring and reporting from two cities, every month we will bring you our top picks from San Francisco and Los Angeles. It’s been a while since I shared my favorite happy hour spots, so read on for our top libations just in time for your weekend.

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  • A Tale of Two Cities

    A Tale of Two Cities

    Our Leading Ladies share their top 10 from Los Angeles and San Francisco

    PHOTO: Crossfit Santa Monica, Localbigwig.
    PHOTO: Crossfit Santa Monica, Localbigwig.

    When we founded The Single Diaries a year ago, we had no idea we wouldn’t be in the same city so soon. (Don’t tell me I’ve never been in a long-distance relationship.) Separation anxiety aside, we are finding one major plus to working out of two different major cities: more wine bars to frequent, more neighborhoods to explore, more dishes to discover! In honor of our new status as a bi-city blog, we bring you our favorite mainstays from San Francisco and Los Angeles.

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  • The Timeline Project

    The Timeline Project

    A New Tool To Help You Reach Your Goals

    The-Timeline-Project

    “Whatever you want to be or be a part of, you know that leaving it to luck, to chance, to fate, probably isn’t going to get you there. You’ll need to plan and focus and work really hard. That’s where The Timeline Project™ comes in to help. It’s all about capturing your dreams, zooming them into focus, prioritizing and making them actually happen. It’s an online tool that’s part journal, part mood board, part info-rich resource. And it’s all yours to play with, get inspired, update, and share as often as you want.” 

    I hadn’t planned to post about The Timeline Project this week. Actually, the truth is quite the opposite. Until just a few days ago I had never even heard  of it. Like many things that are simply meant to be, The Timeline Project inexplicably fell into my path. During my daily ritual of browsing through my favorite blogs, I came across a headline announcing the arrival of this newly formed platform for millennial women. Needless to I was intrigued enough to read more.

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  • How to Pack Your Beauty Products

    How to Pack Your Beauty Products

    8 Must-Know Packing Tricks for Your Next Trip

    How-to-Pack-Your-Beauty-Products

    This week I take off for a 10 day trip to Europe to visit two countries I’ve yet to explore. First stop–Cannes, France where my boyfriend and I will meet up with a group of his old college friends. Beach days, bike rides, and shopping the open air markets are all on the agenda. From there we head off to Vienna, the current residence of one of our travel mates. With no formal plans, our main mission is to soak up the city like a local.

    France and Vienna fall somewhere on the list as the 32nd and 33rd countries that I’ve had the pleasure of visiting.  Most of my travel was done in college through study abroad, service trips, and a short stint interning at an airline. Though post-graduation, I’ve made it a point to spend time abroad at least once each year.

    All of this to say that, over the past decade or so, I’ve grown into a fairly well-seasoned traveler. While I don’t claim to be of Samantha Brown or Anthony Bourdain status, I do have quite a few travel tips and tricks up my sleeve. One particular area I’ve learned to master is the art of packing.

    5 years ago when I paid my first visit to Europe, I brought with me the largest suitcase I could find and had it packed as full as it’s zippers would allow. Trust me– you only make that mistake once. My new rule of thumb is to never pack more than a carry-on. Of course, with limited space and TSA rules to abide, this poses a certain set of challenges, especially when it comes to packing beauty products. However, I promise that with the right know-how and a little creativity you can pack everything you need without upgrading to a checked bag.

    Read on for 8 of my favorite tricks on how to pack your beauty products. And if you’re wondering what to pack make sure to check out my favorite beauty travel essentials!

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