Posts by friendshipswithbenefits

A Great Afternoon in Dolores Park with Polly Morton

This was one of the ultimate impromtu FWB episodes.  I brought my mic along to my friend, Patty’s going away party in Dolores Park because I made a plan to make a video with my friend, Kyle. Lo and behold, Polly was in town from NYC and attending Patty’s party (they went to college together).  While waiting for Kyle, we were catching up and she started explaining what her lesson would be.  I quickly stopped her and got out my IPhone to make it happen. Polly and I met through friends (Patty and co) during my first run in SF and it was so great to see her and have her participate in FWB in one of our favorite places in the city.  I love and totally appreciate her enthusiasm for FWB which was so encouraging and awesome to hear.  She’s definitely a natural in front of the camera;)  Thanks Polly for being so fun and proving that SF is such a special place that we’ll always have no matter where we live in the world.

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Golfing with Jerry (Dad)

I just got back from an amazing trip back to Boston.  It was so great spending time with family and friends as well as going to one of my first childhood friend’s wedding and of course seeing, Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z at Fenway.  During my stay, I was super excited to have my dad teach me how to golf while my mom manned the IPhone. I loved making this FWB and spending time with my parents.  It’s hard living on different coasts and definitely not ideal.   I think a lot of West Coast transplants feel this way and go through the questioning of living so far from family.  (My ultimate dream of being bicoastal would solve this issue).  I also feel very grateful I was able to make this FWB and have my father around to do it.  We almost lost him to a stroke in 1995 and I can’t imagine spending the last 18 years without him.  My parents are the best and I’m so lucky to have such a good support system.

Thanks Mom and Dad again for everything!  You are the best and I love you SOOOO much! Love, your favorite:)

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Banh Mi: Deconstructed with Bi Le

Bi introduces me to his favorite Banh Mi place in San Francisco, Saigon Sandwich.  I was super excited about his idea to deconstruct the Banh Mi because it’s an amazing sandwich which a lot of people don’t know about and I’ve been craving one for a really long time.  My friend, Liz, introduced me to Banh Mi when I moved to Brooklyn in 2010.  Since then, I’ve been hooked and eating four different sandwiches at one time was pretty stellar.

I’ve known of Bi for years but it wasn’t until after he met all of my other friends that we finally connected.  Here’s the timeline: Bi met Ashley and Tracy at Nicolle’s birthday party a while ago.  They all hit it off and when my friends from Canton came to visit the girls in SF, Bi met and became friends with them.  I heard a lot about this Bi but never got to meet him until I moved back to SF.  We’ve hung out a bunch since then and I now know why all my friends love him.  Bi is such a great person and I’m lucky to finally get to experience it for myself.  Thanks Bi for exposing me to SF’s best food and of course for being awesome.

And yes, I apologize for the poor angles.  It’s time to invest in tripod.  My lamp with tape tripod is failing me.

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Siren Impersonations with Ginger


When I moved back to San Francisco, I was lucky enough to move in with my friend, Sheila and her dog, Ginger.  Ginger is a rescue dog with the biggest heart.  She spends half her time on her hind legs and loves to love. She is definitely top ten cutest dogs in SF.   I knew I had to get Ginger on FWB and when I discovered her spot on impersonation of a siren, it was on.  Every time a fire truck went by, I would be scrambling to get my phone and praying that she was feeling it that day.  Thanks GG for showing me your skills and being a constant reminder to live in the moment and always have fun.

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Geometric Painting with Charlie Knuth

In this Friendships With Benefits, Charlie helps me spice up my apartment by teaching me an awesome way to make art.  We had a lot of fun and my painting is now hanging above my bed.  Friends like Charlie is one of the many reasons why I love SF.  I met Charlie through my friend, Tracy (who taught me how to make a mean margarita).  They went to college at UNH together.  In SF, it’s so easy to connect with friends of friends. He’s an awesome and hilarious guy and obviously, an amazing and resourceful artist.  Thanks Charlie for teaching me how to do a geometric painting and again, if you want to buy one of our pieces, just let us know!

(Cameo by the most famous dog on Dolores-Ginger!)

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Sign Language with Leigh Tanenberg

My friend, Leigh, taught me sign language this weekend while celebrating her birthday.  We were brainstorming a couple weeks back where she claimed she had nothing to teach me but that was far from the truth.  She grew up communicating with her voice but also her hands.  I remember signing a lot as a child thanks to Linda from Sesame Street and was reintroduced while working with toddlers with autism.  It’s an amazing skill that opens your world to so many more people and I would definitely like to become more fluent.  We had a great day celebrating as well as reflecting on how lucky we all are in our lives while appreciating and recognizing the challenges and strengths of other people, families and communities.  Thanks again, Leigh, for my ASL lesson and here’s to a great year ahead!!!

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Ujjayi Breathing with Chelsea

 

Chelsea was my first friend in college.  We met at orientation and remained friends ever since.  Although we joined different sororities and had different college experiences, we could always count on each other.  She was actually the person that told me about a career in Social Work, so for that I am ever grateful.  Chelsea is also one of those amazing friends where you can pick up right where you left off.  We haven’t seen each other since her wedding in October of 2010 yet we had an amazing day walking all over San Francisco when she was visiting with her husband, Tony. Chels just completed her yoga teacher training so I was super excited for her to teach me the ujjayi breath.  I do a good amount of yoga but you are always learning and improving because it is a practice:)  Thanks Chels for participating in FWB and being a special friend to me! xo

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Towel Folding with Ashley Connors

Ashley is one of my very good friends from high school who lives in San Francisco.  We went through many potential FWB lessons and finally after visiting her amazing and well decorated apartment, it was decided.  Ashley would teach me how to properly fold a towel.  She learned this folding technique from her friend, Jen, and now she passed on the goodness so we can all learn how to consistently fold a towel like Martha Stewart. Today, my roommate even made a comment about how well I folded my towels.  Benefits!  So, I suggest you all try to learn this simple folding technique.  Thanks, Ash for legit changing my future in towel folding.  Much love.

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Roundoff with Dagny

I learned how to do a roundoff from my friend, Dagny.  Dagny is an awesome gymnast as well as a very aware and fun nine year old. We spent a lot of time in Tahoe together and it’s always refreshing to gain the perspective of a nine year old including paying up for dropping “F” bombs (The price is $1) and watching Taylor Swift videos.  Thanks again, Dagny, for being a great friend, showing me how to do a roundoff and of course, convincing Yoni to have a dance contest with a ribbon.

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Juicing with Nicolle DeMaestri

My good friend, Nicolle, introduces me to the Breville juicer and teaches me how to make a juice.  Since moving to SF, I’ve noticed that a lot of my friends are on the juicing and smoothie bandwagon.  I think I need to jump on.  With all the benefits, it seems like there is no reason not to.  Thanks Nicolle for showing me your juicing ways and being an amazing friend and now neighbor!

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