the sea x love

Author: brianna

  • invest with me intro

    I’ve mentioned before that I really got into investing last year.  While, I did get into  investing in general I specifically really dived into angel investing/investing in startups. I think this was a natural step as I’ve worked with entrepreneurs a lot,  I like trying things, one of my close friends is in Venture Capital (VC), and I’ve personally seen what angel investing/VC can do.  I actually wanted to start this series with this post but when I came up with the idea for the series the investment I wanted to focus on was closing on the first of June. I had already written that post up and hadn’t yet written this intro so when they extended their raise it was too late for me to change my order.


    Anyways, why I invest. It’s fun and exciting, anything can happen so it’s a bit risky (big risk = big reward). I also realize that investing allows you to shape society in a way that you can’t through pure philanthropy. This really gets into my thesis for investing. An investment thesis, basically states what you invest in and why. So it could be industry specific or in companies of a certain size or companies that have a certain valuation. You write your own thesis and there is essentially no right or wrong way to do it. This document is used to guide you, you don’t have to share it. It’s your beacon to remind you on how you want to shape your portfolio/where you want to invest your money. I actually use my thesis for investing in both startups and in the stock market.  For those that know me, my thesis will not be surprising. I primarily invest in startups focused on sustainability, automation, and food that are founded by BI(P/W)OC.
    I personally have a more complex and broad definition of sustainability so this allows me to be a bit more flexible in my thesis. My background is in sustainability and I’ve been in this field for a while so I have bit of insight into it and am therefore more comfortable investing my money into startups in this field. I also want there their to be more companies that help us live more sustainably. I believe deeply in automation to free humanity from unnecessary work. So in short I invest in companies that are helping to build the world I want to live in.


    I rarely stray from this thesis but occasionally I do for the right fintech (financial technology), edtech (educational technology), or wellness/health startup. The person who actually spurred me to start this series has a very different thesis than mine. They are focused on companies that have a certain valuation (essentially what the company is worth//there are a million ways to calculate this but it’s normally some multiple of their projected revenue).  Some people do a combination of this, so they may only invest in financial technology companies with valuations between $10-20 million. Some people will invest in companies that are only early stage and raising their Seed or pre-seed round. Financing rounds are generally ordered like this pre-seed, seed, series A, B, C, D, (and sometimes) E. These funding amounts will all vary by company and there is very little consistency between the round amount and the name. The round name give you a little idea of where the company is at in it’s life.


    By now you’re probably wondering what I’m invested in. I’m only sharing the companies I’m invested in outside of Roth IRA, which if you haven’t set one up, please please please do! I worked with a licensed financial planner, who is absolutely brilliant, and I am happy to connect you with her just DM me on Instagram and I will connect you. She is sooo knowledgeable, her recommendations are fantastic! (I’m really happy because my IRA is up 36%). So my actual portfolio companies in alphabetical order are:

    • Bloomi
    • CodeCombat
    • Delee
    • Deuce Drone
    • Dollaride
    • ecotext
    • it’s by u
    • Juna (which I love so much)
    • Miso Robotics
    • Moku Foods (also some really bomb mushroom jerky)
    • NowRx (lowkey regret doing this investment)
    • R3 Printing (lowkey regret doing this investment)
    • Renewal Foods
    • Sienna Sauce
    • Talla ai
    • Terracycle
    • TrustStamp (this company actually went public last year)
    • Winc

    I really get into things sometimes and that’s what happened last year because except for like 3 of these companies I invested in all of them in 2020. I really went super overboard, it’s actually a little embarrassing and I regret some of these investments just slightly.  I toned down dramatically what and how much I’m investing and I’m trying very hard to stick to my thesis. I’ll admit I didn’t really know what I was doing when I started and I didn’t have a thesis which is why some investments don’t actually align with my thesis, but a year into this I’ve learned a ton and feel much more confident about moving forward.

  • Tranquil days + nights

    Those of you closest to me know (or really interact with me regularly) know that I have anxiety and sometimes it can get pretty bad. A little strange, but since the pandemic started, I actually haven’t been more anxious. Although there were times were being indoors 24/7 actually took a toll. Normally, I manage my anxiety with a combo of exercise, quiet time with candles, and limiting sugar/consuming copious amounts of probiotics in different forms (so lots of fermented foods). I’ve spent a lot of quarantine reflecting. Quick update: I was furloughed pretty early into quarantine and was eventually laid off (it be like that sometimes), so I’ve had a lot of time to reflect and think about my next steps in life, work on my portfolio for grad apps, and really focus on my mental and physical health ( which really suffered during college). While, the reflection and refocusing is going somewhat well it’s actually incredibly stressful, because change is stressful. While, I normally take medicine when my anxiety gets debilitating, I prefer not to because the side effects less than desirable. So, I’ve on the search for something a little gentler but still effective. Enter, CBD. I started using this CBD muscle rub, which I swear by post-workout (especially post Barrys or Trillfit). I was a convert, because it works so ridiculously well.

    I learned about Juna a while back and decided to give it a try, because I’m constantly indoors so I could safely monitor my reaction. I generally have less than ideal reactions to medicine/supplements. I did a bit of research into a few CBD supplements and I originally waved between Juna and Brown Girl Jane. I chose Juna because it’s a lower dosage and I wanted to more control over the dosage. I started with the Balance drops which honestly worked really well at keeping me calm throughout the day but I but I haven’t found I’ve needed them as much lately. I wasn’t super anxious when my Juna Balance drops arrived, but took it anyways because it’s safe/recommended to take every day. The first day I took 5ml/whatever a half a dropper is straight, which let me tell you was gross. It’s very herbal which I hate, but the taste dissipates quickly. I was already feeling somewhat calm, but I definitely did feel calmer and more focused after taking it. I was not at all drowsy, so big win. The next day I dropped the dosage, just to see if that would still be as effective. It was. About a few days into to taking it, I decided to try to not take it in the morning a compare my mood/feeling. Lol that was a mistake, because I definitely started feeling anxious around midmorning and decided to take it. It helped tremendously. I’ve been more focused and relaxed. It’s definitely helped feel calmer and breathe easier, so I would definitely recommend Juna daily to feel more focused and relaxed, and improve total-wellness.

    Product 2! Eventually, I bought Nightcap which blew me away. I like Balance and I do think it’s pretty great, but Nightcap WOW! Besides my anxiety manifesting in during the day it also causes me to suffer from very vivid and terrifying nightmares. My sleep problems have worsened since quarantine because I’m not moving as much and as such I’m not as tired every night. Nightcap is truly the greatest product I started using in 2020. It helps me lull to sleep and calms my mind which means that my nightmares are less intense and I don’t wake up at 3 am feeling like I just ran a marathon. Although you can just take it straight out of the bottle I like to mix it with some cacao, ashwagandha, and warm plant-based milk like Chobani extra creamy oat milk (sometimes I add a little applewood smoked sea salt too). It’s a great little warming night drink that really helps me wind down and sleep deeply.

  • favorite food shops around boston

    I love cooking and trying new foods and ingredients. I’ve spent most of quarantine in Boston cooking + fermenting. One of the great things about actually working is money and being able to spend it however you want. I’ve bought a few things during quarantine and a lot of it has been food-related. I’ve also been exploring a few shops in and around Boston/Cambridge that I didn’t have time to check out pre-quarantine. I just want to highlight a few of the places I spend my time and money.

    Curio Spice Co.

    I really love Curio, I started shopping there once I moved into Boston. The quality is phenomenal and they support farmers, which is incredibly important. They also have some pretty cool and tasty spice blends (my favorites are Rose Harissa and Edo). Plus, they’re women owned and they have classes. While Curio’s Cambridge shop isn’t open during quarantine, you can order online (even though the best part of Curio is visiting their Cambridge shop to smell and hold everything). I sadly don’t have any photos from my previous trips but I will update when I can go visit again.

    Savenors Market

    I eat a lot of veggies and pretty plant-base overall, but I love meat. It’s so delicious and tasty, but now that I’m buying my own food and able to pick where I get my food, I’m putting money towards quality of meat. I try not to eat beef (really any thing that comes from cows) so I mostly eat pork, chicken, fish/seafood (which I buy from Wulf’s another Boston based place), and bison and other game. Savenor’s has fantastic quality meat and given that I only eat meat about once a day it’s pretty affordable (and not every day). Since, Savenor’s is a whole animal butcher (that does demos!!! Super cool imo) you can get less popular cuts that wouldn’t be sold in grocery stores. I do this somewhat often to push myself to experiment. Not to mention I’ve always loved the idea of shopping at a butcher and all specialized food stores. One final note, Savenor’s does a fried chicken Tuesday which I was skeptical that a place up north could have good fried chicken but honestly, this chicken hit home for me. I was pleasantly surprised and now I’m a huge fan.

    Elmendorf Bakery Supply and Café

    I discovered this place on accident a few weeks ago, while walking about Cambridge. I don’t bake a lot or ever really. I leave that to the pros at Clear Flour Bakery. However, I occasionally give it a go. I like Elmendorf because they carry a bunch of cool products like heritage masa and other heritage wheat flours. They also sell mills and honestly, even though I don’t bake a lot, I really want a mill to mill my own flour to make random flour-based products. I actually didn’t buy anything when I went in the first time because I’m on a no spend September but might trek out and break to buy some popcorn or masa to make some tamales.

    Haymarket

    Food is expensive, like unbelievably so in Boston compared to my hometown. I honestly would not be able to maintain my diet and budget in Boston if Haymarket did not exist. It pretty great, because it’s super affordable and sometimes you can find organic stuff there. I love Haymarket and go just about every week. It’s super cheap, for example, I spend $20ish/week on veggies and fresh fruit and that buys a number of pounds of food, enough to last me a week of eating purely in the apartment. There is definitely a trick to shopping at Haymarket as not all the vendors are great but some of them are fantastic. If you follow me on Instagram, you can see my weekly haul in my stories. It also allows me to try and test different out different recipes and ferment all the things. I know a number of people have gotten into sourdough and focaccia during quarantine (both of which I’ve baked during quarantine) but I also finally have time to start fermenting foods using Noma’s fermentation guide.

  • in response to current events

    2/6/20 Updates:

    A wonderful resource made by a friend of mine for protestors seeking affordable healthcare access/service post-protests: here

    Donated to bail funds? Still looking to give? Since there has been a large influx of donations to bail funds, some are getting overwhelmed/meeting their goals (yay!). However are still people in need, here is a thread of mutual aid funds you should also give to.

    There is also a Black Trans Women’s Fund that has nearly met is goal but needs a little help to get there, please give here.

    Black Revolutionary texts (i.e. things everyone, yes you, need to read): here

    There’s a lot going on right now. Quite honestly there always this and these times are no different. We just have immediate and constant access to the events happening today. Nothing that’s happening is new. We just have people recording and posting it to social media, so now it’s hyper-visible and hard to escape. Some of you are just now realizing/recognizing/accepting the injustices that permeate this country’s (and truly a large portion of the world’s) DNA and some of you are reaching a breaking point. Regardless you are hopefully wondering how you can help and educate yourself.

    If you are not Black, please donate to any of the wonderful Bail Funds + orgs below before literally doing anything else (if you’re able to donate on a monthly basis). (bail funds are vital and I will explain their importance at a later date, when I am feeling better + have a bit more time)

    If you are looking to learn more about racism &/or US legal system check out the following non-exhaustive list of resources that immediately come to my mind (again I will post more as my schedule clears up):

    • Podcasts: The Appeal & Justice in America (I love both of these and listen to them every morning as I get ready)
    • The New Jim Crow by Alexander Michelle (purchase from indie book stores)
    • How to Be Less Stupid About Race: On Racism, White Supremacy, and the Racial Divide by Crystal Marie Flemming (indie book store purchase link)
    • Research the electoral process and candidates for District Attorneys, Judges, and other legal and law enforcement officers in your city/town, be prepared and knowledgeable of the next election, and vote in it.

    Most importantly remember that people’s live cannot be replaced, things can + that somehow police are fully equipped to take the lives of people while healthcare workers continue to be under/un equipped to save lives.

    Directory organized by state:

    Atlanta: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/support-justiceforgeorgefloyd-protesters-in-atlanta

    Baltimore: https://baltimoreactionlegal.org/community-bail-fund

    Brooklyn: https://brooklynbailfund.org/donation-form

    Buffalo: https://fundrazr.com/11fcAd?ref=ab_e8vImf_ab_A1SOsYQGv9wA1SOsYQGv9w

    Chicago: https://chicagobond.org

    Cleveland: https://paypal.me/blmcle

    Colorado: https://fundly.com/coloradofreedom

    Columbus: https://paypal.me/columbusfreedomfund

    Dallas: https://faithintx.org/bailfund/

    Detroit: https://gofundme.com/f/detroits-bail-fund?utm_medium=sms&utm_source=product&utm_campaign=p_susi-sms-welcome

    Houston: https://restoringjustice.org/bail

    Jacksonville: https://gofundme.com/f/CommunitySupportFund

    Kansa City: https://kccommunitybailfund.com

    LA: https://www.gofundme.com/f/peoples-city-council-ticket-fund

    Las Vegas: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/vegasfreedomfund

    LGBTQ Freedom Fund: https://lgbtqfund.org

    Louisville: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/louisville-community-bail-fund

    Massachusetts: https://massbailfund.org

    Milwaukee: https://fundrazr.com/mkefreedomfund?ref=ab_19CDk2_ab_2X8cfsYQq5B2X8cfsYQq5B

    Minnesota: https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate

                   Unicorn Riot: https://unicornriot.ninja/donate/

    Reclaim the Block: https://secure.everyaction.com/zae4prEeKESHBy0MKXTIcQ2

    Black Visions Collective: https://www.payit2.com/fundraiser/98548

    Nashville: https://nashvillebailfund.org

    New York: https://freethemall4publichealth.org/calltoaction/

    Oakland/San Jose: https://siliconvalleydsa.org/donations/

    Oklahoma: http://paypal.me/BLMOKC

    Philly: https://phillybailfund.org

    Pittsburg: https://bukitbailfund.org

    Portland: https://gofundme.com/f/pdx-protest-bail-fund

    Richmond: https://rvabailfund.org

    Seattle: https://donorbox.org/ncbf & https://nwcombailfund.org

    Toronto: https://gofundme.com/f/toronto-protestor-bail-fund

  • Caramelized onion white cheddar cheese crackers

    my tiny but decadent caramelized onion white cheddar cheese crackers

    I tried this cheese a few months ago at trader joes, and I actually enjoyed it. I don’t consume a lot of dairy. I drink plant milk, either Chobani Extra Creamy Oat Milk or Trader Joes almond, cashew, macadamia nut milk, and I try to keep both of these on hand. I only eat a few types of cheese because like most people I’m lactose intolerant. However, I’m a sucker for a good charcuterie plate, especially as a snack. So, when I tried this cheese, I immediately wanted to incorporate it somehow. A few weeks went by until I realized an easy way to use it, cheese crackers. As I’ve previously mentioned I’m trying to be more sustainable and cut down on the amount of (unrecyclable) waste and save money so I try not to buy snacks when I’m out and about, but I really love cheez-its because they’re cheesy and salty. These caramelized onion white cheddar cheese crackers are the perfect elevated cracker for a snack or paired with some red wine salami, and figs/strawberries/pears, depending on how you cut them. These are also perfect for parties and small gatherings.

    Caramelized onion white cheddar cheese crackers

    ½ half pound block of English cheddar with caramelized onion (available at trader joes//this should only cost like $5-7)

    ¼ cup butter (used Miyoko’s but you can use whatever butter and I would actually recommend using cow’s milk butter)

    1 cup sprouted wheat flour (you can also use all purpose)

    ~1 teaspoon salt

    2-3 tablespoons of cold water

    Optional: a generous amount of fresh cracked pepper (highly recommend this one from Diaspora as it complements the caramelized onion very well)

    Grater!

    1. Grate all of the cheese in a bowl, you should have a little over a cup of cheese. Set aside.
    2. In another larger bowl, mix flour and salt together (now would be the time to add the pepper if you’re adding it).
    3. Cut up butter into smaller chunks and add to bowl with cheese, and mix with a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, spoon, or hands.
    4. Add seasoned flour in piecewise fashion, about a ¼ cup at a time, and mix after adding each quarter cup.
    5. The dough should be a little crumbly, slowly add water a tablespoon at a time and mix until dough forms into a pliable solid ball.
    6. Wrap dough in plastic wrap or airtight container and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
    7. After 30 minutes, well flour a flat surface and remove dough from the fridge. Preheat oven to 375F/190C
    8. There are two ways you can proceed from this point:
      1. You could cut the dough into two chunks and roll them into a 1in or 25.4mm diameter log, then slice the log into thin slices (about ¼ inch or 6mm thick), sprinkle with coarse salt, and bake for 12 minutes or until crispy.
      2. Alternatively, you could roll the dough flat, again about ¼ in or 6mm thick, cut into square or fun shapes, sprinkle with coarse salt, and bake for 12-15 minutes depending on the size of the squares.
    9. After baking let cool and harden, these are best fresh but can be stored for a little over a week, if they last that long!