pancakePROFILES: 10 Questions For.. ME! (Because You Asked)

So, a little while back it occurred to me that I've never really done a proper Q&A post. I've received many emails over the last few weeks, and because I was already planning on doing a FAQ post, I thought that this would be a great way to address everyone's burning questions more efficiently. So, here is the post I promised you all :) Hope you enjoy getting to know me a little better.




1. So what's with the blog name? How did pancakeSTACKER come about? 

When I first started thinking about blog names, I originally thought that I would just use my first name and leave it at that. Then flashbacks of grades K-12, as well as all four years of college, and just life in general, came flying at me. Shonda? Shawnda? Chandameer? Chandamaheer? Yeah, all of those are wrong. I realized no one would be able to find my blog if I named it that, and people would wonder what a "Chandamheer" was. Still, I wanted to make it something personal that would tie in a bit of me with a bit of my passions. Then I realized that an infinite amount of things go with Stacker, which happens to be my last name. (You'd be surprised how many people don't realize Stacker is my last name.) Legos, pickles, blocks...all these things can be stacked. But what is the best stack of all? Pancakes, hands down. So that's when my blog came about. Pancakes tie in my love of food and Stacker ties in the personal style.

2. We know you like to eat, so how do you stay in shape? What do you do?

First of all, while I am extremely, extremely flattered that you consider me "in shape," I must admit that I am FAR from it. At best, I am just.. a shape. For as far as I can remember, I have always liked to eat. In high school, my friends and I organized a pizza eating contest and I took home the title for the girls. Since I was young, I was always pretty active. Don't be fooled, however, I am ridiculously uncoordinated when it comes to any sport. BUT, I must mention I am a Grade-A dancer and will beat you in a dance off...maybe. In college, it was the same thing. I ate a lot and people wondered what unnatural force took over my body as I scarfed everything down. Truth is, a lot of it has to do with my genes (thanks mom and dad!!), but at the same time, I really value my health and do try to eat relatively healthy when I can. So when I do work out, I really enjoy Zumba and Yoga. Yoga keeps me sane and helps push my body and Zumba is just fun!



3. What is your favorite food? Least favorite?

Oh, you know this is a tough one. I love, love everythinggggg...except for mushrooms and octopus because both really freak me out. I grew up eating a lot of seafood and so almost anything you'll find in the sea is a winner in my book. More specifically, I think I could eat sushi or Japanese food every single day for the rest of my life and not ever get tired of it. I used to have a huge sweet tooth, and while I still do, I'm much more into savory flavors these days. Indian food is also delicious and I'm not afraid of spice! I pretty much like to eat it all. Oh, but wait, my least favorite food, and I know I'm going to get a lot of hate mail for this one, is pasta. I just don't really like it, but I will still have it every now and then.

4. I'm so curious, what is your ethnicity? 

I get this one a lot too. People always ask me, "Where are you from," to which I reply, "America." Then they ask, "But what are you," to which I like to answer, "A human being, what are you?" I just always think it's funny, I'm not sure why. Anyways, I am proud to say that I am a halfie, more specifically, I'm half Black and half Filipino. This is my papa bear and this is my mama bear. I have to say, it's a pretty awesome mix and I love every single bit of my culture.



5.  So, what is it that you do? 

I used to work in fashion sales for a long, long time and then last year I took a new position on the advertising side of a print media publication here in San Francisco. It didn't quite work out, however, and I found myself really uninspired and quite unhappy. I moved on and I currently work for a PR firm in the city where I do Digital Media for clients -- which basically means I do social media all day long! I write editorial content for a variety of clients clients (consumer, tech, beauty, etc.), analyze engagement, and act as a social media resource for our firm. I also offer freelance work in this area, so if you are looking for someone to create content or manage your social media platforms, I'm you're girl.

6. And what else do you like to do aside from blogging? 

I'm actually really nerdy. I studied English World Literature and Spanish in college and enjoy analyzing text far more than one should. I love to read, but more than that, I love to write analytical essays. Weird, I know. Aside from the stuff you already know about me, I'm pretty much your normal gal. I love to hang out with my friends and just laugh. Laughing is my favorite. And, because it's my favorite, I love watching hilarious comedies (Bridesmaids - just about died, Friends - I own all 10 seasons, Modern Family - riot, Bad Girls Club - guilty, guilty pleasure, but so hilarious).



7. Where are your favorite places to shop, eat, explore in the city? 

I do a lot of my shopping at the usual mall spots, but San Francisco has an amazing selection of vintage clothing all over the place. For vintage, I like to dig through the racks at Held Over or Wasteland in the Haight, but really there are a ton of great stores there that I suggest poking into. For food, my favorite brunch spot is Red Door Cafe because it is amazing. But, I love tacos and Mamacita in the Marina has some amazing shrimp tacos that should not be missed. I am still trying to find a sushi place worth frequenting, but for my LA readers, my favorite spots include Monsoon (amazing happy hour) and Roll House for melt in your mouth fusion rolls. I generally like to explore all neighborhoods around town, but a good place to start is Hayes Valley. Colorful, diverse, great shopping, delicious food - it's a great neighborhood to explore on a sunny day.

8. What kind of camera do you use for photos you take? 

I use a Canon EOS Rebel DSLR. It's a great camera and a wonderful starter for anyone who wants to make the leap from a point and shoot to a dslr. Alternatively, I've also had a few their Powershot point and shoot cameras in the past and definitely recommend them if you want a great camera but are on a budget. Lately, I've been using my iPhone 4S to take a lot of photos when I don't feel like carrying around my big dslr. It takes amazing photos as well and I'm pretty addicted to all the photo editing apps!



9. What is your favorite part about blogging?

Aside from being able to share my passions with everyone, one of the most rewarding parts of blogging is the ability to connect with blogger buddies. I cannot even tell you how many amazing friendships I have made through blogging. It's wonderful getting emails or comments or tweets, you name it, from people who just want to say hi or from people who love reading your blog. It's a good feeling. I read every single comment and while I admit it sometimes takes me a long time time to respond, I'm thankful for all the support. Having a community of people who share the same interests is awesome.

10. What advice do you have for someone who wants to start their own blog? 


DO IT. Really, if you want to blog, you just have to go for it. Be genuine about it. Don't set out to blog because you want to be famous, either. Blog because you love it. People can tell when you put TLC into your blog. Provide good content and clear pictures. We're all visual people and when you have a good layout, clean content, and clear pictures, people will want to keep coming back. Also, don't be afraid to say hello and get out there. Go to events, introduce yourself, and just enjoy. While blogging has definitely turned into a business for some, it's important to remember that it's fun too. Try not to take it all too seriously. Oh, and most importantly, have goals and dream big. If I listened to everyone who thought that blogging was silly, pancakeSTACKER would have never made it past the pan ;)

Jacket: Urban Outfitters; Jeans: Free People: Necklace & Crossbody: H&M; Button Up (c/o), Bracelets, Ring, and Flats: Forever 21; Photos by: Tim Wong

Okay. Now you officially know more about me than you ever really wanted to know. To be fair, though, you did kind of ask... I tease. Anyways, all questions about how I do my hair, favorite beauty products, and how I do my makeup/what I use on my face, will all be addressed in future posts! So those are some things to look out for! If there are more burning questions you have for me, please feel free to comment below or email me. I'll do my best to get back to you all!