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My friends, and C. in particular, often laugh in wonderment that I now work in tech communications since I was such a late adopter of social media. (Seriously, I held out on joining Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. until about two years ago!)

To me, though, it makes perfect sense...I can be a skeptic for sure, but once I'm bought in, I'm all in. I believe that technology should make our lives easier and better, not just be about the latest gadget or site. I'm also continuously amazed at how technology has enabled the creation of businesses and careers, especially for women and regardless of age or location, that could never have existed even ten years ago. It truly does create a new world of opportunities for us all.

This idea has been the topic of many conversations for me lately, and as I thought about all the technologies that have changed my life for the better, even if just in a small way – I wanted to share my top discoveries with you. I'd love to hear what would be on your list!

Fashion

• I've already written about my experience with online personal styling site Keaton Row, but recently discovered a similar online styling service for men called Cladwell. Genius, and sorely needed!
• Last month, I did the spring style challenge with Get Your Pretty On, which helped me learn to "shop my own wardrobe", add a few key pieces for the season, and provided 21 days of outfit ideas – a new take on the capsule wardrobe that I've started to embrace. The summer style challenge (which includes how to make packing for a vacation a breeze) will be starting in June, so check out the details if you want to join me!
•  A cool new product that I discovered recently is called SheThinx, which are period-proof panties that look pretty and work amazingly well. Their mission is to help the 100 million girls in the developing world who fall behind in school (forcing many of them to eventually drop out) just because of their periods. Each pair you buy provides funds and jobs to women in Africa to make washable and reusable cloth pads that girls can use, so they don't miss school. Who knew underwear could have such an impact?

Left: Black burnout sweatshirt (similar); faux leather leggings; bright sneakers; earrings Right: Mixed media tee (similar); necklace; black pants; flats; laptop bag

Leather blazer (similar); scarf; earrings; ripped skinny jeans; wedge ankle boots (similar)

In honor of International Women's Day today, I wanted to share with you an incredible experience that I had two weeks ago, when I attended Y Combinator's Female Founders Conference (FFC) in San Francisco.

Y Combinator (YC) is an accelerator that funds and mentors startups who are still in the early stages of developing their company. This was the second time they've held the FFC, which is designed to inspire and educate women in startups (and ultimately, get more women to apply to their program). The list of companies they've funded is pretty impressive – some of the most well-known include airbnb, Dropbox, and Reddit.

It was inspiring to hear from women like Jessica Livingston, one of the founding partners of YC, and several female founders who have launched successful companies rethinking industries as diverse as construction, coding, fashion, and international healthcare. (All of the sessions are available on YouTube.)

L: YC Founding Partner Jessica Livingston; Top R: Networking (I'm in gray); Bottom R: Kimberly Bryant, Founder of Black Girls Code; All images courtesy of PrettyInstant.com

As fantastic as the conference was, the connections made outside the actual event were the most valuable. The women who attended were amazing, and so organized – we were able to use a private LinkedIn page, Facebook page, Google doc, and Slack channel to be able to find, connect, and meet people with similar interests or locations.

The morning after the conference, I met a fabulous group of women for brunch, all working on fashion/beauty related products or companies from places as near as Berkeley to as far as Pakistan. It was so nice to connect with people in a smaller group and on a deeper level; it felt like I'd finally found "my tribe"!

For those of you who don't know, I went to the FFC because C. and I (along with two good friends of ours) are in the process of developing a beauty app. We're still in the early stages of design and development, so I'll share more details when we're ready. It's definitely been a labor of love and a tremendous learning experience, filled with lots of highs and lows – so it's just comforting to be able to connect with people who understand what you're going through and what you're trying to do.

Growing up in rural Iowa, I felt like I didn't really know anyone with a professional career, especially women. Most men were farmers and many women were teachers, but the possibilities of what you could do, or who could you be, outside the scope of our small town were hard to imagine. For me, books and magazines were the window into the rest of the world. Now, as technology and social media have connected us in a way that we never were before, it's tremendously exciting to see the possibilities that exist for everyone, especially women.

It's easier now to find role models and connect with likeminded people, and to see how many different career options are available. I'm a communications consultant who works with large technology companies in Silicon Valley. The agency I work with is virtual, so we work from home when we're not on site with a client, which gives me the flexibility I need to create my own company. As a young girl, I could never have dreamed either of those were viable career options. So, to bring this full circle, I am inspired by and thankful for opportunities like the FFC and the women who have "done it' already...and excited to see what the future holds for us all.

The joys of working from home, with Mugsy the Pug

I'd love to hear how you're inspired on this International Women's Day – personally or professionally – so please share!

Have you ever stood in front of your closet and thought to yourself, "I have nothing to wear!" This has happened to me all too often, so when I was home in Iowa over the holidays and my sister Audrey mentioned that she was building a capsule wardrobe, I was intrigued.

Not knowing anything about the concept behind a capsule wardrobe, I asked Audrey a million questions. Since she's planning a wedding, saving money is a priority. She explained, "I was constantly buying things for specific occasions, rather than to fit my life, and found myself spending a lot on clothes that I would only wear once or twice."

Inspired by a podcast by Jess Lively interviewing Caroline Rector of UnFancy, Audrey decided to take a more minimalist approach to dressing. Caroline recommends having a collection of 37 pieces, including shoes, to create a capsule wardrobe for a defined season. The idea works like this: You have two weeks to assess your current clothes, determine which items you'd like to add, and purchase them...and then not shop again throughout the entire season (3-4 months). At the end of the season, you go through your closet again, roll some pieces forward, take some out of storage / put others in, and repeat the shopping process to get just the few new pieces that you need.

Audrey's refined closet

Audrey put this to the test in November, to build a winter capsule that would last until March. First, she went through her current wardrobe – fall and winter pieces were kept in her closet, while items for warmer weather went in storage under her bed. Her assessment revealed that she was lacking cardigans, blouses, and more structured items for work that could also be layered or worn differently on the weekend. She chose to go for neutrals in cream and gray as the color palette to unite the pieces. This was her shopping list:

• Graphic tee
• Plain black and white tees
• White button down shirt
• Black collarless blouse
• Sweater jacket
• Gray open cardigan 
• Striped shift dress
• Printed silk top

Two of her favorite pieces: a gray cardigan and striped shift dress

I was pretty impressed by her method, but a little skeptical of the reality. Wouldn't she miss shopping? Wasn't she horrified by her now tiny closet? And wouldn't she be tempted to buy things, especially during the holidays?

"No, I haven't been," said Audrey. "Most people have the misperception that a capsule wardrobe is about deprivation, but I didn't feel that way at all. I really liked planning for what I wanted to buy, and for once, what was in my closet made me feel happy. I wasn't overspending anymore on trendy items that I wouldn't actually wear, and I feel like I've defined my personal style in a new way."

Work and casual outfits made from the same capsule

After a couple months with her winter capsule, I asked Audrey what she'd so discovered so far, and what her favorite pieces ended up being. "The striped dress is probably my favorite piece. I normally never wear dresses / skirts to work, but I have worn this one so different ways! I also wear the gray open cardigan a ton. It works with leggings and a tee on the weekend or with a blouse tucked in underneath for work," she said. "Overall, I discovered that pants need to be more investment items, whereas tops can be swapped out, so will need to budget for that when I do my spring capsule. Also, that shoes can really change an outfit from casual to dressy, so I want to experiment with that next."

When asked what advice she would give me (or anyone who wants to try building a capsule wardrobe) she stressed these three things:

1. You have to plan.
2. Keep it fun - it's still shopping!
3. Be honest about your lifestyle and what type of wardrobe you really need.

I thought that was great advice, so have been doing quite a bit of research (and acquiring a few pieces!) since then to apply the concept of a capsule wardrobe to my own closet. Stay tuned – I'll be sharing the results soon!

Thanks, Audrey!

#2. Use aspirin to remove sweat stains and whiten shirts. 
One of my favorite t-shirts and a lightweight cardigan had been starting to look a little dingy. I crushed up three aspirin tablets, mixed the powder with just enough water to make a paste, rubbed it into the yellowish areas, and let it sit for a few hours. Then, I washed them normally (but separately) with two more aspirin tablets crushed up and added to the detergent. This wasn't a 100% perfect fix, but it definitely lessened the stains and whitened the shirts overall.


#3. Use a hairdryer and thick socks to stretch too tight shoes. 
These studded flats are super cute and comfortable, but just slightly too tight in the toes. I found a thick pair of socks, dampened them, shoved my feet into the shoes, and then used my hairdryer. You do need to keep moving the dryer around, as it can get really hot, focusing on the areas of the shoe that are too tight. Then wear the shoes around the house, letting them cool and mold to your feet. Repeat as necessary. This worked really well, both with these leather shoes and with the synthetic glitter heels above.

Let me know if you try any of these, or if you have any tricks of your own to recommend!

*Inspired by ideas from Who What Wear, Lifehacker, and Jillian at Coffee, Light & Sweet.

Our house is a little more empty now. My sister, Amanda, who writes the DIY and home decor blog Hammer and Heels, had been living with us for the past nine months but recently went back home to Iowa. She'd moved to California in May, right after graduating from college, and worked for both the San Francisco lifestyle blog Apartment 34 and the online media group POPSUGAR during her time in the Bay Area.

Living with a sibling seems to be a growing trend, according to The New York Times and Apartment Therapy, but there isn't much written about what it's like to live with a sibling who's much older or younger than you. Amanda is a twin; she and her sister Audrey are 10 years and two days younger than me, so we hadn't spent much time under the same roof since she was little. I sat down with her recently to get her thoughts on our time together...and then had her flip the question back on me!

Audrey, Amanda and me, circa 2002

What did you think living with me would be like? (Ida)
Amanda: I didn't really have any expectations going in. Since I'd been living by myself, I knew it would be an adjustment living with other people (and pets!) and managing a job. I was excited to live with you but wasn't sure to expect, since we didn't know each other that well anymore. I found it really wasn't that different from living with Audrey, though, because you and I had the same interests. We'd come home and talk about our day and fashion, beauty, and makeup. The only thing that made it different was also living with C.

What was it like to live with a married couple?
It was interesting. You see what married couples go through and realize how much you have to communicate, and I could see the dynamic of a good relationship. You and C. are good at communicating and really open with one another. And you find out that you're not the only ones who argue! I've tried to apply that to living with my boyfriend now, of doing a better job of figuring out who will do what around the house and talking to one another at the end of our day.

Why did you want to move to California, and was it different from what you'd expected?
It was always a dream of mine to live in California. You see it on TV, but never think you can actually live there. I'd visited you before and loved it; it's just cool and my style.

The fact that I had you guys there made me feel more comfortable, and it was nice to have a home to come back to versus a junky apartment where I'd be alone. After graduation I didn't really know what I wanted to do and wasn't sure how it would all turn out, but I knew if I didn't try living somewhere else that I'd be mad at myself.

What was it like to work in the Bay Area?
I loved it! It was so cool. Everyone is so laid back, and you can wear whatever you want and work doesn't start so early. I can't wear ripped jeans to work anymore!

Also, everyone is incredibly smart and good at their job. I learned so much. People are also way more up on their use technology and the way they work.

What was the most fun?
Definitely how close we were and how easy it was to so many things...Napa/Sonoma, Tahoe, the beach.

The shopping. As much as I disliked BART [the train system] it was amazing to be able to take it and get to any store I'd ever want.

I can't say enough about the weather. It's just perfect.

Also, working for a big name company with a fun culture, where they had things like Wine Fridays and free snacks.

What factored into your decision to move back to Iowa?
I didn't know if I could picture myself living in California forever. It would have been a long/hard process for my boyfriend to find a job there, and he can't change jobs as easily as I can.

Other daily things, like traffic, walking and taking the train instead of being able to drive, and there being tons of homeless people, wear on you. Also buying a house in the Bay Area is so expensive, and you can't necessarily get air conditioning, or a yard, or something nice or new.

Now that you're back home, what's been your overall takeaway of your experience?
The one word I would use is clarity. I'm glad that I did it like I'd always wanted, but I definitely appreciate the Midwest more now and I wouldn't have learned that otherwise. I found out that Iowa is not so bad; that I can live here and that's ok.

Things that didn't necessarily matter to me before, like being close to friends and family, the ability to have a house and a yard, and being able to drive to the grocery store and work turned out to be important.

I also got a lot of clarity about my career. I loved working at both Apartment 34 and POPSUGAR and was lucky to find a great job with Gordmans in Omaha. Apartment 34 was right in line with my personal interests but it helped me discover that I wanted to work for a larger company. And I wouldn't have known that I loved working in affiliate marketing if it hadn't been for my job at POPSUGAR.

Turning the tables, what was the overall experience like for you? (Amanda)
Ida: It was really fun for me to have you live with us! It definitely felt like more of a family, a home, with three of us here. I loved having someone around who shared the same interests and to discover how much we have in common. I've always said that I've been waiting all my life for you and Audrey to grow up so we can do things together!

I also really enjoyed spending time one on one with you and getting to know you as your own person. It was always you and Audrey together before, and this experience allowed me to discover your individual personalities and interests, and how similar (and different!) we all are.

I do think the age gap between us made more of a difference to me than it did for you. It was really challenging a lot of times to act like your sister instead of your parent. That's a hard line to straddle, and I would forget that this was your first time living somewhere else, your first job, your first time trying to figure out what a credit report...I didn't know what you didn't know. Often, it was a lesson in patience, though I was able to push a lot of those "parent" responsibilities onto C. so that we could maintain our relationship as sisters. C. and I joke that allowed me to play "good cop" while he had to be "bad cop" – but it worked!

I also think I learned a lot from you. You gave me the confidence to finally start blogging myself and how to embrace social media. When I think back to just over a year ago, when I wasn't even on Facebook or any other social media yet, it's been an incredible change. Thank you for helping inspire me on that journey!

C., me and Amanda with Mugsy the Pug during the summer of 2014

Have any of you ever lived with a sibling? What was the experience like for you?

Happy New Year! Are you as excited about a fresh start in 2015 as I am? 2014 was a stressful year, in many ways, and I'm looking forward to putting that all behind me and moving forward.

I love resolutions and usually make a ton of them, but this year I want to try something different and just focus on a few key changes I want to make in my life. Over the past few weeks, I've been thinking through what holds me back from doing the things I want, and the answer is most often the same – not enough time or not enough money.

For example, C. and I been talking about taking a trip to France for years, but it keeps getting postponed (for one time- or money-related reason or another). I want to make sure that we're spending money on what really matters to us, so we can do the things we most want.

So, these are the three areas I'm planning to focus on (and have some fun ideas in the works already, that I'll be sharing over time):

• Student loans. For those of you who don't understand the student loan debt crisis, lucky you! When C. and I finally finished our schooling and moved to the Bay Area to find jobs in the midst of the 2008 economic crisis, we were making payments to 13 different lenders each month because no one would offer consolidation at that time. We've made a lot of progress since then, but need to do more. Recently, we've consolidated yet again to lower our interest rates and reduce the number of lenders we have (now at a manageable four!) through SoFi, a company I really like so far. 
• Food. This week, I sat down and categorized all our spending for the past three months using Mint, providing proof of what I'd suspected – we are spending way too much on food. Not just going out to eat and takeout, but also groceries (we live right down the street from Whole Foods, which has become a convenient curse). I don't have a full solution mapped out yet, but we've agreed to at least plan ahead and keep more items on hand to make quick dinners when we're not cooking Blue Apron meals. Mint also allows you to set a budgeted amount for a specific category, which you can check at any time with their mobile app, and shows your spending using colorful pie charts. For someone like me who loves metrics and visuals, it's fantastic.
• Clothing/fun spending. As part of a married couple, I know too well that which expenses to keep separate and which to merge is a complicated and never-ending discussion and that everyone needs to find a system that works for them. While C. and I need to tackle student loans and food together, this is an area where I wanted to focus myself. I love shopping but need to do a better job of making sure that when I buy something, it's really worth it to me. I've been hearing a lot about capsule wardrobes lately, so that's one idea I may be exploring and sharing with you soon!