The Social Studyz newsletter is a mix of weekly tools, updates on how we're navigating the in-between, and the occasional peek behind the curtain as we build this in real-time.
Hi in-betweener,
This week:
🌀 a spiral about falling behind on the house timeline
🍻 more about The Blending Lab, plus everything you wanted to know for tomorrow’s tasting
🌀 what we’re spiraling out about this week
Spiraling thoughts are the ones we think on repeat, or that send us straight down a rabbit hole at 3am. Each week, one of us shares, so we can all normalize the spiral instead of pretending we're not having one. Have a spiraling thought you’d like to share? We’d love to feature it.
🚨🚨In-betweener share 🚨🚨
I keep finding myself worried about whether I have fallen behind. I see my friends buying houses and having babies. And I am not. I know I am successful. I know I am good at my job, recognized in my field. I am surrounded by friends, family, and a partner who loves me more than I can say… But am I failing because I am not meeting these other metrics? What happens if I never do?
I keep reminding myself that everyone’s path looks different. And not buying a house DOES fit my lifestyle. I have more flexibility and I haven’t found somewhere that I would want to be tied to for 15 years. Does everyone feel this way and just choose to sink that kind of money anyway? Also, HOW ARE PEOPLE COMING UP WITH THAT MONEY? I don’t understand how my life looks so different from everyone else around me.
asking for a friend
who's setting your timeline?
🍻 in good company
Before events, we'll be spotlighting our partners who are just as passionate about building community. This week, we're in Good Company with The Blending Labs.
Most wineries pour you a flight and tell you what you’re tasting. The Blending Lab hands you the beakers. Michael, Magdalena and Chris started The Blending Lab in 2014 after years of chasing wine from Peru to Türkiye, and noticing that the best part of winemaking was the part nobody else got to do: mixing things together to see what happens. Their first LA tasting room opened in 2016. Now they’re in West Adams, with a second lab in Paso Robles.
Tomorrow, October 24, they’re hosting our Trader Joe’s pumpkin tasting, and pairing each pick with a custom pour.
Thinking about coming?
1️⃣ Can I come alone?
Yes. The tasting is a mix-and-mingle situation, so you’ll end up next to a lot of different people without having to work at it. Every round also hands you something to talk about, whether that’s the wine or which pumpkin thing deserves your vote. Nobody has to come up with an opener. We set these up so in-betweeners meet each other, and the setup does most of that work for you.
2️⃣ What’s included?
Your ticket covers a guided pairing with Chris from The Blending Lab: three wines, each matched with a pumpkin pick. After that, the rest of the lineup comes out for grazing, and you get a ballot to rank your favorites. If you want more, extra glasses and bottles are available to buy.
3️⃣ Will it really be all TJ’s pumpkin foods?
Mostly. We did a first pass and cut a few that felt like a stretch (sorry, pumpkin oatmeal). Around 25 made the final lineup, both sweet and savory.
4️⃣ Should I eat beforehand?
We wouldn’t. There are about 25 dishes, and portions are generous. Come hungry.
5️⃣ What time is this glorious tasting?
The event runs 4–6pm, and the guided pairing kicks things off, so try to get there close to 4.
6️⃣ What if I have a dietary consideration?
We ask about this at signup, so we’ll be prepared. Tomorrow we’ll point out which items to skip. We picked the lineup with everyone’s answers in mind, so you won’t end up holding a cracker.
7️⃣ I have fear of parking in LA (FOPILA).
Same. Good news, though: there’s plenty of street parking around The Blending Lab, and nothing about this one involves circling a structure while your gas light comes on.
🌟come sit with us
Grab a tray, we'll catch you up. Sharing what's new, what's coming, and what you get for being at the table. All the good gossip lives here.
One last chance to join us this month.
The Great (TJ's) Pumpkin Tasting — a wine and pumpkin-food tasting with an official ballot, because pumpkin bisque vs. pumpkin tamales deserves your competitive streak more than your family group chat does.
Looking forward to meeting you in the soupy middle,
Lauren