5 Burning Questions ANSWERED!

We asked and answered -- cause that's the kind of gals we are!

Happy new year, dear friends! We asked ourselves 5 questions and then we answered them. And, we take a necessary look back at the amazing evening we were bartenders on Watch What Happens Live. WE HAD FUN. We hope you enjoy.

What Trend From Your Youth Do You Regret?

Emily: Oooh, good one. I suppose there is nothing that I regret — but when I was a freshman in high school I got my nose pierced and it got really grossly avert-your-eyes infected.

I went to a hippy store that sold candles and pipes, hacky sacks and incense and thought to myself … this is the place I choose to have someone put a needle through my body! It was part of a group of stores called “shops at the top,” because they were up a flight of stairs and the entire floor smelled like an fatal patchouli overdose. The woman who owned the store (she is still iconic in my mind) used a piercing gun. On my nose.

I had always been (and truthfully, am sometimes still) very self-conscious about my nose. There were some years that I felt like I looked in the mirror and it was all I could see. Piercing it felt like a way to help forge a new relationship with it. But, my nose was not ready for this power play.

My mom came with me and held my hand, but two things became immediately apparent to us after the deed was done -- the piercing was in a weird spot on my nose, not a cute one, and my nose was very unhappy. It grew a strange red-brown lump around the stud, which I had to see a dermatologist for. Ultimately, the lump had to be cauterized (meaning they had to burn it off my face). I can remember the smell. I can remember the pain. After the appointment I went home and slept for the entire day. The regret? As soon as it was healed I marched myself back to the same smelly place and did it all over again! (The second time however, it worked. I had my nose ring from freshman year of high school through the end of college.)

Deanna: Such a fun question to noodle on. Some trends that are floating up to the surface — my garbage pail kid collection, rubber bracelet stacks, rhinestones and studs on everything. I’m actually catching a real sense memory thinking about that stud puncher.

Vintage The Rhinestone Stud Setter (available on eBay for $9.97 in excellent condition.)

It required more hand strength than my fins ( that’s what my friends call my small, squishy hands) could handle. But I felt powerful holding that device in my fin. I wasn’t a slave to the man. I had control over how much stud and bling was administered. Everything was getting studded - shirts, jean jackets, pillows, socks - so many socks. I had a battery of different colored, thick scrunchy socks that were riddled with my stone work. I remember feeling the scratch of the prongs on my ankles. After a wash or two the prongs would loosen and start pinching into your flesh. I would combat that pinch by wearing a stirrup pant (protective layer) and rocking the double-decker, scrunchy-sock-look with the studded socks on top (additional protective layer.)

Not saying I was a genius -- but close.

The regret? It’s gotta go to my 7th grade Sun In bangs.

Vintage Rare Sun In (available for $45 on eBay - RARE Chattem Vintage 1987)

For some reason, I used Sun In but only on my bangs. I believe it had something to do with thinking that my parents would have a problem with me dying my whole head blonde? Thought I was being subtle. By the end of the summer I had spritzed my way to fire-orangish-blonde bangs. The rest of my head was a dark blonde/light brown. That same summer, I had the bright idea to take some “weight” out of my hair by cutting a chunk of it out at the root. This attack happened about four inches north of my fiery bangs. Both moves were horrendous. It took, give or take, one hundred years to grow all that mess out. Hot mess express.

Emily, did your mom know you were going back to that same rotted place for a piercing? I feel like Sherry would have put her foot down!

Emily: Solid question — maybe we just didn’t know where else to go? How did your mom jive with those banging bangs?

What Is Your Favorite Moment in How to Be Less Old History?

Emily: WITHOUT A DOUBT it was when Deanna and I were bartenders on Watch What Happens Live with Mr. Andy Cohen. (Speaking of, how is the hunt going for his email, D? Someone come through for our gal!) I was so nervous, but having Deanna by my side (literally holding me up - see above) made it very fun. Live truly means live and so it was a very quick out of body experience lasting around 30 mins of pure, weird bliss. I know that we asked a question to couch guest Erika Jayne. For the life of me — I could NOT tell you what it was. Deanna, do you remember?

Deanna: NO CLUE! Can’t believe we got to ask her a question! It was definitely over before it even started and truly thrilling. I remember a few things - wondering if we should pretend to be making a drink (nope), thinking that Erika’s high pony was everything (yep) and a little sad Andy got my name wrong (he said “Deena Chang”.) I also grabbed something from the clubhouse for a photo op once the cameras were down and almost broke it. Was it the shotski? #NoHomeTraining.

I loved getting to take our blowouts out for a post show drink in NYC.

I’ll absolutely co-sign on this being a favorite moment in HBTLO history with our first-ever-episode being a runner up. Young stand-up comic, Brandon Wardell, was our first guest. He waltzed into the studio wearing a sweatshirt that read “FAP” in the GAP font. One of us knew what “FAP” meant and the other did not. We unpacked that term on the spot and we’ve been learning ever since 🫶🏻.

3 more burning questions to go…