I read everything. I reply slowly — usually within a week, sometimes two if I’m heads-down on a deep-dive post. If you don’t hear back in three weeks, send a gentle nudge; it almost certainly means your email got buried, not ignored.
Before you write
A lot of incoming questions are answered somewhere on the site already. If you’re trying to figure out where to start, the Start Here page lays out a reading order. If you want to learn the framework I use to evaluate products yourself, the CLEAR Method walks through it step by step. If you’re stuck on a specific product category, the topic pages are organized by room.
What kind of message is this?
Reader question — Just send it. Include enough context that I can answer without three rounds of clarification (what product, what’s the concern, what have you tried).
Press, podcast, or speaking — Head to the Press page first; it has the bio, headshots, and booking info. Then email with the specifics.
Brand pitch or product info — I’m always interested in knowing about products I haven’t seen yet, especially from smaller independent brands. Send the ingredient list, the sourcing story, and what makes it different. I don’t accept sponsored partnerships, gifted product, or affiliate-only relationships — but data is welcome any time.
Collab or guest post — I’m not currently accepting guest posts. If you’ve written something I’d genuinely want my readers to see, send a link, not a pitch.
Correction or bug report — Please send these. Include the page URL and what’s wrong. I’d rather hear it from you than from a comment thread.
Legal or compliance — Email and I’ll route it appropriately.
A note on response time
Casa de Chavez is run by one person — me, an engineer who’s also writing, testing products, and answering email between school pickups. The slow reply isn’t a filter; it’s just how the schedule works. Progress over perfection applies to my inbox too.
