A special annoucement to my readers.

Hi everyone!

You are probably wondering why I restarted this blog and then all of a sudden stopped posting. Well here is why:

As I was blogging on this site I still had this itch to start a brand new blog about parenting a child in a big city. I figured hey, I will keep blogging on this site and start a new one, and it will be all good.

Well, I came to find out that between working full-time, being a contributor for The Local Tourist, my new site, and raising a toddler, something had to give.

I feel that I am at a point in my life where my daughter consumes me but in a great way, and I couldn't help but decide that what I had to give up was this site. Unfortunately, giving up my job right now is not an option (but through blogging maybe one day!).

Feel free to email me or write comments below if you have ANY questions regarding moving to a big city and how to adjust to living in one. I may even throw some posts on my new site regarding this, after all, I have been through it all in all stages in my life, and now as a mom.

Thank you so much for those who supported this site and your comments, they really mean a lot to me, and inspired me to take blogging to the next level again. This time, by joining the mom blogging community.

I will keep this site up because after all, this blog was where it all started, my interest in pursuing writing again. I figure it is also going to be a timeless resource of the posts I have up here already.

And I may pop in here just to let you know what my new site is as soon as I get it up and running.

Thanks again! And see you around the blogosphere :-)

Looking for a job in the big city: what you should know.

      Ok. So you decided you want to live in the big city and even saved up enough to make your move.

     Now what?

     Well, your next move should be on where you will be working. Whether you are a student or a young professional wanting a change of scenery, you will need to keep up with your expenses and standard of living.

      Before I moved for graduate school, I had to think of where I'll be working during my studies. I had multiple jobs that I worked in before I landed my career job after I graduated. In a big city, you have the advantage of having a variety of jobs you can choose from.

     Hostessing and waiting tables in a major restaurant and/or bar is a great way to make cash with flexible hours. These are minimum wage jobs but the tips people leave is where you can reach true money making potential. This is probably the largest sector of jobs in a big city like Chicago which is known for its world class dining and entertainment.

     Find out which local papers are well known in your desired big city and check the job ads there. In my case I used The Chicago Reader and the Chicago's section of Craig's List. I have also been known to walk up and down through various neighborhoods and asked owners of the establishment of any job openings-you would be surprised that a lot of positions won't be posted or advertised anywhere.

     Now the tricky part-convincing your prospective employer that you are willing to relocate and stay for awhile in your new big city. For me, I had a friend that was willing to let me stay at her place for long stretches of time and was able to use her address. If you can be in a similar situation where you have a friend or a relative that lives in the desired city of your choice, use this to your advantage! I was told by someone who worked in Human Resources that your chances of snagging a job is greater when using a local address.

     However, I know not everyone will have this option. When seeking for a position, whether applying in person or sending a resume on-line, absolutely make sure that you mention somewhere that you are more than willing to relocate and move.

     For you young(or older) professionals-you may find it easier than students to find a well paying position in your field. However, in a big city it can get competitive because many career minded individuals like yourself are also pursuing for the same high profile position. Nothing wrong working in  the restaurant or bar industry in the meantime until you do land your dream job, so take these positions in stride if you really want to move to the big city!

For more tips on finding a job in a big city, email me with any questions, I can help!

Apartment hunting in the city-advice on finding that perfect apartment within budget.

My first apartment in the city was in an up and coming neighborhood called the South Loop here in Chicago. It was fabulous-a two bedroom loft with a great rooftop overlooking the downtown skyline and walking distance to Soldier Field. It was about $1250 a month which I was splitting with a roommate. I was about to start graduate school and it was up my alley because all I had to do was hop on the #3 bus and I was there in no time. 

What I didn't know that even though I was splitting the rent with a roommate, the numbers added up quickly when you threw in utilities such as heat, air, gas, electricity and so forth. Also, I had a car and paid about $100/month for parking which is normal where I come from.

Let's just say I burned through my savings really fast. Sure, it was conveniently located downtown, and super close to my school, and in a great great neighborhood, very close to Michigan Ave. and all its perks. I suppose it was ok for those couple years of graduate school but before you know it I was moving back home with my parents for two years. When I got a job after grad school and moved out to the city again, I was able to not make that same mistake again. Here is some advice that you should follow when finding that perfect apartment in the city...

First of all, get a job. You are probably thinking wait a minute, I thought this was about apartment hunting! I am mentioning the job part because the job you are going to hold while living in the city will set the bar for how much you can and should spend on an apartment. Once you land that job take a look at your monthly budget and see how much you can incorporate your rent without going broke at the end or even worse, owing more than you can afford. I did have a Hosting gig downtown that paid decent but I was BARELY making ends meet, even at times here and there had some financial help from family. Ouch. 

When I moved back to the city I played it smart this time. Since I was jobless for 10 months, I only had a couple thousand in my name when I did land that new job. I opted for a small studio in a not so glamorous neighborhood but still close to public transportation should I want to go downtown or any other parts of the city where all the action was. I had free street parking, and my utilities were included in the rent which is a HUGE plus and can save you a ton of money if you can find a place that includes heat, air, gas and electricity. 

Everybody's situation is different. If you have been saving a good deal of money prior to your move to the city-great! You may be able to go a little bigger than a studio. But you should still have a stable job lined up because I am telling you right now, you will burn through your savings fast living in a big city. The savings should be there as an emergency fund should you for whatever reason lose your job or something unexpected comes up. 

Don't listen to your friends or peers or even that roommate you have lined up that they want to go "big" in an apartment in a ritzy part of town. That is what I did and I regretted it. Their financial situation could be different than yours and maybe they can afford that pricey apartment in that high rise downtown. Don't do it.  If they are your true friends, they would understand. When I first moved, I had also heard that there were many people from my high school that also moved to the city. Before you know it, they were back in my hometown because they all decided to live in a trendy part of town known for it's pricey real estate and shopping and most likely, burned through their money pretty quickly. Let's just say they don't live in these parts no more.

My view from apartment #3 before I bought my condo-not shabby and within my budget.

So if you can find an apartment within your budget, that includes heat, air, gas, electricity and free parking, you are off to a great start. Also, keep in mind that you will most likely need to put down a security deposit plus one month's rent in some cases. If you can try to find an apartment where you won't need to do this, great, but the odds can be pretty slim that you can find a landlord that doesn't require this. I heard every state can have different tenant laws too so check with your location on what those tenant laws are, there may not be such a requirement. 

So here are some tips to think about in summary:

1. Get a job lined up.

2. Take a look at how much you bring in a month and base your rent off of that, leaving room for expenses such as groceries, insurance, student loans, car payments etc.

3. To get more bang for your buck, find an apartment that includes heat/air, gas, electricity and possibly free parking if you must bring your car. If public transportation is available and you work in the city I highly suggest you drop the car which can really save you a ton of money on gas, insurance, and parking.

4. Consider living in a not so popular part of town. Usually the touristy parts are more expensive.

5. See if you can find a roommate that can split the costs even further, but if they don't match your values on finding an apartment within budget, then I would stay clear of them and go solo if you have to.

You want to have money left over so you can enjoy your new city! If your entire paycheck goes to your apartment, enjoying the city will then have its limitations, and that is no fun, you moved here to experience the city, not to be confined in it!

If you have a particular place in mind and not sure if you can afford it, email me or write in the comments below-I can help! I will give you that no nonsense answer that you need, not what you want to hear. Tough love here :-)

So you're moving to the big city: how to break the news and being prepared.

That's it. You've decided you're moving to the big city. You visited (or read up on) the city and like what you see, and you think it will be a good decision and a great experience. Living in the city has many opportunities and can be pretty exciting.

What will your family and friends say? Well one thing I can tell you is that you will be drilled on how you will do this, after all, it is a BIG move we are talking about here. Just "visiting" a city and actually living in one is a HUGE difference, believe me, I know. Here are some questions to think about that you should be prepared to answer yourself and that overly concerned parent, sibling, friend, etc:

Where will you work? This question will for sure come up because let's face it, living in the city isn't cheap, and you will need a job to pay for expenses. It's a good idea to start job searching at this point if you haven't already. Sometimes it's a good idea to get that job first and then make that announcement, whatever you are more comfortable with. Kind of a no brainer if you ask me, but when you get excited about something, we usually don't think about these things right away. It's easy to fantasize wanting to live somewhere without really stopping to think about how we are going to fund this new lifestyle of ours.

In the mean time save, save, save so you can at least have 6 months worth of savings for expenses. You will need this money especially for that security deposit and one month's rent that apartments require. You may get some backlash from others that living in the city means bills, bills, bills (duh!) but be prepared to have an action plan on how you are going to budget so you will be financially secure in this department. You don't have to spell it out at this point but just mentioning that you will be working on a budget plan so you can afford to live out there within your means may put that worried parent or friend at ease.

Chicago in the summertime.

Where will you live? Check your local paper and local apartment searching sites when looking for an apartment. In my case here in Chicago, I've used Chicago Reader and Chicago Craig's List. Also Domu is another excellent resource out here for apartment searching that I have used. Ideally, you want something close to your job. However, you may want to move to a neighborhood that has good public transportation if possible where the rent may be cheaper. Consider having a room mate which can help cut the expenses down. Also, apartments that include gas, heat, and water in the rent are your best bet and can cut down on expenses too. Even better, visit your desired city and check out the different neighborhoods and jot down which apartments appeal to you and give the landlord a call for prices.

Why? Why not? Try to stay positive and focused and don't let others try to change your mind. I had coworkers and relatives before I made my move who were such naysayers. These are the type of people you want to just shut out and not listen to. Many people are very comfortable living in their small towns and when they hear someone wanting to move to a large urban setting, it can make them feel uncomfortable and insecure for whatever reason. It IS different, and you will be dealing with a diverse population compare to where you are living now. But this is why you are moving out there right? You want to experience a new environment, and you prefer the fast pace lifestyle that gives you variety. Bigger cities offer many things to do, restaurants, great shopping, challenges and more.

So this post was just in a nutshell how to be prepared to make that announcement and how to answer those hard pressed questions when making a move to the city. Look out for future posts as I get into more detail on job searching, apartment searching, and much much more. Good luck!

Taking this blog to a new level.

Hi everyone, long time no blog!

I have been on another yet, hiatus...

First off I have been approved to be a contributing blogger on The Local Tourist! Check out my posts about things to do around Chicago-you'll love it! I am having so much fun as I write about the different places and events I am checking out.

I have also been busy with my almost one year old who will soon be a year this week! I can't believe how fast the first year went. I have been busy planning her birthday party and what not.

We finally painted our condo too-it's nice to finally look at walls with colors and not just white walls.

On top of all of this, I have been thinking about ways I can get more involved in the blogosphere...I miss writing, and I used to write short stories and read tons of books for fun when I was younger, but that  all that came to a halt when I started college.

I also have been reading up on so many ways to turn blogging into a career, and how so many people are doing it, especially those moms with young children They are truly inspirational. From food blogs to mom blogs to DIY blogs, your sky is the limit it seems with blogging.

So with that being said, I had been brainstorming ideas on how I can get involved and had a couple ideas. First off, I want to take this blog to a new level. I eventually want to pay for an actual domain but for now I am going to hold on to this domain name at Blogspot. I am thinking to create another site and actually purchase a domain but still tweaking what to call it, will let you know once I do!

I will be posting about advice and tips on how to adjust and live in a big city such as Chicago. I have been through it all from living broke during grad school to finding jobs to making new friends in what seems impossible in a large urban area. Many of my peers who went from small town to big city didn't make it because of some mistakes they had made. I am here to tell you what you need to do in order to stay in the big city for as long as you can.

So look out for the following weeks as I make the changes...wish me luck!

Great coffee in a great neighborhood-Metropolis Coffee Co.

If you live in Chicago, you very well know where all the "hotspots" are. This also includes where you can get a great cup of coffee from a local mom and pop shop.

Enter Metropolis Coffee Company.

When I was house hunting I knew I wanted to stay in the neighborhood of Edgewater. I could write a whole post about this neighborhood(which eventually I will). One great feature of where I live is this coffeehouse. I am truly spoiled and lucky I live five minutes walking distance to this place. It's been voted many times as the most popular coffee in the city and they even get customers from all over the country.

You know they sell the best coffee when other local coffeehouses sell Metropolis Coffee as well. Even some of the hotels downtown offer this coffee for their guests.

This place attracts students from the nearby university, parents with their toddlers, the mobile office worker, and groups of friends catching up. It's the ultimate example of the neighborhood coffeehouse.

Metropolis is known to roast and brew their own coffee,which means you can get a freshly roasted cup of coffee each time. The baristas are friendly and know their stuff. Taking a bag or two home is available for those last minute visitors you want to impress.


The coffeehouse is cozy,warm, and always decorated with local art that you can also purchase. Pastries and other delights are available to accompany that hot cup of java. And of course, free Wifi.

When the weather is nice, you can take that coffee to go and walk just a few feet towards the lake. Metropolis coffee in hand walking along Lake Michigan is truly paradise!

So if you happen to be venturing on the Northside of Chicago, this is the place to be. Good coffee, good atmosphere and best of all, it's local. It's truly the anchor of this neighborhood and a good representative of what Chicago coffeehouses are all about.

Need a cab? Contact Chicago Cabbie.

Hailing a cab in Chicago can be a hit or miss. In my case, I stick to public transportation for the most part.

But if I ever DO need a cab, I definitely will be contacting Chicago Cabbie. Notice I said "contact" as oppose to "calling".

That's because contacting Chicago Cabbie is as easy as following him on Twitter and sending out a Tweet request. Social Media at it's best. I love this concept.

Many people don't hail cabs because most cabs don't accept credit cards. Chicago Cabbie accepts credit  card as a form of payment! Also, they provide free Wifi service so you don't have to use up your own data, how cool is that?

For more information follow Chicago Cabbie on twitter @ChicagoCabbie.

Meet Melania...

Hi there! Sorry since it's been awhile since I have blogged, but as you have read in my previous post, I was getting ready to become a mom and have been busy being one! Life does definitely change as the cliche goes when becoming a parent. Many responsibilities come into play and your child becomes your #1 priority.

Not only that, I had to also transition into being a "working mom", which means I do the daily 9-5 grind as well. Luckily, I have family to watch her so no need for a babysitter or daycare. My family has always been this way, I was babysat by family members only too, gives you a peace of mind knowing that it isn't some stranger watching your own kids. It may work out for some, but it's just not our thing to have outside family members watch our kids. What's great about my job is though is that I never work nights and  weekends, so at least I have that going for me.

I really miss blogging so hopefully now with winter approaching, I will be spending more time doing what I love: writing and reading. You may see more baby posts but I will continue to write about my navigations of city living, and this time it will be navigations of city living as being a parent as well, which is always a hot topic around here.

Play dates in the city-do they exist? And can I keep my coffee dates?

 As I get closer and closer to becoming a mom, I have already thought about what life is going to be like having a child. One of the many things I have been pondering about is whether or not it will be difficult to meet other parents who have children in the city.

 I can imagine living in the suburbs how easy it can be because majority of couples who have children live out there. As far as the city goes, it can pose a challenge. I dearly love my friends who don't have children in the picture or even marriage on the horizon and I will continue to keep in touch with them. I do know that a lot of times, people's relationships change once they have kids, but I really hope that won't be the case with me, and that I can continue to have a variety of friendships. But I do know that meeting other couples with kids would be beneficial as I can bond with other parents who are either going through the same thing I will be going through or have already been there and can relate to me.

There are some parenting groups that I have seen here and there in Chicago, so I will just have to explore them and see if they are worth checking out. I do know a couple mothers that have already offered to hang out once I get established in the future so I will just have to see how that will go, it's a good start.

If you know of any great Chicago parent groups or organizations let me know in the comments section!

And Happy Mother's Day for those who are already mamas!

Ann Sathers coming to the Edgewater neighborhood

The Granville redline stop corridor has been getting more and more new businesses every time I turn around. With the huge shocker of Banana Foster Cafe closing abruptly, I am happy to learn that the empty storefront will now be the new home of another Ann Sather location. Ann Sather  is owned by Alderman Tunney from the 44th Ward and has few locations throughout the north side of Chicago.

I purchased a home in this area so I am really happy to know that the businesses are continuing to pour in. Plus, having an empty storefront on the corner of a busy street is never good, so this is definitely welcoming to the neighborhood.

It will be fun to check out their brunch and lunch menu steps away from my home with my family when it opens.

My guest post on MyThirty Spot

So here it is! I was a guest blogger on mythirtyspot.com for their Love for 30 Project. The project is about what is it that you love about your 30's. It was really fun writing the post and it was a good reflection on where I am in my life today. Check it out:

Food, Fashion, Fun, & Friends in Your 30's

Coming soon to a blog near you...

Look out for my guest post in the following week for a site I wrote for called My Thirty Spot. I really enjoyed writing the post and it is an honor to be a guest blogger for the site. I will post the link as soon as it is featured!

I did it, I deactivated my Facebook Profile

So I did what most probably have a hard time doing-deactivated my Facebook. What made this easy was that you don't really get rid of your Facebook all together, as it does give you an option to "just temporarily" deactivate it. All you simply do to reactivate it is log in, but you no longer exist in the meantime in the Facebook world.

I did it solely because it was WAY too distracting for me-before after work I'd plop down in front of my Mac and linger on FB for hours. I felt tired and had a hard time sleeping at night due to looking at a computer screen for so long.

I also am on Twitter (and still am) but what is great about Twitter is you read all the news feeds you missed out, post a sentence or two, not really look at pictures, and you are on your way. I actually like Twitter way better because it's less private and a great way to catch up on all your favorite news and business media outlets. Plus it's a good way to just keep in touch with your REAL friends in this crazy busy world we live in.

I heard on the radio the other day that you are more prone to Depression if you go on Facebook! The reason they stated was because you see all these people posting pictures of "being happy all the time" and that can stir some resentment and well, depression.

It could also be that some of the posts and statuses people put up are ridiculous and it gets to the point where you think "why am I wasting my time reading and looking at these posts when I can be doing something WAY more constructive, like the beef vegetable soup that I just made that took me a few hours to make, but it turned out great and it was so worth it! I felt that I actually accomplished something on the home front.

Then there are the ones that just simply "collect" friends and won't even say ONE WORD to you. AT ALL. Honestly, I don't know if they would even notice if you unfriend them. Really.

But, who are we kidding, I do miss it just a little. We'll see how long I last. I will be making a HUGE announcement in May so that might definitely change, I think it will be worth posting.

Merry Christmas!

You may be wondering why the belated Christmas wishes but actually it's not belated at all-today, January 7th marks Christmas, on the Julian Calendar that is followed by many Orthodox Christians around the world.

So with that being said. Merry Christmas to my family and friends around the world!

New Year's Resolutions

New Year's Eve has people reflect on the year's past on what they have accomplished or what they hope to accomplish in the coming year. Although resolutions are so cliche, I think it's a good idea to have some sort of goals to work towards as we start a New Year.

The New Year allows us to start fresh, to wipe the slate clean and move forward to a better self.

As for me, I would like to think about what I would like to do in the coming year which I suppose you can call them "resolutions" but I like to think them as improving my "quality of life".

I want to be able to travel more and attend more events such as concerts, museums, etc. Of course this would mean having to cut back on other splurges such as going to fancy restaurants and dining out. I am also going to make cooking at home a priority and in fact have started that already.

Fashion and shopping will always be on my activities list but I know if I shop in a way where I can still look fashionable but not have to break the bank I should be ok. Investing in quality pieces also goes a long way than just buying several pieces where they won't last after one year (just gotta hit the sales!).

Cutting back on dining out should mean that I can afford a gym membership, and I would love to join the gym that is literally around the corner from me. However, I am waiting until the weather gets better and they do their $1 initiation fee special, which would be worth it to me. It will then last me for the whole year.

Of course not dining out does not mean not being able to hit up a wine bar or lounge once in awhile :-) And I just might host an event at my house next year, at least one :-)

So there you have it, my New Year's resolutions!  I want to be able to look back on this post and see how much I have accomplished. Plus, more exciting surprises for 2012 are yet to come and I'll keep you posted!

Have a safe, Happy New Year's everybody!

Local designer spotlight: Meghna Designs

(Credit: Dijana's Dare to Blog)

In addition to my blog, I also write for Chicago's Fashion Scene Examiner. Meghna Designs , a jewelry line based out of Chicago, contacted me and sent me some samples so I can feature them to my readers.

The jewelry line features bright, colorful jewels that range from necklaces, cuff bracelets and dangle earrings. These pieces are perfect to spice up your holiday wardrobe this season. 

You can also pair these up with some basics like t-shirts and jeans which can instantly glam up your simple wardrobe in seconds. Sometimes all it takes is accessories to really make an outfit stand out.

Prices range in the $200-$300 range, which to me is a little steep for costume jewelry, but the stones are pretty heavy and I am assuming the stones on these jewelry is what is making them so costly.

Alas I was unable to keep any of the samples, which to me, was interesting, considering most bloggers who get sent samples usually can keep the items as long as you write about them. Their reason was that they don't have enough for their showroom so they are unable to offer any samples. Too bad. 

To check out the rest of the line please visit the site here: Meghna Designs

The older, the wiser....

you become. I celebrated my birthday last week and I find myself being wiser than I ever was 10 years ago. I have also become more private about a lot of things and don't feel like I need to shout on top of mountains every moment of my life if I choose not to. Or that I don't need to break the news right away.

I also definitely have learned that the most important things in life are your health, your family, and your friends. And it's even more about the quality not the quantity of friends either.  I also learned that it's no use trying to compete with others and complain what you don't have compare to what they have.  There are people out there who also don't have what you have also. There will always be someone out there with more money, more status, more power,etc than you, so no need to worry about this.

I work in a dialysis center with people who have chronic kidney disease. It's a daily reminder for me how grateful I really am to have my health. Sometimes your day goes bad and you can't help wonder why the things happen the way they do. But my line of work puts me back into reality and I am thankful for that.

Hello there...

Long time no blog! I got super super busy towards the end of the summer and early fall. After numerous searches from one side of the city to the other, I finally found my match and moved into a beautiful brand new two bedroom condo by the lake. I have on my block alone two Thai restaurants, two pizza places, two coffee shops and two drycleaners(weird how everything comes in pairs).

I also had my in-laws staying with me from Europe for two months, amongst other things(more to come on that ;-) So yea, I have been pretty busy, but I am back and slowly starting to blog again.

I will write some more later, just thought I'd drop in real quick! Cya soon!

Summer Healthy Living Series 2011-update

Hello again,

The thermostat is rising here in Chicago, over the past couple weeks we have reached 90-100 F index temperatures. It put a damper on my running and zumba plans because it's just been way too hot. I took a staycation and did a lot of walking on Michigan Ave, but checking out the city's restaurant scene didn't help either.

So I have fallen of the exercise wagon but I am planning to get back on again. I started off this morning with some strength workouts:lifting weights, sit ups, leg exercises,etc. I will probably do some more this evening.

Tomorrow I'm heading to Indiana to visit family but Monday I am going to aim to get into my routine again. Wish me luck! With these extreme temperatures, it can be challenging. Gotta love Chicago weather!

Summer Healthy Living Series 2011

So after that not so successful attempt to do the Dukan Diet, I decided to get fit and in shape the old fashion way: eat healthy and exercise. The weather in Chicago has finally stabilized so I have kickstarted my diet and work-out routine. It's not a bad idea to journal about it so I was thinking I can write my experiences on my own blog.

First off, I signed up for weekly Zumba classes that so happened to be walking distance to my place which is a bonus. So I do this for 60 minutes a week, I signed up for 5 classes total.

In addition, I have downloaded the couch-2-5k program on my ipod and I am now also running three times a week. I love this program because it starts you off slowly and there is a coach that guides you how long to run for between walking. Every week the program is longer and longer until you reach week 10 where you are supposed to be able to run non-stop for 30 minutes. And the music is great-house music!

I try to make my weekly grocery trips to Whole Foods so I can pick up fresh organic fruits and vegetables. I am trying to get creative with my meals such as cucumber and hummus wraps, different salads, lean meats,etc. If I do crave pizza, which is my favorite, it's usually a thin crust variety with fresh vegetables and mozzarella.

I haven't weighed myself yet so I will have to keep at it and then see my results.

I'll keep you posted and stay tuned for my next post on my progress. I don't have a whole lot to lose but I  do need to shake off this winter weight I still have.