Why I Should Move To A New City

The end of the semester and finals have kept me busy the past two weeks. I’m approaching the final days of my third semester in graduate school. I (finally) completed my research paperwork in order to write my capstone paper needed to graduate from the program. As long as I finish that research paper and complete my coursework next semester, I will officially have a Masters of Arts. I honestly, truly, deeply cannot wait until May graduation. I have high hopes I will finish, but I like to keep everything in perspective and try to take this one day at a time.

I’ve been dealing with a great deal of uncertainty lately. Between looking for a new job or potential internship for next semester, trying to get through finals and scheduling for next semester, it has been exhausting.

But, being my true anxious self and a planner almost to a fault, I can’t help but job search and apartment hunt in other cities. I’m not planning on moving anytime soon, but within the next 6-7 months I need to start making moves. At the very least, I want to have an idea of potential job sites and housing options. I would like a bit of an idea of where to look for apartments, the best neighborhoods, what type of apartment I want to live in, etc. Most importantly, I need to figure out what I can realistically afford. My trip to NYC almost two weeks ago, of course, had me big city dreaming. When I was younger, I wanted to go to college in NYC, until I realized going out of state to school was financially out of reach. I’ve been lucky getting Federal aid and some scholarships in graduate school, so I don’t have to depend on costly private loans.

Even Washington, D.C., which appears somewhat more affordable than NYC (whatever affordable means), still costs a hefty chunk of change. When you do a comparison, both cities virtually cost the same in terms of housing, but from my basic searches online, I have come across some better options in the DC area. Both cities are at the top of my list. I don’t know that I would consider anywhere else, except maybe Philly. I’m definitely an East Coast girl; the West Coast is too far and too laid back for me.  I don’t think my type-A behavior would fit in all that well. I think its best to leave the West Coast destinations at the top of my travel list, not so much a place to call home.

My best friend further spurred the topic when she told me of her and her boyfriend’s plans to move. Maybe to NYC? Maybe to another city? Within my close circle of friends, getting out of Pittsburgh is a top priority.  Maybe it is because most of us grew up here, went to college here and have never left; we are all yearning to venture off to unchartered territory. (This article I found summarizes why moving is the best idea ever in the history of ever.) But I can’t help but think the only way we’d make it is if we all shared a one bedroom apartment in one of these ultra expensive cities.

On the other hand, thousands, even millions of people have done it. So many have moved away to other cities even countries, probably with less than we have saved up, and have built successful and comfortable lives. I guess that also depends on your definition of successful and comfortable.

During Thanksgiving break, I watched one of my favorite movies, A League of Their Own. I absolutely love that movie, always have. In it, Marla Hooch waits at the train station to go to tryouts with Kit and Dottie. She’s sitting in the station with her dad, very reluctant to go. He tells her, “you have to go where things happen.” That struck me, especially at this juncture in my life. I want to go where things happen and live in another place and experience another part of the world I never have before. I know if I don’t, I’ll regret it later, and worrying about all the minute details may shadow all the reasons why I want to set off in the first place. But, I shouldn’t let those worries deter me from doing what I always wanted to try. All you can do is try, really.

All images via Pinterest.

Link Love November 9th: Food!

Food. Sustenance. We need it to live. It’s a staple of our social lives. Food basically equals life. So this extremely belated edition of Link Love focuses on food. I’ve been trying to stay on a balanced diet since I’m training for my first 5k.  Needless to say, my Instagram obsession has focused heavily on food in the last week or so. Below are a few of my favorite Insta accounts that feature food. Because food, that’s why.

Food Chasers:  I found Food Chasers Instagram through my hours of endless Instagram perusing. It’s a hobby, I will admit it. They have other information you can find on their website, but Instagram is where its at. They post so many pictures of gut-busting sandwiches, cookies, anything you can imagine from all over the country.

The Naughty Fork:  Somewhat similar to Food Chasers, The Naughty Fork is only an Instagram account featuring some of the most mouthwatering deliciousness in all of America. You can tag your own Instagrams (hashtag)thenaughtyfork (#thenaughtyfork) or (hashtag)phaat (#phaat) and your food might show up on this account.

Chewyorkcity:  Chewyorkcity is a sight basically identical to the two featured above, but it’s all about one of my favorite cities in all the world, New York. I’ll be headed to the Big Apple in a few weeks and have been constantly thinking about food places I must try.  I found what I believe to be the Mecca of ice cream worshippers at Hay Rosie Craft Ice Cream Company in Brooklyn, NY through Chewyorkcity. I’ll be staying in Brooklyn for most of the trip and this place is only a few blocks away from where I’m staying! Best believe I will find this place to pick up one of their famous BarnBurners, which is basically ice cream engulfed in warm chocolate chip cookie dough (featured below).

I can’t even deal with that picture of deliciousness. I plan to do everything in my power to get to Hay Rosie to shove my face with a BarnBurner.

EatPGH:  I’m a born and bred Pittsburgher, and I haven’t even put a dent into the food scene here. There are so many new and exciting restaurants popping up in and around the city I can barely keep track. I found my way to EatPGH Instagram and then to their blog here. This account has opened my eyes to all of the exciting eateries in the Burgh that I have yet to try. It makes me sad, but at the same time excited for all the places I need to sink my teeth into. If you ever find yourself in the Pittsburgh area, check out their sites for restaurant ideas!

Today I…

conquered a fear!  I’ve been trying lately to conquer fears, even little ones the pop up along the way.  It is all part of my “trying new things, getting over irrational fears and just kicking ass in general” lifestyle change.

Today, my best friend and I went to Seven Springs Mountain Resort  in Seven Springs, PA.  It is a skiing/snowboarding resort about an hour and a half southeast of Pittsburgh.  We decided to head out this morning to check out the resort’s Autumnfest celebration during weekends in the fall.  I had never been to Seven Springs, ever in my whole life, although I have a lot of friends who snowboard and spend winter weekends there.

The fear part had to do with the drive there.  We had to take the turnpike, which is totally not a big deal, but for me it is.  I really don’t like navigating new places, especially when I’m not totally sure how to get there (what ever would we do without GPS?).  When I was little my dad used to sit around the house and read a giant book of maps of Pennsylvania and surrounding states.  He literally studied roads and how to get places.  Now that we all have GPS, we are all pretty spoiled in that respect.  I can definitely read a map but if I had to rely on one just to drive an hour away, I don’t know what I would do!  Actually, I do know what I would do.  I would study that map and figure it out just like anything in life.  So even though it doesn’t seem like a big deal to most (it wasn’t to my BFF/copilot for the day) it was a big deal to me, and gosh darnnit I am proud of myself. (Pats self on back)

So much like my Philly trip, I made it an survived!  Autumnfest was a little less than what we expected but we still had fun.  It had rained the night before and some serious fog was making its way off of the mountains on our drive up.  We could barely see ahead of us because the fog was so thick once we got off the turnpike and ascended up the mountain.  But the scenery (what we could see of it) was beautiful!  I’m a city girl at heart, but being out in the mountains is an awesome feeling.  Fresh air and the leaves changing is a nice escape from the concrete jungle.

We had a nice lunch at a little restaurant at the resort.  We ordered the most delicious apple cinnamon sangria filled with liquor soaked apples.  It was SO GOOD.  We also took a scenic chair lift ride even though it was freezing cold!  But we conquered a mini-fear there because the chair lift heights are no joke, and there is only a little metal bar that keeps you in the seat.  Overall, we had a great fall day!  What did you do today?

xo

Carla

Made in the U.S.A.

I spent Labor Day weekend visiting two of my best friends from college in Philadelphia.  We had tickets to the Budweiser Made in America Festival that weekend.  Jay-Z created the festival and curates the music acts as well.  With a lineup including Pharrell, Kanye West, Girl Talk, Tiesto, Steve Aoki, J. Cole, City and Colour, and so many more I knew I could not miss this concert.

The trip was a big deal for me, mostly because I was flying to Philly on my own…my first flight alone.  I know, doesn’t seem like a big deal at all, and it is not a big deal (especially Pittsburgh to Philly, literally a 45 minute flight).  The thing is, I’m a nervous flyer.  I’m basically nervous for life in general, so I was taking advantage of the trip alone to overcome some fears.  I’m a type A, obsessive organizer/planner and navigating something new on my own is a big deal to me.

To make a long story short, I MADE IT AND SURVIVED!

When I arrived to my friend’s amazing apartment in Fairmount, we immediately made dinner reservations at Fare. That night, we dined al fresco on truffle oil fries, short rib flatbread, arugula salad and amazing basil infused cocktails.  Did I mention the restaurant is across the street from Eastern State Penitentiary?  Yeah, it is, and it makes for an amazing view at dinner.  It’s crazy big and looks like a fortress.  I’m not-so-secretly obsessed with old, abandoned buildings and Ghost Adventures, so I’m pretty bummed we didn’t take a tour, but I’LL BE BACK.

The first day of the concert was hot, like as hot as the surface of the sun.  Luckily, we waited until the evening hours to head over to the festival to catch the acts we wanted to see rather than staying at the venue all day (no re-entry).  Kanye headlined that night, and his performance was awesome.  It was my first time seeing him live, so I was fully prepared for endless rants and raves, Kanye style, but he kept it to a minimum.  No Kim K sighting, although she was definitely there according to her Instagram.

We all woke up on day 2 tired, so we were off to brunch!  Brunch is such a huge thing in Philly, and I LOVE THAT.  In Pittsburgh, not so much; restaurants that do brunch often only serve brunch on weekends or only Sundays, but in Philly, it’s brunch all day everyday.  We brunched at Prohibition, this super cool bar with an epic brunch.  I had the Roast Pork Benedict, and it was delicious!  I opted for some coffee rather than a mimosa (gasp! I know).

On our way to the concert, gray skies in the distance, I was a little less than hopeful that the rain would hold of, and it didn’t.  It started to lightning and thunder, and they kicked everyone out of the festival site.  Luckily, we were with friends of friends who lived just across the street and were able to hang out there until they reopened the festival.  Spoon resumed their set at the Rocky Stage and down came the rain!  It poured (no lightning this time), and we danced around in the pouring rain and mudd and had an awesome time.  It was so much fun.  We kept the party going for Girl Talk, Pharrell and Tiesto.  By the time Girl Talk performed, the rain subsided.  All of the performances that night exceeded my expectations.  There is definitely something magical about good concerts, and Made in America was no different.  Dancing around to Pharrell singing “Happy” live with 60,000 strangers is something I’ll never forget.

A bit of advice:  if you’re attending a multi-day festival, definitely try to find one loyal buddy/best friend to stick with the entire time.  Trying to keep a giant group together is so difficult in a sea of 60,000 people and limited cell phone service.  So many people in one fairly small area in an already jam-packed city…cell phone service was seriously lacking.  Also, ladies, stick with hands-free accessories like backpacks or manageable cross-body bags.  I used a Mossimo black faux-leather backpack from Target pictured below.  I don’t think it is available online anymore but they have a similar bag here.  It was the perfect size, hands-free and came with tons of compartments.  It definitely came in handy during the rain.  Everything in my bag stayed dry.  I kept my cellphone in an inside zipper pocket, and it stayed completely clear of the elements.

I’d have to say the best part of this trip, other than the concert and seeing my friends, was traveling alone.  There came a point waiting for my flight home, sitting in Philly International where I realized I had forgotten that I was totally alone.  Lately, I’ve been my own champion, forcing myself to do things that I probably wouldn’t or would have never considered a few years ago.  But the trip definitely helped my fear of flying and traveling alone.  No step is too small when you’re moving in a new direction.  Thank you Philly and Made in America; it was a dream.  Until next year!

xo Carla