Any Spare Change For The Homeless?

Hello world! I know, I know, its been a while. Been busy with my new job and the most painful task of finding an apartment. Lets start with the good first, shall we?
So I'm currently on my 3rd week of the new job and absolutely love it! Unlike my last job where I just did all the drawings, I'm now learning all aspects of design. I was never as interested in the other part (furniture, finishes, fabrics, etc.) because I always associated that with the more "decorating" side of design. Those of you who I've had that scary talk with where I almost tear off your head with the difference between a decorator and a designer know what I mean. BUT when it comes to commercial design its not like that at all. Its all about the cheapest price and durability (but still has to look pretty ;) ). This project is a super huge hotel in Atlanta. Its a renovation so its going to be awesome to see a typical boring/ugly hotel transform into pure awesomeness.  Anyway, because of my France trip quickly approaching, my first deadline is a week sooner and its double the work than ive been used to! Its super scary but if you know me at all, it will get done one way or another. I just may be calling my office my new home for a few nights. And what a perfect segway into housing! Now for the not so nice part....
So apartment searching in New York City is probably one of the worst experiences of my life. Talk about a buzz kill. I thought my big increase in pay would help but not a chance! I was told by one broker I had a student budget...wow... And there are all sorts of protocol for how renting works which makes it that much more difficult. It essentially costs you AT LEAST 3xs your rent to move into a new place if you use a broker. And of course Craig's list is full of scams. Now I know why people resort to the things they do just to afford to live here...dont worry Ma, I won't! But seriously, it's the most ridiculous and depressing thing ever. So if you want to donate to the Valere's Homeless Fund or know someone who has space (in a non sketchy area...believe me, thats hard), holla at me!!! I can use any help I can get. Thankfully Im not in any rush BUT living with your grandmother longer than necessary is not ideal. I will say though, every time I get down because of this search and feel like I'm never going to find anything, I see the beautiful skyline that is New York City ot take a walk through Central Park and remember why I'm here. It's all worth it!

It's A New Dawn, Its A New Day, Its A New Life and I'm Feelin' Good

So funny how everything seems to fall into place. Everything is right on track going better than I expected! As most of you know I got offered my dream job the other day and now im on cloud 9. For those of you who don't know, its with a hospitality design company that has produced some of the most incredible hotels and restaurants. Ever since my last semester of college, I've been DREAMING of doing hospitality design and its just crazy now that yet another dream is a reality.
Today i had lunch in central park and as I was sitting on one of the boulders and looking out at the ever inspiring skyline,  I felt so incredibly lucky that for once things are going the way I hoped. And that NEVERS happens to me.  It's also nice to know that this radical decision to move here wasn't just some silly idea but something that I was able to turn into a valid move that was going to go somewhere.  I start my new job April 29th...its going to feel so weird having a normal job (and an office!) again.  The office is in the ever so swanky Soho and is just such an cool area.
So a big girl job now means finding my own place!! Wahoo!! Starting the search with one of my new friends in NY so well see how lucky I get with finding a nice yet cheap apartment. NY has these ridiculous broker fees and finding a place without the fee but in budget has given me very few choices. Hummmphh....
My celebrity sightings has continued as I saw lady gaga coming out of a hotel. My coworker and I saw some barricades and a bunch of cops hanging around a hotel and the nosey people that we are hung around not knowing who we were waiting for. With all the cops and bodyguards I assumed someone political. Who would have thought lady gaga needs some po-po to protect her! Super cool though...definitely worth waiting in the cold and rain.
So anywho thats my update in a nutshell... excited to go back to Florida at the end of April for the weekend for my dear sissys graduation...going to be nice to see some of you again!!

New York City: Not For The Faint of Heart

As I was taking the bus to work the other day, a girl came aboard and asked the driver to tell her where the subway stop was. She looked as lost as I did on my first day. Like a new kid at school, it just takes time to get acquainted with a new place and new people. Seeing her brought back all the memories of when I first got to NYC and how much I've grown and learned. Some of them include:

Don't look em in the eye .... something that is extremely difficult for me as I looovw people watching.

There is no such thing as a normal subway ride. When they are quiet its creepy. 

Sketchy is completely relative.  What would have made me uncomfortable in Florida is completely normal here.  The first time at my subway stop completely sketched me out....and my dad told me to get over it. Hahaha...it turns out its really not bad at all.

Gotta blend. If you loom like a tourist you will be targeted as one. So essentially you gotta look impatient and pissed all the time.

Have an issue with people who can't speak English? Get over it... foreigners take over this place. Kind of cool actually. 

Gotta get over closterphobia.  Buses and subways get ridiculous and having someones gut in your side is completely normal. And if they don't smell you're lucky.

Essentially you have gotta be one strong and tough person to live here.  Besides be brutal financially and competitive careerwise, there's a lot of things out there that can make a person run for the hills. If you're scared or made uncomfortable easily, get outta here!!

This is one of the craziest yet most awesome city I've been in and I love it. So much to do and ao many different sides to it. Seeing a homeless man outside of a swanky restaurant filled with the uber wealthy is a sight and feeling unlike any other.  The grittyness of New York mixed with its exuberant amount of classiness and richness is what makes it something special.

Anyway, back to the chick on the bus...she ended up asking me about the subway and I was more than happy to help. What I would have given to have someone help me... we chatted on the train and found out she's an au pair from Israel. Super sweet girl. It's those random people and conversations that I love. You never know who you will meet. I can honestly say this place has changed me....for the better, don't worry :)

Life in the Arctic

So I know its been a while but the last couple of weeks have been crazy. I came down with the flu and while I should have been quietly recouperating in bed it was more dramatic than I would have liked. To put it lightly, I left my grandmothers to stay with my aunt and uncle farther up north so I wouldn't get her sick but I was asked not to come back until I was all better. Soooo, yeah.....I ended up staying with my dad's best friend and his family and let me tell you it was fantastic. Such a crazy and hilarious family. Their 2 boys have become the brothers I never had and I felt like I was more at home; coming home after work to the family gathered around the tv and just the hustle and bustle of their lives. Needless to say I didnt want to leave them.
In other news, I got a part time job! I am working at a yogurt shop in the Plaza Hotel. I like to call myself a yogurista (sounds better), even though it is a serve yourself yogurt shop, hahaha. I thought it would be super cool working at the Plaza but dealing with all the rich people and their snotty attitudes I take it back. Last week was horrible, it was one rude customer after another. Old, young, foreign, New Yorkers, it didnt matter and I so wanted to punch them in the face. I find it ridiculous how obsessed customers get with their rewards cards, especially when they make more money in a year than I ever will in my whole life! Uggghhh...its sickening. Ending rant now...on the plus side I really like my co-workers (minus the obnoxious boy who thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread and brags about how he's a musician...that's a whole other story!) and my boss loves me. She hired me as shift leader so I get to tell people what to do...woohoo!!
I started doing some real design things at my internship which I'm really excited about. I got to design options for some custom swinging chairs and met with contractors and painters for quotes for jobs. They are putting me on a project that's involving some major changes, not just furniture so I'm pretty stoked about that. Also met with a head-hunter the other day so I'm feeling optimistic about them helping me find a job. Not that I was going to start doing that for another month or two but it wont hurt to start a little now!
So I'm pretty sure since my last post we have had three snow storms...that's right THREE!! We had two in one week and while I don't mind the snow itself, its how it affects the travelling that's really annoying me. Late buses/extra long bus rides are no bueno...especially when it takes at least an hour to get to Manhattan and a late bus affects everything. However I did get to go on my first sleigh ridding experience the other week with my dad's friend and his son. And it was a legit sled, not one of these plastic things. I have never been so bruised or sore in my life, but boy was it fun!! We are currently in the middle of yet ANOTHER storm so I'm thinking I might need to have another first an build a snow man tomorrow....no I am not 5 years old but this is what happens when you experience snow at my age!! hahaha.....
I'm absolutely loving it here in New York....now that I'm spending more time in the city it's like more pieces are starting to come together. My walks home from the Plaza at night are so relaxing (minus the cold) and I just stare at the skyline in front of me and into the fancy restaurants and bars knowing that sometime soon that will be me, living it up here in NYC!!