Real Estate During The Pandemic

Hi, It's been awhile since I've posted and hope you are all staying safe.  

I've since moved from the city to the Catskills and it's beautiful here!

Out of curiosity, I wondered how real estate is doing in New York City since so many have moved to "The Island" or upstate and to my surprise the cost of buying in NYC has become much more reasonable. 

Ever think in recent years you couldn't ever find a place in town for under $300K? Well think again. These prices won't last, so if you're looking for a safe investment that will go up in value in the next 10 years, this might be your best investment yet!

Invest where people are leaving, because you know eventually they'll be back!

Manhattan

West 57th Street - 1 Bedroom - 1050 Sq ft - $295K 

This apartment looks impeccably clean and is located next to Carnegie Hall! This is a doorman building with parking. It was last sold for over $1 million just 6 years ago. 

Brooklyn

Park Slope - 1 Bedroom - $245K

Brooklyn, especially Park Slope is a wonderful community of people and this pre-war pet friendly building has multiple units available at a similar price. Why pay $3k/month in rent when your mortgage could be $1800/month.

Queens

Astoria - 2 Bedroom - $299K

Need that extra bedroom, well here you go! Astoria offers some of the best food in the city. This 4th floor apartment is on the top floor, so technically it's the penthouse! This true two bedroom is fit for a king or a queen, whatever your bed choice is! Just two blocks from the N/W trains and two blocks from the waterfront. 

Bronx 

Riverdale - 2 Bedroom - 750 sq ft - $265K

If a 2 bedroom with a marble tiled bathroom and gorgeous hardwood floors is what you're looking for, then look no further then this Riverdale gem. 

  

Wild Card 

Peekskill, NY - 1 Bedroom - 700 sq ft - $120K

Here we are in an alternate reality during a pandemic. Some people are working from home while others have to commute in. Get away from the city while being just an hour drive or train ride away on the metro-north in Peekskill. Get all the luxuries of a pool, tennis court, and your own private terrace at a modest price. 

Stay safe everyone!

~Victoria

Diet is a 4 Letter Word

When I was a kid I remember my grandmother having a magnet on her fridge saying "Diet is a 4 letter word". Some things just stick with me.

In the past year I lost 50 lbs and many people have asked me how.

I tend to steer clear of posting personal things on social media, however if my experience can help others, I'm breaking that rule.

I'm in my 30's,  approx 5'3 in height and 16 months ago my weight skyrocketed.

I spent the summer having to wear leggings under my dresses because the skin on my legs would burn rubbing together walking. I couldn't wear jeans because none of them fit properly.

I knew I was gaining weight quickly, and it wasn't healthy. I thought that "I'm getting older so I have to accept it." But then I see friends of mine same age who were at a more healthy weight and excuses weren't going to fix it.

Towards the end of the summer I told myself "I'm going to get back by next summer."

I did a lot of research on diet. Some of it was quite jarring. Do you know for example that when you eat red meat it takes 4 days to digest? & the reason why people drink those diet shakes is because it's less work on the body to digest it so therefore your body can more easily burn it off.

Beer has on average 150 calories, whereas Vodka is only 60 calories.

So I started off only drinking on the weekends & eating less red meat.

A good 20lbs came off by doing that!

I know so many who "diet" but still drink alcohol daily and they wonder why the weight isn't coming off. We never associate liquid with making us fat.

I'm not a believer in diets. I think not one diet works for everyone. The most common diet is eliminating carbs, it does work short term but not for the long haul.

My diet is NO DIET! That's right you heard me...I lost 50+ lbs without dieting.

If you deny yourself something you love, you will go back to it in full force. It's human nature.

We all know what foods make us fat.....Burgers, Ice Cream, Pasta, all the most delicious foods of course! So rather then cutting out those foods, just eat less of it.

If you eat less of the bad stuff and more of the good stuff, you won't really feel like your on a diet.

I allow myself pasta once a week, and I don't gain weight from it.

The trick is smaller portions. If you think you want more wait 15 minutes and you'll see your no longer hungry. Look at the portions others eat too. It was hard for me to know when to stop and what a normal sized portion actually was.

The next thing is exercise. That was a tough one for me. I hated the gym, I just want to lay down and nap but if you put it into your life daily, the way you brush your teeth everyday, you get used to it and may even like it. I go to the gym 3-4 days a week. I do a good 40 minutes of cardio, start off with 15 minutes and build from there. The first time I tried the elliptical,  I made it for about 15 minutes before panting in exhaustion. But overtime I was able to go 45 minutes without batting an eyelash.

I also do free weights (5-10lb weights), it helps build the core and tighten up.

The biggest challenge for me now is keeping it off.

Just a week without exercise and eating too much can put 5lbs back on.

But I keep my chin held high knowing that I got rid of 50 lbs and I will take these 5 and get them gone.

It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle.

(I've attached a a couple photos, about 9 months from each other)

It's a constant reminder of how living healthy & eating healthy is a beautiful thing 💕

Feel free to comment/ask questions!

Love, Victoria

Average rent in NYC is $3000/month

Back from a long hiatus from KISSANDTELLME!

Having lived in NYC for the past 8 years, I kind of accept what the cost is to live here.
If you get a 1BR for $2800 you think you've kind some kind of "deal".  Queens & Brooklyn both offer larger spaces then let's say the east village but the rent is still around $3000 for a 500 sq ft box space.
No other city on the planet is like NYC. It has so much to offer and the convenience of getting whatever you want, whenever you want it. My first experience with this was a friend of mine lived downtown (I'm from upstate) & I stayed with her. She was able to get sushi, cigarettes and a bottle of Jack Daniels delivered to her door at 2am, and it took about 15 minutes to get there.
Yup the good ol' days, I wonder then how we afforded to go out and do what we did and so frequently, but the reason is rents, food and everything else have gone up in price, and wages are the same. Stocks are plummeting and nearly every friend of mine who started a family left.

At night to fall asleep, I go on Zillow and look at houses. Do it! Go on there. Type in any city in the USA you might consider your close second and see what they charge for rentals and sales.

With NYC at $3000/month as the average rent, here's what that gets you in other cities.
Some of these had me gasping!

                                                      Las Vegas, NV- $3000/month
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7520-Tara-Ave-Las-Vegas-NV-89117/7117913_zpid/

Las Vegas, NV- $1600/month

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/8100-Peach-Flare-St-Las-Vegas-NV-89143/6890334_zpid/

Los Angeles, CA-$2695

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/10414-Andora-Ave-Chatsworth-CA-91311/20163498_zpid/

                                                        St. Petersburg, FL- $2400/month

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7938-Elbow-Ln-N-Saint-Petersburg-FL-33710/47067484_zpid//

Houston, Tx - $3200/month

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4007-N-Beechwood-Ct-Houston-TX-77059/28527215_zpid/

Nashville TN - $2795/month

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6615-Highway-100-Nashville-TN-37205/81086983_zpid/

Southhampton, NY- $3000/month

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/(undisclosed-Address)-Southampton-NY-11968/2132407988_zpid/

East Village NYC- $2895/month

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/200S-E-25th-St-New-York-NY-10010/2110946580_zpid/

Thinking of buying....here are some Castles that are less expensive then an NYC apartment!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/benrosen/6-castles-that-cost-less-than-an-apartment-in-nyc

A Fun night out with $10 or less....

1) Crocodile Lounge (325 East 14th Street) Buy a $4 Beer/Drink of your choice and for each drink you buy you get a FREE personal pizza pie! $1 extra for each additional topping.

2) Rudy's Bar & Grill (627 9th Avenue) $2-$3 draft beers and a free hot dog with each drink order!

3) MacDougal Street Ale House (122 MacDougal St) $3 Draft Beers and $3 Mixed Drinks,  great dive bar in one of NYC's finest neighborhoods.

What's in right now.........

The streets of NYC are the real inside tip to what's hot. Today I went out and bought myself a pair of Chuck Taylors. These are the one thing that never go out of style, and if your someone who wears a lot of black add some color with some red, green, blue, pink or whatever suits your fancy high tops!

Latest trend are these little mini hats.
Available at Strawberry, Forever 21, H&M ($15 to $25)

Finally.....natural wavy hair is back! Put your hair straighter away and embrace what you were given. 

(Tip: Apply Chi Silk Infusion to wet hair to help eliminate frizz or a leave in conditioner.)

Maybelline Volume Express One by One

 

A few weeks ago I insisted on Cover Girl Lash Blast and Dior to be the best mascaras on the planet, well both can move over because there is a new queen in town and her name is Maybelline One By One. I can thank my friend and photographer Olivia Taubner (www.rockinrollphoto.com) for this great discovery! I thought she had on fake lashes and said it was the mascara. In two shakes of a lambs tail I went out and purchased the mascara and I now have my own "fake" lashes!

Available at Duane Reade $5

Groupon.com

Many of my friends are hooked on this website and the deals are real! The Groupons range anywhere from $10 off on boat roads, to discounts at restaurants, to deals at Spa's. Today's highlight is $16 for Manicure and Pedicure at QQ Nail Spa ($32 Value). I think this website will become my new morning ritual!

***Tip- If you refer a friend, you get $10 for each friend referred and they send you a unique link. Post that on facebook and you could be making bank!

Click Here to Visit