My moving advice? Have a cup of tea (or 10…)

Alanna Shevak and her family were ready to embark on their move from Seattle to New Jersey and, even, a smashed windshield, anxious family pets and a few nights camping out on air mattresses couldn't stop them! Here's what Alanna learned along the way...and why a cup of tea is much-needed when you're making a massive move...

Everyone knows how stressful, exhausting, and generally overwhelming moving can be. Even though this is our family’s seventh home, moving never gets any easier. In fact, I think it gets harder as we get older and accumulate more stuff, more children, and more animals!

In our move from Seattle to Ridgewood, New Jersey, we agonized over the logistics. We had to consider how to move our belongings, cars, cats, and of course, ourselves. As a self-diagnosed control freak perfectionist I do not like to make mistakes or to feel like I could’ve done something better, so I found all of the moving-related decisions quite stressful.

For all of our belongings, I knew a good moving company would be critical to keep what little sanity I had left. Hoping to avoid a cross-country horror story, I did a lot of research, utilized recommendations from local Facebook groups, and referenced the Better Business Bureau website. I chose a local family-owned company who had been in business in the Seattle area for over 50 years. When I called the offices I could tell it was not a call center and the employees were a team who worked well together to provide the services and support we needed. My moving liaison emailed and called me regularly to check in, see how I was doing, and to make sure I didn't have any new questions about the move. She also kept me informed of the progress the moving truck was making as it traveled from Washington to New Jersey.

But despite all of my meticulous planning, moving is a lot like a wedding—something always goes wrong. My Murphy’s Law moment? A large rock hit my windshield leaving a huge chip and crack two days before my car was scheduled to be shipped across the country. I needed to get the entire windshield replaced before the shipping company would allow my car on the transport. It was during those moments that I had to keep strong and keep it together. I kept telling myself to that, once safely in New Jersey, I could fall apart if need be—but not now.

Then there were the cats—moving them turned out to be even more of an ordeal than the cars! After reading about how traumatic it can be for animals to be shipped in the cargo hold, we decided that the best thing for the cats would be to keep them with us on the airplane. Our youngest cat is pretty high strung so we bought a calming "Thunder Shirt" for her to wear and clipped her nails so she could not claw out of her carrier. Our vet had also kindly prescribed them both "cat valium." Along with their health certificates and vaccine history, I had to carry plastic bags in my hand luggage in case they had any accidents during the long journey. It was like traveling with a baby again – except this time most of my hand luggage was filled with cat supplies!

Cat #1: not very happy…

The most stressful part of the journey was trying to get through airport security with two cats, two kids, two laptops and four backpacks, plus an American Girl doll who came complete with her own carrier (a new "friend" for my daughter to help soften the blow of moving away from our friends). Animals cannot go through the security-screening machine so we had to take the cats out of their carriers and hold them as we walked through the metal detector. Our cats are not generally calm and this time was no exception—they were pretty intent on escaping our clutches despite their drugged state. For a reason known only to the TSA, after we passed through the metal detector, my husband and I were directed to step to the side and wait with the clawing cats in our arms. The whole time we were clinging onto them and praying the kids were getting the rest of our stuff onto the conveyor belt and through the machine. Once the TSA released us, we focused on stuffing the struggling cats back into their carriers. After we made it through security, I felt like we had survived the biggest battle in this crazy moving war.

Getting ready to move US (American Girl carrier and all!).

Now onto the final part: moving us.

We had purchased a new home in Ridgewood and my husband had been camping there with a few supplies we had shipped ahead. Knowing the "stuff" would not arrive before we did, we sent air mattresses, bedding, and some basic kitchen supplies so that we could live in the house. As a native Brit I also made sure to pack everything I would need to make a proper cup of tea. A cup of tea will soothe all your troubles if you're English and I had a feeling that adjusting to living in New Jersey was going to require a lot of tea!

Cheers to new adventures!

So, we finally made it to our new home in Ridgewood, NJ at about 1:00am after a long and stressful day of traveling. We were exhausted, but we had made it. And just as with moving, when you buy a new house something always goes wrong. As we walked into our new home, we discovered the air conditioning had broken, there was a leak under the sink, and there were large ants (lots and lots of large ants) but we had made it. This was all just part of the "journey" that is life. Now, all that was left to do was have a big cup of tea.

South, North and—finally!—East(chester)

Katie Nordone is no stranger to moving. This Florida native has made the jump from Fort Lauderdale to D.C. and back again, before packing it all in a rental car and heading to her final destination: Westchester! So what made this moving pro go from White Plains to Eastchester? Something that’s all too familiar to plenty of suburban families!

No matter the circumstances—why you’re moving, how close or how far, who’s moving with you—settling in a new community is always an epic journey. And my latest—the move to Westchester from Fort Lauderdale, Florida was certainly no exception.

This wasn’t my first big move either. After graduating from college in Florida I headed to Washington, D.C. then, soon enough, trekked back to Fort Lauderdale where I met my husband. He headed back to New York while I stayed behind in Florida...but not for long.

When it was finally time to make the move we loaded everything I owned into a rental car—if it didn’t fit it got left behind!—and hit the road, set on White Plains, New York. Our first impressions of our new community? It wasn’t quite NYC, but it was still a bustling city with lots to see, do and discover, with the added perk of being close to Manhattan and, at the same time, my husband’s family business.

Over the months we really grew to love White Plains—it had everything we needed for that critical first year. Just steps from our apartment was a movie theater plus bars, restaurants and plenty of shopping. It was a fast paced place to live, and we really enjoyed it.

Then I found out I was pregnant and things changed—fast.

With a baby on the way we knew we wanted to settle down in a suburban area that was incredibly family-friendly. I made the most of my bed rest researching and making phone calls to see what was what, specifically focusing on Eastchester—my husband’s hometown. With a few quick searches I started to see the real perks of this community, including top-rated schools, playgrounds for all ages, amazing toddler classes, plenty of restaurants, gyms and more. The town’s websites as well as other sites dedicated to Eastchester living became my guides and, hands down, steered me in the right direction. The only thing left to do? MOVE!

For your personalized strategy session with Suburban Jungle, click here!

What We'd Tell Justin & Jessica About Moving to the 'burbs…

Justin Timberlake has announced that he and wife Jessica Biel and young son Silas are packing up and leaving LA for suburbia. But, unlike many Los Angelenos, this A-list family isn’t heading to Beverly Hills or Ranchos Palos Verdes. These superstars are heading to the NYC ‘burbs—to the Norwalk, Connecticut area, specifically, reports WLEB 21.

In a statement late last week, Justin said he and his growing brood were, simply, looking to “slow things down a bit and get away from the crazy, hectic life in L.A.,” a sentiment that likely rings true for any city family considering a move to suburbia. He added, "I’ve visited the Norwalk area a few times over the years and the people there are real… they’re genuine and pretty friendly too and I think those are the things that are most important in deciding where to live.”

While we couldn’t agree more—Fairfield County is an amazing spot for young, career-minded families—there are a few things Justin and Jessica should consider as they’re planning their jump across the country...and from urban to suburban.

Source: WLEB 21. Photo by Georges Biard / CC BY-SA 3.0 / cropped

They’ll need access to NYC—and LA

The Biel-Timberlake family will need bicoastal access—NYC and LA—given their careers and personal commitments. So which posh CT suburb offers the quickest commute to the city? Rowayton is just over an hour to midtown Manhattan, as is Darien. Knowing Justin favors the “Norwalk area,” these two towns could be great choices. Rowayton, a seaside community that’s part of Norwalk, is just minutes from downtown. Darien is less than 10 minutes from Norwalk by car.

Another perk to these towns? They’re close to not just New York City airports but, also, smaller regional airports in Westchester and New Haven, where the family could hop a chartered flight back to LA.

Norwalk Terminal. Source: Pixabay.

They love music, entertainment and culture

Fairfield County is rich with art, music, culture and entertainment, making it a perfect spot for Justin and his crew. Fairfield itself has a massive arts scene and bustling nightlife, which could be attractive for the family. Westport—home to chic boutiques, galleries, award-winning restaurants and the acclaimed Westport Country Playhouse—could also be a good spot to consider. Here they’d also be neighbors to fellow celebs, including Melissa Joan Hart and Martha Stewart, and was the long-time hometown of Paul Newman.

Westport Country Playhouse. Source: WestportCountryPlayhouse.org

They’ve got a baby

Connecticut is a great state overall for families, but plenty of Norwalk-area towns consistently top national ranks of the best ‘burbs for bringing up baby. Lately, hotspots including Darien, Westport and New Canaan (home to another crooner-turned-actor, Harry Connick, Jr.) have landed high on countless lists, and with good cause. Looking at overall quality of life indicators—things like schools, climate, things to do and overall safety—these three consistently pop, as do popular family-friendly towns including Weston, Wilton and Fairfield.

She’s a working mom

While towns like Greenwich attract A-listers like Justin and Jessica, this isn’t a town that’s heavy on the working mom front. Our advice to Jessica? Find a community where you won’t be flying solo but, instead, will have the support of other like-minded career-minded mamas. What CT towns are working mom-heavy? Milford and Ridgefield each rank high on the list—in these towns, more than half of all moms work. New Canaan is also a chart-topper, with close to three in five moms working outside of the home. In Norwalk and Fairfield, that number rises to more than seven in 10.

We can’t wait to welcome Justin and Jessica to the ‘burbs! Until then, our offer stands: the Suburban Jungle team is here to help your family—and any family—plan their move from urban to suburban. Ready to get started? Fill out our interactive online questionnaire to help refine your suburban must-haves and get your family started with a dedicated Suburbs Strategist! See you in suburbia!

Spring market, SJ in the news and why the election matters to first time buyers

Lots going on this week—and lots bubbling to the surface as spring markets hits its stride!

The 1 thing YOU need to know…

About REAL ESTATE: Is there a “pro-housing” presidential candidate?

About SUBURBAN JUNGLE: Suburban Jungle founder and president Ali Bernstein sat down with WCIU-TV Chicago to talk suburbia—check it out!

About YOUR ‘burbs

• The Westchester Children’s Museum in Rye is ALMOST open...
• Check out these great spots in the north Chicago ‘burbs for your kids to blow off some steam—it’s not warm just yet!
• Need something for younger and older kids in the San Francisco ‘burbs? PAMP’s got you covered.
• Just outside of LA, this school gardening initiative in Palos Verdes gets an A+ from us!  
• Looking for some green market action in Boca Raton and the surrounding suburbs? Here’s your list!

Enjoy the weekend!

Our Foray into the Suburban Jungle Part III: Darien or Bust

For Tara Giblin and her family, Connecticut went from “too far” to “too amazing to ignore!” With their sights set on CT—and, specifically, beautiful, family-friendly Darien—they set to work in search of the perfect home in the perfect neighborhood for their family. What did she learn during this up and down process? TONS—and, ultimately, found the right place for herself and her brood to call “home.”

When we decided it was time to really buy a house, our minds were flooded. Living in Manhattan, we’d been going to open houses, restaurants, and playgrounds all over Westchester for literally, years—but it was usually “just for fun.” Think a chance to get out of the city for the day. But when our search went from casual to full-on, we speed-dated our way through New Jersey, marveling at the Victorian porches of Westfield, enjoying local treats at the annual Summit street fair, and window-shopping the chic boutiques of Ridgewood. As for Connecticut, we had already done a few “drive-bys” while heading elsewhere (as in, “let’s drive-by that house we saw on Zillow!”) which took us from the narrow streets of Old Greenwich to the Norman Rockwell-esque downtown of New Canaan. Work friends expounded to us on the pros and cons of commuting from every direction—it seemed everyone had an opinion, no matter where our search led.

We needed focus. And we needed it NOW.

Our first call with Patti at Suburban Jungle proved to be more a wake-up call than an informational one. Having reviewed our town wish list, she quickly addressed practical matters like budget, home size and where we worked. The conversation started along the lines of, “You want a four bedroom with a decent yard and garage for how much? Not in lower Westchester!” then moved to, “Your husband’s office is a block from Grand Central and you are actually considering a commute into Penn before having to get across town? So long, New Jersey!”

Patti’s quick psychoanalysis helped us determine that we preferred a small town feel, and poof! Greenwich was history. In less than an hour, we came up with our short list: Irvington, Pleasantville and Chappaqua in Westchester, and Darien in Connecticut.

Just. Like. That.

The next part seemed like fate. We were hooked up with a Darien resident and real estate agent who heard our story and got it. Raised in Jersey and having looked in Westchester before choosing Darien, this agent had walked in our shoes. And besides bringing us to some lovely homes, she showcased why it wasn’t just Darien, but also the people of Darien, that were a fit for us. Residents are active and engaged, and we found the parks, beaches, restaurants and sidewalks filled with young families. The town’s numerous civic organizations are deeply supported by the community, as are its new library, technologically-advanced schools, YMCA, and Nature Center.

And if that weren’t enough, everyone was so nice. Our agent kept telling us that Darien was a friendly town, and she wasn’t exaggerating. At a local playground a couple who had recently moved from New Jersey gave us great insight into why they chose Darien over a similar nearby town (ahem, beach rights!). At the downtown luncheonette we sat at the busy counter while the owner himself leaned over and told us, “this town was made for kids.”

The commute was doable with two in-town train stations that arrived at Grand Central in less than an hour. Layer in the White Plains airport just 25 minutes away and an Amtrak stop in next-door Stamford, and Darien definitely wasn’t the sticks. We found ourselves driving back to the city, giddy with delight from just one visit, and excited for our next one. Despite Patti’s suggestions, we never did go back to Westchester. At this point, it was Darien-or-bust…

For your personalized suburbs strategy session with Suburban Jungle, click here!

Why NOW is the time to make a move and how this mom went from urban to suburban fast...

While it’s no surprise spring market means more homes but, still, more competition, this season’s seeing something a little different: lower-than-average inventory and, with it, higher than average prices. The bright spot? Rates are still L-O-W, helping you snag more house for less.

The 1 thing YOU need to know…

About REAL ESTATE: Buyers are hitting the market in a big way -- but the inventory is a bit lower than expected. What does that mean for you, future suburbanite?

About SUBURBAN JUNGLE: A recent suburban transplant talks about her shift from “never leaving the city” to “leaving the city...NOW!”

About YOUR ‘burbs

• Considering a try-before-you-buy approach to the Bay Area ‘burbs? You aren’t alone, especially not in these cities.
• Which LA ‘burbs are booming? Check out these interactive lists.
• These schools in the Chicago suburbs scored an A+ -- did yours make the cut?
• Boca Raton and its surrounding ‘burbs are the perfect places to raise a family -- yet another list agrees!
• Is New Jersey real estate set for a serious boom this year?

Enjoy the weekend!

How one NYC family went from "never going to go" to "have to go—NOW!"

Alison Sherwin was your typical NYC mom. With an apartment on the Upper East Side, an energetic toddler and baby #2 on the way, Alison and her growing brood were savoring city living—until they weren’t. While she’d always loved the hustle and bustle, with baby in tow—and another coming soon—her day-to-day got increasingly tougher to navigate, and that left her longing for a LOT more space and an easier day-to-day. Despite their initial hesitations and serious reservations, Alison and her husband started thinking suburbia. The rest is history…

My husband and I bought our apartment on the Upper East Side in 2009, right before we got married. It was a two-bedroom apartment and at the time, I had delusions of fitting two children in the second bedroom. Flash forward to 2013, with a one-year old daughter and discussions of having a second child, I came to the realization that we could not fit two cribs in said bedroom (my husband’s joking suggestion of bunk-cribs notwithstanding).

As I struggled to get on and off the subway with my toddler and an umbrella stroller, the city had quickly become difficult to navigate. Layer in a pregnancy and, before long, I couldn’t carry my daughter and the stroller and all of the gear down the stairs and to the platform. The end result? Months essentially confined to the 10-block radius surrounding our apartment—not ideal. And, with so much now off limits, living in the city didn’t have the same appeal—what good are the amazing activities and events if I couldn’t get to any of them?

Even going outside to play had become a fiasco. I needed to pack the diaper bag, the stroller and walk several avenues to the park. Once there, I had to juggle keeping an eye on that bag—with my wallet in it—and my energetic toddler. And the winter? She never got to play outside in the snow—how could she? There was no steering the stroller through a foot of snow and ice to the park. Even if I had, she might have lasted 10 minutes—then it was back home again, across icy avenue after icy avenue. I started to get that pang of jealousy every time a Facebook friend posted a picture of their kids zipping around the backyard, building a snowman on the porch or swinging back and forth on their very own swing-set. I also envied their weekly trips to the grocery store—really! In the city I could only purchase what fit securely in the bottom of the stroller—after, of course, spending an hour navigating the tiny store aisles with both a stroller and a cart. Not so in the suburbs…

But the decision still wasn’t so cut and dry. Manhattan had its perks, even through this new two-baby lens. What was still keeping us here? In short, (1) we wanted to keep my husband’s commute to a minimum so he could spend as much time as possible with our daughter (and daughter-to-be) and (2) we both wanted to avoid the responsibilities and upkeep of a home.

That said, we knew we couldn’t afford a three-bedroom apartment but our two-bedroom was being taken over by countless toddler things—I mean, everyone stores their stroller next to the kitchen table, and the car seat behind the sofa...right? And maneuvering that car seat? We didn’t own a car in the city so were dependent on family members to pick us up (or snagging a last-minute rental car) anytime the need arose—and that always necessitated a quick curbside car seat install...while parked illegally...

The writing was on the wall—life in the city had, simply, become too hard, too expensive, too cluttered and too stressful.

Despite staring directly at the inevitable—a move to suburbia—neither my husband nor I dove right in. We weren’t excited about the responsibilities that came with home ownership, and an increased commute didn’t sit well with either of us. That said, we desperately needed the space and I needed to make our day-to-day adventures a little bit easier for my sake, my daughter’s sake and, of course, her sibling-to-be’s sake. Raising kids is hard enough without the additional stresses the city added.

It was time to go. Now looking back, I’m very glad we did…

For your personalized suburbs session with Suburban Jungle, click here!