Guest Post: Single in the city

A few weeks ago, I received an email from Zillow, the online real estate database, about their city spotlight project. When I heard that the series combines two of my favorite things — love and Chicago — I immediately got excited. Check out the top four Chicago neighborhoods for singles, and look for my own take in the coming days!


**Please note: This is not a sponsored post, but merely a fun collaboration with Zillow.

More than 40 percent of Chicago’s population is single. The city is a bustling hub of business, culture and trendy hot spots, while arguably one of the best cities to meet that special someone. Singles just need to know where to look. Consider relocating to one of these four neighborhoods in Chicago. They all have high demographics of singles and close proximity to bars, restaurants, shopping and entertainment…

Lincoln Park
Home to more singles in their 20s and 30s than Chicago’s average, Lincoln Park has a fun and vibrant college-town atmosphere with DePaul University at its center. Lincoln Park is a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood where singles socialize throughout the wide array of pubs and restaurants. The Lincoln Park Athletic Club is another convenience the locals enjoy and is a great place to meet singles getting in shape for the warmer months ahead.

Lakeview
Home to Wrigley Field and the Chicago Cubs, Lakeview is the perfect neighborhood to meet like-minded sports fans. Almost 60 percent of the locals are single, known as corporate climbers who have up-and-coming incomes and are looking to grow their professional careers. On the weekend, the neighborhood is buzzing with busy restaurants and bar-hopping groups. Throughout the warmer months, the streets come alive, playing host to food festivals and the famous Pride Parade held the last weekend of June.

Old Town
With easy access to Lake Michigan beaches and nearly 19 miles of running and biking trail, Old Town is the ideal neighborhood for active singles who enjoy the outdoors. The Old Town neighborhood is predominantly home to established singles who draw handsome salaries and have reasonable living expenses. The neighborhood offers numerous apartments and condos for single living. Compared to Lincoln Park and Lakeview, rent and home prices are higher in Old Town. However, residents see the expense as a trade off for the luxury and convenience of being close to beaches, trendy retail and a popular nightlife scene.

The Loop
Famous for being Oprah’s old stomping grounds, The Loop is filled with great places to eat, play and shop. It’s home to established singles predominantly in their 20s and 30s who enjoy an upscale life in the urban center. Recently, dozens of exciting new restaurants and cafes opened to tantalize and entertain social singles in the neighborhood. The area is popular for street festivals such as the Randolph Street Market Festival held the last weekend of each month from March to November.

Singles on the market should take the time to research neighborhood demographics, rent and home values before relocating. A little fact-finding makes the difference between a potentially unfortunate living scenario and the perfect place to find love.

Angara birthstone rings

I’ve always been a huge fan of jewelry that has a personal story behind it. Whether that be a family locket passed down through the generations or a specially engraved bracelet, meaningful jewelry can be such a nice touch. For awhile now, I’ve been looking for the perfect birthstone ring. My birthstone is peridot, which is a gorgeous shade of green, and I love the idea of displaying your birthday pride every day of the year. And, thanks to Angara, I’ve got a serious case of the daydreams today. Angara is a word in ancient Sanskrit that means “the fire within,” and the gemstone Web site has been a family-owned business for generations, specializing in gemstone cutting, polishing and design. Here’s a peek at my top four favorite peridot rings…

1. Heart and Soul ring
2. Posh ring
3. The Wings of Love ring
4. The Mughal ring

So, friends, what’s your birthstone? Do you have a special piece of jewelry to celebrate it? Let’s chat, shall we? xoxo


(This post was sponsored by Angara, the family-owned online shop specializing in beautiful gemstones. Thanks so much for continuing to support So About What I Said’s wonderful sponsors!)

Guest Post: Four spring trends for 2014

Undoubtedly, spring is the prettiest time of the year — everything around you is fresh and green. The flowers are blooming, and the temperature is just right. This is the perfect time to flaunt light, airy fabric with beautiful and delicate details. It is the time of the year to pull out the flats, cross body bag and floral print skirts and tops. If you are planning to do your spring shopping in a day or two, here are the top four spring fashion trends for 2014…

Pastels
No spring shopping list is complete without pastels. This season, take a break from typical Easter pastel shades and pick the icy pastels. Pick the pastels that have a little sheen such as dusty pink or minty green.

Black and white
This spring black and white is the in-thing. Pick skirts or sheaths in black and white and pair it with good accessories. Try 6PM for some nice black and white collections. When shopping, don’t forget to use the discount codes and coupons to save big bucks. One place to look for latest coupons is Frugaa.

Hues of pink
This spring, pops of pinks will surely rule the fashion world. If you don’t love lots of pink, it is best to buy a dress that has some pink patterns. Or glam up a simple black-and-white dress with a sleek pink belt.

Metallica
This spring, you will find most girls decked out in different hues of metallic. This doesn’t mean that you will spot women wearing gold jumpsuits, but definitely jumpsuits with metallic patterns. Or you can try metallic skirt with a neutral-colored top.

These four must-have 2014 spring fashion trends will give you a newer look and will earn you lot of appreciation in your circle. Have fun, and enjoy the season!

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(This post was sponsored by Frugaa, the awesome online coupon search engine full of promo codes, deals and discounts. Thanks so much for continuing to support So About What I Said’s wonderful sponsors!)

[Top photo via We Heart It]

My Spring Must-Haves: Tiffany from Dancing Branflakes

Hi, all — Tiffany here from Dancing Branflakes! For those who don’t know, I’m a dancer and hardcore eater who loves easy breezy dresses, picking wild flowers in an open field, picnics in the countryside and food plucked straight from the garden. So obviously, spring is my favorite season, and Easter is my favorite holiday to indulge my gastronomic fantasies.

After months of snow, heavy dishes and wool coats, I’m ready for the lightness of spring, starting with my dream Easter menu that gives you a fun twist on traditional fare…

1. Blinis
2. Ham
3. Asparagus
4. Tart
5. Cake

What do you love about spring?

(You can also follow Tiffany on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram!)

My Spring Must-Haves: Jillian from Cornflake Dreams

Hello there and Happy SPRING!!! It’s finally here. It’s Jillian from Cornflake Dreams (and like Melissa, I live in the Midwest). We have survived the worst winter ever. I am SOOO excited for warmer weather, and when it arrives, I will be ready with all of my favorite spring essentials…

This spring, when snow turns into rain, you will need a great rain coat. It should be waterproof — which sounds obvious, but you wouldn’t believe how hard it is to find a jacket that is stylish AND waterproof. I like the Romera Jacket from North Face. It comes in black, tan and blue. Also, don’t forget rain boots! I have had my Hunter Boots for years, and they are a lifesaver on flooded sidewalks and pothole puddles.
All of that rainy weather means you might be spending a little time inside — so curl up with a good book. I recommend The Girl You Left Behind by JoJo Moyes or Where’d You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple.
I also like to treat myself to nice lotion to soothe my dry winter skin. Aveda hand relief + foot relief creams work wonders and Fresh hesperides grapefruit body lotion has the most refreshing citrus scent.
And finally, now that it is warmer, you can ditch the snow boots and grab some pastel ballet flats. Tieks are my favorite flats — they are super comfortable and the unique design allows them to be folded up and thrown into your bag.
Thank you, Melissa, for inviting me on your blog :) Stop by Cornflake Dreams for more style (and travel!) posts.

(You can also follow Jillian on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram!)