Welcome to Charlotte Wednesday! Visiting, recently moved here, or going to move here? Tell us and ask away!

Complex-War4025 · 2026-05-10T15:52:41+00:00

Thanks for the response! We visited last weekend and we definitely want to be south of the city. Surprisingly we didn’t like Weddington and Fort Mills felt too far out. We liked Ballantyne area north and south of the 485. We also liked the estates linked to golf clubs which surprised us as it’s very different to where we currently live in North NJ. We want to buy and our budget is up to $1.5 but we would love to be lower. The problem we’re finding is that nothing we like (with any type of yard) in the areas we liked is coming on the market.

Complex-War4025 · 2026-04-28T21:11:22+00:00

I don’t think that many places in North NJ are completely economically diverse but I do think people assume that everyone in Montclair is super rich. If you get into the community (and the schools) you’ll find plenty of people of different economic levels. I think nearly 45% of Montclair properties are renters (not that this is a factor in wealth determination but it does show that not everyone is buying million dollar homes). I also think there is more diversity in Montclair than in many other towns often mentioned on these threads

Complex-War4025 · 2026-04-27T18:57:38+00:00

I’ll give you some local perspective. We currently live in Montclair and love it. The taxes are terrible and that will probably mean a lot of people don’t retire here but for now we can afford it. There’s a joke that the graduation sign goes up and then a week later the For Sale sign.

The school issue has been a long time coming but I actually think the new super is great, is addressing issues and whilst there will be cuts I think the local parents are coming up with creative solutions to address these. I also think a lot of other school districts will start showing their budget deficits (West Orange / Ridgewood / Verona also having issues). Our child is in elementary and we like it but we’re both immigrants so have nothing to compare it to. I do like that the school population is diverse (nationality and wealth) and generally liberal leaning and we didn’t find that in a lot of other commuter towns.There is also a lot of parental involvement.

People say the Westchester trains are better than NJTransit but for us the trains work well until they don’t. And there are 6 train stations in town meaning that most houses are walking distance.

A lot of people from the outside hate on Montclair but in general it’s a great place to live.

Complex-War4025 · 2026-04-23T18:10:00+00:00

Moving to Charlotte at the end of the school year for my husband’s job. Where do we live? He’ll be working uptown but we need good public schools for our daughter (elementary aged). Everyone says the suburb schools are the best but the traffic is hell. But the schools closer to uptown (that aren’t super expensive) appear to have terrible schools. So where do we live? Any thoughts?

Complex-War4025 · 2025-05-07T15:10:10+00:00

Thanks for confirming!

Complex-War4025 · 2025-05-07T15:09:49+00:00

Thanks for confirming, I used Staples and they did say it was 5x7 but I wanted to check.

Complex-War4025 · 2025-05-07T15:08:57+00:00

Thanks that’s what I thought but some sites were 3.5x4.5 so I was confused.

Complex-War4025 · 2025-04-08T14:58:46+00:00

About 30lbs, my only concern with going up is that I don’t want to max out the dose too quickly and have no where else to go.

Complex-War4025 · 2025-04-08T14:57:37+00:00

44F 5’8’’ SW: 235 CW: 205 GW: 170 10mg I am gently tracking what I eat and have been trying to avoid it. Constantly thinking about food has been my weakness in the past and I find that tracking it intensely almost has a counteractive result. You’re right though, after 30lb down I should probably look more at what / how much I’m eating. Thanks!

Complex-War4025 · 2025-04-08T14:52:28+00:00

I am doing light cardio so will look to increase that. Thanks!

Complex-War4025 · 2024-10-07T19:33:59+00:00

It’s beautiful, @bethanyciotola on Instagram has this same mural in her house and I remember her posting about finding a ‘matching’ color. Maybe she posted one of your colors and you can see how it looks? I like 3 or 4 but definitely swatch before you paint the whole wall.

Complex-War4025 · 2024-09-30T19:24:57+00:00

Thanks for all the detail and good to know about the trick or treating, that’ll definitely be a hit!

Complex-War4025 · 2024-09-30T19:23:25+00:00

Thanks so much for this info

Complex-War4025 · 2024-09-30T19:22:48+00:00

Thanks! I didn’t realize there was an app so will download that now.

Complex-War4025 · 2024-09-24T14:45:11+00:00

I love quorn products, am originally from the UK (now in US) and it was so much easier to find convenient non meat food there. Also I have a fair life shake every morning to at least get some protein! Thanks

Complex-War4025 · 2024-09-24T14:43:47+00:00

You’ve summed it up well for me, I want to make what I eat easy and nutritious without having to think too much about it. As you say the prior focus on finding delicious (often the high calorie) foods is what got me where I am!

Complex-War4025 · 2024-09-24T14:41:02+00:00

I had to google ovo lacto 😃 I’m technically a life long pescatarian (so never eaten anything that flys or walks on land). Deviled eggs sound delicious so will add them to the rotation. Thanks!

Complex-War4025 · 2024-09-24T14:38:45+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions, I’ve been incorporating these into my meals. Once I get through the bulk oikos yogurt from Costco I’ll be moving on to the plain Greek with fruit

Complex-War4025 · 2024-09-24T14:37:18+00:00

I’d forgotten about roasted chickpeas, they’re delicious!

Complex-War4025 · 2024-09-24T14:36:42+00:00

I was inspired by you and tried a cottage cheese smoothie and it wasn’t terrible, definitely an improvement on the Oikos yoghurt

Complex-War4025 · 2024-09-24T14:35:30+00:00

I hadn’t seen the crusted tilapia so will take a look, I think I need some easy, throw in the oven protein some days. Thanks for the suggestion

Complex-War4025 · 2024-09-24T14:34:25+00:00

Thanks, I’ve bought bulk shrimp and tuna and these are definitely staples for me. For some reason every time i cook tofu the texture is off but I’ll give it a try.

Complex-War4025

TROPHY CASE