So I Moved to Lebanon

It’s been ages since I posted, I know! Things have been pretty busy with everything going on, and it also prompted me to take a much needed digital break.

But in case you don’t follow me on Instagram or YouTube, here is what you missed!

I moved to Beirut, Lebanon.

Lebanon is a stunning country on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It has a rich culture and history, incredible food, and beautiful scenery. It is unfortunately now suffering through multiple crises, from an economic crisis and hyperinflation to a shortage of essential goods, like fuel and basic medications. Despite the struggles, I have fallen in love with life here and all the potential this place has to offer.

Keep reading for some FAQ’s about my life as an expat in Lebanon.

What made you decide to move to Lebanon

This is the big one! The timing of the move was unexpected considering everything happening in the country, but we are making the best of it. The main reason for the move was a big job opportunity for my husband that we just couldn’t turn down. We are both people that love to travel and we have both lived abroad before, so this was a step that made sense for us, and I knew that we would likely move abroad together at some point in our relationship. Lebanon was not one of the places we imagined ourselves living, but we also knew that it would be an incredible experience for us both. We almost backtracked on the decision in the aftermath of the devastating port explosion on August 4th, 2020. We began to question whether we should still make the move, but we took a leap of faith and are overjoyed with our decision so far.

What are some things you love about Lebanon?

We moved over the summer, and it was the best time. The beaches are incredible and very few things beat watching the sunsets on the Mediterranean. I also love the Beirut beach club scene – they are all little private beach or pool clubs that have a different vibe – from pure relaxation to full blown parties. I have even fallen in love with nightlife again! In the US I stopped clubbing years ago, but it’s just a whole different ball game here. There is also a great beach scene, with private clubs that all have a different vibe.

Even the food and dining are remarkable, and even though I have never been a big fan of gin, the local distilleries have made me do a complete 180! I’ve only been here a few months I have already had so many unique experiences.

What about everything we hear on the news about Lebanon?

Well yea a lot of that is true.

It’s a long and complicated situation that cannot be adequately explained in this post, but conditions in the country began to rapidly deteriorate after the port explosion in 2020. Lebanon is currently experiencing one of the most devastating financial crisis ever seen.  The Lebanese Lira has lost 90% of its value, many local businesses no longer take credit cards because of the collapse of the banking system. The price for goods and services are in a constant state of fluctuation. The Lebanese government resigned in the wake of the port explosion last year, and the country has had severe infrastructure issues since then. There are shortages of everything from fuel to medications, constant blackouts and issues with plumping and water quality. Almost everyone relies on private fuel run generators for power which are extremely expensive considering wages in the country.

And as much as I love the super fresh food, things go bad fast and food poisoning/food borne illnesses are extremely common, especially in the summer.

The mood has gotten more and more tense as the economic issues worsen and no one can predict what will happen over the course of the next few months.  But all I can tell you is that we are safe and staying prepared.

So what’s next for this chapter in your life?

I’m not sure but am taking it day by day. The opportunity to move to a new country and the end of the year are the perfect time to really consider life’s changing directions and how to adjust. I have found myself moving more slowly and with more consideration, less focused on hustling and more focused just on living. But I am happily working in a new job and rebranding my business to more adequately reflect where I am in life right now.

And if you want to keep up, please follow me on Instagram @whereismalikah and on my brand-new YouTube channel for a look at this new chapter in my life and how it continues to evolve.

11 Things to Do Before You Move Abroad

So you may not know this, but I’m a serial expat. I just moved abroad for the second time and am happily settling into my new home here in Beirut, Lebanon. The first time I moved abroad was to Italy a few years ago, and I have definitely learned a lot from both of my international moves.

Organization is obviously a big step when it comes to your move, but there are plenty of other things you shouldn’t neglect. Keep reading for 11 Things to Do Before You Move Abroad

Start Downsizing Before You Move

If you know you are planning a big move, you need to start downsizing as soon as possible. It can be overwhelming, but the secret is getting through it bit by bit. I’m far from a minimalist, so trust me when I say I packed way more stuff than necessary.

You know I had to look cute, have my travel clothes, have my toiletries and all that! But I did strategically get rid of things that I knew would no longer fit my lifestyle. I may do a whole video later on what I kept vs what I tossed, but please do yourself a favor and start getting rid of stuff.

If you are planning early you can sell on Poshmark or LetGo and actually make some money, but if it’s the last minute just be prepared to donate or dump it! And unless you have friends or family you can leave stuff with, don’t bother putting stuff into long-term storage. It is such a waste of money and most likely you will come back home years later and throw the bulk of it away. 

Get Your Annual Health Check-Ups

Get all those medical check-ups done, and make sure you start a few months before you plan to leave. If you unfortunately do find out something is wrong, you need to have enough time to learn more, have follow up visits or get treatment, so don’t wait until the last minute! 

That means your annual physical, well women’s exam, eye doctor, ear doctor - get everything checked out and have a clean bill of health! 

And whatever your opinions on vaccines are , you should be aware of any required or recommended vaccines for the country you plan to move to and be informed of the risks you may encounter if you don’t want to get a vaccine that is recommended in that region. 

Stock Up on Medications/Medical Supplies

If you have any prescribed medications with monthly refills, talk to your provider about getting 6 months or even 12 months of refills to take with you. Depending on where you are moving to, you may want to bring a stash of over the counter stuff as well, like Tylenol, cold medicine, motion sickness meds, that kind of stuff, especially if you have strong brand preferences and don’t want to experiment with what you can get locally. 

And don’t forget contacts, or glasses if you wear them and retainers if need be. 

I did Smile Direct Club and made sure to get extra retainers to take with me. They take about 6 weeks to make, without shipping time, so I wanted to make sure I had extra sets on hand, because your teeth will start shifting like crazy real quick. I also have a shellfish allergy so picked up some extra Epi-Pens because anyone with allergies should always have one on hand! 

And ladies, don’t forget your birth control or Plan B! You don’t want to get caught out there needing to find that in a foreign country in the very short window you have

Shop for Country Specific Attire - especially formalwear

Most people are surprised to hear I hate shopping so this was hard for me! But I did need to pick up some new clothes and shoes that were more appropriate for where I’m moving, especially clothes for work. 

You should also have a few options for formalwear in case you get invited to something last minute and need something to wear. The US has amazing options for affordable evening wear, but that is really not the case in most parts of the world.

If I get invited to a wedding, cocktail party, or formal event here, I can always run to Macy’s, Nordstrom, or just order something from Rent the Runway and get it in 2 days. But you may not have that option depending on where you are moving to, so be prepared! 

Beauty Treatments & Touch Ups

Some countries are known for the beauty treatments you can get there, but you still may want to get polished up at your favorite place back home. I got microblading about a year and a half ago, so I made sure to get a touch-up so it would be fresh and stay in place longer. 

I also got a laser hair removal because you can’t get that done just anywhere and I wasn’t trying to experiment like that, especially because a lot of these places are not experienced with people of color and different skin tones. 

Back Up Your Vital records

This is going to be a long and annoying process, but you need to start keeping digital copies of any important documents. I had a ridiculous file cabinet with paperwork from years ago that needed to be organized, digitized and then shredded. 

It took a few days for me to get everything uploaded in the cloud, but now I have a digital record of anything I might need while living abroad. You may need paperwork for visa applications, leasing an apartment, opening a bank account, or any number of normal life scenarios that will arise when you move to a new country, and you don’t want to have to scramble around at the last minute to find stuff. 

And you definitely don’t want to lug pounds of old paper around with you every time you move! Not only is it incredibly annoying, but it’s also risky having your personal information so easily accessible. 

Check with Your Local Embassy

How many times have you guys traveled internationally? How many times did you check with the local Embassy or State Department Travel Advisory before planning your trip? Most people don’t! But get in the habit of reviewing security updates, especially if you are thinking about moving to a new country! That’s also the best way to get an covid related updates, like if you are staying in a country that suddenly imposes a curfew or quarantine, you may not hear it fast enough if you don’t check local news. 

Also check out the STEP program or any services that may be offered by the local embassy or consulate, in case you do need emergency assistance while abroad. I’m going to leave those links in the description box below for easy reference!

Get Travel Adaptors

This may seem super obvious, when I moved to Italy I definitely forgot one. And it was such an obvious thing that I assumed yea I packed a few, duh! So I land in Italy, make it to my apartment, try to charge my phone, and yea, nothing.

Had I realized that at the airport it probably would have been fine, but I ended up spending my first afternoon in a suburb of Bologna looking for a place to buy an adapter - and not speaking a word of Italian. Don’t be like me - have a travel adapter - preferably one or 2 in each bag! 

Get Local Currency in Advance

Yes, you can always exchange money when you land, but in the spirit of being prepared, do it a few days before! If you have time go to a currency exchange in your city before your departure since you’ll usually get a better rate. Or if you must do it before boarding your flight while at the airport. 

Just don’t land in a foreign country with no money, assuming you’ll be able to take money out of an ATM or exchange when you get there. Of course in most cases you will be able to do either, but I prefer to arrive in the country with a small emergency stash of local currency in cash! It really just needs to be enough to cover 2 meals and a taxi so don’t think you need to bring a ton. But you don’t want to put yourself in a stressful situation if you don’t have to. 

Pre book Your Transportation

Most of the time on vacation, I hop out of the airport and grab an Uber or regular taxi, but moving abroad is a whole different ball game. You’ll be exhausted and have a lot more stuff, so make your life easier by pre-arranging an airport pick-up. 

It doesn’t have to be a fancy luxury one,  but will be a huge convenience to not have to figure out how you are getting to your new home when you land. 

Buy Your Favorite DVD’s 

This one is kind of random but one thing I learned from living in Italy, and in my research for where we are moving to next. Streaming services can be unreliable, your streaming speed may be annoyingly slow, and most shows or movies have different licensing agreements, so they may not even be available in your new country. 

It’s a little old fashioned, but we picked up DVD copies of a few of the movies we can watch over and over again, just to have something on hand in case we have issues with streaming or are bored to death with the local shows. 

Hope these tips helped! If you are thinking about moving internationally, let me know in the comments, especially if you have more questions you want me to answer.

Redecorating 101 - How to Update Your Home on a Budget

It’s been just over a month since we moved into our newly purchased condo! I’m still so overjoyed we were able to make our dream of becoming homeowners come true. Considering the current coronavirus crisis, the history of housing discrimination, and the financial challenges affecting millennial homeowners, we know how lucky we are.  It means so much to be a homeowner, especially a black homeowner. I’m planning to share more about our journey to homeownership, but for now let’s talk about redecorating!

Since becoming a millennial homeowner is no easy feat, we wanted to keep the moving and redecorating costs as low as possible without compromising on style. We were able to repurpose most of our furniture, but needed a few accent pieces and storage furniture to complete the new place. Buying the home meant having to downsize a bit, so we needed to be smart about how we set everything up. We are also both working from home due to covid, so had to maintain a decent office set up. Today I’m sharing my tips for redecorating your home on a budget, some of my favorite affordable home décor finds, plus Amazon finds under $50! Whether you are a new millennial homeowner like me or moving into a new rental apartment, I hope these redecorating tips help!

Sell Unwanted Furniture Online

Before you start you move and start redecorating, start thinking about furniture and décor that you won’t take to the new place. I sold several pieces on LetGo in the weeks before the move, like our enormous sectional and some of the work from home office furniture.  Facebook Marketplace is another great resource for reselling used furniture and home goods. As a millennial homeowner, staying on budget was top of mind! Redecorating was important, but so was not going broke over it. I made about $800 selling gently used furniture, and reinvested that money into our redecorating budget. Just play it safe when meeting people to close the sale! You can never be too careful when inviting strangers in or near your home. I scheduled all the exchanges for when my husband would be home, and we bought every piece of furniture down to the lobby so no one got our actual apartment number. Use best judgement and exercise caution! Scheduling was easy for our move since so many people were working from home; if you are reading this later and things are back to normal, just give yourself more time to plan.  

Shop Secondhand for the Best Deals and Steals

If you are selling furniture online, why not think about buying some as well? You can always find motivated sellers that are willing to negotiate on price. Plus, you can take your time browsing if you aren’t in a rush to get everything at once.  I wanted to finish redecorating as soon as possible, so I didn’t do much secondhand shopping. But if you have time to scout, I highly recommend it! Or do as many millennial homeowners do – take a page out of the HGTV book and scout estate sales and vintage stores for unique finds. Those guys are masters at renovating and redecorating, so if it works for them it can work for you too!   If you do buy any secondhand furniture, make sure to inspect it for any signs of pests before completing the sale. And as soon as you get it home, thoroughly sanitize surfaces and pop any fabrics into the laundry. You don’t want to take any risks!

Sign Up for Emails to Get Discounts

Excessive emails can get annoying, but when you are moving or redecorating, they come in handy. Most major retailers offer an incentive for email subscribers – usually 10-15%.  It isn’t a lot, but when you are moving and redecorating an entire home or apartment, you need every discount you can get! I signed up for email alerts everywhere from Wayfair to Overstock and made use of those deals for sure!

Use Cash Back or Affiliate Links to Make Money Back on Your Purchases

I’m a big fan of cash back sites like Rakuten, RebatesMe and affiliate networks like RewardStyle. Most affiliate networks are for influencers only and you have to apply to become a member. However cash back sites are usually easy to sign up and can definitely pay off! Depending on the retailer, you can get anywhere from 2-8% cash back on your purchase. Again, it doesn’t sound like a lot of money. But when you are shopping at scale around redecorating a home, the small amounts add up quickly. I’ve made almost $150 in cash back just from purchases I’ve made this month! If you aren’t a member sign up here and get a $10 bonus!

Shop on Amazon for Surprisingly Good, Affordable Finds

Amazon is a redecorating secret weapon! Whether you are a millennial homeowner or just trying to freshen up your apartment with some redecorating, it will quickly become your go to! I found everything from functional storage ottomans to fun decorative elements, like my little succulent wall! Plus, you just can’t beat that Prime 2-Day shipping and free returns on many items. We took advantage of that a few times, thanks to items we thought would be perfect for our redecorating scheme, but turned out not to work once we saw them in person.

Make Small Changes that Can Have a Big Impact

I’m a big fan of decorative accents and wall hangings. We have a painting hung on almost every wall! If you don’t have an art collection, get some stylish affordable prints to pull your room together. You can also get some peel and stick wallpaper to make an easy statement wall, or hang some cute planters for a pop of greenery. Redecorating is about more than just the furniture – the decorative aspects can bring the whole room together.

Hope these tips help if you are planning a big move! And stay tuned for more about the home ownership process and issues affecting black homeowners and millennial homeowners.

Moving Hacks! How to Make Your Move Easy and Stress Free

If you missed the big reveal on Instagram, my husband and I are officially homeowners! I’m so proud and grateful of this accomplishment and the next chapter in our lives. I’m going to be sharing more about our journey to home ownership and what millennials need to know about purchasing their first home. But for now let’s talk about moving!

Packing, moving, and unpacking are total beasts! It can be super stressful and overwhelming, especially for a big move or a long distance move. It was really important for me to make our move as efficient as possible, especially since my husband and I are both working from home. The only way that was going to be possible was to get creative and enlist professional help. I partnered with TaskRabbit on my move to help make things as seamless as possible. If you haven’t heard of TaskRabbit, immediately check them out.

TaskRabbit is an online platform and app that saves you time by connecting you with skilled “Taskers” who can help with everyday to-dos, such as furniture assembly, handyman work, moving help, cleaning, and waiting in line. TaskRabbit is available in more than thousands of cities across the US, Canada and Europe. Keep reading for my moving hacks and how the TaskRabbit pros helped save the day!

Start Downsizing before a Move

My husband and I are fans of a seasonal purge, and I strongly suggest it a few weeks before a move. Donate any old clothes, throw away expired beauty products, and do a thorough audit of things around your home that you no longer need. We got rid of about 6 huge garbage bags of junk before we even started packing. That helped streamline the process and made prepping for the move so much easier. Make sure you do some pre-move organizing a few weeks before the move so you can take your time and not feel overwhelmed. You can hire a Tasker to pick-up and drop-off your donations at a local charity of your choice.

Order Your Packing Supplies in Advance

In the weeks leading up to our move, I ordered an assortment of shipping boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape and paper. I really had no idea how much we would actually need so took a guess for the first round. It’s important to get some supplies in early so you have time to get more if you run out as you start packing. Plus it gives you time to comparison shop and look for sales/coupons.

I also started keeping the packaging for anything we ordered online and saved a few boxes that I found in our apartment building. The cost of packing materials can add up fast so I wanted to save! I also ordered a few of the classic Ikea blue shopping bags. They are perfect for packing your groceries right before you leave and throwing in any miscellaneous items that you find at the last minute.

Pack all Your Non-Essentials a Week before You Move

This is probably the most important packing tip! Leaving everything to the last minute is a recipe for disaster. We packed up about 70% of our kitchen items and clothing a week before the move, then spent a little bit of time each day tackling a section of the house. It made things run a lot smoother. Plus when we started running out of our stash of packing supplies we had time to replenish before move out day.

Schedule a few Buffer Days In Between Moves

We were lucky enough to close on the new place about 4 days before we had to vacate our old apartment. That gave us a day to map out a layout in the new apartment and a day after the move to go back to the old apartment in case we forgot anything or needed to clean up. We got to spend time planning out exactly where we wanted the movers to place the furniture, where we wanted our art hung, and labeling cabinets to make unpacking easier. I also wanted to hand carry my wedding dress and make sure it was safely tucked away!

Hire Moving Help for More than Just Heavy Lifting

A lot more goes into moving than just hauling furniture in and out. We used TaskRabbit to help us with a few major steps in the process of moving and getting settled. Taskers can do everything from organizing and packing items; moving and loading boxes and heavy furniture; picking up and dropping off unwanted donation items; deep cleaning; and more. We found an expert handyman to help us mount our TV and hang up our art collection. We both wanted to see the visuals come together quickly and have our relaxation space set up before the end of the day. Our Ttasker helped make that possible! The next morning we had another Tasker come over to finish unpacking and organizing. She specialized in home organization and helped us get our kitchen, bathroom, and closets together in a single afternoon! It’s amazing to have our space feel so settled and lived in after just a day; that wouldn’t have been possible without TaskRabbit.

Hiring a Tasker on TaskRabbit just makes moving and tackling your to-do list easier.  You can search for the best Tasker for the job based on cost, skillset, availability, location and past client reviews. It’s moving season, so if you have one coming up, definitely check out TaskRabbit for support.

Pack an Overnight Bag with Your Essentials

This is another super important and often overlooked packing hack. I always pack a duffel bag with a change of clothes, comfy loungewear, pajamas, toiletries, and all of my electronics and chargers. Having that ready makes it easy for me to unwind after a long, stressful day of moving and get ready the next morning. No need to dig through boxes looking for your PJs or face wash!

It’s been about a week since we moved and we are about 90% perfect. Follow me on Instagram and stay tuned to the blog for more updates on home ownership for millennials and home décor. And be sure to check out TaskRabbit at taskrabbit.com and @TaskRabbit on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.