How many children do you have and what are their age(s)?
I’m a brand new mom with a one-week old baby named Grayson Matias. It’s been a crazy week full of love, amazement, soreness and baby blues. We are cherishing every moment because we know the time will go by so quickly.
How long have you lived in Jerse
y City? What made you decide to live here?
We have lived in Jersey City for almost 5 years now. We originally were looking to buy a condo in Hoboken due to the easy commute and nightlife. However, we quickly realized our money wasn’t going to get us a lot of space in Hoboken. Our realtor suggested Jersey City Heights and we immediately fell in love with the neighborhood and the views!
What’s your favorite family activity Jersey City?
We love just walking the neighborhood with the dog and admiring the architecture of the houses and buildings in our area. We also love trying out all different types of cuisine and that’s something that is easy to get in Jersey City. I can’t wait to take Grayson to Liberty Science Center and all the wonderful parks we have.
Where’s your favorite place to eat and/or shop in your town?
My favorite place to eat – it’s really hard to just pick one. Corto if I want fresh pasta, LoFi if I want a delicious Detroit-style pizza, The Franklin for just about anything on the menu, Griot for breakfast, Andreas for lunch and Dulce de Leche if I want something sweet. I can keep going too! The crazy thing is that all these establishments (except Andreas) have opened after we moved here.
What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Spanish was my first language, I speak it fluently (both of my parents are from Colombia) and I hope to carry this skill on to Grayson as well as all our family cultural traditions.
What are you doing to stay sane during Covid for yourself?
I’m an avid Peloton rider! I bought the Peloton as soon as I found out I was pregnant in November and it was by far the best decision I made especially during this pandemic. I was hesitant in getting one due to the lack of space but we made it work and it is currently in the nursery. 5 more weeks until I am cleared to hop back on!
Any tips or recommendations for parents to entertain/educate their children during this time?
Not yet! Looking forward to the advice from all the experience mommy’s out there in our community!
Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through parenthood?
My mom and husband. They have been so supportive with me the last week and throughout my pregnancy. Making sure they cook food that’s healthy for me and for being patient and kind with me while I go through the baby blues p hase.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
My FT job is working at AbbVie Pharmaceuticals as a Marketing Manager. For fun I run the IG page: @jersey.city.heights with the goal of helping local businesses get extra exposure to the community. I’m also part of the Board of Directors for the Jubilee Center of Hoboken. This nonprofit is an after school and summer enrichment program for disadvantaged children living in Hoboken and surrounding areas.