Money doesn't always matter (that much).

I'm hungry to freelance.

After starting work, I realized that sometime in the nearest future possible, I want to be a writer. I've always known this on some level, that where my true passion lies is in writing, but stable careers and freelancing don't really fit into the same category.

But then again, it doesn't have to be my complete career. I've somehow managed to make time to have my full-time job and still freelance for a Chicago woman's magazine, Cheeky Chicago. I love both, but I also know that the writing for Cheeky is what makes me emotionally happy. Do they pay me to write sometimes two articles per week? No. But it's the personal fulfillment I get from writing for them that is what I value. The stability that I get from working at People is just as important, but in a different way. It makes me monetarily happy, which in some ways can be even more important.

So, by putting both jobs together, somehow I have managed to fulfill both my monetary and personal needs. And the fact that the writing I do is free rarely comes to mind because I love doing it just that much.

Would money be nice in exchange for freelancing sometime in the future? Absolutely. But for now, the happiness from writing is enough.

Hungry for...

CRAVING: Salmon

WHERE: Fresh from our neighborhood Treasure Island grocery store

WHAT: To break in our gorgeous, new kitchen, my roommate Eve, our friend Alyssa and I decided to make a filling and healthy meal. The salmon is pan roasted with simple seasoning, then glazed with a balsamic reduction. We needed a side dish, so we made spinach with shallots and golden raisins, and for a carb, herb couscous. Basically, healthy, easy perfection on a plate.

TIP: To save time after a long day at work, buy instant couscous. Far East is a great brand and makes dozens of varieties that take just minutes to make.

Is this real life?

I'm hungry for structure.

Here I sit, in my brand new, gorgeous living room in my new apartment. I'm watching TV. I have dinner reservations with friends. Then later, we'll proceed to do the young city thing and go out. Everything seems to be perfect, all in order.

Then why can't I shake this totally weird feeling?

Don't get me wrong, this is exactly what I wanted and I couldn't be more excited that I'm finally here and settled in. But as is the case with every new situation, I find myself not knowing what to do during the days, how to fill my time. In college, if you weren't being social, you were writing papers or studying. But here, if you're not at work, you're free as a bird. This will eventually become something I'll cherish, but for right now, I keep asking myself, now what? Should I constantly be busy?

The answer to these questions is obviously fairly simple: enjoy the time. And I will. But for now, on this quiet Saturday afternoon, I'm saying something I never thought I would say: I can't wait for work on Monday.

A sweet, family-filled new year.

I'm hungry for apples and honey.

Actually, I'm not such a huge fan of the traditional Rosh Hashanah combination, but figuratively, I'm hungry for the holiday food. I love all holidays, not just for the religious factor, but mostly because of the family gathering that inevitably takes place with all of my relatives. I'm fortunate enough to have an embarrassignly large extended family, and we all live within a few miles of each other. So tonight, like all other holidays, we are gathering at one house to celebrate the Jewish near year of Rosh Hashanah.

There's something about a religious, family gathering that is so special. I'm not particularly religious. In fact, I sit here writing this from my desk at work while other good Jews are observing in services for hours today. But I'm a firm believer in observing holidays how you see fit. It's the cultural value that is very important to me. Knowing that today is an important day in my religion's history makes me want to celebrate. To me personally, it's the culture that's important. Not necessarily the services, but the great opportunity to spend time with friends and family is what Rosh Hashanah, and really all other Jewish holidays, have always meant to me.

So, to the Jewish community and the rest of the world, happy new year, shana tovah.

Hungry for...

CRAVING: Prairie Grass

WHERE: Northbrook, Illinois, just north of Chicago

WHY: My family has been going here for dinner for years. The food is beyond excellent. It's been reviewed as some of the best food in the North Shore of Chicago year after year. The service is wonderful, the menu is the perfect size and I've never ordered something I didn't like. So, when we found out that they serve brunch, we made a reservation for the first Sunday they had available.

WHAT: Smoked salmon open face omelet with chive cream cheese, breakfast potatoes and toast with homemade jam. I don't know what about that could sound bad to anyone. It was unbelievable and a perfect amount of food. And though I didn't order it for myself, my brother got banana bread french toast stuffed with sweet cream cheese that was heavenly.

TIP: The restaurant grows a lot of it's own herbs and gets it's produce and protein locally. So, anything on the menu with those ingredients is sure to be fresh and delicious.

Movin' out.

I'm hungry to move.

Finally, it's September! And with this wonderful fall month comes my move-in date for my brand new condo in the Gold Coast. Of course, I have been working the past few days while my roommate and friend of 15 years, Eve has been readying our new place for my arrival on Saturday.

To be honest, I'm not really, truly ready to move out of my parents' house. It's comfortable here. I know that there will always be food waiting for me, a comfy bed to sleep in and a roof to relax under, even when the rest of my life is beyond stressful. With my own apartment might come freedom, but with it a plethora of brand new responsibilities and inevitably, stress.

But that's not even the main reason I'm sad to move out. Stress I can cope with and will eventually phase itself out, then replaced by new stress from life in general. I'm mostly sad to leave my family. I think it's really interesting that college kids talk such big game about moving out as quickly as they can find an apartment after graduation, but I don't think they really know what they're getting into. Why would you want to move out of a perfectly good, furnished house with a well-stocked refrigerator? I did. Now I'm not so sure why I was in such a rush.

Wasn't I saying I was excited about this?

Yes, I am. The fact of the matter is, I am beyond excited. For freedom, for a new life, and yes, even for the extra responsibility. There's something so magical about being completely in charge of every aspect of your own life, and this will be my first time I will be in complete control. I cannot wait to get moved in, even if sadness might eclipse my excitement for a while.

Does this mean that I'll never come home? Absolutely not. Especially for dinners and vacations. Anything that's with my family and free, count me in.

Hungry for...

CRAVING: Heaven on Seven

LOCATION: Two in Chicago, but I was at the one at Rush and Ohio, Chicago

WHY: We live in the Midwest, so when good, old-fashioned southern food shows up in Chicago, it's hard to resist. Everything is good here, from the classic gumbo to their jalapeno corn hush puppies, you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. And their coconut cream cake, a classic in the south, is to die for. To make it even better, the experience of sitting in the restaurant is one of the best in the area: the walls are lined with thousands of different types of hot sauces, and the ceilings are dripping with Mardi Gras beads. Head here and you're guaranteed a good time.

FAVORITE: Every time I go I get the same thing: Cajun fried chicken salad with a cup of gumbo. The gumbo comes with the salad, and the honey jalapeno dressing makes the entire dish explode in your mouth.