Let's Go Explore: Upper Montclair

As you may or may not know, I teach in New Jersey. Before I took this job, I hadn't spent much time in Jersey, and I definitely had expectations about the state before I started going there on a regular basis.

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I am happy to report that New Jersey, or at least the parts of it I see on a regular basis, is absolutely nothing like what I thought it would be. There are cute houses and pretty trees and adorable shopping centers - and absolutely none of my students are in the running to be the next Jersey Shore cast member. I've actually found all the people to be quite lovely.

There's one area that I pass by on the train that I've been wanting to spend more time in. It always looks like a picturesque little storybook town. Also, my grandmother grew up near this area, so I wanted to see the house where my father spent his childhood vacations. One sunny day, it was time to explore.

On the bus to New Jersey, I texted my dad to get his grandfather's address. I Google Mapped it to find out it's only a mile and a half from my school - sweet! Thanks iPhone! After class and my office hours, I walked down a pretty little neighborhood street, listening to my cousin's music and taking in the wind.

It was really cool to be wandering around in a neighborhood. Except for the few days I was in South Florida, I honestly can't remember the last time I was in a real, big houses, backyards neighborhood. And these were SOME HOUSES. As I approached the end of the street, I had this overwhelming feeling. I just knew I was getting close to my great grandfather's house. Apparently I had driven by this house when I was 6, and I saw a picture of it a year or so ago. But I don't think that was it. There was an air about this place. I knew it had history. My family's history. My history.

Once I saw/enjoyed/stalked the house, I made my way into the Upper Montclair town center. What a cute little area! Full of adorable shops and cafes. There were at least five stationary stores. One of my favorite things was this little alleyway that led to more stores.

But my absolute favorite part of town was this 4 screen movie theatre. I've seen it from the train a million times and I usually consider getting off and catching a film. It's just so cute! I mentioned it to my dad and he said "Was the movie theater the Bellevue? If so, your uncle stole a replica of the Bounty when Bounty on the Mutiny showed there in 196-whatever it was." Awesome.

Such a fun area to explore. I'm glad I got to play around a little bit on a workday!

(All photos personal unless otherwise credited)

Let's Go Explore. Explore. Explore.

It's spring break, and I've pretty much only done two things:

1. Read in coffee shops and bakeries
2. Wander, often aimlessly, around New York City

I'd say that in the last week or so, I've probably walked at least a half marathon if not a full marathon. It's starting to get sunny out, and that pretty much only means one thing: Exploring. Everywhere. Mostly the Upper West Side.

On Saturday, I walked down through the Upper West Side to Central Park. I apparently forgot that my camera was capable of taking pictures for a while. I then met up with Jungle K and some of her friends down in Union Square for some delicious upscale dining hall food at Vapiano. Yum! Then we wandered around Greenwich Village and SoHo for some people-watching and sightseeing. The highlight of this trip was, of course, Washington Square Park:

Sand art in Washington Square Park

Random piano player in the (empty) fountain of Washington Square Park

On Sunday, I walked down the Upper West Side again to check out one of the biggest flea markets in NYC, Greenflea. Miss M recommended this market to me a few weeks ago, and I've been dying to check it out. Every Sunday from 10 am - 5:30 pm (6 in the summer) on Columbus between 76th and 77th Streets, The Parents Association of PS 87 hosts the market to raise funds for the school. Education AND thrifting? I'm IN. There were a ton of delectable treats and fun finds. I didn't buy anything (except a samosa because they're irresistible), but I definitely want to go back. What a fabulous find! Then I sat in Magnolia Bakery with a latte, a White Chocolate Fudge Brownie, and a good book.

Before heading back uptown, and taking in the view of course.

The Cathedral never ceases to amaze me.

Random Peacock on the Cathedral grounds. What the heck? Not complaining.

Today and Monday I made my gym trips into mini walking trips as well, finding some more fun things to photograph in the Upper West Side.

An ad that made me cry. No big deal.

I will seriously give money to whoever can tell me what these creatures are.

This whole thing made me really realize just how marvelous this city is. Where else can you just wander like this? While on these adventures, I also saw Lin-Manuel Miranda, writer and star of In The Heights. It's been a pretty fabulous week. It's a shame that the second half of it must be spent in the library.

Anyone else go on safari this week?

Is Butter A Carb? (Today's Fun Fact)

Today's fun fact is another law, as they tend to be. Anyone who lives in or has visited New York may have noticed that most large chain restaurants have calorie counts visible.

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This is due to a New York City (not state!) law that requires food service establishments with 15 or more locations that operate under a single ownership to post calorie counts for menu items that are standardized in portion size and content. This includes franchises, food stands, and local or national chains. Menus, food tags, and any advertisement for an item must contain the calorie information for foods and beverages. Seasonal or specialty items (on the menu for less than 30 days a year) are exempt.

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So. Why here? Why now? The government has been trying to crack down on the rising obesity and diabetes incidence rates in NYC for a while now; their latest campaign features gross depictions of bubbling fat coming out of sugary beverages in an attempt to deter New Yorkers from drinking their calories (I'll spare you from those images). City-dwellers, perhaps more than residents of other states of the union, eat a large percentage of their calories outside their home - the average New Yorker eats a full third of their calories in restaurants, from street vendors, and probably at Starbucks.

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It's truly mind-boggling. The things that we take for granted as grab-and-go - a bran muffin at Dunkin Donuts, a burrito at Chipotle, a flavored latte at Starbucks - turn out to be pretty horrible for us. You'd be hard-pressed to find any snack at your favorite place for under 200 calories. Unless, of course, you choose soy crisps or a miniature granola bar. Was ignorance bliss? Were we better off not knowing just how many calories were on our tray? Some New Yorkers say yes - claiming that having a 1,650 calorie meal at Wendy's is okay because they have an "active lifestyle". Some New Yorkers are making better choices, swearing off their morning muffins and street pretzels. Some are just ignoring it altogether; I've had friends say they didn't even notice the numbers.

Recently, there's been a push for national calorie count laws. While not as strict as the New York law, this portion of Obama's health care reform would require national chains to post calorie counts in a similar fashion. Honestly, I'm for it. For me personally, even before I started keeping track of my food intake, published calorie counts make me more conscious of my decisions. At least I know that I'm making a bad choice when I buy that brownie and exactly HOW bad of a choice it is. Most of this information was readily available anyway, and to make it this public just gives us fewer excuses to be a nation of ignorant fat people (sorry, but you know it's true!).

What do you think?

Let's Go Explore: Midtown Manhattan

Hooray! My favorite segment is back! (It's my favorite because it involves me doing fun stuff)

On Mondays and Wednesdays, I commute to New Jersey to teach. I take the 1 pm train back and usually arrive in the city by 2 pm. I've developed all sorts of good and bad timewasting habits for my train rides - Facebook stalking, doing homework, Tumbling, grading papers, and catching up on NY happenings. Today, I was balancing reading a textbook and reading my iPhone, and one of my favorite blogs reported that 30 Rock would be filming at 30 Rock all day today.


ALL DAY?! That's a long time. Usually it's a few hour window, and you're lucky if you make it there in time with all the celebrity stalkers. Now, I knew it wasn't a guaranteed thing since the weather was iffy all day, but since my train would arrive in Penn Station (about 1.2 miles from Rockefeller Center), and I'm a bit stir crazy from a studious weekend, I had to take the chance.


Now before you read any further, I should tell you that I didn't see 30 Rock being filmed. It all but hurricaned this morning; I arrived in Manhattan during a dry period, but it was clearly going to rain again. I don't know how filmmakers account for this kind of thing, but I have a feeling they couldn't film outside today.


I DID, however, have a lovely hour and a half long excursion through touristy midtown (and I burned 200 calories walking & carrying my backpack around - bonus!). I started at the flagship Macy's, which is right across the street from Penn. I had walked by Macy's before, but I had never been inside. It's just like any other Macy's, except slightly bigger, much busier, and more spread-out. It's kind of like a Macy's-Mall-hybrid. OF COURSE they were having a sale, so I bought myself a little present.

A Betsey Johnson Panda Necklace! Swoon.

Then I headed over to Herald Square to see one of my favorite statues in the city, the James Gordon Bennett Monument, also known as the Bennett Clock. It features a lovely statue of Minerva, Roman Goddess of Wisdom, complete with two tireless workers to chime the bell and lots of owls.

According to the inscription, Minerva and the Bellringers stood atop Joseph Gordon Bennett's New York Herald building, tolling hourly from 1895 to 1921. In 1928, they were restored to their original location and continue to be officially maintained by the Parks Department. However, as of 1940, the statues don't actually hit the bell anymore - it's all an illusion (one that cost the city $200,000 in restoration a few years ago!). Anyway, I adore Minerva and her owls, so this is my favorite.

Then I walked up Fashion Ave to say hello to my good friends Patience and Fortitude at the NY Public Library

 (This one is Patience)

And finally, I ended my trip with a snack and a visit to Rockefeller Center, which was sadly empty, but always majestic. It will always be one of my favorite architectural spots in the city.

So much Greek mythology! No wonder Percy Jackson put Olympus here.

It started raining the minute I finished my sandwich, so I bolted to the B train and headed back uptown. All in all, a successful exploration! I found touring these touristy areas as a local surprisingly zen.


Do you have any places (no matter how touristy!) in your city that you can see over and over again and never tire of?

Dinner Tonight: Chicken Fajita Wrap

Welcome to my newest feature! Dinner Tonight showcases the healthy and tasty entrees that I cook for myself. All Dinner Tonight meals are for one unless otherwise specified!

I know, I know, everything I make has "fajita" and "chicken" in the name. But tonight's dinner is quick, easy, and healthy. It took about 15-20 minutes to cook, clocked in at around 300 calories, and was DELICIOUS - you can't beat that! All the measurements aren't exact and your chopping doesn't have to be pretty. Just use whatever you have on hand and whatever brands are your favorites.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 chicken breast tenderloins
• Goya Mojo Criollo Marinade
• 1/4 red bell pepper
• 1/4 green bell pepper
• 1/4 small yellow onion
• 1/4 cup black beans (leftovers are great here!)
• 6 grape tomatoes
• 1 Trader Joe's Whole Grain Tortilla with Rolled Oats & Flax Seeds

Prep:

• I keep my chicken tenders in pre-portioned baggies in the freezer, so I made sure to pop one of the baggies in the fridge last night so it would be good and defrosted by morning.
• Add mojo marinade (you don't need a lot) to the baggie and put the chicken back in fridge. The longer it marinates, the better! Mine probably marinated for around 5 hours or so. Make sure to flip the baggie halfway so everything gets the good stuff.

Directions:

• Slice peppers and onions to your liking. I half-ass julienned mine.
• Coat a non-stick skillet with cooking spray. Add onions. After a minute or two, add bell peppers. Cook until tender. I added about a tablespoon of the mojo for the last 30 seconds or so - it really infused the flavor into the veggies! Remove veggies from pan and set aside.
• While veggies are cooking, cut chicken into bite-sized pieces.
• Recoat the skillet with cooking spray and add the chicken. Cook thoroughly. Since the pieces are small, they will cook quickly, so be ready!
• While chicken is cooking, heat up your black beans, half or quarter your grape tomatoes (depending on their size), and heat up your tortilla so it won't crack on you.
• Add all ingredients to tortilla, fold and enjoy!

Now my wrap promptly fell apart the second I took my first bite. Since I was alone, it was no big deal to eat it Ethiopian style - grab pieces of tortilla and scoop up the veggies. It's a LOT of filling for a small wrap, so be ready!

Now for the good stuff. This is calculating using the brands that I used, so you may need to adjust according to your brands.

Nutritional Facts:

Calories: 300

Total Fat: 3.3 g

Cholesterol: 45 mg

Sodium: 1360.5 mg

Potassium: 312.8 mg

Total Carbs: 44 g

Dietary Fiber: 11.8 g

Sugars: 20.3 g

Protein: 23.3 g

Vitamin A: 8%

Vitamin C: 135.3%

Calcium: 15.3%

Iron: 28%

The only thing on here that's really alarming is the sodium - that's the mojo. So if you're watching your sodium intake, I suggest making your own, less salty mojo or trying a different marinade.

If you're eating low-carb, this could easily be made into a black bean bowl by omitting the tortilla and bumping up the black beans. With 1/2 cup of black beans and no tortilla, this would be 222 calories.

What did YOU have for dinner tonight?

Designing Woman

Oh hi, Tribe. I've been very busy, you know.


But not too busy to do some design overhaul! I've added some pages including an About Me section and a Links to Love section. Got a question you want to see on the About Me? Got a link you want me to hype? Email it to concretejane [at] gmail [dot] com! You might already find yourself there.


I've also created a Tumblr, which may be the best/worst decision I've ever made. I don't always have time to post REAL blog posts here, so the Tumblr is a sort of way for me to post little things throughout the day or week when I don't have time for a full post. It's also nice to be able to reblog some of things that I've been lurking about for years! My Tumblr feed is always available on the left side of this blog, and some things are posted to my personal Twitter.


On my Tumblr, I post a Corgi A Day and a Quote A Day, among other things. I'd love you to submit things for these (or any other) category on the Submit page! Another cool feature about Tumblr is the Ask page, where you can ask me any question and I'll answer it! This eliminates the need for me to have a Formspring - pretty cool, huh? So go ahead, ask away!


Finally, I've done some blog revisions to make this blog more anonymous. Not that I don't trust you, of course! But as a public school teacher, I need to be careful about what is accessible and findable by my students. Names and faces have been (mostly) removed, and awkward nicknames have taken their place. I have faith that y'all will catch on soon.

Old Habits Diet Hard: Pantry Staples

At this point, all I think about is food. I grocery shop at least twice a week (once at Trader Joe's and once somewhere else, usually at Fairway or the convenience grocery store across the street), and I spend a lot of free time discovering new recipes. Of course, I'm crazy about produce, but that's for another post. No matter what I'm making, there are a few things I always have on hand:

Skim Milk

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THE number one thing I always have on me. I put it in coffee & protein shakes, drink it as dessert, and generally indulge in it all the time. I. Love. Milk. 

Peanut Butter

Preferred Brand: Jif Natural Creamy

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I know. Peanut butter is an indulgence. It's high in fat and not super-filling. But I love me some PB and I simply cannot give it up. I used to use Reduced Fat Jif, until I read the ingredients - they take out the good nut fats and add in a bunch of oils that I've never heard of. I switched to Jif Natural and now Reduced Fat Jif tastes salty, sugary and processed. I call it my halfway peanut butter - I'm not ready to go all homemade-ground-nuts-only, but I was ready for something a bit more natural.

Fat Free Cottage Cheese

Preferred Brand: Trader Joe's

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I'm weird. I have always loved cottage cheese. And for under 100 calories, 0 grams of fat and 14 grams of protein, it's my favorite post-workout snack.

Protein Powder

Preferred Brand: Aria Women's Protein

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The perfect boost of protein. Add to 8 oz of skim milk and you're good to go.

Coffee

Preferred Brands: Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Trader Joe's

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Some people cut out caffeine when they diet. Those people are insane. Coffee gives me energy, keeps away headaches, and if I drink it 1 hour before exercising, improves my work out endurance. Also, it's delicious. I add 1/2 cup of warm, skim milk to 1 1/2 cups of freshly brewed coffee. Be sure to hydrate!

Nonfat Plain Yogurt

Preferred Brand: Trader Joe's

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The first few weeks of my diet, I cut out yogurt completely and switched completely to cottage cheese. I really missed yogurt - and so did my tummy, which loves the probiotics. I switched to organic, plain, nonfat yogurt and I'm LOVING it. To make a healthy, natural yogurt parfait, start with 2/3 cup of plain, nonfat yogurt and add in 1/4 cup of your favorite granola (I like TJ's Low Fat Granola with Almonds). Since it's winter, I use frozen fruit, slightly defrosted - my favorite is 1/4 cup of blueberries and 4-5 small strawberries. Mix it up and enjoy!

Light Snacking Cheese

Preferred Brand: Mini Babybel Light Cheese

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50 calories. 3 grams of fat. 6 grams of protein. Completely portable. I usually have one on me at all times, along with a bag of fresh veggies.

Cereal

Preferred Brand: Trader Joe's Joe's O's

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Now I've been known to switch cereals constantly. But Joe's O's (TJ's version of Cheerios) are $1.99 for a GIANT box, and you just can't beat that. I eat 3/4 cups of cereal with 1/2 cup of milk and some fresh fruit (usually a banana) for breakfast most mornings. I alternate with oatmeal, which is a whole different post.

Sports Drink

Preferred Brand: Gatorade (DUH)

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There's a TON of debate about whether or not to drink electrolyte beverages before/during/after workout. When I was working out last semester, I started to get faint on a regular basis. I talked to my sister, and she said it sounded like I wasn't retaining the water I was drinking, probably because my electrolytes were low. When working out, I now add 1/4-1/2 cup of orange Gatorade to my water bottle and fill the rest with water (usually another 2 1/4 - 2 1/2 cups). It's a nice little hit of sugar and salt without being overwhelming. Not sure if it's helping or if it's all in my head.

Deli Meat

Preferred Brand: Boar's Head Chicken Breast

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I love Boar's Head Chicken! Publix spoiled me, but luckily most major grocery stores around here carry it. I was eating the EverRoast until I discovered that Fairway has my favorite (Lemon Pepper) for the same price as Publix back home. Wonderful! I add 3 slices to one slice of...

Whole Grain Bread

Preferred Brand: Trader Joe's Soft 10 Grain Bread

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Some bread notes: multi-grain doesn't always mean whole grain. Make sure that the first ingredient in your bread is WHOLE WHEAT. Sometimes multigrain items use white flour and then add in grains - not as good! Also, I limit myself to a slice at a time, since it's 90 calories, and what's really delicious is the filling, whether it's peanut butter, deli chicken, or a delicious fajita turkey burger (okay that one gets two slices since it's huge).

Spice Blend

Preferred Brand: Make Your Own!

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Spices are seriously low-calorie, and they're the easiest way to add flavor without sacrificing your diet. I keep a tupperware container of my favorite spice blend on hand and use about a tablespoon at a time.

My preferred recipe:

1/4 cup salt

2 tsp paprika

1 1/2 tsp chili powder

 1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp white pepper

3/4 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp cloves

 1/2 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp cumin

Pinch red pepper flakes

Chicken Tenderloins

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Oh my goodness, all I eat is chicken. I buy chicken tenderloins instead of chicken breasts because they are easier to portion (the chicken breasts at TJ's tend to be 6 oz or so, which is a LOT of meat for someone like me who is still getting used to eating it regularly). I usually freeze baggies of 3-4 chicken tenderloins at a time and defrost them as needed. I have a million chicken recipes, and I try to mix it up.

Low Fat Ice Cream Treats

Preferred Brand: Skinny Cow

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My favorite indulgence. I just finished a pack of Cookies n Creme ice cream sandwiches and bought a pack of Chocolate and Peanut Butter ones. I tend to cut them in half so that they last longer - and then they're under 100 calories instead of under 200! You're not getting full off of these anyway, so they're not to eat if you're hungry. They're a treat!

White Wine

Preferred Types: Riesling, Pinot Grigio

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Look. Sometimes people like a drink at the end of the day. And making a vodka-soda at home is kind of awkward. White wine is typically between 130-150 calories a glass. I'm currently loving NY Rieslings, but my rule is that I don't buy the same brand twice. There's so many new wines for me to explore! And the Whole Foods Wine Store (99th & Columbus) has a great selection of cheap, local wines.

Some precautions:

- If you're going to drink alcohol, make sure you don't drink your nutrition calories. You MUST intake 1200 calories of nutrient-rich food to prevent going into starvation mode. My calorie budget is 1350, so on a day that I don't work out, that leaves room for one drink.

- Unless you've planned a special occasion, you only get ONE DRINK. Don't get caught up. It's not worth it for a million reasons, mostly that once you have a few more drinks, you're going to want some snacky snacks. Don't blow your diet on pita chips, pretzel crisps and Reese's Pieces. I'm definitely not speaking from experience here. 

- Obviously, this isn't for every day. Alcohol is empty sugar calories and should be an occasional indulgence.

- Unfortunately, only the big-name wine brands provide readily available nutritional information. Your calorie counter will have to guess on this one, so be aware that it may be a handful of calories over or under what you inputted.

- Finally, MEASURE MEASURE MEASURE. Calorie counters' range of serving sizes for wine is huge - some say 4 oz, some say 6 oz, some say 8 oz. Pick a size, use a measuring cup, and stick to it.

What ingredients do you swear by?