I grew up in Morristown while my husband grew up in Moorestown. Most Jerseyains pronounce "Morristown" like "Moorestown" and then confusion ensues. But that's where the similarities end. What else differs between our upbringings? Our dividing line of New Jersey. When I think"North Jersey," Bergen, Morris, and Hudson counties come to mind. Rob, my husband, always considered Trenton to be the line where North Jersey began and New Brunswick to be North Jersey. To me, Trenton and New Brunswick are Central NJ...definitely NOT North Jersey.
So this morning I was browsing NJ.com for my daily dose of news and saw a writeup on a new documentary being filmed about New Jerseyians opinions on the dividing line of New Jersey. In addition, the filmmaker (who is Ewing born, but teaches in Millburn) is aiming to capture the loyalties of North Jersey residents (i.e. Devils, Giants, Rangers) vs South (Eagles, Flyers) as well as the impression each have of the other's domain. For many South Jerseyians, North Jersey is Soprano land and factories while they hold claim to the beautiful open lands of the Pine Barrens and the Jersey Shore. North Jerseyians will argue that they have a lot of beauty to boast in addition to greater wealth, mass transit and culture.
This topic has definitely been in the back of my mind ever since I moved to the Princeton area in 2002. When I taught in Montgomery Township, I did notice a divide particularly in the sports alliance. It seemed as though the Giants/Eagles division was about 1/2. In terms of music, I was surprised to find that some kids also listened to Z100 (it was hard for me to give that up) which is definitely more of North Jersey station while 94.5 WPST dominated most of the radio play.
The story also mentioned the news exposure of North and South. North Jerseyians follow NY stations while South Jersey receives Philly news. I felt especially bummed when our Comcast package no longer carried the New York NBC and I was stuck with NBC 10. It was more the loss of my morning news anchors that pained me the most. I loved watching Rob Morrison and Darlene Rodriguez in the morning. Terry Ruggles and Lori Delgado are growing on me, but it's just not the same! My husband knew no different since he grew up with the Philly stations.
I'm not intending this to become a tirade on Philly stations or even the Philly influence. I do, however, prefer living in Central Jersey to North or South. I think there is a nice balance of the two. It's not as busy here as it is in Morristown. The pace of life just seems more calm. When I worked for a year in Glen Rock, I really felt the NY influence on the area and for some reason I just didn't feel like I could settle there. I didn't want to stay in Morristown either (I love the town, but I wanted to make my own roots somewhere else) and South Jersey was just too rural. So, Princeton it was.
The only other noticeable difference between North and South Jersey or Rob and me? I put "sprinkles" on my ice cream and he gets "jimmies." Thank goodness he doesn't use "gumbands" instead of "rubberbands" or drink "pop" instead of "soda." That would be a deal breaker. Just Kidding Rob!!!! (he reads my blog)
Where do you draw the line....of NJ?
Best little office machine
Every office needs one of these: a paper folding machine.
Recently at the chamber, I've had to stuff about 1200 envelopes with letterhead and fliers for an event and thank goodness I had this machine!
There is no button to press or wheel to crank. All you do is place the paper in one slot and it pops out of the other slot folded the way you want.
Be careful of the occasional crinkle or jam, but it happens rarely. The amount of time this saves in paper folding is well worth it!
Take a cue from candy for Spring
Even though it doesn't feel like it yet, Spring is just days away and pretty soon we'll be able to don the bright and airy fashions of the season.
This year, color is in for Spring. It's as if a bag of Runts candy exploded in the stores. But I'm loving it! Here are some affordable items that should be in your closet:
- Old Navy Braided-Trim One Shoulder Tank in Warm Fire Red: Wear with white capris, jeans, or a bohemian skirt. Dress it up with a denim blazer or dress it down with your favorite jeans.
- Old Navy Printed Maxi Tube Dress in Pink: Perfect for a stroll on the beach or a summer party. For the spring, throw on a white or denim blazer or a wrap sweater to keep warm.
- Chadwicks of Boston American Classic Sweater in Mango: Great with pants or a skirt. Throw on a patterned scarf or wear it over a white collared shirt. Other yummy candy colors include: Sherbet, Begonia, Aquatic Blue, Citrus Yellow and Lawn.
- Chadwicks Color Block Dress in Smocking Pink Multi: This dress needs very little accessorizing. The color combination is enough of a statement. Add some chunky bangles or a colorful pendant for some flare. Finish it off with either a matching or neutral wedge shoe.
- The Gap Sunkissed Khakis in Strawberry, Lemonade or Shamrock: I love colorful pants. They are rather easy to coordinate with though it would best to keep your tops neutral with white or black or a denim blazer. Dress them up with contrasting accessories. With the Lemonade pants, wear blue or green bangles. With the Strawberry, wear green or blue.
- Tahari Button Front Dress in Melon: This color goes well with black, turquoise, denim, beige, and even hot pink. Try turquoise bracelets and a necklace with tan/beige shoes. Replace the fabric belt with a thin black belt. Throw on a denim jacket with beige shoes. Lots of options!
Ward off evil sprits with blue bottles
For a few years now, I've been curious about these blue bottle trees that I see in random spots along back roads.
At first I thought they were some artist's still life project but then I thought there had to be some history to them. After doing some brief searching I found an interesting story behind this ancient African tradition.
They say curiosity killed the cat, but in this case, curiosity killed the evil spirits. I'm not sure about the significance of the color, but the bottles are meant to trap the evil spirits and spooks that climb inside. When morning comes, they are destroyed.
If you feel a need to exorcise/protect your property, you can now make your own blue bottle tree by following the directions explained here.
The tree I spotted was on Cherry Valley Rd in Montgomery Township (on the right hand side just beyond Cherry Hill Rd). If you search online, you'll find that blue bottle trees are popping up all over the place. This person has made an entire website dedicated to them, including pictures from the Netherlands and France.
St Patty's Parade in Morristown
On Saturday, Rob and I stopped up in Morristown for the St Patty's Day Parade. Both my brother and sister live in Morristown and were having very different parties. Even though I could not partake and the traditionally Irish festivities, it was still fun to hang out with them. My sister's party involved beer pong and a keg while my brother's party had an older crowd with more of a formal brunch style setup with beer, mimosas and Irish whiskey.
At around noon, Rob and I headed into town for the parade. We joined in with the other families while my siblings embarked on a day full of bar hopping.
The parade included local bagpipe groups, servicemen and women from the Army, Marines and Coast Guard, local police and fire departments, the cutest Irish dogs, the cutest Seeing Eye dogs and a troupe of step-dancers (to name a few). There was also a random girl with a pet goat, but I didn't get a picture.
While some people my age were spotting the nearest bar and running into other drunk friends, I was eyeing all of the different baby strollers! Wow how things have changed!
Here are some photos from the day. Expect to say "awwww" at the dog pictures.
Living in the Soprano State
If you listen to 101.5 and/or the Jersey Guys then you also have heard the "3rd Jersey Guy" Bob Ingle visit the studio every week. You would also know that he co-authored, with Sandy McClure, a controversial, yet very real account of corruption in New Jersey called The Soprano State. Why the name? Two reasons (as told by Bob Ingle himself): 1) Most people out of the state associate NJ with the show "The Sopranos" and 2) NJ politics is a lot like the mob.
Being a fan of the Jersey Guys and Ingle's visits, I had to leap at the chance to see them in person at one of Ingle's book signings.
On Wednesday, the 12th, Rob and I stopped into the Borders in Princeton. Like such a giddy girl, I was eagerly anticipating Casey and Rossi's arrival. For some reason, I was expecting them to be taller and not as common looking as they were, but it was still cool to see them in the flesh. By 7:30, Ingle started his Q&A portion of the event. Ingle kept a playful banter with his cohorts, Casey and Rossi, while Casey surprisingly sat quietly.
Many of the audience members were also fans of the show, laughing at inside jokes and asking specific questions directed at comments Ingle had made on previous visits to the radio show.
Finally, around 8, it was time to line up and get the book signed. What would I say when I got up there? I saw people hamming it up with Ingle, Casey and Rossi thinking, what are they talking about? But of course, when it was my turn all I could say was "hi" and "thank you." When I got to Casey and Rossi, I told Casey that I read his blog (it was a running joke that no one in the radio audience read his blog). Wow, that was a great conversation! But I got their autographs (even though I was giving the book to my brother and he doesn't listen to them) and I saw them in person so mission accomplished.
If you are interested in checking out Bob Ingle on the rest of his book tour, click here for locations. Unfortunately, Casey and Rossi will not be in tow. They only appear at the very local events.
Bob Ingle is the Trenton Bureau Chief for Gannet New Jersey newspapers. Casey and Rossi, "The Jersey Guys" broadcast live on 101.5 FM from 2-7pm.
A Vera Good Exchange
My girlfriends know me well. For my baby shower, they got me a Vera Bradley baby bag in Mod Floral Pink. Normally it would not be a problem, but I had already received a Vera baby bag for Christmas. What's a girl to do? I mean, there's always room for Vera bags, but do I need 2 baby bags?
So, I decided instead that I would exchange the bag for store credit (they also know me well enough to shop at my favorite Vera supplier, Charmed by Claire in Cranbury) and get accessories to go with my baby bag. Since my bag is brown microfiber, I had a lot of choices, but ended up sticking with the Mod print. It's so lovely!
I do have a point to this story. This post is for those stylish moms who want to enjoy the same Vera benefits that I soon will.
There are 3 products (2 of which I exchanged) that are perfect for moms-on-the-go and since they come in all of the Vera patterns, you can coordinate them with your mommy ensemble if you like.
Exchange #1: Out To Lunch
This item is fully lined so you can keep a cold pack in there for your baby/child's snacks. Not to mention, it's good to keep a cool snack or drink in for yourself!
Exchange #2: Ditty Bag
I was told that this bag is great to keep "wet" baby/kid clothes in. This bag is also lined and definitely washable (like all of Vera's bags).
Product #3: Cool Keeper
I did not get this product, but I might find it necessary in the future. Another lined bag, this is great to keep bottles in.
So here is your Vera baby bag accessory must have list. Even if you don't have a Vera baby bag, consider these your must haves for the fashionable mom. You'll thank me.
Shout Out: Melissa C Morris
If you want to follow the life of a young New York socialite, then check out Melissa C. Morris's website.
Best Product for Under Eye Circles
I have finally found a great product for concealing the dark circles under my eyes!
Prescriptives "Site Unseen" Brigthening Concealer with SPF 15 has an easy to apply brush and blends in smoothly. And it really does what it is named for: brightens your eyes. I definitely look more awake and alert when I use it. It also claims to reduce wrinkles and lines, but I'll have to report back on that in a few more weeks (although I'm sure sleepless nights with the new baby will combat any effort).
You can find this product wherever there is a Prescriptives counter. It comes in Level 1-5 for both warm and cool complexions and retails for $22.
A Small World
Yesterday as Rob drove to work he called me to tell me of a small house fire near the Princeton Junction train station.
Would you believe..THIS is who lives there?
My reactions?
- Oh, so THAT'S where he lives!, and
- Was his son trying to hide something from the IRS?
Birth Class: the Cliff Notes version
This Saturday, Rob and I had our childbirth class. We chose to do the 1-day, 5 hour session instead of the 5-week program. The class was held at my OBGYN and was taught by one of the Princeton Medical Center Labor and Delivery nurses. We got a lot of information and had plenty of opportunity for questions. At the end of the class, we took a tour of the L&D ward to see a private room (Princeton only has private rooms....your hospital may not and thus it's an extra fee to reserve one), take a peek at some of the new babies, and get familiar with the layout. The childbirth class is definitely a no skip part of pregnancy. I put together the Cliff-Notes version below as a preview of what to expect and prepare for:
Part 1: What to Pack
- Focal Point
- Music: iPod, CD-Player, etc
- Pillows: bring a colored or patterned pillow case so it doesn't get mistaken for a hospital one
- Socks or Slippers
- Snacks for your Coach
- Camera, film, batteries, etc
- Chap Stick: since you can't eat and will be breathing a lot...you might get chapped lips
- Robe: the hospital gowns are open in the back and you really don't want to show your bum will you roam the L&D ward.
- Cosmetics and toiletries: you will get the basics like hotel soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, but definitely bring you own things.
- Loose fitting clothes for homecoming
- For the baby: Going home outfit, booties, sweater/snowsuit, hat, car seat (leave it in the car so you don't have to fuss with reattaching it once you get back to the car.
- Braxton-Hicks (false): these usually start in the 3rd trimester and feel like a low menstrual cramp or tightening. It may also feel like the baby is "balling up."
- Timing: FALSE: often irregular; not usually becoming closer together. TRUE: Come regularly, 4-6 minutes apart lasting 30-70 seconds.
- Strength: FALSE: Frequently weak and not getting stronger with time or a strong contraction followed by weak ones. TRUE: become stronger with time.
- Pain: FALSE: Usually felt in front only. TRUE: Can start in the back and radiate to the front.
- Position Changes/Hydration: FALSE: if you change position or drink water, the pain goes away. TRUE: no matter what you do, the pain continues.
- Change position frequently
- Go to the bathroom every 1-2 hours (have your coach remind you)
- Apply cool washcloth to neck/face
- Ice chips or clear liquid
- Lip Balm
- Tennis balls in a sock for massaging
- Focal Points and Music
- Soothing oils like Lavender
- Breathing techniques
- Early Labor: contractions start to get stronger and may go from 10 minutes apart to 5 minutes apart. The pain may not be as great as later ones and you can still talk through them. You may see increased discharge or the "bloody show" which is normal. Call your doctor if it is more bright red. This stage may last up to 8 hours if you are not dilated or effaced yet. Always remember to stay hydrated.
- Active Labor: contractions become more frequent, longer and stronger. Your cervix starts dilating faster going from 4 to 10 centimeters. If you have not gone to the hospital yet, call your doctor/midwife and get yourself there pronto. Use your breathing techniques at this time. Try gentle massages on your belly while your breathe. If you're at the hospital already, take a bath or shower. The hot water helps dilation to progress. This would also be the time to request the epidural if you are planning to have one.
- Transition: your cervix dilates from 7-10 cm. Contractions are very strong and come every 2-3 minutes. When transition is over, the baby has fully descended into your pelvis. This process lasts from a few minutes to 1.5 hours.
- Pushing: this is self-explanatory. You'll want to push with each contraction, but if you have an epidural, you won't feel them. Your coach should help you through this stage. If you push against the contractions, you can slow the birth process and that's never good.
I know once I get to the hospital, I will be in another world and forget a lot of the techniques and suggestions. Hopefully Rob will be in a more calm frame of mind to help me! Feel free to bring your handouts from class with you to the hospital. Just remember to make this process as comfortable and familiar as possible. The nurses, midwives, doctors, etc are all there to support you and guide you along the way. (I may sound all filled with rational advice now, but I'm definitely scared inside!!)
So, if you're not sure about doing the childbirth class, I'm telling you NOT to skip it. Not only did we walk away with helpful information, but we had a L&D nurse leading our class who was available for all of our questions.
It is never too soon to ask about the childbirth classes. Depending on the availability and the size restrictions, you may have to reserve your spot in advance. We were also given a receipt to send in to the insurance company for a reimbursement (if any).
National Frozen Food Month Contest!!!
The people over at Veroli Foods sent me this fantastic opportunity for NJ residents for the month of March:
"National Frozen Food Month brings an exciting opportunity for New Jersey supermarket shoppers. Starting on March 1 and running through to April 1, 2008, Veroli Foods will run its “Taste of Italy” Contest offering a four-day Italian cooking ‘Boot Camp’ for two at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America’s Hyde Park, N.Y. campus. In addition to winning exclusive professional cooking courses for two at the world’s premier culinary college, the winner will also receive two complete Chef Professional CIA culinary tool kits, fully paid accommodations at a local hotel for the duration of their visit, and travel and expense vouchers. The estimated value of the Taste of Italy contest is $5,000."
Dallas based Veroli Foods wants to emphasize the importance of family time and healthy eating by offering this essay contest. The essay should reflect what goes on around your family dinner table as you eat Veroli foods.
To enter, simply visit www.verolicontest.com. Stories will be judged by Veroli Foods judges and will be announced on April 15th. The "cooking boot camp" prize is available either during the summer or the fall but must be redeemed in 2008.
You can find Veroli foods at Kings Supermarkets across the state. Veroli offers both frozen foods and marinara sauces. Each frozen dinner is made from scratch to provide a home-cooked experience. All Veroli products are natural and contain no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
For more information on Veroli Foods’ products please visit www.verolifoods.com. To enter the Taste of Italy Contest, please visit www.verolicontest.com. To find the nearest Kings Super Market go to www.kingswebsite.com.
