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Jennifer LeBow’s Chicken Chili Recipe

November 15, 2017 by Jennifer LeBow 1 Comment

Jen LeBow’s Chicken Chili

I make a vat and freeze some.

In an 8 qt. pot, saute on medium:

3 finely diced onions (food processor makes quick work of this)

6 minced garlic cloves

1/2 T EVOO

Stir frequently for 8-10 minutes.

Add:

3 1/2 cups chicken broth

3 1/2 cups water

5-6 bone-in chicken thighs (skin removed)

2 cans (14.5 oz.) Great Northern or other white beans, drained

1 can (14.5 oz.) red kidney beans, drained

1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

2 T chopped cilantro

2 T cumin

1 1/2 t salt

Bring to a boil, turn down to simmer and cover. Let simmer 25 minutes.

Remove chicken.

Allow pot to continue to simmer another 90 minutes.

Remove the chicken from the bones, return the chicken to the pot. Stir and serve.

Closet Trends for 2018

November 10, 2017 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

Walk-in closets are getting a lot of attention lately and lots of variety in how to design clothing storage space.

The walk-in closet, just like other areas of the home, goes through style changes. While palatial homes tend to have giant ones that allow for a lot of furniture and no need for space conservation, those are the exceptions. Most people these days are looking for ways to maximize their closet space while keeping things visible and organized. There’s a push toward minimizing furniture in the bedroom itself, so fewer dressers, armoires, etc. are considered a plus. As a result, one shift is toward more drawers showing up in closet designs. Double hanging spaces too are becoming more common–most people would rather sacrifice a floor-length gown hanging space (not that many people these days have full-length dresses) and find more “regular” height hanging space. Not surprisingly, adjustability is important and with all of this “packing as much into the space as possible” has led to a minimizing of decoration; the all-white, no-frills look is growing in popularity. Shoe storage and making the best use of the corners are also getting a lot of attention. If you haven’t gotten enough ideas from the links in this article, your local closet storage designers have tons more!

Main Line Family Promoting Mental Health in Young Adults

November 5, 2017 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

Minding Your Mind’s mission is to remove the stigma around mental health and to help young adults maintain their emotional well-being.

Some of you may be familiar with the the non-profit Minding Your Mind, founded by Ardmore locals Steven and Amy Erlbaum. I wasn’t, until I recently met a woman who sits on the organization’s board of directors. The Erlbaums started Minding Your Mind, which focuses on helping young adults (often college students) try to navigate their way through the often stigmatized waters of mental illness. How? They bring speakers (usually in their early 20s, so that the target audience can relate to them) into schools and colleges to speak openly and plainly about the importance of good mental health and how to maintain it. They address issues including drug abuse and bullying, depression, suicide, eating disorders and self-harm.

While there are lots of theories about why there has been such an explosion in mental health struggles among adolescents and young adults (too much iphone/social media use, a loss of ability to connect in person and in “real time”, competition for admission to colleges, a tight job market, etc.), the statistics are undeniable and we are experiencing a mental health crisis in this country. While there are many therapists out there to help people deal with their individual challenges, Minding Your Mind’s vision is to educate people and destigmatize mental illness so that frank, productive discussion and prevention (as well as treatment) can occur more easily and before things are dire for any given person. I applaud the efforts of Minding Your Mind and wanted to do what I could to raise awareness of this organization and its mission. If you’d like more information, please visit their website.

Jen LeBow’s Brussels Sprouts Recipe

October 27, 2017 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

This is what roasted Brussels sprouts look like. They don’t taste cabbage-y, but nutty and wonderful.

Jen LeBow’s Brussels Sprouts Recipe

Preheat oven to 400°

Place in resealable plastic bag and shake/combine:

1 pound Brussels sprouts cut in half (or quarters, if they are large)

1 T EVOO

1 t balsamic vinegar

¼ t Kosher salt

Line cookie sheet/baking pan with foil sprayed lightly with cooking spray.

Spread sprouts out in single layer on cookie sheet.

Cook 10 minutes.

Reduce oven to 350°.

Cook 20 minutes longer.

Serve hot ; use leftovers cold in salad.

Involve Kids When Selling

October 24, 2017 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

Are you listing your home for sale? Let your kids be part of the process.

If your kids are of school age, they are old enough to be involved in the process of moving. Keep in mind that it’s very displacing for kids to move. If they have no involvement or “say”, they often feel very against the whole idea. If, on the other hand, you include them, they are much more likely to have “buy in”. I am not suggesting you let your kids choose your new home, but, depending on your specific family, you can decide how much influence they should have.

From a selling perspective, take the time to explain to them (use online pictures of other homes for sale) how much better your house will look if it’s kept tidy and how it will sell quicker if it’s neat. While they may not be in a hurry for it to sell (if they don’t want to leave), you can mention that the faster it sells, the sooner they will not have to keep it so neat and leave every time someone wants to show it. If they are invested in the end result, you may see more participation. Of course, if they are excited about moving, you should be sure they know that houses that show well tend to sell faster.

Another thing you can do is encourage your child (or do it for them if they are too young) to photograph the spaces he loves, like his bedroom. That way, if he wants to recreate it in the new place, he will be confident that he’ll be able to. Remember, while some kids are excited about a new house, change is very hard for others. Similarly, make sure you child has the opportunity to say goodbye to local people and places if you’re moving away from the area. A goodbye party which includes exchange of contact information with important people is a great way to inject some excitement into the process.

Camoflaged People in Natural Landscapes

October 18, 2017 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

This artist uses body paint, composition and strategic placement to “hide”people in his landscape photographs. I am not only blown away by how deftly he integrates the people into the environment so they are barely detectable, but I like to think that his is also sending a message about a seamless nature-human interaction. We are all painfully aware of some of the negative effects on our environment that area caused by people. The message that we could, potentially, all be “part of the same picture” and not separate entities is a pleasant thought. Even if you aren’t particularly environmentally aware, I think you’ll appreciate the skill of this artist.

The Philadelphia Dog Show at the Oaks Convention Center

October 11, 2017 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

relocating to philadelphia events — Looking for something fun to do in November? Take your family to the dog show!

In the interest of full disclosure, I should say that I grew up going to dog shows and my father showed our dog, Morris, who was a Briard, to champion. Still, though, I am convinced that attending the Philadelphia AKC dog show (one of only six remaining benched shows in the country) is a wonderful way to spend part of a day. Not only can you see several dogs of any given breed (and there are more than 180 recognized breeds) together as they compete for “best in breed”, but you can visit dogs and breeders and ask questions and actually meet some of the dogs. You can learn about their temperaments (are they “one-person” dogs? particularly easy to train? protective? high-strung?) as well as common health issues, life span expectancy and other information. While dog lovers may just have a great time seeing so many dogs, being able to learn about the breeds can be extremely useful if you are considering adding a dog to your family. You may find that you like the dogs of a particular breeder better than others, or you may just gather a lot of useful information. Of course, like at any trade show, there are also booths with dog-related products (toys, leashes and collars, grooming tools, etc.) and services (like trainers, people who microchip and dog walkers), so if you aren’t in the market for a dog, but already have one, go!

Walkability is back in fashion

October 5, 2017 by Jennifer LeBow Leave a Comment

For a long time, it seemed that people wanted more space for and in their homes and more privacy from neighbors. Unless people had young children and were looking development-style living, most people I talked to always wanted a bigger lot as well as a bigger house. You know what? The pendulum seems to have swung. While many of my clients still want interior space for their families to gather, focus on hobbies, concentrate on work, play, watch movies, etc., what I’ve noticed is a surge in demand for “walkability”. People these days seem to want to be within walking distance of shopping, restaurants, public transportation, services, parks, etc. While convenience is definitely an ingredient, it’s connecting with and feeling part of a community that keeps coming up. When you walk places, not only, by definition, are those destinations hyper-local (and, therefore, are more likely to yield interactions with people who live in your neighborhood, which forms community ties), but walking, in and of itself, is a social means of transport. Think how much more likely you are to wave hello or have a conversation with someone sitting on a porch if you walk by than if you drive by.

Having conducted no scientific research (disclaimer), it seems to me that all of the social media over-sharing that goes on is really a nod to the same desire: to feel part of a community of people who know you and are aware of what is going on in your life. So it’s really not so surprising that many buyers try to find houses that have that “neighborhood” aspect built in. People often begin by asking things about the area, like, “Do they hold block parties?” “Is there a neighborhood book club or babysitting group?” Then they frequently ask about walkability. Again, while part of the draw is not having to travel far (or long) and possibly preferring eco-friendly walking to driving, I think it’s more than that. I think it’s about connection. I think it’s a throw-back to villages where everyone wanted to live near their neighbors and the merchants/service people upon whom they depended. Think Mayberry, USA.

So, as I said, the “walkability” of neigborhoods has become important–so important, there’s now something called a “walkability score”. As far as the city goes, Philadelphia ranks very high in walkability. I have buyers who check the walkability score for properties that otherwise look good to them. If you would like to see where your neighborhood falls on the continuum, visit this website.

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