Mrs Mo's New Jersey

Good-Bye and Thanks!

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 01:57:00 +0000

As a work-at-home mom I rely on my daughter's long naps to get work done. There are some days where she naps longer than others and others where she doesn't nap at all and work gets shoved aside. I had one of those days a few months ago. I was in the middle of a busy work week and Maddy just would not fall asleep. Just then, I kind of had an awakening/epiphany/moment-of-truth: I can't do it all. I'm pregnant with baby #2 and balancing a heavy workload of NJMyWay.com and my pr clients all within a small time frame everyday. Something had to go. And the blog was it.

In the 3 years since I started Mrs. Mo's New Jersey, so much of my life has changed as has the format of my blog. In 3 years, I got married, had a baby, and started my own business. I built a sizable social media following and have made a name for myself in the local Princeton area. But I had to let it go. And I will admit, I shed a few tears when I made the decision.

Once I made it public that I was ending Mrs. Mo, I had some "you're closing your blog??" responses but a lot of people understood and thought it was a good thing for me to do.

So I'm saying good-bye today to Mrs. Mo, but I'm excited to focus on my business and my growing family. Follow my adventures on Twitter (@MrsMoNJ), keep up with NJ features, shopping, food and more at NJMyWay.com, if you're in Princeton, follow my Princeton Packet blog or if you need someone to help you with pr or to plan your next event, visit my business site.

If you're new to the site, feel free to browse the different categories of posts at this blog:

MOMMY MONDAY
SHOPPING TUESDAY
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY
YUMMY THURSDAY
FEATURE FRIDAY
WEEK OF WEDDINGS 1 & 2 W/ NJWEDDING.COM

Week of Weddings: Advice from the experts

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 05:49:00 +0000

Marielle Wolf

The Inn at Lambertville Station, Lambertville, NJ, www.lambertvillestation.com 609-397-8300, marielle@lambertvillestation.com

Remember this day is all yours, this is your wedding to your spouse and no one can take that away from you.
Check references for vendors (photographers, limo, videographers, caterers, coordinators)
Take your time and shop around for several different vendors before you pick one, you may find they are willing to bargain with you and give you the best deal for what you are looking for.
Referrals from friends and family are always good. Use your reception site / coordinator for "suggested vendors" too. Most reception sites have deals with referrals to vendors and offering discounts to brides that use the reception site name when looking to book wedding day vendors.

Vieno Wurret

Art by Vieno, Brick, NJ, www.artbyvieno.com

Keep your sense of humor- this is a wonderful time! Create a budget and do all you can to stick to it-you'll be amazed at how creative you can be! Which leads to a third piece of advice- be flexible

(Rev.) Carmela Vuoso-Murphy
Divine Light Center, 965 Wootton Street, Boonton, NJ 07005
973-331-9700

The one most valuable bit of advise I can give to any couple getting married is that regardless of all the input they get from everyone aound them, they need to remember that it is their wedding and they need to remain true to themselves and what they want in a wedding. I've seen couples anguish over making sure everything is perfect and everyone else is happy, that they lose sight of what is true and what is real - their love, their commitment, and the joy it is to share this most wonderful day with those they love!

Denise K. Smith

My Daughter's Cakes, Hackensack, NJ, info@mydaughterscakes.com, 201-927-4293

Don't settle when it comes to your wedding cake. A wedding cake should be the ultimate reflection of a couple's lives together when they say "I do." Be sure to take the time to interview several cake designers and taste their cake. While you may not necessarily see the cake of your dreams on the cake designer's webpage or portfolio, look for elements of the designs that are appealing and reflect your style. A good cake designer will be able to make your dream cake happen, while working within your budget. Never skimp on taste! Taste and good design are equally important. Be sure the cake designer uses the freshest ingredients, not prepackaged or frozen products.

Ambassador Video and Photography, 507 Van Buren Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07450, http://www.videoandphotography.com

Info@videoandphotography.com, (201) 500-8330, Toll Free (800) 652-3550

Designate someone other than the bride and groom to help gather friends and family for pictures. It is a huge imposition for the bride and groom to have to chase after their relatives who have wandered off to the cocktail hour. It becomes stressful for the happy couple. So let someone else do the heavy lifting and find those missing people for their formal photographs. That way the bride and groom can relax while others do the running

around for them.

Rachael Citron and Heather Balczarek

Glass Slipper Weddings and Events, Matawan and Tinton Falls, NJ, www.GlassSlipperWeddings.com

We've had many people tell us that they really could have used a Day-of Coordinator. Couples only have one chance to make sure all of the details come together, and the pressure that comes with that can really ruin their day! Trying to do everything themselves, or laying the burden on family members or bridal party members, is a risky and stressful proposition.We've heard from many brides that despite their best intentions, important details didn't get done right and they were so busy making sure the guests were happy and everything flowed that they didn't have time to enjoy their wedding (or make good use of all of the money they spent on the wedding itself!)

Christine Gromadzyn

Zoey's Catering, 7307 Ventnor Ave, Ventnor NJ 08406, www.zoeyscatering.com

You CAN do things cheaper. This is a recession. Every aspect can be rethought to make it special, yet smart. You still can't have a "wedding on a dime"...but, you can get creative. What we are spending on one day...well, some of your guests won't make that this year. Remember this is about having those close to you there for your big day. I know this is rare coming from someone in the wedding business. I do want your business, but reminding you that you don't have to go into debt for it (or put your parents into debt).

Kathy and Brian DeLorenzo

Le Conteur Photography (Central NJ), www.leconteur.com

Choosing the right photographer to capture your wedding is a very important decision. For many couples, it is the only link to this momentous occasion that lasts long after you say “I do”. Unfortunately if you don’t make the right choice, you will have to live with it for a very long time. Please read on to find five things to consider when choosing a wedding photographer.

Experience – Does your photographer do this for a living or is this a side job or (even worse) a hobby? A true professional photographer has a lot more incentive to deliver than someone who takes pictures for fun. Plus, you should expect better results from a trained and experienced photographer.
Personality – This is way more important than you might think. Working with photographers that you get along with can greatly affect your comfort level, resulting in better photographs. Having chemistry with your photographer also makes it a much more enjoyable experience.
Honesty – Was the work that sold you taken by the same person who will actually be photographing your wedding? Many times larger studios will send whoever is available on your wedding day. Make sure you meet your photographer and see their work before you sign a contract. If the studio cannot provide this, be afraid, be very afraid.
Delivery – Don’t forget to talk about delivery. Find out when you can expect to see your proofs, receive your album or other products that you’ve been promised. Discussing this ahead of time tells your photographer that you are not interested in waiting forever for them deliver your goods.
Budget – If photography is important to you, budget accordingly. Great photography doesn’t have to break the bank, but scrimping here can be dangerous. This is case where, for better or for worse, you get what you pay for.

If you follow these five easy tips, you should have no problem choosing the right photographer for you.

Kara Thorson & Laura Bianco
My Bellissima, 13 1/2 James Street, Morristown, NJ 07960, www.mybellissima.com, 973-998-5817

As professional planners, our most valuable piece of advice to the happy couple would be to NOT underestimate the amount of time, work, and commitment that planning a wedding involves! If your budget permits, utilize a wedding and event planning firm (like My Bellissima). We are experts in the bridal industry, so we know how to help you stick to your budget, get all of your "To-Do's" done in a timely fashion, aid you in getting the best quality vendors for the amount of money you'd like to spend. Though some argue that wedding planners are not necessary and are "just an additional expense," using one is an investment that can help you save on overall costs - so don't underestimate what we can do for you!

Gerald Fierst, Civil Celebrant

259 Park Street, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043, www.geraldfierst.com

gerald@geraldfierst.com, 973-746-4608

There are no wedding police, so feel free to let your inspiration and imagination roam. Simple actions say a lot. Do a signing of your marriage vows with a second sheet at the reception for all your guests to sign as witness. More meaningful than a simple guest book, this idea comes from the Quaker, the Jewish, and the Muslim tradition and beautifully decorated documents can be found on line. The most memorable moment should be the words you say to each other. Most people take the ceremony for granted, but a good officiant can write a ceremony that will be the heart of your wedding and will send your guests home thinking that the ceremony, not the party, was the highlight of the day."

Kathi R. Evans, PBC, President

All the Best Weddings & Celebrations - a WKE, LLC, www.atbcelebrations.com

732-270-5204

NEVER EVER book a vendor based solely on price. There’s a reason they’re so much lower than the established vendors in the same category (Transportation, Entertainment, and Photography come to mind immediately) and it’s usually not good. If you find a vendor you think you want to book based on price do some more research – get references, scour the message boards, see about watching them in action. Price should be ONE factor – it should not the ONLY factor.

Jenny Orsini, President/Creative Director

Pampered Bride Weddings, www.pamperedbrideweddings.com

973-912-8099

I've been seeing a new trend...couples choosing more obscure/unknown songs as their wedding songs. Back in the day, you couldn't go to a wedding without seeing the newly married couple dance to "From This Moment" or "Unforgettable" or something ridculousy sappy! But lately couples are choosing songs that are special to them, but not necessarily mainstream. I love this idea and as a former wedding singer who has sung them all...i welcome the opportunity to hear fresh music!

Cindy Jackson

The Extraordinary Moments Photography, P.O. Box 462, White Plains, NY 10602, www.theextraordinarymoments.com
914.318.8777

I always advise friends, family and potential clients that is important not to "skimp" on their wedding photography. Just as you invest time and money into finding the perfect dress, venue, and food, you should expend that same time and energy into finding a great photographer. Some key questions to consider when searching for your photographer:

Can your photographer provide you with samples of their work, which reflect various lighting situations? The aptitude of a great photographer is their capability of shooting in dim light, such as a church or reception venue, using simply the lighting within the venue.
When you meet with your photographer, take note of their appearance and how they're dressed/groomed. If they don't take pride in their appearance, are they really going to take pride in your photographs?
Does your photographer have reliable transportation? You have no idea how many times we've met with clients who tell us they've met with a photographer who did NOT have transportation, but rather depended on either public transportation, or a friend/relatives vehicle. Transportation is key. Imagine your worst nightmare if your photographer is late for your wedding day!
Does your photographer have liability insurance? This is imperative. All PROFESSIONAL photographers possess liability insurance. Most venues require it. This is for the both the venue's protection and the photographer's.

Week of Weddings: Gift ideas for the wedding party, bride, and groom

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 05:38:00 +0000

Tara M. Clapper, Atlantic City Wedding Planning Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/x-38743-Atlantic-City-Wedding-Planning-Examiner

Handmade jewelry is something that all of my friends are doing (I did this, too). Either the bride makes the jewelry herself or hires a friend to make it. This also minimizes the cost that the bridesmaids need to spend on their attire because they won't have to buy new or matching necklaces. If the guys are wearing something unusual, it's common courtesy for the groom to purchase the accessory as a gift (our guys were in kilts so my husband bought the skih dubhs or knives).

Janna Morishima
Kyo Morishima Photography <http://www.kyomorishima.com> . Life, love, pictures.
Stella and Dot. <http://www.stelladot.com/morishima> Your invitation to style.
(917) 250-6202

Photo jewelry makes a beautiful and very personal gift. We can create a charm bracelet with pictures of all the members of a bridal party, or a necklace with a picture of the bride for the mother of the bride, or a keychain with pictures of the happy couple for the father of the bride – there are many possibilities.

Kate Stevens, Catering Sales Manager

Branches Catering, www.branchescatering.com

For my sister's wedding, they gave us cute tote bags with our names ( which came in so handy for the day of the wedding) , flip flops for beach photos, a necklace to match our dresses and also paid for our hair. They were personalized and practical-great for bridemaids! The guys got " Maui Jims" designer sunglasses-great for wedding photos on the beach!

Wendy Taffet

Enjou Chocolat, 8 DeHart Street, Morristown, NJ 07960, www.enjouchocolat.com

973-993-9090

Edible wedding favors, like chocolate, make an impact on wedding guests and are now more popular than ever. Enjou makes our gourmet chocolates to match the theme of any wedding. They are a guaranteed conversation piece both at the reception and for years after. Edible favors show that you appreciate your guests without giving them something that will cause more clutter.

Carla Richards

Couture Envelopes, www.coutureenvelopes.com

516.507.9488

Couture Envelopes developed specific products as a result of surveying event guests. We found they wanted to feel more welcomed and appreciated when they attended a wedding, especially if they decided to stay overnight!

To support brides & grooms, we design individualized keepsake envelopes (and inserts) for welcoming guests, reminding them of a brunch, buffet, and all wedding "happenings" as well as area highlight information. The theme and party mood TRULY come to life as soon as guests enter the hotel and, it remains that way! Not only does each individual feel special but so does the bride and groom. These one-of-a-kind "communiques" enhance the total hotel experience by creating a strong connection, emotion and enthusiasm.

For the groom

Kim Noel

KNP Boudoir, 400 W. Bridge Street Morrisville, PA, www.knpboudoir.com

I specialize in Boudoir Photography, KNP Boudoir, and have tons of brides to be come in to give their groom a sexy album of them for their wedding. A boudoir photo shoot makes an amazing gift for brides to give to their grooms. The grooms are always pleasantly surprised! I have found that while girls set up a session with their hubby to be in mind, they leave feeling beautiful, sexy and confident. What bride does not deserve that! Planning a wedding is a lot of work and a bride deserves to be pampered a little. KNP Boudoir is about real women seeing how beautifully they really are. The photos are sexy, but sophisticated with a little bit of sassy. Boudoir sessions also make a great girls night out which is great for a bachelorette party.

For the bride & groom

Jayne's Elegant Events, Brick, NJ 08723, www.eleganteventsonline.com

janeevnts@aol.com, (732) 262-1996

Something I have been using for quite a few Christian weddings lately:

Creating Treasured Memories with "The Gathering Bowl": The "Blessing-Gathering Bowl" allows wedding guests to share their with the happy couple.

Placing the Gathering Bowl at the entrance to your reception, your guests are asked to write a personalized "blessing" for couple. The blessing is written on a small scroll, and is tied with a ribbon and dropped in the "Gathering Bowl." The couple will have their guests well wishes and blessings long after their wedding day, a treasured keepsake.

Week of Weddings: Getting the Best Bang for Your Buck

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 05:16:00 +0000

Kara Thorson & Laura Bianco
My Bellissima, 13 1/2 James Street, Morristown, NJ 07960, www.mybellissima.com, 973-998-5817

When it comes to getting more bang for your buck, there are definitely certain aspects of your wedding you should splurge on, but others you can afford to keep simple in order to cut costs. Every bride has a specific element that is most important to her (the food, the flowers, the photography, etc). For this reason, she should examine from the get-go what matters the most to her and her fiancee, and not "skimp" on that portion of the wedding. To save and add extra meaning to your special day, make a donation to a meaningful charity in lieu of cheesy party favors. It will probably end up being more cost-effective and definitely more worthwhile!

Esther Cohen

CEDARS & BEECHES BED & BREAKFAST INN, Long Branch,

NJ, www.cedarsandbeeches.com

Small intimate weddings are really trendy these days. They not only provide a "bang for the buck" so to speak but the most important people in your lives are the ones that are present. So instead of a photo album 10 years from now filled with people whose name you do not remember, or who have divorced the spouse they are sitting with in that picture, your album has pictures of your families and closest friends. Many of our wedding couples book all the rooms in the inn for the weekend providing an opportunity for families and spend to spend some quality time together as well. We often have a casual rehearsal dinner for our bridal groups on Friday night followed by the big event on Saturday.

Want more bang-book during the holidays for a themed wedding. The inn will be decorated in Victorian Christmas style so costs on centerpieces and arrangements are taken care of. You can use an ipod or cd full of Christmas songs as your music. Order a red velvet cake!

Jennifer Bunce, Chef & Owner

The Hudson Cakery, Jersey City, www.hudsoncakery.com

By Appointment Only: 201-209-9121

Here are some cake trends in regards to getting the most for your money:

1. When shopping for your wedding cake, since most bakers charge by the slice, simply tell your baker a smaller guest amount. You'll still get a beautiful cake but it will be just be smaller. Then you can have the caterer serve mini desserts on each table, family style to complete the meal. Most caterers throw in this option at a very minimal cost.

2. If you do want the cake to serve the entire party, then just get a simple cake without 400 handmade sugar flowers. The extra design details like sugar flowers, figurines and toppers, tend to increase the cost.

Rachael Citron and Heather Balczarek

Glass Slipper Weddings and Events, Matawan and Tinton Falls, NJ, www.GlassSlipperWeddings.com

The best advice we can give is to figure out what means the most to you as a couple. Don't spend a lot of money on something that might impress everyone else - do what makes YOU happy! Are you both music lovers but couldn't care less about flowers? Put more money into the band, hire a string quartet, and go with silk flower arrangements. Are you big foodies who love to cook and sample exotic dishes? Splurge on an amazing caterer who can do both "comfort food" and new taste experiences. Don't really like fancy clothes? There's no rule that says you have to go super-formal with your dress and tuxes. Get something pretty and inexpensive, and spend much more on things like favors or photography!

Danielle Nutt, Owner
The Bridal Suite, 2607 Whitehorse-Hamilton Square Rd., Hamilton Square, NJ 08690, www.thebridalsuiteofhamilton.com

(609) 588-4976

If you are shopping with an eye for a designer gown but don't have the designer pocketbook, here's what you can do. Research a designer that offers custom design changes. The Bridal Suite offers a mid price point bridal line called Casablanca (retailing between 600-2200). This designer will change or modify any gown to your specifications. Fabric, embellishment, silhouette you name it and they will do it and at a reasonable price! The custom options from the designer also provide the bride a unique opportunity to order the dress to her measurements instead of picking a size from a chart. Custom cutting a bridal gown to the body shape and height of the person wearing it reduces the amount of alteration significantly and in some cases it eliminates them altogether.

Kati Angelini, owner

Kati's Kupcakes, http://www.katiskupcakes.com, 609-332-2172

I think most brides are certainly looking for something trendy, unique and eye pleasing for their dessert at their wedding. Cupcake towers certainly fit the bill there and are very economical for couples, while at the same time they offer guests more options than a single slice of cake. By going with a cupcake tower, couples can offer guests more than one flavor of cake. Typically with a wedding cake, the waitstaff/serves will deliver each guest the same type of slice. Cupcake towers offer more variety by offering guests several different flavors. In addition, they are typically much cheaper than custom designed wedding cakes. My cupcakes start at $2.00 a piece and specialty toppers are an additional .50 cents. For just $2.50 per person, brides and grooms can treat their guests to a tasty, beautiful, unique dessert! I'd say this is a great way to get more bang for your buck. Choosing cupcakes at weddings has become very popular and a nice alternative to traditional costly wedding cakes!! We specialize in putting the cupcakes on beautifully decorated towers to coincide with the theme/wedding palette of the special day!

Marielle Wolf

The Inn at Lambertville Station, Lambertville, NJ, www.lambertvillestation.com
609-397-8300, marielle@lambertvillestation.com

Always splurge on the photography; a professional is going to be more willing to get those shots that you wouldn't think to ask of family or friends. Save on your centerpieces, you can do something really nice with a bowl, some candles and flower petals or stones (all available at local craft stores and dollar stores). These simple but classy centerpieces are a nice elegant and romantic touch for all weddings!

Tara Clapper
Freelance writer, author of Atlantic City Wedding Planning Examiner
2009 LBI Tall Ship bride

I see more and more brides buying flowers locally and trimming them themselves. It makes for a good get-together the night before the wedding. The bridesmaids can help her cut flowers and wrap ribbon around them. This is a great way to save money and support a local greenhouse.

Andrea Lockhard, Principal

ACL Event Planning, www.acleventplanning.com

570-977-6638, acleventplanning@yahoo.com

If you’re already interested in an indoor ceremony and reception, you can save substantially by booking your favorite venue during non-peak seasons. This means getting married during January thru March or November thru December. Many fine venues offer discounts during these months and generally Friday and Sunday weddings are less expensive. You may balk at first at the colder months, but consider that once you and your guests arrive at the venue, you’ll be there for the rest of the day and really won’t care what the weather’s doing outside anyway. Additionally, venues are currently offering value dates for the balance of 2010. Since we’re halfway through the year and they’re not guaranteed to book dates for the rest of the year, these venues are willing to give a nice discount on most dates thru year-end. It doesn’t hurt to ask.

Week of Weddings: Green Weddings

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 05:06:00 +0000

Are you getting married this Summer or Fall? Still looking for last minute ideas? Look no further!

For an entire week, we will be bringing you wedding trends with tips and ideas from New Jersey Wedding specialists. This "Week of Weddings" was made possible with the help of Erik Kent of NJWedding.com who rounded up feedback from so many NJ wedding specialists that we needed an entire week of trends!

Each day we will give you a different trend with the business name, owner and website to make the one-click connection easy for you! Here is the schedule for the week:

Monday: Popular songs and favorite reality tv show
Tuesday: Green weddings
Wednesday: Bang for your buck
Thursday: Gifts for bride, groom, wedding party, and more
Friday: Advice from the experts

For more information about NJ Weddings, visit NJWedding.com or you can follow on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Joshua Turchin, Sales Consultant

A-Limousine, 2 Emmons Dr, Princeton, NJ 08540, www.a1limo.com

609-919-2037, jturchin@a1limo.com

A-1 Limousine has gone green. We are partnered with www.carbonfund.org to create an industry leading carbon use/offset program for our entire fleet to attain a true carbon neutral position. All Trips are assessed a nominal fee to be included in our company wide contribution to help ensure a carbon free world for future generations.

Kara Thorson & Laura Bianco

My Bellissima, 13 1/2 James Street, Morristown, NJ 07960, www.mybellissima.com, 973-998-5817

Having an eco-friendly wedding is a top priority for many brides today. There are dozens of ways to do so efficiently and here are just a few of our favorites. For starters, donate leftover food rather than throwing it out. By finding a local shelter or soup kitchen, you'll be cutting back on unnecessary waste while simultaneously putting your extra food to good use! Another simple consideration to make: minimize the amount of driving your guests will have to do by keeping your sites close together, and/or arrange for mass transportation for them between the ceremony and reception sites. When it comes to wedding flowers, choose a florist who utilizes organically grown, in-season, local flowers. This will remove the need for long distance transportation of your blooms and also cut back on use of imported flowers (these are often grown in developing countries where pesticide use is high and labor wages are low). You can also buy fresh flowers at your local farmers market, use silk or dried florals, or even grow your own bulbs if you feel like investing time and creativity! The most obvious way to keep your wedding "green" is to make use of local vendors and organic goods.

Bill Zolna

The Wilshire Grand, 350 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange NJ 07052, thewilsiregrandcaterers.com

973-736-3240, billz@thewilshiregrandcaterers.com

Recently I have seen a movement towards making weddings more eco-friendly. One thing I encourage our bridal clients to do is choose flowers that are in season, organic and from a local florist. Couples can also opt to use the bridal party bouquets as decorations at the reception. Another great idea for center pieces is using the couples family & friends wedding photos. This idea is not only memorable but sentimental to those attending your wedding as well.

Janna and Kyo Morishima

Kyo Morishima Photography, Metuchen, NJ, http://www.kyomorishima.com

(917) 250-6202, janna@kyomorishima.com

Photographers now have the ability to print large wall portraits on eco-friendly papers. For instance, we can offer our clients portraits printed on bamboo paper, which contains 90% bamboo fiber, an environmentally responsible fiber.

Rachael Citron and Heather Balczarek
Glass Slipper Weddings and Events Matawan and Tinton Falls, NJ, www.GlassSlipperWeddings.com

There are a lot of green trends that are beautiful, unique, and also preserve the environment! We love hemp wedding dresses, which sound like they'd be rough, but are actually incredibly beautiful and more or less indistinguishable from less eco-conscious fabrics. Also, plantable invitations/escort cards/paper favors (recycled paper with seeds embedded inside) are not only pretty, but when your guests take them home and plant them, they're a lasting reminder of your wedding and your love! Using potted plants instead of cut flowers is also smart - not only do they give a nice, natural look to your wedding, but your guests can enjoy the plants long after your wedding day. Giving baby trees or bulbs as favors is another great way to keep the love growing.

Photo credit: Flickr.com

Jewel Georgieff

Jewel Party Solutions LLC, 3000 Atrium Way suite 213, Mount Laurel,NJ, www.jewelpartysolutions.com

609-284-8470

One of the options we give brides wanting to make their weddings a bit more

eco friendly is to use seeded paper (plantable) invitations, favors, menu

cards and programs. These invites are not only beautiful but can be planted

in soil and grow into lovely flowers! What a way to be green while wowing

guest.

Week of Weddings: Popular songs and reality tv shows

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Mon, 31 May 2010 05:37:00 +0000

Monday: Popular songs and favorite reality tv show
Tuesday: Green weddings
Wednesday: Bang for your buck
Thursday: Gifts for bride, groom, wedding party, and more
Friday: Advice from the experts

For more information about NJ Weddings, visit NJWedding.com or you can follow on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

15 Popular Songs (recommendations from brides, wedding vendors and DJs like DJ Ken Stone in Aberdeen, http://djkenstone.com)

"Then" by Brad Paisley

"At Last" by Etta James

"Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat

"I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas

"Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts

"Amazed" by Lonestar

"Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra

"Let's Get Loud" by J-Lo

"Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel

"Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi

"Everything" by Michael Buble

"Jersey Girl" by Bruce Springsteen

"The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra

"My Girl" by The Temptations

"Thank You For Loving Me" by Bon Jovi

Top 5 Wedding Reality TV Shows (voted on by wedding experts and vendors)

My Fair Wedding
Say Yes to the Dress
The Cake Boss
Who's Wedding is it Anyway
Four Weddings

Be a CEO from home like NJ mom Lisa Gold. Meet the LikeWear apparel co-founder

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Tue, 18 May 2010 02:12:00 +0000

It's no accident that many work-from-home jobs are held by stay-at-home moms. Many women I know have made careers out of blogging, writing and graphic design. Others found success with direct sales companies like Arbonne, Mary Kay and The Pampered Chef. Whatever it is, staying at home full-time with your kids does not mean you have to give up making an income, especially if you enjoyed that part of your pre-baby life.

The work-from-home gig is not just for moms anymore however. Last year, you may remember my interview with husband-wife team of Erik and Beth Kent, co-founders and publishers of NJWedding.com, a business conducted from the comfort of their Central Jersey home. Now, I'd like to introduce you to North Jersey couple, Lisa and Ken Gold, co-founders of LikeWear, a direct sales apparel company focused on selling licensed apparel and accessories. Lisa, the CEO of the company, describes their product line as ranging from "modern day and vintage package art, to exclusive designs and unique twists on popular culture." The over 100 images available feature popular brands like Wheaties, Trix, Tootsie Roll, Dots, and Honda.

LikeWear was created to be financially rewarding and flexible, providing products that parents and kids would love to have in their wardrobe. Their clothing line includes a lot of mix-and-match items for various sizes and ages (like the fun samples shown below) and aims to live up to their simple tagline-"wear what you like."

You can find both Ken and Lisa online through Twitter (Lisa: @LikeWearChick | Ken: @LikeWear), Facebook, LinkedIn (Lisa | Ken) and their company blogs (Lisa | Ken), but I asked Lisa to share some more background of the business.

What was your inspiration to start LikeWear?

Although I loved being an at-home Mom to my three kids, I decided that I wanted a bit more in my life than just coordinating carpools and setting up play dates. I wanted to make a little extra money, but not have to go back to work full time. I came up with the idea of embellishing children’s clothes with fabric, rhinestones, heat transfers and patches with popular “kids images” and selling them at house parties and local sales events.

Then a couple of other inspirational things happened. I had started to build up a respectable business and somewhat of a local following and I even started to sell to some local boutique stores. Then, as a result of some of my products being given as gifts, I began receiving unsolicited requests from women who wanted to sell my clothes at house parties and sales events in other markets, some as far away as Boston and Chicago. Simultaneously, my husband Ken who has a background in marketing and licensing noticed that there were very few officially licensed apparel products being sold at the local sales events I was attending. So we did a little research and discovered that what I was doing was very similar to the home business opportunity that direct sales firms like Mary Kay or The Pampered chef offer. We also learned that Direct Sales is a $30 billion category and there were absolutely no companies focused on selling licensed apparel. And that’s when we were really inspired! If we could get the apparel licensing rights for brands and properties that people would “like to wear”, we could provide a turnkey business opportunity for moms to sell licensed clothing in their local neighborhoods all across the country!!!

How did you decide on "LikeWear"?

I remember it vividly. Ken and I were sitting in bed one night talking about the business and how great it would be to have a line of clothing and accessories embellished with popular brands and products that people like… and maybe it was because we both started out in advertising… but we both blurted out our tagline at the same time, “wear what you like”. With a little additional brainstorming, we quickly realized that “Like” is also a combination of the “Li” from Lisa and the “Ke” from Ken... so we added it to Wear in order to make LikeWear. About 60 seconds later, we saw that the URL was available and new that we had our name.

Between your design concept and the clever name, you a both very creative people. Where do you get your design ideas?

We get our design ideas from a lot of places: our kids and their friends, advertising and marketing, pop culture, walking in the supermarket (seriously), etc. I guess the main thing that we try to do is have a different look than other licensed apparel that’s available elsewhere. Typically, the licensed apparel that you find in stores is from the same top 10 or so licenses (Disney Princesses, High School Musical, SpongeBob, WWE, NFL, etc.) and it all has a very similar, formulaic look -. key art, big logo, maybe a tagline or key phrase related to the license. Many other licensed apparel brands have focused on a vintage look, both for the creative as well as the garments, by utilizing muted colors and distressed, washed out styling and fabric. LikeWear, on the other hand, has a more modern, almost Andy Warhol design sensibility that features current packaging and marketing materials and uses bright, vibrant color schemes. We try to challenge preconceived notions of what licensed apparel normally is and raise the bar from a creative perspective. We also place our images on a wide variety of high quality clothing and accessories, as opposed to the majority of other licensees who simply have t-shirts as their merchandise focus.

How does your apparel showcase the iconic brands?

We try to create images that incorporate our licensing partner’s brands in ways that you wouldn’t expect, or combine them with other phrases, vernacular, icons or other cultural references that people like. Peace signs and hearts, for instance, are hugely popular with kids nowadays and have been the basis of some of our most popular images. We also try to incorporate our licensing partner’s brands into popular sports, trends or current fads – like soccer, tattoos or Andy Warhol style “pop art”!

Sometimes we even design unique, LikeWear exclusive images that are not licensed but are current and popular among our target audience. For example, our kids and many of their friends attend either day or sleep away camp, so we worked with them to come up with some fun camp-specific images.

Do you work with artists or are the designs all your own?

Ken and I concept everything, but Ken has created about 70% of the 100+ images we’ve developed to date. The remainder have been farmed out to an amazing art director/illustrator that Ken used to work with years ago while in the video game industry. Ken stayed in touch with him over the years, and as our design needs grew, we knew he would be perfect for us. We brief him on the concept and give him some direction and art assets, and he usually amazes us on the first submission.

You mentioned above that your apparel became popular at home parties like other direct sales companies like Mary Kay and Pampered Chef. What sets you apart?

The main thing that sets us apart from other direct selling/home party companies is that we are the first – and only – company to focus on selling licensed apparel via this channel. There is nobody else doing what we’re doing (and we have confirmed this with the Direct Selling Association – of which we are members). There are a few direct sales clothing companies, but most target their products to women and/or have more of a seasonal “trunk show” model where a rep gets a sample trunk of clothing for a limited time before they have to send it to another rep so they can have their parties and so on. LikeWear, on the other hand, offers a variety of Collection Kits that include the best representative samples of our styles, images and available sizes that can be used all season long. The Collection Kit contents are sold at well below their MSRP value and we encourage our reps to sell their sample pieces at the end of the season to recoup their cost on this important business tool.

That leads me to another major difference, not just between us and other home party companies, but all clothing brands… customization. We like to say, “Most fashion companies are all about their image… but at LikeWear, we’re all about our images.” We have created most of our 100+ images so that they can be “mixed and matched” on the wide variety of colors and casual clothing and accessory body styles that we offer. There are literally thousands of combination possibilities! This feature can make for a lot of fun at home parties as moms and kids pick and customize their favorites.

As a NJ business that grew by word-of-mouth, how has the support from the NJ business community been?

We’ve had some real mixed experiences with NJ business and government entities. On the positive side, F&M Expressions, a Mahwah based company that makes our heat transfers, has been amazing. They’ve taught us about the ins and outs of embellishing and are there for us any time we need help. The quality of their transfers is second to none and they’ve put up with our numerous and meticulous requests for perfection. We also love our accountants, JDS & Associates, based in Denville. They’ve been a huge help to us in setting up our business and making QuickBooks work with the accounting requirements of licensing, clothing and direct selling.

Have you ever done a design contest or accepted designs submitted by fans/customers?

Not yet, but we REALLY want to!!! We’ve talked about doing a design contest with General Mills in conjunction with their www.millsberry.com virtual community web site and using artwork from all of their great brands. It would be really cool if we could make digital versions of LikeWear clothing that you can “buy” in their online virtual clothing store as well!!!

We’d also love to do a kid-submitted artwork contest where kids can either hand draw a rendition of their favorite existing LikeWear image or perhaps design their own original art. Contest winner(s) would have their art turned into actual transfers that would be featured and available for purchase in future Collections.

What do you love the most about your business?

We have the ability to help women change their lives by giving moms a fun, flexible way to have their own business and earn some extra income – without having to significantly alter their lifestyle! We try to make it as simple as possible by providing our reps with all the “tools” they need to get started. Moms are familiar with clothing sizes, brand quality and what their kids and their friends are into. So just by doing what they’re already doing, they’ve got the “experience” needed to sell a fun line of casual kids clothing and accessories - particularly, one featuring well known brands and products!

I also love exercising my creative side and secretly get a thrill each time I’m working with the art assets of our licensing partner’s iconic brands. And there’s nothing better than seeing the feedback firsthand. I often say that it’s like I’m living in a focus group with my kids aged 12, 10 and 6. It’s great to be able to involve them in the work that Ken and I do. It’s something that they can understand and relate to – after all, they’re our target market!

How is it having your spouse as your business partner?

There was definitely an unforeseen closeness that Ken and I have experienced as a result of working together. Most people marvel at the fact that we do work together (and out of the house no less!) and have managed to not strangle each other in the process! But, LikeWear is something born of both of us – a shared idea, made better every day by the joint input we put forth. Most couples complain that their spouses can’t relate to what they do and go through all day. We can and do.

What are your best tips for someone who’s interested in starting an online or at-home business? What are some things that you discovered along the way that have helped you tremendously?

As far as tips for starting an online or at-home business, I would suggest the same thing that we tell our representatives. You’re an entrepreneur now, so be organized and treat your business like a business! For example:

Keep business income/expenses separate from your personal and other business records.
Set up a business account at your bank.
Obtain a separate credit card to be used just for business purposes.
Save receipts for all business expenses.
Talk to your accountant about tax deductions and implications. All businesses are a bit different so make sure your accountant knows about the intricacies and nuances of yours.
Consider setting up a special area in your home for running your business (check with your accountant as you may be able to deduct this and/or other expenses from your taxes).
Be organized and create a good filing system. You should designate an area for “hard copy” files (expenses, customer database, etc.) and an area on your computer for “digital” files. Do this early on and you will save yourself frustration later on.
If you’re in sales, make a database with key customer information (name, address, email, phone, kid’s names/ages/birthdays, buying habits, etc.). This is probably easiest on the computer (you can use Outlook, Excel, or any other database program), but you could also keep paper records of this (paper files, note cards, ledger, etc.).
Keep a calendar to track events, meetings, appointments, follow-ups, etc.
Access to email and the internet is essential for business today. Make sure you have a reliable internet connection (preferably one with good bandwidth).
Make sure you know the basics of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and/or other programs relevant to your business. Also make sure you have the latest version of Adobe Reader as it has become a standard for documents in lots of places. Its’ free and you can get it here - http://get.adobe.com/reader

Twitter and Client Promotion: 5 Tips to Get You Started

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Tue, 11 May 2010 11:31:00 +0000

Last Friday, I was asked to sit on a panel to discuss social media at the Fair Media Council's first New Jersey Media Connection Day. I joined Noah Gurock, Web & Enterprise Manager for WWOR-TV (My 9), Frank Burgos, Managing Editor of NorthJersey.com and The Record, and David Mathison, media expert and founder of BeTheMedia.com.

While the topic of social media encompasses a broad range of online platforms and practices, the questions naturally gravitated toward Twitter and Facebook. The majority of attendees were in advertising and public relations and trying to figure out how to use the 2 online networks to either promote their business or clients.

While it may seem that all you need to do is start posting Tweets and Wall posts for people to start noticing your message, there is a lot more on and offline planning that needs to be done in order to make social media work for your marketing efforts.

Here are 5 tips to consider about Twitter:

Is your message relevant? Before you tweet, ask yourself if your post is news-worthy or if it has a personal interest story that would connect with the general public? Make a list of story topics or announcements that you'd like to promote and see if you can tweak the wording to appeal to the public.
Know your audience. We all start with 0 following and 0 followers on Twitter, but who you follow should be as deliberate as who you choose for your direct mail and email marketing list. If your client is in the medical field, then look for people who would fall into that interest category. If they have a 1:1 Twitter ratio (followers : following) then they're more likely to follow you back. Once you have a few dozen followers, then start interacting. Start tweeting your message, but also respond to or re-tweet other posts.
Find your audience. So, you need to find people with similar interests but where do you begin? If you want to reach celebrities or people or influence, check out Twitterholic.com. This site ranks the top Twitter users based on number of followers. If you're looking for people who share a similar interest to your business or client, then check out Twellow.com (kind of like Twitter Yellow Pages) and WeFollow.com (Twitter users listed by category).
Use Twitter for research. If you're using Twitter to promote your client, then you're most likely sending press releases to the media, experts in the field and bloggers too. Use Twitter to find your contacts. Check out their websites and see if there might be potential for introducing your client. Don't expect all bloggers you contact to be interested or even have the time to address your request, but if you're able to get coverage from 1 or a few, then that's better than none (tidbit: reach out to bloggers the same way you would pitch an editor or reporter...but that's a topic for another post). You can also use Twitter as a way to find members of the print and television news media. Sometimes sending a message through Twitter is easier than trying to reach them by phone or email.
Decide if you have time or resources for Twitter. If you are ready to take the next step and start a Twitter account, then you need to set aside time in your day to use it. Or if you don't have the time, then designate someone as your social media contact or hire someone (if you have the money). Once you have the account set up and ready to go, then set up time in the day for use, just as you would set aside time for making phone calls, responding to emails or doing administrative tasks. You don't need to spend a long time online-just 15 minutes, 2-3 times a day. To be truly effective with Twitter, you need to use it as a conversation tool and not just a platform to post links and tweets. You need to spend time to respond to people and to reach out to make connections.

If you have questions about using Twitter or would like to set up an appointment to discuss your interest in designing a social media marketing plan, please contact me at editor@mrsmonj.com. I can also address quick questions through Twitter at @MrsMoNJ or @NJMyWay.

Share our Strength Recap: Taste of Princeton and The Bread Art Project

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Tue, 04 May 2010 04:18:00 +0000

Nearly 17 million children in America – almost one in four – struggle with hunger. The families of these children have a hard time putting food on the table.

Remember when your mother told you to eat all of your food because there were hungry children in other countries? Well, there's actually a lot of hungry children in the U.S. It's a startling statistic, but one that the organization Share our Strength® has been working to abolish completely.

The group's official goal is to wipe out childhood hunger by 2015 with events like Taste of the Nation, culinary and beverage showcases in U.S. cities where 100% of the funds raised benefit local beneficiaries and No Kid Hungry™, Strength's own campaign. This year I was lucky to do the publicity for the Taste of Princeton event held last week at The Westin Princeton. And with over 265 tickets sold and the live and silent auctions, I'm happy to say that we raised over $36,000 and had one of the best seasons yet. View highlights from the event below. (Click here a listing of participating restaurants and wineries)

Share our Strength® also teamed up with the Grain Foods Foundation and Food Network star Melissa d'Ararbian in order to help provide children with healthy food. One of those initiatives is the Bread Art Project, created in 2009, which encourages consumers to personalize or create a piece of bread art and in turn the Grain Foods Foundation donates $1 to Share our Strength® for every piece of art created. Last year, the project raise over $25,000 and hopes to double that amount this year.

You may not think $1 can make an impact, but only $1 can provide 3 nutritious meals to a child, $25 can help feed that child for an entire month and $50 will supply a summer's worth of food. That's like 1 or 2 visits to the gas pump that can feed a child.

In order to share their message in the local NY/NJ area, Chuck Scofield, chief development officer at Share Our Strength®, and Judi Adams, president Grain Foods Foundation (pictured above) invited a group of us bloggers to meet Melissa and listen to how we can educate families on how eating healthy on a limited budget can both help to fight the hunger crisis.

Eating healthy includes breads and enriched & whole grains which provide fuel the body needs to get through the day. “Staples like bread and grains provide many essential nutrients our bodies need to stay healthy,” said Adams. “Plus, they are affordable and versatile items families can use to stretch their grocery dollars at home.”

In fact, did you know:

Enriched grains are the primary source of folic acid in Americans’ diets and, according to the March of Dimes, have been credited with a 26 percent reduction in birth defects since the FDA mandated fortification of enriched grains in 1998
Whole grains are a good source of complex carbohydrates, antioxidants, various vitamins and minerals, and are naturally low in fat
Whole grains may help lower risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes as well as other
disorders, such as hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome and diverticular disease
Many of the families facing hunger can’t afford basic grocery items like bread and grains, which provide many of the essential nutrients our bodies need to stay healthy and help fight diseases, diabetes, some cancers and birth defects

Healthy eating on a budget is the premise behind Melissa d'Arabian's hit Food Network show, Ten Dollar Dinners. The mother of 4 preschool aged children grew up budget-cooking out of necessity and has carried that practical thinking into her life and career.

Melissa shared some tips (and recipes) for incorporating more bread into your family's diet and how to stretch your dollar for a healthy meal:

My kids like sandwiches without crusts, so I am constantly cutting them off sliced bread. Instead of throwing them away, I save them in resealable freezer bags. I turn them into “dippers” which my kids use for dunking in jam...
Check the bulk aisle for more unusual grains to try when they go on sale. Quinoa is uber-hip right now. It is a complete protein and the crunchy, nutty taste is crave-worthy. In addition to rice, mix things up by trying bulgur, millet or couscous.
When it comes to being prepared on-the-go, don’t forget that pretzels and crackers are great snacks for kids, and easily portable in a zippered plastic bag or container.

As I mentioned above, the Grain Foods Foundation is running the Bread Art Project with a goal to double the funds raised last year to support Share our Strength®. So far, they have raised $20,000 and there is still time to enter your bread creations by the June 30th deadline. To make a personalized piece of bread art, visit gowiththegrain.org. Follow GoWithTheGrain on Facebook, Twitter and Flickr.

Here I am with my 2 year old Maddy and Amy from Frugal-Mama.com talking to Melissa about the joys of pregnancy!

Repost: Our Anniversary at the Kentucky Derby

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 18:50:00 +0000

Original Post Date: May 2007
Three years ago, Rob and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary at The Kentucky Derby. Since the big race is this weekend, I thought I'd share the highlights from the event (please excuse the scattered photos).

Finally! The long awaited photos from my anniversary trip to the Derby. My husband spent 4 years at Fort Knox and was an old pro at the Derby action, but he never had a seat where we were! We were lucky to be in the Clubhouse, section 316, row A and directly across from the finish line. Here are some highlights:

The Oaks: We arrived in KY at around 1pm (after a 10 hr drive) and we were off to the races! This is the race that is held the day before for a different class of horses. Still fun though! Unfortunately, the weather was bad, but they were still able to run the horse and take bets! No betting for me that day.

DERBY DAY

The Paddock: Gathering place before the races. The jockeys with horse trot in and say "hi" to the crowd. It was much easier to breathe from the first picture view, but we went into the crowd later and got some horse pics along with some arriving celebs (see below).

Celebs: In the Paddock area, I saw Joey Fatone, Kevin Sorbo and Kid Rock. After the races, we saw the Manning brothers. I got a shot of Eli. I also caught the side view of Larry Birkhead's head and saw Bobby Flay scoot by me as Rob and I stood in the snack area.

The Hats: The 2nd most important part of the Derby are of course the hats. I was very impressed with my Marshalls hat with Michael's flower arrangements.

The Race!: I have to say that I'm a new fan of horse racing. For a race that is only 1 minute, 30 seconds, it is so exciting! I didn't realize that the Derby was actually just 1 race out of 11 in the whole event. Now i'm all the wiser. In any case, on the morning of the Derby, I watched the local news for the pro pics and favorites. Many people "had their money" on Street Sense(#7-see below)and so I went along for the ride. It ended up being a smart investment for me; I bet $10 on him to Place and won $32 back! Way to go me! Here are the highlights of the race:

I have a lot more where those came from plus a bunch of pictures highlighting the architecture of Louisville. Gorgeous houses! That's for another day. Time for me to hit the hay (no pun intended). Enjoy!!

"Falling is like this" for NJ author Kate Rockland

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:47:00 +0000

Kate Rockland’s (http://www.katerockland.com/) post-college life sounded like a scene out of the movie Almost Famous by Cameron Crowe. A young writer working for Rolling Stone and the New York Times, follows the NJ punk rock scene, interviewing and hanging out with the bands, even dating a rocker. Now the Hoboken nursery school teacher turned novelist is set to release her debut book Falling is Like This in May from St. Martin’s Press.

The novel, vividly set in The East Village and New Jersey, follows the love rollercoaster of Harper, a writer who falls for the lead singer of a NJ punk band. While the book is not autobiographical, many of scenes and experiences reflect Kate’s professional and personal life since graduating from Rutgers University.

Kate grew up in Morristown and graduated from Morristown-Beard in 1999. While at Rutgers, she started the first ever sex column for the school paper, Targum, and went on to work for Rolling Stone Magazine. After the magazine went through layoffs, Kate spent 6 months drinking tons of coffee, observing and writing. As a result, Kate created a “love letter to two places I have lived: The East Village and New Jersey”

Naturally, we wanted to learn more about this promising new author and how love and punk music has inspired her.

What was the inspiration for Falling is Like This?

I loved the world of punk rock in NJ, its epicenter in New Brunswick and Asbury Park, the charming yet cheeky boys in punk bands. I got a feel for the lifestyle of artists and really liked it.

Explain how the NY and NJ scenes became like another character.

I wanted to show how comforting the space around Newark airport is: the factories, car lots of Elizabeth, the power plants and the Turnpike. I find beauty in the massive steel structures.

In the first chapter, Harper meets her future love interest Nick at Mudd café in NY. Does it really exist?

Mudd cafe is in the East Village, on 9th street near 2nd avenue. I wrote a lot of the book sitting at one of their little wooden tables, watching the characters of the Village stroll in.

Of all of the NJ bands you’ve interviewed, who were some of your favorite?

I have a great love of New Jersey punk bands such as Lifetime, The Bouncing Souls, and Sticks and Stones.

Did you ever date a punk rocker?

Yes. He never went to college but was smarter then anyone I knew. I quickly realized that guys in bands will always love their band more then you. Beware, girls!

This is a reprint of my interview with Kate Rockland for NJMyWay.com. View the original here.

This Earth Day: Shop Local and Help Save a Tree with Marcal Small Steps

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:37:00 +0000

Did you know that one person uses up to 50lbs of tissue paper (toilet paper, paper towels) in 1 year? And a family a 4 uses 250lbs!

Did you also know that 1 person can save 1 tree and a family of 4 can save 2 trees each year simply by switching to using recycled paper products.

These and other "Green" tips can be found at the Marcal Small Steps website. Marcal is a New Jersey paper company that has been recycling paper into their products since the 1950s. They are proud to be able to say that 100% of their toiler paper, paper towels, dinner napkins, and more are made from recycled paper.

Last week I joined a group of bloggers from NJ and NYC for a tour of the Elmwood Park factory led by Brand Ambassador Lindsay Jacobs (who also moderates the Twitter and Facebook accounts) and Sr. Vice President of Marketing MJ Jolda. Jolda spoke of Marcal's 3P promise that they offer consumers: strong PERFORMANCE, an affordable value PRICE, and a simple solution for individuals to help save the PLANET.

As a way to better educate consumers on what goes into each Marcal Small Steps product, each paper package includes Environmental Facts similarly to a nutrition label. The company also introduced a Green Consumer Bill of Rights to remind consumers that they can demand superior performance, honest advertising and a product that won't break the budget. The Green Consumer Bill of Rights applies to any products that labels itself as "green":

I have the right:

To not pay more for a green product.

To demand that a green product perform as promised.

To know how a green product helps the environment.

To understand how a green product is manufactured.

To expect companies to speak plainly and honestly about green issues.

In addition to a "green" education straight from the Marcal Small Steps products, there are lesson plans, green tips and a tree calculator on the new website that launched last week.

You can also learn about the recycling process with a colorful slide show on the site. But if you want to see pictures of the recycling process, check out my Whrrl story below:

More check-ins at Marcal Paper Mills

Be sure to visit Marcal Small Steps website, Facebook Fan Page and Twitter account for tips, facts, events and more! If you're in the area, today they are having a paper shredding party from 10am-1pm.

Does your vacuum pass the LOVE test?

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 04:58:00 +0000

Have you ever proclaimed love for your vacuum?

I have. I LOVE my Miele vacuum!

My Miele S7 has received "passing with flying colors" grades in my test of what I think a perfect vacuum should be/do/have in addition to the ability to suck up dirt, dust, etc (as compared to my other bargain vacuum "B"):

The Sound Test: The Miele hums while it cleans rather than the growl that comes form vacuum "B". When "B" comes out of the closet, Maddy expects to be scared. When I turn it on, she climbs up on the nearest safe zone and makes a pained noise. While the Miele is in use, she goes about whatever she was doing. Sometimes, she wants to try it herself!
The Mobility Test: So it's not as light as a feather, but the Miele is definitely easier to carry up and down stairs than "B". The head of the vacuum (is that what it's called?) even collapses so that the entire body is one straight line.
The HEPA Test: Some vacuums that claim to have a HEPA filter still release particles into the air through the any slight opening in the unit. Miele, however, can trap and retain 99.99% of fine particles with their Sealed System™ Design which is strengthened by a 3-stage process: 1) the air-tight unit crafted by the best raw materials, 2) the HyClean™ dust bag with self-sealing closure and 3) the certified HEPA filter that all together provide the purest air quality. Check out this brief video clip showing how the vacuum seals closed when it starts up.
The Movement Test: Let this video do the talking. The swivel neck makes it easy to turn corners and reach under tables, chairs, etc.
The Hose Test: As you can see from this video, the stainless steal wand is already assembled and is easy to pull right out of the vacuum. There's no need to put multiple tube pieces together. And the 12-foot flexible hose extends your cleaning reach to almost 55 feet.

I will never claim to be a master cleaner (that title I reserve for my husband), but I've learned a lot of the value of investing in high quality household products and appliances, not just electronics. And just so you know, these vacuums were designed and tested to pass Miele's 20-year life span or the equivalent of 1,000 hours! Think of how many vacuums you may go through in a 20 year period and how many of those disposed of vacuums sit in landfills. When you invest in a product with longevity, you're also helping the environment. I bet you never thought of that!

If you're thinking about upgrading to a vacuum like a Miele, you'll want to take the opportunity to do a test drive and speak to a salesperson about the features that are important to you. Even better: The Miele US HQ is right in Princeton on 9 Independence Way. Make an appointment to come and test out the products and you can even get some fresh brewed cappuccino during your visit.

Disclaimer: I received the Miele S7 in exchange for reviews about the product and company

How to find time for TIME MANAGEMENT and how to make it work for you!

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 11:57:00 +0000

Pop Quiz time! (uh oh, were you prepared for this?)

Q: When you hear the words Strategic Time Management, what do you think?

a) What is that?
b) I've got that under control
c) I could definitely use that!

If you answered a), c) or even b), then you will want to read on...that is of course unless you really should b doing something else right now.

I recently attended a dinner meeting for the Mercer Chapter of NJAWBO (NJ Association for Women Business Owners) which featured guest speaker Lorette Pruden of Team Nimbus NJ, offering small business insight and solutions. The topic of the night was Time Management. As a small business owner who works form home in between my daughter's naps, playdates, library visits, and occasional tantrums, and balances clients and my ever demanding blog, I desperately needed some advice!

I'm sure most of us have a system that we follow for our business. We may be operating on a calendar and/or "To Do" list that is paying off. But Lorette's process that evening was to make us really take a look at what we WANT to be doing in our business and what we NEED to STOP doing. And then are there any tasks that we could delegate to others to accomplish. And even though this might mean putting out some money to hire someone, this person could help to bring in more revenue and make you a more productive business owner in the end.

Lorette's Strategic Time Management activity began with a question:

What are you trying to create? What type of business do you want that will support the life you want to live? And what do you want to do with the money (i.e. pay bills, save for retirement, fund college, etc)

For the next step, think about a typical work day and write down what you'd like to START doing, what HAS to be done, and what HAS to go.

For those of us who work from home, a common "Do" task might be to schedule a block of time for tasks like making phone calls and responding to emails.
A common "Don't Do" task might be to take care of household chores during "office hours" when you know something for your business needs to get done.

Once you have honestly written out your lists and really examined what needs a change, then it's time to figure out if any of the START or DO items can be given to someone else (whether an intern or PT/FT employee).

Lastly, you'll want to sit down in front of a monthly, weekly or even daily calendar. Plan out your month with appointments, meetings, etc. Perhaps you have a day of the week that is dedicated to administrative stuff or there's a day when you want to be out meeting with clients. Then on the weekly calendar, this is where you design you day with blocks of time for the various START and DO tasks. Let yourself be flexible just in case some of these tasks take longer then planned. You'll find that the more structure you make for yourself, the more efficient and productive you'll become.

As I write this, I think about the structure I made with my daughter: Monday is food shopping day, Tuesday and Wednesday are flex days (either the library, MOMS Club event, etc), Thursday is either library or playdate and Friday is library. She then has lunch at 11 and nap at 12. It took me a little while to figure out a system that worked, but it makes everything so much easier and I could then plan my work day around her schedule. Just as you have to get your children into a schedule that works for everyone, we should be applying the same mentality to our businesses. In my case I have two businesses to organize: H. Morris Solutions, LLC (my pr, event planning company) and this blog. It'll take some time, but I feel like Lorette gave me a good place to start.

This 4-step process is really only a blueprint/sketch of a time management plan and I am merely the messenger. I am no expert nor am I completely practicing what I've learned (yet). But Lorette is the architect who can help you and me build a business that works with our goals, time and ability.

For more information or to speak with Lorette, visit www.teamnimbusnj.com or call 908-359-4787. You can also join her Meetup group, Small Business Insight Lunch, to gain some better business practice strategies and network with other business owners in the area.

What are some time management techniques that have worked for you and your business?

2010 Wedding Road Show: Plan your destination wedding on Long Beach Island

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:34:00 +0000

Krista Kutney of Essington PA grew up spending her summers at LBI, even celebrating every birthday with her family on the island. And now she and her fiance Matt Kelley are looking at planning their September 2011 wedding at her "home away from home" as this year's Wedding Road Show VIP couple. The contest, sponsored by NJWedding.com and The Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, includes an overnight stay at Daddy O's, a complementary white limo ride from The Van Dyk Group and a welcome flower arrangement by Frank's Flower & Gift Shop in Tuckerton. They will join hundreds of other couples at the Wedding Road Show this Sunday, April 18th, to tour the island and get a vision of what their New Jersey "destination wedding" could include. And one lucky couple will win the grand prize of an all expenses paid dream wedding on Long Beach Island.

If you always dreamed of having a destination wedding, but just can't afford it, then bring your beach dream to Long Beach Island. You don't have to leave New Jersey to have the wedding of your dreams. LBI offers beach ceremonies, has beautiful sunsets along the ocean and bay, and stunning ocean side resorts for you, your bridal party and guests. The landmarks, lighthouses and even Fantasy Island theme park would make for creative backdrops for wedding photos. If the island holds a special place in your memories, then capturing some hot spots like Country Kettle Fudge, The Skipper Dipper or The Barnegat Lighthouse can be a way to link past with the future. The Wedding Road Show will help to make this vision into a reality with over 50 SOCCC members who specialize in weddings ready to assist with your plans.

For the couple who wins the grand prize LBI dream wedding, they will receive a wedding site at Brant Beach Yacht Club, photography by Ann Coen, Video by J & S Video Services,Camille's Floral Design, Invitation Designs by Stephanie Floral package by , as well as other prizes such as a custom cake by Tammy's Cake Walk and a day of wedding coordination by Julia and Friends Event Management.

If you can't make it this year, but are thinking of having your wedding on Long Beach Island, then watch from the comfort of your home as the show is streamed live on the internet by NJ Discover as well as online at www.njdiscover.com.

The Wedding Road Show takes place Sunday April 18th beginning at 9:30 am at three welcome points: Tip Seaman Park on Route 9 in Tuckerton (hosted by the Pineland Business Association and BNI), Stafford Heritage Center (Old Baptist Church) on Route 9 Manahawkin (hosted by Tuckerton Seaport and Historical Society) and the Southern Ocean County Chamber office at 265 West Ninth Street in Ship Bottom. Brides will receive bridal bags and tour book with map and information regarding the venues and vendors displaying throughout the day. Brides can tour at their own pace, on this self guided tour to 12 different wedding venues.

For more information or to register, contact Lori Pepenella, Destination Marketing Director for Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, 609-494-7211 ext 101 or toll free, 800-292-6372.

3D TVs: The Future is Now

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 03:23:00 +0000

Jackie Gleason once stated that all TV should be in 3D. How right he was!

If you are in the market for a 3DTV, make sure to do some research. I recently attended the Mrs. G’s VIB blogger event, a 5-part series that includes keynote speakers and networking opportunities for regional bloggers and like-minded professionals. This month the topic was all about 3DTVs. Suzanne Kantra, founder and editor-in-chief of Techlicious.com was the scheduled speaker for the day. Your options are basically the same for 3D as 2D; LCD, plasma, rear-projection and front projection DLP TV’s. Each type has only a handful of models available now, in the coming months we will be seeing many more options available. Remember, 3D is a feature, you can also watch 2D on the TV, so if you want to purchase a 3DTV, you are not just limited to 3D only. Before purchasing, make sure you know what size can fit in the particular location and depending on how much sunlight you get in the room. You won’t want to view a plasma TV in direct sunlight, and 3D technology works better in a darkened room anyway.

3D technology has been around for quite some time. My father tells a story about when he was a child and he and his friends couldn’t wait to go to the movies to see someone’s hand jump out of the screen. I remember being a child and Jaws 3 came out in 3D. At some point I think the shark jumped out of the screen, but that was about it. 3D technology has become so much more advanced than just some thing jumping out of the screen at you. Movies are made primarily for escapism; you watch a movie to forget about everything around you. 3D technology does exactly that for you, once you put the 3D glasses on, you feel like you are IN the movie, not watching a movie. Everything else around you disappears and you are totally focused on the movie and feel like you are part of the action. True movie escapism is finally here.

When you purchase a 3DTV, you have to get the same manufacturers 3D glasses to see it. Samsung glasses will not work on Panasonic TVs, as of now it is a proprietary system. These new glasses are also very comfortable, not like the old paper ones you would receive years ago. They are almost like sunglasses, and will even fit over your prescription glasses. In June, a universal set of glasses will hit the market, and this is when I see 3DTV taking off. Consumers don’t want to be limited, and once the market is transferable, 3D technology will fully take off.

In addition to having a transferable market, 3D technology is going to become personal. We will be taking 3D pictures with our 3D cameras and shooting 3D movies with personal 3D video cameras. Everything you shoot will be viewable on your 3DTV. Imagine seeing the photos from your summer vacation on the big screen TV in 3D, or showing your child shooting the winning goal of his soccer game to everyone who couldn’t make it, in 3D. There will also be a huge gaming market for 3D technology.

Personally, I was a little skeptical of the 3DTV experience. I have never been one to fully see 3D images, and have kind of given up on the whole “3D Experience” since I felt I could never really see it. But this is such advanced technology that once I put the 3D glasses on, I was pulled right into the movie that was being shown. The 3D glasses fit nicely over my glasses, and I had no problem viewing the Coraline clip. In fact, I was looking forward to seeing more. The other clip was of people skydiving, I had to remove the glasses at one point because I really felt like I was jumping out of the plane, that’s how real it felt. Also, I’m not a big gamer, but I could see wanting to play video games in 3D as well.

In the coming months be on the lookout for your local cable and satellite providers to start offering 3D programming. ESPN will be showing The World Cup this summer in 3D as well. 3D is the future, and the future is now.

Jackie Gleason was right, 3D is the way to go.

Nicholas DeVito is a freelance writer living in Central New Jersey. You can follow him on Twitter @njdevito and read his blog at nicholasdevito.wordpress.com

Indoor training for outdoor cycling races

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:39:00 +0000

If you were training for a distance run, you can easily build your endurance and strength on a treadmill if the weather or your daily schedule doesn't allow for an outdoor run. But did you know that it's possible to do the same when training for a cycling race? My sister Caitlin has recently been training for the American Association of Diabetes Tour de Cure (Click HERE to pledge your support for Caitlin!) in Princeton and she's been able to train indoors by using a cycling trainer from Saris Cycling Group.

There are no parts to assemble and no heavy equipment to get around. The Cycle Ops Trainer attaches easily, maintains an authentic road-like feel and can be adjusted to the ability of the rider. Prices range from $149.99-$1,199.99 depending on your training needs.

In order to track her progress and workout activity while she is riding outside, Caitlin has been using the iPhone App RunKeeper, which is like your own personal GPS system. She can also share her progress through Twitter, Facebook or through email which is a great way to show people what you're working towards so they can cheer you on.

Caitlin has been busy training and having so much fun, that she recently just signed up for The Revolutionary Ramble in Madison. You can support her in the Tour de Cure in Princeton by visiting her personal page here.

To find other cycling events near you, visit Active.com or BikeRide.com for a more complete NJ list.

Events coming soon in NJ:

April 8: Jersey Shore Tour de Cure kick off event
April 24: Juniors in the Jungle Kids Middle/High School Race
April 25: 10th Running of the Tour de Lake Hopatcong
May 1: Bike Eric

Wedding inspired baby nursery

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 03:54:00 +0000

The day I found out I was having a girl, I headed over to Home Goods to get some color/design inspiration for the new nursery. I love planning and designing but I drive myself crazy with deciding on color combos. I did this when I planned my wedding too. I also want to TRY and make the crib skirt, especially since I can't find anything I like online or in the stores. And since I used a breathable bumper with Maddy, I don't really need to buy an entire crib bedding set.

When I finally narrowed my choices down to aqua and pink or orange I started searching online and came across a lot of wedding theme pictures (not surprised since pink and orange are a hot trend now). But the pictures actually helped me visualize the color scheme for a baby nursery and it made me realize that wedding themes area great source of inspiration for when you're planning your baby nursery. My inspiration fabric is an aqua damask print from Joann Fabrics. Still not sure if I'll use it (need to find a pink or orange fabric to pair it with), but I like it and I'm 1 step closer to solving my nursery design dilemma. Below are some more ideas and the wedding theme images that inspired them.

Clockwise from top: Calico fabric, Joann.com; Handpainted drawer pull knob, Etsy.com; Aqua and pink paper lanterns, PinkFrosting.com; Regents Park rug, RosenberryRooms.com; Tiffany Bluebird pillow, Etsy.com; Fancy Crystal Chandelier wall decal, Etsy.com; Butterfly wall decal, Etsy.com; Room Essentials ® bin, Target.com. Aqua and Pink wedding photo from ProjectWedding.com; Blue and Orange wedding photo from MyIslandWedding.blogspot.com

Weekend Round-Up with NJMyWay

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 11:33:00 +0000

Happy Easter! There’s something for everyone this holiday weekend—and a little something extra for our VIP Club members.

Take time to laugh as Saturday Night Live’s Rachel Dratch (remember Debbie Downer?) stars in the comedy Sylvia, about two empty nesters and a street-smart mutt. It’sall starting this weekendat the George Street Playhouse

(www.georgestplayhouse.org). We’ve got a pair of free tickets for Sunday, April 11th, for the first five people to sign up for our NJ My Way VIP Club today! You’ll also have exclusive access to freebies and discounts on stuff all over the state! Click here to enroll.

Check out First Saturday this Saturday in Asbury Park, featuring discounts at shops city-wide, a meatball eating contest, and chance to belt it out with a Bruce impersonator (www.asburyparkchamber.com)

Just in time for Easter, there are henhouse visits at the Howell Living History Farm (howellfarm.org/index.htm) The kids can ogle newly hatched chicks, learn how to collect and grade the eggs.

Step back in time at the newly renovated West Orange lab of inventor Thomas Edison. The campus compound, maintained by the National Park Service, features Edison’s three story library, his private lab, and Black Maria, the world’s first motion picture recording studio (www.nps.gov/edis/index.htm).

Edison would have loved this this; see How To Train Your Dragon at the amazing IMAX 3-D theatre in Palisades Center. (www.imax.com/palisades). Join our VIP Club now, and claim a big popcorn for free when you attend the show.

VIP Tip for this month: Get a two-fer on your admission tickets to the Spring Fine Arts and Crafts Show April 17-18 at the Westfield Armory, when you sign up for NJ My Way VIP membership.

This is a reprint of the NJMyWay Weekend Picks from 4/01/10. Send your events to events@njmyway.com

To Yetta with Love: A Matzo Ball Soup Story from Warren Bobrow

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:34:00 +0000

Happy Passover everyone. I wanted to share with you a portion of a Matzo Ball soup recipe story from my friend Warren Bobrow, New Jersey food columnist and fellow Morristown (area) native. And even though this is popular meal served at the Seder which has already occurred, it's still a good recipe to keep in your collection. This one will go in my "new food to try" list, especially since it's a Warren creation!

Matzo Ball soup as a cultural metaphor has been the source of much lore. It is sometimes known as Jewish Penicillin. I’ve been fighting off a grippe for the past few days, and a bowl of this soup has reputed mystical properties long understood to be the cure for the common cold-and now Swine Flu. It is my thought to offer this matzo ball recipe because to share it brings another generation to the dinner table.

Unfortunately for strict recipe followers a great bowl of matzo ball soup is something that is felt deep inside the soul, and it doesn’t hurt to be Jewish, but this is not a prerequisite. It transcends the ages as an identifiable cause of that specific kind food story…that the matzo ball may be too firm, or too heavy or it fell apart in the pot!

I’ve heard that some people actually like their matzo balls to be as hard and heavy as a golf ball. In fact they have a golf ball in their kitchen so when they build these little bricks of cement ,the matzo ball’s weight will be about 2 ounces or more. Not me! I like them light and fluffy, made by hand,

Don’t bring me matzo balls that are round or heavy or hard to the tooth… I won’t eat them. If you consider using a boxed- mix, leave those matzo balls at home and feed them to an unfriendly neighbor or his dog. Open the pot- ruin the matzo ball, they’ll drop to the bottom like a hard potato dumpling in a kettle of Frogmore Stew. Patience is necessary. A good pinch of nutmeg is also recommended according to my great grandmother, Yetta, who taught me years ago about her Eastern European methods of matzo ball cooking.

And so, as we move into fall, I’m reminded of those in my family who have influenced me both present and past-through the ever-present bowl of matzo ball soup.

Prepare your chicken soup with a nice roasting bird like a Pullet, *a small commercial supermarket chicken- just won’t do* add washed and peeled carrots, celery, onion, parsnip, maybe a turnip if you desire, add fresh dill and a several garlic cloves unpeeled, but cut on one end.

Heat the Pullet and the vegetables over a medium flame with at least 12 cups of pure spring water in a non-reactive soup pot. Stainless is best. (the soup will reduce over time-making you thankful you listened to me on the water amount used)

Set chicken aside to cool and when you can handle it, separate the flesh from the bones. Make another pot of water and put the remaining bones in it.. heat for 30 minutes or so on a medium simmer. Use this bone-infused broth for cooking the matzo balls. Strain the first stock and chill covered so that the fat rises up to the surface. Put this stock in the fridge for the next day. This will be the soup.

Retain chicken fat for toast points ( memories of Sammy’s Roumanian? anyone?)

Matzo Balls
1/2 cup matzo meal
2 farm fresh eggs at room temp.
2 tablespoons reserved chicken fat from your soup
1 teaspoon salt and 1/2-3/4 teaspoons of freshly ground nutmeg (more if you want some spicy matzo-balls)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons seltzer water, not club soda (too salty)

Mix all matzo ball ingredients in a bowl. Cover and rest in the in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

Bring 3 1/2 quarts of well-salted water or chicken stock to a brisk boil in a medium sized pot.

Reduce the flame. Wet your hands. Form matzo balls by dropping just enough of matzo ball batter to form approximately 1-inch in diameter into the palm of your wet hands and rolling them in the shape of an Idaho potato- loosely into oblong balls. Drop them carefully into the simmering chicken stock from the bones one at a time. Cover the pot and cook them for 30 to 40 minutes without opening or peeking or allowing anyone else to open the pot to catch a glance at them…. EVER!

Heat the dark Pullet-infused stock, add chicken pieces, some freshly snipped dill, carrots, celery and onions from the soup-pot. Place the matzo balls into the stock to warm, and serve in heated bowls.

I dedicate this article to my great grandmother, Yetta, who taught me to make a pretty good matzo ball and to my grandmother, Sophia, who was there to share our Yom Kippur supper with us.

See entire article published October 7, 2009

Mrs. Mo On The Move: Bella Figura Maternity & Baby in Haddonfield

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:47:00 +0000

Carmel's maternity style philosophy is to purchase items you can "wear the next day and the next day after that." You want to purchase pieces that can be thrown in the washer/dryer and won't lose quality. Some of the best selling brands in her Haddonfield boutique are: Michael Stars, See You in Miami, Olian, Maternal America, and Japanese Weekend. She carries non-maternity clothing like Michael Stars, Alternative Apparel, and Toggery that are versatile enough that you can wear during pregnancy as well.

If you would like Mrs. Mo to visit your business and film a segment, send an email to editor@mrsmonj.com for rates & availability.

Reading is fun with StarFall.com

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 03:37:00 +0000

If you're looking for an online alternative to learning to read from flashcards and DVDs, then you'll like the phonics-based site, StarFall.com. I've been using the site to teach Maddy letters and letter-word association since she was just over a year old. But that is just the first step of the learning process. StarFall.com uses a "systematic phonics approach in conjunction with phonemic awareness" to teach all levels of learners.

Part 1: ABCs-learn letter sounds in isolation and in association with words and images. I use this section all the time with Maddy and I let her point and choose the letters. She loves the animal noises and funny little dancing characters.

Part 2: Learn to Read-learn vowel + consonant combinations in isolation and in context.

Part 3: It's Fun to Read-this section is great for early readers and kids who are struggling at their age level. Kids can listen to the story or click on words they don't know for pronunciation. Struggling readers can work to improve their reading ability in private or as an extra activity with the features on this site. Choose from stories about famous artists, classical musicians or have fun with tongue twisters.

Part 4: I'm Reading-your little readers will enjoy the variety of stories in this collection. From Greek Myths and Chinese Fables to Fiction and Non-Fiction stories, reading is not the only lesson they will learn. And if they come across a word they don't know, the click and listen feature is still there.

The website also features helpful guides for parents and teachers which was designed by a team of educators, artists, and musicians from around the world. The brains behind StarFall.com is the Polis-Shutz family, a husband-wife-son team who also co-founded the BlueMountain.com electronic greeting card company.

Are you Jerseylicious? Scenes from the Hoboken premiere party

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 04:12:00 +0000

Not for nothing, but this past Sunday, I was looking pretty Jerseylicious as the hubs and I headed off to the “Jerseylicious” red carpet premiere at LUA in Hoboken. Being that I’m a Jersey girl and a reality TV lover, this was the place to be.

We arrived at LUA and the place was already hopping. Everyone was in great spirits and excited to congratulate the staff of Gatsby Salon in Green Brook and the new stars of "Jerseylicious.” We found a spot near the bar and I quickly realized we were right near all the action. The cast and their families were all around us. I walked up to a few of the cast members and congratulated them on the show. I must say, the cast really worked the crowd, walking around saying hi to everyone. No signs of Alexa or Olivia though.

The premiere was organized by The Hip Event in Montclair, NJ and they assured me that the cast would answering questions in the press room. I had already thought about what questions I would ask. Enough of the “what are you wearing, what do you think of the Jerseylicious v. Jersey Shore” business; I wanted to be original and fun, like my Blues Traveler interview.

First up, Anthony Lombardi, who owns the Anthony Robert Salon in Verona, NJ. Anthony and I already chatted it up a bit earlier and I knew he was a totally down to earth guy. I’m not one to brag, but before Anthony and I started the interview he told me that my husband and I were his faves. I’m not shocked, we’re Jerseylicious too. We were there to have a good time and watch a fun show about our home state. Jersey baby!

Anthony said he’s proud to be from Jersey and that’s what makes him Jerseylicious. “I’m proud of everything the State has to offer. I love everything about this State, I’m a Jersey boy at heart and I wear it on my sleeve and if that makes me Jerseylicious, so be it,” he stated. When I asked Anthony what Jersey celebrity he thought had the best style, he took off his hat, displaying his shaved head and said “I gotta say Bruce Willis. He’s another Jersey boy that lets it all out there, he made it big and he’s not afraid to say he’s from New Jersey.” Anthony always uses a little Bay Rum on his head after shaving and says it feels fantastic.

Christy the salon manager, who is also Gayle’s daughter, came over to speak with me next. She is proud to be a Jersey Girl and said “I think all us Jersey girls have our own style and originality. We’re loud and bold and not afraid to say what we want to say.” Christy’s favorite NJ celebrity is Bon Jovi. “Even for a gentleman, he has great hair, he always looks great. I love the fact that he’s never too dressed up. He’s my all time favorite.” Christy’s go-to style product: her Gatsby hairspray. "I can’t live without it,” she said with excitement. Who knew the Gatsby Salon had their own product line? I sure didn’t. At one point during the night I was able to chat it up in the ladies room with Christy. We talked about Twitter and I offered to give her a Twitter 101 lesson if she ever wanted. I told her it’s a great tool to market the company and herself.

Gayle Giacomo, Gatsby Salon owner, says she really likes style and has always liked to look nice. “I want to be the best I can be, even at 52. I think our women in Jersey care about what they look like, it means a lot to us.” Jon Bon Jovi would have agreed; he’s her fave Jersey celebrity. Her favorite products are the SkinCeutical line and Kérastase for her hair.

Another new addition to the salon, Gigi is full of personality and said that her hair and nails are what makes her Jerseylicious. She is proud of her nails and stressed that they are real and she cut them down recently. She stated “being Jerseylicious means being well put together, feeling good about yourself and being confident.” For cosmetics Gigi loves MAC and for hair she likes Chi hairspray, Kérastase and Goldwell.

Last but not least, I had the opportunity to chat with Tracy who was looking super stylish in her leopard print dress and teased out hair. I asked her what makes her so Jerseylicious and she said “I think that I don’t take no for an answer, I don’t let people tell me what to do. I mean I’m my own person, I’ve never followed anyone in my life.” She discussed her role on the show and said she’s pretty much the “I don’t take anything from anybody kinda girl”. Tracy said we will see that and how Olivia tries to push her around but it doesn’t really work out for her. Like Gigi, Tracy said her hair is the most Jerseylicious thing about her. She is a self-proclaimed tease queen. “Tray tease that’s what everyone calls me.” Jerseylicious is about personality and, being friendly and nice to everyone, she said. “I mean it’s the greatest place to be, Jersey, and everyone needs to stop hating on it.” Hear Hear!

Asking Tracy what NJ celebrity’s style she adores she stated without hesitation “Bruce is pretty up there”. Being that my husband is a huge Springsteen fan, and Anthony already stated he loves Bruce Willis’s style, I needed to clarify. My husband was eagerly awaiting an answer. “Bruce Springsteen or Bruce Willis? If you say Springsteen, my husband is going to be very happy” I said. “Oh yeah I was saying Springsteen. Who doesn’t love Bruce, baby?” Tracy replied. So now we know who my husband’s favorite Gatsby Girl is, Tracy, without a doubt.

Tracy is a huge fan of Chi Helmet Head hairspray. She swears your hair won’t move and stay in place forever. “People say oh my hair doesn’t stay. That product, it will never let your hair fall. It’s the best thing on the market,” Tracy declared.

We ended up grabbing a drink with Tracy at the end of the night when the place was clearing out. We talked about Bruce (Springsteen that is), the show and more. I was a pleasantly surprised how nice Tracy was. I saw the previews before the premiere, and the editing definitely paints her in a different light. But like she said earlier in the night, she’s just a Jersey girl who doesn’t take no for an answer and isn’t a follower. I can respect that. Since I’m a Jersey girl born and raised, I get it.

Next up was the viewing party. There were TV’s scattered around the bar and we all gathered around cheering on the cast and watched the premiere episode. The show is about the re-invention of the Gatsby Salon in Green Brook, NJ. The owner Gayle decided to renovate Gatsby Salon a decade after her husband’s passing, with the help of her daughter Christy, the salon manager. Not only did they want to change the physical look and feel of the salon, by updating it, they wanted to bring in some fun younger new stylists to help with the salon's re-birth. The cast is full of bold, bright personalities with tons of style and flair. The remaining episodes will document the lives of the new stylists as they enter a new journey with the Gatsby Salon.

Right before we left LUA, we ran into Brielle Morelli, a Season 2 Jerseylicious hopeful. Brielle is hoping to land a role as a featured cast member for next season. She’s super sweet and we are crossing our fingers for her.

After meeting this super cool, down to earth cast, I am without a doubt a Jerseylicious fan. The show is fun and totally Jersey. How could you not love it?

Make sure you check out Jerseylicious on the Style Network Sunday nights 10/9 c.

Follow the cast on Twitter:

Photos courtesy of The Hip Event

(L-R): Jerseylicious stars Frankie Buglione, Gigi Liscio, Tracy DiMarco, Lorenzo Gangala, Gayle Giacomo, Christy Pereira, and Anthony Lombardi

(L-R) Mother-daughter team Christy Pereira and Gayle Giacomo

Katie DeVito is a freelance writer living in Mercer County, NJ with her husband. Her journey to find full time employment is currently being documented for Parade Magazine. Follow her blog at http://www.kkdevito.wordpress.com and on Twitter @kdevito.

Create an Easter Basket with a Twist

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:06:00 +0000

For your kids, Easter may mean dying eggs, hunting for them and diving into basket full of treats. But this year, instead of the typical sugary treats — for example, chocolate bunnies and jelly beans — consider giving a basket that includes toys, games and other small gifts. Your kids may not know it, but it's a chance to promote creativity and an active mind and body.

Theme baskets are a great idea. For example, if your son or daughter enjoys cooking, fill a basket with kid-friendly kitchen utensils, cookbooks and recipe cards. You can also include ice cube trays with shaped molds, or a kit to make homemade ice cream and popsicles.

If your kids have a sweet tooth, consider a few small packages of candy and 100-calorie snacks. You can also put together an additional fruit basket with clementines, apples, bananas and other favorite fruits.

To create an "outdoor fun" basket, add items like bubbles, sidewalk chalk, a kid's sprinkler, jump rope, inflatable pool, swimmies and bouncy balls in different sizes.

Fill an "indoor" basket with coloring books, card games such as "Old Maid," flashcards, paints, stamps, stickers and books.

If all else fails, mix it up —a little bit of this and that — and have fun with it! Your kids will surely enjoy it.

Gwen Recinto is a writer, blogger and fitness instructor. She has been teaching for 10 years throughout South Jersey and Philadelphia. For fitness/nutrition tips and workouts, follow her on Twitter — @AllThingsGwen — and “fan” her Fit Friends page on Facebook. For inspirational articles, including how to live a healthy, happy and inspired life, visit her blog at AllThingsGwen.com.

photo source: Clipartandcrafts.com

Are you a New Jersey VIP?

hmorris0506@mrsmonj.com (Mrs Mo) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:05:00 +0000

Do you like discounts? Like special savings just for you? How about special discounts right in your backyard? Sounds like the NJMyWay VIP Club is just for you!

When you enroll in VIP Club, you gain access to discounts from some of the best retailers and theaters in the state. From The State Theater in New Brunswick to the indoor entertainment center Velocity 17 in Maywood. We've got online fashion retailers like Donnella's Closet and A.Tierney.com and the corporate food delivery service, VMeals. Residents who live in and near Montclair will be excited to see some Shop Montclair favorites like Semplice Home, Terra and Amanti Vino.

We will be adding more to the growing list weekly in order to offer you immediate deals all over New Jersey. Enroll now, start shopping and start saving!

Are you a merchant interested in joining? Contact editor@njmyway.com, subject: NJMyWay VIP.