#GivingTuesday is upon us, think about #Riverkeeper

November 26, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Giving Tuesday is less than 24 hours away! As you think about which organizations you’ll support tomorrow, we hope that Riverkeeper will make your list.

Giving Tuesday is a critical day when you can fight for a healthy Hudson River and safe drinking water in 2019. We’ve made it easy for you to participate and encourage your friends and family to become Riverkeeper members, too!

1. Donate at Riverkeeper.org/GivingTuesday
2. Create your own #GivingTuesday Fundraiser for Riverkeeper on Facebook (Facebook does not charge any fees on donations made through its platform, and has pledged to match the first $7 million in donations starting at 8am EST on 11/27)
3. Share our fundraiser with  your friends and family on Facebookand Twitter

From contacting your elected officials and reporting Hudson River pollution to volunteering for the Riverkeeper Sweep or sampling water quality, everything you do makes a difference for the Hudson.

It would mean so much if you would support Riverkeeper in the fight for a resilient Hudson River on Giving Tuesday.

Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, environment Tagged With: ,

#GivingTuesday NY/NY Baykeepers, Clean Water Action

November 26, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Each and every day, our small but mighty group here at NY/NJ Baykeeper works to protect, preserve and restore our local waterways and habitats. From the Raritan Bay to Jamaica Bay and throughout the rivers and streams of the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary, we will continue to fight for a better tomorrow. 

Please consider standing in solidarity with our mission on #Giving Tuesday, 11/27!

#GivingTuesday is a global giving movement that has been built by individuals, families, organizations, businesses and communities in countries around the world. Millions of people have come together to support and champion the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live. Please visit nynjbaykeeper.org/about-us/how-to-donate/  for more information and to donate!

You can also shop and help support NY/NJ Baykeeper all at the same time! Just start your Amazon shopping at smile.amazon.com and designate Raritan Baykeeper, Inc. as your charity of choice- 0.5% of the price of your purchases will be donated to NY/NJ Baykeeper at no cost to you! Check out Tobi.com and designate NY/NJ Baykeeper as your charity of choice and Tobi.com will donate a portion of your purchase back to us!

Filed Under: charity/notforprofit Tagged With: ,

Limiting Stress In The New Year

November 26, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Wow – I cannot believe this year is almost over! It has definitely gone by in the blink of an eye, but it has been a pretty stressful year. I am not one to make a ton of New Years Resolutions, but this year, I really want to focus on limiting stress in the New Year. I believe that our lives are too short to live in stress and to do the things that we do not want to be doing. If you are in a job that you dislike, if you are consumed with stress, and if you are ready for change, follow me on this journey of limiting stress in 2019. I am very excited to focus on my family and be able to soak in all of the precious moments and memories that we create over the next 12+ months (and hopefully longer). Here are a few ways that I am limiting stress in the New Year:

new year new you

Wrap Up 2018 To Do’s

Before you get started, you need to make sure that you wrap up the to-do list that you have in 2018. Is there anything you need to get done? Make sure you do not carry over unwanted stress and tasks from 2018 to 2019 because the point of this is to limit stress, not increase it. Look around you and figure out what will cause you stress. Do you have a garage that needs to be painted or a fireplace that needs to be repaired? Maybe you have something that has been on your to-do list for years and you have not gotten around to it. This is a great time to finally get it done because whether you know it or not, what you do not have wrapped up is consistently hanging over your head, especially if it has been on your to-do list for a while.

 

Create A Game Plan

Create a game plan for the year. What goals do you have? What are you focusing on? Do you want to build up your business, focus on family, or do both at the same time? Whatever your game plan is, write it down, in order to keep yourself on track throughout the New Year.

 

Huffington Post says, “Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at the Dominican University in California, recently studied the art and science of goal setting. She gathered two hundred and sixty-seven people together — men and women from all over the world, and from all walks of life, including entrepreneurs, educators, healthcare professionals, artists, lawyers and bankers. She divided the participants into groups, according to who wrote down their goals and dreams, and who didn’t… And she discovered that those who wrote down their goals and dreams on a regular basis achieved those desires at a significantly higher level than those who did not.

In fact, she found that you become 42% more likely to achieve your goals and dreams, simply by writing them down on a regular basis. The likelihood that you’ll transform your desires into reality goes up even further if you share your written goals with a friend who believes in your ability to succeed (what I call a “partner in believing”).”

stress less

Outsource Tasks To Focus On Family

In order to focus on family, you need to make sure that your business and your income is in order. That is why I think it is so important to outsource tasks. First of all – create an income goal. Then, figure out how to get there. One of the most popular ways to increase your sales and income is to hire a full-service marketing agency such as SEO NJ. Brothers Matt and Dan Anton created NJ SEO in order to “offer professional SEO services that help websites increase their organic search score drastically in order to compete for the highest rankings — even when it comes to highly competitive keywords.” Dan Anton is a retired Infantry Airborne Army Ranger Major, who served two tours in Iraq, receiving two bronze stars for valor in combat while Matt Anton is the former online marketing manager of Liberty Travel, a billion dollar travel agency, where he was responsible for digital marketing strategy and execution, managing a 250k budget each month. Together with their team, they offer web development, online marketing, and sales optimization services, with proven results. If you are looking to increase sales and improve your online business, NJ SEO is the company to help you out because they walk the walk and beat out every agency in the area. Just look at their results and success stories on their website and you can see for yourself!

 

Add Self-Care To Your Routine

No matter who you are, you need to add self-care to your daily routine, in order to limit stress. There are many ways that you can do this, so do not think that you have to take a bubble bath if you hate them. Think about the things that you love and/or the things that relax you and make them happen.

Filed Under: health Tagged With: , ,

American Brain Tumor Association Will Match Donations on #GivingTuesday

November 21, 2018 by Leave a Comment

On Tuesday, November 27th, brain tumors will meet their match. All donations made through The American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) will be matched dollar for dollar.

#GivingTuesday is a global event fueled by social media and other forms of collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, it kicks off the charitable season of holiday and end-of-year giving.

“This day will definitely be a highlight in our 45th anniversary fundraising effort,” says ABTA President & CEO Ralph DeVitto. “We’ve been pulling out all the stops to make this year’s day of giving bigger and better than ever.”

On #GivingTuesday, ABTA donors can choose to have their gifts matched in one of three ways:

Donate to Research

The Bradley Benton Davis Memorial Foundation is generously matching all research-restricted donations up to $25,000.

Donate to Patient Services

The Pat McDonald Scholarship Fund and Abbvie are generously matching all patient services donations up $26,000 to provide financial assistance to patients and their loved ones to attend the annual Patient and Family Conference.

Donate to Area of Most Need

Novocure and an anonymous donor are generously matching up to $55,000 in unrestricted donations.

Also, any brand new donations will be matched up to $200,000.

“I continue to financially support the ABTA because I see the value of the research and patient care that are the pillars of the association,” says Fern Bomchill, who created the Bradley Benton Davis Memorial Foundation in honor of her son. “Every gift helps.”

To donate, visit abta.org/give.

Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, health Tagged With: ,

5 Knitting Project Ideas for Beginners

November 21, 2018 by Leave a Comment

You don’t need to be 60 to start knitting. In fact there are an increasing number of young people who have taken up knitting with some fantastic results.

The benefits of knitting are much more than the ability to create your own clothes; you can also knit gifts for others! It is also a great way of lowering your stress levels and keeping mentally active; this has been shown to help reduce the risk of age related memory loss.

Virtually any project is possible for the new knitter although you will find it is easier if you look at existing knitting patterns; this will give you a guide as to what you are supposed to do.

Here are some great knitting project ideas for beginners:

 

  • Scarf

 

The scarf is one of the simplest pieces of knitting because you only need to select the width of the scarf and the length. The width will dictate the number of stitches you need and the length will dictate the number of rows.

Keeping it one color will make it very simple to knit. To make it a little more difficult simply add a second color in.

 

  • Hat

 

The hat is also a fairly simple template. Again you’ll need a template. The width of your knitting will dictate the height of the hat, while the length will need to comply roughly with the circumference of the head that you are making the hat for.

Once you’ve completed what is effectively a mini scarf you’ll be able to stitch it together to make a simple beanie style hat.

 

  • The Blanket

 

This is a larger scale project than the scarf or hat but in essence just as simple. Again the width and length of your blanket is dictated by the number of stitches on your needle and how many rows you intend to do.

You can create several scarves in different colors and then stitch them together to make a large blanket. You and your partner will be able to snuggle under it on those long winter nights.

 

  • Leg Warmers

 

If you or your friend feel the chill or simply want to jump back a few years then you can knit some delightful leg warmers.

Again this simple project has a number of similarities to creating a scarf. You’ll simply need to stitch the ends together when you’ve found the right size for your legs.

 

  • Shawl

 

This can be just as simple as knitting a blanket but you can also take this project up to the next level by adding tassels to the edges of your shawl. This will transform it from a simply blanket style shawl to a fashionable piece.

All of these projects have knitting patterns but it is advisable to practice your stitches before you start knitting any of them. The best items are finished with smaller stitches; which means smaller needles and potentially more stitches width.

Taking your time to get your stitches right will ensure that the finished garment looks perfect; every time.

Filed Under: crafts Tagged With: , ,

Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn at the PaperMill Playhouse

November 20, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director), recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, presents Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, based on the film from Universal Pictures, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, and book by Gordon Greenberg and Chad Hodge.  Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn begins performances TOMORROW, Wednesday, November 21, 2018, and will continue through Sunday, December 30, 2018, at Paper Mill Playhouse (22 Brookside Drive, Millburn, NJ). Bank of America is the Major Sponsor of Irving Berlin’s Holiday. Paper Mill Playhouse’s 2018-2019 season is proudly sponsored by Investors Bank.

holiday inn

Directed by Mr. Greenberg (The Baker’s Wife, 1776 – Paper Mill), and with choreography by Denis Jones (Mary Poppins – Paper Mill,Holiday Inn – Broadway, Tony nomination), music direction by Shawn Gough (Annie, Paper Mill), the principal cast features Paige Faure(Honeymoon in Vegas – Paper Mill) as Lila Dixon, Jordon Gelber (Avenue Q) as Danny, Ann Harada (Avenue Q) as Louise,  Jeff Kready(Thoroughly Modern Millie – Paper Mill) as Ted Hanover, Hayley Podschun (Peter Pan – Paper Mill) as Linda Mason, Nicholas Rodriguez(Tarzan) as Jim Hardy with Jian Harrell and Aidan Alberto alternating in the role of Charlie Winslow.

They are joined by Jordan Beall, Gene Biscontini, Colin Bradbury, Tricia DeSario, Taylor Fields, Kelly Gleason, Juliane Godfrey, Berklea Going, Joshua Israel, Julie Kavanagh, Mallory Nolting, Clifton Samuels, JT Teeling, Karl Skylar Urban, Amy Van Norstrand,Scarlett Walker, Travis Ward-Osborne, and John T. Wolfe.

In this musical based on the beloved Bing Crosby/Fred Astaire film, Jim Hardy leaves behind the hustle and bustle of showbiz for a quiet life on a Connecticut farm. Jim’s agrarian efforts are a flop, but things start looking up when he falls for a talented schoolteacher, and together they infuse their sleepy rural setting with some Broadway razzle-dazzle. Fresh from a Broadway run, this heartwarming, toe-tapping production features more than 20 classic songs from the Berlin catalog, including “Easter Parade,” “Cheek to Cheek,” “Steppin’ Out with My Baby,” and “White Christmas.”

Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn will be performed at Paper Mill Playhouse eight times a week, Wednesday through Sunday. Performance schedule: Wednesday at 7:00pm, Thursday at 1:30pm and 7:00pm, Friday at 7:00pm, Saturday at 1:30pm and 7:00pm and Sunday at 1:30pm and 7:00pm. Please note:  There are no performances on November 22 (Thanksgiving Day), December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 25 (Christmas Day).  Tickets are on sale now starting at $34. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.PaperMill.org. All major credit cards accepted. Groups of 10 or more may receive up to a 40% discount on tickets and should call 973.315.1680. Season subscriptions are on sale now and are available by calling 973.379.3717.  Students may order $23-$28 rush tickets over the phone or in person at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office on the day of the performance. Bank of America is the Major Sponsor of Irving Berlin’s Holiday.

IRVING BERLIN (Music & Lyrics) wrote scores to 13 Broadway musicals, contributed to seven revues, and wrote songs for 12 classic Hollywood movie musicals. Born in Russia, he immigrated to the Lower East Side of New York City, where he started his career as a singing waiter and soon became a lyricist, composer, and music publisher. He built the Music Box Theatre to house his Music Box Revues. Among his more than 1,200 songs, many of which are considered classics today, is “God Bless America,” for which he established a fund that receives all revenue from the song and distributes it to the Boy and Girl Scouts.

Filed Under: entertainment, theater Tagged With: , ,

Love To Travel? You Will Love These Bags

November 8, 2018 by Leave a Comment

If you love to travel as much as we do, then you will love these bags. Good for overnights and weekends at Grandma’s, they are just as useful for long trips.

have sippy will travel

The National Geographic luggage line by Eagle Creek is extremely durable, with weatherproof tarpaulin outer that makes the pack easy to wipe clean both inside and out. What’s not to love about that? Especially if you have kids- but anything you are dragging around is bound to get dirty, all the better if it’s easy to clean up. Since it’s easy to clean, it makes sense that the zippers are water resistant (and self repairing!). These lockable zippers have protection from thieves, wind, water, and more. It has a laptop compartment that can also be locked, as well as zippered mesh pockets and key fob. You can separate your dirty or wet items from clean items and main compartment with the front zipper compartment, and there is even a hidden space for your passport, wallet, phone- whatever items you want to keep close and safe.  Designed to be secure, it has compression straps, internal gear attachment, D rings, and it comes with an emergency whistle and spots that reflect light to help keep you visible.  Several types of bags available, prices vary, see https://www.eaglecreek.com/national-geographic for options.

The Wayfinder Waist Packs from Eagle Creek has been crazy useful, I’ve used it pretty much nonstop. It comes in two sizes, small and medium, and it’s great for going hands free. And shoulder free- I get so tired of dragging stuff around on my back sometimes, and it’s often inconvenient. Biking, climbing, kayaking, whatever. If you only have a few things to take with you, the Wayfinder is perfect. High capacity, quite a few compartments and zippers for organization, water resistant, and just all around easy. The water resistant coating? It’s made from recycling the PVB coating in windshields. Really. It also makes them stain resistant, which any parent or traveler will love. $30-$40 at https://www.eaglecreek.com

wet bags

Packing Cubes, Folders and Sacs are great for keeping organized and efficient. I have no way of expressing how much I appreciate these, or how often I use them- which is always. Always. When I’m going somewhere, which is often, I always, always use these. They make traveling so much easier. The Pack-It Active™ lets you organize all your gear, you can get more of your stuff into less space, as well as keep it clean. It features antimicrobial treatment to keep the stink out, and out of the rest of your luggage if you use it to keep your dirty stuff inside. Plus, you can wash it. The Pack-It Original holds its shape very well, regardless of what you have inside it. Once opened, everything is accessible and easily found and organized inside the hotel drawer or your suitcase. Packables are super, super useful- they are small and easily packed into your luggage, luggage. Yes, I know. Why pack luggage into your luggage? Because sometimes you run out of space. It’s harder to pack laundry, or maybe you just bought too much stuff on your trip. Don’t want to buy a new suitcase, or pay for a checked bag? Enter Packables. They come in Daypack, Duffel and Tote/Pack and are useful to keep on hand whenever you travel. No reason to be caught wanting! Prices and colors vary, all under $40 at https://shop.eaglecreek.com

gym bags

Go Dash Dot is a great “go to” bag for women on the go. With several bags (and lots of color options) and sizes to choose from, it’s a fantastic gym bag, weekender, or work to weeknight bag. It can even function as a diaper bag if you so choose. Sturdy, though heavy, it comes in tote, backpack, crossbody, and more. Some have spaces for your yoga mat, sneakers (for an easy change), carabiners, and more. There is a lot of space inside, and multiple compartments to separate your items. Keep work separate from play, night life, or whatever suits you. Prices vary, go to https://godashdot.com to see what strikes your fancy.

Filed Under: review Tagged With: , , ,

STORY LAND’S BIGGEST SALE OF THE YEAR IS HERE!

November 8, 2018 by Leave a Comment

New Hampshire theme park

After wrapping up a successful 65th season mid-October, Story Land welcomes the off season with its biggest sale yet! The annual Black Friday sale kicked off on November 5th, and as always, offers the deepest discounts on Story Land season passes, day tickets, and more!

ALL-NEW for 2019 – the Story Land Platinum Season Pass!  In addition to unlimited admission to Story Land and great perks like dining and retail discounts, the Platinum Season Pass grants the passholder unlimited admission to Living Shores Aquarium (livingshoresaquarium.com) from its opening in Spring of 2019 through the end of the year. Also exclusive to the Platinum Season Pass are one time use “Bring a Friend Free ANY Days”, where Platinum passholders can bring up to 3 friends to Story Land FREE! Shoppers can save $20 on the new Platinum Season Pass, $30 on Premium Season Passes and a whopping 40% off Basic Season Passes! All season passes entitle the passholder to unlimited admission to Story Land during the season, while Premium and Platinum passholders get lots of other fun perks. The full list of pass benefits can be found atstorylandnh.com/seasonpass. Season pass payment plans are available in 3 month or 6 month formats, with payments as low at $7.49. Shoppers can also save $16 off day tickets, which are valid any day of the 2019 season and make great gifts!

The FREE Preschool Play Pass is back for the 2019 season! The Preschool Play Pass grants complimentary admission to children ages 3-5 for the entire summer. “The Preschool Play Pass was a big hit with many families in 2018, and we look forward to offering this very affordable option again in 2019,” stated Lauren Hawkins, Director of Marketing. The guidelines and activation info for this pass can be found at storylandnh.com/prekpass, and all parents are urged to read all pass information before registering their children.

The Black Friday sale ends at midnight on December 4th, and these prices are can’t-miss. 2019 promises another summer of family fun, new events, and Story Land magic in the Land Where Fantasy Lives! Visit storylandnh.com for more info and to shop all the deals.

About Story Land and Palace Entertainment:

Story Land, located in New Hampshire’s beautiful White Mountains, is a premier children’s theme park that has entertained thousands of families with young children for over 60 years. Story Land is “Where Fantasy Lives” and features over 20 unique rides, exciting live shows, and favorite nursery rhyme animals set on 35 beautifully maintained and landscaped acres. Story Land is owned and operated by Palace Entertainment, one of the leading leisure park operators in the United States. Palace Entertainment owns and operates eight water parks, six theme parks, two animal parks, and five family entertainment centers across 10 different states. Palace Entertainment parks offer a wide range of family friendly rides, shows, miniature golf courses, and arcade games. For more information, please visit storylandnh.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Filed Under: family Tagged With: , , , ,