Breakfast with Today's Moms and Tea with The Duchess

For every Pampers Baby Bodysuit manufactured for the 1 pack = 1 vaccine program, The Pampers brand will donate $.07 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to help provide one tetanus vaccine to a pregnant woman or a woman of child-bearing age in the less industrialized world. Visit www.pampers.com/unicef for more information.

On Friday April 24th, I had an amazing opportunity to join 50 (+a guest) other women in New York to celebrate the release of the book Today's Moms: Essentials for Surviving Baby's First Year written by Today Show producers Mary Ann Zoellner and Alicia Ybarbo. I could not contain my elation to not only have been chosen to attend, but to attend my first TweetUp and meet so many other amazing and influential women that I have spoken to through Twitter.

Not knowing what to expect from the festivities, I brought my sister and her really good camera along for the fun ride hoping just to get to know more of the moms and get a chance to talk to Mary Anne and Alicia. Boy was I in for a wild ride!

About the BookBash

The BookBash was not just a party to celebrate the book launch. It was also a fundraising event through Baby Buggy, a 501c3 accredited non-profit organization who helps mothers in need. Natalie Morales was on hand to lend her support to their efforts to help parents in NYC and around the world. Today's Moms also partnered with Pampers and UNICEF for their ONE PACK=ONE VACCINE where 1 donation of a pack of Pampers to Baby Buggy equaled a donation to help provide vaccines to pregnant women and women of child-bearing age. AND if you place an order at Diapers.com for a pack of Pampers and the Today's Moms book, $1.00 will go to Baby Buggy.

The Excitement Begins

As I chased after Maddy (who was surprisingly only 1 of 2 babies there), Megan Meany swooped in to interview me about the book and Twitter. While my sister is freaking out because Megan Meany is interviewing me, I was like "oh and what is your name?" (It's been awhile since I've watched a non-kid TV show in the morning!)

In between the madness/excitement/networking I had a chance to put faces with Twitter names and keep up with Maddy as she skipped her entire morning nap because of all of the noise and chatter. Thank goodness my sister was there, who actually didn't mind being my on site babysitter (If she was a real babysitter, I'd probably owe her hundreds of dollars by now).

Then it was Special Celebrity Guest Time. Who could it be? Who would have a connection to Mary Ann and Alicia beyond Natalie Morales? And then she walked in. Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York. I think I fall into that generation that remembers her as Princess Diana's friend but knows her current claim to fame as a Weight Watchers spokesperson. More recently, she has been supporting UNICEF and Pampers in their efforts to educate the world on the importance of giving vaccines to future moms.

At the end of her greeting speech, she offered her new ADORABLE book, Tea with Ruby, as a giveaway which Amber, @jerseymomma, won. But then, as she looked over at Maddy, she said that she just had to give one to her/me. I'll let the photos speak for themselves of the UNREAL moment that followed. Sure, there were a ton of flashes in our faces, but all I could think was how REAL and COMFORTABLE Sarah Ferguson was and how she radiated LOVING MOTHER with Maddy. Such a class act!

The rest of the morning was full of giveaways, mingling and photo-opps with the authors, Natalie and Sarah. Caitlin (my sister) even won the Scandinavian Child Svan Chair, which I will gladly hold on to for a few years.

Though I didn't get the chance to meet as many Tweeps as I wanted to, I chatted with some fun women from NY and NJ like: @todaysmoms (the authors!), @Jerseymomma, @chefdruck, @kmazzi, @Elizabeth_N, @JenRab, @brianboyd (the photographer, IT guy), @mommyblogger76, @mommyshhshoes (buy her book!), @melysas and @primetimeparent.

Today's Moms is available for purchase at Amazon.com or at the NBC Experience Store. You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Mrs Mo's TweetUp at Cream Ridge Winery

Yesterday I Tweeted that Rob and I were heading to the Jackson Outlets. A few minutes later, Brian Mulligan aka @CRWinery @replied to me saying to stop on by because the outlets were only 10 minutes away. You don't have to twist my arm too hard to sample some of the award-winning wines from Cream Ridge, who also are know for their fruit wines, a bottling variety that is hard to find in NJ (My first introduction to fruit wine was up in Quechee VT and I was hooked).

I was excited for my 2nd Tweet-Up in 2 days, to get to know the winemakers/owners, and to finally sample my favorite NJ Winery! Since I was also shopping for my mother's birthday, I figured that I might as well sample the whites and reds for her too. The list of their wines is below, but my favorites that day were: Riesling, Spice Wine, Alicante Bouschet (a red wine for white wine lovers), Cherry and Pear. Since I was watching my budget, I opted for the Riesling(for my mom, though it's my favorite white wine) and 2 Alicante bottles. What I loved about the Alicante was it's smooth and light taste. Not bitter or dry.

Leading my tasting was Eileen Amabile, the 2nd generation co-owner along with 3rd generation Brian, who told me a brief history of the winery. Started as a hobby by her father, an Irvington native, Cream Ridge was established in 1988 and has received numerous accolades including the Governor's Cup, a top honor among wineries in New Jersey, for 6 years and running!
Cream Ridge Winery is located right along Rt 539, and if take that road out towards LBI (like Rob and me), take a few minutes and stop in. Grab a bottle for dinner! In addition to wine, they have a shop with gourmet products and gift baskets. They also offer custom labeling. Like many of the wineries in the area, Cream Ridge also runs a number of tastings, special & community events. Visit their site for announcements or simply follow Brian!

Below is the list of wines available at Cream Ridge Winery. You can place orders for pick up or simply drop by to sample!

Pinot Gris - Dry.	$14.95
Sauvignon Blanc - Light, dry.	$14.95
Riesling - Semi-dry, fruity.	$15.95
Eastern White - Blend of Catawba & Niagara. Semi-sweet, fruity.	$9.95

Country Blush - Semi-sweet. Similar to White Zinfandel.	$9.95
Spice Wine - A mulled wine with cinnamon, clove, allspice. Serve warm or chilled.	$9.95
Sangria - Blush wine with fruit and citrus flavors.	$9.95

Raley's Red - Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Dry	$13.95
Alicante Bouschet - Light bodied red, oak aged	$13.95
Zinfandel - Dry, oak aged. Berry finish.	$14.95
Cream Ridge Red - Blend of Chambourcin, Lemberger, Cab Franc, DeChaunac. Estate grown. Oak aged.	$13.95
Chambourcin - Dry, oak aged French American hybrid.	$13.95

Cherry- (Ciliegia Amabile) Made with Mont Morency cherries. Barely sweet. 2005 Governor's Cup winner. Tastes like cherry pie.	$14.95
Blueberry - NJ Blueberries. Lightly sweet.	$14.95
Pear - Lightly sweet. Made from Barlett pears.	$14.95
Plum - Made from NJ Damson & NJ Beach Plums	$14.95
Black Currant - Sweet, intense black currant flavor. Sweet/tart. 375 ml.	9.95
Almondberry - Raspberry and white wine with almonds. Our most popular wine. 2005 gold medal winner.	$9.95

Mrs Mo's Giveaways: Mother's Day, Trenton Thunder and more!

My friend Kimberly Baldwin (@jellybeanboom) has shared with me some awesome contests now running at HamiltonSpace.com and MercerSpace.com (for which she is Internet Manager aka The Web Queen of the Mercer County area).

You don't have to live in Hamilton, NJ or Mercer County to qualify to win, but it might require you to read up on some news & fun in the Princeton area...but why wouldn't you!?


Giveaway #1: Mother's Day Sparkle: Blue Topaz pendant from Bottoni Jewelers. Enter by May 7th and the winner will be selected and contacted on May 8th.

Giveaway #2: Family 4-pack to see Trenton Thunder: Every week in August, HamitonSpace will give away tickets to registered members of the site. You can also automatically enter to win tickets over at MercerSpace.com by first registering on the site and then head over to the Marketplace and give a rating and review on any listing. Every listing you rate and review earns you an entry in the contest (R&R 5 listings=5 entries). This contest is going on all summer long, but you can get started now!

Kimberly is always cooking up something fun to give away so keep tabs on the latest contest at HamiltonSpace!

MORRISTOWN-BEARD SCHOOL TO UNVEIL NEW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ON APRIL 25th (Reprint)

Morristown-Beard School will officially unveil its new 20,850-square foot Performing Arts facility on Saturday, April 25^th at 6 p.m. at the “Opening Doors, Opening Night” gala celebration on campus.

The new building features a spectacular 630-seat theater as well as choral, instrumental and theater rooms, a dance studio, a box office, and rehearsal spaces.

“This promises to be an evening for the Morristown-Beard School history books,” said Morristown-Beard Headmaster Alex Curtis. “This beautiful new facility will not only be a venue for student talent, guest speakers and performers, but also a gathering space for the entire school community to assemble under one roof – something that was not possible until now.”

The evening will include the naming and dedication of the facility, a gourmet cocktail reception, an auction and wine raffle, and – the highlight of the evening – marvelous performances by Morristown-Beard students.

The Performing Arts facility is being funded through the “Ahead with Confidence” capital campaign, one of the largest undertakings by Morristown-Beard School. Currently, the School has raised more than $14.4 million towards its goal of $16.2 million. The campaign has also funded the construction of Morristown-Beard’s new Middle School, which opened in the fall of 2008.

Building Notes:

* 20,850 square-foot theater with support spaces

* Seating for 630 (Main Floor: 430 seats, Balcony: 200 seats)

* Rooms for music and drama, a dance studio, and all the technology and support space for performances at the highest level

* An attractive and flexible space where the entire School community can gather for assemblies as well as for performing arts events

* The Center provides the proper venue to showcase MBS’ talented students

Construction Facts:

* At the height of work in August 2008, there were 114 tradesmen on site. During the life of the project, 28 different trades were involved in the construction.

* At the beginning of the project, more than 250 truckloads of soil were moved from the site during excavation.

* There were 1,500 cubic yards (or 150 truckloads) of concrete poured for the footings and slabs of the new construction.

* There were more than 125,000 pounds of rebar used in the reinforcement of the footings and foundation.

* More than 250 tons (or half a million pounds) of steel was used to create the framework of the building.

* There were more than 14,000 concrete blocks used in the construction of the theater.

Steve Patchett
Director of Communications

Morristown-Beard School

70 Whippany Road

Morristown, NJ 07960

973-532-7540

973-532-7648 Fax

spatchett@mobeard.org

NJ Mom Bloggers "Lunch and Learn" with Stop & Shop

Andrea Astrachan is not just Consumer Advisor for Stop & Shop; you could say she is their Chief Mom Officer as well.

As a mother, Andrea knows what other moms value in terms of healthy food choices for children. She understands the challenge moms face trying to get their kids to eat healthy and stay within a budget. I’m already getting challenged by Maddy when I try and feed her peas and carrots when all she wants are cheerios.

You can understand my excitement when I was invited to join other NJ Mom Bloggers for a Stop & Shop luncheon at the Frog and Peach restaurant in New Brunswick. We met with the brilliant women behind the Stop & Shop brand: Andrea Astrachan, Peg Merzbacher(PeaPod) and Faith Weiner and in attendance were fellow NJ Bloggers: Vanessa Druckman- ChefDruck, Kate-Keeping the Garden State in the Garden State, Deb Smith-Jersey Bites, Monica Brand-Paper Bridges, Bay Staley-Queen Mother Blog, Cecile Proyer-The Shopping Duck, Liz Thompson-This Full House and moi!

First of all, let’s talk about The Frog and Peach. One of the top restaurants in NJ, F&P is tucked away in a quiet townhouse development of New Brunswick along Rt 18 making parking very easy. After I dropped Maddy off with the FREE BABYSITTING SERVICE I was whisked into The Garden Room which had a setting a lot like a greenhouse: bright, fresh air, all windows and lots of green. What caught my eye immediately (aside from the super cute S&S reusable shopping bags) were the green water glasses on our long table. I love pops of color and green just says: organic, fresh, rejuvenated and clean. Our lunch was a 3-course meal starting with a Local Spring Greens Salad with Jicama, Dry Jack Cheese, Crushed Guajillo Chile, Citrus Vinaigrette , followed by a Pan Seared Organic Chicken Breast with Asparagus, Tasso Ham, Whipped Potatoes, Amontiallado Sherry Chicken Jus, and ended with a desert of a Trio of Sorbet Terrine. Yeah so much for counting points that day! But it was so delicious and worth it.

While we ate, Andrea educated us on the many ways that families can eat healthy while on a budget. We were first surprised to learn that people are eating less fruits and veggies and substituting with fast food thinking that it’s cheaper. While a family of 4 will spend about $16 dollars on fast food, Andrea showed us a simple meal that cost about $9: a bag of frozen broccoli, box of whole wheat penne and grilled chicken. It really is that simple and inexpensive to make a healthy meal. Rob and I eat very health dinners and it’s usually with frozen veggies, chicken or steak, and some whole-wheat pasta. If you prefer to shop Organic but cannot afford a trip to Whole Foods each weak, Stop & Shop has their own line called Nature’s Promise (I thoroughly enjoyed our free samples, especially the Blue Corn Chips).

If buying name brand is more your speed, but you’re not really sure what are the best healthy options, Stop & Shop has also instituted a new logo system which has been placed on more than 3,000 items in the store. So when you see the “healthy ideas” logo, you know you’re choosing well for you and your family. And this system is an exclusive Stop & Shop initiative.

So now you might be thinking: okay, so how do I get my kids to eat the healthy stuff anyway? Here are some helpful tips from Andrea that we can use with our children:

• Let your kids help with the food list and when you’re in the store, let them find the “healthy ideas” labels.
  
  
• Many times kids prefer raw to cooked vegetables and separate and not mixed together food.
  
  
• Did you know that a child may have to be introduced to a food 6-10 times before they begin to like it? So be patient!
  
  
• Breakfast is so important, but if you find your morning routine is hindering your sit-down time, set the table the night before with bowls, spoons, cups etc. That way, you can sit down and save that prep time for something else.
  
  
• Let your children pick out the fruits and veggies.
  
  
• Get your dairy intake but trying something different like string cheese or yogurt.
  
  
• Select crunchy but less fattening snacks like popcorn, rice cakes or baked chips.
  
  
• Most importantly is to set a good example for your children by eating healthy yourself.

Over the next few weeks and months, look for my “Healthy Family Tip” where I will share with you a valuable way to get more fruits and veggies in your diet, courtesy of Stop & Shop!

And stay tuned for my review of my first PeaPod experience! I can’t wait to try it and share some of Peg's tips!

To learn more about the healthy and budget friendly options at your neighborhood Stop & Shop, call today about scheduling a store tour!

Thanks to 360 Public Relations for making this event happen!

Dole Foods: Make Me a Chef Contest

My friends over at Dole Foods have sent me another awesome contest for all of you who love to write about food!

From now until May 8th, Dole is running the Make Me a Chef writing contest (200 words or less) where the winner and three friends get flown out to LA for a weekend trip for a cooking experience with celebrity chef, Ben Ford (Harrison Ford’s son), of Ford’s Filling Station. All you need to do is register at the site and write about how Dole Canned Fruit is a staple in your pantry. It's that simple!

There are some other great prizes available simply by logging back into the website. Every time you log into the site to view any of Ben's recipes or Dole's creations, you are entered in the weekly drawing with a chance to win a $500 Visa Gift Card. Think of all the All-Clad, Calphalon, Le Creuset, Emeril or Rachel Ray cooking supplies you can buy!

So: If you like to write, if you enjoy Dole foods, if you want a chance to be in the presence of Harrison Ford offspring, then you must act now. The contest ends May 8th. Have fun and good luck! Become a FAN of Make Me a Chef contest over on Facebook too!

Mrs Mo's Going Green Guide

Maybe 10 years ago, Earth Day was just another day on the calendar and there wasn't much done about it. Now it's hard to find a school, business, tv network, website or individual who isn't doing something to help the Earth by "Going Green." But what can we do to help? What are some simple tips for Going Green? Here is what some of my friends over at Facebook and Twitter suggest:

You can use those reusable bags instead of plastic/paper ones. They are only 99 cents and can be used for many things. Besides the supermarket, I take mine to the mall, yard sales, traveling, etc. I've found the ones from Walmart are the best, they are a type of recycled fabric and VERY strong.-Cynthia

Use linen towels in the kitchen instead of paper towels... and then of course there are the "standard ways": change lightbulbs, turn off the water when you're not using it, put a 2-liter bottle in your toilet tank...-Monica

clothes line!-Sharon (my mommy)

Use a re-usable coffee cup, take your lunch to work, dry your clothes outside, shower every other day (you really WON'T die), drive the speed limit (LOL), mow your own grass and water only as needed. Put your AC/heater on a timer, join a local food co-op and join other families in enjoying locally harvested produce.-Martha

@jellybeanboom: start simple: when you leave a room, TURN OFF the lights! and STOP with the plastic water bottles already! buy everyone in the fam a sigg and invest in a good water filter.

@yazziestarr: Printing on both sides of the paper or on scrap paper and unplugging unused electronics or washing on cold :)

Also, you can always make sure you're recycling correctly. If you don't know, check out my post here! You can also check out the Organic and Green products over at Green Design in Princeton.

April 21: Free Iced Coffee Day

Mercer Women Spa Networking Event

Neiman Marcus 21st Anniversary Sale

Don't let Tax Season get you down. Get up and go shopping!

From April 17-27, Neiman Marcus is celebrating their 21st anniversary with an unbelievable sale: Discounts are 20-30% off their regularly low prices and if you use your Neiman Marcus credit card you get an EXTRA 20% off!! For those of you doing the math, that's a Tory Burch Tote for less than $130 (originally $395)!

DON'T FORGET: Sign up for the Neiman Marcus Last Call email to get exclusive coupons! This week, subscribers receive a coupon for an EXTRA 20% off one item on top of the sale price AND on top of the 20% they save with a Neiman Marcus credit card. 

Princeton restaurants unite to end childhood hunger

When restaurants support local farmers, it's a beautiful thing. When restaurants band together to end childhood hunger: it's amazing!

It is shocking to know that 1 in 6 children will be hungry this year. It is so easy for us to take for granted a quick trip to the supermarket when the fridge is running low. In an effort to eradicate childhood hunger in Central NJ, Share our Strength's Taste of the Nation is holding their 17th annual Princeton event. Over 30 of the best area restaurants have banded together to not only showcase their creativity, but to help fund efforts to feed the children and families who use the services of Home Front, Isles, Mercer Street Friends and The Food Back of South Jersey. Attendees will be able to sample some of the finest cuisine like a White Asparagus Veloute with Crayfish, Bacon and Spring Onion Oil from the Frog and Peach restaurant in New Brunswick (pictured below)

Karen Alger, owner of The Frog and The Peach and original participant, is this year's Honorary Restaurant Chair. “We’re honored to be part of this nationwide movement to end childhood hunger in America,” said Ms. Alger. “Taste of the Nation brings together the finest of Central New Jersey’s culinary world, and helps the children in our community who suffer from hunger every day.”

The restaurants and culinary artists in Central NJ are no stranger to supporting community efforts and businesses. It is rare to find an establishment in the area who does not include local farms and wineries in their menu choices. So it is no surprise that restaurants who help to foster the local economy would help out with an urgent need like ending childhood hunger. And what is unique about this event is that 100% of ticket sales will go directly to the recipients mentioned above.

For more information about the Taste of the Nation Princeton, log onto: www.tasteofthenation.org/princeton

Taste of the Nation Princeton
Monday, April 20, 2009 -- 6 to 9 p.m.
The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village
201 Village Boulevard, Princeton, NJ

Tickets: $85 ($95 at the door)
To order: www.tasteofthenation.org
1-877-26TASTE

Participating Restaurants:

A Taste of Rubies * Acacia * Anton's at the Swan * Catherine Lombardi * Ciao Bella Gelato Company * Crossing Vineyards and Winery * Donna & Company * Due Mari * JL Ivy Restaurant and Tiger Bar * Jack's Café & Taste Appeal Catering* Jones Two Enterprises * elements * Karsay Coffee * Parallel 40 at the Westin Princeton Forrestal Village * Ruth's Chris Steak House * Salt Creek Grille Restaurant * Slow Food Central New Jersey * Steakhouse 85 * Taking Tea In Style, LLC * The Alchemist & Barrister Restaurant & Pub * The Blue Bottle Café * The Blue Rooster Bakery & Café * The Brothers Moon * The Cranbury Inn * The Ferry House * The Frog and The Peach * The Original SoupMan *Tre Piani Restaurant * Triumph Brewing Company * The Nassau Club * Unionville Vineyard * Witherspoon Bread Company * Yankee Doodle Tap Room *

Workout in NYC and Support Cancer Research

Registration for Workout in the Park 2009 is FINALLY open!

Join Lindsay Vastola, President of Body Project for another great year in Central Park, NYC!

Limited tickets available - so register today! email Lindsay or call 609-336-0108.

Tickets are $65 and benefit the Susan G. Koman Foundation and Cancerandcareers.org. Here is what you get:

• Private transportation to and from NYC from Foxmoor Shopping Center
  
• Choose from 20 dynamic fitness routines
• Free samples and giveaways
• One-year subscription to SELF magazine
• Special Body Project gift
• Lunch, snack and water

March for Maddie Spohr

I found @momaspohr on Twitter only after I found out about the death of her precious little daughter Maddie who shares the same name as my first born.

I learned that Maddie passed away only a few short hours after her scared mom Tweeted the frightening ride in the ambulance to the hospital. When I took a look at the blog that Heather (@momaspohr) kept, I also saw that only days earlier little Maddie was like any other baby going through the unpredictable pain of teething, as my Maddy has been as well. But little Maddie endured more than just teething during her short life. She battled odds when doctors thought she wouldn't survive birth. And now it's only in her memory that the world knows about Maddie Spohr.

To honor her life, Maddie's parents have asked for donations to the March of Dimes which has now raised over $23,000. PayPal accounts have also been set up to help support Heather and Mike. Information about donations, services and how to get the Maddie badge below can be found at Meghan's blog (one of Heather's friends).

If you're on Twitter, you may have noticed a number of avatars turning purple. That is in honor of Maddie and the March of Dimes. Please show your support by doing the same and adding the hashtag #Maddie at the end of your posts. If you're not quite sure how to turn your profile purple, I will certainly do it for you!


If you have Facebook, please RT the following: Help spread the word and support a family who lost their precious little Maddie. Donations to March of Dimes or Go purple with your profile pic.

Donate to Maddie's Fund by clicking below:

Easter Hoppenings in NJ

Got your bonnets and pastel ready to go this weekend? If you're looking for something to do with your family for Easter in addition to your traditional family gathering, here is a salmagundi of Easter happenings around the state (courtesy of my friends at NJMyWay and good old Google).

• Bunny Chase at Terhune Orchards in Lawrenceville
• Hop on the Easter Bunny Train in Phillipsburg
• An Easter Egg hunt at the Liberty House with a view of the New York City skyline
• Passover services around NJ listed at the Jewish Standard
• Easter Egg hunt in Mount Olive/Flanders
• Brooklawn Fire Company Lady's Auxiliary Easter flower sale
• Easter pet photos and adoptions in Clifton
• Easter Bunny Express at the Whippany Railway Museum
• Easter flower sale at North Haledon Fire Company #1
  

Secret Vista Print Scam

Disclaimer: I love VistaPrint.com. They have great prices, great products and quick service. I have ordered all of my business cards and thank you notes from them. They are great!

I was looking at my credit card statement and discovered a $14 payment through a company I had never heard: Passport to Fun. After a quick Google search of the name, I found numerous Scam websites of people who had a similar problem with this random payment on their credit card bill. What I didn't realize (because I don't read fine print) is that Passport to Fun is the affiliate company who offers the $10 reward coupon to valued VistaPrint.com customers. You know that gift certificate and survey that is offered after you process an order? Yeah, go ahead and skip that or else you will be billed $14 for your $10 savings!

However, on the plus side: If you call the toll-free number, 800-566-8489, you can easily cancel "your account" and immediately receive an email confirmation of the cancellation. I will only know if it processed by checking my next credit card statement.

WIN Trenton Thunder Opening Game Tickets!

My very secret source at the Hamilton Post has passed along a chance to win tickets to the Trenton Thunder opening home games this week: April 8th, 9th and 10th.

In order to win, register at the new HamiltonSpace.com and be automatically entered to win a FAMILY 4-PACK to one of the games.

If you are already registered, click the "Post a comment on this article" link found at the bottom of every article and add your own comment. Each comment you leave equals one entry into the contest, and you can post as much as you like. Speaking your mind has never been more rewarding!

All children with a ticket, ages 12 and under, will receive a voucher upon entering the ballpark good for a free hot dog, bag of potato chips and a 12 oz. fountain soda.

All games start at 7:05 p.m. at Mercer County Waterfront Park.

Winners will be contacted via e-mail the day before the game. Tickets must be picked up at our office in Lawrenceville.

REGISTER AND ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

Mrs Mo Reivews: The Men I Didn't Marry by Janice Kaplan and Lynn Schnurnberger

What do you do after your husband of 20 years announces that he’s leaving you for some woman who can pass for your own daughter? Step 1: Eat a package of Oreos and watch soap operas. Step 2: Try out your new independence with fine dining with your imaginary friend. Step 3: Track down all the men that you didn’t marry for a spontaneous adventure and some self re-discovery. That’s what Hallie does in the fabulous and funny novel The Men I Didn’t Marry by Janice Kaplan and Lynn Schnurnberger.

Taking a cue from High Fidelity with the sexiness and style of Sex and the City, Hallie’s story is unfortunate at first but exciting and very sexy. When her husband has a mid-life crisis 10 years early and suddenly turns into a more shallow version of a playboy college frat boy, Hallie takes a minute to wallow, but with the support from her man-crazy best friend Bellini and kids Adam and Emily (who are having paralleled love experiences in college), Hallie rediscovers her ability to drive men crazy and the power within herself to get what she really wants out of life.

As Hallie reconnects with the 3 men she dated before marrying her husband Bill, you learn a little about her life and her personality. There was Eric, the college boyfriend who is now a Forbes Top-500 banker; Barry, the deep and sensitive fling from a backpacking through Europe trip; Kevin, the bad-boy in high school turned underwater photographer in the Virgin Gorda with whom Hallie explores more than just the ocean. Lastly there is Dick, who Hallie has tried to forget for 20 years because of one devastating night that altered her family forever.

Kaplan and Schurnberger have a true gift of using humor (I was seriously laughing out loud) and sexy men to tell a sweet coming-of-age story(even though our heroine is in her 40s). Will Hallie get back together with her husband? Will she start a new life with one of her exes? Does she keep her job (re: Keving and the Virgin Gorda)?

One thing is for sure: I kept reading this book when I should have been working. And I thought about the men I didn’t marry while my husband was laying next to me (though my story would be titled "The Kissing Diaries"). And even though I’m about 10 years younger than Hallie, in both life and career, I took away some inspiration from her own growth.

The Men I Didn’t Marry is a great read any time of year, but a definite MUST for your 2009 Summer Reading List.

Designer Sample Sale: Sample Sale Productions

Neiman Marcus Last Call Clearance

Why spend top-dollar in this economy? Why be broke and stylish when you can be Recession Chic!

Shop the Neiman Marcus Last Call now! Click the image below to sign up for the mailing list for Last Call alerts nearest to you!

Princeton Borders hosts book signing for local author Kelly Rouba's debut book Juvenile Arthritis: The Ultimate Teen Guide

With over 300,000 children in the United States afflicted with Juvenile Arthritis, there is now a voice of help and hope in a debut book, Juvenile Arthritis: The Ultimate Teen Guide, by Kelly Rouba, former Ms. Wheelchair NJ 2007 and National Arthritis Research Foundation spokeswoman.

Motivated by her own mission to spread the word about Juvenile Arthritis in way that inspires rather than scares children, Rouba shares the stories of children, teens and young adults who are also living and thriving with the disease. Princeton resident and college freshman Amanda White talked of dealing with JA as a champion figure skater and Hamilton resident Shaun Marie-Robbins reflected on how she went off her medication while she was pregnant. Rouba includes medical research, guides on symptoms and a history of the disease in this current and refreshing resource guide.

Rouba, who is a Hamilton, NJ resident, was a freelance writer for the Trenton Times and has written for a variety of publications and magazines like Action Magazine, Special Living Magazine, The Pennington Post, Arthritis Today and Next Step Magazine. Kelly was also recently featured as "Someone You Should Know" on HamiltonSpace.com.

Join Kelly Rouba, Diane White (Amanda's mother) and Shaun Marie-Robbins for a book signing and discussion on April 4th, at 2:00 p.m. at the Princeton Borders, 601 Nassau Park Boulevard, Princeton, NJ 08540. For more information, contact Borders Books at (609) 514-0040.

If you're interested in joining the Bloggers Unite campaign to help spread awareness about Juvenile Arthritis, please contact me with your Name, website and email. The campaign will launch May 1, 2009 in honor of Arthritis Awareness Month.