Love the space, power and handling of an SUV, but hate the environmental impact? Starting now, you can swap your gas guzzler for a 2011 Touareg, Volkswagen’s first hybrid, and because it’s an SUV, you can still hit the road sitting high.
We all long for a harmonious home—a tempting space where color and texture blend seamlessly and each room has a visual connection with the next. A home so well-planned you can chat on the phone while stirring supper, where work lights are aptly placed, and there’s always a connection for the laptop.
Giving birth can involve its share of aches and pains, but a new service offered at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch is making the days after labor much easier on new mothers. For an additional fee, maternity patients can enjoy in-room relaxation and wellness treatments from Bavia Baby (732.403.3113, baviahealth.com), an independent Minneapolis-based company.
Boost your immune system, improve concentration, enhance creativity and decrease stress by meditating, suggests Kellye Davis, author of The Bliss Principle (theblissprinciple.com). To find your inner bliss, here are Davis’ step-by-step instructions:
Set in a lush, 7,00 square feet adorned with live plants and softly glowing candlelight, Castle Rock at La Cantera—named one of the nation’s top 100 spa resorts in Condé Nast Traveler—is home to four massage rooms, two facial rooms, a salon space and more.
Planning a holiday party and deciding what to serve can be a headache. This year, why not simplify things by focusing on those two can’t-lose crowd-pleasers, chocolate and coffee? When chocolate’s feel-good endorphins pair up with the energizing power of coffee, you can practically hear them whispering, “’Tis the season to be jolly!”
Looking for inspiration for an unforgettable holiday repast? Morris Health & Life called on three Morris County chefs to create a three-course menu for a festive dinner you can create in your own kitchen. Each course serves six to eight people.
Color, fabrics and lighting are the building blocks upon which your fête will be set. Red, always a hallmark hue for the season, needn’t be your only option. Golds, silvers and winter-whites can also add sparkle to your table. And speaking of sparkle, candles will enhance the ambience, especially if you place them near glass or mirrored pieces that will twinkle in their light.
Don’t forget the young ones when you plan the season’s entertaining. Kids deserve to party too, and you may even catch a moment to hobnob with their chaperoning parents. You’ll find that a savvy selection of colors, decorations and tasty treats can help make your bash a smash.
Cyber Monday is a godsend to those of us who did not want to be seriously trampled during the Black Friday stampede at the big chain stores. Enjoy today’s online deals and finish shopping for everybody on your holiday gift list. Cyber Monday sales boast free shipping, additional savings on already reduced items, freebies with your purchase, and more! Check out the list of gift categories and online resources
Looking to help families in need this season? Check out operation sleighbells/holiday giving, the century-old program run by Long Branch-based Family & Children’s Service (732-222-9111, www.fcsmonmouth.org).
